PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS

McLaren's WUR Control deck outmaneuvered Wilson's Melira Pod deck in a thrilling five-game match behind superb use of Threads of Disloyalty.

SUNDAY COVERAGE

Welcome to the Modern Magic world, Shaun McLaren. The 25-year-old Canadian best known as a Magic Online player defeated fellow countryman Jacob Wilson in the finals of Pro Tour Born of the Gods, earning the $40,000 first prize, a spot at the World Championship, and immediate promotion to Platinum status in the Pro Players Club. McLaren's WUR Control deck outmaneuvered Wilson's Melira Pod deck in a thrilling five-game match thanks to the timely use of Threads of Disloyalty. McLaren came back from a 2-1 deficit to win the last two games and secure the victory. Game 4 was particularly tense when it looked like Wilson might actually come back after losing all his lands to an ultimated Ajani Vengeant.

Spain continued to be a home away from home for Canadian Magic, as McLaren followed up on Alexander Hayne's win at Pro Tour Avacyn Restored last year in Barcelona. Expect to hear plenty from these three Canadians the rest of the season as all three jump into the hunt for Player of the Year.

The Pro Tour's return to Valencia opened with great anticipation on what the recent changes to the Modern Banned and Restricted List would do to the metagame. The absence of Deathrite Shaman opened up deck choices and made for a vibrant format that featured eight distinct decks in the Top 8. Couple that with the debut of Born of the Gods/Theros Booster Draft on the Pro Tour stage and the impressive performances by all the Top 8 players and you get a Pro Tour few will soon forget.

Article

February 23 2014

TOP 5 CARDS by Blake Rasmussen

5. Path to Exile Ask Shaun McLaren where he'd be without Path to Exile and chances are the answer would be on the wrong side of a Tarmogoyf or Restoration Angel. Many players identified the...

Learn More

Article

February 23 2014

FINALS: SHAUN MCLAREN VS. JACOB WILSON by Nate Price

There is much that could be said about the air about the final table of a Pro Tour. Under the hot lights, surrounded by judges and cameras, knowing that everyone in the Magic world is going to...

Learn More

Feb 23 2014

Article

FOUR THINGS WE LEARNED ABOUT MODERN

by Blake Rasmussen

There were a lot of questions coming into this weekend. With Modern mixed up thanks to the banning of a certain Shaman and the return of one nasty Nacatl and the most bitter of blossoms, no one...

Feb 23 2014

Article

SEMIFINALS: PATRICK DICKMANN VS. SHAUN MCLAREN

by Blake Rasmussen

After already surviving his all-Steam Vents Quarterfinal match, Shaun McLaren is going to have his work cut out for him battling through yet another Izzet Mage. Patrick Dickmann is playing what...

Feb 23 2014

Article

METAGAME ANALYSIS

by Mike Rosenberg

44 archetypes emerged on Friday. By the end of Saturday, many matches of Modern were played, and with the dust finally settled, we were able to crunch the numbers and discover the decks with the...

Feb 23 2014

Article

SEMIFINALS: ANSSI ALKIO VS. JACOB WILSON

by Nate Price

This was an unlikely pairing for this leg of the Semifinals here at Pro Tour Born of the Gods. Anssi Alkio's U/R Twin deck found itself facing a nightmare scenario in the Quarterfinals, staring...

Feb 23 2014

Article

QUARTERFINALS: PATRICK DICKMANN VS. CHRISTIAN SEIBOLD

by Blake Rasmussen

Right now, before the match even starts, Christian Seibold must be pretty happy with Patrick Dickmann. Dickmann and Seibold, you see, are friends and teammates on Team Austria, and Dickmann,...

Feb 23 2014

Article

QUARTERFINALS: SHAUN MCLAREN VS. TIM RIVERA

by Nate Price

This match-up is another perfect example of how two decks that share an identical set of colors can have such a different approach to winning the game. Canadian Shaun McLaren's W/U/R Control deck...

Feb 23 2014

Article

QUARTERFINALS: CHRIS FENNELL VS. JACOB WILSON

by Blake Rasmussen

In the run up to the Top 8, there's a lot of speculation about match-ups, who'll win, who'll fall off, what match-ups certain players want to see, and, above all, how each player feels about their...

Feb 23 2014

Article

QUARTERFINALS: ANSSI ALKIO VS. LEE SHI TIAN

by Nate Price

Though they share the same colors, the two decks featured in this Quarterfinals match could not be any different. Finland's Anssi Alkio made his way to his first Top 8 on the back of a 9-0-1...

Feb 23 2014

Article

TOP 8 PROFILES

by Wizards of the Coast

Shaun McLaren Age: 26Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta What was your record by format? Modern Constructed: 7-2-1 Born of the Gods/Theros Draft: 6-0 Other previous Magic...

SATURDAY COVERAGE

After 16 grueling rounds across two days of Magic competition, the Top 8 is now set for Pro Tour Born of the Gods—and it's a Top 8 full of new faces. Only Lee Shi Tian has appeared on the Pro Tour Sunday stage before, and he will be joined by Shaun McLaren, Jacob Wilson, Christian Seibold, Patrick Dickmann, Chris Fennell, Anssi Alkio, and Tim Rivera. They'll be battling with their Modern decks in the Top 8, with each player bringing a unique deck to the elimination rounds.

Article

February 23 2014

AND THE LEADING TEAM IS... by Blake Rasmussen

At the end of the weekend, one player will thrust a trophy in the air, get handed a giant check, and forever have their name aligned with Budde, Finkel, and more as Pro Tour winners. But if you...

Learn More

Article

February 23 2014

ROUND 16 FEATURE MATCH: SAUL AGUADO VS. ALEXANDER HAYNE by Nate Price

Everything is on the line as the big clock in the front of the room is reset to the fifty-minute mark for the final time for this Pro Tour. At least two of the spots in tomorrow's Top 8 were still...

Learn More

Feb 23 2014

Article

PHOTO ESSAY

by Mike Rosenberg

Pro Tour Born of the Gods is taking place at the Museum of Arts and Sciences which, aside from being an awesome display of architecture, is particularly gorgeous at night. Video coverage...

Feb 23 2014

Article

ROUND 15 FEATURE MATCH - CHRIS FENNELL VS. DOMINIK PROSEK

by Simon Goertzen

When Dominik Prosek and Chris Fennell met at the feature match table, they were sitting down for the most important match of their lifes. Sitting at twelve wins and three losses each, a win would...

Feb 23 2014

Article

TEAM MTG MINT CARD

by Nate Price

Since the earliest days of the Pro Tour, players have been teaming to pool their talents, realizing that banding together with other talented players only serves to strengthen everyone's game....

Feb 23 2014

Article

ROUND 14 FEATURE MATCH: TIM RIVERA VS. JINGWHEI ZHENG

by Blake Rasmussen

This is the first time you've featured us," Jingwei Zheng said as he sat down across from Tim Rivera in the feature match. Indeed it was. Zheng and Rivera had been hanging around in the top...

Feb 23 2014

Article

ESTHER MORENA MORALES

by Event Coverage Staff

Esther Moreno Morales is a 67-year-old Magic: The Gathering fan. She lives in Valencia and dropped by her hometown's Pro Tour on Saturday morning. Morales was looking for the cards that she needs...

Feb 23 2014

Article

SHOOTING THE MOON

by Nate Price

There are an incredibly large number of viable decks in Modern, spanning every style of play, but many of them have been a part of the fabric of the format for many years now. These decks get...

Feb 23 2014

Article

SIDEBOARDING IN MODERN

by Simon Goertzen

"Deathrite Shaman is banned. Bitterblossom and Wild Nacatl are unbanned." – February 3, 2014 Pro Tour Born of the Gods showcases a Modern format that was radically changed by the latest Banned...

Feb 23 2014

Article

ROUND 13 FEATURE MATCH: RAYMOND TAN VS. JACOB WILSON

by Blake Rasmussen

Imagine it's your first Pro Tour. You've qualified thanks to what our media guide calls a "bonkers Grand Prix win rate" of 76.5 percent, mostly on the back of your Grand Prix win mere months ago....

Feb 23 2014

Article

ROUND 12 FEATURE MATCH: SHAUN MCLAREN VS. LEE SHI TIAN

by Nate Price

Shaun McLaren has been having a very good day. After dropping a lone match during yesterday's play, he ran a perfect 3-0 record off during the opening Draft rounds today to surge to the top of the...

Feb 23 2014

Article

ROUND 10 FEATURE MATCH: NICO BOHNY VS. MELISSA DETORA

by Simon Goertzen

With a combined six rounds of Booster Draft and ten rounds of Modern, players are looking for two strong Limited performances to boost their records and to compensate for some of the inevitable...

Feb 22 2014

Article

THE ONE PERCENT

by Blake Rasmussen

Going undefeated in any portion of the Pro Tour is something rare and special. The 3-0 draft, the 5-0 in Modern. Even better, the 6-0 or the 10-0, each stage harder to do than the other. In the...

Feb 22 2014

Article

A FAE'S LIFE

by Blake Rasmussen

There was an odd sequence of events following the unbanning of Bitterblossom. The immediate reaction was that "Faeries was Back!" which was followed with much excitement. People rushed out to get...

Feb 22 2014

Article

DAY 2 MODERN METAGAME BREAKDOWN

by Nate Price

Day One is in the books here at Pro Tour Born of the Gods! If you've been paying attention to the coverage, you know that only Michael Hetrick and his Living End deck ended up undefeated after a...

Feb 22 2014

Article

DRAFTING WITH MICHAEL HETRICK

by Blake Rasmussen

Sitting as the lone 8-0, there are a lot of eyes on Michael Hetrick entering the weekend's second draft. After acing the draft part of the exam yesterday, he's clearly demonstrated he knows the...

FRIDAY COVERAGE

Michael Hetrick stands alone atop the standings with the only 8-0 record at the end of Day One at Pro Tour Born of the Gods in Valencia, Spain. Close on Hetrick's heels is Lee Shi Tian at 7-0-1, and then a group of 12 players lurks behind them at 7-1. Day One opened with 393 players battling across three rounds of Theros/Born of the Gods Booster Draft, giving the pros a crack at drafting the new set for the first time on the Pro Tour stage. Then the pros turned their attention to Modern for the last five rounds before the cut. With the banning of Deathrite Shaman and the unbannings of Wild Nacatl and Bitterblossom, the metagame opened up to see only two decks—Zoo and Splinter Twin—being played by more than 10% of the field.

Article

February 21 2014

ROUND 8 FEATURE MATCH: PATRICK DICKMANN VS. MICHAEL HETRICK by Nate Price

As Day One drew to a close, three players clung to perfect 7-0 records, looking desperately to extend their undefeated streaks into Day Two. All three were playing unique combo decks, serving to...

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Article

February 21 2014

RELEASED BACK INTO THE WILD by Nate Price

Two cards unbanned, one card unbanned, and the entire format changes. Welcome to the new face of Modern. At first glance, it may not look too different from the Modern you played a few months ago....

Learn More

Feb 21 2014

Article

ROUND 7 FEATURE MATCH: REID DUKE VS. MAKIHITO MIHARA

by Blake Rasmussen

There were whispers before the Round started of No. 13 Ranked Player Makihito Mihara doing some ridiculous, ridiculous things with his Kiki-Pod deck, one of them revolving around a pair of...

Feb 21 2014

Article

A COURSER OF ACTION

by Blake Rasmussen

While the impact of Born of the Gods is certainly being felt in Limited, its impact on Modern has been more, well, limited. Coming into the weekend, it was expected that a few cards had some...

Feb 21 2014

Article

THERE'S NO "TEAM" IN "I"

by Blake Rasmussen

The big focus this weekend, outside the cards and decks themselves, have been the rise of the super teams, the large testing groups that bring varieties of expertise to bear and share. But then...

Feb 21 2014

Article

ROUND 5 FEATURE MATCH: KAI BUDDE VS. ALEX SITTNER

by Nate Price

Perhaps the biggest story coming into this Pro Tour was what the recent changes to the Modern banned list were going to do to the format. This match featured two of the biggest beneficiaries of...

Feb 21 2014

Article

SPAIN'S JOE CALAFELL ON THE PRO TOUR

by Blake Rasmussen

Joel Calafell is something of a torch bearer at Pro Tour Born of the Gods. One of Spain's most successful players ever, Calafell is a veteran of more than 20 Pro Tours over more than a decade of...

Feb 21 2014

Article

MODERN METAGAME BREAKDOWN

by Nate Price

The Deck lists have been finalized, and the numbers have been tabulated. Here's the Pro Tour Born of the Gods-edition Metagame Breakdown! With a total of 396 players checking in, there are an...

Feb 21 2014

Article

ROUND 4 FEATURE MATCH: MICHAEL HETRICK VS. STEPHEN MANN

by Blake Rasmussen

Both Michael Hetrick and Stephen Mann have started out precisely as well as they could have hoped, rattling off quick 3-0s in the draft portion of the day to make their way toward the top of the...

Feb 21 2014

Article

MODERN GLOSSARY

by Nate Price

Affinity – One of the most aggressive decks in Modern, Affinity plays a number of ridiculously cheap (sometimes free) artifact creatures, enhances them with Master of Etherium and Cranial...

Feb 21 2014

Article

FIVE UP AND FIVE DOWN IN THEROS

by Blake Rasmussen

The Deck lists have been finalized, and the numbers have been tabulated. Here's the Pro Tour Born of the Gods-edition Metagame Breakdown! With a total of 396 players checking in, there are an...

Feb 21 2014

Article

ROUND 1 FEATURE MATCH: OLLE RADE VS. CRAIG WESCOE

by Blake Rasmussen

This is one of the best reasons to love European Pro Tours. Olle Rade, one of the oldest of old school and a Hall of Famer in the inaugural class of 2005, doesn't play much professional Magic...

Feb 21 2014

Article

THE MORE THINGS CHANGE...

by Nate Price

"It's evolution, not revolution." No matter who I asked, the response seemed to be the same thing: the cards from Theros in Limited are a bit stronger on average than their counterparts in Born...

Feb 21 2014

Article

KNOW THEIR ROLES

by Blake Rasmussen

To most people, Hall of Famer Kai Budde is the German Juggernaut, a Sunday killer, and one of the best players of all time. To his fans, he's a legend, a Magic player whose legacy is secure, and...

DECKS

Article

February 22 2014

VIDEO DECK TECH: BLUE MOON WITH LEE SHI TIAN by Brian David-Marshall

Lee Tian Shi shares the MTG Mint Card deck "Blue Moon" in a deck tech with Brian David-Marshall.

Learn More

Article

February 22 2014

VIDEO DECK TECH: HEXPROOF AURAS WITH RAYMOND TAN by Brian David-Marshall

This was Raymond Tan's first Pro Tour and he talks with Brian David-Marshall about his Modern deck: Hexproof Auras.

Learn More

Feb 22 2014

Article

VIDEO DECK TECH: MONO-BLACK CONTROL WITH ARJAN VAN LEEUWEN

by Brian David-Marshall

Arjan Van Leeuwen shares his Modern format Mono-Black Control with Brian David-Marshall.

Feb 22 2014

Article

VIDEO DECK TECH: LIVING END WITH MICHAEL HETRICK

by Brian David-Marshall

Michael Hetrick finished Day 1 undefeated. He discusses his Living End Modern deck with Brian David-Marshall.

Feb 22 2014

Article

VIDEO DECK TECH: TARMO-TWIN WITH PATRICK DICKMANN

Patrick Dickmann discusses his Modern deck, Tarmo Twin, with Randy Buehler

Feb 21 2014

Article

VIDEO DECK TECH: JUND WITH WILLY EDEL

by Zac Hill

Brazilian player and #10 in the world, Willy Edel, talks to Zac Hill about his Jund deck for Pro Tour Born of the Gods.

Feb 21 2014

Article

VIDEO DECK TECH: AMULET CONTROL WITH MATTHIAS

by Zac Hill

Matthias Hunt discusses his unique Amulet of Vigor combo deck for Pro Tour Born of the Gods.

Feb 21 2014

Article

VIDEO DECK TECH: UWR WITH JEREMY DEZANI

by Zac Hill

Zac Hill and Pro Tour Theros champion Jeremy Dezani discuss his UWR control deck for Pro Tour Born of the Gods.

Feb 21 2014

Article

VIDEO DECK TECH: POD WITH CONLEY WOODS

by Zac Hill

Conley Woods talks to Zac Hill about his POD deck for the event.

TOP 8 PLAYERS

1st Place $40,000

SHAUN MCLAREN

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2nd Place $20,000

JACOB WILSON

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3rd Place $12,500

PATRICK DICKMANN

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4th Place $12,500

ANSSI ALKIO

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5th Place $10,000

LEE SHI TIAN

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6th Place $10,000

CHRISTIAN SEIBOLD

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7th Place $10,000

CHRIS FENNELL

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8th Place $10,000

TIM RIVERA

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TOP 8 BRACKET

Quarterfinals

(1)Shaun McLaren, 2-1

(8)Tim Rivera

(4)Christian Seibold

(5)Patrick Dickmann, 2-1

(2)Lee Shi Tian

(7)Anssi Alkio, 2-0

(3)Jacob Wilson, 2-0

(6)Chris Fennell

Semifinals

(1)Shaun McLaren, 2-1

(5)Patrick Dickmann

(7)Anssi Alkio

(3)Jacob Wilson, 2-1

Finals

(1)Shaun McLaren, 3-2

(3)Jacob Wilson

PAIRINGS, RESULTS, AND STANDINGS

FINAL STANDINGS

STANDINGS BY FORMAT

PAIRINGS

DAY ONE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

DAY TWO 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

RESULTS:

DAY ONE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

DAY TWO 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

STANDINGS:

DAY ONE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

DAY TWO 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

TOP 8 DECKLISTS

Select a Deck

PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS TOP 8 - JACOB WILSON

Decklist Stats Sample Hand

Creature (28)

4 Birds of Paradise 3 Noble Hierarch 2 Wall of Roots 2 Voice of Resurgence 1 Qasali Pridemage 1 Scavenging Ooze 1 Spellskite 1 Eternal Witness 4 Kitchen Finks 1 Orzhov Pontiff 1 Ranger of Eos 1 Linvala, Keeper of Silence 2 Murderous Redcap 1 Shriekmaw 1 Reveillark 1 Melira, Sylvok Outcast 1 Viscera Seer

Instant (5)

2 Abrupt Decay 3 Chord of Calling

Artifact (4)

4 Birthing Pod

Land (23)

4 Verdant Catacombs 4 Misty Rainforest 2 Overgrown Tomb 1 Godless Shrine 1 Temple Garden 3 Forest 1 Swamp 1 Woodland Cemetery 3 Razorverge Thicket 3 Gavony Township

60 Cards

Sideboard (15)

1 Voice of Resurgence 1 Scavenging Ooze 1 Sin Collector 1 Entomber Exarch 2 Path to Exile 2 Slaughter Pact 4 Thoughtseize 1 Obstinate Baloth 1 Harmonic Sliver 1 Kataki, War's Wage

Deal Another Hand

PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS TOP 8 - CHRISTIAN SEIBOLD

Decklist Stats Sample Hand

Creature (26)

4 Ornithopter 3 Memnite 4 Signal Pest 4 Vault Skirge 3 Etched Champion 1 Master of Etherium 4 Arcbound Ravager 3 Steel Overseer

Sorcery (4)

4 Thoughtcast

Instant (1)

1 Galvanic Blast

Artifact (17)

4 Darksteel Citadel 1 Welding Jar 4 Mox Opal 4 Springleaf Drum 4 Cranial Plating

Land (12)

4 Blinkmoth Nexus 4 Inkmoth Nexus 3 Glimmervoid 1 Island

60 Cards

Sideboard (15)

1 Galvanic Blast 1 Etched Champion 1 Master of Etherium 1 Blood Moon 1 Whipflare 2 Ancient Grudge 2 Thoughtseize 2 Relic of Progenitus 1 Torpor Orb 1 Spell Pierce 2 Spellskite

Deal Another Hand

PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS TOP 8 - CHRIS FENNELL

Decklist Stats Sample Hand

Creature (3)

3 Goblin Electromancer

Sorcery (21)

3 Faithless Looting 4 Gitaxian Probe 3 Grapeshot 4 Serum Visions 4 Sleight of Hand 3 Past in Flames

Instant (14)

2 Lightning Bolt 4 Desperate Ritual 4 Pyretic Ritual 4 Manamorphose

Enchantment (4)

4 Pyromancer Ascension

Land (18)

3 Shivan Reef 4 Scalding Tarn 3 Steam Vents 4 Misty Rainforest 3 Island 1 Mountain

60 Cards

Sideboard (15)

1 Lightning Bolt 3 Empty the Warrens 3 Defense Grid 3 Swan Song 2 Anger of the Gods 2 Torpor Orb 1 Echoing Truth

Deal Another Hand

PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS TOP 8 - PATRICK DICKMANN

Decklist Stats Sample Hand

Creature (16)

4 Snapcaster Mage 4 Tarmogoyf 2 Scavenging Ooze 3 Pestermite 3 Deceiver Exarch

Sorcery (8)

4 Serum Visions 2 Gitaxian Probe 2 Flame Slash

Instant (11)

4 Lightning Bolt 4 Remand 1 Electrolyze 2 Cryptic Command

Enchantment (4)

4 Splinter Twin

Land (21)

4 Scalding Tarn 4 Misty Rainforest 3 Steam Vents 1 Breeding Pool 1 Stomping Ground 2 Island 1 Forest 1 Mountain 2 Hinterland Harbor 2 Sulfur Falls

60 Cards

Sideboard (15)

1 Scavenging Ooze 2 Ancient Grudge 1 Nature's Claim 2 Anger of the Gods 1 Engineered Explosives 1 Combust 1 Dismember 1 Spellskite 1 Batterskull 1 Sword of Feast and Famine 1 Dispel 1 Negate 1 Counterflux

Deal Another Hand

PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS TOP 8 - SHAUN MCLAREN

Decklist Stats Sample Hand

Planeswalker (2)

2 Ajani Vengeant

Creature (5)

4 Snapcaster Mage 1 Vendilion Clique

Sorcery (1)

1 Anger of the Gods

Instant (26)

4 Lightning Bolt 3 Path to Exile 1 Spell Snare 2 Remand 4 Mana Leak 4 Lightning Helix 3 Electrolyze 3 Cryptic Command 2 Sphinx's Revelation

Land (26)

4 Celestial Colonnade 4 Tectonic Edge 4 Scalding Tarn 3 Arid Mesa 2 Sulfur Falls 2 Hallowed Fountain 2 Steam Vents 1 Sacred Foundry 2 Island 1 Mountain 1 Plains

60 Cards

Sideboard (15)

1 Anger of the Gods 1 Izzet Staticaster 2 Relic of Progenitus 2 Stony Silence 1 Counterflux 1 Timely Reinforcements 1 Threads of Disloyalty 1 Crucible of Worlds 1 Celestial Purge 1 Logic Knot 1 Wear // Tear 2 Porphyry Nodes

Deal Another Hand

PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS TOP 8 - ANSSI ALKIO

Decklist Stats Sample Hand

Creature (14)

1 Spellskite 4 Snapcaster Mage 4 Deceiver Exarch 2 Pestermite 2 Vendilion Clique 1 Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker

Sorcery (4)

4 Serum Visions

Instant (15)

4 Lightning Bolt 1 Dispel 1 Spell Snare 1 Peek 1 Izzet Charm 3 Remand 2 Electrolyze 2 Cryptic Command

Enchantment (4)

4 Splinter Twin

Land (23)

5 Island 2 Mountain 4 Scalding Tarn 3 Misty Rainforest 3 Steam Vents 3 Sulfur Falls 1 Stomping Ground 1 Desolate Lighthouse 1 Tectonic Edge

60 Cards

Sideboard (15)

1 Dispel 1 Threads of Disloyalty 3 Ancient Grudge 2 Grim Lavamancer 2 Blood Moon 2 Batterskull 2 Relic of Progenitus 2 Flame Slash

Deal Another Hand

PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS TOP 8 - LEE SHI TIAN

Decklist Stats Sample Hand

Creature (5)

2 Master of Waves 3 Snapcaster Mage

Sorcery (4)

4 Serum Visions

Instant (17)

2 Cryptic Command 3 Remand 2 Mana Leak 2 Vapor Snag 4 Lightning Bolt 4 Spell Snare

Artifact (4)

2 Batterskull 2 Vedalken Shackles

Enchantment (8)

2 Threads of Disloyalty 4 Blood Moon 2 Spreading Seas

Land (22)

4 Scalding Tarn 4 Misty Rainforest 3 Steam Vents 1 Mountain 10 Island

60 Cards

Sideboard (15)

2 Spreading Seas 1 Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir 1 Negate 2 Vandalblast 3 Vendilion Clique 1 Flame Slash 3 Anger of the Gods 1 Counterflux 1 Combust

Deal Another Hand

PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS TOP 8 - TIM RIVERA

Decklist Stats Sample Hand

Creature (17)

2 Snapcaster Mage 4 Wall of Omens 4 Deceiver Exarch 4 Restoration Angel 3 Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker

Instant (15)

4 Path to Exile 4 Remand 4 Lightning Bolt 3 Lightning Helix

Enchantment (4)

4 Splinter Twin

Land (24)

4 Arid Mesa 4 Celestial Colonnade 1 Hallowed Fountain 2 Mountain 1 Plains 2 Island 2 Sacred Foundry 4 Scalding Tarn 2 Sulfur Falls 2 Steam Vents

60 Cards

Sideboard (15)

1 Lightning Helix 3 Anger of the Gods 2 Sowing Salt 3 Dispel 2 Stony Silence 1 Engineered Explosives 2 Spellskite 1 Wear // Tear

Deal Another Hand

FULL COVERAGE ARCHIVE

article PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS February 23, 2014

TOP 5 CARDS

by Blake Rasmussen

5. Path to Exile Ask Shaun McLaren where he'd be without Path to Exile and chances are the answer would be on the wrong side of a Tarmogoyf or Restoration Angel. Many players identified the...

article PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS February 23, 2014

FINALS: SHAUN MCLAREN VS. JACOB WILSON

by Nate Price

There is much that could be said about the air about the final table of a Pro Tour. Under the hot lights, surrounded by judges and cameras, knowing that everyone in the Magic world is going to...

article PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS February 23, 2014

FOUR THINGS WE LEARNED ABOUT MODERN

by Blake Rasmussen

There were a lot of questions coming into this weekend. With Modern mixed up thanks to the banning of a certain Shaman and the return of one nasty Nacatl and the most bitter of blossoms, no one...

article PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS February 23, 2014

SEMIFINALS: PATRICK DICKMANN VS. SHAUN MCLAREN

by Blake Rasmussen

After already surviving his all-Steam Vents Quarterfinal match, Shaun McLaren is going to have his work cut out for him battling through yet another Izzet Mage. Patrick Dickmann is playing what...

article PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS February 23, 2014

METAGAME ANALYSIS

by Mike Rosenberg

44 archetypes emerged on Friday. By the end of Saturday, many matches of Modern were played, and with the dust finally settled, we were able to crunch the numbers and discover the decks with the...

article PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS February 23, 2014

SEMIFINALS: ANSSI ALKIO VS. JACOB WILSON

by Nate Price

This was an unlikely pairing for this leg of the Semifinals here at Pro Tour Born of the Gods. Anssi Alkio's U/R Twin deck found itself facing a nightmare scenario in the Quarterfinals, staring...

article PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS February 23, 2014

QUARTERFINALS: PATRICK DICKMANN VS. CHRISTIAN SEIBOLD

by Blake Rasmussen

Right now, before the match even starts, Christian Seibold must be pretty happy with Patrick Dickmann. Dickmann and Seibold, you see, are friends and teammates on Team Austria, and Dickmann,...

article PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS February 23, 2014

QUARTERFINALS: SHAUN MCLAREN VS. TIM RIVERA

by Nate Price

This match-up is another perfect example of how two decks that share an identical set of colors can have such a different approach to winning the game. Canadian Shaun McLaren's W/U/R Control deck...

article PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS February 23, 2014

QUARTERFINALS: CHRIS FENNELL VS. JACOB WILSON

by Blake Rasmussen

In the run up to the Top 8, there's a lot of speculation about match-ups, who'll win, who'll fall off, what match-ups certain players want to see, and, above all, how each player feels about their...

article PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS February 23, 2014

QUARTERFINALS: ANSSI ALKIO VS. LEE SHI TIAN

by Nate Price

Though they share the same colors, the two decks featured in this Quarterfinals match could not be any different. Finland's Anssi Alkio made his way to his first Top 8 on the back of a 9-0-1...

article GRAND PRIX MELBOURNE 2014 March 2, 2014

TOP 8 PROFILES

by Chapman Sim

Wei YifanAge: 25 Hometown: Wollongong, Australia Occupation: Student What Standard deck are you playing today and why? Esper Control. There aren't many bad matchups. Day 1 Score: 9-0 (2...

article PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS February 23, 2014

AND THE LEADING TEAM IS...

by Blake Rasmussen

At the end of the weekend, one player will thrust a trophy in the air, get handed a giant check, and forever have their name aligned with Budde, Finkel, and more as Pro Tour winners. But if you...

article PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS February 23, 2014

ROUND 16 FEATURE MATCH: SAUL AGUADO VS. ALEXANDER HAYNE

by Nate Price

Everything is on the line as the big clock in the front of the room is reset to the fifty-minute mark for the final time for this Pro Tour. At least two of the spots in tomorrow's Top 8 were still...

article PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS February 23, 2014

PHOTO ESSAY

by Mike Rosenberg

Pro Tour Born of the Gods is taking place at the Museum of Arts and Sciences which, aside from being an awesome display of architecture, is particularly gorgeous at night. Video coverage...

article PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS February 23, 2014

ROUND 15 FEATURE MATCH - CHRIS FENNELL VS. DOMINIK PROSEK

by Simon Goertzen

When Dominik Prosek and Chris Fennell met at the feature match table, they were sitting down for the most important match of their lifes. Sitting at twelve wins and three losses each, a win would...

article PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS February 23, 2014

TEAM MTG MINT CARD

by Nate Price

Since the earliest days of the Pro Tour, players have been teaming to pool their talents, realizing that banding together with other talented players only serves to strengthen everyone's game....

article PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS February 23, 2014

ROUND 14 FEATURE MATCH: TIM RIVERA VS. JINGWHEI ZHENG

by Blake Rasmussen

This is the first time you've featured us," Jingwei Zheng said as he sat down across from Tim Rivera in the feature match. Indeed it was. Zheng and Rivera had been hanging around in the top...

article PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS February 23, 2014

ESTHER MORENA MORALES

by Event Coverage Staff

Esther Moreno Morales is a 67-year-old Magic: The Gathering fan. She lives in Valencia and dropped by her hometown's Pro Tour on Saturday morning. Morales was looking for the cards that she needs...

article PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS February 23, 2014

SHOOTING THE MOON

by Nate Price

There are an incredibly large number of viable decks in Modern, spanning every style of play, but many of them have been a part of the fabric of the format for many years now. These decks get...

article PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS February 23, 2014

SIDEBOARDING IN MODERN

by Simon Goertzen

"Deathrite Shaman is banned. Bitterblossom and Wild Nacatl are unbanned." – February 3, 2014 Pro Tour Born of the Gods showcases a Modern format that was radically changed by the latest Banned...

article PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS February 23, 2014

ROUND 13 FEATURE MATCH: RAYMOND TAN VS. JACOB WILSON

by Blake Rasmussen

Imagine it's your first Pro Tour. You've qualified thanks to what our media guide calls a "bonkers Grand Prix win rate" of 76.5 percent, mostly on the back of your Grand Prix win mere months ago....

article PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS February 23, 2014

ROUND 12 FEATURE MATCH: SHAUN MCLAREN VS. LEE SHI TIAN

by Nate Price

Shaun McLaren has been having a very good day. After dropping a lone match during yesterday's play, he ran a perfect 3-0 record off during the opening Draft rounds today to surge to the top of the...

article PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS February 23, 2014

ROUND 10 FEATURE MATCH: NICO BOHNY VS. MELISSA DETORA

by Simon Goertzen

With a combined six rounds of Booster Draft and ten rounds of Modern, players are looking for two strong Limited performances to boost their records and to compensate for some of the inevitable...

article PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS February 22, 2014

THE ONE PERCENT

by Blake Rasmussen

Going undefeated in any portion of the Pro Tour is something rare and special. The 3-0 draft, the 5-0 in Modern. Even better, the 6-0 or the 10-0, each stage harder to do than the other. In the...

article PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS February 22, 2014

A FAE'S LIFE

by Blake Rasmussen

There was an odd sequence of events following the unbanning of Bitterblossom. The immediate reaction was that "Faeries was Back!" which was followed with much excitement. People rushed out to get...

article PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS February 22, 2014

DAY 2 MODERN METAGAME BREAKDOWN

by Nate Price

Day One is in the books here at Pro Tour Born of the Gods! If you've been paying attention to the coverage, you know that only Michael Hetrick and his Living End deck ended up undefeated after a...

article PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS February 22, 2014

DRAFTING WITH MICHAEL HETRICK

by Blake Rasmussen

Sitting as the lone 8-0, there are a lot of eyes on Michael Hetrick entering the weekend's second draft. After acing the draft part of the exam yesterday, he's clearly demonstrated he knows the...

article PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS February 21, 2014

ROUND 8 FEATURE MATCH: PATRICK DICKMANN VS. MICHAEL HETRICK

by Nate Price

As Day One drew to a close, three players clung to perfect 7-0 records, looking desperately to extend their undefeated streaks into Day Two. All three were playing unique combo decks, serving to...

article PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS February 21, 2014

RELEASED BACK INTO THE WILD

by Nate Price

Two cards unbanned, one card unbanned, and the entire format changes. Welcome to the new face of Modern. At first glance, it may not look too different from the Modern you played a few months ago....

article PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS February 21, 2014

ROUND 7 FEATURE MATCH: REID DUKE VS. MAKIHITO MIHARA

by Blake Rasmussen

There were whispers before the Round started of No. 13 Ranked Player Makihito Mihara doing some ridiculous, ridiculous things with his Kiki-Pod deck, one of them revolving around a pair of...

article PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS February 21, 2014

A COURSER OF ACTION

by Blake Rasmussen

While the impact of Born of the Gods is certainly being felt in Limited, its impact on Modern has been more, well, limited. Coming into the weekend, it was expected that a few cards had some...

article PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS February 21, 2014

THERE'S NO "TEAM" IN "I"

by Blake Rasmussen

The big focus this weekend, outside the cards and decks themselves, have been the rise of the super teams, the large testing groups that bring varieties of expertise to bear and share. But then...

article PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS February 21, 2014

ROUND 5 FEATURE MATCH: KAI BUDDE VS. ALEX SITTNER

by Nate Price

Perhaps the biggest story coming into this Pro Tour was what the recent changes to the Modern banned list were going to do to the format. This match featured two of the biggest beneficiaries of...

article PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS February 21, 2014

SPAIN'S JOE CALAFELL ON THE PRO TOUR

by Blake Rasmussen

Joel Calafell is something of a torch bearer at Pro Tour Born of the Gods. One of Spain's most successful players ever, Calafell is a veteran of more than 20 Pro Tours over more than a decade of...

article PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS February 21, 2014

MODERN METAGAME BREAKDOWN

by Nate Price

The Deck lists have been finalized, and the numbers have been tabulated. Here's the Pro Tour Born of the Gods-edition Metagame Breakdown! With a total of 396 players checking in, there are an...

article PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS February 21, 2014

ROUND 4 FEATURE MATCH: MICHAEL HETRICK VS. STEPHEN MANN

by Blake Rasmussen

Both Michael Hetrick and Stephen Mann have started out precisely as well as they could have hoped, rattling off quick 3-0s in the draft portion of the day to make their way toward the top of the...

article PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS February 21, 2014

MODERN GLOSSARY

by Nate Price

Affinity – One of the most aggressive decks in Modern, Affinity plays a number of ridiculously cheap (sometimes free) artifact creatures, enhances them with Master of Etherium and Cranial...

article PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS February 21, 2014

FIVE UP AND FIVE DOWN IN THEROS

by Blake Rasmussen

The Deck lists have been finalized, and the numbers have been tabulated. Here's the Pro Tour Born of the Gods-edition Metagame Breakdown! With a total of 396 players checking in, there are an...

article PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS February 21, 2014

ROUND 1 FEATURE MATCH: OLLE RADE VS. CRAIG WESCOE

by Blake Rasmussen

This is one of the best reasons to love European Pro Tours. Olle Rade, one of the oldest of old school and a Hall of Famer in the inaugural class of 2005, doesn't play much professional Magic...

article PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS February 21, 2014

THE MORE THINGS CHANGE...

by Nate Price

"It's evolution, not revolution." No matter who I asked, the response seemed to be the same thing: the cards from Theros in Limited are a bit stronger on average than their counterparts in Born...

article PRO TOUR BORN OF THE GODS February 21, 2014

KNOW THEIR ROLES

by Blake Rasmussen

To most people, Hall of Famer Kai Budde is the German Juggernaut, a Sunday killer, and one of the best players of all time. To his fans, he's a legend, a Magic player whose legacy is secure, and...

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MCLAREN WEAVES VICTORY IN VALENCIA