Well the night went extremely well for this deck and I think I've found the deck I'll be playing for this Standard season
Round 1 (2-0) Mono-White
I played a mono-white deck without a lot of chops. He was using tricks and playing early creatures but I tore up his hand with Thoughtsieze and Despise and won both games rather quickly once I got a threat on board.
Round 2 (2-1) Jeskai Tempo
I lost my only game of the night to this deck. There's a reason it's top tier.
Game 1 started with a Bloodstained Mire/Thoughtseize to see two Jeskai Charms, a Stoke the Flames, and a Mantis Rider. I knew I was in for a bad game. I had removal so I picked out a Charm. He cast his Mantis Rider next and since I didn't have the untapped mana to stop cast Hero's Downfall I took three to the face. Down to 14. I killed it next turn. But he followed that up with another one and I knew it was game. Played a Butcher, he bounced it then domed me for the rest
Game 2: Sideboarded in two Anger of the Gods and two banishing lights for the Thoughtseize but never saw them. This game was much better I curved out with Despise, Magma Jet, Rabblemaster, and Butcher and was able to kill him relatively quickly despite losing the creatures.
Game 3: This was all Sorin. I was way behind (at 7 life) with no gas and I drew a Rabblemaster. I cast it and my opponent elected to Jeskai Charm me to the face (down to 3) rather than bounce and I thought that was game. He drew nothing and I drew Sorin gaining an instant 9 life (5 from Rabblemaster and 4 from his cronies) and taking him down to 11. Next turn he drew a Lightning Strike and popped my Rabblemaster but the damage was done. Next turn was a Butcher and that was another 8 point life swing basically ending the game.
Round 3: Mono-Green Devotion (2-0)
Game 1: Thoughtseize came up big all night and I ripped an Arbor Colossus out to make way for my in-hand Butcher. He must have played three mana dorks by turn two but couldn't answer Butcher all game.
Game 2: Both of him and I got mana screwed for the first 5 turns sitting on two and three mana respectively. But with his mana dorks he pushed out a turn three Polukranos. I Magma Jetted an elf, found my mana and got my Utter End before it was too late. He had an in hand Genesis Hydra but couldn't get more mana before I got out a Chandra, who loves murdering elves, and Elspeth. He managed to cling on with a pair of topdecked Nylea's Emissary. I was still too far ahead on board and killed him with a Butcher.
Round 4: (2-0) Bant Combo
Game 1: Played a very interesting and obviously powerful combo based off of Hardened Scales, Sage of Hours, and Ajani, Mentor of Heroes. Unfortunately, my removal was too strong game one and the combo never happened. Saw a late game Medomai the Ageless which again was interesting.
Game 2: Sideboard in Banishing Light for Brimaz. My opponent apparently sideboarded in counters because my first two attempts and killing Sage of Hours were countered with Negate and Dissolve. But she never found another combo piece and I was able to ultimate Chandra for six damage off of Magma Jet.
Round 5: (2-0) Temur Monsters
Played a temur monsters deck that, being perfectly honest, I won the first game by sheer luck. He had a Knuckleblade and a Stormbreath Dragon and I had a lonesome Butcher. I'd run out of removal and was in top deck mode. I was at 9 after the last attack and here's the list of my top decks in a row, no joke: Hero's Downfall (bye Stormbreath, down to 3 after pumped Knuckleblade swing), Butcher of the Horde, Butcher of the Horde, Butcher of the Horde (that's right, all four came out), and then Sarkhan to win.
Game 2 (sideboarded in Banishing Lights and Stoke the Flames for Goblin Rabblemaster) Basically removed everything dangerous before playing Sarkhan that game. Fairly easy win for second game.
All in all this deck did extremely well and I can say that Sorin is well worth the price of admission.
Allstar cards include: Thoughtseize + Despise, Sorin, Solemn Visitor, Utter End, Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker, and Butcher of the Horde.
Cards lacking: Chandra sometimes did nothing. I'm going to be taking 1 out for another Sorin.
