Hi Everyone,
So this is the list that I took to GP Memphis and for it being my first GP, I was fairly pleased.
I ended up going 5-4
Wins-
U/W Heroic (2-1)- I ended up facing U/W Heroic twice (Which I did not expect at all) and it was essentially a battle of the beats. I hit a couple great Thoughtseizes and was able to sneak in some removal and he was just unable to keep up with my beats and sustain off the rhinos. Game 3 I resolved a whip and as the look of sheer terror crept upon his face I could tell he knew he was defeated.
U/W Heroic (2-0)- This round was fairly easy. Game 1 my opponent mulled down to 5, found one land, and didn't see another one the rest of the game. Game 2 I took a Battlewise Hoplite off a thoughseize and was able to remove a Battlewise Hoplite after he tapped out to play it and add an Ordeal of Thassa. I then slammed a Rhino and raided out a Roc next turn and it was smooth sailing from there.
Abzan Aggro (2-0)- This was just a straight up battle of beats. Game one I missed several land drops and my opponent dropped me all the way to 1 with his Rhino while he was sitting at a strong 15 or so. I ended up ripping a rhino, was able to raid a Roc next turn and just chip away. I ended up taking that game. Game 2, a vampire token did some serious work (ended up raiding into a Roc) and I walked away feeling great after that comeback game 1.
Abzan Midrange (2-1) These were some GREAT matches. My opponent was on the new Abzan plan that didn't run Caryatids (But instead ran several Read the Bones, End Hostilities, etc.) Game 1 I chipped away with Fleecemanes and eventually slammed 3 Rhinos 3 turns in a row to which he just scooped up. Game 2 I resolved an early whip but didn't really find anything and eventually he chipped away at me with 3 Coursers until I decided to just let him have it. Game 3, we had a battle of removal and kept going back and forth until I eventually was able to raid in the Rocs and "party roc" my way into sweet victory.
Mardu Walkers (2-0) This fella had a spicy walkers builds that was pretty neat. However, I was way too fast for his plan and ended up taking the first 2 games without any issue (I never dropped below 20). He didn't have too much early game presence and by the time he did, it was met with my removal.
Losses
G/R Devotion (0-2) This was the hardest I was beaten all day. I had only gotten to test against this deck a few times before the event and wasn't 100% sure on what hands to keep most efficiently. Game 1, I kept a hand with 3 black sources, and all removal, so I felt prepared to take out whatever he was throwing at me. Boy was I wrong, he ended the game with a Crater's Claws for 15 within minutes. Game 2 was a little bit better, I was able to resolve some big threats and remove several of his but I was again met with a Crater's Claws of doom. It was a pretty quick defeat, but as I mentioned I didn't have a ton of exposure to the deck and honestly, I thought I would be facing far more R/W (Which I didn't see once) so I wasn't fully prepared.
G/R Devotion (2-1) This is a round that I felt like I should have won. I had a huge misplay on my part that really lost me the round. Game 1 was similar to the other round I lost previously with a huge fireball to the face fairly early in the game. Game 2 I was able to removal his big threats and jam Rocs at him until he eventually scooped. Game 3 is really what did me in, my opponent had a 12/12 Polukranos and a Xenegos (Walker) resolved. I had a hand full of removal, and I went to remove the Polukranos and for whatever reason, I accidentally named Xenegos. Therefore, I took a 12 damage beating that turn. I was able to resolve a Rhino and raid a Roc and eventually got him all the way down to 3. I needed one more turn to win. Unfortunately he had a Whisperwood with 2 manifests on board, and a courser so I had just enough to do lethal next turn with leaving a bird open. The turn before he was able to remove a Rhino and I was left with a Roc, a Roc token, and a Fleecemane. I thought I had it locked in...until he ripped a Nissa and turned a land into a creature. With that rip, he was able to overwhelm me and I lost. That misplay really bummed me out and even though I was thinking the right play, I for whatever reason stated the wrong target (I am sure it was a mix of the 4 hours of sleep and not yet eating for the day).
Jeskai Aggro (0-2)- Nothing too in depth here, he was able to outrace me and eventually burned me out. Was a really cool guy and I had a fun time playing against him. I didn't expect to see Jeskai aggro (Mantis Rider) and he was able to counter my big stuff with strokes. Game 2 I mulled down to 5 and sat on 2 lands for far too long and I could never get the engine rolling.
Mardu Mid-Range (1-2). 2 words. Crackling Doom. I have no idea how this guy managed to find all of his dooms all 3 games, but it was sure rough to deal with. I scooped up game 1 when I was down to 7 or so and he resolved a Butcher with a Rabble already hanging on the field. Game 2 I ran him over with Rhinos and was able to exile most of this threats with Abzan Charm. Game 3 he Doomed me at least 3 times and ended up slamming 2 butchers and I was only able to deal with one. (Was one mana short from stabilizing the board.)
Overall, I had a great time. Got to chat with several pros, meet some great artists, and I had an overall blast with the environment. I can't be upset with a winning record at my first GP, and I look forward to more in the future!
Thanks!
