Today I went 3-0-2 at my LGS for a box of Masters 25 with Esper Mill. There were 7 of us. Before starting, we were told 1st place going into top 4 gets to pick the matchups.
Round 1, Myles on Titan Shift w/o the Shift? (2-0)
This round really surprised me because he’s always on goblins and steamrolls a good majority of the players.
Game 1 on the play: I kept a decent hand, and I think I opened with a Hedron Crab. He fetches, suspends Search for Tomorrow, I Archive Trap, then untap for my turn. I Glimpse the Unthinkable and then it just kind of snowballs from there. He doesn’t find a threat and scoops by turn 4.
Game 2 on the draw: Kept double Trap and Surgical Extraction. He cracks fetch, I double Trap, and when I start to pay 2 life, he scoops. (1-0)
Round 2, Sam on GB Tron (2-1)
This one is a little foggy.
Game 1? on the draw: Mill some, stumbles to get tron, eventually plays Reality Smasher, I Path it, out comes Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger and I scoop after my lands blew up.
Game 2 on the play: Mill some, Surgical a Tower, he stumbles, he makes me discard, I land a Jace, the Mind Sculptor to fate-seal him, leaving a Sylvan Scrying on top knowing he’ll search (Trap in hand, no Orb on board), and I eventually mill him out with 2 late game Mesmeric Orbs.
Game 3 on the draw: Similar thing happens. Overall really close/ grindy match. (2-0)
Round 3, Chris on Mardu Pyromancer (intentional draw to top 4)
We still play for fun and I win 2-0. He basically Faithless Lootinged himself too much. (2-0-1)
Top 4: Me, Sam, Chris, Dan (Ad Nauseum)
I chose to play against Chris again because I figured the matchup was in my favor. Also Dan is a good friend of mine and he has the advantage against Tron. We agreed if we both make it to top 2 we will split the box.
Round 4, Chris on Mardu Pyromancer (2-1)
Tougher matches than the for fun ones. I was thinking I was done for most of it.
Game 1 on the play: I mulliganned and kept a decent, but slow hand. He thoughtseized me and it was rough. He flooded the board and I couldn't keep up. He beat me down.
Game 2 on the play: I mulligan again and have a decent hand with a Trap. I think I went Crab pass. He fetched and I Trapped. I may have Surgicalled Blood Moon after I played an Inquisition of Kozilek. I don't remember if that was in one of the for fun games. He got Pyromancer on board and I either Pathed it or Pushed it. I eventually got Manic Scribe out. Scribe didn’t last more than a few turns, but I slowly milled through a grindy game thanks to Mind Funeral for a ton, removing most of his threats other than Lingering Souls.
Game 3 on the draw: Very similar to game 2. I forget the opening turns, but I remember Sugicalling Lingering Souls. The board was very back and forth creature-wise. I brainstormed with a short-lived Jace. I was able to cast Crypt Incursion for some extra life. I eventually nailed a Crab and a Scribe, hit another HUGE Funeral, following up with a Glimpse the Unthinkable. (3-0-1)
Round 4, Dan on Ad Nauseum:
As we agreed earlier, if we saw each other in the finals we would split. Nothing to see here. (3-0-2)
Overall, I’m happy with the way my deck performed. No one was really ready for Mill.
