So, it's been 3 years since I've played any Magic. My son was interested in learning how to play, so now I'm back. I sold my collection (again) when I got out after the first Innistrad block, so besides some old Duel decks I gave my son years ago, we've been buying packs of the new Innistrad block and playing sealed.
However, I recently logged on to my old MTGO account and saw that I still had my Modern Affinity deck. I was close to having the 300 Play Points necessary to join a Limited tournament this weekend, so I played a few rounds of Constructed to gain entry.
Round 1 vs Storm Ascension - Game 1: Supposedly, this deck isn't very popular in the current meta, and it's usually a poor matchup for Affinity (at least, in my experience). So, it figures I play it on my first game back. He Grapeshot my creatures on turn 3 after I got him down to 2 (I was on the play to begin), though I probably should have used my Galvanic Blast to kill his Goblin Electromancer instead of to his dome. What can I say, I'm rusty. Turn 4 he goes off and kills me with Grapeshot.
Game 2: I probably didn't sideboard as well as I should have (remember, I'm rusty). I also had to mulligan down to 5. Tried to go the Infect route and got 6 counters on him before he Pyro'd on turn 4 and bolted me to death.
Final Result: 0-2 Loss
Round 2 vs Tron - Game 1: I'm on the play, he mulligans to 6. My opening hand is near-perfect: Blinkmoth Nexus, Ornithopter, Mox Opal, Vault Skirge, Springleaf Drum, Steel Overseer, and Arcbound Ravager. The first 5 come out on turn 1. Overseer on turn 2 after drawing Cranial Plating. Equip Plating to Skirge on turn 3 and start bashing. If he hadn't got out a couple Urza lands, I would have had no idea what he was playing.
Game 2: I Thoughtseize him on turn 1. He's got a Condescend and a Repeal, so I grab the counter. The rest were lands. Turn 2, I plate an Ornithopter, but he bounces it back to my hand. Turn 3, I decide to try for an Infect win, so I activate Inkmoth Nexus. I cast Ravager in pre-Combat Main, hoping to lure something out, and he Remands it. I attach Plating and swing. Repeat on turn 4, he casts a desperate Thirst for Knowledge, but finds no answers.
Final Result: 2-0 Win
Round 3 vs White Weenie - Game 1: I'm on the play. Master of Etherium makes his first appearance of the night, but gets exiled before blockers are declared, so my Ornithopters smash in for zero. He starts pounding in with a couple Thraben inspectors buffed by Honor of the Pure and Thalia's Lieutenant, taking me down to 10 before I get my Plated Skirge up and running.
Game 2: Much like the first, except my Skirge is suited up and smashing on turn 2.
Final Result: 2-0 Win
Round 4 vs Azorius Control - Game 1: I felt like I was back in Standard 3 years ago with Supreme Verdict, Wall of Omens, Mana Leak, Detention Sphere, Restoration Angel, Celestial Colonnade, Ghost Quarter and Sphinx's Revelation. Of course, it was supplemented with Modern staples like Path to Exile and Cryptic Command *list*. I came back after a board wipe to win on turn 6 by attacking with a plated Ravager and a Memnite. He blocked the Ravager, which had lethal, with his Wall, but I activated Ravager, sacing my 2 Citadels and Drums along with the Ravager to give the Memnite lethal.
Game 2: Again, I wasn't confident on my sideboard. I tried to get Infect, hitting him for 8 poison before he turned my Nexus into Islands with Spreading Seas. His Vendilion Clique discarded my Ravager, the only threat in my hand, then joined the Angel to beat me down.
Game 3: I was only 5 Play Points away from the entry fee for the tournament, so whether I won or loss, it didn't matter. Which made me feel a little better about mulliganing down to 5. But who wants to lose, right? This game came down to a couple key plays, especially at the end as my clock ran down to under a minute. It actually began on turn 3, when I activated both my non-Infect Blinkmoths and buffed them with the Overseer. This set up the winning play several turns later. I use the Blinkmoths and an Ornithopter to swing around his wall. On his turn, he tries to Detention Sphere my Ravager, but I activate it to pump the thopter. Turn 4, Orni gets plated and bashes in. He's at 4 life.
Remember those buffed Blinkmoths? After a board wipe on turn 7, I draw a Mox Opal to start turn 8. My board state includes the two Blinkmoth Nexuses with 1 counter each, a Springleaf Drum, a Mox Opal, and a Cranial Plating. He has 1 Island untapped and 5 cards in hand. Thanks to the "new" Legendary rule, I have just enough to activate the 2 Blinkmoths and swing in for the win with 52 seconds left on the clock.
Final Result: 2-1 Win
