I took the deck to FNM and it played pretty well.
Some noted before I go over the matches:
1. I had the Xathrid Necromancer in the Main instead of Ajani
2. I had a sideboard consisting of 3 Sin collectors, 2 Profit // Loss, 1 Ultimate Price, 2 Ajani, Caller of the pride, 3 Dark Betrayal, 2 Thoughtseize, and 2 Doom Blade
3. There were 16 people at this FNM and we played 4 rounds.
Now for the matches:
Round 1: 2-0 vs. Slivers
Yup, Slivers. A friend of mine decided at the last minute to play a Slivers deck that he was determined to make work. Anyway, the matches were pretty easy. Without fear of a Supreme Verdict or Anger of the Gods I was able to just slam down all my cheap cost creatures. The multiple colors of his Slivers did make Brave the Elements a bit worse, but it was a relatively easy matchup. He almost came back game one with a Siphoning Sliver but I just hit it with an Orzhov Charm and that was that. Game 2 I sided in my removal including one Dark Betrayal for the Siphoning Sliver.
Round 2: 1-2 vs. Mono Red Devotion
I think that I could have won this matchup if I had been a little bit more experienced with my deck (I put it together that same Friday). Game one he hit me for some stupid amount really early after a big Burning-Tree Emissary chain into a Fanatic of Mogis. Game one was over fast. Game 2 I sided in my removal. I curved out perfectly and was able to win the game early with some big Brave the Elements assisted swings. Game three I also brought in the [[Profit // Loss]. I wasn't prepared for Chandra's Phoenix (because I'm dumb) and I ended up losing to a few swings from them and some burn spells. Game 3 there was a point where we were both at 7 life and i truly feel like I could of won if I had played smarter.
Round 3: 2-1 vs Dimir Control
He was playing Dimir, but thankfully it was control and note mill. Game one was kind of grindy, but it became a bit easier once I found out he wasn't playing white. He managed to play Jace, Architect of Though twice, which definitely slowed down the win for me, but I just decided to go straight for the player instead of trying to deal with Jace and it worked out. Game 2 I brought in Thoughtseize, the Sin Collectors, 3 Dark Betrayal, and Ultimate Price. I misplayed HARD on turn three and played a Plains instead of the Swamp I had (so I had 3 Plains instead of 2 Plains and a Swamp) so I missed a chance to cast Thoughtseize. After missing the Thoughtseize, he was able to cast an Ashiok and take over the game. Basically he was milling me for 3, casting one of my one drops, then using them as sacrifices to keep his Shadowborn Demon alive. I lost that game pretty hard. Game 3 I kept the same cards in from the sideboard. I got a bit luckier this time with my draws as I seemed to have a perfect opening hand and I got what I needed when I needed it. I was able to drop a lot of creatures and swing big. He played an Ashiok and milled me once, but I was able to play Ajani and give a creature double strike to kill it right away. After that it was smooth sailing.
Game 4: 0-2 vs Esper Control
Honestly, I think this might be one of the worst matchups for my deck. If I don't have a Sin Collector or Thoughtseize in hand to take his Supreme Verdict on turn 4, it's basically game over. Game one I got him down to 6 life, he hit me with the Supreme Verdict and there was basically nothing I could do after that. He always had an answer to whatever I tried to cast and it was just frustrating. Game 2 I brought in the Thoughtseizes and Sin Collectors. I also brought in the Dark Betrayals because I knew that this particular Esper deck had 4 copies of Nightveil Specter. I should have taken the mulligan after not starting with a Thoughtseize or Sin Collector, but it was a good opener with plenty of action on turn 1,2 and 3, and I was hoping to draw into what I needed in time. I didnt. He got me with Supreme Verdict again and then landed a Blood Baron. Protection from my whole deck kinda sucks.
I was 2-2 at the end of the night and got 8th out of 16 people. Could have been worse, could have been better.
Overall I'm very happy with the deck, I think I'll get better results the more I play it, and I hope be able to adapt it and carry it over once the new set comes out in February. Thanks for reading, any tips would be greatly appreciated.
