Sac 'Em 'n Snack 'Em (Junk Scavenging)

Standard JMat27

SCORE: 18 | 10 COMMENTS | 4010 VIEWS | IN 2 FOLDERS

FNM 3-1 —June 27, 2014

This was actually my first standard FNM ever, so I'm quite pleased with how it went. I've been playing the game for some time, but I've never been able to afford to complete a deck in standard until now.

Round 1: 2-1 vs RDW I don't remember much about game 1, but I won fairly quickly. Game 2 I took a mulligan to 6 and kept a hand with 4 land and 2 one-drops, and couldn't deal with Ash Zealot/Rakdos Cackler/Foundry Street Denizen/Searing Blood. Game 3 I managed to scavenge a Fiendslayer Paladin up to 8/8, and he couldn't get in enough damage to counteract my life gain.

Round 2: 2-1 vs Junk Midrange This match was very long - in part because my opponent was taking his time on his turns, but it was a grindy matchup. Once again, I don't remember much about game 1, but that was a win. Game 2 turned into dueling Blood Barons, but his pair of Courser of Kruphix kept me from closing. Game 3 we started with only a few minutes left in the the match and I won in extra turns.

Round 3: 2-0 vs Gruul I don't know that I necessarily deserved this win. My opponent had only been playing for a month, and was screwed on mana both games. That said, he did seem to have decent control over his deck, and a 4/4 Fanatic of Xenagos and 2 Savageborn Hydra made me earn my win in game 2.

Round 4: 0-2 vs Esper Control This is the match where I learned that in addition to being great in my sideboard, Blood Baron of Vizkopa is really great against me. My opponent was able to cast it in both games and rode it to victory both times, despite me having timely answers to his planeswalkers and Detention Spheres. I also was flooded on mana the second half of game 2 where one of my sided-in Mistcutter Hydras would've not only saved my, but swung the game back in my favor. I'm considering adding a Celestial Flare or two to deal with Blood Baron. It seems a little bit better than Devour Flesh since you have slightly more control over which creatures they have the option to sacrifice.