Friday saw me attend an FNM at my FLGS The Hobbit Hole after trying unsuccessful to recruit volunteers to help me test my Standard decks and the tweaks I’d made to them.
I think this was my first FNM that I’ve attended. I don’t usually go to them as they clash with the Fenland Gamers gaming sessions.
But we had no session last Friday and I really wanted to test a tweak or two before using one of the decks in anger at the Standard Showdown.
The meta at FNM is totally different to the Showdown. There are a lot more mono red or red based burn decks. Which for some reason my current Simic deck so far does well against.
I played the Simic deck for FNM, and tried out the other two decks in casual games between rounds or while waiting for the results.
FNM was fun. Interesting to see the difference in meta between the two groups of players and play against new people. I knew one or two of the FNM regulars. But everyone I played against was a new opponent that I’d never played against before.
Casual Games
William: Loss 1-2
Michael: Draw 1-1
FNM Stats
Participants: 10
Rounds: 3
Round 1: William (white/black life gain) Loss 0-2
Round 2: Jamie (mono red burn) Win 2-0
Round 3: Michael (red/? aggro/burn) Win 2-1
Record: 2-1
Final Position: 4th
Prizes: 1 participation pack
Saturday was Standard Showdown once more. This time I went with the Simic deck considering how well it did the night before.
The 2 games I lost were due more to being mana screwed and speed than anything else. That was especially true in the game with John. The number of times I was having to mulligan to get any land or more than 1 land was shocking. In one game my opening hand plus the next 6 cards that I drew for the mulligan I didn’t get a single land.
The game with Ryan was a bit unfair. He’s a new player, a youngster as well using an upgraded United Assault. Except he was playing with a 75 card deck! Plus a 15 card sideboard!!!! After our game I called over Andy (who had a buy that round) to help Ryan get back down to a 60 card deck.
John got another one over me. But I think in the long run the win/loss ratio against John is still in my favour. God I hate the sleep card he plays. Almost makes me wish I was back to the Simic control version of the deck. Sleep was enough to give John game one, basically taking my creatures out for 2 turns, and free mega swings for John. Game 2 was when my land decided to hide. If I’d hit the land drops maybe the result would have been different. It couldn’t have been any worse!
The final round against Jade started off badly, although I was close to triggering Simic Ascendancy (just needed to survive Jade’s turn, which sadly I couldn’t). But the second game, with both versions of Vivien out and being allowed to ultimate Vivien Reid with about 10 creatures on the board that were getting bigger and bigger thanks to proliferate. The result was an inevitable crushing. I think that’s the first time I’ve had both out. And the filtering for cards is amazing, you are looking at 7 cards a turn. A creature or land to hand, and a creature in exile that can be cast anytime. The deciding game, also went my way. Once again getting enough creatures out and pumping them up big enough to protect me and then swing in for the kill.
Standard Showdown Stats
Participants: 9
Rounds: 4
Round 1: Nathan Hall (red/black aggro) Loss 0-2
Round 2: Ryan (upgraded! United Assault) Win 2-0
Round 3: John (Simic merfolk) Loss 0-2
Round 4: Jade (upgraded United Assault) Win 2-1
Record: 2-2
Final Position: 7th
Prizes: 1 participation pack.
Sadly there were no casual games at Standard Showdown this week. I arrived nearer the start time, and after 4 rounds I had to shoot off.