Battle Report – Dec. 23, 2007
Format: Constructed (9 players, 4 preliminary rounds + Finals)
Hero: Gorebelly
Tourney rank: 1st
Final score: 4-1
Tourney points: 9 (2 per win, 1 per loss)
Total points for December: 33
The March of the Legion pre-release tourney was only last weekend. Cards from the new set were legal for today's tournament. Once again, I had to decide which new cards to put in the deck and which ones from the old pool need to be taken out. There are so many outstanding cards from the new set that I had to let go some old ones that I thought I'd never take out. I've played with them for so long they've become staples in my decks.
For this tournament, I felt that most if not all players were going to play rush because it normally takes a while for players to evaluate and finalize new dynamics for control decks. So I wasn't too worried about going against control and I tweaked my deck to play even tighter and faster in a foot race.
My most interesting matchup was with Angel Jay. I think this is the first time I faced him in a tournament so I didn't know what to expect. I have heard, though, that he uses unconventional plays so I knew it was going to be a fun game. He brought Taheo Skyspeaker, the new Horde druid hero. When I read the flip power, I couldn't decide whether he was going rush or control. It turned out to be another speed deck but with some very interesting combos.
At one point in the game, he played For the Horde! and attacked with about 3 allies. That really caught me off-guard. I mean, seriously, when's the last time anyone played For The Horde? He also played that piece of armor that puts 2 damage on your hero every time you drop a resource. Yikes! It gets better. During one of his turns, with that piece of armor in play, he played the 1-drop E'sad which means I have to put the top card from my deck into my resource row and, therefore, putting 2 more damage on my hero. And if I don't kill his new ally, it attacks for 4 next turn. Did I mention he uses unconventional plays?
Anyway, I lost our preliminary round matchup. I faced him again in the finals where I prevailed but it was a very close game. I think Angel Jay's reputation for using non-traditional but very effective decks is well-deserved. Good game!
Round 1: Jim Paul - Elendril
Result: win
Round 2: Teodi - Omedus
Result: win
Round 3: Angel Jay - Taheo
Result: loss
Round 4: Wynne - Radak Doombringer
Result: win
Finals: Angel Jay - Taheo
Result: win
Tournament winner: me
Tournament runner-up: Angel Jay
Battle Report - Dec. 16, 2007
Battle Report - Dec. 16, 2007
Format: Limited - Sealed (17 players, 4 preliminary rounds)
Hero: Warrax
Tourney rank: 5th
Final score: 3-1
Tourney points: 7 (2 per win, 1 per loss)
Total points for December: 24
For this tournament, I had my mind set on going Horde rush. Not because it’s what I’ve been playing lately but because each round was best of 3 and only 45 minutes was allotted for each round. Since it’s not uncommon for games to last more than 30 minutes each, 45 minutes was just too short for 2 games, much less 3. But those were the rules. When I opened my 6 boosters, however, I knew my plan wasn't going to happen. I saw protector after protector from either faction.
When I saw a Waldo the Decoy, a Weeble, and 2 Bizzazz, I knew I was going to go Alliance. And I went Aldor for their Inspire ability. I had a V. Kaldel, A. Alonora and 2 Darynus. So, with card-drawing allies, protectors, and allies with Inspire, I felt I was off to a good start.
I didn't get a lot of quests in my boosters. In fact, I don't think I put in more than 5 quests in the deck.
I saw around 7 Rogue cards, 2 of which were Wound Poison, which would have been perfect for long games. But not a single Rogue weapon was to be found anywhere. My decision to go warrior was sealed when I saw 2 Platinum Shields of the Valorous, 2 Safeguards and a Puncture. I searched for warrior weapons in the boosters but none were found. Them's the breaks.
In the last sealed tournament I joined, I lost a round when I decked out. I wanted to make sure it wasn't going to happen this time around and ran 36 cards in the deck. So the plan was to make my warrior a tank with an ongoing Safeguard and the damage-absorbing Platinum Shield while my allies are kept alive long enough to deal some meaningful damage. If my hero does get into trouble (which was easy enough to do), I’d play my big protectors and use Inspire when I can.
In the end, it worked pretty much according to plan, winning 3 out of 4 games. By the way, it's a blast when your 3-cost shield is giving you 8 DEF per turn. W00t!
Round 1: Teodi - Kintara
Result: win
Round 2: Joel - Boris
Result: loss
Round 3: Mark Uy - Phadalus
Result: win
Round 4: Jim Paul - Chaigon
Result: win
Tournament winner: Dudes
Tournament runner-up: Joel
Format: Limited - Sealed (17 players, 4 preliminary rounds)
Hero: Warrax
Tourney rank: 5th
Final score: 3-1
Tourney points: 7 (2 per win, 1 per loss)
Total points for December: 24
For this tournament, I had my mind set on going Horde rush. Not because it’s what I’ve been playing lately but because each round was best of 3 and only 45 minutes was allotted for each round. Since it’s not uncommon for games to last more than 30 minutes each, 45 minutes was just too short for 2 games, much less 3. But those were the rules. When I opened my 6 boosters, however, I knew my plan wasn't going to happen. I saw protector after protector from either faction.
When I saw a Waldo the Decoy, a Weeble, and 2 Bizzazz, I knew I was going to go Alliance. And I went Aldor for their Inspire ability. I had a V. Kaldel, A. Alonora and 2 Darynus. So, with card-drawing allies, protectors, and allies with Inspire, I felt I was off to a good start.
I didn't get a lot of quests in my boosters. In fact, I don't think I put in more than 5 quests in the deck.
I saw around 7 Rogue cards, 2 of which were Wound Poison, which would have been perfect for long games. But not a single Rogue weapon was to be found anywhere. My decision to go warrior was sealed when I saw 2 Platinum Shields of the Valorous, 2 Safeguards and a Puncture. I searched for warrior weapons in the boosters but none were found. Them's the breaks.
In the last sealed tournament I joined, I lost a round when I decked out. I wanted to make sure it wasn't going to happen this time around and ran 36 cards in the deck. So the plan was to make my warrior a tank with an ongoing Safeguard and the damage-absorbing Platinum Shield while my allies are kept alive long enough to deal some meaningful damage. If my hero does get into trouble (which was easy enough to do), I’d play my big protectors and use Inspire when I can.
In the end, it worked pretty much according to plan, winning 3 out of 4 games. By the way, it's a blast when your 3-cost shield is giving you 8 DEF per turn. W00t!
Round 1: Teodi - Kintara
Result: win
Round 2: Joel - Boris
Result: loss
Round 3: Mark Uy - Phadalus
Result: win
Round 4: Jim Paul - Chaigon
Result: win
Tournament winner: Dudes
Tournament runner-up: Joel
Battle Report - Dec. 9, 2007
Battle Report - Dec. 9, 2007
Format: Lazy Peon (9 players, 5 preliminary rounds + Finals)
Hero: Ta'zo
Tourney rank: 2nd
Final score: 4-2
Tourney points: 10 (2 per win, 1 per loss)
Total points for December: 17
The format was once again Lazy Peon. The easy deck choice for me was my Bulkas rush deck with just a few changes needed. Gorebelly combo was out of the picture since I couldn't bring Twigs and Mortal Strike. My Telrander deck was also crossed out from the list. Without Predatory Strikes, cat form would cause no more than a small nuisance to opposing players. However, since I've playing either warrior or druid for the last few months, I felt it was time to try a new class. I settled on mage rush.
With lots of direct damage spells and ferocity allies, I felt a Ta'zo deck got some game. Still, I had my doubts since I haven't brought a single mage deck to a tournament since Heroes of Azeroth days and I was playing a mage control deck then at that. Also, I had no time for playtesting. But I do have experience playing against it and I knew the deck's strengths and weaknesses so it wasn't necessarily a bad idea from an experience point of view. In the end, it finished strong so I guess it was a good call after all.
Round 1: Joel - Zenith Shadowforce
Result: win
Round 2: Emil - Phadalus
Result: win
Round 3: JP Kuan - Ta'zo
Result: loss
Round 4: Jim Paul - Kana Nassis
Result: win
Round 5: Lito - Morova of the Sands
Result: win
Finals: JP Kuan
Result: loss
Tournament winner: JP Kuan
Tournament runner-up: me
Format: Lazy Peon (9 players, 5 preliminary rounds + Finals)
Hero: Ta'zo
Tourney rank: 2nd
Final score: 4-2
Tourney points: 10 (2 per win, 1 per loss)
Total points for December: 17
The format was once again Lazy Peon. The easy deck choice for me was my Bulkas rush deck with just a few changes needed. Gorebelly combo was out of the picture since I couldn't bring Twigs and Mortal Strike. My Telrander deck was also crossed out from the list. Without Predatory Strikes, cat form would cause no more than a small nuisance to opposing players. However, since I've playing either warrior or druid for the last few months, I felt it was time to try a new class. I settled on mage rush.
With lots of direct damage spells and ferocity allies, I felt a Ta'zo deck got some game. Still, I had my doubts since I haven't brought a single mage deck to a tournament since Heroes of Azeroth days and I was playing a mage control deck then at that. Also, I had no time for playtesting. But I do have experience playing against it and I knew the deck's strengths and weaknesses so it wasn't necessarily a bad idea from an experience point of view. In the end, it finished strong so I guess it was a good call after all.
Round 1: Joel - Zenith Shadowforce
Result: win
Round 2: Emil - Phadalus
Result: win
Round 3: JP Kuan - Ta'zo
Result: loss
Round 4: Jim Paul - Kana Nassis
Result: win
Round 5: Lito - Morova of the Sands
Result: win
Finals: JP Kuan
Result: loss
Tournament winner: JP Kuan
Tournament runner-up: me
Battle Report - Dec. 2, 2007
Battle Report - Dec. 2, 2007
Format: Constructed (8 players, 4 preliminary rounds + Finals)
Hero: Gorebelly
Tourney rank: 3rd
Final score: 3-1
Tourney points: 7 (2 per win, 1 per loss)
Total points for December: 7
Round 1: Orlando - Telrander
Result: win
Round 2: Jim Paul – Ona Skyshot
Result: win
Round 3: JP Kuan – Ta’zo
Result: win
Round 4: Kennard - Nathadan
Result: loss
Tournament winner: Kennard Ngosiok
Tournament runner-up: JP Kuan
Format: Constructed (8 players, 4 preliminary rounds + Finals)
Hero: Gorebelly
Tourney rank: 3rd
Final score: 3-1
Tourney points: 7 (2 per win, 1 per loss)
Total points for December: 7
Round 1: Orlando - Telrander
Result: win
Round 2: Jim Paul – Ona Skyshot
Result: win
Round 3: JP Kuan – Ta’zo
Result: win
Round 4: Kennard - Nathadan
Result: loss
Tournament winner: Kennard Ngosiok
Tournament runner-up: JP Kuan
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