Magic Origins Pre-Release #4: Red and White... ?

Sunday morning was when I realized that I may have bitten off more Magic than I could chew.  I woke up exhausted after playing two pre-releases the day before, followed by a night of typing up tournament reports and organizing cards.  Still, the prospect of opening more packs quickly got me going through my morning routine, and by the time I got to the game store I was revved and ready to go.

I had chosen Red for my Sunday morning pre-release, and although I didn't open up anything particularly special in Red, it still had a nice mix of creatures and removal spells.  None of the other colors seemed particularly outstanding, and I finally decided that White was the best of a mediocre lot.

CREATURES (14)   Anointer of Champions Boggart Brute Embermaw Hellion Firefiend Elemental x2 Hixus, Prison Warden Prickleboar x2 Scab-Clan Berserker Seismic Elemental Stalwart Aven x2 Subterranean Scout Volcanic Rambler   ENCHANTMENTS (1)   Grasp of the Hieromancer   INSTANTS (5)   Celestial Flare x2 Fiery Impulse Ravaging Blaze x2   SORCERIES (2)   Dragon Fodder x2   LANDS (17)   Rogue's Passage Plains x7 Mountains x9

SIDEBOARD   Akroan Jailer Ampryn Tactician Enlightened Ascetic Grasp of the Hieromancer Knight of the Pilgrim's Road x2 Kytheon's Tactics Valor in Akros --- Artificer's Epiphany Aspiring Aeronaut Calculated Dismissal Faerie Miscreant Maritime Guard Negate Nivix Barrier Ringwarden Owl x2 Scrapskin Drake Screeching Skaab Send to Sleep Turn to Frog

Blightcaster Consecrated by Blood Dark Dabbling x3 Eyeblight Massacre Fetid Imp Gnarlroot Trapper Graveblade Marauder Nantuko Husk Nightsnare Priest of the Blood Rite Rabid Bloodsucker Reave Soul Returned Centaur Tormented Thoughts Touch of Moonglove Unholy Hunger --- Bellows Lizard Chandra's Fury Infectious Bloodlust Magmatic Insight Smash to Smithereens Titan's Strength

Aerial Volley Dwynen, Gilt-Leaf Daen Elvish Visionary Hitchclaw Recluse Joraga Invocation Leaf Gilder Llanowar Empath x2 Might of the Masses Sylvan Messenger Titanic Growth --- Blood-Cursed Knight Shaman of the Pack Thunderclap Wyvern --- Alchemist's Vial Bonded Construct Guardian Automaton x2 Ramroller Sword of the Animist War Horn x2

Round 1

After some initial jousting my opponent played Nissa, Vastwood Seer.  Oh.  He quickly managed to flip her and awaken her 4/4 elemental, which was problematic.  Fortunately Subterranean Scout snuck a Goblin token by his defenses to destroy Nissa, and after a turn or two I stabilized.

That's when he played Kytheon, Hero of Akros with enough spare mana to protect him with indestructibility.   And that was that.

Luckily the next two games went more in my favor with my opponent unable to mount the crush of threats that he had managed game 1, and I pulled out the match victory with my big red creatures.

Result: W (2-1)

Round 2

I've blacked out this round.  Here's what I remember:

• Zendikar's Roil
• Evolving Wilds
• Nissa's Pilgrimage
• exactly ONE KAJILLION 2/2 Elementals (and yes, the number is exact)

Result: L (0-2)

Round 3

Nothing too notable about this round, in which I faced a younger player with a Blue-Red deck.  His deck had lots of ways to stall, but no real way to deal with my creatures permanently.

Result: W (2-0)

Round 4


I actually don't remember much about this round, during which I realized I was starving and hadn't eaten breakfast (or much of a dinner the night before).  We split the first two games, and game 3 found me stuck on four mana holding a hand of five-cost creatures (Hixus would have been particularly useful).  By the time I drew my fifth land it was too late.


Result: L (1-2)

Summary

I ended up going 2-2 overall, which seems right for a sealed pool that was neither particularly terrible nor noteworthy.  The most notable thing about this pre-release?  I discovered how much I enjoy destroying my opponents Planeswalkers.  Seriously, it's fun.