Trying a new post-game format where I summarize the ‘developing’ stage of the game (turns 2-5) and then try to highlight major pivot points from that point. It turns out to be deceptively hard to remember to hit the screenshot button, especially when deep in the tank. Then writing notes about what is happening in the tank. I frankly don’t see how commentators can function at all.

Draft log

Bit of a rough draft. Drifting between various Sultai colors only to solidify into UB rogues in pack 3 with some luck. Upon the log review, black was not open in pack 1. The only pick I don’t like is taking the Gecko over Into the Roil P2p1, since I was much more to be blue than green (with green being completely cut). But I also needed a reason and Gecko can be very powerful.

deck

game plan

Not the greatest rogue deck you’ve ever seen, though it does have some tasty bombs in Zareth and a pair of Lullmage’s Dominations. As such, plan to play fairly average in the opening, hoping to grind out something hard to block (like the Infiltrator or such).

round 1

A fine hand

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Unfortunately the plan didn’t really survive first contact, since oppo dropped Roost of Drakes, kicking Bubble Snare, and I just sat there and had no answer. Really good deck.

game 2

This is an unpleasant keep, but you sort of have to trust your deck. One land to a decent turn-3 play is… possible. And it has removal and my bomb.

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Pretty straight-forward developing, with oppo’s early Squid applying pressure. Another Roost comes down after I missed a land drop, so I’m basically toast. But never give up and never surrender! I had one interesting fork in the road:

What do I take with the Lullmage’s Domination? Or more accurately: do I burn one of them now to take the drake for 3 mana, or hope I get a land soon to get the more permanent blocker with the 1/3. I do take the drake, but oppo had bounce (which creates more drakes naturally) and it was all over.

round 2

Okay, this isn’t bad! Probably play out the spell-land and try to get some shields up.

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In response, my opponent absolutely brutalized me with a Thundering Sparkmage for 4 (on jeski colors naturally) and I had no recovery.

game 2

Ate a mulligan in game 2, only to then carry on to color screw and just couldn’t respond to the pressure.

0-2

Felt like some bad luck, facing a really good Roost of Drakes/wizard deck in round 1 and then a Jeskai deck that I could not punish for their greedy mana choices. Also my deck wasn’t great.