August 23rd 2015
Team Decards had placed 3 of its 7 members in the top 8 of the first WMCQ. Wei Han was the brainchild of the Mardu Dragons deck which everyone piloted and had 74 of 75 (in Nicholas “Obama” James’s case 76 cards) similar cards. The deck did what it should in a metagame well anticipated. But the team was one shy of ultimate glory when Obama failed to claim the summit from Syed Joyicho in an epic mulligan fest finals.
Heartbroken and dejected, especially for captain Raymond Tan whose dream to have his teammates come battle with him in Spain were crushed by a single Stoke the Flames. For a moment, the team lost its focus and will. But after a mandatory four days rest away from cardboard, everyone was back into GAME ON mode.
August 31st 2015
The team had just finished another round of playtesting. As how Wei Han puts it – Zero Outcome. The field was too wide. There was no meta call to predict. So we do what we do best after a day of magic, we had a team dinner @ Morganfields (Thanks Eugene!) and had a tummy-aching laugh at Ron's expense. Being the junior member has its downsides. It was good times before the battle ahead.
3 days before WMCQ
Everyone more or less decided on what to play:
PM – Merfolk
Shawn & Obama – Jund
Eugene – RG Tron
Ron – Affinity
Jeffrey – Boggles
Wei Han – Mardu Dragons**
** there was not enough cards to go around for a Tier 1 deck. It was Mardu Dragons or Jund without Dark Confidants and Raging Ravines, replacing with Pain Seer and Treetop Village. Sad times….
But Eugene “the Tron Master” had a spicy UW control brew from Yuuya Watanabe’s world championship deck. It was so under the radar that perhaps if no one really prepared for it, it may give us the edge going in. Which was the exact same reason I chose Merfolk. Prior to this, I had played RW Burn in every modern tournament since April with good (but not stunning results). Modern rewards playtesting and with Burn I had already logged in almost 250 matches versus just 30 so far for Merfolk. But the real motivation to play the deck was this guy:
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Dear Master of Waves
When you and your three other Japanese twins joined my family in early 2014, I envisioned you leading great battles together with Thassa, God of the Sea for my 2014-2015 campaign. Alas, you were forgotten as my faith was constantly devoted to the Green mana instead.
Can you ever forgive me?
This time my brethren, for the sake of your country, and by the oath you and your brothers have sworn to me, I call upon your aid. The country needs your aid. Your men of the sea awaits your command. Ride the sea! Ride the waves! Go forth and slay whoever opposes you!
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And that’s how I got sucked into the fantasy of playing Merfolk. Obama gladly handed me his deck box and off I went.
Here’s my final deck list:
4 Lord of Atlantis
4 Master of the Pearl Trident
4 Cursecatcher
4 Silvergil Adept
3 Master of Waves
3 Harbinger of the Tides
2 Merrow Reejeery
2 Kira, Great Glass Spinner
4 Spreading Seas
4 Aether Vial
3 Dismember
1 Vapor Snag
2 Relic of Progenitus
10 Island
1 Oboro, Palace in the Clouds
1 Wanderwine Hub
1 Minamo, School at Water’s Edge
3 Cavern of Souls
4 Mutavault
Sideboard:
4 Hurkyl’s Recall
2 Hibernation
2 Dispel
3 Spell Pierce
2 Tectonic Edge
1 Master of Waves
1 Harbinger of the Tides
As always without going into every detail of the tournament matches, here are the highlights:
1. Both Eugene and Obama jumped on to UW, with Obama scrambling for cards even on the morning of the tournament. At breakfast when he asked Eugene for 2 copies of Relic of Progenitus, he handed him 2 copies of Stony Silence instead. Stunned Obama said he wanted Relic, but his message to Eugene the night before was Stony which puzzled Eugene as well because Obama had already 3 in his sideboard. Guess 5 Stony Silence is a MUST vs Affinity then. PS: Obama did manage to get his Relics.
2. I was a dilemma between a maindeck 4/2 split between Harbinger of the Tides and Master of Waves in the main and a 2 more in the side. Obama finally said just play 3/3 split main and 1 each in the sideboard. Sounds reasonable. And throughout the rest of the day, I drew the “correct” amounts of Harbinger and Master when I needed.
3. Round 1 my opponent was playing UWR. In early turns he was playing removals for my creatures – Lightning Bolt, Helix etc. But I still maintained a small board to pressure, not overextending for fear of Supreme Verdict. On turn 9 he played….. Delver of Secrets. I emptied my hand the next turn and Master of Waves and his merry men trampled over the insect.
4. On turn 2 vs my Round 4 opponent, I Spreading Seas a Steam Vent which turned out my opponent was on full UR Twin. By turn 5 he had assembled two Deceiver Exarchs and a Pestermite beating me down with ZERO red mana sources. My life was trickling low and I was not applying much pressure back as I didn’t have the lord to allow me to attack through. When he drew his first red source, I thought the game was over as he could finish me with double lightning bolts. But he didn’t fire. Instead he activated a Desolate Lighthouse to dig. I drew Master of Waves. He still had 1 red source open and went to dig again end of turn. Dodged another lightning bolt. I was already down to 4. A Pestermite Swing and a bolt would end the game. He drew a second red – Splinter Twin….
Master of Waves summoned its Harbinger through the Aether Vial to wreck the combo and the Elementals charged forward for the win.
5. My quarterfinals opponent was Rick Lee on RG Tron. It was a nightmare. Only 2 night ago, I was sharing with Eugene the beatings I got from Tron. So naturally I wasn’t thrilled with the matchup especially that I didn’t have any counter magic game 1. So the game plan was simple. All chips in and disrupt whenever possible. The deck did just that, robbing Rick of two lands with Spreading Seas and I went all in with a Master of Waves hellbent. When he finally assembled Tron he had a chance for one massive play. It was ONLY a Wurmcoil. Ugin and his balls made of Oblivion Stones were still asleep. Saved.
6. What can be worse after beating Rick’s RG Tron? Play another of course! And this time it was Hang, Eugene Tong Prodigy. Hang had practiced tron for ages and got tips from the Tron Master himself. But this time, he was on his own and my fishes capitalized on several key misplays.
7. Finals versus the President of USA. What can I say? Back to back finalist. Thirst for revenge but a bundle of nervousness at the same time. The only guy gleaming with the biggest smile in the room was Raymond.
8. Three close games, a mistake by Obama and I get to represent my country. Breathe…..
Score one more for Team Decards. We did it together this time. One more to go….
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Epilogue:
Dear Master of Waves
You have fought well. You have made me proud. You made your country proud.
Go now, rest and be free.
I hold your oath fulfilled.
Pang Ming
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