by Will Brinkman
“We tested at first with Flickers, but eventually we said ‘Nahhhhh,’” Vitus related regretfully. Flickers From the Past would certainly be great against Anssi Alkio’s Lord Benjamin Tremendouson deck, thanks to the potency of Brittilize and Spell Suppression in the matchup. While Vor’na has a reasonable chance against the Alliance Warrior, Spellweaver Jihan’s is pretty slim without Flickers--even with the Warrior hate like Call to Arms: Eye of the Storm. 2010 NACC quarterfinalist Corey Burkhart experienced that first-hand en route to being routed by champion Tim Rivera. Would history repeat itself in the EUCC finals?
Vitus won the die roll, but Anssi had Guardian’s Plate Bracers. That merited a Jihan flip and The Taste of Arcana, interrupting the armor. Lady Bancroft landed for the Mage team, a fine start to the game. Keys to the Armory met a second Taste, and Lady Bancroft attacked for 2 damage. Mikael the Blunt joined Jihan’s team, but he was quickly bumped off the table by Lord Benjamin and Death Wish. Everlasting Cold hit Lord Ben, and Lady Bancroft made it 9 damage on the Warrior. Keys to the Armory fetched Bonefist Gauntlets, and they stuck.
The armor prevented the 2 points from Lady Bancroft, but Myriam Starcaller threatened to make it a quick first game. Fleshwerk Throwing Glaive daggered the Alliance Druid, and Anssi replaced his thrown weapon with Vindicator’s Brand. Vitus dug with a quest, eventually throwing down a second Everlasting Cold while gripping double Myriam Starcaller in hand. Vitus screamed “Noooooo!” as Anssi exhausted his resources, only to breathe a sigh of relief when it was Fleshwerk Throwing Glaive. Anssi then exhausted the rest of his resources and played Amani Mask of Death. Slow-rolled!
“At least search it out--don’t just have it!” cried Volbracht. The two Mage debuffs went to the yard, and the game was suddenly up for grabs once more. Seer’s Signet allowed the Mage to blow up the Death Wish, but Anssi kept on clawing back. Anssi attacked Jihan for 3 with his hero, and a second Vindicator’s Brand sent the ring to the yard. A Rare Bean on 'rare' revealed Death Wish, allowing Lord Ben to kill a new Myriam Starcaller.
Vitus played his third Myriam, but a flip from the Warrior and an attack wiped the Mage’s party. The last card in Vitus’s hand, Mana Sapphire, was Pummeled into nothing. Never has a card been so literal! Volbracht quested in response, but came up with no interrupts. An Everlasting Cold was casually flipped on Lord Ben, but Vitus suddenly thought better of it and simply conceded.
Alkio - 1, Volbracht - 0
Vitus drew his initial seven and threw back his small fish. That hand would’ve been nothing but speed bumps for any reasonable start from Anssi. Alkio mulliganed as well, drawing into Guardian’s Plate Bracers. Vitus drew a hand of double Blizzard and Myriam Starcaller--not exactly the hand he wanted, but there weren’t too many hands available that would qualify under that condition.
Anssi led off with the Bracers and had turn 2 Death Wish to put Jihan at 3 damage. Call to Arms: Eye of the Storms kept the Warrior at bay for a couple turns, and Anssi spent the time playing Vindicator’s Brand and Bloody Ritual. Spell Suppression turned off Death Wish, and Brittilize smashed the Plate Bracers.
This game was certainly looking up for Vitus! Bonefist Gauntlets gave Lord Ben some protection, but Jihan would be able to protect her new Myriam Starcaller with Eye of the Storm. Death Wish came into play uncontested, and Eye of the Storm stopped the Warrior's attack. Lord Benjamin equipped a Goblin Rocket Launcher, almost simply for style points.
“Just 1 Myriam doesn’t do enough damage, and 2 Myriams are destroyed by Amani Mask of Death,” lamented Vitus. He decided to gamble and play a second Myriam. Mikael the Blunt also tried its best to stay around, but Goblin Rocket Launcher fired for 2. Brittilize with a Jihan flip dealt 3 to Lord Benjamin and stopped the attack, but Keys to the Armory for Amani Mask of Death was enough to win the match and the European Continental Championship.
Nice. Card.
Alkio - 2, Volbracht - 0
DMF Champion Anssi Alkio has added a new title to his resume: European Continental Champion!
Vitus won the die roll, but Anssi had Guardian’s Plate Bracers. That merited a Jihan flip and The Taste of Arcana, interrupting the armor. Lady Bancroft landed for the Mage team, a fine start to the game. Keys to the Armory met a second Taste, and Lady Bancroft attacked for 2 damage. Mikael the Blunt joined Jihan’s team, but he was quickly bumped off the table by Lord Benjamin and Death Wish. Everlasting Cold hit Lord Ben, and Lady Bancroft made it 9 damage on the Warrior. Keys to the Armory fetched Bonefist Gauntlets, and they stuck.
The armor prevented the 2 points from Lady Bancroft, but Myriam Starcaller threatened to make it a quick first game. Fleshwerk Throwing Glaive daggered the Alliance Druid, and Anssi replaced his thrown weapon with Vindicator’s Brand. Vitus dug with a quest, eventually throwing down a second Everlasting Cold while gripping double Myriam Starcaller in hand. Vitus screamed “Noooooo!” as Anssi exhausted his resources, only to breathe a sigh of relief when it was Fleshwerk Throwing Glaive. Anssi then exhausted the rest of his resources and played Amani Mask of Death. Slow-rolled!
“At least search it out--don’t just have it!” cried Volbracht. The two Mage debuffs went to the yard, and the game was suddenly up for grabs once more. Seer’s Signet allowed the Mage to blow up the Death Wish, but Anssi kept on clawing back. Anssi attacked Jihan for 3 with his hero, and a second Vindicator’s Brand sent the ring to the yard. A Rare Bean on 'rare' revealed Death Wish, allowing Lord Ben to kill a new Myriam Starcaller.
Vitus played his third Myriam, but a flip from the Warrior and an attack wiped the Mage’s party. The last card in Vitus’s hand, Mana Sapphire, was Pummeled into nothing. Never has a card been so literal! Volbracht quested in response, but came up with no interrupts. An Everlasting Cold was casually flipped on Lord Ben, but Vitus suddenly thought better of it and simply conceded.
Alkio - 1, Volbracht - 0
Vitus drew his initial seven and threw back his small fish. That hand would’ve been nothing but speed bumps for any reasonable start from Anssi. Alkio mulliganed as well, drawing into Guardian’s Plate Bracers. Vitus drew a hand of double Blizzard and Myriam Starcaller--not exactly the hand he wanted, but there weren’t too many hands available that would qualify under that condition.
Anssi led off with the Bracers and had turn 2 Death Wish to put Jihan at 3 damage. Call to Arms: Eye of the Storms kept the Warrior at bay for a couple turns, and Anssi spent the time playing Vindicator’s Brand and Bloody Ritual. Spell Suppression turned off Death Wish, and Brittilize smashed the Plate Bracers.
“Just 1 Myriam doesn’t do enough damage, and 2 Myriams are destroyed by Amani Mask of Death,” lamented Vitus. He decided to gamble and play a second Myriam. Mikael the Blunt also tried its best to stay around, but Goblin Rocket Launcher fired for 2. Brittilize with a Jihan flip dealt 3 to Lord Benjamin and stopped the attack, but Keys to the Armory for Amani Mask of Death was enough to win the match and the European Continental Championship.
Nice. Card.
Alkio - 2, Volbracht - 0
DMF Champion Anssi Alkio has added a new title to his resume: European Continental Champion!
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