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Hi! My name is Jonathan Lee-Mars, and I am the Hinterlands region (Hong Kong) Realm Champion. The following is a report I wanted to write for my friends and anyone who would be interested in China game play or another report to read. My record through Core Constructed was 5-0, 2-1 in draft, and finally 3-0 in the top 8.
We had 32 players in total. The makeup of the players was a handful of mainland China players from Shenzhen with the rest being Hong Kong natives. The Hinterlands region is actually made up of 3 areas: Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Taiwan. Apparently Shanghai’s version of Core does not feature Worldbreaker or the Class decks.
Quick info about me: I’m actually from California, born and raised, but am currently working in China. I will be back in America at the end of May and will be attending NACC 2011. I will also be attending the Asia Pacific Continental Champs mid May.
The Deck
Hero: [Emek the Equalizer]
Allies: 29
4 [Broderick Langforth]
4 [Shadowfiend]
4 [Sivandra Darklust]
4 [Dethvir the Malignant]
4 [Munking Blacksfist]
3 [Nathanos Blightcaller]
3 [Saurfang the Younger, Kor’kron vanguard]
3 [Cairne, Earthmother’s Chosen]
Abilities: 20
4 [Searing Light]
4 [A Taste of Divinity]
4 [Divine Fury]
4 [Tuskarr Kite]
4 [Oppress]
Locations: 3
3 [Kor’kron Vanguard]
Quests: 8
4 [That’s Abominable]
4 [Dr. Boom]
It’s important to note that China’s metagame in general is very control oriented. The top 8 had a:
- Triton Midrange
-Tribalmother Tora Control (Shaman Control with a [Garrosh Hellscream]/[Alexstrasza the Life-Binder] finish)
-Jumo’zin (an exact copy of Mark Markoff’s)
- 2 Rogues, Zorks/Vorix Zorbuzz
- 1 Jeremiah (Red Warlock midrange with armor going for lategame)
- 2 Emeks (me/a weird controllish version with [Gathering of Wits] and [Battle Mage's Baton])
My deck and the Goblin Rogue deck were the only decks that can be considered Rush. In any case my games always finished in half the time allotted. This afforded me a great amount of time to scout my opponents.
The cards I had available to me (props to my BFFs for international mailing) allowed me to play Emek. I did not want to rely on the standard [Devouring Plague] version however, as I saw it as too slow. With that in mind, I made a mad scramble to buy Chinese Saurfangs/Vanguards. I met success., borrowed a Cairne, and I was ready to go.
Hong Kong, Kaoloon, 32 players, Shenzhen/Guangzhou + Hong Kong players
Day 1 Core!
Round 1, Table 16: BYE!
How lucky! My first round opponent decided that he’d rather play in the Traditional Chinese side tournament (all of the cards in your deck must be Chinese and predate Scourgewar). I took the opportunity to wander around tables spying on would-be opponents.
At this point I notice a lot of Shaman/Rogue in the field and a lot of blue Shaman/[Spark]. There are no words I can use to describe how much I hate [Voice of Reason]. I’ll try anyways: “very”. I also don’t really like Rogue, although if they can’t answer [Shadowfiend] then they probably roll over.
Round 2, Table 4: Brian
Brian was playing a [Grizlik Sparkhex] midrange deck. I expected [Jhuunash], [Hesriana], and [Victimize] (every Rogue/Warlock in China has at MINIMUM 3x Victimize in deck). I was looking for [Shadowfiend] and Dethvir. I won the roll (skill).
I started quick with a turn 1 Broderick, turn 2 Broderick with a [Dr. Boom] completion. His turn 1 Broderick/t2 [Mias The Putrid] made me a bit sad. My turn 3 Sivandra Darklust found a 3rd Broderick, and Brian chose to Lessons it away. My opponent also played (and completed) 4 Questions of Gluttony, turns 1-4. I think he might have been playing 13.
Turn 4 I drop a [Tuskarr Kite] and complete another [Dr. Boom]. He drops [Munkin Blackfist]. I shrug. I turn 5 Taste on Munkin, and kill it with my hero (2 Brodericks in graveyard, one removed), and [Shadowfiend]/Sivandra get him to 14. He [Victimize]s (shock).
Turn 6 I ready up, Shadowfiend for 3, Sivandra for 3, play [Searing Light], discard an ability for 3, destroy Searing Light for 3, and attack with my hero 2 to put him at 28 exact.
Round 3. Table 3: Johnson
Johnson is playing Red Warlock Midrange. This time I really AM expecting [Jhuunash]/[Hesriana] and [Victimize]. Brian didn’t play [The Promises of Darkness] (lucky me), and Johnson didn’t either. This was the closest I came to losing. Again I was looking for Shadowfiend/Dethvir. I lost the roll.
Turn 1 he opens with a Broderick. I [Kor’kron Vanguard] his Broderick. He then [Trade Prince Gallywix]’s a Broderick into play. Uh, that’s a lot of damage! I Stash a cow and [Shadowfiend] him to 3, and then kill Broderick again. His turn 3 attacks put me to 9 (he has a Vanguard as well) and he finishes with a Signet of Manifested pain. I’m starting to smell his colors.
Turn 3 I [Shadowfiend] again and flip, discarding Broderick, using my location to give my hero Assault 2 to kill the prince. I’m at a shaky 12. Turn 4 he drops a kite and puts it to work with his shiny new token. I respond with Fiend/[Oppress] on his kite.
My notes get a bit hazy here, but his Hero+Vanguard puts me at 19ish, and then 22. I have a turn 5 [Nathanos Blightcaller]/Shadowfiend to try and not die. His turn 6 [Engulfing Blaze] wipes my side and puts me at 25 with his hero attack. My turn 6 Saurfang the Younger kills him. Thanks Engulfing Blaze!
Earlier in the game I decided to hold back on completing a Dr. Boom. I like to think I win through skill.
Round 4. Table 2: Alvin
Alvin is playing Pidge Filthfinder. Go ahead and scroll up to make sure you’re not reading things twice in a row. Alvin is my third warlock in a row who, hurray, doesn’t have Promises! Although I have yet to see a Jhuunash, that doesn’t mean I’m not fearing its shadow with every waking moment. I win the roll (wrist back in action)
I open with a [Kor’kron Vanguard], putting him on 1. I like being aggressive! His Eye of the Storm is lonely without a one drop. My turn 2 Shadowfiend/Vanguard put him at 5. The noose tightens. Turn 2 he drops an [Unfit for Death]. Turn 3 I fiend/vanguard twice, putting him at 10.
His turn 3, he drops Jhuunash (finally!). His Jhunnash succumbs to [A Taste of Divinity]. Poor guy…Shadowfiend gets in there, as does my hero, putting him to 14. He quests, digging for something to kill Shadowfiend.
My turn 5, fearing a copy of pThe Promises of Darkness[, I elect to be safe and drop Dethvir and attack for 1. How boring. He plays [Hesriana] (I shrug like Miles Edgeworth), and then he Fel Trades it for [Jhuunash]. Turn 6 I Taste it to death and swing in, putting him at 24 (Sfiend 2xVanguard/Dethvir). He concedes. He probably had a Victimize in hand.
4-0 and I have yet to play something other than a Warlock. Mind you I’d love to play nothing but Warlock all day.
Round 5. Table 1: Ricky
This is the last game between undefeated players. Ricky is playing Standard [Zorak’tul]. [Kel’Thuzad] as a finisher. [Dagger of Betrayal] tricks, [Vuz’din], [Lord Jorach Ravenholdt]. I don’t hate my matchup, but a turn 1 [Poach] with a turn 2 Mount/Poach can make my game plan implode. I win the roll (I don’t even look at the roll anymore, I know I’ll win). I’m looking for Shadowfiend.
My opening hand has 2 Shadowfiends, Divine Fury, Saurfang, Searing Light, and a Broderick. I can’t remember the 7th card. Or I just drew 6 cards.
I lead with turn 1 Broderick, he responds with a Poach. He sees my two [Shadowfiend]s and is obviously disappointed. He poaches my divine fury. Turn 2 I Shadowfiend his face to 5. He drops a [Swift Raptor] and a Broderick, and then heals to 3 (would be the only heal he gets off). Turn 3 I decide to swing in with Broderick and Shadowfiend on his hero, putting him to 9. I want to end the game as soon as possible. On 3 his Broderick knocks off mine, and then he drops a Dagger of Betrayal.
I don’t like that so I [Munkin Blackfist] on turn 4 and put him on 11. Turn 4 he goes digging with quests. I turn up the heat with a turn 5 Shadowfiend/Dethvir, putting him to 15. He uses victimize to get rid of the rest of my hand. I top-deck a [Divine Fury] to get him for exact 27. My notes indicate that it was exact. But how did he get rid of Munkin? Weird… I need to take better notes.
5-0! Not bad! Day 1 of the Tournament over, I left to look for a hostel near the place. The closet we stayed in cost 750 HKD, about 100 bucks. Not great, but I was tired and didn’t want to travel too far.
Day 2 Draft!
Pack 1
Pick 1 was between a Bella and Emerald Captain. I went with the card that would make every deck.
1 - [Emerald Captain]
2 - [Counting Out Time]
3 - [Corrosion Prevention]
4 - [Varandas Silverleaf] (I got a varandas 4th pick!)
5 - [Counting out Time]
6 - [Chaotic Rush] (Earlier I [first pack] passed a Rush, if it tables I know Warrior will be set)
7 - [Execute] (see above)
8 - [Furan Rookbane]
9 - [Chaotic Rush] (Hurray for reading signals!)
10 - [Ruby Emissary] (was low on guys)
11 - [Frozen Nerves]
12 - [Veline Bladestar]
13 - [Execute]
After pack 1 I had a Varandas and a Furan as my blue allies. I had a good foundation in terms of warrior abilities, but I needed to fill out the middle of my curve and the beginning. Not to mention the end of my curve. I needed lots of work still. Druid stuff was flowing pretty heavily, it’s like everyone decided to stay out of druid.
Pack 2
1 - [King Genn Greymane] (hi bomb pack 2, I guess I’m blue! I know that the Warrior Hero isn’t a Worgen, but I’d rather have a 5-cost 4/4 than let someone else have it)
2 - [Varandas Silverleaf] (boomer in the pack made me think a bit, but I knew Warrior was open, and in pack 1 I passed a Tesla and a Stakethrower. There had to be a Hunter)
3 - The Torch of Retribution (4 quests! At this point I was aware of the fact that I had two Varandas, which meant that I needed a good amount of quests. But I also wanted to grab Raging Shouts wherever I could. So that would be an interesting bridge to cross once I got there) [this pack also had a [Thunderous Challenge], mucho good card. It should table]
4 – [Loriam Argos] (3 2 drops, I’d really like a [Bella Wilder])
5 - [Polished Breastplate of Valor] (I read somewhere that armor that prevents as much as it costs is playable. I want at least one weapon)
6 - [Raging Shout] (Gimme more, not willing to pass it and see if it tables)
7 - [Bella Wilder] (Edward gives me a high five)
8 - [Terina Calin] (another 3 drop, and I like to have answers for equipment, and I’m playing a class that should have equipment)
9 - [The Mighty U'cha] (quest 5!)
10 - [Hira] (2nd one drop)
11 - [Thunderous Challenge] (It tabled! And into my pile it went.)
12 - [Koeus] (I’ve got a Raging Shout and 2 Chaotic Rushes, I think I’ll be okay)
13 - [Frostfire Bolt]
14 - [Furan Rookbane] (the end of my curve!)
Pack 2 went well. I picked up a fancy bomb, filled out the bottom of my curve, and picked up a few more awesome Warrior uncommons. I still only had 1 4 drop, a bad 4 drop to boot. So I was going to look for some 4 drops, preferably Andrew Ulric so I can beef up Genn on turn 5. I also needed more Bella and maybe 1 more quest to make Varandas more reliable. More [Raging Shout]s is never a bad thing either.
Pack 3
1 - K[orialstrasz] (Hi bomb #2, pass a Thunderous Challenge)
2 - [Allister Cooper] (a 4 drop Worgen!)
3 - [Alador Stonebrew] (A great 4 drop! My planning skills are amazing)
4 - [Raging Shout] (clearly I am the only warrior, but pass an Execute)
5 - [Kalek Deepearth] (only my 2nd 3 drop that doesn’t remove equipment/abilities, felt a bit desperate here)
6 - [Raging Shout] (but even the desperate get lucky)
7 - [Koeus] (3 raging shouts, 2 chaotic rushes, not okay, great!)
8 - [Crushing Strike] (I’m not sure if I like this more than Terina, but I still only have 1 equipment, making Terina a very bad Zulanji)
9 - [Thunderous Challenge] (Tablematic)
10 - [Terina Calin] (where are my weapons?)
11 - [Crushing Strike] (I guess I won’t need them)
12 - [Execute] (Also Tablematic)
Somewhere after the picks I listed I managed to grab a Grimtotem Weapon. Not so hot with 1 equipment in deck. I ended up with 5 quests. I had no real intention of ever completing them, I was an aggressive deck that got great tempo with Raging Stash, Varandas, and then Chaotic Rush. Dropping a bomb in the cloud of dust would seal the deal. I never got that [Andrew Ulric] though.
I even managed to rare draft a Lost Isles, a [Summoning Portal], and a Mana Shift!! Go me! At the end I got a [Grip of the Damned] pick 17. There had to be a DK/Pally or both. Why else would I have never seen a [Citadel Enforcer's Claymore]? I stopped seeing Paladin cards after a while, and DK cards never really flowed, but the super late Grip must have been evidence that the DK at the table already had 5 or 6.
Decklist
Hero: [Peter Hottelet] (is that hot-let, or hot te let?)
Allies: 16
1 Emerald Captain]
1 [Hira]
2 [Varandas Silverleaf]
1 [Loriam Argos]
1 [Bella Wilder]
1 [Kalek Deepearth]
2 [Koeus]
1 [Alador Stonebrew]
1 [Allister Cooper ]
1 [Ruby Emissary]
1 [King Genn Greymane]
2 [Furan Rookbane]
1 [Korialstrasz]
Abilities: 10
3 [Execute]
3 [Raging Shout]
2 [Chaotic Rush]
2 [Thunderous Challenge]
Equipment: 1
1 [Polished Breastplate of Valor]
Quests: 5
1 [The mighty U'cha]
2 [Counting Out Time]
1 [Corrosion Prevention]
1 [The Torch of Retribution]
I ended up being a bit quest light, but my shouts should hopefully make up for it. I left out the 2 Terinas, but kept my 2 Crushing Strikes in the side deck with that in mind. I also had a [Landro's lil XT] to hit [Grim Campfire]!
I knew that had to be a Hunter, a DK, probably a Paladin. I passed several Dragonkin shoulders that should have enabled a Rogue or Druid. Tons of Druid stuff was being passed around though, so there was at least a Rogue.
Round 6. Table 1: Alvin
Alvin again! Alvin is playing a Gnome Priest. I expect the worse in draft/sealed. So I’m going to do my best to never have 1 really good ally in play turn 5 on for Dark Extortion. [Divine Fury] just has to be eaten. I win the roll (the skill continues).
Turn 1 I have no play. He opens with a Nami. My turn 2 Loriam looks vulnerable to his turn 2 Laenthor. Not so much when I stash a [Raging Shout] and then [Execute] the Laenthor. I don’t like to invest on such a bad ally, but I want to get an advantage quick. Loriam puts him to 3. He drops a Kalek and Nami puts me on 4.
Turn 4 I Bella Kalek and put him on 6. He drops Alador. I Chaotic Rush and put him at 9. Turn 5, he goes into the tank and drops Lockjaw and flips his Hero. Not very aggressive against my turn 6 [Korialstrasz]. He quests looking for answers. I drop a Furan and an Emerald Captain, making an army of little men. He scoops turn 7. Nami never died.
Game 2 he opens with a Nami. I drop Emerald Captain. On 2 he plays Laenthor again, and attacks my hero with nami. I put him to 2 with captain, then Raging Shout/Execute Laenthor again. Turn 3 he quests and drops Garet Vice. I stash a Rage, killing Garet, and then play my third Rage, attacking him up to 6.
On 4 he drops Kirjen, digging. Varandas blows him up. Turn 5 [Oppress] on my [Raging Shout] makes me shrug. My Genn seems like a better play. Turn 6 he plays Alador, which is met by my turn 6 Chaotic Rush. He plays 2 allies, and then dies when I play Allister Cooper, attacking for fatal with the buffed up Genn.
Round 7: Table 1: Ricky
Ricky again! Ricky is playing the Undead Hunter. I fear the [Boomer] I passed will come back to haunt me. Tesla+Boomer+Stakethrower = scary games. I have Chaotic Rush though, and I like to think that wins games. I lose the roll (Ricky was more skillful)
Turn 1 he drops a Ruby Stalker. I have no play. On 2 he plays a Flameblade and puts me on 2. I respond with a [Raging Shout] Stash to kill the Flameblade, but have no play. He puts me on 5 and then plays 2 Onnekras (uh oh), 9. I drop a Kalek to stop the bleeding!
On 4 he plays Doladris (I breathe a sigh of relief, Tesla would be game probably?) and then he puts me at 15. I Bella his Onnekra, and Kalek his Stalker. Turn 5 he quests, looks like he ran out of gas. I Chaotic Rush Onnekra. Turn 6 he Stakethrowers my Bella. I drop Korialstrasz. He quests and then misplays, attacking with his [Stakethrower]. He now can’t play the blast trap for free, and only has 1 resource up. I drop Furan and take the game from there. Lucky!
Game 2 he has no opening play. Neither do I. Turn 2 he has no play. I Stash a rage and play Loriam. So aggressive! Turn 3 he flips his Hero. I hardcast a [Raging Shout] and put him at 4. He drops a Kistix, I play Allister, putting him to 12. Turn 5 He plays Kerzok, and trades Kistix with Allister.
I pass turn 5 to him with 5 open. On turn 6 he attacks my hero with his Long Range, putting me at 5. I smell a Stakethrower. He plays it and tries to kill Loriam. I [Thunderous Challenge], killing the Goblin and stopping fatal on Loriam. He elects not to use the stake token. Turn 6 I drop [Korialstrasz].
Turn 7 he Boki’s into my dragon. I have no 7 and quest a bit. On 8 he Enforcer/Flameblades me to 11. Varandas and Chaotic Rush get me back in. My notes from here get kind of hazy. But I can’t get back into the game and end up losing. I probably shouldn’t have played a Korial without giving it some protection.
Game 3 I open with Hira. He has Onnekra to start the beats. I stash a Rage to kill it, but have no play. He has a Flameblade that dies to my turn 3 stash, but I still have no play. He plays Oruk turn 3, I Varandas it on turn 4, and add an Emerald Captain. Telsa kills my Captain. Turn 5 I leave 5 open for Challenge, and he plays a Mahna to end his turn. I Chaotic Rush it and keep up the beats. He has no answer to my turn 7 Farun or 5 damage a turn.
I probably got lucky game 1 as he had a misplay with his [Blast Trap] not killing my Korial. I vowed to play my allies before attacking a Hunter/Paladin.
Round 8. Table 1: Johnson (different Johnson)
Surprise, Johnson is playing Hunter. Ricky didn’t have a Boomer apparently. Guess who has it then? He wins the roll (I let him win).
Game 1 he opens with an Emerald Captain, which I kill with a stashed Rage. Turn 2 he plays Varandas an empty board. I raise my eyebrow. I lower it back down when he plays another Varandas on my turn 2 Hira on turn 3. I drop a not so angry Bella on turn 3.
Tesla makes my 3 drop on depressants even more sad. I quest to look for an answer. He has Marcus Dominar on 5, My [Chaotic Rush] doesn’t do enough to stop the dying.
Game 2 I open with a no play. He plays a Shanis. I hate Shanis. I Stash and execute the protector while he again drops a varandas. I stash to kill Varandas, and then play [Koeus]. He plays [Steady Shot] (why did I play Koeus!?). I played Koeus because I reasoned that hunters don’t play ongoing abilities unless it’s [Aspect of the Wild]. Sigh.
Turn 4 I play Ruby Emissary (ugh), and a Steady Shot ping + Varandas kills my dragon. He also has another Shanis.
Turn 5 I play Loriam with my own Varandas on his Varandas. Turn 5 he plays Marcus. I respond with a turn 6 Genn. This should get interesting. I have to protect my Loriam to keep Genn big, while trying to make [Steady Shot] not screw up my math He plays another Dominar. My Genn kills his other 5/4. His turn 7 Tesla kills Loriam AND Genn. Damn it all. Turn 7 I quest and execute his 2nd Dominar. Alador Stonebrew on my turn 8 doesn’t stop him from running me over.
2-1 in draft. I feel I should have done better; my deck didn’t do the fancy stuff it did in rounds 1 and 2 of draft. I’ll take the 7-1 though, although my #1 seed had been robbed. I now was seeded 2nd in a fully red top 8.
Again I’ll remind you how very control oriented China tends to play. The two decks that would top 2 (myself and Rogue ability rush) were the only decks that intended to win before turn 10. Maybe that’s a sign that China is behind the times?
Quarter-finals: Pang
Pang is playing Triton. If he plays a turn 1 or 2 Extract, I’m in for a long game. If not, I’ll run him over. Good times? I want Shadowfiend, Broderick, Dethvir. I win the roll (bringing it back)
My opening hand is 2 Cairne, Broderick, 2 Taste, Kite, Dethvir. I want a Shadowfiend. But I also like the idea of a turn 3 Cairne/kite, followed by a turn 4 Dethvir/Kite.
Turn 1 I open with a Stashed Cairne token and Broderick. So aggro! He has a Broderick of his own that makes my turn 2 stash no play a bit sad. He has [Deathcharger] and very quickly my board evaporates. I play a Kite turn 3. He [Vuz'din]s. I play Sivandra, taste Vuzdin, and attack with my hero to put it at 3.
Turn 4 he drops another Vuz'din. Turn 5 I Dethvir and Taste the 2nd vuzdin. I kill the first vuzdin with my hero and the 2nd with my Sivandra. Dethvir then flies his kite. Turn 5 he quests and removes Broderick. Did he find an answer?
Turn 6 I have a Shadowfiend and a Dethvir. Turn 6 he corpse explodes to put my dethvirs close to dead. Turn 7 I Shadowfiend and Divine Fury him for a lot of damage.
Game 2 he has no opening play. 3 Extracts for the loss. I Stash a token. He plays [Deathcharger], and I [Shadowfiend] and complete [Dr. Boom] with the extra resource. I forget to attack with my token. That 1 damage better not come back to bite me. Turn 3 he Vuz’dins. That’s not going to cut it as I continue to attack with Shadowfiend. Turn 4 he Edge of Oblivions me to 8 along with a Vuz’din attack. Turn 4 I Munkin the Edge.
He takes a break from the action and goes to finish some quests. I don’t miss a beat with Shadowfiend/Dethvir. He takes another break from the action and drops a Kite digging some more. I Shadowfiend and have the Oppress. He quests, turning over my vanguard. I play Shadowfiend and another Dethvir. He Corpse Explodes but it’s too late.
Top 4! This is the best I’ve ever done in such a “big” tournament! I had to take a deep breath and go to the bathroom. I used the same urinal every time and washed my hands methodically after every round. Routine!
We finished in about 15 minutes, so I had plenty of time to watch the other top 8 players AND watch some of the side event action. The other 7 players were all Hong Kong players, and I took the chance to watch some of my mainland China buddies figuring out their sealed decks. My next opponent will either be Tribalmother Shaman with Alexstrasza/Garrosh shenanigans (and that stupid shield) or Emek Priest with Shadow Word Anguish as an answer to Shadowfiend… Who do you think I wanted to win? Luckily for me, the Emek won in turns. They actually went 5 or 6 extra turns into turns because no one could get damage on the other hero. The nightmare Shaman matchup was dodged, and I’d be playing a Priest without Shadowfiend. Okayyyy.
Round 2. top 4 Ringo.
Ringo is playing a controlling version of Emek the Equalizer. He’s got the Dethvirs and the Nathanos’. But he doesn’t have Shadowfiend or Broderick. He does have [Battle Mage's Baton], [Gathering of Wits], and [Thrall, Warchief of the Horde]. I don’t plan on letting the game get to turn 7, so I’m not too worried. By my math he had about 20 cards that I thought would be pretty much dead against me. I win the roll. (My wrist hasn’t failed me yet!)
I open with a Broderick. He drops a quest and stares back at me. I double Dr. Boom on turn 2. Turn 2 he drops another quest. I drop Kite and he plays a Searing Light. I play a turn 4 Dethvir, and end of turn he Anguishes it (more damage please!), putting him to 11. He quests turn 4 to figure something out. Turn 5 I Nathanos, with Broderick putting him up to 13. Turn 5 he [Undercity]’s Dethvir and [Oppress]es my Kite, with a [Searing Light] activation on my Broderick. Turn 6 I put him to 17 with Nathanos and his doggies. Turn 6 He drops a Thrall. I taste it to death and he scoops.
Game 2 he has no turn 1 or turn 2. I have a Broderick along with a Stash token, but with no turn 2 play. Turn 3 he drops a Vuz'din, which makes my turn 3 [Searing Light] quite sad. He has Nathanos, I have Nathanos too, but my superior combat skills and Broderick wrecks his dogs and leaves mine in fine shape. Turn 5 we pal around. Turn 6 he drops Thrall. I ignore it and Divine Fury/Searing light for fatal.
Again we finish with plenty of time. I take the chance to scout out my possible opponents. Johnson (the guy who beat me) with Jumo’zin and Parker with Vorix. I really don’t like Jumo’zin, and once I actually saw Parker’s deck in action, I decided I didn’t like Vorix either. I wasn’t sure who I wanted to win, but I was starting to think Jumo’zin would be a better match.
Finals: Parker (it never works out how you want it to though)
Parker is playing Vorix. I had just watched him nuke the hell out of a Johnson’s Jumo’zin. The Jumo’zin player played a 6/6 Tiger, a 7/7 tiger, and an 8/8 tiger. Parker just kept blasting Jumo’zin’s face. Even with a Nourish + Natural Focus. I also saw Parker Talisman a [Band of Vile Aggression]/[Regrowth] which set him up to not lose. More than half of Parker’s deck is removal. The rest is card draw and Gouge effects. I really don’t like my matchup.
He has 4 [Deathblow]s, which is his sole answer to [Shadowfiend]. I’m thinking if I can just get a Shadowfiend to stick, I can make these games go my way.
Game 1 he opens with a [Ring of Blood: Warmaul Champion], discarding 3 cards from his deck, a Broderick included. Dear god… He attacks me to 1. I have no turn 1. He gouges my turn 2 [Shadowfiend] and puts me at 2. He completes Darkness Calling on turn 3 while I play a Sivandra. On 4 he [Sinister Setup]’s my Sivandra and hero. I get in with Shadowfiend and drop a Kite. Turn 5 he Talismans my Kite, and Deathblows my turn 5 Shadowfiend (I’m starting to see red). I have a second Kite to finish the turn.
On Turn 6 He [Surge of Adrenaline]s, refilling his hand. I have a Broderick and a Dethvir. On 7 he [Burgle]s my guys. I Searing Light/Taste to kill my own guys. I lose.
I’m not sure what the solution to Burgle is. I don’t kill my own guys and lose anyways? Or I kill my guys and lose anyways? This game was over in 8ish minutes. We’re both quick players. A nice change of pace.
Game 2, I think real hard about what my game plan needs to be. Obviously he has a ton of gouge effects to lock my guys down. I resolve to get my early beats in but to go for an air win.
I open with a [Dr. Boom]. He has Broderick. I [Shadowfiend] and kill Broderick with my freshly played Vanguard. He has no turn 2. Turn 3 I drop Sivandra. He has [Armblade of Anguinar] and attacks me to 3 (got another Broderick in the graveyard). Turn 4 I Shadowfiend with a Searing Light. He has a Sinister Setup for my Hero/Sivandra. Turn 5 I drop a Kite and a Searing light. He flips and swings, putting me at 9.
I think about it, and decide to go for it with a turn 6 Saurfang, putting him at 13. He seal fates my hero for 5 and then attacks for 3, putting me at 17. I ready up, go for attack, [Eye of the Storm] keeps my guys indoors. I discard an ability ([Searing Light]) to put him at 16. Divine fury him to 21. And pitch both of my Searings for fatal. I live!
After Game 2 I asked how much time we had left. We’d only used about 27 minutes of the allotted two hours. Games should be quick and over!
Game 3 he opens with a [Seal Fate] for 3. I have no turn 1. He [Deathblow]s me for 3. I play [Searing Light]. On turn 3 I play a Sivandra while he goes questing at the end of my turn, discarding a Broderick at the end of my turn. He [Seal Fate]s me for 4, getting 2 more Brodericks! And then a Hero flip does 4 more to me putting at 14. I play a turn 4 Dethvir. Sivandra gets him to 6.
Turn 5 he Sets me up Sinisterly, and goes for my hero. I put the damage on Dethvir. I then observe him writing out some math on his pad. He’s thinking about if he has fatal! I can’t have that! Turn 5 I stare at my Shadowfiend/Divine Fury. If I Shadowfiend into a deathblow, I run the risk of dying next turn to huge damage out of nowhere without the 5 heal from Fury.
I elect the safe play [Divine Fury] him up to 11, getting me back to a “safe” 9. Turn 6 he kills my Dethvir with [Hailstorm], There goes my Shadowfiend plan. He has a ton of cards in his graveyard too. Turn 6 I Saurfang him while he has one resource open. I reason that it’s not for gouge, but for Hailstorm’ing my Shadowfiend. He doesn’t have the gouge and I put him up to 21 with Sivandra and Saurfang. I make sure not to attack with my hero, as I can’t give him any free damage with Prey on the Weak or Aggressive infiltration.
Turn 7 he attacks my hero up to 18, but doesn’t strike with his weapon. I find this odd. I discover why when he burgles on my turn. I think a bit. Crack a smile and discard a kite to my searing light putting him to 24. I then discard another kite, and respond by sacrificing Searing light. Perhaps he should have burgled on his turn. If he had done that though, I’d have just used searing light in response and Shadowfiend’ed him.
Winning in such a fashion was pretty exciting (I'd like to think at least) and the crowd all cheered and applauded on my killing blow. Now would be a good time to mention that we were actually playing in a mall, and the other players were actually watching on a very large TV screen showing the action. The jumbo tron also had the action going for the mall goers. I’m not sure they cared.
I cared though! The head judge took a picture of my fat face. I’m not sure when I’ll get that VIP card, or if it’ll be mailed to my home in California.
If you’ve made it this far, I’d like to thank you for taking the time to read this long report. It’s the first time I’ve written such a report, and I did my best to take thorough notes, although I know I could have improved in that respect.
From China,
Jonathan Lee-Mars, 2011 Hinterlands Realm Championship Winner
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