I think I have a preference for reactive decks. Or maybe I'm just sick of constantly forcing RW aggro, GW heroic, etc.. Anyway, this was fun to draft.
The draft:
------ JOU ------
Pack 1 pick 1:
Eagle of the Watch
Market Festival
Grim Guardian
Cloaked Siren
Font of Ire
Bloodcrazed Hoplite
Oreskos Swiftclaw
War-Wing Siren
Ravenous Leucrocota
Flamespeaker's Will
Quarry Colossus
Dakra Mystic
Brain Maggot
--> Spawn of Thraxes
Plains
Sirens are the most consistent in the pack. Spawn could either be terrible or amazing. Let's see what happens..
Pack 1 pick 2:
Humbler of Mortals
Font of Return
Aerial Formation
--> Magma Spray
Eagle of the Watch
Pheres-Band Thunderhoof
Gluttonous Cyclops
Bloodcrazed Hoplite
Oppressive Rays
War-Wing Siren
Whitewater Naiads
Spirespine
Temple of Epiphany
Forest
Pack 1 pick 3:
Hubris
Satyr Hoplite
Akroan Mastiff
Triton Shorestalker
Ravenous Leucrocota
Font of Ire
Aspect of Gorgon
Mortal Obstinacy
--> Pin to the Earth
Nightmarish End
Sightless Brawler
Swarmborn Giant
Plains
Pack 1 pick 4:
Eagle of the Watch
Market Festival
--> Cloaked Siren
Font of Ire
Oreskos Swiftclaw
War-Wing Siren
Ravenous Leucrocota
Flamespeaker's Will
Spite of Mogis
Nessian Game Warden
Blinding Flare
Island
I value this over War-Wing Siren as I don't see myself grabbing Heroic enablers in RU. I'm expecting Spite of Mogis to wheel.
Pack 1 pick 5:
Harvestguard Alseids
Returned Reveler
Countermand
Pensive Minotaur
Armament of Nyx
--> Bladetusk Boar
Dreadbringer Lampads
Thassa's Devourer
Rollick of Abandon
Pull from the Deep
Island
Pack 1 pick 6:
Lightning Diadem
Lagonna-Band Trailblazer
Market Festival
Rotted Hulk
Renowned Weaver
--> Bladetusk Boar
Cruel Feeding
Riddle of Lightning
Swarmborn Giant
Mountain
Hmm double Swarmborn Giant. Better watch out for a Gx aggro.
Pack 1 pick 7:
Font of Fertility
Font of Fortunes
--> Sigiled Skink
Flurry of Horns
Dreadbringer Lampads
Stonewise Fortifier
Chariot of Victory
Blinding Flare
Mountain
Question: Which is better? Flurry or Scry_skink? Skink seems like it would just get blocked, but 2-drops are harder to come by and I'll always have high CC options.
Pack 1 pick 8:
Font of Fertility
Font of Fortunes
Sigiled Skink
--> Flurry of Horns
Stonewise Fortifier
Goldenhide Ox
Pull from the Deep
Plains
Hedging.
Pack 1 pick 9:
Market Festival
Font of Ire
Bloodcrazed Hoplite
Flamespeaker's Will
Quarry Colossus
--> Dakra Mystic
Plains
Wheeled. Interesting.
Pack 1 pick 10:
Humbler of Mortals
Font of Return
Aerial Formation
--> Gluttonous Cyclops
Oppressive Rays
Forest
Pack 1 pick 11:
Triton Shorestalker
--> Font of Ire
Aspect of Gorgon
Mortal Obstinacy
Plains
Pack 1 pick 12:
Font of Ire
Flamespeaker's Will
--> Spite of Mogis
Island
Oh goodie.
Pack 1 pick 13:
--> Pensive Minotaur
Pull from the Deep
Island
Red seems open.
Pack 1 pick 14:
--> Lightning Diadem
Mountain
Pack 1 pick 15:
--> Mountain
------ BNG ------
Pack 2 pick 1:
Nyxborn Triton
Warchanter of Mogis
Forsaken Drifters
Revoke Existence
Nyxborn Wolf
Evanescent Intellect
Deepwater Hypnotist
Nyxborn Shieldmate
Fall of the Hammer
Karametra's Favor
Vanguard of Brimaz
Everflame Eidolon
God-Favored General
--> Fated Conflagration
Island
This was tough. I really wanted both Conflagration and Eidolon. I'm already red-heavy so the cost is not a drawback. Fall is the better card in a vacuum, but seems worse in the deck I'm angling for.
I went for Conflagration as the stronger card, but I probably should have grabbed Eidolon and counted on Conflagration wheeling... who else is that strongly in red?
Pack 2 pick 8:
Epiphany Storm
Servant of Tymaret
Great Hart
Satyr Wayfinder
Stratus Walk
Nullify
--> Archetype of Aggression
Forest
Pack 2 pick 9:
Warchanter of Mogis
Forsaken Drifters
Revoke Existence
Evanescent Intellect
--> Fall of the Hammer
Karametra's Favor
Island
Wow. So there's exactly one other person in the pod playing red, and as a secondary color. Well, Everflame Eidolon will be missed. Guess I could have counted on Conflagration to wheel.
Pack 3 pick 2:
Omenspeaker
March of the Returned
--> Lightning Strike
Pharika's Cure
Defend the Hearth
Leonin Snarecaster
Priest of Iroas
Read the Bones
Savage Surge
Disciple of Phenax
Peak Eruption
Glare of Heresy
Dark Betrayal
Forest
Pack 3 pick 3:
Guardians of Meletis
Battlewise Valor
Loathsome Catoblepas
Spark Jolt
Returned Phalanx
Coastline Chimera
Pharika's Cure
Defend the Hearth
Setessan Battle Priest
Triton Shorethief
Tormented Hero
--> Dauntless Onslaught
Swamp
Weak pack is weak. Burn hates playing against this card. Gbye!
Pack 3 pick 4:
Fleshmad Steed
Nylea's Disciple
Leonin Snarecaster
Priest of Iroas
Thassa's Bounty
Lost in a Labyrinth
Boon of Erebos
Akroan Crusader
Karametra's Acolyte
--> Purphoros's Emissary
Insatiable Harpy
Forest
Pack 3 pick 5:
Viper's Kiss
Pheres-Band Centaurs
Annul
Wild Celebrants
Silent Artisan
--> Deathbellow Raider
Opaline Unicorn
Ordeal of Heliod
Hunt the Hunter
Prowler's Helm
Swamp
Eh. There's no way I'm playing Raider. Annul would have been a good SB card. Or hate the Ordeal. I think I was worried about 2-drops.
Pack 3 pick 6:
Fleshmad Steed
Traveling Philosopher
--> Two-Headed Cerberus
Aqueous Form
Silent Artisan
Ray of Dissolution
Sealock Monster
Evangel of Heliod
Pyxis of Pandemonium
Plains
Pack 3 pick 7:
Bronze Sable
Messenger's Speed
Priest of Iroas
Fade into Antiquity
Returned Centaur
--> Voyage's End
Setessan Battle Priest
Karametra's Acolyte
Swamp
Pack 3 pick 8:
Lagonna-Band Elder
Priest of Iroas
Fade into Antiquity
Returned Centaur
Felhide Minotaur
--> Borderland Minotaur
Anvilwrought Raptor
Plains
Oh yes... Now if only there was a Spellheart Chimera in one of these packs.
Pack 3 pick 10:
March of the Returned
Defend the Hearth
Priest of Iroas
--> Peak Eruption
Glare of Heresy
Forest
Pack 3 pick 11:
--> Guardians of Meletis
Spark Jolt
Defend the Hearth
Triton Shorethief
Swamp
I'm on a mission to promote this card. It's so big opponent can't blow through it with a combat trick, which is what you want for a blocker in a control deck.
Pack 3 pick 12:
--> Priest of Iroas
Thassa's Bounty
Lost in a Labyrinth
Forest
Sideboard:
Chorus of the Tides
Borderland Minotaur
Peak Eruption
Scouring Sands
Font of Ire
The matches:
Round 1 -- GW Aggro
Game 1 he starts off aggressive but makes some serious misplays. At one point he has a 2/3 and two 2/4 Ravenous Leucotra to my 0/4 Mnemonic Wall (having returned Spite of Mogis). I am at 8 and am going to die soon. I cast Flurry of Horns to make two 2/3s and don't attack. He swings with his team. I figure in GW the average pump size is +2/+2 so as long as a +2/+2 doesn't blow me out I'm ok. I block the 2/3 with my wall and gang block a Leucotra with both Minotaur tokens. Even with a +2/+2, I force him to burn a trick and he only kills one token. Acceptable risk. He seems caught offguard by the gang block. He pauses for a while and burns a Phalanx Formation just to trade with a minotaur token instead of dying for nothing. I untap, Lightning Strike the 2/3. Lightning Strike is now the 4th Instant/Sorcery in my graveyard, so Spite of Mogis blows out his other Leucotra. Goodbye board. I blow him out with evasive creatures in 3 attacks.
Game 2 I start off the aggressor and kill him with evasion, with ample removal as back up.
2-0
Round 2 -- BW Aggro
Game 1 walls and 2/3s do a lot of blocking, I stabilize with burn and kill him with Purphoros' Emissary on dork + Bladetusk Boar.
Game 2 I have few creatures but plenty of burn. He plays T3 Brain Maggot and sees Fated Conflagration, Mnemonic Wall, Griptide, lands, and Purphoros's Emissary. He grabs the Emissary, presumably afraid of it. Big mistake. I Griptide a Voltron, Fated Conflagration something else for a 2-for-1, Mnemonic Wall to block getting back Conflagration, Conflagration something else. With all that scrying, I smooth out into multiple Mountain drops. I hit my dragon, killing some other bestowed guy. Dragon kills him in a few turns with Bladetusk Boar backup.
2-0
Round 3 -- RW Aggro
Game 1 I have no burn or bounce but an aggressive draw. He Oppressive Rays my T2 Scry-giled Skink and then goes T3 Eagle of the Watch, T4 Fearsome Temper+Mortal Obstinacy, trying to race my turn 4 Bladetusk Boar. I think I'm awesome for dropping Pin to the Earth on his guy, effectively a 3-for-1! I drop more creatures and attack. He bestows Everflame Eidolon making it a 0/5. He still has 2 mountains open. He attacks in the air, pumping it twice. It only deals 2 damage but Mortal triggers destroying Pin to the Earth. Ouch. Now I REALLY should have taken that Eidolon first. I try to race but his Firebreathing Voltron has me dead in 2 more attacks and I don't have enough turns to dump my hand and swing for lethal. I don't topdeck bounce. On my last turn, I make a last ditch effort to swing with my team into his Voltron. He blocks a 2/3. Post combat I Bolt of Keranos his guy, attempting to kill it. He only has W open after pumping so much on the attack but it's enough. He has the Ajani's Presence and that's game.
Boarded in Chorus of the Tides and Scouring Sands.
Game 2 I keep a 2 land hand with Mountain, Island, Magma Spray, Dakra Mystic, Bolt of Keranos, Pin to the Earth, Mnemonic Wall. Seems good, right? I stall out on two lands. I have to start activating Dakra to dig for lands. I find a 3rd land on turn 5 but it's an Island. Meh, better than nothing. Meanwhile he went T1 Loyal Pegasus, T2 Cavalry Pegasus, T3 try to attack but eats Magma Spray and casts a second Cavalry Pegasus. I Pin to the Earth the Loyal Pegasus to stall as I'm digging for lands but he drops Priest of Iroas. He picks away at my life total with flyers. I start drawing lands, but they're all Islands. I drop Mnemonic Wall returning Magma Spray. I Magma Spray his Pegasus to stop him from making his humans fly, but he pops Priest to kill Pin to the Earth and keeps swinging at me. I can block on the ground but can't kill his 2/2 while the Pegasus hits me. I draw ALL THE ISLANDS IN MY DECK. ALL 6. Stuck on 1 Mountain in an 11-6 split. I never get to stabilize and he slowly wittles me to death in the air. Sadface.
I felt like this matchup should have been closer. I lost to mana screw in game 2 and game 1 was tight (I would have won with 1 more attack, he had just enough tempo and just the right tricks to stop my tricks).
People are avoiding red way too much! Nice draft. I'd have played c[]chorus of the tide main[/c] over either divination or flurry of horns. I like 3 power of flying. It seems to me flurry of horns is a win-more cards: the tokens it produces are only relevant to block or attack if you opponent has nothing on the board able to interact with 2/3 when at 5 mana, which seems dubious unless you're already winning easily.
I really like Chorus. But I already have 4 3/x unblockables for 3R or 3U. Deck was crammed at 4cc and had few things to do on turn 3 if I had nothing to burn. I figured it would help me find that 4th land to cast all my 4 drops. Also, boosting Spite of Mogis seems good. But Divination was the first slot to board out when boarding stuff in.
I've had a number of opponents blow me out with Flurry and it was great for me when I cast it. Card seems good on both defense and offense. Aggro decks rely on combat tricks and removal to trade 1-for-1 with blockers to push their weenies through. Against Flurry, those combat tricks often become 1 for 0.5s. In the case of the gang block and Phalanx Formation, I got a 2-for-0.5.
The draft:
------ JOU ------
Pack 1 pick 1:
Eagle of the Watch
Market Festival
Grim Guardian
Cloaked Siren
Font of Ire
Bloodcrazed Hoplite
Oreskos Swiftclaw
War-Wing Siren
Ravenous Leucrocota
Flamespeaker's Will
Quarry Colossus
Dakra Mystic
Brain Maggot
--> Spawn of Thraxes
Plains
Sirens are the most consistent in the pack. Spawn could either be terrible or amazing. Let's see what happens..
Pack 1 pick 2:
Humbler of Mortals
Font of Return
Aerial Formation
--> Magma Spray
Eagle of the Watch
Pheres-Band Thunderhoof
Gluttonous Cyclops
Bloodcrazed Hoplite
Oppressive Rays
War-Wing Siren
Whitewater Naiads
Spirespine
Temple of Epiphany
Forest
Pack 1 pick 3:
Hubris
Satyr Hoplite
Akroan Mastiff
Triton Shorestalker
Ravenous Leucrocota
Font of Ire
Aspect of Gorgon
Mortal Obstinacy
--> Pin to the Earth
Nightmarish End
Sightless Brawler
Swarmborn Giant
Plains
Pack 1 pick 4:
Eagle of the Watch
Market Festival
--> Cloaked Siren
Font of Ire
Oreskos Swiftclaw
War-Wing Siren
Ravenous Leucrocota
Flamespeaker's Will
Spite of Mogis
Nessian Game Warden
Blinding Flare
Island
I value this over War-Wing Siren as I don't see myself grabbing Heroic enablers in RU. I'm expecting Spite of Mogis to wheel.
Pack 1 pick 5:
Harvestguard Alseids
Returned Reveler
Countermand
Pensive Minotaur
Armament of Nyx
--> Bladetusk Boar
Dreadbringer Lampads
Thassa's Devourer
Rollick of Abandon
Pull from the Deep
Island
Pack 1 pick 6:
Lightning Diadem
Lagonna-Band Trailblazer
Market Festival
Rotted Hulk
Renowned Weaver
--> Bladetusk Boar
Cruel Feeding
Riddle of Lightning
Swarmborn Giant
Mountain
Hmm double Swarmborn Giant. Better watch out for a Gx aggro.
Pack 1 pick 7:
Font of Fertility
Font of Fortunes
--> Sigiled Skink
Flurry of Horns
Dreadbringer Lampads
Stonewise Fortifier
Chariot of Victory
Blinding Flare
Mountain
Question: Which is better? Flurry or Scry_skink? Skink seems like it would just get blocked, but 2-drops are harder to come by and I'll always have high CC options.
Pack 1 pick 8:
Font of Fertility
Font of Fortunes
Sigiled Skink
--> Flurry of Horns
Stonewise Fortifier
Goldenhide Ox
Pull from the Deep
Plains
Hedging.
Pack 1 pick 9:
Market Festival
Font of Ire
Bloodcrazed Hoplite
Flamespeaker's Will
Quarry Colossus
--> Dakra Mystic
Plains
Wheeled. Interesting.
Pack 1 pick 10:
Humbler of Mortals
Font of Return
Aerial Formation
--> Gluttonous Cyclops
Oppressive Rays
Forest
Pack 1 pick 11:
Triton Shorestalker
--> Font of Ire
Aspect of Gorgon
Mortal Obstinacy
Plains
Pack 1 pick 12:
Font of Ire
Flamespeaker's Will
--> Spite of Mogis
Island
Oh goodie.
Pack 1 pick 13:
--> Pensive Minotaur
Pull from the Deep
Island
Red seems open.
Pack 1 pick 14:
--> Lightning Diadem
Mountain
Pack 1 pick 15:
--> Mountain
------ BNG ------
Pack 2 pick 1:
Nyxborn Triton
Warchanter of Mogis
Forsaken Drifters
Revoke Existence
Nyxborn Wolf
Evanescent Intellect
Deepwater Hypnotist
Nyxborn Shieldmate
Fall of the Hammer
Karametra's Favor
Vanguard of Brimaz
Everflame Eidolon
God-Favored General
--> Fated Conflagration
Island
This was tough. I really wanted both Conflagration and Eidolon. I'm already red-heavy so the cost is not a drawback. Fall is the better card in a vacuum, but seems worse in the deck I'm angling for.
I went for Conflagration as the stronger card, but I probably should have grabbed Eidolon and counted on Conflagration wheeling... who else is that strongly in red?
Pack 2 pick 2:
Bolt of Keranos
Mortal's Ardor
Eye Gouge
Nyxborn Triton
Swordwise Centaur
Epiphany Storm
Culling Mark
Necrobite
Kragma Butcher
Ephara's Enlightenment
Flitterstep Eidolon
Lightning Volley
--> Felhide Spiritbinder
Plains
Bolt is tempting but this card is too good and too splashable to pass.
Pack 2 pick 3:
--> Bolt of Keranos
Setessan Oathsworn
Marshmist Titan
Tromokratis (FOIL)
Karametra's Favor
Stratus Walk
Nyxborn Shieldmate
Pheres-Band Tromper
Ashiok's Adept
Thunder Brute
Sanguimancy
Whims of the Fates
Plains
Speaking of Bolts.
Pack 2 pick 4:
Sphinx's Disciple
Ephara's Radiance
Setessan Starbreaker
Forsaken Drifters
Scouring Sands
Aspect of Hydra
Mortal's Resolve
--> Divination
Black Oak of Odunos
Archetype of Endurance
Heroes' Podium
Forest
Pack 2 pick 5:
Revoke Existence
Scouring Sands
Charging Badger
Floodtide Serpent
Felhide Brawler
Ephara's Radiance
Divination
Nyxborn Rollicker
--> Nessian Demolok
Mindreaver
Swamp
Last 2 packs make green look open. Hedging for my 2nd color in case blue dries up.
Pack 2 pick 6:
Setessan Oathsworn
Marshmist Titan
--> Chorus of the Tides
Karametra's Favor
Stratus Walk
Pheres-Band Tromper
Thassa's Rebuff
Skyreaping
Fated Retribution
Mountain
Pack 2 pick 7:
Satyr Wayfinder
Pharagax Giant
--> Cyclops of One-Eyed Pass
Crypsis
Culling Mark
Grisly Transformation
Sanguimancy
Eternity Snare
Forest
Pack 2 pick 8:
Epiphany Storm
Servant of Tymaret
Great Hart
Satyr Wayfinder
Stratus Walk
Nullify
--> Archetype of Aggression
Forest
Pack 2 pick 9:
Warchanter of Mogis
Forsaken Drifters
Revoke Existence
Evanescent Intellect
--> Fall of the Hammer
Karametra's Favor
Island
Wow. So there's exactly one other person in the pod playing red, and as a secondary color. Well, Everflame Eidolon will be missed. Guess I could have counted on Conflagration to wheel.
Pack 2 pick 10:
Eye Gouge
Epiphany Storm
Culling Mark
--> Necrobite
Lightning Volley
Plains
Pack 2 pick 11:
Marshmist Titan
Karametra's Favor
Sanguimancy
--> Whims of the Fates
Plains
If I flame out in round one I might board this in for lolz.
Pack 2 pick 12:
Sphinx's Disciple
--> Scouring Sands
Archetype of Endurance
Forest
Pack 2 pick 13:
--> Charging Badger
Ephara's Radiance
Swamp
Pack 2 pick 14:
--> Thassa's Rebuff
Mountain
Pack 2 pick 15:
--> Forest
------ THS ------
Pack 3 pick 1:
Sip of Hemlock
Bronze Sable
Messenger's Speed
Mnemonic Wall
Cavalry Pegasus
Scourgemark
--> Griptide
Satyr Hedonist
Triton Shorethief
Traveler's Amulet
Ordeal of Erebos
Satyr Piper
Decorated Griffin
Temple of Deceit
Swamp
Pack 3 pick 2:
Omenspeaker
March of the Returned
--> Lightning Strike
Pharika's Cure
Defend the Hearth
Leonin Snarecaster
Priest of Iroas
Read the Bones
Savage Surge
Disciple of Phenax
Peak Eruption
Glare of Heresy
Dark Betrayal
Forest
Pack 3 pick 3:
Guardians of Meletis
Battlewise Valor
Loathsome Catoblepas
Spark Jolt
Returned Phalanx
Coastline Chimera
Pharika's Cure
Defend the Hearth
Setessan Battle Priest
Triton Shorethief
Tormented Hero
--> Dauntless Onslaught
Swamp
Weak pack is weak. Burn hates playing against this card. Gbye!
Pack 3 pick 4:
Fleshmad Steed
Nylea's Disciple
Leonin Snarecaster
Priest of Iroas
Thassa's Bounty
Lost in a Labyrinth
Boon of Erebos
Akroan Crusader
Karametra's Acolyte
--> Purphoros's Emissary
Insatiable Harpy
Forest
Pack 3 pick 5:
Viper's Kiss
Pheres-Band Centaurs
Annul
Wild Celebrants
Silent Artisan
--> Deathbellow Raider
Opaline Unicorn
Ordeal of Heliod
Hunt the Hunter
Prowler's Helm
Swamp
Eh. There's no way I'm playing Raider. Annul would have been a good SB card. Or hate the Ordeal. I think I was worried about 2-drops.
Pack 3 pick 6:
Fleshmad Steed
Traveling Philosopher
--> Two-Headed Cerberus
Aqueous Form
Silent Artisan
Ray of Dissolution
Sealock Monster
Evangel of Heliod
Pyxis of Pandemonium
Plains
Pack 3 pick 7:
Bronze Sable
Messenger's Speed
Priest of Iroas
Fade into Antiquity
Returned Centaur
--> Voyage's End
Setessan Battle Priest
Karametra's Acolyte
Swamp
Pack 3 pick 8:
Lagonna-Band Elder
Priest of Iroas
Fade into Antiquity
Returned Centaur
Felhide Minotaur
--> Borderland Minotaur
Anvilwrought Raptor
Plains
Pack 3 pick 9:
Messenger's Speed
--> Mnemonic Wall
Satyr Hedonist
Triton Shorethief
Satyr Piper
Decorated Griffin
Swamp
Oh yes... Now if only there was a Spellheart Chimera in one of these packs.
Pack 3 pick 10:
March of the Returned
Defend the Hearth
Priest of Iroas
--> Peak Eruption
Glare of Heresy
Forest
Pack 3 pick 11:
--> Guardians of Meletis
Spark Jolt
Defend the Hearth
Triton Shorethief
Swamp
I'm on a mission to promote this card. It's so big opponent can't blow through it with a combat trick, which is what you want for a blocker in a control deck.
Pack 3 pick 12:
--> Priest of Iroas
Thassa's Bounty
Lost in a Labyrinth
Forest
Pack 3 pick 13:
--> Silent Artisan
Hunt the Hunter
Swamp
Definitely not hating the Hunt. Someone please maul another green deck with this!
Pack 3 pick 14:
--> Silent Artisan
Plains
Pack 3 pick 15:
--> Swamp
The deck:
This deck wants Spellheart Chimera so badly but I guess this'll do. Maindeck walls again FTW. Hey, it's Swiss, this is easy mode.
1 Sigiled Skink
1 Guardians of Meletis
1 Pensive Minotaur
1 Archetype of Aggression
2 Bladetusk Boar
1 Purphoros's Emissary
1 Cloaked Siren
1 Felhide Spiritbinder
1 Mnemonic Wall
1 Spawn of Thraxes
1 Spite of Mogis
1 Fall to the Hammer
1 Lightning Strike
1 Voyage's End
1 Pin to the Earth
1 Bolt of Keranos
1 Divination
1 Griptide
1 Fated Conflagration
1 Flurry of Horns
6 Island
Sideboard:
Chorus of the Tides
Borderland Minotaur
Peak Eruption
Scouring Sands
Font of Ire
The matches:
Round 1 -- GW Aggro
Game 1 he starts off aggressive but makes some serious misplays. At one point he has a 2/3 and two 2/4 Ravenous Leucotra to my 0/4 Mnemonic Wall (having returned Spite of Mogis). I am at 8 and am going to die soon. I cast Flurry of Horns to make two 2/3s and don't attack. He swings with his team. I figure in GW the average pump size is +2/+2 so as long as a +2/+2 doesn't blow me out I'm ok. I block the 2/3 with my wall and gang block a Leucotra with both Minotaur tokens. Even with a +2/+2, I force him to burn a trick and he only kills one token. Acceptable risk. He seems caught offguard by the gang block. He pauses for a while and burns a Phalanx Formation just to trade with a minotaur token instead of dying for nothing. I untap, Lightning Strike the 2/3. Lightning Strike is now the 4th Instant/Sorcery in my graveyard, so Spite of Mogis blows out his other Leucotra. Goodbye board. I blow him out with evasive creatures in 3 attacks.
Game 2 I start off the aggressor and kill him with evasion, with ample removal as back up.
2-0
Round 2 -- BW Aggro
Game 1 walls and 2/3s do a lot of blocking, I stabilize with burn and kill him with Purphoros' Emissary on dork + Bladetusk Boar.
Game 2 I have few creatures but plenty of burn. He plays T3 Brain Maggot and sees Fated Conflagration, Mnemonic Wall, Griptide, lands, and Purphoros's Emissary. He grabs the Emissary, presumably afraid of it. Big mistake. I Griptide a Voltron, Fated Conflagration something else for a 2-for-1, Mnemonic Wall to block getting back Conflagration, Conflagration something else. With all that scrying, I smooth out into multiple Mountain drops. I hit my dragon, killing some other bestowed guy. Dragon kills him in a few turns with Bladetusk Boar backup.
2-0
Round 3 -- RW Aggro
Game 1 I have no burn or bounce but an aggressive draw. He Oppressive Rays my T2 Scry-giled Skink and then goes T3 Eagle of the Watch, T4 Fearsome Temper+Mortal Obstinacy, trying to race my turn 4 Bladetusk Boar. I think I'm awesome for dropping Pin to the Earth on his guy, effectively a 3-for-1! I drop more creatures and attack. He bestows Everflame Eidolon making it a 0/5. He still has 2 mountains open. He attacks in the air, pumping it twice. It only deals 2 damage but Mortal triggers destroying Pin to the Earth. Ouch. Now I REALLY should have taken that Eidolon first. I try to race but his Firebreathing Voltron has me dead in 2 more attacks and I don't have enough turns to dump my hand and swing for lethal. I don't topdeck bounce. On my last turn, I make a last ditch effort to swing with my team into his Voltron. He blocks a 2/3. Post combat I Bolt of Keranos his guy, attempting to kill it. He only has W open after pumping so much on the attack but it's enough. He has the Ajani's Presence and that's game.
Boarded in Chorus of the Tides and Scouring Sands.
Game 2 I keep a 2 land hand with Mountain, Island, Magma Spray, Dakra Mystic, Bolt of Keranos, Pin to the Earth, Mnemonic Wall. Seems good, right? I stall out on two lands. I have to start activating Dakra to dig for lands. I find a 3rd land on turn 5 but it's an Island. Meh, better than nothing. Meanwhile he went T1 Loyal Pegasus, T2 Cavalry Pegasus, T3 try to attack but eats Magma Spray and casts a second Cavalry Pegasus. I Pin to the Earth the Loyal Pegasus to stall as I'm digging for lands but he drops Priest of Iroas. He picks away at my life total with flyers. I start drawing lands, but they're all Islands. I drop Mnemonic Wall returning Magma Spray. I Magma Spray his Pegasus to stop him from making his humans fly, but he pops Priest to kill Pin to the Earth and keeps swinging at me. I can block on the ground but can't kill his 2/2 while the Pegasus hits me. I draw ALL THE ISLANDS IN MY DECK. ALL 6. Stuck on 1 Mountain in an 11-6 split. I never get to stabilize and he slowly wittles me to death in the air. Sadface.
I felt like this matchup should have been closer. I lost to mana screw in game 2 and game 1 was tight (I would have won with 1 more attack, he had just enough tempo and just the right tricks to stop my tricks).
2-1. Oh well
I've had a number of opponents blow me out with Flurry and it was great for me when I cast it. Card seems good on both defense and offense. Aggro decks rely on combat tricks and removal to trade 1-for-1 with blockers to push their weenies through. Against Flurry, those combat tricks often become 1 for 0.5s. In the case of the gang block and Phalanx Formation, I got a 2-for-0.5.