The Goods: Summer of Love - Week 6 - TOP CUT BREAKDOWN

 Up until this point, we've had a double elimination event.
But now that we have a top 8, The safety net has been removed.
That's right. From here on out, all losses are final.
Unfair? Maybe.
Not to worry however!
Every match from here on to the finals will be transposed in a detailed play-by-play for your own reading pleasure.

Let's meet our contenders, let's get to ...

 

Lets review and meet with out top contenders in the order their success this far has placed them!

#1 Ranked Seed: BroStat-X

At this point, if they ever make a movie out of this event, I'm sure BroStat-X is going to be the antagonist.
This thinly veiled TNNB list does everything you'd expect TNNB to do, and a few extra things thanks to the automatic crossover this event allows. granting unprecedented access to resource replacement effects and clutch pumps.

What it needs to do to win:

Every single game it has ripped TNB by turn 3 has been a win. So all things considered, this deck will only ever lose on a wiff of bad draws. If this deck makes it to the finals it's all but a foregone conclusion, since the finals will be a best of 3.
And I mean BAD draws.
Basically Anything short of baby Jesus coming down from the heavens holding hands with Mr. Rogers to hand BroStat-X the worst possible series of mulligans and topdecks over the first 4 turns of the game, while giving his opponent the absolute NUTS.
Because that's what it is going to take for this deck to lose.
Good thing we play VS System.
A game, where every once in a long while, baby Jesus comes to visit. God-draws happen, and even OP decks can lose...
MAYBE.

#2 Ranked Seed: WEE

Taking a TNNB-LIGHT approach, and milking some of the unique strengths of Wild Pack, along with the borderline absurd stat weights of the EE self-harm character roster, WEE seems to be the only other undefeated team in any sort of position to threaten BroStat-X's dominant claim to the throne. Its MVP play is a simple one. Prison Planet and Crippler by turn 2. Allowing an often under-rated slowing of incoming early damage. The Capture Net + Bounty Hunt interaction serves to fuel Goldface's heavy cost of discarding 2 EE characters to recruit, and a Major Force on an off-initiative turn 5 tends to be one of the strongest plays the deck can offer. as it can easily have him defending as a, SURPRISE! 17/15 for some unexpected stunbacks. Similarly on this turn Goldface can hit a rock-solid 15/13.
The only team unilaterally happy with even initiatives, it isn't hard to see why.

What it needs to do to win:

A PERFECT curve. An obvious statement, of course.
However with no search fixing before 3, turn 2 tends to be the weakest link, a link that often benefits from a hidden Chen, or a Fatality. While in almost all situations, Man-Eater is the best 3 drop it can put into play. (an overextending BroStat-X may feel that BattleStar is a tougher 3 to play around if they clump New Nexts though)

#3 Ranked Seed: Foul-Mouthed Dark God

The only list to manage to stop a hardline rush (Gods matter) in its tracks and steal a win, you'd be hard pressed to build a better all-comers list with the draw potential this one offers. The Doom control package is no secret, but always manages to surprise enemy players regardless, with perfect-timing, and initiative breaking exhausts to extend play to those oh-so-valuable late game turns.

What it needs to do to win:

Hit curve, and Sub the Mockeries into play. This is such a crazy good tempo setting play. Drawing cards and preventing stuns on hidden characters, enables some fantastic potency with curve options.
On initiative, the nextwave early drops are almost always better, however once it goes turn 4 or later, we definately want to see some mockeries take their places as we set up some Darkseid/Doom/etc... brick plays. Survival of the fittest into Darkseid, the Omega on turn 6 is a ball-busting 7 drop Magneto in disguise that works beutifully in tandem with Anti-Life, and the Dark God win condition, which it has already managed to land, once in this event!

#4 Ranked Seed: Dark Magic

As the lowest ranked undefeated team, this deck can be summarized as simply, hard to kill. Willing to spend nigh-RIDICULOUS Endurance amounts to fuel some of the coolest outplays we've seen in this event so far, it doesn't seem to have any true answers for the other top teams, aside from perhaps a clutch Conclave or KO ability.

What it needs to do to win:

For 99% of its matchups? Easy. NEVER. WIFF. ILSA. Beyond that, it needs an early Anarchy in any matchup vs WEE or BroStat-X almost without exception. Also, in any rush matchup, a little bit of some baby Jesus lucksack won't hurt it any.

#5 Ranked Seed: Gods Matter

Considered to be the number 2 seed at the start of this event, the shocking upset loss recieved at the hands of Darkseid proved that this events results are not set in stone.
This particular list uses repeat swings from Slipstream to deliver some pretty amazing endurance swings on turn 3, and in a perfect world, closes its games out on 4 with some decent access to burn and initiative-willing, another double-swing.

What it needs to do to win:

Chomin by turn 2, and at least 3 pumps, and of course, slipstream on turn 3.
That's literally all it needs to win most games it plays. Will this recipe prove true in the top 8?

 

 

#6 Ranked Seed: Devourer of Speed

Taking a page from the Thunderbolt playbook, Devourer of Speed seeks to consistently set up the required pieces for an over-statted direct swing to push the game out of reach. Due to the consistency of the search engine, it affords some substantial silver bullet splashes like Flame trap, and I Must Obey to help it sneak past the kill turns of rush builds.

What it needs to do to win:

Silver Surfer with an equipped Board by 3. If it can do that, it will guarantee an infinite mass punch, substantial bonus draw, and a perfect curve. Not bad for an aggressive mulligan.

#7 Ranked Seed: The MorMans are Coming!

Extremely efficient rush. a remarkable ability to sustain. A solid and consistent burn.
This deck has answers to almost everything. Almost.

What it needs to do to win:

Early evaders to set up the midgame are the most important tools this list can use to setup its support pieces. And an early Alley. The earlier the better. get that and it holds a shot to win almost any game. Almost.

#8 Ranked Seed: IMMORTALS

A fan favorite using a leader focus to ensure, well... immortality of it's curve thanks to Code White and Dr. Sivana. Used in conjunction with other potent Leaders Like Gorilla Grodd at 6 and a great draw package with Dark Beast and Survival of the fittest, and this deck looks to out-sustain, out brick and later-on, out damage all that it faces.

What it needs to do to win:

Since the curve tends to stay around for such a long time, IMMORTALS' best success is when they dont miss a drop. Honestly, not a hard ask considering the 8 searchers the deck mains. Best successes all land a location to recur by 2. VS rush, the obvious code whites will be needed in FULL as it has no other real method to deal with early damage.

Now you've met the players, let's cover our top 8 match-up breakdowns!

 

...B*tches. There. sounds official now.

CHECK OUT THE NEW TOP CUT BRACKET!

 

Match 1: BroStat-X  -VS-  IMMORTALS

IMMORTALS have a dog in this race, and then some. It's a shame that they face BroStat-X. Against most other contenders they might have had a real shot. Unfortunately, IMMORTALS will be looking for that baby Jesus divine intervention sort-of love, and in a big way too. I'll put it plainly.
IMMORTALS cannot win. What they NEED is for BroStat-X to LOSE
Favored to win: BroStat-X by 15.5 endurance

Match 2: Dark Magic  -VS-  Gods Matter

At first glance, Gods Matter looks like just about every other game they've featured in as a runaway favorite, however we've seen what an effective brick can do in GM's only loss. What's more, A conclaved say... Thunderous Onslaught could literally HALF the damage output for the turn. While a total Anarchy on top of that could literally steal a win here in a BIG way. While I don't want to outright call for the upset, I'll just say...
Watch for the upset.
Favored to win: Gods Matter by 8.5 endurance

 

Match 3: WEE  -VS-  The MorMans are Coming!

Mormans have serious game and some hugely statted combat swings... and Combat phase board security. WEE has serious game and hugely statted combat swings... AND out of combat board control options. This one sits on a razor's edge folks, and something is about to give. This one is WAY too close to call.
Favored to win: NO LINE (Just pick a winner)

 

Match 4: Foul-Mouthed Dark God  -VS-  Devourer of Speed

The Devourer of speed has faced down a doom firing on all cylinders and delivered it with a loss. It seems hard to imagine a Darkseid playing at doom tricks can avoid the big hit with LESS field manipulating tricks. However If Dark God can use Darkseid, the omega to swap a Survival of the fittest before some solid key stuns... the game could pretty much end right there. The edge, however will go to Devourers consistency.
Favored to win: Devourer of Speed by 30.5 endurance

HIT UP THE OFFICIAL TOP 8 BETTING THREAD!