POST GAME REPORT: The Winter Classic - Week 5 - All roads lead here.

5 weeks in the making, here we are! 

 To say we saw some upsets, would likely be an understatement, even unplayed matches in this week affected tiebreaks in a tangible way. Lets just say, that right up until the last game report, i saw the top 8 shift one way, then another. And that's what we wanted! Crazy tight races!

enough talking, heres the final rankings as we cut to our top 8!

Yes even that super cool, talented Aaron guy wiffed his top cut!

I just want to thank everyone that took part in this grand Covid lockdown experiment. Clearly there's still a solid competitive interest as we progress!

Watch for our Legend squared announcement for the next event in the vs system collective facebook group!

For those eliminated from teh big show, I'd encourage you to get testing for the double legend format, (MEV + MCG banned, and each legend must have 12 SEPARATE cards for each, so no double dipping with fan 4 for easy mode!)

Our first round of playoffs starts with a bang!

There can be only ONE

 Our top eight!
(Decklists hyperlinked to each name!)

#1 Ankit Kavi - Curve Sentinels
In first seed: it's  Ankit Kavi Piloting a solid all-comers Curve Sentinels list, Yet to taste defeat the robots swap some of the more popular utility in favor of straight field control and cost effecient defensive options like Finishing Move and Acrobatic Dodge rather than the interactions Micro sentinels  or Cover Fire would provide.
At 5-0, clearly it's working.

#2 Seb D. Aigle - Curve Sentinels
Welp, if anyone still doubts the power of the robot hordes, take a step back. They OWN the origins block. Seb's experimental style landed him a mirror match in week 4, where Ankit emerged victorious, Robots may not feel pain, but I'm certain they crave revenge.

#3 Norman Halimsetiawan - GLOCK
One of only a few Green Lantern variants in the format, With the errata'd re-emergence of Doc Light  (only allowed to target PRINTED EE affiations) this list did not hesitate to focus fire Black Hand into play for some massive lifegain options.

#4 Proposition Joe - Spider Stall
The original Cool, back for a reclamation! Ever annoying and flinging web fluids everywhere, an offbeat approach to the spiders puts in some work.

#5 Walter Alvarado - Ultimate New brotherhood
TNB but not how you remember it. Thanks to the Origins Block format allowances, Juggernaut, Ultimates, takes a heavy feature over the traditional Sabertooth with his penchant to avoid stuns and enjoy untargetability, while Pyro, Hot Topic absolutely shreds endurance totals.

#6 Victor Gonzalez Rugel - Common Enemy
We all knew we were going to see doom up here. the classic build is back, with a focus on doom's throne room to fuel some massive swings.

#7 Alexander Hancock - Ultimate Doom
Ultimates get tagged in yet again in a hyper stylized endgame option featuring Doom, Ultimates setting up a split deck just in time for Thor, Ultimates to burn for heavy numbers. SHAFT would be proud.

#8 Edgar E Marin - Spider-Knights
The only contender to succedd with a Lost City Variant, this toolbox isn't shy about a convoluted Midnight Sons set up and some curious options. One can't argue success however.

Best of luck as you progress!

POST GAME REPORT: The Winter Classic - Week 4

 

 

 another hectic week is now behind us! Leaving us with only two undefeated players, In our final week of regular play, it willbe Ankit kavi VS Norman Halimsetiawan battling to see who reigns supreme! Will it be Ankit's Sentinels or Norman's GLOCK that see the more favorable matchups in our top cut?

 

 

ROUND 5 Pairings!

This is it! Week 5, the final week before top cut!

Darius Thatcher VS Boris Karetny

Jonas Dickschat VS Jonathan Brami

Victor Gonzalez Rugel VS Eric Isabedra

Aaron Mead VS Alexander Hancock

Nick Fletcher VS Joshua MacDonald

Tom van den Dop VS Tyler Frazier

Kal El VS Wesley Nichol

Edgar E. Marín VS Proposition Joe

Seb D. Aigle VS Walter Alvarado

Ankit Kavi VS Norman Halimsetiawan

This week, Cesar Rodil has a bye as his opponent dropped.


The current leaderboard:

POSTGAME REPORT: The Winter Classic - Week 1

 

ROUND 1:

Darius Thatcher VS Tyler Frazier

Darius nabbed a fast win thanks to some RNG but once Tyler warmed up, things like attacks didn't do very much in the next 2 games thanks to catchers mitt and 10 or so ways for Tyler to replay Child. In game 3 however it went to turn 13 before Tyler managed the monstrous team tactics chain to land an attack value of 456. Fun fact: with 15 characters in play Darius' playset of cover fires had his robot at 143 DEF. In any other swing that's pretty absurd!
--Darius Thatcher DEFEATED BY Tyler Frazier --
2 games to 1

Joshua MacDonald VS Eric Isabedra

Eric's burn caught Josh off guard as he dismantled the Fat Bat build with relative ease. Reinforcement counts for nothing when taking endurance damage straight to the face.
--Joshua MacDonald DEFEATED BY Eric Isabedra--
2 games to 0

Jonas Dickschat VS  Seb D. Aigle

MKKO vs Sentinel curve! An ancient rivalry going back to 2005 finally gets to slug it out again in 2021! This meeting, however it was the sentinels and their massive access to removal that helped seal a narrow victory!
--Jonas Dickschat DEFEATED BY  Seb D. Aigle--
2 games to 1

Kal El VS Ankit Kavi

In the end, it was Ankit, with his Curve Sentinels, that scored the victory, over Kal El's X-Men legacy build In a nailbiter featuring mutant vs machine!

--Kal El DEFEATED BY Ankit Kavi--
2 games to 1

Alexander Hancock VS Jonathan Brami

Almost experiencing a failure to launch at all, it was Alexander that claimed the crown when their international schedules finally aligned.
--Alexander Hancock DEFEATS Jonathan Brami--
2 games to 1

Cesar Rodil VS James Woolner

James' Titans got off to an early lead with a solid game 1 win when in game 2, some paranoia over nasty surprise had the titans player pass with Cesar at 0 endurance. Cesar proceeded to play meltdown, gaining 2 endurance and stealing a win game 2.
In game 3, however, james finally landed the Tim drake + Red star in some repeated team attacks to avoid all stuns and seal it.
--Cesar Rodil DEFEATED BY  James Woolner--
2 games to 1

Tom van den Dop VS Proposition Joe

In an unfortunate turn Tom van den Dop was forced to concede his match ths round citing a family emergency. Hope all is well good sir. Meanwhile, Proposition gets the free 2-0.
--Tom van den Dop DEFEATED BY Proposition Joe--
2 games to 1

Boris Karetny VS Norman Halimsetiawan

In a twist of unexpected travel, Boris was unable to get his games played in time and was forced to concede his round 1 match.
--Boris Karetny DEFEATED BY Norman Halimsetiawan--
2 games to 0

Edgar E. Marín VS Wesley Nichol

Seeming to misfire, Edgar's deck fell flat into Wesley's GLEE build, Unable to deal with Sinestro.
--Edgar E. Marín DEFEATED BY  Wesley Nichol--
2 games to 0

Nick Fletcher VS Walter Alvarado

Underworld Crime fell into some surprising damage thanks to Pyro's exponential burn!
--Nick Fletcher DEFEATED BY Walter Alvarado--
2 games to 0

Victor Gonzalez Rugel VS Aaron Mead

In a nail-biting game 3 Aaron's field advantage seemed to have the game on lock, but a massive series of pumps and stun avoidance on a turn 7 initiative for Victor left Aaron at -3 endurance. Then a timely mystical paralysis ensured the best he could do was trade. stuns and take the loss.
--Victor Gonzalez Rugel DEFEATS Aaron Mead--
2 games to1

 

 ***********

ROUND 2 PAIRINGS:

Tom van den Dop VS Boris Karetny

Cesar Rodil VS Aaron Mead

Kal El VS Jonathan Brami

Jonas Dickschat VS Nick Fletcher

Joshua MacDonald VS Edgar E. Marin

Walter Alvorado VS Darius Thatcher

Seb D. Aigle VS Wesley Nichol

Eric Isabedra VS Norman Halimsetiawan

Tyler Frazier VS Proposition Joe

Victor Gonzalez Rugal VS James Woolner

Alexander Hancock VS Ankit Kavi

GOOD LUCK IN ROUND 2!

The Postgame Report: Week 7 - Semifinals

 A shocking upset!
a 60 endurance faceshot?
All this and more, on this week's...

This week was a DOOZY!
Click on the match headers to read the actual Match reports for each game!

Match 5: BroStat-X -VS- Dark Magic

Things immediately didn't look very promising, as BroStat-X won the roll to get their desired Odd initiative.
However, as it turns out, an early Total Anarchy really REALLY helps mitigate the output of TNNBroStat-X (see what I did there?) at one point leaving the potent rusher with a board of ZERO. Dark Magic did a risky play following up the boardwipe, paying 3 to alt recruit the 1 drop Nightmaster, before KOing it to New and Improved, and then paying 20 to alt-recruit Nightmaster 5 on a defending turn, before playing a Blue Devil, also new and Improved as well, leaving them on 3 endurance, but with TWO 5 drops! But the life-gain from Blue Devil and Abjuration kept them afloat to push through the under-dropped numbers on 6 and then secure the win on turn 7 to secure the upset.
While BroStat-X remains to play in the Bronze match tiebreak, they are otherwise, eliminated.

BroStat-X  DEFEATED BY  Dark Magic
-17  to  9

 

 

Match 6: WEE -VS- Devourer of Speed

Winning the roll, Devourer had everything they could ever want in this game with a guaranteed turn 6 at their disposal, However a turn 3 Surfer Stun, limited the availability of search while Capture net began to whittle away at Devourer's field presence. Even while harassed though, Devourer managed a 60 damage faceshot on turn 6! However ignoring a well equipped opposing lineup for that ridiculous direct damage proved to not be enough, as WEE pushed back to secure the win on turn 6 by less than 10 points and move on to the finals.

WEE  DEFEAT  Devourer of Speed
-26  to -33

This leaves our finalists LOCKED IN. Our best-of-three finals will be:
Dark Magic -VS- WEE
While our 3rd place best-of-one tiebreak will feature:
BroStat-X -VS- Devourer of Speed

Expect the betting post to go live with the Goods betting report as well as some unique ways to make a metric crapton of betting points!


CHECK THE PLAYOFF BRACKET!

 

 

The Postgame report: Week 6 - Top 8 Bracket

Gods Bleed!
A turn 4 Win!
 A rush pushed back, to turn ... SEVEN?!
All this and more on this weeks...

 

 

 

(For the nitty gritty, check out the bat-reps by clicking on the  match titles! You will also see them on the right with the blog history. But for fast information on winnders and losers... read on!)

 

Match 1 - BroStat-X  -VS-  IMMORTALS

With 2 new Brotherhoods out by turn 3, There really wasn't much IMMORTALS could do, but at least we all learned something with our event's first ruling interruption! While it is true that IMMORTALS manage to win the roll, they decisively lose this one, with BroStat-X doubling the spread and ending it on turn 4.

BroStat-X  ELIMINATE  IMMORTALS
37  to  -3

Match 2: Dark Magic  -VS-  Gods Matter

Dark Magic? More like Dark Cockroaches. The went to -3 then 2 turns later they are ending the game at 14. A very taxing use of Conclaves in this one keep Slipstream off the table and far less relevant that he is accustomed to being in a solid display of control.  Dark magic wins the roll, wins the game, beats the spread, and takes their candy.

Dark Magic  ELIMINATE  Gods Matter

14  to  -18

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

In what turned out to be a slugfest gone late game, two teams uniquely unable to fare well, in a late game matchup found themselves going to turn 7, with WEE finally squeaking out a win to advance.
WEE wins the roll and beats the spread.

WEE  ELIMINATE  The MorMans are Coming!

0  to  -8

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

FMDG knew the simplest way to stop the turn 6 insanity, was to focus draws and hope to land 2 Mystical Paralysis by 6. it didn't happen. But not one, not two, but THREE Anti-Life's managed to find themselves into play by turn 5 forcing a substantial deficit going into 6.
Considering Devourer misses the surfboard entirely, it's actually a surprise they managed to fish what they needed to push it through. While Devourer wins the Roll, and the game, Foul-Mouthed Dark God beats the spread.

Foul-Mouthed Dark God  ELIMINATED BY  Devourer of Speed

-16  to  3

CHECK OUT THE TOP 8 BRACKET

The Postgame Report: Week 5 - Losers' Bracket

This is it. The losers are out. The winners are in the top 8 cut.

 

Too sick to dress it up, some killer games and some gut-wrenching losses to be had here. Read on!

Match 49- Gamma Robuts  -VS-  Devourer of Speed
Gamma Robuts took evens from Devourer, negated in its entirety their turn 7 kill turn with a build phase mystical paralysis series, leaving the entire roster exhausted and primed for a gamma bomb on 8 thanks to latveria.
However, Devourer used a Full Throttle in tandem with Barry's ability to self ready to slam in 34 damage over a Puppet Master that couldn't be reinforced to seal the win at the 11th hour before the doom stall ran away with it. Don't let the score lull you into a false sense of an easy win, a slight formation change and the Robuts win.
Fun Fact: Boris was recruited 6 times in this game!

Robuts win the flip, But Devourer beats the point spread.

Gamma Robuts DEFEATED BY Devourer of Speed
-14  to  43

Match 50- Unjust Fear  -VS-  The MorMans are Coming!
I'd have called this one for MorMans 10 out of 10 times, but as in every other match they played, Unjust Fear somehow found a way to shut down game plans and take the games CLOSER than anyone anticipated. -often to a win. Mormans hit the elusive Alley on 2, and that basically was the game. Burn versus a controlled stall. While the turn 7 proved to be climactic, it is worth noting that the mormans with an even initiative, never managed a swing after turn 5. not one. Dr. Light does that.
A CLUTCH stunback from a last-standed Storm thanks to a Shrapnel Blast set up a start of recovery turn that burned for 8, ultimately deciding the game.

Mormans win the flip, and the game, but Unjust Fear Beats the spread in a nail-biter.

Unjust Fear  DEFEATED BY  The MorMans are Coming
-6 to -3

Match 51- Gods Matter  -VS-  Intergalactic Carpool
Intergalactic Carpool was poised to utterly dominate on turn 5 and then 6.
The answer of course?
Just win on 4.
With a double swinging slipstream on an off initiative turn 3 and another double swinging slipstream on 4, it ended before it began for the Carpool's gameplans.

Gods Matter win the flip, win the game, and beat the spread.

Gods Matter  DEFEATS  Intergalactic Carpool
22 to -4

Match 52- Crapple Jacks  -VS-  IMMORTALS
Crapple Jacks made a run of it. Let no-one call that into question. But it was Black Manta recycling Path of Destruction repeatedly that allowed Immortals to push through despite the turn 5 Deadpool's attempts to cancel the notable swings. Fun Fact: a recurring +8 atk on a Charaxes that enters play every turn for free, IS a notable swing.

Crapple Jacks win the roll, but IMMORTALS win the game and beat the spread.

Crapple Jacks  DEFEATED BY  IMMORTALS
-18 to 4


Stay tuned for the top 8 decks, who they fight and how betting will change going forward!

CHECK THE BRACKET

 

 

 

The Postgame Report: Week 4

It turns out even Gods can bleed!

A game loss from a single evade!

A Doop power-up decides the game?
All this AND MORE, in this week's...

As we near ever closer to the top 8, we once again salute those that came before...
we salute the fallen. And probably next week we salute Crapple Jacks... Probably.
RIP amirite?

lets get to the reports!
(spread winners marked by an *)

LOSERS BRACKET:

Match 41- Intergalactic Carpool   -VS-  The Cliffs of INSANITY

Even with a locked down row, CoA (Cliffs of INSANITY) managed to keep up the pressure. it wasn't until a defensive turn 6 facing a perfect press chain into a Mr. Fantastic, father of invention emptying the resource row of 4 equips that the game was put to bed. CoA beats the spread, but ultimately faces the final curtain call in its insane showcase

Intergalactic Carpool  ELIMINATE  The Cliffs of INSANITY*

7  to  -5

Match 42- IMMORTALS  -VS-  HellKnights

Considering their heavy handed loss placing them in the loser's bracket, IMMORTALS have been keeping with their namesake, and just out pressuring other solid builds with their unique tools.
This proved to be no different. Early Fate set on 3? transfer to hellboy on 4? Unnatural selection. While the immortals did not surrender a single character played, except to fuel a grodd steal of Barbara Gordon on 6. Before riding 2 path of destruction pumps to end it. HellKnight fans, be consoled that your team fought to the end, and managed to hang on tightly enough to beat the spread by half a point.

IMMORTALS  ELIMINATE  HellKnights*

10  to  -6

Match 43- The Swingers' Club  -VS-  Devourer of Speed

Devourer got evens and an early Galen to seriously mitigate the early swing potential of the Club. when 6 finally rolled around, however, Devourer still hadn't managed to draw into a Terminal Velocity. Thing is, Thanks to Morg, the Club doesn't exactly spam visible defenders, so the direct swing happened on the back of  the 6 drop barry with a power-up and double beatdown before readying and team tactics for a smooth 46 direct. Swingers manage to beat the spread with some imaginative, if not spiteful return swings.

*The Swingers' Club  ELIMINATED BY  Devourer of Speed

-26  to  -9

Match 44- Tam'Ar Empire  -VS-  The MorMans are Coming!

Tam'Ar dug in early and surfed an easy stall through the early and mid game, while MorMans were content to ride a lifegain engine to stay topped up when the unthinkable happened. as a throw-away chain to a mobilize that was intended to fetch Koriand'r, Manhunter Clone MILLS HER. Then tar Baby RFP's it! So Even though the match went to 7, Without the fiery princess, the MorMan onslaught knocked in the Empire's doors and showed them old time religion, down to the exact endurance total needed to progress. Make no mistake though, that lucksack Manhunter Clone mill stole the game.

Tam'Ar Empire  ELIMINATED BY  The MorMans are Coming!*

0  to  43

WINNERS BRACKET

Match 45- Gamma Robuts  -VS-  BroStat-X

So this is an odd tale where I tell you that Gamma Robuts wiffed turns 1-3 with zero recruits.
However, this is also a tale where i tell you BroStat-X only hit 1 TNB by turn 3. And a crazy clutch defensive 4 from doom negated their entire initiative. Add in Political pressure and things were suddenly turning. but could they bring it back from the brink?
Passing their initiative with a massive board and only leaving a hidden Doop and an Anne Marie Cortez for a swingback, it was the Doop power-up that sealed the game in a team swing into Bastion.
Death by Doop. Robuts relegate to the losers bracket. perhaps we shall see them again. Pickers looking for sure things won't like this result at all. Gamma Robuts beat the spread and almost steal a win.

*Gamma Robuts  DEFEATED BY  BroStat-X

-7  to  -6

Match 46- Dark Magic -VS- Unjust Fear

I can't break down this game without giving the final turns as a fully summarized play-by-play.

So the game is close, it is turn 5, both teams are sitting on their low to mid 40's for endurance and Dark Magic has initiative. Paying 3 to alt recruit the 1 cost nightmaster, Dark Magic uses new and Improved to KO it. Then they play a second alt recruited Nightmaster. it enters with 2 counters but is short lived, as again, it is KO'd to new and Improved. Now it gets a wierd. Dark Magic ALT recruits 5 drop Nightmaster by paying 20, it enters play at 13/13, but not done yet, Dark Magic KO's Blue devil 2 drop, gaining 6 endurance, then spends 5 resources to recruit Blue Devil 5 entering at 12/12, and losing 4 endurance.
Unjust fear, played a Lex.

Then Dark Magic flipped Anarchy.

And anarchy it WAS.
Dr. Sivana KOs.
Shimmer KOs.
Poison Ivy KOs.
then Grigory Rasputin spends 5, and sure enough, Lex dies too.
So even though Dark Magic went from low forties in endurance to just 11, unjust Fear, went from equally high endurance, to just 14. and lost 12 resources worth of characters in play. with nothing but 5 infernal minions in play

Follow up to turn 6:
With only 5 characters in play, rather than the usual 8 or so, Dr Light is recruited for the 6th, but won't be stunning a defensive 6 as he can only take down 5 or less. And a 6 is indeed played, as June Moon enters play. Unjust Fear Settles for the over-statted Nightmaster, as a stun target and Nightmaster goes down.
A Sleeper Cells follows up attempting to ready Dr. Light, but was promptly Conclaved. Now below 10 endurance, June Moon activates to stun Dr. Light, who in turn, responds with press the attack. the chain resolves and Dr. Light readies, then activates to stun Blue devil before going down for the stun himself from June Moon.
Some power-ups allow the remaining 2 infernal minions another trade with Dark Magic's Ilsa before passing with a score of -6 to 7 in Unjust Fear's favor. and only a Grigori left for Dark Magic that can swing.
Grigori does so.
For a moment teh Dark Magic player considers the handshake.
"Oh almost forgot"
only one move left.
Activate new and Improved on the stunned Blue devil to KO it.
Blue Devil triggered effect resolves... GAIN 8.
Dark Magic wins.

*Dark Magic  DEFEATS  Unjust Fear

2  to  0

Match 47- Gods Matter -VS- Foul-Mouthed Dark God

Gods did what they do and swung like maniacs on turn 3. however an awkward clump prevented any meaningful play on 4, (nothing but slipstreams) then again on 5 as they pushed for a team swing at 16 hoping to take Dark God to -1. but the god had the brick to ensure a swingback for game.

Gods Matter  DEFEATED BY  Foul-Mouthed Dark God*

-7  to  3

Match 48- Crapple Jacks -VS- WEE

No double points awarded this week!

WEE lived up to its name and just ran away with a monstrous turn 6, Man Eaters ac cess to the hidden area proved too detrimental for any relevant set-up, resulting in WEE removing that nice shiny "undefeated" tag from Crapple Jacks. Sorry, not sorry Scott... WEE more than triples their allocated spread. But we will see Crapple Jacks again in the losers bracket, perhaps they aren't quite done yet. Is it possible they survive the next round and land a top 8 berth?
Stay tuned folks.

Crapple Jacks  DEFEATED BY   WEE*

-32  to  15

SEE THE BRACKET HERE

Stay tuned for the betting thread for next week!! We will be playing our losers bracket to establish our top 8 next week!

The PostGame Report: Week 3 - Loser's Bracket

Another week: Another set of eliminated opponents!
Rest well contenders, you need not concern yourselves with victory anymore.
Your race is run.
Your quest is done.

Match 33: The Cliffs of INSANITY! -VS- BKKO

BKKO didnt miss a drop.
But INSANITY landed San on 2 scoring the infamous turn 4 Attilan.
When an Insanity list gets to search for anything it wants every turn things tend to go sideways.
This particular one ends on a potent turn 6 putting Charaxes to work with a Strykers Island for +5 and a beatdown over Ghostrider. before Scarecrow secures it with a direct swing.

The Cliffs of INSANITY!  ELIMINATE  BKKO

6 to -16

Match 34:  Secretly Wolverine -VS- Intergalactic Carpool

A completely hidden deck wiffs masterman completely. SOme Illuminati tricks kept the deck alive through 5, but after a massive Press chain into a Ronin the Accuser, starforce Wolverine could no longer berserker rage into healing factor his 22 atk for multiple shots. 2 cover fires for more def than is fSensible sealed the deal to protect Ronin and lock in the easy win.

Secretly Wolverine  ELIMINATED BY  Intergalactic Carpool

-24 to 2

Match 35:  HellKnights -VS- Outsider Protocol

A clutch negate on a reset sent Outsider Protocol into a bad situation on a potentially heavy turn 4. With a few pancakes keeping the demonspawn around long enough to score some clutch +1/+1 counters, a heavy turn 5 Kate Kane recruit triggering her effect prevented Owen Mercer from keeping his pals around defensively, while Hellboy finally finished the fate suite and swang for some dominant swings to end it early.

HellKnights  ELIMINATE  Outsider Protocol

8 to -1

Match 36:  Hulk Smash you...Yesterday -VS- IMMORTALS

Week 1, Hulk had a serious issue with hitting curve. The week mirrored that first showing with a wiff on 2 and no opportunity to get that Miek into play. However turn 5 looked threatening as hulk 5 had his KO ability online, however it wasn't his initiative, and the IMMORTALS simply over invested into a "free" charaxes swing with multiple path of destructions to enable copius swings to the visible area.

Hulk Smash you... Yesterday  ELIMINATED BY  IMMORTALS

-7 to 14

Match 37:  SHIELD of Atlantis -VS- Devourer of Speed

Devourer won the roll and called evens.
To those closely watching this one, that's all you needed to know. Had it been different, however, it's worth noting that SHIELD never saw the war Machine Armor they'd have needed to stay in it anyway. An infinite mass punch for 52 direct seals this one in favor of the Devourer.

SHIELD of Atlantis  ELIMINATED BY  Devourer of Speed

-21 to 1

Match 38:  Demons United -VS- The Swingers' Club

A potent lockdown initiative gets revoked when Spider-Man, secret avengers shuts down a clutch Crime Dr. on turn 5, leaving Demon's United unable to last through the Swingers' Club kill turn.

Demons United  ELIMINATED BY  The Swingers' Club

-12 to 19

Match 39:  Young Avengers Flight -VS- The MorMans are Coming!

The Mormans punish Young Avengers Flight for team swinging with 2 consecutive turns of backs against the wall to push through an easy win on a turn 6 initiative. A closer game than anticipated, The YAF beat the spread but lose the game.

Young Avengers Flight  ELIMINATED BY  The MorMans are Coming!

-2 to 5

Match 40: Tam'Ar Empire -VS- Skrullf*cked

A turn 3 Wolvie with all the trimmings forced the Empire to throw away their entire hand trying to mitigate Muramasa KO's, but an equally heavy turn 4, promised that hand was only going to continue suffering. Skrulls safely play their curve to 6 into a virtually empty field to end it.
Too bad Muramasa Blade isn't legal.
Skrullf*cked is disqualified.

Tam'Ar Empire  ELIMINATES  Skrullf*cked

Due to Disqualification

WEEK 4 BETTING THREAD HERE

CHECK THE BRACKET HERE

The Postgame Report: Round 2

A 72 point win margin!

A Turn 4 for 56 damage!
And a team wins with only 2 damage taken?
And a team is eliminated by a game decided by a single point?
Hold on to yer butts!
All this and more! On this week's:

The week marks the first body count of decks to exit this event, We honor those that came before, however and thank those that carry on!



But first, a moment of silence...


OK! Lets get to the reports!

ROUND 2

LOSER'S BRACKET

Match 17: Defenders, Attack! -VS- Skrullf*cked

In Week 1 The Skrull variant wiffed just about everything a deck can wiff after mulligan-ing away what would have been a GOD hand. This week, while there was no overly crazy opening hand, the even initiatives really worked out for the alien shifters as the unlikely team-up proceeded to completely dominate the board from turn 4 onwards, Muramasa blade on wolverine double swings cleared the visible area, then on turn 5, An Elektra counterswing with black bolt and 7 team affiliations took down hulk in a permanent manner. On 6 a second Mutopia and an under-dropped Ethan Edwards met a second mutopia for 9 team affiliations and some serious damage.
And with that, "Defenders, Attack!" pack up their things and journey home after suffering a sound Skrullf*cking.

Defenders, Attack!  ELIMINATED BY  Skrullf*cked

-30 to 42

Match 18: The MorMans are Coming! -VS- Exhaust Squad

Mormans were forced to underdrop early while Exhaust Squad went to work, at one point featuring a Haywire swinging at 10/9 on turn 5! However it was a timely Backs Against the Wall, and the significant burn from the Alley that locked in a very close game for the MorMans. But seeing all these games go to 6, really has me wondering why MorMan's didnt toss in a single Callisto, just in case.

The MorMans ar Coming!  ELIMINATES  Exhaust Squad

-1 to -3

Match 19: Evil Secrets -VS- The Swingers' Club

Evil Secrets exploded rightout of the gate, managing to KO Firestar on 5, and then Spiderman, secret avenger on 6! But the Swinger's club late game proved to be too much for even 2 cover fires to handle as Evil Secrets wins on the back of the synergy between Madelyn and Aunt may's free cost. Pushing it through on an explosive off-initiative.

Evil Secrets  ELIMINATED BY  The Swingers' Club

-20 to -3

Match 20: Mind Games  -VS- Devourer of Speed

Using a reinforced 4 drop flash to mitigate the insane swings of the 19/19 5 drop jean grey, it was a textbook infinite mass punch direct for 35 on six, that ended the x-lady's mindgames.

Mind Games  ELIMINATED BY  Devourer of Speed

-18 to 25

Match 21: Rita Repulsa  -VS-  IMMORTALS

A potent turn 3 saw Rita make her monster grow INDEED. showcasing a rad man with double New Identity. almost immediately shutting down plot twist play the following turn.
However IMMORTALS were not out of it. not one bit.
Who ami kidding there is no point dressing it up.
The game literally ended the instant Gorilla Grodd stole a Radioactiveman with 9 (NINE!) +1/+1 counters. Of course, they then just kept adding the counters, like a boss.

Rita Repulsa  ELIMINATED BY  IMMORTALS

-28 to 15

Match 22: Outsider Protocol  -VS-  Kill you to Death!

The attack resets of the outsiders proved to be an insurmountable advantage as the green lantern portion of the early game was completely overrun by angry multiswingers and Stun machines. You might say, Outsider Protocol Killed to death "Kill you to death".

Outsider Protocol  ELIMINATES  Kill you to Death!

15 to -22

Match 23: Super Legionnaires  -VS-  Intergalactic Carpool

I believe the term is called "vehicular homicide". And that is precisely what happened here, as teh Super Legionnaires found themselves outgunned across the board thanks to some fantasticars. On a turn 5 Mr fantastic initiative, the legion barely hung on ad a precarious 2 endurance before being snuffed out on turn 6, not bothering to swing back.

Super legionnaires  ELIMINATED BY  Intergalactic Carpool

-8 to 10

Match 24: Dead guys  -VS-  BKKO

Dead guys started slow, losing some key drops to timely KO effects, but on 4 everything changed on the back of a supreme Centurion Brick, stealing some thunder and quite a few endurance points too! On 6 however the tide turned, as ghost rider's shared stun ability pushed theDead Guys JUST far enough to end it.

Dead Guys  ELIMINATED BY  BKKO

-16 to -15

WINNERS BRACKET

Match 25: Gamma Robuts  -VS-  The Cliffs of INSANITY

Cliffs fought hard but Doom hit everything and just didn't let them do much. A turn 8 gamma bomb sealed the deal against the promising Insanity build and its shenanigans as Doom managed to keep re-using it until eventually deciding to end it in teh absolute safest way possible on turn 10.
Shout-out to the unique utility of bastion on the multi-swinging Sub-mariner in this list. A super potent combination that got serious work in.

Gamma Robuts  DEFEAT  The Cliffs of INSANITY

13 to -17

Match 26: Secretly Wolverine -VS- BroStat-X

Secretly Wolverine actually opened up with a bonkers start, leaving BroStat-X at only 13 endurance exiting turn 3 and sat at a comfortable 42 endurance itself. pretty safe huh?
Nope. 5x boardwide pumps for a global +10 and a few Planet X's for good measure, and BroStat-X coasts to an easy win after a barnacle solos Master-Man and the rest swing face.

Secretly Wolverine  DEFEATED BY  BroStat-X

-14 to -2

Match 27: Dark Magic  -VS-  HellKnights

HellKnights got the perfect set-up with an Alfred followed into a Sydney Leach and it was a trivial matter getting all 3 fate artifacts into play by turn 3. The problem, however, was that after all this was done, Jared Stevens came into play and repeatedly payed ZERO resources to ko the entire fate set.
To say this put HellKnights on the back foot is an understatement, but they managed to take the game to a very close turn 8, where unfortunately, they have no relevant drop while Captain Marvel showed up for Dark Magic to seal the deal in a potent initiative.

Dark Magic  DEFEATS  HellKnights 

1 to -15

Match 28: Unjust Fear  -VS-  Hulk Smash you... Yesterday

Hulk did what hulk does and swung for the fences, howeverneeded to underdrop a clutch missed Miek on 4 rather than curve out. This allowed JUST enough time for Unjust Fear to hit that all-too-important Dr. Light on 6 and force an out of combat righteous anger, limiting hulks swingbacks and removing hulk smash from the equation. Yet again. Null time kept hulk in it until a turn 7 when Psimon turned off literally every support plot twist hulk had before a pre-combat doc light stun sealed the deal.

Unjust fear  DEFEATS  Hulk Smash you... Yesterday

8 to -2

Match 29: Gods Matter -VS- SHIELD of Atlantis

SHIELD of Atlantis got off to a great start with an early set-up to use cover fire through turns 2 through 4, but to avoid the loss was forced to flip up a second trisk for the needed brick. being down a resource on a defensive 5 was a tall order and the SHIELD falls in a surprisingly resilient game.

Gods Matter  DEFEATS  SHIELD of Atlantis

-4 to -10

Match 30: Demons United  -VS-  Foul-Mouthed Dark God

The demons wnated blood, taking an early control of the game, but like, the patters seems to demonstrate, the dark god enlisted the aid of a Doom pretender and Mystical Paralysis'd Just all over the damn place. wrestling control until turn 8, where at a running total of  2 to 17, with 3 face-up Anti-life's Darkseid declared the game won. and the demons opted for the alt win condition, KOing their stunned board rather than go below zero. and suffer the indignity of a traditional game loss.

  DEFEATED BY 

Darkseid, Dark God win condition

Match 31: Crapple Jacks  -VS-  Young Avengers Flight

Young avengers flight did everything right, but a surprise dUal affiliated Deadpool surprised them, locking down a Monica Rambeau fueld power turn. after a brief debate about how, normally Deadpool would not in fact be a legal play in this circumstance (which is true, dual loyalty as a keyword specifies printed affiliations) This event, however, specified otherwise in my original deckbuilding rules post. Chalk it up to bad beats. Crapple Jacks control takes hold and runs away with a win.

Crapple Jacks  DEFEAT   Young Avengers Flight

23 to -4

Match 32: Tam'Ar Empire  -VS-  WEE

Week one, immediately showed why Walter Alvarado's empire is a pure stall, But a clutch miss on turn 2 prevented the massive brick ability the deck typically boasted. meanwhile WEE lived up to its name, curving through 5 and ending the game on an attack inflicting EXACTLY fatal damage before Tam'Ar Empire could stabilize. This one ends with the highest endurance total so far in this event! taking only 2 damage!

Tam'Ar Empire  DEFEATED BY  WEE

0 to 48

CHECK THE BRACKET

The Postgame Report: Round 1

A "Wild" upset!
A Teen Titans power stall?!? That works?
A win by only a single endurance!
A tied game at -9 goes into overtime!
All this and MORE in this week's SUMMER OF LOVE 2...

With no eliminations being threatened this week the stakes are lower than any other round, however an early win now helps cover that skewed match-up later. So let's get to it!

ROUND 1

Match 1: Defenders, Attack! -VS- Gamma Robuts

A promising matchup turns sour when Defenders completely miss their hulk on 5, while somehow also never managing to ever play a single Hulk Smash, even though pulling 2. A bastion imbued Sub-Mariner cleans house on turn 7 to come from behind and take the game after Hulk swings 3x at 19/19 with a Mjolnir equipped to damage Gamma Robuts exactly to zero. Again, No hulk smashes since Hulk needed righteous anger to juke the Paralysis. This left our Defenders player lamenting some searches that just didnt pay off as he spent a search for Sam Parington on 3 rather than waiting for the topdeck potential of 4 before doing so.

Final:Defenders Attack  DEFEATED BY  Gamma Robuts

-9 to 0

Match 2: SkrullF*cked  -VS- The Cliffs of INSANITY!

Opting to mulligan out of what would have been a God-hand, Skrulls ran into some tough times when they wiffed entirely on 4 and didn't manage to see Mutopia all game long. Bad beats.

Final: SkrullF*cked   DEFEATED BY  The Cliffs of INSANITY!
-7 to 25

Match 3: The MorMans are Coming! -VS- Secretly Wolverine

Mormans controlled the entire game, managing to prevent Wolverine's multiple swings over weak targets, and even managed to not place a single counter on Master Man! However a turn 6 Kirigi swinging with 32 over a Marrow with 14/23 with no outs sealed the deal... Except Healer and Electric Ever brought the game to a TIE at -9 on turn 6! EXTRA INNINGS!
With the initiative things looked good for the Morlocks, Even with no big drops to add marrow promised to be at least a 15 atk without pumps... and thats when the Illuminati underdrop happened. Iron man and Mr fan exhausting for Iron Man's effect put Marrow on ice. Leaving the MorMans player wishing the deck had a Calisto.

Final: The MorMans are Coming!  DEFEATED BY  Secretly Wolverine

-25 to -20

Match 4: BroStat-X -VS- Exhaust Squad

With a potent turn two dealing a crazy 22 damage to BroStat-X, it seemed perhaps Exhaust Squad could keep up the pressure, but a hard wiff on 3 and another one on 4 sealed their fate as BroStat-X jsut turn their cards sideways better. Sending Exhaust Squad into the deep negatives. Bad luck and bad beats happen. This one was both.

Final: BroStat-X  DEFEATS  Exhaust Squad

12 to -18

Match 5: Dark Magic -VS- Evil Secrets

An early Total Anarchy and a turn 4 Grigori on initative forced a board wipe for Evil Secrets on 4 (with the exception of a hidden deadshot). While Evil Secrets benefitted from their sustain trying to re-establish themselves, it was a double Conclave negating a double Hard Sound Construct play on turn 6 that put down any thoughts of a comeback.

Final: Dark Magic  DEFEATS  Evil Secrets

1 to -10

 Match 6: The Swingers' Club -VS- HellKnights

The Swingers' Club immediately got to work with the perfect turn 1, alt playing Aunt May into a Zabu, and by the start of turn 3 had dealt a fast 14 damage. HellKnighs patiently dropped prof for hellboy search before subbing in barb and euipping her with the complete fate suite. while she did some damage, The Swingers kept swinging face for cutting them almost to half endurance. However once Hellboy hit the table, things took a decisive turn, with a Ka-Boom keeping both teams locked into 2 consecutive turn 4's and a nice stack of pancakes to defend with, HellKnights manages to hang on and sneak a victory against the spider-friend hidden swarm.On the back of a clutch Bat Got Your Tongue on a Mega-blast, leaving Zabu in the support row unable to contribute in the final swing.

Final: The Swingers' Club  DEFEATED BY  HellKnights

-13 to -11

Match 7: Mind Games -VS- Unjust Fear

In a nail-biter going straight to turn 7, Unjust fear finally wore out the Jean Grey mind-games and remarkable counter-abuse for the decisive board wipe before a Phoenix Force could rally to save the game.

Final: Mind Games  DEFEATED BY  Unjust Fear
  -13 to 15

Match 8: Devourer of Speed  -VS- Hulk Smash You... Yesterday

While Devourer hit surver on 2 and the surfboard, Hulk was perfectly fine to have his characters go direct for fast damage. A questionable turn 3 recruit of Kang Cobra hidden on 3 gimps Hulk 4's ability to stun surfer while Morg (thanks to a free cosmic counter from surfboard) spins hulk 4 back to hand. On 5 Devourer sought to regain some tempo, dropping Wally west to swing into the hidden Kang with another replenished Morg spinning the under-dropped Hulk 4 back to hand again. With a turn 6 initiative, however, a 13/13 hulk with a rfp'd miek slammed face with a double hulk smash over Morg for maximum damage and plays a righteous anger to ready up and then swing over the 6 drop Barry Allen as well, Thanks to Kang, no power-ups to force a stunback. Hulk passes with his opponent at a -16 endurance total on his enemy before passing with 15 endurance himself.
Devourer terminal velocities the lone 5 drop flash. and swings direct, double beatdowns to 20, then flips full throttle discarding another flash to ready the attacker and laments his inability to power-up before playing team tactics, exhausting it to itself for a 40 atk direct swing. and falling short... by 1 endurance. Hulk smash wins by a thin green hair!

Final: Devourer of Speed  DEFEATED BY  Hulk Smash You...Yesterday
-16 to -15

Match 9: Gods Matter -VS- Rita Repulsa

The potential of Rita Repulsa to put supermassive characters into play is shadowed only by it's potentially already large plot twist benefactors like Terra-Man and Fatality to make some massive swings. However, those things take time. and Gods Matter handily closed the game on 4 with a triple megablast turn and smart use of chomin to get to the negatives.

Final: Gods Matter  DEFEATS  Rita Repulsa
23 to -2

Match 10: IMMORTALS -VS- Sub-Mariner SHIELD of Atlantis

A great set-up for IMMORTALS is interrupted by wiffing their Code White on an unneeded Gorilla City pump, preventing them from keeping their board intact. On 6 a topdecked WarMachine armor left IMMORTALS at 1 endurance as the SHIELD of Atlantis misplayed their turn, forgetting to swing their 2 drop for a mutual stun. On a defensive7 though Thor activated 3 times for 23 burn on each activation to lock up the game, even though IMMORTALS had a massive swing, to the tune of 40 damage, it proved not to be enough... not by a longshot.

Final: IMMORTALS  DEFEATED BY Sub-Mariner SHIELD of Atlantis
-63 to -21

Match 11: Demons United -VS- Outsider Protocol

Outsider protocol was off to a great start until a Merlyn turn 5 underdrop with an extremely large Bizarro threatened an alt win on a visible Ahmed. This forced a substitute on Ahmed before he could set up the resources outsiders needed and as a result the game went to turn 8, where Demons United finally put the nail in the combo-swingers' coffin.

Final: Demons United  DEFEATS Outsider Protocol
-4 to -15

Match 12: Foul-Mouthed Dark God -VS- Kill you to Death!

Kill you to Death! managed to set up THREE recharges by turn 4. in an attempt to draw into some answers for the dark god but none were found. what's more on 6, Darkeid, the Omega stole a recharge, and subbed into another, and another, taking all that bonus draw for himself. One of the more one-sided wins of the week.

Final: Foul-Mouthed Dark God DEFEATS Kill you to Death!
26 to -4

Match 13: Crapple Jacks -VS- Super Legionnaires

Super legionnaires wiffed early and it allowed Crapple Jacks to Wipe the entire board with a Negative Zone, Gateway. after that there was no looking back, Star boy couldn't meet loyalty on 6 and a get them my pets KO'd the underdropped Brainiac the second it went to combat, leaving face-shots for 2 seekers with 2 beatdowns.

Final: Crapple Jacks DEFEATS Super Legionnaires
18 to -10

Match 14: Young Avengers Flight VS Intergalactic Carpool

The carpool missed every stop on its way to loser-town this week! wiffing HARD on stargate until it was essentially too late. Not much else to say here.

Final: Young Avengers Flight  DEFEATS  Intergalactic Carpool
42 to -5

Match 15: Tam'Ar Empire VS Dead Guys

Dead Guys came out fast, Using Fire to burn a quick 25 endurance, but some timely Dirty Tricks and Shi'Ar Soldiers allowed for the defense needed to get The Tam'Ar Empire into the late game. A Koriand'r on 7 followed by an 8 drop Raven Locked it up handily.

Final: Tam'Ar Empire DEFEATS Dead Guys
22 to -2

Match 16: BKKO -VS- WEE

With an even initiative, WEE immediately set the tempo with a Crippler on 1 with a prison planet face-up for a fast 4 damage, BKKO's turn 2 saw huntress trade with Crippler who still managed the stunback even after paying 2 ATK to ensure that she not ready. While both teams wiffed on 4, it was the under-dropped Man-Eater allowing access to the hidden area that began to make a difference. After a big turn 5 initiative that couldn't quite seal the deal, leaving WEE at 6, with 2 characters in play, it was the flexibility of Sandman along with a blindsided that stole the close game away on a turn 6 initiative swinging over a Savant with 19 ATK thanks to an imaginative use of 2x Empire of tears, and Sandman's payment effect in a game that might have gone either way.

Final: BKKO  DEFEATED BY  WEE

-16 to -5

Week 2 is just around the corner! I ask that if you built your deck and wish to PLAY please let me know! Once again all matches are due by 11pm EST, Thursday, July 15th! Same goes for Bets!

CHECK OUT THE BRACKET AS IT PROGRESSES!

Postgame Report: Seminfinals - Week 7

A 71 point swing in a single turn! A match determined by a single point in game 3!
Holy cow these decks deserve to be here! It`s time for...

Semifinals Match 5 - TNNB VS Anti-Matter

TNNB was business as usual in game 1, but Anti-Matter managed to claw a game 2 win leaving it all on the table for a game three that ended on TNNB playing meltdown to sneak in a completely reidiculous match by the skin of their teeth -8 to -9.

Final: TNNB  ELIMINATES  Anti-Matter

2 games to 1

Semifinals Match 6 - Fantastic Fun 2.0 VS Captain Italy 

This is one that could have legitimately gone either way. but in practice Null time zone into warp shards into Null time zone was just a bitter bitter pill for the fantastic four list to swallow.As things went decidedly in favor of Captain Italy.
In game one Italy drew the nuts and swung once for game on turn 4 reducing fantastic 4 from 50 endurance to -4 in a single swing.
In game 2 it was a bit more of a fight, as Italy overcame a 32 point lead favoring Fantastic Fun exiting turn 4 to hit back with a monster swing of 71 points of damage to lock game 2.
This deck is for real folks. What`s more, it`s in the finals.

Final: Fantastic Fun 2.0  ELIMINATED BY  Captain Italy

2 games to 0

CHECK THE TOP 8 BRACKET HERE

Postgame Report: Quarterfinals Week 6

Upsets! Upsets everywhere! Which favorite to win actually held on? Then read on! in this weeks...

CHECK OUT THE TOP 8 BRACKET HERE!

Quarterfinals Match 1: TNNB VS Rad Man

TNNB won the toss and that honestly counted for most of what it wanted to do right there. When Rad-Man held its preferred initiatives it managed to take a game but this was the TNNB show. 

First blood: Rad-Man.

Final: TNNB  ELIMINATES  Rad Man

  2 games to 1

Quarterfinals Match 2: Anti-Matter VS Spider-Stall

 Slipstream proves to be too much too soon as Anti-Matter uses this matchup as a resume demonstrating its consistency (or luck, depending on perspective) into a control matchup, refusing to drop a single game to the potent stall.

First Blood: Anti-Matter

Final: Anti-Matter  ELIMINATES  Spider-Stall
2 games to 0

Quarterfinals Match 3: Migga City VS Fantastic Fun 2.0

Migga City is one of those decks that just seems to give you everything you want. It bricks beautifully, and easily fields a nearly complete collection of meta answers to a myriad of matchups. With easy and relatively quick access to both Rogue on 4 and Scarlet Witch on 5, it might be easy to expect a fairly easy win here.
As it turns out however, Fantastic four swinging offensively under a Child lock can do some pretty decent damage. And Flamethrower is not an activated effect. These facts were ridden harder than baby's first trike to consecutive wins.

First Blood: Migga City

Final: Migga City  ELIMINATED BY  Fantastic Fun 2.0
2 games to 0

Quarterfinals Match 4: Wolverine Direct VS Captain Italy

With a fairly easy win in game 1 it looked like this one was going to go exactly as predicted, with a 2-0 advance. However, after an unlikely win on a game that stretched farther into turn 5 than Wolvie would have preferred, it turns out Captain Italy can win on 4 too! In an insane come-from behind series of miracle draws to end the deciding game with a score of -1 to 0. All riding on the back of a single Captain swing.

First Blood: Wolverine Direct

Final: Wolverine Direct  ELIMINATED BY  Captain Italy

2 games to 1

Postgame Report: Week 5

While most of this week's matchups seemed pretty cut and dry, it was Randomizer that refused to go quietly into the night closing the game with only a 2 point difference! What else happened?
Find out! In this week's...

Match 49: Randomizer VS Migga City

Randomizer was one naturally drawn pump away from a fast win. Thanks to Mad hatter mitigating character activation options early, Randomizer was forced to make do and take the game later than it would ever prefer to go. The counter-swing on turn 6 ended up being EXACTLY what Migga needed to do to seal it.

Final: Randomizer  ELIMINATED BY  Migga City

-2 to 0

 

 

Match 50: Doomsdays Boomday VS Captain Italy 

Boomday started with a very promising setup and there were concerns of reinforcement options and Captain America tricks favoring Boomday's defensive stance. but no. the kill turn of double warp shards and the mass obliteration of their entire resource row completely removed the stalls viability.

Final: Doomsdays Boomday  ELIMINATED BY  Captain Italy

-16 to 15

Match 51: Both Guns Blazing VS Spider-Stall

The guns had a nice early set up, but between Plot twist lockdown and some timely Omnipotence calls. Viable Options were removed, teamups KO'd and the game was lost.

Final: Both Guns Blazing  ELIMINATED BY  Spider-Stall

-2 to 37

Match 52: Sentinels 2.0 VS Fantastic Fun 2.0

things looked to take a bad turn with a micro sentinels on turn 3, but without seeing a duplicate on 4 the game ran away from them as Fantastic Fun managed to secure Four freedoms and with it the game.

Final: Sentinels 2.0  ELIMINATED BY  Fantastic Fun 2.0

-6 to 29

And with this our top 8 are confirmed!
in order of their seed, they are:

TNNB

Migga City

Wolverine Direct

Anti-Matter

Spider-Stall

Captain Italy

Fantastic Fun 2.0

Rad Man

KINGMAKER TOP 8 BRACKET