ROAD TO PTQ 2: City Championship Bari (Ext) - burn ftw

After a week of hard playtesting (sadly Turi’s tourney got cancelled), it’s time to test in the CC. Both Davide and my bro’ play UW Tron (there’s some little difference, though). I decided to drop the hated-out Affinity to test a standard version of the famous “burning weenie”, here’s the list:

BDW

4 Savannah Lions
4 Silver Knight
4 Goblin Legionnaire
4 Grim Lavamancer
3 Isamaru, Hound of Konda
1 Kataki, War’s Wage
4 Firebolt
4 Lava Dart
4 Lightning Helix
4 Molten Rain
3 Sudden Shock

SIDEBOARD:
3 Kataki, War’s Wage
3 Dwarven Blastminer
3 Disenchant
3 Sulfuric Vortex
3 Umezawa’s Jitte

1st Round: BGw Aggro/Control
My opponent is very skillful (a veteran I should say) but he hasn’t been playing Constructed since 2005, so it’s not much prepared for the field. First game it’s very easy, he doesn’t make significant pressure (a late Baloth) in a few turns Lions and Legionnaires take him to 2 when the neat Sudden Shock closes the game (while sideboarding we discuss of the brokenness of Split Second). I side in Jitte and Vortex. Second one he manages to play the dreadful Troll Ascetic + Sword of Fire and Ice pair, I can only shot 2 Helixes and chumpblockers but I coudn’t draw enough burn (he stayed at 16 thanks to a mighty Hierarch). The final match it’s faster for me with an early Lavamancer and Silver Knight, second turn he Duresses me to see a hand of Sacred Foundry, Sulfuric Vortex, Umezawa’s Jitte and a Grim Lavamancer. He decides eventually to choose Jitte, and Vortex comes into play a turn later, causing so much troubles to him. He had only a Troll Ascetic, it wasn’t enough, the game’s almost compromised as he casts Living Wish for Harmonic Sliver, plays it and destroys the Vortex, but he’s at 7 and the next two turns seal the deal.
2-1

2nd Round: Goblins
It shouldn’t be so difficult I think, unless he explodes his hand in a fatty Empty the Warrens combo…J I begin and play some weenie in the early turns, beating him to 14, then here comes the combo; untap, play Mountain, Rite of Flame, Rite of Flame, Empty the Warrens (storm 3), sac goblins to the Prospector, second Empty the Warrens (storm 4) !! 12 goblins on the field ready to stab at my Life points. Death two turns later. I side in the Jittes. Second one is uncertain, he seems not to have the hasty combo, but he put into play a Goblin King, great choice against me, and he’s waiting to explode so I must run with a Legionnaire and Lavamancer, in the crucial turn we’re 17/7 for me as he plays an Empty the Warrens for 4 goblins, with Goblin King and Warchief they’re +1/+1, hasty and mountain-walking…he starts thinking. Eventually attacks with everybody unless the King and a token, I’m at 9…end of turn I kill the token with the Lavamancer, then untap, attack with the legionnaire, shot it at him (5), tap Lavamancer (3), Firebolt (1), Lava Dart flashback (0). Third game is similar to the second but I manage to play a Jitte and equipping it to a Lion and Isamaru later, devastating all his chances to exploit the combo, and closing the game without troubles. He will tell me that he was waiting for a Warrens that probably would have won if he drawed it…
2-1

3rd Round: Affinity
Against him I can suffer the first one but after sideboarding it’s impossible for him. The first one seems easy, I burn some creatures and attack with lions, but I was blocked by a land screw and so he plays Cranial Plating and a Ornithopter. His version is different from the standards, infact I will see Lightning Greaves, then a Reshape of 0 for another Ornithopter and Mishra, Artificer Prodigy (!!!). However, I run out of burn and a lose to a plated Thopter bigger thanks to a Ravager duplicated by Mishra. I side in Kataki, Jitte and Disenchant. The second he mulligans to 4, and I can never lose, second turn Kataki adds to his land screw that ugly feeling I remember so well…the third is almost as the second one, in hand 2 Disenchants and 2 Katakis, I play with him a few turn before it’s all over.
2-1

I’ve done 3-0. Some says that I can also id with my opponents and make top8.

4th Round: Affinity
We’re both at 9 points so we decided to id.

5th Round: UG Tooth and Nail
We’re both at 10 so it’s another id…
Finished second in Swiss with the outstanding 3/0/2. The other seven decks are a UW Tron, another BDW, an Affinity, 2 Tooth and Nail and a BG Rock.

Quarter Finals: BG Rock
Obviously a tough match-up, but not so much. My hand however doesn’t cheer me at all, I keep and probably lose the game here…after a land screw I Firebolt and Helix him down to 11, after a Baloth he plays Haunting Echoes…I lose almost the deck but I manage to take him to 3, I must draw burn, but all that’s left in the deck is lands! I side in only the Jitte, but the match (and this tourney) is sealed by a ridiculous draw, 3 Pernicious Deeds, 3 Ravenous Baloths and a Jitte countered by the mine, I take him to 4 with the last burn, I have a Sudden Shock in hand and a Dart in the sideboard, he has 3 Baloths, if I could draw burn I will maybe play around the Baloths but it’s impossible…I draw a fetchland.
0-2

In the end a very exciting afternoon with a deck with a high sheer power, but I’m more confortable with Affinity so in this week I’ll decide between Affinity or BDW to be taken to the PTQ on next Sunday. See you after the PTQ to see if thinks worked out well. Bye!