GPT Seattle at Games & Gizmos - Finals

Finals: Martin Goldman-Kirst (Five-Color Control) vs. Michael Dipetrillo (Five-Color Control)

Michael led off the finals of the Grand Prix Trial with a Vivid Creek, as did Martin, and they began the classical Control-on-Control mirror match by playing lands and passing.

Eventually, Martin played an Esper Charm on his end step, and then had to pitch a Wall of Reverence at end step, which Michael sarcastically dubbed “Wall of Relevance”. After Michael evoked a Mulldrifter on his own turn, Martin played an Ajani Vengeant and started powering him up and stunting Michael’s mana.

With Ajani Vengeant at 6, Michael evoked another Mulldrifter and played a land and pitched Plumeveil, another very dead card. With Ajani at 7, Michael played a main phase Volcanic Fallout to keep it off his ultimate. Martin kept playing land and keeping Michael’s land tapped down.

With Ajani Vengeant at 7, Michael end step tried to bounce Ajani with Cryptic Command, which Martin responded with his own Cryptic Command. Michael Broken Ambitioned for 4, which Martin paid for. Michael revealed his own Ajani Vengeant off the clash.

Martin: “Awkward!”
Michael: “I’m keeping, heh.”

Michael played the top card of his library and legend ruled Martin’s. Martin responded with Broodmate Dragon on his turn which resolved and made a Red Dragon friend. Michael played a Plumeveil at end step.

With 6 cards in Martin’s hand, Michael made his own Broodmate Dragon, which Martin tried to Crytpic, but met Broken Ambitions (This Broken Ambitions was not as hot for either player as the last one.)

Martin made his 11th land with Michael with only 2 up, but he opted not to do anything. Michael went into the red zone with his team and Martin opted to trade, and both players started playing Draw-Go again.

With 13 lands, Martin resolved another Broodmate Dragon. All Michael did was end step Esper Charm to draw cards. Michael matched him on lands and made Wall of Reverence which was main phase Terrored. Martin attacked, did 4, and traded a token for a Plumeveil and passed, and Michael played another Esper Charm to try and win the card advantage war.

With no creatures left in play on his own side, Michael traded Wrath of God for Broodmate Dragon and the board was back at equilibrium and Draw-Go ensued. After a couple of passes, Martin yelled “Screw it!” and made a Wall of Reverence and started gaining life. On his next turn he made a Mulldrifter and filled up his hand. Mulldrifter got in for damage, putting Michael at 12.

Michael asked to Evoke a Mulldrifter and was allowed, and he passed the turn. Michael went to 10, Martin got slaphappy when he commented that he had 17 lands to Michael’s 18. On Mulldrifter’s next attack, Michael Terrored it. On his main phase, he played a Mulldrifter, and Martin drew end step off of Esper Charm, played Volcanic Fallout, putting the score to 23-8, and Michael opted to Esper Charm at his own end step, forgetting that it was his own turn still and had to discard down.

Martin played his third Broodmate Dragon and passed, and Michael responded with Wrath of God. On his next main phase, Martin put his hands to his head in thought and said “I have to do some math right now”, investigated Michael’s graveyard, but passed the turn.

It was Michael’s turn to “do math” and he decided to run out Cruel Ultimatum. Martin Cryptic Commanded, to which Michael responded with his own Cryptic Command. Martin thought, and made nine mana. “This is so hard, I have a headache!”, he said as he Brokened for 8 mana. Michael Brokened it back for 5, and Martin tapped all the rest of his lands to pay for it. Michael revealed a second Ajani Vengeant off the clash, and Martin milled. With Martin’s Broken for 8 on top of the stack, Michael Cryptic Commanded and checked the libraries (both had 11) and chose to tap Martin’s nonexistent team, eliciting laughter from the room.

Cruel Ultimatum finally resolved, putting the score 22 to 13 in Martin’s favor and a Broodmate Dragon back to Michael’s hand. With two in the grip, Martin played his own Cruel Ultimatum, which resolved. Martin got back his Broodmate Dragon. Martin evoked Mulldrifter, to go down to 5 cards in the library, and ran out the Dragon, and passed.

Michael Esper Charmed Martin to make him pitch cards and made his Broodmate Dragon and passed. Martin played his second Cruel Ultimatum, putting Michael to 3 and pitching his hand of Broodmate, Ajani, and Cruel Ultimatum, and muttered “I messed up!” Martin drew to leave one card in his library and attacked with his Dragons into Michael’s one creature to win.

(For rules buffs, what happens when you Cruel Ultimatum your opponent to 0 life, but you only have 2 cards in your library? The answer is at the end of this report.)

Martin – 1, Michael – 0

In Game 2, Martin mulled to 5. He attempted a turn 2 Scepter of Fugue, which got Broken Ambitioned and milled Story Circle and Wydwen. Michael Evoked Mulldrifter and passed, then Martin missed his third land. Michael Mulldriftered again, but it was Ambitioned on Martin’s 2 lands. Martin got his 3rd land but could not answer Michael’s Ajani Vengeant next turn, which kept his Vivid land tapped. Martin got to 4 lands but couldn’t prevent Ajani from getting to 8 counters.

Maritn slammed a Pithing Needle, and Michael asked “Naming?” and Martin quickly named Ajani Vengeant. He tried to Broken, but of course that’s no good. It didn’t matter because Michael had Cryptic to bounce it. Ajani destroyed Martin’s mana and even stuck around since he started at 8 loyalty counters. Martin asked him to reveal a Broodmate Dragon and he’d scoop. After conferring with a judge, Michael flashed the Limited bomb and Martin scooped up his one land.

Martin –1, Michael – 1

For Game 3, both players kept 7. Martin nailed a turn 2 Scepter of Fugue on the play this time and used his mana to make Michael start pitching cards. Michael attempted to refuel with an Evoked Mulldrifter, which Martin dittoed.

With Martin tapped out, Michael stuck a Pithing Needle naming Scepter of Fugue. Martin Evoked Mulldrifter with no lands up, and Michael went into the tank, considering a counter. He Brokened for 1, and Martin put an Esper Charm on the bottom and shipped the turn, indicating that he was indeed tight on mana. He tried Mulldrifter again, and indicated that he kept 3 Mulldrifters, three lands, and Scepter. Michael had another Broken Ambitions and won the clash, milling 3 of Martin’s lands.

Martin ripped an Island and passed the turn. Michael gassed up with Esper Charm at Martin’s end step. At Martin’s next end step he tried a Wydwen, to which Martin played Cryptic Command, but met Negate, giving Michael a path to victory. Michael stuck his seventh land and played Ajani Vengeant and started powering it up.

Martin drew and missed land again in much frustration. He hit his next land, and Michael Esper Charmed at end step. His next attacks put Martin at 11, and then 8. At end step, Martin tried to legend rule Wydwen, which met Broken Ambitions. On Michael’s next turn, he played Broodmate Dragon and Martin scooped them up.

RESULT: Michael beats Martin in 3 and earns the three-round bye at Grand Prix: Seattle.

(The answer to the rules quiz: You resolve Cruel Ultimatum in the order of the card: you draw your remaining library and your opponent is at 0, and you check based effects. You both lose at the same time, so the game is a draw. God forbid that happens in this mirror.)

GPT Seattle at Games & Gizmos - Semifinals

Semifinals: Michael Dipetrillo (Five-Color Control) vs. Zaiem Beg (BW Tokens)

“You realize card advantage wins games,” Zaiem posited to Mike as he elected to play first. Mike sent back 7, then thought and also sent back 6. He quickly kept his 5. Zaiem made the first play with a Knight of Meadowgrain and got in for 2. His next turn, Zaiem attempted a Kitchen Finks, which was Broken Ambitioned by Mike.

On Mike’s turn, he summoned Ajani Vengeant and Lightning Helixed Zaiem’s only creature. Zaiem made three Spirit tokens on his turn with Spectral Procession. Digging for land, Michael evoked Mulldrifter, layed a tap land, and passed the turn.

With only one land up on the other side of the table, Zaiem played a Glorious Anthem and split his team up between attacking Ajani and Mike, putting Mike to 17. Michael played a Wall of Reverence and passed, ready to have Spirit tokens bounce off itself. Zaiem attacked for 4 to put Mike 13 and shipped the turn with 5 lands up. Michael drew and said go and started gaining 1 off of Wall of Reverence.

After another Spirit attack from Zaiem for 4, he hideaway a card on a Windbrisk Heights. Michael did nothing, went up to 11 then back down 4 to 7 on the next attack, and Zaiem followed up with a Bitterblossom from under his Heights. Michael continued to play land and ship the turn, then chastised himself for forgetting the Reverence trigger for the second time in the game. Zaiem attempted another Glorious Anthem, which was Broken Ambitioned. Zaiem then attacked for 4 again, putting Mike to 3.

Michael drew a Wrath of God off the top and played it, to which Zaiem sarcastically remarked “Okay, fine.” Zaiem played a land and said go. Mike made another Ajani Vengeant and Helixed a Faerie Rogue token, represented by a card from the game Bella Serra.

Zaiem made another token and attacked Ajani with a token, which met its end via Cryptic Command by going back to his hand. Zaiem then played a second Bitterblossom and shipped. After an end step Esper Charm to draw two, Mike used the last two counters on Ajani Vengeant to kill the remaining Bitterblossom token and passed.

Zaiem attempted an Ajani Goldmane which was Broken Ambitioned, revealing a Cloudgoat Ranger on the top of Zaiem’s deck and a land on Mike’s deck, which went to the bottom. Zaiem attacked with two Bitterblossom tokens, putting Mike to 4, and shipped the turn. Michael dug for answers with a Mulldrifter, which was Terrored at end of turn.

Zaiem went to his combat step to have his guys tapped down with Cryptic Command. On Mike’s own turn, he played a Volcanic Fallout, clearing the board, and then made a Mulldrifter. Mike was still at 3 while Zaiem now found himself at 8 thanks to Bitterblossoms and Volcanic Fallouts. A Glorious Anthem came on to the board for Zaiem’s next turn. Michael again filled his hand via Esper Charm, and on his own turn ran out Cruel Ultimatum and swapped life totals. Zaiem went to one, and when Mike Esper Charmed on Zaiem’s draw step to empty his hand, Zaiem scooped them up.

Michael 1, Zaiem 0

In the other Semifinal, Martin Goldman-Kirst beat Thomas Rolling in two games, so the winner of Zaiem and Mike’s match would have Five-Color Control waiting for them in the final.

In Game 2, Michael shipped his first 7 cards again.

Michael: “Yeah, let’s mulligan to 5 again…”
Zaiem: “Skipping 6, are we?”

After Michael kept 6, Zaiem made a Bitterblossom on his second turn, which was Celestial Purged on Michael’s own turn. Zaiem responded with another Bitterblossom and a Windbrisk Heights. On Zaiem’s next turn, another Windbrisk Heights came into play, followed by Burrenton Forge-Tender, which met Terror.

Michael missed his fourth land drop and shipped. Zaiem made a Marsh Flitter after attacking for 1. Michael missed land again, but had Volcanic Fallout to kill all of Zaiem’s tokens. Marsh Flitter survived, however, and got in for 3, putting Michael to 14. Zaiem made another Marsh Flitter and attacked with his team again, to which Michael made a Plumeveil in front of Marsh Flitter. Zaiem made a Glorious Anthem from under his Hideaway land and sacked a Goblin to the blocked Flitter to trade with Plumeveil and get in for 4, putting Michael at 10.

Michael hit his fourth land and used it to Cryptic Command Zaiem’s team on his combat step. The next attack step, Volcanic Fallout hit the board destroying Zaiem’s tokens again, and after the big Marsh Flitter’s attack, the score was 10 to 4 in Zaiem’s favor.

On Zaiem’s next turn, he attacked Michael down to 2 and ran Head Games out, which was Broken Amibitioned. Michael topdecked a dead Volcanic Fallout and facing Bitterblossom, Marsh Flitter, and a benched Mutavault, he scooped them up.

Michael – 1, Zaiem – 1

In Game 3, Michael opted not to complete the mulligan trifecta and started with seven cards, while it was Zaiem’s turn to invoke the Paris rule. Zaiem kept 6, and played a Burrenton Forge-Tender on his first turn and started to beat down with it. He attempted Tidehollow Sculler but met Broken Ambitions which milled among other things a Bitterblossom, Anthem, and Mutavault. After attacking on his next turn, he played a post combat Glorious Anthem, which was Brokened again, but this time he got to keep the Bitterblossom on top of his deck.

However, Zaiem opted not to run it out on his turn nor his next turn, as Michael kept playing land. After finding his fifth land, Zaiem “gave him something to Cryptic Command” and played the Tribal Enchantment, which resolved. Michael continued to play land until the score was 15 to 9, when he Terrored the BFT to set up Volcanic Fallout on his next combat step. Post-Fallout, Zaiem attempted a Cloudgoat Ranger, which met Cryptic Command.

At 11 to 7, another Cloudgoat Ranger entered the stack, and was Broken Amibitioned. Michael kept an Esper Charm while Zaiem had to think about keeping Ajani Goldmane. At end step, Michael filled up with an Esper Charm from hand and on his main phase put a Mulldrifter into play and looked fairly comfortable with all of the cards in his hand.

After his draw, Zaiem asked his opponent “Do you have Cryptic Command in your hand?” to which Michael quickly replied “Yep,” which he may have not expected, but regardless he played Head Games, which resolved, since he only left up 2 lands that could produce Blue. (Michael did indeed have Cryptic Command in hand.)

With a handful of Vivid lands, Michael drew and passed, as Zaiem went 9 life from Bitterblossom. “I punted this game, I thought he had a tri land” Michael lamented. He made Glorious Anthem, attacked for 2 and traded a token for Mulldrifter. “Wow, I’m dumb” Zaiem said as he made an Ajani Goldmane post-combat. “I guess I think he has Cryptic off the top every time.”

Michael played Wrath of God and followed up with Broodmate Dragon, his two post-Head Games draws. Zaiem went to 8, and made a Marsh Flitter. Ajani was activated and passed the turn.

Michael drew his card and sheepishly played a Cryptic Command off the top to tap his team. Zaiem sighed (in good spirits), tapped his board, and watched two 4/4’s go sideways and put him at 0.

RESULT: Michael beats Zaiem in 3

GPT Seattle at Games & Gizmos - Quarterfinals

Quarterfinals: Martin Goldman–Kirst (Five-Color Control) vs. Dwayne St. Arnould (Black-White Tokens)

Martin won the die roll and kept his 7, as did Dwayne. Dwayne’s first play of Tidehollow Sculler was Broken Ambitioned by Martin, with Dwayne keeping an Ajani Goldmane on the top of his deck. Martin layed a land and said go while Dwayne made a Knight of Meadowgrain.

Martin ran out a Pithing Needle on his fourth turn, naming Ajani Goldmane. Dwayne attacks to see a Plumeveil enter play from Martin, which he Terrored before it could block. Martin ships his fifth turn with no land, and Dwayne attacks again into a second Plumeveil, which this time does eat Knight of Meadowgrain. Dwayne followed up with a Cloudgoat Ranger, which on Martin’s turn had his Kithkin friends Volcanic Fallout’ed.

Dwayne responds to the sweeper with a Spectral Procession, to Martin’s chagrin. Martin hardcasted Mulldrifter on his turn. Dwayne followed up with the Ajani Goldmane in his hand, but thanks to Needle, he shipped the turn.

Martin: “If you played that, that means you don’t have anything better to do.”
Dwayne: “Stop thinking logically.”

Martin made a pair of dragons of the Broodmate variety, while Dwayne could only ship the turn and eat 8 from the Dragons. Dwayne makes another Spectral Procession, to which Martin asked “Does that even do anything?” and played a Broken Ambitions. Martin left a Esper Charm on top while Dwayne left a Cloudgoat Ranger.

Martin’s dragons go into the fray and this time get chumped. Dwayne played his Cloudgoat Ranger and ships, as Martin end step drew with Esper Charm, and flashed two Cryptic Commands, drawing the scoop from Dwayne.

Martin 1, Dwayne 0

They both kept their openers for the second game. Dwayne laid a Windbrisk Heights and made a Knight of Meadowgrain turn 2, safe from Broken Ambitions this time thanks to going first. On the third turn, Knight of Meadowgrain got in and Dwyane made a Bitterblossom.

On the fourth turn, Dwayne attacked again with Knight of Meadowgrain and made a post combat Glorious Anthem, while Martin laid his fourth land. Dwayne’s next attack with a token and Knight put Martin at 11. Dwayne attempted a second Glorious Anthem, which drew a Broken Ambitions from Martin.

On his next turn, Dwayne asked if he could attacked, which made Martin pause.

Dwayne: “Am I dead?”
Martin: “No, you’re not dead. Just thinking what to do.”

Martin fogged with Cryptic Command, and Dwayne shipped the turn. Martin continued to lay land and say go. Dwayne asked to attack again, which drew out Volcanic Fallout, leaving only Knight of Meadowgrain, which put Martin to 6. Martin predicted a Cloudgoat Ranger, but Dwayne instead emptied out his hand and made a second Bitterblossom and Knight of Meadowgrain.

Martin ran out Cruel Ultimatum to go back to 11. Dwayne got in again, making the score 8 to 20. Martin made a Broodmate Dragon and a Pithing Needle on Windbrisk Heights, with three guys ready to attack for Dwayne. With Martin tapped out, Dwayne ran out Tidehollow Sculler, revealing Cruel Ultimatum #2, Wrath of God, Broken Ambitions, and two lands. “I think it’s a pretty hand,” said Martin, and Dwayne elected to remove Wrath of God. Martin played his second Cruel Ultimatum, and on Dwayne’s next upkeep, the score was 11-13 in Martin’s favor. All Dwayne did was make a Burrenton-Forge Tender and pass the turn.

On Dwayne’s next upkeep, Martin tapped down Dwayne’s team and drew with Cryptic Command. Dwayne laid a land and said go. Martin got in for 8, putting Dwayne to 5, and followed up with Ajani Vengeant to Helix his face, putting him 2 and effectively dead to his two Bitterblossom activations, ending the match. Dwayne then flashed the Mutavault under his Windbrisk Heights.

RESULT: Martin beats Dwayne in two.

Quarterfinal: David Lowe (Red) vs. Thomas Rolling (Green-White), Game 3

For their third game, David mulliganed down to 6, thought about it and kept. Thomas kept his 7. David made a Figure of Desinty off a Mountain, while Thomas made a Birds off a Forest. Thomas got in for 2 by leveling up Figure, and made another Figure of Destiny. Thomas drew, went into the tank. “It would be a terrible, terrible idea,” Thomas thought aloud, and off a Wooded Bastion, ran out a Noble Hierarch and a second Birds, wary of getting blown out by Volcanic Fallout.

It was David’s turn to go into the tank, before laying a land and declaring attacks with his two Figures. Thomas declined to block and tried to level up his 2/2 Figure to a 4/4 before damage, earning a Path to Exile in response. The attack put Thomas to 17.

Thomas laid a Windbrisk Heights, tapped 4 and made Ranger of Eos, getting two Burrenton Forge-Tenders, which may or may not be relevant against David’s Red deck. He made one of them and shipped the turn.

David tapped 5 on his turn to make Demigod of Revenge and got in immediately for 5, putting Thomas at 12. Thomas made Ajani Goldmane and strengthened his team, then got in for free with his Birds, Ranger, and Forge-Tender. After declining to block, Thomas revealed the Wilt-Leaf Liege under his Windbrisk Heights, knocking David down 10.

David drew and thought for a long while, presumably about what his paths to victory were at this point. In the meantime, Zaiem Beg won his match against Nash Foster in 3 piloting Black-White Tokens successfully against BG Elves. After thinking, David played an Ancient Amphitheatre and passed the turn.

David made his second Burrenton Forge-Tender and pumped his team up again, which drew a Flame Javelin pointed at Wilt-Leaf Liege in response. The newly made Forge-Tender took that Flame Javelin instead, making Wilt-Leaf a 5/5 and out of range of future Flame Javelins. Thomas attacked with the team, and David scooped up his lands in concession.

RESULT: Thomas wins 2-1.

In the remaining match of the quarterfinals, Michael Dipetrillo’s Five-Color Control deck beat Corbett Gray running Boddy Red.