Could Reuben make it back-to-back wins for SCG employees piloting Imperial Painter? Eric had no intention of letting it go down that way, and hoped to run back his win in the Swiss for all the marbles.
Eric's red spells got him through one Blood+Moon!
Game 1
Turn 1 Delver+of+Secrets from Eric met turn 1 Lightning+Bolt from Reuben, but that meant the way was clear for Dark+Confidant to resolve. Reuben had Ancient+Tomb for Blood+Moon, and Eric confidently played Daze... only to find that Reuben had Simian+Spirit+Guide!
Young+Pyromancer from Eric was perfectly easy to cast, with Gitaxian+Probe around to make and Elemental token as well. The race was on! Reuben played Simian+Spirit+Guide in defense position, and Eric played another Gitaxian+Probe on his next turn before casting a second Young+Pyromancer. He traded Confidant with Guide, getting in for 2 damage with his Young+Pyromancer, and passed.
Reuben dropped Goblin+Welder and another Spirit Guide, trading those creatures with both of Eric’s Young+Pyromancers and leaving him just racing some Elemental tokens. He began Grinding Eric, but Eric had drawn Young+Pyromancer and used Lightning+Bolt to finish the job!
“Well, that wasn’t good,” Reuben sighed.
Eric 1, Reuben 0
Game 2
Turn 1 Grindstone for Reuben, while Eric spent it on Underground+Sea and Ponder, leaving his three cards in place. Reuben played City+of+Traitors and tried Magus+of+the+Moon on turn 2—Eric once more had Daze, and this time it went off without a hitch.
Replaying Underground+Sea, Eric played Delver+of+Secrets. Reuben played Painter’s Servant with City mana after playing Ancient+Tomb, sacrificing the City, and Reuben used Ancient+Tomb to pay before Bolting the Delver+of+Secrets.
Topdecking Dismember, Eric remained alive by killing the Painter’s Servant! Reuben dropped Chandra%2C+Pyromaster after playing another Mountain to go with his Ancient+Tomb and zapped Eric in the dome. Chandra would do a number on most of Eric’s army, so Reuben appeared to have stuck one of his better threats here.
Ponder and pass for Eric, with Reuben’s Chandra grabbing a land before he sent turn as well. Delver and Dark+Confidant hit the battlefield for Eric, and Chandra immediately slew the Bob on Reuben’s turn. He had a Lightning+Bolt ready for the Delver as well, and that was that. Eric was back to drawing and passing the turn, while Reuben’s Chandra dug him to Sensei’s Divining Top.
Eric cast Young+Pyromancer and played Gitaxian+Probe for 2 life to make an Elemental, following with Delver+of+Secrets. Reuben used Grindstone to reset his Sensei’s Divining Top, and then Topped before activating Chandra. That exiled Jaya+Ballard%2C+Task+Mage, which Reuben used some Ancient+Tomb mana to play before Topping again. He was in a slightly dangerous spot...
Red+Elemental+Blast killed the Delver+of+Secrets, and Eric drew another Gitaxian+Probe. Eric went to 9 for Gitaxian+Probe to make another creature, and then hardcast yet another Probe. He went to 7 life to play his last Probe, and then attacked with his Pyromancer before Wastelanding Ancient+Tomb to prevent death via Inferno.
Reuben began Incinerating Elemental tokens as Eric attacked—awkward considering Eric was at 6 life and stone dead to Incinerate, untap, Incinerate. Even so, Reuben had effectively gained enough control to earn a concession from Eric.
Reuben focuses on rallying after a tough first game.
Eric 1, Reuben 1
Game 3
Eric kept while Reuben fell to six cards. Gitaxian+Probe for 2 life revealed Reuben’s keep of two Ancient+Tomb, Blood+Moon, Mountain, Sensei’s Divining Top, and Imperial+Recruiter. “That’s a pretty reasonable keep,” Eric said. Fetching for Underground+Sea, Eric cast Delver+of+Secrets.
Reuben started with Mountain and Sensei’s Divining Top, which resolved. Eric played turn 2 Dark+Confidant, and Reuben went for Imperial+Recruiter with his Ancient+Tomb on turn 2. Daze countered the creature, and Eric revealed another Daze to the Confidant during his upkeep. Reuben was falling behind...
Wasteland removed his Ancient+Tomb but Reuben replaced it before casting a second Recruiter. Eric responded with Brainstorm and then Dazed once more. Another Wasteland reduced Reuben to just Mountain as Dark+Confidant continued attacking. Reuben played a second Mountain and Topped, passing afterward.
Eric’s hand was pretty stacked at this point, with multiple Bolts and a Force+of+Will available. He cast Grim+Lavamancer to threaten lethal if Reuben broke a fetch or used another Ancient+Tomb on the following turn, but even most of his best blockers were dead draws at this point. Popping Top to draw on his own turn, Reuben played City+of+Traitors and Painter’s Servant. Eric Forced, exiling Daze, and Reuben used Red+Elemental+Blast to keep the 1/3.
Bolt cleared the Servant, and Eric cast Cabal+Therapy naming Blood+Moon to leave Reuben with just Mountain before attacking him down to 7 life. Replaying Top, Reuben immediately spun it to see the top three, casting a Blood+Moon off the top.
Eric simply burned him out with Bolt and Grim+Lavamancer.
Eric 2, Reuben 1
