The weekend of Regionals was probably the weirdest weekend of my life. It started out as planned, but quickly went downhill from there. If you are just browsing for decklists, then scroll down. If you would like to read a funny story, then read on.

I am from western NC and I have been playing Magic since '95. I have only been a competitive player for about three years; the plan was to get to Atlanta a day early so that we could make last-minute changes and do some last-minute testing. Well, plans change I guess. Shortly after we merged onto I-85, there was a strange smell coming from my van that strongly resembled burning plastic. We thought nothing of it at first, but decided to check it out anyway. We pulled into the closest gas station and popped the hood; a thick cloud of smoke rushed out from the engine. To make a long story short, the compressor pulley had jammed and the compressor had disintegrated. So here we are, somewhere in Charlotte, one day before Regionals (not exactly a friendly part of town).

We had been testing and anticipating this event for months. It just wouldn't be right if we didn't get to go.

Anyway, the plan was to rent a car. The only problem was that the only guy with us who was 21 didn't have a credit card. The rest of us had credit cards... But we weren't 21. You just can't rent a car without a credit card. So plan B, rent a U-Haul. I can only imagine how ridiculous we would look sleeping in a U-Haul the morning before Regionals. The mechanic was nice enough to give us a ride to the nearest U-Haul place. They closed at 8:00, we got there at 8:01. The lady told us that she couldn't help us, and she told us to start praying.

Already frustrated, you could imagine our reaction.

So plan C: Get someone else to rent a car for us. To make another long story short, we finally got in touch with a friend and we rented a car. Six hours and 260 dollars later, we arrived in Atlanta. We cancelled our hotel reservations at the start of our little adventure so we had no place to stay... So we slept in the car in the parking lot of the event. Sleep deprived and angry, we stumbled in the doors of the event at 8:30.

It was a long trip, but we made it!

U/G Madness
Brad Blackwell 5th

2 Cephalid Coliseum
9 Forest
8 Island
4 Yavimaya Coast
4 Arrogant Wurm
4 Basking Rootwalla
4 Merfolk Looter
4 Wild Mongrel
4 Aether Burst
3 Call of the Herd
4 Careful Study
4 Circular Logic
2 Narcissism
4 Roar of the Wurm

Sideboard:
2 Bind
3 Compost
2 Compulsion
4 Gainsay
2 Nantuko Blightcutter
2 Rushing River

Round One: Vs. Paul Simmons playing R/G
I think that this match up is in favor of U/G. When you force an offensive deck to go on defense, you can usually win. We both get good hands and my roar tokens go to work. I win game one. Game 2 he mulligans... And then keeps a one-land hand. My roar tokens show up again and I win game 2.

Games 2-0
Matches 1-0

Round Two: vs. Michael B. Frary, playing Zevatog
This game was somewhat ridiculous because I thought he had me many times... But he made a lot of careless mistakes and in this metagame, that can be the difference between 8th place and 9th place. I win the Match 2-0.

Games 4-0
Matches 2-0

Round three: Vs. Matthew A Norton (6th) playing 1-800-CALL-FTK
Mathew was by far the coolest guy a played all day. He made me remember what Magic is all about - fun! Congratulations to him on a very unique and original deck. Game one, he beats me down with Spellbane Centaur and Flametongues. I think the dragon made an appearance as well. Game 2 I bounce back with roar and call tokens. He gets trenches and his Flametongue generates some massive card advantage, but he runs out of threats and runs out of lands to chump with. Game three, I keep a mediocre hand and he smashes my all green hand and blue mana without effort. He wins 2-1.

Games 5-2

Matches 2-1

Round 4: Vs. Patrick M. Ready, playing mono black
Game 1, he keeps a one-land hand and Duresses me. That second swamp didn't show, and I win via lizards and elephants. Game 2, his hand is pretty good; he gets the mana he needs and an Arena out. I draw Careful Study and three lizards. I hold back everything else in case of Mutilate, but he never draws one. I win the match 2-0.

Games 7-2
Matches 3-1

Round 5: Vs. Jeremy D. Burt, playing ?

I lost my notes due to the confusion and sleep deprivation. I win the match 2-0.

Games 9-2
Matches 4-1

Round 6: Vs. Douglas M. Doss, playing R/U/G tempo
Game one, my elephants and lizards eat through his bounce and clear the way for the Wurms. Game 2 was similar and I win the match 2-0.

Games 11-2

Matches 5-1

Round 7: Vs. Sergey L Napelenok, playing R/U/G Opposition
Game one, I trade with Flametongues and eventually outnumber him. Game 2, he gets Opposition with creatures to boot; not much I can do without Rushing River, so I concede to get game 3 in. Game 3 he mulligans and has to keep a dumb hand. He misses a land drop and when he hits land number four, and I counter his Flametongue. I win the match 2-1.

Games 13-3
Matches 6-1

Round 8: Vs. Christopher B Landis playing R/G
Game one was just stupid, because he dealt himself seventeen damage with his land. But a win is a win. Game 2 is far more involved and we trade beatings for a while. He eventually runs out of removal and succumbs to Roar tokens. I win the match 2-0.

Games 15-3
Matches 7-1

Round 9: Vs , Jeff T Schadt playing U/G Upheaval
Game one, he Upheavals three times... But somehow I still win. Game 2 he keeps my Looters from going active and Upheavals with a land drop, winning via Bears and Geese. Game 3 is similar to game 2 and he wins the match 2-1.

Games 16-5
Matches 7-2

Round 10: Vs. Zach B. Franks, playing R/G/W rogue
Game one, he castes a couple of Lay of the Lands, but I have the Aether Burst for his dragon. Game 2 is similar to game 1 and a Roar token goes all the way. I win 2-0.

Games 18-5
Matches 8-2

Round 11: Vs. Will E. Pitt playing B/W Braids
Game one I am able to play around his Lynx and put enough pressure on him to Mutilate. I have reinforcements and he rips a couple Vindicates, but I still win. Game 2 I side in Blightcutters and Rushing Rivers. He Mutilates with a threshold-ready insect, but I respond by Rushing River with kicker and cast him again. I counter his Shambling Swarm and win the match 2-0.

Games 20-5
Matches 9-2

My tiebreaks are above average, so I am pretty sure that I am in. Man, that was the longest thirty minutes of my life. The head judge announces the top 8 and stutters on my name. He finally gets my name out and I am so relieved. You can't keep a good man down, I guess.

Props
Thanks to my team for the countless hours of testing. Thanks to Matthew Norton for being so cool. I was feeling pretty bad and I wasn't in the mood to play against another geeky Magic player who thinks he is Kai Budde. Congrats on top 8, Matthew! Thanks to Lori for renting a car for us; couldn't have done it without you. Hang in there Derek. And of course, thanks to Steve!

Slops
To the U-Haul lady who wouldn't help us. And to all the players who wouldn't shut up when the head judge was trying to announce stuff.

Congratulations to everyone; good luck at Nationals!

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