Went to an NACQ at The Grid yesterday. We were gonna be late for the one in West Hartford, so we changed locations. I think it was closer... Anyways, it was me, Joe, and Zack. I played Mono-Black Aggro, Joe played B/G/u Gifts, and Zack played Mono-Blue Control.

First round I took out a Gifts deck using Ink-Eyes and Sink into Takenuma. Game 2, he dropped a Kagemaro turn 4 when he was on the play, threatening to wipe my board. Luckily I had a Sink into Takenuma to wipe out his hand AND board. I won after that easily with Okiba Gang coming in for some added control.

Round 2 I played against a random burn deck. It was weird. Game 1 he Hidetsugu's 2nd Rites me out. I was like Wha?! Meh. Game 2 I get some Manriki power to get in enough damage to finish him off. Game 3 involved Ink-Eyes dominating his board. Shizo kept her going through and getting Frostling to kill his team. Whew. 2-0.

Round 3 was against ANOTHER burn deck. I keep an iffy hand of 2 lands and threats, and stall a touch on 2 land. I end up winning at 5 life, and he couldn't find a burn spell for many turns. Game 2 I can't draw a lot of threats, and he ends up burning me out. I stalled on lands for a bit, and used both Ink-Eyes on his creatures since I didn't have near 5 mana. I of course drew lands for 3 turns, giving me 6. Bah. Game 3 I drew 2 land, 6 equipment (4 Manriki and 2 Jitte), and 3 creatures. Not good. Almost won, but couldn't get control in time.

Round 4, I got to play a MBA mirror. Game 1 saw him draw threats and removal, and my Sinks do nothing against him. Drawing 3 is not good against Aggro. Game 2, I bring in another Manriki and Kiku's Shadows, and take out my Sinks. I get a Manriki out to kill his Jitte, and a Shadow to kill his few creatures. Ink-Eyes barrels in to take the game. Game 3 is not very close at all, as I quickly got a Jitte and swept the game.

Round 5, I played Zack. Since he's qualified, we agree to either give me the win or draw, depending on the other matches. It turns out if we draw, neither of us will make it, so I get the win and I'm in the Top 4.

I get paired up against the Red deck that I lost to. I win the roll, and play first. I get a not-so-good draw, and lose to First Volleys and a lot of burn. Game 2, I get some Manriki power and my creatures go above the Burn Level. So I eventually get a Cutthroat wearing some equipment and he goes all the way. Game 3 is tight. I drop some early fatties like Infernal Krrn, but he has removal. Then Yukora comes down and picks up a Manriki-Gusari. Ooh. A Hand of Cruelty comes in, and then it's a Ninja! Okiba-Gang works his hand, and Manriki kills his Jitte to make way for mine. The Jitte advantage proves to be too much, and the life gain combined with huge guys earns the win for me.

Now it's up to Joe, who went into the Top 4 top seed, to take out the kid he drew with unintentionally last round. Joe plays very tightly, and wins a close game.

So it's down to me and Joe. Joe is qualified, so I get the slot no matter what. We split the prizes ($45 store credit EACH) and use it right away. I got a pile of 9th edition, and Joe gets a stack of Type 2 singles for Nationals. From 9th, I got no foils (weird) but I got some cool rares like Yawgmoth Demon, Will-O'-the-Wisp, and Yavimaya Coast. And 1 Llanowar Elves. Out of like 11 packs. Bah! We might go back just to win the prize money. If I win again, I'd be smart and buy the overpriced duals. They were like $30 for a Tropical and $32 for a Volcanic, but still, $10 for rating and a dual and more? Sweet.