My local games store runs standard on Thursdays! So, two days ago, I gave my deck idea a try. I've slowly been putting together a deck based around the beautiful mindcrank-bloodchief ascension synergy. Also there's lots of red-black removal.
The deck is far from well-built (list to be supplied later) but there aren't enough staggershock and I failed to add any doom blade. Or pyroclasm. Oops.
Round 1: versus Robert and his efficient Red-Green creatures. These were two quick games. Both games opened with me getting a quick ascension, both eaten by acidic slime on his turn 4. I handled obstinate baloth, but couldn't stand up to inferno titan swinging for megadamage. Oof. Games: 0-2. Rounds: 0-1.
Round 2: Charles came at me next with his red-green-black deck, very similar to Robert's. I died to different big creatures this time. In game 1, I met my end to a few hits from a grave titan. In game 2, I had a chance, but blew it. I managed to get two ascensions on the board. Before they could become relevant, however, along came acidic slimes 1 and 2. I missed the chance to take out one of his mana-producing monkeys (Llanowar or BoP). I did get two mindcranks and another ascension on the board, but had no artillery to finish the deal. Grave Titan followed by primordeal hydra finished me off. Games: 0-4. Rounds: 0-2.
Round 3: I faced off against Brent and his mono-black vampires. Sidenote: I'm not sure I'll keep hideous end in the main deck in future trials. In game 1 we both mulligan down to 4. I get two ascensions with one counter each but his tormented souls lead to bloodthirsted vampire outcasts which I couldn't handle. Game 2 was a lot more interesting. His plays were similar, though slower. Just two turns before I was set to die, I had two ascensions, each with 3 counters and ready to go. I'd been short on land---only two swamps---and drew a mindcrank. Also in hand were a gatekeeper of malakir and a lightning bolt. Brent hadn't seen me play mindcrank yet, so I stupidly played the gatekeeper, hoping to draw into a mountain or red source. Next turn, I draw a swamp. Oops: failure! Had I played the mindcrank, then taken a bit more damage, the kicked gatekeeper would have won me the game. Rounds: 0-3; Games 0-6.
There were five rounds, but my sleep schedule had taken some dino damage, so I sat down for my final round against Storm. He knew my plan and straight up claimed he would out race me. Awesome! :) In game 1, I didn't have a chance; his red goblins swarmed me before I could get anything going. Game 2 was a different story. I had the ascension turn one, with lightning bolt and staggershock cast the next two turns. On his third turn, he knocks me down to 9, but with less than 5 swingable damage showing on the board for next turn. Turn 4, I drop a mindcrank; a gatekeeper is hiding out in my hand for next turn. Sadly, Storm pulled out the hastey goblin for the next turn. My last chance, shut down! Rounds: 0-4; games: 0-8.
Harsh. I do think this combo deck has way more potential than it showed. Looking back, I think I might include volt charge to help get counters on the ascension. Unfortunately, I don't know a good way to protect the cranks and ascensions from hate.
The big story here is that all my opponents were very cool; this store is an excellent place to play! :)
