2007-08 Precon Championships: Round 2 and the Leaderboard
Welcome back to the 2007-08 Preconstructed Championships! We’ve come through the opening round of the Nagle Division, and brace for impact- there be upsets ahead!
The story of the weekend was Tenth Edition. These rather unassuming decks were widely undervalued, a fate not at all uncommon for Core Set decks (and not without some justification). First up for the underdogs was Arcanis’s Guile, which took Sidestep to the mat in only two games. Only three brave souls staked their fortunes to it, and in a field where no one predictor took three points on the day, it paid off in a big way. Observing the carnage, Jay Chong called Guile the “Cinderella story no one saw coming.” Will it be able to continue its run?
Similarly, the removal-laden Evincar’s Tyrrany had its way with the more nuanced Aura Mastery. This was in some ways a nightmare matchup for the Shadowmoor Theme Deck, as removal is an aura’s greatest weakness. It never seemed to be able to get much going, as the mono-Black deck snuffed it time and again. Oh, and Ascendant Evincar showing up in both games didn’t hurt, either. Morten Dall’s instincts proved true here as he wondered if Tyranny might “bulldoze the defenses,” but in the end he cast his lot for Aura Mastery all the same. Close, Morten! Eleven other predictors gave ol’ Crovax the nod here, but Aura Mastery was clearly the odds-on favourite.
As predictable in the other direction was the fratricidal clash between the Elves of Elvish Predation and the Elves of Duel Decks: Elves vs Goblins. Forty of you gave the Duel Decks version the nod, and weren’t disappointed. thesecretasian cited the deck’s higher “consistency and power,” and past champion Icehawk perhaps summed it up best when he said, “mono-Green Elves are a beast.”
Again, nobody cleaned up on points this week, keeping the race very close out of the starting gate! Here’s the leaderboard:
As always, please let us know if you note any errors in the tally, we’ll be happy to confirm.
If you’re new to the competition or towards the bottom of the pack, don’t worry! There are plenty of chances to gain lost ground ahead, it’s still only the beginning.
On that note, here are this Saturday’s matches. If this is your first time in the Prediction League, this second week is a little bit different.
First, you’ll want to predict the winners of Games 17 and 18 in the above brackets. Then, based on your picks of who’s going to advance, you’ll then want to tell us who you think the overall winner of game 25 is going to be- the deck that will be the Nagle Division’s champion! These matches are often where the most crucial points are won and lost, as that third game is the hardest to predict!
Good luck to all!
Ertai's Lament 
I’m definitely hoping to see Elves and Evincar’s Tyranny face off for the finals, but for the champion of the division I have to go with the Evincar. I can’t help it; my first deck ever was mono-black back in Tempest and I have to root for the home team.
17: elves
18: evincar
25: elves
Hm, must have missed the matches post. Will definitely read that because .. Arcanis wins? Well, it’s a core deck so I’m not surprised anymore (after 2 years of precon champs :p). My predictions for this week are:
1. Elves
2. Evincar’s Tyranny
3. Elves
And here’s hoping for Elves to win it all!
I hate it when I have to ditto the trend, so I won’t.
Elves. Can it go the distance? Could a DD claim it this year? I can’t wait.
Warrior’s Code. Bramblewood Paragon, baby.
Elves. I bet it’ll be close no matter who is in this match, but if elves make it, i think they’ll pull through.
Elves are going the distance! Lords have mercy on all they face. Wait… No, they won’t. 😛
I, uh, I think I’m gonna go with Elves (a large amount of strong cards and synergy) and with the Tyranny (domination with removal). At the end, my bet’s on the Tyranny.
My Predictions, i’m feeling lucky
1. Elves
2. Warriors
3. Warriors
Elves
Evincar
Elves
If Evincar had a board-wipe, they might have a chance, but against a swarm: unlikely
Elves. Mono colored aggro duel ducks always seem to win…
Evincar, since I like mono black.
Elves.
Also, shouldn’t I have gotten 2/3 on last time’s guess?
Mea culpa, right you are! Fixed on the spreadsheet, thanks!
0/3, I need to think a little more before guessing…
Game 17: Elves. Arcanis doesn’t have enough defenses to stop the Elves.
Game 18: Warrior’s Code. Lots of hasty and trampling guys will overhelm Evincar’s defenses.
Game 25: Elves. Warrior’s code has elves too, so the wellwishers will be even more useful.
I’m not actually sure who I would bet on for game 18.
Could I possibly just bet on game 17 and game 25?
And can I be odd an contrary and go for Arcanis’s Guile for both ^^
Let’s see
Game 17: Elves
Game 18: Warrior’s Code
Game 25: Elves
Thanks!
Game 17: Elves
Game 18: Warrior’s Code
Game 25: Elves
Game 17 Elves- too many rares will cause Arcannis Guile problems
Game 18- Tough one, but I’m going to favor Warrior’s Code. This is simply because of the two Rares Particularly Boldwyr Heavyweights being an 8/8 for 4. I don’t think (as much as I like Black) that Evincar can stop them.
Game 25- Elves- IF this goes long Warrior’s Code could tie up things but, I don’t think so.
17: Elves. In a straight race, flying doesn’t matter but comes at a higher mana cost — something Elves is well poised to take advantage of.
18: Warriors. I’m banking on a solid stream of dudes to overcome Tyranny’s pinpoint removal.
25: Elves.
Round one was an upset but that’s all to common in pre constructed decks.
Anyway
Elves
Warrior’s code
Elves
Elves
Warrior’s Code
Elves
elves
warrior’s code
elves
Game 17: Elves
Game 18: Evincar’s Tyranny
Game 25: Elves. Because, seriously, Elves.
Game 17: Elves – I’m sorry for the blue precon, but i feel it doesn’t have enough power to beat this duel deck.
Game 18: Warrior’s Code – Both decks are fairly powerful, but the haste the axes provide can be a fatal blow to Black’s removal.
Game 25: Warrior’s Code – I’m probably being a bit optimistic here, but after playing lots of times against this deck, i think it’s consistent enough to steal the division from the favourite.
Game 1: Elves. They have too many creatures for the blue removal to deal with and there’s some really strong card synergy.
Game 2: Warriors Code . I’m really in doubt of this one. A few well placed assasinations/terror/essence Drain could cripple Warriors Code. However, in the red zone WC should dominate and the non-creature suite looks full of tricks. I make a leap of fate and rule for Warriors Code!
Game 3: Elves. I really like the elf deck and it looks very strong in all phases of the game. I think they can make it. However, if they don’t do it quick, WC will overwhelm them. If they end up going against Evincar, I think Evincar will get mercilessly beaten.
Ok, lets go:
Game 17: Elves
Game 18: Warrior’s Code
Game 25: Elves
🙂
17 – Elves
18 – Evincar
25 – Elves again
17: elves, if they get elementals in play its over
18: warriors
25:elves
so who ever votes against statistics is gonna laught at us all
Game 17: Elves, mono green powa!
Game 18: Evincar’s Tyranny
Game 25: Elves. Because all the reasons.
elves (consistent and powerful )
warriors (too many threats for mono black to deal with )
warriors (root for the underdog in this things)
Game 17: Elves
Game 18: Warrior’s Code
Game 25: Warrior’s Code – something of a gamble, but if it can prolong the game a bit, I think it can win.
17 – Elves
18 – Warrior’s code
25 – warrior’s code
I believe in you mosquito guard!
Tough one but I’ll stay with Tyranny one more round:
G17: Elves
G18: Evincar’s Tyranny
G25: Elves.
Well the core set decks were definitely a surprise last round, but I think the Duel Deck will still have the upper hand so:
17: Elves
18: Evincar’s Tyranny
19: Elves
This is actually aaro79 (changed my username/pic recently!)
17: Elves
18: Evincar
25: Elves ftw!
Missed my first round but I am not missing this for anything. Here are my predictions:
17 :Elves DD should win with little problems. The longer the game goes, the more creature tokens will be made. Arcanis has flying and bounce, but in the end elves have raw power and multiplication on their side. Although it only has Moonglove extract, it also has many cards that need to be dealt with immediatly: Lys Alana, Wellwisher, Imperious Perfect…. It’s just too much.
18 :I’d say victory goes to Warrior’s Code. As evincar’s tyranny has not been reviwed, there’s only so much that looking at the decklist and small recap of the round an give. However, Warrior’s code has sucess that has been proven from its matchups, it is aggresive from the get-go with 2 superb rares. Although Evincar has plenty of quality removal (I count 6 pieces), the overall creature selection seems bland with Dross Crocodile and the like at the top of curve. Warrior’s code also has filler and little removal besides Release the Ants, but it does have synergy with the warrior tribe’s artifacts and the Bramblewood Paragon.
19: Elves duel deck seems like the stronger deck here, if only slightly. Its token generation engine will be hard for any deck to properly deal with without any sweepers. Even if Evincar makes it instead of Warrior’s code, the few pieces of removal will not be enough to deal with multiple token generators and life gain suite. Elves also has a strong ramp enabling it to deploy its expensive threats ealier and stall the red zone with enough tokens. Eventually victory will come with an overwhelming board state while the opponent is top-decking and stabilizing.
Game 17: Elves (DD)
Game 18: Warrior’s Code (MOR)
Game 25: Elves (DD)
G1. Elves G2. Warriors G3. Warriors
17. Elves (way to much raw power)
18. Evincar’s Tyrrany
25. Elves
Really want to see Elves take it down. So much raw power in that deck that can just explode out of the gate.
17. Elves
18. Evincar’s Tyranny
25. Elves
17. Elves (DD)
18. Evincar (10th)
25. Elves (DD)
17) Elves
18) Evincar
25) Evincar
17) Guile
18) Evincar
25) Guile
17) Elves
18) Warrior’s
25) Elves
Quick! Before it’s too late! The matches aren’t up yet!
17. Elves
18. Warrior’s Code
25. Elves
Elves
Warrior’s Code
Oops, forgot third round. Elves.