"Don't play Finest Hour it's trash." Said my friend David Wise as I decided to audible to mythic the night before. Good thing I didn't listen to him! Two weeks prior to the SCG Baltimore Open Jonathan Suarez and I were vigorously testing. He was testing Mythic and I was messing with Grixis. We tried extremely hard to make Grixis work by changing cards around, being aggressive, being controlish, going for the mid-range build. We tried playing hate cards like Mindlock Orb and Pyroclasm in the main but it was just not working. We would tune it to beat Titan Ramp only to lose to Naya; so in turn, we tune it to beat Naya and Titan Ramp, then lose to any control deck. Two weeks later I find myself riding in a cramped car to Baltimore, but the music was so good, thanks to me. We were listening to Livin' on a Prayer, Genie in a Bottle, Say my Name, I want it that way, tons of Michael Jackson, Sugar Ray, and some Tainted love. Oh the joy of traveling to a tournament in an overpopulated sedan with the best music ever, nothing is better!

After arriving at the hotel and teaching myself how to walk again we start to test standard for the next day. Grixis was continuing to lose so I text Bobby Prevatte, a good friend I test with online, and asked him what I should play tomorrow; Mythic or Grixis? He replied, "If you want to win play Mythic." I was sad, but deep down I knew he was right. I started building Mythic and threw in two Finest Hours. I feel the card acts as Sovereigns five and six and it's fun to play. So after ignoring David's comments I crashed on the bed.

Here is the list I played:

[cardlist]

[Creatures]

4 Birds of Paradise

4 Knight of the Reliquary

4 Lotus Cobra

4 Noble Hierarch

4 Sovereigns of Lost Alara

[/Creatures]

[Spells]

2 Eldrazi Conscription

2 Elspeth, Knight-Errant

2 Finest Hour

2 Gideon Jura

3 Jace, the Mind Sculptor

4 Mana Leak

[/Spells]

[Lands]

4 Celestial Colonnade

5 Forest

2 Island

4 Misty Rainforest

2 Plains

1 Sejiri Steppe

2 Stirring Wildwood

1 Sunpetal Grove

4 Verdant Catacombs

[/Lands]

[Sideboard]

4 Obstinate Baloth

4 Celestial Purge

2 Spell Pierce

4 Linvala, Keeper of Silence

1 Bojuka Bog

[/Sideboard]

[/cardlist]

I woke up to some Techno music coming from David's phone, nice alarm dude! I jumped in the shower, grabbed a quick breakfast and headed to the main event site. I registered the deck and was totally "battle ready!"

Round One - Michael Farrel playing Mythic

I won the die roll on this one. My turn one Noble Hierarch, turn two Lotus Cobra and Knight of the Reliquary, followed by a turn three Sovereigns of Lost Alara lead to a brief game one. I then thought to myself, "I'm so glad I'm playing this deck!"

I'm not going to discuss how I sideboarded since it will probably be irreverent by the time this is published.

This game Michael starts off with a turn one Noble Hierach and I mimic his play. He has a turn two Knight of the Reliquary. My shirt and I one-up him by playing Lotus Cobra cracking a fetch and playing a Knight. He Oblivion Ring's my Cobra and leaves his Knight on defense. I cast a Gideon and force him to tap his Knight. I am able to assassinate his Knight with Gideon and play a Jace, the Mind Sculptor to brainstorm. I hold off his creatures with Jace and Gideon until I get Sovereigns of Lost Alara to end the game.

1-0

Round two - Alex Blough playing UWr Control

I know Alex from previous events and know he is a good player. I knew these games were going to be fun and intense. I play early mana guys and Alex tries to kill them all with a main deck Pyroclasm. Luckily I have the Mana Leak to save my friends. I am able to resolve a Knight of the Reliquary that sadly gets Path to Exiled at the end of turn. I have two Lotus Cobras out now and I'm able to resolve Knight and Finest Hour in the same turn, while attacking with my Cobra. He cast Path to Exile on my second Knight. I eventually drop an Elspeth that was able to push through enough damage to end the game.

Game two I burst out of the gates with a Birds of Paradise followed by a Lotus Cobra and a Noble Hierarch. The following turn I cast Jace and brainstorm. Alex plays an Ajani Vengeant killing my Jace. I swing to kill his Ajani and then play an Elspeth after combat. Alex is able to three-for-one me with a Day of Judgement and shortly after Oblvion Rings my Elspeth. I cast a Gideon that gets fought over by counterspells, but I end up on top thanks to Spell Pierce. The following turn I cast yet another Elspeth and swing for nine. Alex is able legend rule Jace, but eventually succumbs to a flying Gideon.

2-0

Round three - David Wise playing Mythic

I have a tendency to play people I rode up with at the event site. This was no exception. David knew what my 75 was and likewise I knew his. I knew this was going to be rough since he had Path to Exiles and main deck Linvala. He wins the die roll and starts things off with a Noble Hierarch. I do the same thing and hope he doesn't go crazy. Sadly he does. He has the turn two cobra knight play followed by Sovereigns of Lost Alara.

Game two with both start out with Birds of Paradise but we don't do much else. We both just play one drop mana guys and hold back counter magic. David breaks first and goes for a Jace, the Mind Sculptor but I have the two Mana Leaks to counter his Jace and his Mana Leak. On my turn I play Elspeth jump my birds and pass the turn. David taps six and my heart sinks, but he only plays a Knight, Cobra, and a Birds of Paradise. On my turn I play Sovereigns and Angelic Blessing my Birds of Paradise. I try to enter combat but David stops me to Path to Exile my Sovereigns. I get my land and bash in. David taps six again and this time it is Sovereigns and I lose to a really huge Knight of the Reliquary. Damn you Path to Exile! We both wish each other luck and walk around to see how our other friends did.

2-1

Round four - Scott Braggand playing Naya

Scott wins the die roll and mulligans to six. He just has a tapped land to get going but I have a Noble Hierarch followed by a Knight of the Reliquary. At this point, Scott cast a Fuana Shaman and tutors for a Cunning Sparkmage. He plays the Sparkmage to kill my Noble Hierarch and then plays a Stoneforge Mystic getting the deadly Basilisk Collar. On my turn, I know I have to stop being as aggressive; I have him within Lethal range via a Sovereigns so I opt to slow him down. I play Jace and unsummon his Sparkmage. He plays Sparkmage again and passes the turn. I play Elspeth and make a token hoping maybe he will kill it with Sparkmage but he doesn't bite. I unsummon his Sparkmage again and he finishes of my Jace. He still can't play Sparkmage and equip the Basilisk Collar to it so I am able to end it with a flying Conscripted Knight.

Scott has a good hand this time and starts off with a Noble Hierarch. I have a similar play but with Birds of Paradise. Scott plays more mana guys and a Knight of the Reliquary - all I have are more mana guys in the form of Lotus Cobra and Noble Hierarch. Scott slams down his Bloodbraid Elf hoping to hit a Sparkmage but instead only reveals Birds of Paradise. He still has enough mana to cast Linvala, Keeper of Silence and bashes me with Bloodbraid Elf. Sadly all I am able to do is Legend Rule Linvala and ship the turn back. Scott swings all in and puts me at five life since I opt to not block. I draw for my turn and have Sovereigns, but I can't kill him with it because I am one point short. I cast a Noble Hierarch and ship the turn. Scott swings all in again, but this time my Knight blocks his Knight; however, I am unable to save my Knight because Sejiri Steppe is in my hand. My Knight dies and I opt to not block with my Noble Hierarch or Linvala and go to one. He plays Birds of Paradise and ships the turn. I cast Sovereigns, play the Sejiri Steppe giving Linvala protection from green and that ends up being exactly 15 points of damage to end the game.

3-1

Round five - Joey playing Bant Turboland

Joey and I began shuffling and discussing Scars of Mirrodin and the rotation of Bloodbraid Elf. We are both glad to see elf leave and can't wait to see what Scars has in store for everyone. Joey wins the die roll and I mulligan twice. He plays some come into play tap lands while ramping with Rampant Growth and Cultivate. I play a Noble Hierarch, Lotus Cobra, and a Knight of the Reliquary. He Cultivates again and leaves two mana open. On my turn I tap out for a Sovereigns of Lost Alara and he quickly slams down a Mana Leak. I assume he didn't see the Lotus Cobra and Knight of the Reliquary interaction so I just pay for his Mana Leak. He scoops while mumbling something I didn't understand.

Game two starts a lot like the first; with him ramping and me playing mana guys, but he has the turn four Primeval Titan followed by a turn five and six Time Warp; and I die a horrible death to the jolly green giant.

Game three I have a turn two Lotus Cobra and he has a Rampant Growth. I cast Jace the Mind Sculptor turn three and start to Brainstorm. Joey doesn't really get going this game and I out card advantage him. I am able to counter his Primeval Titan and cast a Sovereigns of Lost Alara the next turn, to which he conceded.

4-1

Round six - Brian Playing U/W control

I am on the play this game and I have a turn two Lotus Cobra that gets hit with a Path to Exile during my end step. The following turn I cast a Knight of the Reliquary and a Lotus Cobra. He Preordains and tries to play a Jace Belern but I Mana Leak it. I cast a Finest Hour and hit him for a total of seven with my Lotus Cobra. On his turn he taps all but one mana for Gideon Jura and uses the +2 ability. I slam down a Soverigns of Lost Alara and attempt to enter combat. He thinks for awhile and tries to Path my Soverigns; I have Knight active and get the Sejiri Steppe. The Cobra swings at Gideon for 14 then swings at Brain for 26 with Annihilator 2… GG

Brain starts things off with a Wall of Omens and I cast a Lotus Cobra. Brain Preordains and Ousts my Lotus Cobra. I play Knight of the Reliquary and he just has another Wall of Omens. I get my Lotus Cobra back and play it. He then casts an Oblivion Ring which I Mana Leak. On my turn I tap out for Finest Hour. Brain taps out for a Jace, the Mind Sculptor but I am able to Mana Leak his Jace thanks to Knight and Cobra. I play Sovereigns and attack for lethal with Finest Hour. Sovereigns plus Finest hour is just too dirty!

5-1

Round seven - Chas Hinkel playing Mythic

I'm sorry to the audience and Chris but I don't have my notes for this match and I don't remember exactly what happened except that I won 2-0.

6-1

Round eight - Troy Thompson Jund

Troy doesn't have a play until turn three, which is Sprouting Thrinax; mean while, I spend the first few turns playing my mana dorks. I am able to Mana Leak his Sprouting Thrinax and on my turn play an Elspeth Knight-Errant and make a token. Troy has a Bloodbraid Elf that hits another Thrinax. I decide not to chump his Bloodbraid with my token. I play Finest Hour and Angelic Blessing my token and come in for 12. I am able to end the game soon after thanks again to Finest Hour and Elspeth.

Game two isn't so exciting; Troy is able to kill my mana guys but never gets passed two mana. When he gets his third land, which is a Savage lands, I am able to hard cast Eldrazi Conscription and end any hope of him coming back because of the annihilator 2 trigger.

7-1

Round nine - Jasper Johnson with Mythic

I have to wait about 10 minutes for Jasper to show up because something terrible happened to him. He finally arrives and the judge tells me we have a 10 minute time extension and no game loses will be issued. Jasper looks very shook up and I ask him what happened. I will not go over what he said but, I will say it probably altered his game play. Jasper mull'ed two times and was never really in game one. I just dropped an Eslpeth and rode it all the way.

Game two Jasper keeps his hand, I realize he doesn't have white mana and isn't able to cast half his spells. I get two Lotus Cobras online and hard cast an Eldrazi Conscription and he just concedes. He told me after the game that he thought he had white mana in his opening hand, but clearly didn't. Too much stress is to blame; sorry Jasper, I hope everything works out!

8-1

Round ten

My last opponent, Sam Chase, we just drew into top eight.

8-1-1

Quarter Finals Ian Ellis with Jund

I'm not going to lie, I did not take many notes in the top eight; I just tried to focus on the prize. Every match except this one was covered. So I will write as much as I can remember from this match.

Ian was a very nice and talkative guy. After talking while shuffling up I felt at ease while playing him. Ian was on the play and mulliganed to six. He didn't have much removal or pressure game one and I easily ended the game with a Sovereigns of Lost Alara.

Game two Ian goes with the plan to kill all my mana guys. He ended up killing five of them but when I dropped my last creature which was a Sovereigns of Lost Alara he did not have an answer to it and it made short work of him.

Semi Finals Vs Axel Jensen playing Pyromancer Ascension

You can find all the coverage here for this match.

Finals vs Conor Moran playing Sovereigns of Lost Alara

This guy always had Sovereigns of Lost Alara games one two and three. However, I never found my aura fetching fellow in any of our games. The coverage for the finals is here.

It felt totally awesome to win. I felt like I finally got what I had worked so hard for, after playing for so long and making top 8s but never quite getting there. I was overjoyed, this trip was a blast!

On the way back to the hotel David and I were walking ahead with our friend Max following behind us. (Max is half Jewish) David had a theory he wanted to test and asked me if I had any change. I gave David my quarters and he drops one on the top of the stairs and one on the bottom. Max exclaimed, "ohh shiney!" and ends up picking them both up with a huge grin.

I just want to give a shout out to Star City for hosting the event, Mana Nation for allowing me to write articles for them, Jonathan Suarez for being an awesome friend and an amazing test partner, Stephan Mercatoris for driving the whole time, Bobby and all the friends I went with for waking me up and telling me to play Mythic, David for some awesome techno music and driving me home, Max for being a Jew, and my loving girlfriend Faith who supports me in everything I do. I love you babe!

If enough people want me to write about the Black/White Obeyline deck please post in the comments and let me know. You don't have to register to comment.

Thanks for reading everyone!