Hello!

You probably don’t know me, and I don’t expect you to either. I’m just an Average Joe when it comes to a Magic: The Gathering career. I’ve never played on the Pro Tour. Hell, I’ve never even played in a PTQ. I attend Friday Night Magic as often as possible, playing a deck to earn a few extra packs for drafts.

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to play in Grand Prix: Minneapolis, which was only a three-and-a-half-hour drive from my hometown of Fargo, North Dakota. Yes, that Fargo, the ex-home of Brad Nelson and that one place in that one movie where everyone talks with Canadian accents (and a wood chipper chops up Steve Buscemi).

Going into the event, my expectations on performance were low. If I had to fill out a “Previous Magic Accomplishment” block for a Top 8 profile, it would either read “Worldwake Game Day Champion”, “Top 8 at six FNMs in a row”, or “Lifetime 3–3 record against Pro Tour players’. I’m not certain which achievement out of the three is best.

Work had stopped me from playing in any FNMs previous to the event, so my deck choice was going to be based on a combination of StarCityGames Open results and general familiarity with the format. My roommate had been doing his best to get locals fired up by running testing sessions, so I was able to watch and learn in those as well. Naya Birthing Pod is the deck I felt the most at ease with, and I wanted to play something I was familiar with. After reviewing the results from the Open in Madison I started with the list shown here.

After I compared it to my current Pod list I tweaked thing to end up here:

"Kyle Engleson’s Naya Pod – Grand Prix: Minneapolis"

• Creatures (28)
• 1 Acidic Slime
• 1 Fiend Hunter
• 1 Hellrider
• 1 Primeval Titan
• 1 Wolfir Avenger
• 2 Avacyn's Pilgrim
• 2 Inferno Titan
• 2 Zealous Conscripts
• 3 Blade Splicer
• 3 Huntmaster of the Fells
• 4 Birds of Paradise
• 4 Strangleroot Geist
• 1 Phyrexian Metamorph
• 1 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
• 1 Urabrask the Hidden

• Spells (8)
• 4 Green Sun's Zenith
• 4 Birthing Pod

• Lands (24)
• 8 Forest
• 1 Kessig Wolf Run
• 2 Gavony Township
• 2 Sunpetal Grove
• 3 Rootbound Crag
• 4 Copperline Gorge
• 4 Razorverge Thicket

• Sideboard (15)
• 2 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
• 1 Viridian Corrupter
• 2 Ancient Grudge
• 3 Galvanic Blast
• 3 Hero of Bladehold
• 3 Celestial Purge
• 1 Ray of Revelation

Buy This Deck

The first cards I cut from the SCG list were the Sword of Feast and Famine, which competed with 3-drop creatures, and the Priest of Urabrask, a little too cute for me. Fiend Hunter is a catch-all answer you want in Pod, but it’s difficult to cast with this mana base. In the limited amount of testing I did with the deck, I wanted a 3-mana green creature to Green Sun's Zenith for in order to be able to Pod into a 4-drop for a Metamorph or Hellrider.

Wolfir Avenger got the nod as I wanted something that survived Whipflare. I also added a Thalia in place of Blade Splicer to have maindeck access to disruption. The last change I made was for a pet card of mine, substituting the fourth Huntmaster for Urabrask the Hidden. Urabrask can give you an edge no other card in the deck can, and it also deals with any potential blockers.

I headed down to the site on Friday afternoon to preregister, spending the rest of Friday night cubing. I felt pretty relaxed going to sleep that night. I had already filled out my decklist, so I was locked into my decisions as far as specific slots go; it was great knowing all I needed to do was show up the next day and start playing.

Obviously, by the next morning, when the player meeting was called, I was a little nervous. I tried to think of anyone who would be sitting near me from Fargo, but my mind was a blank. Lo and behold, I had forgotten about Daryl, who recently moved back to town. It was nice having someone familiar to chat with to calm the nerves a bit.

I’m going to run through a brief discussion of each round and anything noteworthy that happened. I didn’t keep any special notes for each game, so all of this is from my terrible memory.

Round 1 – Lindsay Heming – Junk Tokens

We both sit down and start shuffling up, with neither of us making the first attempt at conversation. It’s not that I don’t want to chat or anything; I just want to make sure I don’t get dinged for improper shuffling. My opponent recognizes his neighbor and mentions WotC flew him out for the event, revealing that he’s an Asia-Pacific judge there to learn about Grands Prix.

His deck is a pretty basic G/W token list splashing black for Lingering Souls and Vault of the Archangel. We split the first two games, and in Game 3, I get my first judge called on me. I had cast Green Sun's Zenith for 3, planning on finding a Viridian Corrupter to blow up his Shrine of Loyal Legions. After placing it on the battlefield and beginning to shuffle, I realize he can blow up his Shrine in response and I have a Birthing Pod out. I try to take it back, but he says I had already made my decision. The judge ruled with him.

Then, I realize I won’t actually have to blow up my Pod as he can’t respond before I target his Shrine. I was so concerned about screwing up that I didn’t stop to think about the actual order of operations in the game. I quietly told myself to play a little slower in order to not make similar mistakes. I eventually get there Game 3 with an Inferno Titan wiping away all his tokens.

1–0

Round 2 – Tim Mohr – W/U Delver

I think Delver is a good matchup for my deck, but the turn-one Delver is still the scariest start in the format. He obviously transforms on turn two, but the only action he has the rest of the game is a Runechanter's Pike. I eventually transform a Huntmaster to deal with his Aberration, and the Huntmaster goes the distance.

The next game, he wins very quickly with a combination of Geist of Saint Traft and many Vapor Snags. I take Game 3 the same way I take Game 1, and we chat a little after the match. He recently returned to Standard, last playing when Caw-Blade was a deck.

The man must really just love Seachrome Coast.

2–0

Round 3 – Heather Vlahovich – Jund Wolf Run

Heather rolls up with a suitcase on rollers full of boxes, eventually pulling out her play mat and deck. We chat a little about her My Little Pony named Rarity (how perfect), then battle.

Although I don’t see a Primeval Titan out of her throughout the entire match, the rest of the deck appears to be pretty similar to Conley Wood’s Grand Prix: Orlando–winning deck from earlier this year.

3–0

At this point, I’m cautiously optimistic. While I had a great start, Round 4 is when the pros come to play.

Round 4 – Nadja Antonova – R/U/G

In Game 2, I have Fiend Hunter on her Huntmaster. She untaps, casts Phantasmal Image copying my Fiend Hunter, Fiend Huntering my Fiend Hunter, and attacking. Many turns down the line, she casts Zealous Conscripts, stealing my Huntmaster and attacking for lethal with a transformed Huntmaster and a couple of Wolf tokens.

I’m able to Galvanic Blast her Image, returning my Fiend Hunter, exiling my stolen Huntmaster, and chump blocking her Conscripts with my Fiend Hunter in order to rebuy my Huntmaster. I take 2 damage—instead of 11—that turn before killing her on the crack back.

4–0

I’m not sure what to even think at this point. I’m ahead of all the pros who lost Round 3! Seeing the complicated play I just described makes me thankful I play Cube as often as I do. One of the major benefits to cubing is developing the ability to see unique situations and capitalizing on them in other formats.

Round 5 – Owen Turtenwald – W/U Delver

Owen ended up ripping a Sword of War and Peace to take a close Game 1. In the follow-up games, however, he ended up only having one threat. I was able to deal with them easily, including where I drew my Phyrexian Metamorph to answer a Geist of Saint Traft.

5–0

I was feeling it, followed by that pickled goodness. I just took down one of the top players in the world, playing arguably the best deck, and he didn’t even berate me for playing terribly afterward! What is there to be nervous about after that?

Round 6 – Daniel Johnson – W/U Delver

To be honest, I don’t remember much about this round. In reviewing my life pad from this match, it would appear he was on a Delver deck. I think I played against three in the first day, but can’t say for certain.

I still won 2–0.

6–0

Round 7 – Erik Peters – R/G Aggro

Table 1! While I haven’t played any major events, I understand this is sort of a big deal in the grand scheme, so I smile a bit on the inside. We get deck checked and get to chatting about the day. I point out this is my first GP and I’m here with no byes, which seems to lead him to believe I’m some master at the game. (I’m not even close.)

In Game 1, Erik puts me to 9 and says go with 5 mana up at 13 life. I have an Acidic Slime, a Birthing Pod, and Urabraks in hand. I cast Urabrask, Pod the Slime into an Inferno Titan, killing his Llanowar Elves, and attacking with the team to kill him. After I lose the second game, Erik says, “Well, winner makes Day 2. Good luck!” and shakes my hand. That last game is a slug fest, but he eventually runs out of steam as I top deck Green Sun's Zenith to win the match.

7–0

. . . and into Day 2!

I don’t even know what to think at this point. I came down this weekend planning on scrubbing out, picking up some cards for Cube, and playing Diablo III all night Sunday. You mean I have to cancel my plans Sunday to play Day 2?

I suppose . . .

Round 8 – Chris Schafer – Zombie Pod

Despite having three Celestial Purges in my sideboard, I’m unable to win the match. I misplay in Game 3, opting to let him untap after casting Geralf's Messenger instead of just Purging it on my turn. He casts Go for the Throat in response, and then copies it with Phantasmal Image. Whoops! I did get to run the ol’ Urabrask/Inferno Titan combo this match to steal a game, burning down a Phyrexian Obliterator with my Inferno Titan triggers (effectively casting Armageddon on myself).

7–1

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little bummed at this point. But as far as I was concerned, anything past 3–0 was a complete free-roll for me.

Round 9 – Mark Rush – Naya Wolf Run

In Game 3, I have the opportunity to play a turn-two Thalia, but I instead go with Green Sun's Zenith for a Birds of Paradise, setting up turn-three Hero of Bladehold. On his turn two, he Rampant Growths for a second white source, so I put him on having Terminus. I attack for 7, cast Metamorph and Thalia. He untaps, and drops his hand, showing two Terminus, but only 6 mana.

It’s a miracle!

8–1

Ending the day on a win boosted my confidence. I still didn’t expect much out of Day 2, but went to get some rest before the next morning.

Round 10 – John Bell – Wolf Run

Game 1, he runs over me with Inkmoth Nexus and ilk, but Game 2, he kept a one-lander, never drawing a second. Game 3, he keeps a two-lander, never drawing a third. Not the most difficult win, but I’ll take it!

9–1

Round 11 – Josh Mcclain – R/G Aggro

Before this round, I have a chance to chat and trade with Adam Styborski. During our conversation, I mention I’ve been lucky to dodge Wolfir Silverheart, as I have one maindeck answer to it. Wouldn’t you know it, Josh came packing Silverhearts and quickly wiped the floor with me.

9–2

Round 12 – Andrew Zachorw – Esper Control

We both mulligan to five in Game 1, but I’m unable to fight through his eventual Wurmcoil Engine—the other card I just can’t beat.

9–3

Despite not expecting to do well, I’m a little deflated that I’m out of Top 8 contention, although I’m still playing for Top 64 so that I can officially call myself a pro.

Round 13 – Ryan Elder – Zombies

The only significant thing I can remember from this match was boarding in Celestial Purge, and ending up Purging a Phyrexian Metamorph’d Huntmaster of the Fells to attack for lethal in Game 3. Not the reason I boarded it in, but I’ll take it!

10–3

Round 14 – Matt Costa – W/U Delver

I end up taking him to Game 3, but a mulligan and a sketchy six card hand leads to losing shortly thereafter. He mentions that of the matches he has won, I’m the only person to take him to three games.

If that wasn’t a silver lining, I don’t know what is.

10–4

The journey is almost over, and I’m ready for it. It’s exhausting to play two full days of the most intense Magic of my life, and I just need to win this last match to make Top 64.

Round 15 – Gunther Wersal – R/W Humans

My opponent makes no request about drawing, so I just decide to play. He eventually pairs two Lightning Maulers together, and I trade my Huntmaster plus a Wolf away. I have an Inferno Titan in hand and just need to hit 6 mana. I attacked with two Strangleroot Geists for a few turns before he concedes, showing me four more lands in hand.

I feel that my sideboard incidentally crushed this deck, with Galvanic Blast screwing up soulbond mid-combat. Game 2, he keeps a two-land hand and never draws a third.

11–4

After the last round, I have a chance to walk around the venue, bumping into random local players to let them know the good news! The support I receive all weekend long from them is amazing. It might not seem like much, but having fifteen to twenty players checking up on you every round really does something for your confidence. Final standings go up, and I scan for my name.

45 Engleson, Kyle *

I made it! I never even contemplated making Day 2 when I decided to drive down for the Grand Prix, but now I had made it into the money.

It was a whirlwind of a weekend, and I know it sounds cliché, but I really felt that I played some of the best Magic I’d ever played. I had an opportunity to go toe-to-toe with some of the game’s biggest names and managed to come out on top in a few of those matches. It was an amazing experience that I’ll never forget, and I hope that any readers out there who think they won’t be able to accomplish anything at the next Grand Prix will reconsider.

If I could do it, why not you?

Kyle Engleson

@Kengy5 on Twitter

Kyle.Engleson at gmail dot com