Day 2 of the Premiere League begins with the duel of the two losing decks from day 1, with 1a GW hosting 3a GWr.
Game 1, 1a GW lays the better curve while 3a GWr stumbles on mana and cannot deal with all the opposing fliers. 1:0.
Game 2 goes a lot longer, but 1a GW still overwhelms 3a GWr with a patiently assembled army that can take a lot of punishment from Pacify effects, use Selesnya Guildmage to avoid the damage from Brigid and, finally, swarm over with all fliers in a Concerted Effort. 2:0
The second match pits deck 4a Wgr against 2a RB.
Game 1 becomes a very creature centric damage race. 2a RB gets the upper hand, and Scourglass can only reset the board except for Foriysian Totem, 2hich survives and hits for lethal when Premature Burial removes the only post-Scourglass blocker on 4a Wgr's side. 0:1.
Game 2, deck 2a RB could stabilize the board behind on life and attack with some Empty the Warrens tokens skulking via Behind the Scenes. However, 4a Wgr just managed to kill 2a with a hasty hit from Vengevine and a pumped Stillmoon Cavalier to tie the match 1:1.
In the decider, 2a RB has to mulligan again (this time a one-lander). Attacks once again go back and forth, with 2 RB under more pressure. A Scourglass does not make a decisive difference as 2a RB has a lot of removal accumulated to hit 4a's post-Scourglass creatures. However, some unopposed 1/1s and a single hit from Vengevine (before it meets a Heat Ray) are enough for 4 Wgr to finish things with a large Fireball to the head for a 2:1 victory.
Premiere League standings after two days:
1. 4a Wgr 2-0, 4:2
2. 1a GW 1-1, 3:2
3. 2a RB 1-1, 3:3
4. 3a GWr 0-2, 1:4
In the second league, 3b BU hosts 4b RBu.
Game 1, 4b RBu puts a few more threats on the table, removes a few more opposing creatures than 3b BU, draws a few cards with Sygg and eventually overwhelms 3b. 0:1.
Game 2, 3b BU mulligans a five land hand with no action and 4b RBu mulligans a one-lander (and keeps another with all one and two drops). 3b BU tries to keep the slow but steady, very low curve start of 4b RBu at bay with a steady stream of overoiced removal, and without building a board presence of its own (Archivist only draws one card before being killed by Mogg Fanatic). But 4b RBu draws about all of the low curve aggro part of its deck and pushes through enough damage to close the deal. 0:2.
Match two pits 1b UBR against 2b UW.
In game 1, a Hunted Horror stalls out the board until 2b UW gets some flying attackers going. 2b's Stratoceppelid is promptly put on a Dream Leash after its first attack and then destroyed by 2b's Vengeance to keep the air clear for attacks. A steady stream of small flyers keeps pecking away at 1b's life total and acivating Angel's Tomb for the win, 0:1.
Before game 2, 2b UW has to mulligan a one-lander. The game goes back and forth with no clear advantage; the stalemate centers on Elusive Tormentor which is Confiscated, then Grixis Charmed back to hand (not sure whether I ever used the option before) and replayed to force through the last four damage by transforming to Mist form and back. 1:1.
In the decider, it is 1b UBRs turn to mulligan a one-lander. This encourages 2b UW to keep a speculative five land hand with a bounce spell and a single four-drop. Despite falling behind against the UW flyers (once again doing a lot of damage with the hard-to-remove Angel's Tomb), 1b UBR manages to parry here and there and slownthings down enough to just win with two rounds of making different creatures unblockable via Warchanter of Mogis while 2b draws more lands than anything else. 2:1.
MVPs are once again Epiphany at the Drownyard for 1b UBR and Angel's Tomb for 2b UW.
Second League Standings after two days
1. 4b RBu 2-0, 4:0
2. 2b UW 1-1, 3:2
3. 1b UBR 1-1, 2:3
4. 3b BU 0-2, 0:4
