Game Loss

So this was an Abzan deck which tried to be aggressive. In hindsight, maybe there is some consideration whether an aggressive deck would like to play as many taplands as this one. Unable to curve out because you have a land that comes into play tapped, might not be what you want. The deck didn’t run into this problem though in the 16 turn long game 1, however it did run into an Ugin, Eye of the Storms!

Game

Let’s see how this game turned out and see if there are some usefull reflections to be made.

Turn 1 and 2

As a more aggressive deck, you are always happy to start first. By T2, the Traveling Botanist was able to resolve. My opponent played a gainland and on his turn 2, was able to “Misty Rainforest” into an island, but he didn’t develop his board, passing the turn with 2 untapped lands.

Turn 3

The Traveling Botanist is able to attack unconstested and a Champion of Dusan resolves as well! The opponent decided not to use his 2 mana. On his turn 3, he resolves his Krotiq Nestguard, which should already indicate the controlly playstyle of the opponent. A 4/4 defender for 3 mana value is typically not something you play in your aggressive decks.

Turn 4

Has a Sage of the Fang coming in on my side, adding the counter on the Champion of Dusan. Opponent decides to trade his Nestguard with the Chamion. Not sure if this was the block to happen? It certainly preserved his lifetotal more then blocking the Botanist. His side of the board then develops a new Nestguard.

Turn 5

Aggressive Negotiations allowed to have a look at the opponent’s hand. It couldn’t have been more stacked holding Ugin, Eye of the Storms and Marang, River Regent. Undecided what to exile from his hand, I went for the Stalwart Successor as this is certainly a card that can win games and since my opponent was left on 4 mana, I figured he wouldn’t be able to cast them. My game plan was to kill the opponent as fast as possible so I wanted any potential blockers out of the way. At the time, I didn’t consider that Marang’s omen would allow card draw. Which was exactly what the opponent decided doing, discarding a Snowmelt Stag in the process.

Turn 7

I was eager to get in the damage, so I played the Kin-Tree Severance into my opponent’s open mana and got countered with a Dispelling Exhale. In hindsight however, pumping the Formation Breaker with Dusk Sight and then swinging with Formation Breaker and Botanist might have been the better play. My attacking Botanist got Preyed upon.

Turn 8

I have been investing in growing a Formation Braker, which got bounced through an Ureni’s Rebuff. This is a spot where a Snakeskin Veil would have come in handy. I would like to note though that whenever putting a token on the Formation Breaker, it becomes a 4/4 stated creature, instead of a 3/3 creature when the counter would have been put on another creature. Growing your Formation Breaker becomes relevant as it becomes unblockable by creatures with less power.

Turn 9 - Ugin’s turn!

This is the turn when Ugin came down.

Turn 10

Turn 10 saw a Jade-Cast Sentinel being cast, triggering Ugin’s ability, exiling one of my bigger creatures. On top of it, my opponent has plenty of mana which allows him to activate the Krotiq Nestguard, allowing it to go for my face. As from now, the game is played… Ugin allowing my opponent to stabilize and gaining value off of it.

Turn 11 and later

Still seeing more removal from the opponent. A disruptive Stormbrood’s Omen continued to reduce my board presence, more Krotiq Netstguards resolved, a casual Lie in Wait did his thing…