It had to happen eventually. The TOGIT player who is expected to rock New York facing off against arguably the best Sentinels player in the world. It was Harvey versus Höh, and a Doom/Sentinel showdown with more twists and turns that a Paul Auster novel, as Sentinels faced off against a deck built to destroy them.

 

Eugene Harvey won the roll and chose the odds, and Hans mulliganed, likely to get Boliver Trask.

 

Turn 1

Eugene had no play. Hans played Boliver Trask to fetch a Hounds of Ahab, doubtless to try for an early lock. Boliver attacked (49-50).

 

Turn 2

 

Hans played the Hounds. Eugene had no play, which is never good with a Hounds on the table. Hans went for the double direct attack (46-50).

 

Turn 3

Eugene again had no drop, making the Hounds lock creep closer. Without a Doom/Reign combo on turn 4, he'd be toast. Hans played Sentinel Mark II. One triple attack later, and it was Harvey 39, Höh 50.

 

Turn 4

Hans played a Sentinel Mark V, placing it in front of the Mark II, with Boliver in front next to the Mark V.

 

Eugene played Dr. Doom, Diabolic Genius, flipping a Faces of Doom to fetch another Diabolic Genius, and then flipping the Faces back down. His only hope was to be able to Reign of Terror the Hounds before they locked him down by taking out his Doom.

 

Hans announced a triple team-attack on Doom with Boliver, Mark V and Mark II. Eugene played a Reign of Terror on the Mark II, and he was likely to have another one (otherwise that play would have been pretty poor). Hans then declared an attack with Mark V and Boliver, which Eugene allowed, before another Reign hit Boliver and the Hounds, sending them to Coventry. This is why Doom decks are so fierce against Sentinels—there is no auto-lock against Reign of Terror. The team attack was still legal, which meant the Mark V and Doom double stunned, the new totals were Eugene 35, Hans 46, and the game was on!

 

Turn 5

 

Eugene played Robot Destroyer in front of Dr. Doom. Hans played Nimrod in front of the Mark V.

 

Eugene flipped up a Pleasant Distraction on Nimrod, then passed. Hans was playing very carefully. He thought out every move, like a chess player working on Vs. He finally decided to send his Mark V into Doom. Eugene used his Robot Destroyer to stun the Mark V. (30-42) Eugene then used Tech Upgrade to get a Power Compressor, exhausting Doom.

 

Turn 6

Hans recruited Bastion next to the Mark V in the support row, with Nimrod in front of the Mark V.

 

While Eugene pondered his recruit, Hans turned to me and, with a grin, said, “This is probably the quietest feature match you've ever seen.” I couldn't help but agree—two thinkers playing a mind match doesn't leave much room for trash talk or clever quips.

 

Eugene played Boris and used him to get a Mystical Paralysis. He used the Paralysis, with Doom, to exhaust Bastion. He then replaced Doom with another Diabolic Genius and played Boris next to him in support, his Robot Destroyer in front of the Dr. Doom.

 

Hans announced an attack on Dr. Doom with Nimrod. Eugene used Boris in response to fetch a Mystical Paralysis. He used it on Nimrod, exhausting Doom as well. Then Eugene stunned Robot Destroyer to stun the Mark V, ending the turn. With the totals at Harvey 25, Höh 38, Harvey's goal was to exhaust and stall long enough to get a Gamma Bomb out, while Höh would be trying to deal enough endurance loss to prevent that.

 

Turn 7

 

Eugene recruited a second Robot Destroyer and a Beast. He placed the Beast in front of one Destroyer, with the other Destroyer next to the first and Doom next to the second Destroyer.

 

Hans recruited Magneto, Master of Magnetism, placing him in support next to Bastion, with a Mark V in front of Bastion and Nimrod in front of Mags.

 

Hans then used Bastion's ability, pumping Beast with a Hounds and two Mark IIs from his hand, then flipping an Overload for the stun (23-38). This was to prevent an early Bomb, possible through Beast and Latveria.

 

Eugene played Pleasant Distraction on Magneto, then passed his attack.

 

Hans attacked with Nimrod, aiming for the central Robot Destroyer. Hans discarded Boliver Trask to pump Nimrod via Bastion. Eugene reinforced with Doom and stunned the Destroyer (18-38).

 

Hans then attacked the other Destroyer with Bastion, but Eugene used the Destroyer to stun Hans's Mark V, causing Bastion to ready when the attack finished (13-34).

 

Hans sent Bastion in on Doom, and Eugene flipped Latveria to ensure reinforcement—and survival. A nice attempt, but one that would prove futile.

 

Hans flipped and used Genosha, then discarded several Sentinel characters to pump Doom. A Reconstruction Program let Hans get back three of them to pump Doom even further, and then a well-placed Overload forced Eugene to concede with time having previously run out. Sentinels and Doom clashed, but only the mutant-hunters were left standing.