Metagame.com - Take Your Game to the Next Level

This was the battle of the “two and ones,” as two PC second-place competitors played what could very well have been the PC Finals match-up, if not for a bad case of luck. This game would be exciting, not only because of the personable players I was watching, but because of the sheer level of talent, which humbled yours truly.

Dalton won the roll and chose the odds. He was playing a deck that was mainly Green Lantern/Emerald Enemies, while Slack played a three-team Green Lantern/Anti-Matter/Emerald Enemies deck.

Turn 1

Dalton passed, and Slack played G'Nort, powering in for a loss of 1 (49-50).

Turn 2

Mark played Weaponers of Qward and Michael missed his drop again—Mark was garnering what looked to be some serious board advantage. A double direct attack, and it was Dalton 46, Slack 50.

Turn 3

Michael played Hal Jordan, Green Lantern of Earth.

Mark recruited Kreon.

Michael sent Hal into G'Nort. Mark responded with Millennium for the team-up, and reinforced with Kreon. (46-49)

Turn 4

Mark played no drop, and the board advantage shifted. This often happens in Sealed, which is a more inconsistent format—and which is why one can never truly count an opponent out in a Sealed match. Slack placed Kreon and G'Nort side by side in the support row.

Dalton played Goldface, discarding Black Hand and Dr. Light, prompting Mark to groan in frustration, “No, not him! Anyone but him!” For someone in total control early on, things were starting to look bad for Slack.

Mark attacked Hal with Kreon (43-49).

And then it was Michael's turn to attack back. Michael sent his beefcake, Goldface, into G'Nort—with Kreon exhausted and unable to reinforce, again eliciting a groan from Mark. “I take 9 'cause I'm an idiot . . . I'm sooo good at this game, really!” It was Dalton 43, Slack 40.

Mark used the discard effect of Chopping Block, also discarding Power Ring and Kreon, to KO Hal, making up a little lost ground.

Turn 5

Michael recruited Guy Gardner, Strong Arm of the Corps, placing him in front of Goldface.

Mark played Element Man in the hidden area, in front of his Weaponers.

Michael sent Goldface into Kreon, and Mark reinforced with G'Nort. (43-37)

Michael then sent Guy into G'Nort. Mark used Element Man to bring his hidden Weaponers into the visible area, placed them next to G'Nort, and reinforced. It was a brilliant move, minimizing the endurance loss. It was Dalton 43, Slack 36, and Mark recovered G'Nort.

Turn 6

Mark recruited Sinestro, Lantern in Exile in front of G'Nort, with his Weaponers in support, and Element Man in the hidden area.

Michael recruited Dr. Ub'X into the hidden area. An interesting move—Mark was pushing to gain back some board advantage, hoping to force Michael to KO a character or two. Michael left Guy and Goldface side by side in the support row.

Mark brought Element Man into the visible area, replacing a resource. Element Man attacked Guy. (36-32)

Mark then sent Sinestro into Goldface, leaving endurance totals at Dalton 28, Slack 32.

In recovery, Dr. Ub'X triggered. In response, Mark used Lanterns in Love to recover Element Man, but Michael flipped Apokoliptian Hospitality, preventing him from recovering or KO'ing.

Turn 7

Michael recruited Krona, placing him behind Guy, with Dr. Ub'X in the hidden area.

Mark played a boosted Power Ring.

Michael attacked with Guy on G'Nort. Mark used the Wepaoners to reinforce (28-31).

Michael then sent Krona into Sinestro. Michael used Damsel in Distress, exhausting Dr. Ub'X. Mark activated Sinestro to hide Krona, clearing the path for next turn's attacks. Sinestro KO'd from the Distress, and the totals were Dalton 28, Slack 24.

Mark sent Power Ring into Guy, making it Dalton 15, Slack 19, and Mark recovered Power Ring.

Turn 8

Mark played Hal Jordan, Spectre, placing him in front of Weaponers, with Power Ring in support.

Michael recruited Alan Scott, putting him and Guy in front, with Krona and Ub'X in the front row of the hidden area.

At the beginning of combat, Krona's effect sent Spectre to the hidden area.

Mark sent Spectre into Alan Scott (7-19).

Mark used Locked in Combat on Power Ring, flipping Empire of Tears and sending him into Guy (-10 to 14). A Weaponers direct attack made it Dalton -12 to Slack 14, and Michael conceded.