Dylan Northrup is a player from Atlanta who usually spends more time judging than playing. He decided to take a break today, though, and try playing. Keebler, from Dayton Ohio, is best known for debuting a unique X-Statix deck at $10K Minneapolis.
Dylan won the die roll and selected the even initiatives. Both players passed on the first turn. On turn 2, before moving into the recruit step, Dylan played Straight to the Grave to get Mr. Mxyzptlk, Troublesome Trickster to his KO’d pile. It returned to his hand at the start of his recruit, and he recruited Cannonball. Dylan flipped and used Worthington Industries, picking up Rogue, Anna Marie, and passed. Keebler recruited Blue Devil, Dan Cassidy in his support row and passed back. Cannonball attacked unimpeded, and Dylan took an early 50-43 lead.
Keebler began turn 3 with a Teamwork from his resource row, discarding another Blue Devil to pick up Forbidden Loyalties. He recruited Orphan, Guy Smith, revealing another copy of Orphan in his hand for the additional cost. He flipped the Loyalties, teaming-up X-Statix and Shadowpact. The power-up was discarded, and Orphan got a counter. Keebler passed to Dylan, who missed with his Industries. He returned Mxyzptlk to his hand and recruited Xorn behind Cannonball. Keebler sent Blue Devil into Cannonball. Dylan reinforced, and the characters traded. Next, Keebler flipped Mutant of the Year, KO’ing Blue Devil and gaining 8 endurance. A 7 ATK / 7 DEF Orphan crushed Xorn, and that was the turn. Cannonball was lost, and Keebler now had a 49-43 lead.
Dylan had the initiative on turn 4, and he got Wolverine, The Best at What He Does with his Industries. Dylan recurred Mxyzptlk, under-dropped with Avalanche, Freedom Force in front of Xorn, and passed. Keebler had an even smaller under-drop in the form of a boosted El Guapo. After the Guap’s brief appearance, Keebler passed back to Dylan, who didn’t have the Team-Up to team attack. Keebler sent Orphan to take down Avalanche, and neither player had additional effects. Keebler’s lead widened to 45-37.
Turn 5 was Keebler’s initiative, and he recruited Blue Devil, Big Blue behind Orphan. Dylan got Sunfire with his Industries and proceeded to recruit him. Keebler declared an attack of Blue Devil into Avalanche. Dylan used Sunfire to attempt to stun Orphan, and in response, Keebler flipped another Mutant of the Year to KO the 3-drop and gain 2 endurance. Avalanche was stunned, and in recovery, Dylan chose not to recover him. Keebler’s lead widened even more to 47-29.
On turn 6, Dylan once again kicked things off with an Industries activation. He picked up a Xorn and recurred his Mxyzptlk. Dylan recruited Archangel, Angel to get another Worthington Industries into his hand, then used his remaining 5 resource points for Wolverine. Keebler played El Guapo without boost, then dropped U-Go-Girl, Tragic Teleporter. He returned the Guap to bounce Archangel, then replayed his 1-drop. Keebler set up with U-Go-Girl protecting Blue Devil, and passed. Dylan played Bamf! and immediately sent Sunfire to take down U-Go-Girl. Keebler allowed it, and his 4-drop stunned. Next, Wolverine went after Blue Devil. Keebler used El Guapo to reinforce his 5-drop, then KO’d both of his other characters to Dead Weight. The attack bounced, and Keebler chose not to attack back with Blue Devil. In recovery, the endurance totals were 42-29 in Keebler’s favor.
Keebler had Shazam, The Sorcerer in front of Blue Devil for turn 7. Dylan got Professor X, Headmaster with his Industries and recurred Mxyzptlk in recruit. He recruited Rogue, set up with Rogue protecting Sunfire and Wolverine protecting Xorn, and passed. In combat, Keebler sent Blue Devil into Wolverine. Dylan reinforced, and the characters traded. Shazam went after Xorn, and Dylan again reinforced. Rogue attacked back, trading with Shazam. In recovery, Dylan used Phoenix Rising to make sure his entire team recovered. Keebler KO’d Blue Devil, gaining 8. He still led 38-14.
Dylan had the initiative on turn 8, and he used Worthington to get a Cannonball. He recurred his Mxyzptlk, and then went into the tank to consider his recruits. Dylan seemed to be missing an integral component of his deck—Havok, Critical Mass—and was visibly frustrated as he recruited both Cannonball and Colossus, Organic Steel. Keebler recruited Ghost Rider, Danny Ketch, and Dylan conceded.