These players are both relative unknowns, but they’re sitting at the first table going into round 6. Both of them are almost certainly guaranteed a berth in the Top 24, but a few more wins will do them one better and get them a spot in the Top 8. Tillman won the roll and chose the odd initiatives.
Tillman ditched his opener and Travis kept. Neither player had a 1-drop, and this game was already beginning to shape up like so many others we have seen today. Travis had a 2-drop in the form of Elongated Man, Ralph Dibny, while Tillman recruited Bluejay in the visible area. Travis attacked, and UN General Assembly from Tillman fetched him Lex Luthor, Criminal Genius before the stun.
Tillman led off turn 3 with Shayera Thal ◊ Hawkwoman, one of the more popular characters of the day, and placed her behind Bluejay. Travis recruited Dr. Sivana, and moved both of his characters to the support row. Tillman attacked Sivana with Shayera and used the payment power of a newly flipped Reform the League to stop the stunback. Bluejay took down Elongated Man, and the players moved to recovery. Travis lost Elongated Man at the end of the turn. The endurance total was now 44–40 in Tillman’s favor.
Travis had Katar Hol ◊ Hawkman in front of Dr. Sivana for his turn 4 recruit. He played Quadromobile on Dr. Sivana and then passed. Tillman played Membership Drive, then recruited the Lex Luthor he had searched for. Lex was set in front of Shayera, and Bluejay stayed next to Lex in the front. Travis went into the tank to consider his attacks and eventually opted to send Dr. Sivana into Bluejay. Tillman used Lex’s ability to exhaust Bluejay and pump Lex and let the stun go through. Travis’s next attack brought Katar into Lex. Travis used Rallying Cry! to go for the stun, but Tillman had Bulletproof to attempt to brickwall. Travis played Glass Jaw to swing the attack back in his favor, and Tillman allowed the double stun. Travis passed to Tillman, and Shayera was sent into Dr. Sivana. Again, the characters traded stuns. Travis now had a slight lead of 32–29.
On turn 5, Tillman recruited Scarecrow, Fearmonger. He moved both of his characters to the front row and passed to Travis. Travis recruited Fire behind Katar and passed back. Tillman’s first attack was Lex into Katar, and Travis was out of tricks. Both characters stunned. Next, Scarecrow attacked into Fire. Rallying Cry! prevented Scarecrow from being stunned back. At the end of the turn, Travis lost Katar, and Tillman had established a lead of 29–19.
Travis had the initiative on the sixth turn and recruited the troublesome Gorilla Grodd in front of Fire. Tillman had a Gorilla of his own and set it behind Lex Luthor. Scarecrow was left in the front row next to Lex. At the beginning of combat, Scarecrow moved Lex’s counter to himself. Travis attacked Fire into Lex, and Tillman had nothing to stop the stun. Next, Travis sent his Gorilla into his twin on Tillman’s side of the board. Lead by Example gave the Gorilla +1 ATK and +1 DEF but did not prevent both characters from stunning. Scarecrow attacked Fire, and the turn ended with Tillman ahead 14–5. Tillman showed a 7-drop, and Travis conceded.
Tillman Bragg wins!