This is an exciting grudge match. An age old battle between long term rivals. A Yankees fan vs. a Red Sox fan. And this is a good year to be a Red Sox fan—Anthony Shaheen is riding at the top of the standings with a 12-1 record, but Maik has put in a strong performance as well, and is close behind at 11-2.

Anthony won the die roll and opted to go second. Both players wished each other good luck, and the game began.

Anthony agonized over his decision to mulligan a hand with Basilisk in it (it also contained another 1-drop and two 6-drops), but in the end, he opted to mulligan. Maik kept his starting hand, and the grudge match began.

Turn 1

As it turned out, Anthony drew into A Day Unlike Any Other and Black Widow. “If I didn’t mulligan, my draw would have been the nut high!” As it was, Anthony had no drops for the turn.

Maik played Joystick and swung in for 1 point.

Anthony 49 - Maik 50

Turn 2

Anthony recruited Black Widow, who was very sad not to have any friends to team attack with. Maik recruited Yellowjacket with boost, who fetched Paul Ebersol ◊ Fixer, though Maik opted to recruit Beetle ◊ Mach 1 instead. A V-Wing came down on Joystick to make her a 3 ATK/2 DEF.

Anthony had Black Widow attack into Joystick for a 3-2 endurance swing, but that left the door open for Yellowjacket and Beetle to swing back unchallenged and keep Maik ahead in endurance.

Andrew 44 - Maik 48

Turn 3

Maik began to turn his small lead into complete domination by flipping Faces of Evil and recruiting Captain America, Steve Rogers, who got the V-Wing transferred to him. Maik had created a ridiculously good turn 3 board position, with four giant monsters (all surrounding the powerhouse leader, of course).

Maik smiled and commented “This is my first Avengers draft ever.” Judging by Maik’s board, he is a quick learner.

Now it was a question of whether Anthony could survive long enough to capitalize on Black Widow and thin Maik’s numbers. Anthony recruited Moonglow and lamented, “Why is his board so much better than mine? It doesn’t seem fair.” Anthony’s choice to mulligan his 1-drop had to be haunting him here.

Maik team attacked with Beetle and Yellowjacket into Moonglow, who searched for A Day Unlike Any Other before getting stunned and taking Beetle with her. Captain America bashed into Black Widow, and Maik flipped a second Faces of Evil to hit for 9 endurance loss. To cap off this brutal turn, Joystick was able to attack Anthony directly for 4.

Anthony opted to keep Black Widow, sending Moonglow to the KO’d pile.

Anthony 28 - Maik 47

Turn 4

Anthony recruited Carol Danvers, Warbird out of his resource row, but Maik responded with another strong play: Iron Man, Tony Stark.

Anthony had his work cut out for him trying to handle Maik’s impressive assortment of heroes, pretend heroes, and villains.

“I have even more Faces and Captain Americas in this deck!” Maik grinned.

Maik formed up with Captain America in front of Iron Man, Joystick in front of Beetle, and Yellowjacket off by herself in the front row next to Cap.

Anthony declared a team attack into Captain America and played Legendary Battles to prevent his characters from getting stunned. The end result sent Cap back to Maik’s hand (losing the V-Wing attached to him), and Black Widow’s effect stunned Joystick.

Iron Man then flew over into Black Widow for another 7 endurance loss to Anthony. Beetle and Yellowjacket team attacked into Warbird, who got stunned and took Yellowjacket with her.

This game had become a complete rout. Regardless of initiative, Maik seemed to be wiping the floor with Anthony on every turn.

Anthony 17 - Maik 42

Turn 5

Maik played out Jolt and the Fixer he fetched earlier. Anthony’s jaw just dropped. “I think I’m dead this turn, seriously,” to which I couldn’t help but respond, “Nobody thought you were joking.”

Anthony looked at the board again, shook his head, and extended his hand. Looks like the Red Sox’s day in the sun may be over.

Anthony is hoping to face off against a less ridiculous deck next round to try to get a 2-1 record from this draft, and I can’t imagine Maik losing to anything short of a Constructed deck in the next round.

Maik Stich wins.