Steven Sadin is a professional Magic: The Gathering player. He’s also a part of the group that created the X-Men deck that has seen so much successful play in this tournament. Steve Horowitz was one of the Top 8 players at the last Pro Circuit event at Gen Con Indy. He ran the single The Brave and The Bold deck that reached the Top 8 at that event.

Before the game began, Horowitz showed off one of his drafted cards, a Bamf!. It’s great in Constructed, but almost unplayable in a draft, because Web of Spider-Man only has two X-Men in the set. Both players were chosen for deck checks, and after a short wait, the game began. Horowitz won the coin toss and chose to take the odd initiative.

Both players kept their hands and played nothing on their opening turn. Sadin played Hammerhead on turn 2, and Horowitz played a Hammerhead of his own. Sadin attacked Horowitz’s Hammerhead, dealing 3 damage while taking 2.

Horowitz contemplated which 3-drop he should play, and settled with Rhino. Sadin was forced to play Mysterio. Horowitz had Rhino attack Hammerhead, which was reinforced by Mysterio. Hammerhead was then sent after Mysterio, but Sadin had Mysterio evade, leaving Hammerhead to attack directly.

Sadin recruited Puma on turn 4. Horowitz recruited Kraven the Hunter and equipped it with a Jetpack. On Sadin’s field, Mysterio hid behind Hammerhead, and Puma sat in the front row. Horowitz had Kraven the Hunter behind Hammerhead, and Rhino to the left of Kraven the Hunter. Sadin sent his Hammerhead after Horowitz’s Hammerhead. Mysterio attacked Kraven the Hunter, and Sadin increased Mysterio’s attack to 7 with No Fear, successfully stunning Kraven. Puma was sent after Rhino, but not before Sadin flipped the Daily Bugle and declared Rhino. Sadin flipped No Fear face down via Daily Bugle’s effect. Both players KO’d their Hammerheads, but Horowitz was also forced to KO Rhino.

Horowitz recruited Daredevil on turn 5 and moved Kraven the Hunter to the front row. Sadin recruited Vulture (revealing Silvermane to fulfill the additional recruit cost) and Spider-Man, Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. Sadin used his last resource point to recruit Vulture with a Goblin Glider, boosting its ATK to 6. Sadin was at 33 and Horowitz was at 30 before the combat phase. Horowitz declared Puma for Kraven the Hunter’s effect, and then sent Kraven after Puma for 12. Horowitz attacked Vulture with Daredevil and passed, but Sadin used the No Fear he had flipped face down with Daily Bugle. Horowitz responded with Big Bully, and then flipped Forced Allegiance to make his characters Spider-Friends. Sadin reinforced Vulture with Mysterio. A misread on both players’ parts allowed Daredevil to remain free from being stunned, as both believed Big Bully also increased DEF during the game. Sadin KO’d Vulture in order to keep his Puma.

Sadin recruited Silvermane and Punisher on turn 6, while Horowitz recruited Kaine. Sadin used Silvermane and Mysterio in a team attack to stun Horowitz’s Daredevil. Sadin then declared a team attack against Kaine, with Spider-Man, Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man and Puma. Sadin flipped up Unexpected Mutation, discarding a Vulture from the top of his deck to give one of his characters +1 ATK/-1 DEF, secure in the knowledge that Spider-Man, Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man protects his characters from being stunned in a team attack. Kaine got stunned.

Sadin attempted to use Punisher to attack Kraven, but Horowitz powered up Kraven twice, protecting Kraven and stunning Punisher in return. Kraven the Hunter was then used to attack Spider-Man, Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. Horowitz KO’d Daredevil, while Sadin KO’d Spider-Man and Silvermane. Horowitz was ahead of Sadin in endurance, with totals at 15 to 12.

Horowitz recruited Ezekiel on turn 7, and thanks to Forced Allegiance (which made all of his characters Spider-Friends), he drew three cards. Sadin looked at the board and scooped.