Karol Ruszkiewicz has only been playing Vs. for eight days and has a fantastic 5-1 record. He learned last week from a Learn-to-play program and heard about the $10K. He borrowed a deck and now he’s here. Shaun McDowell is another Wellingtonian and writes articles for Gameplayer. He is playing his trademark deck and hopes to do what he hasn’t done before and make a $10K Top 8.

Turn 1

Sue Digby was Karol’s play, and she fetched out Booster Gold. He attacked for 1 unopposed when Shaun recruited nothing.

Turn 2

Shaun played out Tim Drake, Young Detective. Karol had Booster Gold. Shaun elected not to attack and when Karol attacked, Shaun had Tamaran lying in the shadows.

Turn 3

Shayera Thal ◊ Hawkwoman was Karol’s only play, and he formed up with Sue in front of Booster and Hawkwoman beside him. Shaun flipped up USS Argus, found a card, and then boosted out Hank Hall ◊ Hawk.

Karol attacked Booster Gold into Dawn Granger ◊ Dove, which ended in a mutual stun. Karol’s next attack was Hawkwoman into Hank Hall. Karol had one Reform the League and powered up Hawkwoman, which led to Shaun using Tamaran. Karol however had another Reform the League and powered up again and triggered her ally ability to get Katar Hol ◊ Hawkman. Shaun lost Dove during the recovery and they went into turn 4 with the endurance totals at 41–48 to Karol.

Turn 4

Terra is the standard turn 4 Titans play and that is what Shaun did, placing her behind Hank. Worlds Greatest Heroes drew a card for Karol before he played Katar Hol but with no Nth Metal! He formed up with Hawkman and Hawkwoman in the front row.

Shaun team attacked with everyone into Hawkman, then played Teen Titans Go! and used Terra’s ability to stun Hawkwoman. On the chain, Karol powered up twice, once with Reform the League and once with Shake it off. It did not matter as Shaun had Tamaran for the stun and then used Finishing Move to KO Hawkman. Karol’s lead is now only 41 to 39 but the worst may be to come, as he was slowly losing board advantage.

Turn 5

Karol played out Fire, Beatriz Dacosta with an Nth Metal. He then formed with Fire infront of Sue, Booster to her right and Hawkwoman to her left. Shaun flipped up Optitron and paid a resource point to fetch out Roy Harper ◊ Arsenal and recruited him. He exhausted his team to Roy before using his ability to stun Fire. He then played Press the Attack on Terra to use her ability on Hawkwoman and then passed to Karol’s attack. Karol just passed the attack and so did Shaun.

Turn 6

Red Star was recruited for Shaun and then a resource point was paid into him so Karol would take 5 endurance loss. Karol could only muster Aquaman, Arthur Curry.

Red Star, Tim and Hank team attacked into Fire with a power-up to Red Star, old-school style. Fire’s ability burned Shaun for 2, but then promptly fell over, as Shaun’s stun redirected to Red Star and his board was free of injury. Terra used her ability to stun Aquaman and then used another Finishing Move on Fire. 39-11

Turn 7

Karol had no play and just scooped.

Shaun wins a pretty lopsided battle. Well done to Karol for making it this far so far, and we wish him luck in the next few rounds.