I don’t think there’s ever been this much buffoonery in a Vs. System final match. Both Anthony Justice and Nick Little are a riot to hang around. Regardless of who wins in this battle between the Yeti Socialite and the walking soundbite, the victor will take home their first Vs. System title and further increase an already impressive resume.

“One me?” asked Little. “We’ll I’ll two you, brosef . . . 49 . . . 48 . . .” Welcome to turn 1, where Justice tossed down Arisia to battle Qwardians. Dualing Gnaxoses (boy, is that awkward to type) was the tale for turn 2. On turn 3, Yokal stepped up to smash face on Gnaxos with help from Thunderous Onslaught, while Little could only throw down a “craptastic” Slipstream.

“Nice drop, dooder,” derided Little, making fun of Justice’s Weaponers of Qward on turn 4—not exactly the most impressive play, even if Little’s was just Owlman. Little’s Gnaxos stunned Yokal, the Qwardians burned Justice for one, and Slipstream roughed up little Arisia with an enhancement from Cosmic Conflict. Arisia proved more scrappy than Little expected, though, stunning Slipstream via Nero Unleashed. Owlman then bashed Justice, making the endurance totals 22–29 in favor of Little.

Turn 5 was Little’s turn to miss a drop, recruiting Kiman and Shadow Creatures to match Justice’s burly Power Ring and initiative. Yokal traded with Slipstream, and Justice’s men attacked Little. Kiman, Owlman, Shadow Creatures, and Cosmic Conflict moved Justice’s endurance to -1, and Little notched a turn 5 kill in his belt.

Liitle 1 – Justice 0

Justice told Little, “You can go first.”

“Daaamn it. You’re the first person to realize that you’re just going to die on turn 6 with this deck.”

“I’m just sad it took me a game to figure that out.”

Little led off with Qwardians again, saying “You can’t possibly win—you missed a 1-drop and I got those guys. It’s over, man.” Things did not get better for Justice on turn 2, when Olapet’s possible attack was stymied by Gnaxos. Little went hyper-aggro on turn 3, banishing Justice’s Manhunter Guardsman to the Anti-Matter Universe and then steamrolling Olapet with Space Bears. He finally went to Anthony’s dome with Gnaxos and more Qwardians, making the endurance totals 48–35 in favor of Little.

The Kentuckian recruited Kiman to the cause on turn 4, and Little simply matched it. Little’s Kiman helped Gnaxos trade with the Guardsman. Kiman then punked Space Bears with Thunderous Onslaught, and Olapet planted a little piece of Nick’s heart—then took another extra bit via Oa. Little recruited Fists of the Guardians for his 5-drop and Justice played Power Ring in his visible area. Kiman battered Power Ring, but Justice had gas left, getting a stun of Fists of the Guardians with Olapet. He also unstunned his Power Ring with Lanterns in Love. Going into turn 6, the endurance totals were Little 24, Justice 9, but Anthony now had his 3-, 4-, and 5-drops on the board and initiative to Little’s 5-drop and Qwardians that were going to get positively violated this turn.

Justice recruited St’nlli on turn 6, saying “Hide ‘em all.” “That doesn’t sound good for me,” noted Nick, before adding Sinestro, Lantern in Exile to his squad. Stan the man attacked Nick’s Fists, dealing eleven with the stun and the breakthrough endurance loss. When Justice flashed another Thunderous Onslaught from his resource row, Little said “Yeah, next game.”

Little 1 – Justice 1

Little took evens for this final game of the tournament as the two players jawed back and forth at a pace too quick to capture. Both men mulliganed their opening hands and Little whiffed on a turn 1 Qwardians for the first time in the match. Dead-Eye squared off against Weaponers of Qward for Justice. Both players under-dropped on turn 3, each having a Gnaxos, with Little adding Shadow Creatures to his side of the board. Little played Owlman with initiative on turn 4. Justice hit his 4-drop as well, playing Kyle Rayner, Green Lantern of the Universe. Justice traded Gnaxos with Owlman via the Weaponers and Nero Unleashed, but then Dead-Eye popped Kyle Rayner. Little’s men smashed face once again, making the endurance totals 38–24 in favor of Little. “Anthony looks pained.” “He’s feelin’ it,” Justice noted of himself, “he’s feelin’ the squeeze . . .”

Justice went large for turn 5, putting Solomon Grundy into his front row as Little played Fists of the Guardian again. Justice team attacked Gnaxos and his Weaponers into Fists of the Guardians, using Thunderous Onslaught and a power up to overcome Little’s powered-up defense. Grundy smashed Gnaxos and Lantern’s Light exhausted Owlman, saving Justice a ton of possible endurance loss and making the endurance totals 24–22, still in favor of Little. Nick played Superwoman on turn 6, while Justice again played St’ann the Man Li before putting all his men in the back row—a defensive measure after Little banished Grundy to the hidden area. Owlman attacked Gnaxos, only doing 2 after reinforcement from the Weaponers. Superwoman stunned St’nlli even after Pest Control, Fists crushed Weaponers, and Shadow Creatures plus Qwardian Pincer sealed the deal, giving Nick Little his first $10K title.

Nick Little is the winner of $10K Origins 2005!