Step right up folks, step right up! Boy, do we have a show for you! Yes, that's right, it's an all-TFH final! Team The Four Horsemen have taken their "Eat Kree . . . Or Die!" build to the top table and this match should show what cards are key in the mirror (hint: it's Funeral For a Friend).

It's mate against mate!

It's state against . . . err . . . overseas country!

It's Kakarot Turker vs. Darryn Ying.

With Kakarot stepping into what is now his 4th Top 8 and his second-ever Top 8 final, it seems like it's about time he took home the trophy. Meanwhile, Darryn has been sailing his way through this $10K — he really knows how to work this deck!

Who will out-Press the other? Who will pwn with Bron Char more frequently? Settle in, (you very few) ladies and (many) gentlemen, as we bring you this crazy Kree-on-Kree matchup.

PREFACE:  THE EPIC BATTLE FOR INITIATIVE

Deciding Odds or Evens, river style!

Darryn won the coin toss and won the crucial Even initiative.

"You just won the coin flip, lol; you've won one game!" exclaims Kakarot.

"Let’s think of something better than playing the mirror," says Darryn.

"Can you play gin rummy?" asks Kakarot.

"Nah . . . how about . . . OK — draw, the top 10 cards from each player's deck — dude who draws the most characters wins!" suggested Darryn.

"Is it best out of five?" questioned Kakarot.

"BEST OUT OF FIVE? Who cares?" exclaimed Darryn.

"Ok, I got a better one," suggested mega-poker fan Kakarot. "Let's do flop, turn, river! If it’s a draw, we do it again."

"Also, whoever loses, has to look up to the other one in the final photo," clarifies Kakarot.

"I want Kang on the river!" says Darryn.

"OH MAN! HUMAN TORCH ON THE RIVER!" squeals Kakarot. "Ok, whoever loses the coin toss chooses who has to flop first."

Darryn:

Burn card one: Live Kree . . . or Die!

FLOP: San, Dr. Doom, Richards's Rival, Funeral For a Friend

Kakarot:

Burn: Dr. Light

Flop: Live Kree . . . or Die!, Live Kree, Dr. Doom, Richards's Rival

"I need to hit the river and flop!" laughed Kakarot.

Darryn:

Burn: Human Torch, The Invisible Man

Turn: Dr. Minerva

Kakarot:

Burn: Enemy of My Enemy

"Search! That’s almost a dude!” suggested a desperate Kakarot.

River: Lockjaw

CROWD: "Ooooooooooo"

"Bron Char ON THE RIVER FOR TOTAL DOMINATION!" joked Darryn, looking at all of Kakarot's San and Lockjaw.

Darryn:

BURN: Remnant Fleet

River: Enemy of My Enemy

Kakarot:

Burn: Funeral For a Friend

River: The Lunatic Legion

"NOOOOOOOO!" cried Kakarot.

Kakarot: 2 characters

Darryn: 3 characters

"Ok, if you guys do this to decide the match, you are both going to be DQ'd,” says Judge Andrew Li.

"Meh, I guess we have to play some games!" laughed Kakarot. "Lol! Ok, well it can decide init!"

"Lol! Ok, I'll take evens!" laughed Darryn.

Turn 1

Kakarot chose to keep his opening hand, commenting that it was the type of hand he likes and that is an "interesting" risk. A turn 1 Lockjaw came out for Darryn who searched out San (discarding a second copy).

Endurance:

Kakarot: 48

Darryn: 50

Turn 2

San came out in Darryn's hidden area and the 2-drop searched out a copy of Stargate and put it on the top of his deck. The incredible Inhuman 2-drop also hit Kakarot's side of the board, getting Penal Colony for the top of his deck.

Lockjaw and San swung in directly to Kakarot's endurance and then San bashed back for Kakarot.

Endurance:

Kakarot: 44

Darryn: 48

Turn 3

A Stargate on Kakarot’s side of the board (discarding a copy of San) returned the Inhuman to hand and searched out a copy of Lieutenant Kona Lor. Dr Light, Master of Holograms came out for Kakarot, and the Emerald Enemy attempted to bring San back from the KO’d pile. However, it was met by a Slaughter Swamp activation (2 locations? How lucky!) from Darryn. The Swamp responded to the Doctor's ability and San returned to his hand instead. This put a serious damper on Kakarot's progress and it seemed that his ability to win the mirror would now be quite stunted. On Darryn's side of the board, Stargate returned San to hand and searched out a copy of Kona Lor. Her triggered ability replaced a copy of Hala in Kakarot's row (ouch — insult to injury!) and then Darryn pressed out a fresh copy of San (searching out a Hala of his own).

With no ready characters, Kakarot was forced to pass play over to Darryn and the fellow TFH member began to plan his attacks. Kona Lor and her impressive 4 ATK smashed into the Doctor and the two traded stuns without fuss. San and Lockjaw snuck in for another 4 endurance.

Endurance:

Kakarot: 37

Darryn: 46

Turn 4

A Terraformed Hala went into Darryn's row and Stargate returned Kona Lor to hand (pitching Admiral Galen Kor), and fetched out a copy of Dr. Minerva. Kona Lor (who was proving her worth in the mirror) came out once again, and forced Kakarot to replace his Penal Colony. Minerva came out for Darryn (netting Shatterax), and Colonel Yon-Rogg was recruited into the back row. Darryn grabbed a card from a copy of Birthing Chamber, and it was over to Kakarot. Kakarot tried to Slaughter Swamp a copy of Kona into his KO’d pile and recur with Dr. Light, but it was met with a Slaughter Swamp activation from Darryn. He instead recruited a copy of Hawkeye, Clinton Barton and it was on to the combat phase.

At the start of combat, Hawkeye, Clinton Barton shot some arrows into Kona Lor. Minerva then attacked Hawkeye and Hala brought her to the necessary 5 ATK. Yon-Rogg swung right on into Dr. Light, sans trade, and then San and Lockjaw snuck in for another 4.

Endurance:

Kakarot: 26

Darryn: 42

Turn 5

"Thank god for Terraform," joked Darryn.

A third Kona Lor caused laughter across Darryn's side of the board (replacing Hala) and then a Stargate activation returned Kona to hand (discarding San) to get Nenora. The Kona was then re-recruited and finally Stargate hit the KO’d pile. Nenora came out for free (discarding Bron Char — go mirror!) and play passed over to Darryn. He played Kona Lor and her ability triggered, causing Kakarot to replace a resource. Kakarot flipped Funeral For a Friend, KO’ing Nenora and replacing the face-up plot twist. Captain Att-Lass came into play, and finally Admiral Galen Kor came out (missing the 3-drop in the press puzzle).

Hoping to make the most out of Hawkeye's effect, Kakarot elected to pass his attack. Lockjaw swung into Kona. The 2-drop and the puppy traded stuns, but Kakarot took no breakthrough due to Funeral! Darryn then played a copy of The Lunatic Legion and Yon-Rogg swung into Hawkeye. The Avenger shot Kona Lor once more and then Yon-Rogg and the 4-drop traded blows. San swung in for 4, and then, "EAT KREE!" was hollered as the remaining Att-Lass, Minerva, and Galen Kor swung in for 19 for the win!!!

DARRYN WINS GAME 1.

GAME 2

Turn 1

Kakarot had evens.

An early Lockjaw started off Darryn's game and the New Zealander used the opportunity to thin his deck somewhat. He discarded a copy of San from hand and searched through his deck to get a fresh copy.

Nenora came out for Kakarot's side of the board and the two 1-drops snuck in for some early damage.

Endurance:

Kakarot: 48

Darryn: 48

Turn 2

Captain Att-Lass came out for Kakarot. San came out for Darryn, who showed her incredible worth when she searched out a Stargate for the top of his deck. Kakarot's Att-Lass and Nenora swung directly for 5 and play zipped right on over to Darryn. San swung into Att-Lass, and Kakarot realized that he had no way to make his 2-drop trade with the Inhuman's huge 4 DEF.

"Oh! *He's* the answer? Oh really . . . !" said Kakarot, summarizing the nature of the mirror succinctly. Lockjaw swung in for another 2, but Kakarot had taken an early lead!

Endurance:

Kakarot: 44

Darryn: 43

Turn 3

A Stargate activation (returning San to hand, and discarding Lockjaw) allowed Darryn to search his deck for a copy of Dr. Minerva. He immediately played the 2-drop, but her ability failed to reveal a Kree character. With the Press still on the chain, San came out once more for Darryn and found him a copy of Hala. Meanwhile, on Kakarot's side of the board, he decided that the solution for the mirror was clearly curve-based. He recruited a copy of Kang, Kang Cobra into his hidden area and the two players jested about how crucial the 3-drop's ability may prove:

"He's so good in this matchup!" quipped Darryn.

"I know! He's ridiculous!" retorted Kakarot.

San swung into Captain Att-Lass, but Kakarot's "tech" was proving more ironic than Darryn could possibly have imagined. A natural power-up brought San to his knees, and the attack was successfully brick-walled.

"Ahaha! There's nothing I can do to stop this!" joked Darryn, as his Inhuman became stunned.

Minerva then nonchalantly swung into Att-Lass, but Kakarot was able to Slaughter Swamp for a second brick wall!

"No way!" laughed Darryn, as the ridiculousness of Kakarot's curve solution was playing out.

With Hala still on the top of his deck he had zero options and Minerva, too, went down.

"Double brick-wall!" commented Kakarot. "I can’t see him coming back from this! lol!"

With no viable attack for Lockjaw, Darryn passed play over to Kakarot. With Minerva out of the way, Kakarot was able to use his Kang, Nenora and the infamous Att-Lass to bash directly. Darryn elected to keep Minerva, and it was off turn 4.

Endurance:

Kakarot: 44

Darryn: 30

Turn 4

Human Torch, The Invisible Man came out for Kakarot, who insisted that his spur-of-the-moment decision to try curve was proving successful. "First time this weekend he's been played — it’s the right play!" laughed Kakarot, as team-mate Shaun Hayward looked on with bewilderment. Meanwhile, on Darryn's side of the board, Kona Lor came into play. With Kona's ability on the chain, Kakarot flipped a copy of Enemy of My Enemy discarding Bron Char to get Mikado and Mosha. The Enemy was then replaced to Kona's ability and she successfully entered play. Att-Lass followed suit and Dr. Light was pressed into play for a single resource point (now that's value!).

Darryn played Birthing Chamber to draw a card, and Dr. Light activated to try and bring San back into play. However, for the hundreth time at Melbourne $10K, his ability was negated when Kakarot used his Slaughter Swamp to return the San to hand.

Captain Att-Lass attacked into Minerva, causing Kakarot to tease, "No risks with Kang on the table," as the two characters successfully traded stuns.

Nenora swung into Kona Lor and he used Hala to force through an extra point of damage. The extra 1 endurance was gained via Human Torch as the two characters were brought down, and the Human Torch attacked into Dr. Light. It was met with a copy of Live Kree . . . or Die! for Darryn's Master of Holograms, and he was able to force the stun. Kakarot gained 3 as the Torch caused some breakthrough, and then both characters went down. Kang then swung into Att-Lass and the Kang 3-drop's 3 DEF proved problematic as both characters went down. A copy of Mikado and Mosha ensured that Lockjaw wasn’t going to attack this turn, and it was on to the recovery phase.

Kakarot elected to keep the Human Torch, while Darryn kept Dr. Light. With no cards in hand, and Bron Char in the bin, Darryn knew that there was no risk of his next turn Dr. Light activation being negated by Slaughter Swamp. 

Endurance:

Kakarot: 40

Darryn: 18

Turn 5

Darryn started off his turn when Dr Light brought Minerva into play and found him a free copy of Colonel Yon-Rogg. Stargate brought Minerva back to hand and found a copy of Admiral Galen Kor. Minerva came back into play once again, failing to find a card (oh well, two outta three ain't bad!). Yon-Rogg and Galen Kor fleshed out the final Press and play passed over to Kakarot.

Kakarot used his Swamp (discarding Remnant Fleet) to get Bron Char back, and he laid the 5-drop as a resource. Char came up as a reservist and, with only one card in hand, Kakarot elected not to replace the resource.

At the start of combat, Galen Kor triggered to become a formidable 9 ATK/8 DEF.

Still at the start of combat, Kakarot discarded his last card in hand to use Bron Char's ability. The ability targeted Minerva (so that Darryn didn't have enough front row characters to use Yon-Rogg), and Darryn responded by flipping a copy of Enemy from his row, and followed by replacing Enemy with the Minerva.

Galen Kor did what he does best, and bashed into Bron Char with Darryn passing. With no defensive pump, Kakarot accepted the stun. Yon-Rogg declared into the Human Torch. A Hala activation boosted the Kree 3-drop to 8 ATK but the Inhuman's reinforcement softened the blow somewhat.

Galen and Bron were then both recovered and Darryn used his Swamp to get back Kona Lor.

Endurance:

Kakarot: 31

Darryn: 11

Turn 6

With only 5 resources, Kakarot's options were quite limited. He used his Swamp to get the Torch back and then simply passed.

Meanwhile, on Darryn's side of the table, Minerva came up from his resource row and found a crucial copy of Ultimus. Stargate once again returned Minerva to hand and the location ensured that a Press-splosion would be imminent this turn when it found a copy of Commander Dylon Cir.

Kona Lor came out (replacing Kakarot's Slaughter Swamp) and she was followed by a Dylon Cir, Ultimus, and Shatterax. With Swamp out of the way, Dr. Light was now free to bring San back into play. San searched out a second copy of Hala, and Birthing Chamber was activated (to ensure that it was in his hand). Darryn then Terraformed his fresh Hala and passed over to Kakarot. At the start of combat, Galen Kor became an 11 ATK/8 DEF.

Bron Char swung right into Galen and, before passing, Kakarot uses Bron Char's ability to send Kona Lor to the resource row. However, Darryn had other ideas, and Kona was KO'd to hot-tech Funeral For a Friend. The attack resolved with both characters trading and Torch attacked Dr. Light who was successfully lobotomized without too many troubles. With only Torch un-stunned, play passed over to Darryn who had the chance to clinch the game on the swing-back. An impossibly perfect copy of The Lunatic Legion boosted all of Darryn's characters by 2 ATK and, when Dylon Cir was brought to 8 ATK, the Kree 3-drop was able to bash into the Torch. For those of you playing at home: Darryn was brought down to 1 while Kakarot was sitting on a more comfortable 22.

However, it was all down to numbers at this point. San swung in for 4, and

Shatterax and Ultimus went in for 11 and 9 respectively. 3 Hala activations boosted the attack by 15, and, with that, Kakarot was brought to -17!

Endurance:

Darren: 1

Kakarot: -17

DARRYN YING COMES BACK FROM THE JAWS OF DEATH TO CLINCH MELBOURNE $10K 2006!