Kristian Kockott finished the Constructed portion of the Swiss with an 11-1 record, the best record in the field. Michael Dalton, after starting 10-2 in that stretch, finished the Swiss rounds at 18-3, the best record in the field. The two played one another in the late rounds yesterday, with Dalton taking the honors, but that was then, and that was Sealed Pack. With Kockott more in his element with 60-card decks, this promised to be one heck of a match. The die was rolled with Kockott’s eighteen doing the trick nicely, and he took the odd initiative

Game One

Pausing a moment to consider the ramifications of keeping a four-character hand, Dalton chose not to mulligan. Kristian started things off by playing a resource, flipping it to reveal Midnight Sons, discarded Dagger to get a second copy and then played Orb, activating it and discarding Yelena Belova ◊ Black Widow. Michael’s start was more aggressive, with his resource play followed by Mendel Stromm. He attacked, flipping Doc Ock’s Lab and activating it.

Michael’s good start continued with his second turn Hammerhead. With Kockott missing his 2-drop, it was open season on Germans: Stromm attacked for 4 endurance loss, then Hammerhead attacked for 8 total endurance loss

Taking back the initiative, Kockott played a resource and 3-drop powerhouse Elektra, Elektra Natchios, which he placed in the front row, protecting Orb. The aggression continued to assert itself for Michael, who busted out Rhino, putting all of his characters in the front row without a thought, thanks to Kockott’s characters all being concealed.

Elektra attacked Mendel, stunning him and taking the endurance totals to 38-33. Orb then attacked Rhino, with Kockott flipping Punisher’s Armory, activating it, and then flipping Crime and Punishment. Revenge is petty, but Dalton’s Hammerhead attacked Kristian directly, leaving the endurance totals at 31-24 for Dalton. Mendel Stromm went to the KO’d pile.

The fourth turn proved to be Kockott’s undoing. Michael played Dr. Octopus, to which the German could only respond by activating Orb, discarding a second Orb, then playing Dagger, Child of Light, Mikado and Mosha and Iron Fist ◊ Danny Rand. Between quantity and quality, I’d have taken quality in Kristian’s position. I’m sure he’d agree.

With all of Michael’s characters up front, Hammerhead attacked the Angels of Destruction. Kristian was waiting with a power-up, but Michael’s own power-up effectively countered the effect. Dagger reinforced. Hammerhead then attacked Dagger, stunning the little lady, and Rhino attacked Kristian. The attack resolved, Michael flipped over two copies of Crime and Punishment and Kristian looked stunned, as he was about to drop to –4 endurance. He surveyed the board, looked at his hand for a moment and admitted defeat.

Dalton 1 – Kockott 0

Between games, I asked Dalton’s EffinTN teammate Peter Sundholm how often the deck kills on turn 4, and Peter told me it was around 30-40%.

GAME 2

With Kristian again choosing the odd initiative, both players mulliganed before Kockott played a resource and passed the turn. Michael wasn’t quite so passive. He laid a resource and played Vulture, showing the Hammerhead that would ensure a strong second turn. Vulture’s attack took the endurance totals to 52-48 in the American’s favor.

The expected Hammerhead made its way into play. Kristian met it with Werewolf by Night and Michael attacked, first with Vulture for 4, then with Hammerhead, who paid a visit to Doc Ock’s Lab, smashing Kockott for 8 endurance loss. Down to 36 endurance was not where Germany wanted their prodigal son on turn 2, but Sundholm seemed pleased. He came back over to me and whispered “I guess it’s 100% of the time,” with a wide grin.

Both players played Elektra, Elektra Natchios on turn three, with Michael placing Vulture in front of Hammerhead. The 3 ATK/3 DEF Werewolf plucked a few feathers from the Vulture’s already bald pate, as Hammerhead reinforced. Elektra attacked the ‘Head in his exhausted state. Kristian powered her up and flipped Hell’s Fury, apparently deciding that it was now or never. The endurance totals stood at 42-36 for Michael. Elektra attacked Special K directly, taking his endurance total down to 30.

Michael’s play was extraordinarily meticulous at this point. He looked like a man on the brink of victory, just being careful not to slip. He played Luke Cage ◊ Street Enforcer and placed all of his remaining characters in the front row. Kristian’s response was Yelena Belova ◊ Black Widow, placing her in the support row behind the Werewolf.

Hammerhead attacked Kockott directly for 5 endurance, then Luke Cage attacked Elektra after Dalton made the necessary payment. Kockott powered-up, leaving both characters stunned, and Michael’s Elektra attacked for 6 more, leaving the endurance totals at 35-12. Kristian mumbled something to himself that Michael didn’t understand. Asking Kockott to repeat himself, Dalton instead got a defeated response—Kockott ran an outstretched thumb from ear to ear while shaking his head. He faintly said “Kaput.” Yelena attacked Hammerhead with No Fear and Werewolf attacked Dalton. With the endurance totals at 27-8, Hammerhead got KO’d.

Both players used up their fifth turn resources to play Daredevil, Matt Murdock. Kristian put his in the front row with Werewolf by Night protecting Yelena. Michael’s formation was simpler still—everyone in front. Kristian, having the initiative, attacked Daredevil with Yelena. Michael responded by activating Murdock, moving him to the hidden area and causing Yelena to ready. Werewolf attacked Dalton for 3, Daredevil did the same for 9, and then Yelena followed through when Kristian flipped Crime and Punishment, leaving Dalton at 2 endurance, but it was enough. Michael team-attacked Daredevil with Luke and Elektra. Kockott powered up, but Murdock was still stunned, and when his twin on the other team attacked, Kristian extended the hand

Dalton 2 – Kockott 0

Michael Dalton moves to the final, where he’ll face Adam Horvath for the championship.