Tillman Bragg vs. Niles Rowland promised to be a heck of a match. Both players came in on the bubble with five losses apiece, and the winner still had a chance at an eighth place finish. Feeling the pressure, both players were uncharacteristically tight-lipped.

Turn 1:

“About to take a beating,” Bragg said.

“Maybe,” Niles coolly replied.

Niles won the roll and chose evens. Bragg played an Arsenal of Doom and took a peek. Both players had no recruits.

Turn 2:

Niles passed his build again with no recruits. Bragg played San and searched out a copy of Blue Area of the Moon for the top of his deck.

Turn 3:

Bragg turned up the heat with a Tonaja, and Niles finally hit a drop with Commander Dylon Cir. Bragg sent Tonaja into Dylon Cir and swung to the face with San.

Turn 4:

Niles played a Stargate and activated it to return the Commander to his hand and search for a Dr. Minerva. He recruited her and had his choice of Captain Att-Lass or Korath the Pursuer. Niles scooped up the Captain and recruited him for 1 resource point and the Commander for another. He then flipped a Genetic Destiny, revealing three Kree character cards and taking an Ultimus. He ended his recruit with a Universal Weapon on the Commander.

Bragg dropped the endurance gain master, Human Torch, The Invisible Man. Niles wasted little time and attacked the Torch with the Commander. They both stunned. Niles then faced Bragg for 5. Bragg took the initiative and sent Tonaja into Minerva with an Extended Family counter. Niles responded with Starforce Strike. Bragg flipped and activated Blue Area, but Niles would not be denied. He flipped an Alien Insurrection to guarantee the stun back.  

Niles played a Remnant Fleet to return his stunned characters and was left with only the Commander, while Bragg still had Torch and San.

Turn 5:

Bragg played Air-Walker, Harbinger of Despair. Niles replayed his Minerva and pulled an Admiral Galen Kor from his deck with her effect. Next, he press chained the Captain, Clumsy Foulup, and the Admiral with another Universal Weapon.

Bragg went into the tank. He came out with Air-Walker attacking the Commander. Next, he stunned the Captain with San. His final attack came with Torch crushing Clumsy with The Power Cosmic Unleashed and a Relentless Onslaught. Niles had all the answers again! He played a second Remnant Fleet to negate the attack. Niles bounced the Clumsy and Minerva as the chain resolved. Bragg passed, as he no longer had any worthwhile attacks.

Turn 6:

Niles recruited the Minerva from his hand with no replace. He picked up a Lunatic Legionnaires with her effect, and then continued his press chain with Lieutenant Kona Lor, Mar-Vell ◊ Captain Marvel, Soldier of the Empire, Ultimus, and the Legionnaires. The board was flush with newly-minted Kree.

Bragg weighed his options—it wasn’t looking good. Bragg flipped an Elemental Converters, drew a card, and recruited Terrax, Harbinger of Ruin.

Niles declared Marvel and Kona Lor into Air-Walker. Air-Walker went down. Bragg used Terrax’s ability to stun Minerva, and then Ultimus dominated Torch.

For the final attack of the game, Niles sent the Admiral into Terrax with an unreal 17 ATK. Seeing no way out, Bragg conceded.

Niles Rowland Wins!