These men need no introduction. David Leader was the champion of PC Indy, while Adam Horvath claimed victory in PC Amsterdam. These formidable players both missed the cut to Day 2 in this weekend’s PC LA, though, so they are here to fight it out in the $10K. In addition, Adam and David are set to duke it out tomorrow in a Modern Age grudge match. They will play each other with their PC-winning decks, and the winner will walk away with $5,000. Though the stakes in this second-round match aren’t nearly as high, these are serious competitors, and they are sure to play their best.
David won the all-important die roll and elected to take the odd initiatives. Both players mulliganed their openers, and David led off with Ted Kord ◊ Blue Beetle. He immediately used Ted’s ability, discarding Guy Gardner, Egomaniac to fetch a Justice League Signal Device. Ted was equipped and David passed. Adam recruited Gypsy in the hidden area. At the beginning of combat, the Signal Device yielded David Katar Hol ◊ Hawkman. Adam took a few moments to decide whether or not to attack; eventually, both players took a single point of endurance loss.
Adam led off on turn 2 with Booster Gold. World’s Greatest Heroes teamed up, and Adam passed. David had a Booster of his own in front of Ted, and transferred the Signal Device. The Device yielded Hal Jordan, Hard-Traveling Hero, and play moved to Adam’s attacks. Adam sent Booster into Booster, and David simply reinforced. Adam had no other attacks, and both players recovered.
On turn 3, David had The Mist. He again transferred the Device, and set The Mist in front of Booster. Ted was set next to Booster in the support row. Adam under-dropped with Red Tornado next to Booster in the support row. Once again, David picked up a character at the start of combat—this time it was Aquaman, Arthur Curry. David’s first attack brought The Mist into Adam’s Tornado. Adam simply reinforced. Next, David sent Booster into Booster. Adam contemplated his options for a while, ostensibly deciding whether or not to use Gypsy. In the end, he chose not to, and both characters stunned. Ted attacked directly, and both players passed. At the end of the turn, Adam lost Red Tornado. The endurance totals stood at 45–40 in David’s favor.
Adam had the initiative on turn 4, and hit his drop with John Stewart, Emerald Architect in front of Booster. David had the far superior Hawkman; his Signal Device made Hawkman 8 ATK/8 DEF. David set up with Hawkman protecting Ted, and The Mist protecting Booster. At the start of combat, the Signal Device finally missed, hitting a Death Trap. Before Adam declared any attacks, he used Glass Jaw on Hawkman. Adam attacked him with John Stewart, and the characters traded. Next, Adam attacked Booster Gold with Booster Gold. Before the stun, David flipped UN Building, teaming up all three of his affiliations. He allowed the stun. Finally, Adam attacked Gypsy into Ted Kord. They traded, and the only character left standing was The Mist. It attacked Adam directly, and that was the turn. At the end of the turn, Adam was left with John Stewart, while David had Hawkman and The Mist. David still had the endurance lead, 35–29.
On turn 5, David wasted no time in recruiting Darkseid, Heart of Darkness in the support row next to Hawkman. The Mist was set to protect Darkseid. Adam had Oliver Queen ◊ Green Arrow, Hard-Traveling Hero behind John Stewart. At the beginning of combat, David’s Device missed again. His first attack brought Hawkman into John Stewart. Adam used With Prejudice, hitting two Secret Society characters. This was enough of an ATK boost to force the mutual stun. David thought about his next play, and eventually chose to send Darkseid into Oliver. Rallying Cry! made Darkseid 12 ATK/10 DEF. Adam had a power-up, and used Oliver’s ally power to attempt to stun The Mist. David evaded instead, moving Oliver to the hidden area. Still before combat resolved, David used Darkseid’s ability to KO Hawkman, giving Oliver –4 DEF. Finally, neither player had any more effects to play, and both characters stunned. Adam lost Oliver at the end of the turn, and still trailed on endurance, 23–13.
Turn 6 was once again Adam’s initiative and his last good chance to win the game. He went into the tank to figure out which 6-drop he would play. Eventually, Adam opted for Hal Jordan in the visible area. Before playing a resource, David played World’s Greatest Heroes from his hand. David also had Hal Jordan. He set up with The Mist protecting Darkseid in the next row. At the beginning of combat, the abilities of both copies of Hal went on the chain. Adam targeted Darkseid. David targeted The Mist; this resulted in both characters moving to the other side of Hal in an identical position. Adam’s first attack sent Hal Jordan into Darkseid. David had nothing, and Darkseid went down. Adam’s next attack was into The Mist with Oliver. The Mist’s ability moved Adam’s Hal to the hidden area. Adam had no more attacks, and a Trial by Fire enabled David to attack Adam directly for the win.
David Leader wins!
Click here to see how Adam built his deck!