longer.blue

This weekend I played the RC even though I wasn't qualified. I chose to play the LCQ even though I said I would never do it again after Antwerp but Why ? So about 1 month before the RC I got contacted for a French bootcamp to prepare the RC. At first I didn't want to go because that would mean that I had to play LCQs again. But some good friends of mine convinced me and I thought that even if I failed LCQs I would learn a lot and it would be fun. Before the bootcamp I played a lot of Prowess because it was the new hotness and I like Prowess a lot as an archetype. For the RC I initially hesitated between Prowess, Lessons, Mono-G Landfall and Bant Cub. During the bootcamp I quickly dismissed Landfall. I wasn't very comfortable with the deck and I felt like it was behind against Prowess and only even against Lessons. Then I dismissed Bant Cub because the Sunderflock matchups felt absolutely miserable and it was also a bit behind against Prowess. I judged that the edges this deck could gain in its good matchups weren't enough to justify playing it. Our list was also worse than the ones used by the players who performed well at the RC. I probably would have hesitated more with a better Bant list especially if it had been capable of going even against Prowess. In the end I hesitated between Lessons and Prowess (two Izzet decks surprise surprise). I chose to register Prowess because I was more confident with the deck (I had practiced with it a lot) and I didn't really see a reason not to play it even if sometimes it just runs out of gas and fizzles a bit (though that's pretty rare). I felt the deck didn't have any real red‑flag matchups except Mono‑White (a deck that appeared less than a week ago) and UR Spellementals (likely played by less than 7%). Aside from that the deck was ahead against Green and Dimir Excruciator as well as many other tier decks. Once I locked in the deck I started testing the latest MTGO techs to see if there was any edge to pick up. I immediately saw that Drake Hatcher and Crab were the keys to the mirror and that Crab was just a good all‑around card especially when games slowed down. So I played a list with 2 Hatchers main and 2 more in the sideboard plus 3 Crabs in the sideboard. The bootcamp was really fun and I enjoyed it a lot. Even if I didn't win an LCQ I wouldn't have regretted coming. Now the LCQs. I played a first LCQ where I lose in Round 1 to Temur Harmonizer. I mull to 5 in game 1 and 3. I win my second LCQ only losing 1 game in 4 matches. Round 1 and 3 I play against Dimir Excruciator. This matchup is a bye and I easily defeat them 2-0. In round 2 I play against 4c Elementals and I am on the draw. Game 1 he goes turn 1 Ashling and I don't have an answer and lose to it. Game 2 I am on the play and apply a lot of pressure and kill him quickly. Game 3 is a slow game where I draw a lot of lands but I have 2 Crabs and two Elusive Otters and I am at 11. My oppo has a Deceit, a Sunderflock that attacks, a Restless Vinestalk and 1 card in hand, he is at 15. I attack with my two Crabs to force the trades. He blocks 1 Crab with Deceit and casts Bounce Off on it (really weird play). Next turn he plays Deceit for 6 tapping out and targets my Crab. It is a big mistake as he is at 10 I can play my Crab back in response to the discard trigger and tap his two blockers giving me the win. After those 3 matches I am in final against another French speaking player also on Prowess. I win the toss and have the nuts game 1. I plot Slickshot turn 2 and Talent Boomerang Talent on turn 3. Turn 4 I go Slickshot cantrip, cantrip, Wild Ride and Secret Identity your Burst Lightning. In game 2 it is a grindy game. My opponent manages to open his Steaming Sauna giving him extra cards but I put a lot of pressure with my Crab. He floods a lot and I draw my second Crab putting him at 2 with more than 5 mana and a Burst in the gy. I win the match and the LCQ. Even though I won the LCQ I hated the experience and think it is a horrible format. I go to eat with some friends and chill with some friends. For the RC on Saturday I submitted the same list that I played in the LCQ since it worked well.