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Glicerio Garcia and Richard Badlon splits a huge cardpool

Sorry for the late result posting here. Everyone was busy commenting on our facebook photos (Titan Hobby Shop) that we forgot all about our blog.

117 players joined the event and it was Glicerio Garcia and Richard Badlon who were facing each other at the finals of JTQ Manila. Before playing the finals, they decided to split the cardpool (people will always find a way to split - DJ), 2 cards each, and draft the mythic rares; winner of the match gets priority.

Glicerio Garcia (aka Surge) was the eventual winner and JTQ Manila champion.

Champion: Glicerio Garcia - Boros

4 Goblin Guide
4 Steppe Lynx
4 Plated Geopede
3 Kor Firewalker
2 Hellspark Elemental
4 Ranger of Eos
2 Goblin Bushwhacker

4 Lightning Bolt
3 Path to Exile
3 Burst Lightning
3 Earthquake

4 Arid Mesa
4 Marsh Flats
4 Scalding Tarn
2 Terramorphic Expanse
5 Mountain
5 Plains

SB
2 Day of Judgment
2 Journey to Nowhere
1 Elspeth
4 Hell's Thunder
2 White Knight
3 Celestial Purge
1 Hellspark Elemental

2nd: Richard Badlon - Boros

4 Arid Mesa
4 Scalding Tarn
4 Marsh Flats
3 Terramorphic Expanse
5 Plains
4 Mountains

4 Steppe Lynx
1 Elite Vanguard
4 Ranger of Eos
4 Goblin Guide
4 Hellspark Elemental
4 Plated Geopede
2 Boros Bushwhacker (sic)

4 Lightning Bolt
3 Burst Lightning
3 Path to Exile
3 Earthquake

SB
2 Elspeth Knight Errant
3 Hell's Thunder
3 Journey to Nowhere
2 Celestial Purge
2 DOJ
3 Kor Skyfisher

3rd: Rudi Asinas - Jund

3 Putrid Leech
4 Bloodbraid Elf
4 Sprouting Thrinax
2 Siege-Gang Commander
2 Broodmate Dragon
1 Thornling
1 Borderland Ranger
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Blightning
3 Maelstrom Pulse
3 Bituminous Blast
3 Terminate
1 Bestial Menace

4 Savage Lands
1 Rootbound Crag
3 Raging Ravine
1 Lavaclaw Reaches
3 Dragonskull Summit
1 Oran-Rief, the Vastwood
4 Verdant Catacombs
3 Forest
3 Mountain
3 Swamp

SB
3 Shadowfeed
3 Mind Rot
2 Deathmark
2 Doom Blade
1 Burst Lightning
2 Master of the Wild Hunt
1 Basilisk Collar
1 Maelstrom Pulse

4th: Thons Galano - BR

4 Hell's Thunder
4 Goblin Guide
4 Ball Lightning
4 Hellspark Elemental
1 Plated Geopede
2 Earthquake
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Blightning
2 Quenchable Fire
4 Searing Blaze
3 Burst Lightning

4 Arid Mesa
4 Lavaclaw Reaches
4 Scalding Tarn
4 Dragonskull Summit
8 Mountain

SB
2 Pithing Needle
1 Quenchable Fire
4 Goblin Ruinblaster
2 Doom Blade
4 Deathmark
2 Unstable Footing

5th: Ricky Perez - Mono-white

4 White Knight
4 Kor Firewalker
4 Steppe Lynx
4 Knight of the White Orchid
3 Honor of the Pure
1 Basilisk Collar
3 Conqueror's Pledge
1 Stoneforge Mystic
2 Oblivion Ring
3 Path to Exile
1 Sigil of Distinction
2 Elspeth Knight Errant
4 Kor Skyfisher
1 Brave the Elements

4 Arid Mesa
4 Marsh Flats
1 Dread Statuary
1 Gargoyle Castle
13 Plains

SB
1 Brave the Elements
2 Wall of Reverce (sic)
2 Day of Judgment
2 Oblivon Ring
3 Devout Lightcaster
3 Celestial Purge
2 Journey to Nowhere

6th: Charles Cunanan - BR

4 Searing Blaze
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Burst Lightning
4 Goblin Guide
4 Hellspark Elemental
4 Hell's Thunder
4 Ball Lightning
2 Doom Blade
2 Quenchable Fire
4 Goblin Bushwhacker
2 Earthquake

4 Dragonskull Summit
4 Lavaclaw Reaches
14 Mountain

SB:
4 Death Shadow
4 Needle Bite Trap
4 Deathmark
3 Unstable Footing

7th: Ray Rivas - Jund

4 Putrid Leech
4 Sprouting Thrinax
4 Bloodbraid Elf
2 Siege-Gang Commander
2 Broodmate Dragon

4 Lightning Blot
1 Doom Blade
2 Terminate
3 Explore
3 Maelstrom Pulse
4 Blightning
2 Bituminous Blast

3 Forest
3 Mountain
3 Swamp
2 Rootbound Crag
3 Raging Ravine
4 Dragonskull Summit
4 Verdant Catacomb
4 Savage Lands

SB
2 Deathmark
1 Doom Blade
1 Maelstrom Pulse
2 Jund Charm
4 Goblin Ruinblaster
2 Master of the Wild Hunt
3 Malakir Bloodwitch

8th: Ralph Santos - Mythic

* Decklists to follow, naiwan kay head judge DJ, waiting for him to send them.

JTQ Manila updates

The JTQ series is a Magic the Gathering tournament series which aims to bring good Filipino Magic players into a larger stage. Last February 2010, we gave away round trip airfares and hotel accomodations to the winners of our JTQ Kuala Lumpur event; Richard Badlon and Rainier Santiago. The next Southeast Asian GP however, will be held here in Manila this coming June. Giving away airfares would not make any sense and so we came up with this; a huge cardpool to help support the player who will win this event.

JTQ Manila poster

JTQ Manila prize pool, booster packs consolation prize for other top finishers

Local stores run satellite tournaments which gives away byes for our JTQ events. The rationale behind this is similar to our main goal. We would like to bring the good players from all local stores into a bigger stage.

If you would like your local store to run satellites for our future events, please do not hesitate to contact us. There is no charge for running these satellite events, everything is free. We just need to coordinate with your local tournament organizer to ensure that everything runs smoothly.

List of players with byes for JTQ Manila (as of 3/26/2010)

Gamer's Lounge

Buado Rossinni x2
Manliclic, Christian x2
Paul Barlisan




Zuran Gaming Center
Zax Ozaki x2
James Coloma x2
Edward Malasaga x2
Ray Rivas
Dalton Terible

Ongkeco's Hobby Shop
Lei Co
Bong Encinas
JL Guevarra
Ray Rivas
Rainier Santiago
Rudi Asinas
Celsus Kintanar


BCI Greenhills
Mon Quimson
Aldrin Cacho
Lloyd Tan
Dheuz Relacion
Pong Deriquito
Mikko Rodas

Perez, Ricky
Santos, Ralf
Gloton, Bert
Banaag, Alfredo
Legaspi, KRISTIAN
Nicolas, Elmerando jr
Rivas, Raynand


Please contact your local tournament organizer if there are any discrepancies.

Charles Basilio and Kurt Porter wins ZZW drafts

Charles Basilio wins pod 1

Charles and his twin brother both drafted BR in the 1st pod. Charles was playing a more aggresive build compared to his brother though, and he piloted it to a 3-0 finish. Nevertheless, Jo Basilio was still the big winner of the draft having opened a Jace, TMS in his Worldwake pack.

Kurt Porter wins pod 2

No he was not playing Jund. Kurt drafted a tempo-based UB deck which featured the Zendikar MVP; Vampire Nighthawk and powerful tempo cards like Permafrost Trap and Whiplash Trap. He was watching draft veteran Chester Sy during the 1st draft and applied a few techniques that he just learned. So yes, he knew how to play his blue cards with maximum efficiency.

Padawan in Training?

I'm sure that the Filipino Magic community (if not the global community) is aware of how much noise our very own 8-year old kid; Kurt Porter generated. Kurt piloted his Jund deck to the 2nd day of the Grand Prix and finished 92nd overall. It was not enough to qualify him for a Pro Tour or win him some money, but it is a monumental feat for an 8-year old who started off with zero byes.

So how did he do it? We have been asking ourselves the same question for months now. Yes, months.

Early gaming background:
1. Kurt started playing real-time strategy games on PC when he was 3 years old. Warcraft 3, Command and Conquer: Generals, and Warhammer: Dawn of War were among his favorites. He was later prohibited from playing these games because he was starting to exhibit violent tendencies.
2. Kurt then shifted to handheld consoles. He played emulated Pokemon games on his PSP and plays Monster Hunter up to this day.
3. He was introduced to Monopoly early 2009. He has been beating his aunts, uncles, and Grandparents in the game ever since. He also likes playing banker whenever he plays.

I think his story is all about exposure. Yes, he is an 8 year old but we never allowed him to play or bring his cards to school. We did this so that he would focus on his studies and not just play Magic. He has never played a game against his classmates. In tournaments, we would tell him who the good players are; he would watch them and learn a few moves. Kurt then emulates those players when he plays. He requires very minimal verbal instructions, just a few reminders on some keypoints.

MTG exposure prior to tournament play:

Kurt first played the Jund deck when he was practicing with the 2009 Philippine National Team in Rome. The team had no alternate and he was the only person that was with the team who knows how to play Magic.

2009 Philippine Team

Kurt clearing the challenges in Duels of the Planeswalkers

Watching Antonino De Rosa in gunslinging

Gunslinging against Antonino De Rosa...

... and Mike Turian...

... and Tom Lapille...

... and Olle Rade.

Fun times with Schuyler Garfield...

... and Terry Garfield

Tournament milestones as of today:
1. Dec 20, 2009 - 1st tournament. Played Dredge and finished 13th out of 14 players at a local Vintage tourney
2. Dec 27, 2009 - Played Jund and finished 1st out of over 100 players at a local Standard tourney
3. He has consistently piloted Jund on local Standard tourneys last January, 4W-3L being his worst record.
4. Kurt decided to change his deck for the Feb 13 JTQ Kuala Lumpur. He piloted a Summoning Trap deck to a 4W-3L finish.
5. He again decides to try a different deck for the Feb 21 JTQ Kuala Lumpur. He played Pat Chapin's UW control deck and went 1W-4L-1D-drop in the tourney, winning only the mirror match. Yes he cannot play control yet, just like 90% of the MTG population.
6. With very little time to practice due to school (final exams was March 8-11), Kurt picked up a Jund deck again for Grand Prix Kuala Lumpur and placed 92nd overall out of over 500 players.
7. Mar 20, 2010 - Finished 5-0-2 in the swiss rounds of GPT Manila but lost the top 8 match for 3 byes.
8. Mar 23, 2010 - Played and won his 1st booster draft (ZZW)

Kurt is now enjoying his summer vacation and practicing everyday for the upcoming GP Manila in June. He will also be doing summer sports to give him better resistance against fatigue; which was the main reason he did not do well in day 2 of GP KL. Let us not forget that he is just 8 years old, he gets tired much quicker than the older players.

Celsus gets a little help from 2 golems

Celsus Kintanar

It has been a while since we wrote draft reports but this one sure deserves reporting.

Celsus started off with a low curve BW deck with a Vampire Nighthawk as his main man during the Zendikar portion of the draft. He opened a Lodestone Golem in his Worldwake pack and got passed a 2nd copy of the card by Franz Costales. (OT: Celsus got a 3rd golem in one of his prize packs). His high quality low cost creatures were all he needed to go 3-0 in this draft.

Nick Ortega finished 2nd playing a "Low EQ" ally deck. He had allies in 4 colors but was too greedy to drop Iona's Judgement and so he played all 5. His deck was nice to him though and it gladly fed him his color requirements in most of his games.

Final standings:
1. Kintanar, Celsus
2. Ortega, Dominic
3. Hron, Mike
4. Ascalon, Jason
5. Tan, Morris,
6. Bunao, Jem
7. Sy, Manchester
8. Costales, Franz

JTQ Manila

March 2010 at Titan Hobby Shop

Organized play:
We will be running FNMs again this March. We really want these events to run this time and so, we will be giving away WPN foil cards in addition to the usual FNM cards. But wait! There's more! If we reach at least 24 players, we will be giving away 36 booster packs as prize support.

Weekly Block Constructed - Thursdays. WPN foils and Worldwake booster packs at stake.
Entry fee: Php 200
Round 1 pairings at 7:00pm
36 packs prize support if 24 or more players joins

FNM Standard - Fridays. FNM foils, and Worldwake booster packs at stake.
Entry fee: Php 200
Round 1 pairings at 7:00pm
36 packs prize support if 24 or more players joins


Wizards of the Coast products:
We still have M10 booster packs, Garruk vs Liliana duel decks, and From the Vault: Exiled box sets available at the store.

Rainier Santiago wins JTQ #2

Congrats to Rainier Santiago for winning JTQ #2!

Congrats to the players from the South for destroying the opposition in both events.

Champion: Ranier Santiago - Jund

4 Savage Land
3 Dragonskull Summit
3 Rootbound Crag
3 Mountain
3 Swamp
3 Forest
2 Terramorphic Expanse
2 Verdant Catacombs
2 Raging Ravine

3 Siege-gang Commander
3 Broodmate Dragon
4 Sprouting Thrinax
4 Bloodbraid Elf

4 Lightning Bolt
3 Rampant Growth
3 Maelstrom Pulse
2 Bituminous Blast
4 Blightning
2 Terminate

1 Basilisk Collar
2 Master of the Wild Hunt

SB:
2 Mind Rot
2 Burst Lightning
2 Deathmark
2 Mind Rot
3 Malakir Bloodwitch
4 Goblin Ruinblaster

2nd: Richard Badlon - Boros

4 Arid Mesa
4 Scalding Tarn
4 Marsh Flats
3 Teetering Peaks
5 Plains
4 Mountains

4 Steppe Lynx
4 Ranger of Eos
1 Elite Vanguard
4 Goblin Guide
4 Plated Geopede
4 Hellspark Elemental
2 Goblin Bushwhacker

3 Path to Exile
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Earthquake
3 Burst Lighting

SB:
3 Hell's Thunder
2 Elspeth, Knight Errant
2 Day of Judgement
3 Kor Skyfisher
3 Journey to Nowhere
2 Celestial Purge

3rd: Andrew Cantillana - UW Aggro

4 Glacial Fortress
4 Celestial Colonade
2 Sejiri Refuge
13 Plains
1 Stoneforge Mystic
3 Knight of the White Orchid
3 Baneslayer Angel
4 Devout Lightcaster
4 White Knight
4 Kor Firewalker
4 Kor Skyfisher
2 Elspeth, Knight Errant
2 Brave the Elements
2 Negate
2 Sigil of Distinction
3 Honor of the Pure
3 Path to Exile

SB:
4 Flashfreeze
3 Day of Judgement
2 Brave the Elements
2 Negate
3 Oblivion Ring
1 Path to Exile

4th: Dexter Vierneza - "RamBant"

4 Noble Hierarch
4 Rhox War Monk
4 Baneslayer Angel
3 Thornling
3 Rafiq of the Many
2 Pilgrim's Eye
1 Jenara, Asura of War
1 Jhessian Infiltrator

4 Rampant Growth
2 Elspeth Knight Errant
2 Garruk Wildspeaker
2 Vines of Vastwood
2 Day of Judgement
2 Path to Exile

4 Seaside Citadel
2 Sunpetal Grove
2 Glacial Fortress
2 Celestial Colonade
2 Stirring Wildwood
2 Misty Rainforest
2 Island
2 Plains
6 Forest

SB:
4 Great Sable Stag
2 Rite of Replication
2 Day of Judgement
2 Negate
2 Oblivion Ring
2 Telemin Performance
1 Tectonic Edge

5th: Charles Basilio - Jund

2 Terminate
3 Sprouting Thrinax
2 Garruk Wildspeaker
3 Maelstrom Pulse
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Explore
4 Blightning
1 Master of the Wild Hunt
1 Borderland Ranger
3 Siege-gang Commander
4 Great Sable Stag
4 Bloodbraid Elf

3 Mountain
3 Swamp
3 Forest
1 Oran-rief, the Vastwood
2 Rootbound Crag
2 Raging Ravine
3 Dragonskull Summit
4 Savage Lands
4 Verdant Catacombs

SB:
2 Jund Charm
2 Terminate
3 Bituminous Blast
3 Duress
3 Malakir Bloodwitch
2 Pithing Needle

6th: Thons Galano - Vampires

4 Marsh Flats
4 Verdant Catacombs
15 Swamp
3 Bloodghast
4 Gatekeeper of Malakir
2 Malakir Bloodwitch
4 Vampire Hexmage
3 Vampire Nighthawk
4 Vampire Nocturnus
4 Kalastria Highborn
2 Mind Sludge
2 Grim Discovery
2 Urge to Feed
3 Tendrils of Corruption
4 Sign in Blood

SB:
1 Bloodghast
1 Malakir Bloodwitch
1 Vampire Nighthawk
2 Mind Sludge
1 Grim Discovery
1 Urge to Feed
4 Deathmark
4 Duress

7th: Mike Batac - UW Control

2 Arid Mesa
4 Celestial Colonnade
4 Glacial Fortress
4 Halimar Depths
3 Island
4 Plains
1 Scalding Tarn
4 Tectonic Edge

1 Iona, Shield of Emeria

4 Cancel
1 Celestial Purge
3 Day of Judgment
2 Essence Scatter
4 Everflowing Chalice
2 Flashfreeze
4 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
2 Martial Coup
2 Mind Spring
1 Negate
3 Oblivion Ring
1 Path to Exile
4 Treasure Hunt

SB:
2 Negate
2 Path to Exile
3 Kor Firewalker
3 Baneslayer Angel
1 Perimeter Captain
2 Mind Control
2 Luminarch Ascension

8th: Ralf Santos - Ranger-Crab

4 Knight of the White Orchid
4 Hedron Crab
2 Ranger of Eos

3 Day of Judgement
4 Path to Exile

4 Howling Mine
4 Jace Beleren

3 Timewarp
4 Negate
3 Archive Trap

4 Fieldmist Borderpost
4 Glacial Fortress
6 Plains
5 Island
3 Arid Mesa
3 Misty Rainforest

SB:
2 Pithing Needle
4 Perimeter Captain
4 Kor Firewalker
1 Rite of Replication
4 Angelsong

The feature match playmat now belongs to the South

More photos on our facebook page (Titan Hobby Shop)

Richard Badlon wins JTQ #1

Congrats to Richard Badlon for winning JTQ #1!

Champion: Richard Badlon - Boros

4 Arid Mesa
4 Scalding Tarn
4 Marsh Flats
3 Teetering Peaks
5 Plains
4 Mountains

4 Steppe Lynx
4 Ranger of Eos
1 Elite Vanguard
4 Goblin Guide
4 Plated Geopede
4 Hellspark Elemental
2 Goblin Bushwhacker

4 Path to Exile
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Earthquake
2 Burst Lighting

SB:
3 Hell's Thunder
2 Elspeth, Knight Errant
2 Day of Judgement
3 Kor Skyfisher
3 Journey to Nowhere
2 Celestial Purge

2nd: Jay Falag-ey - BW tokens

2 Elspeth, Knight Errant
4 Emeria Angel
4 Honor of the Pure
4 Conqueror's Pledge
4 Knight of the White Orchid
4 Steppe Lynx
4 Tidehollow Sculler
3 Zealous Persecution
4 Path to Exile
1 Ajani Goldmane
1 Captain of the Watch

2 Terramorphic Expanse
4 Swamp
4 Arid Mesa
7 Plains
4 Arcane Sanctum
4 Marsh Flats

SB:
2 Brave the Elements
2 Day of Judgement
3 Devout Lightcaster
3 Kor Firewalker
2 Identity Crisis
3 Luminarch Ascension

3rd: Ralf Santos - UW Ranger Crab

4 Knight of the White Orchid
4 Hedron Crab
2 Ranger of Eos

3 Day of Judgement
4 Path to Exile

4 Howling Mine
4 Jace Beleren

3 Timewarp
4 Negate
3 Archive Trap

4 Fieldmist Borderpost
4 Glacial Fortress
6 Plains
5 Island
3 Arid Mesa
3 Misty Rainforest

SB:
2 Pithing Needle
4 Perimeter Captain
4 Kor Firewalker
1 Rite of Replication
4 Angelsong

4th: Richmond Tan - GWb

4 Noble Hierarch
4 Lotus Cobra
4 Knight of the Reliquary
3 Baneslayer Angel
4 Emeria Angel
2 Ob-Nixilis, the Fallen
2 Pilgrim's Eye
1 Master of the Wild Hunt
4 Path to Exile
3 Maelstrom Pulse
2 Elspeth, Knight Errant
1 Garruk Wildspeaker
1 Eldrazi Monument
1 Behemoth Sledge
1 Basilisk Collar

4 Verdant Catacombs
4 Marsh Flats
5 Forest
4 Plains
2 Swamp
1 Sejiri Steppe
1 Tectonic Edge
2 Stirring Wildwood

SB:
2 Luminarch Ascension
1 Day of Judgement
1 Martial Coup
1 Liliana Vess
2 Identity Crisis
3 Acidic Slime
3 Celestial Purge
2 Wall of Reverence

Add a caption

Champion: Richard Badlon - Boros 4 Arid Mesa 4 Scalding Tarn 4 Marsh Flats 3 Teetering Peaks 5 Plains 4 Mountains 4 Steppe Lynx 4 Ranger of Eos 1 Elite Vanguard 4 Goblin Guide 4 Plated Geopede 4 Hellspark Elemental 2 Goblin Bushwhacker 4 Path to Exile 4 Lightning Bolt 3 Earthquake 2 Burst Lighting SB: 3 Hell's Thunder 2 Elspeth, Knight Errant 2 Day of Judgement 3 Kor Skyfisher 3 Journey to Nowhere 2 Celestial Purge

5th: Paul Mendoza - Jund

4 Sprouting Thrinax
4 Bloodbraid Elf
3 Abyssal Persecutor
4 Siege-gang Commander

3 Duress
3 Maelstrom Pulse
2 Terminate
3 Trace of Abundance
4 Lightning Bolt
2 Eldrazi Monument
4 Blightning

2 Lavaclaw Reaches
2 Dragonskull Summit
1 Raging Ravine
3 Rootbound Crag
4 Verdant Catacombs
4 Savage Lands
3 Forest
3 Swamp
2 Mountain

SB:
2 Smother
3 Jund Charm
3 Malakir Bloodwitch
2 Mind Shatter
4 Goblin Ruinblaster
1 Terminate

Add a caption

Champion: Richard Badlon - Boros 4 Arid Mesa 4 Scalding Tarn 4 Marsh Flats 3 Teetering Peaks 5 Plains 4 Mountains 4 Steppe Lynx 4 Ranger of Eos 1 Elite Vanguard 4 Goblin Guide 4 Plated Geopede 4 Hellspark Elemental 2 Goblin Bushwhacker 4 Path to Exile 4 Lightning Bolt 3 Earthquake 2 Burst Lighting SB: 3 Hell's Thunder 2 Elspeth, Knight Errant 2 Day of Judgement 3 Kor Skyfisher 3 Journey to Nowhere 2 Celestial Purge

6th: Rei Tay - Vampires

4 Gatekeeper of Malakir
4 Vampire Nighthawk
4 Vampire Nocturnus
3 Bloodghast
3 Vampire Hexmage
3 Kalastria Highborn
3 Malakir Bloodwitch

4 Tendrills of Corruption
4 Sign in Blood
3 Urge to Feed
2 Mind Sludge

4 Verdant Catacombs
2 Marsh Flats
17 Swamp

SB:
1 Malakir Bloodwitch
1 Vampire Hexmage
1 Mind Sludge
4 Duress
4 Deathmark
3 Marsh Casualties
1 Urge to Feed

7th: Vic Lim - Valakut ramp

4 Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle
3 Terramorphic Expanse
2 Naya Panorama
3 Forest
13 Mountains

4 Bloodbraid Elf
4 Goblin Ruinblaster
3 Siege-gang Commander
2 Oracle of Mul Daya

4 Expedition Map
4 Explore
3 Harrow
3 Khalni Heart Expedition
3 Lightning Bolt
3 Burst Lightning
2 Rampant Growth

SB:
2 Demolish
3 Chandra Nalaar
2 Pithing Needle
3 Pyroclasm
2 Lavaball Trap
3 Tectonic Edge

8th: Winfred Candaza - Vampires

4 Pulse Tracker
4 Bloodghast
4 Vampire Hexmage
4 Gatekeeper of Malakir
4 Vampire Nighthawk
4 Vampire Nocturnus
4 Malakir Bloodwitch
4 Sign in Blood
4 Tendrills of Corruption
1 Mind Sludge

4 Verdant Catacombs
2 Marsh Flats
17 Swamp

SB:
4 Duress
2 Mind Sludge
2 Swamp
3 Deathmark
4 Underworld Dreams

More photos on our facebook page (Titan Hobby Shop)

We would also like to thank everyone who played at the JTQ. Sorry for the late start as we had some difficulties processing the byes. The late tables and chairs did not help too.

Hope to see you again next week!

Limited Edition (episode 1)

Today, we have an article from long-time limited specialist Chester Sy. C is a regular drafter from Madison Wisconsin playing alongside Pro Tour champion Mike Hron for the most part of his active playing days. Although he still has the skills and ratings to play in high level events; these days, he prefers to just play casually and on very rare occasions.

We are very glad that he chose to play at Titan during the Worldwake prerelease, and we are honored that he chose to write a tourney report for us to publish in this site.

Prerelease Report: Worldwake Midnight Pre-release @ Titan
by C

Humorous thoughts in parenthesis. Heh.

So Wednesday rolls around and I get a message at like 10pm, asking if I’m playing at the prerelease. Magic doesn’t really interest me nowadays, as killing dragons (in the real world, of Warcraft) is just a tad more fun than slinging cards. I blatantly ignore the message and go get me some EPIC LEWTZ!

Thursday night, while drunk from one too many beers in the streets of Alabang, Franz calls me up asking if I wanted to prerelease it up. At the back of my head I’m like, what the f do u want from me! (but of course I didn’t say that). Apparently a lot of my officemates, including the always wacky Celsus and king of awkward nights Jem are coming. In my tipsy state, I commit (f peer pressure~).

We were supposed to meet at 9pm at the office on Friday night, but I’m obviously late (killing dragons take a lot of time) so I arrive at the very fashionably late time of 10:30pm. Passengers in the C-mobile: Celsus, Jem, Franz and me. Excited as they were, all talk on the way to the site was about them cards. I chipped in as much as I can, but I only scanned the spoiler an hour before I left the house (and I saw zero exciting cards).

So we obviously arrive at the site with 45 minutes to spare. The gang was hungry, so we stop by the BEST cheap pizza place ever (that, and I had to park my car somewhere; ulterior motive). Jem starts to talk about some guitar $h!t; some dude from some band was having some guitar lessons sometime the next day (I obviously wasn’t listening). Franz starts $h!tting out poltically incorrect jokes about sex (gender), and Celsus predicts Jem’s loot for the night as consisting of 3 Eye of Ugin and 3 Magosi, the Waterveil (what do those cards do anyway). I think about all the wasted time playing with paper when I can be killing pixels instead~

A few slices of pizza and countless number of mojos later, we arrive at the site and I register the following (might be missing a few cards):

White (14)

Bold Defense
Cliff Treader
Join the Ranks
Kor Outfitter
Makindi Shieldmate
Ondu Cleric
Steppe Lynx
Windborn Charge
Apex Hawks
2 Guardian Zendikon
Iona’s Judgment
Kitesail Apprentice
Marshal’s Anthem

Blue (14)

Caller of Gales
Reckless Scholar
Seascape Aerialist
Spreading Seas
Trapfinder’s Trick
Welkin Tern
Windrider Eel
Aether Tradewinds
Enclave Elite
Halimar Excavator
2 Mysteries of the Deep
Sejiri Merfolk
Thada Adel, Acquisitor

Black (16)

Crypt Ripper
Disfigure
Guul Draz Vampire
Kalitas, Bloodchief of Ghet
Nimana Sell-Sword
Quest for the Gravelord
Ravenous Trap
Vampire’s Bite
Bojuka Brigand
Corrupted Zendikon
Dead Reckoning
Nemesis Trap
Ruthless Cullblade
Scrib Nibblers
Tomb Hex
Urge to Feed

Red (13)

Goblin Ruinblaster
Hellkite Charger
Highland Berserker
Plated Geopede
Seismic Shudder
Shatterskull Giant
Bull Rush
Claws of Valakut
Comet Storm
Goblin Roughrider
Skitter of Lizards
2 Slavering Nulls

Green (14)

Baloth Cage Trap
Beast Hunt
Beastmaster Ascension
Harrow
Oran-rief Survivalist
River Boa
Scythe Tiger
Vines of Vastwood
Arbor Elf
Feral Contest
Grappler Spider
Graypelt Hunter
Vastwood Animist
Vastwood Zendikon

Akoum Refuge
Jwar Isle Refuge
Kabira Crossroads
Seijiri Steppe

Hammer of Ruin
Hedron Rover
Kitesail

First thing I do for normal formats like this is count the number of cards of each color I have. Black had 16, so I started with that color. It seemed deep enough for a main color. Next up was the bombs. You don’t have to dig hard enough to realize red has the most: hellkite charger (RORIX) and comet storm (fireball LEWLZ). Red did seem pretty shallow after that; fortunately there’s the two nulls that would otherwise been relegated to the bench if I didn’t play black.

So here’s the final deck, after a few curve checks (sorted to when I think I’m casting the cards):

1-drop:

Guul Draz Vampire

2-drops:

2 Slavering Nulls
Plated Geopede
Highland Berserker
Ruthless Cullblade
Corrupted Zendikon
Bojuka Brigand

3-drops:

Skitter of Lizards
Goblin Roughrider

4-drops:

Shatterskull Giant
Goblin Ruinblaster
Nimana Sell-Sword

6-drop:

Hellkite Charger

7-drop:

Kalitas, Bloodchief of Ghet

As per-need basis:

Urge to Feed
Tomb Hex
Nemesis Trap
Dead Reckoning
Quest for the Gravelord
Disfigure
Comet Storm
Kitesail

I was lucky enough to open seven 2-drops: the format seems a hell of a lot faster than most formats. Aggression is key; I’ve seen so many games in this format where one player empties out his hand by turn 5 while the other is stuck with 6 cards in hand.

I don’t actually remember any of my matches in detail, since I didn’t plan on writing a report, so I’ll just give some highlights:

(1) Went 4-0 with the deck, which was totally unexpected. The curve was decent but needed a bit of work. I thought it was good enough for 3-1, but definitely not a perfect record.

(2) All my matches went to 3 games, and all of them had the same pattern: one game where I killed the opponent on turn 6 or less, one game where I didn’t come out fast (lost all of them), and one game with actual interaction (fortunately, I won all of them).

(3) Specific cards:

a. A Sphinx of Jwar Isle may or may not have traded with a skitter of lizards in combat.

b. Nemesis trap was poop. The only time where it was useful was against a fun game against Nick (Ortega), where I killed two of his dudes with two mana. Pretty sure this should be relegated to the side for aggressive decks.

c. Comet storm was obviously the bomb. I finally DID a very skillful card in sealed (have bad luck with that). Remember lava-LOLanche? This one hits your opponent too! And as JT pointed out, IT’S AN INSTANT!

d. Slavering Nulls weren’t as hot as I thought they would be. I would take almost any removal spell over them. Ravenous Rats are almost better…

e. …except when you have KITESAIL! I admit, that’s the only reason why I played this usually garbage card, but it’s A-MAZING for aggro decks. Most of the time I just had to punch through for five or so damage, then all my stuff comes online (Guul Draz and Cullblade).

f. Dead reckoning was TERRIBLE. It’s on the level of Magma Spray I think.

g. Corrupted Zendikon was the BOMB. I was glad to have it at any point in the game. 3 mana 3/3 haster is almost too good!

(4) Combined record of the people riding the C-mobile: 10-6. pretty good, considering all of us play magic pretty casually these days. :)

(5) You get your picture taken when you play at Porter’s (Titan)! Definitely a reason to play there, if you are in search for stalkers (like me).

(6) We didn’t have time to do the Chester Challenge yet for this prerelease; will probably do it this week. (for those who don’t know, the Chester Challenge is when you try to play someone’s deck with cards from their sideboard. So far, I’m 3-1 in Chester’s Challenges :) my pool is a good one to do the challenge too; there’s a decent blue-white deck in there :)

(7) I recognized quite a few of the old-timers playing at the prerelease. To all that said hi, thanks! Nice to see old folks that still play this game :)


Alright, I think that’s it. Oh wait, still need:


Props:

(1) Porter for a well-run tournament. The whole thing was done in less than 5 hours from start to finish, which is a milestone for the Philippine magic community. I didn’t get to play at the Zendikar prerelease, but I heard similar things. Keep up the good work!

(2) Everyone that said hi!

(3) My opponents, for not bitching about my lucksack moments (and I had a few)

(4) Team Rama (the C-mobile crew might disagree, but I think we’re all team Rama wannabee’s)

(5) Shakey’s for the best cheap pizza ever. So good!

(6) Celsus for lending me sleeves

Slops:

(1) Smokers. Gtfo!

(2) Peer pressure. I didn’t get to do my dailies that day, dammit.


Comments, suggestions, rants, and raves, send to xeyloderixed at gmail dot com.

Constructed with Worldwake

Worldwake becomes Constructed legal this Friday, February 5, 2010. A lot of big Standard events will be running this month and a lot of players have already been doing some testing, and just like the majority of the population, we have also been doing some testing of our own.

Here are some of our findings so far (Mythic Rares):

Abyssal Persecutor - I did not like this card at first. It's a Platinum Devil, something that requires you to have a solution. Imagine needing a solution for your own card? It sucks! That was until I revisited the old Jund deck back when Shards of Alara was the only expansion in Block Constructed. It was perfect with the old Jund synergies; the combination of Sprouting Thrinax, Sarkhan Vol, Bone Splinter, and Fleshbag Marauder.

Admonition Angel - Another 6-mana landfall card. The 1st of this kind was Rampaging Baloth, a card that somehow found its way into a deck. This one is so much better, specially now that Knight of the Reliquary is around to help. We have been trying this card out in Lotus Cobra decks, it is not as spectacular as you may imagine but it is a very decent utility card.

Avenger of Zendikar - A fun card that would seem to fit into the Eldrazi Green deck. It has a very prohibitive cost though, a 1-of at the most.

Comet Storm - This is a bomb in Limited, a much better Fireball as you get more targets. Will it find a home in Constructed? Probably not until the Cascade mechanic leaves the format.

Dragonmaster Outcast - The creature with the coolest ability in this set; there is only 1 problem... 1/1. How do you expect it to survive in time for it to spawn a dragon? It is also a bad early drop because it's just a 1/1 in a world filled with undercosted 1-drops. Our next option was to use it in a control deck like Grixis because it looked really good as a 1 mana must answer threat. Unfortunately, that did not work out too. Your opponent would just have targets for his otherwise dead removal spells.

Eye of Ugin - There are no Eldrazi spells in the Magic universe yet. None. I was even told that Eldrazi Monument is NOT an Eldrazi spell (judges please confirm this). This card is probably a card from the next set that got lost in the print run.

Jace, the Mind Sculptor - Hands down the best card in this set for every format. If you do not agree with me, chances are, you have not played with this card yet (or you are playing it wrong).

Novablast Wurm - I have no idea how to use this card. No idea at all. They should have just printed this as an angel so that we have a chance to sell it for its collector value.

Omnath, Locus of Mana - A guy that grows out of proportion if you have abundance of mana. What are the odds of that happening? Competitive decks are built too tightly and with optimal use of every mana that they can produce every turn. So where would you get the extra floating green? Oh and it is also a creature that is very easy to kill via spot removal so good luck with that. Lets just wait for someone to build a deck that is centered on this card.

Wrexial, the Risen Deep - We've had better 6-drops before, but this card is really cool when stealing a Cruel Ultimatum from an opponent. An EDH general perhaps?


That's it for now, I will try to go over the rares next time and try to post some updates on these once we get more testing time in.

JTQ Kuala Lumpur final details

Click on image to enlarge

Here are some details that were not included in the poster.


Prize Support and other giveaways:

The winner gets a round trip ticket to Kuala Lumpur Malaysia and 3 nights hotel accomodation (Fri, Sat, and Sun). If the winner already has travel arrangements or still does not wish to go, he may take the alternative prize of Php 8,000. Other top finishers will get booster packs as prizes.

Freebies and other items will also be raffled off to random participants. Details of which are not yet final as we have to wait for our potential sponsors.


Trials:

Byes may be acquired by playing in the regular tournaments of our affiliates.
- Bacolod Chicken Inasal, Greenhills
- Gamer's Lounge, Fairview
- M4 Trading, Recto
- Ongkeco's Hobby Shop, Taft Avenue Manila
- Titan Hobby Shop, Kapitolyo Pasig
- Zuran Gaming Center, Binan Laguna

Players are allowed to have a maximum of 3 byes per JTQ (6 total).


Side events:

Legacy Constructed Format
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Registration starts at 1:00pm
Event starts at 2:00pm
Entry fee: Php 200

Vintage Constructed Format
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Registration starts at 1:00pm
Event starts at 2:00pm
Entry fee: Php 200

On-demand ZEN-ZEN-WWE Booster Drafts
February 13 and 21, 2010
Entry fee: Php 600
1 pack per win or 5-3-2-2 prize payouts


Contact info:
Titan Hobby Shop (Tue-Sat 3pm-9pm): (632) 494-4066 (look for Veronica)
Office: (632) 896-7284 (look for JT)
Facebook: Titan Hobby Shop
Email: jt_ebay3@yahoo.com

JTQ flier/poster

Ayan kumpleto na!

A rising tide will raise all the ships

Sa tagalog, kapag tumaas ang tubig ay aangat lahat ng barko.

Affordable?

A public service announcement from Titan Hobby Shop

A few of our raffle items.

Titan Hobby Shop will be giving away playmats, deck boxes, gateway foils, and other cool stuff to the 1st 16 players who will register for the A-Venue Worldwake prerelease. These items will also be raffled off to lucky participants. Hope to see you there.

Players may pre-register at the store or via bank deposit.