Season 11 Week 6 Player Showcase
It’s the penultimate week of division play. As such, players are in fierce competition with each other to make the playoffs. Last week, I talked to the 4-0 players. This week, I’m talking to the other division leaders about their thoughts for this week’s match, what the VML means to them, and more.
Axe Thembro
Axe Thembro is playing in their first VML season in Division 9. They’re plating 4 Color Legends vs Esper Midrange this week.
When did you start playing Magic?
I started way back in Revised, a friend in junior high showed me his brother’s cards. I still remember grasping the idea of cycles and the colour pie from the Legends Glyphs – giving your wall +10/+0 on blocks was so wild.
What has been your hardest match this season?
My Gurk got hated out last week which was tough, other than that I’d say I had a lot of anxiety before the first week’s match vs Domain. Even though I knew I had a decent matchup there were a few issues I hadn’t solved in testing. Once I got in the match and played tightly I’ve been a lot less stressed about the games.
What does the VML mean to you?
30 years in and around the game and I’ve very very rarely dipped a toe into any kind of competitive play. This has been a wonderful way to get used to learning how to metagame and sideboard and all that in a safe and supportive environment, it’s been really special!
Andrea Smith
This is Andrea’s fourth VML season, including a top 32 finish in Season 9. She is playing in Division 14 and this week registered Dimir Midrange vs Domain Control.
When did you start playing Magic?
I first started playing kitchen table magic with my Dad (who started in Beta) and brother around 6-7. I never took the game too seriously until COVID lockdowns started and I suddenly had a lot of time to play, and a new client (Arena) to play it on. From there I couldn’t get enough – started stepping out and buying into paper, and a few years later feels like an integral part of my life!
What does your testing process look like each week?
In past seasons I had spent a lot of time between matches testing the specific matchup with friends, trying to make my deck line up against what I think my opponent might play every week. Frankly, that burned me out – a lot – and so this season I focused more heavily on aligning to a strategy (with some variation) that aligns with my strengths as a player. Each week I do a little bit of analysis: what’s my role in the matchup, how can that change within games, post board especially, and of course laying out a basic sideboard plan. I feel much more relaxed in each match now – not overthinking how the game CAN script out and playing the game that’s in front of me.
What does the VML mean to you?
VML is really important to me – no doubt – it feels like a way to help cultivate talent among folks who have had similar challenges breaking into the very male very masc dominant space of competitive Magic. The importance of the relationships I have built through folks I have competed and tested with in the VML as they relate to my growth as a magic player cannot be overstated. And I must say the competition gets better and better every season. It’s no surprise to see faces that I have competed against or seen in the top flights of this league excelling at the Pro Tour and beyond.
Amy Altman
Amy is leading Division 4 in her first VML season. This week she’s playing Boros Convoke vs Azorius Midrange.
When did you start playing Magic?
I started playing magic between BFZ and OGW. I mostly taught myself to play by watching youtube videos of Magic Online but I had a collectible card game background from Hearthstone. I somehow persevered despite my first ever paper magic experience being drafting green in Battle for Zendikar.
What does your testing process look like each week?
I discussed sideboarding with my friends and tested my lists against my testing teammates and on arena ladder. I also spent time looking at a bunch of different people’s takes on Convoke and discussing the deck with other players. As the weeks went on, it became more and more about theorycrafting because I was expecting a fair amount of metagaming from my opponents (extra wraths, maindeck Doorkeeper Thrulls etc.).
What has been your hardest match this season?
Domain and Control felt the hardest because they play a ton of wraths but Domain felt the hardest because they have lifelink creatures to block in the lategame so I can’t get the last couple hasty damage in. Domain is also better at answering Urabrask’s Forge with Leyline Binding which is by far the best card against wraths.
Ashlizzlle
This is Ashlizzlle’s third VML season, including a top 32 finish in Season 8. She’s in Division 13 this season, playing Simic Artifacts vs Esper Midrange.
When did you start playing Magic?
I saw a couple of co-workers play paper Magic while I was working as a host for a Gwent tournament and, as someone that had only played card games digitally up until that point, I was immediately interested! By pure coincidence I also got an invite for the MTG Arena beta in my email around that same time, I started playing and never looked back! It’s been about 5 years since!
What does your testing process look like each week?
I always make sure I have a sideboard plan going into the matchup! If I’m not too familiar with the matchup, I’ll try to study up on it and figure out what approach I’m supposed to take to give myself the best odds of winning! I think this was showcased super well in my last featured match from last week where I played my Simic Cookies deck against a Jeskai Convoke/Soldiers deck. I knew Cookies could race the deck if I worked aggressively with unblockable strategies rather than taking a more defensive stance like I would normally go for against super explosive aggro decks and it worked out!
What has been your hardest match this season?
I think that one is still coming up.. My opponent this week is an incredible player and on one of the strongest decks in the meta (Esper Midrange) and despite my Cookies being slightly favored (I think) it will be difficult!
How do you feel about this week’s match?
Haha like I said, it’s gonna be difficult to go up against a great player on the best deck in the format but my deck has a great strategy against Midrange decks and I was kind of expecting her deck choice so I’ve put a few sideboard cards in the main to help me get a better game 1 so I’m hoping for the best!
Sophie Miller
Leading Division 10 in her second season is Sophie. She’s playing Azorius Control vs Boros Convoke this week.
When did you start playing Magic?
I started playing Magic in summer camp around 2002 because all the other kids were playing it.
What does your testing process look like each week?
I play a bit of standard on Arena and I’ve played an RCQ (would have played more if I could). But mostly a lot of theorycrafting.
What does the VML mean to you?
The VML is a way to express myself amongst a lot of other really strong players, and hopefully qualify for some paper tournaments I care a lot about!
TheMightyLinguine
TheMightyLinguine, one of the founders of the VML and three time champion, is playing her eighth season in Division 11. She registered Esper Midrange and is paired against Boros Convoke.
What does your testing process look like each week?
While normally I do most of my deck choosing based on Vibes – this season my Testing Team (Team Seven-DROPS) have been crushing it with the testing and advice
What has been your hardest match this season?
I think my hardest match this season was week 1! I knew my OP was going to play the GURRK and I spent all of Sunday evening building an ANTI GURRK deck. The only issue during testing was just missing one thing – victories. But luckily my OP didn’t draw the GURRK and I was victorious!
What does the VML mean to you?
VML is so important – not just to me but to everyone I interact with! Given how tied I am to its origin story I can’t stop thinking how cool it is that something small we started in 2020 is at the level it is at today!
Noor Singh
Noor is playing in her fifth VML season and looking to make playoffs just as she did her past four seasons. This week she brought 4 Color Legends against Esper Midrange.
When did you start playing Magic?
I started playing magic with my friends when I was in middle school, a year later I started going to game stores and in late 2018 I started playing more competitively
What has been your hardest match this season?
Probably week one, Esper Midrange was one of Slogurk’s worst matchups. I was able to outmaneuver my opponent but it’s the worst matchup I’ve had so far
What does the VML mean to you?
The VML is a community I’m proud to be a part of. The urge to play in it was a factor in my figuring out my gender identity, and I’m very fortunate to have made the friends and connections I have here
Finally we have Mae, competing in her fourth VML season for Division 2. She registered Golgari Midrange against Dimir Midrange this week
Mae
When did you start playing Magic?
I started playing Magic in my freshman year of college around Guilds of Ravnica as a way to explore a physical competitive card game for the first time.
What does your testing process look like each week?
I typically glance at if my opponent is going to metagame me then find a pile that did ok in a Mtgo challenge and change 1 card if any at all and then register it.
What does the VML mean to you?
I think the VML is a great place for people to learn and grow at competitive magic and make week by week decisions in a unique metagame scenario. There is truly nothing else like it. It truly takes a champion or someone with tremendous ability to survive the regular season to even make it to the playoffs to begin with. Super interesting stuff.
Wrap Up
And that wraps up this week’s player showcase! Next week I’ll be talking to players about what goals they had going into the tournament and their plan to win the final week and make it into playoffs.