Season 12 Week 7 Player Showcase
Week 7 is arguably the most important week of the main season, as it’s the final week of division play. Some players have already secured their spot in the playoffs and are fighting for 1st place in their division for a bye into top 32, while some are fighting to get into the playoffs at all. This week I talked to players with a 4-2 record, whose matches decide whether or not they make playoffs.
Jason Ye
Jason is one of the most accomplished players in the VML, winning Season 8 and recently making Top 8 at RC Dallas. This week, it’s playing 5 Color Slogurk, facing Esper Control.
Why did you choose your deck this week?
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How do you feel about your matchup?
Pretty good, my opponent brought a lot of hate for Slogurk but it doesn’t really look like her deck has much of a clock, so I think I should be able to just play a fair legends game through that.
What does your testing process look like?
At this point, not much; focusing on other stuff. So mostly I just register Slogurk.
Catra
Catra is playing in fae’s 5th season, in Division 12. She’s playing against Jenny in the Esper Midrange mirror, and built her list for it with 3 Wandering Emperor and 3 Virtue of Loyalty.
Why did you choose your deck this week?
Well, after playing in Nile Joan Rivers tournament and having a signed Deep-Cavern Bat next to me all day I really wanted to play 4 of them. I noticed too my opponent had been registering Esper and it’s a mirror I’ve always felt comfortable in so I registered it.
How do you feel about your matchup?
I’m a little nervous tbh, mirrors can always be swingy but I’m confident in my piloting ability and feel like I can get there.
What goals did you have going into the season?
After being off the VML for about a year for personal reasons I was really hoping to come back strong last season. I went 1-6. This season I set my sights on the playoffs especially since I was doing some prep for Dallas. My only losses were times I was overly exhausted so I’m really hopeful I can get this one and get my playoff spot.
Jenny
Jenny is also playing in her 5th season, looking to repeat her playoff appearance last season. She’s played Esper Midrange most weeks, but her list doesn’t have Wedding Announcement, a key card in the mirror.
What does your testing process look like?
Usually a lot of theorycrafting, followed by some goldfishing with the deck, and then properly testing the deck on ladder or if I have the time getting laps with my testing team for the specific matchup.
What goals did you have going into the season?
Mostly to have fun but also to come out with a winning record. I made the playoffs last season and it would certainly be nice to repeat that but overall I’m very happy to be at 4-2 and the outcome of this week’s match won’t change that.
What was your hardest match this season?
This is the VML so every match has been challenging in some way but I think my hardest match was week 3 against Domain. My opponent metagamed me a bit and despite playing well they were able to make it to the late game and take over with their better top end.
Match Results
Catra won the match 2-0, thanks to her multiple Virtues and Wedding Announcements.
Noor Singh
This is Noor’s 5th season, coming off a top 8 performance last season. She brought Jeskai Control, a deck she’s worked on as a variant of UW Control. Her opponent is Lady of the Crease on Domain Ramp.
Why did you choose your deck this week?
I’ve really liked the way Jeskai Control plays in this format. Wandering Mind and Lightning Helix are strong upgrades to the UW Control shell and improve your consistency, especially with 3 Jace as a mill plan. Additionally, Jeskai’s best matchups are Golgari Midrange and Domain Ramp, the two decks my opponent has played this season.
How do you feel about your matchup?
I feel really good about my matchup! My list is better against Domain than stock UW is and my opponent’s list isn’t particularly teched for the matchup.
What does your testing process look like?
I’m part of a testing team and I usually work with them to get reps in the matchup. My partner is in the same division as me, so I usually talk to faer about deck selection, since she’s played the same opponents.
Lady of the Crease
Lady of the Crease is a VML veteran, playing in all 12 seasons. Domain is usually favored vs Control decks thanks to Atraxa and Up the Beanstalk, but Noor’s list plays 3 Jace the Perfected Mind, one of the best cards in the format against Domain.
Why did you choose your deck this week?
Domain Ramp has been my go-to this season. I strayed twice to play Golgari Midrange and I am 4-0 with Domain Ramp and 0-2 with Golgari Midrange so I have been aptly punished each time I stray from Atraxa and friends.
What does your testing process look like?
So, before all else, I’m a mom! My testing process usually is the night before my match going “I have a VML match tomorrow! I should probably play!” and queueing up a match from bed while I’m falling asleep at 11pm and hoping my toddler doesn’t wake up. Followed by a panicked “My match is in ten minutes! Take the baby! Any sideboarding advice?!?” to my partner the next day right before match time. (If I’ve played you in the past, I am sorry I don’t turn my computer on until our match time has arrived and I appreciate each and every one of you.)
But in all seriousness, THIS is why I love the VML. I am a stay-at-home-mom with limited opportunities to play and even more limited time. The VML gives me an opportunity to hang up my mom hat and put on my competitive Magic player hat. I get a dose of super-competitive Magic every week, I can schedule it in, I don’t need to rearrange my life or get a babysitter, and I get to be part of this amazing community. The VML accommodates players from all over the world and all walks of life and I couldn’t be more grateful for what they have done for me or for what this community means to me.
What goals did you have going into the season?
To improve at Magic. That’s it. Do I want to win? Heck yeah. Of course I do. That’s a lot of unnecessary pressure, though. Ultimately, my goal is to be a better Magic player. I can confidently say the VML has helped me do just that.
Match Results
Lady of the Crease won the match 2-1. She lost game 1 to all 3 Jaces, while on a mulligan to 5. She won game 2 by overwhelming Noor with 4 toughness creatures Topiary Stomper, Archangel of Wrath and Chrome-Host Seedshark, all dodging Lightning Helix. And she won game 3 despite Noor playing 2 Jaces by playing cheap creatures and burning Jace with Archangel.
Chaisaurusrex
Our final match comes from Division 7, between Chaisaurusrex and BarelyRebecca. Chai made playoffs last season and is playing in her second season. Rebecca is playing in her third season, looking to make playoffs for the first time.
Chaisaurusrex is playing Golgari Midrange, a deck they’ve played 5 times this season. Rebecca is on Boros Convoke, switching off her usual Bant Toxic.
Why did you choose your deck this week?
I love casting Dreadknight and Bronco! Fun cards. My opponent played Toxic or Convoke all season and Golgari has good matchups there. I didn’t want to run into a Convoke mirror because those are no fun.
What does your testing process look like?
Testing team 555555555 has been super helpful this season! The chat is very active and people are always seeking out advice and testing matches, which is good because I have been too busy to play ladder lately.
What was your hardest match this season?
My hardest match this season was last week against Slogurk, I have not played against it much and they were very long grindy games, too many opportunities to make the wrong choice.
BarelyRebecca
Why did you choose your deck this week?
For most of the VML season I played Bant Toxic since I love the deck and it was what I was hoping to be able to play at the RC. I chose to switch off of Bant Toxic for the final week because I was worried that my opponent would potentially be on Boros Convoke this week and that is a TERRIBLE matchup for Bant Toxic. I am most comfortable on aggro decks so I decided to take a chance on the potential mirror to play Boros Convoke this week.
How do you feel about your matchup?
I feel ok with the Convoke vs Golgari Midrange matchup. Based on the RC data I believe I am supposed to be the slightly favored deck but Golgari Midrange has powerful sweepers in Path of Peril and Gix’s Command so I will need to ideally close things up before those have a chance to come down.
What does your testing process look like?
My testing process mostly involves playing BO1 games on Arena and trying to convince myself that they are totally definitely meaningful reps. Other times I will jam games with friends. I am overall a good example of what not to do.
Match Results
Rebecca won the match 2-1. Game 1 was close, with Chai getting her down to 1 life before she stabilized and won. Game 2 Chai cast multiple board wipes and a Tranquil Frillback to destroy Warleader’s Call before closing it out with Aclazotz. Game 3 Rebecca won with two Urabrask’s Forge and a Warleader’s Call, which lined up well against the sweepers in Chai’s hand.
Wrap Up
That’s all for this week! Next week I’ll be interviewing players playing in the top 48.