VML Season 11 Top 16 Player Showcase
We are down to the last few weeks of the season, and only 16 players remain. With a 16th place finish, all players have an invite to the Arena Qualifier Weekend and getting into top 8 gives an invite to the Regional Championship and the VML Championships. There are a few players I hadn’t talked to before this season so let’s meet them.
Chelsea
Chelsea is playing in her first VML season and has been undefeated up to this point! She’s playing Azorius Midrange against Sam Bogue’s Esper Midrange.
Why did you choose your deck this week?
My testing team and I have been concerned about Temur Ramp, and that seemed to be the deck that my opponent, Sam, knew best. He also had played Mono Red Aggro, so I switched up my interactive Dimir Midrange for Azorius Midrange to get access to Dennick, Wandering Emperor, Knockout Blow, and No More Lies. White also had some nice graveyard hate options, which we decided to main board. Unfortunately, Sam soul read us and registered Esper Midrange with preboarded Cut Downs and Alcazotz.
What does your testing process look like?
I joined one of the VML testing teams because I didn’t really know anyone with competitive standard experience. In the playoffs, I got a lot of help from my testing team leader, Nicole Dubin, who basically became my coach for the playoffs. We would test before and after deck submission, and I would try to ask as many questions as possible to understand how to approach my matches.
What was your hardest match this season?
In week 5, I had my first ever featured match against none other than Nile Joan Rivers! Even though I was able to register a deck that had a favorable matchup on paper (Dimir Tempo vs Azorius Control), I was incredibly nervous going into the series. I had never played magic before so many people, and I was very worried about misplaying for the entire world to watch, especially in front of prominent mtg players. For instance, my partner told me that Jim Davis was watching the stream, and I never would have imagined that Jim Davis would be watching me play Magic. I felt an ecstatic sense of relief and accomplishment when the games were over. Then the texts from my friends came pouring in over the weekend, and I realized that I might be able to mount a playoff run.
How did your match go?
Overall, I am just happy to be in the top 16. Since we metagamed, the deck I registered had a pretty low chance of pulling off the match win. Everything had to go right, and unfortunately, I made a misplay with my second Emperor and that cost me game 1. Things didn’t end up going my way, but that is okay. I made a few friends while playing and now I am excited to run it back for season 12!
What does the VML mean to you?
It is so wonderful to have a space where people can not only play magic together but do so in a welcoming environment where people can see a lot of themselves in other players. VML gives me an opportunity to play competitive magic without giving up an entire weekend, which is huge. Someday, I would love to help VML plan and run events to give back to the community.
Dylan
Dylan is playing in their second season, repeating the top 16 placement they got last season. This week she registered Azorius Control versus Cliff Boyardee on Golgari Midrange.
Why did you choose your deck this week?
I wanted something that I thought would be favored against my opponent’s Azorius control. I also thought that, if they kept the deck, they would probably be lower to the ground and hedging to beat Esper or Dimir. This meant I thought an Azorius control build high on countermagic and focused on winning the mirror would be a good way to attack that.
What does your testing process look like?
My testing process typically consists of grinding large amounts of ladder games, typically on Arena but occasionally on MTGO, before focusing on the matchup at hand with those around me. I often try to participate in challenges and other side tournaments as well, if I can make the time for it.
What was your hardest match this season?
My hardest match prior to this week was probably my week 2 loss to Robin Isabella. I had registered a list that I thought would be weak to Domain, and she switched to Domain after her week 1 loss. The games were far closer than they should have been, and I drew well, but ultimately I just was not able to win.
How did your match go?
Going into this week’s match, I felt that it was a good matchup for my deck, but was unable to find good testing partners for the matchup, struggled to find it on the ladder, and had a sub-optimal build for it against a strong opponent. Ultimately, this resulted in a long 0-2, mostly due to mistakes by myself.
What does the VML mean to you?
The VML to me as a trans woman is an opportunity to test myself and compete against other LGBTQIA+ individuals in the card game we all enjoy. I appreciate the online and weekly nature as a unique format, enjoy the camaraderie with everyone I need and face during the season, and always look forward to playing each season.
Violet Viatt
Our last two featured players this week are Violet Viatt and Violet Starmine, both playing in their first season. While they’re not playing against each other this week, if they win each of their matches, we will see a battle of Violets next week. Violet Viatt brought Boros Convoke and is facing Andrea Smith, playing Dimir Midrange.
Why did you choose your deck this week?
My opponent had only played Dimir Midrange, so I picked Convoke because it has a good Dimir matchup but is still doing something generically powerful enough that if they decide to switch decks I don’t just lose instantly.
What does your testing process look like?
I enlist friends who are better at magic than me to help me with a sideboard guide and practicing the matchup. My philosophy this season has been that I can switch decks whenever I want, because I don’t have to spend the time to learn the ins and outs of the deck, I just have to learn to play my exact 75 against their exact 75.
What was your hardest match this season?
My last match of the division stage was against Cora Stobie, and the winner of the match would win the division, so we were both giving it our all. It was a very tight Azorius Control mirror that ended in a super close game 3 with a
Tishana’s Tidebinder limping over the finish line right before she could turn the corner.
How do you feel about this week’s match?
I feel pretty good, my matchup certainly isn’t a freebie but I do believe I gained some percentage points in my deck choice. Being on the draw is kind of concerning but I think I’m favored on paper anyway. My opponent’s list isn’t super prepared for convoke, they have 2 Path of Perils postboard so hopefully I can dodge those but their maindeck isn’t ideal for Convoke with a Duress and only 2 Cut Downs.
What does the VML mean to you?
I’ve really enjoyed playing in the VML, I think the weekly format is a very interesting way to do a tournament that leads to a lot of community and adds interesting decisions you don’t normally get in typical 1-2 day swiss tournaments. My favorite part has been seeing everyone sharing their joke deck names in the discord, my favorite was “I’m like the Michael Jordan of stealing decks from Cliff Boyardee”
Violet Starmine
Violet Starmine has had an impressive this season, losing her first two matches but coming back and winning every match since then. This week she’s playing Dimir Midrange while her opponent, JGHayes brought Esper Midrange.
Why did you choose your deck this week?
I thought I was going to get hard countered after running Azorius Control for the last few weeks. I was wrong LMAO.
What does your testing process look like?
I have a collection of friends and my testing team from this split that help me jam multiple games.
What was your hardest match this season?
Definitely my top 32 match against Rah. It felt like all 3 of the games could’ve swung either way until the last turns.
How did your match go?
I picked a deck that was built to beat Control Matchups, Domain, or Temur Ramp. I got the switch up into a slightly unfavorable Esper matchup. I wound up losing 1-2 but I think both my opponent and I played incredibly.
What does the VML mean to you?
Having a league for people like myself to meet other players of marginalized gender is huge. I love the idea of getting to form testing groups and work alongside people who have similar life experiences as myself; instead of my historic playgroups of primarily cis men. I think the testing team resource of the VML is the reason I enjoyed this season and look forward to hopefully leading another one in the summer. Being able to make friends and alleviate the awkwardness of feeling new and left out of conversations through our testing team really made me feel excited to work alongside some incredible people every week.
Wrap Up
That’s all for this week. While we unfortunately won’t get to see the Violet showdown next week, the top 8 is sure to be a delight. With a mix of newcomers and veterans of the VML, it’ll be exciting to see who comes out on top!