VML Season 12 Round of 48 Player Showcase
After seven weeks of division play, it’s finally time for the playoffs! The winner of each division gets a bye into top 32 while the runner ups and the 16 wildcard players have to play in the round of 48. This week I talked to some of the players playing this round.
Wolfennar
This is Wolfennar’s first season of the VML, going 5-2 in her division playing exclusively a cool Hidetsugu and Kairi combo deck. This week she’s facing Ashley Fairchild on Temur Analyst
How did you get involved in the VML?
I came across it on social media and it looked like a really cool event. Had a deck idea I wanted to see how it’d measure up to the meta before rotation and the VML was my best opportunity for it. Plus felt like a great environment to get started playing competitively.
How did your match go?
Going in I wanted to feel confident. Temur Analyst is certainly not to be underestimated but also it gave me a lot of freedom to execute my own game plan. As to how it went, it was a good game, both of us got to do our things but my opponent got more lucky than me. I’m a little saddened that my combo low rolled pretty hard both times it went off. I would’ve liked people to see its true potential for the feature match. Seen it do 30-40 damage in a single turn plenty of times. Also a little angry at myself for a subtle misplay that cost me the last game. But that’s how you learn I suppose.
What goals did you have going into the season?
I just wanted to see how far I could bring that deck, and honestly with how I was doing in MTGA ranked I thought there was no way I’d win more than 2 or 3 matches. So placing for the playoffs was more than I could ask.
Hamannator12
Hamannator is playing in their third season, making top 32 in Season 10. This season they played mostly Gruul Aggro, which is what they brought this week against Sarah England on Dimir Midrange.
How did you start playing Magic?
I started playing magic around 2017, originally as a commander player but got back into Modern in 2019.
How did you get involved in the VML?
I got into the VML because my friends Cliff, Adelia, and Andrea Smith showed it to me before season 10.
Why did you choose your deck this week?
I chose my deck for the week because it has been going quite well for me in the season and on the MTG Arena ladder.
TexasRangerMTG
TexasRanger made playoffs playing a mix of Temur Analyst, Esper Midrange and Bant Toxic in the main season. They registered Analyst and are playing against Andrea Smith on Dimir Midrange
Why did you choose your deck this week?
I chose it because it’s what I felt most comfortable with. I have tons of reps with analyst and while it’s fallen out of favor I was optimistic its raw strength would help carry me.
How did your match go?
I won in a close game 3 with a Vadmir putting on a lot of pressure and needing to rip back to back burn spells to finish it off through counter magic. From there I was able to ramp into a titan of industry which finished the match off.
What does the VML mean to you?
The VML gives a voice and a platform to lots of individuals who historically have been suppressed, especially in MTG. It means a lot to be a part of something that is used for so much good and sends such a good message!
Keira
Keira played in a lot of the VML’s early seasons, but hasn’t played since Season 6. She’s back for Season 12, playing Esper Midrange the whole season. This week she’s against Worldwaker2 on Blue-White Control.
Why did you choose your deck this week?
I chose Esper Midrange because I know it better than other standard decks; with infinite time and resources (including wildcards) I might play something else, but I defaulted to what I knew to try and leverage my own skill. I’m also a black-based midrange player at heart.
What goals did you have for the season?
My goal at the start of the season was to play well as much as I could. For the most part, I achieved this; apart from one match I played on an evening after the RC in Naples following a few glasses of wine – which I did win despite an excellent opponent (and hamstringing myself). I obviously want to win, that’s the game, but I want to maximize what I can control and focus on that.
What does the VML mean to you?
The VML is wonderful; I find magic spaces in general better than some for respecting those of marginalized gender, but there are still issues of, for example, sexism – and the VML provides me a space where such issues are minimized and let what really matters define how well I do – how good I am at the game. I am honored to play alongside players as good as those in this tournament, and I am excited to be up there at the top some day.