VML Season 13 Round of 48 Player Showcase
Playoffs begin this week with the round of 48. The winners of each division got a bye into top 32, while the runner ups and the remaining 16 wildcard players have to play an extra round. Notably for playoffs, the higher seed chooses whether to play or draw in game 1. This week, I talked to some of the players whom I haven’t interviewed before this season.
Josh
Josh is playing in their 5th season, and made playoffs as one of the wildcard slots. They played many different decks in the regular season and this week chose Azorius Tempo against VioletViatt on Mono White Tokens.
Why did you choose your deck this week?
I like the deck concept; aggro-combo has always been my bread and butter as a player and a deck that gets a powerhouse creature down far earlier than should be possible and uses it to run away with the game just feels right.
How do you feel about your matchup?
I don’t feel favored in this MU; I think the tokens deck does too good a job of exiling targets for my reanimation package to work especially well. The Sunfall
Sunfall
is also a huge threat.
How did you start playing Magic?
I started playing long enough ago it’s hard to remember, I think I was introduced to the game in a bookstore that hasn’t existed in over a decade.
How did you get involved with the VML?
I got involved with the VML through some friends in the content creation world.
What does the VML mean to you?
The VML has, for me, been a space to exist without judgment. I have friends who I can compete with and have greatly enjoyed the opportunity to meet an often suppressed contingent in the Magic community.
How has the VML helped you improve as a player?
The VML has done more for me as a community member than as a player. While every tournament offers the opportunity to compete and grow, the VML exists as more than simply a space for competition.
Abby Rose
A veteran of the VML, Abby is one of few people who have played in every season so far. She made it to playoffs with mostly red aggro decks like Rakdos and Boros and is sticking to her comfort zone with Boros Prowess. Her opponent, Nicole Dubin, brought Dimir Midrange.
Why did you choose your deck this week?
I’ve been a fan of this list since Duskmourn was released. 2 people were brave enough to bring it to Worlds last week so I decided to stick with it.
How do you feel about your matchup?
I had planned to play against prowess or convoke, but ended up with Dimir Midrange. Did a lot to prepare, but my win percentage here is not the best.
How did you start playing Magic?
There was a product that was made just for teaching people how to play once upon a time called Portal.
How did you get involved with the VML?
I was pretty involved with the Star City Tour in 2018-2019 and received a sponsorship from the wonderful ladies at Proven Combatants. Team PC was very early to learn about the VML. I’ve been here since season 1 and love my involvement with the community
What does the VML mean to you?
Watching our corner of the greater MTG Community grow is one of the best parts of being here. As a discord moderator for the VML I want everyone to feel welcome, included, and safe.
How has the VML helped you improve as a player?
VML allows me to pay attention to standard when I would probably only be playing Modern or Pioneer events otherwise. This often pushes me into decks that once upon a time were not in my comfort zone. Now I can pilot any list a teammate needs practice against with relative confidence.
Jenn Crotts
Jenn is another player who’s played in every VML Season, including a second place finish in Season 9. This season, she’s played Golgari Midrange and Mono White Tokens, but changed things up this week with Domain Ramp vs lilpumpkin, who’s playing Mono Red Prowess.
Why did you choose your deck this week?
I chose Domain because my opponent had been posting control decks for a few weeks and I wanted to play a deck that was drawing cards and had a good variety of answers to token control strategies.
How do you feel about your matchup?
My opponent threw me a curve ball and posted an aggro deck, but I’m packing 3 Temporary Lockdown
Temporary Lockdown
and 3 Sunfall
Sunfall
so I think the matchup could go either way.
How did you start playing Magic?
I started playing magic after a friend introduced me to it in 2012. We played the Nicol Bolas vs Ajani duel decks and all it took was casting Nicol Bolas one time to be hooked!
How did you get involved with the VML?
I have been playing in the VML since its inaugural season, and have always loved the competition!
What does the VML mean to you?
The VML has always been a great way to play highly competitive magic from home. It was wonderful to have during covid while grand prix’s and large competitive tournaments were off the table.
How has the VML helped you improve as a player?
The VML has helped me hone in on what’s important to me when it comes to playing arena or magic online. For many years I would play only “S tier” decklists at large tournaments. And while I’ll still do that for tournament play, I have realized it’s much more important to me to play something I enjoy when playing arena or magic online, and while competing in the VML as well.
Lilpumpkin
Lilpumpkin is playing in her second season, and is her second time making playoffs. She’s played mostly control decks this season, but switched to Mono Red, hoping to get a surprise on Jenn.
Why did you choose your deck this week?
Red aggro is a bit of a comfort deck for me and I love the little mice so I just wanted to pick something that I knew how to play and that I’d be happy losing with (also this one topped some MTGO event it must be good right).
How do you feel about your matchup?
I’m feeling optimistic, Domain isn’t my best matchup because of all the exile removal and lifelink creatures but if the deck stumbles a bit I can probably win.
How’d you start playing Magic?
I got back into card games during Covid times, watched some Commander videos and eventually installed Arena around the time Midnight Hunt got released.
How’d you get involved with the VML?
Very short story, Dahllia/Andrea (who I almost had to play this round lol) made me aware of the whole thing about a year ago and I just signed up for my first season then.
What does the VML mean to you?
There aren’t really any paper tournaments where I’m from, so I appreciate the VML for being an opportunity for me to play some comp Magic.
How has the VML helped you improve as a player?
The structure of VML kinda disincentivizes you from picking the same deck every week and that makes me try out different stuff, which I think helps me get better at the game.
Tess
This is Tess’s first season, going 5-2 in her division with Golgari Midrange. This week she’s on Dimir Demons against KateyCats, who’s also on Dimir Demons.
Why did you choose your deck this week?
It caught my attention during Worlds, and after a lot of playtesting I felt really confident in the matchup spread. I also think Faerie Mastermind
Faerie Mastermind
is a great card in the current metagame.
How do you feel about your matchup?
Almost a 75-for-75 mirror. The matchup usually comes down to whoever can pile up the most card advantage, so I’m looking for Unholy Annex // Ritual Chamber
Unholy Annex
Ritual Chamber
and Faerie Masterminds.
How’d you start playing Magic?
A friend in high school taught me how to play (Saproling typal vs Simic Ascendancy
Simic Ascendancy
), and I’ve been hooked ever since!
How’d you get involved with the VML?
Folks in my local magic community told me about it and pushed me to give it a try. I’m really glad they did!
What does the VML mean to you?
I love how the VML is a place where folks can get introduced to competitive Magic in an easier way. I think the more we break down barriers in the game, the better.
How has the VML helped you improve as a player?
The open decklists and week-to-week metagaming are pretty new to me as someone in their first couple years of competitive Magic, and it’s been a fun learning experience.
GSCNow
Also playing in their first season is GSCNow! She got second place in her division playing a different deck almost every week. She brought Golgari Ramp this week versus noto on Gruul Prowess.
Why did you choose your deck this week?
I like to metagame, and have switched decks a fair amount in league play. My opponent had mostly been on Gruul Prowess and Golgari Midrange so I wanted something that would fare well against either of those without being too narrow. Jim Davis’ list from worlds looked like it fit the bill and I just made a couple of changes for card availability.
How do you feel about your matchup?
I think my interaction lines up well against their threats so I feel like I should have a decent matchup, but Gruul is explosive so you never know.
How’d you start playing Magic?
I started playing when Arena was in beta after someone in my D&D group recommended it to me. I played on and off for a while, then started playing in paper at the LCI prerelease.
How’d you get involved with the VML?
I had a vague awareness of the VML but seeing Nile & Ashlizzle on TCC is what made me actually look into it properly and I decided I would try to play in the next season I could.
What does the VML mean to you?
It’s really great to have a friendly but competitive minded space. I’ve found that some other groups for people of marginalised genders have an exclusively or primarily casual focus that isn’t how I engage with the game.
How has the VML helped you improve as a player?
I think a lot more about matchups, and the strengths and weaknesses of decks relative to each other. The testing team has been amazing, they’ve really helped me think through lines of play, analyse each decision and think about the game in a more rigorous manner. Very grateful to Vraska and the Innkeepers!