Brad and Kevin meet up as both players look to start their tournament 3-0 in Legacy. Will Brad and Death and Taxes continue his success or will Kevin and Merfolk prove to have the better mono-colored creature deck in a format filled with three and four-colored strategies?
Game 1
Brad braves the waters against Merfolk.
Kevin, on the play on a mulligan to six, led off with a Cursecatcher and Brad went for an Aether+Vial, but Kevin countered it with Force+of+Will, pitching Lord+of+Atlantis. Kevin attacked for one and passed and Brad had a backup Vial and Flagstones+of+Trokair. Kevin found his second land, Cavern+of+Souls, naming "Merfolk" and played Silvergill+Adept, revealing Lord+of+Atlantis. Kevin attacked for one and passed, so Brad ticked up his Vial and played Thalia%2C+Guardian+of+Thraben and destroyed the Cavern with a Wasteland.
Kevin couldn’t attack and played a Mutavault before shipping the turn. Brad deployed a Mother+of+Runes and Rishadan+Port and started taxing Kevin's mana, tapping the Island. Kevin couldn't attack once again and Brad kept up the pressure, Vialing in a Serra+Avenger and keeping Kevin's Island tapped. Kevin looked at his next card, but couldn't get any other action and scooped up his board.
Brad 1, Kevin 0
Game 2
Kevin has to pay the tax man this round.
This time Brad went to six cards and Kevin opened with an Aether+Vial off a Cavern+of+Souls on "Merfolk." Brad only had a Plains and passed as Kevin ticked up his Vial before playing a Mutavault and passing back. Brad played a Wasteland and a Thalia as Kevin found a basic Island but had no other play or attack.
Brad added Karakas to his board and attacked with Thalia to get in for two and ended his turn with a Mirran+Crusader while Kevin Vialed in a Harbinger+of+the+Tides and bounced Thalia. Kevin untapped and Vialed in a Silvergill+Adept and played a Phantasmal+Image copying the Adept to get another card. Kevin ended his turn with a Pithing+Needle on "Wasteland" and passed the turn.
Brad sent the Crusader into the red zone and dropped Kevin to 14, replayed the Thalia and added a Serra+Avenger to his creature base. Kevin kept his Vial on two and played True-Name+Nemesis, naming "Brad Nelson." Brad got in for three in the air, dropping Kevin to 11, played a Mother+of+Runes and said "go" so Kevin responded by Vialing in another Image, this time copying True-Name+Nemesis. Kevin played another Cavern+of+Souls and Vialed in Lord+of+Atlantis and attacked with his pro-Brad Merfolk to knock him to 8 and passed.
Brad attacked with his Avenger and brought Kevin to 8 and shipped the turn. Kevin moved his Vial to three counters on his upkeep, sent in his True-Names and put Brad at 4. Brad took his next draw but saw no way out and started shuffling up for the third game.
Brad 1, Kevin 1
Game 3
Both players kept their openers this time and Brad led off with an Aether+Vial while Kevin only had a Cavern+of+Souls. Brad played a Rishadan+Port and passed, tapping down the Cavern on Kevin's upkeep. Kevin had another Cavern and passed as Brad ticked up the Vial and was content keeping a Cavern tapped down. Kevin played his third Cavern, this time on "Illusion" and played a Silvergill+Adept, revealing Master+of+the+Pearl+Trident. Brad Vialed in a Stoneforge+Mystic on the end step, getting Sword+of+Fire+and+Ice.
Brad moved the Vial up to three counters, moved to his end step and Vialed in Flickerwisp to flicker a Vial on "Merfolk." Kevin played a Phantasmal+Image and copied the Flickerwisp, opting to flicker Brad's Vial then played his own Vial. Brad activated his Stoneforge+Mystic to put the Sword in play, and each player got their permanents back from exile. Brad upped his Vial to 1 and exiled the Image with Swords+to+Plowshares, suited his Mystic up with the Sword and attacked with it and Flickerwisp. Brad used the Sword to kill the Adept and passed after getting his extra card.
Kevin looked to rebuild with another Image, again copying Flickerwisp, exiling the Sword temporarily and passed the turn. Brad put the Sword back on the mystic and attacked, but Kevin killed it with a Dismember, going to 10 in the process. Brad ended his turn by putting the Sword on the Flickerwisp and said "go."
Kevin played a True-Name+Nemesis and his own piece of equipment, his being Umezawa's Jitte. Brad had the answer to the Jitte, however, as he Vialed in Phyrexian Revoker at the end step, naming the Legendary Equipment. Brad also had the answer to the Nemesis, using Council's Judgement to exile the Merfolk. Brad followed up with another Flickerwisp, this one bounced the Image, killing it, and then allowed him to attack Kevin down to 3. Brad finished up by playing Thalia and Kevin Vialed in a Lord+of+Atlantis and got his Jitte back. Kevin peaked as his next draw and extended the hand.
Brad 2, Kevin 1
