Written by Matthieu Dupuy

This is a two-part, two-perspective tournament report of The Bearded Dragon Games Win-a-Duel on Feb. 1, 2025. This is the tournament report from Matt’s perspective. Read Adri’s perspective here.

Prologue

• Matt: I don’t really care about the Volcanic Island; I’m really looking for the Tundra.
• Adri: Same, I don’t want the Tundra. I need another Volcanic, though.
• Matt: It’d be great if we met in the finals; we can split the prizes, and both get what we want.
• Adri: It’d be great, yeah. Not gonna happen, though.

The Night Before

I tried to make Grixis Control work for the last few weeks. I felt I had less interaction and a slower clock than combo decks like Reanimator or midrange decks like UB or Delver. I changed to a Sneak and Show list I had performed well with in the past but hadn’t played with since the Pyschic Frog ban.

I reached out to a group chat to see who would test with me before committing to the deck. Adri responded. Around 11 p.m., we started playing. Adri thought Grixis would be well-positioned for the tournament and wanted some reps. After a quick 2-0 (4-0) from my side, he decided against Grixis, citing similar complaints to what I had found earlier in the week.

Adri tested Esper Samwise, thinking that the additional value might help vs. combo like Sneak and Show, but the same result happened; 2-0 (4-0). We finished those matches by about midnight, and sought other decks he might play.

I suggested a Mardu Cats list, knowing he played previously Azorius Cats briefly. After some convincing, he tried it. He removed two cards from my hand with Cabal Therapy and won on turn four for four straight games. The deck felt strong with so much hand disruption supported by a fast clock.

Adri decided he would play Mardu in the tournament and sent a list of cards he needed to our group chat. We spoke through potential matchups and lines before calling it a night. We woke early the next morning to meet up our friend Omar, who drove us there.

I felt much more confident about my list after testing. I thought I'd be well positioned, but kept thinking of small changes I could make to the list throughout the tournament. I finally settled on this list:

The Morning Of

I woke up a half hour late, rushed to get dressed, and went to our meeting point — I Ubered instead of taking the subway. Ironically, I was the first to arrive.

Shortly after, I ran into Adri. We tried to fist bump/handshake three times before succeeding — a good way to start the day, saving our luck for the tournament. A little later, Omar and Dom arrived and we headed to The Bearded Dragon Games (TBDG) in Bernardsville, New Jersey.

During our ride, we discussed matchups, who we thought we'd see there, if we should stop for food, and some friendly banter. Once there, we couldn’t find parking until a few minutes before the event was supposed to start.

We rushed to TBDG and quickly wrote out our decklists (we should’ve sent them online the night before).

Round 1

I recognized my opponent's name — I played them night before; small world. They were on Oops, All Spells. We shuffled up and listened to the judges announcements.

Game 1

We resolved high rolls; I took the play. If they were on the same list from the previous night, I’d need countermagic and/or a quick clock. My opening hand had a turn four Emrakul, The Aeons Torn via Sneak Attack and a Force of Will plus blue card; I kept it.

I countered their first attempt. Unfortunately, they recovered, milled their deck, and Dread Returned Thassa’s Oracle before I could combo off.

Game 2

For game two, I brought in some graveyard hate, hoping to slow them down. My first hand comprised one land, a bunch of cantrips, and a Force of Will — likely too slow and mulliganed. I eventually kept a five-card hand of Force of Will, cantrip, two lands, and Grafdigger’s Cage.

I cast the Grafdigger's Cage, which compelled them to play their creatures to beat down. That provided enough time for me to cast Sneak Attack and put in Archon of Cruelty and Emrakul.

Game 3

My opponent mulligans to five cards. I keep two Force of Wills, Brainstorm, Show and Tell, two fetchlands, and Grafdigger’s Cage. On my first end step, they try to Force of Vigor my Grafdigger's Cage, but I Force of Will it.

They pass the next few turns without casting spells. I end the match by Show and Telling Atraxa, Grand Unifier.

Round 2

Game 1

I'm paired against my good friend Bill. We joked about me needing to avenge Omar who Bill defeated in the first round. I won the die roll.

Turn one: Island, pass. Bill drew and discarded Atraxa, Grand Unifier to hand size. He won via his second reanimation spell.

Game 2

We each of went land, pass the first two turns of game two. He reanimated a Troll of Khazad-dûm through a counter-war. A few turns later, I Show and Tell Archon of Cruelty, drawing me into Fiery Confluence. I didn't made a land drop the previous turn, so I couldn't cast it for lethal. He swung with the troll to take the match.

We played another game for fun. He had a fast entomb-reanimate draw. We spent the remaining time in round joking about our car rivalry and how Adri or Dom, both 2-0, would take Bill down in round three.

Round 3

Game 1

I’m paired against another friend, John, who I hoped decided to play UB mid instead Reanimator. I felt UB mid favorable for me. I'm relieved when he fetched a swamp turn one to cast Nethergoyf. Soon after, I get Atraxa into play after jamming two Show and Tells.

Game 2

I draw the nuts: turn one Defense Grid is tagged by Force of Will. Turn two Show and Tell also Force of Willed. Turn three, I Force of Will The One Ring through Daze. I win turn four via Show and Tell Emrakul.

Round 4

Game 1

Paired against yet another friend, David, who I know is on Black Saga Storm. I keep turn two Show and Tell Atraxa with Force of Will backup.

Island, pass. David plays a land and casts Dark Ritual. I counter it with Force of Will. He follows with Lotus Petal, a second Dark Ritual, Thoughtseize. He takes Show and Tell, casts and cracks Lion's Eye Diamond to flashback Echo of Eons.

My new has another Force of Will, Daze, two Show and Tells, Omniscience, and a Sol land. David's new hand was Thoughtseize and a bunch of artifact mana. He cast Thoughtseize, taking Force of Will and letting me Show and Tell Omniscience. I cast the Brainstorm I drew for the turn, which finds Emrakul.

Game 2

I keep a hand of multiple Force of Wills, three lands, Daze, Flusterstorm, and Brotherhood’s End. I planned to develop and destroy all of David’s artifacts. David kept a relatively slow hand, trying to construct beatdown. Luckily, I wipe his entire whole board with Brotherhood’s End and find Sneak Attack and Archon of Cruelty shortly thereafter.

After the round, I chatted with Adri, who was 4-0 and able to double-draw into Top 8!

Round 5

Game 1

My opponent sat next to me during the previous round, so I knew they were on Eldrazi. I felt comfortable against all stompy decks. After winning the die roll, I mulled to five that could turn two Emrakul for the win.

Game 2

I brought in artifact hate and multiple Fury to control the board early. Turn one, my opponent played Karakas, Lotus Petal into Chalice of the Void on one. I make a land drop and pass. They do the same: Cavern of Souls on Eldrazi.

Next turn, I land drop and pass. They do the same with