Duskmourn is here! I was trying to think of something witty to say about the set, but I don’t really have any insights on its implementation of modern horror.
I was going to borrow some copy from the Wizards site, but the site was mostly about how I would have a “more thrilling experience” by pre-ordering boxes of collector boosters, something I decided to skip.
I’m sure it would be a thrilling and horrible experience to look at my bank account afterward, but that’s not the sort of horror I’m looking for.
Instead, let’s talk about some Sealed! Here’s what I ended up building.
While the rest of the pool was decent, it didn’t offer much in the way of a definitive direction. My two pretty mythic creatures (Niko, Light of Hope and The Wandering Rescuer) did give me direction, though!
As a result, I ended up with a pretty straight forward Blue/White aggro list.
Deck
2 Cult Healer
1 Optimistic Scavenger
1 Piranha Fly
1 Unsettling Twins
2 Grand Entryway // Elegant Rotunda
1 Stalked Researcher
1 Acrobatic Cheerleader
1 Unwilling Vessel
1 Surgical Suite // Hospital Room
1 Underwater Tunnel // Slimy Aquarium
1 Glimmerlight
1 Conductive Machete
1 Fear of Falling
1 Veteran Survivor
1 Erratic Apparition
1 Unwanted Remake
8 Island
8 Plains
1 Possessed Goat
1 Floodpits Drowner
1 Niko, Light of Hope
1 The Wandering Rescuer
1 Terramorphic Expanse
1 Entity TrackerCompared to my last pool, this one was far stronger and offered a definite direction to play.
So how did it actually do?
Better than last time! Still not great. But better!
Match 1 was a set of games against Red/Blue control that I was able just roll over in two quick games. Possessed Goat put in a lot of work, and they were never able to drop a big enough creature to slow my roll of tiny dudes and pump effects.
Match 2 was another 2-0, but a much harder fought one. They were running a Red/Green/Blue delirium deck. Game 1 was a bit of a brawl, but Niko and The Rescuer managed to turn things for me. Game 2 was closer, with them dropping a few Patchwork Beasties, but not managing to get the delirium up quite in time. This allowed me to finally sneak a board in, and pump the goat again for lethal.
And then we get to Match 3.
It might as well be a running bit at this point.
For the first time in the night I experienced actual horror: my round 3 opponent was going to be my friend. Again. He was running blue/black control with splashed red for a few extra creatures.
And just like last time, it did not go well for me. While I managed to take game 1 off of Niko and The Rescuer showing up, game 2 he managed to drop his Unholy Annex/Ritual Chamber for a 6/6 flying demon, after removing some of my early threats. A lack of hard removal combined with being pinged for two each turn while he healed up two meant that I did not last long.
It was finally time for game three.
It was not technically a stomp. I had him down to 4 life. But then Unholy Annex/Ritual Chamber came out again, and even though I removed the 6/6 demon, he just sacked the Annex with Boilerbilges Ripper. He then proceeded to drop Grievous Wound, and turn my “potential possible comeback” life total of 20 into 7 in one turn.
Is there a moral to this story? Yes. Next time he commits to a three color control list, I’m not going to suggest he cuts aggro-fliers and adds the midsize bodies.
Is there a better moral? Well, honestly, I think I probably should have side-boarded in a few more of my slightly cheaper cards after game 2 for game 3.
But overall, how did it go?
Some final thoughts
I was generally excited for Bloomburrow, and I’m looking forward to playing Duskmourn. I’m not a huge fan of the theme, and there aren’t really any cards I want in the set, but it set itself apart mechanically. Rooms feel fantastic, which makes it a shame that we likely won’t see them again for a while after this. Manifest Dread can also be quite exciting.
As a set, I don’t really have any big thoughts or worries, frankly. Historic Brawl is my primary format. I’m sure we’ll have things that shake it up, but it doesn’t look like there’s a Nadu 2.0 just yet.
Some Friends’ Decks
As is tradition, here are the decks of my friends at the event, and their records.
This belonged to the friend who kicked my butt. Someday we won’t get paired in round 3, and I won’t get salty, but that was not today. They cruised to a 3-0 overall, only dropping 1 game.
Finally, we’ve got my other friend. They ended up going 1-1-1 off their midrange Red/Green list.