I love pre-releases, and this weekend did not disappoint.  We had some major stuff going on in the area, card flopping wise; Yu-Gi-Oh Nats was going on in Columbus & Magic had Grand Prix Indy, so the turnout was less than our past pre attendance of 65+.  20 people ended up sitting down to check out the new Hunt for Illidan set at the Indianapolis store Gamerz.

I just want to give a quick rundown of the cards I saw that were complete bombs, or just what I thought were really cool (i.e. what blew me out…).  I opened my packs and had solid abilities in Warrior, Rogue and Priest.  Not having access to any traitor heroes sort of hurt, because I would of loved to of taken Lionar, Ressa or Remba in their traitor versions.  As I contemplated what class I wanted to wreck face with, I noticed that I did have 3 very solid warlock pets… Thulthun, Velnoth and Sarlia.  To top that off, I had 2 Dawn Rivensdale in Horde, so I could effectively have 3 steal essences if I went with Forang Deathrattle.  I checked my allies, and sure enough Red looked like the much more aggressive approach, and Warlock filled in some key drop spots, so that’s what I chose.

To boot, Scryer in the new set seems a lot better… Historian Firana is amazing for preventing tricks you wouldn’t see coming, and Arcanist Bartis enables you to keep the board clear if you can get you opponent in the right position; worst case they lose a card.  So looking at the cards, Forang Deathrattle with NO abilities, but a Runesong Dagger, seemed the way to go.

I won’t give a game by game run down, but Sarlia rocked.  A 6 drop 5/7 untargettable is huge to get out there.  Backed by the beaters Luk’a Da Wall, Illia the Bitter & Ra’waza Stonetusk to soak up some damage, once the game got into the later stages I was usually able to start smashing face.

The 1 game I lost went to time, where most of the match my opponent had 2 First Responder Margan out.   I will note though, we were definitely “lolly-gagging” around, and when 10 minutes was called out I realized we needed to get the game on the move… I guess I’m not used to 30 minute rounds.  By the time I dealt with First Responder Margan, I had 3 large protectors I was going to drop, as well as a top decked Runesong Dagger (where were you when I needed it?) – I think I could’ve swung the comeback!! 

We drafted afterwards, and I was confident with a super sick hunter deck, complete with 2 Shadows,  3 bloody welcome & 3 Ice Trap.   The draft was single elim, 1 game matches, since it was a pre-release.  I lay the beats on my opponent, curve out, make great trades, get him to 20 while staying damage free.  At this point he strangling roots my Shadow, and drops a protector.  My next turn I play Luk’a Da Wall and pass with what looks to be a great setup…  and then he plays Elaar.  With no way to kill Elaar in 1 turn, I figure I’m pretty much boned… I can’t play any allies, and he slowly gains back control of the board to bring him to win the game & match.   I drew my second bloody welcome, which would’ve enabled me to kill Elaar with the Patient Shot in play I had been pinging his dudes with, but I would not have survived the next turn.  A funny moment was when I had 2 ice traps in hand, and the only dude he was attacking with had frost resistance.

I ended up leaving with 2 playmats (door prize & trades ftw!) a deckbox, 12 new rares, 2 new epics, 3 Path of Iliidans, and about a million ideas for “a new type of deck”.