Faeries has never done well in these tournaments. I worried that maybe this was due to pilot error. I mean, Faeries has got to be one of the greatest decks ever, no? And it can be a bit tricky to play. The pros were almost always winning with it with their life total at 1, always a nerve-wracking situation. However, I had always used a February 2008 build of the deck from PT Hollywood. Maybe a 2009 version of the deck would do better? I had high hopes. This time, I was hoping to steer Faeries to at least the quarterfinals so it could get seeded for the next tournament.

However, there was a problem with this plan. Goblin Chainwhirler! One little goblin could kill all my little faeries. Not a good prospect. Well, let’s just hope I got some good starting hands.

G1: Kept a four land hand with no Bitterblossom. Managed to get out a Vendilion Clique and rob RB of a Chainwhirler, so that felt good, but I saw two Hazorets in his hand. Played Bitterblossom on turn 4, then Hazoret hit me and I was down to 7 – no, 6 after making another black faerie. Resolved a Cryptic Command and a Sower of Temptation on Hazoret to buy some time, but by then I was at two life, and a Goblin Chainwhirler got me down to 1. I died to my own Bitterblossom. RB Aggro 1-0

G2: This looked better, as RB had a slow start and I was able to get Mistbind Clique into play. With another Clique in my hand, I made a plan… attack with one faerie.. he’d be at 10 life, and then I could add Clique #2 before end of turn, untap with 2 Cliques and 2 faeries and do 10 damage. Only problem was, he dropped Hazoret, did a big attack and I was forced to block with one of those crucial faeries. My only hope was to topdeck Cryptic COmmand or Scion of Oona, and still win… but instead I drew a counterspell. RB Aggro 2-0

G3: Wasn’t even close. Doomfall stole a Cryptic Command from my hand, and I drew about 7 lands. Mana flood. RB Aggro 3-0. Faeries got crushed.