Deck v Deck; Weenie v Minotards

On the right, we have Weenies, only slightly modified since its last game against Plus Ones. That game disheartened Weenies, because they only lost due to their opponents strategy instead of their own awesomeness. They will play against them again, just not quite yet.

On the left we have Minotards, an angry, red/black, tribal deck based on Minotaurs. It earned it’s nickname through being stupid enough to mana-screw. The minotaurs think they’re tough and don’t need mana. It’s been their downfall since day one, but when the mana flows properly they’re a very solid, relatively fast-paced deck.

Turn One
Minotards
Minotards wins the roll and goes first. They drop a Temple of Malice, keeping the scry card on top.

Weenies
Being a weenie deck, Weenies drops a Plains and taps for a Favored Hoplite.

Turn Two
Minotards
Playing a Swamp, casting a Nyxborn Rollicker, and smiling evilly, Minotards passes turn.

Weenies
A tad miffed about something, Weenies scratches his head, plays an Island, then attacks with his Hoplite.

Minotards doesn’t want to lose his Satyr just yet, so he takes the damage.

Round Three
Minotards
After drawing, Min plays a Mountain, taps his lands, and plays a Ragemonger, his anti-tard. These are specifically in this deck to prevent the mana-screw the minotaurs are so fond of. He then attacks with the Rollicker, dealing a damage to the poor sap on the other side of the table.

Weenies cannot block.

Weenies
After playing an Island, Weenies pops out his Preeminent Captain, his answer to mana-screw.

Turn Four
Minotards
Slyly grinning, Min taps his Swamp for another Ragemonger.

Then Min taps the temple for a Rageblood Shaman.

Then Min taps his Mountain for another Rageblood Shaman!

Those two Ragemongers sure are paying out in allowing this kind of shenanigan! Min follows it all up by attacking with a 4/5 Ragemonger.

Weenies has a plan for his soldiers, though, and he takes it.

Weenies
Weenies hides his plan well, as he plays an island and passes turn.

Turn Five
Minotards
Knowing the key against a 1/1 token deck is to keep its numbers down and remain aggressive, Min jumps right into action, attacking immediately after playing a Kragma Warcaller.

Weenies lacks any signs of anxiety as he declares that he blocks both Shamen with his puny soldiers.

Min raises his finger to declare the soldiers dead, but notices Weenies tapping two Islands and a Plains. Then he tosses a card on the table; Polymorphist’s Jest just turned all of Min’s creatures into 1/1 blue frogs.

Min lowers his finger, surprised and sad for his own shenanigan being blown off by such a shenanigan.

Two damage still got through, though, and Min is hardly defeated, so he sits back and waits. His Warcaller is fine. He has next turn’s attack, yet.

Weenies
Proud of his silly, blue trick, Weenies plays an Island, then passes turn.

Turn Six
Minotards
A tad humbled by that last trick, Min decides to remain aggressive to reduce the risk of Weenies drawing another such trick. After casting a Gnarled Scarhide for free, an Oracle of Bones is cast. Weenies pays the tribute, making it 5/3.

Min jumps into the attack all his golden minotaurs.

Weenies blocks the Warmonger with his Captain and a Ragemonger with the Hoplite.

Then casts Polymorphist’s Jest.

One of Min’s frogs gets through.

One damage to Weenies.

Weenies
Weenies smiles at his fortune, having two Jests in hand on turn one. Remaining defensive, he taps the Hoplite to help cast Obelisk of Urd, then passes turn.

Turn Seven
Minotards
Min finally draws a new Swamp, but has nothing to cast. None of his minotaurs can get by the 4/4 Captain, so he tries to see what playing defensively is like.

Weenies
Weenies finally has the opportunity to be aggressive. He starts off by casting another Captain.

He then casts Launch the Fleet on both the Hoplite and his first Captain. The Holpite gets a +1/+1 token and takes no damage this turn.

Weenies attacks with both. Thanks to Launch the Fleet, two attacking 1/1 soldiers pop onto the board, and the Captain wants help from the Paragon of New Dawns that was in hand.

Min has sone decision-making to do, since the Paragon and Obelisk mean each of Weenies weenies is at least 4/4. He blocks the Captain with the Satyr and the Paragon with his Oracle.

The Oracle and the Paragon kill eachother, and the Satyr dies horribly.

Unfortunately, all damage is assigned simultaneously, so the Paragon’s bonus adds to the damage that was not blocked.

Turn Eight
Minotards
Min finally has his full dose of five mana with the drawing of a Swamp, but he chooses to remain defensive and passes turn.

Weenies
Straight into the attack, Weenies has a good idea the one card Min’s holding won’t be enough to save him.

Min admits he has nothing and doesn’t block.

Conclusion; Weenies operated almost exactly the way it’s supposed to operate when forced into a defensive posture. However, while Minotards gained momentum quickly, it was still Minotarded. It had Rollick of Abandon since turn one, but couldn’t afford to cast it until it became more harmful than beneficial. You can always rely on Minotards to hold out on mana. If Minotards had five lands on turn five, the game would have gone undeniably in its favor by casting Rollick, destroying both of the soldiers in play then and empowering his attack. It didn’t, though. Weenies is only slightly iffy on this win, but does not deny it’s status as a true win, since luck is a factor of the game.