Final - Brad Watson vs Phillip Martin

It’s Final time! Brad Watson and Phillip Martin are two of the more experienced players from the top 16 of Darkmoon Faire Los Angeles. Brad has stormed the tournament with Grand Crusader Rush, and Phillip has battled through with a Suncaller Haruh deck capable of accelerating out some fearsome allies ahead of schedule. Brad is fresh off a victory against a somewhat similar deck in the hands of Chad Dirks, while Phillip took down the Top 8’s lone Hunter, Seth Miner. Can Brad lock up an unbelievable sixth Darkmoon Faire title, or will Phillip manage to claim the crown for himself?

Semi-Final - Brad Watson vs Chad Dirks

Two of only four players still standing here in Los Angeles, Brad Watson and Chad Dirks are playing two of the defining archetypes of the tournament. Brad is playing an all-aggro Grand Crusader build, aiming to pour on damage via a host of cheap allies, backed up by the notorious Protection Talent. Chad is running a Priest deck with ability removal aimed right at Grand Crusader, plus plenty of ramp into controlling allies like Gnash, Al’Akir the Windlord and Parexia, Herald of the Shadows. Oh, and a little Troll by the name of Mazu’kon. Maybe you’ve met?

Big Game Hunting!

While Crown of the Heavens has gotten plenty of buzz from a Limited standpoint, and a few of its cards have already become highly sought after before the set's even released, few people have gotten a chance to sit down and build Constructed decks with the new expansion.

Except, of course, for the R&D team. They've had plenty of time to build more than a few decks. And there are a couple of decks here today showcasing some of the new cards! And if you can beat them, you can win some cards of your very own...

Semi-Final - Phillip Martin vs Seth Miner

Seth Miner's Horde Hunter deck has served him well today. Not only does it have a powerful line-up of Horde allies, it also packs sixteen resources that can be turned face down at no cost with Emerald Tree Warder, giving him the card draw necessary to hit his late-game allies at little expense. Phillip Martin, however, is running a deck tailor made to prey upon mid-range decks such as these with one key ally: Parexia, Herald of the Shadows. Will Seth's Hunter be able to hold up against the chaotic power of Phillip's Priest?

Quarter-Final - Niles Rowland vs Seth Miner

Having eliminated Silas Reinagel and Kyle McGinty from the Top 16, Niles Rowland and Seth Miner meet in the Quarter-Finals. While Niles is running Alliance Grand Crusader, it’s a very different deck to the Horde rush build, instead packing the combo of Crime Scene Alarm-o-Bot and Winter Veil Disguise Kit to shut down attackers. Seth is the lone Hunter of the Top 8, and is running the Goblin Gaxtro, Bilgewater Marksman.

Quarter-Final - Brad Watson vs Michael Barnes

Fresh off victories over Tim Rivera and Ben Isgur in the first knockout rounds, Brad Watson and Phillip Martin are ready for their Quarter-Final. Playing minor variations on Grand Crusader, whose Paladin training would win through?

Quarter-Final - Phillip Martin vs Trevor Jones

Phillip Martin, playing Suncaller Haruh, is the last of the Vegas players remaining in the event. His opponent, Trevor Jones of Minnesota, is running his own variation on Ooga Booga Grand Crusader. While Trevor has done well throughout the weekend, Suncaller Haruh is designed to fight against the slower version of the Horde Paladin deck, so it's tough to say what will come of this best two out of three match.

Top 16 - Kyle McGinty vs Seth Miner

Kyle McGinty, 2011 NACC Top 8 competitor and one of the two players representing the Alliance in the Top 16, is playing the much hyped Snobo-Cop deck, which uses Crime Scene Alarm-o-Bot and Winter Veil Disguise Kit to buy time until it can drop Sinestra for one explosive turn. Seth Miner of Portland, Oregon is playing Horde Hunter today. With both decks packing some serious power, it’s anyone’s match.

Top 16 - Tim Rivera vs Brad Watson

If you’re looking for a Top 16 matchup worthy of any Final, this is a good place to start. Tim Rivera has a Darkmoon Faire Championship and North American Continental Championship to his name, and he’s representing his home town of Las Vegas with the Horde Priest Suncaller Haruh. His opponent, Brad Watson is also one of the best players in the world. US National Champion in 2007, three time Worlds 3^rd place finisher, multiple Darkmoon Faire Champion, and current VIP, he’s put his trust in Grand Crusader rush this weekend and been handsomely rewarded.

Top 16 - Ben Isgur vs Michael Barnes

It's early here in Los Angeles, but Ben Isgur and Michael Barnes are bright-eyed and raring to go. Well. Nearly. Michael Barnes is packing Grand Crusader against Ben Isgur's Hogger, with a place in the Quarter-Finals on the line. Time to battle!

Darkmoon Faire Los Angeles Top 16 Profiles

You've checked out the Top 16 Core Constructed decklists, now it's time to meet the players!

Darkmoon Faire Los Angeles Top 16 Decklists

Day one of the Darkmoon Faire Los Angeles main event has come to a close, and we have our Top 16. Check out their Core Constructed lists and pick out your favourites for the playoffs tomorrow!

Round 11 - Matt Bryant vs Brody States

Matt Bryant is rocking the less expected of the Shaman heroes with Akumo of Thunder Bluff. Rather than relying on Samaku, Hand of the Tempest's draw-smoothing flip, Matt's hero goes for raw power, and can end games fast with allies like Erunak Stonespeaker. His opponent, Brody States of Idaho, is playing a variation on the popular Suncaller Haruh deck today... without Devout Aurastone Hammer. All he needs is Shadowfang Keep!

Round 9 - Ben Isgur vs Justin Nollner

Ben Isgur, one of the players in the minority this weekend. Why? He's one of the few people this weekend aligned with the green team: Monsters. His hero for the day, Hogger, has served him well. His opponent, Justin Nollner, is playing the classic Ooga Booga take on Grand Crusader. Wait. Nollner? His opponent is playing a Gnoll hero? Gnollner should be playing Hogger instead!

Round 8 - Norman Perion vs Shuji Ohta

Both Shuji Ohta and Norman Perion are Southern California natives, and this matchup isn't unlike some of the Realm Qualifier pairings that the two have seen in the past month. Shuji is playing Auralyn the Light of Dawn, the Snobo-Cop Alliance Grand Crusader deck that a few of the SoCal regulars are playing, while Norman is playing HordeStone Shaman, with emphasis on Erunak Stonespeaker.

Crown Jewels

Last night marked the first time players could get their hands on cards from our upcoming Crown of the Heavens set as part of the Sneak Preview. Since most of these cards have never been seen before, even in official previews, it made for some crazy, frantic deck-building. So what did some of our top players, along with a few familiar Cryptozoic faces, make of the new cards?

Deck Recon - The Heal Deal

Looking for a change of pace? Can't get enough healing goodness? Are you someone who enjoys making it practically impossible for someone to push damage through to your hero, while you get to a late game that consists of gargantuan Tigers and other assorted late-game goodies?

If any of these apply to you, then you may want to keep tabs on one of the four players from Santa Clara, California. Eric Jonas, David Jacques, Norvic Santos, and Patrick Sarmiento have brewed up the ultimate healing deck! Their hero of choice? Sumi’jin, Guardian of Cenarius.

Round 7 - John Patchell vs Skyler Stewart

Skyler Stewart, who was teased earlier in the tournament with a Feature Match call that did not actually end up in the coverage, finally gets his real feature this time around. He is playing Grand Crusader, a similar design to the Ooga Booga deck from Worlds (plus some VanCleef family action,) whereas his opponent, SoCal native John Patchell (nickname "Patch",) is representing the green team with Hogger.

Darkmoon Faire Los Angeles Metagame Breakdown

We're a little over halfway through the main Darkmoon Faire tournament today, so it seems like a good time to examine who's playing what!

Round 5 - Dan Lujan vs Ray Tautic

Dan Lujan, a SoCal regular, is running a deck close to my heart today. His Skodis the Nethertwister build is one I've been talking about for a few weeks now. The Warlock control deck seeks to keep allies off the board, and uses Soul Swap to not only recover lost health, but also as a means to win the game. His opponent is Warcraft Gaming Center owner Ray Tautic, and he is playing a new class twist on a deck that performed well at the World Championship: HordeStone Priest.

A Beautiful Nightmare

Cryptozoic's Brand Ambassador Christina Sims spent 2011 traveling the globe as Alexstrasza the Life-Binder, incinerating nearly anyone that dared her challenge her for the title of Dragonslayer at Organized Play events. For 2012, Alexstrasza was retired, but Christina will continue to offer a steep challenge for roaming adventurers as Vanessa VanCleef, the poison-flinging, nightmare-inducing Defias Kingpin!

Round 4 - Daniel Chen vs Jim Fleckenstein

When I saw Jim Fleckenstein bust out Rohashu, Zealot of the Sun, my reaction was simple: "You're dead to me!" I said, as my hopes of seeing one of Jim's many oddball creations felt shattered.

"You should take a look at my list after this," he insisted. I suppose we're still in for a surprise! His opponent, Daniel Chen, was packing Samaku, Hand of the Tempest, and could well be running the classic HordeStone strategy.

Round 3 - Isaac Collins vs Daniel Betancourt

Isaac Collins, hailing from Texas, loves solo decks. He doesn't let people forget that in the online community. Today, he's running Vorix Zorbuzz. Hmm. I wonder if it has weapons and, y’know, stuff. His opponent, Socal resident Daniel Betancourt, is playing Grayson Steelworth. Daniel's Alliance brew is based around the Snobo-Cop combo of Crime Scene Alarm-o-Bot and Winter Veil Disguise Kit, and it also features a few other surprises.

Round 2 - Patrick Yapjoco vs. Alex Gellerman

Two teammates, two players from Southern California, two old school gamers. Patrick Yapjoco, owner of Majestix CCG in Southern California, is a long-time gamer. Alex Gellerman, the winner of the last Darkmoon Faire in Los Angeles, is a teammate and friend of Patrick's. It's control Paladin on Grand Crusader rush, so let's get down to business!

The Best Place to Start

It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of the Darkmoon Faire main event. But there's no better place for a new player to learn the ropes, with Beginner Tournaments running all weekend under the expert eye of our Champions of the Black Flame!

Round 1 - Jaron Tomsky vs. Patrick Sarmiento

Round 1, and the day's first Monster steps into the Feature Match Arena. Jaron Tomsky has set aside his Demons for the Murloc Warrior, Rawrbrgle, while Patrick Samiento is representing some token action with the Troll Druid Sumi'jin, Guardian of Cenarius.

The Sweet Taste of Success

Who needs Conjured Cinnamon Rolls? At Darkmoon Faire Los Angeles, Cryptozoic is saying a very sweet "thank you" to Volunteer of the Year Julia Smith!

Shaking Up Core Constructed

While Grand Crusader and Devout Aurastone Hammer are sure to see plenty of play this weekend, an unusual challenger may be ready to shake things up. So just what is this 'Snowglobe' deck all about, and what else can we expect to see in this weekend's Core Constructed showdown?

It's a Numbers Game

Are you a numbers nut? Can't get enough when it comes to fun little statistics? Well then, keep reading, because we've got some numbers – and stories – from a few events from Friday here at the Darkmoon Faire. Including one very amusing tidbit that I've heard from a couple of players involving a certain World Champion...

Building a Monster

How many teams did you expect to play in the Crown of the Heavens Team Sealed Sneak Preview tournament today? 20? Nope. 30? Guess again. 40? Keep going. 50? Not quite there yet.

60? There you go. Looks like everyone loves a good Monster!

Bored With Junkboxes? How About Treasure Chests!

One of the biggest thrills in opening a World of Warcraft TCG booster pack is easing through the pack looking for that glint of Loot. And we have a double whammy for you now - not only are we taking steps to help keep those Loot cards in your boxes where they belong, but giving you more chances at bonus crafting cards... Get ready to start cracking open some Treasure Chests!

Vendor Blitz

As at every major Constructed event, players are currently scrambling to pick up those last minute purchases from our Darkmoon Faire vendors: The Metamart, run by the inimitable Damien Dufresne, and Warcraft Gaming Center (now owned by the guys from Arcane Brilliance.) So which card is selling like a real Monster? Read on and find out!

Choose Your Champion!

At Cryptozoic, we're always working to make the World of Warcraft TCG as fun and accessible as possible. We hold Beginner Tournaments at every Darkmoon Faire to get new players into the game and offer Class Starter Decks to help new or casual players get a chance to play. They're a great way for players to immediately pick up and play with class- and faction-based preconstructed decks. We're taking that to the next level with Champion Decks: new preconstructed decks that allow you to play as some of Azeroth's most iconic heroes – and monsters!

The Ultimate Clash

Looking for more Warcraft action? Want to get a chance to play with some of most iconic characters in the Warcraft universe? Are you someone who loves the fast-paced action that comes from deck-building games? If any or all of these apply to you, then you'll be happy to know that, right here at Darkmoon Faire Los Angeles, Cryptozoic is holding demos for their upcoming deck-building game, World of Warcraft: Clash of Champions!

From the Dragon to the Deadmines

Alexstrasza the Life-Binder is no more... But those looking for a real challenge this Darkmoon Faire season should not despair! Cryptozoic Brand Ambassador Christina Sims has traded in her claws for an awesome new look... Vanessa VanCleef, head of the Defias Brotherhood!

CZE League - New Arrivals!

The CZE League is the heart of the World of Warcraft TCG's Organized Play. It's an open play event where players of any skill level can find an opponent and start a game of Core, Classic, or 2-Pack to fight it out for prize sleeves that can contain all manner of sweet cards. And we have some awesome new additions to the League prize pool to show off here at Darkmoon Faire Los Angeles!

Gleaming the Cube

It's time for all those sweet cards you thought you'd never play again to make a comeback! Do you long for the days when a man could bring PANDA-MONIUM? Are you looking for a sweet twist on Booster Draft? Have you ever wiped a raid and thought to yourself "at least I have chicken"? Then boy, do we have the format for you!

Darkmoon Faire Los Angeles - Day 3 Opening

Sixteen players, six classes, one winner. Today, the first Darkmoon Faire Champion of 2012 will be crowned!

By far the most popular class of the weekend was Paladin, with 61 players choosing the holy warriors. Paladins make up half of the Top 16 today, although that number covers both aggressive and controlling versions using both Alliance and Horde heroes. Five other classes are also represented, and even the green team have some skin in the game, with Ben Isgur’s Hogger joining the Alliance and Horde heroes in the Top 16.

Darkmoon Faire Los Angeles - Day 2 Closing

The day began with 192. It has ended with just 16. The stage is set for the final knockout rounds of Darkmoon Faire Los Angeles! It’s been a great day here in the Golden State, with plenty of action in both the main and side event areas. Even now, the always-awesome Bounty Tournament is still in full swing.

Darkmoon Faire Los Angeles - Day 2 Opening

192 players, 11 rounds of Core Constructed, and one title to win. The Darkmoon Faire Los Angeles main event kicks off today, a Core competition that will surely build on the buzz from Realm Qualifiers. It's one last outing for the current format before things get shaken up by Crown of the Heavens, and players have been making last-minute tech choices and deck changes even in the last hour before the tournament begins!

Darkmoon Faire Los Angeles - Day 1 Closing

The sun has gone down in the City of Angels, but the intrepid cardslingers at Darkmoon Faire Los Angeles are still battling in World of Warcraft TCG events. As I write this, over 180 players are battling in the Crown of the Heavens Sneak Preview, a Team Sealed event that also happens to be the very first full look at the upcoming set. Tiger hunters have settled in for the Spectral Safari in hopes of bagging that most elusive prey. And hundreds of CZE League players have spent the day racking up prize sleeves as they get matched against opponents both new and familiar.

Darkmoon Faire Los Angeles - Day 1 Opening

Los Angeles – home of big name celebrities, sunshine, and the first World of Warcraft TCG Darkmoon Faire of 2012!