by Mike Rosenberg

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.

Jim won the die roll and kept his opening hand, while his opponent chose to mulligan. His opening hand revealed that he was, in fact, not running the feared Grand Crusader deck, but instead a more controlling Paladin with Holy Shock. Jim led off with a Stashed Sava'gin the Reckless, and a muttering of "pew pew". Daniel Stashed Cairne, Earthmother's Chosen and passed, while Jim put his Etched Dragonbone Girdle into play, ready for Daniel's turn 3 Devout Aurastone Hammer (if he had one) with Obsidian Drudge in hand.

Daniel Stashed another Cairne, attacked for 1, and then passed with no action, lacking his deck's namesake. Jim looked at his hand, placed a face-down resource, and played Obsidian Drudge. Daniel Stashed his third Cairne of the game, and sent his tokens into Obsidian Drudge. The second attack elicited a Girdle activation from Jim, drawing him two cards. Daniel then passed with three resources open.

Jim led off his fourth turn with the villainous Edwin VanCleef. This forced Daniel to trade his Tauren tokens with the Defias Thugs, and an Earthen Might allowed Daniel's hero to take out Mr. VanCleef. He played a Venerable Mass of McGowan and passed back. Jim's turn 5 featured the unusual appearance of Kraxos Chizzlecoin. What heirloom weapon is Jim running?

Daniel Stashed to give the Mass a counter, and passed with no further action. Jim used his in-hand Obsidian Drudge with the Girdle to dispose of the weapon, as Kraxos smashed in for 6 damage. Jim Stashed a swanky foil Cairne, Earthmother's Chosen for a token, and then passed with three open. Daniel played Zudzo, Herald of the Elements to take care of Jim's token, healing his hero to 8. Another attack from Kraxos put Daniels' hero to 14 damage, and Cairne, Earthmother's Chosen gave Jim a sizable threat. He passed with one resource open.

Daniel dropped Thrall, Warchief of the Horde, but had his Zudzo exhausted by Hammer of the Zealot. Attacks from Jim's allies put Daniel to 26 damage, and a hero flip sealed the deal.

Jim Fleckenstein wins the match!