by Mike Rosenberg

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.

Dan won the die roll and chose to mulligan, whereas Ray kept his hand. Dan played a face-down resource and a turn 1 Sardok, while Ray led things off with Shadowfang Keep. Sardok attacked for 2, and Dan passed back with a Fordragon Hold ready. Ray had Devout Aurastone Hammer on turn two, while Dan drew two cards with a Life Tap. More attacks from Sardok and Dan's hero put Ray to 5 damage.

Ray Stashed Cairne, Earthmother’s Chosen to turn on Shadowfang Keep, activating the location and Hammer to fire out Parexia, Herald of the Shadows. Dan responded with some Life Tap action, then lost Void Rip and Fel Blaze to the random discard effect of the Horde ally. He Life Tapped again on his fourth turn, finding What's Haunting Witch Hill? to go with the one he played on turn 3. Attacks from his hero and Sardok put Ray's hero to 8 damage.

Ray took out Sardok with Parexia, then Stashed a Dignified Headmaster's Charge to add an heirloom counter to his Hammer. He then played Gispax the Mixologist and passed with two open. Dan drew and placed Mystery Goo, but had nothing else. Ray flipped his hero and then discarded an Obsidian Drudge to Gispax to find Al'Akir the Windlord. He attacked Dan to 9 damage, then played a Kor'kron Vanguard (turning his Shadowfang Keep down.) He exhausted out for Al'Akir. Dan completed Mystery Goo at the end of his turn, finding Life Tap. He used Life Tap to dig two cards deeper.

Dan drew, and lacked a six cost card to play. No Soul Swap or Invoke the Nether. He flipped to finish off Parexia, then played Sardok and passed.

Ray did the math, played Saurfang the Younger, Kor'kron Warlord, and got a second Kor'kron Vanguard. The two Vanguard activations let Saurfang attack for 10, and Al'akir and Gispax did the final 10 to finish Dan off.

Ray Tautic wins the match!