by Mike Rosenberg

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!

Ben won the die roll and chose to go first. Both players were satisfied with their opening hands, and we were off. Ben led off with a face-down resource, while Justin Stashed Sava'gin the Reckless and played Telor Sunsurge. Ben used a Furious Strike to take out the Protector, keeping one card on top with his Delve. He then played a Bronze Drake and passed. Justin dropped two Bronze Wardens into play, while Ben upped the ante with Etched Dragonbone Girdle.

A Bronze Warden from Ben (healing his hero to 1 damage) wouldn't stand up against either of Justin's allies when Grand Crusader came down on turn 3. However, Ben had the answer with Obsidian Drakonid, which took out the Protection Talent. A Stashed Sava'gin got some more damage onto Hogger, and a Bottled Light let Justin get his Telor Sunsurge back. Ben drew some more cards with a Bronze Drake on his fifth turn, and Edwin VanCleef gave his board some muscle.

Justin played a Blessing of the Kindred (naming Warrior) at the end of Ben's turn. He played another for the same class and followed it up with Lordann the Bloodreaver. Ben considered his options. He used Obsidian Drudge to blow up the Bottled Light. Next, Shockwave blasted Lordann back on top of Justin's deck, then Edwin took out Telor Sunsurge. The dead Edwin (or Deadwin) was replaced by his daughter, Vanessa VanCleef, her power taking out a Bronze Warden. One of the Defias Thugs took out the other Bronze Warden, and suddenly Justin's back was against the wall.

Justin replayed his Lordann, but lost it to the top of his deck again with a Chaotic Rush. Justin, who was top-decking, was now going to be forced to draw his ally again, and it couldn’t even protect the turn it comes in! Attacks from Ben's allies pushed Justin's hero closer to death. One turn later, and Justin succumbed to Ben's ally and hero assaults, courtesy of Furious Strike and Raging Shout.

Ben Isgur wins the match!