Austin Walker

Anecdotally, our prerelease RCQs have had ~8 for each UB set and capped at 32 almost each of the Universes Within sets. But it doesn’t matter because those are the only RCQs locally with more than 10 people, including constructed.

Diana - UR Spells Maybe like a bigger version of prowess, and only one creature actually has prowess, but you’re looking to cast a lot of spells and gain advantage through a 5/5 finisher that loots on attack and gives extra bonuses based on what you pitch.

Vex - Taxes Your companion is 4 mana Blind Obedience on a 4/4, which is very important in many matchups. You have some tricky plays, but the core of Miscalc/Unsummon/This Town is very strong in RB right now. You have beefy finishers and win by brick walling your opponent.

Master Yi - Mono Green Stompy This is a loose comparison, but I also have limited experience with this deck. Your units on average are a bit beefier on rate, and your removal is fight spells. Giant Growth is +5/+5 but you have to sac some lands.

Lilia- RDW This is probably the closest to Red Deck Wins that we have. You make lots of tokens that go away after a turn, but as 3/3 units they’re pretty chunky into a small board. You’re not trying to build up a big board, you just have to keep turning dudes sideways.

Rek’Sai - Aggro You’re not really mono red, and you’re not really RG, it’s hard to say what the best comparison is. You DO get to play Expressive Iteration when no one else can, but you have no permission spells. Your main goal is to just put as many creatures in play as you can.

Azir - Boros Equipment/Token Aggro Remember For Mirrodin as a mechanic? One of your equipment played each turn gets it for a single mana. So rather than play creatures, you just play lots of equipment and let the tokens get in the red zone for you.

Ezreal - UB Control You also have a blink style package included here with Liliana’s Specter/Snapcaster/Steamcore Scholar and Crystal Shard. This is currently the closest we have to a control deck. Your removal is fine, but not as efficient as Jund.

Jayce - Oath of Druids It’s not 2 mana, but you always get to trigger it in your end step. Your finisher is a 12/12 Inferno Titan with deathtouch. Ramp into Oath, kill your opponent’s board, take over. This is true of any Dazzling Aurora deck, but Jayce is the most popular.

Rengar - GR Monsters Turn dudes sideways. Make big dumb idiots. Make them bigger and dumber. Also give them flash because why not?

Leblanc - 4c Birthing Ritual If Birthing Pod and Birthing Ritual had a baby, it would be this deck’s engine. Great etb/dies triggers to generate lots of value.

Kennen - UR Phoenix Imagine Phoenix that gets played from your library when you find it rather than your graveyard. Add in This Town, Snapcaster, and Tolarian Terror mixed with Forbidden Alchemy at 1 mana that has flashback for 2, and you’ve got Kennen.

Irelia - UB Murktide Your turn 2 play is Psychic Frog! You have cheap interaction like Miscalc at 1 mana. You’re a “protect the queen” style of tempo deck, but rather than cheap threats like Delver, you lean on your companion to win the game for you closer to a Murktide threat.

Kai’Sa - Jund You utilize cheap, efficient removal like Lightning Bolt and literally double Lightning Bolt to deal with early creatures. Your companion draws you cards when you connect. Your legend is a sort of mana rock that doesn’t translate to Magic well. Great midrange deck!

9-5-1 at RC LA this weekend. Not quite good enough for the metal Best-Of Omnath. Maybe next time.

Finished 8-8 overall at PT SOS. 4-2 in draft, 4-6 in constructed. I definitely misunderstood the Prowess matchup to my detriment day two. I had plenty of reps against the Slickshot versions, but was much less favored against the Horse. Guess I’ll have to get Cinci and DC!

Day Two’ed my first PT! Finished 5-3 for the day, 2-1 in draft with an above average aggressive Boros deck into 3-2 in constructed with UW Tempo.