No Enchantment hate and big Chandra is the only sweeper.

Okay, then. Let’s see if my old bain meat can put some letters onto the page in the right order.

Thopter Prowess - 5 points (Uses Effishy Constriction effectively, is fun, wins a lot)

Full Metal Junk Kit 4.1 / Grixvolutions (tie) - 2 points each (Used break-a-card effectively, fun to play, did not win a lot)

Macarena - 1 point (Used break-a-card,but not super effectively, okay to play, didn’t win much)

Methodical Undermining of My Love for Magic Duels - 1.5 anti-points to be deducted from the next contest! (Had the break-card in it, opposite of fun to play, lost consistently)

In the event this doesn’t settle matters, and since Barney and I can’t hook up a versus (porbably because he’s in Quebece and I’m in Ontario), then I recommend that the creators of both highest-ranked decks stream a versus of their entries.

Otherwise we can give two winners which I’m okay with

Well this is interesting. Before tallying the points I need to point out a slight but significant difference in how the judges allocated them.

Barney ranked them and assigned 0,1,2,3,4 with ties splitting the difference.
Soup also ranked them and assigned -0,1,?,4,5 with ties sharing the points.

The issue I have is that just adding the scores together gives soup’s pick a slight bias. It’s not much but it’s enough that first and second would flip if we were to apply Barney’s rubric to soup’s ranking instead.

Judges? Thoughts?

Edit: actually, I’m gonna propose/demand that each judge use whatever scoring system they want to establish a ranking but that those rankings then be scored with Barney’s rubric to ensure the scores are normalized.

In this case, I feel bad tho because I just effectively took Nomad’s win and handed it to Haven, who really didn’t need it, seeing as how he won the last one and all. (Show-off!!)

How about we split the prize? Haven picks TWO cards that he’d like to build around and then Nomad chooses which of those two to use. Next round will then only have one build-around card.

Given that their methods of testing were also completely different, I'm not sure how much it makes sense to pick apart the numbers. Call it a tie and we each pick a card?

See my edit above.

My only problem with you each picking a card is that you’d either need to collaborate to choose two that have some similarities or we’d end up comparing decks with nothing in common. If you and Haven want to try to pick a complementary pair, I’m ok with it. Otherwise, I prefer the idea I proposed.

Nah, it's cool. Haven can have his picks. Congratulations!

It’s ok if Soup and I use different methods on ranking the decks, but the scoring method has to be the same on how you score the ranks after.

Congrats Haven, this was a really close one.

Well... you’ll be the one choosing. Haven just picks your options.

Isn't the contest better with two options though?

I think two options worked quite well this round. Not so sure about the first round. Regardless, I’m fine trying one card for the next round. Maybe its better. If not, we can go back to 2.

Alright. Haven, gimme yer picks!

Well, that went smooth
I think one point/ one victory system should be fair, anyone can participate on the trials as long as you tests all the decks.
Our Honorable - sarcasm - judges can keep bringing insights and well intentioned constructive criticism.

Oh, it wasn’t well-intentioned. I truly hope to make someone cry, one of these days.

Wow, I won again! This is just like Portugal winning the european cup and eurovision in the same year... Sure was close though. Thanks everybody. These contests sure are fun. Now the pressure's on, so I Doubt I'll win the next one.

Anyway...

For a change of pace, since we're all pretty sick to death of artifacts, I'm gonna go with 2 commons from my least favourite colour, that share a Common +1/+1 counter theme:

Scrounging Bandar

And

Bloodbriar

Lots of janky snakish, +1/+1 counter shenanigans to be had with both choices and you can even play both. Being commons means a full playset, so they should come up often.

Now it's up to you nomad.

I like how Bandar can affect other pieces on the board, but I feel like Bloodbriar triggering off all permanents opens up more options. Let's go Bloodbriar.

So it shall be. I’ll put up a new thread tomorrow sometime.

In the meanwhile, I took some time to try out Cucho’s build. It effortlessly crushed the AI. I had some bad luck on yhe ladder tho.

Game 1 vs I’ve Got Friends in All the Right Colors
I’m on the play but I have to mull 2 1-landers to find a playable hand. I get stuck at 3 mana for a while and my Smuggler’s Copter gets Unmade when Tezz tries to touch it. After that he’s dropping PWs and Oaths every turn. I never get any real board presense and just sit around while he masturbates for what felt like at least a dozen turns.

Game 2 vs UW Spirits
I’m on the draw this time. Topplegeist and a Nebelghast might not seem like much but they chisel away at my health and without any fliers or kill spells there isn’t much I can do about it but try to race. Unfortunately Tezz just can’t seem to touch anything today as a Dismiss bounces my Vial in response. I get Scrounger, Inspector, and Chieftain but he Fluxes his Ghast and then plays another. I crack Vial to enable a Push but he plays the angel that gives life and cards on etb. I Ob Nix it and swing for what would be lethal if not for his Blessed Alliance. I finally get a Zoa but its too late. I’m at 1 and he still has 2 fliers. I played a land every single turn and still had one in hand when I died.

Game 3 vs Orzombies
The deck must have sensed I was getting annoyed with it because it gave me all 3 Pushes, Harvester, and 2 Touches. It took all of the above because opp played 2 of the 2/2 that taps stuff when zoms etb, 1 Wayward, 2 Lords, a Dark Salvation, a Push, and big Lili. I just kept stealing life with Harvester and killing zombies like Michonne (but way less sexy) and finally win one. Yay!

Bloodbriar will trigger every time a permanent leaves the battlefield or just when you sacrifice it?
I guess golgari constrictor is the strongest approach.

Just when sacked.

I tried to get creative and make a briar Steal-sac deck, but its a 4 color mess. Beats the AI, but I Doubt it can work on the ladder.