This was the sealed card pool I ended up with last night:
Colorless-
Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
It That Betrays
Not of This World
Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre
Artifacts-
Ogre's Cleaver
Pennon Blade
Prophetic Prism
Reinforced Bulwark
White-
2x Caravan Escort
Eland Umbra
Glory Seeker
2x Guard Duty
Harmless Assault
2x Knight of Cliffhaven
Lone Missionary
Luminous Wake
Mammoth Umbra
Soul's Attendant
Soulbound Guardians
Stalwart Shield-Bearers
Survival Cache
Time of Heroes
Blue-
Crab Umbra
Deprive
Fleeting Distraction
Guard Gomazoa
Jwari Scuttler
Lay Bare
Mnemonic Wall
Regress
See Beyond
Skywatcher Adept
Surrakar Spellblade
Training Grounds
Unified Will
Venerated Teacher
Black-
Arrogant Bloodlord
Bloodrite Invoker
Contaminated Ground
2x Curse of Wizardry
Death Cultist
Dread Drone
2x Gloomhunter
Induce Despair
Nighthaze
Null Champion
Pawn of Ulamog
Zof Shade
Zulaport Enforcer
Red-
Battle Rampart
Battle-Rattle Shaman
Conqueroring Manticore
Emrakul's Hatcher
Flame Slash
Goblin Arsonist
2x Goblin Tunneler
Heat Ray
Lagac Lizard
Lavafume Invoker
Valakut Fireboar
2x Wrap in Flames
Green-
Aura Gnarlid
Boar Umbra
Broodwarden
2x Daggerback Basilisk
Growth Spasm
2x Haze Frog
Jaddi Lifestrider
2x Leaf Arrow
Living Destiny
Naturalize
Nema Siltlurker
Snake Umbra
The deck I made:
(Colorless)
Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
It That Betrays
Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre
(Artifact)
Ogre's Cleaver
Prophetic Prism
(White)
2x Caravan Escort
2x Guard Duty
2x Knight of Cliffhaven
Mammoth Umbra
Soul's Attendant
(Red)
Emrakul's Hatcher
Flame Slash
Heat Ray
Lavafume Invoker
(Green)
Boar Umbra
2x Daggerback Basilisk
Growth Spasm
(Lands)
9x Plains
5x Mountains
4x Forests
Match #1
My opponent used his U/G deck to get his eldrazi spawn out quickly, which he then used to play an early Sphinx of Magosi both games. Even though I knew after 2 losses I wouldn't be in the prize pool, I kept playing, to experience Rise of the Eldrazi and just enjoy the tournament.
0-2
Match #2
My opponent used a B/R deck. The main cards I remember him using are some burn spells, eldrazi spawn, the common and uncommon black levelers, Mortician Beetle, and a Bloodthrone Vampire. My Conqueroring Manticore made short work of him first game, thanks to it's flying. Second game I got rid of most of his creatures with a Daggerback Basilisk, and beat him down with a leveled Knight of Cliffhaven equiped with my Ogre's Cleaver.
2-0
Match #3
I went up against the guy who opened up my sealed pool, and I opened up his sealed pool (everybody had to open up the packs they were handed, mark down all the cards on a sheet of paper, then pass them a certain way, based on the roll of a dice, in order to prevent cheating.) Based on the cards he had, I really thought he was going to 2-0 me. First game it ended up being a stand still, with both of our Caravan Escorts being fully leveled and enchanted with a +3/+3 umbra on the field, plus he had a Sporecap Spider out with 2 or 3 umbras attached to it, making it a 2/15 with reach, or something of the sort, a mid leveled Kabira Vindicator, who I believe was enchanted making him a 5/8, and giving his other creatures +1/+1, and a fully leveled Student of Warfare. It's a bit hazy at this point, but I remember I was eventually able to get my Conqueoring Manticore out, taking over his spider, and attacking with some of my other creatures. I believe I got 1 creature through for 8 damage, and the rest were blocked. He then attacked me with all of his creatures, leaving me at 2 life. Somewhere around this time, I sacrificed 3 eldrazi spawn tokens I had gotten from an Emrakul's Hatcher, to play an It That Betrays, attacked, he sacrificed to lands. My opponent did some math in his head, and then conceded, even though I believe he would have still been just barely alive. In the second game he completely changed decks, to the one he built with his extra cards, which was a U/B deck. I can't say I really remember this game, but I think I ended up slowly swarming him with creatures and flying.
2-0
Match #4
The first game I almost had my opponent, but he was then able to stall with his Eldrazi spawn, and was eventually able to play a Hand of Emrakul. It went downhill from there. Second game he was able to get out two Hand of Emrakul fairly quickly, and beat me down.
0-2
Conclusion-
Use the mechanics of the set the most you can, they'll serve you well, even if you don't think so. Make sure you use any good equipment you get, and the totem armor umbras that add +3/+3, and equip/enchant your levelers. I know I didn't mention my 2x Daggerback Basilisk, but I actually used them almost every game, and they were the bomb. Guard Duty was useful as well. I was unfortunate with the low amount of eldrazi spawning spells, but those are useful as hell. Whether you use them as chump blockers or mana acceleration (possibly for an eldrazi?), they'll definitely win you games.
If anybody has any comments or opinions on the deck I built and the matches, let me know! I'd like to see what you guys think, and how you would've built a deck out of the sealed pool I got!
Gathering of the Planeswalkers
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