MTG Tournament Report - 4 Seasons Bologna, Sept 6th-9th, 2024 (Vintage Merfolk 🧜)

This past weekend (6th-9th September) I’ve been at 4Seasons tournaments in Bologna. My second visit, with my first being in March 2023.

Despite recent restrictions to Urza's Saga and Vexing Bauble, I stuck with my Merfolk which I've been playing for ten years now. I played Super Vintage on the Saturday. I finished 9th out of 59 players. I played the Vintage Side event on the Sunday, finishing 7th out of 26. Also it was the first time I’ve won money (€10!) since 2015! 

I played the same list both days.

Saturday - Super Vintage (59 Players)

Top 8 decks here.

Final Record: 4-2-0, 9th Place

Round 1: 🔴🟢🟢 Won vs Roger (Oops All Spells). Goblin Charbelcher was too much for me in G1. Won G2 with Null Rod and G3 with Tidebinder. Pleased with my sideboarding here.

Round 2: 🟢🔴🟢Won vs Caroline (Dredge). Tidebinder won me G1. Lost G2 to Dredge creatures. Mulliganed to a Grafdigger's Cage in G3 and won.

Round 3: 🔴🔴Lost to Joe Brennan (4C Lurrus). His board presence with Lurrus was overwhelming, along with Ragavan Nimble Pilferer and Bowmasters.

Round 4: 🔴🟢🟢Won. Lost G1 to a late-game Paradoxical Outcome. Won G2 and G3 with Null Rod shutting down key threats.

Round 5: 🔴🔴 Lost to Damiano. (Esper Lurrus) Psychic Frog, Lurrus & Bowmaster beatdown, plus the new Baby Tamiyo card, were too strong.

Round 6: 🟢🟢Won vs Alberto. (Some version of Shops) He created a 7/7 Construct, which I stole with Thieving Skydiver to win G2. Won G2 with Skydivers flying over.

Sunday - Super Side Event Vintage (26 Players)

• Final Record: 3-2-0, 9 Points, €10 Prize

• Round 1: 🟢🔴🟢Win vs Ibby (Doomsday). Won G1 as he learnt the deck. Lost G2 to Thassa and Demonic Consultation. Won G3 with Tidebinder stopping Thassa. 

• Round 2: 🔴🟢🟢Win vs Sahar (White Initiative). Lost G1 to fast beatdown. Sideboarded in Dismembers and won G2 and G3. I drew well in this game which meant I was able to win this tough matchup.

• Round 3: 🔴🔴Lost to Joe Brennan again (4C Lurrus). Scooped G1 after he resolved Lurrus. Lost G2 despite a good start but then faltered midgame and he clawed his way back in and once he had dominance, I had no chance. The closest game of the four we had though!

• Round 4: 🟢🟢Win vs Theo (Paradoxical Outcome). Beat him down with flyers and bounced Bolas' Citadel in G2. Harbinger of the Seas and Null Rod locked him out in G2 as he only had blue mana. Was reminded of the rules of layering in this game re Harbinger which benefitted me to my advantage.

• Round 5: 🔴🔴Lost to Josh (White Initiative). Misplayed in G1 (should have countered the Lotus, or at least the Thalia as then I couldn't counter anything with Force due to Thalia 🤦‍♂️and couldn't recover. Lost game two despite getting him to 6 life and just requiring a Vodalian Hexcatcher off the top to win. (I'd have had more chance if I also had Merrow Reejerey in the deck!

Conclusion

Tishana's Tidebinder and Thieving Skydiver excellent. Lorien Revealed very good. Didn’t draw any cards off Hullbreacher but maybe I could have played him better. Grafdiggers Cage main surprised a few. Tide Shaper (only 3 as I couldn’t find my fourth!) Meh, might reduce and replace with something else. True-Name also was only useful in a handful of situations - probably move at least one to the SB.

SB: all bar island were useful. Harbinger of the Seas and Null Rod combo were 👌. Only had the Island there to make up the numbers as the extra Harbingers I ordered didn’t arrive in time.

Possible options: Merrow Reejerey, Sink into Stupor, Dress Down. I've seen some Vintage lists playing Ancient Tombs as well, but I'm quite happy with my mana base.

Overall, I was very pleased with my performance, especially considering my limited Vintage meta experience playing. (I only play in real life with real cards and just build decks to goldfish with Cockatrice. I finished with a winning record for the weekend and even won some prize money! I'm already looking forward to 4 Seasons Autumn in November and have started tweaking!