Writers versus Pros -- A MaRu Internal Challenge

A Gauntlet Thrown

The challenge started with a tweet…

… promptly answered by two tweets…

… and it was on: both teams would meet in honorable combat on Sunday, with decks as of yet unknown since the gauntlet had been thrown the Monday before the expansion patch.

Setbacks, and Setting the Rules

Personal issues forced two of the writers to step down: Wamuu, which frequent readers will probably be familiar with from the deck guides he usually writes, and Jason, known to the whole since, really, who does not know the name Fleurant?

Shadawx, of Day One Decks fame and Wombats extraordinaire -- and who had already declared himself ready to upholding the Writers' honor -- along with "Pink Police" Maybenextime promptly filled in the spots.In the meantime, rules were drawn and agreed upon.

For lineups, Riot Lock rules (no Champion can show up twice, no region pairing can show up twice) would be enforced across all five decks brought by a team, with two tweaks:

• One deck per player, no switching,
• At least 3 of the 4 new Champions must show up,
• Exactly one of the new Champions could (if desired) show up twice.

As for the confrontation, Pros and Writers agreed that:

• Bo1 matches would be used,
• The loser of a matchup would be out of the confrontation,
• The winner team would rotate the winner player, announcing their next contestant,
• The loser team would then choose their next contestant.

(Early on, teams had agreed that the winning player would remain in place; this rule was later rewritten to allow all players a chance to play at least one game).

Discord's Front Row

The unshakable nature of all players' honor being outside question, the teams also decided to add a twist: the matches would be broadcasted live, with no delay (since stream-sniping was not a consideration), and invited the denizens of the MaRu Discord to join one of the teams and share plays and insights as the battles were fought.

Ready to Rumble

Match One - Shadawx vs Henneky

Shadawx jumped first into the fray, brining Teemo Tristana Poppy:

Regions

Demacia
13 cards

Bandlecity
29 cards

Rarities

25 200

6

0

19

15

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

9

1

18

2

8

3

2

4

3

5

0

6

0

7+

Champions

6

1

Teemo

1

3

Tristana

3

4

Poppy

2

Followers

20

1

Proto Poro

3

2

Bandle Commando

3

2

Blastcone Seedling

3

2

Grandfather Fae

3

2

Petricite Broadwing

3

3

Gleaming Lantern

3

3

Loping Telescope

2

Spells

14

1

Fae Sprout

3

1

Ranger's Resolve

2

2

Pokey Stick

3

2

Sharpsight

3

5

Golden Aegis

3

Push deck to game Open deck in builder Copy URL Copy deck code

… and was met by Henneky, playing Yuumi Scouts.

Regions

Demacia
10 cards

Bandlecity
30 cards

Rarities

14 200

2

0

22

16

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

3

1

20

2

13

3

2

4

2

5

0

6

0

7+

Champions

2

3

Yuumi

2

Followers

22

2

Assistant Librarian

3

2

Bandle Commando

2

2

Conchologist

3

2

Grandfather Fae

3

2

Quick Quill

3

3

Gleaming Lantern

3

3

Loping Telescope

3

4

Rainbowfish

2

Spells

16

1

Fae Sprout

3

2

Field Promotion

3

2

Sharpsight

3

3

Cataclysm

2

3

Fae Aid

3

5

Golden Aegis

2

Push deck to game Open deck in builder Copy URL Copy deck code

Demacia's relentlessness favored Shadawx in this combat, and Writers took the lead 1 to 0.

Match Two - Aikado versus Sirturmund

Having lost the first match, the Pros sent Aikado as their second combatant, packing -- as befits this Shellfolk Master -- a Curious version of Akshan Gnar:

Regions

Shurima
15 cards

Bandlecity
25 cards

Rarities

29 200

6

4

17

13

eternal

Mana cost

3

0

14

1

9

2

3

3

6

4

0

5

5

6

0

7+

Champions

6

2

Akshan

3

4

Gnar

3

Followers

15

1

Inventive Chemist

2

1

Otterpus

3

2

Conchologist

3

3

Devoted Council

2

4

Teenydactyl

2

6

Curious Shellfolk

3

Spells

19

0

Feral Prescience

3

1

Scrapheap

1

1

Scrying Sands

3

1

Shaped Stone

2

1

Trinket Trade

3

2

Pokey Stick

3

3

Ancient Hourglass

1

4

Rite of Negation

1

6

Minimorph

2

Push deck to game Open deck in builder Copy URL Copy deck code

… and, having lost the first fight, the Pros also chose Sirturmund with The Scargrounds Udyr Tahm Kench as Aikado's opponent:

Regions

Freljord
34 cards

Bilgewater
6 cards

Rarities

26 100

6

3

7

24

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

9

1

12

2

10

3

3

4

3

5

3

6

0

7+

Champions

6

4

Tahm Kench

3

5

Udyr

3

Landmarks

3

3

The Scargrounds

3

Followers

19

1

Unscarred Reaver

3

2

Bone Scryer

3

2

Fortune Croaker

3

2

Vulpine Wanderer

3

3

Ember Maiden

2

3

Kindly Tavernkeeper

3

6

Mammoth Shaman

2

Spells

12

1

Elixir of Iron

3

1

Three Sisters

3

2

Troll Chant

3

3

Ice Shard

2

6

Shaman's Call

1

Push deck to game Open deck in builder Copy URL Copy deck code

Sirturmund proved that The Scargrounds hold as few secrets for him as Star Springs, widening the Writers' lead to 2-0.

Match Three - Maybenextime versus Jasensational

"Pink Police" Maybenextime was next for the writers -- like Aikado, MNT brought Akshan Gnar to the fight, but chose a Papercraft Dragon version.

Regions

Shurima
21 cards

Bandlecity
19 cards

Rarities

28 600

6

6

3

25

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

10

1

13

2

5

3

6

4

3

5

3

6

0

7+

Champions

6

2

Akshan

3

4

Gnar

3

Followers

21

1

Inventive Chemist

2

1

Treasure Seeker

2

1

Yordle Squire

3

2

Aspiring Chronomancer

2

2

Conchologist

3

3

Merciless Hunter

3

5

Ruin Runner

3

6

Papercraft Dragon

3

Spells

13

1

Shaped Stone

3

2

Pokey Stick

3

2

The Absolver

2

3

Wallop

2

4

Rite of Negation

3

Push deck to game Open deck in builder Copy URL Copy deck code

Confronting him he found Ezry Awarder Jasensational, with his signature Yasuo Leona deck:

Regions

Mount Targon
23 cards

Ionia
17 cards

Rarities

26 800

6

2

16

16

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

4

1

11

2

3

3

10

4

8

5

2

6

2

7+

Champions

6

4

Yasuo

3

5

Leona

3

Followers

22

1

Lunari Duskbringer

2

1

Spacey Sketcher

2

2

Greenglade Lookout

3

2

Solari Shieldbearer

2

2

Solari Sunhawk

3

3

Solari Priestess

2

4

Blinded Mystic

1

5

Rahvun, Daylight's Spear

3

6

Scattered Pod

2

8

The Infinite Mindsplitter

2

Spells

12

2

Twin Disciplines

3

3

Hush

1

4

Concussive Palm

2

4

Deny

2

4

Will of Ionia

2

5

Sunburst

2

Push deck to game Open deck in builder Copy URL Copy deck code

In stunning fashion, Jasensational shortened the gap to Pros 1, Writers 2.

Match Four - MajiinBae versus MonteXristo

This would be a match between two of the most powerful Ladder decks currently, with Seasonal Champion MajiinBae bringing Darkness…

Regions

Shadow Isles
18 cards

Bandlecity
25 cards

Rarities

23 800

6

0

12

22

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

2

1

15

2

2

3

9

4

5

5

7

6

0

7+

Champions

6

4

Veigar

3

5

Senna

3

Followers

17

2

Conchologist

3

2

Darkbulb Acolyte

3

2

Twisted Catalyzer

3

4

Aloof Travelers

2

4

Stilted Robemaker

3

6

Ixtali Sentinel

3

Spells

17

1

Group Shot

2

2

Pokey Stick

3

2

Vile Feast

3

3

Mist's Call

1

3

Stress Defense

1

4

The Box

1

5

Withering Wail

2

6

Minimorph

2

6

Vengeance

2

Push deck to game Open deck in builder Copy URL Copy deck code

… whereas Writer, Wiggly Wombat, and lineups expert MonteXristo chose the deck that, at the moment of this typing, you'll find at the top of Balco's Tier List when sorting by winrate.

Regions

Freljord
19 cards

Piltover & Zaun
21 cards

Rarities

28 300

6

5

7

22

eternal

Mana cost

2

0

5

1

18

2

2

3

6

4

3

5

0

6

4

7+

Champions

6

4

Gnar

3

5

Trundle

3

Followers

19

1

Zaunite Urchin

3

2

Avarosan Sentry

3

2

Boom Baboon

3

2

Ferros Financier

3

2

Icevale Archer

2

4

Aloof Travelers

3

8

It That Stares

2

Spells

15

0

Thermogenic Beam

2

1

Three Sisters

2

2

Concurrent Timelines

3

2

Mystic Shot

2

2

Troll Chant

2

3

Aftershock

1

3

Get Excited!

1

9

Buried in Ice

2

Push deck to game Open deck in builder Copy URL Copy deck code

Bringing enormous relief to the Writers, which feared this matchup the most, it turned out to be a Timeline in which the word-slinger team enlarged their advantage to 3-1.

Match Five - Leer versus Kevor

Being the fifth match, there was no strategy involved in choosing the combatants: the last of the Pros on the bench, Kevor -- who even though he was on a road trip, and had to connect by mobile, joined the challenge -- brought Galio Braum…

Regions

Demacia
27 cards

Freljord
13 cards

Rarities

25 800

6

2

11

21

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

4

1

14

2

10

3

3

4

4

5

0

6

5

7+

Champions

6

4

Braum

3

7

Galio

3

Followers

19

1

Petricite Hound

2

2

Petricite Broadwing

3

2

Vulpine Wanderer

3

3

Durand Architect

3

3

Durand Protege

1

3

Laurent Protege

3

5

Radiant Guardian

2

8

Wrath of the Freljord

2

Spells

15

1

Elixir of Iron

2

2

Sharpsight

3

2

Single Combat

2

2

Troll Chant

3

3

Shield of Durand

3

5

Concerted Strike

2

Push deck to game Open deck in builder Copy URL Copy deck code

… and our favorite Meta Reporter Leer piloted Yuumi Pantheon Demacia.

Regions

Demacia
14 cards

Mount Targon
26 cards

Rarities

23 200

6

0

9

25

eternal

Mana cost

0

0

3

1

17

2

10

3

6

4

4

5

0

6

0

7+

Champions

6

3

Yuumi

3

4

Pantheon

3

Followers

14

1

Saga Seeker

3

2

Brightsteel Protector

3

2

Mountain Goat

3

3

Wounded Whiteflame

3

4

Blinded Mystic

2

Spells

20

2

Guiding Touch

2

2

Pale Cascade

3

2

Sharpsight

3

2

Single Combat

3

3

Cataclysm

1

3

Zenith Blade

3

4

Bastion

1

5

Concerted Strike

2

5

Golden Aegis

2

Push deck to game Open deck in builder Copy URL Copy deck code

Both pilots duked it out until Leer, even though he never drew his champs, was able to wrestle the score to 4-1.

Game Five - Jasensational versus Sirturmund

Jasensational on Leona Yasuo was now the last line of the Pro's defense...

... Sirturmund advanced, wielding Udyr Tahm Kench…

… Yasuo and Leona could not repeat its previous stunning performance, and Scargrounds closed the challenge putting the score 5-1 in the Writers' favor.

Aftermath

Both teams, along with their fans, jumped on the same shared Voice channel for virtual handshakes and congratulations on games well played.

Was the experience enjoyable for both parties? 

"It was good fun," said Shellfolk connoisseur Aikado.

"Today's matches were a lot of fun," said MonteXristo, "I was really glad to go 5-1 against the MaRu Pro team."

Enough to have a rematch in the future?

"Next time, though," Aikido said, "gotta nerf Sirturmund; maybe he should play with one hand behind his back or something."

"Well…" smiled MonteXristo, "maybe Shadawx and I might not have lost to Yasuo Leona with the rest of the Wiggly Wombats behind us."

I don't know about you, folks…

… but that last phrase sounds like a challenge to me. =)

Stay tuned!

Sirturmund (Udyr Tahm Kench),

MonteXristo (Gnar Trundle Timelines),

Leer (Yuumi Pantheon),

and Maybenextime (Akshan Gnar),

will soon publish detailed deck guides about their weapons of choice for this confrontation.