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Hello Pojoers! I just got back from the JSS qualifer today, which I opted to
go to instead of Regionals. So, here is the report. First, I better start
with a deck list.

Creatures:
4 Spiketail Hatchling
4 Rishidan Airship
4 Chimeric Idol
4 Troublesome Spirit
1 Glacial Wall

Spells:
4 Wash Out (Amazing!)
4 Thwart
4 Foil
4 Opt
3 Gush
1 Misdirection
1 Sky Diamond

Land:
22 Island


Sideboard:
3 Rising Waters
3 Withdraw (MVP)
3 Submerge
2 Glacial Wall
2 Misdirection
2 Prodigal Sorcerer

The main reason I am playing Skies, is that I don't like spending 500
dollars on decks. Skies is fairly cheap to build, but it is not easy to
play. Also, at the last JSS I attended there was a large control turn-out,
which Skies has the complete upperhand on. The one real fear I had was
facing Fires all day, because that match is next to impossible to beat
consistantly. Well, lets start with the matches. Also, you will have to
excuse the lack of detail, because my notes consist of life totals on score
pads.

Round 1: Jordon Thompson with Counter Rebel

This guys deck was far from the norm as far as Counter Rebel is concerned.
He was running several questionable choices including Rethink, Prohibit, and
Darting Merfolk, which probably hurt his success. Anyway, I get off to a
quick start with the help of Rishidan Airships, and Glacial Wall holding off
Meddling Mage (Counterspell). I get him down to three when he stabalizes by
killing my Airships somehow, and I am short on threats. I do manage to get
one more attack in though, but I pointed out that he could prevent the
damage with Kor Haven to save him. THis act of kindness cost me the game.

Sideboard:
-1 Airship, -1 Glacial Wall, -1 Hatchling, -1 Opt
+3 Rising Waters, +1 Misdirection

This game goes much better. I get some major pressure on the board with
Idol, Airship, and Spirit. When he starts going up his Rebel Chain, I Wash
Out, and then drop Waters. He finds no anwser for Waters and the fliers go
all the way.

This game is virtually the same as the last, with me getting Rising Waters
early. I pump out threats and then throw the back breaking Wash Out for the
win.

Games: 2-1 Matches:1-0

Round 2: Zevi Miller with Ankh-Tide

The fact that he had no counters in the main deck from what I saw probably
cost him this match.

In the first game he drops a 2nd turn Ankh, and a 3rd turn Tangle Wire. A
less than ideal situation, especially when he has a threat (Spiketail
Hatchling, and I have none) I am forced to play land until I am down to 10,
at which I stabilize. I get a Chimeric Idol, and I ride to victory on a
giant turtle statue.

SIDEBOARD: -4 Wash Out, -1 Glacial Wall
+3 Withdraw, +2 Prodigal Sorcerer

Next game I get virtually no threats on the board other than Hatchlings. He
keeps the rest off with the help of Gainsay, and another third turn Tangle
Wire. He beats me down with 2 Ankhs and a hatchling untill I am at 5, and he
drops the other part of the combo, Tide, and I scoop.

In the final game, I realize I have to get enough pressure on the board
before he can get a Tangle Wire. I go first and ramp straight up the curve,
Hatchling, Airship, Spirit, Idol. He has no anwser except a very late Tangle
Wire, which does nothing.

Games: 4-2 Matches: 2-0

Round 3: Max McGuffin with Skies

The first game is nothing but a life race, however he gets the upper hand
because Airships can't block Idols. Well, what can you do.

SIDEBOARD: Same as last match

The second game doesn't go much better for me. My lone creature that I drew,
Troublesome Spirit, was Foiled. I had no cards in hand since I had to use my
Foil to try to save the Spirit. The Foil was Thwarted. I procede to draw 5
consecutive land, while he draws Airship, Airship, Idol, Idol. Needless to
say, I am dead.

Games: 4-4 Matches:2-1

Round 4: Micheal Grimberg with Nether-Go

The first game goes right down the norm, with him getting no threats, and me
just flying over with 3/*'s. I don't remember how I sideboarded, but I do
know it was incorrect. I sideboarded as if there were no Air Elemental,
which I forgot that the new decks do run, so I didn't side in Prodigal
Sorcerer.

Next game, nothing goes well. My Airships are Vendetta'd and I can't seem to
get a Spirit on the table. I do get an Idol, which deals no damage and is
Dominated. I finally get a Spirit Down, but he anwsers with a Air Elemental.
Being at 9 life, I scoop.

I resideboard, to bring in the Sorcerer.

I get some significant threats on the board, and all of his anwsers are
countered. Soon after I drop Pop N' Fresh/Tim/Prodigal Sorcerer, and I end
up poking him to death.

Games: 6-5 Matches 3-1

At this point almost all of the Fires are 2-2. There is one that isn't, and
guess who the lucky guy who gets to play him is... yep, you guessed its me.
Sigh.

Round 5: Jordan Tarner (Sp?) with Fires.

First game I get VERY, VERY, VERY lucky draws, and his draws are...
suboptimal. I get pressure with Airship, soon followed by Spirit, and his
anwsers are countered. His one could-be anwser that does hit play, Saproling
Burst does nothing as it is washed away next turn, as I sail in for the win.

Sideboarding is crazy vs. Fires, and I have seen several ways of doing it. I
doubt mine is the best, but it is the best that I can do right now.

-4 Opt, -3 Gush, -1 Airship
+3 Withdraw, +3 Submerge, +2 Glacial Wall

Next game he gets three Sap Bursts. Yes, you read that right THREE saproling
Bursts. I manage to counter one, but when he throws the second one, followed
by a Blastoderm, I concede.

The following game is nothing short of a miracle. I start off on turn 2 with
Hatchling, which is soon paired. we trade hits between Hatchlings and Elves,
and he has virtually no other plays. I cast a Spirit, which he tries too
Flametounge Away (Foil). I then procede to get nearly every tempo card I
have, so I keep his elfs off the table. He draws a Burst which is Thwarted.
And, at the end of his turn I secure the win by Submerging the Elf
eliminating his draw-step.

At the end of this match, I am ecstatic. I have just done, the next to
impossible, of beating Fires with Skies. Sure, a lot was luck, but a win is
a win, right?

Games: 8-6 Matches: 4-1

I am on top of the world right now. I can draw my way into top 8, and I just
beat a very good fires deck, something I couldn't do all weekend (I was like
15-3 against it on Friday).

I go to my next match, hoping to ID my way into top 8. However, he doesn't
want to draw for fear he will miss top 8. SO, we end up playing the match,
when we could have drawn our way in.

Round 6: Steve Landen with Counter Rebel

Well, isn't that great. My two worst matchups in a row. I know my luck is
problaby out now. However I do not remember muth of this match at all.

I know I get three hits in with something in the first game to knock him
down to 11. It stopped there, and my life slowly decreased.

Next game, I get much better pressure, while his is very little. I think
that a Spirit beat him down to 8, and then a second one joined the fun.

And, in the third game, I lose to a Vanguard, Falcon, and a recycling Sky
Marshall.

Games: 9-8 Matches: 4-2

Now, I am really nervous. I doubt I will make top 8 all together. When the
standings go up, I am shocked to find out that I am in 8th place! Here is
what top 8 looks like. Sorry if I didn't put your name up, I didn't have
time to copy the list.

1. Harrison Osborne (Skies)
2. Steve Landen (Counter-Rebel)
3. Max McGuffin (Skies)
4. Jordan Tarnan (Fires)
5. Forgot name 1 (Nether-Go)
6. Forgot name 2 (Nether-Go)
7. Ben Morgan (Counter-Rebel)
8. Me (Blue Skies)

I play Harrison Osborne in the first round. Which I lost my life notes for,
so this is from strict memory.

Top 8, Round 1:

In the first game we are at a dead lock most of the game, and we each have a
ton of threats on the board, but we can't do anything with them. He Washes
Out to attempt to gain board control, but I am able to replay my threats
faster, so I bum rush for about 9 hits of damage. After that, we go back to
our old dead lock state. After a few turns, I realize I he has no Spirits (a
crucial card in this match), so I start attacking with mine. He adventually
runs out of blockers and I bum Rush again. After the game, I look back at
the situation, and realize I could have won the game earlier, but I
neglected to be the agressor when I had a cerature advantage.

SIDEBOARD:
-4 Wash Out, -1 Glacial Wall
+3 Withdraw, +2 Prodigal Sorcerer

He is able to get pressure down early in this game while countering my
threats and Withdrawing the ones he doesn't counter. I do draw a glimse of
hope, Pordigal Sorcerer. However I am forced to play him before I can get
counter back-up, so he is Foiled. Harrison wins.

This game I am able to find pressure and Withdraws. I am also able to anwser
his counters with some of my own. I pull away with Idols, and Spirits.

Games: 11-9 Matches: 5-2

Harrison Osborne
                 Chris Krasen
Chris Krasen (me)

Jordan Tarnan
                 Jordan Tarnan
Max McGuffin

Ben Morgan
                 Steven Landen
Steven Landen

Nether-go
                 Nether-go
Nether-go

I walk over to Jordan saying how he will be able to get his revenge and beat
up on another Skies player. I know it is nearly impossible for me to win
this match, so I play for fun (its only a game). Another match that I lost
life totals for, so here we go from memory.

Top 8, Round 2:

I get a nearly ideal hand, unfortunitally, he does too. And a Fires good
hand beats a Skies good hand. He is able to blow away my wall with a
Flamtounge and 3 from and Idol, and it is all down hill from there. He gets
2 derms and a burst, making my Idols look flat out inferior. He smokes me.

Sideboard: Same as the previous match against him.

Things start looking good when I get 2 Hatchlings and an Airship.
Unfortunitally, he has Simoon. I can't counter it, and he goes all the way
with Elves, 'Derms, Saprolings, and a Flametounge Kavu that shot down my
last creature.

So I end up 5-3, a Crusade (Foil), a Lord of Atlantis (Foil), and half a box
to show for my efforts. Not bad for a deck that isn't supposed to make top
8, and a player that wasn't supposed to make top 8. However this isn't the
end.

I start playing a match for fun later, when the judge calls me over. He
explains that both Jordan Tarnan, and Steven Landen are already qualified.
So gues what that means... I got the invite, and I am off to Florida. Now
figuring out what to play is another hard part.

Props and Slops:
Props:
You, for sticking through this extra long article
Everyone that helped me in playtesting, I wouldn't have made it without you
PES, for running this tournament
My parents and family, for allowing me to play magic, go to this tournament,
and go to Florida.
All of my opponents, for being relativly good sports throughout the day
Max, and Harrison, for also defying the odds, playing Skies, and making top
8

No slops. Nobody really deserves any.

Well, good luck to everyone. Feel free to e-mail me if you want, just no
chain letters.

Chris Krasen "BIG red"
BIGred2k01@hotmail.com