FM - Finals: Michael Carney vs. Jordan Arnold

The finals of the Legacy tournament featured a rematch from round 1, pitting Carney's Bant Natural Order deck against Jordan's mono-red Dragonstorm - dubbed by me earlier in the day as Hydra vs. Dragons. Both players had teamed up to win the Emperor Draft a few weeks ago, but who would emerge victorious when they were on opposite sides of the table? There was only one way to find out, so the players shuffled up and prepared to start the final match. Carney won the roll and chose to play, as both players kept their opening seven.

Carney started with a Misty Rainforest, which he popped for a Tropical Island after Jordan played a Mountain and passed (19-20). Carney used Verdant Catacombs to find a Savannah (18-20), and ramped his mana by using Green Sun's Zenith for 1 to put a Noble Hierarch into play. Jordan played a second Mountain and cast Pyretic Ritual, but it met Force of Will, exiling Spell Pierce (17-20).

With his opponent set back, Carney set off his own combo, casting a third-turn Natural Order, turning his Hierarch into Progenitus after finding another Tropical Island with Windswept Heath (16-20). Jordan drew a card and passed, and the game was over shortly after it had began. After Carney added on a Tarmogoyf for good measure and attacked with Progenitus (6-20), Jordan packed it in.

Michael Carney 1, Jordan Arnold 0

Both players kept again in game 2, and Jordan was on a mission to end it even faster than the first game ended. He played two Rites of Flame, followed by Seething Song and Pyretic Ritual, which wasn't enough for Dragonstorm, but was good enough to cast Empty the Warrens for 10 Goblins. Carney had the rather underwhelming play of land, Ponder before passing.

Jordan swung with all his Goblins (10-20) and decided that was enough for his turn. Carney drew and played a second Ponder, which met Pyroblast from Jordan. It was already time for game 3.

Michael Carney 1, Jordan Arnold 1

"I wonder if they're going to play Magic this game," an onlooker joked as they shuffled up for game 3. Jordan took a mulligan to 6 while Carney kept his opener and led with a Tundra. Jordan played a Spinerock Knoll and suspended a Lotus Bloom. Carney used Windswept Heath to find a Savannah (19-20) on his next turn, but still had no other plays. Jordan also added nothing to the board, but prepared for a big future turn by playing Molten Slagheap and suspending a second Lotus Bloom.

Carney finally had a play in the form of Qasali Pridemage, along with laying down a Verdant Catacombs but choosing not to activate it just yet. Jordan put a storage counter on his Slagheap, but had no plays after untapping. Carney popped the Catacombs for a Tropical Island (18-20) and used Brainstorm at the end of Jordan's turn. After untapping, he played two Noble Hierarchs and beat down with his thrice-exalted Pridemage (18-15). Jordan was content to put a second storage counter on his Slagheap.

On his next turn, Jordan's first Lotus Bloom was cast from suspension, and it resolved. Jordan then removed the two storage counters from his Slagheap to make two mana and cast Desperate Ritual, but it met a Spell Pierce. Jordan used a Ricochet Trap to make the Spell Pierce counter the Trap instead of the Ritual, but Carney just played another Spell Pierce following a fetch land activation (17-15), and this one stopped the Ritual. Jordan had to pass the turn back.

Carney again attacked with his Pridemage, who represented a fast clock (17-10), but he had no further plays. Jordan's second Lotus Bloom resolved. Jordan then went big, casting a Seething Song off his three lands and then sacrificing both Lotus Blooms. He then cast a Dragonstorm, and even though he got only three Bogardan Hellkites instead of the ideal four, he was able to clear Carney's field and put a big dent in his life total (6-10). Carney had Swords to Plowshares for one Dragon (6-15), but was unable to find an answer to a second one, and that was all she wrote.

Jordan Arnold 2, Michael Carney 1