Dreams both came true and shattered in an instant at Calling: Taipei last weekend! Players converged in Taiwan from all over the world to engage in three back-to-back days of great games and good times.
Pro Quest has also kicked off in Australia, with the rest of the world joining in very soon. Featuring Classic Constructed and Bright Lights Booster Draft, Lexi is already taking a few names! Will she see the sunrise this season? Find out next week!
For now, let's check out the action from Taipei...
More than 280 players battled for the title of Champion, fueled by rampant excitement for the Calling's highly anticipated return to Taiwan! With Gold Foils, PTIs, and $10,000 USD on the line, everyone was prepared to go all the way.
The familiar battle between arrows and dragons was been hijacked by a cheeky Inventor Extraordinaire, who joined Lexi and Dromai as the three most popular picks for a very challenging metagame.
But it was the underdog Azalea who took out Dromai at the knees in the finals. Justin Cu had only started playing in April, and he almost couldn't believe it when his opponent, Calling: Singapore Champion Nick Butcher, extended the handshake. Justin was quiet due to shock for a few moments, before he erupted into raucous celebration! Nick showcased exceptional sportsmanship, warmly congratulating his opponent on a well-earned victory!
Top 8
1st: Justin Cu - Azalea, Ace in the Hole
2nd: Nick Butcher - Dromai, Ash Artist
3rd-4th: Yongzhao Zhang - Uzuri, Switchblade
3rd-4th: Allen Lau - Lexi, Livewire
5th-8th: Nova Chan - Lexi, Livewire
5th-8th: Brodie Spurlock - Lexi, Livewire
5th-8th: Chia Yong Teck - Bravo, Showstopper
5th-8th: Huang Bo Wei - Rhinar, Reckless Rampage
More than 80 players hooned down the streets of Metrix in the Battle Hardened, cracking packs of Bright Lights and becoming more than human! With Gold Foils, playmats, a PTI, and $2,000 USD up for grabs, it was time to level the competition.
Dash flew under the radar at the top table draft, with all players electing to run Maxx Nitro or Teklovossen. Building and playing an item-based deck can sometimes be tricky when you can't control what cards will show up in the packs, especially with such a fresh set - but we have only started scraping the surface of what this dynamic darling is capable of!
Top 8
1st: Ji Timm Lee - Maxx Nitro
2nd: Mortal Absolute - Teklovossen
3rd-4th: Wiroon Juesathainrat - Teklovossen
3rd-4th: David Yau - Maxx Nitro
5th-8th: Travis Wong - Maxx Nitro
5th-8th: Lee Ming-Han - Teklovossen
5th-8th: Jack Tang - Teklovossen
5th-8th: Galaxy Yang - Teklovossen
Meanwhile, the venue was absolutely pumping with throngs of players enjoying everything Calling: Taipei had to offer!
More beautiful Chinese Fate Foreseen promos found new homes during the FATE FORSEALED side event, where players could take on special guests to win bounties!
Bun Ar claimed a Gold Foil at the Commoner side event, leading the common Volcai in an uprising with Fai!
Truly fantastical masterpieces were showcased at the Cosplay Contest. It's incredible how deep the creativity and ingenuity of our cosplay community runs. We appreciate every single one of you and the awesome work you do bringing the characters of Rathe to life. Congratulations to Joanacris Marie Ballesta, for winning first place as Levia, Redeemed!
How often do you get the chance to meet the masters behind the art of Flesh and Blood? Artist Alley was stacked with fans, who went home with treasures signed by their favourite artists!
Thank you so much to each and every one of you who joined us in Taipei for another awesome Calling! Thank you to our special guests, stream casters, coverage team, judges, event staff, and amazing host Fayble for making this weekend possible!
Bring on Pro Quest!
