Calling: Tokyo Live Blog

Champions Crowned In Tokyo

Two major tournaments. Two impressive champions.

First, our Calling Tokyo champion — Oh Oh from Taiwan — who navigated two days, three drafts, and seventeen rounds of competition. But when you transcend the way Oh did with Zen through the elimination rounds, anything is possible! His finals victory over Michael Feng was anything but easy, and it may very well go down as one of the best games in Flesh and Blood history!

Congrats to Oh Oh, the winner of $5,000 USD, a Gold Foil Extended Art Balance of Justice, a Professional Tournament Invitation (PTI), and the honor of being the first ever Calling champion on Japanese soil!

Next, our Battle Hardened Tokyo champion — Florin-Cristian Loghin from Austria — who didn't have the Calling performance he was hoping for on Saturday, but redeemed himself on Sunday. Like Calling champion Oh Oh, Loghin's path to a title was a long and grueling affair; eleven rounds to be exact. But after the dust settled, it was the appreciative Austrian calling himself champion.

Congrats to Florin-Cristian Loghin, the winner of $500 USD, a Battle Hardened Series Exclusive Playmat, a Professional Tournament Invitation (PTI), a Gold Foil Legendary Black Envelope, and the honor of being the first ever Battle Hardened champion on Japanese soil!

World Premiere Tokyo has been a weekend we won't soon forget. Want to get your hands on Part the Mistveili and become a champion like Oh and Florian? Find a prerelase this weekend near you and uncover what over 1,000 players learned this weekend in Tokyo...

The truth lies beyond the mist.

A Second Chance At Success

It wouldn't be a Calling without a redemption arc. All those who couldn't make Calling Tokyo Day 2 had a second shot at glory with Battle Hardened Tokyo. Also being a Sealed format, this arguably could've been an even bigger challenge than Day 1 of the Calling. Players were more experienced, they knew the set, and they were ready to put their newly gained knowledge to the test.

After eight grueling rounds of Swiss, we have a very international representation. Your global all-stars battling it out for the title of Battle Hardened Tokyo Champion are:

Japan VS The World

You could not write a more poetic Top 8 than this.

Here we are at Calling Tokyo, the debut Calling for Japan, and the Top 8 is 50% Japanese players, none of which will play against one another in the quarterfinals. That means we could have an all Japanese semifinals, which would ensure that the Japanese defend their home turf and win the inaurgual Calling!

Will that be how it plays out? I think some of Flesh and Blood's best may have something to say about that!

Without further ado, let's meet the Top 8 players of Calling Tokyo!

Japanese Pillars of Flesh and Blood

Flesh and Blood is in Tokyo, and three days in, it's still hard to believe! The entire World Premiere weekend has been such a surreal experience. We've had such an amazing turnout, not only from competitive players, but also from newcomers and pillars of the Japanese Flesh and Blood Community.

Among the visitors were influencers and professional players who've worked tirelessly to bring Flesh and Blood to Japan. We took the time to ask them who they are, what they do, and their impressions of the debut of Part the Mistveil in Japan!

Three's Company

As the second draft begins, we have a very interesting update here at Day 2 of Calling Tokyo. With 72 players into the second day of competition, nine separate draft pods were on the horizon, which means nine draft pod champions to crown.

Oddly enough, each of the new Mistveil heroes claimed victory three times in three different draft pods. It's rare to see such perfect balance, especially in the opening weekend of a new set, but that's what we have here in Tokyo with Nuu, Zen, and Enigma.

Your current undefeated players for Day 2 of Calling Tokyo are:

Nuu

• Ryosuke Urase
• Tansei Hiroyuki
• Motohiro Makigano

Zen

• Clay DeAngeis
• Oh Oh
• Bogdan-Andrei Oros

Enigma

• Brodie Spurlock
• Tariq Patel
• Shing Tsang

The Runway Comes To Rathe

One of Flesh and Blood's most standout features is its massive cast of unique and interesting heroes, both on and off the battlefield. We absolutely love seeing the all-star Rathe lineup being brought to life through the many talented cosplayers in the community.

Cosplayers embody some of the very best aspects of the community - creativity, passion, and a love for the world of Flesh and Blood. It's such a joy to see all the hard work that these artists put into their creations. We're honored to be able to share with you Calling Tokyo's very own fashion show and runway highlights.

(And just as a fun game, can you guess what the figure in green is cosplaying as?)

While being interviewed by the judges, Arakni confessed he arrived hours before the competition to assassinate all his competitors. Unfortunately, he ran out of time and had to settle with winning more honestly. Even out of the game, assassins lose to the clock.

With such a high level of talent across the board, it was difficult to choose the winner for the cosplay competition. In the end, points were awarded based on a list of criteria:

• Accuracy
• Quality
• Complexity
• Character

After all was said and done, Touran and her Nuu cosplay won the day, and the hearts, of all the judges. Her cosplay showed stellar craftsmanship with references to Japanese culture and the traditional kimono. The effort was well worth it, as she walked away Japan's first-ever cosplay contest winner and with the coveted Taylor cosplay winner card.

If you guessed our green mystery guest was Zero-to-Fifty, you got it! He was almost too fast to see and the hall erupted with laughter. Definitely a fan-favorite cosplay!

We're so incredibly proud of the cosplay community and their show out here at Calling Tokyo. Let's give another round of applause to all the cosplayers for their amazing effort.

(From Left to Right; Chanri as Mask of Momentum, Kyra as Marvel Rare Crouching Tiger Kassai, Ryan as Zen, Happy Lady as Dromai, Touran as Nu, どどすこビビンバ脱走兵 as Young Levia, ぼん as Zen, Niinoi as Zero to Fifty", TETSU as Arakni, 343(さしみ) as Max Nitro, and 葉脈 as Mask of Momentum.)

Welcome to Day 2 of Calling Tokyo

Welcome back to another beautiful day here at Belle Salle Takadanobaba in Tokyo. 72 players have advanced from yesterday’s first ever Calling in Japan into Day 2 of competition, with Part the Mistveil booster draft on their mind. Those aspiring champions will compete in six rounds today before the cut to Top 8.

As players prepare to crack their first booster pack, let's see how well Nuu, Zen, and Enigma performed yesterday!

Calling Tokyo started with over 550 players, with 229 Nuus, 220 Zens, and just 100 Enigmas among the accounted heroes. With only 72 spots available, it was game faces all around, and after a long day with eight rounds of combat, here’s who was left standing.

It’s somewhat surprising to see just how balanced the conversion rate for each hero was, with both Zen and Enigma having a 16% conversion, while Nuu, yesterday's most played hero, only at 9%. In a new segment I’d like to call “Backseat Wisdom with Matt Rogers”, we have an insight into the metagame interactions for Day 1 of Calling Tokyo:

Because there was such a high number of Nuu players, we could expect a higher Zen conversion rate. I feel that Zen has more tools and can pressure Nuu quite well, while Nuu has a preferable matchup with Enigma because of all the tools she has. Mainly Pick to Pieces can clear all the wards. Nuu players can let Enigma get ahead on board and set up a double reaction turn on Pick to Pieces. Conversely Zen has more trouble pushing all the damage without the access to the classic ninja daggers, and if Enigma sets up multiple auras, Zen may be able to take down a couple but it will be hard to maintain pressure and clear them all.

Wise words from one of the game's very best.

Two Players Transcend To End Day 1 of Calling: Tokyo

All is Zen on the Misteria battlefield. It was a spot of Double Trouble when the two undefeated players of today's main event asserted Territorial Domain, marking this arena as Zen's and only Zen's. We're very proud to announce Haruka Sonoda and Lee Ming-Han as our two undefeated players for Day 1 of Calling Tokyo.

What does it take to become an undefeated prizefighter? Well, I don't know, but I do know two people who might be able to shed some light on the topic.

Haruka Sonoda

• Why did you choose to play Zen today?

I'm used to Zen. I was planning to use Zen no matter what I opened and I was really happy to see I opened a good Zen pool.

• If you could choose any hero to play would you change?

I played Zen and Nuu yesterday, and I thought even if the card pool was not good, I would still play Zen.

• What advice do you have for new players joining in Part the Mistveil?

I'm very excited that the official team is supporting the Japanese language very quickly. I recommend just starting to play and seeing what you enjoy.

Lee Ming-Han

• Why did you choose to play Zen today?

I picked Zen because I believe both Nuu and Enigma require certain key cards to have a really good deck. I didn't open them, but I had a lot of good go-again cards, and that made Zen work well.

• If you could choose any hero to play would you change?

That's very interesting. Maybe if I could choose what cards I could use, I would choose Enigma. Enigma seems very strong and if you can play two auras going first you have a very hard time losing the game. I think Enigma is very good in this set, but you really need to have the important cards.

• What advice do you have for new players joining in Part the Mistveil?

For new players I would say this is a very good set to start the game with. Each hero is strong and opening this set will give you a really good deck. In Limited, if you want to play Nuu, you should try and look for Venomous Bite. For Engima, I would look for Waxing Specter. For Zen, I felt the most important card is just the weapon.

That's a wrap on Day 1! We'll be back with you tomorrow with another stream and all the info for Day 2 of Calling Tokyo.

Day 1 of Calling: Tokyo is Almost Done

Nearly through with Day 1, it's time to check in with some of Flesh and Blood's best to see how they've fared thus far through the first-ever Japanese Calling.

What's their record, what hero did they choose, and, and just how fun is Part the Mistveil? It's time for our Round 6 Roundup!

Same Place, New Face

Part the Mistveil is the first Flesh and Blood set to be released in Japanese and the turnout at this weekend's World Premiere has blown away even the loftiest of expectations. Some Japanese vanguards have already been coming together through the common language of playing great games on the world stage, so we had to ask them a few questions about Flesh and Blood's newest set.

Calling Tokyo Metagame Breakdown

Calling Tokyo brings us back to a very Uprising-esque metagame. We have the return of the Ninja and Illusionist class in new forms, while we have Nuu representing a different form of evasive damage — only attack reactions as opposed to arcane damage.

Today's main event was met with over 550 players aiming to transcend to a higher level of play, ready to fight Tooth and Claw for the title of Japan's first Calling champion. With three brand new heroes to aid them in their journey, we have an exciting Sealed metagame breakdown.

This hero spread is surprisingly balanced, with only nine players separating Zen and Nuu in hero count. The biggest surprise is while Enigma seems to be the fan-favorite hero of the set, we see her at less than half the rate of the other two heroes in today's event.

We’ll keep you up to date on how well the new champions of Mysteria perform in the first-ever competitive event for Part the Mistveil.

Same Face, New Place

One of the great things about Flesh and Blood is how the international community gathers in cities around the globe to come together through the common language of playing great games. We have standout members from all over the world here in Tokyo to share their passion for the game as well as join in Japan's very first Calling. With such an international turnout for this weekend's event, we had to ask a few quick questions to some of our most well-known faces.

Calling Tokyo Is Underway

It's a brand new day in the land of the rising sun, as the mist beckons Flesh and Blood fans once more. The halls and tables of the beautiful Belle Salle Takadanobaba are filled with ambitious veterans and enthusiastic fresh faces alike. Competitors from across the world have gathered here today in hopes of adding their names to the annals of Rathe's history.

Welcome, everyone, to Day 1 of Calling Tokyo!

Two informative opening speeches down — in English and Japanese — packs have been cracked, and decks have been built. It’s time to get down to business.

Follow along with Japan's first ever Calling via one of our two live blogs (Japanese and English), on Twitter (join the conversation with #FABMST and #WPMST), and on our live stream alongside Matt Di Marco, Elliot Tan, and Yui Tokiwa.

Oasis Respite Makes its Way to Asia

After a morning of practice and learning Flesh and Blood's latest set, over 500 people are ready to put their knowledge to the test in tonight's Oasis Respite Sealed Event. In addition, this is the first time that Flesh and Blood fans in Asia can acquire the Oasis Respite promo. It's a gorgeous one, to be sure!

As players gear up for four rounds of gameplay, putting their newly acquired Part the Mistveil knowledge to the test, for many, this is the perfect way to close out the day; cracking more packs, trying new heroes, and practicing for tomorrow's main event — Calling: Tokyo.

Until then!

Learn to Play Blitz Pre-Con Event

For every new Flesh and Blood set, we have a new generation of players eager to join the ranks of Rathe. As part of the hero's journey, adventurers on the New Player Quest found themselves battling it out in the Learn to Play Blitz Pre-con event.

Fresh faces and fresher decks sat down to play out in their first-ever Flesh and Blood event. Across the tables, we saw players young and old discovering the secrets beyond the mist. It was heartwarming to see everyone discover the game for the first time, and I have to admit, I was quite jealous — I wish I could experience learning Flesh and Blood for the first time again.

There was excitement when Zen’s chained together long combo chains, confusion when Enigma’s tried to play and block with instants, and sly expressions whenever Nuu’s would banish a key card from the opponent’s deck, only to throw it right back at them.

The journey forward may be shrouded in mist, but it’s a journey I look forward to watching for new players all the same.

Welcome to Belle Salle Takadanobaba

World Premiere: Part the Mistveil is here in style, with one of the most beautiful venues in Flesh and Blood history playing home to over 700 players today. Just walking up to the Belle Salle Takadanobaba, players found themselves wandering through a garden in the heart of Tokyo. Upon their entrance, competitors were immediately greeted by the games' newest heroes, as large visages of Enigma, Nuu, and Zen beckon would-be contestants through the mist.

Just beyond the entrance lies a treasure trove of exclusive World Premiere items. Original classic art playmats have made a return, but now fully in Japanese, while Legend Story Studios apparel in all sizes and designs are available for fans to represent the game they love. New to the prize wall are super-sized cards from the Part the Mistveil lineup, alongside new framed uncut sheets of some of the most beautiful marvels of the set.

Just across from the merchandise booth are two of Part the Mistveil’s prominent artists, Daken and Hirosuda, allowing players a chance to get their newly acquired cards signed. Just on the other side of the wall, Romiy and YayoiShiro await their adoring fans. Artist proofs and custom sketches are being created to match an ever-increasing player demand. Stunning works of art line the walls, showcasing the true talent of the creators behind some of the most beautiful cards in the game.

Entering the main hall, we see the newest and most stunning addition to the Flesh and Blood event scene - the learn-to-play area - which offers players an in-depth and immersive experience to teach curious onlookers how to play Flesh and Blood. Along with a visually gorgeous setup, the learn-to-play area is flushed out with a New Player Quest immersive experience. Starting at registration, players receive missions and goals to accomplish on their journey to transcend into the world of Flesh and Blood. Upon completing their quest, players are primed and ready to play in their first competition equipped with a blitz deck of their choice and a Japanese language Flesh and Blood playmat.

The main event hall is a sight to behold. Rows upon rows of tables, with enough seats for over 800 Flesh and Blood fans, the sounds of cards flicking and packs being cracked fill the hall. Inter-spaced between the sea of players are the vendors that make up the Midtown Market, where in between rounds, troves of players fill out their collections, even acquiring the flashiest cards to bling out their favorite deck.

With so much to do and see, it can be difficult to find time to do everything in just three days. But opportunity waits on no one and we’re all excited to see how the weekend here in Tokyo unfolds.

Cracking Packs and Building Decks

As over 700 players lean in, a silence falls over the room...

All attention is on James White as he walks to the front of the stage to address the hall. Everyone is prepared for his speech, yearning to hang on his each and every word. Expressing his thanks and offering Homage to Ancestors past of the card game community, the creator of Flesh and Blood finally gives the signal everyone has been waiting for…

It’s time to crack some packs!

Immediately the sound of plastic being ripped open and shouts of excitement echo through the Belle Salle Takadanobaba. Awestruck gasps are followed by applause and congratulations. Each card opened is but A Drop in the Ocean in the Deep Blue Sea of the venue.

Players are fervently studying their tokens and heroes. Nuu, Zen, Enigma; who should they play? What should they choose? Everyone is eager to use their new Enigma promo, but do they have the cards to build with the new Mystic Illusionist?

The Rising Tide of marvels and their stunning artwork is all that’s needed to Wash Away any doubt, as all the future illusionist players attempt to use it in their 30-card decks.

As the one hour of deck building comes to a close much sooner than anticipated, players have realized they have to make their final decisions. Crouching Tigers, Fang Strikes and Slithers, or the classic Spectral Shields; what do they go for? Time has come to a close, decks have been finalized, and players are preparing to begin Round 1 of World Premiere: Part the Mistveil.

Welcome to the World Premiere!

Here we are, live from Tokyo, Japan — the largest city on earth, the capital of trading card games, the inspiration for Part the Mistveil, and the home of the next three days of Flesh and Blood history!

We have the honor of hosting our World Premiere of Part the Mistveil at the beautiful Belle Salle Takadanobaba, right in the heart of Flower City and just a short distance from the world-famous City of the Beasts, Shinjuku! Players from all over the globe are answering the Siren’s Call, drawing ever near to being the first to open Flesh and Blood's newest set.

Players playing in today's main event will be given two exclusive items — a World Premiere Promo Japanese Rainbow Foil of Enigma, Ledger of Ancestry and a World Premiere Inner Chi playmat. Throughout the weekend, fresh faces and veterans alike will journey on a quest of discovery, learning the mechanics of Part the Mistveil and hopefully transcend to high understanding.

With over 700 players registered for today's World Premiere, memories will be made, rivalries ignited anew, and most important of all, players will come together in the common language of playing great games.

We have an action-packed weekend with several sealed events debuting the newest set of Flesh and Blood, and with only a day to prepare, we’ll see players launch headfirst into Flesh and Blood’s debut Calling Tokyo to see who comes out on top and be named Japan’s first Calling champion.

Follow along with this once-in-a-lifetime event all weekend long at one of our two live blogs (English and Japanese), on Twitter (join the conversation with #FABMST and #WPMST), and on our live stream alongside Matt Di Marco, Elliot Tan, and Yui Tokiwa.

The truth lies beyond the mist.