Hayden Dale is a competitive player who won the Calling: Sydney in 2019 and Australian Nationals in 2021. He co-hosts the Arsenal Pass podcast, and can consistently be found at the top tables.
You look up at the standings after swiss, and there it is, your name in the top cut. You’ll be moving on to the single elimination rounds to compete with the final few players in the room for first place in the tournament. Be it your first or your fifteenth Flesh and Blood top cut, Calling, Road to Nationals, or even Battle Hardened. No matter the number or event, it will always be special and it will always be an achievement.
The top cut of a Flesh and Blood event is just different. It is a step up from the swiss portion of the event when it comes to the level of play. It is composed of the best players in the room on that day, and comes down to those who put up the performance necessary to make it. Just making it to these final rounds is an achievement, but what do you do when you actually make it?
How Top Cuts Work
Perhaps this competitive season will be your first, maybe your second, or even your third. To be prepared to navigate the top cut of any competitive Flesh and Blood event, it helps to know exactly how it will go down.
In top cut the final players at the end of swiss will compete in single elimination matches to determine the event winner. This will be contested by four or eight players (determined by the number of total players on the day - which will be announced along with the number of rounds in the player’s meeting before the rounds start). Unlike swiss where there exists an array of players you might pair into in any given round, the person that you will play in top cut is determined by the standings after swiss. A bracket is formed and #1 plays #8, #2 plays #7, #3 plays #6, and #4 plays #5. The semi-finals are also determined by this bracket.
Seeded brackets mean achieving a higher rank in swiss by getting as many wins as possible sets you up with a potentially more favourable opponent, one that didn’t get as many wins. More importantly, a higher seeding also gives you the potential to choose who goes first and who goes second in your top cut matches. Rather than randomising who starts in top cut, the higher seeded player decides which player will go first - a big advantage especially if you are playing a match up where first vs second could greatly impact your odds to win!
In swiss we are playing to a strict time limit, where if time in the round is called and no result is reached by the conclusion of that one additional turn, the match is a draw. In the top cut however, rounds are played untimed until a winner is found. It is important to note though that players are still required to play in a timely manner.
What to Expect
So here we are - the top cut. Like I mentioned earlier, this is already a great achievement. Now it’s time to shuffle up and play. This might be your first ever top cut or maybe first top cut for an event of this size, so what can you expect?
The first thing I always notice about top cuts is a general step up in the skill of my opponents. Everyone earned their place in these last few rounds and often you’ll find players laser focused on closing out the event by keeping their plays tight. You’ll also likely notice one or two players you have already faced in the event. These might be players you defeated who went on to still make the cut, or maybe one of your few losses on the day. You might pair into these players again in top cut and it presents quite a unique opportunity for both you and your opponent to leverage the information from your first game to potentially adapt or adjust your pre-boarding, gameplan, or setup - all in an effort to gain an advantage for the rematch!
When it comes to top cut it is really important, and expected, that you keep your communication clear and accurately represent the gamestate at all times. This shouldn’t be daunting or intimidating, just make sure to announce your plays and triggers clearly and don’t be afraid to take that extra few seconds to review and confirm your play before making it - just ensure you maintain a reasonable pace of play.
Lastly, something you might not have experienced in your swiss rounds of the event is the potential for a table judge. In top cut, depending on size and number of judges, you could find yourself with a judge sitting at your table to observe the match. The judges in our community do an amazing job of running and maintaining event integrity, I really want to highlight that they are there for our benefit as players. Their job is to ensure the match goes smoothly, and I think it is worth pointing out that they aren’t there to “get ya” or pounce on a mistake. Try not to be intimidated by their presence and instead feel secure in the knowledge that they are probably enjoying a good game of Flesh and Blood just like yourself!
Pro Tips
Aside from how it all works and what to expect, I want to leave you with some important tips to make your top cut experience a (hopefully) fruitful one. Here are a few pieces of advice from my own experiences on how to get the most out of those final rounds.
Firstly, have fun! I have to keep it at the top of the list because Flesh and Blood competitive play is to be enjoyed. So, enjoy the ride. Try to stay in the moment and play the game in front of you. A big downfall that I know myself and others have experienced in top cuts is getting distracted from the game in front of us, leading to a mistake or taking a sub-optimal line that could cost you a hard fought win. For example, try not to focus on the semi-final while playing the quarter-final. If you have a crowd watching then focus on the table, and if you feel your mind wandering try to think exclusively about your next play or what your opponent might be working through.
Reset yourself before the top cut starts. Perhaps you had a thrilling last round win-and-in, or maybe just a longer game that went close to time. But before the top cut starts there are a few things I like to always ensure I do. The first is a comfort break, grabbing some fresh air, filling up my water, eating a snack, etc. I will also always double check my deck. I grab my deck box and check all the cards I registered are there and my sleeves are looking all fine and with no visible damage. I like to do this between every round at an event, but I really advise doing it at least before the top cut where you will have a bit more time.
Keep it simple! You have been playing Flesh and Blood all day and made it this far. Now isn’t the time to make drastic changes to your gameplan on a whim, or try to make a convoluted play that could potentially trick the opponent. Stick to your fundamentals, lean on your learnings and experience, and just keep doing what got you this far already.
Call a judge if needed. If you are unsure of anything, be it the process in the top cut or something related to what is happening in your game at a specific moment, then call a judge. This tip can be extended to swiss also, but I have certainly heard of players feeling like they shouldn’t call a judge in top cut because “they should know better” or “it is untimed”. Judges are there to answer questions and keep the game running smoothly, so if in doubt, raise your hand!
For the more experienced players out there, for whom perhaps a top cut this season might not be one of your first, my biggest tip is to really focus on your game specifically for top cut. You know the level of skill is high and these top cuts all around the world are filled with the best and fiercest competitors. If your goal is to go one better than the top eight, you can do yourself some big favours by going into events with a bit more preparation for the single elimination rounds. This could include things like trying to understand what your top cut meta could look like and ensuring you have plans to combat it, knowing your opponents could be familiar with your plan and deck and have some ideas to adapt if needed, and lastly double checking your plays and not rushing the game.
Remember first and foremost to always enjoy your accomplishment when you make a top cut, have fun in your games, and try to treat it like just another game. I wish every competitor the best of luck out there this season.
