More than 140 players rocked up to Chicago last weekend to compete in the Battle Hardened, shooting their shot at the title, Gold Foil, PTI, and share of $2000 USD.
Lexi rode the aurora trail to the top on Saturday, but the chilling winds of a familiar Elemental Wizard froze her in her tracks. But on Sunday the Ice Queen was quickly dethroned by the fiery dragons of Volcor.
With Calling: Birmingham this weekend, these past few days have been beyond valuable for those preparing to take home the title. Let's see how things played out in the Windy City...
Battle Hardened
Lexi in true Wayfarer fashion, dominated the limelight for most of the day, claiming three spots in the Top 8.
We saw an inevitable Top 8 jumpscare from Brodie Spurlock, this time discarding arrows in favour of dragons, and a humble Levia also came to the plate.
A tale for the ages - it was Battle Hardened Cincinnati winner Rhea Adams who piloted Iyslander to another victory! Rhea has no intentions of slowing down, and trust me, those Living Legend points really start to stack up over time.
Congratulations to Rhea for her back-to-back wins, and to the rest of our Top 8 competitors!
Top 8
1st: Rhea Adams - Iyslander, Stormbind
2nd: Gui Cohen - Dromai, Ash Artist
3rd-4th: Hunter Blaes - Lexi, Livewire
3rd-4th: Brodie Spurlock - Dromai, Ash Artist
5th-8th: Jesse Kennon - Levia, Shadowborn Abomination
5th-8th: Edward Knight - Lexi, Livewire
5th-8th: Joe Santianna - Iyslander, Stormbind
5th-8th: Raj Parikh - Lexi, Livewire
PTI Event
Don't be so hasty to claim that "Lexi is the best deck" because things are far from solved just yet.
In fact it was Dromai who outshone her foes on Sunday, claiming an eye-watering HALF of top cut spots. Lexi didn't even make it past the finish line this time.
Another based Levia in the competent hands of Pat Eshghy landed in the Top 8, as well as some friendly (or not so friendly) faces from Outsiders, and a particularly stubborn Elemental Runeblade.
Like his team mate Brodie Spurlock, Pro Tour winner Michael Feng seems to have picked up the dragon addiction as well.
Overwhelming the competition with the legion of firebreathers, Austin Redington took Dromai to a first place finish!
Congratulations to Austin, and to the rest of our Top 8 competitors!
Top 8
1st: Austin Redington - Dromai, Ash Artist
2nd: Levi Rauch - Azalea, Ace in the Hole
3rd-4th: Dan Groseclose - Katsu, the Wanderer
3rd-4th: Michael Feng - Dromai, Ash Artist
5th-8th: Sean Stell - Dromai, Ash Artist
5th-8th: Lucas Birch - Briar, Warden of Thorns
5th-8th: David Nethery - Dromai, Ash Artist
5th-8th: Pat Eshghy - Levia, Shadowborn Abomination
