God of Pioneer S01 Recap

📈 More info about GoP and standings

https://www.manatemple.com/news/god-of-pioneer-s1-2026

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Recap

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Regular season - Top 8 cut

After 6 rounds of playing, with only 4 of best results taken into consideration standings concluded the winner - the most consistent out of us all. Sam! as he found a new deck along the season, he always placed himself near the top with strong showings.

Last 2 events belonged to Pedro - he joined late but two 1st places granted him a top8 qualification.

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Here's decks and meta. As you see Mono Red switch for top8 playoffs took people by surprise. Before that both Max and Rafal played different decks.

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1. Sam - 🟡🟢 Selesnya Cage Fight rigging Eldrazis

2. Max - 🟡⚫️🟢 Greasfang / 🔴 Mono Red

3. Cyril - 🟡🔵 Praetor Control, Mathemagics

4. Josh - ⚫️🟢 Rock

5. Jakub - 🔵⚫️ Dimir Ninjas, Alterations, Legends, Midrange / Dimir Rogues

6. Rafal - ⚫️🟢 Rock / 🔴 Mono Red

7. Rui - 🟡⚫️ Orzhov Doom Blink

8. Pedro - 🟢 Mono G Squirrels / 🟡🔵 Control

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9. Aggelos - 🟡🟢 Selenya Enchantments

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Trophy - ultimate prize

Trophy was designed by Jakub and it is representing all Top8 players and their main decks: Ulamog – Sam; Greasfang – Max; Sheoldred and Badgermole – Josh and Rafał; Kaito – Jakub; Wandering Emperor – Rui; Squirrel – sneaky Pedro and Mathemagics – Cyril

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Top 8 double elimination

We decided that single elimination event would be anticlimactic, double elimination bit too long to play in 1 evening. So we settled for 2 day even spreading it across Tuesday and Thursday.

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Unfortunately Rui couldn't make it and Aggelos replaced him, Pedro advanced to 7th position and Aggelos 8th - facing league winner in 1st round.

Day 1

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Top 8 taken by storm by mono red mages - Max and Rafał battled for grand final and Max came victorious.

First elimination - quick 2:0 of Rafał Mono Red and Cyril was down.

Leader of regular season Sam got taken down by sneaky Angelos in first round.

After first game and god hand, magic said no and Sam had to mulligan hard. Say no more to Angelos who took this chance and kept Eldrazis at bay.

On the other side, Pedro Control plan didn't pay off (should stay with Squirrels hehe) got burned by Max mono red and later in losing bracket Joshua grind him down with his own semi control plan.

‍Sam struggled a bit with all Praetors coming from Cyril Walle deck but eventually sealed the deal.

Jakub and rogues fell as another victim to Max burn and I got delegated to losing bracket and faced Sam Eldrazis. First game - semi smooth. Second game I survived 2 attacks of Ulamog 🔥and took him down with 2 cards remaining in library.

‍Angelos and Rafał went to time with 1:1 and had to do a classic first life change standoff. Angelos mulligan 3 times to find right set of cards but that was perfect env for mono red and Kumano turn 1 sealed the deal.‍

Angelos and Joshua battled in losing bracket and enchantments were victorious.

This is it for Day 1! Now Jakub and Angelos will battle for who will face 2 mono red decks.

‍Rafał waiting in small final and Max as final boss in best of 5 standoff.

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Day 2

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First match

‍Jakub with Dimir Rogues vs Aggelos Selesnya Enchatments. First game, easy domination of Dimir - card draw, removal, everything felt into place. Game 2 - Jakub almost had it, felt a bit too cocky, ignored Sram on the other side that drew into winning pieces. Game 3 a little anticlimactic - Jakub mulligan to 4 with 1 land into no land hands. Aggelos took it fair and square, being patient and playing with cool head :)

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Second match

Aggelos now facing potentially 2 mono reds as their menace. Both Rafał and Max already sweating and feeling the pressure.

Second match, losing bracket final – Rafał vs Aggelos. Their second meeting this tournament. Aggelos made sure that result won't be the same this time. He focused all his energy to conjure Sheltered by Ghosts into his hand each game which granted him a win.

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Finals - Best of 5

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Aggelos vs Max, Selesnya Echantments vs Mono Red. Midrange with remova, protection and life gain vs Pure aggro. Here we go, entire league coming down to this!

2 first games without a sideboard 1:1 !

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Then Aggelos sealed the deal, 3:1 and we have a first winner! GG!

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Big thank you! and see you soon 👀

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Amazing time, amazing players. It was great to be part of such a great experience. Good atmosphere, friendly plays.

Pilot season came to and end and watch out for details about longer, and more impactful season number 2. We've already heard about new people wanting to join the battle!