PT BNG Valencia

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Happy Monday MTG peeps,

What a weekend it was for Canada.  At the winter Olympics, Canada defeated Sweden to defend gold in hockey, and at the Pro Tour Born of the Gods in Valencia, Spain, two Canadians battled in the final round.  Many sports bars here in Canada received special permission to open (and serve) at 5:00 AM for the final hockey game and even a church in Halifax had the game on and provided shortened services inbetween periods.

Here in Barrie, Ontario we got up early to watch hockey as well as tune into coverage of Pro Tour Born of the Gods.  Shaun McLaren (aka ArsenalMunch on MTGO) defeated fellow Canadian Jacob Wilson in the finals of Pro Tour Born of the Gods Modern format, earning the $40,000 first prize and a spot at the World Championship.  A spot very well deserved with his record of 7 wins and 1 loss with an 'American Control' decklist.  Here's the breakdown of the Top 8 players and the decks they took -

Shaun McLaren - WUR Control
Jacob Wilson - Melira Pod
Patrick Dickmann - Tarmo-Twin
Anssi Alkio - UR Twin
Lee Shi Tian - Blue Moon
Christian Seibold - Affinity
Chris Fennell - Storm
Tim Rivera - WUR Twin

We are very happy to see so many diverse decklists here.  Blake Rasmussen provides this list of Top 5 Cards of Pro Tour Born of the Gods - if you are thinking about getting into Modern format the time is now - just stop at MTG Mint Card to start building your Modern arsenal.

1. Threads of Disloyalty
2. Steam Vents
3. Anger of the Gods
4. Birthing Pod
5. Path to Exile

One decklist we were rooting for in particular as we have the list mostly built is Hexproof / Auras -

20 lands
1 Dryad Arbor
1 Forest
4 Horizon Canopy
4 Misty Rainforest
4 Razorverge Thicket
3 Temple Garden
3 Verdant Catacombs

12 creatures
4 Gladecover Scout
4 Kor Spiritdancer
4 Slippery Bogle

28 other spells
4 Daybreak Coronet
4 Ethereal Armor
4 Hyena Umbra
4 Keen Sense
2 Mana Tithe
4 Rancor
3 Spider Umbra
1 Spirit Mantle
2 Unflinching Courage

Sideboard
1 Damping Matrix
3 Grafdigger's Cage
3 Leyline of Sanctity
2 Nature's Claim
3 Path to Exile
1 Silhana Ledgewalker
2 Stony Silence
15 sideboard cards

Ever since Bant Hexproof (Giest of Saint Traft / Innvisible Stocker), we've had a keen interest in fielding a hexproof critter, loading them up with powerful auras and swinging for serious damage.  Modern format is gaining popularity and Wizards of the Coast is supporting this with the release of Modern Masters last June and potentially a new product coming again this summer and we certainly hope to get a hold of a collection of staples which we're lacking right now.
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