Sitting here testing set 9 for the last tournament of the season whilst everyone else gets to be hyped for the better format #feelsbad Set 9 definitely my least favourite since I started (set 5).

Why are we calling for bans before the set is even released?

Origins, Whispers and Avatar all releasing in November is cruel, might need a 2nd job to fuel my card addiction...

I love Lorcana, but the inconsistent templating is very annoying to remember. New Cinderella works with Princesses, but 1-ink Aurora also works with Queens, why? Hypnotic Strength draws first, Helping Hand (and most others) draw last, why? Please, pick a lane and stick to it!

Ran Sturple back for my other shot at a may and got there! P 2-0 BS Cards P 2-0 Mirror D 2-0 Blurple ID Blurple SF P 2-0 Mirror F P 2-1 Blurple Dolores over Yzma was excellent.

Lost the final of my first (of 2) Set Champs, so the hunt for the mat continues. D 0-2 Blurple D 2-0 Dogs D 2-0 Sturple mirror P 2-0 Mirror SF D 2-0 AS F D 1-2 Blurple I wish I was better at drawing Docs one at a time.

Being a colour blind person reading through Bologna matchup reports is funny. Most people were on gray gray and did a lot of losing to both gray gray and gray gray. The breakout deck of the tournament was gray gray and gray gray also had the worst conversion rate? Wild.

This is what we settled on in the end. Genie over 2nd Star shifted the needle towards the Steel decks and Helping Hand was an all star all weekend. Kida was sadly terrible, that should probably have been a 2nd Elephant and an Ursula 5. Set Champs next!

Heartbreak after losing two win and ins for cash P 2-1 Sturple P 2-1 Sturple P 1-2 AS (very strange games) D 0-2 Dogs Not a bad result for a first DLC, but I wanted more after being so close. Deck was probably too tuned for 'other' and not enough for mirror sadly.

Bittersweet end to day 1 in Bologna with Blurple. 2-1 D AS 2-1 D Mirror 1-2 P Mirror D Sturple 2-1 D Dogs 2-1 P Sturple 2-1 P Sturple 2-0 S Mirror 1-2 Not allowed any mistakes tomorrow, target is to 4-0 then win some more!

I missed the travelling to tournaments and getting to eat awesome European food. I really did not miss the 2 hours agonising over the 60th card before bedtime.

In Italy! Now to relax before the chaos tomorrow :)

Made connection with no issues. On a plane going to my favourite city in my favourite country, let's go! #dlcbologna

Flight slightly delayed but should make connection. Deck is sleeved and ready for tomorrow. Brussels briefly then Bologna. Goal: A realistic day 2. Let's go! #dlcbologna

Bologna is 3 days away and I still have no idea what to play. The choice was always fairly clear for sets 5-8, but right now, the meta is so open that making a choice is hard. I can be positive against 2, maybe 3 of the top 4, but get trounced by the other. Testing continues.

It's going to be so funny when the crew with the top secret deckljst shows up to multiple CCQs and loses to turn 4 Cow anyway.

Spent all night testing against blue green. I hate Clarabelle. Also, I think I need therapy now.

Played 60+ games of Lorcana this weekend trying to find a good list for Bologna. All I got so far is: Clarabelle is miserable. Strength is insane as basically the only playable song. Win dice rolls. Still no idea what to actually play though!

First world problem: the MTGO all access token lasting this long means I'm a little behind on Lorcana prep. 71% win rate in magic though, think I'm almost ready for London. Super excited for the 3 months ahead. So many tournaments are really scratching the itch ;)

My dad is out of ICU and recovering well. Emotional wreck, but at least the panic's passed. Thank you to everyone that reached out, I'm glad my support network is strong. Back to playing cards now, have a couple formats to break :)