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The first Calling after the Pro Tour has players returning to Europe for World Tour Rotterdam. This modest Calling and Showdown have players looking at the metagame for both CC and Sage, and has many players clamouring for change in the form of Omens of the Third Age.
This was a unique event. I was there in person, playing the Calling alongside dear friends in the London metagame. Rotterdam was something we had been looking forward to for many months, and the hope to make it out to a European Tier 3 event is always exciting for us. I had a performance I'd call mediocre at best. Even then, the wealth of knowledge earned by being in the room where it happens is always worth it. I will do what I can to make it to all kinds of European World Tour events.
Calling Rotterdam
The 404 players at the Calling in Rotterdam showed a deeply diverse meta, but also one that is still top heavy in the ways we've come to expect from this late Compendium of Rathe season.
The immense representation of Arakni, Marionette, Oscilio, Constella Intelligence, and Victor Goldmane, High and Mighty have cemented them as the triangle that is defining the metagame below it.
Despite the large representation that those strong decks have, there is room for other decks below it to fill in the wider metagame. The resurgence of Rhinar, Reckless Rampage to race both Mario and Oscilio, and deny blocking value from Victor is also noteworthy. The presence of the aggressive Warriors Fang, Dracai of Blades (one of whom was me - but we won't go into how badly that event went for me) and Kassai of the Golden Sand.
A big shout out to a dear friend of mine in the London Meta, and the only Maxx "The Hype" Nitro. He did absolute wonders showing what the renegade from Metrix can do, taking Maxx to day 2. Overall, Gravy Bones and Victor had respectable conversion rates, while Rhinar performed remarkably well.
An observation on Marionette's conversion into Day 2, but then putting 0 copies in the top 8. A lot of decks are starting to learn how to block and play into the daggers matter Assassin. By being able to race the redline deck, or by being Guardian or Warrior and presenting disruptive Block cards like Test of Iron Grip or Blunten the deck's potency is possibly starting to decline.
Well this is a pretty Blue top 8.
It's been made clear on this Top 8 spread of 4 Oscilio, 2 Victor, 1 Gravy, and 1 Arakni, Huntsman.
We are all aware of the numerous cards that will be receiving bans at the end of May, and it's evident that the dominance of the last remaining Rosetta hero will come to an end when these take effect. As of right now, the high damage output, the nature of the current meta's inability to deal well with tall arcane damage and wide chains, and the lack of reliable disruptive decks means for now, Oscilio may just be king until the end of May.
Despite this, Oscilio did not win the Calling.
Competitive mainstay Michael Feng piloted this, relatively stock list, to a near perfect record. The inclusion of Cap of Quick Thinking helps in gaining information of what the opponent has and what to play around. The new card Glyph Power Spell has taken some time to be adopted by Oscilio players, but a 2-for-6 arcane spell is always absurdly strong.
The winner of Calling Rotterdam was also the same person who won the Friday Silver Age Gold Foil event (beating a friend of mine in Top 8, no less). Filippo Barbani has been setting trends with Victor Goldmane throughout the decks sudden return to prominence. The pair of Arcanite Skullcap and Arcanite Fortress affords a lot of arcane defence.
The presence of both Command and Conquer and Pummel is expected in every Guardian deck, but the 2 of The Weakest Link are clear disruptive elements to target the Instant heavy Oscilio deck.
Showdown Rotterdam
The 176 player Showdown featured an eclectic spread of Silver Age heroes. The field made predominantly of Ira, Crimson Haze and Kayo played out over 8 rounds of Swiss.
The top 8 featured: 4 Ira, 2 Kano, 1 Vynnset, and 1 Bravo, Flattering Showman.
The winning Kano deck has the unique tech include of Robe of Resourcefulness. Getting the resources needed to combo off when the combat chain closes, on a turn that your opponent has hit you, but not outright killed you, that has some key counterplay into a great deal of matchups.
The surprise inclusion of Scar for a Scar goes a long way towards drawing cards from your opponent's hand, so that they have less to defend with through Arcane Barrier.
Wrap Up
The World Tour Rotterdam showed the widening of the Silver Age meta and the narrowing of the CC meta going into the release of the new set. Omens is bringing Lightning in a new direction, while removing the current top dog (despite the event's results).
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