This is on how I went 3rd place at to my second Gundam Regional after making 0-3 with same decklist at the NTC.
This time, I brought my wife and kids to São Paulo and made a trip out of it. We explored the Liberdade neighborhood, which is super famous here in Brasil for its Japanese cultural heritage and atmosphere. We definitely recommend it! The streets was full of people, but the food was incredible in every place we sit and the kids loved all the toys and sweets.
On Saturday I played the NTC and on Sunday, the main event. There were plenty of side events, and I could easily have spent both full days playing Gundam. Instead, I chose to head out for lunch and spend some time with the kids after my tournaments, classic daddy schedules, hahaha.
Saturday: The NTC
The New Type Challenge had 32 players, six rounds, and no top cut. I brought my G Fighters (MF) deck with Justice and Zala. I love the archetype, had practiced it a lot, and felt comfortable with both my list and the field.
Things started badly. I lost my first three rounds: two against PG (Barbatos + Char) and one against a mirror match brilliantly piloted by my opponent. I won the next two, and my final opponent dropped before our match.
It was a good tournament, but I was disappointed with my deck’s performance. Should I switch for Sunday? I had a Strike GQuuuX deck ready that I also loved and knew how to pilot well, even if it was off meta. I considered changing a few cards in my MF list, too. In the end, I still trusted the deck and felt comfortable playing it. I decided to relax, stick to the plan, and do my best in the main event.
Sunday: The Main Event
On Sunday, September 13, I got up early, had breakfast, and headed to the event. There, I met up with my friends from locals. As I’ve mentioned before, we have a great scene in Florianópolis, full of excellent players who care deeply about competitive play. Couple of them traveled roughly 800km to be there as I did,
I also had the chance to meet, talk with, and take photos with so many MSA players. Thank you to everyone who took a moment to come speak with me about the project. Hearing your feedback in person and feeling that support meant a lot. The Gundam community is incredible, and I’m especially grateful for the community we’re building around MSA. Come join us on Discord!
The main event had eight Swiss rounds, followed by a top 16 cut. I finished Swiss at 6–2, and I was really happy already with how I played. Even in the matches I lost, the deck did exactly what I wanted it to do. I had the consistency I always wanted in an MF deck.
Justice and Zala shined in almost every game. So did Aegis, I love this unit and would play three or four copies if I had room! When it hits the board on turn 4 or 5, its a threat on its own. My opponent either has to spend resources dealing with it or play level 4 or lower units, which are perfect targets for my MFs, especially the Rising + Maxter Gundam combo.
That 6-2 record got me into the top 16 in 16th place. I could hardly believe it. That was already an amazing result for me and I would have been completely happy even if I had lost my first top cut match.
Top 16 - Brasilian Best MF Player
My first top-cut opponent was Jóca, the best MF player in Brasil. He had gone undefeated in Swiss, while I’d made the cut in 16th place. I knew this would be a tough match.
Somehow, I managed to control the board in game one, and in game two, I took the initiative, believing I could answer his response. I did, but I slowly ran out of gas and fell far behind. I was already thinking about my mulligan for game three when he hit my last two shields: two pilots, followed was an incredible sequence of draws from Darkness Fingers. I found everything I needed to close out the match 2–0. I was in the top 8!
Top 8 - A Friend Across the Table
In the top 8, I had the pleasure, or maybe the bad luck for both of us, of facing my good friend Eric, also from Florianópolis. He was playing Barbatos Rush (Char). Aggro decks have been surprisingly difficult for me to handle with MF.
By then, I felt completely relaxed. If I lost to Eric, I would still be very happy with my result and happy to see my friend reach the top 4. Once we started playing, though, I could tell he was a little tense. A few mistakes gave me a big advantage in game one. In game two, I found all the tools I needed against aggro again. Another 2–0.
What on hell was happening?
Top 4: Facing the Champion
In the semifinal, I faced Urick. He was friendly, easy to talk to and very calm at the table, dam, the exact kind of composure you can expect from the player who would go on to win the Regional.
In game one, he answered my board brilliantly while keeping up the pressure. I ran out of gas suddenly, then out of shields. In game two, I felt in control and even started to believe I could win the round. He used Widespread Annihilation to take out my linked Aegis, which had been giving his Rebakes trouble. From there, my board developed too slowly while Urick stepped on the gas and ran me over. 0–2, full credit to him.
The Final: Bonow vs. Urick
In the final, Urick faced my friend Bonow, also from Florianópolis and simply the best Gundam player I know. It would have been the perfect revenge story: my friend beating the player who knocked me out and taking the title! But Urick mastery of BP Strike + Lupus earned him the crown.
Congratulations, Urick! It was a pleasure to meet you and a spectacle to watch you play. I hope I get my revenge someday, or at least another chance to watch your skill up close, haha.
Some words from the Champion!
This game is full of little traps. Having a deck you trust, with a solid beginning, middle, and end, definitely helps, but there’s a lot of variance in the matchups you get and the draws you make. And, of course, luck doesn’t mean much if you’re not calm enough to read the board and make consistent decisions.
I started playing the deck about a month before the Regional and got two great results right out of the gate: a first-place finish at my local and a second-place finish at an NTC. That gave me confidence in the deck, even though after that I only managed to get some pretty average results with it. But the NTC the day before the Regional gave me a 5-1 record and a 5th-place finish, which gave me that confidence back.
The road had its ups and downs, and I finished the Swiss in 12th with a 6-2, right in that terrible bubble of “maybe I’m not making Top Cut.” In a twist of fate, I got matched into the same matchup I had already faced three times, and I lost one of the games in the best-of-three against a Charbatos (GP).
I played against a lot of great people, including many players from outside São Paulo who came leaving their families waiting at home, just like mine was waiting for me and sending me their support.
I don’t think a title belongs to a deck or to one absolute player. It comes from a mix of circumstances, luck, and decision-making. What you do when things are going badly sometimes matters more than what you do when you’re winning, and playing my weekly event two days after the Regional proved that to me more than ever. Same deck, same pilot, same meta decks, and once again I ended up with a pretty average result.
So, when you play, of course looking for the meta deck can give you an advantage, but never forget that luck is not under your control. What you do with the cards you’re dealt, how you choose to have fun, make fewer mistakes, and respect your opponent — that is what’s under your control.
Have a great game, everyone. Always.
What I’m Taking Away From This Regional
This Regional was an incredible experience and a huge learning opportunity. It reminded me how important it is to trust my preparation, stick to my plan, and keep my cool after a loss. Saturday left me with doubts, but staying with the deck I knew made all the difference for me.
It also reminded me why I play. I want to compete, give it my best, and chase the win, always! But I also want to enjoy the game through the losses and frustrating moments. Life already gives us enough pressure; our hobby should give us a place to do our best while still celebrating the friends who share it with us.
That’s all for today! See you in Chile on November 14–15. Cheers, Doug!
