MODERN: RUBY STORM

RCQ @ Hobby Kaikan

Festival Mall Alabang

12 July 2026

RD 1 UR Cutter Prowess win

RD 2 Living End win

RD 3 Esper Reanimator win

RD 4 Rhinos

RD 5 Bg Rock win

RD 6 Samwise Combo ID

Q Merfolk win

S Rhinos  

I lost the small papers where I had notes written on them. So here are a few of the things I can still recall.

Hex Magic was impressive. On a normal basis if it resolves, it feels like having four to six to a maximum of eight cards in hand. I this game where I exiled seven cards - drew a new seven. And when I got my turn back, I go off. It felt like having fifteen cards in hand. 

I had games where Ral, Monsoon Mage dealt like straight pings before flipping. Esper I think had seven pings. Living End at six pings. Bg Rock five or six pings it was. And Merfolk (game three), like from nine life points to two. 

I won three games with Empty the Warrens (ETW).  ETW for 14 goblins, 24 goblins, and 18 goblins.

I had games where I had to use Grapeshot to clear the board first, then win the game in the next two (or three) turns. 

I had a game where I sideboarded incorrectly because I expected the opponent to have permanent-based hate for storm. It turned out that the hate cards were in the form of instants and sorceries. So I took out all six spot removals and brought in the Orim's Chants along with three cards I originally taken out of the main deck. 

Speaking of Orim's Chant, it protected my combo three times (if not four). 

I conceded both the fourth round and the semis to the same Rhino player. ^_^ 

Lastly, I had a game where the opponent had an active Nihil Spellbomb. Instead of going for the Past in Flames route, I played around it by taking the Grapeshot - Wish - Grapeshot line of play.  

This is all for now folks. 

Thank you for reading. 

Paeng

Note: 

Ever since my legacy days, I have used two sleeve colors for my fifteen. All Burning Wish targets are in the off-color sleeves so they are  easier to separate afterward. After this event, though, I will be putting all seventy-five in the same sleeves. 

Edit (14 July 2026)

Decklist has been uploaded. Here. Enjoy.  

MODERN: RUBY STORM

GOLD RUSH hosted by Ludus
Bayanihan Center, Pasig City

6 June 2026

RD 1 UR Cutter Prowess loss 

RD 2 Boros Enerygy win

RD 3 Living End loss

RD 4 Boros Ponza win

RD 5 UW Blink win 

RD 6 Merfolk win

RD 7 Domain Zoo win  

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

RCQ @ Mana Underground

Lagro, Quezon City 

14 June 2026  

 

RD 1 bye

RD 2 Grix Shadow win 

RD 3 Living End loss

RD 4 UR Cutter Prowess win

RD 5 Grix Frog loss

RD 6 Mono Black Rack win   

Things that I can still recall. 

Most of my game ones were mulled because I always get either no lands or one land. If it was a fetch, I am not a big fan of keeping that one-hand fetch cracking it for an Elegant Parlor at the end of turn of your opponent and prays hard for a land on the top. 

I never thought I would win a game again with the mob of 1/1 goblin tokens. It was a wonderful feeling being reunited with the mob. 

I finally get the chance to do in-paper what I love doing most on MTGO. Put Ral trigger on the stack, then summon two to three instant spells without giving priority to the opponent. I love it more when Ral flips during this moment.

And speaking of Ral's flip, I had a situation where the opponent summoned a removal targeting Ral, Monsoon Mage while its toss-a-coin trigger ability is on the stack. In response to it, I cast Desperate Ritual. The red instant card triggered another Ral ability. The opponent had no response to it. The 1/3 red mage's trigger resolves. 

I won the flip. Ral flipped into its blue-red planeswalker form. And by the time his removal is resolved, he argued that the planeswalker will still be removed because they are one and the same. I called on the judge, and the ruling went in his favor, saying, "It is the same permanent." Days after, while on MTGO with the same seventy-five, mouse cursor unintentionally hovered over the red mage and I read this text: " ... if you win the flip, you may exile Ral. If you do,  return him to the battlefield transformed ... ". I guess I was right. 

There situations that a lot of juicy one-drop targets for my lone Prismatic Ending in hand. I remind myself that it should target only the cards that hamper my game plan.

I need to do better in keeping track of our life totals. And aside from life points, I need to polish my judgment in selecting the line of play because there was a situation where, instead of going for it, I decided to pass the turn. Unfortunately, I did not get my turn back because he went all in for the kill.  

    

Flashback is great. I think the correct number of this card in the deck is two. One in the main and one in the sideboard. If I recall it correctly, think I had two or three games wherein I won because of this: Grapeshot-Wish-Flashback-Grapeshot.    

I had situations where Artist's Talent single-handedly won me games. Drop it in my second turn. Put it to second level on my next turn. Then go off in my fourth turn. And by the time I had a lot of extra mana, I dumped three into it so that it would go to level three. Then Grapeshot, instead of dealing one damage per storm copy, it now becomes a Lightning Bolt. Sweet.   

This is all for now guys. Thank you for reading.

Paeng  

MODERN: MERFOLK

RCQ hosted by High Market

Bayanihan Center, Pasig City

07 June 2026 

RD 1 Boros Energy loss 

RD 2 UR Prowess loss

RD 3 Boros Ponza win

drop  

 

Another first round nightmare match up. I lost our last game because he had a sacrifice outlet which help hasten my demise.

I was too slow in developing my board against the UR Prowess because I was stuck at two mana the whole game.

I did not finish the event because x-2 will not get me into the top 8.   

 

This is all for now. Thank you for reading!

Paeng 

MODERN: MERFOLK

Modern FNM 

NG One Ayala

22 May 2025

RD 1 Mono Blue Belcher loss

RD 2 UW Scepter-Chant win

RD 3 Esper Blink win

   

- o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o - 

100k Modern

hosted by Infinity Hobbies

Makati City

24 May 2026

RD 1 Mono Black win

RD 2 Living End win

RD 3 Mardu Blink win

RD 4 UB Frog Riddler win

RD 5 Izzet Prowess 

RD 6 ID  

top 8 split

It has been a week since these two events happened. So before everything fades from memory, here are the things that I can still recall.   

Game two against the Mono Blue Belcher, both players were just in top decking mode until the opponent ripped a  Tezzeret the Seeker. Tapped the mana required, cast it; and the Blue planeswalker resolved. He wasted no time retrieving a Goblin Charbelcher off its ability. No Tishana on my last draw phase, he won the game a turn after. 

Harbinger of the Sea won me many games. Also, there was this situation where it survived a Galvanic Discharge because the opponent miscalculated its toughness. 

Since Umezawa's Jitte got unbanned, I decided to sleeve one in the main for the FNM. Unfortunately, it did not see daylight. After that, I removed the legendary artifact because of one reason: it is too slow. It is too slow because you''ll need to equip it to a creature; and that creature still needs to connect successfully before you get to enjoy its power. 

Speaking of unbanning, Living End and Rhinos are back thanks to the returning Violet Outburst. So with this, I think a set of Vodalian Hexcatcher in the main is better than just having two. Plus Hexcatcher has a very nice synergy with Silvergill Mentor. 

I think Chalice of the Void (for zero), or even Vexing Bauble, is not a good route to take versus Living End decks because of Wistfulness. 

The UB Frog-Riddler pilot was so good. Discard everything except one to the frog. Exile three cards off the graveyard to give it wings. And when it successfully connects, instead of draw one - draw two (4/6 Sphinx is in play). Wow.  

I was not that happy with two Mindspring Merfolk. Yes it draws but I'd rather have a defensive card that can help me win. Mistcaller (I think) is better because it can deal with Living End and blink decks.   

Gave the win to an opponent so that both of us will make it to top 8. 

All in all, I am so happy with the school's result. I hope to have the same success in the next modern events. 

Here is the seventy-five that I sleeved for the 100k modern event.    

This is all for now. Thank you for reading. 

Paeng   

MODERN: MERFOLK

Finally! Modern season is here. Here are the April events that I participated using Merfolk. 

 

Modern at Okada

hosted by Mana Underground

11 April 2026

RD 1 Boros Energy loss

RD 2 Blue Tron loss

RD 3 Mono Red Prison win

RD 4 Mono Blue Merfolk loss  

First round was a nightmare. 

I could have won game three versus Blue Tron but I opted to deploy my school instead of holding the mana open for Sink on Stupor or Flare of Denial. Also, I forgot that once Karn, The Great Creator hits the table, my artifacts stop from moving. I have an Aether Vial (on two) when I let Karn resolves. 

I did not expect a mirror match up. I went home after losing to it.

= o = o = o = o = o = o = o = o = o = 

Modern (RCQ June 7th feeder)

Hobby Kaikan, Festival Mall

12 April 2026 

RD 1 Titan Breach win

RD 2 Mono Blue Belcher win

RD 3 Grix Frog win

RD 4 Boros Burn win

RD 5 ID  

I used the same seventy-five from the yesterday's event.

 

The Titan-Breach opponent started drawing bricks mid-game of our game three. I had four (or five) mana open and I decided to keep them open because of the painful lesson from yesterday's event (against the Blue Tron). Tide Shaper and Harbinger of the Sea slowly got me there.  

The Belcher opponent was not able to find any pay spell in time. Lord of Atlantis and Master of the Pearl Trident led the school to victory. 

Counter spells protected the school from the opposing removal spells. Dismembers maimed Frogs and Sphinx. Svyelun of Sea and Sky was gas down the stretch refiling my hand with goodies to help me win the round.   

I had defensive key stops against Boros Burn during the rubber match. First, denied two Boros Charms. And second, Merfolk Trickster tapped Monastery Swiftspear, twice. 

Invite to Neutral Ground's June 7th modern RCQ is secured!   

= o = o = o = o = o = o = o = o = o = o = o =

Madcap Hobbies 

San Pedro, Laguna

17 April 2026

RD 1 Eldrazi loss

RD 2 Humans draw

RD 3 Domain Rhino win

RD 4 UR Cutter Prowess loss

I made a little adjustment in the sixty. I took out three (3) Rishadan Dockhands and Minamo, School at Water's Edge and replaced them with the following: an Island, the fourth Mindspring Merfolk, Glen Elendra Guardian, and Castle Vantress. The fifteen stayed the same.

This event took me back to school for rules refreshing. (i) Cards from pre-release event are now legal in a constructed format even on the first day of the pre-release. (ii) The interaction between the Trinisphere and Consign to Memory's replicate. (iii) Chalice of the Void (set at one) versus Fire Magic (with Tiered for 2). (iv) Consign to Memory versus casting the suspended spell after the last time counter was removed. (v) Proper timing of when to summon Merfolk Trickster. (iv) stacking properly during combat (involving Aether Vial and flash merfolks). 

I had the opportunity to bring down Glen Elendra (via Aether Vial) and use its ability to counter a non creature spell, but I opted not to do it. 

Long time no see, Humans. Merfolk Tricksters and Tishana were great in this match up.  

= o= o = o = o = o = o = o = o = o = o = o =

Originally I was scheduled to attend High Market's (April 18th) and Regran's April 25th events but I was not able to because of personal errands.

This is all for now. 

 

I hope to see you everyJuan in my next in-store events.  

Thank you for reading. 

Paeng

P.S. 

MTGO, please bring PHL back in the loop. Thanks.

MODERN: MERFOLK

FNM @ Hobby Kaikan 

Festival Mall, Alabang

20 March 2026

RD 1 BR Reanimator win

RD 2 Boros Storm loss

RD 3 UW Control win 

Here are some of the things that I can still recall. 

 

The opposing team losses tempo each time Harbinger successfully hits play. 

I did not mull for any hate against the storm. 

Svyelun of Sea and Sky's indestructibility helped me win the round against multiple Supreme Verdicts.  

Flare of Denial and Force of Negation neutralized some of the opponents' key spells down the stretch. 

This is all for now. 

Thank you for reading! 

Paeng

2026 goals

Happy New Year to you!   

May the year 2026 bring you a plethora of prosperity, success, and happiness. 

One of my resolutions for this year is to lessen my playing time of paper magic. I can still enjoy MTG over at MTGO. I will try my very best to upload every game (especially those important ones) on my Youtube.

The reason for this is I'll be devoting most of my time and energy to my jobs [I have two: 1st in law firm and 2nd in a travel agency]. Plus kids are getting older and I think they'll be needing my presence more.

Cheers to 2026! 

Paeng  

LEGACY: THE EPIC STORM

Legacyfest

Hobby Kaikan

Festival Mall, Alabang 

I had a lot of hesitation moments. Most of it led to my demise.  

I also had missequenced cases. 

No turn one wins, unfortunately. 

Even though I had left and right misplays, I had two positive things from this experience. First, when I was able to perform the Iggy-Loop. And second, when I ended the day with a win before dropping out. 

Anyway, it still feels good to be back slinging instants and sorcery spells with The Epic Storm, and being in a "reunion", even if it was just for one day. Congratulations Ros, to the top 8, and all players for a successful Legacyfest event!  

This is all for now guys. Thank you for reading! 

My match-ups by the way.

UB Reanimator

Bant

Cloud Post

BG

Cloud Post

  

-Paeng 

MODERN: STORM

100k Modern

Mox & Lotus PH

One Ayala, Makati 

24 August 2025

RD 1 Boros Energy loss

RD 2 Izzet Storm win

RD 3 Boros Burn loss

RD 4 Domain Zoo loss

drop

Misplay:

I should have removed the opponent's Goblin Bombardment instead of summoning Ruby Medallion. I could have won my round two at one life point.

This is all for now. Thank you for reading. I hope to see you at the upcoming modern events. 

Paeng

MODERN: BOGLES

Regran Hobbies 

Quezon City

16 August 2025

RD 1: Tron

RD 2: UR Affinity

RD 3: UR Cutter Prowess 

Got a chance to play on paper after a month. Since I am not yet decided on what deck to play for the upcoming RC, I decided to sleeve Bogles. Unfortunately, the result was catastrophic for I failed to register a win. 

I think this is the only misplay I committed: I decided to keep this hand: 2 fetches, Temple Garden, Ethereal Armors, Spider Umbra, Hyena Umbra, and Sheltered by Ghost. No Bogle hand but I thought of this line of play: end of his turn crack fetch for Dryad  Arbor. Then Umbra for protection. Things immediately went south after learning I do not have the land creature in my sixty, Two turns after, I started picking up my cards because the opponent was already starting to have a very good board position from which I know I will not win.

Before ending this, sharing you guys a Youtube link. This is me on MTGO with bogles in  a 2-player queue battle. 

This is all for now. 

Thank you for reading. 

Paeng 

MTG MODERN: TWIDDLE COMBO

After securing an invite, it's time to practice those math skills again. First stop, Mox & Lotus trials at Regran. 

MOX & LOTUS trials

REGRAN Hobbies 

19 July 2025

RD 1 bye

RD 2 Eldrazi

RD 3 Domain Zoo

It's been ages since I get to experience a round one bye. So sweet! 

versus Eldrazi 

I won this round because of Sylvan Scrying helped me fetch the Otawara, Soaring City which then I used to bounce the opponent's Chalice of the void (set at one). 

versus Domain Zoo

I lost to Damping Sphere because I cannot summon any of my cantrips or bounce spells for Lotus Field is now producing only one colorless mana. Not to mention, there's a 5/5 golden kavu lurking on the side. Very unwinnable situation. So after a quick math, I throw in the towel.  

This is all for now. Stay safe and dry folks! 

Paeng 

MODERN: BOROS BURN

RCQ at NG Centris
Quezon City 
13 July 2025

RD 1 Domain Zoo L 

RD 2 NeoBrand W

RD 3 Broodscale Eldrazi W

RD 4 Living End W

RD 5 Domain Zoo ID 

Semis: Broodscale Eldrazi W

Here are some of the things that I can still recall. 

My lone loss was because of the Phlage, Titan of Fury's helix ability. I was a bolt spell away from winning when the red-white 6/6 elder giant saved him the day. 

Orim's Chant won me two rounds [against NeoBrand (game three) and Living End (game two)]. I believe both opponents did not see it coming. Speaking of that Living End game, luck was on my side because his third land did not reach him in time. 

I aimed all the burn spells to the opponent.

Against the Broodscale Eldrazi decks, there were instances where Skullcracks denied them of gain life. 

We did not play the finals because both players will receive an invite.

In case you are interested to see the seventy-five, here.  

  

Boros Burn

Main deck

3 Sacred Foundry

1 Stomping Ground

3 Mountain

2 Barbarian Ring

2 Inspiring Vantage 

2 Sunbaked Canyon

2 Scalding Tarn

1 Bloodstained Mire

2 Arid Mesa

2 Wooded Foothills 

4 Goblin Guide

4 Monastery Swiftspear 

4 Lightning Bolt

4 Boltwave

4 Lava Spike

4 Rift Bolt

4 Skewer the Critics

4 Skullcrack

4 Searing Blaze

4 Boros Charm

sideboard

2 Faerie Macabre

2 Exquisite Firecraft

1 Pyroclasm

2 Stony Silence

2 Orim's Chant

3 Destructive Revelry

2 Obsidian Charmaw

1 Path to Exile

Finally, an invite! So happy! See you RC in a few weeks! 

This is all for now. 

Thank you for reading! 

Paeng

MODERN: TWIDDLE COMBO

RCQ at HONOR's GROUND 
Baguio City 

Amongst the RCQ grinds that I attended, I will never forget this one. Only eight individuals showed up. And as such, 8-man single elimination tournament format was implemented. 

Quarters vs . Eldrazi Ramp

Game one

Third turn win via second turn set up by Sylvan Scrying fetching Lotus Field. The crucial part of game one win was when I summon my last Peer Through Depths (card in hand was a Psychic Puppetry; and at the same time I had two blue mana floating + an untapped Lotus Field; cards in the graveyard were lands, Twiddles and another Peer Through Depths) and saw these five: Past in Flames, Ideas Unbound, Stock-up, Twiddle, and a non instant or sorcery card. Picked the red sorcery card. Tapped the golden land card for three red mana; cast Past in Flames. PIF resolved and started the chain of spells that ended in Wish into Grapeshot. 

Game two

I first read the opponent's Soulless Jailer as "cannot cast spell from graveyard". And When I was about to cast Wish, I double check the 0/4 artifact creature's wording:  "graveyard and exile". I smiled and immediately conceded. 

Game three

The home team played like a control deck during the early part of the game. Draw-land drop-go. End of turn fetch into surveil land or shockland. Counter whatever I can with my Consign to Memories. 

Eventually, the Preordains found the following combo pieces: Twiddles, Reach Through Mist, and Psychic Puppetry. Reach Through Mist became Ideas Unbound. Ideas Unbound drew into more gas which were enough to sustain the momentum. I had the opportunity to end the game with Wish into Grapeshot when storm was at 19, but I decided to dig a little more for protection just incase the opposing player had anything ready for me.   

Semis vs. Boros Energy

Game one

Opening hand was fine: Lotus Field, fetchland, Preordain, Psychic Puppetry, Ideas Unbound, Reach Through Mist, and a Vizier. Hand is bananas, all it needed was a second land. But alas, it did not reach on time. Clowder soon took over game one. 

Game two

This is the part where I learned something new. Deafening Silence. That its effect applies to the entire turn even if the said one-drop white enchantment left the battlefield when the first non-creature spell was summon. Wow.   

This is all for now. Thank you for reading. 

Paeng   

MODERN: TWIDDLE

RCQ @ BLK 101
Mandaluyong City

14 June 2025

Match-ups

Affinity, Edrazi, UB Frog, Eldrazi Tron, and GB Shoal

Things that I can still recall.

I won a game with eight (8) red flying 11/11 dragons.

I should not have summon Serum Visions in my turn one because the opponent was able to lock me out with a second turn Chalice of the Void for one (I had a Consign to Memory). 

I already fired my two twiddle effects before realizing that I do not have Psychic Puppetry in hand (it was a Consign to Memory). I had no choice but to burn the Ideas Unbound. Good thing it gave these: Psychic Puppetry, Dream's Grip, and Reach Through Mist. Mist turned into Peer Through Depths into Ideas into Past in Flames into loop into win.

I almost win in front of Trinisphere and a Chalice of the Void set for one. I was just short of one mana to ignite the loop. 

There were cases where I should not bin the card I that I was surveiling from Thundering Falls' trigger. 

I also miscalculated at one point. My initial count was six but after executing, I have seven blue floating. 

All rounds went to a rubber match to which I lost all but one. 

I need to improve quickly on my storming skills if I want to win an invite.  

 

This is all for now. 

Thank you for reading.

Paeng

MODERN: LOTUS FIELD

RCQ at Mox and Lotus

Magallanes, Makati City 

24 May 2025 

RD 1 Domain Zoo L

RD 2 Edrazi L

RD 3 BW Phelia W

RD 4 Boros Energy 

RD 5 Belcher loss (friendly atmosphere)

Things that I can still remember:

I boarded wrong versus Domain Zoo. I brought in the Pact of Negations instead of the Into the Flood Maws. I thought the opponent will bring in counter spells, I was wrong. 

I got lockout by two Chalice of the Voids [for one and for two] in game one against Eldrazi.

I won game one versus Boros Energy, but gave the round to my opponent because he had better tie breaks. 

I had games where if Tolaria West was the fourth copy of Lotus Field, I could have won already.

I think Leyline of Sanctity is not a good choice versus Team Belcher. 

  

This is all for now. 

Thank you for reading! 

Paeng

MODERN: BOGLES

FNM at OHS 
Vito Cruz, Manila
16 May 2025

RD 1 RG ELDRAZI win

RD 2 CREATIVITY win

RD 3 BOROS STORM win

I won rounds one and three because the opponents where drawing bricks in both of our game threes. 

Suppression Field somehow controlled the tempo of my second round opponent. 

I think Orim's Chant is better than Deafening Silence. 

The removal ability of Sheltered by Ghosts is superb! I was able to remove a Ruby Medallion and a Terastodon. 

And speaking of Sheltered by Ghosts, question: If both enchantments (Sheltered aby Ghosts and Daybreak Coronet) are on the table at the same time, do I get two lifelink triggers? Like if Bogles is a 6/6 because of them, does it mean I get to gain 12? or just 6?

This is all for now. Thank you for reading! 

Paeng 

MODERN: LOTUS FIELD TWIDDLE COMBO

Lotus Field Twiddle Combo

MTGO: Modern Friendly Leagues

10 to  11 May 2025

Round one vs UB Reanimator

video: here

Round two vs. Saga Narset Undoing 

video: here

Round three vs. Belcher

video: here

Round four vs. Domain Rhino

video: here  

MODERN: MERFOLK

RCQ at HIGH MARKET 

Cubao, Quezon City

27 April 2025

RD 1 Domain Zoo loss

RD 2 Mono Blue Belcher loss

RD 3 Domain Zoo loss

RD 4 Eldrazi win 

I had two misplays. First was when I thought I had the opposing team (Domain Zoo) with Harbinger of the Sea. But I was wrong for he had a basic land (Mountain). Second, always communicate clearly to your opponent. 

This is all for now. Thank you for reading!

Paeng