As we reach the midway point of the Set 5 Championship for Shimmering Skies, the Lorcana community is buzzing with excitement! With card reveals for Set 6 and the next DLC in Seattle on the horizon, Lorcana remains at the forefront of TCG gamers’ minds in Phoenix. Week 2 saw five more stores across the Valley hosting tournaments, each with unique highlights and moments of community spirit.
Tournament Highlights
Saturday, October 12 – Retro Exchange
Retro Exchange hosted the largest set championship tournament of the weekend, drawing in many of the Valley’s top competitors. Amethyst decks made an impressive showing, with multiple builds finding their way into the top 8. Here’s a breakdown of the standings:
Top 8 – Retro Exchange – 38 player tournament
- Gamerdadkyle (Kyle) 🟡🟣
- Wongfupanda (Kevin) 🟢🟣
- ChinoDynasty (Tony) 🟣⚪️
- JujuSnap (Julio) 🔴🟣
- LoafyTCG (Andrew) 🔴🟣
- QueenofFelines (Lindsay) 🔴🟣
- Teacherofmath (Mike) 🔴🔵
- JonM26 (Jon) ⚪️🟡
Saturday, October 12 – Samurai Comics
Samurai Comics experienced a small hiccup with set championship prizing but quickly adapted, offering alternative prizes in place of the Mirabel promo materials. The day saw a fantastic display of sportsmanship, with married couple Daryl and Brittany taking the top two spots.
Top 8 – Samurai Comics – 17 player tournament
- Daryl436 (Daryl) 🔵⚪️
- Brittany Robertson (Brittany) 🔴🟡
- JeromeTPO (Jose) 🟢⚪️
- SuperFungi (Justin) 🔵⚪️
- CasK2 ()
- Mmm_Kmccool (Kaitlyn) 🔴🔵
- YellowKnight (David) 🟢⚪️
- MilkGoesInLast (Cris) 🟢⚪️
Saturday, October 12 – Orc’s Lair
Orc’s Lair hosted an intimate, invite-only event for store regulars. Eight dedicated players competed, with the final two vying for the Championship mat.
Top 8 – Orc’s Lair – 8 player tournament
- Josh1327
- JLove89
- Cladence
- HiiCeee
- Knotbunni
- Crunch214
- Thunder124
- Bokoblin
Sunday, October 13 – Athoria Games, Mesa
Athoria Games in Mesa brought out many east valley Lorcana players for a tense day of competition. Local podcasting group, The Lorcana Muses, were among the participants showing up in style. Be sure to check out their podcast at The Lorcana Muses; new episodes weekly.
Athoria Games Tempe – 31 player tournament
- DusM4 (Dustin) 🔴🟣
- JujuSnap (Julio) 🔴🟣
- ChrM20 (Chris) 🔴🟣
- Daryl436 (Daryl) 🔵⚪️
- Brandon Richards (Brandon) 🔵🟢
- Llucasmac (Lucas) 🟡🟢
- TacticalDreamer (Chris) 🟡🟣
- YellowKnight (David) 🟢🔴
Sunday, October 13 – J and J Gaming Factory
J and J Gaming hosted a thrilling event for West Valley players, enhancing the prize pool with store credit for 1-8th place and box of Azurite Seas for First-place winner Andrew, to be delivered upon release.
J and J Gaming Factory – 26 player tournament
- LoafyTCG (Andrew) 🔴🟣
- Avanttheos (Randy) 🔴🟣
- StarFonzi (Alfonzo) 🔴🔵
- Sergioagt123 (Sergio) ⚪️🟡
- JeromeTPO (Jose) 🟢⚪️
- Rentastarr (David) 🟢⚪️
- Ccastillo (Chris) 🔴🟣
- Bslayer (Bryan) 🟢⚪️
Meta Report & Summary
A Diverse Meta
Much like the larger Meta of Set 5, The Phoenix Local scene has seen a diverse representation of decks attending set championships. Some clear leaders making it to the top 8 include Emerald Steel, Ruby Amethyst and Ruby Sapphire.
A Growing Community of Competitive Spirit
Despite a few logistical challenges, Week 2 of the Shimmering Skies set championship has showcased the enthusiasm and dedication of the Lorcana community in Phoenix. As we head into the second half of the championship, players continue to innovate and refine their strategies, and the competition is sure to keep heating up. Stay tuned for more updates as we approach the thrilling conclusion of Set 5!