Week 3 of the Shimmering Skies Set Championship was nothing short of spectacular in Phoenix! With six stores hosting tournaments, players from all over the area gathered to compete, and the competition was fierce. As expected, many familiar faces—regulars from previous weeks—showed up to defend their positions and try to climb higher in the rankings. Alongside them, a number of newer players entered the fray, eager to test their skills and experience the thrill of competitive Lorcana.
Each store had its own unique atmosphere, but one thing was consistent across the board: the level of play was intense. Veterans of the game showed their prowess with well-honed strategies and efficient deck builds. However, the new competitors brought fresh ideas, surprising many with their adaptability and creativity.
This blend of experience and fresh enthusiasm made for some exciting matches, with more than a few upsets along the way. Newer players managed to challenge seasoned veterans, showing that the Lorcana scene is far from predictable.
Phoenix continues to be a hotspot for the Shimmering Skies Set Championship season, and with more tournaments on the horizon, we can expect even more action in the final week. Whether you’re a regular competitor or new to the scene, these tournaments offer a great opportunity to test your deck, improve your skills, and enjoy the community atmosphere that has become a hallmark of these events.
A Humbling Weekend
This weekend was a humbling experience for me personally, as I finished last in a 9-player tournament. (Somebody had to, right?) As I prepare for the much larger and more competitive scene at the Seattle DLC, it’s important to remember why I play Lorcana in the first place—because it’s fun. The Phoenix Lorcana community is nothing short of amazing. Despite a rough weekend filled with losses, I still found so much joy in the laughter, support, and company of everyone around me.
The reminder to enjoy the game, win or lose, is something I’m carrying forward as I continue practicing for future events. Sometimes, it’s the connections we make, the lessons we learn, and the community we’re part of that matter most. And in Phoenix, we have a special one.
Tournament Highlights
Saturday, October 19 – Table Top War Gamers
Table Top War Gammers hosted an energetic group on Saturday. The West Valley Villains, a local team known for their competitive prowess, showed up in force. A great day was had in the south west valley and this top 8 boasted 3 female players and a female Champion! Here’s a breakdown of the standings:
Top 8 – Table Top War Gamers – 18 player tournament
- QueenOfFelines (Lindsey) 🔴🟣
- Bloodscorn (Mike) 🔵⚪️
- Buzzofwestwind (John) 🟣⚪️
- Meeshell916 (Michelle) 🟡🟣
- Gibson_elliott (Gibson) 🟢⚪️
- Mattias (Mattias) 🟢⚪️
- BrattyAlly (Anastasia) 🟢⚪️
- Jujusnap (Julio) 🔴🟣
Saturday, October 19 – Old World Games
Old World Games ended up as a small tournament of only 8 players as several players dropped on the day. However, attendees were not disappointed as that meant everyone received the promotional Mirabel card. The eight players then battled it out to determine who would take home the prized championship mats.
Top 8 – Old World Games – 8 player tournament
- LoafyTCG (Andrew) 🟡⚪️
- TacticalDreamer (Chris) 🟡🟣
- IEJDP (Justin) 🟢🟣
- MaxE3 (Max) 🟡⚪️
- Csdfire () 🔵⚪️
- Ashcap (Ashley) 🔴🟣
- Nugget815 () 🔵🟢
- EliC6 (Eli) 🟢🟣
Saturday, October 19 – Baxter’s Game Store
Baxter’s Game Store in Queen Creek catered to the east valley competitors. Fifteen players showed up with one of our youngest local competitive players taking the first place Champion mat, sealing a win in each set thus far!
Top 8 – Baxter’s Game Store – 15 player tournament
- LukB7 (Luke) 🔴🔵
- Nikon-AZ (Kris) 🟡⚪️
- Dougthelorcanaplayer (Doug) 🟡🟢
- Negrete66 (Alfredo) 🟢⚪️
- JacenC (Jacen) 🔴🔵
- Noah Barnett (Noah) 🔴🟣
- MillGoesInLast (Chris) 🟢⚪️
- MikN3 ()
Saturday, October 19 – North Valley Games Phoenix
North Valley Games Phoenix also had 15 players show up for a competition which saw some less traditional deck builds and true off-meta decks perform well and receive a win.
Top 8 – North Valley Games Phoenix – 15 player tournament
- Daryl436 (Daryl) 🔵⚪️
- Llucasmac (Lucas) 🟢🟣
- Teacherofmath (Michael) 🟢🟣
- Brandon Richards (Brandon) 🔵🟢
- JonM26 (Jon) 🟡⚪️
- gatheredstorm ()
- Brittany Robertson (Brittany) 🟡🔴
- MikeyB (Mike) 🟡🔴
Sunday, October 20 – Toy Temple
Toy Temple hosted a small 9 player tournament at their headquarter location in Tempe. Fun and entertainment ran just a strong as the competition at this small but mighty field of players.
Top 8 – Toy Temple – 9 player tournament
- LoafyTCG (Andrew) 🟡⚪️
- Teacherofmath (Michael) 🟢⚪️
- Noah Barnett (Noah) 🔴🟣
- R1cardo (Ricardo) 🔴🔵
- ChinoDynasty (Tony) 🟢🟣
- Bloodscorn (Mike) 🔵⚪️
- LukB7 (Luke) 🔴🔵
- PyGoN (Nathan) 🟡🟢
Sunday, October 20 – Meeples
Meeples hosted a their first ever Lorcana set championship and brought ou 23 players to their event in north Phoenix. This tournament saw a range of newer players as well as seasoned competitors facing off.
Top 8 – Meeples – 23 player tournament
- Merlyn Rubi (Merlyn) 🔵⚪️
- Jonathan Pfeiffer (Jonathan) 🔴🟣
- Rmilyard5877 (Ray) 🟢⚪️
- Nate2000 (Nate) 🟡⚪️
- MaxE3 (Max) 🟡⚪️
- CalD33 (Cal) 🟣⚪️
- Bslayer (Bryan) 🟢⚪️
- Leearn (Lee) 🔴🟣
Website Changes, Preparations for the Seattle DLC and Reflections
New Website – who dis!?
As you my have noticed, the blog has a new url this week. Yay!!! I am working on migrating all components that I have been managing to a single site to make it easier to find, access, and use. I now have the domain ladylore20.com which will be the main hub. I appreciate your patience over the coming weeks as I migrate the content to the new site.
I hope this continues to be a helpful resource for the community. A small thing that you can do that helps me keep this site up and running, is use my new TCGPlayer affiliate link when you are purchasing singles online. Just click the link on the ladylore20.com homepage then make your purchase. I then receive a small commission for sending traffic to their site which helps me to cover the cost of the website.
Up Next: Final weekend of set champs & the Seattle DLC
With the final weekend of the Shimmering Skies Set Championships coming up there are still more opportunities to compete and join the community for a day of play. Amazing Discoveries Gilbert, Primetime Cards and Games, and Gamer’s Guild Mesa will all be hosting set tournaments next weekend.
In addition, next weekend will be the Seattle DLC. This is the final DLC of this season and the final west coast location. An eager group of Arizonan competitors will be heading to the Emerald City hoping to place well. It will be an exciting weekend to follow.
Stay tuned for more recaps and insights as we continue to follow the Shimmering Skies Set Championship journey and report back from the Seattle DLC!