BCDL Recap – Lessons from a Day in the Dungeon
TJ Here,
I had an awesome time at Buffalo Chicken Dip Legacy (BCDL) this weekend, hosted at The Warp Gate in Columbus. Great games, great food, and a ton of lessons learned. Here’s my round-by-round breakdown, with thoughts on plays, matchups, and sideboarding decisions.
Link to the decklist here: https://moxfield.com/decks/FHv41E-A0keILBqQCm19cQ
👹 Round 1: Goblins – 2-0 Win
Faced Vial Goblins, and this match felt very favorable. Solitude helped remove early threats, and my opponent missed an opportunity to take the initiative when they could have. Munitions Expert made a wide board scary, but flashing in Solitude at key moments kept things manageable.
🪦 Round 2: UB Reanimater – 2-1 Win
Game 1: An early Chalice of the Void and Anointed Peacekeeper locked him down.
Game 2: Tried to keep Tamiyo off her ultimate, but couldn’t hold out.
Game 3: Chalice MVP again. I used Sheltered by Ghosts on an Atraxa during turns and triggered initiative twice to close it out.
🥣 Round 3: Cephalid Breakfast – 0-2 Loss (Streamed Match)
Game 1: Combo assembled quickly—nothing I could do.
Game 2: Got him to 2 life but he Pithing Needled my Karakas, shutting off my out to Nadu. He pushed through for the win with damage.
🪦 Round 4: UB Reanimator– 2-1 Win
Honestly, this one’s a little fuzzy. I do remember he Reanimated my Solitude, which was brutal. Managed to recover and pull it out in Game 3.
🪦 Round 5: UB Reanimator – 1-2 Loss
Game 1: Chalice controlled the early game and helped me sneak in enough damage.
Game 2: Misplayed with Containment Priest—cast it instead of holding it up.
Game 3: Had Leyline of the Void, but didn’t board out my initiative creatures. Lost to my own play.
☔️ Round 6: Storm (ANT) – 2-0 Win
Game 1: Turn-one Peacekeeper naming Lion’s Eye Diamond shut off his hand. Later dropped Witch Enchanter to blow up the LED once he cast it—huge tempo swing.
Game 2: More of the same—disruption and pressure sealed the deal.
🥣 Round 7: Cephalid Breakfast – 0-2 Loss
Game 1: Comboed off early again.
Game 2: He went on the Construct beatdown plan. Boromir slowed him down (protected me from Force of Will and Dread Return), but eventually he overwhelmed me with damage.
🧠 Key Takeaways
• Sideboarding: Needs improvement. Didn’t know when to bring in Swords to Plowshares.
• Reanimator Matchups: Don’t leave initiative creatures in—you’re just giving them ammo.
• Containment Priest: If you’re going to bring it in, hold the mana up—don’t tap out.
• Karakas: Be mindful of Pithing Needle—don’t rely on it as your only line of defense.
🏠 Venue Review: The Warp Gate – Columbus, OH
Top-notch experience. The Warp Gate was a fantastic host.
• Buffalo chicken dip? Incredible.
• Free pizza? Even better.
• Bonus: Chinese spot next door? Hidden gem.
🥤 Event Survival Tips
1. Stay hydrated – You’d be shocked how fast a headache can derail your focus.
2. Pack snacks – Even if food is provided, having protein bars or fruit on hand helps.
3. Take breaks – Get outside between rounds. Stretch. Breathe. Reset your head.
Big thanks to the organizers, my opponents, and everyone who made the event a blast. I’ll be back for the next BCDL, hopefully with tighter play and a sharper sideboard plan.
— Tj
