Ava Ruff Triumphs at Final Fantasy Regional Qualifier
This past weekend, Top Deck hosted its Final Fantasy Limited Draft Regional Qualifier, drawing players eager to test their skills in the new format. Emerging victorious was Ava Ruff, whose dedication and strategic prowess carried her to first place.
“It felt amazing”
When asked about her win, Ava shared:
“It felt amazing. I’ve been putting a lot of effort into improving at competitive Magic this year, so it was really nice for that to pay off in this way.”
Her journey into TCGs only began in early 2023 when friends introduced her to Magic in Cape Town. Though relatively new to competitive play, Ava’s focus and preparation set her apart.
Strategic Preparation
Going into the event, Ava had a clear plan:
“I had spent a lot of time drafting online in the weeks since the release of the Final Fantasy set… I aimed to understand and become proficient in all the available archetypes, though I favoured the black decks with a lot of small creatures.”
In her sealed pool, she opted for Golgari (Green-Black), noting its superior card advantage compared to other colour options. Ava used MTG Arena and Draftsim to create a mocked sealed pool to practice!
Deck MVPs
Key cards carried her to victory:
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Esper Origins: “By far the most powerful card for my deck,” Ava explained. Its ability to trigger black mage damage effects, enable card selection, accelerate mana, and finish games with an Overrun-style effect made it indispensable.
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Rinoa Heartilly: Ava’s splash card enabled and rewarded her go-wide strateg
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Summon: Fat Chocobo: Provided a crucial trample enabler when needed, functioning as an alternative finisher.
Tough Choices and Adaptability
Despite a powerful Azorius (Blue-White) pool featuring two Summon: Leviathans and stronger removal options, Ava chose Golgari for its early-game consistency, crucial in a format with so many powerful creatures.
Her adaptability shone in the top 8 draft, where she drafted a more aggressive Azorius artifacts deck to capitalise on being on the play in most matches:
“I try to be adaptable and play the best deck available to me with the cards presented.”
Advice for New Players
For those hoping to follow in her footsteps, Ava emphasises:
“Pay attention to more experienced players, seek out guides and information from experts online… but above all else, practice. I think I was one of the most prepared players in the room at this event, having done over 80 online Final Fantasy drafts to really study the format, and it paid off.”
The Top Deck Community
Having played at Top Deck for about a year, Ava shared her appreciation for the store’s environment:
“The attendees of the weekly Standard league are all really lovely people who genuinely enjoy playing Magic. I don’t always do well when I attend, but I always leave feeling happy to have joined.”
Looking Ahead
This victory qualified Ava for the EMEA Regional Championship in Antwerp, Belgium this November. With Modern as the event format, she plans to invest significant time learning and testing to compete at this next level:
“I’m very excited for the opportunity to play at such a high level and hopefully to take this success even further.”
Congratulations, Ava!
Top Deck congratulates Ava on her win and wishes her all the best for the upcoming Regional Championship. Her journey is a testament to the power of preparation, adaptability, and community support.