Once again, we have some of the Imperial Advisor team helping out with the L5R Grand Kotei in Birmingham.
This even is in a bit of a weird situation. Last week we had the Atlanta Kotei which was the first event with the new Crane pack Masters of the Court legal. Unfortunately, the pack hasn’t arrived in the UK yet, and is not legal for the event. We still do have the new errata and restricted list so there is a bit of a shift. So Birmingham is a bit of a one-off meta where Crane don’t get the boost they should have. From the Atlanta tournament Crane did well with 2 in the top 8, but those decks didn’t make it to the top 4.
Despite it’s weird meta, this event looks like it will be over 150 players making it the biggest L5R tournament since Paris and one of the better indications of the environment.
Day 1A Friday
The first day of qualifiers has 128 players. The event is tracked on Lotus Pavilion.
That is a significant number of Unicorn players followed by Scorpion, Phoenix, and Crab would I think it is fair many consider the top tier clans. Seeing Dragon and Crane at the same numbers as the Lion is somewhat sobering.
At the end of Day 1A we had 14 players qualify for the final day.
Players who qualified so far are:
Chris Hornsey – Unicorn
Darren Hazelden – Crab
Vasilis Kirlis – Phoenix
Erik Baalhuis – Crane
Gunnar Traustason – Dragon
Joss Attridge – Crane
Litsios Michail – Phoenix
Jose Luis Saenz – Phoenix
Tam Fullard – Crane
Marcus Archer – Unicorn
Liang Zhong – Unicorn
Jonathan Peter Humphreys – Crab
Oskar Bladh – Unicorn
Mario Blanco Alonso – Scorpion
Chris and Darren were both undefeated with the remaining 8 players going 5-1. Not qualifying, but still Hatamoto is the top Lion player Marios Bounakis.
This is a picture of many stories
Day 1B Saturday
The second day of qualifiers has 121 players bring the total to 249. The tournament is up on Lotus Pavilion.
So quite a similar distribution as yesterday. This is likely due to players allowed to compete on both days, so many (but not all) have played in both days.
Well that was a wild day.
Players qualifying were:
Kailam Dale – Unicorn Hatamoto
Dimitris Roumeliotis – Lion Hatamoto
Liang Zhong – Scorpion Hatamoto
Oskar Bladh – Unicorn
Dimitris Melissinos – Scorpion
Marios Bounakis – Lion
Matthew Green – Unicorn
Ryan Billington – Scorpion
David Hoyland – Crab Hatamoto
Rik Hyde – Dragon Hatamoto
Mario Blanco Alonso – Scorpion
Ross Macvicar – Lion
Daniel Correas – Crab
Daniel Kaye – Unicorn
Liang Zhong, Oskar Bladh, and Mario Blanco Alonso had already qualified the day before but ended up with a better strength of schedule for the second day. Notably Liang switches from Unicorn to Scorppion.
Not making the cut, but top of clan, was Alain Laugier who grabbed himself another Crane Hatamoto title and Jose Luis Saenz who got another Hatamoto title but didn’t qualify today (he already qualified the previous day).
And the winner is David Hoyland who takes it for the Crab!
Shogun Erik Baalhuis and tournament winner David Hyland
We’ll get some more info like deck lists up in the next few days but for now here is the win rates across every game in both days 1, the day 2, and the proving grounds. 1447 games in total!
Results from 1447 games
Day 2 Decks
David Hoyland's Winning Crab
Shiro Nishiyama
Keeper of Water
Manicured Gardens
Upholding Authority
Meditations on the Tao
Shameful Display
Midnight Revels
1 Assassination
2 Banzai!
3 Court Games
2 Defend Your Honor
3 Fight On
3 Rebuild
3 The Mountain Does Not Fall
3 Cloud the Mind
2 Fine Katana
3 Ornate Fan
3 Reprieve
3 Spyglass
2 Talisman of the Sun
3 Watch Commander
2 Hiruma Skirmisher
3 Iuchi Wayfinder
Erik Baalhuis' Top 2 Crane Deck
Shizuka Toshi
Seeker of Void
Manicured Garden
Entrenched Position
Magistrate Station
Pilgrimage
Shameful Display
1 Admit Defeat
2 Assassination
3 Banzai!
1 Censure
3 Court Games
3 For Shame!
3 Let Go
1 Noble Sacrifice
1 Spies at Court
3 Voice of Honor
3 Way of the CRane
3 Fine Katana
2 Formal Invitation
3 Ornate Fan
3 Ancient Matsser
2 Doji Fumiki
2 Poitical Rival
1 Young Harrier
Joss Attridge's Top 4 Crane Deck
Shizuka Toshi
Seeker of Fire
Entrenched Position
Feast or Famine
Magistrate Station
Manicured Garden
Shameful Dislay
3 Fine Katana
2 Formal Invitation
3 Ornate Fafn
3 Ancient Master
3 Young Harrier
2 Doji Fumiki
1 Political Rival
2 Assassination
3 Banzai!
1 Censure
3 Court Games
3 For Shame!
3 Let Go
3 Voice of Honor
3 Way of the Crane
1 Admit Defeat
1 Noble Sacrifice
Marios Bounakis's Top 4 Lion Deck
Yojin no Shiro
Support of the Scorpion
Fertile Fields
Upholding Authority
Meditations on the Tao
Shameful Display
The Art of the War
1 A Legion of One
1 Assassination
2 Banzai!
2 Calling in Favors
2 Court Games
3 For Shame
3 Forged Edict
1 Hand to Hand
1 Kirei-ko
3 Ready for Battle
1 Strength in Numbers
1 Way of the Lion
2 Cloud the Mind
1 Court Mask
3 Fine Katana
2 Finger of Jade
3 Ornate Fan
2 Ageless Crone
2 Bayushi Collector
2 Goblin Sneak
2 Ikoma Reservist
1 Yogo Kikuyo
Manicured Gardens
Midnight Revels
Night Raid
Shameful Display
Vassal Fields
3 Ethereal Dreamer
3 Fire Tensai Initiate
3 Solemn Scholar
3 Adept of the Waves
3 Asako Tsuki
3 Isawa Uona
3 Keeper Initiate
3 Miysa Mystic
1 Asako Atsuko
3 Isawa Ujina
2 Prodigy of the Waves
3 Isawa Kaede
3 Fushicho
3 Bustling Academy
1 Kanjo District
1 The Imperial Palace
3 CLoud the Mind
3 Shrine Maiden
3 Goblin Sneak
3 Feral Ningyo
2 A Legon of One
2 Banzai!
1 Benten’s Touch
3 Court Games
2 Hand to Hand
3 Supernatural Storm
3 The Path of Man
3 Against the Waves
3 Charge!
2 Clarity of Purpose
3 My Ancestor’s Strength
2 Walking the Way
1 Display of Power
Manicured Garden
Defend the Wall
Illustrious Forge
Shameful Display
Along the River of Gold
3 Kaiu Envoy
3 Keeper Initiate
3 Mantis Tenkinja
3 Shrewd Yasuki
3 Vanguard Warrior
3 Borderlands Defender
3 Kaiu Shiuchi
3 Miya Satoshi
3 Steadfast Witch Hunter
3 Hida Kisada
1 Kuni Yori
3 Favorable Ground
3 Iron Mine
1 Karada District
1 Kuni Laboratory
1 The Imperial Palace
2 Fine Katana
3 Cloud the Mind
3 Reprieve
3 Spyglass
2 Talisman of the Sun
3 Watch Commander
2 Jade Tetsubo
2 Hiruma Skirmisher
3 Iuchi Wayfinder
2 Banzai!
3 Court Games
3 Defend Your Honor
3 Rebuild
3 Fight On
3 The Mountain Does Not Fall
3 Curved Blade
3 Fine Katana
3 Iuchi Wayfinder
3 Shinjo Ambusher
3 Banzai!
3 Captive Audience
1 Challenge on the Fields
3 Defend Your Honor
3 Hand to Hand
3 Ready for Battle
3 Spoilts of War
3 Charge!
3 Strength in Numbers
3 Cavalry Reserves
Oskar Bladh's Top 8 Unicorn Deck
Hisu Mori Toride
Keeper of Water
Border Fortress
Upholding Authority
Khan’s Ordu
Pilgrimage
Midnight Revels
1 Assassination
3 Banzai!
2 Captive Audience
3 Cavalry Reserves
2 Defend Your Honor
2 Hand to Hand
2 I am Ready
2 For Greater Glory
1 Ready for Battle
3 Spoils of War
2 Strength in Numbers
2 Way of the Unicorn
3 Curved Blade
3 Fine Katana
2 Talisman of the Sun
3 Iuchi Wayfinder
3 Shinjo Ambusher
1 Shinomen Wayfinder
1 Bayushi Kachiko
2 Cunning Magistrate
1 Bayushi Collector
2 Goblin Sneak
1 Guardian Kami
1 Seeker of Knowledge
3 Display of Power
1 All And Nothing
3 Forged Edict
3 Backhanded Compliment
3 Way of the Scorpion
2 Calling in Favors
2 Kirei-Ko
1 Duty
3 Assassination
3 Court Games
3 For Shame!
1 Censure
2 Cloud the Mind
3 Mark of Shame
3 Daimyo Favor
2 Cloud the Mind
3 Duelist Training
3 Finger of Jade
2 Hawk Tattoo
3 Mirumoto Diasho
3 Tattooed Wanderer
2 Togashi Kazue
2 Assassination
3 Banzai!
3 Defend Your Honor
2 Good Omen
3 Let Go
3 Policy Debate
3 Game of Sadane
1 Peasant’s Advice
2 Warm Welcome
3 Display of Power
2 All and Nothing
1 I Can Swim
1 Duty
1 Maze of Illusion
3 A Fate Worse than Death
2 Calling in Favors
3 Backhanded Compliment
1 Goblin Sneak
1 Peasant’s Advice
3 Censure
3 Assassination
1 Contingency Plan
2 For Shame!
2 Cunning Magistrate
2 Meek Informant
1 Bayushi Kachiko
Ross MacVicar's top 16 Lion Deck
Yojin No Shiro
Keeper of Earth
Ancestral Lands
Meditations on the Tao
The Art of War
Manicured Gardens
Shameful Display
3 Charge!
2 Admit Defeat
2 Banzai!
2 Political Rival
2 Assassination
3 Ready for Battle
3 Way of the Lion
3 Ornate Fan
2 Strength in Numbers
3 Fine Katana
2 A Legion of One
3 Ikoma Reservist
3 Court Games
2 Voice of Honor
2 Hand to Hand
1 True Strike Kenjutsu
2 Censure
Kailam Dale's Top 16 Unicorn Deck
Hisu Mori Toride
Keeper of Water
Border Fortress
Upholding Authority
Khan’s Ordu
Pilgrimage
Rally to the Cause
3 Border Rider
2 Child of the Plains
3 Keeper Initiate
2 Master of the Swift Waves
2 Kaze Regulars
2 Miya Mystic
3 Moto Chagatai
3 Moto Nergui
3 Moto Youth
3 Shinjo Shono
3 Shinjo Trailblazer
2 Utaku Infantry
3 Utaku Tetsuko
3 Shiotome Encampment
3 Windswept Yurt
2 Assassination
3 Banzai!
2 Captive Audience
3 Cavalry Reserves
2 Challenge on the Fields
3 Charge!
2 Defend Your Honor
3 Let Go
3 Spoils of War
3 Curve Blade
3 Fine Katana
2 Talisman of the Sun
3 Iuchi Wayfinder
3 Shinjo Ambusher
3 Tattooed Wanderer
Vasilis Kirlis' Top 16 Phoenix Deck
Kyuden Isawa
Keeper of Air
Manicured Garden
Entrenched Position
Meditations on the Tao
Kuroi Mori
Midnight Revels
1 A Legion of One
3 Against the Waves
1 All and Nothing
1 Assassination
2 Banzai!
2 Censure
3 Charge!
1 Clarity of Purpose
2 Court Games
2 Display of Power
3 My Ancestor’s Strength
2 Spies at Court
2 Strength in Numbers
3 Supernatural Storm
1 The Path of Man
3 Walking the Way
3 Cloud the Mind
2 Feral Ningyo
1 Seeker of Knowledge
3 Shrine Maiden
1 Censure
2 Court Games
3 For Shame!
3 Spies at Court
3 Forged Edict
3 Assassination
3 Way of the Scorpion
3 Backhanded Compliment
2 Peasant’s Advice
2 Calling in Favors
3 Display of Power
2 Tattered Missive
3 Court Mask
2 Mark of Shame
3 Shosuro Sadako
2 Bayushi Collector
Dimitris Roumeliotis' Top 16 Lion Deck
Yojjin no Shiro
Keeper of Earth
Shameful Display
Vassal Fields
Fertile Fields
Meditations on the Tao
The Art of War
3 Ready for Battle
3 Fine Katana
3 Ornate Fan
3 Forged Edict
2 Calling in Favors
2 Bayushi Collector
1 Court Mask
2 Way of the Lion
2 A Legion of One
2 Banzai!
2 Cloud the Mind
2 Ikoma Reservist
2 Ageless Crone
2 Goblin Sneak
2 Court Games
1 Sabotage
1 Assassination
3 For Shame
2 Strength in Numbers
1 Hand to Hand
Daniel Correas' Top 32 Crab Deck
Shiro Nishiyama
Keeper of Water
Manicured Garden
Upholding Authority
Shameful Display
Along the River of Gold
Illustrious Forge
2 Fine Katana
3 Ornate Fan
2 Cloud the Mind
3 Reprieve
3 Spyglass
2 Talisman of the Sun
3 Watch Commander
3 Jade Tetsubo
3 Iuchi Wayfinder
2 Banzai!
3 Court Games
3 Defend Your Honor
3 Rebuild
3 Fight On
2 The Mountain Does Not Fall
Daniel Kaye's Top 32 Unicorn Deck
Hisu Mori Toride
Keeper of Water
Border Fortress
Khan’s Ordu
Pilgrimage
Rally to the Cause
Upholding Authority
3 Child of the Plains
3 Moto Youth
3 Border Rider
3 Keeper Initiate
2 Miya Mystic
3 Shinjo Trailblazer
1 Master of the Swift Waves
3 Moto Nergui
3 Utaku Tetsuko
3 Shinjo Shono
3 Minami Kaze Regulars
3 Moto Chagatai
1 Shinjo Altansarnai
3 Shiotome Encampment
3 Windswept Yurt
3 Curved Blade
3 Fine Katana
2 Cloud the Mind
2 Talisman of the Sun
3 Iuchi Wayfinder
3 Shinjo Ambusher
3 Tattooed Wanderer
1 Assassination
3 Banzai!
2 Captive Audience
1 Challenge on the Fields
3 Defend Your Honor
3 Let Go
3 Spoils of War
3 Charge!
3 Cavalry
Tam Fullard's Top 32 Crane Deck
Shizuka Toshi
Seeker of Void
Manicured Garden
Entrenched Position
Magistrate Station
Pilgrimage
Shameful Display
1 Admit Defeat
2 Assassination
3 Banzai!
1 Censure
3 Court Games
3 For Shame!
3 Let Go
1 Noble Sacrifice
3 Voice of Honor
3 Way of the Crane
3 Fine Katana
3 Formal Invitation
3 Ornate Fan
3 Ancient Master
1 Doji Fumiki
2 Political Rival
3 Young Harrier
Matt Green's Top 32 Unicorn Deck
Hisu Mori Toride
Keeper of Water
Manicured Garden
Midnight Revels
Khan’s Ordu
Appealing to the Fortunes
Upholding Authority
2 Master of the Swift Waves
2 Iuchi Daiyu
1 Moto Nergui
3 Keeper Initiate
3 Shinjo Shono
3 Moto Chagatai
3 Utaku Tetsuko
3 Battle Maiden Recruit
3 Border Rider
3 Windswept Yurt
3 Shiotome Encampment
3 Shinjo Trailblazer
2 Minami Kaze Regulars
3 Moto Youth
3 Child of the Plains
1 Assassination
1 Challenge of the Fields
3 Fine Katana
2 Cloud the Mind
3 Shinjo Ambusher
3 Iuchi Wayfinder
3 Tattooed Wanderer
2 Talisman of the Sun
3 Curved Blade
2 Defend Your Honor
3 Spoils of War
3 Cavalry Reserves
3 Let Go
3 Charge!
3 Banzai!
2 Captive Audience
Mario Blanco Alonso's Top 32 Scorpion Deck
Kyuden Bayushi
Seeker of Air
Secret Cache
Manicured Gardens
Entrenched Position
Pilgrimage
Midnight Revels
2 Jurojin’s Curse
3 Cloud the Mind
2 Shrine Maiden
2 Ishiken Initiate
3 Feral Ningyo
3 Banzai!
2 Censure
2 Court Games
3 Supernatural Storm
3 Against the Waves
3 Charge!
3 Clarity of Purpose
3 My Ancestor’s Strength
1 Strength in Numbers
2 Walking the Way
3 Display of Power
1 The Fires of Justice
Rik Hyde's Top 32 Dragon Deck
Mountain’s Anvil Castle
Keeper of Water
Sacred Sanctuary
Meditations on the Tao
Shameful Display
Midnight Revels
Upholding Authority
3 Defend Your Honor
3 Fine Katana
3 Hurricane Punch
3 Seal of the Dragon
2 Cloud the Mind
1 Assassination
3 Void Fist
3 Let Go
3 Fight On
2 Court Games
3 Banzai!
3 Finger of Jade
3 Tattooed Wanderer
3 Reprieve
1 Mountain Does Not Fall
1 Way of the Dragon
2 Ornate Fans
Jonathan Huphreys's Top 32 Crab Deck
Shiro Nishiyama
Keeper of Water
Manicured Garden
Upholding Authority
Meditations on the Tao
Shameful Display
Midnight Revels
1 Banzai!
2 Court Games
3 Defend Your Honor
3 Fight On
3 Rebuild
2 The Mountain Does Not Fall
1 Way of the Crab
2 Cloud the Mind
2 Fine Katana
1 Finger of Jade
2 Jade Tetsubo
2 Ornate Fan
3 Reprieve
3 Spyglass
2 Talisman of the Sun
3 Watch Commander
1 Hiruma Ambusher
2 Hiruma Skirmisher
3 Iuchi Wayfinder
Marcus Archer's Top 32 Unicorn Deck
Hisu Mori Toride
Keeper of Water
Pilgrimage
Endless Plains
Khan’s Ordu
Before the Throne
Public Forum
3 Moto Youth
3 Utaku Kamoko
3 Utaku Tetsuko
2 Honest Challenger
2 Young Warrior
1 The Imperial Palace
3 Battle Maiden Recruit
2 Ivory Kingdom’s Unicorn
3 Windswept Yurt
2 Child of the PLains
3 Border Rider
3 Moto Chagatai
2 Shiotome Encampment
2 Imperial Storehouse
3 Shinjo Trailblazer
2 Speak to the Heart
1 Cavalry Reserves
1 Captive Audience
1 Censure
2 Reprieve
3 Charge!
1 Way of the Unicorn
2 Assassination
2 Spreading the Darkness
2 Press of Battle
1 Challenge on the Fields
2 Defend Your Honor
2 Banzai!
2 Fight On
2 Court Games
3 Spoils of War
2 Talisman of the Sun
3 Curved Blade
1 Hiruma Skirmisher
2 Shinomen Wayfinders
3 Shinjo Ambusher
If you have any comments or feedback please post them in the comments section below. Check us out on the Imperial Advisor website, podcast, and YouTubechannel for more discussion about the L5R LCG.
Nope, cancel my previous comment. After the finals, Lion are still doing worse than Dragon (although dem Dragon vs Scorpion results…). They probably need some new nerfs in their cards and a couple more in the restricted list.
15 Replies to “Meta Check – Birmingham”
Looking forward to reading the reports. A few guys from our local meta (Brighton) are in attendance.
How you get to update the Advisor, while running the event, while keeping everyone happy and making it all go smooth, is literally beyond me.
You’ve listed Crane as having 2 qualifying players for day 1b (in the diagram) when it should be Crab. 😋
Also!
Epic coverage as usual a guys!
Awesome!!! Dragon are officially even lower than Lion, in results…Finally they were nerfed…
Nope, cancel my previous comment. After the finals, Lion are still doing worse than Dragon (although dem Dragon vs Scorpion results…). They probably need some new nerfs in their cards and a couple more in the restricted list.
Imperial Advisor : your daily fix of L5R. Thanks for what you are doing for the community guys. Was a pleasure to meet you all agains this week end.
Marios Bounakis’ deck
https://fiveringsdb.com/decks/1c17b1d8-859c-11e9-804d-22d334ba48b8/view
You commented on the low number of Crane. That’s possibly because the Crane Pack hasn’t been released in the UK yet.
Thanks for the content as always!
Although it looks like the comebined winrate image is the same as the day1 image and the numbers don’t add up?
Good spot, I’ll go look at the code. Thanks!
Updated! Yeah, that’s a lot more games.