This weekend is the FFG European Championships in Poland. Among all the other great FFG games, we have a Grand Kotei for L5R.
This will be the third tournament in the Forebearer’s Echoes meta after Gencon and the Australian Kotei. We’re expecting decent attendance over 100 and probably under 150. So players will be keeping an eye on this event to see if the results from Gencon continue.
Baz and Eoin from Imperial Advisor will be part of the Judging team, so make sure to say hi!
This tournament was tracked on Lotus Pavilion allowing us to easily look at the results and pairings and quickly generate charts. Consider supporting Lotus Pavilion at this Patreon page.
Thursday – Elemental Challenge
For the first day it’s an elemental challenge which is being tracked on Lotus Pavilion here. At the end, 3 players were undefeated, Pablo Casares playing Crane, Akis Chotemis playing Scorpion, and Lukas Vogelgsang. Perhaps a picture of things to come?
Friday – Day1a
The second day is the first qualifier day which is up on Lotus Pavilion at https://thelotuspavilion.com/tournaments/4563/scores
Top Players
Jakub Irzyk – Scorpion Hatamoto
Konstaninos Paltoglou – Crab Hatamoto
Sotirios Konstantelos – Phoenix Hatamoto
Oskar Bladh – Unicorn Hatamoto
Sergio Sanz Guerrero – Unicorn
Neojko – Dragon Hatamoto
Vasilis Kirlis – Phoenix
Pablo Casares – Crane Hatamoto
Terék Milán – Unicorn
Jose Luis Saenz – Phoenix Hatamoto
Vincent Jolivet – Scorpion
Alain Laugier – Crane
Erik Baalhuis – Crane
Not qualifying, but Lion Hatamoto is Tom Nys.
Our Hatamoto from Day1A
Saturday – Day 1b
Event is up on Lotus pavilion https://thelotuspavilion.com/tournaments/4565
Top Players
A total of 13 players made the cut:
Lukas Vogelgsang – Crane Hatamoto
Akis Chotemis – Scorpion Hatamoto
Pablo Pintor Espinosa – Crab Hatamoto
David Teva Moreno – Phoenix Hatamoto
Dimitris Melissinos – Scorpion
Gilles Molina – Crane
András Faragó – Phoenix
Josip Cubela – Crane
Daniel Garcia Gomez – Scorpion
Nicolas Simonpietri – Crane
Norbert Vincze – Scorpion
Hendrik Ritter – Phoenix
Dimitris Roumeliotis – Lion Hatamoto
That leaves a Unicorn and Dragon who got Hatamoto but didn’t qualify for day 2:
Fernando Piqueras – Unicorn Hatamoto
Javier Querol – Dragon Hatamoto
Our Hatamoto from Day1B
Sunday Day 2 – Top cut and Proving Grounds
The lotus pavilion link for the top cut is here: https://thelotuspavilion.com/tournaments/4571/bracket
The lotus pavilion link for the proving grounds is here: https://thelotuspavilion.com/tournaments/4574/pairings
Streaming is happening over at http://twitch.tv/daidoji_erik/
There were 26 in the final day, after the top 32 cut we move into top 16.
Top 4: Jakub, Konstantinos, Dimitris, and Akis
Top 2: Akis playing Scorpion versus Konstantinos playing Crab
Overall event
Over the two qualifiers, the proving grounds, and the final cut there were a total of 1397 games played with 147 unique players. The below plot describes those games that happened. Obviously, not everyone in a clan was playing the same deck or had the same skill level, but it may give us some insights.
Crab win the event but have relatively poor numbers! How can this be? Konstantinos played 11 games and lost only 1. His numbers are included in the 161 games which is the overall result for the Crab. It only takes one person with the right deck, the right opponent’s, and just enough luck to go all the way.
Decklists
Decklists are up! All errors were made in transcription, so if you see something you think might be wrong, comment below.
3 Kaiu Envoy
3 Keeper Initiate
1 Mantis Tenkinja
3 Shrewd Yasuki
3 Vanguard Warrior
1 Yasuki Oguri
3 Borderlands Defender
3 Kaiu Shuichi
3 Miya Satoshi
3 Steadfast Witch Hunter
3 Hida Kisada
1 Kuni Yori
2 Favorable Ground
1 Funeral Pyre
1 Heavy Ballista
3 Iron Mine
1 Karada District
1 Kuni Laboratory
1 The Imperial Palace
2 Ornate Fan
3 Cloud the Mind
2 Favored Mount
3 Reprieve
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
2 Spoils of War
3 Fight On
2 The Mountain Does Not Fall
1 Way of the Crab
2 Calling in Favors
3 Forged Edict
1 Bayushi Collector
1 Yogo Kikuyo
2 Ageless Crone
2 Goblin Sneak
2 Ikoma Reservist
3 For Shame!
1 Peasant’s advice
2 Way of the Lion
1 Censure
3 Ready for Battle
2 Cloud the Mind
2 Finger of Jade
3 Ornate Fan
1 Assassination
3 Court Games
1 Hand to Hand
2 Strength in Numbers
2 Banzai!
1 Young Harrier
1 Ancient Master
1 Doji Fumiki
1 Arbiter of Authority
3 Iaijutsu Master
3 Way of the Crane
3 Voice of Honor
3 Policy Debate
3 Game of Sadane
2 Noble Sacrifice
1 Formal Invitation
3 Court Games
1 Assassination
1 Let Go
1 Duel to the Death
3 Warm Welcome
1 Daimyo’s Gunbai
1 Gossip
3 Mirumoto’s Daisho
1 Storied Defeat
1 Censure
2 For Shame
3 Mark of Shame
3 Cunning Magistrate
2 Yogo Kikuyo
3 A Fate Worse than Death
3 Assassination
3 Backhanded Compliment
2 Banzai!
2 Calling in Favors
3 Censure
3 Court Games
1 Duty
3 For Shame!
1 I Can Swim
2 Noble Sacrifice
2 Soul Beyond Reproach
2 Voice of Honor
3 Way of the Scorpion
3 A Fate Worse Than Death
2 Assassination
3 Backhanded Compliment
2 Banzai!
2 Calling in Favors
2 Censure
3 Court Games
1 Duty
3 For Shame!
1 I Can Swim
2 Noble Sacrifice
2 Soul Beyond Reproach
2 Voice of Honor
3 Way of the Scorpion
3 Mark of Shame
2 Cunning Magistrate
3 Goblin Sneak
1 Yogo Kikuyo
Oskar - Top 8 - Unicorn
Oskar Bladh
Hisu Mori Toride
Keeper of Water
Border Fortress
Upholding Authority
Khan’s Ordu
Appealing to the Fortunes
Midnight Revels
3 Borrder Ride
2 Child of the Plains
2 Shinjo Kyora
3 Keeper Initiate
2 Master of the Swift Waves
2 Minami Kaze Regulars
3 Moto Chagatai
3 Moto Nergui
3 Moto Youth
3 Shinjo Shono
2 Shinjo Trailblazer
1 Swift Magistrate
2 Utaku Kamoko
3 Utaku Tetsuko
3 Shiotome Encampment
1 The Imperial Palace
3 Winswept Yurt
1 A Legion of One
1 Assassination
3 Banzai!
2 Captive Audience
3 Cavalry Reserves
2 Censure
3 Charge!
2 Defend Your Honor
2 Ready for Battle
3 Spoils of War
3 Strength in Numbers
1 Adorned Barcha
3 Curved Blade
2 Fine Katana
1 Sashimono
2 Talisman of the Sun
1 Goblin Sneak
3 Iuchi Wayfinder
3 Shinjo Ambusher
Josip - Top 16 - Crane
Josip Cubela
Kyuden Kakita
Seeker of Void
Midnight Revels
Magistrate Station
Shameful Display
Pilgrimage
Upholding Authority
3 Voice of Honor
2 Duelist Training
3 Way of the Crane
1 Daimyos Gunbai
2 Court Games
1 Censure
2 Political Rival
3 For Shame!
3 Ancient Master
1 Kakita Blade
3 Fine Katana
1 Storied Defeat
3 Let go
1 Gossip
1 Above Question
1 Ornate Fan
3 Formal Invitation
Pablo Pintor - Top 16 - Crab
Pablo Pintor Espinosa
Shiro Nishiyama
Keeper of Water
Midnight Revels
Upholding Authority
Meditations on the Tao
Manicured Gardens
Gateway to Meido
2 Prayers to Ebisu
3 Defend Your Honor
3 Banzai!
3 Way of the Crab
2 Assassination
2 Court Games
3 Fight On
3 In defence of Rokugan
3 Rebuild
2 Jade Tetsubo
1 Adorned Barcha
3 Watch Commander
3 Talisman of the Sun
3 Iuchi Wayfinder
1 Shinjo Ambusher
3 Nezumi Infiltrator
Jose - Top 16 - Phoenix
Jose Luis Saenz
Kyuden Isawa
Keeper of Air
Kuroi Mori
Manicured Garden
Meditations on the Tao
Midnight Revels
Upholding Authority
3 Cloud the Mind
3 Shrine Maiden
2 Seeker of Knowledge
2 Banzai!
3 Censure
3 Court Games
3 Supernatural Storm
3 Against the Waves
3 Charge!
2 Clarity of Purpose
3 My Ancestor’s Strength
2 Strength in Numbers
3 Walking the Way
2 Display of Power
3 Forebearer’s Echoes
András - Top 16 - Phoenix
András Faragó
Isawa Mori Seido
Keeper of Air
Rally to the Cause
Shameful Display
Sanpuku Seido
Upholding Authority
Manicured Garden
3 Young Harrier
3 Soul Beyond Reproach
1 Admit Defeat
1 Voice of Honor
3 Censure
3 Banzai!
3 Charge!
3 Court Games
3 Purity of Spirit
3 Against the Waves
3 Clarity of Purpose
3 Cloud the Mind
2 Feral Ningyo
2 Ornate Fan
1 Rout
1 Display of Power
1 Subdue the Spirits
1 Ofushikai
Erik - Top 16 - Crane
Erik Baalhuis
Kyuden Kakita
Seeker of Void
Manicured Garden
Entrench Position
Magistrate Station
Pilgrimage
Shameful Display
3 Banzai!
2 Court Games
3 For Shame!
1 Gossip
3 Let Go
3 Policy Debate
3 Voice of Honor
3 Way of the Crane
3 A New Name
1 Daimyo’s Gunbai
3 Duelist Training
3 Fine Katana
2 Formal Invitation
1 Kakita Blade
2 Ornate Fan
3 Ancient Master
1 Political Rival
2 A Legion of One
2 Ready for Battle
3 Strength in Numbers
1 Defend Your Honor
3 Shinjo Ambusher
3 Iuchi Wayfinder
2 Goblin Sneak
2 Censure
2 Fine Katana
2 Adorned Barcha
1 Challenge on the Fields
3 Spoils of War
1 Assassination
3 Curved Blae
3 Banzai!
3 Cavalry Reserves
3 Charge!
2 Captive Audience
2 Talisman of the Sun
David - Top 16 - Phoenix
David Teva Morena
Kyuden Isawa
Keeper of Air
Kuroi Mori
Manicured Garden
Meditationsn on the Tao
Midnight Revels
Upholding Authority
3 Ethereal Dreamer
2 Fire Tensai Initiate
3 Solemn Scholar
2 Adept of the Waves
1 Asako Tsuki
3 Isawa Uona
3 Keeper Initiate
2 Isawa Atsuko
3 Miya Satoshi
1 Asako Azunami
3 Isawa Kaede
2 Shiba Tsukune
3 Fushicho
3 Ancestral Shrine
3 Forgotten Library
1 Kanjo District
1 The Imperial Palace
1 Fire Elemental Guard
3 Cloud the Mind
3 Shrine Maiden
2 Seeker of Knowledge
1 Isawa Tadaka
2 Banzai!
3 Censure
2 Court Games
3 Supernatural Storm
3 Against the Waves
3 Charge!
2 Clarity of Purpose
3 My Ancestor’s Strength
2 Strength in Numbers
3 Walking the Way
2 Display of Power
3 Forebearer’s Echoes
Hendrik - Top 32 - Phoenix
Hendrik Ritter
Kyuden Isawa
Keeper of Air
Kuroi Mori
Manicured Garden
Meditations on the Tao
Midnight Revels
Upholding Authority
3 Ethereal Dreamer
3 Solemn Scholar
2 Adept of the Waves
2 Isawa Uona
3 Keeper Initiate
2 Isawa Ujina
3 Miya Satoshi
3 Prodigy of the Waves
2 Akodo Toturi
2 Asako Azunami
2 Isawa Kaede
2 Shiba Tsukune
3 Fushicho
3 Ancestral Shrine
3 Forgotten Library
1 Kanjo District
1 The Imperial Palace
2 Cloud the Mind
3 Shrine Maiden
2 Assassination
2 Banzai!
2 Censure
3 Court Games
2 Ready for Battle
3 Supernatural Storm
3 Against the Waves
3 Charge!
2 Clarity of Purpose
2 My Ancestor’s Strength
2 Strength in Numbers
3 Walking the Way
3 Display of Power
3 Forebearer’s Echoes
Gilles - Top 32 - Crane
Gilles Molina
Kyuden Kakita
Seeker of Void
Midnight Revels
Shameful Display
Pilgrimage
Upholding Authority
Magistrate Station
3 Let Go
3 Voice of Honor
3 Duelist Training
3 Banzai!
3 Fine Katana
3 Policy Ddebate
3 A New Name
1 Assassination
3 For Shame!
2 Ornate Fan
3 Way of the Crane
2 Court Games
1 Gossip
1 Daimyo’s Gunbai
1 Formal Invitation
2 Political Rival
1 Ancient Master
1 Doji Fumiki
1 Tattooed Wanderer
Nicolas - Top 32 - Crane
Nicholas Simonpietri
Kyuden Kakita
Seeker of Void
Shameful Display
Upholding Authority
Midnight Revels
Pilgrimage
Magistrate Station
3 Fine Katana
3 Seal of the Dragon
2 Ornate Fan
1 Ancestral Daisho
1 Hawk Tattoo
3 Finger of Jade
3 Reprieve
3 Cloud the Mind
3 Tattooed Wanderer
2 Hiruma Skirmisher
3 Court Games
2 Banzai!
3 Hurricane Punch
3 Void Fist
3 Let Go
2 Indomitable Will
3 Way of the Crane
3 Voice of Honor
2 Court Games
3 Political Debate
3 Banzai!
3 For Shame!
1 Gossip
1 Indomitable Will
3 Let Go
3 Fine Katana
2 Duelist Training
2 Formal Invitation
1 Daimyo’s Gunbai
2 A New Name
1 Ancient Master
1 Doji Fumiki
2 Formal Invitation
1 Noble Sacrifice
1 Censure
1 Admit Defeat
1 Kakita Blade
Pablo C - Top 32 - Crane
Pablo Casares
Kyuden Kakita
Seeker of Void
Entrenched Position
Manicured Garden
Magistrate Station
Shameful Display
Pilgrimage
3 Fine Katana
3 A New Name
2 Duelist Training
2 Ornate Fan
1 Formal Invitation
1 Daimyo’s Gunbai
3 Banzai!
3 Policy Debate
3 For Shame!
2 Court Games
3 Gossip
3 Voice of Honor
3 Way of the Crane
1 Noble Sacrifice
2 Political Rival
1 Tattooed Wanderer
3 Let Go
Sergio - Top 32 - Unicorn
Sergio Sanz
Hisu Mori Toride
Keeper of Water
Appealing to the Fortunes
Upholding Authority
Manicured Gardens
Khan’s Ordu
Endless Plains
2 Hand to Hand
1 A Legion of One
3 Strength in Numbers
2 Ready for Battle
3 Iuchi Wayfinder
1 Shinomen Wayfinder
3 Shinjo Ambusher
3 Charge!
2 Defend Your Honor
2 Captive Audience
2 Spoils of War
1 Press the Battle
3 Banzai!
2 Cavalry Reserves
2 Challenge on the Fields
1 Fine Katana
2 Talisman of the Sun
1 Adorned Barcha
3 Curved Blade
Sotirios - Top 32 - Phoenix
Sotirios Koustantelos
Kyuden Isawa
Keeper of Air
Midnight Revels
Kuroi Mori
Meditations on the Tao
Upholding Authority
Manicured Gardens
3 Fushicho
1 The Imperial Palace
3 Ancestral Shrine
3 Forgotten Library
1 Kanjo District
3 Fire Tensai Initiate
2 Isawa Uona
1 Isawa Ujina
2 Fire Elemental Guard
3 Keeper Initiate
3 Ethereal Dreamer
3 Solemn Scholar
1 Asako Tsuki
2 Adept of the Waves
2 Isawa Kaede
1 Isawa Atsuko
1 Asako Azunami
2 Shiba Tsukune
2 Display of Power
3 Shrine Maiden
2 Seeker of Knowledge
3 Forebearer’s Echoes
3 Court Games
3 Against the Waves
2 Strength in Numbers
3 Censure
3 Walking the Way
3 Charge!
1 Benten’s Touch
2 Banzai!
3 My Ancestor’s Strength
3 Supernatural Storm
1 All and Nothing
1 Clarity of Purpose
2 Cloud the Mind
3 Backhanded Compliment
3 Display of Power
3 A Fate Worse Than Death
3 Court Games
2 Cunning Magistrate
2 Calling in Favors
2 Meek Informant
3 For Shame!
3 Assassination
1 Duty
3 Way of the Scorpion
1 All and Nothing
1 Goblin Sneak
3 Censure
2 Mark of Shame
1 I Can Swim
1 Contingency Plan
1 Kirei-ko
1 Peasant’s Advice
1 Seeker of Knowledge
1 Bayushi Kachiko
Vasilis - Top 32 - Phoenix
Vasilis Kirlis
Kyuden Isawa
Keeper of Air
Manicured Garden
Entrenched Position
Meditations on the Tao
Kuroi Mori
Midnight Revels
3 Against the Waves
1 All and Nothing
2 Banzai!
3 Censure
3 Charge!
1 Clarity of Purpose
3 Court Games
2 Display of Power
3 Forebearer’s Echoes
3 My Ancestor’s Strength
1 Oracle of Stone
2 Strength in Numbers
3 Supernatural Storm
2 The Path of Man
3 Walking the Way
2 Cloud the Mind
1 Seeker of Knowledge
3 Shrine Maiden
There is a definite trend in these decks. The 6 Phoenix decks, for the most part, are the Forebearer’s Echoes deck leveraging that raw power and efficiency that package has when it gets rolling.
The other two big players in the top cut, of course, were the Crane with 7 and Scorpion with 6 players in the 26 total in day 2. Scorpion players will always play 3 A Fate Worse than Death or 3 Forged Edicts both of which are bad for the Phoenix deck either blanking Fushicho or cancelling Charge/Forebearer’s Echoes. Out of the 6 Phoenix, 3 were knocked out to Scorpion. I talked briefly with Vasilis about his game and for him it was Fawning Diplomat that sealed the game, Vasilis had 3 Censure in hand but never could keep the favor as Norbert kept snatching it back. Scorpion were also packing Kikuyo and Censures adding even more denial to the Phoenix plan.
Crane took a similar tactic with almost all running Voice of Honor, Censure, Gossip, and Policy Debate to pick apart their opponent’s hand. The Shogun, Erik, took out another Phoenix in the top cut with his Crane deck leaving the remaining two defeated by Crab and Unicorn. The Crane’s chances of victory came to an end primarily at the hands of the Scorpion although Dimitris, who defeated two Crane players on his way to top 4 also was splashing Scorpion for Forged Edicts.
In broad strokes, this was an environment shaped by the Phoenix deck. The decks who had the tools to meta for that specific matchup, Scorpion and Crane, thrived. The final winner Konstantinos, of course, wasn’t either and instead was Crab who often rise to the top just when people dismiss them. On his way to victory, he played 3 Phoenix, 4 Scorpion, 2 Crane, and 1 Lion losing only to Jakub’s Scorpion deck. The deck wasn’t a Meido combo deck and instead was closer to the standard build with some twists like Heavy Ballista which is perfect for dealing with Charged or Forebearer’s Echoes characters. The number of attachments (17) may have been a challenge for decks preparing for the Phoenix, Scorpion, Crane meta game which typically is attachment light.
Ultimately, a fantastic victory for the Konstantinos and the Crab and a wonderful insight into the ever shifting nature of the game. The next big event is the US Championships at Nova. Let’s see if the decks from the Krakow event will shift the meta over in the US!
Talking with Konstantios
I asked Konstantios to give some of this thoughts on his victory and how he managed to bring Crab to victory:
Well loads of practice makes perfect!
I had a ton of practice with Basilis and Akis, working on how to beat Charge Bird and still be decent in the other matchups. The idea behind the deck is like our old Crab with Unicorn splash but without Spyglass I relied on card advantage instead, just to be ahead of the cards and force my opponent to bid 1.
For the Phoenix matchup, I added the x1 Heavy Ballista to try and slow down the bird as much as I can. And then, I guess you can say Watch Commander is a Phoenix and Scorpion killer. Favored Mount makes my towers immune to Strength in Numbers effects and forces my Defend Your Honor and Watch Commander in every conflict.
As for the Crane I prayed not to face many during the tournament because it was my low chance matchup. That is why I played x1 Way of the Crab as my 41st card and the only thing I can do against them is try to secure the early game or try to Jade Tetsubo a guy with many things on him.
So Scorpion I just try to keep myself above 4 honor and even my with much less cards and him at 10+ I can win because of Watch Commander he won’t be able to play anything. Some Scorpion were playing x1 magistrate and the fact that they play Crane splash was huge for me, Phoenix splash is much better against Crab. And as you said, I took advantage that everyone wanted to tech for birds and forgot the claws
Konstantinos Paltoglou – Crab clan winner of the Krakow Grand Kotei
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.
6 Replies to “Meta Check – Kraków Grand Kotei”
Great write up as always, and was great meeting up with you guys yet at another event.
For the readers if you wonder what the missing cards from my list are, i ll post them here.
1 Bayushi Liar
3 Miya Mystic
1 Banzai
2 Soul Beyond Reproach
2 Peasant’s Advice
Updated. Thanks for the spot and congrats on the great finish!
The pablo pintor top 16 is missing 2 dynasty cards.
Thank you! Two Steadfast Witch Hunters added.
Hi, missing provinces and 3 cards in dynasty for jakub deck