Official Announcement of the Austrian Sorcery League & Ascanrask Chapter 3

Part 1

We are delighted to officially announce the founding of the Austrian Sorcery League (ASL). This is a new tournament series dedicated to shared experiences, competition, and passion for Sorcery. You can find more information at www.sorceryleague.at, including a link to our Discord.

The ASL offers qualifier tournaments throughout the year. As a winner of one of these events, you secure a spot in the grand final in November, the Goat of the Alps (including entry and a first-round bye). Don’t worry—anyone can still participate in the final by purchasing a ticket in advance via the Rarehuntershop (details to be announced). Simply visit our website for exact dates and registration links.

The kickoff of our journey took place from March 27 to 29, 2026, in Krems an der Donau. With the event Ascanrask Chapter 3, the foundation was laid for a tournament series aimed at bringing together players from across Austria and beyond. In a unique atmosphere, not only was high-level gameplay showcased, but the sense of community was also at the forefront.

The competitive highlight was the Constructed tournament, featuring an impressive 51 participants from 12 nations. The high level of play and the diversity of decks demonstrated the great potential of the European scene. The best strategies of the weekend were reflected in the Top 8. Decklists are linked below and offer exciting insights for anyone interested. Here’s a quick look from Sofie (Cardboard Guide) and Jürgen (NerdAndProudOfIt):

A very special thanks goes to Gregor, who, as host, provided an exceptional venue with his winery “Wandraschek.” The combination of a first-class setting and warm hospitality made the event truly unforgettable.

We would also like to thank the dedicated organizers:

Heiner and Sascha from “White Rabbit”

Sofie from “Cardboard Guide”

Jürgen (NerdAndProudOfIt)

as well as the entire community. Without your dedication, passion, and tireless support, an event of this scale would not have been possible. As ASL, we are very grateful to have been able to contribute to this well-known European tournament.

Beyond the tournament tables, there was plenty to explore: Raffaela Lerch, better known as “AronjaArt,” was present with her own booth as an outstanding artist. Her offerings included high-quality prints of her card artworks, exclusive playmats, and sought-after artist proofs, all of which were very well received and added a creative dimension to the event. Be sure to check out her website. Aronja-Art – Traditional Fantasy Artist | Raffaela Lerch.

Jürgen also took a closer look at her booth (and the interview with Raffaela is also available now):

Pietro Desirò was not only a player but also an artist at the event. With a strong 9th-place finish, he narrowly missed the Top 8 while simultaneously showcasing his artistic talent. His beautifully crafted tokens and impressive card alters sold out quickly. A true artist who lives the game and enhances it perfectly with his work. Pietro Desiró (@desiro_tcg) • Instagram-Fotos und -Videos

Naturally, attendees also had the opportunity to expand their collections. From the Netherlands, the Trolls of the Realm were present as vendors, offering every card needed to complete a deck at the last minute. Additionally, there was a wide selection of playmats, foils, and promos at fair prices. In Part 2, you will learn why the Trolls were responsible for a truly glorious story.

Sealed products, binders, sleeves, and deck boxes were also available. For this, the Rarehuntershop from Schwechat sent one of its strongest representatives: Martin, also known as Ranhothep. Between rounds, he not only managed his booth but also played his way into the Top 8 of the constructed tournament! The Rarehuntershop will play another major role for the ASL this year, as it is also the organizer of the grand final, the Goat of the Alps on November 14 & 15.

To conclude the on-site offerings, players could also have their cards graded by Heiner. A special feature of this weekend was an event-exclusive label from PCG, created specifically for Ascanrask Chapter 3. You can find more details on their website. PCG vouchers were also part of the prize pool, and ASL is pleased to offer these vouchers as prizes at future events as well.

The Austrian Sorcery League stands for more than just competition, it is a platform for exchange, creativity, and shared experiences. Whether you are a Sorcery beginner or a veteran, we look forward to welcoming you. Upcoming tournaments are already planned. Visit our homepage for details and registration. www.sorceryleague.at The next stop is Graz at TCU on May 9.

Stay tuned, the year has only just begun!

Part 2

In Part 2, I focus on the competitive aspects of the weekend. In addition to the main event (Constructed format, 51 players over 2 days), there was also a large Gothic Sealed event (26 players) and a smaller Beta Draft event (6 players) on Day 2. As I served as a judge, I’ll take this opportunity to share some insights into the meta and a few surprises.

Let’s start with the Sealed event results. The tournament was won on Day 2 by Max with a clean 5–0 record. The decisive match effectively took place in Round 4, when the two strongest 3:0 players faced off. Max won a Pompetti Champion Promo, a 2-player playmat, a €30 PCG voucher, and wine from Wandraschek.

The constructed tournament began at 10 a.m. on Saturday and consisted of 6 Swiss rounds. The atmosphere was excellent from the start, and rules knowledge was generally at a high level. What most of you are probably interested in is the meta. While my list isn’t fully comprehensive, it provides a solid overview:

Avatars and Elements:

12x Water Necromancer

6x Pathfinder (Mono Water, Air, Fire variants)

6x Archimago (mixed builds)

4x Avatar of Air

3x Imposter

2x each Sorcerer / Enchantress / Battlemage / Deathspeaker / Interrogator

1x each Witch / Animist / Geomancer / Savior / Corruptor / Ironclad / Waveshaper

As expected, Water Necromancer was the most played deck, though many assumed it would dominate even more. At around 25% of the meta, it seems accurately represented, very strong, but not the strongest. Many players noted its high card quality and relative ease of play, making it a solid choice for long tournaments.

The strongest avatar, as this event confirmed, appears to be Pathfinder. Of 6 players, 3 made the Top 8, and another narrowly missed it with a 4:2 record. The lowest Pathfinder result was 3:3. Volker (Feelgood) even achieved a perfect 6:0 in the Swiss rounds with a Water Pathfinder deck.

Of the 12 Necromancer decks, 2 made the Top 8, with another finishing 10th and just missing Day 2.

Some personal highlights included strong performances from Earth-based decks and a Corruptor deck that started 3:0 but finished 4:2 and missed Top 8 on tiebreakers. The Ironclad deck pushed every match into extra turns, putting immense pressure on opponents. The Shield Maiden + Golden Harp combination was especially nerve-wracking.

A “secret favorite” worth mentioning is the Earth (Splash Fire) Geomancer deck, which finished 4:2 but didn’t make Top 8. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the chance to speak with the player.

Two more uncommon decks, Mono Earth Sorcerer (Ranhothep) and Mono Wind Pathfinder (oysterhead), both reached the Top Cut, which was particularly exciting as I know both players personally.

The Top 8 was played on Sunday starting at 10 a.m., alongside the Sealed and Draft events.

This brings us to the curious story of the tournament winner: Dabo. You know how it is, long journey, lots to prepare, but have you ever forgotten the most important thing? That’s exactly what happened to him: he forgot his deck. Fortunately, the Trolls of the Realm stepped in. Richard and Ron provided him with a deck similar to his usual CJ list.

The story doesn’t end there: two cards he normally didn’t run, Mimic and Book of the Dead, ended up winning him multiple games. Even in the final against Snakey (an all-Croatian matchup), Mimic transformed Snakey’s Aquamarine Core.

The final itself was intense: Water Pathfinder vs. Water Necromancer. A combination of Maelstrom, Shapeshift (Skeleton Token into Lord of Lies), and Plague of Frogs followed by Lord of Unland left Snakey with no path to victory. It’s no surprise Dabo renamed his deck “Troll Magic.” A winner without a deck, yet fully deserved.

Videos from the Swiss rounds and Top 8 will soon be available on the White Rabbit channel. An interview with Dabo by Sofie from Cardboard Guide will also be linked once it’s online.