On October 17, 2026 mages from all across the midwest once again gathered in South Bend, Indiana for the fifth annual Midwest Thrash Bash. Since the untimely closing of Tippecanoe Place, Thrash Bash’s home since 2022, this year’s tournament took place in the War Room at the Crooked Ewe Brewery and Ale House.
Due to the space constraints of the War Room, the event was smaller than in years past. We had 29 mages representing the Cleveland Rocs, Canton Brownies, Columbus Kobolds, the Ebon Hand (Sin-sin-naaasty), Michigan’s Knights TAPlar, Midwest Moss Monsters (who?), and, of course, the premier OS club around: the Lords of the Pit. Due to the magnitude of the event Joe “da Orb” Singer was also in attendance documenting the hottest action for his stream. This year’s smaller-sized tournament was reminiscent of the very first Thrash Bash, but MWTB 5’s level of gnar was far more…gnarly. As always the Thrash Bash utilized the pinnacle of OS perfection that is the Eternal Central 93/94 ruleset. The tournament raised over $1,400 for Cultivate Food Rescue in South Bend.
Friday Night Massacre
The Friday night meet up at CJ’s Pub has become an annual tradition. The prime event is the Daggers’ Friday Night Massacre (i.e., the real tournament)–a spike fest open to all who joined the Order of the Dagger by placing in the Top 4 at any Thrash Bash. Seven Daggers were in attendance to sling some cardboard and fight it out among the tournament’s all time top players.
The Friday Night Massacre’s format is determined by a vote yearly (sorry, Daggers only). This year’s format was 7pts Singleton with a scorecard rather than traditional Swiss pairings. Stoomie was victorious in the end and won a Demonic Tutor on which Noah drew a loaf of bread (or perhaps it’s a turd?).
Winner winner chicken dinner
The Ebon Hand ran a “Gleaming a Cube” draft event for all the non-Daggers on Friday Night. The “cube” was an actual cube complete with skateboard wheels. While named after a subpar film, their draft took over half of CJ’s and raised some extra cash for Cultivate.
Cubin’
The Thrash Bash
The main event fired on Saturday. Overall, the decks were hesh AF as one would only expect at this tournament. Atog seemed to be everywhere, but there was a most excellent diversity among the meta with some crazy builds like Paul Fiero’s Dark Heart–Lich, Ben Revell’s Karma Tomb, Jeano’s Titania’s Prison, and a most gnarly Mono Red Power Surge piloted by Chicago newcomer, Ivan “Amrah” Bari. Some hessians brought excellent aggro decks (Locals Only) including Lord Ben Jones’ Dreams Aggro Combo, a nasty 8-Bolt Vise RUB from Jason of the Ebon Hand, and my fellow Lords Piquardo and Rob on RUG and Fatty Fatty Mono Green. I ran Mono Green Berserkin’ and ran the pairings. Jon Brne, the 2026 Dagger Hopeful, attempted to Top 4 with a URB Counter-Burn, but couldn’t seal the deal this year ending at a very respectable 5th place (enjoy the Valley, brah. Maybe next year!)
After five rounds of intense competition, it was down to Lord Lorien Elleman vs. last year’s champion, the Ebon Hand’s Jon Revell in the finals. Lord Elleman was on Atog-Shops, and Jon reprised a version of his winning RUG deck. The match was fierce as the two Daggers fought it out for the championship on stream.
Revell vs. Lord Elleman in the finals
Now that’s class
Jon won the match and became the first ever two-time Thrash Bash champion. Congrats, Jon! The trophy skateboard returns to Cincinnati for another year. Two new Daggers joined the Order this year with their various Atog builds: Doug the Blood Mooner in 3rd place, and Lord Matt Braun in 4th. Congratulations Doug and Matt! Lord Robert Vincent took the title of Most Hesh with his Blood Lust-fueled Kobolds deck, and Erik Limbacher from the Ebon Hand placed Dead Last with Stasis.
J. Revell wins…again!
Most Hesh Deck Award
Final Standings
Q: What do you Thrash? A: Whaddya Got?
Jon Revell - RUG Champion
Lord Lorien Elleman - Atog Shops
Doug - Atog Moon
Lord Matt Braun - Atog
Jon Brne, Dagger Hopeful - UR Counter Burn
Chad Fraizer/Sam Flood - Atog RUG
Jason B. - 8 Bolt UBR
Paul Fiero, Dread Pirate - Dark Heart Lich
Joe “da Orb” Singer - Track Suit
Lord Robert Vincent - Kobold Blood Lust. Most Hesh Deck
Ivan Bari - Power Surge
Noah Steinbaum - I think it’s Dead Guy? Red Guy?
Rom Wells - Mono Red Atog
Stoomie - UBR Sedge Hymn
Ben Revell - Mofukin’ Karma Tomb
Ryan Jean - Titania’s Prison
Lord Dave - Mono G Berserkin’
Brandon Burgoa - Atog
Lord Ben Jones - Dreams Aggro Combo
John Knerr - RUG
Kevin - Erhnamgeddon
Lord Rob B. - Mono Green
Lord Piquardo - RUG
Lord Caleb - Dead Guy Ale
Brian Limbacher - That Deck Pic Happens to be Stylin’
Kyle Wells - Shahrazad Weinerz
Erik Limbacher - Stasis Dead Last
Hot. Reckless. TOTALLY INSANE.
Jeano breakin’ down Titania’s Song
Lord Rob B. wreckin’ Limbacher’s islands. Stasis is a memory..
Bari vs. Sam Flood
Lord Piquardo assesses a potential powerplay.
Thrashin’
Lord Robert Vincent vs the Burgoa, the Younger
Look at that hot action
Doug vs Paul
Lord Dave Berserkin’ for lethal. Flow or go home!
Lords Jones and Braun
The Dread Pirate himself on stream
Prize table in full effect
“You win, you’ll skate SMASH Skates” - Sam Flood
Young Lord Caleb gets a Christmas present
Brother vs. Brother, Revell vs. Revell
Kyle Wells castin’ Shahrazad all day
Thrash Bash 5
