The Week That Was: The Bonds of Brotherhood at Magic Spotlight: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Team Scrapheap Dominates at Magic Spotlight: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Team Scrapheap just keeps picking up wins. The Magic team, led in part by brothers Joseph and John Puglisi Clark, has been a force to be reckoned with over the last year. From crushing it in Mono-Red to winning Regional Championships, Team Scrapheap has made a name for itself both at the Pro Tour and in the growing Regional Championship circuit.

The Regional Championship circuit has allowed teams like Scrapheap to form and compete at a high level. These events have become landmark occasions on many players' Magic calendars, with the level of respect associated with a Top 8 finish rivaling that of a Pro Tour Top 8. This consistency has enabled teams to coalesce and take on the Pro Tour together.

And that's exactly what Team Scrapheap has done. With the Puglisi Clark brothers leading the charge, the team has enjoyed a string of impressive results, including Joseph's 2nd-place finish at last year's Regional Championship in Las Vegas and John's own 2nd-place finish in Houston. Now, the team has added another trophy to their collection, as John Puglisi Clark emerged victorious at the recent Magic Spotlight: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles event in Richmond.

The Spotlight Series offers players a direct path to the Pro Tour, with a Top 8 finish earning an invitation to an upcoming event. The tournament in Richmond drew over 600 players, showcasing the diverse and thriving Standard metagame that has developed in 2026. From the resurgence of Izzet Prowess and Rakdos Rummage to the breakout of Mono-White Momo, the field was anything but solved.

However, Puglisi Clark and Team Scrapheap were up to the challenge. They opted to stick with their tried-and-true Mono-Green Landfall strategy, fine-tuning the list to its most powerful essentials. The team's decision to eschew the new Sapling Nursery card in favor of Esper Origins proved to be a key factor in their success.

Puglisi Clark's victory was not without its challenges, as the Mono-Green Landfall archetype saw several divergent builds in the Top 8. While some players chose to include Sapling Nursery, Puglisi Clark and others opted for a more streamlined approach, focusing on the mana engine and powerful late-game finishers. These differences in card choices ultimately played a role in the outcomes of the mirror matches.

Puglisi Clark's triumph completes the arc he set in motion with his 2nd-place finish at last year's Regional Championship. His victory not only earns him a coveted Spotlight Series trophy but also bragging rights over his brother, Joseph, who had previously finished second at a Regional Championship. The Puglisi Clark brothers are both now qualified for Magic World Championship 32, and the family's passion for the game is evident, with their father tuning in to every stream and counting permanents to determine the winner.

Team Scrapheap's dominance at the Magic Spotlight: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles event is a testament to their dedication, skill, and the strong bonds that have formed within the team. As the competitive Magic landscape continues to evolve, it's clear that teams like Scrapheap will continue to be a force to be reckoned with, both at the Regional Championship level and on the prestigious Pro Tour stage.