SEARCH
Please hold while we load your cart... Please hold while we load your cart...
Advanced Search
Deck Builder
MY ACCOUNT

Email:

Password:
Note: You will need to have cookies enabled on your browser to log into StarCityGames.

STORE CATEGORIES

Drafting With Tiago - LLL #4

Tiago Chan

By Tiago Chan
11/23/2007

About Tiago Chan: Tiago Chan has justified his place among the Pro Tour elite with Top 8 appearances around the globe, including 3rd at Pro Tour: Honolulu and 7th at the 2006 World Championships. He's also the proud winner of the 2007 Magic Invitational.

Note: This was originally published as StarCityGames.com Premium content - but like all StarCityGames.com Premium articles, it has been made freely available for the entire community after one month has passed. Join StarCityGames.com Premium today and gain exclusive access to the most informative Magic: the Gathering content available!

[SCROLL DOWN TO READ THE ARTICLE!]

Become a StarCityGames.com Premium Member and receive exclusive access to top-level strategies, new decklists and entertaining reports from many of the best players and writers that the game has to offer! This includes "The Innovator" & Worlds finalist Patrick Chapin, 2010 Player of the Year Brad Nelson, Classic Theorist Mike Flores, Hall of Famer Brian Kibler, GP and SCG Invitational Champion Gerry Thompson, StarCityGames.com Director of Sales Ben Bleiweiss ...and many, many more!

PLUS! StarCityGames.com Premium members now have an EXCLUSIVE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER sent just to them with the latest tech, exclusive content and exclusive deals along with unprecedented access into America's largest Magic: the Gathering sales database, and can view lists of StarCityGames.com's top-selling items - broken down by category, format legality, and rarity - in real time! When it comes to trading, increased knowledge equals increased profits - and increased knowledge is just one click away for our Premium members!

[View feedback from StarCityGames.com Premium members!]

A StarCityGames.com Premium Membership gives you exclusive access to the best Magic: the Gathering content available and is an amazing bargain for just pennies a day! When you're ready to start getting more out of this game, click here to join StarCityGames.com Premium today!


If you are a valid StarCityGames.com Premium member and still cannot view the article, please consult this FAQ.

Draft:

Pack 1:



Inner-Flame Acolyte, Peppersmoke, Paperfin Rascal, Nath's Elite, Moonglove Extract, Boggart Sprite-Chaser, Oaken Brawler, Cenn's Heir, Ringskipper, Black Poplar Shaman, Shimmering Grotto, Benthicore, Ghostly Changeling, Goldmeadow Stalwart, Mosswort Bridge

Pick: Ghostly Changeling

Pack 2:



Thieving Sprite, Gilt-Leaf Ambush, Hillcomber Giant, Streambed Aquitects, Stinkdrinker Daredevil, Nightshade Stinger, Blades of Velis Vel, Elvish Handservant, Dawnfluke, Broken Ambitions, Jagged-Scar Archers, Giant Harbinger, Nettlevine Blight, Heal the Scars

Pick: Nettlevine Blight

Pack 3:



Lys Alana Huntmaster, Runed Stalactite, Inner-Flame Acolyte, Neck Snap, Pestermite, Leaf Gilder, Nightshade Stinger, Faultgrinder, Faerie Trickery, Warren-Scourge Elf, Lairwatch Giant, Changeling Berserker, Hearthcage Giant

Pick: Lys Alana Huntmaster

Pack 4:


Warren Pilferers, Lowland Oaf, Fistful of Force, Quill-Slinger Boggart, Surge of Thoughtweft, Elvish Branchbender, Wellgabber Apothecary, Aquitect's Will, Mournwhelk, Zephyr Net, Guardian of Cloverdell, Drowner of Secrets

Pick: Warren Pilferers

Pack 5:


Soulbright Flamekin, Glimmerdust Nap, Cloudcrown Oak, Wanderer's Twig, Hornet Harasser, Axegrinder Giant, Aquitect's Will, Kinsbaile Skirmisher, Spring Cleaning, Blind-Spot Giant, Turtleshell Changeling

Pick: Hornet Harasser

Pack 6:


Soulbright Flamekin, Kithkin Daggerdare, Surge of Thoughtweft, Woodland Changeling, Needle Drop, Springjack Knight, Heal the Scars, Inkfathom Divers, Nectar Faerie, Treefolk Harbinger

Pick: Woodland Changeling

Pack 7:


Oakgnarl Warrior, Hornet Harasser, Fistful of Force, Heal the Scars, Shields of Velis Vel, Fire-Belly Changeling, Elvish Branchbender, Battle Mastery, Hoarder's Greed

Pick: Hornet Harasser

Pack 8:

Oaken Brawler, Hurly-Burly, Wispmare, Cenn's Heir, Boggart Forager, Facevaulter, Pollen Lullaby, Lys Alana Scarblade

Pick: Facevaulter

Pack 9:

Inner-Flame Acolyte, Paperfin Rascal, Oaken Brawler, Cenn's Heir, Ringskipper, Black Poplar Shaman, Shimmering Grotto

Pick: Black Poplar Shaman

Pack 10:

Hillcomber Giant, Nightshade Stinger, Blades of Velis Vel, Elvish Handservant, Dawnfluke, Heal the Scars

Pick: Elvish Handservant

Pack 11:

Runed Stalactite, Inner-Flame Acolyte, Faultgrinder, Warren-Scourge Elf, Lairwatch Giant

Pick: Runed Stalactite

Pack 12:

Quill-Slinger Boggart, Wellgabber Apothecary, Aquitect's Will, Zephyr Net

Pick: Quill-Slinger Boggart

Pack 13:

Aquitect's Will, Kinsbaile Skirmisher, Spring Cleaning

Pick: Kinsbaile Skirmisher

Pack 14:

Springjack Knight, Heal the Scars

Pick: Springjack Knight

Pack 15:

Battle Mastery

Pick: Battle Mastery

Pack 16:



Cloudcrown Oak, Tarfire, Wanderer's Twig, Silvergill Douser, Avian Changeling, Bog-Strider Ash, Eyeblight's Ending, Scarred Vinebreeder, Gilt-Leaf Seer, Protective Bubble, Ingot Chewer, Faerie Tauntings, Kithkin Mourncaller, Makeshift Mannequin, Cloudthresher

Pick: Eyeblight's Ending

Pack 17:



Battlewand Oak, Hurly-Burly, Plover Knights, Paperfin Rascal, Dreamspoiler Witches, Runed Stalactite, Nath's Elite, Nath's Buffoon, Faultgrinder, Goldmeadow Dodger, Benthicore, Cloudgoat Ranger, Burrenton Forge-Tender, Entangling Trap

Pick: Dreamspoiler Witches

Pack 18:



Woodland Changeling, Kithkin Greatheart, Footbottom Feast, Lowland Oaf, Lignify, Wellgabber Apothecary, Gilt-Leaf Seer, Boggart Birth Rite, Zephyr Net, Bog Hoodlums, Boggart Shenanigans, Ego Erasure, Tar Pitcher

Pick: Tar Pitcher

Pack 19:


Quill-Slinger Boggart, Bog-Strider Ash, Herbal Poultice, Kithkin Greatheart, Oakgnarl Warrior, Kinsbaile Skirmisher, Lace with Moonglove, Scarred Vinebreeder, Springjack Knight, Captivating Glance, Pollen Lullaby, Mad Auntie

Pick: Mad Auntie

Pack 20:


Boggart Sprite-Chaser, Thieving Sprite, Kinsbaile Balloonist, Boggart Loggers, Fertile Ground, Spiderwig Boggart, Boggart Forager, Ringskipper, Hunt Down, Thorntooth Witch, Quill-Slinger Boggart

Pick: Boggart Loggers

Pack 21:


Stonybrook Angler, Gilt-Leaf Ambush, Hillcomber Giant, Streambed Aquitects, Hunt Down, Giant's Ire, Dawnfluke, Spellstutter Sprite, Silvergill Adept, Merrow Harbinger

Pick: Gilt-Leaf Ambush

Pack 22:


Stonybrook Angler, Fertile Ground, Moonglove Winnower, Plover Knights, Giant's Ire, Lairwatch Giant, Spellstutter Sprite, Spiderwig Boggart, Woodland Changeling

Pick: Fertile Ground

Pack 23:

Kithkin Healer, Footbottom Feast, Lignify, Boggart Birth Rite, Ingot Chewer, Soaring Hope, Captivating Glance, Battle Mastery

Pick: Footbottom Feast

Pack 24:

Bog-Strider Ash, Scarred Vinebreeder, Gilt-Leaf Seer, Protective Bubble, Ingot Chewer, Faerie Tauntings, Kithkin Mourncaller

Pick: Bog-Strider Ash

Pack 25:

Battlewand Oak, Paperfin Rascal, Nath's Buffoon, Goldmeadow Dodger, Burrenton Forge-Tender, Entangling Trap

Pick: Battlewand Oak

Pack 26:

Wellgabber Apothecary, Boggart Birth Rite, Zephyr Net, Bog Hoodlums, Boggart Shenanigans

Pick: Boggart Birth Rite

Pack 27:

Herbal Poultice, Kinsbaile Skirmisher, Scarred Vinebreeder, Captivating Glance

Pick: Captivating Glance

Pack 28:

Spiderwig Boggart, Boggart Forager, Hunt Down

Pick: Spiderwig Boggart

Pack 29:

Hunt Down, Dawnfluke

Pick: Hunt Down

Pack 30:

Lairwatch Giant

Pick: Lairwatch Giant

Pack 31:



Mudbutton Torchrunner, Springleaf Drum, Oakgnarl Warrior, Goldmeadow Harrier, Glimmerdust Nap, Warren Pilferers, Amoeboid Changeling, Spring Cleaning, Exiled Boggart, Shields of Velis Vel, Mournwhelk, Ego Erasure, Crib Swap, Drowner of Secrets, Brion Stoutarm

Pick: Warren Pilferers

Pack 32:



Weed Strangle, Kithkin Healer, Deeptread Merrow, Lash Out, Kithkin Daggerdare, Herbal Poultice, Avian Changeling, Judge of Currents, Needle Drop, Soaring Hope, Hoarder's Greed, Lammastide Weave, Harpoon Sniper, Oaken Brawler

Pick: Weed Strangle

Pack 33:



Pestermite, Hurly-Burly, Peppersmoke, Lys Alana Huntmaster, Consuming Bonfire, Wispmare, Stonybrook Angler, Caterwauling Boggart, Goldmeadow Dodger, Faerie Trickery, Thundercloud Shaman, Benthicore, Elvish Harbinger

Pick: Elvish Harbinger

Pack 34:


Quill-Slinger Boggart, Tarfire, Herbal Poultice, Kithkin Greatheart, Lace with Moonglove, Blind-Spot Giant, Exiled Boggart, Ponder, Woodland Guidance, Flamekin Bladewhirl, Seedguide Ash, Battlewand Oak

Pick: Seedguide Ash

Pack 35:


Hillcomber Giant, Stinkdrinker Daredevil, Dreamspoiler Witches, Battlewand Oak, Triclopean Sight, Nath's Buffoon, Caterwauling Boggart, Tideshaper Mystic, Elvish Handservant, Fodder Launch, Rebellion of the Flamekin

Pick: Fodder Launch

Pack 36:


Gilt-Leaf Ambush, Moonglove Winnower, Kinsbaile Balloonist, Wings of Velis Vel, Flamekin Brawler, Facevaulter, Warren-Scourge Elf, Blades of Velis Vel, Vivid Crag, Eyes of the Wisent

Pick: Gilt-Leaf Ambush

Pack 37:


Whirlpool Whelm, Adder-Staff Boggart, Wispmare, Boggart Loggers, Flamekin Brawler, Tideshaper Mystic, Triclopean Sight, Faerie Harbinger, Twinning Glass

Pick: Boggart Loggers

Pack 38:

Hornet Harasser, Deeptread Merrow, Ponder, Bog Hoodlums, Protective Bubble, Fire-Belly Changeling, Faerie Tauntings, Inner-Flame Igniter

Pick: Hornet Harasser

Pack 39:

Springleaf Drum, Oakgnarl Warrior, Glimmerdust Nap, Spring Cleaning, Exiled Boggart, Shields of Velis Vel, Ego Erasure

Pick: Springleaf Drum

Pack 40:

Herbal Poultice, Judge of Currents, Needle Drop, Soaring Hope, Lammastide Weave, Oaken Brawler

Pick: Lammastide Weave

Pack 41:

Wispmare, Stonybrook Angler, Caterwauling Boggart, Goldmeadow Dodger, Benthicore

Pick: Benthicore

Pack 42:

Herbal Poultice, Lace with Moonglove, Exiled Boggart, Woodland Guidance

Pick: Lace with Moonglove

Pack 43:

Battlewand Oak, Triclopean Sight, Rebellion of the Flamekin

Pick: Battlewand Oak

Pack 44:

Flamekin Brawler, Warren-Scourge Elf

Pick: Warren-Scourge Elf

Pack 45:

Wispmare

Pick: Wispmare

Final Decklist:

Maindeck:

1 Boggart Loggers
1 Dreamspoiler Witches
1 Eyeblight's Ending
1 Facevaulter
1 Fodder Launch
1 Footbottom Feast
1 Ghostly Changeling
3 Hornet Harasser
1 Mad Auntie
1 Nettlevine Blight
2 Warren Pilferers
1 Weed Strangle
1 Tar Pitcher
1 Fertile Ground
1 Elvish Harbinger
2 Gilt-Leaf Ambush
1 Seedguide Ash
1 Woodland Changeling
1 Runed Stalactite
7 Forest
1 Mountain
9 Swamp

Sideboard:

1 Battle Mastery
2 Battlewand Oak
1 Benthicore
1 Black Poplar Shaman
1 Bog-Strider Ash
1 Boggart Birth Rite
1 Boggart Loggers
1 Captivating Glance
1 Elvish Handservant
1 Hunt Down
1 Kinsbaile Skirmisher
1 Lace with Moonglove
1 Lairwatch Giant
1 Lammastide Weave
1 Lys Alana Huntmaster
1 Quill-Slinger Boggart
1 Spiderwig Boggart
1 Springjack Knight
1 Springleaf Drum
1 Warren-Scourge Elf
1 Wispmare

Pick 1: Ghostly Changeling is just better than anything else in there, unless you want to stay open on colors and pick Moonglove Extract. However, this is Lorwyn, and Ghostly Changelling is like being open on Tribes and a good card by himself.

Pick 2: A much harder choice. None of the cards is exciting. I was going to pick Gilt-Leaf Ambush, as it's a fine card and that would give us a starting point for an Elves deck. I decided to pick Nettlevine Blight, to stay only in Black for now. I also wanted to try the card a little more... so far it has been okay in Sealed Deck and in 3x3 Team Drafts, but I've never had it in a real draft.

Pick 3: Lys Alana Huntmaster or Pestermite? I've been confronted with this situation many times in 8-4 online drafts, and my answer has always been Huntmaster. Even though I like Pestermite more, every time I pick one early I end up not being Blue, and the Huntmaster has been doing really well for me.

Pick 4 is the one that sets the course of the entire draft. I could follow the Huntmaster with Elvish Branchbender, and try to go for Elves, or I could pick the Warren Pilferers, a better card on its own, and follow a route into Black, ready to dismiss Huntmaster if needed... and from here I focused more on Black, which turned out to give me a medium-strength Goblin theme.

Had I second-picked Gilt-Leaf Ambush, my next picks would've been: Huntmaster, Elvish Branchbender, Wanderer's Twig, Woodland Changeling, Elvish Branchbender, Lys Alana Scarblade. Instead I went PIlferers, 2x Hornet Harasser, and Facevaulter.

Pick 32: Weed Strangle over Lash Out. Despite being a weaker card, it's still removal, and I wanted to splash the fewest possible Red cards. I was going to splash for Tar Pitcher, which is quite good in the Goblins deck, but I ended not picking Lash Out because I like stable manabases. Picking Lash Out here is acceptable, and perhaps even better.

Pick 34; I followed the same logic as above, but I immediatly regretted as soon as I clicked the button. Tarfire is worse than Lash Out, but Seedguide Ash was just a good creature in my deck with no removal. If I thought for two more seconds, I would've ended with Tarfire here.

Round 1 I played against a Red/White aggro deck with Kithkins and Elementals. Game 1 I accelerated into a turn 4 Nettlevine Blight, when he had Kithkin Healer and Balloonist in play. I made turn 2 Fertile Ground, turn 3 Elvish Harbinger. He foiled my plan by playing Changeling Berserker, getting rid of the Nettlevine Blight and beating me to death with it. I did manage to kill it in combat, but then had no way to stop the Balloonist.

Game 2 he started with Flamekin Bladewhirl revealing Consuming Bonfire, and Kithkin Healer. I played Facevaulter and Hornet Harasser, to stop any offense he might have. He played Plover Knights, and I killed it with Eyeblight's Ending. My hand was full of gas, and I did not need to make a move. I only did it when he played Glarewielder and attacked for 7. I sacrificed Harasser to Facevaulter, killing the Healer, and took 5 down to 15. Then I played Warren Pilferers, getting it back. He killed it with Consuming Bonfire, but Footbottom Feast meant I had much more gas than him, and eventually he scooped still at a very high life total.

Game 3 was strange. I played turn 2 Fertile Ground, turn 3 Dreamspoiler Witches, and turn 4 Facevaulter, leaving mana open to play Gilt-Leaf Ambush. His first play, despite having Mountain, Plains, and Island in play, was Oblivion Ring on my Fertile Ground turn 5, keeping me at three mana only. His next one was evoke Mulldrifter on turn 6, because he only had four lands. I just kept attacking with my small guys. On his turn 7, he killed the Faerie with Consuming Bonfire, and on turn 8 he played a creature. I attacked with everything and it was game. Awkward, that he only played four spells, starting on turn 5, and the first three couldn't block.

Round 2 I played against a Red/Black Giants deck, splashing White (I assume for the Brion Stoutarm I saw in pack 3). Game 1 was very long, and it was the first time Footbottom Feast was a winning card for me, getting me back four good creatures - Warren Pilferers, Mad Auntie, Ghostly Changeling, and Hornet Harasser. I had an active Tar Pitcher in play, and it was already past the midgame, most of our resources were exhausted, so he scooped shortly after the Feast.

Game 2 was even longer. It took over twenty turns, and I won with less than four minutes on the clock. I kept (on the draw) two Swamps, Footbottom Feast, Hornet Harasser, Mad Auntie, Warren Pilferers, and Gilt-Leaf Ambush. I had to survive his draw, which included turn 3 Ghostly Changeling, turn 4 Stinkdrinker Daredevil, back to back Axegrinder Giants, and even a Hearthcage Giant at some point, with only Swamps and a Mountain as my lands. I managed with double Hornet Harasser, Pilferers, and Tarfire. I played without Forests until turn 15, holding four Green cards, and at one life. When I drew the Forest, I was just praying he wouldn't drew Tarfire, as he had already used the other burn spells I had seen in game 1. It felt just like topdecking a Colfenor's Plan in a late game topdeck war. I got a new hand to play, but could only play one spell a turn, as I only had a single Forest. I won from there.

I split the finals.

See you next week!

Tiago

Draft recording done by Blargware's MTGO DraftCap. Support Blargware!


StarCityGames.com
5728 Williamson Road N.W, Roanoke, VA, 24012
Phone: (540) 767-GAME (4263)
Online Customer Support Hours: 10am-6pm EST Mon-Fri;
Store Hours & Info: Check out our Facebook page
Fax: (540) 265-0544
Contact Us!

All content on this page (c) 2011 StarCityGames and may not be reproduced whole without consent.

Refund/Return Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms and Conditions

Magic the Gathering is TM and copyright Wizards of the Coast, Inc, a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. All rights reserved.
StarCityGames.com - Always Buying!
Get SCGMobile for your iOS device!
PREMIUM
Financial Value of Avacyn Restored StarCityGames.com Premium Article!

Get the Ascension Deckbuilding Game on StarCityGames.com!
Get Next Level Magic by Patrick Chapin
Tha Gatherin featuring Bill Boulden AKA Spruke & Patrick Chapin the Innovator
Get Next Level Magic by Patrick Chapin
EVENTS
Magic the Gathering Events
Buy, sell and trade with StarCityGames.com at each of these upcoming events!

05/26/12 - 05/27/12
Nashville, TN

StarCityGames.com Open Series

06/02/12 - 06/03/12
Columbus, OH
at Origins

StarCityGames.com Open Series

06/09/12 - 06/10/12
Worcester, MA

StarCityGames.com Open Series

06/15/12 - 06/17/12
Indianapolis, IN

StarCityGames.com Open Series featuring Invitational

06/23/12 - 06/24/12
Detroit, MI

StarCityGames.com Open Series

06/30/12 - 07/01/12
Seattle, WA

StarCityGames.com Open Series

FORUMS
If it's happening in Magic: the Gathering, it's being talked about in our forums! Join, and share your thoughts with the rest of the Magic: the Gathering community!

Magic: the Gathering discussion forums

GAME CENTER
  • When in southwest Virginia, visit the Star City Game Center!

    Star City Game Center
    5728 Williamson Rd.
    Roanoke, VA 24012
    Ph: (540)767-4263
    [Info & Pics!]
RESOURCES
MAGIC ARCHIVES
CONTACT US
StarCityGames.com is proud to be a Wizards of the Coast Authorized Internet Retailer