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 #50

Tiago Chan

By Tiago Chan
01/30/2008

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:



Whirlpool Whelm, Boggart Loggers, Adder-Staff Boggart, Fertile Ground, Moonglove Extract, Hillcomber Giant, Sentinels of Glen Elendra, Elvish Eulogist, Wings of Velis Vel, Caterwauling Boggart, Goldmeadow Dodger, Jagged-Scar Archers, Goatnapper, Goldmeadow Stalwart, Forced Fruition

Pick: Jagged-Scar Archers

Pack 2:



Kithkin Greatheart, Mulldrifter, Footbottom Feast, Lowland Oaf, Lignify, Weed Strangle, Kithkin Healer, Needle Drop, Soaring Hope, Elvish Branchbender, Wellgabber Apothecary, Summon the School, Elvish Harbinger, Knight of Meadowgrain

Pick: Mulldrifter

Pack 3:



Fertile Ground, Hillcomber Giant, Sentinels of Glen Elendra, Stinkdrinker Daredevil, Dreamspoiler Witches, Battlewand Oak, Elvish Eulogist, Wings of Velis Vel, Caterwauling Boggart, Goldmeadow Dodger, Faerie Harbinger, Kithkin Harbinger, Arbiter of Knollridge

Pick: Sentinels of Glen Elendra

Pack 4:


Tarfire, Wanderer's Twig, Avian Changeling, Bog-Strider Ash, Gilt-Leaf Seer, Boggart Birth Rite, Zephyr Net, Bog Hoodlums, Judge of Currents, Rebellion of the Flamekin, Glen Elendra Pranksters, Secluded Glen

Pick: Tarfire

Pack 5:


Oakgnarl Warrior, Glimmerdust Nap, Soulbright Flamekin, Kithkin Daggerdare, Surge of Thoughtweft, Heal the Scars, Skeletal Changeling, Shields of Velis Vel, Lys Alana Scarblade, Elvish Promenade, Colfenor's Plans

Pick: Soulbright Flamekin

Pack 6:


Herbal Poultice, Kithkin Greatheart, Oakgnarl Warrior, Protective Bubble, Fire-Belly Changeling, Skeletal Changeling, Aquitect's Will, Kinsbaile Skirmisher, Sylvan Echoes, Rebellion of the Flamekin

Pick: Fire-Belly Changeling

Pack 7:


Battlewand Oak, Hurly-Burly, Paperfin Rascal, Goldmeadow Dodger, Wings of Velis Vel, Flamekin Brawler, Warren-Scourge Elf, Inner-Flame Igniter, Hearthcage Giant

Pick: Inner-Flame Igniter

Pack 8:

Stinkdrinker Daredevil, Hurly-Burly, Goldmeadow Dodger, Wings of Velis Vel, Flamekin Brawler, Warren-Scourge Elf, Sentry Oak, Elvish Promenade

Pick: Wings of Velis Vel

Pack 9:

Adder-Staff Boggart, Hillcomber Giant, Elvish Eulogist, Wings of Velis Vel, Caterwauling Boggart, Goldmeadow Dodger, Goatnapper

Pick: Wings of Velis Vel

Pack 10:

Kithkin Greatheart, Lowland Oaf, Kithkin Healer, Soaring Hope, Elvish Branchbender, Wellgabber Apothecary

Pick: Lowland Oaf

Pack 11:

Hillcomber Giant, Stinkdrinker Daredevil, Elvish Eulogist, Goldmeadow Dodger, Kithkin Harbinger

Pick: Stinkdrinker Daredevil

Pack 12:

Gilt-Leaf Seer, Boggart Birth Rite, Zephyr Net, Bog Hoodlums

Pick: Zephyr Net

Pack 13:

Glimmerdust Nap, Kithkin Daggerdare, Heal the Scars

Pick: Glimmerdust Nap

Pack 14:

Protective Bubble, Sylvan Echoes

Pick: Sylvan Echoes

Pack 15:

Goldmeadow Dodger

Pick: Goldmeadow Dodger

Pack 16:



Weed Strangle, Kithkin Healer, Deeptread Merrow, Lash Out, Kithkin Daggerdare, Herbal Poultice, Bog Hoodlums, Protective Bubble, Fire-Belly Changeling, Skeletal Changeling, Aquitect's Will, Flamekin Bladewhirl, Scattering Stroke, Tar Pitcher, Incendiary Command

Pick: Incendiary Command

Pack 17:



Oaken Brawler, Hurly-Burly, Peppersmoke, Lys Alana Huntmaster, Consuming Bonfire, Faerie Trickery, Nightshade Stinger, Blades of Velis Vel, Elvish Handservant, Dawnfluke, Goatnapper, Ceaseless Searblades, Lammastide Weave, Rings of Brighthearth

Pick: Ceaseless Searblades

Pack 18:



Runed Stalactite, Nath's Elite, Neck Snap, Smokebraider, Gilt-Leaf Ambush, Moonglove Winnower, Blades of Velis Vel, Cenn's Heir, Ringskipper, Black Poplar Shaman, Ceaseless Searblades, Vivid Grove, Spinerock Knoll

Pick: Smokebraider

Pack 19:


Mudbutton Torchrunner, Springleaf Drum, Oakgnarl Warrior, Goldmeadow Harrier, Glimmerdust Nap, Warren Pilferers, Inkfathom Divers, Needle Drop, Soaring Hope, Elvish Branchbender, Prowess of the Fair, Treefolk Harbinger

Pick: Mudbutton Torchrunner

Pack 20:


Hornet Harasser, Deeptread Merrow, Fistful of Force, Soulbright Flamekin, Glimmerdust Nap, Spring Cleaning, Blind-Spot Giant, Wellgabber Apothecary, Gilt-Leaf Seer, Burrenton Forge-Tender, Silvergill Adept

Pick: Soulbright Flamekin

Pack 21:


Mudbutton Torchrunner, Woodland Changeling, Springleaf Drum, Kithkin Healer, Fire-Belly Changeling, Elvish Branchbender, Amoeboid Changeling, Kinsbaile Skirmisher, Lace with Moonglove, Faerie Tauntings

Pick: Fire-Belly Changeling

Pack 22:


Plover Knights, Paperfin Rascal, Nath's Elite, Neck Snap, Blades of Velis Vel, Cenn's Heir, Ringskipper, Black Poplar Shaman, Ceaseless Searblades

Pick: Ceaseless Searblades

Pack 23:

Oaken Brawler, Hurly-Burly, Nightshade Stinger, Elvish Handservant, Dawnfluke, Pollen Lullaby, Kithkin Harbinger, Arbiter of Knollridge

Pick: Hurly-Burly

Pack 24:

Kithkin Healer, Kithkin Daggerdare, Herbal Poultice, Bog Hoodlums, Protective Bubble, Flamekin Bladewhirl, Scattering Stroke

Pick: Flamekin Bladewhirl

Pack 25:

Oaken Brawler, Elvish Handservant, Dawnfluke, Goatnapper, Lammastide Weave, Rings of Brighthearth

Pick: Goatnapper

Pack 26:

Blades of Velis Vel, Cenn's Heir, Ringskipper, Black Poplar Shaman, Ceaseless Searblades

Pick: Ceaseless Searblades

Pack 27:

Oakgnarl Warrior, Glimmerdust Nap, Soaring Hope, Prowess of the Fair

Pick: Glimmerdust Nap

Pack 28:

Spring Cleaning, Wellgabber Apothecary, Burrenton Forge-Tender

Pick: Burrenton Forge-Tender

Pack 29:

Lace with Moonglove, Faerie Tauntings

Pick: Faerie Tauntings

Pack 30:

Ringskipper

Pick: Ringskipper

Pack 31:



Soulbright Flamekin, Kithkin Daggerdare, Surge of Thoughtweft, Mulldrifter, Weed Strangle, Mudbutton Torchrunner, Aquitect's Will, Mournwhelk, Zephyr Net, Scarred Vinebreeder, Merrow Commerce, Summon the School, Wizened Cenn, Brion Stoutarm, Battlewand Oak

Pick: Mulldrifter

Pack 32:



Footbottom Feast, Axegrinder Giant, Lignify, Silvergill Douser, Oblivion Ring, Quill-Slinger Boggart, Bog-Strider Ash, Scarred Vinebreeder, Springjack Knight, Ponder, Bog Hoodlums, Flamekin Harbinger, Familiar's Ruse, Drowner of Secrets

Pick: Flamekin Harbinger

Pack 33:



Wispmare, Stonybrook Angler, Thieving Sprite, Gilt-Leaf Ambush, Hillcomber Giant, Streambed Aquitects, Stinkdrinker Daredevil, Broken Ambitions, Nath's Buffoon, Faultgrinder, Rootgrapple, Kithkin Harbinger, Hamletback Goliath

Pick: Stonybrook Angler

Pack 34:


Peppersmoke, Lys Alana Huntmaster, Consuming Bonfire, Wispmare, Thieving Sprite, Gilt-Leaf Ambush, Broken Ambitions, Nath's Buffoon, Rootgrapple, Prowess of the Fair, Rings of Brighthearth, Treefolk Harbinger

Pick: Consuming Bonfire

Pack 35:


Cloudcrown Oak, Wanderer's Twig, Axegrinder Giant, Woodland Changeling, Boggart Birth Rite, Zephyr Net, Bog Hoodlums, Judge of Currents, Inkfathom Divers, Crush Underfoot, Hoarder's Greed

Pick: Inkfathom Divers

Pack 36:


Lowland Oaf, Fistful of Force, Quill-Slinger Boggart, Surge of Thoughtweft, Kinsbaile Skirmisher, Spring Cleaning, Blind-Spot Giant, Wellgabber Apothecary, Vivid Grove, Nectar Faerie

Pick: Lowland Oaf

Pack 37:


Neck Snap, Boggart Sprite-Chaser, Hunt Down, Giant's Ire, Dawnfluke, Spellstutter Sprite, Black Poplar Shaman, Ethereal Whiskergill, Entangling Trap

Pick: Ethereal Whiskergill

Pack 38:

Boggart Sprite-Chaser, Adder-Staff Boggart, Hunt Down, Giant's Ire, Dawnfluke, Black Poplar Shaman, Sentry Oak, Elvish Promenade

Pick: Adder-Staff Boggart

Pack 39:

Soulbright Flamekin, Kithkin Daggerdare, Aquitect's Will, Mournwhelk, Zephyr Net, Scarred Vinebreeder, Merrow Commerce

Pick: Soulbright Flamekin

Pack 40:

Axegrinder Giant, Quill-Slinger Boggart, Scarred Vinebreeder, Springjack Knight, Ponder, Bog Hoodlums

Pick: Ponder

Pack 41:

Wispmare, Hillcomber Giant, Nath's Buffoon, Faultgrinder, Kithkin Harbinger

Pick: Faultgrinder

Pack 42:

Wispmare, Rootgrapple, Prowess of the Fair, Treefolk Harbinger

Pick: Treefolk Harbinger

Pack 43:

Boggart Birth Rite, Zephyr Net, Bog Hoodlums

Pick: Boggart Birth Rite

Pack 44:

Spring Cleaning, Wellgabber Apothecary

Pick: Wellgabber Apothecary

Pack 45:

Hunt Down

Pick: Hunt Down

Final Decklist:

7 Island
10 Mountain
3 Ceaseless Searblades
1 Consuming Bonfire
1 Ethereal Whiskergill
2 Fire-Belly Changeling
1 Flamekin Bladewhirl
1 Flamekin Harbinger
1 Incendiary Command
1 Inner-Flame Igniter
1 Mudbutton Torchrunner
2 Mulldrifter
1 Sentinels of Glen Elendra
1 Smokebraider
3 Soulbright Flamekin
1 Stonybrook Angler
1 Tarfire
2 Wings of Velis Vel

Sideboard
1 Adder-Staff Boggart
1 Boggart Birth Rite
1 Burrenton Forge-Tender
1 Faerie Tauntings
1 Faultgrinder
2 Glimmerdust Nap
1 Goatnapper
1 Goldmeadow Dodger
1 Hunt Down
1 Hurly-Burly
1 Inkfathom Divers
1 Jagged-Scar Archers
2 Lowland Oaf
1 Ponder
1 Ringskipper
1 Stinkdrinker Daredevil
1 Sylvan Echoes
1 Treefolk Harbinger
1 Wellgabber Apothecary
1 Zephyr Net

Pick 1: The only card that is first pick quality in this pack is Jagged-Scar Archers. The other option is Moonglove Extract, which has the benefit of never being a wasted pick but the problem of being underpowered. I decided to risk the Jagged-Scar Archers, knowing it could range from good to amazing depending on the Green deck, but knowing that it could also be useless. The price to pay was a Moonglove Extract.

Pick 3: The picks I considered were Sentinels of Glen Elendra, Dreamspoiler Witches, and Faerie Harbinger. Looking at Pick 2 and Pick 3 it seems I should be Blue. Sentinels puts me in Blue with my second color still open, while Dreamspoiler and Harbinger push me into Blue/Black, as all the cards I want to get with Faerie Harbinger are Black.

After the first booster I was set in Elementals thanks to some late Red picks. It could be either Red/Blue with a medium Elemental theme, or even Mono Red splash Mulldrifter with a strong Elemental theme depending on the packs.

Pick 16: This was the toughest pick. Incendiary Command is more powerful than Lash Out, but in this deck Lash Out will be better since I have many creatures that die to Command. I almost timed out, and in the end I picked Command because I'd rather be controlling the timing and the effects of the Red Command than my opponent, and it's more powerful and has versatility.

The rest of the second booster was very kind for Red Elementals, and so was Pick 31.

Pick 32: Douser is the best card, but I don't think it will be very good in my deck as I have very few Faeries and Merfolk. On the other hand, Flamekin Harbinger can get me Smokebraider if played on turn 1, MUlldrifter if played later, or even Inner-Flame Igniter for the win if I have tons of mana.

Round 1 I played against Red/Black Goblins.

Game 1 I won but I felt I played pretty badly. I don't know exactly where, but sometimes you feel you make good decisions that turn out bad, and this time it was the reverse - I just felt I was playing poorly. To sum it up, I played Incendiary Command at a point where the only creature alive afterwards was my Sentinels of Glen Elendra, and dealt him four damage. I played another creature and made a couple more attacks with Wings of Velis Vel for the win.

At least I did not have that uncomfortable feeling in game 2 because he was mana screwed on two lands. I played Flamekin Bladewhirl, Soulbright Flamekin, and Inner-Flame Igniter, and just attacked with them. His hand contained 2 Mudbutton Torchrunner, Moonglove Extract, Hornet Harasser, Thieving Sprite, and Warren Pilferers, so I was going to have some trouble getting there with my 2/1 creatures. I was still holding some goodies like Incendiary Command, Tarfire, and Mulldrifter, so the game would've been very interesting.

Round 2 I played against Green/Black.

Game 1 I got a decent aggro start and managed to kill his Imperious Perfect and Dreamspoiler Witches, which could've been troublesome as I had at least two 2/1s in play. He brought the Witches back with Warren Pilferers, and later played a second Imperious Perfect I couldn't kill. Thanks to Instant spells and Briarhorn he decimated my side of the board. I was down to one Soulbright Flamekin and Ceaseless Searblades with him at 7 life. He also had a Thorntooth Witch. I was holding zero cards, but topdecked Incendiary Command for the win, one of the biggest topdecks I've ever seen.

I used Soulbright Flamekin to make two extra mana, pumped the Ceaseless Searblades up to 7/4, which had trample, and then I played Command killing everything but Thorntooth Witch and Warren Pilferers. Command dealt him 4 damage so he was down to three, and both his creatures together could only absorb three trample damage of my 7/4 Searblades.

Game 2 he mulliganed on the play, missed his third land drop (but no more than that), and I played Mulldrifter on turn 5. His only chance was to draw Treefolks when he had Thorntooth Witch, as the game was somehow even at that point with him holding no cards and me holding lands and Wings of Velis Vel, until eventually he had to block with the Witch and lose it to the Wings. After that, he could still come back into the game as my creatures were two 2/1s and a Torchrunner... if he drew a Gilt-Leaf Ambush (I saw him play two in Game 1), but he didn't. When he played Warren Pilferers getting back Dreamspoiler Witches, I attacked him down to less than three life, so Torchrunner would get him at some point.

Sometimes I have phases where I just can't win a game, but today I drafted twice (Drafts 49 and 50) and things went perfectly. I didn't lost a game on my way to the finals, despite some possible bad picks and poor play.

I faced Jelger Wiegersma in the finals. He had a strong Green/Black Treefolk / Elf deck with Final Reveals, Shriekmaw, and splashed Chandra (or so he says). He was up for playing, but I asked him the draw, as it saves me a lot of time when I split in the finals.

See you tomorrow!

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 Dark Ascension StarCityGames.com Premium Article!

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!

02/11/12 - 02/12/12
Cincinnati, OH

StarCityGames.com Open Series

02/18/12 - 02/19/12
Charlotte, NC

StarCityGames.com Open Series

02/25/12 - 02/26/12
Memphis, TN

StarCityGames.com Open Series

03/03/12 - 03/04/12
Tampa, FL

StarCityGames.com Open Series

03/03/12
Richmond, VA

PTQ: Barcelona

03/10/12 - 03/11/12
Dallas, TX

StarCityGames.com Open Series

03/10/12 - 03/11/12
Roanoke, VA

PTQ: Barcelona Weekend

03/17/12 - 03/18/12
Sacramento, CA

StarCityGames.com Open Series

03/23/12 - 03/25/12
Baltimore, MD

StarCityGames.com Open Series
& Invitational

03/30/12 - 04/01/12
Salt Lake City, UT

Grand Prix: Salt Lake City &
StarCityGames.com Standard Open

04/07/12 - 04/08/12
Des Moines, IA

StarCityGames.com Open Series

04/14/12 - 04/15/12
Phoenix, AZ

StarCityGames.com Open Series

04/21/12 - 04/22/12
Birmingham, AL

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