Drafting With Olivier - ME3 #1
About Olivier Ruel: Pro Tour mainstay Olivier Ruel's outstanding career includes five Pro Tour Top 8s, numerous Grand Prix Top 8s (including the recent victory at Grand Prix: Brighton), and induction in the Magic Hall of Fame class of 2008.
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I don't know much about the format, as it's only my second draft in ME3. I don't know much about the archetypes yet, not even about the cards, so feel free to give me some advice in the feedback!
Pack 1 pick 1:
"
tooltip="Ambush">Ambush
", "ME3");'> 
My Pick:
One of the very top rares in the format.
Pack 1 pick 2:
"
tooltip="Ambush">Ambush
", "ME3");'>
My Pick:
Pack 1 pick 3:
My Pick:
Vaevictis is kind of tempting, as I think three-color builds are okay in this format, and an 8 mana 7/7 flyer is quite good. However, gathering 2GGBBRRR is more complex than finding 8 lands, it will often be like having 9 or 10. seems like a much safer pick to me.
,/p>
Pack 1 pick 4:
My Pick:
5 mana 3/3 “flyer,” must be good!
Pack 1 pick 5:
My Pick:
I want to get some artifact guys to work with .
Pack 1 pick 6:
My Pick:
From what I’ve seen, the format seems quite slow and big guys have a true impact on the game.
Pack 1 pick 7:
My Pick:
Quite a good sideboard card!
Pack 1 pick 8:
My Pick:
Almost counter-drafted the Priestess, but I’d rather go for a playable.
Pack 1 pick 9:
My Pick:
Pack 1 pick 10:
My Pick:
Pack 1 pick 11:
My Pick:
Pack 1 pick 12:
My Pick:
Pack 1 pick 13:
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Pack 1 pick 14:
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Pack 1 pick 15:
My Pick:
Pack 2 pick 1:
"
tooltip="Ambush">Ambush
", "ME3");'>
My Pick:
I don’t know how good is exactly. It may be a little better than the Ambush, but the seems more reliable.
Pack 2 pick 2:
My Pick:
The Ancestor is interesting too, but as I only got one Minotaur in the first pack, the Stike force looks better to me.
Pack 2 pick 3:
My Pick:
Pack 2 pick 4:
My Pick:
Quite an amazing card if I can manage to splash.
Pack 2 pick 5:
My Pick:
As I’m mostly Black, a 8-5-5 or 8-6-4 manabase + Fellwar and seem quite possible. In this case, Ramirez wuld be pretty good as it stops most of the guys who don’t have Horsemanship in the format.
Pack 2 pick 6:
My Pick:
Not exacty a , but my goal is to buy time until I draw which should be a game breaker all the time.
Pack 2 pick 7:
My Pick:
This should help supporting Umezawa splash.
Pack 2 pick 8:
My Pick:
Pack 2 pick 9:
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Pack 2 pick 10:
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Pack 2 pick 11:
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Pack 2 pick 12:
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Pack 2 pick 13:
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Pack 2 pick 14:
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Pack 2 pick 15:
My Pick:
Pack 3 pick 1:
My Pick:
is safer, maybe better, but much less cool: I’ve got to give Gwen a try!
Pack 3 pick 2:
My Pick:
I almost counter-drafted Zhang Fei here, but the Ants may be a very good card, in particular in a deck I’m building to be as controlling as possible.
Pack 3 pick 3:
My Pick:
Another combo with Abyss.
Pack 3 pick 4:
My Pick:
Pack 3 pick 5:
My Pick:
I almost took the Plan, but my brother Antoine, who was watching the draft, insisted I take the Storm. As it goes on to win me my first two rounds, I can only say thanks Antoine!
Pack 3 pick 6:
My Pick:
Pack 3 pick 7:
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Pack 3 pick 8:
"
tooltip="Mountain">Mountain
", "ME3");'>
My Pick:
I’m probably not playing two, so I guess I should have hate drafted .
Pack 3 pick 9:
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Pack 3 pick 10:
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Pack 3 pick 11:
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Pack 3 pick 12:
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Pack 3 pick 14:
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Pack 3 pick 15:
My Pick:
This draft converter created by Benjamin Peebles-Mundy.
Visit the draft converter today!
9
6
2
1
1
1
1
1 Gwendlyn Di Corci
1
1
2
1
1
1 Ramirez De Pietro
1
1
2
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
Sideboard
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
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1
1
In the first round I’m facing a WG ramp deck which searches for lands more than he plays guys, giving me little trouble. In the second, I resolve Abyss but he draws 4 guys in a row for the win. In the third, I have a fast draw and when he plays a big guy to stop my team, I topdeck while he’s on… 7.
The second match is quite interesting too. After trading the first two games with my GB opponent (including a turn 4 The Abyss turn 5 Golem turn 6 Golem draw), we start what will be a very special game.
I’m on the draw, which is what I choose with my slow control deck anyway, and can’t find more than one land in my first two hands. The 5 card hand has 2 lands, but the spells aren’t very good and I decide to gamble and go to 4, hoping to draw The Abyss as it can win on its own. I open a three lander… and draw my enchantment on turn 2. The game lasts forever until he plays on my enchantment the turn after I drew my first Golem. We then start trading blows. I did hit first but his guys are more efficient as he has Lu Meng and Sun Ce (bouncing Umezawa). I eventually barely win the race as I play to put him down to 6, go down to 3 on his next attack, and eventually play for the… ? I pay with my ! So where was I? Oh yeah, for the win!
The third round is more difficult, as I win one game with Abyss but lose the other two to a very aggro RB deck that doesn’t play any bad cards, but that wins just before I can take control of the game.
Until Monday...
Oli
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