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 Olivier - Shards/Shards/Conflux #33

Olivier Ruel

By Olivier Ruel
05/20/2009

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.

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.

  Pack 1 pick 1:

  My Pick:

The best card in theory, but quite a hard guy to cast. I don’t actually remember ever casting it despite drawing it several times. However, it feels a little weird to take a removal spell (Agony Warp) over an “I win” spell. I’ll give it another try.


  Pack 1 pick 2:

  My Pick:

Knight of the Skyward Eye is the best card, but it commits me to Naya. I’d rather play a Red-based archetype, so probably Jund.


  Pack 1 pick 3:

  My Pick:

I can’t decently pick Kiss, so it’s Either Ridge Rannet or Panorama. The Panorama is obviously good in Naya, but it is also pretty fine in Jund as I'll do my best to be able to cast my dragon when drawing it.


  Pack 1 pick 4:

  My Pick:


  Pack 1 pick 5:

  My Pick:

I feared the draft was going really badly after pick 3. It’s not.


  Pack 1 pick 6:

  My Pick:

One of the most underestimated cards in AAA, and then again in AAC. I fear it gets much worse in ACR, but I’ll enjoy it a little longer.


  Pack 1 pick 7:

  My Pick:

Submersion may be a better choice. I guess my eyes were attracted to the shiny card.


  Pack 1 pick 8:

  My Pick:


  Pack 1 pick 9:

  My Pick:

Where the hell is the land in this pack?


  Pack 1 pick 10:

  My Pick:

Good with Corpse Connoisseur.


  Pack 1 pick 11:

  My Pick:


  Pack 1 pick 12:

  My Pick:

A good sideboard card versus the Ultimatum.


  Pack 1 pick 13:

  My Pick:


  Pack 1 pick 14:

  My Pick:


  Pack 1 pick 15:

  My Pick:

Now I know what to open in pack 2!


  Pack 2 pick 1:

  My Pick:

Obviously not… Connoisseur #2 is pretty fine though. I just need a few more Unearth guys and, if possible, a Bone Splinters.


  Pack 2 pick 2:

  My Pick:

Very close pick. I have only one removal spell, but the Thrinax seems slightly above the Thunder. Also is it pretty good with Ooze Garden (yes, I’m actually willing to play that card). Necrogenesis is a little behind.


  Pack 2 pick 3:

  My Pick:


  Pack 2 pick 4:

  My Pick:

A removal spell may be needed, but I can’t even consider picking it with an Ultimatum and double Thrinax deck.


  Pack 2 pick 5:

  My Pick:

Absolutely necessary. Considering what I already have drafteed (Thinax, Ultimatum, Dragon), the Ascetic is no match.


  Pack 2 pick 6:

  My Pick:

When you hesitate between several cards (here Titan, Reaver and Roar), pick the rare. You’ll have less opportunity to test it.


  Pack 2 pick 7:

  My Pick:


  Pack 2 pick 8:

  My Pick:


  Pack 2 pick 9:

  My Pick:


  Pack 2 pick 10:

  My Pick:

An excellent surprise! My deck looks pretty good.


  Pack 2 pick 11:

  My Pick:


  Pack 2 pick 12:

  My Pick:


  Pack 2 pick 13:

  My Pick:


  Pack 2 pick 14:

  My Pick:


  Pack 2 pick 15:

  My Pick:


  Pack 3 pick 1:

  My Pick:


  Pack 3 pick 2:

  My Pick:


  Pack 3 pick 3:

  My Pick:


  Pack 3 pick 4:

  My Pick:

Fantastic with two Connoisseurs.


  Pack 3 pick 5:

  My Pick:

The great sideboard card or the Hill Giant? I think I should have just enough playables, so I go for the first, but both picks were equally good.


  Pack 3 pick 6:

  My Pick:


  Pack 3 pick 7:

  My Pick:


  Pack 3 pick 8:

  My Pick:

Decent with Ooze Garden, Bone Splinters, and Predator Dragon.


  Pack 3 pick 9:

  My Pick:


  Pack 3 pick 10:

  My Pick:

I clicked too late. I wanted to hate draft the Bodyguard.


  Pack 3 pick 11:

  My Pick:

I'd noticed Jund was pretty open, but this was still a nice surprise!


  Pack 3 pick 12:

  My Pick:


  Pack 3 pick 13:

  My Pick:


  Pack 3 pick 14:

  My Pick:


  Pack 3 pick 15:

  My Pick:


This draft converter created by Benjamin Peebles-Mundy.
Visit the draft converter today!

6 Swamp
5 Mountain
4 Forest
Naya Panorama
Jund Panorama
Savage Lands
Tukatongue Thallid
Dregscape Zombie
Elvish Visionary
Goblin Outlander
Rip-Clan Crasher
Viashino Slaughtermaster
2 Sprouting Thrinax
Scarland Thrinax
Ember Weaver
Blood Cultist
2 Corpse Connoisseur
Grixis Slavedriver
Predator Dragon
Archdemon of Unx
Bone Splinters
Ooze Garden
Drag Down
Volcanic Submersion (better than Roar, Titan, or Reaver, as I like to have a cycling spell when I’ve bombs, and when I must absolutely draw RGB each game)
Fiery Fall
Violent Ultimatum

ROUND 1: Five-Color

In the first game, I have turn 5 Connoisseur and turn 6 Slavedriver, putting my opponent under pressure. In the meantime, he only plays guys smaller than mine, and I win with Ultimatum and Dragon in hand but only two Red sources. In the second game, he showed me his actual first high pick, a turn 7 Sphinx Sovereign. Despite a fine draw, I end up one point from killing him. In the third, I have my strongest start as I have turn 3 Sprouting Thrinax, turn 4 Scarland Thrinax, and, eventually, when he has almost stabilized the board, Predator Dragon for the win.

ROUND 2: Grixis

My game 1 draw is brilliant. Turn 2 Thalid, turn 5 Visionary, turn 6 concede. In the second game, I take the tempo with a pair of Connoisseurs, searching for Slavedriver and Dregscape. I reanimate the big guy and kill his only real threat for my race with Bone Splinters. In the third, for the first time, I am able to play both of my bombs on turns 8 (Ultimatum) and 9 (Dragon) provoking him to concede instantly.

ROUND 3: Five-Color Aggro

You can try it in any format, in any way you like, but Five-Color Aggro doesn’t work. An aggro deck must be consistent, as it always loses to bad mana draws. Jhessian Infiltrator, Goblin Outlander, and Blightning, for instance, should never be seen in the same deck. As usual, I lost one game to drawing my bombs and not being albe to cast them (I lost to double Explosing Borders, which was pretty rude), but I compensated by drawing them in game 2 and having "merely" good draws in the third. That was also when he was starting being a little screwed, and even though he put me down to three lfe with his three lands (with Quietus spike and Parasitic Strix), which is quite admirable, It didn’t feel wrong at all to take the game and the draft, as, even though I was a little short in fixers, I had a much more stable deck than both of my opponents. When you prefer power to synergy, you have to pay a price at some point…

Until Friday, when I'll be bringing a draft containing Alara Reborn...

Oli


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