Welcome once more to Discussing Draft Reloaded, with your hosts Manuel Bucher and Olivier Ruel (me!). In today’s edition, the final entry in the series, we’re discussing two-color and five-color decks… Let’s kick things off with a look at the greediest deck in the format!
Five-Color Control
Oli:
1- Bituminous Blast
2- Enlisted Wurm
3- Behemoth Sledge
4- Bloodbraid Elf
5- Vengeful Rebirth
6- Terminate
7- Wall of Denial
8- Crystalization
9- Sangrite Backlash
10 –Kathari Remnant
11- Deny Reality
12- Borderposts
13- Putrid Leech
14- Messenger Falcons
15- Marisi’s Twinclaw
Manu:
1- Bituminous Blast
2- Enlisted Wurm
3- Behemoth Sledge
4- Bloodbraid Elf
5- Vengful Rebirth
6- Terminate
7- Sangrite Backlash
8- Crystallization
9- Deny Reality
10- Slave of Bolas
11- Kathari Remnant
12- Wall of Denial
13- Messenger Falcons
14- Intimidation Bolt
15- Marisi’s Twinclaws
Oli: Well well well… Not so much to debate about here! I didn’t put Slave of Bolas in my list, even though the card is good and should be easy to cast. As you’re more controlling than aggressive, the card loses its finisher aspect. It’s still pretty good, but I had it more around 20th place.
Manu: It is really hard to create a list for Five-Color Control. Cards like Putrid Leech, Rhox Brute, and all the Blades deserve a much higher rating – or a spot in the Top 15 – if you are in the main colors to support them.
Oli: I totally agree on the Blades, in particular Grixis Grimeblade and Bant Sureblade. I did include Leech to my rating because it is good in all circumstances, even if you don’t play it on turn 3.
Manu: I agree that Slave of Bolas is a lot worse in Five-Color than in your aggro deck of choice. Still, it is a Bloodpyre Elemental that does some splash damage to your opponent. It might be a bit too high in my rating though, but I wouldn’t pick a card like Marisi’s Twinclaws over it. Intimidation Bolt doesn’t make the cut for you? Would you pick Putrid Leech over it in a Black/Red or White/Blue base?
Oli: Intimidation Bolt was my #16; the card can’t shine more than it does here, because the Fog effect actually is very relevant. Usually I’d pick the removal over the early guy without a doubt, but we’re not talking about any random creature. If I’ve landcycled or fetched on turn 2 and I can play either spell on turn 3, I rather like having Leech instead of Bolt, as I think it is even more efficient at stopping guys. This is also the reason why I’ve Wall of Denial so high; it’s like a very good removal spell to me, as it can annihilate almost any guy.
Manu: I just don’t want to be too vulnerable to my opponent’s tempo cards and removal spells. And I like Kathari Remnant a bit more than the Wall of Denial. It usually shuts down a guy as well, but you get a free spell in addition. And trample is not an ability which is available to a lot in the format. Obviously Blister Beetle and Pingers are a bit awkward then, but your opponent has to keep those usually bad cards postboard.
Oli: I must say the 7 to 10 positions in the list were not easy ones to make. The true level of Remnant depends also on the one- to three-drops you have drafted before. The stronger they are, the higher I’ll pick it, and I can definitely imagine it being actually 7th in my rating.
Manu: The stronger your one- to three-drops are, the stronger all the cascade spells get. Even Captured Sunlight can be a very decent card. And if you always reveal a removal spell, Violent Outburst, Ardent Plea, and Demonic Dread get pretty good as well.
Oli: That’s correct!
UW
Oli:
1- Behemoth Sledge
2- Esper Stormblade
3- Bant Sureblade
4- Crystallization
5- Ardent Plea
6- Ethercaste Knight
7- Messenger Falcon
8- Talon Trooper
9- Ethersworn Shieldmage
10- Thopter Foundry
Manu:
1- Esper Stormblade
2- Behemoth Sledge
3- Bant Sureblade
4- Ethercaste Knight
5- Ethersworn Shieldmage
6- Crystallization
7- Ardent Plea
8- Messenger Falcons
9- Glassdust Hulk
10- Thopter Foundry
Oli: If you have an average UW deck with one Gleam of Resistance, do you pick Stormblade over Sledge?
Manu: I think so. A turn 2 Stormblade in such an aggressive deck is usually such a blowout. But it is very close, and I hope I never have to actually do the decision.
Oli: Oh no, which choice from the best uncommon and the best common for my deck am I gonna pick? It’s a decision I’d love to take on every draft!
Manu: Well, it is a bit different here – one of the cards is a splash. Esper Stormblade does make the deck a bit more solid.
Oli: I’m pretty sure I’d pick the hammer. Stormblade is amazing, and you stick to your colors, but we’re talking about a card that makes you win the game pretty much every time you cast it. Also, and about as importantly, you have a good chance to face one of these two cards in the draft, and as a UW mage, you probably won’t be able to deal with Sledge. If I’ve Gleam, Visions or Panorama I’ll pick the equipment, but otherwise I may stick to the safest card.
Manu: Against a slow start you can deal with the equipment for a while, as your deck usually features an Excommunicate and an Unsummon. But if I have two mana fixers and no Black splash, I go for the Hammer.
Oli: Yes, that is of course if you don’t have another splash yet. Now, concerning all the artifact-based cards. Their rating depends mostly on how many artifacts you’re intending to run. If two-thirds of my guys are artifacts, my Shieldmage will be about as high as yours, and Foundry will be over Hulk. If I don’t, I’ll value Hulk more than Foundry. It may look like it doesn’t make much sense to have the 2/2 not so high but the Foundry over the 3/4, but Shieldmage is a very good card as long as you play a UW-based deck.
Manu: That is true. But the 3rd pack usually delivers you such a fair amount of artifacts that I see the artifact-based deck a bit more than the other.
Oli: I should have had the Shieldmage higher indeed.
Manu: I am not sure if the Ethercaste Knight should be over it, but one- and two-drops are the core of the deck. Even though Shieldmage has the potential to be a bomb, I only pick it over the Knight if I already have an excellent curve, and cards who support the Shieldmage.
Oli: I usually already have many early drops in that archetype, that’s why I put Ardent Plea just over the 1/3, but if I have four or less I’ll pick the Knight as well.
Manu: If you already have plenty of two-drops, Ardent Plea is strictly better.
WG
Oli:
1- Behemoth Sledge
2- Enlisted Wurm
3- Qasali Pridemage
4- Bant Sureblade
5- Crystallization
6- Bloodbraid Elf
7- Marisi’s Twinclaw
8- Messenger Falcon
9- Naya Hushblade
10- Leonin Armorguard
Manu:
1- Behemoth Sledge
2- Bant Sureblade
3- Qasali Pridemage
4- Enlisted Wurm
5- Crystallization
6- Messenger Falcon
7- Bloodbraid Elf
8- Marisi’s Twinclaw
9- Naya Hushblade
10- Leonin Armorguard
Manu: I might pick Naya Hushblade higher if I can get it in multiples and there are Sigil of the Nayan Gods wheeling. Turn 2 Naya Hushblade followed by the Sigil is just such a sick combo.
Oli: Manu?
Manu: Oli?
Oli: You’re brillant!
Manu: You’re brilliant!
Oli: That’s cute, but if I was, I’d have actually thought of that combo on one of the 208087072070480480 times I’ve drafted WG! I do play Sigil a lot, but I’ve never had the turn 2-turn 3 combo, so it never actually came to my mind!
Manu: I have to admit I didn’t figure it out myself as well. (It actually was Dominic Zemp who told me.)
Oli: Thank you Dom-Dom! Can I actually call him Dom-Dom?
Manu: That never came in my mind. I tell you next time and try it out. Back on topic…
Oli: Fair enough!
Manu: Is Enlisted Wurm that good in GW as well?
Oli: Enlisted Wurm is the big question in that deck. It depends on the deck you have. Of course, if you play 16 lands, a low curve, and four pump spells, the card won’t shine. If the curve is a little higher, and the spells dispersed more equally in the different spots of the curve, it is an amazing second wave. I must admit I probably overrated it, let’s say it’s worth second place in a bad WG and 4th to 6th in a good one.
Manu: Fair enough. I see the synergy of Marisi’s Twinclaws with Exalted, but isn’t Messenger Falcons just the better card? Or do you want to be resistance against Branching Bolt?
Oli: I actually usually have not only Exalted guys but also several pump spells when I play WG, not to talk about the Welkin Guide combo. I don’t value the card as a great blocker though, as, in this archetype, when you’re on defense you’re often in big trouble anyway.
Manu: Would you splash for a Colossal Might (assuming you have another card you want to splash) if you have a Twinclaws?
Oli: If I’m short in playables I can splash that card anyway, as even though it’s a splash it fits great in the deck’s synergy. Of course, a pump spell is not ideal for a splash, but it often is as a game finisher here. If I’ve Twinclaws, my position is actually unchanged. The main strength of WG is its stability; it can’t really afford to miss the right lands in the early game.
Manu: Makes sense.
Oli: Before switching to RB, there is a couple of things I’d like to add. Sigil Captain can be amazing in the right deck, and it is actually a good reason to overrate 1/1s (Tukatongue Thallid, Elvish Visionary, and the Exalted guys of course) in the first two packs, as it is opened in almost every drafts and wheels most of the time. Also, Sigil of the Nayan Gods is actually a pretty good card in the deck even though it didn’t make it to the top 10. It is a double-edged sword, but if your opponent doesn’t have a removal spell, or if you have Naya Hushblade, it can just win games!
Manu: Yes, I like both cards a lot. And the Sigil is still a cycler in the worst case scenario, which is still fine.
RB
Oli:
1- Bituminous Blast
2- Slave of Bolas
3- Terminate
4- Grixis Grimblade
5- Sangrite Backlash
6- Jund Hackblade
7- Giant Ambush-Beetle
8- Sewn-Eye Drake
9- Bloodbraid Elf
10- Kathari Bomber
Manu:
1- Bituminous Blast
2- Terminate
3- Grixis Grimblade
4- Slave of Bolas
5- Sangrite Backlash
6- Giant Ambush Beetle
7- Bloodbraid Elf
8- Jund Hackblade
9- Kathari Bomber
10- Sewn-Eye Drake
Oli: Usually I go RB when I’m Grixis, with very few Blue cards, or Jund with very few Green cards, and I’ve several cards (Goblin Deathriders, Shambling Remains) which lose much efficiency in a three-color deck. The archetype is okay, but its major weakness is the two-drops…
Manu: And don’t forget to mention the synergy between Kathari Bomber and Yoke of the Damned.
Oli: May I please finish my sentence?!
Manu: Oh – you are still talking? Then feel free.
Oli: Must I remind you this is my column today? You were the boss last time… now it’s my turn!
Manu: YES SIR!
Oli: Better… So, where was I? Oh yes, the two-drop weakness. It is the reason why I pick Jund Hackblade so highly even though the card is not fantastic.
Five minutes later…
Manu: Am I allowed to talk?
Oli: As you asked for permission, yes.
Manu: I wanted to mention that if you have a Yoke of the Dammed or two (or even more), I would pick Kathari Bomber a bit higher.
Oli: Last time I had the card and tried to reanimate it, my opponent cycled Grixis Sojourners by the way. Now I’m visiting a therapist, trying to move on.
Manu: Ouch.
Oli:I’ve almost rated the card a little higher. It is also one of the very few cards in the last two packs that make Bone Splinters still playable. The last major difference in our rating concerns Slave of Bolas. I just like the card so much in an aggro deck. Then, of course, the less aggressive you are, the worse it is, but this applies not only to Slave of Bolas but to the whole deck.
Manu: I like Kathari Bomber a bit more than Sewn-Eye Drake. First, RB has a lack of three-drops, while you still have the Singed-Mind Ogre as another fine four-drop. It also has some synergy with the deck you already have.
Oli: Fair enough. I was thinking raw power, but as far as consistency is concerned, it is indeed a better pick. And now, moving to UB. Just like last time, as Manu has a lot more experience than I do with the deck, he will give his top 10 while I’ll be asking questions about it!
UB
Manu:
1- Bituminous Blast
2- Esper Stormblade
3- Grixis Grimblade
4- Deny Reality
5- Slave of Bolas
6- Thopter Foundry
7- Soul Manipulation
8- Sewn-Eye Drake
9- Kathari Remnant
10- Mistvein Borderpost
Oli: Can’t a card like Terminate make it to the Top 10 if you’re open to splashing? Or is Bituminous Blast just an exception because it’s so broken?
Manu: Terminate is “just” a removal spell. I would not splash for only Terminate – while I would for the Bituminous Blast. If I already have a Blast which I splash, and solid mana for it, then I’d splash Terminate. It would probably be around Soul Manipulation, but not higher. Again the deck is based on a lot of tempo, so removal is not in the premium class.
Oli: Fair enough. I’m a little surprised to see Thopter Foundry that high. Can you really have an artifact core being just UB?
Manu: It is fine even if I don’t have an artifact core. Being both a Blue and a Black permanent on turn 2 is already good for the deck, as it supports both a turn 3 Parasitic Strix and the wonderful Sedraxis Alchemist. And you usually have 4 or 5 artifact guys, which they have a lot of trouble dealing with if you have a Foundry. And sacrificing an Executioner’s Capsule or a Borderpost isn’t the worst as well.
Oli: What do you think of Architects of Will? A while ago I almost never play the card, but since then I’ve had pretty good experience running it in any type of UB deck, as it has always been good.
Manu: It is fine – not good enough for the Top 10 though. It gets a lot better if you have a Soul Manipulation or two, or if you got some Faerie Mechanists. But I like Infectious Horror more, usually.
Oli: Another card I’ve learnt to like… I can understand that. This is how our ACR draft review ends. Thanks a lot Manu, I’ve both learned and enjoyed a lot, and thanks everyone for reading!
Manu: If you guys would like it, we would love to do the same for M10. We both learnt a lot in this series, and we hope you did as well. Thanks for reading! And thank you Olivier, for making this possible.
Oli: Yeah, doing it for M10 would be pretty nice. Also, I’ve bought a Wii yesterday and I may need a good backup to eventually defeat Soda Popinski at Punch Out!
Manu: Sounds good, count me in!
Oli: Goodbye everyone, and have a nice weekend!
Oli and Manu