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Draft:

Pack 1:

Ivory Giant, Grapeshot, Mindstab, Slipstream Serpent, Nantuko Shaman, Castle Raptors, Skulking Knight, Brass Gnat, Dream Stalker, Watcher Sliver, Locket of Yesterdays, Tectonic Fiend, Griffin Guide, Triskelavus, Enduring Renewal

Pick: Triskelavus

Pack 2:

Empty the Warrens, Icatian Crier, Bonesplitter Sliver, Tendrils of Corruption, Think Twice, Jedit's Dragoons, Savage Thallid, Ancient Grudge, Flickering Spirit, Call to the Netherworld, Duskrider Peregrine, Vampiric Sliver, Conflagrate, Greater Gargadon

Pick: Greater Gargadon

Pack 3:

Crookclaw Transmuter, Empty the Warrens, Strength in Numbers, Errant Doomsayers, Corpulent Corpse, Viscerid Deepwalker, Jhoira's Timebug, Chameleon Blur, Subterranean Shambler, Cyclopean Giant, Faceless Devourer, Thick-Skinned Goblin, Kobold Taskmaster

Pick: Crookclaw Transmuter

Pack 4:

Snapback, Pentarch Ward, Bonesplitter Sliver, Dark Withering, Divine Congregation, Mindlash Sliver, Jhoira's Timebug, Phantom Wurm, Foriysian Totem, Stormcloud Djinn, Liege of the Pit, Island

Pick: Foriysian Totem

Pack 5:

Mana Skimmer, Nantuko Shaman, Coral Trickster, Mystical Teachings, Two-Headed Sliver, Prismatic Lens, Clockspinning, Assembly-Worker, Pendelhaven Elder, Thunder Totem, Vesuva

Pick: Prismatic Lens

Pack 6:

Grapeshot, Scarwood Treefolk, Slipstream Serpent, Gaze of Justice, Viashino Bladescout, Molder, Children of Korlis, Conflagrate, Spirit Loop, Krosan Cloudscraper

Pick: Conflagrate

Pack 7:

Herd Gnarr, Fortify, Viashino Bladescout, Mystical Teachings, Thrill of the Hunt, Shadow Sliver, Bogardan Rager, Ignite Memories, Saltcrusted Steppe

Pick: Herd Gnarr

Pack 8:

Errant Doomsayers, Aether Web, Greenseeker, Pit Keeper, Ghostflame Sliver, Volcanic Awakening, Scion of the Ur-Dragon, Gaea's Blessing

Pick: Greenseeker

Pack 9:

Slipstream Serpent, Brass Gnat, Dream Stalker, Watcher Sliver, Locket of Yesterdays, Tectonic Fiend, Enduring Renewal

Pick: Slipstream Serpent

Pack 10:

Empty the Warrens, Icatian Crier, Think Twice, Jedit's Dragoons, Ancient Grudge, Call to the Netherworld

Pick: Empty the Warrens

Pack 11:

Jhoira's Timebug, Chameleon Blur, Subterranean Shambler, Cyclopean Giant, Kobold Taskmaster

Pick: Subterranean Shambler

Pack 12:

Pentarch Ward, Divine Congregation, Mindlash Sliver, Island

Pick: Island

Pack 13:

Nantuko Shaman, Mystical Teachings, Clockspinning

Pick: Nantuko Shaman

Pack 14:

Scarwood Treefolk, Children of Korlis

Pick: Scarwood Treefolk

Pack 15:

Mystical Teachings

Pick: Mystical Teachings

Pack 16:

Temporal Eddy, Tendrils of Corruption, Lightning Axe, Mogg War Marshal, Temporal Isolation, Chameleon Blur, Flickering Spirit, Ghitu Firebreathing, Bewilder, Detainment Spell, Celestial Crusader, Careful Consideration, Firewake Sliver, Tivadar of Thorn, Tribal Flames

Pick: Lightning Axe

Pack 17:

Penumbra Spider, Errant Doomsayers, Rift Bolt, Aether Web, Assassinate, Amrou Seekers, Drifter il-Dal, Havenwood Wurm, Basal Sliver, Sage of Epityr, Voidmage Husher, Fool's Demise, Weathered Bodyguards, Merfolk Assassin

Pick: Rift Bolt

Pack 18:

Flamecore Elemental, Gemhide Sliver, Feebleness, Chromatic Star, Viscid Lemures, Ground Rift, Dream Stalker, Wormwood Dryad, Venser's Sliver, Aspect of Mongoose, Fungal Reaches, Might of Old Krosa, Browbeat

Pick: Gemhide Sliver

Pack 19:

Tolarian Sentinel, Benalish Cavalry, Orcish Cannonade, Gemhide Sliver, Traitor's Clutch, D'Avenant Healer, Glass Asp, Prismatic Lens, Harmonic Sliver, Skittering Monstrosity, Saffi Eriksdotter, Leviathan

Pick: Gemhide Sliver

Pack 20:

Gorgon Recluse, Spiketail Drakeling, Scarwood Treefolk, Blazing Blade Askari, Glass Asp, Traitor's Clutch, Plunder, Eternity Snare, Evil Eye of Urborg, Fungal Reaches, Goblin Snowman

Pick: Blazing Blade Askari

Pack 21:

Pentarch Ward, Bonesplitter Sliver, Psychotic Episode, Sprout, Aetherflame Wall, Pit Keeper, Sage of Epityr, Dread Return, Norin the Wary, Suq'Ata Lancer

Pick: Suq'Ata Lancer

Pack 22:

Spinneret Sliver, Keldon Halberdier, Sidewinder Sliver, Viscid Lemures, Mwonvuli Acid-Moss, Two-Headed Sliver, Fallen Ideal, Ignite Memories, Voidmage Husher

Pick: Keldon Halberdier

Pack 23:

Ashcoat Bear, Cancel, Jedit's Dragoons, Savage Thallid, Ancient Grudge, Voidmage Husher, Durkwood Tracker, Undead Warchief

Pick: Ashcoat Bear

Pack 24:

Mogg War Marshal, Chameleon Blur, Flickering Spirit, Ghitu Firebreathing, Bewilder, Detainment Spell, Firewake Sliver

Pick: Mogg War Marshal

Pack 25:

Penumbra Spider, Aether Web, Havenwood Wurm, Voidmage Husher, Fool's Demise, Merfolk Assassin

Pick: Penumbra Spider

Pack 26:

Viscid Lemures, Ground Rift, Wormwood Dryad, Aspect of Mongoose, Fungal Reaches

Pick: Wormwood Dryad

Pack 27:

Traitor's Clutch, Glass Asp, Harmonic Sliver, Leviathan

Pick: Leviathan

Pack 28:

Glass Asp, Traitor's Clutch, Plunder

Pick: Plunder

Pack 29:

Psychotic Episode, Sprout

Pick: Sprout

Pack 30:

Sidewinder Sliver

Pick: Sidewinder Sliver

Pack 31:

Think Twice, Ashcoat Bear, Urborg Syphon-Mage, Cloudchaser Kestrel, Thallid Germinator, Terramorphic Expanse, Psychotic Episode, Sprout, Aetherflame Wall, Pit Keeper, Premature Burial, Clockwork Hydra, Return to Dust, Hivestone, Stormscape Familiar

Pick: Clockwork Hydra

Pack 32:

Keldon Halberdier, Mana Skimmer, Durkwood Baloth, Fathom Seer, Chromatic Star, Looter il-Kor, Molder, Venser's Sliver, Children of Korlis, Sangrophage, Dementia Sliver, Chronatog Totem, Sudden Death, Whirling Dervish

Pick: Durkwood Baloth

Pack 33:

Tolarian Sentinel, Flowstone Channeler, Trespasser il-Vec, Spinneret Sliver, Fortify, Spiketail Drakeling, Clockspinning, Bogardan Rager, Sangrophage, D'Avenant Healer, Paradise Plume, Dread Return, Ith, High Arcanist

Pick: Flowstone Channeler

Pack 34:

Benalish Cavalry, Feebleness, Spinneret Sliver, Keldon Halberdier, Shadow Sliver, Ophidian Eye, Watcher Sliver, Thrill of the Hunt, Plunder, Spell Burst, Yavimaya Dryad, Vesuva

Pick: Thrill of the Hunt

Pack 35:

Empty the Warrens, Icatian Crier, Bonesplitter Sliver, Think Twice, Call to the Netherworld, Havenwood Wurm, Basal Sliver, Sage of Epityr, Dreadship Reef, Fool's Demise, Unyaro Bees

Pick: Empty the Warrens

Pack 36:

Viscerid Deepwalker, Ashcoat Bear, Cancel, Divine Congregation, Mindlash Sliver, Thallid Shell-Dweller, Jhoira's Timebug, Truth or Tale, Scion of the Ur-Dragon, Claws of Gix

Pick: Ashcoat Bear

Pack 37:

Temporal Eddy, Mogg War Marshal, Drudge Reavers, Ghitu Firebreathing, Greenseeker, Divine Congregation, Opaline Sliver, Quilled Sliver, War Barge

Pick: War Barge

Pack 38:

Herd Gnarr, Trespasser il-Vec, Ground Rift, Eternity Snare, Sidewinder Sliver, Saltcrusted Steppe, Dementia Sliver, Plains

Pick: Herd Gnarr

Pack 39:

Think Twice, Ashcoat Bear, Cloudchaser Kestrel, Psychotic Episode, Sprout, Aetherflame Wall, Return to Dust

Pick: Ashcoat Bear

Pack 40:

Chromatic Star, Molder, Venser's Sliver, Children of Korlis, Dementia Sliver, Chronatog Totem

Pick: Chromatic Star

Pack 41:

Spinneret Sliver, Clockspinning, Bogardan Rager, Paradise Plume, Dread Return

Pick: Bogardan Rager

Pack 42:

Spinneret Sliver, Shadow Sliver, Plunder, Spell Burst

Pick: Spinneret Sliver

Pack 43:

Call to the Netherworld, Dreadship Reef, Fool's Demise

Pick: Dreadship Reef

Pack 44:

Divine Congregation, Jhoira's Timebug

Pick: Jhoira's Timebug

Pack 45:

Ghitu Firebreathing

Pick: Ghitu Firebreathing

Final Decklist:

Maindeck:

1 Suq'Ata Lancer
1 Conflagrate
2 Empty the Warrens
1 Flowstone Channeler
1 Greater Gargadon
1 Keldon Halberdier
1 Lightning Axe
1 Rift Bolt
2 Ashcoat Bear
1 Durkwood Baloth
2 Gemhide Sliver
2 Herd Gnarr
1 Nantuko Shaman
1 Penumbra Spider
1 Thrill of the Hunt
1 Chromatic Star
1 Clockwork Hydra
1 Foriysian Totem
1 Prismatic Lens
1 Triskelavus
9 Forest
7 Mountain

Sideboard:

1 Ashcoat Bear
1 Blazing Blade Askari
1 Bogardan Rager
1 Crookclaw Transmuter
1 Dreadship Reef
1 Ghitu Firebreathing
1 Greenseeker
1 Island [FOIL]
1 Jhoira's Timebug
1 Leviathan
1 Mogg War Marshal
1 Mystical Teachings
1 Plunder
1 Scarwood Treefolk
1 Sidewinder Sliver
1 Slipstream Serpent
1 Spinneret Sliver
1 Sprout
1 Subterranean Shambler
1 War Barge
1 Wormwood Dryad

I took the Triskelavus first for a few reasons. First, I really like taking artifacts first, as that gives me more time to assess what's open and then decide on my colors, coupled with the fact that I'm becoming less and less enthralled with White, and the pack gave me an opportunity to likely put the two people behind me into White. From there the draft was relatively simple. It became very clear that Green was wide open with Nantuko Shaman coming thirteenth, and Scarwood Treefolk fourteenth.

In the first round I played a very close match against a good Black/Red sliver deck. The first game was a pure race, and my Penumbra Spider put me in the lead by taking out a couple 4/2 Slivers. But he had lots of gas left, and managed a draw with Orcish Cannonade. In the "second" game I suspended Keldon Halberdier turn 1, then had Chromatic Star, and Empty the Warrens for when it came in, and Conflagrate to finish him off. In the third game I kept a hand with Forest, Chromatic Star, Gemhide Sliver, Keldon Halberdier, and some more three- and four-drops. I sacrificed the Star turn 1, and didn't find another land, and he certainly didn't give me any time to recover. The fourth game was quite close as we both had fairly average draws. We traded cards for a while, and the board ended up with my Penumbra Spider, Nantuko Shaman, and two Goblin tokens to his two Phyrexian Totems and Firemaw Kavu. Neither of us could effectively attack, but I was winning because of the Conflagrate in my hand. We said go for a few turns, until he Orcish Cannonaded the Nantuko Shaman. This put him range of a Conflagrate for two, then a Flashback for six.

The second round was kind of a joke. In the first game he double mulliganed, but still played Stronghold Overseer on turn 6. I of course killed him turn 6, with a combination of Suspend guys coming in, Herd Gnarr, and Empty the Warrens. Next game he was a bit flooded, but still had Sacred Mesa. I was able to make six guys with Empty the Warrens, and split a Conflagrate between his two creatures, and the Mesa was unable to keep up.

I decided to play the finals because I had some time to kill. In the first game my deck did its thing, and made a bunch of Goblins, followed by a Triskelavus, but he was able to stabilise with some D'avenant Healers and a Sudden Spoiling. I did get him to five first though, and he was unable to attack through my Penumbra Spider. I sat there and said go for a while, until I drew Conflagrate, and burned him out with it. In the second game I had a pretty good draw, but made a couple of mistakes, although they turned out to be completely irrelevant. He played a turn 4 Serra Avenger, and I never drew an answer, nor could I race it thanks to his D'avenant Healer. In the third game his three-color WW, BB manabase came back to haunt him, and he didn't play a Swamp, which made it a pretty easy win for me.

Until tomorrow,

Rich

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