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Drafting With Rich - TTP #7

Rich Hoaen

By Rich Hoaen
03/27/2007

About Rich Hoaen: Rich Hoaen is widely considered to be one of the finest Limited players on the planet, with multiple money finishes at Pro Tour and Grand Prix level.

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Draft:

Pack 1:



Ironclaw Buzzardiers, Temporal Eddy, Tendrils of Corruption, Lightning Axe, Mogg War Marshal, Thallid Shell-Dweller, Jhoira's Timebug, Jedit's Dragoons, Savage Thallid, Vampiric Sliver, Sudden Shock, Gustcloak Cavalier, Magus of the Candelabra, Avalanche Riders, Dralnu, Lich Lord

Pick: Lightning Axe

Pack 2:



Cancel, Pentarch Ward, Assassinate, Thallid Germinator, Zealot il-Vec, Aetherflame Wall, Pit Keeper, Sage of Epityr, Divine Congregation, Careful Consideration, Thunder Totem, Yavimaya Dryad, Gemstone Caverns, Jasmine Boreal

Pick: Careful Consideration

Pack 3:



Aether Web, Cloudchaser Kestrel, Drudge Reavers, Goblin Skycutter, Ghitu Firebreathing, Bewilder, Detainment Spell, Psychotic Episode, Sprout, Riftwing Cloudskate, Might of Old Krosa, Pull from Eternity, Spike Tiller

Pick: Riftwing Cloudskate

Pack 4:


Temporal Isolation, Think Twice, Ashcoat Bear, Urborg Syphon-Mage, Cloudchaser Kestrel, Ancient Grudge, Flickering Spirit, Call to the Netherworld, Drifter il-Dal, Outrider en-Kor, Restore Balance, Pirate Ship

Pick: Pirate Ship

Pack 5:


Viscerid Deepwalker, Ironclaw Buzzardiers, Icatian Crier, Dark Withering, Greenseeker, Foriysian Interceptor, Drifter il-Dal, Subterranean Shambler, Evil Eye of Urborg, Mirari, Flamecore Elemental

Pick: Viscerid Deepwalker

Pack 6:


Snapback, Pentarch Ward, Bonesplitter Sliver, Havenwood Wurm, Basal Sliver, Sage of Epityr, Ghitu Firebreathing, Momentary Blink, Gustcloak Cavalier, Moorish Cavalry

Pick: Snapback

Pack 7:


Zealot il-Vec, Urborg Syphon-Mage, Mindlash Sliver, Havenwood Wurm, Chameleon Blur, Flickering Spirit, Wipe Away, Harmonic Sliver, Scragnoth

Pick: Urborg Syphon-Mage

Pack 8:

Errant Doomsayers, Corpulent Corpse, Savage Thallid, Screeching Sliver, Momentary Blink, Careful Consideration, Chronatog Totem, Premature Burial

Pick: Careful Consideration

Pack 9:

Ironclaw Buzzardiers, Thallid Shell-Dweller, Jhoira's Timebug, Jedit's Dragoons, Savage Thallid, Vampiric Sliver, Magus of the Candelabra

Pick: Vampiric Sliver

Pack 10:

Pentarch Ward, Aetherflame Wall, Pit Keeper, Sage of Epityr, Divine Congregation, Thunder Totem

Pick: Pit Keeper

Pack 11:

Drudge Reavers, Bewilder, Detainment Spell, Psychotic Episode, Pull from Eternity

Pick: Psychotic Episode

Pack 12:

Cloudchaser Kestrel, Ancient Grudge, Call to the Netherworld, Drifter il-Dal

Pick: Drifter il-Dal

Pack 13:

Foriysian Interceptor, Drifter il-Dal, Evil Eye of Urborg

Pick: Evil Eye of Urborg

Pack 14:

Pentarch Ward, Basal Sliver

Pick: Basal Sliver

Pack 15:

Harmonic Sliver

Pick: Harmonic Sliver

Pack 16:



Coal Stoker, Deathspore Thallid, Tolarian Sentinel, Benalish Cavalry, Orcish Cannonade, Errant Ephemeron, Clockspinning, Sidewinder Sliver, Viscid Lemures, Mwonvuli Acid-Moss, Locket of Yesterdays, Evil Eye of Urborg, Weatherseed Totem, Pulmonic Sliver, Flying Men

Pick: Errant Ephemeron

Pack 17:



Durkwood Baloth, Coral Trickster, Ivory Giant, Deathspore Thallid, Flowstone Channeler, Thrill of the Hunt, Plunder, Skulking Knight, Brass Gnat, Fungal Reaches, Krosan Grip, Scryb Ranger, Avoid Fate, Krosan Grip

Pick: Coral Trickster

Pack 18:



Herd Gnarr, Trespasser il-Vec, Scarwood Treefolk, Dream Stalker, Watcher Sliver, Blazing Blade Askari, Glass Asp, Smallpox, Fool's Demise, Nightshade Assassin, Magus of the Jar, Hail Storm, Screeching Sliver

Pick: Nightshade Assassin

Pack 19:


Spinneret Sliver, Keldon Halberdier, Grapeshot, Mindstab, Mwonvuli Acid-Moss, Viashino Bladescout, Ophidian Eye, Molder, Primal Forcemage, Volcanic Awakening, Twisted Abomination, Island

Pick: Twisted Abomination

Pack 20:


Chromatic Star, Gorgon Recluse, Herd Gnarr, D'Avenant Healer, Wormwood Dryad, Mystical Teachings, Two-Headed Sliver, Prismatic Lens, Durkwood Tracker, Truth or Tale, Urza's Factory

Pick: Prismatic Lens

Pack 21:


Gemhide Sliver, Mindstab, Gaze of Justice, Two-Headed Sliver, Blazing Blade Askari, Shadow Sliver, Ophidian Eye, Watcher Sliver, Barbed Shocker, Foriysian Interceptor

Pick: Mindstab

Pack 22:


Gorgon Recluse, Spiketail Drakeling, Scarwood Treefolk, Children of Korlis, Viscid Lemures, Ground Rift, Dream Stalker, Wormwood Dryad, Brine Elemental

Pick: Brine Elemental

Pack 23:

Orcish Cannonade, Amrou Scout, Venser's Sliver, Clockspinning, Sangrophage, Barbed Shocker, Chronatog Totem, Ovinomancer

Pick: Amrou Scout

Pack 24:

Deathspore Thallid, Clockspinning, Sidewinder Sliver, Viscid Lemures, Mwonvuli Acid-Moss, Locket of Yesterdays, Evil Eye of Urborg

Pick: Deathspore Thallid

Pack 25:

Plunder, Skulking Knight, Brass Gnat, Fungal Reaches, Krosan Grip, Avoid Fate

Pick: Skulking Knight

Pack 26:

Scarwood Treefolk, Glass Asp, Smallpox, Fool's Demise, Screeching Sliver

Pick: Smallpox

Pack 27:

Mwonvuli Acid-Moss, Ophidian Eye, Molder, Island

Pick: Molder

Pack 28:

D'Avenant Healer, Mystical Teachings, Truth or Tale

Pick: Mystical Teachings

Pack 29:

Shadow Sliver, Foriysian Interceptor

Pick: Foriysian Interceptor

Pack 30:

Ground Rift

Pick: Ground Rift

Pack 31:



Battering Sliver, Reflex Sliver, Whitemane Lion, Midnight Charm, Saltfield Recluse, Aquamorph Entity, Firefright Mage, Blightspeaker, Piracy Charm, Skirk Shaman, Revered Dead, Rebuff the Wicked, Enslave, Porphyry Nodes, Magus of the Tabernacle

Pick: Enslave

Pack 32:



Needlepeak Spider, Shaper Parasite, Utopia Vow, Spitting Sliver, Aven Riftwatcher, Reality Acid, Blightspeaker, Evolution Charm, Gossamer Phantasm, Seal of Primordium, Essence Warden, Timecrafting, Pongify, Keen Sense

Pick: Shaper Parasite

Pack 33:



Veiling Oddity, Synchronous Sliver, Dawn Charm, Stingscourger, Fury Charm, Wistful Thinking, Citanul Woodreaders, Sinew Sliver, Essence Warden, Bog Serpent, Venarian Glimmer, Stormfront Riders, Serendib Sorcerer

Pick: Serendib Sorcerer

Pack 34:


Mire Boa, Aven Riftwatcher, Cradle to Grave, Firefright Mage, Wistful Thinking, Skirk Shaman, Fa'adiyah Seer, Muck Drubb, Lavacore Elemental, Kor Dirge, Radha, Heir to Keld, Dichotomancy

Pick: Kor Dirge

Pack 35:


Reflex Sliver, Poultice Sliver, Spitting Sliver, Keldon Marauders, Dash Hopes, Vitaspore Thallid, Brain Gorgers, Bog Serpent, Merfolk Thaumaturgist, Kavu Predator, Necrotic Sliver

Pick: Brain Gorgers

Pack 36:


Whitemane Lion, Midnight Charm, Firefright Mage, Pallid Mycoderm, Deadly Grub, Dust Corona, Primal Plasma, Simian Spirit Guide, Sophic Centaur, Mycologist

Pick: Midnight Charm

Pack 37:


Synchronous Sliver, Vitaspore Thallid, Dash Hopes, Aquamorph Entity, Melancholy, Merfolk Thaumaturgist, Timebender, Keen Sense, Life and Limb

Pick: Aquamorph Entity

Pack 38:

Saltfield Recluse, Fury Charm, Vitaspore Thallid, Deadly Grub, Aquamorph Entity, Mana Tithe, Primal Plasma, Riptide Pilferer

Pick: Primal Plasma

Pack 39:

Battering Sliver, Reflex Sliver, Midnight Charm, Saltfield Recluse, Firefright Mage, Blightspeaker, Revered Dead

Pick: Midnight Charm

Pack 40:

Reality Acid, Gossamer Phantasm, Seal of Primordium, Essence Warden, Timecrafting, Keen Sense

Pick: Gossamer Phantasm

Pack 41:

Veiling Oddity, Fury Charm, Wistful Thinking, Bog Serpent, Venarian Glimmer

Pick: Bog Serpent

Pack 42:

Firefright Mage, Wistful Thinking, Muck Drubb, Lavacore Elemental

Pick: Muck Drubb

Pack 43:

Spitting Sliver, Dash Hopes, Vitaspore Thallid

Pick: Spitting Sliver

Pack 44:

Firefright Mage, Deadly Grub

Pick: Deadly Grub

Pack 45:

Dash Hopes

Pick: Dash Hopes

Final Decklist:

Maindeck:

1 Pirate Ship
1 Aquamorph Entity
1 Brine Elemental
2 Careful Consideration
1 Coral Trickster
1 Errant Ephemeron
1 Primal Plasma
1 Riftwing Cloudskate
1 Serendib Sorcerer
1 Shaper Parasite
1 Snapback
1 Viscerid Deepwalker
1 Twisted Abomination
1 Enslave
1 Kor Dirge
1 Midnight Charm
1 Mindstab
1 Nightshade Assassin
1 Pit Keeper
1 Urborg Syphon-Mage
1 Vampiric Sliver
1 Prismatic Lens
10 Island
7 Swamp

Sideboard:

1 Amrou Scout
1 Basal Sliver
1 Bog Serpent
1 Brain Gorgers
1 Dash Hopes
1 Deadly Grub
1 Deathspore Thallid
1 Drifter il-Dal
1 Evil Eye of Urborg
1 Foriysian Interceptor [FOIL]
1 Gossamer Phantasm
1 Ground Rift
1 Harmonic Sliver
1 Lightning Axe
1 Midnight Charm
1 Molder
1 Muck Drubb
1 Mystical Teachings
1 Psychotic Episode
1 Skulking Knight
1 Smallpox
1 Spitting Sliver

This draft may appear to be a 4322, considering how late I got the Careful Consideration and Brine Elemental, but I assure you all drafts that get posted here are in fact 84s. I was pretty clearly Blue in this draft, and was looking for a second color since I didn't see a single Red card to follow up my first pick Lightning Axe. I quickly found Black to be open and had quite an easy time taking the best card out of each pack once my colors were settled.

In the first round I played against a Black/Red deck splashing Stormbind. Both games were fairly similar. He'd get ahead early, then I'd stabilize, cast both Considerations and bury him in card advantage. He did make the second game close with a Stormbind, but I was able to play and flip Brine Elemental in the same turn to take the game.

Round 2 I played a Blue White deck. In the first game I got ahead early by Shaper Parasiting his first play, then I played Serendib Sorcerer to dominate the board, and Enslaved his Saltfield Recluse so he couldn't do something similar. Game 2 his turn 5 play was Stormcloud Djinn so I attacked him for 13 with my Aquamorph Entity, Vampiric Sliver, and Viscerid Deepwalker which came into play that turn. Next turn I had Snapback for a blocker and that was game.

I decided to play the finals because my deck was so good. Game 1 looked like a blowout throughout with my Serendib Sorcerer dominating his Blue/White deck. I could never find a good time to play my Enslave, and he made things close by topdecking Fortify. I had been planning for a Fortify though and had Snapback for his Celestial Crusader. I took a lot of damage but was left with an overwhelming board position after the Fortify. Game 2 I kept a hand without an Island but with Prismatic Lens. He had a really fast draw with turn 2 Gossamer Phantasm, turn 3 Aven Riftwatcher, and turn 4 Crookclaw Transmuter, but I drew a Midnight Charm for the Transmuter, and drew an Island the turn before it would have been too late. I was able to stabilize on six, then started dropping bombs which he simply couldn't handle.

Until tomorrow,

Rich

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


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