HOME -- BUYLIST -- ARTICLES -- FORUMS -- DECK DATABASE -- SCGLIVE.COM -- THEMANADRAIN.COM -- CUBEDRAFTING.COM -- CONTACT US


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
America's largest Magic: the Gathering singles inventory!

Drafting With Olivier - Zendikar #2

Olivier Ruel

By Olivier Ruel
10/30/2009

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.

#Zendikar Limited, #Olivier Ruel
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:

One of the best rares in the format.


  Pack 1 pick 2:

  My Pick:

1) Disfigure
2) Gatekeeper of Malakir
3) Vampire Lacerator
4) Geyser Glider
5) Kor Skyfisher
The format is so fast that a card like Geyser Glider is not nearly as good as it seems. It is so much about tempo that five-mana spells are extremely expensive here. I won’t pick the Skyfisher, which is the second best card in the pack, just because I’d rather not go White. The color is strong, but it has so many double colored early drops that it requires being the core of a deck, and most picks you will take will just commit you. Then Lacerator and Gatekeeper are about as good. The Lacerator is constantly good while Gatekeeper is sometimes useless but sometimes brilliant. The latter happens in two cases: in a Black-based aggro deck or in a midrange RB deck, with cards like Dross Scorpion or Heartstabber Mosquito. The latter seems like an interesting option. But in the end, Disfigure is still a level above those cards.


  Pack 1 pick 3:
Blessing

Buy This Card!
" tooltip="Blessing">Blessing ", "ZEN");'>
  My Pick:

RB’s main fault is its difficulty to handle early three-toughness creatures (Dross Scorpion, Oran-Rief Recluse), a problem the 4/3 will help resolve. The dual isn’t really an option here. I would play it if I had it, but not pick it high, as a tapped land is not so good in this archetype.


  Pack 1 pick 4:

  My Pick:

Zektar Shrine Expedition is pretty good too, but it is just worse than the boar.


  Pack 1 pick 5:

  My Pick:

1) Molten Ravager
2) Mark of Mutiny
3) Crypt Creeper
As I am more midrange at the moment, Mark of Mutiny, a card I love in a pure aggro deck, is not very good here. I end up picking the least powerful card as the only non Red card I have so far is the splashable Disfigure.


  Pack 1 pick 6:

  My Pick:


  Pack 1 pick 7:

  My Pick:

I probably won’t play it, but I still don’t want to face it at all.


  Pack 1 pick 8:

  My Pick:


  Pack 1 pick 9:

  My Pick:


  Pack 1 pick 10:

  My Pick:

Two very clear signals Black is open; I’m RB aggro now.


  Pack 1 pick 11:
Blessing

Buy This Card!
" tooltip="Blessing">Blessing ", "ZEN");'>
  My Pick:


  Pack 1 pick 12:

  My Pick:

Pretty good to play on your 2/1s and2/2s when your opponent has a bigger guy.


  Pack 1 pick 13:
Blessing

Buy This Card!
" tooltip="Blessing">Blessing ", "ZEN");'>
  My Pick:


  Pack 1 pick 14:

  My Pick:


  Pack 1 pick 15:

  My Pick:


  Pack 2 pick 1:

  My Pick:

The best RB common.


  Pack 2 pick 2:
Seeker

Buy This Card! " tooltip="Seeker">Seeker ", "ZEN");'>
  My Pick:

One of the best two uncommons in the format, along with Marsh Casualties.


  Pack 2 pick 3:

  My Pick:

Spire Barrage is okay but nothing spectacular in RB, as 5 mana for a removal spell is very expensive in this format, and in particular in this archetype.


  Pack 2 pick 4:
Seeker

Buy This Card! " tooltip="Seeker">Seeker ", "ZEN");'>
  My Pick:


  Pack 2 pick 5:
Seeker

Buy This Card! " tooltip="Seeker">Seeker ", "ZEN");'>
  My Pick:


  Pack 2 pick 6:

  My Pick:

My deck is now too aggro, and my two colors too balanced for the Ravager to be interesting anymore.


  Pack 2 pick 7:

  My Pick:

Antoine and Manu, who are watching the draft, insist I to pick the 1/1, when I would have rather counter-drafted the Hatchling. I guess I can give it a try, but I was pretty disappointed last time I played it.


  Pack 2 pick 8:

  My Pick:

Close one with Adventuring Gear, but I still think the equipment shines more in a White deck. What I really need at the moment is not to miss early drops.


  Pack 2 pick 9:

  My Pick:

Bog Tatters is good, but a little expensive.


  Pack 2 pick 10:

  My Pick:

I like the Seeker less and less. Even though it would be good in this deck, it would still be my worst two-drop.


  Pack 2 pick 11:

  My Pick:


  Pack 2 pick 12:

  My Pick:

Is it the second Bushwhacker I’ve just picked? Manu’s pressure on me to take the vampire two picks earlier? The fact I’m not willing to play 2 War Paint? Probably a bit of everything, I change my pick this time.


  Pack 2 pick 13:

  My Pick:


  Pack 2 pick 14:

  My Pick:


  Pack 2 pick 15:

  My Pick:


  Pack 3 pick 1:

  My Pick:

Electropotence would shine in a midrange deck, but this one is extremely aggro and can’t waste one turn on playing a card which doesn’t do anything when it comes into play.


  Pack 3 pick 2:
Tsunami

Buy This Card! " tooltip="Tsunami">Tsunami ", "ZEN");'>
  My Pick:

That pick is wrong as the Mosquito is unlikely to make the cut. I should have better either picked the Grunts or more probably hate-drafted the Tsunami.


  Pack 3 pick 3:

  My Pick:

1) Guul Draaz Vampire
2) Adventure Gear
3) Giant Scorpion
The 1/3 fits the deck worse than the other two, but it would be so annoying to face that I still consider it. Not for long though, as both the Gear and the Vampire are better for me. I opt for the 1/1 as my deck is fast enough to put my opponent on ten pretty fast.


  Pack 3 pick 4:

  My Pick:


  Pack 3 pick 5:

  My Pick:

Once again, not a great fan of the Barrage.


  Pack 3 pick 6:

  My Pick:


  Pack 3 pick 7:

  My Pick:

The crocodile is good on the play, but it’s pretty bad on the draw, while the Giant is always good.


  Pack 3 pick 8:

  My Pick:


  Pack 3 pick 9:

  My Pick:


  Pack 3 pick 10:

  My Pick:


  Pack 3 pick 11:

  My Pick:

I could almost pick the very annoying Seismic Shudder here, but I like the 2/1 too much for that.


  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!

8 Swamp
9 Mountain

1 Guul Draz Vampire
2 Goblin Bushwhacker
3 Vampire Lacerator
1 Highland Berserker
1 Surrakar Marauder
4 Goblin Shortcutter
1 Torch Slinger
1 Vampire Nighthawk
1 Goblin Ruinblaster
1 Bladetusk Boar
2 Shatterskull Giant
1 Hellkite Charger

1 Disfigure
1 Burst Lightning
1 Goblin War Paint
1 Hideous End

Sideboard
1 Grazing Gladehart
1 Goblin Bushwhacker
1 Blood Seeker
1 Molten Ravager
2 Slaughter Cry
1 Highland Berserker
1 Crypt Ripper
3 Shieldmate's Blessing
1 Quest for Ancient Secrets
1 Lethargy Trap
1 Soul Stair Expedition
1 Electropotence
1 Spreading Seas
1 Predatory Urge
1 Narrow Escape
1 Heartstabber Mosquito
2 Tanglesap
1 Ravenous Trap

In the first round I’m facing a RG deck. I win the first game opening with Lacerator, Marauder, and Ruinblaster. Shatterskull Giant slows my beating down but my Dragon finishes the job in two blows. As he has some big guys, I bring in my two Slaughter Cry instead of my Bushwhackers. The first helps me clean the way while Ruinblaster destroys a dual and forces him to cast a pair of Torch Slingers without kicker. I’m not happy with my mana (first Black on turn 8) but still end up winning thanks to a second Slaughter Cry.

My second round opponent is RB as well. I have Vampire Nighthawk on turn 3, and Goblin War Paint to put it out of removal reach on turn 5. After the 2/3 won on its own, I open with triple Shortcutter while he has still two lands when he concedes on turn 4.

The final match against UG is as fast as the previous one, as I have a double turn 6 kill.

My feelings are a little mixed after this draft, as Slaughter Cry won two games Bushwhackers wouldn’t have won, but I feel like I haven’t really given the card its chance.

Until Monday...

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 Dark Ascension StarCityGames.com Premium Article!

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!

02/11/12 - 02/12/12
Cincinnati, OH
StarCityGames.com Open Series

02/18/12 - 02/19/12
Charlotte, NC
StarCityGames.com Open Series

02/25/12 - 02/26/12
Memphis, TN
StarCityGames.com Open Series

03/03/12 - 03/04/12
Tampa, FL
StarCityGames.com Open Series

03/03/12
Richmond, VA
PTQ: Barcelona

03/10/12 - 03/11/12
Dallas, TX
StarCityGames.com Open Series

03/10/12 - 03/11/12
Roanoke, VA
PTQ: Barcelona Weekend

03/17/12 - 03/18/12
Sacramento, CA
StarCityGames.com Open Series

03/23/12 - 03/25/12
Baltimore, MD
StarCityGames.com Open Series
& Invitational

03/30/12 - 04/01/12
Salt Lake City, UT
Grand Prix: Salt Lake City &
StarCityGames.com Standard Open

04/07/12 - 04/08/12
Des Moines, IA
StarCityGames.com Open Series

04/14/12 - 04/15/12
Phoenix, AZ
StarCityGames.com Open Series

04/21/12 - 04/22/12
Birmingham, AL
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