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!

• "The Innovator" & 2007 Worlds finalist Patrick Chapin


• Pro Tour Player Gerry Thompson


• Deckbuilder extraordinaire Adrian Sullivan


• Limited expert Nick Eisel


• Vintage expert Stephen Menendian


• Pro Tour deck designer Benjamin Peebles-Mundy


• StarCityGames.com GM of Inventory & Acquisitions Ben Bleiweiss


• Fan favorite Richard Feldman


• Fan favorite Kyle Sanchez

PLUS! StarCityGames.com Premium members now have 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!

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.

Draft:

Pack 1:

Feebleness, Castle Raptors, Chromatic Star, Tolarian Sentinel, Flowstone Channeler, Skulking Knight, Brass Gnat, Dream Stalker, Watcher Sliver, Blazing Blade Askari, Molten Slagheap, Pendelhaven Elder, Firemaw Kavu, Word of Seizing, Verdeloth the Ancient

Pick: Firemaw Kavu

Pack 2:

Slipstream Serpent, Gaze of Justice, Strangling Soot, Fathom Seer, Flamecore Elemental, Gemhide Sliver, Ophidian Eye, Watcher Sliver, Thrill of the Hunt, Plunder, Ignite Memories, Skittering Monstrosity, Celestial Crusader, Claws of Gix

Pick: Strangling Soot

Pack 3:

Ironclaw Buzzardiers, Temporal Eddy, Lightning Axe, Mogg War Marshal, Sage of Epityr, Divine Congregation, Mindlash Sliver, Thallid Shell-Dweller, Jhoira's Timebug, Tromp the Domains, Vampiric Sliver, Paradise Plume, Ghost Ship

Pick: Lightning Axe

Pack 4:

Coral Trickster, Ivory Giant, Deathspore Thallid, Flowstone Channeler, Two-Headed Sliver, Prismatic Lens, Clockspinning, Sidewinder Sliver, Spell Burst, Dementia Sliver, Ghostflame Sliver, Thelon of Havenwood

Pick: Prismatic Lens

Pack 5:

Herd Gnarr, Grapeshot, Scarwood Treefolk, Viscid Lemures, Two-Headed Sliver, Blazing Blade Askari, Shadow Sliver, Primal Forcemage, Gustcloak Cavalier, Thick-Skinned Goblin, Lord of Atlantis

Pick: Grapeshot

Pack 6:

Snapback, Pentarch Ward, Call to the Netherworld, Drifter il-Dal, Havenwood Wurm, Basal Sliver, Sage of Epityr, Foriysian Totem, Spirit Loop, Hypergenesis

Pick: Foriysian Totem

Pack 7:

Dark Withering, Viscerid Deepwalker, Ashcoat Bear, Corpulent Corpse, Ghitu Firebreathing, Momentary Blink, Greenseeker, Pit Keeper, Unyaro Bees

Pick: Dark Withering

Pack 8:

Jedit's Dragoons, Savage Thallid, Ancient Grudge, Flickering Spirit, Opaline Sliver, Spell Burst, Krosan Cloudscraper, Return to Dust

Pick: Krosan Cloudscraper

Pack 9:

Feebleness, Chromatic Star, Tolarian Sentinel, Skulking Knight, Brass Gnat, Blazing Blade Askari, Molten Slagheap

Pick: Blazing Blade Askari

Pack 10:

Gaze of Justice, Flamecore Elemental, Ophidian Eye, Plunder, Ignite Memories, Claws of Gix

Pick: Flamecore Elemental

Pack 11:

Ironclaw Buzzardiers, Sage of Epityr, Divine Congregation, Mindlash Sliver, Paradise Plume

Pick: Ironclaw Buzzardiers

Pack 12:

Clockspinning, Sidewinder Sliver, Dementia Sliver, Ghostflame Sliver

Pick: Ghostflame Sliver

Pack 13:

Shadow Sliver, Gustcloak Cavalier, Lord of Atlantis

Pick: Lord of Atlantis

Pack 14:

Drifter il-Dal, Sage of Epityr

Pick: Sage of Epityr

Pack 15:

Ghitu Firebreathing

Pick: Ghitu Firebreathing

Pack 16:

Mire Boa, Utopia Vow, Veiling Oddity, Ridged Kusite, Pallid Mycoderm, Brain Gorgers, Dust Corona, Skirk Shaman, Essence Warden, Merfolk Thaumaturgist, Circle of Affliction, Deadwood Treefolk, Keen Sense, Magus of the Bazaar, Damnation

Pick: Damnation

Pack 17:

Aven Riftwatcher, Saltfield Recluse, Veiling Oddity, Midnight Charm, Citanul Woodreaders, Pallid Mycoderm, Keldon Marauders, Rathi Trapper, Simian Spirit Guide, Piracy Charm, Rebuff the Wicked, Blood Knight, Magus of the Arena, Simian Spirit Guide

Pick: Magus of the Arena

Pack 18:

Dead / Gone, Reflex Sliver, Poultice Sliver, Spitting Sliver, Veiling Oddity, Deadly Grub, Aquamorph Entity, Firefright Mage, Bog Serpent, Revered Dead, Healing Leaves, Frenetic Sliver, Molten Firebird

Pick: Dead / Gone

Pack 19:

Synchronous Sliver, Dawn Charm, Blightspeaker, Ghost Tactician, Fury Charm, Evolution Charm, Reality Acid, Primal Plasma, Essence Warden, Circle of Affliction, Dunerider Outlaw, Imp's Mischief

Pick: Blightspeaker

Pack 20:

Battering Sliver, Dust Corona, Uktabi Drake, Aquamorph Entity, Evolution Charm, Fa'adiyah Seer, Sinew Sliver, Bog Serpent, Auramancer's Guise, Frozen Aether, Oros, the Avenger

Pick: Oros, the Avenger

Pack 21:

Needlepeak Spider, Poultice Sliver, Vitaspore Thallid, Dash Hopes, Shade of Trokair, Uktabi Drake, Vampiric Link, Necrotic Sliver, Stonecloaker, Retether

Pick: Necrotic Sliver

Pack 22:

Spitting Sliver, Keldon Marauders, Ghost Tactician, Wistful Thinking, Dash Hopes, Reality Acid, Piracy Charm, Healing Leaves, Heroes Remembered

Pick: Spitting Sliver

Pack 23:

Stingscourger, Needlepeak Spider, Deadly Grub, Brain Gorgers, Mana Tithe, Bog Serpent, Darkheart Sliver, Fungal Behemoth

Pick: Stingscourger

Pack 24:

Veiling Oddity, Ridged Kusite, Dust Corona, Skirk Shaman, Merfolk Thaumaturgist, Circle of Affliction, Keen Sense

Pick: Skirk Shaman

Pack 25:

Aven Riftwatcher, Midnight Charm, Keldon Marauders, Simian Spirit Guide, Rebuff the Wicked, Simian Spirit Guide

Pick: Midnight Charm

Pack 26:

Spitting Sliver, Deadly Grub, Firefright Mage, Revered Dead, Frenetic Sliver

Pick: Spitting Sliver

Pack 27:

Synchronous Sliver, Ghost Tactician, Reality Acid, Circle of Affliction

Pick: Circle of Affliction

Pack 28:

Dust Corona, Auramancer's Guise, Frozen Aether

Pick: Frozen Aether

Pack 29:

Dash Hopes, Vampiric Link

Pick: Vampiric Link

Pack 30:

Dash Hopes

Pick: Dash Hopes

Pack 31:

Samite Censer-Bearer, Infiltrator il-Kor, Putrid Cyclops, Rift Elemental, Llanowar Empath, Edge of Autumn, Lymph Sliver, Blind Phantasm, Virulent Sliver, Ghostfire, Mass of Ghouls, Spirit en-Dal, Cryptic Annelid, Pooling Venom, Barren Glory

Pick: Ghostfire

Pack 32:

Leaden Fists, Gift of Granite, Augur of Skulls, Lost Hours, Fatal Attraction, Mass of Ghouls, Lucent Liminid, Thornweald Archer, Flowstone Embrace, Frenzy Sliver, Mesmeric Sliver, New Benalia, Even the Odds, Reality Strobe

Pick: Fatal Attraction

Pack 33:

Unblinking Bleb, Llanowar Augur, Riddle of Lightning, Venser's Diffusion, Judge Unworthy, Blind Phantasm, Lumithread Field, Grinning Ignus, Edge of Autumn, Fomori Nomad, Lost Auramancers, Delay, Summoner's Pact

Pick: Fomori Nomad

Pack 34:

Judge Unworthy, Leaden Fists, Quiet Disrepair, Saltskitter, Patrician's Scorn, Sarcomite Myr, Henchfiend of Ukor, Thornweald Archer, Death Rattle, Pooling Venom, Tolaria West, Arc Blade

Pick: Arc Blade

Pack 35:

Marshaling Cry, Unblinking Bleb, Lost Hours, Riddle of Lightning, Wrap in Vigor, Vedalken Aethermage, Blade of the Sixth Pride, Grinning Ignus, Whip-Spine Drake, Sparkspitter, Riftsweeper

Pick: Riddle of Lightning

Pack 36:

Venser's Diffusion, Oblivion Crown, Saltskitter, Cutthroat il-Dal, Grave Scrabbler, Henchfiend of Ukor, Homing Sliver, Haze of Rage, Riftsweeper, Spirit en-Dal

Pick: Henchfiend of Ukor

Pack 37:

Augur of Skulls, Samite Censer-Bearer, Lumithread Field, Mesmeric Sliver, Deepcavern Imp, Mystic Speculation, Minions' Murmurs, Tolaria West, Epochrasite

Pick: Epochrasite

Pack 38:

Aven Augur, Bogardan Lancer, Grave Peril, Wrap in Vigor, Blade of the Sixth Pride, Sarcomite Myr, Char-Rumbler, Glittering Wish

Pick: Glittering Wish

Pack 39:

Putrid Cyclops, Rift Elemental, Virulent Sliver, Mass of Ghouls, Spirit en-Dal, Pooling Venom, Barren Glory

Pick: Mass of Ghouls

Pack 40:

Gift of Granite, Lost Hours, Mass of Ghouls, Frenzy Sliver, Mesmeric Sliver, Reality Strobe

Pick: Mass of Ghouls

Pack 41:

Unblinking Bleb, Llanowar Augur, Venser's Diffusion, Grinning Ignus, Lost Auramancers

Pick: Grinning Ignus

Pack 42:

Saltskitter, Patrician's Scorn, Sarcomite Myr, Pooling Venom

Pick: Pooling Venom

Pack 43:

Lost Hours, Vedalken Aethermage, Grinning Ignus

Pick: Grinning Ignus

Pack 44:

Oblivion Crown, Saltskitter

Pick: Saltskitter

Pack 45:

Samite Censer-Bearer

Pick: Samite Censer-Bearer

Final Decklist:

Maindeck:

1 Damnation [FOIL]
1 Dark Withering
1 Spitting Sliver
1 Strangling Soot
1 Arc Blade
1 Fatal Attraction
1 Firemaw Kavu
1 Fomori Nomad
1 Grapeshot
2 Grinning Ignus
1 Henchfiend of Ukor
1 Lightning Axe
1 Magus of the Arena
1 Riddle of Lightning
1 Stingscourger
1 Epochrasite
1 Foriysian Totem
1 Ghostfire
1 Prismatic Lens
1 Dead // Gone
1 Ghostflame Sliver
1 Oros, the Avenger
8 Mountain
2 Plains
7 Swamp

Sideboard:

1 Blazing Blade Askari
1 Blightspeaker
1 Circle of Affliction
1 Dash Hopes
1 Flamecore Elemental
1 Frozen Aether
1 Ghitu Firebreathing
1 Glittering Wish
1 Ironclaw Buzzardiers
1 Krosan Cloudscraper
1 Lord of Atlantis [FOIL]
2 Mass of Ghouls
1 Midnight Charm
1 Necrotic Sliver
1 Pooling Venom
1 Sage of Epityr
1 Saltskitter
1 Samite Censer-Bearer
1 Skirk Shaman
1 Spitting Sliver
1 Vampiric Link

This draft went about as well as can be hoped for. Getting a third pick Lightning Axe to follow a first pick Firemaw Kavu is nice, but opening a foil Damnation is a dream come true. Then the fifth pick Oros was icing on the cake. I'm not sure about Arc Blade versus Death Rattle, so I took the Blade since I haven't had the chance to play it much, and it did not disappoint.

Round 1 I played against a good White/Red deck. He started with Blade of the Sixth Pride, but I had Epochrasite to hold it off. I was able to use my removal to hold him off for the most part, but it looked like I was going to die to a Flickering Spirit he held up mana to protect. Fortunately I drew Strangling Soot just in time, so I was able to Soot it when he attacked, and then kill it with Arc Blade on my turn. Next game he got a bit flooded and I had Damnation for when his Ivory Giant came in.

Round two I played against a solid Blue Black deck. In the first game he got stuck on three lands and just played five morphs. I killed them all, and attacked until he was dead. Game two I got stuck on five land with Firemaw Kavu, Magus of the Arena, and Oros, the Avenger in hand. He couldn't attack effectively though, so it was only a matter of time until I drew a land and won.

This deck was too good to split the finals. I played against a good Green Blue Thallid deck in the finals. In the first game he played some creatures early, but I killed them, then locked him down with Oros and Magus of the Arena. In the second game he had a good start with Giant Dustwasp suspended, and Sporesower Thallid on turn four, and Savage Thallid turn five. I killed the Sporesower with Riddle of Lightning, returned my Ignus to cast Firemaw Kavu which killed the Savage Thallid and Dustwasp, then locked him up with Magus of the Arena.

Drafts don't get much easier than this one.

Until tomorrow,

Rich

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