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 ninety days have passed. Join StarCityGames.com Premium today and gain exclusive access to the most informative Magic: the Gathering content available!
[View feedback from StarCityGames.com Premium members!]
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!
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!
[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. Draft:
Pack 1:
  
  
  
   Lash Out, Hornet Harasser, Deeptread Merrow, Goldmeadow Harrier, Fistful of Force, Eyeblight's Ending, Blind-Spot Giant, Wellgabber Apothecary,
Gilt-Leaf Seer, Boggart Birth Rite, Familiar's Ruse, Veteran of the Depths, Harpoon Sniper, Colfenor's Urn, Nath's Buffoon Pick: Eyeblight's Ending
Pack 2:
  
  
  
  Hurly-Burly, Peppersmoke, Lys Alana Huntmaster, Consuming Bonfire, Wispmare, Stonybrook Angler, Caterwauling Boggart, Tideshaper Mystic, Elvish Handservant, Broken Ambitions, Cloudgoat Ranger, Makeshift Mannequin, Vivid Grove, Sunrise Sovereign Pick: Cloudgoat Ranger
Pack 3:
  
  
  
 Soulbright Flamekin, Kithkin Daggerdare, Surge of Thoughtweft, Weed Strangle, Mudbutton Torchrunner, Judge of Currents, Lace with Moonglove, Blind-Spot Giant, Exiled Boggart, Giant Harbinger, Merrow Commerce, Benthicore, Colfenor's Plans Pick: Weed Strangle
Pack 4:
  
  
    Surge of Thoughtweft, Weed Strangle, Mudbutton Torchrunner, Springleaf Drum, Elvish Branchbender, Amoeboid Changeling, Kinsbaile Skirmisher, Lace with Moonglove, Scarred Vinebreeder, Prowess of the Fair, Treefolk Harbinger, Squeaking Pie Sneak Pick: Weed Strangle
Pack 5:
  
  
   Neck Snap, Smokebraider, Moonglove Winnower, Kinsbaile Balloonist, Inner-Flame Acolyte, Wings of Velis Vel, Caterwauling Boggart, Goldmeadow Dodger, Faerie Trickery, Ethereal Whiskergill, Ego Erasure Pick: Moonglove Winnower
Pack 6:
  
  
  Adder-Staff Boggart, Wispmare, Boggart Loggers, Flamekin Brawler, Facevaulter, Warren-Scourge Elf, Blades of Velis Vel, Lammastide Weave, Shelldock Isle, Colfenor's Urn Pick: Shelldock Isle
Pack 7:
  
  
 Kithkin Healer, Kithkin Daggerdare, Herbal Poultice, Zephyr Net, Scarred Vinebreeder, Gilt-Leaf Seer, Protective Bubble, Crush Underfoot, Goatnapper Pick: Kithkin Healer
Pack 8:
  
    Oaken Brawler, Stonybrook
Angler, Moonglove Winnower, Lairwatch Giant, Spiderwig Boggart, Flamekin Brawler, Inner-Flame Igniter, Benthicore Pick: Inner-Flame Igniter
Pack 9:
  
   Deeptread Merrow, Blind-Spot Giant, Wellgabber Apothecary, Gilt-Leaf Seer, Boggart Birth Rite, Veteran of the Depths, Nath's Buffoon Pick: Veteran of the Depths
Pack 10:
  
  Hurly-Burly, Wispmare, Caterwauling Boggart, Tideshaper Mystic, Elvish Handservant, Broken Ambitions Pick: Broken Ambitions
Pack 11:
  
 Soulbright Flamekin, Lace with Moonglove, Blind-Spot Giant, Exiled Boggart, Merrow Commerce Pick: Soulbright Flamekin
Pack 12:
    Surge of Thoughtweft, Scarred Vinebreeder, Prowess of the Fair, Squeaking Pie Sneak Pick: Squeaking Pie Sneak
Pack 13:
   Caterwauling Boggart, Goldmeadow Dodger, Ego Erasure Pick: Caterwauling Boggart
Pack 14:
  Flamekin Brawler, Facevaulter Pick: Facevaulter
Pack 15:
 Herbal Poultice Pick: Herbal Poultice
Pack 16:
  
  
  
   Thieving Sprite, Gilt-Leaf Ambush, Hillcomber Giant, Streambed Aquitects, Stinkdrinker Daredevil, Nameless Inversion, Battlewand Oak, Cenn's Heir,
Boggart Forager, Facevaulter, Hunt Down, Glarewielder, Faerie Harbinger, Boggart Shenanigans, Howltooth Hollow Pick: Nameless Inversion
Pack 17:
  
  
  
  Springleaf Drum, Kithkin Healer, Footbottom Feast, Axegrinder Giant, Lignify, Silvergill Douser, Ponder, Heal the Scars, Skeletal Changeling, Shields of Velis Vel, Fire-Belly Changeling, Nectar Faerie, Woodland Guidance, Jagged-Scar Archers Pick: Skeletal Changeling
Pack 18:
  
  
  
 Warren Pilferers, Fistful of Force, Aethersnipe, Quill-Slinger Boggart, Surge of Thoughtweft, Cloudcrown Oak, Ingot Chewer, Amoeboid Changeling, Spring Cleaning, Exiled Boggart, Vivid Crag, Boggart Harbinger, Vivid Creek Pick: Warren Pilferers
Pack 19:
  
  
    Nath's Elite, Neck Snap, Sentinels of Glen Elendra, Gilt-Leaf Ambush, Moonglove Winnower, Kinsbaile Balloonist, Facevaulter, Warren-Scourge Elf, Blades of Velis Vel, Cenn's Heir, Lammastide Weave, Howltooth Hollow Pick: Moonglove Winnower
Pack 20:
  
  
   Kinsbaile Balloonist, Whirlpool Whelm, Boggart Loggers, Adder-Staff Boggart, Faultgrinder, Faerie Trickery, Warren-Scourge Elf, Lairwatch Giant, Spiderwig Boggart, Kithkin Harbinger, Favor of the Mighty Pick: Boggart Loggers
Pack 21:
  
  
  Paperfin Rascal, Nath's Elite, Boggart Sprite-Chaser, Oaken Brawler, Nightshade Stinger, Blades of Velis Vel, Elvish Handservant, Dawnfluke, Broken Ambitions, Rings of Brighthearth Pick: Boggart Sprite-Chaser
Pack 22:
  
  
 Kithkin Healer, Footbottom Feast, Axegrinder Giant, Quill-Slinger Boggart, Springjack Knight, Ponder, Bog Hoodlums, Protective Bubble, Merrow Commerce Pick: Footbottom Feast
Pack 23:
  
    Hornet Harasser, Axegrinder Giant, Zephyr Net, Bog Hoodlums, Inkfathom Divers, Needle Drop, Woodland Guidance, Forest Pick: Hornet Harasser
Pack 24:
  
   Hillcomber Giant, Cenn's Heir, Boggart Forager, Facevaulter, Hunt Down, Boggart Shenanigans, Howltooth Hollow Pick: Hillcomber Giant
Pack 25:
  
  Springleaf Drum, Ponder, Heal the Scars, Shields of Velis Vel, Nectar Faerie, Woodland Guidance Pick: Springleaf Drum
Pack 26:
  
 Quill-Slinger Boggart, Ingot Chewer, Spring Cleaning, Exiled Boggart, Vivid Creek Pick: Vivid Creek
Pack 27:
    Facevaulter, Cenn's Heir, Lammastide Weave, Howltooth Hollow Pick: Howltooth Hollow
Pack 28:
   Warren-Scourge Elf, Lairwatch Giant, Spiderwig Boggart Pick: Spiderwig Boggart
Pack 29:
  Nightshade Stinger, Dawnfluke Pick: Nightshade Stinger
Pack 30:
 Bog Hoodlums Pick: Bog Hoodlums
Pack 31:
  
  
  
   Hillcomber Giant, Sentinels of Glen Elendra, Stinkdrinker Daredevil, Dreamspoiler Witches, Battlewand Oak, Oaken Brawler, Pestermite, Boggart Forager,
Ringskipper, Hunt Down, Triclopean Sight, Guardian of Cloverdell, Tar Pitcher, Hearthcage Giant, Gaddock Teeg Pick: Tar Pitcher
Pack 32:
  
  
  
  Inner-Flame Acolyte, Peppersmoke, Paperfin Rascal, Nath's Elite, Moonglove Extract, Boggart Sprite-Chaser, Ringskipper, Shimmering Grotto, Elvish Eulogist, Giant's Ire, Pollen Lullaby, Marsh Flitter, Veteran of the Depths, Heat Shimmer Pick: Marsh Flitter
Pack 33:
  
  
  
 Bog-Strider Ash, Aethersnipe, Tarfire, Herbal Poultice, Kithkin Greatheart, Oakgnarl Warrior, Fire-Belly Changeling, Skeletal Changeling, Aquitect's Will, Spring Cleaning, Hunter of Eyeblights, Guardian of Cloverdell, Triclopean Sight Pick: Tarfire
Pack 34:
  
  
    Mudbutton Torchrunner, Springleaf Drum, Goldmeadow Harrier, Glimmerdust Nap, Warren Pilferers, Inkfathom Divers, Boggart Birth Rite, Ingot Chewer, Soaring Hope, Shimmering Grotto, Vivid Crag, Boggart Harbinger Pick: Warren Pilferers
Pack 35:
  
  
   Woodland Changeling, Kithkin Greatheart, Footbottom Feast, Lowland Oaf, Lignify, Soaring Hope, Elvish Branchbender, Wellgabber Apothecary, Aquitect's Will, Veteran of the Depths, Prowess of the Fair Pick: Lowland Oaf
Pack 36:
  
  
  Hurly-Burly, Paperfin Rascal, Runed Stalactite, Giant's Ire, Dawnfluke, Spellstutter Sprite, Elvish Eulogist, Vivid Marsh, Hunter of Eyeblights, Heat Shimmer Pick: Runed Stalactite
Pack 37:
  
  
 Stonybrook Angler, Moonglove Winnower, Nath's Buffoon, Faultgrinder, Rootgrapple, Goldmeadow Dodger, Pollen Lullaby, Entangling Trap, Nova Chaser Pick: Nath's Buffoon
Pack 38:
  
    Springleaf
Drum, Glimmerdust Nap, Soulbright Flamekin, Heal the Scars, Shields of Velis Vel, Rebellion of the Flamekin, Glen Elendra Pranksters, Cenn's Heir Pick: Soulbright Flamekin
Pack 39:
  
   Hillcomber Giant, Sentinels of Glen Elendra, Oaken Brawler, Boggart Forager, Ringskipper, Hunt Down, Hearthcage Giant Pick: Hearthcage Giant
Pack 40:
  
  Paperfin Rascal, Boggart Sprite-Chaser, Ringskipper, Shimmering Grotto, Elvish Eulogist, Giant's Ire Pick: Boggart Sprite-Chaser
Pack 41:
  
 Herbal Poultice, Oakgnarl Warrior, Spring Cleaning, Hunter of Eyeblights, Triclopean Sight Pick: Hunter of Eyeblights
Pack 42:
    Glimmerdust Nap, Boggart Birth Rite, Ingot Chewer, Soaring Hope Pick: Boggart Birth Rite
Pack 43:
   Soaring Hope, Wellgabber Apothecary, Aquitect's Will Pick: Wellgabber Apothecary
Pack 44:
  Giant's Ire, Dawnfluke Pick: Giant's Ire
Pack 45:
 Goldmeadow Dodger Pick: Goldmeadow Dodger
Final Decklist:
8 Mountain
10 Swamp
1 Boggart Birth Rite
1 Boggart Loggers
1 Caterwauling Boggart
1 Eyeblight's Ending
1 Facevaulter
1 Footbottom Feast
1 Hearthcage Giant
1 Hornet Harasser
1 Inner-Flame Igniter
1 Marsh Flitter
1 Nameless Inversion
1 Runed Stalactite
1 Skeletal Changeling
2 Soulbright Flamekin
1 Squeaking Pie Sneak
1 Tarfire
1 Tar Pitcher
2 Warren Pilferers
2 Weed Strangle
Sideboard
2 Boggart Sprite-Chaser
1 Bog Hoodlums
1 Broken Ambitions
1 Cloudgoat Ranger
1 Giant's Ire
1 Goldmeadow Dodger
1 Herbal Poultice
1 Hillcomber Giant
1 Howltooth Hollow
1 Hunter of Eyeblights
1 Kithkin Healer
1 Lowland Oaf
2 Moonglove Winnower
1 Nath's Buffoon
1 Nightshade Stinger
1 Shelldock Isle
1 Spiderwig Boggart
1 Springleaf Drum
1 Veteran of the Depths
1 Vivid Creek
1 Wellgabber Apothecary
Pick 1: Lash Out versus Eyeblight's Ending. I think these two cards rank very close
in power level, if I had to rank them, I would say Lash Out is slightly
higher. However, when two cards rank this close, the better pick will be the
one in the colors that you're going to be passed. If you're going to be
passed lots of Red, you'll wish you'd taken Lash Out, but if you see lots
of Black you'll wish you'd first picked Eyeblight's Ending. I like Black far more
than Red. For a small difference in power, I put my money on Black instead of
Red in this roulette game.
Pick 2: Sunrise Sovereign was a foil, so the person
before me took a rare, which makes harder for us to read the pack. I think
the options are Lys Alana Huntmaster, the only Green card, as It triggers with
Eyeblight's Ending (and Green/Black is a combination that works). It could
be Cloudgoat Ranger, the strongest card in the pack in a vaccuum, but
White/Black doesn't go well together. Or it could be Sunrise Sovereign, as even by
itself a six mana 5/5 is okay. Plus it can be really good with many giants and
changelings.
I almost timed out, so I had to make a pick I wasn't sure of. Now I've had
more time to think about it, I would've picked Sunrise Sovereign. I'm
not saying this just because of the big picture, knowing that Giant
Harbinger and multiple late Blind-Spot Giants were passed. The reason is that I have picked Cloudgoat Rangers passed to me
many times, and they were wasted as I did not move into White. Besides Oblivion Ring
and Plover Knights, there's no White common I want to pick and play with, as
I hate vanilla 2/2s.
Pick 6: Everything's pretty bad except for Shelldock Isle, which is really good.
Pack 1 showed me Black was a successful bet, as I was passed two Weed
Strangles Pick 3 and Pick 4, and a very late Squeaking Pie-Sneak. However, it also
showed me that Red would also be a good choice, especially as the Sovereign,
many giants passed by my hands (but it was too late to get them), and also
because there were some late Red cards good for the Elemental archetype. Even though I tried to go
Black/White, late pick Igniter, Flamekin, and Caterwauling Boggart showed me
that I should be Red. I wasn't expecting to get much of it in the
second booster, but I would keep a door open for it in the third Booster.
In the second booster I saw very little Red or White, as the person I
passed to was probably Red/White Giants, but I grabbed many Black playables.
I was rewarded with the Tar Pitcher Pick 31, and in the third booster I
managed to reap the Black/Red I had set up by the end of the first
pack.
Pick 34: Having the possibility of double/multiple Warren PIlferers is too
strong.
Round 1 I played against White/Red.
Game 1 he missed his fourth land drop for one or two turns which was
enough to put him behind on tempo. I got another free turn when he played
Changeling Berserker as soon as he got to four mana by killing his only
creature with Nameless Inversion. I was holding Weed Strangle, and when I
cast it next turn on a Plover Knights, revealing a second in the clash, he conceded.
Game 2 he just mana flooded. We traded some cards one for one, and then he
died holding four lands.
Round 2 I played against Green/White.
Game 1 I kept with three lands, and died with three lands in play. If I had reached
land number four before he played Immaculate Magistrate on his turn 5, I
would've won, as all his creatures were two toughness and I was holding
Hornet Harasser as well as having three Goblins in play. He did not draw
removal, so Tar Pitcher would've been insanely good. As soon as Magistrate
became active, I don't think I could've won.
Game 2 was his turn to stall on three lands. He still recovered, but was a
little behind. I made two suicide attacks, crashing creatures into his Plover
Knights, to drop him to two life and kill him with Tarfire. If he'd fully
recovered and stabilized, I would've lost for sure.
All four games so far were decided by mana problems, so for game 3 of
this round we both mulliganed. Who would get the better deal out of his six
cards? Yes, it was me. I made turn 3 Boggart Loggers
(unblockable), turn 4 Squeaking Pie-Sneak (unblockable), and then I cast Nameless
Inversion on his Plover Knights. Then came Tar Pitcher, followed by Inner-Flame Igniter. His
draw was okay, but much slower.
I split the finals.
See you tomorrow!
Tiago
Draft recording done by Blargware's MTGO DraftCap. Support Blargware!
|