Draft:
Pack 1:
Orcish Cannonade, Amrou Scout, Keldon Halberdier, Mana Skimmer, Durkwood Baloth, Shadow Sliver, Bogardan Rager, Traitor’s Clutch, D’Avenant Healer, Glass Asp, Brine Elemental, Assembly-Worker, Celestial Crusader, Spectral Force, Shadow Guildmage
Pick: Spectral Force
Pack 2:
Slipstream Serpent, Gaze of Justice, Strangling Soot, Fathom Seer, Flamecore Elemental, Clockspinning, Sidewinder Sliver, Viscid Lemures, Mwonvuli Acid-Moss, Two-Headed Sliver, Conflagrate, Assembly-Worker, Sulfurous Blast, Zhalfirin Commander
Pick: Sulfurous Blast
Pack 3:
Mana Skimmer, Nantuko Shaman, Coral Trickster, Benalish Cavalry, Feebleness, Watcher Sliver, Blazing Blade Askari, Glass Asp, Traitor’s Clutch, Dread Return, Paradox Haze, Thunder Totem, Whispers of the Muse
Pick: Nantuko Shaman
Pack 4:
Icatian Crier, Goblin Skycutter, Ghitu Firebreathing, Bewilder, Detainment Spell, Psychotic Episode, Sprout, Duskrider Peregrine, Wipe Away, Evil Eye of Urborg, Trickbind, Pandemonium
Pick: Duskrider Peregrine
Pack 5:
Spinneret Sliver, Flamecore Elemental, Mana Skimmer, Nantuko Shaman, Thrill of the Hunt, Shadow Sliver, Bogardan Rager, Traitor’s Clutch, Gustcloak Cavalier, Fungal Reaches, Might of Old Krosa
Pick: Nantuko Shaman
Pack 6:
Thallid Germinator, Pentarch Ward, Jhoira’s Timebug, Jedit’s Dragoons, Savage Thallid, Ancient Grudge, Haunting Hymn, Angel’s Grace, Coalition Victory, Swamp
Pick: Thallid Germinator
Pack 7:
Pentarch Ward, Ironclaw Buzzardiers, Ancient Grudge, Flickering Spirit, Call to the Netherworld, Drifter il-Dal, Vampiric Sliver, Fool’s Demise, Orgg
Pick: Orgg
Pack 8:
Pentarch Ward, Thallid Germinator, Havenwood Wurm, Chameleon Blur, Ghitu Firebreathing, Bewilder, Saltcrusted Steppe, Reiterate
Pick: Thallid Germinator
Pack 9:
Keldon Halberdier, Mana Skimmer, Shadow Sliver, Bogardan Rager, Traitor’s Clutch, D’Avenant Healer, Glass Asp
Pick: Keldon Halberdier
Pack 10:
Gaze of Justice, Flamecore Elemental, Clockspinning, Sidewinder Sliver, Two-Headed Sliver, Assembly-Worker
Pick: Flamecore Elemental
Pack 11:
Watcher Sliver, Blazing Blade Askari, Glass Asp, Traitor’s Clutch, Dread Return
Pick: Blazing Blade Askari
Pack 12:
Ghitu Firebreathing, Bewilder, Detainment Spell, Psychotic Episode
Pick: Ghitu Firebreathing
Pack 13:
Thrill of the Hunt, Traitor’s Clutch, Fungal Reaches
Pick: Thrill of the Hunt
Pack 14:
Pick: Ancient Grudge
Pack 15:
Pick: Ancient Grudge
Pack 16:
Strength in Numbers, Zealot il-Vec, Urborg Syphon-Mage, Snapback, Aether Web, Lightning Axe, Aetherflame Wall, Pit Keeper, Sage of Epityr, Divine Congregation, Urza’s Factory, Stormcloud Djinn, Norin the Wary, Sindbad
Pick: Lightning Axe
Pack 17:
Spinneret Sliver, Keldon Halberdier, Ivory Giant, Grapeshot, Mindstab, Plunder, Eternity Snare, Molder, Venser’s Sliver, Children of Korlis, Aspect of Mongoose, Quilled Sliver, Sudden Shock, Triskelavus, Assault / Battery
Pack 18:
Gaze of Justice, Flamecore Elemental, Gemhide Sliver, Feebleness, Traitor’s Clutch, Plunder, Eternity Snare, Molder, Pull from Eternity, Locket of Yesterdays, Sulfurous Blast, Endrek Sahr, Master Breeder, Dragon Whelp
Pick: Dragon Whelp
Pack 19:
Zealot il-Vec, Ironclaw Buzzardiers, Temporal Eddy, Lightning Axe, Mogg War Marshal, Detainment Spell, Psychotic Episode, Sprout, Aetherflame Wall, Weatherseed Totem, Quilled Sliver, Liege of the Pit
Pick: Lightning Axe
Pack 20:
Strength in Numbers, Zealot il-Vec, Screeching Sliver, Ancient Grudge, Greenseeker, Foriysian Interceptor, Cavalry Master, Scryb Ranger, Skittering Monstrosity, Magus of the Candelabra, Cockatrice
Pick: Cockatrice
Pack 21:
Feebleness, Tolarian Sentinel, Flowstone Channeler, Blazing Blade Askari, Shadow Sliver, Ophidian Eye, Watcher Sliver, Truth or Tale, Smallpox, Lord of Atlantis
Pick: Flowstone Channeler
Pack 22:
Ashcoat Bear, Search for Tomorrow, Call to the Netherworld, Drifter il-Dal, Havenwood Wurm, Basal Sliver, Basalt Gargoyle, Krosan Grip, Fungus Sliver
Pick: Search for Tomorrow
Pack 23:
Coral Trickster, Feebleness, Spinneret Sliver, D’Avenant Healer, Glass Asp, Ground Rift, Eternity Snare, Tectonic Fiend
Pick: Spinneret Sliver
Pack 24:
Keldon Halberdier, Plunder, Eternity Snare, Molder, Venser’s Sliver, Children of Korlis, Aspect of Mongoose
Pick: Keldon Halberdier
Pack 25:
Zealot il-Vec, Aether Web, Aetherflame Wall, Pit Keeper, Sage of Epityr, Divine Congregation
Pick: Aether Web
Pack 26:
Traitor’s Clutch, Plunder, Eternity Snare, Molder, Locket of Yesterdays
Pick: Molder
Pack 27:
Ironclaw Buzzardiers, Detainment Spell, Sprout, Aetherflame Wall
Pick: Sprout
Pack 28:
Strength in Numbers, Ancient Grudge, Foriysian Interceptor
Pick: Strength in Numbers
Pack 29:
Pick: Ophidian Eye
Pack 30:
Pick: Krosan Grip
Pack 31:
Trespasser il-Vec, Spinneret Sliver, Fortify, Spiketail Drakeling, Flamecore Elemental, Thrill of the Hunt, Plunder, Skulking Knight, Brass Gnat, Dream Stalker, Primal Forcemage, Locket of Yesterdays, Might of Old Krosa, Vesuva, Icatian Javelineers
Pick: Spinneret Sliver
Pack 32:
Flowstone Channeler, Herd Gnarr, Trespasser il-Vec, Amrou Scout, Grapeshot, Scarwood Treefolk, Wormwood Dryad, Mystical Teachings, Two-Headed Sliver, Prismatic Lens, Pull from Eternity, Aspect of Mongoose, Serra Avenger, Dauthi Slayer
Pick: Grapeshot
Pack 33:
Snapback, Aether Web, Lightning Axe, Cloudchaser Kestrel, Drudge Reavers, Goblin Skycutter, Basal Sliver, Drifter il-Dal, Subterranean Shambler, Mindlash Sliver, Wipe Away, Plated Pegasus, Restore Balance
Pick: Lightning Axe
Pack 34:
Chromatic Star, Tolarian Sentinel, Flowstone Channeler, Trespasser il-Vec, Venser’s Sliver, Children of Korlis, Sangrophage, Viashino Bladescout, Mystical Teachings, Barbed Shocker, Vesuva, Funeral Charm
Pick: Flowstone Channeler
Pack 35:
Slipstream Serpent, Nantuko Shaman, Gorgon Recluse, Spiketail Drakeling, Scarwood Treefolk, Sangrophage, Viashino Bladescout, Mystical Teachings, Thrill of the Hunt, Stormcloud Djinn, Volcanic Awakening
Pick: Nantuko Shaman
Pack 36:
Cancel, Empty the Warrens, Icatian Crier, Sage of Epityr, Ghitu Firebreathing, Momentary Blink, Greenseeker, Careful Consideration, Haunting Hymn, Nether Traitor
Pick: Empty the Warrens
Pack 37:
Drudge Reavers, Cancel, Mindlash Sliver, Thallid Shell-Dweller, Jhoira’s Timebug, Jedit’s Dragoons, Savage Thallid, Krosan Grip, Swamp
Pick: Thallid Shell-Dweller
Pack 38:
Ashcoat Bear, Pit Keeper, Sage of Epityr, Divine Congregation, Mindlash Sliver, Thallid Shell-Dweller, Cavalry Master, Dralnu, Lich Lord
Pick: Ashcoat Bear
Pack 39:
Trespasser il-Vec, Thrill of the Hunt, Plunder, Skulking Knight, Brass Gnat, Primal Forcemage, Locket of Yesterdays
Pick: Thrill of the Hunt
Pack 40:
Flowstone Channeler, Herd Gnarr, Trespasser il-Vec, Scarwood Treefolk, Wormwood Dryad, Aspect of Mongoose
Pick: Herd Gnarr
Pack 41:
Drudge Reavers, Basal Sliver, Mindlash Sliver, Plated Pegasus, Restore Balance
Pick: Restore Balance
Pack 42:
Children of Korlis, Sangrophage, Viashino Bladescout, Barbed Shocker
Pick: Barbed Shocker
Pack 43:
Sangrophage, Viashino Bladescout, Volcanic Awakening
Pick: Volcanic Awakening
Pack 44:
Pick: Ghitu Firebreathing
Pack 45:
Pick: Mindlash Sliver
Final Decklist:
Maindeck:
1 Dragon Whelp [FOIL]
1 Orgg
1 Empty the Warrens
1 Grapeshot
2 Keldon Halberdier
3 Lightning Axe
1 Sulfurous Blast
1 Cockatrice
1 Ashcoat Bear
1 Herd Gnarr
3 Nantuko Shaman
1 Search for Tomorrow
1 Spectral Force
2 Spinneret Sliver
1 Strength in Numbers
1 Thallid Germinator
1 Assault // Battery
9 Forest
8 Mountain
Sideboard:
1 Aether Web
2 Ancient Grudge
1 Barbed Shocker
1 Blazing Blade Askari
1 Duskrider Peregrine
1 Flamecore Elemental
2 Flowstone Channeler
2 Ghitu Firebreathing
1 Krosan Grip
1 Mindlash Sliver
1 Molder
1 Ophidian Eye
1 Restore Balance
1 Sprout
1 Thallid Germinator
1 Thallid Shell-Dweller
2 Thrill of the Hunt
1 Volcanic Awakening
This deck was just absurd. During the draft I was thinking about what I was going to write here, and I was going to make a point about the number of Sulfurous Blasts I’ve been passed lately, and to tell people to stop passing it. It’s almost never right. Then of course I passed a Sulfurous Blast in the second pack, a pick that I know, looking back is a mistake.
I was surprised by how much of a struggle it was to win the draft with this deck. It just refused to cooperate, giving me a good draw in one of eight games, in every other game I was constantly either missing a color, missing lands in general early, or flooded by turn 5 or 6. Nevertheless all my cards were so good I was able to win anyways.
In the first game my deck cooperated, and I had a curve of: Halberdier, Halberdier plus Search, pass turn 3, Cockatrice, and then Lightning Axe and Grapeshot when the second Halberdier came in. I had a decent opening hand but ended up getting flooded in the second game. The turning point was the turn before his Ith came in, I decided to tap out for Halberdier, planning to pay six for Lightning Axe next turn. He immediately played Pentarch Ward, and I was screwed. I drew lands for the rest of the game, but I would have needed a miracle to win anyway. For game 3 I kept an opening hand of Mountain, Halberdier, 2 Lightning Axe, 2 Spinneret Sliver, and Nantuko Shaman on the play. It may have been a mistake but I stand by it. I was lucky and drew the Forest on the first turn, and overwhelmed him with little dorks, while Axeing his only creatures that could block them.
In the second round I played against another Blue/White deck. He got ahead early in game 1 with two Benalish Cavalry and Cavalry Master. I couldn’t compete while stuck on two lands. He had the same start for game 2, but that one turned around when I played Orgg turn five, and Lightning Axed his Master and Castle Raptors turn 6. Game 3 was close, as he had another good start, and I was again short on lands. His Cavalry were racing my Spinnerets and Herd Gnarr. I was eventually able to destroy his team by suspending Nantuko Shaman, and casting Assault and Grapeshot when it came in.
I decided to play the finals because my deck was just that good. The first game was a blowout, despite my mana flood. He Cloudskated my Spectral Force twice, but it still dealt 16, and Cockatrice and Dragon Whelp did the rest. The second game was closer as he had a quick draw with Nether Traitor and Sangrophage, but my higher card quality, and his mana flood were enough for me to pull it out, despite my never drawing a second Mountain for the Sulfurous Blast and Orgg in my hand.
Until Monday,
Rich
Draft recording done by Blargware‘s MTGO DraftCap. Support Blargware!