Drafting With Rich #15

In the second of today’s “Drafting With Rich” articles, Rich passes up a first pack first pick Char… with good results. He shares each pick as it comes, and comments on his final build and performance in his usual signature style. The forums have been busy with this excellent series. Be sure to tune in on Monday for the first of Rich’s overview articles, where he looks back on the first fifteen drafts and examines their results.

By Rich Hoaen

July 14, 2006

Draft:

Pack 1:

Dogpile, Civic Wayfinder, Votary of the Conclave, Sparkmage Apprentice, Nightguard Patrol, Surge of Zeal, Sundering Vitae, Caregiver, Golgari Signet, Viashino Fangtail, Seeds of Strength, Wojek Apothecary, Golgari Germination, Vigor Mortis, Char

Pick: Civic Wayfinder

Pack 2:

Strands of Undeath, Coalhauler Swine, Dimir Aqueduct, Bramble Elemental, Benevolent Ancestor, Necromantic Thirst, Goblin Fire Fiend, Perplex, Brainspoil, Shambling Shell, Transluminant, Halcyon Glaze, Darkblast, Flickerform

Pick: Bramble Elemental

Pack 3:

Terraformer, Gaze of the Gorgon, Goblin Spelunkers, Clinging Darkness, Incite Hysteria, Dizzy Spell, Thoughtpicker Witch, Seismic Spike, Veteran Armorer, Flight of Fancy, Flash Conscription, Nightmare Void, Carven Caryatid

Pick: Carven Caryatid

Pack 4:

Induce Paranoia, Mortipede, Torpid Moloch, War-Torch Goblin, Boros Fury-Shield, Dizzy Spell, Rally the Righteous, Sell-Sword Brute, Elves of Deep Shadow, Flame-Kin Zealot, Telling Time, Undercity Shade

Pick: Elves of Deep Shadow

Pack 5:

Courier Hawk, Convolute, Golgari Rot Farm, Vedalken Entrancer, Thundersong Trumpeter, Gate Hound, Zephyr Spirit, Lurking Informant, Stoneshaker Shaman, Root-Kin Ally, Recollect

Pick: Golgari Rot Farm

Pack 6:

Farseek, Tidewater Minion, Sadistic Augermage, Scatter the Seeds, Rain of Embers, Dryad’s Caress, Dromad Purebred, Boros Signet, Sandsower, Psychic Drain

Pack 7:

Terrarion, Woodwraith Strangler, Surveilling Sprite, Sabertooth Alley Cat, Elvish Skysweeper, Conclave’s Blessing, Dimir Infiltrator, Rolling Spoil, Pariah’s Shield

Pick: Rolling Spoil

Pack 8:

Courier Hawk, Stasis Cell, Dimir Infiltrator, Grayscaled Gharial, Shred Memory, Netherborn Phalanx, Glass Golem, Sins of the Past

Pick: Netherborn Phalanx

Pack 9:

Dogpile, Votary of the Conclave, Surge of Zeal, Caregiver, Wojek Apothecary, Golgari Germination, Vigor Mortis

Pick: Vigor Mortis

Pack 10:

Strands of Undeath, Coalhauler Swine, Necromantic Thirst, Goblin Fire Fiend, Perplex, Flickerform

Pick: Strands of Undeath

Pack 11:

Goblin Spelunkers, Clinging Darkness, Dizzy Spell, Thoughtpicker Witch, Seismic Spike

Pick: Clinging Darkness

Pack 12:

Induce Paranoia, Torpid Moloch, War-Torch Goblin, Dizzy Spell

Pick: Induce Paranoia

Pack 13:

Convolute, Zephyr Spirit, Stoneshaker Shaman

Pick: Convolute

Pack 14:

Rain of Embers, Dryad’s Caress

Pick: Dryad’s Caress

Pack 15:

Conclave’s Blessing

Pick: Conclave’s Blessing

Pack 16:

Gruul Turf, Ostiary Thrull, Wildsize, Ogre Savant, Blind Hunter, Skarrgan Pit-Skulk, Lionheart Maverick, Burning-Tree Bloodscale, Crystal Seer, Cry of Contrition, Beastmaster’s Magemark, Shadow Lance, Stratozeppelid, Cryptwailing, Invoke the Firemind

Pick: Stratozeppelid

Pack 17:

Cremate, Skarrgan Pit-Skulk, Benediction of Moons, Silhana Ledgewalker, Tin Street Hooligan, Crystal Seer, Pillory of the Sleepless, Silhana Starfletcher, Pyromatics, Orzhov Basilica, Vertigo Spawn, Plagued Rusalka, Agent of Masks, Cerebral Vortex

Pick: Pillory of the Sleepless

Pack 18:

Runeboggle, Gruul Nodorog, Fencer’s Magemark, Poisonbelly Ogre, Leap of Flame, Benediction of Moons, Gruul Scrapper, Pillory of the Sleepless, Torch Drake, Absolver Thrull, Sinstriker’s Will, Conjurer’s Ban, Killer Instinct

Pick: Pillory of the Sleepless

Pack 19:

Repeal, Scab-Clan Mauler, Izzet Boilerworks, Ghost Warden, Cry of Contrition, Tin Street Hooligan, Lionheart Maverick, Leap of Flame, Train of Thought, Vacuumelt, Smogsteed Rider, Gruul War Plow

Pick: Repeal

Pack 20:

Orzhov Signet, Withstand, Orzhov Basilica, Skyrider Trainee, Gigadrowse, Wild Cantor, Cremate, Souls of the Faultless, Dryad Sophisticate, Ghor-Clan Bloodscale, Mizzium Transreliquat

Pick: Orzhov Basilica

Pack 21:

Wild Cantor, Poisonbelly Ogre, Guardian’s Magemark, Wee Dragonauts, Castigate, Orzhov Signet, Shrieking Grotesque, Necromancer’s Magemark, Shattering Spree, Starved Rusalka

Pick: Orzhov Signet

Pack 22:

Castigate, Beastmaster’s Magemark, Gruul Signet, Silhana Ledgewalker, Restless Bones, Skyrider Trainee, Runeboggle, Scorched Rusalka, To Arms!

Pick: Gruul Signet

Pack 23:

Gruul Nodorog, Petrahydrox, Guardian’s Magemark, Gigadrowse, Ghost Warden, Izzet Signet, Nivix, Aerie of the Firemind, Martyred Rusalka

Pick: Gruul Nodorog

Pack 24:

Gruul Turf, Ostiary Thrull, Lionheart Maverick, Crystal Seer, Cry of Contrition, Beastmaster’s Magemark, Cryptwailing

Pick: Ostiary Thrull

Pack 25:

Cremate, Skarrgan Pit-Skulk, Benediction of Moons, Crystal Seer, Vertigo Spawn, Cerebral Vortex

Pack 26:

Runeboggle, Poisonbelly Ogre, Benediction of Moons, Sinstriker’s Will, Conjurer’s Ban

Pick: Poisonbelly Ogre

Pack 27:

Cry of Contrition, Lionheart Maverick, Leap of Flame, Smogsteed Rider

Pick: Smogsteed Rider

Pack 28:

Skyrider Trainee, Gigadrowse, Cremate

Pack 29:

Poisonbelly Ogre, Starved Rusalka

Pick: Poisonbelly Ogre

Pack 30:

Pick: Restless Bones

Pack 31:

Cackling Flames, Macabre Waltz, Wrecking Ball, Cytospawn Shambler, Guardian of the Guildpact, Gobhobbler Rats, Valor Made Real, Nettling Curse, Kill-Suit Cultist, Street Savvy, Azorius First-Wing, Skyscribing, Azorius Guildmage, Brain Pry, War’s Toll

Pick: Azorius Guildmage

Pack 32:

Azorius Chancery, Psychotic Fury, Verdant Eidolon, Guardian of the Guildpact, Silkwing Scout, Utvara Scalper, Thrive, Shielding Plax, Vesper Ghoul, Enigma Eidolon, Crypt Champion, Palliation Accord, Mistral Charger, Anthem of Rakdos

Pick: Silkwing Scout

Pack 33:

Simic Initiate, Vision Skeins, Riot Spikes, Soulsworn Jury, Enemy of the Guildpact, Simic Signet, Ogre Gatecrasher, Demon’s Jester, Ocular Halo, Aquastrand Spider, Freewind Equenaut, Gnat Alley Creeper, Skullmead Cauldron

Pick: Aquastrand Spider

Pack 34:

Beacon Hawk, Enemy of the Guildpact, Aurora Eidolon, Taste for Mayhem, Freewind Equenaut, Azorius Signet, Sandstorm Eidolon, Steeling Stance, Rix Maadi, Dungeon Palace, Rise / Fall, Slithering Shade, Rakdos Riteknife

Pick: Rise / Fall

Pack 35:

Simic Growth Chamber, Macabre Waltz, Silkwing Scout, Assault Zeppelid, Vigean Hydropon, Nettling Curse, Overrule, Utvara Scalper, Simic Guildmage, Brace for Impact, Psychic Possession

Pick: Simic Guildmage

Pack 36:

Writ of Passage, Vesper Ghoul, Coiling Oracle, Street Savvy, Vigean Hydropon, Simic Signet, Slaughterhouse Bouncer, Fertile Imagination, Weight of Spires, Infernal Tutor

Pick: Fertile Imagination

Pack 37:

Ogre Gatecrasher, Ocular Halo, Aurora Eidolon, Vision Skeins, Coiling Oracle, Whiptail Moloch, Thrive, Leafdrake Roost, Flash Foliage

Pick: Leafdrake Roost

Pack 38:

Haazda Exonerator, Gobhobbler Rats, Delirium Skeins, Sporeback Troll, Valor Made Real, Simic Ragworm, Entropic Eidolon, Azorius Aethermage

Pick: Sporeback Troll

Pack 39:

Valor Made Real, Nettling Curse, Kill-Suit Cultist, Street Savvy, Skyscribing, Brain Pry, War’s Toll

Pick: War’s Toll

Pack 40:

Psychotic Fury, Verdant Eidolon, Vesper Ghoul, Enigma Eidolon, Palliation Accord, Anthem of Rakdos

Pick: Verdant Eidolon

Pack 41:

Vision Skeins, Riot Spikes, Enemy of the Guildpact, Simic Signet, Gnat Alley Creeper

Pick: Simic Signet

Pack 42:

Sandstorm Eidolon, Steeling Stance, Rix Maadi, Dungeon Palace, Slithering Shade

Pick: Slithering Shade

Pack 43:

Vigean Hydropon, Nettling Curse, Overrule

Pick: Vigean Hydropon

Pack 44:

Writ of Passage, Vigean Hydropon

Pick: Vigean Hydropon

Pack 45:

Whiptail Moloch

Pick: Whiptail Moloch

Final Decklist:

Maindeck:

1 Repeal
1 Stratozeppelid
1 Silkwing Scout
1 Ostiary Thrull
1 Strands of Undeath
1 Bramble Elemental
1 Carven Caryatid
1 Civic Wayfinder
1 Elves of Deep Shadow
1 Farseek
1 Rolling Spoil
1 Aquastrand Spider
1 Fertile Imagination
1 Sporeback Troll
1 Verdant Eidolon
1 Orzhov Signet
1 Simic Signet
2 Pillory of the Sleepless
1 Azorius Guildmage
1 Leafdrake Roost
1 Rise/Fall
1 Simic Guildmage
1 Vigean Hydropon
1 Golgari Rot Farm
1 Orzhov Basilica
2 Plains
8 Forest
3 Island
1 Swamp

Sideboard:

1 Clinging Darkness
1 Conclave’s Blessing
1 Convolute
2 Cremate
1 Dryad’s Caress
1 Ghost Warden
1 Gruul Signet
1 Induce Paranoia
1 Island
1 Netherborn Phalanx
1 Plains
2 Poisonbelly Ogre
1 Restless Bones
1 Slithering Shade
1 Smogsteed Rider
1 Vigean Hydropon
1 Vigor Mortis
1 War’s Toll
1 Whiptail Moloch

I took Civic Wayfinder over the more powerful Red cards, because when you’re in Red it’s very important to get the good cards out of the second pack. I lost the finals with this deck, choosing not to split because the deck was good and fun. I lost because my opponent was consistently able to play turn 3 Electrolyze, turn 4 Blind Hunter by simply playing four basic lands.

Until tomorrow,

Rich

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