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Drafting With Nick – Shards of Alara #4

Draft with Nick every day... at StarCityGames.com!
Thursday, October 30th – That’s right, folks… it’s back! While Canadian draft maestro Rich Hoaen battles it out at Pro Tour: Berlin, we have Nick Eisel bringing us a Shards of Alara 8-4 draft walkthrough each day, from pick 1 to pick 45. Nick supplies draft analysis in the forums! Rich Hoaen returns soon, to battle Nick head to head… watch this space!

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P1P2 – I’m not really sure if this pick is right but Drumhunter has been amazing for me every time I’ve had it.
P1P3 – I could see taking Steward OR Bloodpyre here honestly. But Thoctar is still probably best. Also Drumhunter.
P1P7 – I’d love to take Welkin Guide here but I don’t think I can.

P2P4 – I mean… Anybody take Thoctar here?

P3P1 – Soul’s Fire seems inferior in this deck since I’m focusing on the aggro plan rather than the power 5 or greater one.
P3P3 – I was feeling a bit light on guys and Skeletonize is pretty marginal without Black mana.

1 Druid of the Anima
1 Woolly Thoctar
1 Bull Cerodon
1 Rockslide Elemental
2 Cylian Elf
1 Jungle Weaver
1 Cavern Thoctar
2 Wild Nacatl
2 Rakeclaw Gargantuan
2 Rip-Clan Crasher
1 Drumhunter
1 Resounding Thunder
1 Sigil of Distinction
1 Resounding Roar
1 Obelisk of Naya
1 Magma Spray
2 Branching Bolt
1 Incurable Ogre
7 Forest
6 Mountain
2 Plains
2 Naya Panorama

Sideboard
1 Lightning Talons
3 Lush Growth
1 Sigiled Paladin
1 Waveskimmer Aven
1 Dispeller’s Capsule
1 Cathartic Adept
1 Relic of Progenitus
1 Bloodthorn Taunter
1 Banewasp Affliction
1 Soul’s Grace
1 Gustrider Exuberant
1 Call to Heel
1 Excommunicate
1 Skill Borrower
1 Gift of the Gargantuan
2 Viashino Skeleton
1 Swamp

I got hooked up really well in this draft and at no point did I feel like I was in the wrong colors. There were still some interesting decisions though and I’m curious to see if anyone would make different picks in the tough spots.

Round 1 I played against GW. The first two games were total blowouts. Game 1 I played some guys but then started to get flooded and he played two Rhox Chargers and Welkin Guide which was more than enough. Game 2 he mulled to four and I played Nacatl Crasher and that was game. Game 3 he got a fast start and played some Exalted guys. I managed to stabilize at one life after fending off Mosstodon and Angelic Benediction but he untapped and ripped Oblivion Ring for the win.

Until tomorrow…

Nick