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Drafting With Olivier – Zendikar #18

Draft with Olivier Ruel... at StarCityGames.com!
Monday, December 14th – Hall of Famer Olivier Ruel takes us through an 8-4 draft queue on Magic Online. He shares some comprehensive thoughts about both the picks and the games, and talks us through each step of the way! If you’re looking to improve your Limited game, this is the article series for you!

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Pack 1 pick 1:

















My Pick:

Scute Mob or Kazandu Blademaster? A month ago I would have taken the white guy without a doubt. But I’ve a feeling Green is becoming less and less popular online and that it may be the color to draft at the moment. Also the Mob is excellent as well so I’m pretty happy with this pick.

Pack 1 pick 2:
















My Pick:

I would really like to pick a Green card but I don’t like Cobra Trap and there is no way I pick it over Electropotence or Giant Scorpion. Which of them do I pick? I like the Scorpion more but Black is so popular online at the moment that I haven’t been able to draft it for a while. Also Black cards often require being Black dominant in order to be efficient while Red ones integrate better a deck as a support color.

Pack 1 pick 3:







Blessing
” “ZEN”);’>







My Pick:

Black is probably open here but if I pick the 6/3 I pass a second pretty good Black card in a row. Not an ideal signal. Also there is a pretty good Red card and another good Green one. Timbermaw Larva is better than the Boar in a deck which is using more than ten Forests but there’s no guarantee I’ll be able to do that while the Boar is constantly very good.

Pack 1 pick 4:














My Pick:

Pack 1 pick 5:






Blessing
” “ZEN”);’>






My Pick:

Pretty good with Gladehart and Electropotence.

Pack 1 pick 6:












My Pick:

Spire Barrage can be a decisive card but unless I play a minimum of ten Mountains. I mean the card is decent but 5 mana is a lot in this format in particular for a card which will often aim at killing a two toughness guy.

Pack 1 pick 7:











My Pick:

Pack 1 pick 8:










My Pick:

Maybe a card I can splash post board if I get more Harrow/Expeditions.

Pack 1 pick 9:









My Pick:

I’m not playing Joraga Bard no matter what; the question is only to know if I want to cut it as a Green card but I don’t think anyone would consider this a signal.

Pack 1 pick 10:








My Pick:

I don’t like the card but it’s still a good sign the only Green card in that pack wheeled.

Pack 1 pick 11:




Blessing
” “ZEN”);’>


My Pick:

Pack 1 pick 12:






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Pack 1 pick 13:





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Pack 1 pick 14:




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Pack 1 pick 15:



My Pick:

Pack 2 pick 1:

















My Pick:

Nothing special in RG. With only two Red cards switching is still an option at this point but Kor Skyfisher is not the kind of card I want to splash for. Then what do I have left? The allies won’t have much impact in the deck leaving me with only two real options: Savage Silhouette and Baloth Cage Trap. I like the aura in a very aggressive deck which is not what I have for now. Also the Trap will probably not wheel when the Silhouette should.

Pack 2 pick 2:
















My Pick:

If I was Red dominant I could have picked Ravager for a matter of curve but as I’m Greener I’d rather pick the Grunts.

Pack 2 pick 3:















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Pack 2 pick 4:














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Pack 2 pick 5:













My Pick:

The Puma could be an option but with Tuk-tuk Grunts as my only ally it’s only a Gray Ogre.

Pack 2 pick 6:












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Pack 2 pick 7:











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Pack 2 pick 8:










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Pack 2 pick 9:









My Pick:

Better now that I eventually have two-drops.

Pack 2 pick 10:








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Pack 2 pick 11:







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Pack 2 pick 12:






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Pack 2 pick 13:





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Pack 2 pick 14:




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Pack 2 pick 15:



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Pack 3 pick 1:

















My Pick:

If I already have a Chosen I’d have picked Nissa Revane. With now two Geopedes my deck is getting decent.

Pack 3 pick 2:
















My Pick:

I love Primal Bellow but as it’s far less popular than the Goblin it has good chance to wheel. Also I’ve picked lots of Red cards lately so I should not have as many Forests as I first thought.

Pack 3 pick 3:















My Pick:

Pack 3 pick 4:














My Pick:

I love Zektar Shrine Expedition but it would be pretty bad in this deck.

Pack 3 pick 5:













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Pack 3 pick 6:












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Pack 3 pick 7:











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Pack 3 pick 8:










My Pick:

My curve is not very low which is most important for Slaughter Cry to be very efficient. Therefore maybe I should have taken the mediocre but sometimes useful Hedron Scrabbler.

Pack 3 pick 9:









My Pick:

Vines would be good but I don’t have enough guys for it to be better than the Giant.

Pack 3 pick 10:








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Pack 3 pick 11:







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Pack 3 pick 15:



My Pick:

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9 Forest
8 Mountain
1 Kazandu Refuge

1 Scute Mob
2 Plated Geopede
1 Nissa’s Chosen
1 Goblin Shortcutter
1 Grazing Gladehart
2 Torch Slinger
1 Greenweaver Druid
1 Mold Shambler
1 Shatterskull Giant
1 Bladetusk Boar
1 Timbermaw Larva
1 Tuktuk Grunts

1 Primal Bellow
1 Zektar Shrine Expedition
1 Khalni Heart Expedition
1 Savage Silhouette
1 Electropotence
1 Harrow
1 Baloth Cage Trap
1 Cobra Trap

Sideboard
1 Forest
1 Shieldmate’s Blessing
1 Cancel
2 Lethargy Trap
1 Soul Stair Expedition
1 Kraken Hatchling
1 Trailblazer’s Boots
1 Mindless Null
1 Demolish
1 Runeflare Trap
1 Bog Tatters
1 Seismic Shudder
1 Goblin War Paint
1 Trapfinder’s Trick
1 Into the Roil
1 Unstable Footing
1 Island
1 Caller of Gales
1 Graypelt Refuge
1 Slaughter Cry

I lose the first game of my first match for being unable to deal with Guul Draaz Vampire. Well it was not a ordinary 1/1 as it was fast equipped by Trusty Machete and Adventuring Gear. Game 2 is quite similar to the first as it would be close if it was not for an Intimidate creature. This time it’s my Bladetusk Boar which makes the difference.

In the third he opens with Steppe Lynx Kor Skyfisher Cliff Threader and Kor Sanctifiers but I still kill him on turn 5 as I have turn 2 Geopede turn 3 Grazeheart turn 4 Khalni Heart Expedition and another Geopede and eventually a land and Harrow on the final turn to put him down to -8 thanks to my two 11/11 guys.

In round 2 I’m facing a double Kor Duelist Bant deck but even though I haven’t seen a single equipment (or fixer) in the three games of the match I’ve still had a very hard time. In the first he attacks with his Threader into my Harrow allowing me to sacrifice my only Mountain and block with Nissa’s Chosen. I’m very glad I’ve tricked him until he plays Day of Judgment and cleans my board. With no resources left I can’t do anything. Early in game two I don’t feel like playing all my guys as he almost doesn’t do anything but cast 1/1s and he probably has Wrath. When he taps five mana on my turn 6 attack phase I understand he didn’t have Day of Judgment but Arrow Volley Trap. Luckily his draw is as bad as it seemed and I have a little more back up than he does and take it. In the final game his double Hookmaster deals with my 9/9 Scute Mob while Cliff Threader and Kor Skyfisher do the job.

I drew Cobra Trap in both game ones but the card was so bad that I took it out for Tanglesap which would have won both game threes if I had drawn it.

Until tomorrow…

Oli