Drafting With Rich #16

Back on the mean streets of Ravnica, we continue Rich Hoaen’s excellent step-by-step drafting series. As usual, Rich shares each and every pick from an RGD draft, from one to forty-five, then gives us a brief overview of his deck and final performance. For a more detailed deconstruction, visit the forums! Rich will be back later in the week with a detailed overview analysis article examining the results from the first fifteen drafts in the series… be sure to tune in!

By Rich Hoaen

July 17, 2006

Draft:

Pack 1:

Coalhauler Swine, Dimir Aqueduct, Courier Hawk, Muddle the Mixture, Sadistic Augermage, Thundersong Trumpeter, Smash, Golgari Brownscale, Conclave’s Blessing, Snapping Drake, Dimir Signet, Undercity Shade, Frenzied Goblin, Rolling Spoil, Blood Funnel

Pick: Dimir Aqueduct

Pack 2:

Mortipede, Torpid Moloch, Terrarion, Vedalken Dismisser, Clinging Darkness, Incite Hysteria, Thoughtpicker Witch, Mountain, Sundering Vitae, Compulsive Research, Last Gasp, Glass Golem, Congregation at Dawn, Sandsower

Pick: Last Gasp

Pack 3:

Woodwraith Strangler, Drift of Phantasms, Strands of Undeath, Centaur Safeguard, Screeching Griffin, Leave No Trace, Zephyr Spirit, Boros Recruit, Transluminant, Selesnya Signet, Psychic Drain, Flame-Kin Zealot, Telling Time

Pick: Drift of Phantasms

Pack 4:

Woodwraith Strangler, Stasis Cell, Roofstalker Wight, Vedalken Dismisser, Fists of Ironwood, Dromad Purebred, Dizzy Spell, Infectious Host, Compulsive Research, Brainspoil, Vigor Mortis, Leashling

Pick: Compulsive Research

Pack 5:

Votary of the Conclave, Terraformer, Tidewater Minion, Sabertooth Alley Cat, Stone-Seeder Hierophant, Dimir Infiltrator, Grayscaled Gharial, Flight of Fancy, Stoneshaker Shaman, Belltower Sphinx, Dimir Cutpurse

Pick: Belltower Sphinx

Pack 6:

Convolute, Golgari Rot Farm, Dogpile, Ordruun Commando, Quickchange, Sewerdreg, Seismic Spike, Fiery Conclusion, Boros Signet, Watchwolf

Pick: Golgari Rot Farm

Pack 7:

Viashino Slasher, Consult the Necrosages, War-Torch Goblin, Screeching Griffin, Rally the Righteous, Elvish Skysweeper, Conclave’s Blessing, Transluminant, Festival of the Guildpact

Pick: Consult the Necrosages

Pack 8:

Gaze of the Gorgon, Goblin Spelunkers, Shred Memory, Rain of Embers, Dryad’s Caress, Sell-Sword Brute, Wojek Apothecary, Golgari Germination

Pick: Goblin Spelunkers

Pack 9:

Coalhauler Swine, Muddle the Mixture, Sadistic Augermage, Smash, Conclave’s Blessing, Undercity Shade, Blood Funnel

Pick: Muddle the Mixture

Pack 10:

Torpid Moloch, Incite Hysteria, Thoughtpicker Witch, Mountain, Sundering Vitae, Glass Golem

Pick: Glass Golem

Pack 11:

Woodwraith Strangler, Leave No Trace, Zephyr Spirit, Selesnya Signet, Psychic Drain

Pick: Psychic Drain

Pack 12:

Dromad Purebred, Dizzy Spell, Infectious Host, Leashling

Pick: Dizzy Spell

Pack 13:

Votary of the Conclave, Stone-Seeder Hierophant, Grayscaled Gharial

Pick: Stone-Seeder Hierophant

Pack 14:

Ordruun Commando, Quickchange

Pick: Quickchange

Pack 15:

Conclave’s Blessing

Pick: Conclave’s Blessing

Pack 16:

Silhana Ledgewalker, Restless Bones, Petrahydrox, Skyrider Trainee, Runeboggle, Gruul Signet, Ghor-Clan Savage, Ogre Savant, Repeal, Scab-Clan Mauler, Izzet Boilerworks, Plagued Rusalka, Belfry Spirit, Rabble-Rouser, Hatching Plans

Pick: Repeal

Pack 17:

Absolver Thrull, Scab-Clan Mauler, Gruul Turf, Ostiary Thrull, Wildsize, Beastmaster’s Magemark, Skyrider Trainee, Gigadrowse, Wild Cantor, Cremate, Cryptwailing, Aetherplasm, Predatory Focus, Glint-Eye Nephilim

Pack 18:

Silhana Ledgewalker, Mourning Thrull, Train of Thought, Restless Bones, Fencer’s Magemark, Bloodscale Prowler, Infiltrator’s Magemark, Izzet Boilerworks, Withstand, Ostiary Thrull, Exhumer Thrull, Hypervolt Grasp, Orzhova, the Church of Deals

Pick: Exhumer Thrull

Pack 19:

Mourning Thrull, Cry of Contrition, Tin Street Hooligan, Lionheart Maverick, Leap of Flame, Train of Thought, Orzhov Euthanist, Wildsize, Castigate, Orzhov Signet, To Arms!, Vedalken Plotter

Pack 20:

Ogre Savant, Orzhov Signet, Withstand, Douse in Gloom, Gruul Nodorog, Petrahydrox, Guardian’s Magemark, Gigadrowse, Burning-Tree Bloodscale, Drowned Rusalka, Feral Animist

Pick: Douse in Gloom

Pack 21:

Wee Dragonauts, Skarrgan Pit-Skulk, Lionheart Maverick, Burning-Tree Bloodscale, Withstand, Cry of Contrition, Gruul Scrapper, Gruul Signet, Infiltrator’s Magemark, Drowned Rusalka

Pick: Gruul Signet

Pack 22:

Absolver Thrull, Wee Dragonauts, Poisonbelly Ogre, Leap of Flame, Benediction of Moons, Thunderheads, Order of the Stars, Souls of the Faultless, Abyssal Nocturnus

Pick: Wee Dragonauts

Pack 23:

Necromancer’s Magemark, Beastmaster’s Magemark, Wild Cantor, Poisonbelly Ogre, Runeboggle, Revenant Patriarch, Crash Landing, Leyline of the Meek

Pick: Runeboggle

Pack 24:

Silhana Ledgewalker, Restless Bones, Petrahydrox, Skyrider Trainee, Runeboggle, Gruul Signet, Hatching Plans

Pick: Gruul Signet

Pack 25:

Beastmaster’s Magemark, Skyrider Trainee, Gigadrowse, Cremate, Cryptwailing, Aetherplasm

Pack 26:

Train of Thought, Restless Bones, Fencer’s Magemark, Withstand, Orzhova, the Church of Deals

Pick: Train of Thought

Pack 27:

Cry of Contrition, Leap of Flame, Castigate, To Arms!

Pick: To Arms!

Pack 28:

Gruul Nodorog, Gigadrowse, Drowned Rusalka

Pick: Gruul Nodorog

Pack 29:

Cry of Contrition, Drowned Rusalka

Pick: Drowned Rusalka

Pack 30:

Benediction of Moons

Pick: Benediction of Moons

Pack 31:

Freewind Equenaut, Azorius Signet, Seal of Doom, Sandstorm Eidolon, Minister of Impediments, Beacon Hawk, Enemy of the Guildpact, Riot Spikes, Taste for Mayhem, Simic Initiate, Vigean Hydropon, Crypt Champion, Palliation Accord, Mistral Charger, Haazda Shield Mate

Pick: Seal of Doom

Pack 32:

Guardian of the Guildpact, Simic Signet, Seal of Fire, Slaughterhouse Bouncer, Utopia Sprawl, Vesper Ghoul, Coiling Oracle, Taste for Mayhem, Street Savvy, Vigean Hydropon, Gnat Alley Creeper, Skullmead Cauldron, Pure / Simple, Research / Development

Pick: Seal of Fire

Pack 33:

Vision Skeins, Coiling Oracle, Whiptail Moloch, Thrive, Haazda Exonerator, Carom, Rakdos Signet, Rakdos Ickspitter, Ogre Gatecrasher, Ocular Halo, Fertile Imagination, Sky Hussar, Weight of Spires

Pick: Rakdos Ickspitter

Pack 34:

Nettling Curse, Kill-Suit Cultist, Street Savvy, Azorius First-Wing, Writ of Passage, Guardian of the Guildpact, Macabre Waltz, Wrecking Ball, Cytospawn Shambler, Nightcreep, Simic Basilisk, Unliving Psychopath

Pick: Wrecking Ball

Pack 35:

Aurora Eidolon, Rakdos Carnarium, Entropic Eidolon, Overrule, Gobhobbler Rats, Delirium Skeins, Sporeback Troll, Valor Made Real, Rix Maadi, Dungeon Palace, Rise / Fall, Slithering Shade

Pick: Rakdos Carnarium

Pack 36:

Aurora Eidolon, Verdant Eidolon, Psychotic Fury, Enigma Eidolon, Shielding Plax, Whiptail Moloch, Writ of Passage, Plumes of Peace, Brace for Impact, Vigean Graftmage

Pick: Vigean Graftmage

Pack 37:

Nettling Curse, Overrule, Utvara Scalper, Plumes of Peace, Steeling Stance, Macabre Waltz, Skyscribing, Brain Pry, Pride of the Clouds

Pick: Pride of the Clouds

Pack 38:

Thrive, Vesper Ghoul, Enigma Eidolon, Gobhobbler Rats, Valor Made Real, Azorius Chancery, Psychotic Fury, Verdant Eidolon

Pick: Vesper Ghoul

Pack 39:

Sandstorm Eidolon, Beacon Hawk, Enemy of the Guildpact, Riot Spikes, Simic Initiate, Palliation Accord, Haazda Shield Mate

Pick: Enemy of the Guildpact

Pack 40:

Simic Signet, Slaughterhouse Bouncer, Vesper Ghoul, Coiling Oracle, Street Savvy, Skullmead Cauldron

Pick: Simic Signet

Pack 41:

Vision Skeins, Whiptail Moloch, Thrive, Haazda Exonerator, Weight of Spires

Pick: Vision Skeins

Pack 42:

Nettling Curse, Street Savvy, Writ of Passage, Nightcreep

Pick: Nightcreep

Pack 43:

Valor Made Real, Rix Maadi, Dungeon Palace, Slithering Shade

Pick: Slithering Shade

Pack 44:

Whiptail Moloch, Writ of Passage

Pick: Whiptail Moloch

Pack 45:

Pick: Skyscribing

Final Decklist:

Maindeck:

1 Belltower Sphinx [FOIL]
1 Compulsive Research
1 Drift of Phantasms
1 Muddle the Mixture
1 Repeal
1 Train of Thought
1 Vigean Graftmage
1 Douse in Gloom
1 Exhumer Thrull
1 Last Gasp
1 Seal of Doom
1 Enemy of the Guildpact
1 Vesper Ghoul
1 Seal of Fire
2 Wildsize
1 Glass Golem
2 Gruul Signet
1 Simic Signet
1 Consult the Necrosages
1 Wee Dragonauts [FOIL]
1 Rakdos Ickspitter
1 Wrecking Ball
1 Dimir Aqueduct
1 Golgari Rot Farm
1 Rakdos Carnarium
6 Island
2 Mountain
5 Swamp

Sideboard:

1 Benediction of Moons
1 Conclave’s Blessing
1 Cremate
1 Dizzy Spell
1 Drowned Rusalka
1 Goblin Spelunkers
1 Gruul Nodorog
1 Nightcreep
1 Pride of the Clouds
1 Psychic Drain
1 Quickchange
1 Runeboggle
1 Skyscribing
1 Slithering Shade
1 Stone-Seeder Hierophant
1 To Arms!
1 Vision Skeins
1 Whiptail Moloch

This is an example of what happens when you’re too indecisive. I never picked colors in this draft and ended up with a terrible deck because of it. I lost a close match to Eivind Nitter in the first round.

Until tomorrow,

Rich

PS: My article covering the first fifteen drafts will appear sometime later this week. Stay tuned!

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