Draft:
Pack 1:
Ivory Giant, Grapeshot, Mindstab, Slipstream Serpent, Nantuko Shaman, Castle Raptors, Skulking Knight, Brass Gnat, Dream Stalker, Watcher Sliver, Locket of Yesterdays, Tectonic Fiend, Griffin Guide, Triskelavus, Enduring Renewal
Pick: Triskelavus
Pack 2:
Empty the Warrens, Icatian Crier, Bonesplitter Sliver, Tendrils of Corruption, Think Twice, Jedit’s Dragoons, Savage Thallid, Ancient Grudge, Flickering Spirit, Call to the Netherworld, Duskrider Peregrine, Vampiric Sliver, Conflagrate, Greater Gargadon
Pick: Greater Gargadon
Pack 3:
Crookclaw Transmuter, Empty the Warrens, Strength in Numbers, Errant Doomsayers, Corpulent Corpse, Viscerid Deepwalker, Jhoira’s Timebug, Chameleon Blur, Subterranean Shambler, Cyclopean Giant, Faceless Devourer, Thick-Skinned Goblin, Kobold Taskmaster
Pick: Crookclaw Transmuter
Pack 4:
Snapback, Pentarch Ward, Bonesplitter Sliver, Dark Withering, Divine Congregation, Mindlash Sliver, Jhoira’s Timebug, Phantom Wurm, Foriysian Totem, Stormcloud Djinn, Liege of the Pit, Island
Pick: Foriysian Totem
Pack 5:
Mana Skimmer, Nantuko Shaman, Coral Trickster, Mystical Teachings, Two-Headed Sliver, Prismatic Lens, Clockspinning, Assembly-Worker, Pendelhaven Elder, Thunder Totem, Vesuva
Pick: Prismatic Lens
Pack 6:
Grapeshot, Scarwood Treefolk, Slipstream Serpent, Gaze of Justice, Viashino Bladescout, Molder, Children of Korlis, Conflagrate, Spirit Loop, Krosan Cloudscraper
Pick: Conflagrate
Pack 7:
Herd Gnarr, Fortify, Viashino Bladescout, Mystical Teachings, Thrill of the Hunt, Shadow Sliver, Bogardan Rager, Ignite Memories, Saltcrusted Steppe
Pick: Herd Gnarr
Pack 8:
Errant Doomsayers, Aether Web, Greenseeker, Pit Keeper, Ghostflame Sliver, Volcanic Awakening, Scion of the Ur-Dragon, Gaea’s Blessing
Pick: Greenseeker
Pack 9:
Slipstream Serpent, Brass Gnat, Dream Stalker, Watcher Sliver, Locket of Yesterdays, Tectonic Fiend, Enduring Renewal
Pick: Slipstream Serpent
Pack 10:
Empty the Warrens, Icatian Crier, Think Twice, Jedit’s Dragoons, Ancient Grudge, Call to the Netherworld
Pick: Empty the Warrens
Pack 11:
Jhoira’s Timebug, Chameleon Blur, Subterranean Shambler, Cyclopean Giant, Kobold Taskmaster
Pick: Subterranean Shambler
Pack 12:
Pentarch Ward, Divine Congregation, Mindlash Sliver, Island
Pick: Island
Pack 13:
Nantuko Shaman, Mystical Teachings, Clockspinning
Pick: Nantuko Shaman
Pack 14:
Scarwood Treefolk, Children of Korlis
Pick: Scarwood Treefolk
Pack 15:
Pick: Mystical Teachings
Pack 16:
Temporal Eddy, Tendrils of Corruption, Lightning Axe, Mogg War Marshal, Temporal Isolation, Chameleon Blur, Flickering Spirit, Ghitu Firebreathing, Bewilder, Detainment Spell, Celestial Crusader, Careful Consideration, Firewake Sliver, Tivadar of Thorn, Tribal Flames
Pick: Lightning Axe
Pack 17:
Penumbra Spider, Errant Doomsayers, Rift Bolt, Aether Web, Assassinate, Amrou Seekers, Drifter il-Dal, Havenwood Wurm, Basal Sliver, Sage of Epityr, Voidmage Husher, Fool’s Demise, Weathered Bodyguards, Merfolk Assassin
Pick: Rift Bolt
Pack 18:
Flamecore Elemental, Gemhide Sliver, Feebleness, Chromatic Star, Viscid Lemures, Ground Rift, Dream Stalker, Wormwood Dryad, Venser’s Sliver, Aspect of Mongoose, Fungal Reaches, Might of Old Krosa, Browbeat
Pick: Gemhide Sliver
Pack 19:
Tolarian Sentinel, Benalish Cavalry, Orcish Cannonade, Gemhide Sliver, Traitor’s Clutch, D’Avenant Healer, Glass Asp, Prismatic Lens, Harmonic Sliver, Skittering Monstrosity, Saffi Eriksdotter, Leviathan
Pick: Gemhide Sliver
Pack 20:
Gorgon Recluse, Spiketail Drakeling, Scarwood Treefolk, Blazing Blade Askari, Glass Asp, Traitor’s Clutch, Plunder, Eternity Snare, Evil Eye of Urborg, Fungal Reaches, Goblin Snowman
Pick: Blazing Blade Askari
Pack 21:
Pentarch Ward, Bonesplitter Sliver, Psychotic Episode, Sprout, Aetherflame Wall, Pit Keeper, Sage of Epityr, Dread Return, Norin the Wary, Suq’Ata Lancer
Pick: Suq’Ata Lancer
Pack 22:
Spinneret Sliver, Keldon Halberdier, Sidewinder Sliver, Viscid Lemures, Mwonvuli Acid-Moss, Two-Headed Sliver, Fallen Ideal, Ignite Memories, Voidmage Husher
Pick: Keldon Halberdier
Pack 23:
Ashcoat Bear, Cancel, Jedit’s Dragoons, Savage Thallid, Ancient Grudge, Voidmage Husher, Durkwood Tracker, Undead Warchief
Pick: Ashcoat Bear
Pack 24:
Mogg War Marshal, Chameleon Blur, Flickering Spirit, Ghitu Firebreathing, Bewilder, Detainment Spell, Firewake Sliver
Pick: Mogg War Marshal
Pack 25:
Penumbra Spider, Aether Web, Havenwood Wurm, Voidmage Husher, Fool’s Demise, Merfolk Assassin
Pick: Penumbra Spider
Pack 26:
Viscid Lemures, Ground Rift, Wormwood Dryad, Aspect of Mongoose, Fungal Reaches
Pick: Wormwood Dryad
Pack 27:
Traitor’s Clutch, Glass Asp, Harmonic Sliver, Leviathan
Pick: Leviathan
Pack 28:
Glass Asp, Traitor’s Clutch, Plunder
Pick: Plunder
Pack 29:
Pick: Sprout
Pack 30:
Pick: Sidewinder Sliver
Pack 31:
Think Twice, Ashcoat Bear, Urborg Syphon-Mage, Cloudchaser Kestrel, Thallid Germinator, Terramorphic Expanse, Psychotic Episode, Sprout, Aetherflame Wall, Pit Keeper, Premature Burial, Clockwork Hydra, Return to Dust, Hivestone, Stormscape Familiar
Pick: Clockwork Hydra
Pack 32:
Keldon Halberdier, Mana Skimmer, Durkwood Baloth, Fathom Seer, Chromatic Star, Looter il-Kor, Molder, Venser’s Sliver, Children of Korlis, Sangrophage, Dementia Sliver, Chronatog Totem, Sudden Death, Whirling Dervish
Pick: Durkwood Baloth
Pack 33:
Tolarian Sentinel, Flowstone Channeler, Trespasser il-Vec, Spinneret Sliver, Fortify, Spiketail Drakeling, Clockspinning, Bogardan Rager, Sangrophage, D’Avenant Healer, Paradise Plume, Dread Return, Ith, High Arcanist
Pick: Flowstone Channeler
Pack 34:
Benalish Cavalry, Feebleness, Spinneret Sliver, Keldon Halberdier, Shadow Sliver, Ophidian Eye, Watcher Sliver, Thrill of the Hunt, Plunder, Spell Burst, Yavimaya Dryad, Vesuva
Pick: Thrill of the Hunt
Pack 35:
Empty the Warrens, Icatian Crier, Bonesplitter Sliver, Think Twice, Call to the Netherworld, Havenwood Wurm, Basal Sliver, Sage of Epityr, Dreadship Reef, Fool’s Demise, Unyaro Bees
Pick: Empty the Warrens
Pack 36:
Viscerid Deepwalker, Ashcoat Bear, Cancel, Divine Congregation, Mindlash Sliver, Thallid Shell-Dweller, Jhoira’s Timebug, Truth or Tale, Scion of the Ur-Dragon, Claws of Gix
Pick: Ashcoat Bear
Pack 37:
Temporal Eddy, Mogg War Marshal, Drudge Reavers, Ghitu Firebreathing, Greenseeker, Divine Congregation, Opaline Sliver, Quilled Sliver, War Barge
Pick: War Barge
Pack 38:
Herd Gnarr, Trespasser il-Vec, Ground Rift, Eternity Snare, Sidewinder Sliver, Saltcrusted Steppe, Dementia Sliver, Plains
Pick: Herd Gnarr
Pack 39:
Think Twice, Ashcoat Bear, Cloudchaser Kestrel, Psychotic Episode, Sprout, Aetherflame Wall, Return to Dust
Pick: Ashcoat Bear
Pack 40:
Chromatic Star, Molder, Venser’s Sliver, Children of Korlis, Dementia Sliver, Chronatog Totem
Pick: Chromatic Star
Pack 41:
Spinneret Sliver, Clockspinning, Bogardan Rager, Paradise Plume, Dread Return
Pick: Bogardan Rager
Pack 42:
Spinneret Sliver, Shadow Sliver, Plunder, Spell Burst
Pick: Spinneret Sliver
Pack 43:
Call to the Netherworld, Dreadship Reef, Fool’s Demise
Pick: Dreadship Reef
Pack 44:
Divine Congregation, Jhoira’s Timebug
Pick: Jhoira’s Timebug
Pack 45:
Pick: Ghitu Firebreathing
Final Decklist:
Maindeck:
1 Suq’Ata Lancer
1 Conflagrate
2 Empty the Warrens
1 Flowstone Channeler
1 Greater Gargadon
1 Keldon Halberdier
1 Lightning Axe
1 Rift Bolt
2 Ashcoat Bear
1 Durkwood Baloth
2 Gemhide Sliver
2 Herd Gnarr
1 Nantuko Shaman
1 Penumbra Spider
1 Thrill of the Hunt
1 Chromatic Star
1 Clockwork Hydra
1 Foriysian Totem
1 Prismatic Lens
1 Triskelavus
9 Forest
7 Mountain
Sideboard:
1 Ashcoat Bear
1 Blazing Blade Askari
1 Bogardan Rager
1 Crookclaw Transmuter
1 Dreadship Reef
1 Ghitu Firebreathing
1 Greenseeker
1 Island [FOIL]
1 Jhoira’s Timebug
1 Leviathan
1 Mogg War Marshal
1 Mystical Teachings
1 Plunder
1 Scarwood Treefolk
1 Sidewinder Sliver
1 Slipstream Serpent
1 Spinneret Sliver
1 Sprout
1 Subterranean Shambler
1 War Barge
1 Wormwood Dryad
I took the Triskelavus first for a few reasons. First, I really like taking artifacts first, as that gives me more time to assess what’s open and then decide on my colors, coupled with the fact that I’m becoming less and less enthralled with White, and the pack gave me an opportunity to likely put the two people behind me into White. From there the draft was relatively simple. It became very clear that Green was wide open with Nantuko Shaman coming thirteenth, and Scarwood Treefolk fourteenth.
In the first round I played a very close match against a good Black/Red sliver deck. The first game was a pure race, and my Penumbra Spider put me in the lead by taking out a couple 4/2 Slivers. But he had lots of gas left, and managed a draw with Orcish Cannonade. In the “second” game I suspended Keldon Halberdier turn 1, then had Chromatic Star, and Empty the Warrens for when it came in, and Conflagrate to finish him off. In the third game I kept a hand with Forest, Chromatic Star, Gemhide Sliver, Keldon Halberdier, and some more three- and four-drops. I sacrificed the Star turn 1, and didn’t find another land, and he certainly didn’t give me any time to recover. The fourth game was quite close as we both had fairly average draws. We traded cards for a while, and the board ended up with my Penumbra Spider, Nantuko Shaman, and two Goblin tokens to his two Phyrexian Totems and Firemaw Kavu. Neither of us could effectively attack, but I was winning because of the Conflagrate in my hand. We said go for a few turns, until he Orcish Cannonaded the Nantuko Shaman. This put him range of a Conflagrate for two, then a Flashback for six.
The second round was kind of a joke. In the first game he double mulliganed, but still played Stronghold Overseer on turn 6. I of course killed him turn 6, with a combination of Suspend guys coming in, Herd Gnarr, and Empty the Warrens. Next game he was a bit flooded, but still had Sacred Mesa. I was able to make six guys with Empty the Warrens, and split a Conflagrate between his two creatures, and the Mesa was unable to keep up.
I decided to play the finals because I had some time to kill. In the first game my deck did its thing, and made a bunch of Goblins, followed by a Triskelavus, but he was able to stabilise with some D’avenant Healers and a Sudden Spoiling. I did get him to five first though, and he was unable to attack through my Penumbra Spider. I sat there and said go for a while, until I drew Conflagrate, and burned him out with it. In the second game I had a pretty good draw, but made a couple of mistakes, although they turned out to be completely irrelevant. He played a turn 4 Serra Avenger, and I never drew an answer, nor could I race it thanks to his D’avenant Healer. In the third game his three-color WW, BB manabase came back to haunt him, and he didn’t play a Swamp, which made it a pretty easy win for me.
Until tomorrow,
Rich
Draft recording done by Blargware‘s MTGO DraftCap. Support Blargware!