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Drafting With Rich – TPF #15

Draft With Rich Hoaen every day... at StarCityGames.com!
You all know the drill by now… Rich Hoaen, Canada’s finest and grumpiest draft export, takes us by the hand and drags us through the rollercoaster ride of an 8-4 TPF Draft on Magic Online. From pick 1 to pick 45, Rich shares them all, and his final deck and draft performance are analysed in the article, the forums, and beyond. Come join in the fun!


Draft:

Pack 1:










Temporal Eddy, Mogg War Marshal, Terramorphic Expanse, Drudge Reavers, Temporal Isolation, Crookclaw Transmuter, Jhoira’s Timebug, Jedit’s Dragoons, Ancient Grudge, Tromp the Domains, Urza’s Factory, Krosan Grip, Fungus Sliver, Akroma, Angel of Wrath, Hivestone

Pick: Akroma, Angel of Wrath

Pack 2:










Ironclaw Buzzardiers, Search for Tomorrow, Icatian Crier, Dark Withering, Goblin Skycutter, Crookclaw Transmuter, Sage of Epityr, Ghitu Firebreathing, Momentary Blink, Greenseeker, Ghostflame Sliver, Tromp the Domains, Volcanic Awakening, Wurmcalling

Pick: Tromp the Domains

Pack 3:










Strength in Numbers, Errant Doomsayers, Corpulent Corpse, Viscerid Deepwalker, Flickering Spirit, Call to the Netherworld, Drifter il-Dal, Havenwood Wurm, Basal Sliver, Faceless Devourer, Basalt Gargoyle, Return to Dust, Nether Traitor

Pick: Strength in Numbers

Pack 4:







Feebleness, Chromatic Star, Tolarian Sentinel, Flowstone Channeler, Thrill of the Hunt, Plunder, Skulking Knight, Brass Gnat, Pull from Eternity, Molten Slagheap, Ith, High Arcanist, Goblin Snowman

Pick: Ith, High Arcanist

Pack 5:







Trespasser il-Vec, Spinneret Sliver, Fortify, Spiketail Drakeling, Flamecore Elemental, Dream Stalker, Watcher Sliver, Blazing Blade Askari, Glass Asp, Smallpox, Pull from Eternity

Pick: Spiketail Drakeling

Pack 6:







Errant Doomsayers, Aether Web, Sage of Epityr, Divine Congregation, Mindlash Sliver, Thallid Shell-Dweller, Fallen Ideal, Angel’s Grace, Stormscape Familiar, Screeching Sliver

Pick: Stormscape Familiar

Pack 7:







Ivory Giant, Mindstab, Slipstream Serpent, Children of Korlis, Viashino Bladescout, Mystical Teachings, Chronatog Totem, Spirit Loop, Leviathan

Pick: Ivory Giant

Pack 8:




Traitor’s Clutch, Plunder, Eternity Snare, Molder, Brine Elemental, Primal Forcemage, Dreadship Reef, Crookclaw Transmuter

Pick: Brine Elemental

Pack 9:




Temporal Eddy, Mogg War Marshal, Jhoira’s Timebug, Jedit’s Dragoons, Ancient Grudge, Krosan Grip, Fungus Sliver

Pick: Jedit’s Dragoons

Pack 10:




Ironclaw Buzzardiers, Goblin Skycutter, Sage of Epityr, Ghitu Firebreathing, Greenseeker, Volcanic Awakening

Pick: Greenseeker

Pack 11:




Flickering Spirit, Call to the Netherworld, Drifter il-Dal, Havenwood Wurm, Return to Dust

Pick: Flickering Spirit

Pack 12:

Thrill of the Hunt, Plunder, Brass Gnat, Goblin Snowman

Pick: Thrill of the Hunt

Pack 13:

Flamecore Elemental, Smallpox, Pull from Eternity

Pick: Pull from Eternity

Pack 14:

Aether Web, Sage of Epityr

Pick: Sage of Epityr

Pack 15:

Children of Korlis

Pick: Children of Korlis

Pack 16:










Dawn Charm, Stingscourger, Whitemane Lion, Erratic Mutation, Midnight Charm, Dash Hopes, Shade of Trokair, Rathi Trapper, Piracy Charm, Skirk Shaman, Darkheart Sliver, Stonecloaker, Null Profusion, Voidstone Gargoyle, Seal of Primordium

Pick: Voidstone Gargoyle

Pack 17:










Dreamscape Artist, Aven Riftwatcher, Cradle to Grave, Shade of Trokair, Uktabi Drake, Ghost Tactician, Firefright Mage, Wistful Thinking, Bog Serpent, Merfolk Thaumaturgist, Skirk Shaman, Hammerheim Deadeye, Pouncing Wurm, Heroes Remembered

Pick: Shade of Trokair

Pack 18:










Midnight Charm, Battering Sliver, Deadly Grub, Dust Corona, Reality Acid, Blightspeaker, Melancholy, Simian Spirit Guide, Fa’adiyah Seer, Riftmarked Knight, Pongify, Blood Knight, Imp’s Mischief

Pick: Riftmarked Knight

Pack 19:







Veiling Oddity, Synchronous Sliver, Giant Dustwasp, Uktabi Drake, Ghost Tactician, Firefright Mage, Wistful Thinking, Mana Tithe, Vampiric Link, Ana Battlemage, Dismal Failure, Riptide Pilferer

Pick: Ana Battlemage

Pack 20:







Needlepeak Spider, Utopia Vow, Brain Gorgers, Fury Charm, Wistful Thinking, Revered Dead, Seal of Primordium, Bog Serpent, Venarian Glimmer, Phantasmagorian, Braids, Conjurer Adept

Pick: Utopia Vow

Pack 21:







Midnight Charm, Synchronous Sliver, Needlepeak Spider, Mire Boa, Vitaspore Thallid, Dash Hopes, Fa’adiyah Seer, Mantle of Leadership, Phantasmagorian, Frozen Aether

Pick: Mire Boa

Pack 22:







Reflex Sliver, Poultice Sliver, Spitting Sliver, Veiling Oddity, Keldon Marauders, Dash Hopes, Bog Serpent, Cautery Sliver, Serra’s Boon

Pick: Poultice Sliver

Pack 23:




Spitting Sliver, Firefright Mage, Rathi Trapper, Healing Leaves, Mana Tithe, Sophic Centaur, Hedge Troll, Gossamer Phantasm

Pick: Hedge Troll

Pack 24:




Dawn Charm, Whitemane Lion, Midnight Charm, Piracy Charm, Skirk Shaman, Darkheart Sliver, Seal of Primordium

Pick: Whitemane Lion

Pack 25:




Ghost Tactician, Firefright Mage, Wistful Thinking, Skirk Shaman, Hammerheim Deadeye, Heroes Remembered

Pick: Heroes Remembered

Pack 26:




Dust Corona, Blightspeaker, Melancholy, Simian Spirit Guide, Fa’adiyah Seer

Pick: Fa’adiyah Seer

Pack 27:

Synchronous Sliver, Ghost Tactician, Firefright Mage, Wistful Thinking

Pick: Ghost Tactician

Pack 28:

Wistful Thinking, Venarian Glimmer, Phantasmagorian

Pick: Phantasmagorian

Pack 29:

Dash Hopes, Frozen Aether

Pick: Frozen Aether

Pack 30:

Keldon Marauders

Pick: Keldon Marauders

Pack 31:










Oblivion Crown, Emberwilde Augur, Aven Augur, Fatal Attraction, Cutthroat il-Dal, Gift of Granite, Deepcavern Imp, Flowstone Embrace, Nessian Courser, Blade of the Sixth Pride, Sarcomite Myr, Boldwyr Intimidator, Centaur Omenreader, Bound in Silence, Take Possession

Pick: Bound in Silence

Pack 32:










Augur il-Vec, Petrified Plating, Bogardan Lancer, Venser’s Diffusion, Grinning Ignus, Mass of Ghouls, Lucent Liminid, Thornweald Archer, Flowstone Embrace, Delay, Festering March, Soultether Golem, Summoner’s Pact, Minions’ Murmurs

Pick: Lucent Liminid

Pack 33:










Llanowar Augur, Riddle of Lightning, Venser’s Diffusion, Judge Unworthy, Kavu Primarch, Homing Sliver, Grave Scrabbler, Lumithread Field, Mesmeric Sliver, Goldmeadow Lookout, Narcomoeba, Yixlid Jailer, Magus of the Moat

Pick: Kavu Primarch

Pack 34:







Bogardan Lancer, Grave Peril, Samite Censer-Bearer, Deepcavern Imp, Fomori Nomad, Logic Knot, Lucent Liminid, Vedalken Aethermage, Char-Rumbler, Llanowar Mentor, Sword of the Meek, Wrap in Vigor

Pick: Lucent Liminid

Pack 35:







Quiet Disrepair, Foresee, Rift Elemental, Death Rattle, Homing Sliver, Edge of Autumn, Blind Phantasm, Virulent Sliver, Dryad Arbor, Bonded Fetch, Snake Cult Initiation

Pick: Edge of Autumn

Pack 36:







Llanowar Augur, Augur of Skulls, Sprout Swarm, Samite Censer-Bearer, Grinning Ignus, Edge of Autumn, Mystic Speculation, Minions’ Murmurs, Tolaria West, Whip-Spine Drake

Pick: Sprout Swarm

Pack 37:







Grave Peril, Kavu Primarch, Emberwilde Augur, Putrid Cyclops, Mass of Ghouls, Vedalken Aethermage, Blade of the Sixth Pride, Skizzik Surger, Chronomantic Escape

Pick: Kavu Primarch

Pack 38:




Saltskitter, Cutthroat il-Dal, Mesmeric Sliver, Patrician’s Scorn, Sarcomite Myr, Henchfiend of Ukor, Haze of Rage, Jhoira of the Ghitu

Pick: Saltskitter

Pack 39:




Oblivion Crown, Emberwilde Augur, Cutthroat il-Dal, Gift of Granite, Flowstone Embrace, Sarcomite Myr, Boldwyr Intimidator

Pick: Flowstone Embrace

Pack 40:




Bogardan Lancer, Grinning Ignus, Mass of Ghouls, Delay, Soultether Golem, Minions’ Murmurs

Pick: Delay

Pack 41:




Venser’s Diffusion, Lumithread Field, Mesmeric Sliver, Narcomoeba, Magus of the Moat

Pick: Magus of the Moat

Pack 42:

Bogardan Lancer, Samite Censer-Bearer, Vedalken Aethermage, Llanowar Mentor

Pick: Llanowar Mentor

Pack 43:

Quiet Disrepair, Rift Elemental, Blind Phantasm

Pick: Blind Phantasm

Pack 44:

Samite Censer-Bearer, Grinning Ignus

Pick: Grinning Ignus

Pack 45:

*

Pick: *

Final Decklist:

Maindeck:

1 Greenseeker
1 Llanowar Mentor
1 Thrill of the Hunt
1 Edge of Autumn
1 Mire Boa
1 Sprout Swarm
1 Strength in Numbers
1 Utopia Vow
1 Whitemane Lion
1 Bound in Silence
1 Hedge Troll
1 Riftmarked Knight
1 Flickering Spirit
2 Kavu Primarch
1 Magus of the Moat
1 Shade of Trokair
2 Lucent Liminid
1 Voidstone Gargoyle
1 Tromp the Domains
1 Ivory Giant
1 Akroma, Angel of Wrath
8 Forest
9 Plains

Sideboard:

1 Ana Battlemage
1 Blind Phantasm
1 Brine Elemental
1 Children of Korlis
1 Delay
1 Fa’adiyah Seer
1 Flowstone Embrace
1 Frozen Aether
1 Ghost Tactician
1 Grinning Ignus
1 Heroes Remembered
1 Ith, High Arcanist
1 Jedit’s Dragoons
1 Keldon Marauders
1 Phantasmagorian
1 Poultice Sliver
1 Pull from Eternity [FOIL]
1 Sage of Epityr
1 Saltskitter
1 Spiketail Drakeling
1 Stormscape Familiar
1 Vedalken Aethermage


This draft was pretty ugly. I figured since I passed a ton of Green I wouldn’t get any in pack 2, so I went into Blue/White with the fourth pick Ith, and figured I could splash the Tromp if it fit. That plan didn’t come to fruition since I got passed lots of Green in pack 2, and not much else. Fortunately I was able to get back into White/Green without ending up short on playables, or forced to play three colours (although maybe I should have played the Ana Battlemage and an Island to make the Tromp better).


Round 1 I played against a mediocre Green/Black deck. In the first game he played turn 3 Deepcavern Imp, turn 4 Mirri and I didn’t draw any of my flyers or Pacifisms, so I lost a quick one. Game 2 I had a slow draw with Magus of the Moat that he couldn’t kill, but he drew the Imp and Mirri again, a little later this time though. I was pretty flooded, but that just meant I was able to cast Akroma as soon as I drew her. He blocked with Thornweald Archer the turn I played Akroma. I dealt all six points of first strike to it, since a pump spell there was the only way he was going to be able to kill Akroma and then me. Game 3 the board stalled for a while, while I Sprout Swarmed. He played Urborg and Nihilith one turn. The Urborg gave me enough damage to kill him with Tromp, but Nihilith put me on a four turn clock. I drew the land necessary to kill him the turn before Nihilith killed me.


Round 2 I played against a good White/Blue deck. He held off my Hedge Troll and Shade of Trokair for a while with Saltfield Recluse until I found a second Plains to cast my Voidstone Gargoyle. He took Possession of the Gargoyle in attempt to get his Recluse back online since I couldn’t attack into it. I simply Utopia Vowed the flyer and kept on swinging. He was forced to make some blocks that would go very badly if I had a pump spell, and I had Thrill of the Hunt to really make him pay. Game 2 I kept a hand of four land, two Kavu Primarch and Tromp the Domains. It may have been too slow of a hand to keep on the draw, but I was up a game so I figured I’d chance it. He had a fast start with Shade of Trokair and Blade of the Sixth Pride. I was lucky to draw Mire Boa on turn 3 to hold him off after only taking three. From there I was able to cast a bunch of creatures while he hit me for four in the air. He left counter mana open one turn, but I was able to bait it with Sprout Swarm, then untap and kill him with the Tromp.


I split the finals because this deck wasn’t particularly good.


Until Monday,


Rich

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