Draft:
Pack 1:
Ivory Giant, Grapeshot, Mindstab, Slipstream Serpent, Nantuko Shaman, Castle Raptors, Blazing Blade Askari, Glass Asp, Traitor’s Clutch, Plunder, Krosan Grip, Brine Elemental, Urza’s Factory, Jaya Ballard, Task Mage, Whirling Dervish
Pick: Jaya Ballard, Task Mage
Pack 2:
Drudge Reavers, Goblin Skycutter, Cancel, Penumbra Spider, Pentarch Ward, Mindlash Sliver, Thallid Shell-Dweller, Jhoira’s Timebug, Jedit’s Dragoons, Savage Thallid, Wipe Away, Assembly-Worker, Gemstone Caverns, Undead Warchief
Pick: Penumbra Spider
Pack 3:
Zealot il-Vec, Urborg Syphon-Mage, Snapback, Aether Web, Cloudchaser Kestrel, Aetherflame Wall, Pit Keeper, Sage of Epityr, Divine Congregation, Dreadship Reef, Volcanic Awakening, Hypergenesis, Akroma, Angel of Wrath
Pick: Akroma, Angel of Wrath
Pack 4:
Gorgon Recluse, Spiketail Drakeling, Scarwood Treefolk, Orcish Cannonade, Amrou Scout, Eternity Snare, Molder, Venser’s Sliver, Children of Korlis, Sangrophage, Haunting Hymn, Barbed Shocker
Pick: Amrou Scout
Pack 5:
Fortify, Flamecore Elemental, Mana Skimmer, Coral Trickster, Shadow Sliver, Ophidian Eye, Thrill of the Hunt, Fury Sliver, Aspect of Mongoose, Ghostflame Sliver, Enduring Renewal
Pick: Thrill of the Hunt
Pack 6:
Benalish Cavalry, Feebleness, Spinneret Sliver, Plunder, Skulking Knight, Brass Gnat, Dream Stalker, Haunting Hymn, Stormcloud Djinn, Goblin Snowman
Pick: Benalish Cavalry
Pack 7:
Ironclaw Buzzardiers, Temporal Eddy, Ancient Grudge, Flickering Spirit, Call to the Netherworld, Drifter il-Dal, Foriysian Totem, Return to Dust, Curse of the Cabal
Pick: Foriysian Totem
Pack 8:
Icatian Crier, Ghitu Firebreathing, Bewilder, Detainment Spell, Psychotic Episode, Sprout, Phyrexian Totem, Forest
Pick: Icatian Crier
Pack 9:
Blazing Blade Askari, Glass Asp, Traitor’s Clutch, Plunder, Krosan Grip, Urza’s Factory, Whirling Dervish
Pick: Blazing Blade Askari
Pack 10:
Drudge Reavers, Mindlash Sliver, Jhoira’s Timebug, Jedit’s Dragoons, Savage Thallid, Assembly-Worker
Pick: Jedit’s Dragoons
Pack 11:
Aether Web, Sage of Epityr, Divine Congregation, Volcanic Awakening, Hypergenesis
Pick: Aether Web
Pack 12:
Venser’s Sliver, Children of Korlis, Sangrophage, Barbed Shocker
Pick: Venser’s Sliver
Pack 13:
Shadow Sliver, Ophidian Eye, Aspect of Mongoose
Pick: Aspect of Mongoose
Pack 14:
Pick: Brass Gnat
Pack 15:
Pick: Return to Dust
Pack 16:
Whitemane Lion, Midnight Charm, Saltfield Recluse, Firefright Mage, Blightspeaker, Ghost Tactician, Fury Charm, Evolution Charm, Gossamer Phantasm, Skirk Shaman, Sunlance, Hunting Wilds, Frenetic Sliver, Shrouded Lore, Akroma, Angel of Fury
Pick: Sunlance
Pack 17:
Reflex Sliver, Dreamscape Artist, Poultice Sliver, Dead / Gone, Ridged Kusite, Citanul Woodreaders, Keldon Marauders, Melancholy, Seal of Primordium, Jodah’s Avenger, Waning Wurm, Mesa Enchantress, Wild Pair, Saltfield Recluse
Pick: Dead / Gone
Pack 18:
Reflex Sliver, Dreamscape Artist, Poultice Sliver, Reality Acid, Evolution Charm, Shade of Trokair, Fury Charm, Vampiric Link, Essence Warden, Simian Spirit Guide, Darkheart Sliver, Hedge Troll, Magus of the Coffers
Pick: Shade of Trokair
Pack 19:
Ridged Kusite, Erratic Mutation, Battering Sliver, Reflex Sliver, Vitaspore Thallid, Deadly Grub, Aquamorph Entity, Melancholy, Merfolk Thaumaturgist, Aether Membrane, Big Game Hunter, Magus of the Bazaar
Pick: Aether Membrane
Pack 20:
Battering Sliver, Erratic Mutation, Cradle to Grave, Uktabi Drake, Deadly Grub, Dust Corona, Primal Plasma, Revered Dead, Melancholy, Serra’s Boon, Mycologist
Pick: Serra’s Boon
Pack 21:
Battering Sliver, Reflex Sliver, Ghost Tactician, Wistful Thinking, Dash Hopes, Reality Acid, Citanul Woodreaders, Vampiric Link, Gossamer Phantasm, Kavu Predator
Pick: Citanul Woodreaders
Pack 22:
Utopia Vow, Dawn Charm, Spitting Sliver, Battering Sliver, Aquamorph Entity, Firefright Mage, Fa’adiyah Seer, Psychotrope Thallid, Reckless Wurm
Pick: Reckless Wurm
Pack 23:
Ghost Tactician, Fury Charm, Reality Acid, Deadly Grub, Revered Dead, Merfolk Thaumaturgist, Mantle of Leadership, Riptide Pilferer
Pick: Fury Charm
Pack 24:
Firefright Mage, Ghost Tactician, Fury Charm, Gossamer Phantasm, Hunting Wilds, Frenetic Sliver, Shrouded Lore
Pick: Ghost Tactician
Pack 25:
Reflex Sliver, Ridged Kusite, Keldon Marauders, Melancholy, Seal of Primordium, Waning Wurm
Pick: Melancholy
Pack 26:
Reflex Sliver, Reality Acid, Fury Charm, Vampiric Link, Simian Spirit Guide
Pick: Simian Spirit Guide
Pack 27:
Ridged Kusite, Battering Sliver, Reflex Sliver, Deadly Grub
Pick: Battering Sliver
Pack 28:
Deadly Grub, Dust Corona, Revered Dead
Pick: Revered Dead
Pack 29:
Pick: Dash Hopes
Pack 30:
Pick: Firefright Mage
Pack 31:
Cutthroat il-Dal, Gift of Granite, Quiet Disrepair, Foresee, Rift Elemental, Augur il-Vec, Edge of Autumn, Lymph Sliver, Blind Phantasm, Virulent Sliver, Ghostfire, Lost Auramancers, Cryptic Annelid, Stronghold Rats, Quagnoth
Pick: Ghostfire
Pack 32:
Emberwilde Augur, Putrid Cyclops, Augur il-Vec, Ichor Slick, Petrified Plating, Bogardan Lancer, Mass of Ghouls, Thornweald Archer, Flowstone Embrace, Frenzy Sliver, Sliversmith, Dust of Moments, Cloudseeder, Shah of Naar Isle
Pick: Flowstone Embrace
Pack 33:
Kavu Primarch, Oblivion Crown, Emberwilde Augur, Fatal Attraction, Flowstone Embrace, Nessian Courser, Blade of the Sixth Pride, Sarcomite Myr, Death Rattle, Homing Sliver, Ravaging Riftwurm, Soultether Golem, Graven Cairns
Pick: Fatal Attraction
Pack 34:
Leaden Fists, Gift of Granite, Augur of Skulls, Lost Hours, Fatal Attraction, Frenzy Sliver, Fomori Nomad, Patrician’s Scorn, Logic Knot, Skirk Ridge Exhumer, Llanowar Reborn, Utopia Mycon
Pick: Fatal Attraction
Pack 35:
Llanowar Empath, Grave Peril, Marshaling Cry, Kavu Primarch, Mass of Ghouls, Vedalken Aethermage, Blade of the Sixth Pride, Sporoloth Ancient, Grinning Ignus, Dakmor Salvage, Llanowar Mentor
Pick: Blade of the Sixth Pride
Pack 36:
Petrified Plating, Quiet Disrepair, Grave Scrabbler, Henchfiend of Ukor, Lymph Sliver, Homing Sliver, Haze of Rage, Dakmor Salvage, Dust of Moments, Imperial Mask
Pick: Lymph Sliver
Pack 37:
Marshaling Cry, Lost Hours, Wrap in Vigor, Deepcavern Imp, Logic Knot, Vedalken Aethermage, Virulent Sliver, Sliversmith, Chronomantic Escape
Pick: Marshaling Cry
Pack 38:
Unblinking Bleb, Llanowar Augur, Riddle of Lightning, Sporoloth Ancient, Grave Scrabbler, Mesmeric Sliver, Festering March, Keldon Megaliths
Pick: Riddle of Lightning
Pack 39:
Cutthroat il-Dal, Gift of Granite, Quiet Disrepair, Rift Elemental, Augur il-Vec, Virulent Sliver, Cryptic Annelid
Pick: Cryptic Annelid
Pack 40:
Emberwilde Augur, Putrid Cyclops, Augur il-Vec, Bogardan Lancer, Mass of Ghouls, Frenzy Sliver
Pick: Emberwilde Augur
Pack 41:
Oblivion Crown, Emberwilde Augur, Homing Sliver, Ravaging Riftwurm, Soultether Golem
Pick: Emberwilde Augur
Pack 42:
Gift of Granite, Lost Hours, Frenzy Sliver, Patrician’s Scorn
Pick: Gift of Granite
Pack 43:
Llanowar Empath, Grave Peril, Dakmor Salvage
Pick: Llanowar Empath
Pack 44:
*, *
Pick: *
Pack 45:
*
Pick: *
Final Decklist:
Maindeck:
1 Dead // Gone
1 Sunlance
1 Amrou Scout
1 Benalish Cavalry
1 Blade of the Sixth Pride
1 Flowstone Embrace
1 Blazing Blade Askari
2 Fatal Attraction
1 Foriysian Totem
1 Ghostfire
1 Icatian Crier
1 Jaya Ballard, Task Mage
1 Marshaling Cry
1 Aether Membrane
1 Shade of Trokair
1 Lymph Sliver
1 Reckless Wurm
1 Riddle of Lightning
1 Battering Sliver
1 Jedit’s Dragoons
1 Akroma, Angel of Wrath
9 Mountain
9 Plains
Sideboard:
1 Aether Web
1 Aspect of Mongoose
1 Brass Gnat
1 Citanul Woodreaders
1 Cryptic Annelid
1 Dash Hopes
2 Emberwilde Augur
1 Firefright Mage
1 Fury Charm
1 Ghost Tactician
1 Gift of Granite
1 Henchfiend of Ukor
1 Llanowar Empath
1 Melancholy
1 Penumbra Spider
1 Return to Dust
1 Revered Dead
1 Serra’s Boon
1 Simian Spirit Guide
1 Thrill of the Hunt
1 Venser’s Sliver
1 Virulent Sliver
Third pick Akromas are always nice. I still tried to play Green because I don’t like Red/White very much, but it soon became clear that Green was cut off in front of me. In pack 2 I took Sunlance over the second Akroma because I figured I already had a good late game with Jaya and Akroma, so the cheap removal spell would be a better fit. If I knew pack 2 was going to be so miserable though, I would have taken the Akroma since my deck ended up pretty mediocre because I didn’t get a playable out of Planar Chaos after the Shade of Trokair third.
I played Chris Pikula round 1 and we had three close games. In the first I mulliganed and he played Ancestral Visions and Foresee, as well as Festering March that killed three of my creatures, but I was still in it. I was able to Riddle of Lightning his Dream Stalker in response to Leaden Fists and reveal Akroma, leaving Akroma and the land to cast it on top of my deck. Next turn I attacked with Foriysian Totem, because he didn’t have any blockers or much mana to kill it up. He played Judge Unworthy, sent them all to the bottom and hit a four. Oh well. He then played Crovax (note his excellent manabase) and a couple White creatures to put a quick clock on me before I could find another land for Akroma. Game 2 I got ahead early, but couldn’t quite finish him off. Eventually the game stalled and he started playing card draw while I was drawing nothing but lands. Fortunately I drew Akroma just in time and he was dead on the spot. Game 3 I again got ahead early but he was able to stabilise at one. I had about three turns to draw any spell in the deck to win, then about five turns to draw Akroma, Jaya, or Riddle of Lighting, but I didn’t get there.
Until tomorrow,
Rich
Draft recording done by Blargware‘s MTGO DraftCap. Support Blargware!