The Introduction!
It’s an awkward time for this article series. Official Ravnica previews begin today, and excitement about that set is peaking. (I don’t see why; they did all that stuff in Star Wars.) 9th Edition events on Magic Online have been going on since Thursday. The CBS draft format is on its last legs.
Well, I’m going to walk you through some CBS drafts anyway. After all, I didn’t record them so they’d rot on my hard drive. I recorded them so they’ll distract the police from the really bad stuff on my hard drive.
I’ve learned some things since my last series. One is that covering five drafts in five days is a bit more work than I’m accustomed to (I’m accustomed to doing zero work in five days, natch). Yet I’ve got five days of articles to fill. What to do? Here’s the plan:
Monday: Introduction and Draft, part 1
Tuesday: Draft, part 2 & ***Special Super-Cool Announcement***
Wednesday: Draft
Thursday: Ask Pugg
Friday: 9th Edition Draft
A few notes about Thursday and Friday. Thursday I’m going to blatantly rip off the highly successful formula of humorously answering readers’ questions pioneered by such luminaries as Zvi Mowshowitz, Ted Knutson, Ken Krouner and Dr. Mox. The only difference is that my questions will all be real.
Unless you guys don’t send me any! Quick, think up something and send it to [email protected] or post it in the forums. I can’t guarantee I’ll read every forum response, and I especially can’t guarantee I’ll check my e-mail, so there’s a good chance I’ll be making up questions anyway.
On Friday, the tentative plan is to do a 9th Edition draft. Couple problems with this. One is that I’ve had almost no experience with Core Set drafts. Two is that I don’t own any 9th Edition packs. I shouldn’t have blown all that money I made from the last series on jock straps. So many jock straps.
So that’s the future. Let’s get back to the present, by which I mean two or three weeks ago. That’s right, it’s draft time! You know how this works. You crack a pack, pull out the gum, pop it in your mouth, and chew vigorously. Repeat.
The Draft!
Pack 1, Pick 1
Soulblast; Gale Force; Tenza, Godo’s Maul; Innocence Kami; Glacial Ray; Kami of Ancient Law; Peer Through Depths; Battle-Mad Ronin; Terashi’s Cry; Burr Grafter; Counsel of the Soratami; Soul of Magma; Kabuto Moth; Gibbering Kami; Kami of the Hunt
First thing I probably need to mention is that this draft took place in the 8-4 queue. In fact, that’s where I’ve been drafting for the past couple of months. Am I good enough to be drafting here? Probably not. Perhaps I’ll go further into detail on why I’m exclusively 8-4ing later in the week.
Does that fact have any bearing on what card to take? Maybe it has a very small effect. In either queue, however, I think the only two considerable cards are Glacial Ray and Kabuto Moth.
If I go Moth, then there are still two very good White cards in the pack, namely Innocence Kami and Kami of Ancient Law (with the former edging out the latter in power in my estimation). The other three Red cards are all playable, but not nearly on the same order as the White. So it looks like from the perspective of sending the best signal, Glacial Ray is the way to go, but frankly it’s not much of an argument, as no matter which of the two I take, the next person will take the other.
I think ultimately it comes down to personal preference. Ask yourself, "which color would I rather be in?" In CBS, the answer is an easy "Red."
My pick: Glacial Ray
Pack 1, Pick 2
Imi Statue; Reciprocate; Student of Elements; Kami of Ancient Law; Rend Flesh; Akki Rockspeaker; Vigilance; Deathcurse Ogre; Kashi-Tribe Warriors; Floating-Dream Zubera; Lava Spike; Call to Glory; Kami of the Waning Moon; Orochi Ranger
Only thing certain is that there’s an uncommon missing. From a very basic understanding of print runs (I don’t know the exact run in question here) it’s likely neither a White card nor a Blue card was taken. That’s really all I know.
Now, there’s definitely no Red card worth taking. I think it comes down to two cards once again; in this case Rend Flesh versus Reciprocate. (If you were really into Blue/Red, I suppose a case could be made for the Zubera. I don’t believe in forcing a color that strongly. From a power level perspective, it is most definitely a bad choice.)
All else being equal, I’d say the Reciprocate just slightly edges out the Flesh. (I could be wrong about this. It’s just that I’ve rarely lacked a target for Reciprocate.) However, from the way I signaled earlier, I think it’s wise to go with the Black card here.
My pick: Rend Flesh
Pack 1, Pick 3
Iname, Life Aspect; Nezumi Bone-Reader; Hanabi Blast; Moss Kami; Orochi Leafcaller; Kami of Twisted Reflection; Crushing Pain; Brutal Deceiver; Hundred-Talon Kami; Nezumi Ronin; Serpent Skin; Hisoka’s Guard; Sokenzan Bruiser
Playable cards in all colors, but Blue and Black are the clear losers. Had this been Pack 1 Pick 1, Hanabi Blast might not look as good as it does now, yet I’d probably still take it over one of the two fatty Green creatures. The fact that I’m already in Red makes it that much better.
My pick: Hanabi Blast
Pack 1, Pick 4
Moonring Mirror; Blood Rites; Gale Force; Order of the Sacred Bell; Wandering Ones; Crushing Pain; Ethereal Haze; Unearthly Blizzard (FOIL); Kami of the Painted Road; Distress; Orochi Sustainer; Hearth Kami
This is one of those packs where, according to the logic spelled out above, the pick is very clear (or at least it’s between the two Red cards). However, the strength of Green and particularly the Green/Red archetype can fudge the logic somewhat. (Or, at least my perceived strength of the archetype. What I consider strong, you might not consider at all.)
Sticking with the plan, the pick is probably Hearth Kami. Blood Rites has never, ever worked out for me, even though it’s killed me on more than one occasion, and thus I consider it barely playable. Your mileage may vary.
I didn’t take the Hearth Kami, though. Swayed by the relative strength of the Green cards I’ve been seeing (and the aforementioned perceived strength of Red/Green), I made a move towards Green, taking what I believe to be the best card of that color. Once again, your mileage may vary.
My pick: Orochi Sustainer
A mistake? You tell me. In the forums! Or e-mail me at [email protected] and I’ll change your name, make your question funnier and add a few spelling mistakes, and use it in Thursday’s Ask Pugg column.
Pack 1, Pick 5
Takeno, Samurai General; Konda’s Hatamoto; Ember-Fist Zubera; Quiet Purity; Ragged Veins; Serpent Skin; Island (FOIL); Sokenzan Bruiser; Blessed Breath; Wicked Akuba; Humble Budoka
Lots of White in this pack, considering what we’ve been shipped lately. Note that two of the cards are Samurai (and deal with Samurai tribally), and aren’t considered all that good anymore; what with Samurai sucking @ss lately.
Ember-Fist, Serpent Skin, or Akuba. These are my real choices. (I don’t consider the Bruiser simply because he comes as late as twelfthish. Ditto Budoka.) Judging from my last pick, it would seem that the Skin is the choice here, but my creature-to-spell ratio is abysmally low so far, and my attacking creature-to-spell ratio is zero. Even had I gone with the Hearth Kami last pick, a decent creature is still better than a non-removal spell at this point.
My pick: Wicked Akuba
Pack 1, Pick 6
Akki Coalflinger; Gale Force (FOIL); Pious Kitsune; Rag Dealer; Orochi Leafcaller; Devoted Retainer; Commune with Nature; Callous Deceiver; Unearthly Blizzard; Lantern Kami
The packs seem to be stabilizing, and sadly, that Akuba last pick looks like it might have been an anomaly. Once upon a time, I’d have considered the Leafcaller here and gone three- (or more-) color-Green, but I’ve been burned enough to know it’s not generally worth it.
No, as far as I’m concerned there is a clear Best Card in the Pack, and fortunately it’s in one of my colors.
My pick: Akki Coalflinger
Hey, I like the card. I like it even better in a deck that thus far isn’t too concerned about Spiritcraft triggers. Yet I’ve heard it disrespected by some. Lay off the Coalflinger, I say. It’s even inspired me to draft a First Strike deck some day. Okay, that’ll probably never happen.
Pack 1, Pick 7:
Lure; Soulless Revival; Matsu-Tribe Decoy; Lifted By Clouds; Hisoka’s Defiance; Akki Avalanchers; Kami of the Painted Road; Venerable Kumo; Eye of Nowhere
It occurs to me that whoever’s been cutting off Blue has been doing a great job. I’ve yet to even consider taking a Blue card. This pack is no different. Once again, I’m faced with choices across all three of my (so-far drafted) colors. I’m a big fan of the Revival, however, and I just can’t pass it by. Sure, Death Denied is great, but whenever I need to draft one I never see one. Whenever I’m not in Black I pass seven.
My pick: Soulless Revival
Let’s just hope this lack of creatures doesn’t come around and bite me in the ass, eh?
Pack 1, Pick 8
Myojin of Seeing Winds; Nezumi Bone-Reader; Jukai Messenger; Field of Reality; Counsel of the Soratami; Sokenzan Bruiser; Kitsune Diviner; Distress
You wouldn’t believe how much I was tempted to take the Myojin. Fortunately, "sense" took hold of me and I took the card that’s not worth a third of a ticket. Grr.
My pick: Sokenzan Bruiser
Pack 1, Pick 9
Soulblast; Gale Force; Peer Through Depths; Battle-Mad Ronin; Terashi’s Cry; Counsel of the Soratami; Soul of Magma
First "wheel" pick. Surprisingly, all three barely playable Red cards I passed are gone. Not surprisingly (but pleasantly so), all three of the good White cards are gone. Score. All that’s left to do is take the best of the three cards.
My pick: Battle-Mad Ronin
Ok, that’s probably the wrong card to take. I agree with all of you that Soul of Magma is better. I mean, the Ronin is a good Ninja enabler, so I was clearly grabbing it with that in mind. Somehow, it just doesn’t seem like the right pick. (Hope it doesn’t bite me in the @ss.)
Pack 1, Pick 10
Akki Rockspeaker; Vigilance; Deathcurse Ogre; Kashi-Tribe Warriors; Lava Spike; Call to Glory
Many draft-recorders stop recording right around this point. Personally, I think that’s rather irresponsible. Sure, these are the least important picks, and if I had to lose some, I’d rather lose the ones at the bottom.
Important information can still be gleaned from them, however, and I believe they deserve more respect than "scored a Lava Spike and not much else." For example, in this pack note that both these Red cards were present when I passed this card second pick. That’s gotta tell you something.
My pick: Lava Spike
Pack 1, Pick 11:
Orochi Leafcaller; Kami of Twisted Reflection; Crushing Pain; Hisoka’s Guard; Sokenzan Bruiser
What did I tell you about it coming twelfthish? Didn’t I say it’d come twelfthish?
My pick: Sokenzan Bruiser
Pack 1, Pick 12
Wandering Ones, Crushing Pain, Ethereal Haze, Unearthly Blizzard (FOIL)
Just because I’m reporting every pick doesn’t mean I have to talk about every pick. Still, if I didn’t know better, I’d say that I was the only Red drafter at the table.
My pick: Unearthly Blizzard
Pack 1, Pick 13
Quiet Purity; Ragged Veins; Humble Budoka
My pick: Humble Budoka
Pack 1, Pick 14
My pick: Rag Dealer
Pack 1, Pick 15
Ok. A playable card 15th? Keep in mind this is the 8-4 queue. There were a couple players in the 1650 range, but everybody else was 1700+, with three over 1800.
Not that rating means anything.
Pack 2, Pick 1
Mirror Gallery; Lifespinner; Overblaze; Pus Kami; Takeno’s Cavalry; Call for Blood; Uproot; Floodbringer; First Volley; Quillmane Baku; Torrent of Stone; Kami of False Hope; Takenuma Bleeder; Sakura-Tribe Springcaller; Shimmering Glasskite
Not a pack to call Mom about. It does contain the best Red common, and I happen to be in Red. Therefore, I will take the aforementioned excellent Red card.
Isn’t drafting simple?
My pick: Torrent of Stone
Pack 2, Pick 2
Toshiro Umezawa; Nezumi Shadow-Watcher; Ward of Piety; Mending Hands; Stir the Grave; Okiba-Gang Shinobi (FOIL); Veil of Secrecy; Kumano’s Blessing; Harbinger of Spring; Mistblade Shinobi; Frost Ogre; Split-Tail Miko; Skullsnatcher; Roar of Jukai
Let none say I’m a pathological raredrafter. Good common, good rare. If the common’s better I’m taking the common.
(Sadly, in this case I’m not 100% certain the common is even better. Also, probably the only reason I didn’t take Umezawa is I didn’t know if it was worth anything. I’ve been too afraid to check.)
My pick: Okiba-Gang Shinobi (FOIL)
Pack 2, Pick 3
Shirei, Shizo’s Caretaker; Flames of the Blood Hand; Hired Muscle; Sowing Salt; Silverstorm Samurai; Crawling Filth; Vital Surge; First Volley; Scaled Hulk; Quillmane Baku; Blademane Baku; Kami of False Hope; Harbinger of Spring
Let none say I’m a pathological uncommon-drafter. Good rare, good uncommon. If the rare’s better I’m taking the rare.
This was my second Shirei in as many drafts. (My third draft would also contain a Shirei. I don’t think I’m gonna report on that one.) The card has absolutely destroyed me on a couple of occasions, and I’ve been meaning to make it work.
The problem is Hired Muscle is usually so much better. In reality, the only reason I didn’t take the Muscle is that the deck has such low Spiritcraft potential. It certainly could go up, but it’s low now.
My pick: Shirei, Shizo’s Caretaker
Note also that I’ve long abandoned Green. So far it’s looking like it’s paying off.
Pack 2, Pick 4
Tomorrow, Azami’s Familiar; Mark of the Oni; Heart of Light; Blessing of Leeches; Petalmane Baku; Floodbringer; Crack the Earth; Horobi’s Whisper; Sakura-Tribe Springcaller; Ribbons of the Reikai; Frostling; Kami of Tattered Shoji
The late picks aren’t the only ones I don’t have to write about. I’d say this more than qualifies.
My pick: Horobi’s Whisper
Pack 2, Pick 5
Terashi’s Verdict; Mending Hands; Bile Urchin; Vital Surge; Veil of Secrecy; Akki Blizzard-Herder; Goblin Cohort; Hundred-Talon Strike; Skullmane Baku; Scaled Hulk; Shinka Gatekeeper
Bit disappointing seeing Terashi’s Verdict, but I’m pretty well locked in my colors anyway. It’s not like there aren’t good choices for my deck. I think even without the Shirei I would’ve gone for the Urchin, but now that it’s in my pile, it makes it all the more obvious.
(Yes, if I had taken the Muscle like I probably should’ve, the Urchin would still be the correct pick. Fine. Any of you think Skullmane Baku is the pick here?)
My pick: Bile Urchin
Pack 2, Pick 6
Genju of the Fens; Sowing Salt; Terashi’s Cry; Call for Blood; Traproot Kami; Toils of Night and Day; Ire of Kaminari; Child of Thorns; Shinka Gatekeeper; Takenuma Bleeder
I’d have been happy seeing either the Bleeder or the Genju in this pack. The fact that they’re both here makes it a little worse. Strange how that works, huh?
Fens is easily considered to be the worst of the Genjus, but that doesn’t mean it’s unplayable. It’s just a little unwieldy is all. Nevertheless, the deck needs mid-sized creatures (and ninja-enablers), and the Bleeder fits the bill in both respects.
My pick: Takenuma Bleeder
Pack 2, Pick 7
Three Tragedies; Walker of Secret Ways; Kumano’s Blessing; Stir the Grave; Uproot; Minamo’s Meddling; Skullmane Baku; Ribbons of the Reikai; Frost Ogre
I think it’s plainly obvious by now that I’m in the right color combination. The quality of the Red/Black cards has surpassed the other colors by a considerable margin. Yet it’s not necessarily the best combination by archetype standards. I think drafts like this really hammer home the notion that you just have to take the cards as they come. Sometimes. The other times, I don’t know what’s going on.
Three Tragedies is probably the best card in the pack, but in a deck as spell-heavy as mine, I don’t think there’s really a question.
My pick: Frost Ogre
Pack 2, Pick 8
Ward of Piety; Minamo Sightbender; Akki Blizzard-Herder; Crawling Filth; SkullSnatcher; Kami of Tattered Shoji; Psychic Spear
Decent White cards again. Makes me wonder if the signals back in pack 1 weren’t all sorts of confused. Still, I’m happy with the choice of Spear versus Snatcher.
Heh. Snatcher.
Seeing as how I’m still relatively creature-light, the choice should be clear once again.
My pick: Skullsnatcher
Pack 2, Pick 9
Overblaze; Pus Kami; Takeno’s Cavalry; Call for Blood; Uproot; Quillmane Baku; Kami of False Hope
Pus Kami is virtually unplayable in my deck. I’ll probably be running 17 lands, so I can rarely dream of casting it (also, it’s really nice to be able to leave up that B when you do). Pus Kami isn’t great even in slower decks. It’s more of a Sealed card.
So instead I’ll take the most playable card in the pack. I suppose many folks would be of the opinion that in situations like this, you just go with the card in your colors. Especially since False Hope isn’t exactly Waxmane Baku. Why derail the color train, especially since it could hurt you in pack three?
I don’t know the answer to those questions. All I know is False Hope feels right.
My pick: Kami of False Hope
Pack 2, Pick 10
Nezumi Shadow-Watcher; Ward of Piety; Mending Hands; Stir the Grave; Kumano’s Blessing; Harbinger of Spring
It’s packs like this that really mess me up, especially when I’m recording the draft. I feel I have to be able to justify every pick, which is fine–the problem comes when I could see an equally valid counterargument for making a pick.
I think in general, Stir the Grave is the better Black card. Shadow-Watcher has its uses, but it’s really not all that great, except as a sideboard card. In either case, neither is likely to make the main deck, so I might as well take the one with greater sideboard potential. Still, this one just feels icky.
My pick: Nezumi Shadow-Watcher
Pack 2, Pick 11
Flames of the Blood Hand; Silverstorm Samurai; Crawling Filth; Vital Surge; Harbinger of Spring
My pick: Flames of the Blood Hand
Pack 2, Pick 12
Heart of Light; Blessing of Leeches; Crack the Earth; Ribbons of the Reikai
My pick: Blessing of Leeches
Pack 2, Pick 13
Vital Surge; Akki Blizzard-Herder; Shinka Gatekeeper
My pick: Shinka Gatekeeper
Pack 2, Pick 14
Call for Blood; Ire of Kaminari
My pick: Ire of Kaminari
Pack 2, Pick 15
Pack 3, Pick 1
Iizuka the Ruthless; Briarknit Kami; Evermind; Sokenzan Renegade; Dosan’s Oldest Chant; Murmurs from Beyond; Into the Fray; Kitsune Bonesetter; Kuro’s Taken; Torii Watchward; Raving Oni-Slave; Inner-Calm, Outer Strength; Shinen of Flight’s Wings; Spiraling Embers; Kitsune Dawnblade
I paid my dues in packs 1 and 2, and now it’s time to clean up. At least in the Red department. The way the cards have been going, I should be up for some fantastic picks. This one’s a fine way to start.
My pick: Spiraling Embers
Pack 3, Pick 2
Ashes of the Fallen; Gaze of Adamaro; Haru-Onna; Sakura-Tribe Scout; Cut the Earthly Bond; Ronin Cavekeeper; Plow Through Reito; Kuro’s Taken; Torii Watchward; Raving Oni-Slave; Inner-Calm, Outer Strength; Shinen of Flight’s Wings; Spiraling Embers; Kitsune Dawnblade
Yup. To save time, I just copied and pasted the last seven cards from the previous pack. Might as well do the same for my pick.
Sometimes I just don’t like the concept of print runs.
My pick: Spiraling Embers
Ghost-Lit Raider; Nikko-Onna; Ebony Owl Netsuke; Dosan’s Oldest Chant; Dreamcatcher; Into the Fray; Curtain of Light; Shinen of Fear’s Chill; Akki Drillmaster; Cowed by Wisdom; Raving Oni-Slave; Freed from the Real; Sokenzan Spellblade
How lucky! I have never, ever drafted a Ghost-Lit Raider yet, and I get one third. How can I lose this draft? I can’t!
(Note: Pugg Fuggly winds up losing the draft. This is either known as foreshadowing, irony, or being a terrible Magic player.)
My pick: Ghost-Lit Raider
Pack 3, Pick 4
Overwhelming Intellect; Godo’s Irregulars; Rending Vines; Ideas Unbound; Path of Anger’s Flame; Araba Mothrider; Death of a Thousand Stings; Fiddlehead Kami; Oppressive Will; Sokenzan Spellblade; Sink into Takenuma; Nightsoil Kami
Just about the right time to take the Spellblade. Sink into Takenuma is a fine card, but there’s that whole thing where I ain’t got hardly any creatures.
My pick: Sokenzan Spellblade
Pack 3, Pick 5
Hail of Arrows; Locust Miser; Seek the Horizon; Sakura-Tribe Scout; Cut the Earthly Bond; Ronin Cavekeeper; Plow through Reito; Kuro’s Taken; Deathmask Nezumi; Minamo Scrollkeeper; Death Denied
Blech. See what I mean about Death Denied? Only comes when I don’t need it. I mean, it’d probably make the deck (over Soulless), but there’s a better card for my deck here. I’m just not sure it’s the better card.
My pick: Kuro’s Taken
It is a pretty good creature. Only thing is, how many cards do I have so far that actually attack for more than 1? No, I’m asking. I never learned how to count.
Pack 3, Pick 6
Ghost-Lit Warder; Promised Kannushi; Oboro Breezecaller; Inner Fire; Spiritual Visit; Deathknell Kami; Kitsune Dawnblade; Sink into Takenuma; Descendant of Soramaro; Shinen of Fury’s Fire
Oh, the lengths (or depths?) I’ll go to simply to ensure I have a decent creature count. Yet I’m positive I did not make a mistake here. (That is, I’m positive I did not make a mistake here.)
My "ick": Shinen of Fury’s Fire
Pack 3, Pick 7
Measure of Wickedness; Promised Kannushi; Cut the Earthly Bond; Glitterfang; Kitsune Bonesetter; Gnat Miser; Moonbow Illusionist; Akki Underling; Kami of Empty Graves
What’s that Moonbow Illusionist doing here? Ugh.
Anyway, this pack is about taking one of three cards. Glitterfang, Akki Underling, or Kami of Empty Graves. I think we can rule out Glitterfang right away. I just don’t have the Spiritcraft cards for it, and I need things that attack for more than one.
That leaves the Underling or the Kami. The way I see the deck, (unless I’m on the draw and get out the Underling turn two), I will rarely have seven cards in my hand past turn 1. That plus the fact that it brings back the Ghost-Lit Raider pushes the decision in favor of the Kami. As far as I can tell.
My pick: Kami of Empty Graves
Pack 3, Pick 8
Soratami Cloud Chariot; Skull Collector; Murmurs from Beyond; Inner Fire; Araba Mothrider; Gnat Miser; Minamo Scrollkeeper, Moonbow Illusionist
Another Illusionist? What’s with you people. Yes, you.
My pick: Skull Collector
I mean, at this point I haven’t reviewed my Black early drops, but even if I barely had any, it seems like the right pick here. Oh right, I do barely have any. Well, what am I supposed to do? Hatedraft an Illusionist? A Scrollkeeper? I hate you people.
Pack 3, Pick 9
Evermind; Sokenzan Renegade; Dosan’s Oldest Chant; Murmurs from Beyond; Into the Fray; Kitsune Bonesetter; Kitsune Dawnblade
Well, at least I can’t be too upset about this pack, though I’d be a bit wary about playing the Renegade.
On a side note, isn’t it sad when they make a card like Evermind that breaks (or creates?) a ton of rules, but just isn’t very good? By the way, were you aware it now makes the spell it’s spliced upon Blue? That makes a ton of sense.
My pick: Sokenzan Renegade
Pack 3, Pick 10
Ashes of the Fallen; Gaze of Adamaro; Cut the Earthly Bond; Ronin Cavekeeper; Raving Oni-Slave; Kitsune Dawnblade
Oni-Slave is one of those cards it doesn’t feel right to pass, but I’d never want to see it set foot in my deck. I mean, I’ve seen it win games before (for the player that played it), but only when the opponent didn’t have any removal or there were other support cards that helped it out. Still, I guess I’d better take it.
My pick: Ashes of the Fallen
Shut up! I barely took any rares the entire draft. In fact, didn’t I only take the one?
Pack 3, Pick 11
Ebony Owl Netsuke; Dosan’s Oldest Chant; Into the Fray; Curtain of Light; Shinen of Fear’s Chill
My pick: Shinen of Fear’s Chill
Pack 3, Pick 12
Ideas Unbound; Path of Anger’s Flame; Death of a Thousand Stings; Oppressive Will
My pick: Path of Anger’s Flame
Pack 3, Pick 13
Locust Miser; Cut the Earthly Bond; Minamo Scrollkeeper
My pick: Minamo Scrollkeeper
Pack 3, Pick 14
Oboro Breezecaller; Inner Fire
My pick: Oboro Breezecaller
Pack 3, Pick 15
Build my Deck!
Now it’s your turn. Because, you know, this is your column or somesuch. Heh. No, actually it’s my column, but I let you borrow it once in a while.
So, sorted by converted mana cost, here are the cards in my colors (and the artifact!). That’s every single Red or Black card. I make no decisions for you. (Except the part where I tell you what my colors are.)
(And the part where I made all the picks already.)
1cc
Lava Spike
Akki Avalanchers
Bile Urchin
Nezumi Shadow-Watcher
Rag Dealer
2cc
Glacial Ray
Soulless Revival
Ashes of the Fallen
Kuro’s Taken
Kuro’s Taken
Skullsnatcher
Wicked Akuba
Wait–huh? Two Kuro’s Taken? That’s what the Magic Online deck editor is telling me. I’m just reading from the file that got backed up in my draft decks folder.
Judging from the rest of the cards in my deck, looks like I took a Taken instead of an Embers once. Was this intentional of me? If so, why would I record it as an Embers?
Well, sorry about that. But the Magic Online deck editor does not lie. Looks like I picked a Taken over that first Embers.
3cc
Unearthly Blizzard
Flames of the Blood Hand
Hanabi Blast
Horobi’s Whisper
Path of Anger’s Flame
Rend Flesh
Blessing of Leeches
Kumano’s Blessing
Akki Coalflinger
Ghost-Lit Raider
Shinen of Fury’s Fire
Shinka Gatekeeper
Skull Collector
Sokenzan Renegade
Takenuma Bleeder
Shinen of Fury’s Fire
4cc
Spiraling Embers
Ire of Kaminari
Torrent of Stone
Kami of Empty Graves
5cc
Frost Ogre
Okiba-Gang Shinobi
Shinen of Fear’s Chill
Shirei, Shizo’s Caretaker
Sokenzan Bruiser
Sokenzan Bruiser
Sokenzan Spellblade
Hm, no 6ccs.
The rest:
Humble Budoka
Orochi Sustainer
Oboro Breezecaller
Minamo Scrollkeeper
Kami of False Hope
Kitsune Bonesetter
Wow. That’s got to be one of my most "on color" drafts yet. So, build my deck. Tomorrow we’ll see if you were right, and also we’ll find out what my ***Special Super-Cool Announcement*** is. I’d better come up with something good.
Don’t ask me what it is if you want to get in Ask Pugg. Remember, you’re gonna find out tomorrow. Which reminds me! Ask me something! Anything! Send your questions to [email protected], or if you want zero chance of getting in the column, post it in the forums.
See you tomorrow.