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The Commander League Rotisserie Draft, Part 2!

Sheldon Menery’s group carries out the picks for their excellent League idea! Who do you think will prevail? How should Sheldon build his deck? What would you have done differently?

Join us at Grand Prix Charlotte May 20-22!

Recently, I told you how I was going to approach our Commander Rotisserie Draft. In Part Two, I’ll lay out how the draft went, all 500 cards of it. I don’t want to bury the lead, so I’ll tell you that I drafted pretty much the deck I wanted to. I suppose that we’ll see in play if it is any good.

We drafted straight through from lunch, with ten- to fifteen-minute breaks after every two rotations (so at the ends of Rounds 10, 20, 30, and 40). We finished about an hour earlier than I expected, so we had plenty of time before dinner. We opened an extra bottle of wine (2009 Two Angels Petite Sirah High Valley) and chatted about the draft as I made goat cheese- and basil-stuffed chicken breasts and Gretchyn made jasmine rice and roasted green beans with sautéed mushrooms.

I paired it with two different Syrahs from Bedrock Wine Company, one the more rustic 2012 Syrah T ‘n’ S Hudson Vineyard South (which is Carneros fruit) and the other the more sophisticated 2012 Syrah Griffin’s Lair (Sonoma Coast). I was surprised that preferences ran toward the former. Both paired well with the dish. We had a leisurely dinner and culminated with the whole point of Day of Thrones 6: watching the first episode of the new season. No spoilers, but there was nudity and violence.

During lunch, Keith told us what his first pick was going to be: Erebos, God of the Dead. His intention was clearly to set a particular tone, which he did. I’m pretty sure it informed multiple choices down the road (I noticed a minimal amount of lifegain got drafted). It didn’t dissuade me from my plan to draft support cards first and then operational cards later, although I paid attention to how the other drafters were going about their picks, which led me to grab a few cards earlier than I otherwise might have. I obviously can’t talk about all 500 cards in detail without this thing going to 20,000 words. Having no interest in making your eyeballs bleed, I’ll hit the highlights. I’m going to list them by rotations of five rounds, which is ten picks.

We first revealed our commanders:

Keith

Me

Todd

Michael

Shea

My predictions were 1-of-3 on Keith, 3-of-3 on Todd, 0-of-3 on Michael, and 1-of-3 on Shea. Pretty sorry.

Rotation 1:

Rd 1

Pick

Rd 2

Pick

Keith

Erebos, God of the Dead

Sheldon

Kodama’s Reach

Sheldon

Solemn Simulacrum

Todd

Cyclonic Rift

Todd

Wood Elves

Michael

Reliquary Tower

Michael

Burnished Hart

Shea

Land Tax

Shea

Sorin, Grim Nemesis

Keith

Tempt with Discovery

Shea

Sun Titan

Keith

Karametra, God of Harvests

Michael

Kozilek, Butcher of Truth

Shea

Massacre Wurm

Todd

Sakura-Tribe Elder

Michael

Keranos, God of Storms

Sheldon

Cultivate

Todd

Oracle of Mul Daya

Keith

Fertilid

Sheldon

Seedborn Muse

Rd 3

Pick

Todd

Consecrated Sphinx

Michael

Phyrexian Metamorph

Shea

Elspeth, Sun’s Champion

Keith

Vigor

Sheldon

Coiling Oracle

Sheldon

Farhaven Elf

Keith

Thief of Blood

Shea

Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet

Michael

Butcher of Malakir

Todd

Deadeye Navigator

Rd 4

Pick

Rd 5

Pick

Michael

Rite of Replication

Shea

Blind Obedience

Shea

Netherborn Phalanx

Keith

Genesis Wave

Keith

Sorin, Solemn Visitor

Sheldon

Lurking Predators

Sheldon

Eldrazi Displacer

Todd

Mystic Confluence

Todd

Skyshroud Claim

Michael

Insurrection

Todd

Survival of the Fittest

Michael

Homeward Path

Sheldon

Conjurer’s Closet

Todd

Command Tower

Keith

Aura Shards

Sheldon

Restoration Angel

Shea

Sorin, Lord of Innistrad

Keith

Opal Palace

Michael

Sorin Markov

Shea

Sunblast Angel

With Keith first-picking Erebos, I’m settled into my first three. Keith drafting Karametra, however, put me onto the line that both he and Todd (both of whom I battled with for green) were going for the business cards out of the gate. Todd and I had similar views on drafting support first, but Keith’s pick of Karametra told me that I needed to grab Blinky the Eldrazi pretty quickly (which Keith later confirmed was going to be one of his two picks). I knew that I would fight Todd for Consecrated Sphinx and Deadeye Navigator, but I didn’t expect him to grab them in Round 3.

Todd’s Round 2 picks of Cyclonic Rift and Oracle of Mul Daya are eminently reasonable; he later said he took Rift a little earlier than he might have just to keep it out of my hands. I wouldn’t have likely taken it before Round 5 or 6, but his pick of it pointed me to where he was heading. It also got me onto Lurking Predators earlier than I had hoped (especially with his pick of Survival of the Fittest), but I was aware of that possibility rearing its head. I had really hoped Karametra was going to fly under the radar, but whatevs.

Michael’s wheel of Insurrection and Homeward Path was funny, although it made me consider that he was definitely going to simply embrace the chaos, so trying to predict what he would do was just not worth it. Since we only shared blue and artifacts anyway, I concentrated on primarily Todd and Keith. I didn’t think that Shea would take any white cards that I couldn’t do without and have other functional replacements for.

Once I took Blinky, I had revealed my plan, so Conjurer’s Closet had to come next. Keith’s early pick of Genesis Wave was a bit of a dagger, but then Opal Palace seemed kind of random. I get that he was obviously going for the +1/+1 counter plan, but that’s not something anyone else would pick anyway. I think Todd’s pick of Command Tower got him twitchy, but I resolved to stay my course on waiting to pick lands.

Rotation 2:

Rd 6

Pick

Rd 7

Pick

Keith

Trostani, Selesnya’s Voice

Sheldon

Gigantoplasm

Sheldon

Mirari’s Wake

Todd

Phantasmal Image

Todd

Chaos Warp

Michael

Body Double

Michael

Dack’s Duplicate

Shea

Cathars’ Crusade

Shea

Decree of Justice

Keith

Sword of Body and Mind

Shea

Army of the Damned

Keith

Sword of War and Peace

Michael

Dictate of Erebos

Shea

Intangible Virtue

Todd

Duplicant

Michael

Tower of the Magistrate

Sheldon

Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite

Todd

Altered Ego

Keith

Decree of Pain

Sheldon

Progenitor Mimic

Rd 8

Pick

Todd

Acidic Slime

Michael

Oblivion Sower

Shea

Akroma’s Memorial

Keith

Austere Command

Sheldon

Reveillark

Sheldon

Karmic Guide

Keith

Deathbringer Liege

Shea

Vampiric Rites

Michael

Mimic Vat

Todd

Dualcaster Mage

Rd 9

Pick

Rd 10

Pick

Michael

Mindwrack Liege

Shea

Captain of the Watch

Shea

Eerie Interlude

Keith

Momentous Fall

Keith

Athreos, God of Passage

Sheldon

Vesuvan Shapeshifter

Sheldon

Greater Good

Todd

Sakashima’s Student

Todd

Avenger of Zendikar

Michael

Gather Specimens

Todd

Bribery

Michael

Clone Legion

Sheldon

Clever Impersonator

Todd

Exotic Orchard

Keith

Gideon, Ally of Zendikar

Sheldon

Sakashima the Impostor

Shea

Purphoros, God of the Forge

Keith

Realm Seekers

Michael

Darksteel Ingot

Shea

Alliance of Arms

The biggest part of these five picks for me was knowing that the Clone wars were about to begin. Michael snagging Dack’s Duplicant (which I couldn’t have, but I’m sure he didn’t want Todd to have it) followed by Todd grabbing Duplicant signaled the beginning. I knew that I was in on this plan, and I knew that I’d have to have the stomach for the fight. I’d have to go all-in on it now or abandon it. Fortunately, Michael seemed to give up on it right away. Todd stuck with it a bit, but when I put the stamp on my intentions with the final three picks being Clones, I think that was enough for everyone.

There were two other significant moves for me here. First was the very sweet wheel of Reveillark and Karmic Guide. I felt like I had to wheel both of them; otherwise, if I picked one, another player would grab the other. The other was the follow-up selection of Greater Good. It’s a great card, but I suspected it would go later, maybe in Round 12 or 13. Something—and I honestly can’t tell you what—told me that Todd had his mind on it for his upcoming wheel. Turns out that I was right. I got a big [expletive deleted] from him when I took it. It felt good. Plus, I got an awesome card.

Michael once again went for the humor when he picked Tower of the Magistrate after Keith’s double-Sword wheel.

Rotation 3

Rd 11

Pick

Rd 12

Pick

Keith

Martial Coup

Sheldon

Blade of Selves

Sheldon

Sensei’s Divining Top

Todd

Seasons Past

Todd

Sol Ring

Michael

Urabrask the Hidden

Michael

Ugin, the Spirit Dragon

Shea

Return to Dust

Shea

Grave Titan

Keith

Scavenging Ooze

Shea

Inferno Titan

Keith

Forgotten Ancient

Michael

Tamiyo, the Moon Sage

Shea

Descend Upon the Sinful

Todd

Karn Liberated

Michael

Aether Snap

Sheldon

Woodfall Primus

Todd

Thragtusk

Keith

Rout

Sheldon

Garruk Wildspeaker

Rd 13

Pick

Todd

Soul of the Harvest

Michael

Triskaidekaphobia

Shea

Luminarch Ascension

Keith

Mikaeus, the Lunarch

Sheldon

Mystic Snake

Sheldon

Draining Whelk

Keith

Phantom Nishoba

Shea

Reiterate

Michael

Aether Snap

Todd

Venser, Shaper Savant

Rd 14

Pick

Rd 15

Pick

Michael

Damnation

Shea

Westvale Abbey

Shea

Deadly Tempest

Keith

Anguished Unmaking

Keith

Drana, Liberator of Malakir

Sheldon

Yavimaya Elder

Sheldon

Avacyn, Angel of Hope

Todd

Explosive Vegetation

Todd

Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger

Michael

Mirrorpool

Todd

Birthing Pod

Michael

Reflecting Pool

Sheldon

Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre

Todd

Gaea’s Cradle

Keith

Unmake

Sheldon

Kruphix, God of Horizons

Shea

Utter End

Keith

Mageta the Lion

Michael

Thassa, God of the Sea

Shea

Karmic Justice

Sol Ring finally went with pick number 103 of the draft. As Aaron Forsythe tweeted, “It’s no Tower of the Magistrate.” Honestly, I knew it was still there and felt like Sensei’s Divining Top is just better. Sure, it can lead to explosive starts, but games are going to have five players in them. A first- or second-turn Sol Ring is just going to lead to getting orc-piled.

Todd repaid the favor of taking something right before I was about to in Round 12 by snatching the Thragusk I had my eyes on. And Keith got what I thought was super-secret tech in Phantom Nishoba (since it has zero power, Reveillark can bring it back), although I wasn’t going to pick it until the 30s. Once again, I knew that my wheel would have to be a both-of-a-kind thing, so in Round 13 I took the counterspells, Mystic Snake and Draining Whelk.

Rotation 4

Rd 16

Pick

Rd 17

Pick

Keith

Molder Slug

Sheldon

Dauntless Escort

Sheldon

Copy Enchantment

Todd

Zendikar Resurgent

Todd

Ulvenwald Hydra

Michael

Overseer of the Damned

Michael

Supplant Form

Shea

Dictate of Heliod

Shea

Tamiyo’s Journal

Keith

Kalonian Hydra

Shea

Phyrexian Arena

Keith

Undergrowth Champion

Michael

Grave Betrayal

Shea

Red Elemental Blast

Todd

Bane of Progress

Michael

Radiate

Sheldon

Ghostway

Todd

World Breaker

Keith

Kalemne’s Captain

Sheldon

Evolutionary Leap

Rd 18

Pick

Todd

Gilded Drake

Michael

Artisan of Kozilek

Shea

Scout’s Warning

Keith

Ashen Rider

Sheldon

Glen Elendra Archmage

Sheldon

Eternal Witness

Keith

Predator Ooze

Shea

Luminate Primordial

Michael

Sepulchral Primordial

Todd

Scourge of the Throne

Rd 19

Pick

Rd 20

Pick

Michael

Dack Fayden

Shea

Wild Ricochet

Shea

Dragonmaster Outcast

Keith

Tireless Tracker

Keith

Dregs of Sorrow

Sheldon

Angel of Serenity

Sheldon

Mercurial Pretender

Todd

Mosswort Bridge

Todd

Hornet Queen

Michael

Grafdigger’s Cage

Todd

Asceticism

Michael

Sculpting Steel

Sheldon

Terastodon

Todd

Brutalizer Exarch

Keith

Bitter Ordeal

Sheldon

Tooth and Nail

Shea

Wall of Omens

Keith

Dragonlord Dromoka

Michael

Bloodchief Ascension

Shea

Elspeth, Knight-Errant

We all start to settle in here and sculpt the decks we want to play. With the number of good enchantments and artifacts, I like Todd’s choice of Bane of Progress. Looking at his list, he’s really not going to hurt himself too badly if he has to use it. I didn’t have Tooth and Nail on my original list, but when Michael picked Grafdigger’s Cage, I felt as though it was my duty to reinforce the assertion of not negotiating with terrorists. Todd’s pick of Scourge of the Throne was rather awesome. I hope I can Clone it a few times.

I picked Terastodon late because Todd had yet to pick it—and he said that if he couldn’t cascade into it with Maelstrom Wanderer, he didn’t really want it. Todd grabbed Zendikar Resurgent, which I simply thought wasn’t going to be on anyone else’s radar. I suppose it would have been too greedy to expect both that and Mirari’s Wake. Maybe I’ll pick up Mana Reflection off the waiver wire.

Rotation 5

Rd 21

Pick

Rd 22

Pick

Keith

Hunter of Eyeblights

Sheldon

Krosan Verge

Sheldon

Temple of the False God

Todd

Plea for Power

Todd

Sneak Attack

Michael

Nucklavee

Michael

Mirror Match

Shea

Jeskai Barricade

Shea

Akroma, Angel of Wrath

Keith

Godless Shrine

Shea

Akroma, Angel of Fury

Keith

Temple Garden

Michael

Sudden Spoiling

Shea

Dust Elemental

Todd

Profaner of the Dead

Michael

Talent of the Telepath

Sheldon

Breeding Pool

Todd

Greenwarden of Murasa

Keith

Vish Kal, Blood Arbiter

Sheldon

Twincast

Rd 23

Pick

Todd

Tropical Island

Michael

Brand

Shea

Merciless Eviction

Keith

Emeria Shepherd

Sheldon

Kozilek, the Great Distortion

Sheldon

Faith’s Reward

Keith

Twilight Shepherd

Shea

Stonehewer Giant

Michael

Sangromancer

Todd

Alchemist’s Refuge

Rd 24

Pick

Rd 25

Pick

Michael

Kaervek the Merciless

Shea

Spear of Heliod

Shea

Liliana of the Dark Realms

Keith

Hythonia the Cruel

Keith

Archangel of Thune

Sheldon

Saffi Eriksdotter

Sheldon

Arachnogenesis

Todd

Phyrexian Ingester

Todd

Deepfathom Skulker

Michael

Endless Whispers

Todd

Arcanis the Omnipotent

Michael

Spawning Bed

Sheldon

Mulldrifter

Todd

Beast Within

Keith

Baneslayer Angel

Sheldon

Sigarda, Host of Herons

Shea

Ajani Steadfast

Keith

Wave of Reckoning

Michael

Kulrath Knight

Shea

Chandra, Flamecaller

Once again, I spent this rotation just picking cards off my list. One of the reasons it occurred to me to take Tooth and Nail at the end of the previous rotation was that it wouldn’t signal my intentions for the next one: picking up lands.

When I drafted Kozilek, the Great Distortion, someone finally figured out that I can have all the colorless mana I want via Kruphix, God of Horizons. Love Michael’s choice of Kulrath Knight, but I suspect that Keith likes it not at all.

Rotation 6

Rd 26

Pick

Rd 27

Pick

Keith

Orzhov Basilica

Sheldon

Edric, Spymaster of Trest

Sheldon

Eldrazi Monument

Todd

Jace, the Mind Sculptor

Todd

Lifeblood Hydra

Michael

Teferi’s Puzzle Box

Michael

Seizan, Perverter of Truth

Shea

Elspeth Tirel

Shea

Terramorphic Expanse

Keith

Pontiff of Blight

Shea

Evolving Wilds

Keith

Tree of Redemption

Michael

Anvil of Bogardan

Shea

Ob Nixilis Reignited

Todd

Torpor Orb

Michael

Dictate of Kruphix

Sheldon

The Great Aurora

Todd

Conclave Naturalists

Keith

Karlov of the Ghost Council

Sheldon

Marshal’s Anthem

Rd 28

Pick

Todd

Crystal Shard

Michael

Increasing Vengeance

Shea

Sword of Fire and Ice

Keith

Guiltfeeder

Sheldon

Slithermuse

Sheldon

Diluvian Primordial

Keith

Horobi, Death’s Wail

Shea

Basilisk Collar

Michael

Dictate of the Twin Gods

Todd

Avalanche Riders

Rd 29

Pick

Rd 30

Pick

Michael

Fevered Visions

Shea

Grave Pact

Shea

Sword of Feast and Famine

Keith

Justice

Keith

Unstoppable Ash

Sheldon

Emeria, the Sky Ruin

Sheldon

Aura Thief

Todd

Submerge

Todd

Elvish Visionary

Michael

Aether Flash

Todd

Imperial Recruiter

Michael

Confusion in the Ranks

Sheldon

Cauldron of Souls

Todd

Frost Titan

Keith

Silklash Spider

Sheldon

Rampant Growth

Shea

Comeuppance

Keith

Magnigoth Treefolk

Michael

Repercussion

Shea

Agonizing Demise

At this point, it’s just utility and cool stuff to blink. I’m obviously on the Roon plan. I pick up a few things which help me recover from the inevitable battlefield wipe or not fall prey to it at all. Michael’s choice of Repercussion made me scratch my head a bit, since he didn’t also pick up a bunch of other damage spells. Confusion in the Ranks gets him back on track for me not knowing what the heck he’s doing other than being completely random.

Rotation 7

Rd 31

Pick

Rd 32

Pick

Keith

Thawing Glaciers

Sheldon

Command Beacon

Sheldon

Cryptic Command

Todd

Flooded Grove

Todd

Stingerfling Spider

Michael

Terrain Generator

Michael

Myriad Landscape

Shea

Martyr’s Bond

Shea

Crypt Ghast

Keith

Temple of Silence

Shea

Hundred-Handed One

Keith

Temple of Plenty

Michael

Cascade Bluffs

Shea

Liliana Vess

Todd

Shardless Agent

Michael

Tempt with Reflections

Sheldon

Crackdown

Todd

Synthetic Destiny

Keith

Savannah

Sheldon

Vesuva

Rd 33

Pick

Todd

Spinerock Knoll

Michael

Sulfur Falls

Shea

Spoils of Blood

Keith

Indomitable Ancients

Sheldon

Wall of Reverence

Sheldon

Serra Avatar

Keith

Tangle Angler

Shea

Demoralize

Michael

Black Sun’s Zenith

Todd

Reality Shift

Rd 34

Pick

Rd 35

Pick

Michael

False Cure

Shea

Gideon’s Phalanx

Shea

Mirror Strike

Keith

Champion of Lambholt

Keith

Swooping Talon

Sheldon

Elemental Bond

Sheldon

Boundless Realms

Todd

Ondu Giant

Todd

Plasm Capture

Michael

Blood Crypt

Todd

Spelljack

Michael

Bojuka Bog

Sheldon

Wooded Bastion

Todd

Nissa, Vastwood Seer

Keith

Juniper Order Ranger

Sheldon

Brushland

Shea

Fork

Keith

Retribution of the Ancients

Michael

Relic of Progenitus

Shea

Grab the Reins

Shea exposes my biggest missed opportunity by taking Martyr’s Bond. I had completely forgotten about the card. Hopefully, I’ll be able to either copy it with Copy Enchantment or steal it with Aura Thief. My wheel of Wall of Reverence / Serra Avatar was more for the laughs than anything—although I think there might not be enough targeted removal to discourage me from playing the combo. It’s certainly the right Tooth and Nail target.

Rotation 8

Rd 36

Pick

Rd 37

Pick

Keith

High Sentinels of Arashin

Sheldon

Stonehorn Dignitary

Sheldon

Knight of the White Orchid

Todd

Mystic Retrieval

Todd

Time Warp

Michael

Skyscribing

Michael

Vivid Crag

Shea

Darkness

Shea

Harsh Sustenance

Keith

Altar of Dementia

Shea

Hushwing Gryff

Keith

Mindcrank

Michael

Consume the Meek

Shea

Into the Core

Todd

Fact or Fiction

Michael

Demonic Tutor

Sheldon

Rhystic Study

Todd

Temple of Mystery

Keith

Geth, Lord of the Vault

Sheldon

Urban Evolution

Rd 38

Pick

Todd

Sphinx of Uthuun

Michael

Spiteful Visions

Shea

Radiant Purge

Keith

Undercity Informer

Sheldon

Vesuvan Doppelganger

Sheldon

Clone

Keith

Trepanation Blade

Shea

Holy Day

Michael

Ghostly Flame

Todd

Ghostly Flicker

Rd 39

Pick

Rd 40

Pick

Michael

Grixis Panorama

Shea

Gisela, Blade of Goldnight

Shea

White Sun’s Zenith

Keith

Sands of Delirium

Keith

Protean Hydra

Sheldon

Reya Dawnbringer

Sheldon

Blue Sun’s Zenith

Todd

Scalding Tarn

Todd

Oblivion Stone

Michael

Crosis’s Catacombs

Todd

Fierce Empath

Michael

Watery Grave

Sheldon

Make A Stand

Todd

Misty Rainforest

Keith

Spirit of the Labyrinth

Sheldon

Sungrass Prairie

Shea

Firemane Avenger

Keith

Sewer Nemesis

Michael

Havengul Lich

Shea

Aurelia, the Warleader

This is pretty much the last round in which we have to worry about anyone taking stuff that we want away from us. I double-check the count three times to make sure I don’t cut myself short on the U/W cards, which I’ll have all to myself. Todd’s pickup of Fact or Fiction and the Fact or Fiction Sphinx is amusing; he suggested Rhystic Study, and I realized that it’s a pretty solid choice. Todd laughs when I pick Stonehorn Dignitary, wondering if anyone besides him ever gets targeted with it. Maybe Shea when he has all that Aurelia, the Warleader / Gisela, Blade of Goldnight stuff going on, but it’s pretty much going to be just Todd.

Rotation 9

Rd 41

PICK

Rd 42

PICK

Keith

Whetstone

Sheldon

Cloudstone Curio

Sheldon

Forbidden Orchard

Todd

Bane of Bala Ged

Todd

Volcanic Island

Michael

Elemental Augury

Michael

Pain Magnification

Shea

Oath of Chandra

Shea

Fervent Charge

Keith

Gavony Township

Shea

Ankle Shanker

Keith

Karn, Silver Golem

Michael

Everlasting Torment

Shea

Oath of Gideon

Todd

Legion Loyalist

Michael

Phenax, God of Deception

Sheldon

Planar Cleansing

Todd

Temur Ascendancy

Keith

Dirtcowl Wurm

Sheldon

Crush of Tentacles

Rd 43

PICK

Todd

Fires of Yavimaya

Michael

Breaking // Entering

Shea

Call the Gatewatch

Keith

Assault Formation

Sheldon

Venser, the Sojourner

Sheldon

Supreme Verdict

Keith

Woodland Cemetery

Shea

Oblation

Michael

Oona, Queen of the Fae

Todd

Kessig Wolf Run

Rd 44

PICK

Rd 45

PICK

Michael

Memory Plunder

Shea

Painful Truths

Shea

Avatar of Slaughter

Keith

Bayou

Keith

Twilight Mire

Sheldon

Lavinia of the Tenth

Sheldon

Brago, King Eternal

Todd

Dragonlord Atarka

Todd

Xenagos, God of Revels

Michael

Vela the Night-Clad

Todd

Xenagos, the Reveler

Michael

Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker

Sheldon

Sphinx’s Revelation

Todd

Shaman of the Great Hunt

Keith

Murmuring Bosk

Sheldon

Ephara, God of the Polis

Shea

Nomad Outpost

Keith

Overgrown Tomb

Michael

Crumbling Necropolis

Shea

Read the Bones

No surprises here as we just draft cards that no one else can get. Tom Delia will love my choice of Ephara, God of the Polis.

Rotation 10

Rd 46

Pick

Rd 47

Pick

Keith

Grim Backwoods

Sheldon

Tundra

Sheldon

Grand Arbiter Augustin IV

Todd

Taiga

Todd

Frontier Bivouac

Michael

Polluted Delta

Michael

Evil Twin

Shea

Master Warcraft

Shea

Iroas, God of Victory

Keith

Corpsejack Menace

Shea

Mardu Charm

Keith

Korozda Gorgon

Michael

Gem of Becoming

Shea

Intimidation Bolt

Todd

Wooded Foothills

Michael

Dimir Doppelganger

Sheldon

Hallowed Fountain

Todd

Stomping Ground

Keith

Sandsteppe Citadel

Sheldon

Seaside Citadel

Rd 48

Pick

Todd

Fire-Lit Thicket

Michael

Sunken Ruins

Shea

Oreskos Explorer

Keith

Lord of Extinction

Sheldon

Mystic Gate

Sheldon

Glacial Fortress

Keith

Ivorytusk Fortress

Shea

Crackling Doom

Michael

Nemesis of Reason

Todd

Bloodbraid Elf

Rd 49

Pick

Rd 50

Pick

Michael

Cruel Ultimatum

Shea

Archangel Avacyn

Shea

Gleam of Battle

Keith

Dark Impostor

Keith

Spiritmonger

Sheldon

Praetor’s Counsel

Sheldon

Devout Lightcaster

Todd

Guided Passage

Todd

Decimate

Michael

Dingus Staff

Todd

Savage Ventmaw

Michael

Force Spike

Sheldon

Akroma’s Vengeance

Todd

Surrak Dragonclaw

Keith

Anafenza, the Foremost

Sheldon

Garruk’s Packleader

Shea

Sunforger

Keith

Ghave, Guru of Spores

Michael

Duskmantle Seer

Shea

Lapse of Certainty

We decide to add a 100th pick just to make things round off nicely. I pick Grand Arbiter Augustin IV in this round just to send signals—mostly the signal that it could get played, but it’s pretty much only going to if someone demonstrates their deck is just too fast (which I don’t think will happen).

We all seem to go with the idea that no one will be getting out of hand too early, although with Sol Ring, I suppose Todd has some explosive draws. Devout Lightcaster gets a raised eyebrow from Keith, Shea, and Michael and some applause from Todd. Michael’s choice of Dingus Staff is pretty funny, but I suspect it won’t be so amusing when we’re getting killed by it.

While there are a few cards I wish I would have gotten, like Sun Titan, Karametra, Zendikar Resurgent, and the techy Phantom Nishoba, I’m extremely happy with my draft. It would have been really greedy to think I could get everything I want plus Cyclonic Rift and Genesis Wave.

Todd and I seem to have the tightest decks. I’m reasonably sure that his will be the one which sets the early pace in most games. It’s clear that every one of us has cards which do stuff, some of it thoroughly insane.

When next we meet, I’ll tell you about the specific deck I’m going to build out of this pile, how we’ve set up the League points system, and how the waiver wire will work.

Check out our awesome Deck List Database for the last versions of all my decks:

ADUN’S TOOLBOX;

ANIMAR’S SWARM;

AURELIA GOES TO WAR;

CHILDREN of a LESSER GOD;

DEMONS OF KAALIA;

EREBOS and the HALLS OF THE DEAD;

GLISSA, GLISSA;

HELIOD, GOD OF ENCHANTMENTS;

DREAMING OF INTET;

FORGE OF PURPHOROS;

KARN, BEATDOWN GOLEM;

HALLOWEEN WITH KARADOR;

KARRTHUS, WHO RAINS FIRE FROM THE SKY;

KRESH INTO THE RED ZONE;

LAVINIA BLINKS;

LAZAV, SHAPESHIFTING MASTERMIND;

ZOMBIES OF TRESSERHORN;

MELEK’S MOLTEN MIND GRIND;

MERIEKE’S ESPER CONTROL;

THE MILL-MEOPLASM;

MIMEOPLASM DO-OVER;

NATH of the VALUE LEAF;

NYLEA OF THE WOODLAND REALM;

OBZEDAT, GHOST KILLER;

PURPLE HIPPOS and MARO SORCERERS;

ZEGANA and a DICE BAG;

RITH’S TOKENS;

YOU DID THIS TO YOURSELF;

RURIC THAR AND HIS BEASTLY FIGHT CLUB;

THASSA, GOD OF MERFOLK;

THE ALTAR of THRAXIMUNDAR;

TROSTANI and HER ANGELS;

THE THREAT OF YASOVA;

RUHAN DO-OVER;

KARADOR DO-OVER;

KARRTHUS DO-OVER

If you’d like to follow the adventures of my Monday Night RPG group (in a campaign that’s been alive since 1987 and this summer will be running a prequel to our saga The Lost Cities of Nevinor), ask for an invitation to the Facebook group “Sheldon Menery’s Monday Night Gamers.”

Join us at Grand Prix Charlotte May 20-22!