Welcome back, my friends! Welcome to the column that gives you a taste from the casual side of life once a week. A guaranteed shot of casual to help stifle the “Too Many Tournament Article” blues. Sometimes we get inundated with articles telling us the “Hottest Decks” and “Latest Tournament News from Belize” or “How to Build the Perfect Sideboard for This Deck!”
Everything is new, and immediate, and now. Don’t get me, wrong, I find some decks of interest here occasionally. I read the occasional tournament report. I enjoy a fine discussion of a metagame. It’s just sometimes all of these tournament articles get a bit…tedious.
Maybe that’s why I love Ben Bleiweiss series right now. Best stuff getting written today. Sometimes you can tell if a writer and you would get along well. I can tell that Ben and I could become great Magic friends based on the things he does, the things he emphasizes and so forth.
That’s why I like reading the few columns out there that are not about the latest tech and developments. The WoTC columns about making Magic, that’s fun. Kelly Digges and The Ferrett. They read like little islands of comfort.
At least that is my impression. Remember though, Zvi was one of my five favorite Magic writers of all time, so it’s not like I’m all about hating on tournament articles. Just sometimes I want to read other things, you know?
And that’s why I try to provide: Articles about other things.
Today I want to revisit a topic near and dear to my heart. My first two articles for this website, ever, were about Abedraft. My 175th and 176th articles were about Abedraft. Now, almost two years later, I want to talk about it again.
What is Abedraft? Awesome question, and articles 175 and 176 will give you tons of background material, but allow me to give you some basic info. I began by creating a box with a large variety of cards that were mixed around, like a giant cauldron of Magic, but in a white cardboard fruit box with masking tape on the bottom, and with our hands instead of sticks.
We would swirl the Magic mixture and then select 15 random cards to get a “booster pack,” then use the randomly generated pack in various casual friendly Limited formats. I created the box with leftover commons, uncommons, and rares all of low monetary value and all just sitting around.
Then I read an article by Ben Bleiweiss about how he built a set of every Magic card ever and uses it in much the same way I used Abedraft. That sounded like a plan, so in the intervening years, every few months, I buy some cards from SCG and knock out another chunk of the cards I need . I get a completed set of the latest cards by trading for and redeeming them online. I got a Shards set for about 50 tix worth of cards I had just sitting around.
I had several rules, but over time, I have embraced some of the things Ben has, while I have kept a few of my own.
First of all, I include one card for each appearance in an expansion set, plus one card if it began in ABU. So, there are two Deadly Insects, one for Masques and one for Alliances. Ideally, I find one of each to toss in.
However, I have decided to embrace Chronicles as the way of helping me finish off my set with a lessened financial hit. I also decided to agree with Ben and bring in newer versions of cards that update the card. For example, I use the Timeshifted Thornscape Battlemage instead of the Planeshift one, because that one indicates it is an elf. Now, when you have an Elvish Champion, you can know the Battlemage is on key. However, I have not made this switch in cases where the new card does not change something key, like creature type.
Currently I do not have any Portal cards in my Abedraft, and since the rares are very expensive, I may never add them. Adding Portal has a couple of problems. First of all, it adds a lot of duplication of cards like Armageddon, Wrath of God, and Blaze. Second, outside of Three Kingdoms, the cards themselves do not add anything. You get some more Grizzly Bear creatures, and some worse versions of existing cards like Capricious Sorcerer verses Prodigal Sorcerer. Does including these cards really increase the quality of Abedraft? Now, adding P3K would. You get horsemanship and powerful additions to the cardpool. There’s not much in P or PII that would really impact a full set of Magic cards.
Plus, you are never assembling these. I don’t want to drop the cash required to get an English set of P3K. P3K is literally the set that SCG sells for the most that does not include Power 9. I don’t want to drop $1000 on a set for my Abedraft, you know?
How many cards do I still need after Legends? I consider The Dark and on to be the more modern day, commonly available cards. So, how many do I need? 21. That’s pretty good, I’m very happy with it. You can see the list in an Appendix just to see where I am at.
Lately, I’ve been jonesing for some Abedraft, but my group hasn’t played Magic for about three weeks. Our regular host left to go to Korea, and I’m not even sure if the group will survive. He was the centre of the social circle. We’ll try, but I don’t have the highest of hopes.
So here is what I did. I decided to go back and find some guys to grab for an online version of Abedraft. We drafted every card, including those I do not have online, using various tools on IRC. Then, after the draft, we built decks, and had a quick single elimination tournament.
There were four of us total, so the draft is not what you might think, with a full table or anything. It’s good to show a smaller draft because you might have a smaller playgroup that is interested in this, so it compares well.
The competition: Obama2012, massaCre, SerraX
We each generated a pack of 15 cards, 1 rare, 3 uncommons and 11 rares, from across magic history.
The First Pack:
The pack I opened:
Brushwagg
Bog Wraith
Sire of the Storm
Treva’s Ruins
Chub Toad
Boros Garrison
Arcane Spyglass
Skred
Serra Zealot
Stinging Barrier
Oakgnarl Warrior
Hurr Jackal
Book Burning
Momentary Blink
Rathi Trapper
I took a quick look at my pack. The Trapper is a nice Black card and the Wraith might be good at pick 5 if no one else takes it. The Oakgnarl Warrior is a solid if expensive creature. Sire of the Storm gives you an admittedly expensive 3/3 flyer. Stinging Barrier was so good many considered one of the top commons to open in Masques Block Limited. Skred will suck here, almost assuredly.
I take Rathi Trapper. I fear if I take either the Sire or the Barrier, someone will take the other rather quickly, forcing them into Blue and starting a fight. I’ll take the strong card here that does not require a fight.
I get passed the following (note the missing rare):
Price of Progress
Annihilate
Tower Gargoyle
Miracle Worker
Aggressive Urge
Cadaverous Knight
Venarian Gold
Wear Away
Spider Climb
Pincer Beetles
Tremor
Merchant of Secrets
Wall of Resistance
Fists of the Demigod
I take the creature kill instantly. I would later find out that the guy first picked a Shivan Dragon.
The next pack I get has:
Mistform Ultimus
Flowstone Armor
Mirrodin’s Core
Frogmite
Healing Leaves
Walking Dead
Elsewhere Flask
Hearth Kami
Sakura-Tribe Elder
Multani’s Acolyte
Consume Strength
Conjurer’s Bauble
Jump
I grab the Consume Strength. I like creature kill, it gives me a second color, and it prevents any Green drafter from getting a reason to come into my color. I will later find out that the first two picks were Binding Grasp and Scorching Lava.
The final pack of the first round was:
Dimensional Breach
Lance
Knight of Meadowgrain
Hungry Mist
Marker Beetles
Recoil
Seat of the Synod
Rune of Protection: Red
Specter’s Wail
Goblin Digging Team
Spellstutter Sprite
Trickery Charm
I grab the Marker Beetles and pass the Mist. Drafted from this pack was a first pick Overrun, second pick Capsize, and third pick Electrolyze.
So, the guy I am passing too is G, and will eventually be G/W/r. I am B/G. The next guy is Blue/White. The guy passing to me is R/U/B (he’ll take a few of the good Black cards away from me, grabbed the Recoil, later takes Death Bomb and Kaervek’s Purge, etc.)
I finish with the playable Bog Wraith, Cadaverous Knight, Multani’s Acolyte, and Chub Toad.
The Second Pack:
I open this pack:
Broodstar
Terashi’s Verdict
Elven Riders
Keldon Champion
Flash Counter
Augur il-Vec
Terramorphic Expanse
Soar
Guided Strike
Morgue Thrull
Mogg Raider
Frontline Strategist
Anurid Barkripper
Assault Zeppelid
I was looking at the Elven Riders and… well… that’s pretty much it. Easy pick. I get passed this from the G/W drafter:
Reki, the History of Kamigawa
Spitebellows
Wall of Ice
Toxic Stench
Tablet of Epityr
Shower of Sparks
Wind Drake
Trade Caravan
Curfew
Old Ghastbark
Pili-Pala
Ramosian Lieutenant
Pollen Remedy
Anaba Bodyguard
I would find out that the play first picked a White removal spell (I can’t remember which one). I cannot let the Toxic Stench get through so I grab it.
The next pack arrives. Sibilant Spirit and Melesse Spirit were taken in this pack before it got to me.
Pyromania
Goblin Burrows
Avian Changeling
Rhystic Lightning
Tar Pit Warrior
Fledgling Osprey
Death Bomb
Elven Rage
Grizzled Wolverine
Izzet Chronarch
Deathmask Nezumi
Somber Hoverguard
Kederekt Creeper
Fortified Area
This pack sets up the guy on my left quite nicely into URB. Two cards here, the Chronarch and Creeper, aren’t taken until later buy that guy. I consider the Rhystic Lightning, and the Death Bomb is nice, but I have to take that Elven Rage. As of right now, I think I might be the only Black player at the table, and perhaps poor removal like the Bomb will return, but that Rage is awesome.
The fourth pack of the second round. The cards already taken are Kaervek’s Purge, Counterspell, and Serpentine Basilisk.
Finally…
Voice of Reason
Cateran Summons
Quirion Explorer
Spiketail Hatchling
Order of the Ebon Hand
Phyrexian Rager
Sisay’s Ring
Goblin War Wagon
Mosquito Guard
Barbary Apes
Jangling Automaton
Shadow Sliver
I take the Phyrexian Rager, expecting the Order with its heavy commitment to Black to come back to me.
I finish up with Morgue Thrull, Pili-Pala, Deathmask Nezumi, Order of the Ebon Hand,
The Final Pack:
I open:
Extractor Demon
Rough/Tumble
Marhault Elsdragon
Kami of Old Stone
Mage’s Guile
Springing Tiger
Dross Prowler
Angelic Curator
Viridian Longbow
Land Leeches
Blastoderm
Train of Thought
Standing Troops
Vithian Stinger
Raging Gorilla
I easily take the Demon. This pack will recycle to me with Springing Tiger so I grab it. I get a Dross Prowler out of here too.
The next pack had:
Nullstone Gargoyle
Reknit
Green Scarab
Psychic Membrane
Lace with Moonglove
Aquamoeba
Zealot il-Vec
Tendrils of Corruption
Saprazzan Raider
Jungle Weaver
Fault Riders
Fallen Askari
Barrenton Cragtreads
False Demise
Seal of Fire was taken from the pack by the URB drafter. I take Tendrils. The pack recycles and I get Lace with Moonglove and Fallen Askari.
Third pack…
Word of Blasting
Rooting Kavu
Vitu-Ghazi, the City Tree
Moorish Cavalry
Thresher Beast
Festercreep
Varchild’s Crusader
Gaea’s Bounty
Wandering Eye
Devastate
Crushing Pain
Feral Shadow
Infiltrator’s Magemark
The two cards taken here were Faerie Trickery and Shivan Phoenix. I grab Rooting Kavu. I also get Feral Shadow and Festercreep.
The final pack of the draft…
Ashes of the Fallen
Avalanche Riders
Deepwood Tantiv
Mind Rot
Echo Tracer
Traproot Kami
Raise Dead
Goblin Cohort
Merseine
Skyshroud Falcon
Flare
Gift of Granite
Drafted from this pack were Giant Mantis, Whipcorder, and Dark Banishing, which sucks cause I would have totally wanted the Banishing. I take a look and then decide on the Tantiv. I want creatures, even not good ones. I also get the Raise Dead and Mind Rot.
My G/B Draft Deck:
1 Rathi Trapper
1 Annihilate
1 Consume Strength
1 Marker Beetles
1 Bog Wraith
1 Cadaverous Knight
1 Multani’s Acolyte
1 Elven Riders
1 Toxic Stench
1 Elven Rage
1 Phyrexian Rager
1 Deathmask Nezumi
1 Order of the Ebon Hand
1 Extractor Demon
1 Dross Prowler
1 Springing Tiger
1 Tendrils of Corruption
1 Fallen Askari
1 Rooting Kavu
1 Feral Shadow
1 Festercreep
1 Deepwood Tantiv
1 Mind Rot
9 Swamps
8 Forests
For Round 1, I played Obama2012’s B/W control deck.
I go first and drop some quick beats. Order of the Ebon Hand is particularly damaging as my opponent is stuck with nothing but White creatures for the first few turns. He stabilizes after bouncing my Order with Echo Tracer and then counters it on replay.
He swings over me with a Sire of the Storm until I draw Tendrils of Corruption and kill it. I have enough removal for his real threats, and then I drop Dross Prowler. He cannot find an answer, and six turns later I win.
In the second round, I get mana screwed and he steamrolls me with Sibilant Spirit, since I can’t find any more removal despite drawing extra cards.
In the third round, he gets Ramosian Lieutenant and starts rebelling. He gets Whipcorder and Zealot il-Dal and finally Avian Changeling. I draw into Annihilate which takes out the Whipcorder. He supplements his army with some creatures on the grounded by Knight of Meadowgrain. A carefully timed Consume Strength would have taken out two of his creatures, but he has Mage’s Guile for the win.
Next, I face off against SerraX G/W/r deck, splashing Red for Rhystic Lightning.
I start with quick creatures, including Marker Beetles and Multani’s Acolyte. He takes some damage before dropping a Giant Mantis and stopping the flood. A Melesse Spirit quickly follows, and I am screwed facing off against a 3/3 flyer that my removal cannot touch.
I change gears and drop my Extractor Demon, and swing at him with everything. Several creature die and I sack the Marker Beetles for a card and to keep another creature I need alive. I mill 8 cards.
Over the next few turns, I drop and sacrifice creatures . Festercreep goes. He stops playing creatures and has to keep the Melesse Spirit back to keep the Demon from hitting him for 5. He is at 8 and I am at 11.
I throw all of my non-Demon creatures at him. My Rooting Kavu trades with his Threshing Beast. He has only 9 cards left in his library when he draws Overrun and wins.
The next game I get off to the fast start again, and keep up the pressure before he can mount a good defense. Elven Rages joins my team, allowing my guys to trade or win against his and tipping the scales completely in my favor.
The third game, I am removal boy instead of fast creature boy. I draw most of my removal and launch it at my opponent’s creatures. A Thresher Beast gets Annihilated. I block with a Phyrexian Rager and Consume Strength in order to keep an attacker and keep my Rager alive. Tendrils kills off a Serpentine Basilisk.
Finally, I start drawing creature and then he drops Blastoderm. I just drew Toxic Stench and I have 6 cards in my graveyard and Festercreep in hand. I drop Festercreep to Block Blastoderm and get me to 7 cards. I get two hits in with a Dross Prowler before it’s just his Blastoderm, my Prowler, a Toxic Stench in hand with Threshold, and my freshly-drawn my Trapper. I take ten in order to have all of my creatures and keep pushing. He runs out of steam. With my Trapper, Toxic Stench, and Dross Prowler, soon joined by Springing Tiger, I am able to take momentum and then take the game . I finished at 4 life.
MassaCre defeated Obama2012 in the finals. We all had fun.
Again, I wanted to show you what a quick casual draft from this can look like. It’s a lot of fun!
I hope that I have whetted your appetite for drafting from Abedraft or a Big Box or whatever. See you next week!
Until later…
Appendix — The 21 Cards I still Need
I’m not asking for donations, so don’t send me any, but I thought it’d be neat to show you what I still need:
Force of Will
Jet Medallion
Ruby Medallion
Sapphire Medallion
City of Traitors
Serra Avatar
Argothian Enchantress
Argothian Wurm
Endless Wurm
Tolarian Academy
Defense of the Heart
Deranged Hermit
Phyrexian Negator
Elvish Piper
Charisma
Reya Dawnbringer
Orim’s Chant
Iridescent Angel
Vampiric Dragon
Toxin Sliver
Leyline of the Void