Drafting with Jim #12

By Jim Marlow

Hey everyone,

I hope all is well in Leeds. I am absolutely snowed under with work at the moment so i havent been keeping tabs on either of the major strategy websites, so i have been trying to keep on top of the latest developments when i have a few spare moments. Either way, i feel like i am well out of the loop on the comings and goings of magic.

It feels like ages since i have done one of these articles, but i evetually found the dark corner of my computer where the draft recorder saves its files too, meaning i have a couple of recent drafts i can now post without the hassle of desperately trying to write down cards during the draft, although im not sure it means i will do any better.

Me and Mick decided the other night to join an 8-4 queue, in the hope that one of us might get some boosters we could split, and obv being the best drafters in the world i was already planning on how to spend my 6...

Here's how it went

Event #: 652962
Time: 10/29/2009 10:42:57 PM
Players:
Tower
mickmickmick182
Elvish_Warrior
Brunert
watashi kattakotoga nai
Dark Enigma
--> wiggi1
Alexey_Antonenko

------ ZEN ------

Pack 1 pick 1:
Shatterskull Giant
Island
Umara Raptor
Trapmaker's Snare (FOIL)
Vines of Vastwood
Kor Cartographer
Torch Slinger
Hagra Diabolist
Giant Scorpion
Quest for the Gemblades
--> Windrider Eel
Quest for Pure Flame
Savage Silhouette
Territorial Baloth
Beastmaster Ascension

quite a tough pick from a strong pack, but im not sure of how bomby the acension is, and to be honest i dont want to be green.

Pack 1 pick 2:
Surrakar Marauder
Nimana Sell-Sword
Grazing Gladehart
Shepherd of the Lost
Hideous End
Kor Cartographer
Shatterskull Giant
Expedition Map
--> Welkin Tern
Bold Defense
Summoner's Bane
Forest
Into the Roil
Graypelt Refuge

Not really sure if the tern is the pick over hideous end, but blue looks to be my main colour and i dont really want to be passing terns if this is the case.

Pack 1 pick 3:
--> Welkin Tern
Blood Seeker
Kor Cartographer
Hedron Scrabbler
Spidersilk Net
Kor Duelist
Goblin Bushwhacker
Forest
Lethargy Trap
Jwar Isle Refuge
Merfolk Wayfinder
Ondu Cleric
Goblin War Paint

Quite a nice tern of events, these first 3 picks seem pretty hot.

Pack 1 pick 4:
Timbermaw Larva
Akoum Refuge
Narrow Escape
Piranha Marsh
Goblin Shortcutter
Ruinous Minotaur
Spreading Seas
Bold Defense
Into the Roil
Swamp
--> Guul Draz Vampire
Goblin Ruinblaster

I dont know if this is correct but i like this guy and he brings the beats, although i have passed a couple black cards. U/B is my favourite combination in zen though so given half the chance...

Pack 1 pick 5:
Mindless Null
Swamp
Savage Silhouette
Hedron Scrabbler
Teetering Peaks (FOIL)
Reckless Scholar
Mark of Mutiny
--> Tempest Owl
Kazandu Refuge
Noble Vestige
Zektar Shrine Expedition

Probably should have taken the mindless null here maybe, i think i was just going mad for flyers, but saying that this guys not extremely awful, right?

Pack 1 pick 6:
Vastwood Gorger
Ruinous Minotaur
Spreading Seas
Bold Defense
--> Guul Draz Vampire
Seismic Shudder
Nissa's Chosen
Greenweaver Druid
Mountain
Runeflare Trap

pretty good i guess

Pack 1 pick 7:
Kabira Crossroads
Runeflare Trap
Unstable Footing (FOIL)
Forest
Explorer's Scope
Expedition Map
Teetering Peaks
Tuktuk Grunts
--> Reckless Scholar

dont like this guy too much but hes ok

Pack 1 pick 8:
Seismic Shudder
Tanglesap
Turntimber Grove
Mountain
Soaring Seacliff
Lullmage Mentor
--> Kraken Hatchling
Caravan Hurda

Pack 1 pick 9:
Shatterskull Giant
Island
Trapmaker's Snare (FOIL)
Kor Cartographer
--> Giant Scorpion
Quest for Pure Flame
Savage Silhouette

yay!

Pack 1 pick 10:
--> Shatterskull Giant
Expedition Map
Bold Defense
Summoner's Bane
Forest
Graypelt Refuge


Pack 1 pick 11:
Hedron Scrabbler
Spidersilk Net
Forest
--> Lethargy Trap
Goblin War Paint

Pack 1 pick 12:
--> Ruinous Minotaur
Spreading Seas
Swamp
Goblin Ruinblaster

Pack 1 pick 13:
--> Swamp
Hedron Scrabbler
Noble Vestige

Pack 1 pick 14:
Mountain
--> Runeflare Trap

Pack 1 pick 15:
--> Forest

------ ZEN ------

Pack 2 pick 1:
Caller of Gales
Blood Seeker
Merfolk Seastalkers
Goblin Guide
Spire Barrage
Nissa's Chosen
Mountain
--> Disfigure (FOIL)
Goblin War Paint
Pitfall Trap
Kor Sanctifiers
Ior Ruin Expedition
Kraken Hatchling
Harrow
Trailblazer's Boots

Disfigure is fine here, another strong pack too, which is cool. Would be nice if the expedition or hatchling came back

Pack 2 pick 2:
Joraga Bard
Bladetusk Boar
Arrow Volley Trap
--> Nimana Sell-Sword
Tempest Owl
Vastwood Gorger
Noble Vestige
Soul Stair Expedition
Greenweaver Druid
Whiplash Trap
Plains
Mindless Null
Sunspring Expedition
Tajuru Archer

good guy

Pack 2 pick 3:
Molten Ravager
Grim Discovery
Shieldmate's Blessing
Shoal Serpent
Cosi's Trickster (FOIL)
Oran-Rief Survivalist
Swamp
Quest for Ancient Secrets
Beast Hunt
Electropotence
Inferno Trap
--> Crypt Ripper
Primal Bellow

Good guy, not sure he's exactly pick 3 material

Pack 2 pick 4:
Lethargy Trap
Nissa's Chosen
Goblin Bushwhacker
Desecrated Earth
Kabira Crossroads
Highland Berserker
Kor Aeronaut
Summoning Trap
Mold Shambler
Mountain
Brave the Elements
--> Whiplash Trap

Pack 2 pick 5:
Plains
Pillarfield Ox
Bloodchief Ascension
Bold Defense
Soaring Seacliff
Territorial Baloth
Graypelt Refuge
Carnage Altar
Vines of Vastwood
--> Sky Ruin Drake
Shatterskull Giant

Pack 2 pick 6:
Mountain
Tanglesap
Piranha Marsh
--> Sky Ruin Drake
Pitfall Trap
Makindi Shieldmate
Cliff Threader
Spreading Seas
Ravenous Trap
Paralyzing Grasp

Argh, this one came to bite me in the ass. I underrate paralysing grasp a little bit, and this pick was wrong. Stupid tempting if slightly underwhelming blue flyers!!!!

Pack 2 pick 7:
--> Kraken Hatchling
Pyromancer Ascension
Forest
Landbind Ritual
Goblin War Paint
Hedron Crab
Hagra Crocodile
Teetering Peaks
Mold Shambler

Pack 2 pick 8:
Nissa's Chosen
Goblin War Paint
--> Kraken Hatchling
Ondu Cleric
Merfolk Wayfinder
Island
Landbind Ritual
Reckless Scholar

Yes, trips hatchling, now all i need is some adventuring gear for the ptq top 8!

Pack 2 pick 9:
Caller of Gales
Nissa's Chosen
Mountain
Goblin War Paint
--> Ior Ruin Expedition
Kraken Hatchling
Trailblazer's Boots

both coming back is a good sign, i dont want a 4th hatchling do i?

Pack 2 pick 10:
Noble Vestige
Soul Stair Expedition
Greenweaver Druid
Plains
--> Mindless Null
Sunspring Expedition

It costs 3, best card in my deck!!!

Pack 2 pick 11:
Shieldmate's Blessing
--> Shoal Serpent
Swamp
Quest for Ancient Secrets
Beast Hunt

Pack 2 pick 12:
--> Lethargy Trap
Desecrated Earth
Mountain
Brave the Elements

Pack 2 pick 13:
Plains
--> Soaring Seacliff
Carnage Altar

Pack 2 pick 14:
Spreading Seas
--> Ravenous Trap

Pack 2 pick 15:
--> Forest

------ ZEN ------

Pack 3 pick 1:
Piranha Marsh
Sky Ruin Drake
Oran-Rief Recluse
Kor Hookmaster
Grazing Gladehart
Journey to Nowhere
Quest for Pure Flame
Adventuring Gear
Surrakar Marauder
Vampire Hexmage
Forest
--> Halo Hunter
Highland Berserker
Spidersilk Net
Murasa Pyromancer

nice, bombs are always good.

Pack 3 pick 2:
Grim Discovery
Bog Tatters
Vampire Hexmage
Kor Outfitter
Swamp
Relic Crush
Gomazoa
Demolish
--> Sphinx of Lost Truths
Ior Ruin Expedition
Hellfire Mongrel
Oran-Rief Recluse
Spell Pierce
Torch Slinger

ding!

Pack 3 pick 3:
Oran-Rief Survivalist
Expedition Map
--> Welkin Tern
Tempest Owl
Molten Ravager
Swamp
Mire Blight
Khalni Heart Expedition
Akoum Refuge
Spire Barrage
Magma Rift
Khalni Gem
Soul Stair Expedition

3 terns is pretty nice.

Pack 3 pick 4:
--> Disfigure
Timbermaw Larva
Nimbus Wings
Unstable Footing
Zektar Shrine Expedition
Summoner's Bane
Sadistic Sacrament
Explorer's Scope
Vampire's Bite
Island
Trapfinder's Trick
Zendikar Farguide

Good removal, this pack is going so much better than the dissapointing 2nd pack, looks like cutting the colours im in has worked.

Pack 3 pick 5:
Ior Ruin Expedition
Mountain
Noble Vestige
Trailblazer's Boots
Spidersilk Net
Tempest Owl
Spell Pierce
Spire Barrage
--> Surrakar Marauder
Nimbus Wings
Mindless Null


Pack 3 pick 6:
Seismic Shudder
Caller of Gales
Merfolk Seastalkers
Trapmaker's Snare
Spidersilk Net
Caravan Hurda
Goblin War Paint
--> Welkin Tern
Kraken Hatchling
Forest

Squelch!

Pack 3 pick 7:
Island
--> Quest for the Gravelord
Shieldmate's Blessing
Khalni Heart Expedition
Molten Ravager
Mire Blight
Zendikar Farguide
Seascape Aerialist
Kor Cartographer

love this card.

Pack 3 pick 8:
--> Guul Draz Vampire
Seismic Shudder
Jwar Isle Refuge
Lavaball Trap
Spreading Seas
Oran-Rief Recluse
Plains
Narrow Escape


Pack 3 pick 9:
Piranha Marsh
--> Oran-Rief Recluse
Kor Hookmaster
Quest for Pure Flame
Adventuring Gear
Highland Berserker
Spidersilk Net

Pack 3 pick 10:
Grim Discovery
Kor Outfitter
Swamp
Demolish
--> Hellfire Mongrel
Spell Pierce

Pack 3 pick 11:
--> Tempest Owl
Molten Ravager
Swamp
Mire Blight
Soul Stair Expedition

Pack 3 pick 12:
Sadistic Sacrament
Island
Trapfinder's Trick
--> Zendikar Farguide

Pack 3 pick 13:
Mountain
Noble Vestige
--> Spell Pierce

Pack 3 pick 14:
--> Caller of Gales
Forest

Pack 3 pick 15:
--> Island


My deck (i only need tern 1 and 2!)

3 x guul draz vampire
2 x kraken hatchling
2 x disfigure
1 x quest for the gravlord
4 x welkin tern
1 x ior ruin expedition
1 x surrakar marauder
1 x mindless null
1 x giant scorpion
1 x windrider eel
1 x nimana sell-sword
1 x whiplash trap
2 x sky ruin drake
1 x halo hunter
1 x sphinx of lost truths

9 x swamp
8 x island

i thought this deck was pretty sick tbh. The curve is pretty awful, but hopefully i can beat down sufficiently early on, and a lot of my early drops are fine to draw later on anyway. Maybe the hideous end was the pick over the 1st tern because i dont have as much removal as i would like, and i definately regret taking sky ruin drake over the paralysing grasp, which would have smoothed my curve a little as well.

I ended up losing my second round with it, and my first round was far closer than i imagined (double arrow volley trap and a day of judgement!). In the first round the game i lost, and the other which was close was due to not being able to deal with his territorial baloth (despite having sky ruin drake in hand, grrr!). Round 2 i think i played a pretty sick r/b deck, with at least 2 bladetusk boars. It was a pretty close race but he had more removal than me which made it a lot easier for him. Im pretty bummed because i thought the deck looked to be one i feel like i could 3-0 with. I think if i could make a couple of changes this certainly could have been a winning deck, but i guess thats life.

Oh, i think mick lost his first round (standard!)

Ill have the second draft of that night up in a few days (it is considerably worse considering my semi-rage due to not making prizes in this draft)

Untill then,


Jim


As always, feel free to comment on this article, or anything related or unrelated to magic whatsoever. If you would like to contribute to the TLM blog, please email any pictures, ideas or articles to ss07jm@leeds.ac.uk