- The more I draft, the less I like Armillary Sphere. It's still great, and still a high pick, but I'd rather have an on-color cycler; a lot of my best games go turn-2 landcycle into turn-3 3/3 Rioters into turn-4 landcycle and attack for 4.
- Voices from the Void is criminally underrated. It's a 1st-3rd pick, but I've consistently been getting them 6th-9th; I can't understand how it ever tables. There's no spell I want to cast on turn 5 more than this.
- The protection bears are uniformly mediocre. The U/B one is solid mostly because it blocks Matca Rioters and turns on both Sedraxis Alchemist and Parasitic Strix (and Dark Temper); the U/W one's decent because it's an artifact to bounce for Esperzoa or to mini-drain with Strider. I'd be sorry to have any of the non-blue ones make my deck.
- A big part of the reason the bears are bad: there are a *ton* of great common 3-drops in the format. Between Matca Rioters, Aven Trailblazer (typically as a 2/3), Ember Weaver and even Wandering Goblins, it's hard to get in much damage with your 2/2 dork. Most of the time you're much better off landcycling on turn 2.
- Another reason it's so important to have the good high-end is because removal is at a premium; Drag Down is a first pick in large part because it's the only really good common removal spell. Temper is okay-but-situational, and Banquet is great for the slow 5c control decks but horrible for the decks that want to get there early and get rid of whatever blockers fall in their way. (One of the strikes against Wandering Goblins, incidentally, is their bad interaction with Wretched Banquet.)
- A surprsing amount of Exploding Borders' value comes less from the Lava Axe aspects of it than from the fact that it accellerates you to your six-drops(!) -- there are a few good fives in the format, but a lot of the better uncommons (Grixis Slavedriver, Hunt-Pride, Skyward Eye Prophets), are at 6, and those are the guys you really want to get to. That said, I'd still rather have the cyclers than Borders most games.
- I really don't think there's a good deck out there other than 5c and Esper -- and both at once, like my third-round opponent last night, might just be your best bet. None of the other options have enough synergy or raw power to compete.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
A few CCC thoughts
CCC Draft #3
Draft 2 was pretty generic; I got timed out in the second round when I had to deal with a phone call and my opponent exploited some time tricks to make me burn a minute or two. :/
Pack 1 pick 1:
Armillary Sphere, Kranioceros, Faerie Mechanist, Absorb Vis, Valeron Outlander, Molten Frame, Rhox Bodyguard, Scattershot Archer, Infectious Horror, Worldly Counsel, Jhessian Balmgiver, Voices from the Void, Spore Burst, Voracious Dragon, Plains
My pick:
Voracious Dragon -- Duh. I like Voices and I like Sphere, but not so much to take over a dragon. This guy is the poster child for the 'blank text box' phenomenon; you can ignore all the business about devouring goblins, even ignore the Devour itself, and just say '4/4 flyer for 5'.
Pack 1 pick 2:
Sylvan Bounty, Canyon Minotaur, Traumatic Visions, Rhox Meditant, Zombie Outlander, Might of Alara, Valiant Guard, Esper Cormorants (FOIL), Goblin Outlander, Constricting Tendrils, Nacatl Hunt-Pride, Hellspark Elemental, Path to Exile, Mountain
My pick:
Path to Exile -- I like Hunt-Pride, but removal is still king. Elemental actually seems like it'd be good in CCC, but my real problem is that it competes with the landcycling you really want to be doing T2 in most decks.
Pack 1 pick 3:
Kranioceros, Faerie Mechanist, Absorb Vis, Valeron Outlander, Absorb Vis (FOIL), Molten Frame, Rhox Bodyguard, Scattershot Archer, Infectious Horror, Worldly Counsel, Corrupted Roots, Ignite Disorder, Plains
My pick:
Kranioceros -- in retrospect, either Absorb Vis or Mechanist might be better, but I've got a red card and a white card and this guy's still solid enough. The biggest strike against him is that he'll probably table; I should, at least, never have trouble finding one around a 7th-10th pick. Ignite Disorder's a possibility, but I hate taking a SB(ish) card this early.
Pack 1 pick 4:
Fiery Fall, Wretched Banquet, Esper Cormorants, Parasitic Strix, Aven Trailblazer, Kaleidostone, Yoke of the Damned, Vectis Agents, Quenchable Fire, Tukatongue Thallid, Scornful Æther-Lich, Mountain
My pick:
Fiery Fall -- I'm not sure whether this or Gleam is better, but most of the landcyclers are interchangeable anyway. Cormorants would've been the next pick; there's a good Esper deck here.
Pack 1 pick 5:
Aven Squire, Pestilent Kathari, Parasitic Strix, Matca Rioters, Bone Saw, Quenchable Fire, Rotting Rats, Asha's Favor, Nacatl Outlander, Spore Burst, Island
My pick:
Matca Rioters -- this is way later than they should be going, but no complaints here. Note Strix for the Esper deck.
Pack 1 pick 6:
Frontline Sage, Pestilent Kathari, Suicidal Charge, Maniacal Rage, Parasitic Strix (FOIL), Goblin Outlander, Court Homunculus, Ignite Disorder, Viashino Slaughtermaster, Swamp
My pick:
Viashino Slaughtermaster -- Another Strix if I was Esper; I don't know if this guy was the right pick even still, but he seems good enough. This pack's almost a blank for me anyway. Maybe Disorder?
Pack 1 pick 7:
Bone Saw, Canyon Minotaur, Grixis Illusionist, Lapse of Certainty, Scattershot Archer, Yoke of the Damned, Ignite Disorder, Voices from the Void, Forest
My pick:
Voices from the Void -- no way this should go 7th. I wouldn't feel bad about first-picking it.
Pack 1 pick 8:
Zombie Outlander, Sedraxis Alchemist, Beacon Behemoth, Unsummon, Tukatongue Thallid, Asha's Favor, Vectis Agents, Mountain
My pick:
Beacon Behemoth -- but look at how much good Esper is going by.
Pack 1 pick 9:
Kranioceros, Faerie Mechanist, Scattershot Archer, Infectious Horror, Worldly Counsel, Voices from the Void, Plains
My pick:
Voices from the Void -- two are better than one!
Pack 1 pick 10:
Canyon Minotaur, Zombie Outlander, Valiant Guard, Goblin Outlander, Constricting Tendrils, Mountain
My pick:
Goblin Outlander -- Zombie Outlander for the Esper deck...
Pack 1 pick 11:
Scattershot Archer, Infectious Horror, Worldly Counsel, Corrupted Roots, Plains
My pick:
Worldly Counsel
Pack 1 pick 12:
Vectis Agents, Tukatongue Thallid, Scornful Æther-Lich, Mountain
My pick:
Vectis Agents
Pack 1 pick 13:
Bone Saw, Quenchable Fire, Island
My pick:
Quenchable Fire
Pack 1 pick 14:
Suicidal Charge, Swamp
My pick:
Suicidal Charge
Pack 1 pick 15:
Forest
My pick:
Forest
Pack 2 pick 1:
Wretched Banquet, Sylvan Bounty, Canyon Minotaur, Traumatic Visions, Rhox Meditant, Might of Alara, Valiant Guard, Salvage Slasher, Goblin Outlander, Constricting Tendrils, Filigree Fracture, Dragonsoul Knight, Scornful Æther-Lich, Rakka Mar, Plains
My pick:
Dragonsoul Knight -- not a great pack, but I'll take the 5c guy. Banquet and Might are close. The Esper deck probably takes either Banquet or this guy.
Pack 2 pick 2:
Fiery Fall, Wretched Banquet, Esper Cormorants, Parasitic Strix, Aven Trailblazer, Kaleidostone, Grixis Illusionist, Yoke of the Damned, Vectis Agents, Quenchable Fire, Nacatl Hunt-Pride, Unstable Frontier, Esperzoa, Plains
My pick:
Fiery Fall
Pack 2 pick 3:
Sylvan Bounty, Aven Squire, Pestilent Kathari, Dark Temper, Parasitic Strix, Matca Rioters, Quenchable Fire, Rotting Rats, Asha's Favor, Nacatl Outlander, Shambling Remains, Sludge Strider, Mountain
My pick:
Matca Rioters -- I'm tempted by Shambling Remains, but I'm shifting from RBx to RGx at this point and I'd rather have Rioters than any other common creature in the set.
Pack 2 pick 4:
Rhox Meditant, Vedalken Outlander, Kranioceros, Yoke of the Damned, Nacatl Savage, Wandering Goblins, Brackwater Elemental, Gluttonous Slime, Dreadwing, Elder Mastery, Inkwell Leviathan, Island
My pick:
Wandering Goblins -- these guys are great, but they're great mostly because you can get them 11th pick. Leviathan maybe?
Pack 2 pick 5:
Sedraxis Alchemist, Vedalken Outlander, Wild Leotau, Scattershot Archer (FOIL), Aven Squire, Molten Frame, Rhox Bodyguard, Wandering Goblins, Voices from the Void, Goblin Razerunners, Plains
My pick:
Goblin Razerunners -- an unusual form of reach, but they break stalemates. And I need them more than I need another(!) Voices.
Pack 2 pick 6:
Kaleidostone, Sedraxis Alchemist, Beacon Behemoth, Darklit Gargoyle, Unsummon, Tukatongue Thallid, Asha's Favor, Vectis Agents, Vagrant Plowbeasts, Forest
My pick:
Beacon Behemoth -- it was this or Plowbeasts, and I wanted a slightly smaller drop. Not sure if this is right or not, though, strangely enough.
Pack 2 pick 7:
Sylvan Bounty, Canyon Minotaur, Rhox Meditant, Valiant Guard, Salvage Slasher, Goblin Outlander, Constricting Tendrils, Nacatl Hunt-Pride, Forest
My pick:
Sylvan Bounty -- I'm worried that I 'only' have two cyclers, so I try and grab more now. If I'd already had another I would've taken Hunt-Pride, but I was starting to worry about my fixing.
Pack 2 pick 8:
Sylvan Bounty, Aven Squire, Pestilent Kathari, Rotting Rats, Asha's Favor, Nacatl Outlander, Controlled Instincts, Swamp
My pick:
Sylvan Bounty -- Well then.
Pack 2 pick 9:
Sylvan Bounty, Canyon Minotaur, Valiant Guard, Salvage Slasher, Goblin Outlander, Constricting Tendrils, Plains
My pick:
Sylvan Bounty -- Regretting the Bounty-over-Hunt-Pride pick about here.
Pack 2 pick 10:
Esper Cormorants, Kaleidostone, Grixis Illusionist, Vectis Agents, Quenchable Fire, Plains
My pick:
Esper Cormorants -- how do these table?
Pack 2 pick 11:
Rotting Rats, Asha's Favor, Nacatl Outlander, Sludge Strider, Mountain
My pick:
Sludge Strider -- See Cormorants
Pack 2 pick 12:
Rhox Meditant, Nacatl Savage, Gluttonous Slime, Island
My pick:
Rhox Meditant
Pack 2 pick 13:
Molten Frame, Wandering Goblins, Plains
My pick:
Wandering Goblins -- see?
Pack 2 pick 14:
Vectis Agents, Forest
My pick:
Vectis Agents
Pack 2 pick 15:
Forest
My pick:
Forest
Pack 3 pick 1:
Sedraxis Alchemist, Vedalken Outlander, Wild Leotau, Dark Temper, Frontline Sage, Aven Squire, Molten Frame, Infectious Horror, Rhox Bodyguard, Wandering Goblins, Manaforce Mace, View from Above, Scarland Thrinax, Knight of the Reliquary, Forest
My pick:
Dark Temper -- maybe Mace would be better, but I gamble that it'll table and I want removal. Rare-drafting Knight may have been right.
Pack 3 pick 2:
Beacon Behemoth, Zombie Outlander, Matca Rioters, Darklit Gargoyle, Fiery Fall, Maniacal Rage, Nacatl Outlander, Nacatl Savage, Valiant Guard, Grixis Illusionist, Ignite Disorder, Voices from the Void, Sacellum Archers, Forest
My pick:
Matca Rioters -- better than Fall here since I've got 5 cyclers now.
Pack 3 pick 3:
Zombie Outlander, Kaleidostone, Sedraxis Alchemist, Beacon Behemoth, Darklit Gargoyle, Unsummon, Tukatongue Thallid, Asha's Favor, Rupture Spire, Vectis Agents, Unstable Frontier, Esperzoa, Plains
My pick:
Beacon Behemoth -- Esperzoa? Someone is having a field day...
Pack 3 pick 4:
Aven Squire, Pestilent Kathari, Parasitic Strix, Bone Saw, Quenchable Fire, Rotting Rats, Asha's Favor, Nacatl Outlander, Manaforce Mace, View from Above, Inkwell Leviathan, Forest
My pick:
Manaforce Mace -- Nothing else in the pack for me so I gladly grab this one.
Pack 3 pick 5:
Wild Leotau, Frontline Sage, Pestilent Kathari, Maniacal Rage, Rotting Rats, Goblin Outlander, Court Homunculus, Worldly Counsel, Jhessian Balmgiver, Nacatl Hunt-Pride, Swamp
My pick:
Nacatl Hunt-Pride -- maybe Leotau would've been better, but I'm removal-light and this guy's a sort of removal.
Pack 3 pick 6:
Zombie Outlander, Kaleidostone, Sedraxis Alchemist, Beacon Behemoth, Tukatongue Thallid, Asha's Favor, Rupture Spire, Vectis Agents, Skyward Eye Prophets, Forest
My pick:
Skyward Eye Prophets -- card advantage, and I feel like I have enough fixing to play them.
Pack 3 pick 7:
Toxic Iguanar, Faerie Mechanist, Bone Saw, Tukatongue Thallid, Lapse of Certainty, Constricting Tendrils, Vagrant Plowbeasts, Dreadwing, Island
My pick:
Vagrant Plowbeasts
Pack 3 pick 8:
Frontline Sage, Pestilent Kathari, Maniacal Rage, Rotting Rats, Court Homunculus, Worldly Counsel, Controlled Instincts, Island
My pick:
Worldly Counsel
Pack 3 pick 9:
Vedalken Outlander, Frontline Sage, Molten Frame, Infectious Horror, Wandering Goblins, View from Above, Forest
My pick:
Wandering Goblins
Pack 3 pick 10:
Beacon Behemoth, Zombie Outlander, Nacatl Savage, Valiant Guard, Grixis Illusionist, Forest
My pick:
Zombie Outlander
Pack 3 pick 11:
Kaleidostone, Darklit Gargoyle, Asha's Favor, Vectis Agents, Plains
My pick:
Kaleidostone -- hating it away from whoever has the Esperzoas
Pack 3 pick 12:
Bone Saw, Quenchable Fire, View from Above, Forest
My pick:
Bone Saw
Pack 3 pick 13:
Rotting Rats, Worldly Counsel, Swamp
My pick:
Worldly Counsel
Pack 3 pick 14:
Vectis Agents, Forest
My pick:
Vectis Agents
Pack 3 pick 15:
Island
My pick:
Island
Deck
3 Matca Rioters
1 Dragonsoul Knight
3 Wandering Goblins
1 Goblin Razerunners
1 Beacon Behemoth
1 Voracious Dragon
1 Skyward Eye Prophets
1 Nacatl Hunt-Pride
1 Path to Exile
3 Sylvan Bounty
2 Fiery Fall
2 Worldly Counsel
1 Dark Temper
1 Manaforce Mace
2 Voices from the Void
6 Mountain
6 Forest
2 Swamp
2 Plains
1 Island
Sideboard
3 Vectis Agents
1 Viashino Slaughtermaster
1 Worldly Counsel
1 Esper Cormorants
1 Kaleidostone
1 Kranioceros
1 Vagrant Plowbeasts
1 Sludge Strider
1 Goblin Outlander
1 Rhox Meditant
1 Quenchable Fire
1 Zombie Outlander
1 Bone Saw
1 Suicidal Charge
2 Beacon Behemoth
In retrospect, I probably ran one Goblin too many; Plowbeast might have been a better choice. Overall, though, this is pretty close to what I want my CCC decks to look like; 2 Voices from the Void, 4-5 cyclers, a handful of Matca Rioters, a few good high-end guys and a bunch of miscellaneous good stuff as filler. I breeze through the first two rounds, then run into a solid 5cEsper deck in the third round; I beat him with turn 5 Voices for 5 in the first game, then draw mediocre in both of the other games while he finds Thornling(!) and crushes me with it.
CCC game record when opponent doesn't play Thornling: 13-1
CCC game record when opponent plays Thornling: 1-4
You'd think a bomb Mythic would be a little rarer than that...
Pack 1 pick 1:
Armillary Sphere, Kranioceros, Faerie Mechanist, Absorb Vis, Valeron Outlander, Molten Frame, Rhox Bodyguard, Scattershot Archer, Infectious Horror, Worldly Counsel, Jhessian Balmgiver, Voices from the Void, Spore Burst, Voracious Dragon, Plains
My pick:
Voracious Dragon -- Duh. I like Voices and I like Sphere, but not so much to take over a dragon. This guy is the poster child for the 'blank text box' phenomenon; you can ignore all the business about devouring goblins, even ignore the Devour itself, and just say '4/4 flyer for 5'.
Pack 1 pick 2:
Sylvan Bounty, Canyon Minotaur, Traumatic Visions, Rhox Meditant, Zombie Outlander, Might of Alara, Valiant Guard, Esper Cormorants (FOIL), Goblin Outlander, Constricting Tendrils, Nacatl Hunt-Pride, Hellspark Elemental, Path to Exile, Mountain
My pick:
Path to Exile -- I like Hunt-Pride, but removal is still king. Elemental actually seems like it'd be good in CCC, but my real problem is that it competes with the landcycling you really want to be doing T2 in most decks.
Pack 1 pick 3:
Kranioceros, Faerie Mechanist, Absorb Vis, Valeron Outlander, Absorb Vis (FOIL), Molten Frame, Rhox Bodyguard, Scattershot Archer, Infectious Horror, Worldly Counsel, Corrupted Roots, Ignite Disorder, Plains
My pick:
Kranioceros -- in retrospect, either Absorb Vis or Mechanist might be better, but I've got a red card and a white card and this guy's still solid enough. The biggest strike against him is that he'll probably table; I should, at least, never have trouble finding one around a 7th-10th pick. Ignite Disorder's a possibility, but I hate taking a SB(ish) card this early.
Pack 1 pick 4:
Fiery Fall, Wretched Banquet, Esper Cormorants, Parasitic Strix, Aven Trailblazer, Kaleidostone, Yoke of the Damned, Vectis Agents, Quenchable Fire, Tukatongue Thallid, Scornful Æther-Lich, Mountain
My pick:
Fiery Fall -- I'm not sure whether this or Gleam is better, but most of the landcyclers are interchangeable anyway. Cormorants would've been the next pick; there's a good Esper deck here.
Pack 1 pick 5:
Aven Squire, Pestilent Kathari, Parasitic Strix, Matca Rioters, Bone Saw, Quenchable Fire, Rotting Rats, Asha's Favor, Nacatl Outlander, Spore Burst, Island
My pick:
Matca Rioters -- this is way later than they should be going, but no complaints here. Note Strix for the Esper deck.
Pack 1 pick 6:
Frontline Sage, Pestilent Kathari, Suicidal Charge, Maniacal Rage, Parasitic Strix (FOIL), Goblin Outlander, Court Homunculus, Ignite Disorder, Viashino Slaughtermaster, Swamp
My pick:
Viashino Slaughtermaster -- Another Strix if I was Esper; I don't know if this guy was the right pick even still, but he seems good enough. This pack's almost a blank for me anyway. Maybe Disorder?
Pack 1 pick 7:
Bone Saw, Canyon Minotaur, Grixis Illusionist, Lapse of Certainty, Scattershot Archer, Yoke of the Damned, Ignite Disorder, Voices from the Void, Forest
My pick:
Voices from the Void -- no way this should go 7th. I wouldn't feel bad about first-picking it.
Pack 1 pick 8:
Zombie Outlander, Sedraxis Alchemist, Beacon Behemoth, Unsummon, Tukatongue Thallid, Asha's Favor, Vectis Agents, Mountain
My pick:
Beacon Behemoth -- but look at how much good Esper is going by.
Pack 1 pick 9:
Kranioceros, Faerie Mechanist, Scattershot Archer, Infectious Horror, Worldly Counsel, Voices from the Void, Plains
My pick:
Voices from the Void -- two are better than one!
Pack 1 pick 10:
Canyon Minotaur, Zombie Outlander, Valiant Guard, Goblin Outlander, Constricting Tendrils, Mountain
My pick:
Goblin Outlander -- Zombie Outlander for the Esper deck...
Pack 1 pick 11:
Scattershot Archer, Infectious Horror, Worldly Counsel, Corrupted Roots, Plains
My pick:
Worldly Counsel
Pack 1 pick 12:
Vectis Agents, Tukatongue Thallid, Scornful Æther-Lich, Mountain
My pick:
Vectis Agents
Pack 1 pick 13:
Bone Saw, Quenchable Fire, Island
My pick:
Quenchable Fire
Pack 1 pick 14:
Suicidal Charge, Swamp
My pick:
Suicidal Charge
Pack 1 pick 15:
Forest
My pick:
Forest
Pack 2 pick 1:
Wretched Banquet, Sylvan Bounty, Canyon Minotaur, Traumatic Visions, Rhox Meditant, Might of Alara, Valiant Guard, Salvage Slasher, Goblin Outlander, Constricting Tendrils, Filigree Fracture, Dragonsoul Knight, Scornful Æther-Lich, Rakka Mar, Plains
My pick:
Dragonsoul Knight -- not a great pack, but I'll take the 5c guy. Banquet and Might are close. The Esper deck probably takes either Banquet or this guy.
Pack 2 pick 2:
Fiery Fall, Wretched Banquet, Esper Cormorants, Parasitic Strix, Aven Trailblazer, Kaleidostone, Grixis Illusionist, Yoke of the Damned, Vectis Agents, Quenchable Fire, Nacatl Hunt-Pride, Unstable Frontier, Esperzoa, Plains
My pick:
Fiery Fall
Pack 2 pick 3:
Sylvan Bounty, Aven Squire, Pestilent Kathari, Dark Temper, Parasitic Strix, Matca Rioters, Quenchable Fire, Rotting Rats, Asha's Favor, Nacatl Outlander, Shambling Remains, Sludge Strider, Mountain
My pick:
Matca Rioters -- I'm tempted by Shambling Remains, but I'm shifting from RBx to RGx at this point and I'd rather have Rioters than any other common creature in the set.
Pack 2 pick 4:
Rhox Meditant, Vedalken Outlander, Kranioceros, Yoke of the Damned, Nacatl Savage, Wandering Goblins, Brackwater Elemental, Gluttonous Slime, Dreadwing, Elder Mastery, Inkwell Leviathan, Island
My pick:
Wandering Goblins -- these guys are great, but they're great mostly because you can get them 11th pick. Leviathan maybe?
Pack 2 pick 5:
Sedraxis Alchemist, Vedalken Outlander, Wild Leotau, Scattershot Archer (FOIL), Aven Squire, Molten Frame, Rhox Bodyguard, Wandering Goblins, Voices from the Void, Goblin Razerunners, Plains
My pick:
Goblin Razerunners -- an unusual form of reach, but they break stalemates. And I need them more than I need another(!) Voices.
Pack 2 pick 6:
Kaleidostone, Sedraxis Alchemist, Beacon Behemoth, Darklit Gargoyle, Unsummon, Tukatongue Thallid, Asha's Favor, Vectis Agents, Vagrant Plowbeasts, Forest
My pick:
Beacon Behemoth -- it was this or Plowbeasts, and I wanted a slightly smaller drop. Not sure if this is right or not, though, strangely enough.
Pack 2 pick 7:
Sylvan Bounty, Canyon Minotaur, Rhox Meditant, Valiant Guard, Salvage Slasher, Goblin Outlander, Constricting Tendrils, Nacatl Hunt-Pride, Forest
My pick:
Sylvan Bounty -- I'm worried that I 'only' have two cyclers, so I try and grab more now. If I'd already had another I would've taken Hunt-Pride, but I was starting to worry about my fixing.
Pack 2 pick 8:
Sylvan Bounty, Aven Squire, Pestilent Kathari, Rotting Rats, Asha's Favor, Nacatl Outlander, Controlled Instincts, Swamp
My pick:
Sylvan Bounty -- Well then.
Pack 2 pick 9:
Sylvan Bounty, Canyon Minotaur, Valiant Guard, Salvage Slasher, Goblin Outlander, Constricting Tendrils, Plains
My pick:
Sylvan Bounty -- Regretting the Bounty-over-Hunt-Pride pick about here.
Pack 2 pick 10:
Esper Cormorants, Kaleidostone, Grixis Illusionist, Vectis Agents, Quenchable Fire, Plains
My pick:
Esper Cormorants -- how do these table?
Pack 2 pick 11:
Rotting Rats, Asha's Favor, Nacatl Outlander, Sludge Strider, Mountain
My pick:
Sludge Strider -- See Cormorants
Pack 2 pick 12:
Rhox Meditant, Nacatl Savage, Gluttonous Slime, Island
My pick:
Rhox Meditant
Pack 2 pick 13:
Molten Frame, Wandering Goblins, Plains
My pick:
Wandering Goblins -- see?
Pack 2 pick 14:
Vectis Agents, Forest
My pick:
Vectis Agents
Pack 2 pick 15:
Forest
My pick:
Forest
Pack 3 pick 1:
Sedraxis Alchemist, Vedalken Outlander, Wild Leotau, Dark Temper, Frontline Sage, Aven Squire, Molten Frame, Infectious Horror, Rhox Bodyguard, Wandering Goblins, Manaforce Mace, View from Above, Scarland Thrinax, Knight of the Reliquary, Forest
My pick:
Dark Temper -- maybe Mace would be better, but I gamble that it'll table and I want removal. Rare-drafting Knight may have been right.
Pack 3 pick 2:
Beacon Behemoth, Zombie Outlander, Matca Rioters, Darklit Gargoyle, Fiery Fall, Maniacal Rage, Nacatl Outlander, Nacatl Savage, Valiant Guard, Grixis Illusionist, Ignite Disorder, Voices from the Void, Sacellum Archers, Forest
My pick:
Matca Rioters -- better than Fall here since I've got 5 cyclers now.
Pack 3 pick 3:
Zombie Outlander, Kaleidostone, Sedraxis Alchemist, Beacon Behemoth, Darklit Gargoyle, Unsummon, Tukatongue Thallid, Asha's Favor, Rupture Spire, Vectis Agents, Unstable Frontier, Esperzoa, Plains
My pick:
Beacon Behemoth -- Esperzoa? Someone is having a field day...
Pack 3 pick 4:
Aven Squire, Pestilent Kathari, Parasitic Strix, Bone Saw, Quenchable Fire, Rotting Rats, Asha's Favor, Nacatl Outlander, Manaforce Mace, View from Above, Inkwell Leviathan, Forest
My pick:
Manaforce Mace -- Nothing else in the pack for me so I gladly grab this one.
Pack 3 pick 5:
Wild Leotau, Frontline Sage, Pestilent Kathari, Maniacal Rage, Rotting Rats, Goblin Outlander, Court Homunculus, Worldly Counsel, Jhessian Balmgiver, Nacatl Hunt-Pride, Swamp
My pick:
Nacatl Hunt-Pride -- maybe Leotau would've been better, but I'm removal-light and this guy's a sort of removal.
Pack 3 pick 6:
Zombie Outlander, Kaleidostone, Sedraxis Alchemist, Beacon Behemoth, Tukatongue Thallid, Asha's Favor, Rupture Spire, Vectis Agents, Skyward Eye Prophets, Forest
My pick:
Skyward Eye Prophets -- card advantage, and I feel like I have enough fixing to play them.
Pack 3 pick 7:
Toxic Iguanar, Faerie Mechanist, Bone Saw, Tukatongue Thallid, Lapse of Certainty, Constricting Tendrils, Vagrant Plowbeasts, Dreadwing, Island
My pick:
Vagrant Plowbeasts
Pack 3 pick 8:
Frontline Sage, Pestilent Kathari, Maniacal Rage, Rotting Rats, Court Homunculus, Worldly Counsel, Controlled Instincts, Island
My pick:
Worldly Counsel
Pack 3 pick 9:
Vedalken Outlander, Frontline Sage, Molten Frame, Infectious Horror, Wandering Goblins, View from Above, Forest
My pick:
Wandering Goblins
Pack 3 pick 10:
Beacon Behemoth, Zombie Outlander, Nacatl Savage, Valiant Guard, Grixis Illusionist, Forest
My pick:
Zombie Outlander
Pack 3 pick 11:
Kaleidostone, Darklit Gargoyle, Asha's Favor, Vectis Agents, Plains
My pick:
Kaleidostone -- hating it away from whoever has the Esperzoas
Pack 3 pick 12:
Bone Saw, Quenchable Fire, View from Above, Forest
My pick:
Bone Saw
Pack 3 pick 13:
Rotting Rats, Worldly Counsel, Swamp
My pick:
Worldly Counsel
Pack 3 pick 14:
Vectis Agents, Forest
My pick:
Vectis Agents
Pack 3 pick 15:
Island
My pick:
Island
Deck
3 Matca Rioters
1 Dragonsoul Knight
3 Wandering Goblins
1 Goblin Razerunners
1 Beacon Behemoth
1 Voracious Dragon
1 Skyward Eye Prophets
1 Nacatl Hunt-Pride
1 Path to Exile
3 Sylvan Bounty
2 Fiery Fall
2 Worldly Counsel
1 Dark Temper
1 Manaforce Mace
2 Voices from the Void
6 Mountain
6 Forest
2 Swamp
2 Plains
1 Island
Sideboard
3 Vectis Agents
1 Viashino Slaughtermaster
1 Worldly Counsel
1 Esper Cormorants
1 Kaleidostone
1 Kranioceros
1 Vagrant Plowbeasts
1 Sludge Strider
1 Goblin Outlander
1 Rhox Meditant
1 Quenchable Fire
1 Zombie Outlander
1 Bone Saw
1 Suicidal Charge
2 Beacon Behemoth
In retrospect, I probably ran one Goblin too many; Plowbeast might have been a better choice. Overall, though, this is pretty close to what I want my CCC decks to look like; 2 Voices from the Void, 4-5 cyclers, a handful of Matca Rioters, a few good high-end guys and a bunch of miscellaneous good stuff as filler. I breeze through the first two rounds, then run into a solid 5cEsper deck in the third round; I beat him with turn 5 Voices for 5 in the first game, then draw mediocre in both of the other games while he finds Thornling(!) and crushes me with it.
CCC game record when opponent doesn't play Thornling: 13-1
CCC game record when opponent plays Thornling: 1-4
You'd think a bomb Mythic would be a little rarer than that...
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
CCC #1
As promised, here's my first CCC (4-3-2-2, as that's all they organize) draft; most of the commentary's inline and self-evident.
Pack 1 pick 1:
Traumatic Visions, Rhox Meditant, Zombie Outlander, Kaleidostone, Sedraxis Alchemist, Beacon Behemoth, Lapse of Certainty, Scattershot Archer, Yoke of the Damned, Nacatl Savage, Manaforce Mace, Elder Mastery, Path to Exile, Mark of Asylum, Forest
My pick: Path to Exile - God, what a horrible first pack. No money rare, no great cards; what else is there but Path? I suppose I could take the Mace, but I haven't really gotten a good impression of it yet (note: this changes over the course of this draft...)
Pack 1 pick 2:
Bone Saw, Gleam of Resistance, Sedraxis Alchemist, Vedalken Outlander, Wild Leotau, Dark Temper, Scattershot Archer, Infectious Horror, Worldly Counsel, Quenchable Fire, Nacatl Hunt-Pride, Shard Convergence, Scepter of Fugue, Plains
My pick: Nacatl Hunt-Pride — Leotau, Convergence and Scepter of Fugue are all tempting, but I figure I'll get my fixers, I don't want to commit *too* hard to G/W, and the stick seems mediocre even in a control deck; not horrible, just mediocre. Pride is a beast, and it's recurring pseudo-removal; that's good enough for me.
Pack 1 pick 3:
Fiery Fall, Pestilent Kathari, Valeron Outlander, Armillary Sphere, Aven Trailblazer, Suicidal Charge, Grixis Slavedriver (FOIL), Court Homunculus, Molten Frame, Reliquary Tower, Fleshformer, Scarland Thrinax, Island
My pick: Armillary Sphere — finally I get to take this card! And I have to do it over two fine uncommons (Slavedriver and Fleshformer) and another fixer. :( I think Slavedriver is probably better, but I can't pass Sphere when I don't have one yet.
Pack 1 pick 4:
Bone Saw, Valeron Outlander (FOIL), Canyon Minotaur, Salvage Slasher, Brackwater Elemental, Exploding Borders, Maniacal Rage, Nacatl Outlander, Vagrant Plowbeasts, Reliquary Tower, Skyward Eye Prophets, Island
My pick: Exploding Borders — into the 5CG deck? Why not! Prophets are fine but another 6-drop, and Plowbeasts are a 7(!).
Pack 1 pick 5:
Absorb Vis, Valeron Outlander, Sylvan Bounty, Aven Squire, Pestilent Kathari, Goblin Outlander, Court Homunculus, Worldly Counsel, Might of Alara, Grixis Slavedriver, Swamp
My pick: Grixis Slavedriver — okay, I can't pass up another one.
Pack 1 pick 6:
Fiery Fall, Pestilent Kathari, Valeron Outlander, Suicidal Charge, Constricting Tendrils, Court Homunculus, Molten Frame, View from Above, Countersquall, Forest
My pick: Fiery Fall — yay, more fixing!
Pack 1 pick 7:
Bone Saw, Gleam of Resistance, Wild Leotau, Scattershot Archer, Infectious Horror, Worldly Counsel, Viashino Slaughtermaster, Spore Burst, Island
My pick: Spore Burst — this is a fine defensive card for 5c, keeping the life total high while you take control of the board.
Pack 1 pick 8:
Kranioceros, Mana Cylix, Gleam of Resistance, Vectis Agents, Quenchable Fire, Tukatongue Thallid, Lapse of Certainty, Forest
My pick: Kranioceros — narrowly over Gleam; I think Gleam is one of the best of the landcyclers, but I desperately needed a body.
Pack 1 pick 9:
Traumatic Visions, Lapse of Certainty, Scattershot Archer, Yoke of the Damned, Nacatl Savage, Mark of Asylum, Forest
My pick: Yoke of the Damned — Just In Case.
Pack 1 pick 10:
Bone Saw, Scattershot Archer, Infectious Horror, Worldly Counsel, Quenchable Fire, Plains
My pick: Worldly Counsel — I love this card.
Pack 1 pick 11:
Pestilent Kathari, Suicidal Charge, Molten Frame, Reliquary Tower, Island
My pick: Molten Frame — I probably should have taken Charge here, but I had Esperzoaphobia.
Pack 1 pick 12:
Bone Saw, Canyon Minotaur, Reliquary Tower, Island
My pick: Bone Saw
Pack 1 pick 13:
Pestilent Kathari, Goblin Outlander, Swamp
My pick: Goblin Outlander
Pack 1 pick 14:
Constricting Tendrils, Forest
My pick:
Forest
Pack 2 pick 1:
Parasitic Strix, Matca Rioters, Bone Saw, Drag Down, Canyon Minotaur, Salvage Slasher, Brackwater Elemental, Exploding Borders, Maniacal Rage, Nacatl Outlander, Manaforce Mace, Shard Convergence, Scarland Thrinax, Nyxathid, Mountain
My pick: Drag Down — more desperately-needed removal.
Pack 2 pick 2:
Toxic Iguanar, Traumatic Visions, Mana Cylix, Beacon Behemoth, Zombie Outlander, Infectious Horror, Rhox Bodyguard, Wandering Goblins, Might of Alara, Valiant Guard, Voices from the Void, Cumber Stone, Shambling Remains, Forest
My pick: Voices from the Void — I love this card in this format, and will gladly take it over almost anything. Discard 3 is awesome enough; discard 4-5 will usually win you the game.
Pack 2 pick 3:
Matca Rioters, Darklit Gargoyle, Fiery Fall, Esper Cormorants, Parasitic Strix, Salvage Slasher, Goblin Outlander, Constricting Tendrils, Tukatongue Thallid, Fusion Elemental, Spore Burst, Skyward Eye Prophets, Mountain
My pick: Fusion Elemental — narrowly over Matca Rioters (and Prophets) and I'm still not sure. I have/feel comfortable about finding enough fixers that another Fiery Fall isn't in the running, especially whenI still need good guys.
Pack 2 pick 4:
Darklit Gargoyle, Unsummon, Kranioceros, Faerie Mechanist, Wandering Goblins, Brackwater Elemental, Suicidal Charge, Maniacal Rage, Rotting Rats, Manaforce Mace, Dreadwing, Swamp
My pick: Wandering Goblins — My curve was getting ugly fast.
Pack 2 pick 5:
Toxic Iguanar, Traumatic Visions, Mana Cylix, Beacon Behemoth, Zombie Outlander, Infectious Horror, Rhox Bodyguard, Wandering Goblins, Might of Alara, Valiant Guard, Plains
My pick: Might of Alara — what else? another Goblins?
Pack 2 pick 6:
Frontline Sage, Sylvan Bounty, Canyon Minotaur, Rotting Rats, Asha's Favor, Nacatl Outlander, Grixis Illusionist, Celestial Purge, Cumber Stone, Plains
My pick: Sylvan Bounty — more fixing, whee.
Pack 2 pick 7:
Darklit Gargoyle, Unsummon, Kranioceros, Faerie Mechanist, Wandering Goblins, Suicidal Charge, Maniacal Rage, Rotting Rats, Island
My pick: Kranioceros — I think this guy is sorely underestimated, moreso in SSA than here.
Pack 2 pick 8:
Bone Saw, Vectis Agents (FOIL), Wild Leotau, Scattershot Archer, Infectious Horror, Worldly Counsel, Corrupted Roots, Forest
My pick: Wild Leotau — he didn't end up making the cut, but IMHO he's better than a second Worldly Counsel.
Pack 2 pick 9:
Bone Saw, Canyon Minotaur, Salvage Slasher, Maniacal Rage, Manaforce Mace, Scarland Thrinax, Mountain
My pick: Manaforce Mace — this late, why not? Thrinax was the other plausible pick.
Pack 2 pick 10:
Toxic Iguanar, Zombie Outlander, Infectious Horror, Wandering Goblins, Valiant Guard, Forest
My pick: Wandering Goblins — at least I'm getting some guys.
Pack 2 pick 11:
Darklit Gargoyle, Salvage Slasher, Goblin Outlander, Constricting Tendrils, Mountain
My pick: Darklit Gargoyle — D-draft, but I wasn't going to be short on Outlanders.
Pack 2 pick 12:
Faerie Mechanist, Maniacal Rage, Rotting Rats, Swamp
My pick: Faerie Mechanist
Pack 2 pick 13:
Wandering Goblins, Valiant Guard, Plains
My pick: Wandering Goblins — Yeah, I do love these guys.
Pack 2 pick 14:
Rotting Rats, Plains
My pick: Plains
Pack 3 pick 1:
Absorb Vis, Valeron Outlander, Sylvan Bounty, Filigree Fracture (FOIL), Pestilent Kathari, Dark Temper, Goblin Outlander, Court Homunculus, Worldly Counsel, Might of Alara, Voices from the Void, View from Above, Elder Mastery, Cylian Sunsinger, Forest
My pick: Voices from the Void — there isn't much else in the pack anyway, and two increases my chances of doing dumb things with it.
Pack 3 pick 2:
Darklit Gargoyle, Unsummon, Armillary Sphere, Kranioceros, Faerie Mechanist, Wandering Goblins, Absorb Vis (FOIL), Suicidal Charge, Maniacal Rage, Rotting Rats, Paragon of the Amesha, Jhessian Balmgiver, Volcanic Fallout, Mountain
My pick: Volcanic Fallout — I'd love Sphere or the WURGB guy, but with a deck this defensive, mini-Wrath seems hands-down best.
Pack 3 pick 3:
Frontline Sage, Aven Squire, Wretched Banquet, Sylvan Bounty, Canyon Minotaur, Rotting Rats, Asha's Favor, Nacatl Outlander, Grixis Illusionist, Ignite Disorder, Cumber Stone, Esperzoa, Swamp
My pick: Esperzoa — d-drafting as I realized I have serious issues with the 'zoa and there's nothing great in the pack for me. Wretched Banquet maybe?
Pack 3 pick 4:
Absorb Vis, Valeron Outlander, Sylvan Bounty, Aven Squire, Pestilent Kathari, Dark Temper, Goblin Outlander, Court Homunculus, Worldly Counsel, Might of Alara, Nacatl Hunt-Pride, Plains
My pick: Absorb Vis — another Pride would be great, but more fixing's better.
Pack 3 pick 5:
Toxic Iguanar, Traumatic Visions, Mana Cylix, Beacon Behemoth, Infectious Horror, Rhox Bodyguard, Wandering Goblins, Might of Alara, Valiant Guard, Gwafa Hazid, Profiteer, Mountain
My pick: Wandering Goblins — Still a huge fan.
Pack 3 pick 6:
Absorb Vis, Sylvan Bounty, Pestilent Kathari, Goblin Outlander, Court Homunculus, Wretched Banquet (FOIL), Might of Alara, Countersquall, Scepter of Fugue, Mountain
My pick: Absorb Vis
Pack 3 pick 7:
Unsummon, Unsummon (FOIL), Wandering Goblins, Brackwater Elemental, Suicidal Charge, Maniacal Rage, Rotting Rats, Jhessian Balmgiver, Forest
My pick: Unsummon (FOIL) — Goblins? :-)
Pack 3 pick 8: Traumatic Visions, Zombie Outlander, Scattershot Archer (FOIL), Lapse of Certainty, Scattershot Archer, Yoke of the Damned, Nacatl Savage, Plains
My pick: Traumatic Visions — which should have made my deck over the green one I played.
Pack 3 pick 9:
Valeron Outlander, Goblin Outlander, Court Homunculus, Worldly Counsel, Might of Alara, View from Above, Forest
My pick: Goblin Outlander
Pack 3 pick 10:
Kranioceros, Wandering Goblins, Suicidal Charge, Maniacal Rage, Rotting Rats, Mountain
My pick: Suicidal Charge
Pack 3 pick 11:
Canyon Minotaur, Rotting Rats, Asha's Favor, Grixis Illusionist, Swamp
My pick: Canyon Minotaur
Pack 3 pick 12:
Goblin Outlander, Court Homunculus, Worldly Counsel, Plains
My pick: Worldly Counsel
Pack 3 pick 13:
Mana Cylix, Valiant Guard, Mountain
My pick: Mountain
Pack 3 pick 14:
Goblin Outlander, Mountain
My pick: Goblin Outlander
The deck:
4x Wandering Goblin
Spore Burst
Fusion Elemental
2x Kranioceros
Nacatl Hunt-Pride
Grixis Slave-Driver
Path to Exile
Armillary Sphere
2x Absorb Vis
Fiery Fall
Sylvan Bounty
2x Worldly Counsel
Drag Down
Volcanic Fallout
Exploding Borders
Manaforce Mace
2x Voices from the Void
It feels a little removal-light, and boy is it top-heavy; I lost my first game to a 1550 who played T1 Kederekt Parasite ('if you control a red creature, you may deal 1 damage to target opponent when they draw a card') and dealt me probably 15 with it (I stayed alive off of Absorb Vis and Sylvan Bounty to buy more time but never drew Fallout). On the other hand, he was playing way too many 5c spells (3x Elder Mastery, the 6-mana Grixis enchantment) and creatures with color-activated abilities and multiple Ancient Ziggurats that couldn't pay for either, and not nearly enough actual mana fixing, so I rolled him in the other two games.
I walked over a couple of better decks in the next two rounds, one 5cG and one Esper/5c, mostly on the back of Voices from the Void vs. slower controlling decks; the Esper player, after going beatdown early and still having a beatdown-ish deck — and knowing that mine had to be insanely controllish — failed the 'who's the beatdown?' test and tried to take the control role over me, not playing out guys (like Parasitic Strix w/ a UB creature on the board already) and instead holding back for Traumatic Visions and Countersquall on my spells. Of course, I just poked with test spells, landed a Voices and then started getting my guys out once he didn't have a hand, running him over not long after.
The creatures felt clunky, by and large, and Wandering Goblins were worse than hoped as early-game deterrents; but they were fantastic late-game finishers. I had a game where I got to Fallout at my opponent's EOT for their two x/2s and then come over with a Goblin for 15 in one swoop. Manaforce Mace was as clunky as I'd worried, but one still feels fine; it really does a fine job of turning any dork into giant monsters. All of the huge guys at my top end earned their keep; Slave-driver was crazy good and Hunt-Pride did what it was supposed to, picking off dorks and getting one guy through for lethal. I think I would've had more serious issues if anyone had gone Esper aggro, but I tried to protect myself against that plan and I think I did okay by it. Definitely an interesting deck and an interesting draft.
Pack 1 pick 1:
Traumatic Visions, Rhox Meditant, Zombie Outlander, Kaleidostone, Sedraxis Alchemist, Beacon Behemoth, Lapse of Certainty, Scattershot Archer, Yoke of the Damned, Nacatl Savage, Manaforce Mace, Elder Mastery, Path to Exile, Mark of Asylum, Forest
My pick: Path to Exile - God, what a horrible first pack. No money rare, no great cards; what else is there but Path? I suppose I could take the Mace, but I haven't really gotten a good impression of it yet (note: this changes over the course of this draft...)
Pack 1 pick 2:
Bone Saw, Gleam of Resistance, Sedraxis Alchemist, Vedalken Outlander, Wild Leotau, Dark Temper, Scattershot Archer, Infectious Horror, Worldly Counsel, Quenchable Fire, Nacatl Hunt-Pride, Shard Convergence, Scepter of Fugue, Plains
My pick: Nacatl Hunt-Pride — Leotau, Convergence and Scepter of Fugue are all tempting, but I figure I'll get my fixers, I don't want to commit *too* hard to G/W, and the stick seems mediocre even in a control deck; not horrible, just mediocre. Pride is a beast, and it's recurring pseudo-removal; that's good enough for me.
Pack 1 pick 3:
Fiery Fall, Pestilent Kathari, Valeron Outlander, Armillary Sphere, Aven Trailblazer, Suicidal Charge, Grixis Slavedriver (FOIL), Court Homunculus, Molten Frame, Reliquary Tower, Fleshformer, Scarland Thrinax, Island
My pick: Armillary Sphere — finally I get to take this card! And I have to do it over two fine uncommons (Slavedriver and Fleshformer) and another fixer. :( I think Slavedriver is probably better, but I can't pass Sphere when I don't have one yet.
Pack 1 pick 4:
Bone Saw, Valeron Outlander (FOIL), Canyon Minotaur, Salvage Slasher, Brackwater Elemental, Exploding Borders, Maniacal Rage, Nacatl Outlander, Vagrant Plowbeasts, Reliquary Tower, Skyward Eye Prophets, Island
My pick: Exploding Borders — into the 5CG deck? Why not! Prophets are fine but another 6-drop, and Plowbeasts are a 7(!).
Pack 1 pick 5:
Absorb Vis, Valeron Outlander, Sylvan Bounty, Aven Squire, Pestilent Kathari, Goblin Outlander, Court Homunculus, Worldly Counsel, Might of Alara, Grixis Slavedriver, Swamp
My pick: Grixis Slavedriver — okay, I can't pass up another one.
Pack 1 pick 6:
Fiery Fall, Pestilent Kathari, Valeron Outlander, Suicidal Charge, Constricting Tendrils, Court Homunculus, Molten Frame, View from Above, Countersquall, Forest
My pick: Fiery Fall — yay, more fixing!
Pack 1 pick 7:
Bone Saw, Gleam of Resistance, Wild Leotau, Scattershot Archer, Infectious Horror, Worldly Counsel, Viashino Slaughtermaster, Spore Burst, Island
My pick: Spore Burst — this is a fine defensive card for 5c, keeping the life total high while you take control of the board.
Pack 1 pick 8:
Kranioceros, Mana Cylix, Gleam of Resistance, Vectis Agents, Quenchable Fire, Tukatongue Thallid, Lapse of Certainty, Forest
My pick: Kranioceros — narrowly over Gleam; I think Gleam is one of the best of the landcyclers, but I desperately needed a body.
Pack 1 pick 9:
Traumatic Visions, Lapse of Certainty, Scattershot Archer, Yoke of the Damned, Nacatl Savage, Mark of Asylum, Forest
My pick: Yoke of the Damned — Just In Case.
Pack 1 pick 10:
Bone Saw, Scattershot Archer, Infectious Horror, Worldly Counsel, Quenchable Fire, Plains
My pick: Worldly Counsel — I love this card.
Pack 1 pick 11:
Pestilent Kathari, Suicidal Charge, Molten Frame, Reliquary Tower, Island
My pick: Molten Frame — I probably should have taken Charge here, but I had Esperzoaphobia.
Pack 1 pick 12:
Bone Saw, Canyon Minotaur, Reliquary Tower, Island
My pick: Bone Saw
Pack 1 pick 13:
Pestilent Kathari, Goblin Outlander, Swamp
My pick: Goblin Outlander
Pack 1 pick 14:
Constricting Tendrils, Forest
My pick:
Forest
Pack 2 pick 1:
Parasitic Strix, Matca Rioters, Bone Saw, Drag Down, Canyon Minotaur, Salvage Slasher, Brackwater Elemental, Exploding Borders, Maniacal Rage, Nacatl Outlander, Manaforce Mace, Shard Convergence, Scarland Thrinax, Nyxathid, Mountain
My pick: Drag Down — more desperately-needed removal.
Pack 2 pick 2:
Toxic Iguanar, Traumatic Visions, Mana Cylix, Beacon Behemoth, Zombie Outlander, Infectious Horror, Rhox Bodyguard, Wandering Goblins, Might of Alara, Valiant Guard, Voices from the Void, Cumber Stone, Shambling Remains, Forest
My pick: Voices from the Void — I love this card in this format, and will gladly take it over almost anything. Discard 3 is awesome enough; discard 4-5 will usually win you the game.
Pack 2 pick 3:
Matca Rioters, Darklit Gargoyle, Fiery Fall, Esper Cormorants, Parasitic Strix, Salvage Slasher, Goblin Outlander, Constricting Tendrils, Tukatongue Thallid, Fusion Elemental, Spore Burst, Skyward Eye Prophets, Mountain
My pick: Fusion Elemental — narrowly over Matca Rioters (and Prophets) and I'm still not sure. I have/feel comfortable about finding enough fixers that another Fiery Fall isn't in the running, especially whenI still need good guys.
Pack 2 pick 4:
Darklit Gargoyle, Unsummon, Kranioceros, Faerie Mechanist, Wandering Goblins, Brackwater Elemental, Suicidal Charge, Maniacal Rage, Rotting Rats, Manaforce Mace, Dreadwing, Swamp
My pick: Wandering Goblins — My curve was getting ugly fast.
Pack 2 pick 5:
Toxic Iguanar, Traumatic Visions, Mana Cylix, Beacon Behemoth, Zombie Outlander, Infectious Horror, Rhox Bodyguard, Wandering Goblins, Might of Alara, Valiant Guard, Plains
My pick: Might of Alara — what else? another Goblins?
Pack 2 pick 6:
Frontline Sage, Sylvan Bounty, Canyon Minotaur, Rotting Rats, Asha's Favor, Nacatl Outlander, Grixis Illusionist, Celestial Purge, Cumber Stone, Plains
My pick: Sylvan Bounty — more fixing, whee.
Pack 2 pick 7:
Darklit Gargoyle, Unsummon, Kranioceros, Faerie Mechanist, Wandering Goblins, Suicidal Charge, Maniacal Rage, Rotting Rats, Island
My pick: Kranioceros — I think this guy is sorely underestimated, moreso in SSA than here.
Pack 2 pick 8:
Bone Saw, Vectis Agents (FOIL), Wild Leotau, Scattershot Archer, Infectious Horror, Worldly Counsel, Corrupted Roots, Forest
My pick: Wild Leotau — he didn't end up making the cut, but IMHO he's better than a second Worldly Counsel.
Pack 2 pick 9:
Bone Saw, Canyon Minotaur, Salvage Slasher, Maniacal Rage, Manaforce Mace, Scarland Thrinax, Mountain
My pick: Manaforce Mace — this late, why not? Thrinax was the other plausible pick.
Pack 2 pick 10:
Toxic Iguanar, Zombie Outlander, Infectious Horror, Wandering Goblins, Valiant Guard, Forest
My pick: Wandering Goblins — at least I'm getting some guys.
Pack 2 pick 11:
Darklit Gargoyle, Salvage Slasher, Goblin Outlander, Constricting Tendrils, Mountain
My pick: Darklit Gargoyle — D-draft, but I wasn't going to be short on Outlanders.
Pack 2 pick 12:
Faerie Mechanist, Maniacal Rage, Rotting Rats, Swamp
My pick: Faerie Mechanist
Pack 2 pick 13:
Wandering Goblins, Valiant Guard, Plains
My pick: Wandering Goblins — Yeah, I do love these guys.
Pack 2 pick 14:
Rotting Rats, Plains
My pick: Plains
Pack 3 pick 1:
Absorb Vis, Valeron Outlander, Sylvan Bounty, Filigree Fracture (FOIL), Pestilent Kathari, Dark Temper, Goblin Outlander, Court Homunculus, Worldly Counsel, Might of Alara, Voices from the Void, View from Above, Elder Mastery, Cylian Sunsinger, Forest
My pick: Voices from the Void — there isn't much else in the pack anyway, and two increases my chances of doing dumb things with it.
Pack 3 pick 2:
Darklit Gargoyle, Unsummon, Armillary Sphere, Kranioceros, Faerie Mechanist, Wandering Goblins, Absorb Vis (FOIL), Suicidal Charge, Maniacal Rage, Rotting Rats, Paragon of the Amesha, Jhessian Balmgiver, Volcanic Fallout, Mountain
My pick: Volcanic Fallout — I'd love Sphere or the WURGB guy, but with a deck this defensive, mini-Wrath seems hands-down best.
Pack 3 pick 3:
Frontline Sage, Aven Squire, Wretched Banquet, Sylvan Bounty, Canyon Minotaur, Rotting Rats, Asha's Favor, Nacatl Outlander, Grixis Illusionist, Ignite Disorder, Cumber Stone, Esperzoa, Swamp
My pick: Esperzoa — d-drafting as I realized I have serious issues with the 'zoa and there's nothing great in the pack for me. Wretched Banquet maybe?
Pack 3 pick 4:
Absorb Vis, Valeron Outlander, Sylvan Bounty, Aven Squire, Pestilent Kathari, Dark Temper, Goblin Outlander, Court Homunculus, Worldly Counsel, Might of Alara, Nacatl Hunt-Pride, Plains
My pick: Absorb Vis — another Pride would be great, but more fixing's better.
Pack 3 pick 5:
Toxic Iguanar, Traumatic Visions, Mana Cylix, Beacon Behemoth, Infectious Horror, Rhox Bodyguard, Wandering Goblins, Might of Alara, Valiant Guard, Gwafa Hazid, Profiteer, Mountain
My pick: Wandering Goblins — Still a huge fan.
Pack 3 pick 6:
Absorb Vis, Sylvan Bounty, Pestilent Kathari, Goblin Outlander, Court Homunculus, Wretched Banquet (FOIL), Might of Alara, Countersquall, Scepter of Fugue, Mountain
My pick: Absorb Vis
Pack 3 pick 7:
Unsummon, Unsummon (FOIL), Wandering Goblins, Brackwater Elemental, Suicidal Charge, Maniacal Rage, Rotting Rats, Jhessian Balmgiver, Forest
My pick: Unsummon (FOIL) — Goblins? :-)
Pack 3 pick 8: Traumatic Visions, Zombie Outlander, Scattershot Archer (FOIL), Lapse of Certainty, Scattershot Archer, Yoke of the Damned, Nacatl Savage, Plains
My pick: Traumatic Visions — which should have made my deck over the green one I played.
Pack 3 pick 9:
Valeron Outlander, Goblin Outlander, Court Homunculus, Worldly Counsel, Might of Alara, View from Above, Forest
My pick: Goblin Outlander
Pack 3 pick 10:
Kranioceros, Wandering Goblins, Suicidal Charge, Maniacal Rage, Rotting Rats, Mountain
My pick: Suicidal Charge
Pack 3 pick 11:
Canyon Minotaur, Rotting Rats, Asha's Favor, Grixis Illusionist, Swamp
My pick: Canyon Minotaur
Pack 3 pick 12:
Goblin Outlander, Court Homunculus, Worldly Counsel, Plains
My pick: Worldly Counsel
Pack 3 pick 13:
Mana Cylix, Valiant Guard, Mountain
My pick: Mountain
Pack 3 pick 14:
Goblin Outlander, Mountain
My pick: Goblin Outlander
The deck:
4x Wandering Goblin
Spore Burst
Fusion Elemental
2x Kranioceros
Nacatl Hunt-Pride
Grixis Slave-Driver
Path to Exile
Armillary Sphere
2x Absorb Vis
Fiery Fall
Sylvan Bounty
2x Worldly Counsel
Drag Down
Volcanic Fallout
Exploding Borders
Manaforce Mace
2x Voices from the Void
It feels a little removal-light, and boy is it top-heavy; I lost my first game to a 1550 who played T1 Kederekt Parasite ('if you control a red creature, you may deal 1 damage to target opponent when they draw a card') and dealt me probably 15 with it (I stayed alive off of Absorb Vis and Sylvan Bounty to buy more time but never drew Fallout). On the other hand, he was playing way too many 5c spells (3x Elder Mastery, the 6-mana Grixis enchantment) and creatures with color-activated abilities and multiple Ancient Ziggurats that couldn't pay for either, and not nearly enough actual mana fixing, so I rolled him in the other two games.
I walked over a couple of better decks in the next two rounds, one 5cG and one Esper/5c, mostly on the back of Voices from the Void vs. slower controlling decks; the Esper player, after going beatdown early and still having a beatdown-ish deck — and knowing that mine had to be insanely controllish — failed the 'who's the beatdown?' test and tried to take the control role over me, not playing out guys (like Parasitic Strix w/ a UB creature on the board already) and instead holding back for Traumatic Visions and Countersquall on my spells. Of course, I just poked with test spells, landed a Voices and then started getting my guys out once he didn't have a hand, running him over not long after.
The creatures felt clunky, by and large, and Wandering Goblins were worse than hoped as early-game deterrents; but they were fantastic late-game finishers. I had a game where I got to Fallout at my opponent's EOT for their two x/2s and then come over with a Goblin for 15 in one swoop. Manaforce Mace was as clunky as I'd worried, but one still feels fine; it really does a fine job of turning any dork into giant monsters. All of the huge guys at my top end earned their keep; Slave-driver was crazy good and Hunt-Pride did what it was supposed to, picking off dorks and getting one guy through for lethal. I think I would've had more serious issues if anyone had gone Esper aggro, but I tried to protect myself against that plan and I think I did okay by it. Definitely an interesting deck and an interesting draft.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
The obligatory welcome post
Well, I've finally gotten around to getting this started up, just in time for the Conflux drafting to begin on MTGO!1 This is Windmill Slam, and if you're here, then its purpose is probably obvious; this is a blog devoted to Magic: the Gathering. The primary focus is going to be on drafting and draft strategies, but it's really all fair game: posts about draft and sealed formats, posts about Pauper, posts about Standard, Extended, work and pre-poker leagues, whatever Magic folks are playing.
I'll try and kick things off with a couple of CCC drafts while they're running -- I just 3-0'd with a deck that feels like it had no business winning (I was running 9 creatures, and six of them were either Wandering Goblins or Kranioceroses!), and I'd love to figure out just what made it so decent (other than the 4-3-2-2, of course). I'll try to get in some SSC drafts soon, too; and other folks are encouraged to do likewise. If you want posting privs, just poke me at my gmail address or in comments here and I'll try to get you on the list. Hopefully between us we can get this active!
(1) (Okay, a week after Conflux drafts began. Humor me.)
I'll try and kick things off with a couple of CCC drafts while they're running -- I just 3-0'd with a deck that feels like it had no business winning (I was running 9 creatures, and six of them were either Wandering Goblins or Kranioceroses!), and I'd love to figure out just what made it so decent (other than the 4-3-2-2, of course). I'll try to get in some SSC drafts soon, too; and other folks are encouraged to do likewise. If you want posting privs, just poke me at my gmail address or in comments here and I'll try to get you on the list. Hopefully between us we can get this active!
(1) (Okay, a week after Conflux drafts began. Humor me.)
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