BNG , THS , THS Draft - 4/10/2014
I'm back with another draft article. I've tried a few times now to stay away from red-white, but it keeps reeling me back in. Not sure what else I could have done with these packs and passes. Would you have drafted it differently?
Pack 1 Pick 1
I'm pretty sure that Whelming Wave is not a first pick, but one day I am going to try to build a draft deck around it. Pick up all the Serpents, Kraken, Leviathans, and Octopuses I can find! The problem with this pack was the blue is too strong. Sudden Storm is probably the best card in the pack. Skyguard is a solid first pick though and has the upside of not sending any good white cards to the person on my left.
My Pick:
Pack 1 Pick 2
I debated this one, but eventually decided that the Archetype is stronger than a second Skyguard. Passing another Sudden Storm, so I decide at this point that blue will not be my second colour. Also thought about Pinnacle of Rage. Not happy about passing a Skyguard - will send a bad signal.
My Pick:
Pack 1 Pick 3
Wow - 3 Sudden Storms... not sure if I'd play them all, probably would. Blue is going to be fought over I suspect. Hopefully that bodes well for me - this is an easy Skyguard pick-up here.
My Pick:
Pack 1 Pick 4
Am I getting any signals here? Maybe black or red are open, but these cards are not a strong signal. In general I think the red cards are better than the black cards - so this nudges me towards red as my second colour. That said, I looked at Mortal's Ardor, Temper, Servant, Pegasus, and Rollicker before deciding that I want to try for the hyper-aggressive red-white build. I like the Pegasus in that deck, and it shortens the white in the pack.
My Pick:
Pack 1 Pick 5
Fearsome Temper or Rollicker - Rollicker fits with my aggressive plan better as it comes down earlier.
My Pick:
Pack 1 Pick 6
Another Pegasus and I am happy about it - now maybe they can form a team. Would also like to pick up the Revoke Existence, but early creatures are more important in this deck.
My Pick:
Pack 1 Pick 7
Wow - this pack is eerily similar to the last pack. Same logic as before - not happy to see all those Servants go by.
My Pick:
Pack 1 Pick 8
Scouring Sands would really wreck me at this point, but more low-drop creatures are not bad. Definitely could have been a different black-white deck though.
My Pick:
Pack 1 Pick 9
This was a bad pick. The Griffin doesn't fit what I'm doing where Thunderous Might does. It might have made the deck depending on the next two packs.
My Pick:
Pack 1 Pick 10
And I get another one - sigh. Wish I had a better memory for what was in each pack.
My Pick:
Pack 1 Pick 11
This will likely make the cut.
My Pick:
Pack 1 Pick 12
Not much to comment on for the rest of this pack.
My Pick:
Pack 1 Pick 13
My Pick:
Pack 1 Pick 14
My Pick:
Pack 1 Pick 15
My Pick:
Pack 2 Pick 1
I hate passing the Prophet - card is so good in this format. Blue is very deep again in this pack. I think there could be 4 happy blue drafters at this table. The Eidolon cuts white for the most part and is a great card to bestow on heroes.
My Pick:
Pack 2 Pick 2
Dragon Mantle fits what I'm trying to do. Maybe I should have grabbed the Akroan Horse here.
My Pick:
Pack 2 Pick 3
Looks like the fight for red-white is on! Titan's Strength or Chosen were the only cards I seriously considered and strength is the aggressive card.
My Pick:
Pack 2 Pick 4
Bleh... now I am wishing I had gone with black as my second colour.
My Pick:
Pack 2 Pick 5
If I was black-white, I'd have a Scholar here, but Snarecaster fits the plan. Very concerned that this draft is going sideways on me - have not seen another white Heroic card since pack 1 pick 3.
My Pick:
Pack 2 Pick 6
Observant Alseid vs. Akroan Hoplite... I think the Hoplite is what we are trying for.
My Pick:
Pack 2 Pick 7
Probably should have taken the Rambler here, but I was thinking that the Fanatic might just be able to get in those last few points of damage.
My Pick:
Pack 2 Pick 8
What was I saying earlier about black-white - sigh! Probably should have taken the Warden here - might come in out of the board.
My Pick:
Pack 2 Pick 9
Since I am obviously fighting for white cards, Glare looks like it could be useful.
My Pick:
Pack 2 Pick 10
Not planning to play it, maybe should have just hated the Goliath.
My Pick:
Pack 2 Pick 11
Not what we are trying for in this deck - I'm hoping to run 16 or fewer lands, so I don't want anything over 4 mana casting cost.
My Pick:
Pack 2 Pick 12
Might make the deck - early drop that trades for pesky bestow creatures later.
My Pick:
Pack 2 Pick 13
Happy with this one - rest of this pack speaks for itself.
My Pick:
Pack 2 Pick 14
My Pick:
Pack 2 Pick 15
My Pick:
Pack 3 Pick 1
I really wanted the Ordeal here. But if I do end up in a game that goes long, the Hundred-Handed One could be a difference maker.
My Pick:
Pack 3 Pick 2
Maybe I should have taken the Crusader or Flamespeaker and tried to table the Hoplite...
My Pick:
Pack 3 Pick 3
Happy to get a decent trick here. Also looked at the Cerberus.
My Pick:
Pack 3 Pick 4
Sigh - maybe I should have just given in and been the blue-white drafter.
My Pick:
Pack 3 Pick 5
Solid pick-up - the Athlete is what this deck wants - i.e., ways to sneak through damage.
My Pick:
Pack 3 Pick 6
Should have just hated the Harpy here - doubt either of the red cards will make the deck at this point.
My Pick:
Pack 3 Pick 7
Wow that's a late Grey Merchant. Ray is a good pick up at this point in the draft. I will likely main-deck it.
My Pick:
Pack 3 Pick 8
Hate pick - this could wreck my plans...
My Pick:
Pack 3 Pick 9
Get a Warden anyway - can bring it in against some decks. Maybe I should value this card higher in this build - just wish it didn't cost 4 mana.
My Pick:
Pack 3 Pick 10
Sweet - tabled the Flamespeaker.
My Pick:
Pack 3 Pick 11
Rest of the picks are probably not making the deck...
My Pick:
Pack 3 Pick 12
My Pick:
Pack 3 Pick 13
My Pick:
Pack 3 Pick 14
My Pick:
Pack 3 Pick 15
My Pick:
So the deck ended up as follows:
The plan was to get some early flyers down and then out-creature the opponent for the last few points. Deck is lacking removal - a few Lightning Strike, Bolt of Keranos, etc... would have gone a long way to making this deck much better. I'd probably rate this a 6.5/10 as far as examples of the archetype go. Deck is solid though and has a chance. I think that is why this archetype is so strong right now i.e., even when you are fighting for cards, you can still put together a reasonable deck. When I won games with this deck it was usually due to an early Pegasus (or two) and/or a Skyguard. I probably could have run 15 lands and put in the Priest of Iroas to be even more aggressive.
As usual took more luck than skill to get to the finals this time. In round 1, my opponent disconnected so I essentially got the bye into round 2. Round 2 I faced a blue-green splash red deck with the Prophet of Kruphix. He had some bad draws in game 1, game 2 he showed me Kiora as well (lost that one), game 3 I squeaked it out. Round 3 I played a blue-black deck (and lost 1-2). Two Grey Merchant is very difficult to get through and he had just enough removal to keep me from killing him quickly.
Thanks for reading. Good luck in all your future drafts.
majones12