Alot of people havent realized how good the Drakes are. Yes, they cost 5. However, theres only one commonly seen removal card in the set that get through this guy as a 1:1. Hideous End. Also, he blocks guys that are 2x's with Adventuring Gear or Trusty Machete on em...Which you run into a lot. He also blocks a sizeable chunk of first pick guys like Living Tsunami.
I may be biased since Ive won so many games with him recently...so take it for what its worth.
Interesting draft, this one. I'd have to tell you that the lack of any kind of removal would have me panicking in the end, I'd be praying for a Paralyzing grasp at the very least. I would have taken the Gomazoa over the second Sky Ruin P3-P7 for that very same reason: at least it's a temporary solution for dangerous critters like Nighthawks and Woodcrashers, and it's 3 toughness stops Lynxes and the smaller vampires as well, although it's not that good against Geopedes.
About deck building, I would probably go heavier white, maindeck Crossroads taking out the blue expedition, and also maindeck Lightcaster instead of one of the Drakes.
Let's see how the games went (hopefully more than just one round this time, :).
Which is meant to be the canonical source for all magic card data. But Paul is right - Li Teng is printed on the card but Yang Jun Kwon is listed in the database.
I will email Wizards of the Coast customer services, and alert them to the error.
You want to play your 1st pick "bomb"(angel IS good) so cutting the only viable white card is the proper move IMO...Geyser(not a fan) gemblade(green) and scholar only viable picks ..none match the cut white IMO
Shepherd over Lynx is pretty easy I think. Shepherd stymies a ground attack, stops all nonrare flyers except a huge raptor or landfall'd Geyser Glider, and also plays offense as a 3 power flyer. It might not come down til turn 5, but it makes a huge impact on the board, and importantly for this format, a huge impact on races. If you were drafting a more aggressive deck, the Lynx could be a better pick, but you'd rather play hatchling on turn 1 with the amount of flyers you have.
As for the Misty Rainforest, I'd probably yank it seeing as it's worth a third of a draft. You can't sell it for 5 now, but rainforest will be useful in extnded til it rotates. You'll either be able to sell it for 5+ come extended season, or pay 5+ for one in the near future. I don't think Machete increases your odds significantly enough to be worth it (not that it's not a great card). Similarly, I'd support taking Angel first pick for the sake of expanding your collection. Raredrafting doesn't make sense in a major event, but in a regular queue it's frequently in your long-term magic interests to do it.
Hey Mark Stubbs,
You got the wrong name for "Meng Huo's Horde"
I didn't paint that picture....you got the wrong name....
You need change it......I don't deserve your bad critique on my name.
I wonder how you got name from......
Let me preface my comments with the fact that I really love white in ZZZ. I have had a great deal of success with it.
P1P3: Hookmaster > Bladetusk imo and the clear pick here. Keep in mind that I tend to draft the aggro type decks and the Hookmasters/Shortcutters are absolutely nuts in aggro archetypes
P1P4: Cleric for me. Not an exciting pick but as you mentioned has much more potential to interact with the type of deck you are likely to draft.
P1P9: Nimbus Wings. They provide a great mid-game 'out' when your aggros run into formidable blockers. I've had great success putting the wings on Lynx/Blademaster/Threader/etc. on turns 3-5 to get that extra and often lethal damage through. I just think you completely underestimate this card.
P2P4: I personally would have taken the Lynx over the Shepherd. You already have a Sky Drake and the Sovereign in the 5+ CC slot. I don't like having more than 2-3 cards in my deck at that slot.
P3P3: Cleric is a much better pick than the Expedition here but I also give the Narrow Escape a look since you are prob not going to run multiple Clerics and because of it's versatility: Lifegain, ability to return creatures with CIP abilities (sanctifiers, allies for the blademaster, hookmasters), the interaction with Journey to Nowhere (if you were lucky enough to pick one up) and the ability to get your creature out of a Paralyzing Grasp
If the rare was worth 5+ tix then I would take it. Unfortunately, Misty Rainforest doesnt come close to that.
Taking the Shepherd was the better and correct choice. I probably would not have played the expedition but instead play the Lightcaster =) It cost me a match as it removed my Halo Hunter =(
Obsidian Fireheart looks awesome. That's exactly the type of card that I wish existed back when I made that deck. Glad you liked it though, maybe I should take another look at it.
Hey Steve, I read most of these and while I am not sure how I would grade them myself I admire your willingness to do so publicly. Congrats on getting to 50.
My rare-drafting tendancies vary depending on whether I'm drafting Swiss or 84. If this was a swiss draft I would have taken the rainforest as well. However this was an 84, hedging my bets with a rainforest doesn't make a lot of sense, when 6 players walk away with no prizes. In 84 I wouldn't rare draft unless what I'm picking is close to a free draft.
Oh, and I probably become the biggest rare-draft hoar in this draft and take the Roil Elemental pick 3, Misty Rainforest pick one pack 2, and the Oracle pick one pack 3. Just that you can sell the Rainforest for a pack so its like winning a round anyway and you probably run it for landfall tricks so its not a pure raredraft. With the rainforest then I could almost justify running a Oracle splash. Hehe.
A few weeks ago Id have run with the Lynx. However, now that people have experience with the set they are running their Shieldmates, Kraken Hatchlings, and as many x3's as possible. That slightly reduces my opinion of Steppe Lynx. I'll definately still draft them but I'll make a card-vs-Lynx decision based on how my deck deals with those type of defensive cards. If I've got a few Kor Cartographer / Kor Outfitter / Cliff Treaders then Id go with the Shepard for sure. If I'm lacking early game critters then Id lean towards the Lynx.
Im not a big fan of taking the Lightcaster pick 2. Just seems like WWW is tough and will make you take bad white cards over getting into the best second color in the next few picks. Problem is that the rest of the cards are pretty MEH...so I prob go with the rare I guess. Id be tempted by that Gul Draz Vamp also. WB works fine if you stick to single colored cards like Hookmaster, Kor Skyfisher, Steppe Lynx and the black cards like Gul Draz Vamp, Disfigure, Vamp Lacerator. If you branch into Kor Outfitters for your white cards then the deck will be cluncky and, I would agree, quite bad.
Nice analysis as always though. Really enjoy reading your walkthroughs.
Alot of people havent realized how good the Drakes are. Yes, they cost 5. However, theres only one commonly seen removal card in the set that get through this guy as a 1:1. Hideous End. Also, he blocks guys that are 2x's with Adventuring Gear or Trusty Machete on em...Which you run into a lot. He also blocks a sizeable chunk of first pick guys like Living Tsunami.
I may be biased since Ive won so many games with him recently...so take it for what its worth.
-M
Gotta be honest, the first article I read was #46 and yes, that one is best. Congrats on the 50 articles, and brig her back to write some more :).
Interesting draft, this one. I'd have to tell you that the lack of any kind of removal would have me panicking in the end, I'd be praying for a Paralyzing grasp at the very least. I would have taken the Gomazoa over the second Sky Ruin P3-P7 for that very same reason: at least it's a temporary solution for dangerous critters like Nighthawks and Woodcrashers, and it's 3 toughness stops Lynxes and the smaller vampires as well, although it's not that good against Geopedes.
About deck building, I would probably go heavier white, maindeck Crossroads taking out the blue expedition, and also maindeck Lightcaster instead of one of the Drakes.
Let's see how the games went (hopefully more than just one round this time, :).
I got the details from here:
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=201219
Which is meant to be the canonical source for all magic card data. But Paul is right - Li Teng is printed on the card but Yang Jun Kwon is listed in the database.
I will email Wizards of the Coast customer services, and alert them to the error.
the packs seemed weak OR players were playing 3 colors...i don think this on you at all GODOT.rough
I think pick 2devout lightcaster is right.
You want to play your 1st pick "bomb"(angel IS good) so cutting the only viable white card is the proper move IMO...Geyser(not a fan) gemblade(green) and scholar only viable picks ..none match the cut white IMO
http://www.mtgotraders.com/store/ME3_Meng_Huos_Horde.html <--- look at the card. If anyone got it wrong it was WotC. Though Li Teng is credited on the original.
Shepherd over Lynx is pretty easy I think. Shepherd stymies a ground attack, stops all nonrare flyers except a huge raptor or landfall'd Geyser Glider, and also plays offense as a 3 power flyer. It might not come down til turn 5, but it makes a huge impact on the board, and importantly for this format, a huge impact on races. If you were drafting a more aggressive deck, the Lynx could be a better pick, but you'd rather play hatchling on turn 1 with the amount of flyers you have.
As for the Misty Rainforest, I'd probably yank it seeing as it's worth a third of a draft. You can't sell it for 5 now, but rainforest will be useful in extnded til it rotates. You'll either be able to sell it for 5+ come extended season, or pay 5+ for one in the near future. I don't think Machete increases your odds significantly enough to be worth it (not that it's not a great card). Similarly, I'd support taking Angel first pick for the sake of expanding your collection. Raredrafting doesn't make sense in a major event, but in a regular queue it's frequently in your long-term magic interests to do it.
Hey Mark Stubbs,
You got the wrong name for "Meng Huo's Horde"
I didn't paint that picture....you got the wrong name....
You need change it......I don't deserve your bad critique on my name.
I wonder how you got name from......
Sorry, double post. Was getting a server error but obviously the post made it through
Let me preface my comments with the fact that I really love white in ZZZ. I have had a great deal of success with it.
P1P3: Hookmaster > Bladetusk imo and the clear pick here. Keep in mind that I tend to draft the aggro type decks and the Hookmasters/Shortcutters are absolutely nuts in aggro archetypes
P1P4: Cleric for me. Not an exciting pick but as you mentioned has much more potential to interact with the type of deck you are likely to draft.
P1P9: Nimbus Wings. They provide a great mid-game 'out' when your aggros run into formidable blockers. I've had great success putting the wings on Lynx/Blademaster/Threader/etc. on turns 3-5 to get that extra and often lethal damage through. I just think you completely underestimate this card.
P2P4: I personally would have taken the Lynx over the Shepherd. You already have a Sky Drake and the Sovereign in the 5+ CC slot. I don't like having more than 2-3 cards in my deck at that slot.
P3P3: Cleric is a much better pick than the Expedition here but I also give the Narrow Escape a look since you are prob not going to run multiple Clerics and because of it's versatility: Lifegain, ability to return creatures with CIP abilities (sanctifiers, allies for the blademaster, hookmasters), the interaction with Journey to Nowhere (if you were lucky enough to pick one up) and the ability to get your creature out of a Paralyzing Grasp
P3P6: Nimubs Wings. See above.
Way to go on hitting 50 articles Steve. Hope to see many more.
If the rare was worth 5+ tix then I would take it. Unfortunately, Misty Rainforest doesnt come close to that.
Taking the Shepherd was the better and correct choice. I probably would not have played the expedition but instead play the Lightcaster =) It cost me a match as it removed my Halo Hunter =(
Obsidian Fireheart looks awesome. That's exactly the type of card that I wish existed back when I made that deck. Glad you liked it though, maybe I should take another look at it.
well done and keep up the good work for with your future articles!
I loved the Braid of Fire article .... have you tried Braid of Fire with its new friends:
Obsidian Fireheart and/or Lavaball Trap?
Congrats on 50
Thanks for the congrats guys!
I think this draft went horribly wrong
Congrats on 50!
If you're skimming this, don't miss #41.
Hey Steve, I read most of these and while I am not sure how I would grade them myself I admire your willingness to do so publicly. Congrats on getting to 50.
My rare-drafting tendancies vary depending on whether I'm drafting Swiss or 84. If this was a swiss draft I would have taken the rainforest as well. However this was an 84, hedging my bets with a rainforest doesn't make a lot of sense, when 6 players walk away with no prizes. In 84 I wouldn't rare draft unless what I'm picking is close to a free draft.
Actually I am probably going to mention your TWC deck a bit in my article this week. (Not sure when it will go up as I have work to do on it yet.)
Oh, and I probably become the biggest rare-draft hoar in this draft and take the Roil Elemental pick 3, Misty Rainforest pick one pack 2, and the Oracle pick one pack 3. Just that you can sell the Rainforest for a pack so its like winning a round anyway and you probably run it for landfall tricks so its not a pure raredraft. With the rainforest then I could almost justify running a Oracle splash. Hehe.
-M
A few weeks ago Id have run with the Lynx. However, now that people have experience with the set they are running their Shieldmates, Kraken Hatchlings, and as many x3's as possible. That slightly reduces my opinion of Steppe Lynx. I'll definately still draft them but I'll make a card-vs-Lynx decision based on how my deck deals with those type of defensive cards. If I've got a few Kor Cartographer / Kor Outfitter / Cliff Treaders then Id go with the Shepard for sure. If I'm lacking early game critters then Id lean towards the Lynx.
Im not a big fan of taking the Lightcaster pick 2. Just seems like WWW is tough and will make you take bad white cards over getting into the best second color in the next few picks. Problem is that the rest of the cards are pretty MEH...so I prob go with the rare I guess. Id be tempted by that Gul Draz Vamp also. WB works fine if you stick to single colored cards like Hookmaster, Kor Skyfisher, Steppe Lynx and the black cards like Gul Draz Vamp, Disfigure, Vamp Lacerator. If you branch into Kor Outfitters for your white cards then the deck will be cluncky and, I would agree, quite bad.
Nice analysis as always though. Really enjoy reading your walkthroughs.
-M
congrats on 50!