Finally got around to doing my first GTC draft - of course just before Dragon's Maze is here - after only being able to watch draft videos since the set came out. Started out just barely in Orzhov, but ended up Simic at the end.
Knew I wanted either the Screecher or Ghast here, but wasn't quite sure. Figured I likely wouldn't see another Ghast so I went with it.
Pack 1 pick 2:
Plains
Forest (FOIL)
Simic Guildgate
--> One Thousand Lashes
Zarichi Tiger
Bomber Corps
Structural Collapse
Bioshift
Court Street Denizen
Executioner's Swing
Elusive Krasis
Mark for Death
Slaughterhorn
Wildwood Rebirth
This seemed like a pretty easy pick, as I like Thousand Lashes over Executioner's Swing. I did pause and think about the Elusive Krasis for a moment though.
Pack 1 pick 3:
Swamp
Way of the Thief
Deathcult Rogue
--> Prophetic Prism
Burst of Strength
Corpse Blockade
Orzhov Guildgate
Spire Tracer
Smog Elemental
Hellraiser Goblin
Totally Lost
Agoraphobia
Pit Fight
Considered the Guildgate here, but I figured the Prism would both fix and would be a good card with extort. Also considered the Rogue.
Pack 1 pick 4:
Mountain
Cloudfin Raptor
Skinbrand Goblin
--> Drakewing Krasis
Assault Griffin
Orzhov Guildgate
Totally Lost
Mental Vapors
Ripscale Predator
Martial Glory
Skyblinder Staff
Tin Street Market
About here it started looking to me like Simic was open, what with both the Raptor and Krasis still in the pack. Struggled with the choice and figured the Krasis might send a stronger signal. Looking back I probably should have taken the Raptor.
Pack 1 pick 5:
Island
Dimir Keyrune
Gutter Skulk
Scab-Clan Charger
--> Frilled Oculus
Millennial Gargoyle
Verdant Haven
Sage's Row Denizen
Act of Treason
Illusionist's Bracers
Illness in the Ranks
Super easy pick here. I like Charger, but Oculus is just so much better (imo).
Pack 1 pick 6:
Island
Boros Guildgate
Zhur-Taa Swine
Court Street Denizen
Basilica Screecher
--> Elusive Krasis
Totally Lost
Enter the Infinite
Naturalize
Beckon Apparition
Another simple pick. Did note the second Screecher I'm passing at this point.
Pack 1 pick 7:
Mountain
Dimir Guildgate
Way of the Thief
Dutiful Thrull
--> Urban Evolution
Spell Rupture
Last Thoughts
Naturalize
Tin Street Market
Happy to pick up Urban Evolution, regardless of the fact from what I've watched in the past couple months, it's not as awesome as it looks, since Simic wants mostly creatures.
Pack 1 pick 8:
Island
--> Simic Guildgate
Way of the Thief
Zarichi Tiger
Spell Rupture
Bane Alley Broker
Ruination Wurm
Paranoid Delusions
Could've gone with Spell Rupture, I suppose, but the Guildgate seemed fine.
Pack 1 pick 9:
Forest
--> Verdant Haven
Scorchwalker
Nav Squad Commandos
Contaminated Ground
Mental Vapors
Predator's Rapport
Probably should've just cut the Scorchwalker, seeing as I wasn't at all planning to actually play Haven.
Few good things for me here. Liked the Krasis larger flying body over Sprite or ground-bound Slaughterhorn, though if the Krasis hadn't been there I think I would've taken the Slaughterhorn.
Almost missed the Experiment as Simic Charm and Charger caught my eye. Had a bit of a decision between the Experiment and the Charm, but figured I'd just go with the creature to be safe.
Argued with myself about whether or not I should just take the Shrine for the few tickets, but decided I'd be good and actually take a card that would help me maybe win 3 or 4 packs instead of one that would just net me a few tix.
Didn't need a second Evolution or Haven and Spire Tracer seemed underwhelming. Went with the Denizen as it has a decent sized butt for evolving purposes.
This made me feel a bit better about passing up the Cloudfin Raptor in pack 1.
Pack 3 pick 6:
Island
Dimir Guildgate
Debtor's Pulpit
Smite
Spell Rupture
Bioshift
--> Hands of Binding
Slate Street Ruffian
Enter the Infinite
Naturalize
Not much of a choice here between Spell Rupture and Hands of Binding.
Pack 3 pick 8:
Mountain
Way of the Thief
Foundry Street Denizen
Corpse Blockade
--> Drakewing Krasis
Wildwood Rebirth
Beckon Apparition
Tin Street Market
Couldn't say I was upset to grab another Drakewing and there wasn't much else.
Didn't want to give whatever Orzhov player there was the table any extra extort, even if the Enforcer is not the best of the best as far as Extort goes.
While I can't remember specific details of the matches themselves, I do remember this:
1st Round vs Simic with a Dimir splash
2nd Round vs Boros
3rd Round vs Gruul
Won all three matches, but was admittedly 2-1 in all three matches. I do remember that Tower Defense came in out of the sideboard every match after the first game and was actually an MVP. Saved me against at least 3 situations that I can recall, including screwing over an alpha strike from the Boros player and wrecking their whole board.
I like to think I did alright for my first draft. Based a decent amount of picks of what I've learned from watching draft videos. Pretty pleased that I won the queue, but it could have just been dumb luck. Thoughts of what anyone else would've done differently?
I'm not gonna go too deep, just gonna say that p1p7 should have been Last Thoughts over Urban Evolution. Looks like you already understand that UE is not all that good but don't appreciate Last Thought's power in Simic decks. It looks underwhelming - why pay 3 extra mana to make Curiosity cantrip? - but it fits Simic well, often having evasive bodies to put on, like Cloudfin Raptor, Keymaster Rogue, Drakewing Krasis, Metropolis Sprite, and the rarer Elusive Krasis. I didn't expect to like it when I saw it spoiled but it's proven its value in Simic decks.
P1P3: I feel like it's a little too early to be picking up prism, I probably would have gone with the rogue.
P1P4: Raptor is more important to the simic deck than krasis i think (although both are very good). Raptor also leaves you more open to dimir splashing orzhov, which you could have gone with your earlier picks.
P1P5: Agreed
P1P7: In response to el patos post, I think that Urban evolution was the right pick here, simply because last thoughts is a lot easier to find and usually wheels.
P2P3: Not entirely sure about this pick. Simic just has so few ways to interact with the opponent, and the charm is really good at doing that. Close pick.
P2P6: Pit fight for sure. Sprite isn't great in simic, and you need ways to interact with your opponent.
Your draft for the most part seems good, I would value pit fight and simic charm more highly in the future.
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Event #: 5328247
Time: 4/18/2013 12:42:25 PM
Players:
veritas1666
_Claw_
--> NacatlFleetfoot
Cathy
PerringtonOwl
amjones
coopa12321
Kawaiisama
------ GTC ------
Pack 1 pick 1:
Forest
Burning-Tree Emissary
Verdant Haven
Zhur-Taa Swine
Scorchwalker
Madcap Skills
Nav Squad Commandos
Ætherize
Basilica Screecher (FOIL)
--> Crypt Ghast
Contaminated Ground
Mental Vapors
Predator's Rapport
Martial Glory
Balustrade Spy
Knew I wanted either the Screecher or Ghast here, but wasn't quite sure. Figured I likely wouldn't see another Ghast so I went with it.
Pack 1 pick 2:
Plains
Forest (FOIL)
Simic Guildgate
--> One Thousand Lashes
Zarichi Tiger
Bomber Corps
Structural Collapse
Bioshift
Court Street Denizen
Executioner's Swing
Elusive Krasis
Mark for Death
Slaughterhorn
Wildwood Rebirth
This seemed like a pretty easy pick, as I like Thousand Lashes over Executioner's Swing. I did pause and think about the Elusive Krasis for a moment though.
Pack 1 pick 3:
Swamp
Way of the Thief
Deathcult Rogue
--> Prophetic Prism
Burst of Strength
Corpse Blockade
Orzhov Guildgate
Spire Tracer
Smog Elemental
Hellraiser Goblin
Totally Lost
Agoraphobia
Pit Fight
Considered the Guildgate here, but I figured the Prism would both fix and would be a good card with extort. Also considered the Rogue.
Pack 1 pick 4:
Mountain
Cloudfin Raptor
Skinbrand Goblin
--> Drakewing Krasis
Assault Griffin
Orzhov Guildgate
Totally Lost
Mental Vapors
Ripscale Predator
Martial Glory
Skyblinder Staff
Tin Street Market
About here it started looking to me like Simic was open, what with both the Raptor and Krasis still in the pack. Struggled with the choice and figured the Krasis might send a stronger signal. Looking back I probably should have taken the Raptor.
Pack 1 pick 5:
Island
Dimir Keyrune
Gutter Skulk
Scab-Clan Charger
--> Frilled Oculus
Millennial Gargoyle
Verdant Haven
Sage's Row Denizen
Act of Treason
Illusionist's Bracers
Illness in the Ranks
Super easy pick here. I like Charger, but Oculus is just so much better (imo).
Pack 1 pick 6:
Island
Boros Guildgate
Zhur-Taa Swine
Court Street Denizen
Basilica Screecher
--> Elusive Krasis
Totally Lost
Enter the Infinite
Naturalize
Beckon Apparition
Another simple pick. Did note the second Screecher I'm passing at this point.
Pack 1 pick 7:
Mountain
Dimir Guildgate
Way of the Thief
Dutiful Thrull
--> Urban Evolution
Spell Rupture
Last Thoughts
Naturalize
Tin Street Market
Happy to pick up Urban Evolution, regardless of the fact from what I've watched in the past couple months, it's not as awesome as it looks, since Simic wants mostly creatures.
Pack 1 pick 8:
Island
--> Simic Guildgate
Way of the Thief
Zarichi Tiger
Spell Rupture
Bane Alley Broker
Ruination Wurm
Paranoid Delusions
Could've gone with Spell Rupture, I suppose, but the Guildgate seemed fine.
Pack 1 pick 9:
Forest
--> Verdant Haven
Scorchwalker
Nav Squad Commandos
Contaminated Ground
Mental Vapors
Predator's Rapport
Probably should've just cut the Scorchwalker, seeing as I wasn't at all planning to actually play Haven.
Pack 1 pick 10:
Plains
Forest (FOIL)
--> Simic Guildgate
Zarichi Tiger
Structural Collapse
Bioshift
Just another Guildgate.
Pack 1 pick 11:
Swamp
Way of the Thief
Burst of Strength
Totally Lost
--> Agoraphobia
Surprised to see Agoraphobia come back. Burst of Strength had me paranoid in 2 out of 3 matches.
Pack 1 pick 12:
Mountain
--> Orzhov Guildgate
Mental Vapors
Tin Street Market
Not interested in Vapors or Market, so may as well take away a gate from someone.
Pack 1 pick 13:
Island
--> Illusionist's Bracers
Illness in the Ranks
Just took the rare for kicks.
Pack 1 pick 14:
Island
--> Naturalize
Nice to get a decent sideboard card second-to-last pick.
Pack 1 pick 15:
--> Mountain
------ GTC ------
Pack 2 pick 1:
Plains
Vizkopa Guildmage
Gruul Charm
Warmind Infantry
Furious Resistance
Structural Collapse
Smite
Death's Approach
--> Drakewing Krasis
Keymaster Rogue
Mark for Death
Slaughterhorn
Metropolis Sprite
Paranoid Delusions
Whispering Madness
Few good things for me here. Liked the Krasis larger flying body over Sprite or ground-bound Slaughterhorn, though if the Krasis hadn't been there I think I would've taken the Slaughterhorn.
Pack 2 pick 2:
Plains
Boros Guildgate
Syndicate Enforcer
Mugging
Smite
Adaptive Snapjaw
Skinbrand Goblin
Assault Griffin
Mindeye Drake
Purge the Profane
Wasteland Viper
Signal the Clans
--> Slaughterhorn
Metropolis Sprite
And more Slaughterhorn and Metropolis Sprite. Also had the choice of Snapjaw or Drake, but Slaghterhorn seemed like the best pick to me.
Pack 2 pick 3:
Plains
Simic Charm
Scab-Clan Charger
Millennial Gargoyle
--> Experiment One
Act of Treason
Nav Squad Commandos
Shadow Alley Denizen
Ruination Wurm
Clinging Anemones
Rapid Hybridization
Forced Adaptation
Beckon Apparition
Almost missed the Experiment as Simic Charm and Charger caught my eye. Had a bit of a decision between the Experiment and the Charm, but figured I'd just go with the creature to be safe.
Pack 2 pick 4:
Swamp
Mugging
Bomber Corps
Adaptive Snapjaw
Zhur-Taa Swine
Orzhov Guildgate
Knight Watch
--> Sapphire Drake
Slate Street Ruffian
Midnight Recovery
Contaminated Ground
Greenside Watcher
Greenside Watcher might have been okay since I already have two gates at this point, but Sapphire Drake is just hands down better here.
Pack 2 pick 5:
Forest
Dimir Guildgate
Orzhov Keyrune
Bomber Corps
--> Adaptive Snapjaw
Shadow Alley Denizen
Viashino Shanktail
Executioner's Swing
Midnight Recovery
Last Thoughts
Syndic of Tithes
Finally picked up a Snapjaw here. Certainly no shortage of them going around.
Pack 2 pick 6:
Forest
Syndicate Enforcer
Burst of Strength
Spell Rupture
Frenzied Tilling
Armored Transport
--> Metropolis Sprite
Serene Remembrance
Illness in the Ranks
Pit Fight
Maybe should have taken Pit Fight here, but was getting a bit of tunnel vision at this point to keep picking creatures, i think.
Pack 2 pick 7:
Swamp
Dimir Guildgate
Boros Keyrune
--> Prophetic Prism
Knight Watch
Court Street Denizen
Hydroform
Wildwood Rebirth
Dying Wish
Not really much for me here - at least that I'd want, Hydroform does not count - so Prism it is.
Pack 2 pick 8:
Plains
Gruul Guildgate
--> Leyline Phantom
Coerced Confession
Skinbrand Goblin
Last Thoughts
Mental Vapors
Skyblinder Staff
Not much else but the Phantom here.
Pack 2 pick 9:
Plains
Furious Resistance
Structural Collapse
Death's Approach
Keymaster Rogue
Mark for Death
--> Metropolis Sprite
Preferred another Sprite over the Rogue. Didn't really want to be bouncing back evolve creatures.
Pack 2 pick 10:
Plains
Boros Guildgate
Syndicate Enforcer
--> Adaptive Snapjaw
Skinbrand Goblin
Purge the Profane
Not surprised the Snapjaw came back.
Pack 2 pick 11:
Plains
--> Millennial Gargoyle
Nav Squad Commandos
Ruination Wurm
Clinging Anemones
Not real fond of the Anemones, so went with the Gargoyle.
Pack 2 pick 12:
Swamp
--> Zhur-Taa Swine
Midnight Recovery
Contaminated Ground
Wasn't going to give the Gruul player a pretty much free Swine here and it's not like I was missing out on anything by cutting it.
Pack 2 pick 13:
Forest
Midnight Recovery
--> Last Thoughts
Figured I'd probably not play it, but nice to have the choice.
Pack 2 pick 14:
Forest
--> Serene Remembrance
Pack 2 pick 15:
--> Hydroform
------ GTC ------
Pack 3 pick 1:
Plains
Godless Shrine
Simic Guildgate
Duskmantle Guildmage
Zarichi Tiger
--> Frilled Oculus
Bomber Corps
Spell Rupture
Skyknight Legionnaire
Ground Assault
Daring Skyjek
Court Street Denizen
Mortus Strider
Shadow Slice
Voidwalk
Argued with myself about whether or not I should just take the Shrine for the few tickets, but decided I'd be good and actually take a card that would help me maybe win 3 or 4 packs instead of one that would just net me a few tix.
Pack 3 pick 2:
Forest
Warmind Infantry
Millennial Gargoyle
Ivy Lane Denizen
Wojek Halberdiers
Madcap Skills
--> Crocanura
Rust Scarab
Guildscorn Ward
Shadow Alley Denizen
Hindervines
Righteous Charge
Clinging Anemones
Primal Visitation
Easily the Croconura over the Rust Scarab and Denizen. Didn't give it a second thought.
Pack 3 pick 3:
Plains
Debtor's Pulpit
Warmind Infantry
Urban Evolution
Millennial Gargoyle
Verdant Haven
--> Sage's Row Denizen
Wojek Halberdiers
Act of Treason
Spire Tracer
Hydroform
Shadow Slice
Skullcrack
Didn't need a second Evolution or Haven and Spire Tracer seemed underwhelming. Went with the Denizen as it has a decent sized butt for evolving purposes.
Pack 3 pick 4:
Swamp
--> Simic Fluxmage
Angelic Edict
Disciple of the Old Ways
Syndicate Enforcer
Psychic Strike
Adaptive Snapjaw
Coerced Confession
Skinbrand Goblin
Massive Raid
Metropolis Sprite
Primal Visitation
Yet more Metropolis Sprite and Adaptive Snapjaw. Went with the Fluxmage as it seemed a good deal better.
Pack 3 pick 5:
Forest
--> Cloudfin Raptor
Deathcult Rogue
Adaptive Snapjaw
Orzhov Guildgate
Spire Tracer
Tower Defense
Shattering Blow
Midnight Recovery
Thespian's Stage
Last Thoughts
This made me feel a bit better about passing up the Cloudfin Raptor in pack 1.
Pack 3 pick 6:
Island
Dimir Guildgate
Debtor's Pulpit
Smite
Spell Rupture
Bioshift
--> Hands of Binding
Slate Street Ruffian
Enter the Infinite
Naturalize
Not much of a choice here between Spell Rupture and Hands of Binding.
Pack 3 pick 7:
Swamp
Forest (FOIL)
Angelic Edict
Shattering Blow
Last Thoughts
Ripscale Predator
--> Metropolis Sprite
Dying Wish
Skyblinder Staff
Just more Metropolis Sprite.
Pack 3 pick 8:
Mountain
Way of the Thief
Foundry Street Denizen
Corpse Blockade
--> Drakewing Krasis
Wildwood Rebirth
Beckon Apparition
Tin Street Market
Couldn't say I was upset to grab another Drakewing and there wasn't much else.
Pack 3 pick 9:
Plains
--> Simic Guildgate
Zarichi Tiger
Court Street Denizen
Mortus Strider
Shadow Slice
Voidwalk
And a third guildgate.
Pack 3 pick 10:
Forest
--> Ivy Lane Denizen
Guildscorn Ward
Hindervines
Righteous Charge
Primal Visitation
Since I figured there was another Simic drafter at the table by now, I was surprised and pleased to see the Denizen come around.
Pack 3 pick 11:
Plains
--> Urban Evolution
Spire Tracer
Hydroform
Shadow Slice
Still didn't need it, but figured why not.
Pack 3 pick 12:
Swamp
--> Syndicate Enforcer
Coerced Confession
Primal Visitation
Didn't want to give whatever Orzhov player there was the table any extra extort, even if the Enforcer is not the best of the best as far as Extort goes.
Pack 3 pick 13:
Forest
--> Tower Defense
Midnight Recovery
Pack 3 pick 14:
Island
--> Bioshift
Pack 3 pick 15:
--> Swamp
While I can't remember specific details of the matches themselves, I do remember this:
1st Round vs Simic with a Dimir splash
2nd Round vs Boros
3rd Round vs Gruul
Won all three matches, but was admittedly 2-1 in all three matches. I do remember that Tower Defense came in out of the sideboard every match after the first game and was actually an MVP. Saved me against at least 3 situations that I can recall, including screwing over an alpha strike from the Boros player and wrecking their whole board.
I like to think I did alright for my first draft. Based a decent amount of picks of what I've learned from watching draft videos. Pretty pleased that I won the queue, but it could have just been dumb luck. Thoughts of what anyone else would've done differently?
P1P4: Raptor is more important to the simic deck than krasis i think (although both are very good). Raptor also leaves you more open to dimir splashing orzhov, which you could have gone with your earlier picks.
P1P5: Agreed
P1P7: In response to el patos post, I think that Urban evolution was the right pick here, simply because last thoughts is a lot easier to find and usually wheels.
P2P3: Not entirely sure about this pick. Simic just has so few ways to interact with the opponent, and the charm is really good at doing that. Close pick.
P2P6: Pit fight for sure. Sprite isn't great in simic, and you need ways to interact with your opponent.
Your draft for the most part seems good, I would value pit fight and simic charm more highly in the future.