Hi there, newbie to MTG. Got persuaded by my friend/work colleague to attend a FNM knowing only some basics, land, mana, how to summon (from the demo decks at PAX Australia)
Played Draft, did not know that you had to make a 40 card Deck.
Had heaps on fun despite the crushing defeat.
Fast forward a month, I like Drafting. But still losing all my matches. Occasionally I'll win a game, but lose the next 2.
I recently signed up to MTGO to play more, went 0-3 and 1-2 so far. First Draft, misread the signals and drafted badly D: 2nd I feel like I drafted slightly better....
But, is there any way I can improve faster?
I've been watching some Draft videos from Seemsgoodmagic and ChannelFireball.
Pack 1 pick 3:
Gurmag Angler
Refocus
Soul Summons
Will of the Naga
Ancestral Vengeance
Cunning Strike
Ambush Krotiq
Write into Being
--> Goblin Heelcutter
Map the Wastes
Qarsi High Priest
Battlefront Krushok
Scoured Barrens
Pack 1 pick 4:
Ancestral Vengeance
War Flare
--> Soul Summons
Sultai Skullkeeper
Hunt the Weak
Mardu Runemark
Formless Nurturing
Tasigur's Cruelty
Diplomacy of the Wastes
Winds of Qal Sisma
Pilgrim of the Fires
Dismal Backwater
Pack 1 pick 5:
Rakshasa's Disdain
Abzan Advantage
Will of the Naga
Sultai Runemark
Abzan Runemark
Lightning Shrieker
Ainok Guide
Smoldering Efreet
Neutralizing Blast
Hero's Blade
--> Bloodfire Enforcers
Pack 2 pick 3:
--> Mardu Warshrieker
Smoke Teller
Valley Dasher
Scout the Borders
Dismal Backwater
Sultai Banner
Disowned Ancestor
Siegecraft
Molting Snakeskin
Glacial Stalker
Gurmag Swiftwing
Death Frenzy
Swamp
Pack 2 pick 4:
--> Defiant Strike
Trumpet Blast
Scout the Borders
Jeskai Windscout
Lens of Clarity
Firehoof Cavalry
Bring Low
Mystic of the Hidden Way
Sidisi's Pet
Cranial Archive
Set Adrift
Forest
Pack 3 pick 4:
Mardu Hordechief
Ainok Tracker
Naturalize
Singing Bell Strike
Temur Banner
Rite of the Serpent
Thornwood Falls
Abomination of Gudul
Temur Charm
--> Mardu Charm
Warden of the Eye
Swamp
Pack 3 pick 6:
War Behemoth
Rush of Battle
Sage-Eye Harrier
Highland Game
Dismal Backwater
Mardu Hateblade
Dutiful Return
Waterwhirl
--> Take Up Arms
Island
Pack 1 pick 1:
Arashin Cleric
--> Aven Surveyor
Typhoid Rats
Ethereal Ambush
Dragon Bell Monk
Enhanced Awareness
Lightning Shrieker
Archers of Qarsi
Smoldering Efreet
Return to the Earth
Neutralizing Blast
Mardu Shadowspear
Lotus-Eye Mystics
Shamanic Revelation
Swiftwater Cliffs
Pack 1 pick 2:
Abzan Runemark
Rakshasa's Disdain
Reach of Shadows
Grim Contest
Frontier Mastodon
Alesha's Vanguard
Defiant Ogre
Whisperer of the Wilds
Collateral Damage
Temur Runemark
Marang River Prowler
--> Orc Sureshot
Pilgrim of the Fires
Thornwood Falls
Pack 3 pick 5:
Woolly Loxodon
Salt Road Patrol
Canyon Lurkers
Embodiment of Spring
--> Mardu Skullhunter
Mardu Hateblade
Scout the Borders
Chief of the Edge
Tomb of the Spirit Dragon
Retribution of the Ancients
Island
Pack 3 pick 13:
--> Embodiment of Spring
Tomb of the Spirit Dragon
Island
Pack 3 pick 14:
--> Sage-Eye Harrier
Island
Pack 3 pick 15:
--> Plains
Not sure if these are the Draft caps?
I couldn't find Draft 1, but essentially I was mainly blue and red, 9 creatures, 2 manifests and a few spells of removal (in red)
Draft 3, mixed feelings, I was playing well in Round 1, but timed out by game 2, Auto-lost D:
Round 2, default win, Bye.
Round 3, I think I played well. Opponent seemed to miss crucial land drops or had no removal against my Scavenger thingy or decided to trade badly. At least that's how it went.
It's hard to know what to advise on without knowing how you built your deck. Like the first draft looks very much like a WR splash black deck and a pretty powerful one at that. But if you dip too heavily into black your mana might screw you up. The card evaluation seems fine though.
I think that watching draft videos is a very good approach. Marshall Sutcliffe at channelfireball.com is in my view the best for instructional draft videos, he is a very good player and describes why he takes certain picks over others, and why he makes certain plays over others. Reid Duke is also good at explanations in his draft videos.
You can also practice drafting at http://draft.bestiaire.org, which is not at all the same as drafting against real opponents but at least it gives you some added familiarity with the cards and making decisions on picks.
Other than that, just keep playing as long as you are enjoying yourself. Even those who have played hundreds of matches keep learning more as they play.
Pack 1 pick 5:
Rakshasa's Disdain
Abzan Advantage
Will of the Naga
Sultai Runemark
Abzan Runemark
Fierce Invocation
Temur Runemark
Tasigur's Cruelty
Friendly Fire
Pilgrim of the Fires
--> Bloodfell Caves
Pack 1 pick 6:
Refocus
Will of the Naga
Ancestral Vengeance
Cunning Strike
Ainok Guide
Smoldering Efreet
--> Hunt the Weak
Dark Deal
Dragonrage
Dismal Backwater
Pack 1 pick 7:
Aven Skirmisher
Ethereal Ambush
Abzan Advantage
Refocus
Write into Being
--> Map the Wastes
Collateral Damage
Bloodfire Enforcers
Blossoming Sands
Pack 1 pick 8:
Rakshasa's Disdain
Abzan Advantage
Will of the Naga
Temur Runemark
Tasigur's Cruelty
Scroll of the Masters
--> Fruit of the First Tree
Renowned Weaponsmith
Match 1 - Sultaish
Game 1 - Kept a bad opening, opponent had an answer and good tempo (i think that's the term).
Game 2 - Better start, was winning by Turn 6, at which he plays ghastly conscript and stalls till we both have 8 creatures and 5 cards left in the deck. Stalls to a point where he's slowly getting small advantages, I manage to stall again with Harsh Sustenance. Later he manages to get a Djinn to chunk me (playing 2 spell cards, 7 damage). Last turn (4 cards left), I get my Dune Blast for the win.
Game 3 - Good opening, he misses his 2 drops, Douse his Morph, he runs out of time.
Match 2 - Jeskai
Game 1 - Both slow to start, but I managed to get all my 1 and 2 drops before him and give them a chance to outlast once and play my Raider's Spoils. Had an answer for his plays.
Game 2 - Good turn 1 and 2 (Ancestor + Ainok), he plays Jeskai Infiltrator in which I decide to sandblast, which he counters with Collateral Damage. Board stalls with my 2 Ancestors (with 1 outlast each) and his Efreet warrior thingy (3/1). Manages to get a Jeskai windscout, to which I had no answer, 5 consecutive lands. He beats me down. Another collateral, Bring low.
Game 3 - Shaky start (3 Plains, Abzan Charm, Duneblast, Salt Road Patrol, Ainok Bond-Kin). He doesn't have a 2 drop, I outlast and play Disowned Ancestor. Plays Monestary Flock, I play Raider's Spoils and it helps me draw more. I attack with both he blocks and Collateral damages my Ainok. I get out Salt Patrol and slow whittle him down. He Fierce Invocation's a Marang Prowler, mis-plays Deflecting palm? (didn't kill any of my creatures, had a Disowned (2/5), Salt Road (4/5) and Krumar (4/3)). I eventually Hunt the Weak his Shockmaw dragon with my Salt Road and swing for the win.
Match 3 - Mardu
Game 1 - Kept 5 land hand, 2 spells. Got Jeskai student out, he got Mardu Scout, debilatating injuries my Jeskai, chumped block, I Douse his Scout. No creatures for me he has a Sultai Emissary. Beats me down eventually. Wild Slashes me for the finish
Game 2 - 3 Land, Jeskai Monk, 2 Dune Blasts, Sand Blast, I keep. He misses his 2 drop. I get Bellowing Saddlebrute out. He Burn Away it. I end up using 1 dune blast to get rid of his 2 creatures. He Rakshasa's Secret me. I lose Dune Blast and Harsh Sustenance. He gets out Flamewake Phoenix and beats me down.
Lesson: Learn to Mulligan D: and read signs better.
Any advice will be appreciated. I'm pretty much new to MTG. Started last month, gone to 4 real life Drafts (last for KTK the rest for FRF). Started MTGO last week.
Pack 1 pick 1:
Jeskai Runemark
Douse in Gloom
War Flare
Arashin Cleric
Map the Wastes
Lightning Shrieker
Ainok Guide
Sandsteppe Outcast
Smoldering Efreet
Hunt the Weak
Marang River Prowler
Mardu Shadowspear
Pilgrim of the Fires
--> Jeskai Infiltrator
Dismal Backwater
Pack 1 pick 2:
Soul Summons
Sultai Skullkeeper
--> Reach of Shadows
Harsh Sustenance
Map the Wastes
Collateral Damage
Formless Nurturing
Sandsteppe Outcast
Temur Battle Rage
Hunt the Weak
Reality Shift
Grave Strength
Vaultbreaker
Tranquil Cove
Pack 1 pick 3:
Will of the Naga
Ancestral Vengeance
Cunning Strike
Abzan Runemark
Rakshasa's Disdain
Reach of Shadows
Frontier Mastodon
--> Typhoid Rats
Defiant Ogre
Fruit of the First Tree
Reality Shift
Lotus-Eye Mystics
Jungle Hollow
Pack 1 pick 7:
Sibsig Host
Cunning Strike
Arashin Cleric
Lightning Shrieker
Archers of Qarsi
Smoldering Efreet
Return to the Earth
--> Rite of Undoing
Break Through the Line
Pack 3 pick 3:
--> Woolly Loxodon
Defiant Strike
Trumpet Blast
Alpine Grizzly
Disdainful Stroke
Sidisi's Pet
Temur Banner
Mardu Banner
Briber's Purse
Tomb of the Spirit Dragon
Temur Charger
Altar of the Brood
Forest
Pack 3 pick 4:
Kill Shot
Ainok Tracker
Smoke Teller
--> Bitter Revelation
Singing Bell Strike
Jeskai Banner
Blossoming Sands
Swamp
Temur Banner
Dragon Grip
Kin-Tree Invocation
Island
Would there have been a better pick or build among the cards? Would have anything given away information earlier? Or do I just try to be more open minded?
Match 1
Game 1 - Immediately mull'd to 6, had 4 land (on the draw). Again it was not a smart decision ._. Loss ensures.
Game 2 - Mull to 6. Got my Bear. Sidisi follows shortly, threw Sultai Accendency due to ability. Close game, zombies doing some work, as well as the infiltrator. Feel as if I shouldn't run Sidisi with so little creatures.
Game 3 - Started with 4 lands, infiltrator and Sidisi and Map. Neither of us has a 2 drop. Eventually he wins with Temur Battle Rage.
Really feeling that I could have done something smarter during the picks D:
Match 2 - Got a Bye =/
Will update later with match 3
Edit: Match 3
Game 1: Mulled to 6, kept a 4 land hand with a Tusked Collosodon, opponent puts out a 2 drop Jeskai Sage, uh-oh. I get my Longhot Squad. Followed later by my Tusked Collosodon. Enemy Concedes. Stuck at 2 lands.
Game 2: Enemy had a drop every turn. Managed to drag it out to late game. But he had better draws overall in the end. Although I feel I made the lease cost effective choices
I think that watching draft videos is a very good approach. Marshall Sutcliffe at channelfireball.com is in my view the best for instructional draft videos, he is a very good player and describes why he takes certain picks over others, and why he makes certain plays over others. Reid Duke is also good at explanations in his draft videos.
You can also practice drafting at http://draft.bestiaire.org, which is not at all the same as drafting against real opponents but at least it gives you some added familiarity with the cards and making decisions on picks.
Other than that, just keep playing as long as you are enjoying yourself. Even those who have played hundreds of matches keep learning more as they play.
Mmm. I've watched most of the FRF ones at Channelfireball. I've seen one or 2 at Channel Fireball, the duo and HAUMPH. I like how they discuss the cards. It took me a while to pick up that if they pick one rare, they tried to mostly stay in the colour.
In my view the black-white deck above has some sub-standard filler such as Rotting Mastodon, Jeskai Student, Alesha's Vanguard, and 2x Unyielding Krumar. Sometimes you need to play 1 or even 2 of sub-standard cards such as those, but 5 is just too detrimental in my view. The Raiders' Spoils makes the krumar probably worth playing but spoils doesn't fit well at all in a deck with the great Duneblast, especially a deck with 2 Duneblasts, and also in a deck low on creatures it can be a detriment.
Green is good to splash here, and 3 sources are fine in my view, for the 2 Duneblasts but the other 3 green cards are not good splashes in my view. Abzan Charm and Hunt the Weak are good cards but as a splash with only 3 green mana sources they would too often just sit in the hand doing nothing. If you had more fixing lands so that you could play 4 sources of green mana then I would like the charm, and 5 or more then I might like the Hunt the Weak although maybe not even then. In my view Map the Wastes is generally a sub-standard card except in a certain type of deck (one needing ramp, having plenty of green mana sources, and having several 1 or 2 drop creatures to obtain the bolster on turn 3), and to add that card on the splash is very detrimental in my view.
The second half of the FRF pack was brutal so that was bad luck there, and including some sub-standard cards was probably necessary. Without looking in too much detail I would have taken War Behemoth (an average card) over Jeskai Student (a sub-standard card) and over the Rotting Mastodon, and I would have played the Rite of the Serpent instead of Map the Wastes.
The green-blue deck above seems okay except having not enough creatures, as you indicated. That makes Savage Punch iffy (sometimes not having a decent creature in play to be able to use the punch) but I would still include it as it is a very good card. Map the Wastes is better here but still misses having a 1 or 2 drop to take advantage of bolster. Cached Defenses in my view is a sub-standard card except in a deck with a good number of "counter-lords" which give additional benefits to creatures with +1/+1 counters, and/or a deck with a good number of cheap flyers, and even then I don't much like the card as it sets you up for a 2-for-1 in which a removal spell on your creature puts you down 2 cards. Sultai Ascendancy is a questionable card in most any deck, and especially on the splash I would not include it. I like Bitter Revelation quite a bit but not on the splash, especially with a deck which is slow to get moving like this.
The deck overall does not seem to have a good curve, with not enough to do in the early game, and I would think that it would be too vulnerable to losing before getting out enough defense or threats, mostly due to the low creature count.
With all of this said, for someone new to Magic I think you are doing a good job. Drafting is very difficult and I've faced plenty of decks which seem sub-standard to me.
Pack 1 pick 7: Blossoming Sands over Map the Wastes
Pack 2 pick 4: Ponyback Brigade over Tusked Colossodon
Pack 2 pick 5: Longshot Squad over Debilitating Injury over Bellowing Saddlebrute
Pack 2 pick 8: Tranquil Cove over Unyielding Krumar
Pack 2 pick 10: Rush of Battle over Kheru Dreadmaw
Pack 3 pick 6: Awaken the Bear over Unyielding Krumar
Pack 3 pick 8: Awaken the Bear over Rotting Mastodon
You make the finls, where you lose to a removal heavy deck due to not running enough creatures. Your manabase is also a little lacking. Maybe you need to draft fixing higher?
Deck 5
Pack 1 pick 2: Soul Summons over Sandsteppe Outcast over Hunt the Weak over Sultai Skullkeeper over Reach of Shadows (UB meanss Sultai, which is really weak)
Pack 1 pick 3: Cunning Strike over Typhoid Rats
Pack 1 pick 4: Soul Summons over Dragon Bell Monk over Enhanced Awareness over Ethereal Ambush (ambush is right if i don't already have white cards though)
Pack 1 pick 5: Tranquil Cove over Cached Defenses
Pack 1 pick 7: Cunning Strike over Rite of Undoing
Pack 1 pick 9: Jeskai Runemark over Map the Wastes
From there I would be solidly in jeskai and our drafts will be too far diverged to be helpful to you. I'll draft as Sultai from here, which for me means UGrb.
Pack 2 pick 4: Opulent Palace(!) over Snowhorn Rider over Longshot Squad
Pack 2 pick 5: Frontier Bivouac(!) over Abomination of Gudul over Treasure Cruise
Pack 2 pick 9: Thornwood Falls(!) over Alpine Grizzly
Pack 3 pick 1: Glacial Stalker over Smoke Teller over Scaldkin over Armament Corps over Shambling Attendants over Sultai Ascendancy
Pack 3 pick 7: Awaken the Bear over Weave Fate
Soo I would have taken mana fixing much more highly than you did. You only have 11 creatures, and not enough fixing (again).
Pack 1 pick 7: Blossoming Sands over Map the Wastes
Pack 2 pick 4: Ponyback Brigade over Tusked Colossodon
Pack 2 pick 5: Longshot Squad over Debilitating Injury over Bellowing Saddlebrute
Pack 2 pick 8: Tranquil Cove over Unyielding Krumar
Pack 2 pick 10: Rush of Battle over Kheru Dreadmaw
Pack 3 pick 6: Awaken the Bear over Unyielding Krumar
Pack 3 pick 8: Awaken the Bear over Rotting Mastodon
You make the finls, where you lose to a removal heavy deck due to not running enough creatures. Your manabase is also a little lacking. Maybe you need to draft fixing higher?
How do I know when to take fixing over say more creatures? Mind explaining some of the thought processes? And it seems you're prioritising the better picks over making it cohesive? With Ponyback, is it worth splashing for? Or is there some other reason?
Deck 5
Pack 1 pick 2: Soul Summons over Sandsteppe Outcast over Hunt the Weak over Sultai Skullkeeper over Reach of Shadows (UB meanss Sultai, which is really weak)
Pack 1 pick 3: Cunning Strike over Typhoid Rats
Pack 1 pick 4: Soul Summons over Dragon Bell Monk over Enhanced Awareness over Ethereal Ambush (ambush is right if i don't already have white cards though)
Pack 1 pick 5: Tranquil Cove over Cached Defenses
Pack 1 pick 7: Cunning Strike over Rite of Undoing
Pack 1 pick 9: Jeskai Runemark over Map the Wastes
From there I would be solidly in jeskai and our drafts will be too far diverged to be helpful to you. I'll draft as Sultai from here, which for me means UGrb.
Pack 2 pick 4: Opulent Palace(!) over Snowhorn Rider over Longshot Squad
Pack 2 pick 5: Frontier Bivouac(!) over Abomination of Gudul over Treasure Cruise
Pack 2 pick 9: Thornwood Falls(!) over Alpine Grizzly
Pack 3 pick 1: Glacial Stalker over Smoke Teller over Scaldkin over Armament Corps over Shambling Attendants over Sultai Ascendancy
Pack 3 pick 7: Awaken the Bear over Weave Fate
Soo I would have taken mana fixing much more highly than you did. You only have 11 creatures, and not enough fixing (again).
But if I were to take Fixing, wouldn't I still be light in creatures? Mind explaining why Soul Summons is so good? Is it just for the prowess?
The concept I was told when I first started playing, was to pick big creatures or removal first. Is that incorrect? Is there another method that I should be going about?
How do I know when to take fixing over say more creatures? Mind explaining some of the thought processes? And it seems you're prioritising the better picks over making it cohesive? With Ponyback, is it worth splashing for? Or is there some other reason?
It's a balancing act. If you have no fixing at all, then you're either locked in to a two colour deck with a 9/8 or 10/7 manabase, or a three colour deck with a sketchy 8/7/3 base. If you manage to pick up say 4 duals, you can bump your tri-coloured manabase up to 9/8/5, which is the same colour reliability as a two colur deck, but with basically a free splash of a third colour.
When you go into extra colours, you get more powerful cards. The tradeoff is you make your manabase less stable. Taking fixing means you will be able to run powerful cards by still have a relatively stable manabase.
Pack 1 pick 2: Soul Summons over Sandsteppe Outcast over Hunt the Weak over Sultai Skullkeeper over Reach of Shadows (UB meanss Sultai, which is really weak)
Pack 1 pick 3: Cunning Strike over Typhoid Rats
Pack 1 pick 4: Soul Summons over Dragon Bell Monk over Enhanced Awareness over Ethereal Ambush (ambush is right if i don't already have white cards though)
Pack 1 pick 5: Tranquil Cove over Cached Defenses
Pack 1 pick 7: Cunning Strike over Rite of Undoing
Pack 1 pick 9: Jeskai Runemark over Map the Wastes
From there I would be solidly in jeskai and our drafts will be too far diverged to be helpful to you. I'll draft as Sultai from here, which for me means UGrb.
Pack 2 pick 4: Opulent Palace(!) over Snowhorn Rider over Longshot Squad
Pack 2 pick 5: Frontier Bivouac(!) over Abomination of Gudul over Treasure Cruise
Pack 2 pick 9: Thornwood Falls(!) over Alpine Grizzly
Pack 3 pick 1: Glacial Stalker over Smoke Teller over Scaldkin over Armament Corps over Shambling Attendants over Sultai Ascendancy
Pack 3 pick 7: Awaken the Bear over Weave Fate
Soo I would have taken mana fixing much more highly than you did. You only have 11 creatures, and not enough fixing (again).
But if I were to take Fixing, wouldn't I still be light in creatures? Mind explaining why Soul Summons is so good? Is it just for the prowess?
The concept I was told when I first started playing, was to pick big creatures or removal first. Is that incorrect? Is there another method that I should be going about?
Well, if you look at the picks, you're trading longshot squad and alpine grizzly for glacial stalker. And getting much better fixing out of the bargain.
Soul Summon is a card I really like because it is a spell for prowess, while also providing an early curve creature with random upside. The secret to Jeskai decks that want to run prowess cards and spells to trigger them is to run spells which produce creatures like token makers or manifest.
Picking removal first is good, although not so much with 'big creatures'. You're basically trying to take the best cards you can, which typically means the most undercosted cards. Big creatures without flying typically don't meet that criteria.
"The concept I was told when I first started playing, was to pick big creatures or removal first. Is that incorrect? Is there another method that I should be going about?"
That was how I began, too, but that approach doesn't work nowadays in my view. You need to end up with a decent curve which means an emphasis on cheaper creatures, so that you have relevant things to do early in the game, so it is a matter of balancing what you take during a draft. I focus on overall power level of cards -- where that includes the mana cost factor -- and then as the draft proceeds I try to make sure to fill out the curve. That means if there is a good 2-drop to take early, then I am glad to take that, as long as it is a good one such as Ainok Bond-Kin. If there is not something good to take in a pack and I have to take a filler card (a card which I don’t mind playing), then I tend to go with cheaper creatures such as Soul Summons or Highland Game.
Just recognizing card values goes a long way, but the curve is also important.
Depending upon the deck type, in FRF-KTK-KTK I don’t think it’s necessary to have any 2-drops but it is preferable to have some if they are decent. It is necessary, though, not to have enough spells which cost 3 or less mana (where a morph counts as a 3-drop) because turn 4 is usually too late to start casting anything.
Thanks guys, this insight makes much more sense to me. Also appeals to me greatly, I value cost effectiveness alot. Although every now and then I'd like to try one of the bigger cards
But do can you guys explain more on Card Value? How do you rate something as worth or not? I hear people discuss it, but I have lacking prior knowledge I believe and I can't seem to piece it fast enough. Other than for example, most 2 drops are 2/2.
It's difficult to define the power level of a card, plus there is subjectivity. What helps me is to create a spreadsheet listing each card by color and rarity in the set (a tedious process but I enjoy it) and then rank them in order so that white commons are ranked together, green commons are in another group, etc. I identify what I think are cards I want in my deck vs cards I am okay playing vs cards I don't want but might have to play (such as Highland Game vs cards I would never play except as a sideboard option against some matchups. I usually find that colors are approximately even, though not always, and in any case I never go into a draft thinking that I'm going to draft a specific strategy.
Or, you can find rankings of cards done by pro players on channelfireball.com such as LSV's very popular and helpful card ranking articles for limited (you can google search for LSV KTK or FRF limited articles or something like that).
Identifying card values in a set is extremely important in my view. I see plenty of what I would consider sub-standard cards being played against me and it helps me win when I face those cards.
I happen to agree with you about wanting just bigger and badder creatures, so I don't shy away from the good ones of those such as Woolly Loxodon (which is a very good card because it's a morph in addition to being huge later) but I avoid taking too many 5+ drops especially early unless it's a very good card such as Reach of Shadows.
One thing I avoid is going for a small creature aggressive deck which prioritizes 2-drops. I don't think that sort of deck works reliably in FRF-KTK-KTK (unless you can draft a deck which has some of the very powerful cards for that type of deck) and from what I see most pros seem to agree with that. Aggressive can work fine but as Raptor and Haumph stated in a video I watched today effective aggression is more about setting up a big bang turn with cards such as Barrage of Boulders rather than getting in a lot of early damage. In other words, I think having some good big creatures is a good way to go as long as you don't neglect the early game and lose without casting enough spells.
Pack 2 pick 5:
Tusked Colossodon
Sultai Banner
Disowned Ancestor
Siegecraft
Arrow Storm
Dragonscale Boon
Rakshasa's Secret
Chief of the Scale
--> Mardu Roughrider
Utter End
Forest
Pack 2 pick 6:
Feed the Clan
--> Jeskai Student
Embodiment of Spring
Unyielding Krumar
Smite the Monstrous
Scout the Borders
Dutiful Return
Crippling Chill
Warden of the Eye
Island
Pack 2 pick 7:
Defiant Strike
Act of Treason
Embodiment of Spring
Unyielding Krumar
Smite the Monstrous
Valley Dasher
Cancel
--> Krumar Bond-Kin
Forest
Pack 2 pick 8:
Sagu Archer
--> Barrage of Boulders
Cancel
Jeskai Banner
Weave Fate
Briber's Purse
Set Adrift
Island
Pack 3 pick 5:
Tusked Colossodon
Erase
--> Mardu Warshrieker
Wetland Sambar
Mardu Skullhunter
Rush of Battle
Leaping Master
Rakshasa's Secret
Roar of Challenge
Retribution of the Ancients
Forest
Pack 3 pick 6:
Summit Prowler
Feed the Clan
--> Scoured Barrens
Smite the Monstrous
Bloodfire Mentor
Embodiment of Spring
Krumar Bond-Kin
Taigam's Scheming
Death Frenzy
Plains
Pack 3 pick 7:
Ainok Tracker
Naturalize
Embodiment of Spring
Smite the Monstrous
Valley Dasher
Scout the Borders
--> Highspire Mantis
Quiet Contemplation
Island
Pack 3 pick 8:
Canyon Lurkers
--> Smite the Monstrous
Bloodfire Mentor
Embodiment of Spring
Scaldkin
Scion of Glaciers
Quiet Contemplation
Plains
May have gotten greedy with my picks.
Ended up 4 colours. Should have gone fixing earlier =/
Match 1 - 5 Colour deck.
Game 1 - Manages to ramp and get ahead of me.
Game 2 - Mulled to 6, Got Mentor, Got 1 token out, Got 4 creatures (Morph, Jeskai Student, Token Mentor), swung for 17 damage with Warfare and Prowess. Got Rhino out and exact lethal next turn. He murderous cut my Mentor, and had 3 creatures up. I summon Fierce Invocation for the win.
Game 3 - Mulled to 5 (6 lands 1 spell, No land). Stuck at 3 lands, opponent gets to 7 land. Beats me up.
Match 2 - Sultai with Ghostfire Blade
Game 1 - Gets Ghostfire out. Stalls at 6 Land. I stall at 5, but I get a morph and Hirespire out, whittle him down until I Trumpet Blast for Exact. He summoned no creatures for 3 turns.
Game 2 - Mulled to 5, 3 plains and a scoured Barrens. Krumar turn 4. He gets his Pinewalker out. I miss my other land drops.
Game 3 - Start the game with 2 fetch, Monastery and a Mountain. Kept. Get Jeskai student out. He misses 3 drop, debilating injuries my Morph.
I put down my Roughrider. He whisks. Still stuck on 3 land. Misplayed a few. Miclciked land, and stack. Drawn out an easily winnable game. Eventually I manage to get a spirit Token though, with War Flare for lethal 3 damage.
Match 3 - Jeskai
Game - Outplayed. Died to not blocking and a firestorm to finish
Game 2 - Everything goes my way. He only has a Mardu Scout with a Jeskai rune which I remove shortly.
Game 3 - Opponent has alot of evasion. Couldn't deal with it all. Goblin Heelcutter, Flamewake Phoenix, Jeskai Windscout.
Is there archetypes for decks? If so, what goes towards them?
I hear the word Midrange, Aggro and Control alot. Can anyone elaborate on them?
There's a continuum from aggro through midrange to control. Aggro decks generally want to end the game as quickly as possible. They are packed with low casting cost cards to get a fast start, but that means they sacrifice late game power.
Control decks attempt to spend the early game mitigating their opponent's threats through blockers or removal and then win later in the game with powerful spells and creatures the aggressive deck just can't compete with.
Midrange decks are somewhere in between and often take the role of control against an aggro deck and aggro against a control deck.
If you haven't read "Who's the Beatdown?" stop what you're doing and read it now. It's one of the classic Magic strategy articles and it's important for anyone who wants to learn to read the game state and play as well as possible. I believe a follow up version or something was written a few years later.
"Archetype" in draft typically means something a bit more specific than aggro or control. It's a particular type of deck with a particular game plan that is likely to be available in any given draft because of the cards everyone knows should probably be in the pool. For example, an archetype from Khans was RG Bearpunch, which relied on Alpine Grizzly, Bloodfire Expert, and other relatively high power creatures to leverage Savage Punch, Barrage of Boulders and other such cards to hit hard and fast.
Pack 1 pick 4 I would not have gone away from white, bypassing a fine card in Abzan Skycaptain for Write Into Being which is approximately an equally fine card, especially since white-blue is in only one clan which limits your options going forward. For a second color in my view it's very advantageous to take an enemy color (black or red if starting with white) although taking a very powerful card in an allied color would be fine. Pack 1 pick 5 Sandblast is a much better card than Pressure Point (even having a Sandblast already) and at this point you could have had a good deck with 5 good white cards, and then moved into straight Mardu for the good 3-color cards in pack 2.
Pack 1 pick 4: Abzan Skycaptain over Write into Being (no reason to leave the safe confines of white yet, and this helps you cut the colour)
Pack 1 pick 5: Sandblast over Pressure Point
Pack 1 pick 6: Cached Defenses over Pressure Point (I don't like Pressure Point, this isn't us branching into green. if we end up there this is a good card however)
Pack 1 pick 7: Hewed Stone Retainers over Mardu Runemark
So pack 1 I would have stayed open in white (with a slight leaning towards red)
Pack 2 pick 3: Efreet Weaponmaster over Crackling Doom (less colour intensive)
Pack 2 pick 4: Mardu Warshrieker over Sultai Scavenger over Mardu Charm (ok, I'll draft as Mardu from here since it looks like you have moved in)
Pack 2 pick 5: Utter End over Chief of the Scale over Mardu Roughrider
Pack 2 pick 6: Smite the Monstrous over Jeskai Student
Pack 3 pick 1: Ghostfire Blade (!) over Murderous Cut over Mystic Monastery (THE mispick of the draft. Blade is a bomb)
Pack 3 pick 2: Debilitating Injury over Ride Down
Pack 3 pick 3: War Behemoth over Dismal Backwater
Pack 3 pick 9: Swift Kick over Tranquil Cove
Pack 3 pick 10: Glacial Stalker over Unyielding Krumar (given you have some blue mana)
I think your gold mardu cards aren't strong enough to merit locking in to that wedge, and also Windswepth Heath isn't worth running without a Forest to search up. You should have ended up in Jeskai I think.
I hear the word Midrange, Aggro and Control alot. Can anyone elaborate on them?
Every draft deck is basically a midrange deck, although some of them are more aggressive (prioritising early attacking creatures and adding in ways to get them through or finish the opponent off), while others are more controlling (playing more card draw and blockers, and usually using evasion creatures to peck the opponent down). In your list Trumpt Blast is an aggressive card, but your deck isn't that aggressive, because you have no 2 power dudes you can play before the third turn.
Pack 2 pick 5:
Swift Kick
Hooting Mandrills
Salt Road Patrol
Act of Treason
Sultai Scavenger
Taigam's Scheming
Abomination of Gudul
Mardu Banner
Treasure Cruise
--> Scion of Glaciers
Island
Match 1 - Temur
Game 1 - He starts, hits his lands and drops on time. Destroys me.
Game 2 - Mulled to 4. 3 land, Collateral. Nothing but land.
Match 2 - Mardu
Game 1 - Typhoid rats with Mardu rune. I hold out to a similar board state. Misplayed Arcbond. Thought it was damage it dealt. Should have targeted the enemies Morph that I attacked with my Canyon Lurker. At least I learnt how it works.
Game 2 - I get my Aerialist out to out trade him. He manages his rat combo again.
Game 3 - Managed to play Arcbond correctly, trading 1 token, 1 Monk for 4 of his creatures. Drawn out game, both low on time and life. I win with 2 hp remaining. Aerialist for the win!
Match 3 Jeskai?
Game 1 - On the Draw, I get land drops and creatures out. Sage, Weaponsmith, 3 Goblin tokens, 2 Morhps. All he gets is 5 lands and force away 1 of my morphs.
Game 2 - Exact opposite.
Game 3 - Boring start. I manage to Act of Treason his Morph and Collateral damage it. He misplays his mana. I barely win, 1 hp remaining.
So if I understand better (I'm hoping here).
Pick rare (hope it's a good one) . Stay withing that colour if possible. Else pick strong cards and forgo the first pick. If presented with 3/2 colour cards, go with the 2 until you have enough fixing?
I also regret not picking the ghostblade prior last game ._.
Pack 1 pick 5: Dragon Bell Monk over Ugin's Construct over Collateral Damage
Pack 1 pick 7: Dragon Bell Monk over Collateral Damage
Pack 1 pick 8: Dragon Bell Monk over Fierce Invocation
I only regard you as red from the first pack, whereas I would be solidly in Jeskai. The blue is nice, but Mardu is still a possibility.
Pack 2 pick 5: Treasure Cruise over Scion of Glaciers
Pack 2 pick 6: Wind-Scarred Crag over Riverwheel Aerialists
Pack 2 pick 8: Tranquil Cove over Scaldkin over Leaping Master
Pack 2 pick 9: Sage-Eye Harrier over Abzan Guide
Ok, pretty solidly in Jeskai now. Do you wish you had those monks from pack 1?
Pack 3 pick 2: Force Away (!) over Dragon's Eye Savants
Pack 3 pick 3: Horde Ambusher over Defiant Strike over Monastery Flock over Woolly Loxodon over Weave Fate over Act of Treason
Pack 3 pick 5: Crippling Chill over Treasure Cruise over Rugged Highlands
Pack 3 pick 6: Summit Prowler over Snowhorn Rider (I LOVE this guy, but you hardly have the manabase for a 4-colour deck, and you already have too many white cards)
Pack 3 pick 7: Flying Crane Technique (!!!) over Efreet Weaponmaster over Bloodfire Expert (Flying Crane Technique is the best card out of any of the packs you have opened, and it's in your colours. This is the mispick of the draft)
Pack 3 pick 9: Wetland Sambar over Jeskai Student (white is a splash, so you can't take early playables in it)
Regarding your deck: Don't run Polluted Delta in a deck without swamps. I would classify write, outburst and invocation as creatures, since functionally they are. Colateral Damage is bad.
So if I understand better (I'm hoping here).
Pick rare (hope it's a good one) . Stay withing that colour if possible. Else pick strong cards and forgo the first pick. If presented with 3/2 colour cards, go with the 2 until you have enough fixing?
Reid Duke's series of articles are very good, especially for those beginning to play in the limited environment.
After my first FRF pick very good rare or uncommon, I don't at all mind branching into a second color with my second pick (if that second pick is another good card) as long as it is an enemy color because that still leaves me open to two different clans. If the second pack has one very good card but it's in an allied color, I would probably still pick it but I would not force that one clan and might end up abandoning the first or second pick altogether, depending upon how it goes.
FRF has a lot of very weak commons and if I could take a good card in a color I don't seem to be in at the moment, over a weak common in one of my colors, I don't mind taking that off color card because I may end up using it if I adjust the colors I am drafting. Also, as Reid Duke has stated several times during his draft videos, I would usually take an on color dual land over a mediocre common in my colors and probably an off color dual land over a mediocre common in some other color. The two KTK packs are where most of the good commons are to fill out the deck. It's helpful to be open for as long as you reasonably can be as long as you are passing up on a card which you wouldn't really miss in your deck.
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Played Draft, did not know that you had to make a 40 card Deck.
Had heaps on fun despite the crushing defeat.
Fast forward a month, I like Drafting. But still losing all my matches. Occasionally I'll win a game, but lose the next 2.
I recently signed up to MTGO to play more, went 0-3 and 1-2 so far. First Draft, misread the signals and drafted badly D: 2nd I feel like I drafted slightly better....
But, is there any way I can improve faster?
I've been watching some Draft videos from Seemsgoodmagic and ChannelFireball.
But I think I under value removal.
Edit:
Time: 16/02/2015 8:40:53 PM
Players:
SugarShark17
Solleksmori
NotoriousKDM
Unrestrained
UprightMan
Ryno3D
--> XingLoong
eindhoven
------ FRF ------
Pack 1 pick 1:
Abzan Runemark
Rakshasa's Disdain
Reach of Shadows
Grim Contest
Aven Skirmisher
Lotus Path Djinn
Collateral Damage
Formless Nurturing
Sandsteppe Outcast
Temur Battle Rage
Fascination
Hewed Stone Retainers
Humble Defector
--> Kolaghan, the Storm's Fury
Swiftwater Cliffs
Pack 1 pick 2:
Jeskai Sage
Sibsig Host
Cunning Strike
Arashin Cleric
Fierce Invocation
Feral Krushok
Great-Horn Krushok
--> Bathe in Dragonfire
Frontier Mastodon
Defiant Ogre
Battle Brawler
Abzan Beastmaster
Wardscale Dragon
Rugged Highlands
Pack 1 pick 3:
Gurmag Angler
Refocus
Soul Summons
Will of the Naga
Ancestral Vengeance
Cunning Strike
Ambush Krotiq
Write into Being
--> Goblin Heelcutter
Map the Wastes
Qarsi High Priest
Battlefront Krushok
Scoured Barrens
Pack 1 pick 4:
Ancestral Vengeance
War Flare
--> Soul Summons
Sultai Skullkeeper
Hunt the Weak
Mardu Runemark
Formless Nurturing
Tasigur's Cruelty
Diplomacy of the Wastes
Winds of Qal Sisma
Pilgrim of the Fires
Dismal Backwater
Pack 1 pick 5:
Rakshasa's Disdain
Abzan Advantage
Will of the Naga
Sultai Runemark
Abzan Runemark
Lightning Shrieker
Ainok Guide
Smoldering Efreet
Neutralizing Blast
Hero's Blade
--> Bloodfire Enforcers
Pack 1 pick 6:
Ethereal Ambush
--> Dragon Bell Monk
Enhanced Awareness
Ainok Guide
Alesha's Vanguard
Gore Swine
Mardu Runemark
Reality Shift
Grave Strength
Hungering Yeti
Pack 1 pick 7:
Rakshasa's Disdain
Abzan Advantage
Will of the Naga
Sultai Runemark
Abzan Runemark
Lightning Shrieker
Ainok Guide
--> Smoldering Efreet
Scroll of the Masters
Pack 1 pick 8:
Sibsig Host
Cunning Strike
Arashin Cleric
--> Fierce Invocation
Great-Horn Krushok
Defiant Ogre
Mardu Shadowspear
Sudden Reclamation
Pack 1 pick 9:
Abzan Runemark
Rakshasa's Disdain
Aven Skirmisher
--> Collateral Damage
Formless Nurturing
Fascination
Hewed Stone Retainers
Pack 1 pick 10:
Sibsig Host
Arashin Cleric
--> Fierce Invocation
Great-Horn Krushok
Frontier Mastodon
Defiant Ogre
Pack 1 pick 11:
Refocus
Will of the Naga
--> Ancestral Vengeance
Ambush Krotiq
Battlefront Krushok
Pack 1 pick 12:
Mardu Runemark
Tasigur's Cruelty
--> Diplomacy of the Wastes
Pilgrim of the Fires
Pack 1 pick 13:
Rakshasa's Disdain
--> Smoldering Efreet
Neutralizing Blast
Pack 1 pick 14:
--> Enhanced Awareness
Grave Strength
Pack 1 pick 15:
--> Abzan Runemark
------ KTK ------
Pack 2 pick 1:
Mardu Hordechief
Ainok Tracker
Naturalize
Jeskai Student
Singing Bell Strike
Molting Snakeskin
Thornwood Falls
Efreet Weaponmaster
Abzan Banner
Throttle
Mystic Monastery
Gurmag Swiftwing
Abzan Falconer
--> Ashcloud Phoenix
Swamp
Pack 2 pick 2:
Smoke Teller
--> Ainok Bond-Kin
Bloodfire Expert
Sagu Archer
Glacial Stalker
Shambling Attendants
Scaldkin
Sultai Scavenger
Blossoming Sands
Abzan Guide
Briber's Purse
Become Immense
Monastery Swiftspear
Plains
Pack 2 pick 3:
--> Mardu Warshrieker
Smoke Teller
Valley Dasher
Scout the Borders
Dismal Backwater
Sultai Banner
Disowned Ancestor
Siegecraft
Molting Snakeskin
Glacial Stalker
Gurmag Swiftwing
Death Frenzy
Swamp
Pack 2 pick 4:
--> Defiant Strike
Trumpet Blast
Scout the Borders
Jeskai Windscout
Lens of Clarity
Firehoof Cavalry
Bring Low
Mystic of the Hidden Way
Sidisi's Pet
Cranial Archive
Set Adrift
Forest
Pack 2 pick 5:
Erase
--> Valley Dasher
Scout the Borders
Dismal Backwater
Sultai Banner
Disowned Ancestor
Siegecraft
Monastery Flock
Dutiful Return
Windstorm
Plains
Pack 2 pick 6:
Trumpet Blast
Summit Prowler
Crippling Chill
Rakshasa's Secret
Treasure Cruise
--> Wind-Scarred Crag
Snowhorn Rider
Throttle
Waterwhirl
Swamp
Pack 2 pick 7:
Salt Road Patrol
Canyon Lurkers
Highland Game
--> Scoured Barrens
Embodiment of Spring
Unyielding Krumar
Rakshasa's Secret
Secret Plans
Mountain
Pack 2 pick 8:
Shatter
Tusked Colossodon
Erase
Embodiment of Spring
--> Unyielding Krumar
Dutiful Return
Witness of the Ages
Mountain
Pack 2 pick 9:
--> Ainok Tracker
Naturalize
Singing Bell Strike
Molting Snakeskin
Efreet Weaponmaster
Abzan Banner
Swamp
Pack 2 pick 10:
Bloodfire Expert
Shambling Attendants
Scaldkin
Briber's Purse
--> Monastery Swiftspear
Plains
Pack 2 pick 11:
--> Valley Dasher
Sultai Banner
Siegecraft
Molting Snakeskin
Swamp
Pack 2 pick 12:
Lens of Clarity
--> Firehoof Cavalry
Set Adrift
Forest
Pack 2 pick 13:
Sultai Banner
--> Siegecraft
Plains
Pack 2 pick 14:
--> Summit Prowler
Swamp
Pack 2 pick 15:
--> Mountain
------ KTK ------
Pack 3 pick 1:
Feat of Resistance
Shatter
--> Bring Low
Kin-Tree Warden
Scoured Barrens
Smite the Monstrous
Bloodfire Mentor
Archers' Parapet
Whirlwind Adept
Kheru Dreadmaw
Opulent Palace
Pine Walker
Raiders' Spoils
Jeskai Ascendancy
Forest
Pack 3 pick 2:
Naturalize
War Behemoth
Disowned Ancestor
Molting Snakeskin
Bloodfire Mentor
Highland Game
Dismal Backwater
Mardu Hateblade
Molting Snakeskin
Scaldkin
Bellowing Saddlebrute
Abzan Charm
--> Utter End
Mountain
Pack 3 pick 3:
Alpine Grizzly
Tormenting Voice
Naturalize
Crippling Chill
Rotting Mastodon
Disdainful Stroke
Mardu Banner
Weave Fate
Rugged Highlands
Armament Corps
--> Nomad Outpost
Windstorm
Plains
Pack 3 pick 4:
Mardu Hordechief
Ainok Tracker
Naturalize
Singing Bell Strike
Temur Banner
Rite of the Serpent
Thornwood Falls
Abomination of Gudul
Temur Charm
--> Mardu Charm
Warden of the Eye
Swamp
Pack 3 pick 5:
Smoke Teller
--> Ainok Bond-Kin
Scout the Borders
Bloodfell Caves
Lens of Clarity
Firehoof Cavalry
Bring Low
Rakshasa's Secret
Monastery Flock
Heart-Piercer Bow
Swamp
Pack 3 pick 6:
War Behemoth
Rush of Battle
Sage-Eye Harrier
Highland Game
Dismal Backwater
Mardu Hateblade
Dutiful Return
Waterwhirl
--> Take Up Arms
Island
Pack 3 pick 7:
Defiant Strike
Act of Treason
Firehoof Cavalry
--> Arrow Storm
Kin-Tree Warden
Swiftwater Cliffs
Kheru Dreadmaw
Heart-Piercer Bow
Forest
Pack 3 pick 8:
Trumpet Blast
Cancel
--> Ponyback Brigade
Jeskai Banner
Weave Fate
Venerable Lammasu
Blinding Spray
Island
Pack 3 pick 9:
Shatter
Kin-Tree Warden
Smite the Monstrous
--> Bloodfire Mentor
Whirlwind Adept
Kheru Dreadmaw
Forest
Pack 3 pick 10:
Naturalize
Molting Snakeskin
Bloodfire Mentor
--> Mardu Hateblade
Molting Snakeskin
Mountain
Pack 3 pick 11:
--> Tormenting Voice
Naturalize
Rotting Mastodon
Mardu Banner
Plains
Pack 3 pick 12:
Naturalize
--> Singing Bell Strike
Temur Banner
Swamp
Pack 3 pick 13:
Lens of Clarity
--> Firehoof Cavalry
Swamp
Pack 3 pick 14:
--> Dutiful Return
Island
Pack 3 pick 15:
--> Forest
Time: 17/02/2015 6:07:25 PM
Players:
JTimmy87
IInDeCiSiVe9
--> XingLoong
INANTP
Gariathu
Remnants
Mabelito
pikolin3
------ FRF ------
Pack 1 pick 1:
Arashin Cleric
--> Aven Surveyor
Typhoid Rats
Ethereal Ambush
Dragon Bell Monk
Enhanced Awareness
Lightning Shrieker
Archers of Qarsi
Smoldering Efreet
Return to the Earth
Neutralizing Blast
Mardu Shadowspear
Lotus-Eye Mystics
Shamanic Revelation
Swiftwater Cliffs
Pack 1 pick 2:
Abzan Runemark
Rakshasa's Disdain
Reach of Shadows
Grim Contest
Frontier Mastodon
Alesha's Vanguard
Defiant Ogre
Whisperer of the Wilds
Collateral Damage
Temur Runemark
Marang River Prowler
--> Orc Sureshot
Pilgrim of the Fires
Thornwood Falls
Pack 1 pick 3:
Aven Skirmisher
Mountain
--> Douse in Gloom
Ethereal Ambush
Abzan Advantage
Refocus
Archers of Qarsi
Fierce Invocation
Feral Krushok
Shifting Loyalties
Qarsi High Priest
Humble Defector
Scoured Barrens
Pack 1 pick 4:
Abzan Skycaptain
Jeskai Runemark
--> Douse in Gloom
War Flare
Arashin Cleric
Whisk Away
Smoldering Efreet
Hunt the Weak
Mardu Runemark
Ruthless Instincts
Hungering Yeti
Jungle Hollow
Pack 1 pick 5:
Sultai Emissary
Jeskai Runemark
--> Jeskai Sage
Sibsig Host
Cunning Strike
Tasigur's Cruelty
Mardu Scout
Feral Krushok
Lightning Shrieker
Dragonrage
Rugged Highlands
Pack 1 pick 6:
Aven Skirmisher
--> Lotus Path Djinn
Ethereal Ambush
Abzan Advantage
Refocus
Archers of Qarsi
Fierce Invocation
Feral Krushok
Humble Defector
Tranquil Cove
Pack 1 pick 7:
Arashin Cleric
Ethereal Ambush
--> Enhanced Awareness
Lightning Shrieker
Archers of Qarsi
Smoldering Efreet
Return to the Earth
Bloodfire Enforcers
Tranquil Cove
Pack 1 pick 8:
Jeskai Runemark
Arashin Cleric
Sibsig Host
Smoldering Efreet
Mardu Runemark
Dark Deal
Hungering Yeti
--> Jungle Hollow
Pack 1 pick 9:
Arashin Cleric
Ethereal Ambush
--> Enhanced Awareness
Lightning Shrieker
Archers of Qarsi
Return to the Earth
Neutralizing Blast
Pack 1 pick 10:
Abzan Runemark
Rakshasa's Disdain
Frontier Mastodon
Defiant Ogre
Temur Runemark
--> Pilgrim of the Fires
Pack 1 pick 11:
Mountain
--> Refocus
Archers of Qarsi
Fierce Invocation
Humble Defector
Pack 1 pick 12:
--> Jeskai Runemark
War Flare
Arashin Cleric
Smoldering Efreet
Pack 1 pick 13:
--> Tasigur's Cruelty
Lightning Shrieker
Dragonrage
Pack 1 pick 14:
Ethereal Ambush
--> Refocus
Pack 1 pick 15:
--> Bloodfire Enforcers
------ KTK ------
Pack 2 pick 1:
Ainok Tracker
Naturalize
Rush of Battle
Bloodfire Mentor
Highland Game
Dismal Backwater
Mardu Hateblade
Valley Dasher
Crippling Chill
Kheru Dreadmaw
--> Swarm of Bloodflies
Incremental Growth
Waterwhirl
Trail of Mystery
Mountain
Pack 2 pick 2:
Defiant Strike
Trumpet Blast
Alpine Grizzly
Alabaster Kirin
Monastery Flock
Tusked Colossodon
Scaldkin
--> Krumar Bond-Kin
Weave Fate
Jungle Hollow
Master the Way
Warden of the Eye
Crackling Doom
Island
Pack 2 pick 3:
Alabaster Kirin
Feed the Clan
Embodiment of Spring
--> Mardu Skullhunter
Mardu Hateblade
Leaping Master
Scout the Borders
Crippling Chill
Rotting Mastodon
Sandsteppe Citadel
Gurmag Swiftwing
Nomad Outpost
Plains
Pack 2 pick 4:
Tusked Colossodon
Sage-Eye Harrier
Trumpet Blast
Hooting Mandrills
--> Mystic of the Hidden Way
Sidisi's Pet
Abzan Guide
Temur Banner
Jungle Hollow
Abomination of Gudul
Cranial Archive
Mountain
Pack 2 pick 5:
Sage-Eye Harrier
Trumpet Blast
Scoured Barrens
Embodiment of Spring
Unyielding Krumar
Smite the Monstrous
Valley Dasher
--> Debilitating Injury
Kheru Bloodsucker
Mardu Roughrider
Swamp
Pack 2 pick 6:
Trumpet Blast
Arrow Storm
Kin-Tree Warden
Disowned Ancestor
Monastery Flock
Bitter Revelation
Dragon Grip
Ride Down
--> Bloodsoaked Champion
Mountain
Pack 2 pick 7:
Shatter
Tusked Colossodon
Erase
Disdainful Stroke
Lens of Clarity
Blossoming Sands
Mardu Banner
--> Raiders' Spoils
Swamp
Pack 2 pick 8:
Swift Kick
Hooting Mandrills
Unyielding Krumar
Sultai Banner
Firehoof Cavalry
Scaldkin
--> Sultai Scavenger
Swamp
Pack 2 pick 9:
Naturalize
Rush of Battle
--> Dismal Backwater
Mardu Hateblade
Valley Dasher
Kheru Dreadmaw
Mountain
Pack 2 pick 10:
Defiant Strike
Trumpet Blast
--> Monastery Flock
Scaldkin
Weave Fate
Island
Pack 2 pick 11:
Feed the Clan
Mardu Hateblade
--> Rotting Mastodon
Gurmag Swiftwing
Plains
Pack 2 pick 12:
Tusked Colossodon
--> Sidisi's Pet
Cranial Archive
Mountain
Pack 2 pick 13:
--> Unyielding Krumar
Valley Dasher
Swamp
Pack 2 pick 14:
--> Trumpet Blast
Mountain
Pack 2 pick 15:
--> Swamp
------ KTK ------
Pack 3 pick 1:
Longshot Squad
Defiant Strike
Canyon Lurkers
Tusked Colossodon
Rotting Mastodon
Singing Bell Strike
Jungle Hollow
Efreet Weaponmaster
Mardu Banner
Weave Fate
Pine Walker
Mardu Charm
War-Name Aspirant
--> High Sentinels of Arashin
Plains
Pack 3 pick 2:
Act of Treason
Woolly Loxodon
Defiant Strike
Whirlwind Adept
Kheru Dreadmaw
Thornwood Falls
Abomination of Gudul
Abzan Banner
--> Treasure Cruise
Ruthless Ripper
Witness of the Ages
Warden of the Eye
Ghostfire Blade
Swamp
Pack 3 pick 3:
Canyon Lurkers
Bloodfell Caves
Lens of Clarity
Firehoof Cavalry
Bring Low
Highland Game
Molting Snakeskin
Taigam's Scheming
Chief of the Scale
Stubborn Denial
Temur Charger
--> Jeskai Ascendancy
Forest
Pack 3 pick 4:
Kill Shot
Ainok Tracker
Smoke Teller
Ainok Bond-Kin
Bitter Revelation
Cancel
Abzan Banner
--> Throttle
Wind-Scarred Crag
War-Name Aspirant
Jeering Instigator
Swamp
Pack 3 pick 5:
Woolly Loxodon
Salt Road Patrol
Canyon Lurkers
Embodiment of Spring
--> Mardu Skullhunter
Mardu Hateblade
Scout the Borders
Chief of the Edge
Tomb of the Spirit Dragon
Retribution of the Ancients
Island
Pack 3 pick 6:
Longshot Squad
Sage-Eye Harrier
Dragonscale Boon
Bloodfell Caves
Wetland Sambar
Mardu Skullhunter
Rush of Battle
--> Bitter Revelation
Monastery Swiftspear
Island
Pack 3 pick 7:
War Behemoth
Swift Kick
Awaken the Bear
Kheru Dreadmaw
Jeskai Banner
Weave Fate
Raiders' Spoils
--> Bloodstained Mire
Plains
Pack 3 pick 8:
--> Dismal Backwater
Sultai Banner
Siegecraft
Kheru Dreadmaw
Cancel
Goblinslide
Brave the Sands
Forest
Pack 3 pick 9:
Defiant Strike
Canyon Lurkers
Tusked Colossodon
Rotting Mastodon
Mardu Banner
--> Weave Fate
Plains
Pack 3 pick 10:
Act of Treason
Kheru Dreadmaw
--> Thornwood Falls
Abzan Banner
Witness of the Ages
Swamp
Pack 3 pick 11:
Canyon Lurkers
Lens of Clarity
Firehoof Cavalry
--> Taigam's Scheming
Forest
Pack 3 pick 12:
Smoke Teller
--> Cancel
Abzan Banner
Swamp
Pack 3 pick 13:
--> Embodiment of Spring
Tomb of the Spirit Dragon
Island
Pack 3 pick 14:
--> Sage-Eye Harrier
Island
Pack 3 pick 15:
--> Plains
Not sure if these are the Draft caps?
I couldn't find Draft 1, but essentially I was mainly blue and red, 9 creatures, 2 manifests and a few spells of removal (in red)
Draft 3, mixed feelings, I was playing well in Round 1, but timed out by game 2, Auto-lost D:
Round 2, default win, Bye.
Round 3, I think I played well. Opponent seemed to miss crucial land drops or had no removal against my Scavenger thingy or decided to trade badly. At least that's how it went.
Edit: I think I posted the Draft Caps, not sure.
Read this.
You can also practice drafting at http://draft.bestiaire.org, which is not at all the same as drafting against real opponents but at least it gives you some added familiarity with the cards and making decisions on picks.
Other than that, just keep playing as long as you are enjoying yourself. Even those who have played hundreds of matches keep learning more as they play.
I think the draft, I got cut off of Black and White by turn 5 or so, in which I should have switched. Ended up a bit creature light, I think.
Time: 19/02/2015 9:45:36 AM
Players:
TicalStal
onefreeman
mduquesne37
--> XingLoong
Forelorn
Leeches
_TheCaptain_
Baconn
------ FRF ------
Pack 1 pick 1:
Sultai Emissary
Jeskai Runemark
Sandblast
Jeskai Sage
Sibsig Host
Cunning Strike
Defiant Ogre
Whisperer of the Wilds
Collateral Damage
Temur Runemark
Abzan Beastmaster
Reality Shift
Goblin Boom Keg
--> Dragonscale General
Blossoming Sands
Pack 1 pick 2:
Sultai Emissary
--> Harsh Sustenance
Abzan Skycaptain
Jeskai Runemark
Return to the Earth
Mardu Scout
Archers of Qarsi
Fierce Invocation
Feral Krushok
Great-Horn Krushok
Qarsi High Priest
Battlefront Krushok
Shockmaw Dragon
Thornwood Falls
Pack 1 pick 3:
Sultai Emissary
Fearsome Awakening
--> Sandblast
Jeskai Sage
Sibsig Host
Cunning Strike
Defiant Ogre
Whisperer of the Wilds
Collateral Damage
Temur Runemark
Neutralizing Blast
Merciless Executioner
Wind-Scarred Crag
Pack 1 pick 4:
--> Douse in Gloom
War Flare
Arashin Cleric
Whisk Away
Sibsig Host
Bathe in Dragonfire
Frontier Mastodon
Defiant Ogre
Ainok Guide
Alesha's Vanguard
Wandering Champion
Bloodfell Caves
Pack 1 pick 5:
Rakshasa's Disdain
Abzan Advantage
Will of the Naga
Sultai Runemark
Abzan Runemark
Fierce Invocation
Temur Runemark
Tasigur's Cruelty
Friendly Fire
Pilgrim of the Fires
--> Bloodfell Caves
Pack 1 pick 6:
Refocus
Will of the Naga
Ancestral Vengeance
Cunning Strike
Ainok Guide
Smoldering Efreet
--> Hunt the Weak
Dark Deal
Dragonrage
Dismal Backwater
Pack 1 pick 7:
Aven Skirmisher
Ethereal Ambush
Abzan Advantage
Refocus
Write into Being
--> Map the Wastes
Collateral Damage
Bloodfire Enforcers
Blossoming Sands
Pack 1 pick 8:
Rakshasa's Disdain
Abzan Advantage
Will of the Naga
Temur Runemark
Tasigur's Cruelty
Scroll of the Masters
--> Fruit of the First Tree
Renowned Weaponsmith
Pack 1 pick 9:
Jeskai Runemark
Sibsig Host
Cunning Strike
Defiant Ogre
Temur Runemark
Goblin Boom Keg
--> Blossoming Sands
Pack 1 pick 10:
Jeskai Runemark
Archers of Qarsi
Fierce Invocation
--> Feral Krushok
Great-Horn Krushok
Battlefront Krushok
Pack 1 pick 11:
Sibsig Host
--> Cunning Strike
Defiant Ogre
Temur Runemark
Neutralizing Blast
Pack 1 pick 12:
Sibsig Host
Defiant Ogre
--> Alesha's Vanguard
Bloodfell Caves
Pack 1 pick 13:
--> Abzan Runemark
Temur Runemark
Tasigur's Cruelty
Pack 1 pick 14:
Dark Deal
--> Dragonrage
Pack 1 pick 15:
--> Bloodfire Enforcers
------ KTK ------
Pack 2 pick 1:
Mardu Hordechief
Ainok Tracker
Naturalize
Bloodfell Caves
Jeskai Windscout
Lens of Clarity
Firehoof Cavalry
Bring Low
Whirlwind Adept
Molting Snakeskin
Seek the Horizon
--> Murderous Cut
Sultai Soothsayer
Sultai Ascendancy
Forest
Pack 2 pick 2:
Tusked Colossodon
Sage-Eye Harrier
Arrow Storm
Dragonscale Boon
Bloodfell Caves
Wetland Sambar
Swamp
Rush of Battle
Force Away
Kheru Dreadmaw
--> Abzan Charm
Set Adrift
Horde Ambusher
Forest
Pack 2 pick 3:
Tusked Colossodon
Sage-Eye Harrier
Firehoof Cavalry
Arrow Storm
Kin-Tree Warden
Swiftwater Cliffs
--> Disowned Ancestor
Krumar Bond-Kin
Singing Bell Strike
Briber's Purse
Death Frenzy
Rakshasa Vizier
Plains
Pack 2 pick 4:
--> Tusked Colossodon
Erase
Mardu Warshrieker
Smoke Teller
Taigam's Scheming
Dutiful Return
Ponyback Brigade
Jeskai Banner
Weave Fate
Waterwhirl
Deflecting Palm
Forest
Pack 2 pick 5:
Longshot Squad
Sage-Eye Harrier
Mardu Warshrieker
Feed the Clan
Taigam's Scheming
Debilitating Injury
Mardu Banner
Treasure Cruise
Thornwood Falls
--> Bellowing Saddlebrute
Forest
Pack 2 pick 6:
Shatter
Glacial Stalker
--> Shambling Attendants
Abzan Banner
Treasure Cruise
Rugged Highlands
Efreet Weaponmaster
Blinding Spray
Windstorm
Swamp
Pack 2 pick 7:
--> Jeskai Student
War Behemoth
Whirlwind Adept
Rotting Mastodon
Cancel
Abzan Banner
Gurmag Swiftwing
Altar of the Brood
Plains
Pack 2 pick 8:
Feed the Clan
Ainok Tracker
Leaping Master
Tranquil Cove
--> Unyielding Krumar
Sultai Banner
Rakshasa's Secret
Island
Pack 2 pick 9:
Ainok Tracker
--> Bloodfell Caves
Lens of Clarity
Firehoof Cavalry
Molting Snakeskin
Seek the Horizon
Forest
Pack 2 pick 10:
Wetland Sambar
Swamp
Rush of Battle
--> Kheru Dreadmaw
Set Adrift
Forest
Pack 2 pick 11:
--> Tusked Colossodon
Firehoof Cavalry
Kin-Tree Warden
Briber's Purse
Plains
Pack 2 pick 12:
--> Erase
Taigam's Scheming
Jeskai Banner
Forest
Pack 2 pick 13:
Feed the Clan
--> Taigam's Scheming
Forest
Pack 2 pick 14:
--> Shatter
Swamp
Pack 2 pick 15:
--> Plains
------ KTK ------
Pack 3 pick 1:
Salt Road Patrol
Canyon Lurkers
Alpine Grizzly
Scout the Borders
Dismal Backwater
Sultai Banner
--> Disowned Ancestor
Siegecraft
Monastery Flock
Sidisi's Pet
Riverwheel Aerialists
Burn Away
Set Adrift
Sidisi, Brood Tyrant
Plains
Pack 3 pick 2:
Trumpet Blast
Hooting Mandrills
Alabaster Kirin
Summit Prowler
Molting Snakeskin
Scaldkin
Jungle Hollow
Abzan Guide
Jeskai Banner
Rite of the Serpent
Become Immense
Jeskai Elder
--> Duneblast
Island
Pack 3 pick 3:
Hooting Mandrills
Salt Road Patrol
Valley Dasher
Dragonscale Boon
Wetland Sambar
Siegecraft
Bring Low
Whirlwind Adept
Kheru Dreadmaw
Become Immense
Frontier Bivouac
--> Duneblast
Mountain
Pack 3 pick 4:
Smoke Teller
--> Ainok Bond-Kin
Valley Dasher
Dragonscale Boon
Wetland Sambar
Siegecraft
Bring Low
Glacial Stalker
Ride Down
Waterwhirl
Howl of the Horde
Swamp
Pack 3 pick 5:
Sagu Archer
Shatter
Rakshasa's Secret
Monastery Flock
Rugged Highlands
Abomination of Gudul
Temur Banner
Treasure Cruise
Stubborn Denial
--> Tuskguard Captain
Swamp
Pack 3 pick 6:
Swift Kick
Awaken the Bear
Leaping Master
Archers' Parapet
--> Unyielding Krumar
Sultai Banner
Dutiful Return
Master the Way
Mardu Blazebringer
Swamp
Pack 3 pick 7:
Swift Kick
Awaken the Bear
Canyon Lurkers
Taigam's Scheming
Snowhorn Rider
Jeskai Banner
Briber's Purse
--> Raiders' Spoils
Mountain
Pack 3 pick 8:
War Behemoth
Kin-Tree Warden
Awaken the Bear
Bloodfire Mentor
Archers' Parapet
--> Rotting Mastodon
Avalanche Tusker
Forest
Pack 3 pick 9:
Canyon Lurkers
Scout the Borders
Sultai Banner
Siegecraft
--> Sidisi's Pet
Set Adrift
Plains
Pack 3 pick 10:
Trumpet Blast
Molting Snakeskin
Jeskai Banner
--> Rite of the Serpent
Become Immense
Island
Pack 3 pick 11:
--> Salt Road Patrol
Siegecraft
Whirlwind Adept
Kheru Dreadmaw
Mountain
Pack 3 pick 12:
Wetland Sambar
Siegecraft
--> Howl of the Horde
Swamp
Pack 3 pick 13:
--> Rakshasa's Secret
Temur Banner
Swamp
Pack 3 pick 14:
--> Dutiful Return
Swamp
Pack 3 pick 15:
--> Mountain
1x Ainok Bond-Kin
1x Jeskai Student
1x Dragonscale General
1x Salt Road Patrol
2x Disowned Ancestor
1x Alesha's Vanguard
1x Bellowing Saddlebrute
2x Unyielding Krumar
1x Rotting Mastadon
1x Shambling Attendants
1x Sandblast
1x Douse in Gloom
1x Raider's Spoils
1x Murderous Cut
1x Map the Wastes
1x Hunt the Weak
1x Harsh Sustenance
1x Abzan Charm
2x Duneblast
1x Blossoming Sands
6x Plains
9x Swamp
2x Forrest
Match 1 - Sultaish
Game 1 - Kept a bad opening, opponent had an answer and good tempo (i think that's the term).
Game 2 - Better start, was winning by Turn 6, at which he plays ghastly conscript and stalls till we both have 8 creatures and 5 cards left in the deck. Stalls to a point where he's slowly getting small advantages, I manage to stall again with Harsh Sustenance. Later he manages to get a Djinn to chunk me (playing 2 spell cards, 7 damage). Last turn (4 cards left), I get my Dune Blast for the win.
Game 3 - Good opening, he misses his 2 drops, Douse his Morph, he runs out of time.
Match 2 - Jeskai
Game 1 - Both slow to start, but I managed to get all my 1 and 2 drops before him and give them a chance to outlast once and play my Raider's Spoils. Had an answer for his plays.
Game 2 - Good turn 1 and 2 (Ancestor + Ainok), he plays Jeskai Infiltrator in which I decide to sandblast, which he counters with Collateral Damage. Board stalls with my 2 Ancestors (with 1 outlast each) and his Efreet warrior thingy (3/1). Manages to get a Jeskai windscout, to which I had no answer, 5 consecutive lands. He beats me down. Another collateral, Bring low.
Game 3 - Shaky start (3 Plains, Abzan Charm, Duneblast, Salt Road Patrol, Ainok Bond-Kin). He doesn't have a 2 drop, I outlast and play Disowned Ancestor. Plays Monestary Flock, I play Raider's Spoils and it helps me draw more. I attack with both he blocks and Collateral damages my Ainok. I get out Salt Patrol and slow whittle him down. He Fierce Invocation's a Marang Prowler, mis-plays Deflecting palm? (didn't kill any of my creatures, had a Disowned (2/5), Salt Road (4/5) and Krumar (4/3)). I eventually Hunt the Weak his Shockmaw dragon with my Salt Road and swing for the win.
Match 3 - Mardu
Game 1 - Kept 5 land hand, 2 spells. Got Jeskai student out, he got Mardu Scout, debilatating injuries my Jeskai, chumped block, I Douse his Scout. No creatures for me he has a Sultai Emissary. Beats me down eventually. Wild Slashes me for the finish
Game 2 - 3 Land, Jeskai Monk, 2 Dune Blasts, Sand Blast, I keep. He misses his 2 drop. I get Bellowing Saddlebrute out. He Burn Away it. I end up using 1 dune blast to get rid of his 2 creatures. He Rakshasa's Secret me. I lose Dune Blast and Harsh Sustenance. He gets out Flamewake Phoenix and beats me down.
Lesson: Learn to Mulligan D: and read signs better.
Any advice will be appreciated. I'm pretty much new to MTG. Started last month, gone to 4 real life Drafts (last for KTK the rest for FRF). Started MTGO last week.
Cheers.
I got cut off really bad I think, or I was too ignorant to switch fast enough. Creature light again D:
Time: 19/02/2015 8:14:51 PM
Players:
Haddock443
miraclegrow88
QTL7
jjkbb2005
FreshAsImIs
uebelst4r
TheSimpleMan
--> XingLoong
------ FRF ------
Pack 1 pick 1:
Jeskai Runemark
Douse in Gloom
War Flare
Arashin Cleric
Map the Wastes
Lightning Shrieker
Ainok Guide
Sandsteppe Outcast
Smoldering Efreet
Hunt the Weak
Marang River Prowler
Mardu Shadowspear
Pilgrim of the Fires
--> Jeskai Infiltrator
Dismal Backwater
Pack 1 pick 2:
Soul Summons
Sultai Skullkeeper
--> Reach of Shadows
Harsh Sustenance
Map the Wastes
Collateral Damage
Formless Nurturing
Sandsteppe Outcast
Temur Battle Rage
Hunt the Weak
Reality Shift
Grave Strength
Vaultbreaker
Tranquil Cove
Pack 1 pick 3:
Will of the Naga
Ancestral Vengeance
Cunning Strike
Abzan Runemark
Rakshasa's Disdain
Reach of Shadows
Frontier Mastodon
--> Typhoid Rats
Defiant Ogre
Fruit of the First Tree
Reality Shift
Lotus-Eye Mystics
Jungle Hollow
Pack 1 pick 4:
--> Ethereal Ambush
Dragon Bell Monk
Enhanced Awareness
Gurmag Angler
Refocus
Soul Summons
Great-Horn Krushok
Ambush Krotiq
Gore Swine
Mardu Woe-Reaper
Humble Defector
Thornwood Falls
Pack 1 pick 5:
Sibsig Host
Sultai Skullkeeper
Sultai Runemark
Mardu Runemark
Tasigur's Cruelty
Temur Battle Rage
Return to the Earth
--> Cached Defenses
Friendly Fire
Pilgrim of the Fires
Tranquil Cove
Pack 1 pick 6:
Abzan Advantage
Refocus
Hooded Assassin
--> Enhanced Awareness
Great-Horn Krushok
Frontier Mastodon
Winds of Qal Sisma
Hungering Yeti
Mardu Woe-Reaper
Bloodfell Caves
Pack 1 pick 7:
Sibsig Host
Cunning Strike
Arashin Cleric
Lightning Shrieker
Archers of Qarsi
Smoldering Efreet
Return to the Earth
--> Rite of Undoing
Break Through the Line
Pack 1 pick 8:
--> Ethereal Ambush
Abzan Advantage
Refocus
Hooded Assassin
Great-Horn Krushok
Defiant Ogre
Fearsome Awakening
Bloodfell Caves
Pack 1 pick 9:
Jeskai Runemark
Arashin Cleric
--> Map the Wastes
Lightning Shrieker
Smoldering Efreet
Mardu Shadowspear
Pilgrim of the Fires
Pack 1 pick 10:
Soul Summons
Sultai Skullkeeper
Collateral Damage
Formless Nurturing
--> Reality Shift
Grave Strength
Pack 1 pick 11:
Ancestral Vengeance
Abzan Runemark
Rakshasa's Disdain
--> Frontier Mastodon
Defiant Ogre
Pack 1 pick 12:
--> Refocus
Great-Horn Krushok
Ambush Krotiq
Gore Swine
Pack 1 pick 13:
Sultai Runemark
Tasigur's Cruelty
--> Friendly Fire
Pack 1 pick 14:
Abzan Advantage
--> Refocus
Pack 1 pick 15:
--> Sibsig Host
------ KTK ------
Pack 2 pick 1:
Woolly Loxodon
Salt Road Patrol
Canyon Lurkers
Alpine Grizzly
Bitter Revelation
Force Away
Thornwood Falls
Efreet Weaponmaster
Abzan Banner
Throttle
Pine Walker
Mardu Charm
Seeker of the Way
--> Sidisi, Brood Tyrant
Plains
Pack 2 pick 2:
Act of Treason
Tusked Colossodon
Sage-Eye Harrier
Trumpet Blast
Dutiful Return
Whirlwind Adept
Abzan Banner
Rite of the Serpent
--> Jungle Hollow
Efreet Weaponmaster
Seek the Horizon
Tomb of the Spirit Dragon
Jeskai Ascendancy
Forest
Pack 2 pick 3:
Feat of Resistance
Shatter
Awaken the Bear
Kheru Dreadmaw
Cancel
Krumar Bond-Kin
Throttle
Summit Prowler
Ponyback Brigade
Gurmag Swiftwing
--> Sultai Flayer
Ankle Shanker
Forest
Pack 2 pick 4:
--> Longshot Squad
Defiant Strike
Act of Treason
Tusked Colossodon
Shambling Attendants
Snowhorn Rider
Jeskai Banner
Blossoming Sands
Ponyback Brigade
Opulent Palace
Seek the Horizon
Mountain
Pack 2 pick 5:
Summit Prowler
Sagu Archer
Barrage of Boulders
Kheru Dreadmaw
Monastery Flock
Abomination of Gudul
Mardu Banner
--> Treasure Cruise
Stubborn Denial
Frontier Bivouac
Swamp
Pack 2 pick 6:
--> Savage Punch
Shatter
Mardu Hateblade
Leaping Master
Scout the Borders
Bloodfell Caves
Sultai Scavenger
Mardu Blazebringer
Tuskguard Captain
Forest
Pack 2 pick 7:
Erase
Tormenting Voice
--> Longshot Squad
Sage-Eye Harrier
Wind-Scarred Crag
Ponyback Brigade
Weave Fate
Waterwhirl
Island
Pack 2 pick 8:
Barrage of Boulders
Salt Road Patrol
Molting Snakeskin
Abzan Guide
Jeskai Banner
Rite of the Serpent
--> Bear's Companion
Mountain
Pack 2 pick 9:
Salt Road Patrol
Canyon Lurkers
--> Alpine Grizzly
Thornwood Falls
Abzan Banner
Throttle
Plains
Pack 2 pick 10:
Act of Treason
--> Whirlwind Adept
Abzan Banner
Seek the Horizon
Tomb of the Spirit Dragon
Forest
Pack 2 pick 11:
Shatter
--> Kheru Dreadmaw
Cancel
Ponyback Brigade
Forest
Pack 2 pick 12:
--> Tusked Colossodon
Jeskai Banner
Seek the Horizon
Mountain
Pack 2 pick 13:
--> Kheru Dreadmaw
Mardu Banner
Swamp
Pack 2 pick 14:
--> Shatter
Forest
Pack 2 pick 15:
--> Island
------ KTK ------
Pack 3 pick 1:
Tusked Colossodon
Erase
Mardu Warshrieker
Smoke Teller
Sidisi's Pet
Glacial Stalker
Shambling Attendants
Scaldkin
Ponyback Brigade
Jeskai Banner
Roar of Challenge
Armament Corps
Warden of the Eye
--> Sultai Ascendancy
Island
Pack 3 pick 2:
Summit Prowler
Feed the Clan
Kill Shot
Ainok Tracker
Rotting Mastodon
Singing Bell Strike
Abzan Banner
--> Treasure Cruise
Rugged Highlands
Efreet Weaponmaster
Winterflame
Hordeling Outburst
Raiders' Spoils
Island
Pack 3 pick 3:
--> Woolly Loxodon
Defiant Strike
Trumpet Blast
Alpine Grizzly
Disdainful Stroke
Sidisi's Pet
Temur Banner
Mardu Banner
Briber's Purse
Tomb of the Spirit Dragon
Temur Charger
Altar of the Brood
Forest
Pack 3 pick 4:
Kill Shot
Ainok Tracker
Smoke Teller
--> Bitter Revelation
Singing Bell Strike
Jeskai Banner
Blossoming Sands
Swamp
Temur Banner
Dragon Grip
Kin-Tree Invocation
Island
Pack 3 pick 5:
Bloodfire Expert
Shatter
Rakshasa's Secret
Disdainful Stroke
Mardu Banner
Island
--> Thornwood Falls
Cranial Archive
Death Frenzy
Deflecting Palm
Plains
Pack 3 pick 6:
Sage-Eye Harrier
Mardu Warshrieker
Feed the Clan
--> Glacial Stalker
Snowhorn Rider
Throttle
Blossoming Sands
Witness of the Ages
Dragon Throne of Tarkir
Mountain
Pack 3 pick 7:
Swift Kick
Awaken the Bear
Canyon Lurkers
Dutiful Return
Disdainful Stroke
Mardu Banner
--> Weave Fate
Cranial Archive
Swamp
Pack 3 pick 8:
Naturalize
Jeskai Student
--> Whirlwind Adept
Weave Fate
Wind-Scarred Crag
Abzan Guide
Temur Banner
Mountain
Pack 3 pick 9:
Tusked Colossodon
Erase
Shambling Attendants
--> Scaldkin
Ponyback Brigade
Jeskai Banner
Island
Pack 3 pick 10:
Feed the Clan
Ainok Tracker
Abzan Banner
Efreet Weaponmaster
--> Raiders' Spoils
Island
Pack 3 pick 11:
Temur Banner
Mardu Banner
--> Briber's Purse
Tomb of the Spirit Dragon
Forest
Pack 3 pick 12:
Jeskai Banner
--> Temur Banner
Dragon Grip
Island
Pack 3 pick 13:
Shatter
--> Mardu Banner
Plains
Pack 3 pick 14:
--> Dragon Throne of Tarkir
Mountain
Pack 3 pick 15:
--> Swamp
1x Jeskai Infiltrator
1x Alpine Grizzly
1x Frontier Mastodon
1x Wolly Loxodon
1x Glacial Stalker
2x Longshot Squad
1x Sultai Flayer
1x Sidisi, Brood Tyrant
1x Whirlwind Adept
1x Tusked Colossodon
1x Reality Shift
1x Savage Punch
1x Cached Defenses
1x Map the Wastes
1x Sultai Ascendancy
1x Weave Fate
1x Bitter Revelation
1x Rite of Undoing
1x Reach of Shadows
1x Etereal Ambush
1x Treasure Cruise
1x Jungle Hollow
1x Thornwood Falls
6x Islands
2x Swamps
8x Forrests
Would there have been a better pick or build among the cards? Would have anything given away information earlier? Or do I just try to be more open minded?
Match 1
Game 1 - Immediately mull'd to 6, had 4 land (on the draw). Again it was not a smart decision ._. Loss ensures.
Game 2 - Mull to 6. Got my Bear. Sidisi follows shortly, threw Sultai Accendency due to ability. Close game, zombies doing some work, as well as the infiltrator. Feel as if I shouldn't run Sidisi with so little creatures.
Game 3 - Started with 4 lands, infiltrator and Sidisi and Map. Neither of us has a 2 drop. Eventually he wins with Temur Battle Rage.
Really feeling that I could have done something smarter during the picks D:
Match 2 - Got a Bye =/
Will update later with match 3
Edit: Match 3
Game 1: Mulled to 6, kept a 4 land hand with a Tusked Collosodon, opponent puts out a 2 drop Jeskai Sage, uh-oh. I get my Longhot Squad. Followed later by my Tusked Collosodon. Enemy Concedes. Stuck at 2 lands.
Game 2: Enemy had a drop every turn. Managed to drag it out to late game. But he had better draws overall in the end. Although I feel I made the lease cost effective choices
Mmm. I've watched most of the FRF ones at Channelfireball. I've seen one or 2 at Channel Fireball, the duo and HAUMPH. I like how they discuss the cards. It took me a while to pick up that if they pick one rare, they tried to mostly stay in the colour.
Green is good to splash here, and 3 sources are fine in my view, for the 2 Duneblasts but the other 3 green cards are not good splashes in my view. Abzan Charm and Hunt the Weak are good cards but as a splash with only 3 green mana sources they would too often just sit in the hand doing nothing. If you had more fixing lands so that you could play 4 sources of green mana then I would like the charm, and 5 or more then I might like the Hunt the Weak although maybe not even then. In my view Map the Wastes is generally a sub-standard card except in a certain type of deck (one needing ramp, having plenty of green mana sources, and having several 1 or 2 drop creatures to obtain the bolster on turn 3), and to add that card on the splash is very detrimental in my view.
The second half of the FRF pack was brutal so that was bad luck there, and including some sub-standard cards was probably necessary. Without looking in too much detail I would have taken War Behemoth (an average card) over Jeskai Student (a sub-standard card) and over the Rotting Mastodon, and I would have played the Rite of the Serpent instead of Map the Wastes.
The deck overall does not seem to have a good curve, with not enough to do in the early game, and I would think that it would be too vulnerable to losing before getting out enough defense or threats, mostly due to the low creature count.
With all of this said, for someone new to Magic I think you are doing a good job. Drafting is very difficult and I've faced plenty of decks which seem sub-standard to me.
Pack 1 pick 7: Blossoming Sands over Map the Wastes
Pack 2 pick 4: Ponyback Brigade over Tusked Colossodon
Pack 2 pick 5: Longshot Squad over Debilitating Injury over Bellowing Saddlebrute
Pack 2 pick 8: Tranquil Cove over Unyielding Krumar
Pack 2 pick 10: Rush of Battle over Kheru Dreadmaw
Pack 3 pick 6: Awaken the Bear over Unyielding Krumar
Pack 3 pick 8: Awaken the Bear over Rotting Mastodon
You make the finls, where you lose to a removal heavy deck due to not running enough creatures. Your manabase is also a little lacking. Maybe you need to draft fixing higher?
Deck 5
Pack 1 pick 2: Soul Summons over Sandsteppe Outcast over Hunt the Weak over Sultai Skullkeeper over Reach of Shadows (UB meanss Sultai, which is really weak)
Pack 1 pick 3: Cunning Strike over Typhoid Rats
Pack 1 pick 4: Soul Summons over Dragon Bell Monk over Enhanced Awareness over Ethereal Ambush (ambush is right if i don't already have white cards though)
Pack 1 pick 5: Tranquil Cove over Cached Defenses
Pack 1 pick 7: Cunning Strike over Rite of Undoing
Pack 1 pick 9: Jeskai Runemark over Map the Wastes
From there I would be solidly in jeskai and our drafts will be too far diverged to be helpful to you. I'll draft as Sultai from here, which for me means UGrb.
Pack 2 pick 4: Opulent Palace(!) over Snowhorn Rider over Longshot Squad
Pack 2 pick 5: Frontier Bivouac(!) over Abomination of Gudul over Treasure Cruise
Pack 2 pick 9: Thornwood Falls(!) over Alpine Grizzly
Pack 3 pick 1: Glacial Stalker over Smoke Teller over Scaldkin over Armament Corps over Shambling Attendants over Sultai Ascendancy
Pack 3 pick 7: Awaken the Bear over Weave Fate
Soo I would have taken mana fixing much more highly than you did. You only have 11 creatures, and not enough fixing (again).
How do I know when to take fixing over say more creatures? Mind explaining some of the thought processes? And it seems you're prioritising the better picks over making it cohesive? With Ponyback, is it worth splashing for? Or is there some other reason?
But if I were to take Fixing, wouldn't I still be light in creatures? Mind explaining why Soul Summons is so good? Is it just for the prowess?
The concept I was told when I first started playing, was to pick big creatures or removal first. Is that incorrect? Is there another method that I should be going about?
It's a balancing act. If you have no fixing at all, then you're either locked in to a two colour deck with a 9/8 or 10/7 manabase, or a three colour deck with a sketchy 8/7/3 base. If you manage to pick up say 4 duals, you can bump your tri-coloured manabase up to 9/8/5, which is the same colour reliability as a two colur deck, but with basically a free splash of a third colour.
When you go into extra colours, you get more powerful cards. The tradeoff is you make your manabase less stable. Taking fixing means you will be able to run powerful cards by still have a relatively stable manabase.
Well, if you look at the picks, you're trading longshot squad and alpine grizzly for glacial stalker. And getting much better fixing out of the bargain.
Soul Summon is a card I really like because it is a spell for prowess, while also providing an early curve creature with random upside. The secret to Jeskai decks that want to run prowess cards and spells to trigger them is to run spells which produce creatures like token makers or manifest.
Picking removal first is good, although not so much with 'big creatures'. You're basically trying to take the best cards you can, which typically means the most undercosted cards. Big creatures without flying typically don't meet that criteria.
That was how I began, too, but that approach doesn't work nowadays in my view. You need to end up with a decent curve which means an emphasis on cheaper creatures, so that you have relevant things to do early in the game, so it is a matter of balancing what you take during a draft. I focus on overall power level of cards -- where that includes the mana cost factor -- and then as the draft proceeds I try to make sure to fill out the curve. That means if there is a good 2-drop to take early, then I am glad to take that, as long as it is a good one such as Ainok Bond-Kin. If there is not something good to take in a pack and I have to take a filler card (a card which I don’t mind playing), then I tend to go with cheaper creatures such as Soul Summons or Highland Game.
Just recognizing card values goes a long way, but the curve is also important.
Depending upon the deck type, in FRF-KTK-KTK I don’t think it’s necessary to have any 2-drops but it is preferable to have some if they are decent. It is necessary, though, not to have enough spells which cost 3 or less mana (where a morph counts as a 3-drop) because turn 4 is usually too late to start casting anything.
But do can you guys explain more on Card Value? How do you rate something as worth or not? I hear people discuss it, but I have lacking prior knowledge I believe and I can't seem to piece it fast enough. Other than for example, most 2 drops are 2/2.
Or, you can find rankings of cards done by pro players on channelfireball.com such as LSV's very popular and helpful card ranking articles for limited (you can google search for LSV KTK or FRF limited articles or something like that).
Identifying card values in a set is extremely important in my view. I see plenty of what I would consider sub-standard cards being played against me and it helps me win when I face those cards.
I happen to agree with you about wanting just bigger and badder creatures, so I don't shy away from the good ones of those such as Woolly Loxodon (which is a very good card because it's a morph in addition to being huge later) but I avoid taking too many 5+ drops especially early unless it's a very good card such as Reach of Shadows.
One thing I avoid is going for a small creature aggressive deck which prioritizes 2-drops. I don't think that sort of deck works reliably in FRF-KTK-KTK (unless you can draft a deck which has some of the very powerful cards for that type of deck) and from what I see most pros seem to agree with that. Aggressive can work fine but as Raptor and Haumph stated in a video I watched today effective aggression is more about setting up a big bang turn with cards such as Barrage of Boulders rather than getting in a lot of early damage. In other words, I think having some good big creatures is a good way to go as long as you don't neglect the early game and lose without casting enough spells.
Time: 21/02/2015 3:47:17 PM
Players:
--> XingLoong
babamm
syunt
JWat
Elanger
luminarus
eapers
Omega00024
------ FRF ------
Pack 1 pick 1:
Harsh Sustenance
Abzan Skycaptain
Jeskai Runemark
Douse in Gloom
War Flare
Temur Battle Rage
Return to the Earth
Mardu Scout
Archers of Qarsi
Fierce Invocation
Fearsome Awakening
Hewed Stone Retainers
Wardscale Dragon
--> Monastery Mentor
Jungle Hollow
Pack 1 pick 2:
Will of the Naga
Sultai Runemark
Abzan Runemark
Aven Surveyor
--> Sandsteppe Outcast
Temur Battle Rage
Hunt the Weak
Fierce Invocation
Temur Runemark
Tasigur's Cruelty
Arashin War Beast
Neutralizing Blast
Ugin's Construct
Bloodfell Caves
Pack 1 pick 3:
Pressure Point
Whisk Away
Sultai Emissary
Jeskai Runemark
--> Sandblast
Return to the Earth
Great-Horn Krushok
Goblin Heelcutter
Ambush Krotiq
Abzan Kin-Guard
Marang River Prowler
Friendly Fire
Rugged Highlands
Pack 1 pick 4:
Ethereal Ambush
Abzan Advantage
Refocus
Hooded Assassin
Abzan Skycaptain
Enhanced Awareness
Mardu Runemark
Ambush Krotiq
--> Write into Being
Renowned Weaponsmith
Winds of Qal Sisma
Dragonrage
Pack 1 pick 5:
--> Pressure Point
Whisk Away
Sultai Emissary
Jeskai Runemark
Sandblast
Return to the Earth
Great-Horn Krushok
Goblin Heelcutter
Ambush Krotiq
Jeskai Barricade
Swiftwater Cliffs
Pack 1 pick 6:
Jeskai Sage
--> Pressure Point
Aven Skirmisher
Defiant Ogre
Ainok Guide
Alesha's Vanguard
Gore Swine
Cached Defenses
Rite of Undoing
Rugged Highlands
Pack 1 pick 7:
Grim Contest
Aven Skirmisher
Smoldering Efreet
--> Mardu Runemark
Formless Nurturing
Tasigur's Cruelty
Battlefront Krushok
Shifting Loyalties
Hewed Stone Retainers
Pack 1 pick 8:
War Flare
--> Soul Summons
Sultai Skullkeeper
Mardu Scout
Lightning Shrieker
Vaultbreaker
Smoldering Efreet
Pilgrim of the Fires
Pack 1 pick 9:
--> War Flare
Return to the Earth
Mardu Scout
Archers of Qarsi
Fierce Invocation
Fearsome Awakening
Hewed Stone Retainers
Pack 1 pick 10:
Will of the Naga
Sultai Runemark
--> Fierce Invocation
Temur Runemark
Tasigur's Cruelty
Neutralizing Blast
Pack 1 pick 11:
--> Jeskai Runemark
Return to the Earth
Great-Horn Krushok
Ambush Krotiq
Friendly Fire
Pack 1 pick 12:
--> Refocus
Mardu Runemark
Renowned Weaponsmith
Dragonrage
Pack 1 pick 13:
--> Jeskai Runemark
Great-Horn Krushok
Ambush Krotiq
Pack 1 pick 14:
--> Defiant Ogre
Alesha's Vanguard
Pack 1 pick 15:
--> Shifting Loyalties
------ KTK ------
Pack 2 pick 1:
Trumpet Blast
Hooting Mandrills
Alabaster Kirin
Summit Prowler
Disdainful Stroke
Sidisi's Pet
Glacial Stalker
Efreet Weaponmaster
Abzan Banner
Throttle
Temur Charm
Mardu Charm
Tuskguard Captain
--> Windswept Heath
Mountain
Pack 2 pick 2:
Trumpet Blast
Alpine Grizzly
Alabaster Kirin
Kin-Tree Warden
Swiftwater Cliffs
Jeskai Windscout
Disowned Ancestor
Rush of Battle
Rotting Mastodon
Disdainful Stroke
Mardu Blazebringer
Sultai Soothsayer
--> Bloodstained Mire
Forest
Pack 2 pick 3:
Bloodfire Expert
Sagu Archer
Shatter
Shambling Attendants
Scoured Barrens
Treasure Cruise
Rugged Highlands
Efreet Weaponmaster
Lens of Clarity
Kin-Tree Invocation
Tomb of the Spirit Dragon
--> Crackling Doom
Island
Pack 2 pick 4:
Tormenting Voice
Longshot Squad
Sage-Eye Harrier
Mardu Warshrieker
Sultai Scavenger
Force Away
Mardu Banner
Weave Fate
Snowhorn Rider
--> Mardu Charm
Death Frenzy
Mountain
Pack 2 pick 5:
Tusked Colossodon
Sultai Banner
Disowned Ancestor
Siegecraft
Arrow Storm
Dragonscale Boon
Rakshasa's Secret
Chief of the Scale
--> Mardu Roughrider
Utter End
Forest
Pack 2 pick 6:
Feed the Clan
--> Jeskai Student
Embodiment of Spring
Unyielding Krumar
Smite the Monstrous
Scout the Borders
Dutiful Return
Crippling Chill
Warden of the Eye
Island
Pack 2 pick 7:
Defiant Strike
Act of Treason
Embodiment of Spring
Unyielding Krumar
Smite the Monstrous
Valley Dasher
Cancel
--> Krumar Bond-Kin
Forest
Pack 2 pick 8:
Sagu Archer
--> Barrage of Boulders
Cancel
Jeskai Banner
Weave Fate
Briber's Purse
Set Adrift
Island
Pack 2 pick 9:
--> Trumpet Blast
Summit Prowler
Disdainful Stroke
Efreet Weaponmaster
Abzan Banner
Temur Charm
Mountain
Pack 2 pick 10:
Trumpet Blast
--> Disowned Ancestor
Rush of Battle
Rotting Mastodon
Mardu Blazebringer
Forest
Pack 2 pick 11:
Shatter
--> Efreet Weaponmaster
Lens of Clarity
Tomb of the Spirit Dragon
Island
Pack 2 pick 12:
Tormenting Voice
--> Sage-Eye Harrier
Mardu Banner
Mountain
Pack 2 pick 13:
Siegecraft
--> Rakshasa's Secret
Forest
Pack 2 pick 14:
--> Feed the Clan
Island
Pack 2 pick 15:
--> Forest
------ KTK ------
Pack 3 pick 1:
Swift Kick
Hooting Mandrills
Archers' Parapet
Tranquil Cove
Unyielding Krumar
Sultai Banner
Firehoof Cavalry
Arrow Storm
Rakshasa's Secret
Mystic of the Hidden Way
Ruthless Ripper
--> Mystic Monastery
Murderous Cut
Ghostfire Blade
Forest
Pack 3 pick 2:
Trumpet Blast
Hooting Mandrills
Summit Prowler
Debilitating Injury
Glacial Stalker
Rite of the Serpent
Thornwood Falls
Abomination of Gudul
Unyielding Krumar
Roar of Challenge
--> Ride Down
Waterwhirl
Hardened Scales
Forest
Pack 3 pick 3:
Savage Punch
War Behemoth
--> Dismal Backwater
Sultai Banner
Siegecraft
Arrow Storm
Dragonscale Boon
Kheru Dreadmaw
Mystic of the Hidden Way
Goblinslide
Brave the Sands
Jeskai Elder
Plains
Pack 3 pick 4:
Tormenting Voice
Longshot Squad
Sage-Eye Harrier
Mardu Warshrieker
Molting Snakeskin
Wind-Scarred Crag
Abzan Guide
Temur Banner
Goblinslide
--> Abzan Battle Priest
Despise
Swamp
Pack 3 pick 5:
Tusked Colossodon
Erase
--> Mardu Warshrieker
Wetland Sambar
Mardu Skullhunter
Rush of Battle
Leaping Master
Rakshasa's Secret
Roar of Challenge
Retribution of the Ancients
Forest
Pack 3 pick 6:
Summit Prowler
Feed the Clan
--> Scoured Barrens
Smite the Monstrous
Bloodfire Mentor
Embodiment of Spring
Krumar Bond-Kin
Taigam's Scheming
Death Frenzy
Plains
Pack 3 pick 7:
Ainok Tracker
Naturalize
Embodiment of Spring
Smite the Monstrous
Valley Dasher
Scout the Borders
--> Highspire Mantis
Quiet Contemplation
Island
Pack 3 pick 8:
Canyon Lurkers
--> Smite the Monstrous
Bloodfire Mentor
Embodiment of Spring
Scaldkin
Scion of Glaciers
Quiet Contemplation
Plains
Pack 3 pick 9:
Swift Kick
--> Tranquil Cove
Unyielding Krumar
Sultai Banner
Firehoof Cavalry
Rakshasa's Secret
Forest
Pack 3 pick 10:
Trumpet Blast
Glacial Stalker
--> Unyielding Krumar
Roar of Challenge
Hardened Scales
Forest
Pack 3 pick 11:
Siegecraft
Kheru Dreadmaw
--> Goblinslide
Brave the Sands
Plains
Pack 3 pick 12:
Molting Snakeskin
--> Temur Banner
Goblinslide
Swamp
Pack 3 pick 13:
--> Tusked Colossodon
Erase
Forest
Pack 3 pick 14:
--> Taigam's Scheming
Plains
Pack 3 pick 15:
--> Island
1x Jeskai Student
1x Monastery Mentor
1x Sandsteppe Outcast
1x Abzan Battle Priest
1x Sage-Eye Harrier
1x Unyielding Krumar
1x Krumar Bond-Kin
1x Mardu Warshrieker
1x Highspire Mantis
1x Mardu Roughrider
1x Efreet Weaponmaster
1x Pressure Point
1x Soul Summons
1x Sandblast
1x Smite the Monstrous
1x Write into Being
1x Goblinslide
1x Trumpet Blast
1x Fierce Invocation
1x Ride Down
1x War Flare
1x Crackling Doom
1x Mardu Charm
1x Bloodstained Mire
1x Dismal Backwater
1x Island
3x Mountains
1x Mystic Monastery
5x Plains
1x Scoured Barrens
2x Swamps
1x Tranquil Cove
1x Windswept Heath
May have gotten greedy with my picks.
Ended up 4 colours. Should have gone fixing earlier =/
Match 1 - 5 Colour deck.
Game 1 - Manages to ramp and get ahead of me.
Game 2 - Mulled to 6, Got Mentor, Got 1 token out, Got 4 creatures (Morph, Jeskai Student, Token Mentor), swung for 17 damage with Warfare and Prowess. Got Rhino out and exact lethal next turn. He murderous cut my Mentor, and had 3 creatures up. I summon Fierce Invocation for the win.
Game 3 - Mulled to 5 (6 lands 1 spell, No land). Stuck at 3 lands, opponent gets to 7 land. Beats me up.
Match 2 - Sultai with Ghostfire Blade
Game 1 - Gets Ghostfire out. Stalls at 6 Land. I stall at 5, but I get a morph and Hirespire out, whittle him down until I Trumpet Blast for Exact. He summoned no creatures for 3 turns.
Game 2 - Mulled to 5, 3 plains and a scoured Barrens. Krumar turn 4. He gets his Pinewalker out. I miss my other land drops.
Game 3 - Start the game with 2 fetch, Monastery and a Mountain. Kept. Get Jeskai student out. He misses 3 drop, debilating injuries my Morph.
I put down my Roughrider. He whisks. Still stuck on 3 land. Misplayed a few. Miclciked land, and stack. Drawn out an easily winnable game. Eventually I manage to get a spirit Token though, with War Flare for lethal 3 damage.
Match 3 - Jeskai
Game - Outplayed. Died to not blocking and a firestorm to finish
Game 2 - Everything goes my way. He only has a Mardu Scout with a Jeskai rune which I remove shortly.
Game 3 - Opponent has alot of evasion. Couldn't deal with it all. Goblin Heelcutter, Flamewake Phoenix, Jeskai Windscout.
Is there archetypes for decks? If so, what goes towards them?
I hear the word Midrange, Aggro and Control alot. Can anyone elaborate on them?
Control decks attempt to spend the early game mitigating their opponent's threats through blockers or removal and then win later in the game with powerful spells and creatures the aggressive deck just can't compete with.
Midrange decks are somewhere in between and often take the role of control against an aggro deck and aggro against a control deck.
If you haven't read "Who's the Beatdown?" stop what you're doing and read it now. It's one of the classic Magic strategy articles and it's important for anyone who wants to learn to read the game state and play as well as possible. I believe a follow up version or something was written a few years later.
"Archetype" in draft typically means something a bit more specific than aggro or control. It's a particular type of deck with a particular game plan that is likely to be available in any given draft because of the cards everyone knows should probably be in the pool. For example, an archetype from Khans was RG Bearpunch, which relied on Alpine Grizzly, Bloodfire Expert, and other relatively high power creatures to leverage Savage Punch, Barrage of Boulders and other such cards to hit hard and fast.
Pack 1 pick 4: Abzan Skycaptain over Write into Being (no reason to leave the safe confines of white yet, and this helps you cut the colour)
Pack 1 pick 5: Sandblast over Pressure Point
Pack 1 pick 6: Cached Defenses over Pressure Point (I don't like Pressure Point, this isn't us branching into green. if we end up there this is a good card however)
Pack 1 pick 7: Hewed Stone Retainers over Mardu Runemark
So pack 1 I would have stayed open in white (with a slight leaning towards red)
Pack 2 pick 3: Efreet Weaponmaster over Crackling Doom (less colour intensive)
Pack 2 pick 4: Mardu Warshrieker over Sultai Scavenger over Mardu Charm (ok, I'll draft as Mardu from here since it looks like you have moved in)
Pack 2 pick 5: Utter End over Chief of the Scale over Mardu Roughrider
Pack 2 pick 6: Smite the Monstrous over Jeskai Student
Pack 3 pick 1: Ghostfire Blade (!) over Murderous Cut over Mystic Monastery (THE mispick of the draft. Blade is a bomb)
Pack 3 pick 2: Debilitating Injury over Ride Down
Pack 3 pick 3: War Behemoth over Dismal Backwater
Pack 3 pick 9: Swift Kick over Tranquil Cove
Pack 3 pick 10: Glacial Stalker over Unyielding Krumar (given you have some blue mana)
I think your gold mardu cards aren't strong enough to merit locking in to that wedge, and also Windswepth Heath isn't worth running without a Forest to search up. You should have ended up in Jeskai I think.
Every draft deck is basically a midrange deck, although some of them are more aggressive (prioritising early attacking creatures and adding in ways to get them through or finish the opponent off), while others are more controlling (playing more card draw and blockers, and usually using evasion creatures to peck the opponent down). In your list Trumpt Blast is an aggressive card, but your deck isn't that aggressive, because you have no 2 power dudes you can play before the third turn.
Event #: 8013700
Time: 23/02/2015 11:21:29 AM
Players:
ChadbroChill848
Mullet The Great
Templiernoir
slymudaly
--> XingLoong
Tarion
leviceathan
aJogari
------ FRF ------
Pack 1 pick 1:
Refocus
Hooded Assassin
Abzan Skycaptain
Enhanced Awareness
Write into Being
Goblin Heelcutter
Map the Wastes
Collateral Damage
Formless Nurturing
Sandsteppe Outcast
Renowned Weaponsmith
Sibsig Muckdraggers
Honor's Reward
--> Arcbond
Jungle Hollow
Pack 1 pick 2:
--> Cunning Strike
Arashin Cleric
Aven Surveyor
Typhoid Rats
Ethereal Ambush
Dragon Bell Monk
Defiant Ogre
Whisperer of the Wilds
Collateral Damage
Temur Runemark
Abzan Kin-Guard
Humble Defector
Crucible of the Spirit Dragon
Swiftwater Cliffs
Pack 1 pick 3:
Enhanced Awareness
Gurmag Angler
Refocus
Soul Summons
--> Write into Being
Map the Wastes
Lightning Shrieker
Ainok Guide
Sandsteppe Outcast
Marang River Prowler
Mardu Shadowspear
Vaultbreaker
Rugged Highlands
Pack 1 pick 4:
Will of the Naga
Ancestral Vengeance
--> Cunning Strike
Abzan Runemark
Rakshasa's Disdain
Smoldering Efreet
Hunt the Weak
Mardu Runemark
Formless Nurturing
Tasigur's Cruelty
Cached Defenses
Wandering Champion
Pack 1 pick 5:
Cunning Strike
Arashin Cleric
Ethereal Ambush
Dragon Bell Monk
Defiant Ogre
--> Collateral Damage
Temur Runemark
Destructor Dragon
Ugin's Construct
Sage's Reverie
Tranquil Cove
Pack 1 pick 6:
Whisk Away
Sultai Emissary
Jeskai Runemark
--> Jeskai Sage
Sibsig Host
Ambush Krotiq
Alesha's Vanguard
Fearsome Awakening
Wardscale Dragon
Scoured Barrens
Pack 1 pick 7:
Cunning Strike
Arashin Cleric
Typhoid Rats
Ethereal Ambush
Dragon Bell Monk
Defiant Ogre
--> Collateral Damage
Temur Runemark
Scroll of the Masters
Pack 1 pick 8:
Grim Contest
Dragon Bell Monk
Rakshasa's Disdain
Gurmag Angler
Hunt the Weak
--> Fierce Invocation
Temur Runemark
Tasigur's Cruelty
Pack 1 pick 9:
Refocus
Enhanced Awareness
Map the Wastes
Collateral Damage
Formless Nurturing
--> Renowned Weaponsmith
Jungle Hollow
Pack 1 pick 10:
Arashin Cleric
Defiant Ogre
Collateral Damage
Temur Runemark
Crucible of the Spirit Dragon
--> Swiftwater Cliffs
Pack 1 pick 11:
Refocus
Map the Wastes
Ainok Guide
Mardu Shadowspear
--> Rugged Highlands
Pack 1 pick 12:
Ancestral Vengeance
Abzan Runemark
--> Rakshasa's Disdain
Tasigur's Cruelty
Pack 1 pick 13:
--> Defiant Ogre
Temur Runemark
Sage's Reverie
Pack 1 pick 14:
Sibsig Host
--> Ambush Krotiq
Pack 1 pick 15:
--> Temur Runemark
------ KTK ------
Pack 2 pick 1:
Longshot Squad
Sage-Eye Harrier
Mardu Warshrieker
Feed the Clan
Glacial Stalker
Glacial Stalker
Abzan Guide
Abzan Banner
Rite of the Serpent
Jungle Hollow
Chief of the Edge
--> Hordeling Outburst
Sultai Charm
Ankle Shanker
Forest
Pack 2 pick 2:
Longshot Squad
Sage-Eye Harrier
Mardu Warshrieker
Smite the Monstrous
Valley Dasher
Scout the Borders
Dismal Backwater
Sultai Banner
Dutiful Return
--> Crippling Chill
Chief of the Scale
Witness of the Ages
Windstorm
Forest
Pack 2 pick 3:
Woolly Loxodon
Defiant Strike
Trumpet Blast
Alpine Grizzly
Dutiful Return
--> Icy Blast
Efreet Weaponmaster
Abzan Banner
Throttle
Seek the Horizon
Waterwhirl
Kheru Lich Lord
Forest
Pack 2 pick 4:
Shatter
Tusked Colossodon
Erase
Rotting Mastodon
Singing Bell Strike
Treasure Cruise
--> Efreet Weaponmaster
Abzan Banner
Timely Hordemate
Heart-Piercer Bow
Mardu Roughrider
Swamp
Pack 2 pick 5:
Swift Kick
Hooting Mandrills
Salt Road Patrol
Act of Treason
Sultai Scavenger
Taigam's Scheming
Abomination of Gudul
Mardu Banner
Treasure Cruise
--> Scion of Glaciers
Island
Pack 2 pick 6:
Mardu Warshrieker
Smoke Teller
Ainok Tracker
Wind-Scarred Crag
Ponyback Brigade
Weave Fate
--> Riverwheel Aerialists
Mardu Blazebringer
Warden of the Eye
Swamp
Pack 2 pick 7:
Smoke Teller
--> Hooting Mandrills
Sagu Archer
Sidisi's Pet
Throttle
Ponyback Brigade
Jeskai Banner
Stubborn Denial
Mountain
Pack 2 pick 8:
Awaken the Bear
Canyon Lurkers
Rush of Battle
--> Leaping Master
Tranquil Cove
Molting Snakeskin
Scaldkin
Island
Pack 2 pick 9:
Sage-Eye Harrier
Feed the Clan
--> Abzan Guide
Abzan Banner
Rite of the Serpent
Sultai Charm
Forest
Pack 2 pick 10:
Longshot Squad
Sage-Eye Harrier
Sultai Banner
Dutiful Return
--> Witness of the Ages
Forest
Pack 2 pick 11:
Dutiful Return
Abzan Banner
Seek the Horizon
--> Kheru Lich Lord
Forest
Pack 2 pick 12:
--> Shatter
Erase
Abzan Banner
Swamp
Pack 2 pick 13:
--> Swift Kick
Taigam's Scheming
Island
Pack 2 pick 14:
--> Mardu Blazebringer
Swamp
Pack 2 pick 15:
--> Mountain
------ KTK ------
Pack 3 pick 1:
Feed the Clan
Jeskai Student
Disowned Ancestor
Siegecraft
Arrow Storm
Dragonscale Boon
Bloodfell Caves
Wetland Sambar
Kheru Dreadmaw
Mystic of the Hidden Way
Become Immense
Mardu Charm
Frontier Bivouac
--> Polluted Delta
Swamp
Pack 3 pick 2:
Canyon Lurkers
Alpine Grizzly
Erase
Tormenting Voice
Sultai Scavenger
Force Away
Abzan Guide
Abzan Banner
Rite of the Serpent
Jungle Hollow
Blinding Spray
Secret Plans
--> Dragon's Eye Savants
Island
Pack 3 pick 3:
Salt Road Patrol
--> Act of Treason
Woolly Loxodon
Defiant Strike
Rakshasa's Secret
Monastery Flock
Thornwood Falls
Ponyback Brigade
Jeskai Banner
Weave Fate
Horde Ambusher
Secret Plans
Island
Pack 3 pick 4:
--> Kill Shot
Ainok Tracker
Smoke Teller
Ainok Bond-Kin
Molting Snakeskin
Scaldkin
Rite of the Serpent
Thornwood Falls
Abomination of Gudul
Abzan Banner
Temur Charm
Swamp
Pack 3 pick 5:
Barrage of Boulders
Salt Road Patrol
Krumar Bond-Kin
Crippling Chill
--> Rugged Highlands
Abomination of Gudul
Temur Banner
Treasure Cruise
Cranial Archive
Despise
Forest
Pack 3 pick 6:
Summit Prowler
Feed the Clan
Kill Shot
Ainok Tracker
Lens of Clarity
Blossoming Sands
--> Snowhorn Rider
Mardu Banner
Hardened Scales
Swamp
Pack 3 pick 7:
--> Bloodfire Expert
Sagu Archer
Shatter
Treasure Cruise
Efreet Weaponmaster
Lens of Clarity
Tuskguard Captain
Flying Crane Technique
Forest
Pack 3 pick 8:
--> Canyon Lurkers
Longshot Squad
Dutiful Return
Abzan Banner
Rite of the Serpent
Gurmag Swiftwing
Temur Charger
Island
Pack 3 pick 9:
Feed the Clan
--> Jeskai Student
Siegecraft
Wetland Sambar
Kheru Dreadmaw
Mardu Charm
Swamp
Pack 3 pick 10:
--> Canyon Lurkers
Abzan Banner
Rite of the Serpent
Jungle Hollow
Blinding Spray
Island
Pack 3 pick 11:
Defiant Strike
Rakshasa's Secret
Jeskai Banner
--> Weave Fate
Island
Pack 3 pick 12:
Molting Snakeskin
--> Scaldkin
Abzan Banner
Swamp
Pack 3 pick 13:
--> Salt Road Patrol
Cranial Archive
Forest
Pack 3 pick 14:
--> Lens of Clarity
Swamp
Pack 3 pick 15:
--> Forest
1x Dragon's Eye Savants
1x Jeskai Sage
1x Renowned Weaponsmith
1x Leaping Master
1x Bloodfire Expert
1x Witness of the Ages
1x Snowhorn Rider
1x Canyon Lurkers
1x Scion of Glaciers
1x Riverwheel Aerialists
2x Colateral Damage
1x Crippling Chill
1x Write into Being
1x Act of Treason
1x Arcbond
1x Hordeling Outburst
1x Weave Fate
1x Swift Kick
1x Fierce Invocation
2x Cunning Strike
1x Icy Blast
1x Polluted Delta
2x Rugged Highlands
1x Swiftwater Cliffs
7x Islands
8x Mountains
Getting faster at typing these names >_>
Match 1 - Temur
Game 1 - He starts, hits his lands and drops on time. Destroys me.
Game 2 - Mulled to 4. 3 land, Collateral. Nothing but land.
Match 2 - Mardu
Game 1 - Typhoid rats with Mardu rune. I hold out to a similar board state. Misplayed Arcbond. Thought it was damage it dealt. Should have targeted the enemies Morph that I attacked with my Canyon Lurker. At least I learnt how it works.
Game 2 - I get my Aerialist out to out trade him. He manages his rat combo again.
Game 3 - Managed to play Arcbond correctly, trading 1 token, 1 Monk for 4 of his creatures. Drawn out game, both low on time and life. I win with 2 hp remaining. Aerialist for the win!
Match 3 Jeskai?
Game 1 - On the Draw, I get land drops and creatures out. Sage, Weaponsmith, 3 Goblin tokens, 2 Morhps. All he gets is 5 lands and force away 1 of my morphs.
Game 2 - Exact opposite.
Game 3 - Boring start. I manage to Act of Treason his Morph and Collateral damage it. He misplays his mana. I barely win, 1 hp remaining.
So if I understand better (I'm hoping here).
Pick rare (hope it's a good one) . Stay withing that colour if possible. Else pick strong cards and forgo the first pick. If presented with 3/2 colour cards, go with the 2 until you have enough fixing?
I also regret not picking the ghostblade prior last game ._.
Edit: I'm not sure if this was the intended article. http://www.starcitygames.com/magic/fundamentals/3692_Whos_The_Beatdown.html
But it was an interesting read. (Despite not understanding the cards. Only knowledge of cards go through KTK and FRF)
Pack 1 pick 7: Dragon Bell Monk over Collateral Damage
Pack 1 pick 8: Dragon Bell Monk over Fierce Invocation
I only regard you as red from the first pack, whereas I would be solidly in Jeskai. The blue is nice, but Mardu is still a possibility.
Pack 2 pick 5: Treasure Cruise over Scion of Glaciers
Pack 2 pick 6: Wind-Scarred Crag over Riverwheel Aerialists
Pack 2 pick 8: Tranquil Cove over Scaldkin over Leaping Master
Pack 2 pick 9: Sage-Eye Harrier over Abzan Guide
Ok, pretty solidly in Jeskai now. Do you wish you had those monks from pack 1?
Pack 3 pick 2: Force Away (!) over Dragon's Eye Savants
Pack 3 pick 3: Horde Ambusher over Defiant Strike over Monastery Flock over Woolly Loxodon over Weave Fate over Act of Treason
Pack 3 pick 5: Crippling Chill over Treasure Cruise over Rugged Highlands
Pack 3 pick 6: Summit Prowler over Snowhorn Rider (I LOVE this guy, but you hardly have the manabase for a 4-colour deck, and you already have too many white cards)
Pack 3 pick 7: Flying Crane Technique (!!!) over Efreet Weaponmaster over Bloodfire Expert (Flying Crane Technique is the best card out of any of the packs you have opened, and it's in your colours. This is the mispick of the draft)
Pack 3 pick 9: Wetland Sambar over Jeskai Student (white is a splash, so you can't take early playables in it)
Regarding your deck: Don't run Polluted Delta in a deck without swamps. I would classify write, outburst and invocation as creatures, since functionally they are. Colateral Damage is bad.
Yep
After my first FRF pick very good rare or uncommon, I don't at all mind branching into a second color with my second pick (if that second pick is another good card) as long as it is an enemy color because that still leaves me open to two different clans. If the second pack has one very good card but it's in an allied color, I would probably still pick it but I would not force that one clan and might end up abandoning the first or second pick altogether, depending upon how it goes.
FRF has a lot of very weak commons and if I could take a good card in a color I don't seem to be in at the moment, over a weak common in one of my colors, I don't mind taking that off color card because I may end up using it if I adjust the colors I am drafting. Also, as Reid Duke has stated several times during his draft videos, I would usually take an on color dual land over a mediocre common in my colors and probably an off color dual land over a mediocre common in some other color. The two KTK packs are where most of the good commons are to fill out the deck. It's helpful to be open for as long as you reasonably can be as long as you are passing up on a card which you wouldn't really miss in your deck.