Hey all, I wrote an article going through a BFZ sealed pool, and provided my version of the build I would initially present in a tournament. I think there are alternative builds to be made, and I'm wondering if you think it should be built differently, or otherwise what direction you'd take the pool in. If you like, take a look here: http://firstpackfirstpick.com/2015/10/01/sealed-pool-build-1-battle-for-zendikar/
when you're able to cast it as a 5 mana 5/5 flier, I agee it would be amazing, though i have reservations about the feasibility. I think your conclusion that if you're forcing a 5 color strategy its a windmill slam, but otherwise "the pick" would be grip is spot on
Hey all, I went through a pack of BFZ and went through each individual card of the new/unexplored draft format and tried to determine the optimal first pick. I'd like to hear if you would take the same card, or otherwise what you'd take and why. pack and pick/reasoning here: http://firstpackfirstpick.com/2015/09/20/1st-pack-1st-pick-10-battle-for-zendikar/
magicmerl: In no way do I rate elf-lord dude as a bomb- how can a 4 mana 3/4 reach be a bomb? It's definitely a high quality creature no doubt. I think its a close decision, but erroring on the side of cheap great removal doesn't seem egregious (but if i valued elf lord at bomb level then i would agree that its incorrect to take removal over a bomb).
Re blaze v. read the bones: ravaging blaze is not partiularly great removal until the late game, and even at 5 mana its fairly medium. I think taking RTB in that spot is very reasonable.
At first I didn't have a high value on demonic pact but then I saw some pros speak highly of it, so i tried it and my experience mimiced theirs, its a very goo d card. I recommend if you get the chance to play with it!
I don't think your ravaging blaze analogy really stands up. Read the bones does a different thing than blaze, it smooths your draw in the early game helping you hit land drops or spells, and gives you gas in the late game. Blaze is not that card, there are different kinds of situations where youd want either card.
Your other picks are certainly defensible I think and were relatively close picks to begin with. Thanks a lot for your write up
Hi all, I've gone through another 5 packs or Origins and determined from each what I think is the best first pick. I'd like to see if you agree with my reasoning, or if not why you find yourself in disagreement. Let's have a discussion: Packs and picks here- http://firstpackfirstpick.com/2015/09/13/1st-pack-1st-pick-9-magic-origins/
MagicMerl: I think the most reasonable/expectable situation for Titan's strengthfor it is in a deck with a bunch of normal (ie not massive eldrazi) colorless cards and 1 or so Eldrazi, and then most of the time its going to be cast turn 3 to kill a random creature thats not necessarily threatening, just so you can guarantee to get value out of the card; that is not a very good card even in that situation. The upside is there though. So far I would be cautious to take a card like this because a lot of things can go wrong seemingly, but I think it will make some of my decks.
Puddle Jumper: you could be right about Titan's presence, but so far I wouldn't put it on the same level as Javelin, as when you take it its not basically guaranteed to make your deck like Javelin is.
Transgress the mind is a nice SB card, but id caution that you'd realllly need to be in a spot where you just cant beat the card its supposed to be taking, so i wouldn't put it in against a random bomb that I could beat any other way, as when you draw transgress and they don't draw their bomb you could lose because you drew a dead card in the game.
Hey all, these are some thoughts on a few new BFZ cards and how they might function in the upcoming BFZ limited format. I'd like to hear your thoughts on these cards relative to my conception of them, as well as start a general discussion on how you envision the new limited format so far and your ideas on other new cards.
cards / analysis here: http://firstpackfirstpick.com/2015/09/11/battle-for-zendikar-limited-sampler-1/
the big thing i noticed was you taking disperse pack 2 after taking alhmarraet, over leaf gilder. I don't think thats optimal- disperse is kindve ok, its unclear it would even necessarily make your deck if you end up in blue, and the gilder is great.
I could definitely buy your argument that 2 drops are more scare/valuable than the pump spells, golden. I would have to rethink my reasoning should the decision come up again, thanks for your input.
pack 2, I agree that it's close. I could easily see taking the gilder.
pack 4, I think leap is defensible- an aggro deck is typically 6-7 two drops, 5 3 drops and 5 or so pump spells, and getting those pump spells is important to the archetype functioning. Also agree that servitor is good, and that 2-drops also critical in aggro decks.
I wrote a variant on a the typical p1p1 style article by looking at the first five picks of a draft, and seeing how taking different cards as first pick affects your decision making in later packs. There's a lot of different ways one could go just through the volume of available permutations, so I am interested to see where you would end up after the first five picks of this particular draft. Packs and picks here: http://firstpackfirstpick.com/2015/09/07/magic-origins-pack-1-pick-1-through-pack-1-pick-5-1/
1. Agree- if theres anything pretty good in this pack network goes out the window.
2. yeah those 4 cards are the options, if i werent in for foundry id take gearcrafter. card could be good enough to warrant the risk of taking a colored card relative to quality of foundry. thanks for reading!
I've looked at some more Origins packs and come up with my first pick decisions. This instance had some particularly interesting ones I think, and subsequently I'd like to hear what you think the best choices are, and if I got some wrong. Take a look here : http://firstpackfirstpick.com/2015/09/01/1st-pack-1st-pick-8-magic-origins/
Re blaze v. read the bones: ravaging blaze is not partiularly great removal until the late game, and even at 5 mana its fairly medium. I think taking RTB in that spot is very reasonable.
I don't think your ravaging blaze analogy really stands up. Read the bones does a different thing than blaze, it smooths your draw in the early game helping you hit land drops or spells, and gives you gas in the late game. Blaze is not that card, there are different kinds of situations where youd want either card.
Your other picks are certainly defensible I think and were relatively close picks to begin with. Thanks a lot for your write up
Puddle Jumper: you could be right about Titan's presence, but so far I wouldn't put it on the same level as Javelin, as when you take it its not basically guaranteed to make your deck like Javelin is.
Transgress the mind is a nice SB card, but id caution that you'd realllly need to be in a spot where you just cant beat the card its supposed to be taking, so i wouldn't put it in against a random bomb that I could beat any other way, as when you draw transgress and they don't draw their bomb you could lose because you drew a dead card in the game.
cards / analysis here: http://firstpackfirstpick.com/2015/09/11/battle-for-zendikar-limited-sampler-1/
the big thing i noticed was you taking disperse pack 2 after taking alhmarraet, over leaf gilder. I don't think thats optimal- disperse is kindve ok, its unclear it would even necessarily make your deck if you end up in blue, and the gilder is great.
pack 4, I think leap is defensible- an aggro deck is typically 6-7 two drops, 5 3 drops and 5 or so pump spells, and getting those pump spells is important to the archetype functioning. Also agree that servitor is good, and that 2-drops also critical in aggro decks.
2. yeah those 4 cards are the options, if i werent in for foundry id take gearcrafter. card could be good enough to warrant the risk of taking a colored card relative to quality of foundry. thanks for reading!