Hate Draft – Taking a card you don’t have a use for, simply to deny others the opportunity to have/use it.
Sometimes you will see that card that makes you wish you were in a certain build or color. Sometimes it is too good to give up. And other times you simply cannot let anyone take it because its very addition may make the draft go sideways.
--King of the Hill Hatedrafts--
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-Pestilence
This is a very B intensive card. But it is also the only easily repeatable board clearer. Very few cubes see to have Protection from Black things in them. Order of Leitbur has fallen from most white sections. And outside of Guardian of the Guildpact, the other common Protection cards are spells.
Pestilence is elegant, and it was also the reason Black was so sought after in Urza’s Saga limited. The ability to clear out the fodder and leave the hulks is not unique, but it is had to come by. And the other ways are 1-shots.
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-Guardian of the Guildpact
Hatedrafting this is sometimes not so much a hate draft as building a white splash unknowingly. Often taking this is preventing others from having the formats own Progenitus fall into enemy hands.
Answering this card can be done in the multicolor section with Terminate or Agony Warp. Or by the artifacts like Serrated Arrows. But just remember, this can also be flipped and turned into a blessing by having it wear Armadillo Cloak, or carry equipment.
If you have an answer, this can slide by, but if it is early, take this and think about looking at white as a secondary, or splash.
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-Capsize
Devastating once buyback mana is available. This is the card that can dominate a lategame, and put an otherwise overwhelming advantage into the gutter. Pack 1, this is the reason to switch into blue. Pack 2-3, this is a priority hate.
There are very few hexproof creatures, and no hexproof/shroud non-creatures that are commonly in a pauper cube. This can upset tempo by sending a land back each turn, it can make a Erayo, Soratami Ascendant pseudo-lock and return a lone play. Or it can stop combat when timed well.
A staple of pauper, and a nightmare of a card.
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-Sprout Swarm
Innocuous. Unsuspecting. Game defining.
The ability to turn around a late game, or swing a midgame can only be witnessed. Saproling tokens are less than impressive. But putting out 2+ a turn can be enough to push an advantage or take one. It is the second card with Buyback on this list. And that mechanic did wonders for Pauper as it allows incremental advantage, and desperate single uses.
I would say this is a lower hatedraft, but still a qualifying one.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vulshok Morningstar
How can equipment be hatedrafted? When it is not in your plan, it is a hatedraft. So, pure control can hate. To all others, you will priority pick this.
In short, making one of your creatures bigger than theirs, always, should win.
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-Rolling Thunder
Red’s only legitimate entry. The RR makes this a non-splash, so taking it and throwing it into a deck is much harder.
This often is Blaze. But it can be Pyrotechnics; and it is flexible.
Fireball and Pyrotechnics are splash cards that are taken and then used maindeck. This, when taken, is either used maindeck or not at all.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --Less Common Hatedrafts--
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-Disturbed Burial
Buyback is back! If there is a black card worth swiping and splashing for, this is it. A single B in the casting cost, and another way to turn non-aggro decks into a 5mph Bulldozer. You can lose when playing this card, but it is more likely to grind out a lategame then doom it.
This format is built on advantage. 1-for-1 is common with trades. Whether spells or combat, usually 1 card takes out the other. This can break symmetry, and can shift the paradigm when utilized to its full potential
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-Blastoderm
Hilariously, Shroud makes this card fair. Hexproof would make this evil. It need not be handled, just weathered. Sometimes though, you know this is the bane of your draft deck. And at those times, it may be worth removing it from the pool.
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-Armadillo Cloak
Knowing that you sent a Guardian to either side of you is a bad feeling, sending this to the same side is masochism and careless.
Many are seeing the power of Mark of the Vampire because of the experiences of this card. This is the exception to the aura rules many have in place. Even if the target is killed in response, this is worth the gamble because it ends the game.
However, the reason the hate on this is lowered is that most 360 Pauper lists are running 3 multicolor cards per color pairing. Meaning the chances of having a GW/X opponent is lessened since the incentives are not as obvious.
I will say that if you are in the RB/X deck creation, hate this. Your interaction is also lessened as this is an enchantment and you may have used all your previous valid removal earlier.
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-Crypt Rats Pestilence on legs. It can be a curse, or a blessing. That depends on the build. One thing that must be noted, is that this is only the second sizable sweeper available, making its rarity coveted.
Taking this when not black heavy yourself is not as talked about because this can be handled in its creature form. There are often better things to take, but keeping this in the back of your brain is not the worst notation.
Token builds I will say should hate this, just like Pestilence because you are more vulnerable.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --Anecdotal Hate--
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-Flood
Many have stories of how this changed a game. Many have stories of hatedrafting this so it could not be one of the previous stories. But then there are times it is drafted and not even mentioned.
This can make a game tilt. For a blue heavy mage. This can be destroyed, and it can be weathered. It can even be dodged by flying creatures.
It may be right to take this. But it may be more correct to take the card in the pack that will make the future owner of this card deader.
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-Ulamog’s Crusher
Most tales of this behemoth are that of hate, fear, and scorn. Very few are testaments and witnessing. This is taken more as hate than ever as a pick.
Many fear the Annihilator 2 on a 8/8. It is indeed the largest body readily available. But it is also the highest cost. And you cannot easily fit this into any given deck. Midrange without ramp may have this be a blank slate many a times. Control usually needed more from a body other than the body.
Precarious, yet threatening.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --Notes--
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You cannot hate all the time, because you still need to build a deck yourself. The weight of hatedrafting is giving up your current pick to stop others from the “possibility” of picking.
Hatedrafting off color removal really is just taking removal that you need to find mana-fixing for. Removal is a staple of this format, just as creatures are. It is the hard to handle cards that need a second guess, and hatedraft.
--In order to ensure peace, you must prepare for war.
I've seen Cenn's Enlistment hate-drafted before for reasons similar to Sprout Swarm. The white player doesn't always have a land to pitch for retracing it, but the card itself is just impossible to get rid of unless your cube runs graveyard hate as well. With Sprout Swarm and other buyback spells you can at least counter it or force the player to discard.
First off, I'd like to say that hatedrafting is way overrated. It's been discussed to death everywhere, but the chance that you face the deck that would have the card you hatedrafted, and the chance that the card is actually relevant in winning the match is pretty low. Picking a possibly playable card has a much higher likelihood to win you games/matches. Some cards this is less true for because some cards can destroy decks entirely - Blastoderm and Guardian against attrition control decks, say.
This isn't really the whole picture though - as you said with Guardian, a lot of these cards are splashable and the value is not entirely in the fact that your opponents don't get the card.
I think the best red card is Staggershock, so i'd put that somewhere. Notably it's good in aggro decks, which is true for very few of the cards you've mentioned. Though admittedly aggro decks in cube are better than the sum of their parts so there really aren't that many key cards to hatedraft. Sulfuric Vortex isn't legal
I also think that Pestilence and Crypt Rats aren't amazing. Obviously they're good cards, but I'd hatedraft Hymn to Tourach miles before either. Both cards aren't great against red decks - they come online quite late, and dealing damage to yourself is pretty terrible against an aggressive deck. They can crush decks like WG, but
I'd never hatedraft Umalog's Crusher, I'd just keep it in mind and ensure I have answers. Or just ignore it because it's an 8 mana spell. I don't even think it's in the better half of a 360 card cube.
Cenn's: I agree to some extent, but only to the same extent as Lightning Bolt, Bonesplitter, Exclude, etc. A lot of cards are included in that etc.
I'd add Mulldrifter and the aforementioned Hymn to Tourach if I wrote the article. It depends on the cube, but those are some of the best cards in my cube at least. Since aggressive decks can generally get hosed a lot more easily than other decks, Faith's Fetters and other similar cards are high priority hatedrafts if you're aggressive (relative to other hatedraft cards, not relative to real picks).
I haven't found Pestilence or Evincar's Justice to be all that exciting in recent drafts, actually. Crypt Rats and Hymn to Tourach by far exceed them, and I'd never hatedraft a Crypt Rats.
Guardian of the Guildpact is a legitimately hatedraft. I probably wouldn't let it go and probably would try to splash for it.
Sprout Swarm and Capsize are both good but I wouldn't hesitate to ignore them if I was deep in other colors.
I agree on always snapping up Rolling Thunder and Pyrotechnics if they simply destroy your deck, because they can be such absolute blowouts. There are no other red cards I'd hate, although the X-spells like Kaervek's Torch I would happily take to splash for.
I don't like hating multicolor cards like Armadillo Cloak. Mark of the Vampire would be more hateworthy in my opinion because it's the card that goes in the most decks, but if I have ample removal, I wouldn't hate it either.
Hating is not what I usually do or even think about. If there's a card for my deck, I'm taking it; if there's not, then I'll consider hating.
First off, I'd like to say that hatedrafting is way overrated. It's been discussed to death everywhere, but the chance that you face the deck that would have the card you hatedrafted, and the chance that the card is actually relevant in winning the match is pretty low. Picking a possibly playable card has a much higher likelihood to win you games/matches. Some cards this is less true for because some cards can destroy decks entirely - Blastoderm and Guardian against attrition control decks, say.
Agree. Hatedrafting is generally overrated in all draft types except 1-vs-1.
Whenever you hatedraft you set yourself and opponent A back, so you give an edge to opponent B. Hatedrafting only results in worse decks and a worse playing experience for everyone involved. Further more it muddles signals, and can result in setting your opponents up in your own colors.
All this of course implies that you hatedraft over picking something useful for yourself. If there's no playables for yourself in the pack it's perfectly ok to hatedraft.
I actually think that hate drafting is a totally legit strategy, unless you play the Pauper to the People cube, since there are always enough playables for your deck. For example P2P3, when I'm White Weenie and see a Rolling Thunder with maybye like one or two other playables for my deck in the pack, I'll gladly hate it out, because getting 23 good cards is easy, unlike a in limited format like AVR, when you couldn't even change colors during your first pack
I appreciate the feedback. I may be more paranoid of Pestilence, but know from both sides of the table what it can do for a black heavy mage, I worry a bit. My last draft was won b/c I had capsize and Guardian vs Pestilence Festerhide Boar and Mark of the Vampire. Basically mutually assured destruction but mine was more airtight.
Does anyone feel I forgot things to hate, and I mean not pick 8, but like pick 1-3?
I may alter the perception of Pestilence, but we will see. I am thinking it is an early or not at all hate, as early it makes someone go heavy black to support it, late it may sit in the sideboard.
Sometimes you will see that card that makes you wish you were in a certain build or color. Sometimes it is too good to give up. And other times you simply cannot let anyone take it because its very addition may make the draft go sideways.
--King of the Hill Hatedrafts--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Pestilence
This is a very B intensive card. But it is also the only easily repeatable board clearer. Very few cubes see to have Protection from Black things in them. Order of Leitbur has fallen from most white sections. And outside of Guardian of the Guildpact, the other common Protection cards are spells.
Pestilence is elegant, and it was also the reason Black was so sought after in Urza’s Saga limited. The ability to clear out the fodder and leave the hulks is not unique, but it is had to come by. And the other ways are 1-shots.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Guardian of the Guildpact
Hatedrafting this is sometimes not so much a hate draft as building a white splash unknowingly. Often taking this is preventing others from having the formats own Progenitus fall into enemy hands.
Answering this card can be done in the multicolor section with Terminate or Agony Warp. Or by the artifacts like Serrated Arrows. But just remember, this can also be flipped and turned into a blessing by having it wear Armadillo Cloak, or carry equipment.
If you have an answer, this can slide by, but if it is early, take this and think about looking at white as a secondary, or splash.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Capsize
Devastating once buyback mana is available. This is the card that can dominate a lategame, and put an otherwise overwhelming advantage into the gutter. Pack 1, this is the reason to switch into blue. Pack 2-3, this is a priority hate.
There are very few hexproof creatures, and no hexproof/shroud non-creatures that are commonly in a pauper cube. This can upset tempo by sending a land back each turn, it can make a Erayo, Soratami Ascendant pseudo-lock and return a lone play. Or it can stop combat when timed well.
A staple of pauper, and a nightmare of a card.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Sprout Swarm
Innocuous. Unsuspecting. Game defining.
The ability to turn around a late game, or swing a midgame can only be witnessed. Saproling tokens are less than impressive. But putting out 2+ a turn can be enough to push an advantage or take one. It is the second card with Buyback on this list. And that mechanic did wonders for Pauper as it allows incremental advantage, and desperate single uses.
I would say this is a lower hatedraft, but still a qualifying one.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vulshok Morningstar
How can equipment be hatedrafted? When it is not in your plan, it is a hatedraft. So, pure control can hate. To all others, you will priority pick this.
In short, making one of your creatures bigger than theirs, always, should win.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Rolling Thunder
Red’s only legitimate entry. The RR makes this a non-splash, so taking it and throwing it into a deck is much harder.
This often is Blaze. But it can be Pyrotechnics; and it is flexible.
Fireball and Pyrotechnics are splash cards that are taken and then used maindeck. This, when taken, is either used maindeck or not at all.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--Less Common Hatedrafts--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Disturbed Burial
Buyback is back! If there is a black card worth swiping and splashing for, this is it. A single B in the casting cost, and another way to turn non-aggro decks into a 5mph Bulldozer. You can lose when playing this card, but it is more likely to grind out a lategame then doom it.
This format is built on advantage. 1-for-1 is common with trades. Whether spells or combat, usually 1 card takes out the other. This can break symmetry, and can shift the paradigm when utilized to its full potential
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Blastoderm
Hilariously, Shroud makes this card fair. Hexproof would make this evil. It need not be handled, just weathered. Sometimes though, you know this is the bane of your draft deck. And at those times, it may be worth removing it from the pool.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Armadillo Cloak
Knowing that you sent a Guardian to either side of you is a bad feeling, sending this to the same side is masochism and careless.
Many are seeing the power of Mark of the Vampire because of the experiences of this card. This is the exception to the aura rules many have in place. Even if the target is killed in response, this is worth the gamble because it ends the game.
However, the reason the hate on this is lowered is that most 360 Pauper lists are running 3 multicolor cards per color pairing. Meaning the chances of having a GW/X opponent is lessened since the incentives are not as obvious.
I will say that if you are in the RB/X deck creation, hate this. Your interaction is also lessened as this is an enchantment and you may have used all your previous valid removal earlier.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Crypt Rats
Pestilence on legs. It can be a curse, or a blessing. That depends on the build. One thing that must be noted, is that this is only the second sizable sweeper available, making its rarity coveted.
Taking this when not black heavy yourself is not as talked about because this can be handled in its creature form. There are often better things to take, but keeping this in the back of your brain is not the worst notation.
Token builds I will say should hate this, just like Pestilence because you are more vulnerable.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--Anecdotal Hate--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Flood
Many have stories of how this changed a game. Many have stories of hatedrafting this so it could not be one of the previous stories. But then there are times it is drafted and not even mentioned.
This can make a game tilt. For a blue heavy mage. This can be destroyed, and it can be weathered. It can even be dodged by flying creatures.
It may be right to take this. But it may be more correct to take the card in the pack that will make the future owner of this card deader.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Ulamog’s Crusher
Most tales of this behemoth are that of hate, fear, and scorn. Very few are testaments and witnessing. This is taken more as hate than ever as a pick.
Many fear the Annihilator 2 on a 8/8. It is indeed the largest body readily available. But it is also the highest cost. And you cannot easily fit this into any given deck. Midrange without ramp may have this be a blank slate many a times. Control usually needed more from a body other than the body.
Precarious, yet threatening.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--Notes--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You cannot hate all the time, because you still need to build a deck yourself. The weight of hatedrafting is giving up your current pick to stop others from the “possibility” of picking.
Hatedrafting off color removal really is just taking removal that you need to find mana-fixing for. Removal is a staple of this format, just as creatures are. It is the hard to handle cards that need a second guess, and hatedraft.
--In order to ensure peace, you must prepare for war.
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Sprout can pay for itself with convoke, and being instant allows bs at the eot.
Point taken, and if more agree I can update but I have never felt the need to hatedraft that.
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This isn't really the whole picture though - as you said with Guardian, a lot of these cards are splashable and the value is not entirely in the fact that your opponents don't get the card.
I think the best red card is Staggershock, so i'd put that somewhere. Notably it's good in aggro decks, which is true for very few of the cards you've mentioned. Though admittedly aggro decks in cube are better than the sum of their parts so there really aren't that many key cards to hatedraft. Sulfuric Vortex isn't legal
I also think that Pestilence and Crypt Rats aren't amazing. Obviously they're good cards, but I'd hatedraft Hymn to Tourach miles before either. Both cards aren't great against red decks - they come online quite late, and dealing damage to yourself is pretty terrible against an aggressive deck. They can crush decks like WG, but
I'd never hatedraft Umalog's Crusher, I'd just keep it in mind and ensure I have answers. Or just ignore it because it's an 8 mana spell. I don't even think it's in the better half of a 360 card cube.
Cenn's: I agree to some extent, but only to the same extent as Lightning Bolt, Bonesplitter, Exclude, etc. A lot of cards are included in that etc.
I'd add Mulldrifter and the aforementioned Hymn to Tourach if I wrote the article. It depends on the cube, but those are some of the best cards in my cube at least. Since aggressive decks can generally get hosed a lot more easily than other decks, Faith's Fetters and other similar cards are high priority hatedrafts if you're aggressive (relative to other hatedraft cards, not relative to real picks).
Draft it on Cubetutor!
Guardian of the Guildpact is a legitimately hatedraft. I probably wouldn't let it go and probably would try to splash for it.
Sprout Swarm and Capsize are both good but I wouldn't hesitate to ignore them if I was deep in other colors.
I agree on always snapping up Rolling Thunder and Pyrotechnics if they simply destroy your deck, because they can be such absolute blowouts. There are no other red cards I'd hate, although the X-spells like Kaervek's Torch I would happily take to splash for.
I don't like hating multicolor cards like Armadillo Cloak. Mark of the Vampire would be more hateworthy in my opinion because it's the card that goes in the most decks, but if I have ample removal, I wouldn't hate it either.
Hating is not what I usually do or even think about. If there's a card for my deck, I'm taking it; if there's not, then I'll consider hating.
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Draft it on Cubetutor!
Agree. Hatedrafting is generally overrated in all draft types except 1-vs-1.
Whenever you hatedraft you set yourself and opponent A back, so you give an edge to opponent B. Hatedrafting only results in worse decks and a worse playing experience for everyone involved. Further more it muddles signals, and can result in setting your opponents up in your own colors.
All this of course implies that you hatedraft over picking something useful for yourself. If there's no playables for yourself in the pack it's perfectly ok to hatedraft.
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Does anyone feel I forgot things to hate, and I mean not pick 8, but like pick 1-3?
I may alter the perception of Pestilence, but we will see. I am thinking it is an early or not at all hate, as early it makes someone go heavy black to support it, late it may sit in the sideboard.
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