smallcreation already caught the P2p8, but these are the choices I disagree with:
P2p2 - Axebane Guardian > Golgari Keyrune
I'm never really satisfied with the Keyrunes, and other than attacking for 2 under rare circumstances, Axebane Guardian does its job better.
P2p4 - Golgari Longlegs > Golgari Charm
This is close. It's arguable that you'll always be able to find a Longlegs if you need it, but Golgari Charm is also typically a sideboard card, so why take it 4th? Nonetheless, I can definitely understand taking it here, I just don't think that I would.
P2p8 - Golgari Guildgate > Rites of Reaping
As was said, you need fixing much more than a subpar removal spell here.
P3p5 - Dead Reveler > Korozda Monitor
I don't find either half of Monitor to be relevant under most circumstances, whereas a 3/4 for 2B benefits the curve and takes Sewer Shambler counters just fine.
P3p6 - Stonefare Croc > Golgari Longlegs
If you had already acquired the earlier Longlegs, I'd definitely take the Croc, as that lifegain can be great in Rakdos matchup.
Nonetheless, congrats on the split! Solid draft overall, and good looking deck.
I'm no RGD guru, but it seems like draft one you just got confronted with the toodumbtopost/magicmerl "Truth of Ravnica": RUG decks are king.
Few of your picks felt objectively wrong, though Mourning Thrull over Harrier Griffin made me a bit queasy. But would that have changed the outcome? I doubt it. RUG decks just have better tools to handle vanilla durdles and keep you from stabilizing.
Draft two looks very similar to my ideal deck, right down to Arc/Flight recursion, except you went way off-course in pack two passing a legit bomb in Invoke the Firemind and gobbling up Magemarks over better spells like Wildsize. You then end up with a deck much more dependent on silly synergies and apparently no way to close out the game against your opponent's equally silly synergies. When you have 2 Wee Dragonauts maindeck, and no way to trigger them, something went wrong.
Pack 1 pick 1:
Faith's Fetters
Caregiver
Vedalken Dismisser
Consult the Necrosages
Tattered Drake
Golgari Rot Farm
Gather Courage
Drake Familiar
--> Compulsive Research
Netherborn Phalanx
Boros Fury-Shield
Ethereal Usher
Mindleech Mass
Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion
Dryad's Caress
Saucy pack. Mindleech Mass is a serviceable durdle bomb thing, but not really 1st pickable. Faith's Fetters is excellent removal, capable of shutting down many a permanent AND gaining life (woo boy). But I go with Thirst for Knowledge's brother-from-another-mother, because honest-to-god card advantage is what you want when these games go long.
Pack 1 pick 2:
Flame-Kin Zealot
Vedalken Entrancer
Hammerfist Giant
Gaze of the Gorgon
Screeching Griffin
Votary of the Conclave
War-Torch Goblin
--> Snapping Drake
Drift of Phantasms
Zephyr Spirit
Boros Recruit
Psychic Drain
Selesnya Signet
Leave No Trace
To the skies with a perfectly serviceable flying beater over a Signet, some mill cards, and a suicidal giant.
Pack 1 pick 3:
--> Flight of Fancy
Greater Mossdog
Surveilling Sprite
Courier Hawk
Breath of Fury
Perplex
Veteran Armorer
War-Torch Goblin
Gate Hound
Stasis Cell
Zephyr Spirit
Boros Fury-Shield
Flow of Ideas
If you read any of my posts regarding RGD, you'll come to a quick understanding that I love this card, perhaps to my own detriment. I've never quite understood why Flow of Ideas was printed in RGD, having never experienced Rav/Rav/Rav, but with my intent to force two-colors, I have my eye on it.
Pack 1 pick 4:
Greater Mossdog
Courier Hawk
Scatter the Seeds
Goblin Fire Fiend
Barbarian Riftcutter
--> Viashino Fangtail
Necromantic Thirst
Drooling Groodion
Golgari Thug
Seeds of Strength
Sadistic Augermage
Golgari Signet
Fangtail is an awkward design in some respects, as you usually want to be beating down with your Canyon Minotaurs, but having that option to hang back and ping when the going gets gummy is pretty useful. (Note: I suspect this pack should be putting my neighbor into Golgari, or at least green, if they aren't already.)
Pack 1 pick 5:
Fiery Conclusion
Strands of Undeath
Gather Courage
Rain of Embers
Coalhauler Swine
Quickchange
--> Drift of Phantasms
Nightmare Void
Carrion Howler
Shambling Shell
Golgari Rotwurm (FOIL)
Fiery Conclusion is probably the "correct" pick here, but I haven't ever really tried to construct functional Transmute options and I thought it was a worth a shot.
Pack 1 pick 6:
Terraformer
Scatter the Seeds
Goblin Fire Fiend
Barbarian Riftcutter
Necromantic Thirst
Dark Heart of the Wood
Seeds of Strength
--> Trophy Hunter
Sadistic Augermage
Golgari Signet
Late Trophy Hunter and it seemed worth it to hedge my bet in case two-color isn't actually viable. Passing another Scatter and Signet, but a dead pack otherwise.
Pack 1 pick 7:
Suppression Field
Induce Paranoia
Elves of Deep Shadow
Sell-Sword Brute
Grayscaled Gharial
--> Bramble Elemental
Wizened Snitches
Stone-Seeder Hierophant
Peregrine Mask
Easy Gelectrode pick over Pyromatics or branching into black for Daggerclaw Imp.
Pack 2 pick 2:
Smogsteed Rider (FOIL)
Crystal Seer
Skyrider Trainee
Orzhov Signet
--> Stratozeppelid
Cry of Contrition
Ostiary Thrull
Conjurer's Ban
Izzet Chronarch
Gruul Turf
Blind Hunter
Ogre Savant
Beastmaster's Magemark
Leyline of Singularity
Took the giant flying beater over the spicy common duo of Chronarch + Savant.
Pack 2 pick 3:
Crystal Seer
Gristleback
Sky Swallower
Skyrider Trainee
Orzhov Signet
Orzhov Guildmage
Wild Cantor
Izzet Chronarch
Withstand
Blind Hunter
--> Ogre Savant
Beastmaster's Magemark
Martyred Rusalka
Savants are more consistently useful to me than Chronarchs, though I can't blame anyone who values things the other way around.
Pack 3 pick 1:
Whiptail Moloch
Minister of Impediments
Azorius Signet
Coiling Oracle
Trygon Predator
Slaughterhouse Bouncer
Thrive
Vision Skeins
Skyscribing
Unliving Psychopath
Haazda Exonerator
Condemn
--> Seal of Fire
Utopia Sprawl
Freewind Equenaut
Unliving Psychopath is a very powerful card, but definitely not the card for me. Easy Seal of Fire.
Forcing two-colors went alright, though it meant pack three was pretty dead for me, but I still enjoyed the challenge. Winning just because your manabase is more efficient isn't the greatest feeling in the world, but being able to cast Flow of Ideas to frequently draw 4+ cards is awesome.
There's no replay for Game one, which I can't remember in the least bit. Game two involved me keeping a red-free hand and getting stuck on two mana for a while, but thankfully my opponent was pretty flooded and just had a 1/1, a 2/2, and a 2/4 to beat down with. Eventually I draw some lands and stabilize at 7 life with Helium Squirters, which allows me to wrap up the match as my opponent continues drawing lands. Screw has a habit of beating flood.
Round 2 vs. Walras (Azorius + red splash)
Game 1 - We each have a slow start, with my opponent being the first to stick a creature, the dreaded Guardian of the Guildpact, which happens to have protection against almost my entire deck. We trade hits for a bit, between my Helium Squirter vs. his Guardian and a Screeching Bird-thing. However, I'm able to draw a bunch of cards via Flight of Fancy + Drake Familar and keep hitting my land drops, while he makes the mistake of casting Aethermage's Touch. (i.e. It's a mistake to play that card for the most part.) I'm then able to use Gelectrode + Repeal to negate his Belfry Spirit, by pinging spirit > repealing haunted token, pinging other token. After that, my opponent seems pretty demoralized and I finish him off with Wee Dragonauts, Helium Squirter, and Viashino Fangtail.
Game 2 - Opponent gets stuck on no-islands, which clearly seems less than desirable, then walks into Runeboggle and concedes.
Round Three vs. CokeZero (G/B Control)
Game 1 - I'm guessing this is who I was passing to packs 1 + 3, and he seemingly had the same idea I had, as he too was essentially a two color deck, though he had a couple red sources to splash Twinstrike. Game 1 mostly involves me playing creatures and him killing them with Last Gasp, Disembowel, Keening Banshee, Punishment (of Crime/Punishment), and the splashed Twinstrike. Then I cast Flow of Ideas for 6. Stratozeppelid and Snapping Drake show up to the party and punch face.
Game 2 - No replay, but it was basically the same story, where he's getting his 1-for-1s and the occasional 2-for-1, but my Flight of Fancy, Compulsive Research, and beefy Flow of Ideas keep me ahead.
Wrap-up: Is a two-color strategy going to work more often than not? I doubt it. But I recommend giving it a shot and staying open to the possibility, instead of assuming you simply must go 3+.
Took a couple weeks off from drafting after suffering a run of bad beats in M13, but I just can't pass on Ravnica queues. And while I've certainly drafted my fair share of "5-color Specials", this time I've been committed to a degree of conservation to prey upon the Nephalim-drafting knuckleheads of the world.
Draft One:
Event #: 4282297
Time: 8/30/2012 10:10:24 AM
Players:
talisman of stains
--> metaghost
Archangel23
Pacman89
JaceEmrakul
ihlenfeldt
tayman227
Dolcas555
Of the 5 Hunted creatures, I'm pretty sure Dragon and Phantasm are the playable ones, and this pack is pretty poor. After Dragon, you have Snapping Drake, Signet, and a Roofstalker Wight. Who knows what will wheel.
Pack 1 pick 2:
Caregiver
Fiery Conclusion
Consult the Necrosages
Tattered Drake
Siege Wurm
Golgari Rot Farm
Drake Familiar
Incite Hysteria
Vindictive Mob
--> Moldervine Cloak (FOIL)
Golgari Rotwurm
Reroute
Dimir Signet
Dryad's Caress
Easy Moldervine Cloak. Such an absolute beating. Much better pack than the first overall, with a better Signet, a bounceland, Consult the Necrosages, Tattered Drake, Rotwurm, and Fiery Conclusion.
Pack 1 pick 3:
Wojek Siren
Flame-Kin Zealot
Rally the Righteous
Elves of Deep Shadow
Dimir House Guard
Elvish Skysweeper
Sabertooth Alley Cat
Selesnya Sanctuary
--> Galvanic Arc
Conclave's Blessing
Undercity Shade
Telling Time
Dogpile
Let's wheel some Drake Familiars!
Pack 1 pick 4:
Wojek Siren
Smash
Duskmantle, House of Shadow
Spawnbroker
Clinging Darkness
Selesnya Sagittars
Sell-Sword Brute
Coalhauler Swine
Chant of Vitu-Ghazi
--> Bramble Elemental
Conclave's Blessing
Golgari Brownscale
I have no experience with Spawnbroker, but it seems like a bad Switcheroo. Bramble is some beef, goes good with Cloak + Arc.
Pack 1 pick 5:
Civic Wayfinder
Sabertooth Alley Cat
Lore Broker
Auratouched Mage
Surge of Zeal
Shred Memory
--> Galvanic Arc
Golgari Brownscale
Spectral Searchlight
Seeds of Strength
Dogpile
Run it back.
Pack 1 pick 6:
Glass Golem
Lurking Informant
--> Bloodletter Quill
Gaze of the Gorgon
Terraformer
Gather Courage
Votary of the Conclave
Gate Hound
Sewerdreg
Boros Fury-Shield
While it can be pretty great, I didn't really expect to be playing it. And I didn't.
Pack 2 pick 3:
Bloodscale Prowler
Skyrider Trainee
Vacuumelt
Mourning Thrull
Runeboggle
Tin Street Hooligan
Cry of Contrition
Ostiary Thrull
Withstand
Goblin Flectomancer
--> Streetbreaker Wurm
Infiltrator's Magemark
Caustic Rain
Pack 2 pick 4:
Ghor-Clan Bloodscale
Sky Swallower
Gigadrowse
--> Izzet Signet
Daggerclaw Imp
Benediction of Moons
Absolver Thrull
Tin Street Hooligan
Izzet Chronarch
Schismotivate
Torch Drake
Douse in Gloom
I might have taken the Chronarch, except I don't believe I had any non-permanents at this point.
Pack 2 pick 5:
Orzhov Signet
Wee Dragonauts
Runeboggle
Ostiary Thrull
Schismotivate
Orzhova, the Church of Deals
--> Ogre Savant
Gruul War Plow
Fencer's Magemark
Gruul Nodorog
Guardian's Magemark
Pack 2 pick 6:
Gristleback
Lionheart Maverick
--> Scab-Clan Mauler
Train of Thought
Wild Cantor
Feral Animist
Absolver Thrull
Leap of Flame
Beastmaster's Magemark
Leyline of the Meek
Personally, I hate Train of Thought. I'll take it if the pack is dead, but I don't really value it to any great degree, as this era was still dense with cantrips and solid card draw like Flight of Fancy and Compulsive Research.
Pack 2 pick 7:
Smogsteed Rider
Train of Thought
--> Wild Cantor
Absolver Thrull
Conjurer's Ban
Poisonbelly Ogre
Leap of Flame
Necromancer's Magemark (FOIL)
Beastmaster's Magemark
That said, I probably should have taken it here. I have no idea why I took Cantor.
Pack 2 pick 8:
Lionheart Maverick
Pyromatics
Restless Bones
Orzhov Euthanist
Ghost Warden
--> Rabble-Rouser
Fencer's Magemark
Crash Landing
With my mana spread out as much as it is, I didn't see myself being able to take advantage of Pyromatics to any great degree.
Pack 2 pick 9:
To Arms!
Gruul Scrapper
Cremate
Skarrgan Pit-Skulk
Benediction of Moons
--> Torch Drake
Necromancer's Magemark
Pack 2 pick 10:
Abyssal Nocturnus
Runeboggle
Skarrg, the Rage Pits
Conjurer's Ban
Poisonbelly Ogre
--> Scorched Rusalka
Pack 2 pick 11:
Skyrider Trainee
Runeboggle
--> Tin Street Hooligan
Cry of Contrition
Caustic Rain
Pack 2 pick 12:
Sky Swallower
Benediction of Moons
--> Tin Street Hooligan
Schismotivate
Pack 2 pick 13:
Orzhova, the Church of Deals
Fencer's Magemark
--> Gruul Nodorog
Pack 2 pick 14:
--> Feral Animist
Leyline of the Meek
Pack 3 pick 12:
Slaughterhouse Bouncer
--> Street Savvy
Writ of Passage
Slithering Shade
Pack 3 pick 13:
Whiptail Moloch
Valor Made Real
--> Enigma Eidolon
Pack 3 pick 14:
--> Shielding Plax
Utvara Scalper
Pack 3 pick 15:
--> Enigma Eidolon
I was pretty happy with this draft overall, though I was little worried there could be a truly sick Boros/Orzhov/Rakdos deck in the queue. Having a single instant-speed spell (Plaxmanta) is problematic, but oh well.
As I suspected, someone drafted a sick Oros deck, and this guy even had Dark Confidant, 2x Lyzolda (foil & non-foil), and the Debtor's Knell.
Of course, he was also running a plethora of 6 drops, which he regularly hit with his Confidant, and didn't seem to understand how to get value out of his Lyzolda and Haunt creatures.
Not sure there's a better way to explain why I won this match.
Round Two vs. Pacman89 (5-color Gobbledegook)
Game One: Opponent mulls to 3.
Game Two: I keep a hand of mostly fixing, and my opponent gets his colors set up and takes over the game with Rakdos Guildmage.
Game Three: A bit more back and forth this game, but Moldervine Cloak starts to force him to expend removal on things like Coiling Oracle and Silkwing Scout, which eventually lets me stick Streetbreaker Wurm and Bramble Elemental to take the match.
Round Three vs. The Incredible Disconnected Opponent
Value!
Wrap-up: Had my opponents had brains (and/or the willingness to play the game), I doubt my deck was really up to snuff. But such is the nature of MTGO and 4-3 Classic format queues. I've got two more recaps to post later that will demonstrate both better drafting (IMO) and significantly better opposition.
Me: Top-deck this Nicol Bolas to destroy your foil Chandra before it ultimates! Hurray!
Opponent: That's cool, I have this Thundermaw Hellkite to tap your Fog Bank and Faerie Invaders so I can kill Nicol Bolas.
Me:
Opponent: Oh, and next turn I'm going to cast Predatory Rampage and hit you for 42.
Me:
Opponent: And game two? Yeah, I'm going to double cast that very same Predatory Rampage with that Chandra I played on turn three, and kill you on turn five. Cool?
Me: I, uh... sure...
Excellent draft, Pseudo! I think people are being really silly to advocate forcing Grixis at all costs, pretending as though White is worthless, when I find its strengths are just very subtle. And in your case, I'd say it doesn't hurt that you were able to capitalize on being one of the few white drafters and snapping up all the Flagbearers in pack 3.
Also hilarious that your first round opponent had Diabolic Intent into Pernicious Deed. At least he couldn't have been too upset about losing.
Mediocre players -- probably aware enough that they're not top tier, and that this format is going to attract all the sharks, so they pass
Bad players -- don't know anything about anything and think "Bigger numbers, I'll pick that one!"
The bad players will filter out over time though as they get repeatedly destroyed.
Yeah, I've been watching various 12-6 streams and finding the draft portion to just be baffling with bizarrely late picks (like a P1p5 Revenge of the Hunted) and the competition miserable. Just saw one opponent literally complain that he hadn't been allowed to play his cards because the streamer had "too much removal".
P2P4 Phyrexian Bloodstock is better than Mire Kavu. You might pick up some Reef Shamans and/or gating creatures and just win games for free.
I think you mean Tidal Visionary (which is in pack one), as Reef Shaman doesn't combo with Bloodstock. At that point in the draft his options for synergy with Bloodstock would be Sisay's Ingenuity, Shifting Sky, and Aurora Griffin.
That said, it does look like he was in a very soft queue, where everyone was forcing monogreen Kavu or something.
Suffered a lot of rough beats today, from drafting poorly to keeping bad hands and/or getting blown out by Flametongue Kavu.
But I ended on a high note, taking down a queue with Josh Ravitz and TSG, playing Esper Durdle Stuff. Turns out Lashknife Barrier, Angelic Shield, Samite Pilgrim, and Dega Disciple make it very hard for your opponents to attack, and when you have Death Grasp, that's usually pretty helpful.
No way I could've won a single round without Death Grasp, but it was still an interesting event. Had my second round opponent so frustrated that he made consecutive awful "alpha strikes", losing multiple creatures in each attack and only dealing 10 total damage.
Is there a separate thread for plays that make you say "bwuh?"
Because I just had my opponent cast Guided Passage in game one of an IPA match. It makes it pretty easy to play around an opponent's spells when you know precisely what's in his deck.
Not trying to troll ya here but I disagree. The difference is AVR is a solid two color format so the packs do dry up. IPA is 3-5 colors every deck I've drafted which means even in the shallowest packs I still get plenty of payables. I've yet to draft a deck where I didn't have 26 solid payables with about 2-3 sb cards.
Im on my 10th draft and Ive tabled temporal springs, many of the disciples, bloodfire dwarf which is underrated IMO, Gaeas merfolk, gerrards verdict and quite a few of the tribal guys that let you look at 4 cards and pick one of like creature type. Maybe we evaluate cards differently?
While yes, being able to play many colors can enable you to find playables where you might not otherwise, that doesn't really change the fact that most packs of Apocalypse are full of cards like Index and Shield of Duty and Reason. And I have yet to be able to draft a tribal deck capable of taking advantage of any of the Impulse Tribe Leaders other than Kavu Howler, so no, I don't really consider Tidal Courier to be a card.
As I was in UBR, the first pickable cards are Night/Day (meh removal), a Zombie Boa (ok durdle), Tundra Kavu (sideways "fixing"), or Bloodfire Dwarf. The best cards in the pack are Coalition Honor Guard > Savage Gorilla > UBR filler.
Mournful Zombie, Necra Sanctuary, Gaea's Balance, Index, and Divine Light are basically unplayable. Tranquil Path is a decent sideboard option, but I'll probably already have plenty of answers for Enchantments at this point, including things like Hull Breach or Thunderscape Battlemage. Goblin Trenches is a card that could be built around, but I doubt many people can really take advantage of it. I guess if you're super aggressive and unafraid of all the absurd bounce in the format, Squee's Embrace is maybe playable.
Hmm that's interesting. Apoc is by far my favorite pack. I often draft bug and just get the complete nuts in apoc. People pass temporal springs and consume spirits like candy...
IPA is an amazing draft format for sure sooooo skill intensive.
It's not that there aren't good cards, but you rarely wheel anything relevant, maybe an Urborg Uprising or Llanowar Dead. Most of the packs dry up after like 4 packs, which is very AVR-esque.
Whereas Planeshift is ridiculously deep, as you can get solid gating creatures like Cavern Harpy or ok sideboard cards like Singe on the wheel, as well as some of the best fixing and things like Flametongue Kavu.
Weird thing with both drafts was Apocalypse was terrible for me both times, but decks still turned out ok.
There's a huge drop in average card quality going from Planeshift to Apocalypse, so it's not surprising that you would perceive that pck as being "terrible"; it's always terrible. But as you noted, being in a position to take advantage of Jilt, Razorfin Hunter, Minotaur Illusionist, Fire//Ice, Illuminate, and whatever else is the place to be once Apocalypse hits.
P2p2 - Axebane Guardian > Golgari Keyrune
I'm never really satisfied with the Keyrunes, and other than attacking for 2 under rare circumstances, Axebane Guardian does its job better.
P2p4 - Golgari Longlegs > Golgari Charm
This is close. It's arguable that you'll always be able to find a Longlegs if you need it, but Golgari Charm is also typically a sideboard card, so why take it 4th? Nonetheless, I can definitely understand taking it here, I just don't think that I would.
P2p8 - Golgari Guildgate > Rites of Reaping
As was said, you need fixing much more than a subpar removal spell here.
P3p5 - Dead Reveler > Korozda Monitor
I don't find either half of Monitor to be relevant under most circumstances, whereas a 3/4 for 2B benefits the curve and takes Sewer Shambler counters just fine.
P3p6 - Stonefare Croc > Golgari Longlegs
If you had already acquired the earlier Longlegs, I'd definitely take the Croc, as that lifegain can be great in Rakdos matchup.
Nonetheless, congrats on the split! Solid draft overall, and good looking deck.
Few of your picks felt objectively wrong, though Mourning Thrull over Harrier Griffin made me a bit queasy. But would that have changed the outcome? I doubt it. RUG decks just have better tools to handle vanilla durdles and keep you from stabilizing.
Draft two looks very similar to my ideal deck, right down to Arc/Flight recursion, except you went way off-course in pack two passing a legit bomb in Invoke the Firemind and gobbling up Magemarks over better spells like Wildsize. You then end up with a deck much more dependent on silly synergies and apparently no way to close out the game against your opponent's equally silly synergies. When you have 2 Wee Dragonauts maindeck, and no way to trigger them, something went wrong.
The draft:
Time: 8/30/2012 7:08:24 PM
Players:
cyberbobbo
The_Sensei
--> metaghost
lilbillystead
Walras
CokeZero
inactionjackson
Mikano
------ RAV ------
Pack 1 pick 1:
Faith's Fetters
Caregiver
Vedalken Dismisser
Consult the Necrosages
Tattered Drake
Golgari Rot Farm
Gather Courage
Drake Familiar
--> Compulsive Research
Netherborn Phalanx
Boros Fury-Shield
Ethereal Usher
Mindleech Mass
Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion
Dryad's Caress
Saucy pack. Mindleech Mass is a serviceable durdle bomb thing, but not really 1st pickable. Faith's Fetters is excellent removal, capable of shutting down many a permanent AND gaining life (woo boy). But I go with Thirst for Knowledge's brother-from-another-mother, because honest-to-god card advantage is what you want when these games go long.
Pack 1 pick 2:
Flame-Kin Zealot
Vedalken Entrancer
Hammerfist Giant
Gaze of the Gorgon
Screeching Griffin
Votary of the Conclave
War-Torch Goblin
--> Snapping Drake
Drift of Phantasms
Zephyr Spirit
Boros Recruit
Psychic Drain
Selesnya Signet
Leave No Trace
To the skies with a perfectly serviceable flying beater over a Signet, some mill cards, and a suicidal giant.
Pack 1 pick 3:
--> Flight of Fancy
Greater Mossdog
Surveilling Sprite
Courier Hawk
Breath of Fury
Perplex
Veteran Armorer
War-Torch Goblin
Gate Hound
Stasis Cell
Zephyr Spirit
Boros Fury-Shield
Flow of Ideas
If you read any of my posts regarding RGD, you'll come to a quick understanding that I love this card, perhaps to my own detriment. I've never quite understood why Flow of Ideas was printed in RGD, having never experienced Rav/Rav/Rav, but with my intent to force two-colors, I have my eye on it.
Pack 1 pick 4:
Greater Mossdog
Courier Hawk
Scatter the Seeds
Goblin Fire Fiend
Barbarian Riftcutter
--> Viashino Fangtail
Necromantic Thirst
Drooling Groodion
Golgari Thug
Seeds of Strength
Sadistic Augermage
Golgari Signet
Fangtail is an awkward design in some respects, as you usually want to be beating down with your Canyon Minotaurs, but having that option to hang back and ping when the going gets gummy is pretty useful. (Note: I suspect this pack should be putting my neighbor into Golgari, or at least green, if they aren't already.)
Pack 1 pick 5:
Fiery Conclusion
Strands of Undeath
Gather Courage
Rain of Embers
Coalhauler Swine
Quickchange
--> Drift of Phantasms
Nightmare Void
Carrion Howler
Shambling Shell
Golgari Rotwurm (FOIL)
Fiery Conclusion is probably the "correct" pick here, but I haven't ever really tried to construct functional Transmute options and I thought it was a worth a shot.
Pack 1 pick 6:
Terraformer
Scatter the Seeds
Goblin Fire Fiend
Barbarian Riftcutter
Necromantic Thirst
Dark Heart of the Wood
Seeds of Strength
--> Trophy Hunter
Sadistic Augermage
Golgari Signet
Late Trophy Hunter and it seemed worth it to hedge my bet in case two-color isn't actually viable. Passing another Scatter and Signet, but a dead pack otherwise.
Pack 1 pick 7:
Suppression Field
Induce Paranoia
Elves of Deep Shadow
Sell-Sword Brute
Grayscaled Gharial
--> Bramble Elemental
Wizened Snitches
Stone-Seeder Hierophant
Peregrine Mask
Pack 1 pick 8:
Pariah's Shield
Clinging Darkness
Courier Hawk
--> Drake Familiar
Incite Hysteria
Stone-Seeder Hierophant
Reroute
Leave No Trace
Pack 1 pick 9:
Caregiver
Tattered Drake
Gather Courage
Drake Familiar
Netherborn Phalanx
--> Ethereal Usher
Dryad's Caress
Pack 1 pick 10:
Votary of the Conclave
War-Torch Goblin
--> Drift of Phantasms
Zephyr Spirit
Boros Recruit
Leave No Trace
Pack 1 pick 11:
Gate Hound
Stasis Cell
Zephyr Spirit
Boros Fury-Shield
--> Flow of Ideas
Nice.
Pack 1 pick 12:
Courier Hawk
Golgari Thug
--> Seeds of Strength
Sadistic Augermage
Pack 1 pick 13:
Rain of Embers
Quickchange
--> Nightmare Void
Pack 1 pick 14:
--> Goblin Fire Fiend
Necromantic Thirst
Pack 1 pick 15:
--> Grayscaled Gharial
------ GPT ------
Pack 2 pick 1:
Crystal Seer
Lionheart Maverick
Pyromatics
--> Gelectrode
Burning-Tree Bloodscale
Scab-Clan Mauler
Ætherplasm
Skarrgan Pit-Skulk
Daggerclaw Imp
Absolver Thrull
Cry of Contrition
Ostiary Thrull
Gruul Turf
Siege of Towers
Infiltrator's Magemark
Easy Gelectrode pick over Pyromatics or branching into black for Daggerclaw Imp.
Pack 2 pick 2:
Smogsteed Rider (FOIL)
Crystal Seer
Skyrider Trainee
Orzhov Signet
--> Stratozeppelid
Cry of Contrition
Ostiary Thrull
Conjurer's Ban
Izzet Chronarch
Gruul Turf
Blind Hunter
Ogre Savant
Beastmaster's Magemark
Leyline of Singularity
Took the giant flying beater over the spicy common duo of Chronarch + Savant.
Pack 2 pick 3:
Crystal Seer
Gristleback
Sky Swallower
Skyrider Trainee
Orzhov Signet
Orzhov Guildmage
Wild Cantor
Izzet Chronarch
Withstand
Blind Hunter
--> Ogre Savant
Beastmaster's Magemark
Martyred Rusalka
Savants are more consistently useful to me than Chronarchs, though I can't blame anyone who values things the other way around.
Pack 2 pick 4:
--> Repeal
Skyrider Trainee
Dryad Sophisticate (FOIL)
Restless Bones
Petrahydrox
Scab-Clan Mauler
Mourning Thrull
Runeboggle
Belfry Spirit
Leyline of Lightning
Necromancer's Magemark
Wreak Havoc
Pack 2 pick 5:
Gatherer of Graces
Agent of Masks
Train of Thought
Wild Cantor
Shrieking Grotesque
--> Torch Drake
Poisonbelly Ogre
Necromancer's Magemark
Guardian's Magemark
Beastmaster's Magemark
Plagued Rusalka
Pack 2 pick 6:
Crystal Seer
Gristleback
Skyrider Trainee
--> Orzhov Signet
Wild Cantor
Cremate
Conjurer's Ban
Withstand
Earth Surge
Scorched Rusalka
Pack 2 pick 7:
Lionheart Maverick
Sinstriker's Will
--> Wee Dragonauts
Scab-Clan Mauler
Skarrgan Pit-Skulk
Absolver Thrull
Fencer's Magemark
Infiltrator's Magemark
Starved Rusalka
Pack 2 pick 8:
Restless Bones
Gruul Scrapper
--> Train of Thought
Mourning Thrull
Sanguine Praetor
Withstand
Fencer's Magemark
Infiltrator's Magemark
Pack 2 pick 9:
Crystal Seer
Lionheart Maverick
Ætherplasm
Skarrgan Pit-Skulk
Absolver Thrull
--> Cry of Contrition
Infiltrator's Magemark
Pack 2 pick 10:
Crystal Seer
Skyrider Trainee
Cry of Contrition
Conjurer's Ban
--> Beastmaster's Magemark
Leyline of Singularity
Pack 2 pick 11:
Crystal Seer
Sky Swallower
--> Skyrider Trainee
Withstand
Martyred Rusalka
Pack 2 pick 12:
Skyrider Trainee
Petrahydrox
--> Runeboggle
Necromancer's Magemark
Pack 2 pick 13:
--> Wild Cantor
Necromancer's Magemark
Guardian's Magemark
Pack 2 pick 14:
Crystal Seer
--> Skyrider Trainee
Pack 2 pick 15:
--> Sinstriker's Will
------ DIS ------
Pack 3 pick 1:
Whiptail Moloch
Minister of Impediments
Azorius Signet
Coiling Oracle
Trygon Predator
Slaughterhouse Bouncer
Thrive
Vision Skeins
Skyscribing
Unliving Psychopath
Haazda Exonerator
Condemn
--> Seal of Fire
Utopia Sprawl
Freewind Equenaut
Unliving Psychopath is a very powerful card, but definitely not the card for me. Easy Seal of Fire.
Pack 3 pick 2:
Overrule
Macabre Waltz
--> Cackling Flames
Vigean Hydropon
Silkwing Scout
Simic Basilisk
Transguild Courier
Nettling Curse
Simic Initiate
Seal of Doom
Wit's End
Verdant Eidolon
Beacon Hawk
Hit/Run
Snap it up!
Pack 3 pick 3:
Rakdos Ickspitter
Plaxcaster Frogling
Coiling Oracle
Carom
Street Savvy
Experiment Kraj
Writ of Passage
Vesper Ghoul
--> Helium Squirter
Brace for Impact
Utopia Sprawl
Entropic Eidolon
Rise/Fall (FOIL)
Pack 3 pick 4:
Shielding Plax
Steeling Stance
Flame-Kin War Scout
Elemental Resonance
Thrive
Vesper Ghoul
--> Helium Squirter
Gobhobbler Rats
Simic Ragworm
Enigma Eidolon
Magewright's Stone
Pure/Simple
Pack 3 pick 5:
Riot Spikes
Vigean Hydropon
--> Ocular Halo
Enemy of the Guildpact
Street Savvy
Ogre Gatecrasher
Nightcreep
Demon's Jester
Fertile Imagination
Beacon Hawk
Freewind Equenaut
Pack 3 pick 6:
Whiptail Moloch
Shielding Plax
Rakdos Signet
Macabre Waltz
Carom
--> Silkwing Scout
Ghost Quarter
Enigma Eidolon
Ignorant Bliss
Sporeback Troll
Pack 3 pick 7:
Rix Maadi, Dungeon Palace
Shielding Plax
Steeling Stance
Psychic Possession
Valor Made Real
Vesper Ghoul
--> Weight of Spires
Sandstorm Eidolon
Enigma Eidolon
Pack 3 pick 8:
--> Taste for Mayhem
Ocular Halo
Flame-Kin War Scout
Psychotic Fury
Azorius Ploy
Dovescape
Beacon Hawk
Freewind Equenaut
Pack 3 pick 9:
Whiptail Moloch
--> Azorius Signet
Coiling Oracle
Thrive
Vision Skeins
Skyscribing
Haazda Exonerator
Pack 3 pick 10:
--> Overrule
Macabre Waltz
Simic Basilisk
Nettling Curse
Simic Initiate
Wit's End
Pack 3 pick 11:
--> Carom
Street Savvy
Writ of Passage
Brace for Impact
Entropic Eidolon
Pack 3 pick 12:
Steeling Stance
Elemental Resonance
Thrive
--> Magewright's Stone
Pack 3 pick 13:
Street Savvy
Nightcreep
--> Fertile Imagination
Pack 3 pick 14:
Whiptail Moloch
--> Shielding Plax
Pack 3 pick 15:
--> Valor Made Real
Forcing two-colors went alright, though it meant pack three was pretty dead for me, but I still enjoyed the challenge. Winning just because your manabase is more efficient isn't the greatest feeling in the world, but being able to cast Flow of Ideas to frequently draw 4+ cards is awesome.
The Deck:
1 Drake Familiar
1 Drift of Phantasms
1 Gelectrode
1 Silkwing Scout
1 Wee Dragonauts
1 Snapping Drake
1 Torch Drake
1 Viashino Fangtail
2 Helium Squirter
1 Ogre Savant
1 Stratozeppelid
1 Ethereal Usher
1 Train of Thought
1 Compulsive Research
1 Runeboggle
1 Cackling Flames
1 Flow of Ideas
1 Repeal
Enchantments
1 Seal of Fire
1 Flight of Fancy
1 Ocular Halo
1 Azorius Signet
Lands
11 Island
6 Mountain
The Games:
Round 1 vs. The Sensei (Jund Aggro)
There's no replay for Game one, which I can't remember in the least bit. Game two involved me keeping a red-free hand and getting stuck on two mana for a while, but thankfully my opponent was pretty flooded and just had a 1/1, a 2/2, and a 2/4 to beat down with. Eventually I draw some lands and stabilize at 7 life with Helium Squirters, which allows me to wrap up the match as my opponent continues drawing lands. Screw has a habit of beating flood.
Round 2 vs. Walras (Azorius + red splash)
Game 1 - We each have a slow start, with my opponent being the first to stick a creature, the dreaded Guardian of the Guildpact, which happens to have protection against almost my entire deck. We trade hits for a bit, between my Helium Squirter vs. his Guardian and a Screeching Bird-thing. However, I'm able to draw a bunch of cards via Flight of Fancy + Drake Familar and keep hitting my land drops, while he makes the mistake of casting Aethermage's Touch. (i.e. It's a mistake to play that card for the most part.) I'm then able to use Gelectrode + Repeal to negate his Belfry Spirit, by pinging spirit > repealing haunted token, pinging other token. After that, my opponent seems pretty demoralized and I finish him off with Wee Dragonauts, Helium Squirter, and Viashino Fangtail.
Game 2 - Opponent gets stuck on no-islands, which clearly seems less than desirable, then walks into Runeboggle and concedes.
Round Three vs. CokeZero (G/B Control)
Game 1 - I'm guessing this is who I was passing to packs 1 + 3, and he seemingly had the same idea I had, as he too was essentially a two color deck, though he had a couple red sources to splash Twinstrike. Game 1 mostly involves me playing creatures and him killing them with Last Gasp, Disembowel, Keening Banshee, Punishment (of Crime/Punishment), and the splashed Twinstrike. Then I cast Flow of Ideas for 6.
Game 2 - No replay, but it was basically the same story, where he's getting his 1-for-1s and the occasional 2-for-1, but my Flight of Fancy, Compulsive Research, and beefy Flow of Ideas keep me ahead.
Wrap-up: Is a two-color strategy going to work more often than not? I doubt it. But I recommend giving it a shot and staying open to the possibility, instead of assuming you simply must go 3+.
Draft One:
Event #: 4282297
Time: 8/30/2012 10:10:24 AM
Players:
talisman of stains
--> metaghost
Archangel23
Pacman89
JaceEmrakul
ihlenfeldt
tayman227
Dolcas555
------ RAV ------
Pack 1 pick 1:
Viashino Slasher
Vedalken Entrancer
Screeching Griffin
Grayscaled Gharial
Perplex
Roofstalker Wight
Frenzied Goblin
War-Torch Goblin
Necromantic Thirst
Snapping Drake
Stasis Cell
Undercity Shade
Telling Time
--> Hunted Dragon
Selesnya Signet
Of the 5 Hunted creatures, I'm pretty sure Dragon and Phantasm are the playable ones, and this pack is pretty poor. After Dragon, you have Snapping Drake, Signet, and a Roofstalker Wight. Who knows what will wheel.
Pack 1 pick 2:
Caregiver
Fiery Conclusion
Consult the Necrosages
Tattered Drake
Siege Wurm
Golgari Rot Farm
Drake Familiar
Incite Hysteria
Vindictive Mob
--> Moldervine Cloak (FOIL)
Golgari Rotwurm
Reroute
Dimir Signet
Dryad's Caress
Easy Moldervine Cloak. Such an absolute beating. Much better pack than the first overall, with a better Signet, a bounceland, Consult the Necrosages, Tattered Drake, Rotwurm, and Fiery Conclusion.
Pack 1 pick 3:
Wojek Siren
Flame-Kin Zealot
Rally the Righteous
Elves of Deep Shadow
Dimir House Guard
Elvish Skysweeper
Sabertooth Alley Cat
Selesnya Sanctuary
--> Galvanic Arc
Conclave's Blessing
Undercity Shade
Telling Time
Dogpile
Let's wheel some Drake Familiars!
Pack 1 pick 4:
Wojek Siren
Smash
Duskmantle, House of Shadow
Spawnbroker
Clinging Darkness
Selesnya Sagittars
Sell-Sword Brute
Coalhauler Swine
Chant of Vitu-Ghazi
--> Bramble Elemental
Conclave's Blessing
Golgari Brownscale
I have no experience with Spawnbroker, but it seems like a bad Switcheroo. Bramble is some beef, goes good with Cloak + Arc.
Pack 1 pick 5:
Civic Wayfinder
Sabertooth Alley Cat
Lore Broker
Auratouched Mage
Surge of Zeal
Shred Memory
--> Galvanic Arc
Golgari Brownscale
Spectral Searchlight
Seeds of Strength
Dogpile
Run it back.
Pack 1 pick 6:
Glass Golem
Lurking Informant
--> Bloodletter Quill
Gaze of the Gorgon
Terraformer
Gather Courage
Votary of the Conclave
Gate Hound
Sewerdreg
Boros Fury-Shield
While it can be pretty great, I didn't really expect to be playing it. And I didn't.
Pack 1 pick 7:
Caregiver
Fiery Conclusion
Consult the Necrosages
Siege Wurm
--> Drake Familiar
Incite Hysteria
Golgari Rotwurm
Dimir Signet
Dryad's Caress
Basically the same pack as pick 2, and mysteriously most of the best commons are still in it. Well, maybe "mysteriously" is overstating things a bit.
Pack 1 pick 8:
Wojek Siren
Smash
Duskmantle, House of Shadow
Ordruun Commando
Coalhauler Swine
Chant of Vitu-Ghazi
Conclave's Blessing
--> Golgari Brownscale
Pack 1 pick 9:
Vedalken Entrancer
Grayscaled Gharial
Perplex
Frenzied Goblin
--> War-Torch Goblin
Necromantic Thirst
Stasis Cell
Pack 1 pick 10:
Caregiver
--> Consult the Necrosages
Incite Hysteria
Vindictive Mob
Reroute
Dryad's Caress
Pack 1 pick 11:
Wojek Siren
--> Flame-Kin Zealot
Rally the Righteous
Sabertooth Alley Cat
Conclave's Blessing
Pack 1 pick 12:
Duskmantle, House of Shadow
--> Coalhauler Swine
Chant of Vitu-Ghazi
Conclave's Blessing
Pack 1 pick 13:
Sabertooth Alley Cat
--> Lore Broker
Surge of Zeal
Pack 1 pick 14:
--> Glass Golem
Gate Hound
Pack 1 pick 15:
--> Caregiver
------ GPT ------
Pack 2 pick 1:
To Arms!
Vacuumelt
Pillory of the Sleepless
Gruul Scrapper
Agent of Masks
Cremate
Skarrgan Pit-Skulk
Benediction of Moons
Shrieking Grotesque
Tin Street Hooligan
Debtors' Knell
Izzet Chronarch
Torch Drake
--> Gruul Turf
Necromancer's Magemark
Ouch, quite the Orzhov player's dream pack.
Pack 2 pick 2:
Abyssal Nocturnus
Orzhov Signet
Wee Dragonauts
Runeboggle
Skarrg, the Rage Pits
Ostiary Thrull
Conjurer's Ban
Gruul Turf
Blind Hunter
--> Ogre Savant
Poisonbelly Ogre
Gruul Nodorog
Guardian's Magemark
Scorched Rusalka
Gonna bounce some lands and bounce some mans.
Pack 2 pick 3:
Bloodscale Prowler
Skyrider Trainee
Vacuumelt
Mourning Thrull
Runeboggle
Tin Street Hooligan
Cry of Contrition
Ostiary Thrull
Withstand
Goblin Flectomancer
--> Streetbreaker Wurm
Infiltrator's Magemark
Caustic Rain
Pack 2 pick 4:
Ghor-Clan Bloodscale
Sky Swallower
Gigadrowse
--> Izzet Signet
Daggerclaw Imp
Benediction of Moons
Absolver Thrull
Tin Street Hooligan
Izzet Chronarch
Schismotivate
Torch Drake
Douse in Gloom
I might have taken the Chronarch, except I don't believe I had any non-permanents at this point.
Pack 2 pick 5:
Orzhov Signet
Wee Dragonauts
Runeboggle
Ostiary Thrull
Schismotivate
Orzhova, the Church of Deals
--> Ogre Savant
Gruul War Plow
Fencer's Magemark
Gruul Nodorog
Guardian's Magemark
Pack 2 pick 6:
Gristleback
Lionheart Maverick
--> Scab-Clan Mauler
Train of Thought
Wild Cantor
Feral Animist
Absolver Thrull
Leap of Flame
Beastmaster's Magemark
Leyline of the Meek
Personally, I hate Train of Thought. I'll take it if the pack is dead, but I don't really value it to any great degree, as this era was still dense with cantrips and solid card draw like Flight of Fancy and Compulsive Research.
Pack 2 pick 7:
Smogsteed Rider
Train of Thought
--> Wild Cantor
Absolver Thrull
Conjurer's Ban
Poisonbelly Ogre
Leap of Flame
Necromancer's Magemark (FOIL)
Beastmaster's Magemark
That said, I probably should have taken it here. I have no idea why I took Cantor.
Pack 2 pick 8:
Lionheart Maverick
Pyromatics
Restless Bones
Orzhov Euthanist
Ghost Warden
--> Rabble-Rouser
Fencer's Magemark
Crash Landing
With my mana spread out as much as it is, I didn't see myself being able to take advantage of Pyromatics to any great degree.
Pack 2 pick 9:
To Arms!
Gruul Scrapper
Cremate
Skarrgan Pit-Skulk
Benediction of Moons
--> Torch Drake
Necromancer's Magemark
Pack 2 pick 10:
Abyssal Nocturnus
Runeboggle
Skarrg, the Rage Pits
Conjurer's Ban
Poisonbelly Ogre
--> Scorched Rusalka
Pack 2 pick 11:
Skyrider Trainee
Runeboggle
--> Tin Street Hooligan
Cry of Contrition
Caustic Rain
Pack 2 pick 12:
Sky Swallower
Benediction of Moons
--> Tin Street Hooligan
Schismotivate
Pack 2 pick 13:
Orzhova, the Church of Deals
Fencer's Magemark
--> Gruul Nodorog
Pack 2 pick 14:
--> Feral Animist
Leyline of the Meek
Pack 2 pick 15:
--> Conjurer's Ban
------ DIS ------
Pack 3 pick 1:
Whiptail Moloch
Shielding Plax
Azorius Signet
--> Simic Growth Chamber
Rakdos Guildmage
Steeling Stance
Valor Made Real
Ghost Quarter
Helium Squirter
Simic Ragworm
Azorius Herald
Enigma Eidolon
Wrecking Ball
Sporeback Troll
Crime/Punishment
Pack 3 pick 2:
Rakdos Ickspitter
Riot Spikes
Simic Signet
Novijen, Heart of Progress
Azorius First-Wing
--> Indrik Stomphowler
Ogre Gatecrasher
Thrive (FOIL)
Vision Skeins
Simic Initiate
Kindle the Carnage
Kill-Suit Cultist
Utopia Sprawl
Entropic Eidolon
Pack 3 pick 3:
Whiptail Moloch
Rakdos Carnarium
--> Coiling Oracle
Overrule (FOIL)
Flame-Kin War Scout
Transguild Courier
Thrive
Vision Skeins
Soulsworn Jury
Simic Ragworm
Aurora Eidolon
Entropic Eidolon
Hit/Run
Pack 3 pick 4:
--> Simic Signet
Azorius First-Wing
Slaughterhouse Bouncer
Might of the Nephilim
Street Savvy
Nettling Curse
Writ of Passage
Kill-Suit Cultist
Cytospawn Shambler
Guardian of the Guildpact
Slithering Shade
Trial/Error
Pack 3 pick 5:
Whiptail Moloch
Shielding Plax
Simic Growth Chamber
Steeling Stance
--> Plaxmanta
Nightcreep
Valor Made Real
Simic Ragworm
Sandstorm Eidolon
Enigma Eidolon
Sporeback Troll
Plaxmanta go so late, so maybe I shouldn't have taken it here, but I enjoy Plaxmanta tricks.
Pack 3 pick 6:
Shielding Plax
Azorius Chancery
Court Hussar
Utvara Scalper
Blessing of the Nephilim
Psychotic Fury
Enemy of the Guildpact
Thrive
--> Aquastrand Spider
Freewind Equenaut
Pack 3 pick 7:
Macabre Waltz
--> Silkwing Scout
Nettling Curse
Valor Made Real
Gobhobbler Rats
Verdant Eidolon
Enigma Eidolon
Azorius Æthermage
Drekavac
Pack 3 pick 8:
Rakdos Carnarium
Slaughterhouse Bouncer
Plumes of Peace
Writ of Passage
Delirium Skeins
Kill-Suit Cultist
--> Cytospawn Shambler
Gnat Alley Creeper
Pack 3 pick 9:
Whiptail Moloch
Shielding Plax
Steeling Stance
Valor Made Real
Ghost Quarter
--> Simic Ragworm
Enigma Eidolon
Pack 3 pick 10:
Riot Spikes
Azorius First-Wing
Vision Skeins
Simic Initiate
--> Kindle the Carnage
Kill-Suit Cultist
Pack 3 pick 11:
Whiptail Moloch
--> Overrule (FOIL)
Transguild Courier
Vision Skeins
Aurora Eidolon
Pack 3 pick 12:
Slaughterhouse Bouncer
--> Street Savvy
Writ of Passage
Slithering Shade
Pack 3 pick 13:
Whiptail Moloch
Valor Made Real
--> Enigma Eidolon
Pack 3 pick 14:
--> Shielding Plax
Utvara Scalper
Pack 3 pick 15:
--> Enigma Eidolon
I was pretty happy with this draft overall, though I was little worried there could be a truly sick Boros/Orzhov/Rakdos deck in the queue. Having a single instant-speed spell (Plaxmanta) is problematic, but oh well.
The deck:
1 Aquastrand Spider
1 Coiling Oracle
1 Drake Familiar
1 Plaxmanta
1 Scab-Clan Mauler
2 Tin-Street Hooligan
1 Feral Animist
1 Silkwing Scout
1 Rabble-Rouser
1 Simic Ragworm
1 Torch Drake
1 Bramble Elemental
1 Hunted Drake
1 Indrik Stomphowler
2 Ogre Savant
1 Streetbreaker Wurm
2 Galvanic Arc
1 Moldervine Cloak
Artifacts
1 Izzet Signet
1 Simic Signet
Lands
1 Gruul turf
1 Simic Growth Chamber
4 Island
6 Mountain
5 Forest
As I suspected, someone drafted a sick Oros deck, and this guy even had Dark Confidant, 2x Lyzolda (foil & non-foil), and the Debtor's Knell.
Of course, he was also running a plethora of 6 drops, which he regularly hit with his Confidant, and didn't seem to understand how to get value out of his Lyzolda and Haunt creatures.
Not sure there's a better way to explain why I won this match.
Round Two vs. Pacman89 (5-color Gobbledegook)
Game One: Opponent mulls to 3.
Game Two: I keep a hand of mostly fixing, and my opponent gets his colors set up and takes over the game with Rakdos Guildmage.
Game Three: A bit more back and forth this game, but Moldervine Cloak starts to force him to expend removal on things like Coiling Oracle and Silkwing Scout, which eventually lets me stick Streetbreaker Wurm and Bramble Elemental to take the match.
Round Three vs. The Incredible Disconnected Opponent
Value!
Wrap-up: Had my opponents had brains (and/or the willingness to play the game), I doubt my deck was really up to snuff. But such is the nature of MTGO and 4-3 Classic format queues. I've got two more recaps to post later that will demonstrate both better drafting (IMO) and significantly better opposition.
Me: Top-deck this Nicol Bolas to destroy your foil Chandra before it ultimates! Hurray!
Opponent: That's cool, I have this Thundermaw Hellkite to tap your Fog Bank and Faerie Invaders so I can kill Nicol Bolas.
Me:
Opponent: Oh, and next turn I'm going to cast Predatory Rampage and hit you for 42.
Me:
Opponent: And game two? Yeah, I'm going to double cast that very same Predatory Rampage with that Chandra I played on turn three, and kill you on turn five. Cool?
Me: I, uh... sure...
Also hilarious that your first round opponent had Diabolic Intent into Pernicious Deed. At least he couldn't have been too upset about losing.
Yeah, I've been watching various 12-6 streams and finding the draft portion to just be baffling with bizarrely late picks (like a P1p5 Revenge of the Hunted) and the competition miserable. Just saw one opponent literally complain that he hadn't been allowed to play his cards because the streamer had "too much removal".
I think you mean Tidal Visionary (which is in pack one), as Reef Shaman doesn't combo with Bloodstock. At that point in the draft his options for synergy with Bloodstock would be Sisay's Ingenuity, Shifting Sky, and Aurora Griffin.
That said, it does look like he was in a very soft queue, where everyone was forcing monogreen Kavu or something.
But I ended on a high note, taking down a queue with Josh Ravitz and TSG, playing Esper Durdle Stuff. Turns out Lashknife Barrier, Angelic Shield, Samite Pilgrim, and Dega Disciple make it very hard for your opponents to attack, and when you have Death Grasp, that's usually pretty helpful.
No way I could've won a single round without Death Grasp, but it was still an interesting event. Had my second round opponent so frustrated that he made consecutive awful "alpha strikes", losing multiple creatures in each attack and only dealing 10 total damage.
Because I just had my opponent cast Guided Passage in game one of an IPA match. It makes it pretty easy to play around an opponent's spells when you know precisely what's in his deck.
While yes, being able to play many colors can enable you to find playables where you might not otherwise, that doesn't really change the fact that most packs of Apocalypse are full of cards like Index and Shield of Duty and Reason. And I have yet to be able to draft a tribal deck capable of taking advantage of any of the Impulse Tribe Leaders other than Kavu Howler, so no, I don't really consider Tidal Courier to be a card.
This is an average Apocalypse pack:
Pack 3 pick 1:
Goblin Trenches
Bloodfire Dwarf
Tranquil Path
Coalition Honor Guard
Divine Light
Index
Gaea's Balance
Savage Gorilla
Squee's Embrace
--> Tundra Kavu
Necra Sanctuary
Zombie Boa
Zombie Boa (FOIL)
Mournful Zombie
Night/Day
As I was in UBR, the first pickable cards are Night/Day (meh removal), a Zombie Boa (ok durdle), Tundra Kavu (sideways "fixing"), or Bloodfire Dwarf. The best cards in the pack are Coalition Honor Guard > Savage Gorilla > UBR filler.
Mournful Zombie, Necra Sanctuary, Gaea's Balance, Index, and Divine Light are basically unplayable. Tranquil Path is a decent sideboard option, but I'll probably already have plenty of answers for Enchantments at this point, including things like Hull Breach or Thunderscape Battlemage. Goblin Trenches is a card that could be built around, but I doubt many people can really take advantage of it. I guess if you're super aggressive and unafraid of all the absurd bounce in the format, Squee's Embrace is maybe playable.
It's not that there aren't good cards, but you rarely wheel anything relevant, maybe an Urborg Uprising or Llanowar Dead. Most of the packs dry up after like 4 packs, which is very AVR-esque.
Whereas Planeshift is ridiculously deep, as you can get solid gating creatures like Cavern Harpy or ok sideboard cards like Singe on the wheel, as well as some of the best fixing and things like Flametongue Kavu.
There's a huge drop in average card quality going from Planeshift to Apocalypse, so it's not surprising that you would perceive that pck as being "terrible"; it's always terrible. But as you noted, being in a position to take advantage of Jilt, Razorfin Hunter, Minotaur Illusionist, Fire//Ice, Illuminate, and whatever else is the place to be once Apocalypse hits.
Sanctuary isn't bad, but it's not the pick.
Climber would be second though.