One of the difficulties of a blog like this is balancing the “gosh isn’t it fun to write about Magic cards” versus “…but not as much fun as actually playing with Magic cards, amirite?” But there was an overnight at the grantparents and–in addition–to sleeping in until 8am, there was also a loosening of the tight trade-offs of available time. To the drafts!

Draft log

Pretty clear Prismari lane, with a random Lorehold Command thrown in, with no white to follow it up. Weird.

deck

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game plan

Sadly didn’t get any of the high casting cost spells to maximize the end game, but some solid power, Rootha, and a curve to pressure the oppo. We should look to have a decently early board presence and push attacks. The lesson-board has the basics (land & removal) and a bunch of summonings.

round 1

Game 1

Totally keepable. I have the option of using the Lesson to go fetch a mountain if needed.

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Good little aggro start, but then I mis-read Wandering Archaic. I thought it was like reflective Golem on targeting spells, but no, it’s any instant or sorcery. So I gifted my opponent a 7/7 fractal.

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game 2

Doesn’t get better than this! Turn 4 Lorehold Command?! Yes please!

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Unfortunately opponent turbo-ed out lands and turned the squirrels into 4/4 Reach AND the 8/8 trampler AND the return of the Archaic. Even with all the discounts, I can’t cast it, kill anything of note, and get the doubling that I need (from Rootha) to try and survive. Eight lands by turn 5! Unbelievable. Maybe I should have cast it earlier? But I think holding on to it and going for the blowout with Rootha was the right call.

round 2

Game 1

Lacks a good early drop, but lots of interaction and Learn cards makes it a pretty straightforward keep. Look to build to Lorehold Command!

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At this stage in the game, Lil Chandra wandered into the room and started reporting on the lifetotals of both players, so documentation suffered. Oppo eventually stabilized and started murdering me with 7 “mana value” spells.

game 2

A few seconds slow on the screenshot, but early drops + learn = clear pressure plan!

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Once again I raced out to early pressure only to be stopped by oppo’s drops. I Rootha’d the Spirit Summoning and starting bashing in with a wider board. Oppo made a risky attack that only left one blocker back. I used a Learn to grab Annihilations to punch through.

game 3

More early pressure!

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Opponent was mana-screwed and had a brave defense that was insufficient. Doubling Igneous Inspiration (for two Learn triggers) with Rootha was just beyond delightful.

round 3

Aaaand then got a weird bug in Arena and was denied my round 3! A travesty!!!!

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