This was an interesting draft that never really came together. The signals were basically nonexistent and it felt terrible. I pinged Chord_of_Calls, power user on LoL, to review and at least got some confirmation that it was a tricky draft.
Candidly, this deck sucked, wasn’t much fun to play, and either curved out while the opponent stumbled or died.
A week worth of travelling led to a lot of Bad North (great travel game), a lot of pies, but not a lot of Magical cards. Now that laundry is done, toddler is sleeping, it’s time to rectify that post-haste.
Lost to a surprisingly good draw 2 deck (they had three Improbable Alliances on the field at once, which proved to be decisive). Then a solid, very very fast WG adventure where I had a critical fatfinger where I could have turned the corner.
Really intresting pick here. I started in red and then the green started flowing (late Outmuscle and Garenbrig Paladin. Then this pick. There’s been some traces of blue (So Tiny &c) so it’s a choice between speculating on a pretty good blue card or a “eh” colorless. I took the Sage of the Falls as I think it’s a little late here and UG is definitely possible. It didn’t pan out and the rampy deck that I put together could have really used the Drawbridge, but I think it was the right choice.
I feel rather proud how I navigated this draft. Through 14 picks, I felt like I was somewhere in Mardu, with the white flowing late (Guidemother P1p9 &c). Then I got a FIRM signal that directly upstream is NOT a green drafter with a P1p15 Wildwood tracker remaining instead of a basic land. Huh.
So I open up The Great Henge P2p2 gave me a Pie. Resist the Pie? Black was just so, so cut so I took a disciplined pick with Carver, thinking that green is my lane now. Rewarded: green was open and a Wandermare wheeled so I nestled into G(w) adventure.
Early picks seemed very straight forward. Despite a P1p3 Revenge of Ravens, black dried up quickly. But I quickly found a green lane, fought through a tragic pack 2, and ended up in a weird non-food GB deck.
Most interesting pick: P3p2 Syr Konrad vs. Outmuscle. I only had a Pie and Reave Soul and my 5-drop slot was very full. So I think my overall deck EV was higher adding removal despite Konrad being a much better card.
Finally broke in the Discord and pioneered the triple draft with co-Daddies Patrick and Chris. Each of us pilots a draft with two coaches then we all simultaneously play. Three drafts per game of Magic. Given how I enjoy the draft about 5x more than playing Magic, this was a pure spike of joy.
P1p1: Clear Pyromancer. Time to try the draw-many deck?
P2p3: I’ve started taking some white and here comes a Loch Dragon vs. Searing Barrage. Loch Dragon has really impressed me and is obviously great with the Pyromancer. I take the Loch, adding to my quad-reds.
P3p3: Redcap Melee vs. Ardenvale Tactician. I’m still unsure how “red” I am in this deck, but I think the efficiency of the removal is just too much to resist.
So the white became irresistible in pack 2 and I’m actually kinda proud of myself for grabbing it. Oddly, pack 3 was the hardest to draft since I wasn’t sure if I was 12/5 mountains for my quad-reds or more white with the Ardenvale Tacticians. This draft format is so, so very good.
Sneaking in a quick draft before some Benalish Daddies with Chris tomorrow. I did some more chores earlier in the day anyway and the Benalish Momma took care of the bedtime. I did have to dash away mid-draft for a final hug goodnight. Such is the price we pay sometimes; though no picks were missed.
P1p1: Henge vs. Animating Faerie. Pretty easy Henge (THAT I NEVER SAW, uh, spoilers)
P1p2: this was trickier! Oven vs. 2 gold cards and the hybrid Fireborn Knight. I think it’s between the Knight
P1p3: Searing Barrage as strongest card in the pack.
P1p4: Ardenvale Tactician is the white card you just can’t have enough of. I’m briefly tempted by Rampart Smasher, but I think the power level of the white card is higher.
Late Outmuscle and Rimrock Knights put me in red… with absolutely no payoff in pack 2 or pack 3. Bleh. The P2p14 So Tiny felt particularly galling.
Well, not sure where red went there. I like my drafting early, taking powerful cards (still unsure about the pick 2 Witch’s Oven, but I think it fit).
P1p2: Hypnotic Sprite//Mesmeric Glare vs. Golden Egg. Ahh the classice Eldraine tension. The powerful card that verges on a 2-for-1 or the generic cantrip that fixes. I think the power level of the Sprite is worth it, but just barely.
P1p10: After dabbling in blue, this is where the red playables start to flow. Nothing epic, but seemed fine. Also some white, but nothing better than Youthful Knight.
Felt like a smart draft, ending up in red. There was a lot of white, but nothing to every really encourage me to get into white. No Ardenvale Tacticians, or Trapped in the Tower. The Arcanist Owl in P2p7 felt bad, but the red came back in pack 3 and once again there wasn’t a top white common to be found. So that felt vindicating. Unfortunately I only have 4 two-drops and 4 three-drops, so it’s not AGGRO-aggro.
Benalish Dad 