Let's D-D-D-Draft!

Yes, I'm late. That's to be expected. I could make excuses, but I won't. Instead, I'll just say - if you live in the North East, go to Wet n Wild. It is so worth it.

Anyway, I did something for the first time last Monday. I drafted. Specifically, I Chaos Drafted, which I believe that I'll be doing again a week today. So, we'll see if I have time to write up the results afterwards. Otherwise, it'll have to be Tuesday.

The drafting portion itself itself went surprisingly well for me. Someone dropped out at the last minute, so there were only five of us, but we made it work. Somehow, I ended up as the only person in Green, so half my deck was basically free. I figure that out about halfway through the first pack, when three decent Green cards wheeled, and there weren't many players in white either, so I basically had the run of Selesnya.

Well, actually, there were two drafting White, but it was still not that popular.

Also, yeah, I was Selesnya. The White cos it just happened, the green due to my first two picks; Predator's Howl (which didn't make it into my final deck) and Animus of Predation (which did). Incidentally, a Flying, Trample, Deathtouch, Lifelink 4/4 for 4G is basically unstoppable. Shame I only drew it once.

So, my deck? Well, at the end of the draft, it was Animus of Predation; Voyaging Satyr; Menagerie Liberator; Search for Tomorrow; Nylea's Disciple; 2x Dragonscale Boon; Anthousa, Setessan Hero; Gift of Paradise; Tangle Asp; Ashcoat Bear; Rhonas' Stalwart; Scour from Existence; Inspiring Captain; Celestial Crusader; Emissary of the Sleepless; Oketra's Avenger; Leonin Snarecaster; Cast Out; Ainok Bond-Kin; Apex Hawks; Windswept Heath; 10x Forest and 6x Plains... oh, and the Unhinged cards Emcee and Land Aid '04. Incidentally, Ainok Bond-Kin > Emcee > literally anything is a winning combination.

So, how'd it go for me? Well... not bad. We never actually finished, so I came somewhere between 3rd, and joint 1st. Lemme expand.

Round one, my opponent was in Dimir colours, and just had an answer. I drew a little badly, but mostly it was just that he was playing his cards better than me. A goodly amount of removal, and some very well reserved counters meant that I couldn't really stop him from chiseling away at my life total. Plus, a 5/5 Flyer with Shadow is basically game over unless you draw premium removal... and they don't counter it.

Either way, I lost fair and square. Don't believe I won any games actually...

... Round two went much better. He was playing Grixis, and mana-screwed himself a couple of times, but also I was just a little punchier. Three games this time, and in the end it was a game of inches rather than a crushing defeat. Which I am actually very proud of, because at worst he is going to draw with me for first, after beating every other player.

Final opponent first picked Teysa Karlov (the second version) and just went for it. Which is unfortunate, because he was to my left, and I took all the good white cards.

These were slow, grindy matches, which I believe is a necessity of Orzhov (my Warriors being the exception), but in the end I wore him down faster than he could stop me. Once again - Bond-Kin, Emcee, Menagerie Liberator is just instant victory. And this was the round that I saw the Animus.

Unfortuately, I did not get the chance to face the last player (which is a shame, cos I would like to see a 4 colour durdle-nought), because of time constraints, but I intend to face him at some point. Maybe I'll even record it! I won't.

So, all in all... Yeah, I loved it. I quite enjoy MTGO Drafts, and Paper has the added benefit of playing with friends, which is always more fun. For anyone considering it - I'd highly recommend getting some friends together, and giving it a go. Seriously; you will enjoy it.

And now, because it is half eleven, and Master Grixis is wanting to read my many praises to him, I am afraid that I shall be forced to depart. Once again, thank you so much for joining me, and I oughta see you next week.

Volodanti out.