Full disclosure, I've been drafting this block a lot in my main account so I have experience. There isn't going to be a big learning curve, unlike the rest of this project where everything will be new to me. Still, I'm sure I'll be making mistakes not only in the draft but during the matches as well so look forward to that!
Pack 1 pick 1:
My Pick:
I haven't had a lot of success with the UR Thermo-Alchemist decks so I try to avoid that archetype. I feel that red is one of the stronger colours in the format so ideally that's one of the colours I'm running but I don't think the Deranged Whelp is the best card in the pack. Boon of Emrakul is good as well but Somberwald Stag is just very powerful, with a built in Prey Upon that leaves a pretty big body.
Pack 1 pick 2:
My Pick:
I've been more and more impressed with Drag Under but once again UG isn't something I'm that good with. Also, I'd like to stay on colour until I get a feeling for what's open. Besides, Ulvenwald Captive is pretty top notch, providing acceleration early on and becoming a threat in the late game.
Pack 1 pick 3:
My Pick:
Told you I like red. I once drafted RG werewolves with Ullrich of the Krallenhorde, tons of removal and Blood Mist (very underrated in my opinion). I won the whole draft pretty easily. Swift Spinner was the only card on colour and those often wheel so I'm willing to take the chance to live the dream again. If I first picked the Boon, then I would have given Ironclad Slayer more consideration. Blessed Alliance and Fiend Bender are very playable as well, and in retrosepct, this gives me the impression that white is open.
Pack 1 pick 4:
My Pick:
Brazen Wolves is a strong pick, getting in for a lot of damage. Wolves turn 3 and Voldaren Duelist turn 4 swinging for 7 is one of the best feelings. Sometimes I end up low on removal spells and can't pick off pesky creatures that don't get into fights. Thinking back, it's quite early in the draft and I probably would have ended up with some removal anyway so the wolves should have been the way to go.
Pack 1 pick 5:
My Pick:
At this point in the draft I could have moved into white as Courageous Outrider is very powerful, especially in WG humans. I have to do a better job at seeing the signals earlier and be more willing to give up earlier picks if the draft doesn't go the way I want. Backwoods Survivalist is okay, but not something I'm happy picking this early.
Pack 1 pick 6:
My Pick:
Wow how stubborn can I be? Choking Restraints is solid removal and I picked a mediocre card over it. I always have the fear that I've already given up too many cards, my neighbour is in the colour I passed (i.e. white) and I'll get nothing in the second pack. Now that I think about it though, I may get nothing in Pack 2 but I can pick everything up Pack 3.
Pack 1 pick 7:
My Pick:
Told you Swift Spinners go late. The Drogskol Shieldmate is a nice trick and I would have picked it up if I got it through my head that white was open. The last 3 packs didn't even have any solid red cards and I've been passed top tier white...
Pack 1 pick 8:
My Pick:
Seriously? Move into white! Dawn Gryff and the slayer are very playable. The gryff more in my situation since I passed on the restraints. I think I was so focused on staying on colour that I picked green cards for solely that reason. Grapple with the Past is alright. I haven't played with it much but it helps me hit Delirium and brings back my stag.
Pack 1 pick 9:
My Pick:
About time I started picking white cards! Probably too little too late at this point as I'm stuck with a pile of green cards, 2 red and this Fiend Bender. I use to pick Fiend Benders very highly but quickly realized that if the board has a slew of creatures on the other side then the attacks aren't that great and the opponent usually ends up trading for the bender anyway so I don't get that many uses out of it.
Pack 1 pick 10:
My Pick:
Pack 1 pick 11:
My Pick:
At this point white is a better option than red.
Pack 1 pick 12:
My Pick:
Might work well depending on how many humans I end up getting but probably not going to play this.
Pack 1 pick 13:
My Pick:
A solid 13th pick. I'll need tricks especially since I have no removal after this pack.
Pack 1 pick 14:
My Pick:
Pack 1 pick 15:
My Pick:
I always pick these thinking they'll be good post sideboard. However, I never side them in, even when there's a target. Unless I see more than 1 target (or the target is game ending), I feel like it's a waste of a slot in the deck.
Pack 2 pick 1:
My Pick:
Prey Upon or Kessig Prowler? I've seen games won on the back of the prowler so I'll go with that. Maybe the wrong pick since I'm short on removal. Borrowed Grace is good too but I might be able to pick one up later.
Pack 2 pick 2:
My Pick:
So I whiff on pick 2 - not ideal. Drag Under is good but at this point am I going to switch colours again? Maybe the Drag Under is worth ditching the benders? Anyway, I go with Bloodbriar which can be huge if I can get some cards that generate clues such as Ulvenwald Mysteries. Even removal such as Angelic Purge will make this guy bigger.
Pack 2 pick 3:
My Pick:
Right now there's not a lot the outrider could find other than the pair of benders and the Woodland Patrol. Hopefully I'll pick up some more humans before the end of the draft.
Pack 2 pick 4:
My Pick:
The Subjugator Angel is good. A little expensive and not as high a pick as 4th but I'll take it. I've never tried the Thraben Standard Bearer but I would assume it would be better is WR with madness cards. Besides, those can be picked up at the end of the pack.
Pack 2 pick 5:
My Pick:
If you can get them to stick around, the Faithbearer Paladin is solid and makes racing a lot harder for the opponent. It's another target for the outrider and has enough toughness to be out of range of a lot of removal spells.
Pack 2 pick 6:
My Pick:
I don't mind having a pair of these. Especially grabbing a 6 & 5 drop the last two picks. Accelerating into them would be great.
Pack 2 pick 7:
My Pick:
Another target for the outrider. Maybe I should have grabbed the Lunarch Mantle? I always shy away from auras unless they're very powerful. I'm terrified of getting 2-for-1'd but I find that +2/+2 helps creatures punch through and break stalemates. Sacrificing lands to fly over head and help reach Delirium is pretty good as well.
Pack 2 pick 8:
My Pick:
Solid card that helps boost the Bloodbriar. Hopefully I get good sacrifice targets such as a Primal Druid or Byway Courier.
Pack 2 pick 9:
My Pick:
Pickings are slim at this point. I considered the Waxing Moon but with only the pair of captives and the prowler as targets I don't think it's worth it.
Pack 2 pick 10:
My Pick:
Pack 2 pick 11:
My Pick:
Might make the deck depending on how many humans I end up running.
Pack 2 pick 12:
My Pick:
When I play against this, it causes such a headache.However, I never want to run it myself because the cost of equipping feels like it's too much for me.
Pack 2 pick 13:
My Pick:
Pack 2 pick 14:
My Pick:
Pack 2 pick 15:
My Pick:
Pack 3 pick 1:
My Pick:
Duskwatch Recruiter is a very solid card providing a steady stream of creatures in the later stages of the game. To be honest I prefer having it not transformed as that ability is more powerful.
Pack 3 pick 2:
My Pick:
Great! I need more removal and this gets rid of a lot of stuff. Also grows the Bloodbriar. Solitary Hunter would be the card I hope comes back around.
Pack 3 pick 3:
My Pick:
I said I needed something to sacrifice to It of the Horrid Swarm and here it is. It's not something you want for the 3rd pick but still something I was looking for. Creatures like this and Exultant Cultist deters opponents from trading as you get a card from the deal. The clue makes the Bloodbriar better as well.
Pack 3 pick 4:
My Pick:
Hopefully I have enough humans to make the Veteran Cathar relevant because I was debating between this and the Inspiring Captain. Due to the cost of activation, Veteran Cathar is just a bear for a lot of the game but once you hit four mana you can start attacking. Although it would be ideal to play a four drop on turn 4 and not actually activate the ability, the threat of being able to give double strike will cause opponents to be reluctant to block.
Pack 3 pick 5:
My Pick:
Watcher, Logger or Silverstrike. I have a Swift Spinner and the angel but not much else to deal with flier so the extra spider may be the way to go. The logger is also a solid two drop that can punish opponents for stumbling in the early game. At this point I'm trying to get more removal and I already have a enough two drops so I grabbed the Silverstrike.
Pack 3 pick 6:
My Pick:
There isn't anything else to pick and at this point I can use the courier to replace a Woodland Patrol as the 3 slot is filling up as well.
Pack 3 pick 7:
My Pick:
I have a pair of grapples but I don't think I have space to run this.
Pack 3 pick 8:
My Pick:
Harvest Hand is a nice pick up. Especially with the number of humans I have in the deck. I can't produce enough clues to run Graf Mole.
Pack 3 pick 9:
My Pick:
It isn't Borrowed Grace but it'll do.
Pack 3 pick 10:
My Pick:
Combos with Bloodbriar right? Right...?
Pack 3 pick 11:
My Pick:
Pack 3 pick 12:
My Pick:
Raredraft!
Pack 3 pick 13:
My Pick:
Pack 3 pick 14:
My Pick:
Pack 3 pick 15:
My Pick:
I feel like I salvaged the draft but the deck would have been much better if I moved into white sooner. I still have lots of work to do on my drafting skills. I also have to work on my blogging skills! I assumed that the decklist would be available on MTGO but I can't find it anywhere. At least now I know for the next draft.
My first opponent was BW started with Call the Bloodline a Sigardian Priests. I sacrifice a Byway Courier to It of the Horrid Swarm and grow my Bloodbriar in the process. Those two and a Faithbearer Paladin are all slightly bigger and holding off his team of 5 creatures. The priest starts to lock down the It of the Horrid Swarm. He put a Lunarch Mantle on his Lone Rider, flies over for 3 and has it transform the next turn. I Silverstrike it and drop a Somberwald Stag to try and kill the priest but the stag gets Murdered before the ability triggers. We stare at each other for a few turns, then all of a sudden he swings with his team. With 5 mana open I had a feeling it was Borrowed Grace. So I set up blocks in a way that thought I would survive but have enough creatures for the next block. I called it right and ended up with enough for lethal damage on the counter swing. That was totally by accident though, as I was just thinking about how to survive the next attack. I didn't think that I was able to win on the back swing. Luckily he conceded because I might have missed it! Game 2 I mulligan to 5 and keep 4 lands and an outrider. He put a mantle on his Thraben Foulbloods and uses Ruthless Disposal to dispatch me on turn 6.
Game 3 I start off strong with a captive, and harvest hand to his Lone Rider. He seems to be on all plains but attacks anyway with 3 white mana open. It's pretty obvious that it's a Borrowed Grace so I let it through - he would gain the life regardless of if I block so I would lose a creature for no reason. He plays the grace and his Lone Rider flips. It That Rides Alone starts smacking me around for a few turns. Leaving me at 13 life and him at 23 life. I end up trading my stag for the rider. I start to stabilize and have an Ulvenwald Abomination, and a Subjugator Angel equipped with Scrounged Scythe to his pair of Olivia's Dragoons, a Thraben Foulbloods and the Lone Rider he got back with his Midnight Scavengers. He is reluctant to lose his creatures to push through damage which gives me time to put down more blockers. I equip a Fiend Bender with the scythe to make if difficult for him to block and trade it off for 2 creatures. Then I start swinging in with a Sinuous Predator holding the scythe. He still has 19 life at this point but starts throwing his creatures in front of the predator, growing his Gavony Unhallowed in the process. The board starts to get crowded and the unhallowed is now big enough to stop my predator so I hold back. Duskwatch Recruiter on my side helps me increase my team to 11 creatures to his 7. The whole time, the angel is getting in from above, as he doesn't want to discard 2 cards and double block with the dragoons. He plays Ever After and all of a sudden he has more creatures than me but the recruiter is putting in work, grabbing me a Veteran Cathar and Courageous Outrider. At this point I only have 11 cards in my library and I'm sure that I have all my creatures. I play Ethereal Guidance and swing with the team for the win.
For the second match, I'm paired up against BG and he starts with a Quilled Wolf and a pair of Foulbloods. I start to put down blockers but Mindwrack Demon unexpectedly decided to join the party. All of a sudden those Foulbloods got a whole lot scarier. I did my best to survive but lost a few turns later. Game 2 I mulligan to 6 cards and we're off. I have a Harvest Hand and Fiend Bender against his Noose Constrictor and his Thraben Foulbloods. I trade for the Foulbloods at the first opportunity, fearing a repeat of Game 1. He hits Delirium and Drops a Backwoods Survivalists and a Cryptbreaker which quickly starts netting him cards. Autumnal Gloom and another Foulbloods comes down for his team and my Swift Spinner and Kessig Prowler are clearly outclassed. I double block successfully to get rid of the Fouldbloods and Ancient of the Equinox but I can't keep up with his Cryptbreaker and die to a swarm of creatures.
At 1-1, Match 3 will have 2 booster packs on the line. Looks like a mirror match as he starts with a Ulvenwald Captive and Woodland Patrol. He adds a pair of Sigardian Priests and a Noose Constrictor to his side against my Backwoods Survialists and an unequipped Scrounged Scythe. Doesn't look good. Somberwald Stag for me gets rid of his captive before it becomes a problem. I figured that would be a bigger issue as he had a pair of priests so I was sure that the stag wasn't going to be attacking anytime soon even if I picked one off. Surprisingly, instead of locking down the stag, he lets me attack and trades his constrictor plus a card for it. Luckily the survivalist is immune to the priests and starts swinging in with the scythe. I drop a Faithbearer Paladin as well as his two priest are sitting around not doing much and take turns tapping my captive. A Subjugator Angel lets my humans get through leaving him at 3 and me at 18. His team expands to five creatures to my seven. My Veteran Cathar lets me trade my survivalist for his Kessig Dire Swine and my paladin with double strike earns me the victory. Game 2 has my opponent starting off with a Noose Constrictor, Bygone Bishop and following up with a Sigardian Priest. My side of the board consists of a Bloodbriar and Courageous Outrider. The flying bishop is eating away at my life total as he adds a Kessig Dire Swine while I replace my outrider (which died to blocker that had Woodcutter's Grit) with a Faithbearer Paladin. I remove the swine with Angelic Purge, growing the Bloodbriar in the process. He plops down 2 more priests, a Backwoods Survivalists and a Cathar's Companion while I play a Byway Courier. I finally get rid of the bishop with a Silverstrike but things aren't looking good with me at 7 life staring down six creatures. I keep playing humans as it must of got a little frustrating for my opponent with 3 priests and nothing but a Bloodbriar to tap down. I trade a Somberwald Stag for his survivalists and play a Harvest Hand that I'm hoping will die quickly so that I can give my humans a scythe to swing in with. I throw down a pair of Fiend Benders and and get the Harvest Hand to flip. I start forcing 2-for-1s with my menaced humans and climb back into the game. Duskwatch Recruiter starts putting in work and my team starts to grow to 8 creatures while I'm holding Ethereal Guidance. At this point he has 2 Ulvenwald Abominations and a pair of priests but his attacks aren't great. He is at 9 while I got back up to 11 thanks to the paladin and I finally swarm him with 11 creatures after a pump from Ethereal Guidance. He ended up with 1 life but evenuaully succumbs as he lost most of his team with the first alpha strike.
That's a wrap on the draft #1 for Going Infinite! I ended up going 2-1 and picking up 2 booster packs. No money cards though, so this draft didn't go to well resulting in a loss of overall tickets. Hopefully I can get a positive result with the next one!
- ThePaperboy
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