Hi
I’m Bill Murphy. You’ve probably seen me around the store, or played a game of limited against me at some point. I’m hoping to get this going as a series of draft walkthroughs, because I’d like to try and teach some of you how to draft. I’m always willing to answer any questions you may have about my picks, because hopefully this is going to be a learning experience for everyone. I’m also going to be working on the format of this, so any input will be muchly appreciated.
I’m going to try and go by three things:
1. Always try and draft something different, no matter how terrible it is. None of this first pick Unburial Rites, second pick Slayer of the Wicked every time like in triple Innistrad.
2. I’m only human, I will money draft.
3. Take a card for your deck. If you can’t take a card for your deck, take a card for your sideboard. If you can’t take a card for either, then hate-draft.
Pick 1, Pack 1:
Chorus of Might, Azorious Arrester, Gatecreeper Vine, Gore-House Chainwalker, Sewer Shambler, Seller of Songbirds, Trestle Troll, Dispel, Bellows Lizard, Soul Tithe, Nivix Guildmage, Call of the Conclave, Mana Bloom
The opening pack yields a bit, with the possible first picks being Call of the Conclave and uh…not very much else. Call of the Conclave is super efficient as a two mana 3/3 which can be populated. Other cards in the pack are the Gatecreeper Vine, the Chainwalker and Nivix Guildmage. But I hear the call, and I’m answering.
My Pick:
Call of the Conclave
Pick 2, Pack 1:
Mind Rot, Drudge Beetle, Sewer Shambler, Common Bond, Hussar Patrol, Avenging Arrow, Crosstown Courier, Launch Party, Shrieking Affliction, Slitherhead, Dryad Militant, Utvara Hellkite
Best cards in the pack are Hussar Patrol, Drudge Beetle, Common Bond and Dryad Militant with Shambler, Arrow, Launch Party all being very playable (Sorry Hellkitten!). The pick is between Dryad Militant and Hussar Patrol. Hussar Patrol generally fits into slower decks, because the four toughness is an absolutely huge butt for Rakdos and Golgari decks to try and run into, where Dryad Militant is a super aggressive one drop. Normally I try and avoid one drops like the plague in limited, as they never do enough to justify their inclusion, but Dryad Militant pairs too well with Call to pass up.
My Pick:
Dryad Militant
(N.B. The one drops worth playing in RTR are Nivmagus Elemental, Deathrite Shaman, Dryad Militant and Rakdos Cackler)
Pick 3, Pack 1:
Inspiration, Druid’s Deliverance, Dramatic Rescue, Rakdos Shred-Freak, Daggerdrome Imp, Doorkeeper, Rakdos Guildgate, Axebane Guardian, Downsize, Runewing, Dead Revenant, Dreg Mangler
Here the pick is between Dreg Mangler and Axebane Guardian (The other cards in this pack are Druid’s Deliverance and Dramatic Rescue). Dreg Mangler is a huge beater and Axebane Guardian is superb fixing/ramp. I promise another week I’ll be drafting the 5 colour green deck, but whilst I’m getting passed fine aggressive base-green cards…
My Pick:
Dreg Mangler
Pick 4, Pack 1:
Giant Growth, Treacherous Instinct, Dispel, Dramatic Rescue, Knightly Valor, Towering Indrik, Stealer of Secrets, Grim Roustabout, Korozda Guildmage, Seek the Horizon
Conveniently, there are only two things in this pack worth fourth picking and one of them is on colour. Hopefully because we’re only passing one good green card per pack, either Giant Growth or Towering Indrik will come back around.
My Pick:
Korozda Guildmage
Pick 5, Pack 1:
Golgari Guildgate, Deviant Glee, Armory Guard, Cremate, Selesnya Sentry, Downsize, Stonefare Crocodile, Explosive Impact, Golgari Decoy, Phantom General
I spent five minutes trying to come up with a joke to explain this pick. Nothing works quite well with Decoy though. Except for a lot of small aggressive beaters, they work fairly well with Golgari Decoy.
My Pick:
Golgari Decoy
Pick 6, Pack 1:
Swift Justice, Druid’s Deliverance, Electrickery, Grisly Salvage, Essence Backlash, Rakdos Cackler, Rix-Maadi Guildmage, Codex Shredder
Ah, the benefit of 20/20 hindsight. Here my pick was pretty bad. Rix-Maadi Guildmage is the best card in the pack by a wide margin, because it punishes your opponent every single combat phase. Rakdos Cackler is the card that I took, because a 2/2 for one mana is a super good aggressive card, right? If I can’t cast it turn one, it’s pretty bad. Being so far a Gbw deck, I probably should’ve taken the Grisly Salvage to fix my mana/find that super amazing bomb that I’ll obviously pick up in pack 3, because that’s what always happens. Anyway,
My Pick:
Rakdos Cackler
Pick 7, Pack 1:
Chemister’s Trick, Perilous Shadow, Urban Burgeoning, Survey the Wreckage, Transguild Promenade, Tenement Crusher, Runewing, Aquus Steed
There’s not much left in this pack. The best cards are Perilous Shadow, Transguild Promenade and Runewing. What can I say, I like big butts and I cannot lie.
My Pick: Perilous Shadow
Pick 8, Pack 1:
Pursuit of Flight, Splatter Thug, Korozda Monitor, Search Warrant, Giant Growth, Stealer of Secrets, Faerie Impostor
My that’s a late Splatter Thug. Korozda Monitor is the pick, 4 mana 3/3 with trample is a great card, even without scavenge.
My Pick: Korozda Monitor
Pick 9, Pack 1:
Azorious Arrester, Bellows Lizard, Chorus of Might, Dispel, Nivix Guildmage, Mana Bloom
Plot twist: Mana Bloom came back. Drafting with M. Night Shymalan, I see.
Anyway, Two mana disruptive bear, sign me up!
My Pick: Azorious Arrester
Pick 10, Pack 1:
Mind Rot, Sewer Shambler, Hussar Patrol, Doorkeeper, Shrieking Affliction
Guys. Hussar Patrol is the best Azorious common. C’mon.
I try to advocate not hate-drafting, but the potential of having to try and run my 3-power guys into a 2/4 outweighs a Sewer Shambler.
My Pick:
Hussar Patrol
P11P1:
Axebane Guardian, Downsize, Doorkeeper, Druid’s Deliverance
Welp, the best green common came back to me.
My Pick: Axebane Guardian
P12P1:
Towering Indrik, Dispel, Search the City
Curse you Shymalan! How did I not see that coming!
I have searched my feelings and found Giant Spider to be definitely worth taking here. It’s too good to be still here P12.
My Pick: Towering Indrik
P13P1:
Cremate, Phantom General
My Pick: Phantom General
P14P1:
My Pick: Essence Backlash
Pick 1, Pack 2:
Terrus Wurm, Chorus of Might, Electrickery, Paralyzing Grasp, Hussar Patrol, Spawn of Rix-Maadi, Stealer of Secrets, Azorious Guildgate, Tenement Crasher, Oak-Street Inkeeper, Izzet Keyrune, Thrill-Kill Assassin, Sphinx of the Chimes
Ew. Sphinx of the Chimes and Izzet Keyrune are the best cards. Unfortunately as neither of those fit my deck, Thrill-Kill assassin is the pick. It’s a great card against all the huge butted creatures and probably the unleash creature you’ll not unleash most.
My Pick:
Thrill-Kill Assassin
Pick 2, Pack 2:
Trained Caracal, Chronic Flooding, Goblin Electromancer, Cobblebrute, Seller of Songbirds, Voidwielder, Gatecreeper Vine, Viashino Racketeer, Cremate, Selesnya Sentry, Hellhole Flailer, Risen Sanctuary, Slum Reaper
Ewwww. Risen Sanctuary gives the deck a lot of reach and is a super-sweet finisher. Hopefully wheel the Gatecreeper Vine as well.
My Pick:
Risen Sanctuary
Pick 3, Pack 2:
Axebane Stag, Avenging Arrow, Cobblebrute, Voidwielder, Selesnya Sentry, Ogre Jailbreaker, Batterhorn, Rubbleback Rhino, Archweaver, Rogue’s Passage, Vitu-Ghazi Guildmage, Firemind’s Foresight
It is Vitu to my plan that I pick up dudes that do things other than attack and Vitu-Ghazi Guildmage is arguably the best guildmage of all (Rix-Maadi will fight you). Unstopped, it will dominate a game by itself. Not many other grizzly bears can say the same.
My Pick:
Vitu-Ghazi Guildmage
Pick 4, Pack 2:
Drudge Beetle, Crosstown Courier, Vassal Soul, Skull Rend, Concordia Pegasus, Cremate, Tenement Crusher (?), Inaction Injunction, Blustersquall, Izzet Staticaster, Forest
Speaking of super awesome bears, I love me some value bears in limited and Drudge Beetle is about as good as they come. Really don’t enjoy seeing Inaction Injunction, Blustersquall or Izzet Staticaster though, they’re all super awkward to play around.
My Pick:
Drudge Beetle
Pick 5, Pack 2:
Paralyzing Grasp, Chorus of Might, Treacherous Instinct, Essence Backlash, Sluiceway Scorpion, Knightly Valor, Towering Indrik, Stealer of Secrets, Grim Roustabout, Assassin’s Strike
Another pick I think was fairly wrong. At this point, I’ve got no removal at all and six-mana removal with extra value is nothing to strike up a fuss about. I definitely didn’t need another dude.
My Pick:
Sluiceway Scorpion
Pick 6, Pack 2:
Terrus Wurm, Golgari Guildgate, Swift Justice, Centaur Healer, Chemister’s Trick, Runewing, Perilous Shadow, Trostani’s Judgment, Selesnya Charm
What’s the Magic equivalent of Do you even lift Brah? Do you even read the card?
This pack is stacked though. Chemister’s Trick is the worst card, and I could definitely envision sideboarding that in against certain decks. After that, it picks up quite well.
My Pick:
Selesnya Charm
Pick 7, Pack 2:
Axebane Stag, Transguild Promenade, Chemister’s Trick, Isperia’s Skywatch, Lobber Crew, Concordia Pegasus, Destroy the Evidence, Stonefare Crocodile
No, Fixing, No, Not today, Not today, *shudders*, I have better dudes than you today.
My Pick: Transguild Promenade
Pick 8, Pack 2:
Search Warrant, Goblin Electromancer, Urban Burgeoning, Survey the Wreckage, Inspiration, Pyroconvergence, Savage Surge
I solemnly promise, when I open a Pyroconvergence P1P1, barring any money in the pack, I’ll draft the deck. Until then, I guess I’m going to have to use combat tricks instead of removal and as tricks go, Savage Surge is a fine trick.
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Pick 9, Pack 2:
Azorious Guildgate, Stealer of Secrets, Oak-Street Inkeeper, Chorus of Might, Terrus Wurm, Electrickery
Probably not playing a three mana 1/2. A pump-spell that forces through damage is pretty good, even if it is a little too expensive for my liking.
My Pick: Chorus of Might
Pick 10, Pack 2:
Trained Caracal, Cobblebrute, Voidwielder, Selesnya Sentry, Gatecreeper Vine
Is Voidwielder the best blue common? I think so.
I’ll take the Gatecreeper to go with my zero gates. Sigh. I should get some of those.
My Pick: Gatecreeper Vine
Pick 11, Pack 2:
Axebane Stag, Batterhorn, Selesnya Sentry, Firemind’s Foresight
Foresight came back? Shymalan is a master of his work.
My Pick: Selesnya Sentry
P12P2:
Blustersquall, Izzet Staticaster, Batterhorn
The two best cards in the pack wheeling is only good when they’re in my colours. Balls. Hopefully the guy on my right takes the Staticaster and doesn’t really how super awkward it makes combat.
(N.B. Izzet Staticaster cannot be Stab Wounded for value. I’ve had that happen four times)
My Pick: Blustersquall
P13P2:
Chorus of Might, Essence Backlash
Doubt I’ll play the second, but whatever.
My Pick: Chorus of Might
P14P2:
My Pick: Swift Justice
A last pick that may actually make my deck. Slick.
Pick 1, Pack 3:
Dynacharge, Terrus Wurm, Sluiceway Scorpion, Chemister’s Trick, Keening Apparition, Viashino Racketeer, Sewer Shambler (?), Drudge Beetle, Doorkeeper, Skyline Predator, Izzet Charm, Hover Barrier, Corpsejack Menace
Pack 3 rare bomb, like I thought. Corpsejack Menace would be great with an empty text box, but then the words, oh those beautiful, beautiful words.
Hopefully Drudge Beetle of Sewer Shambler come back.
My Pick:
Corpsejack Menace
Pick 2, Pack 3:
Chorus of Might, Vassal Soul, Trestle Troll, Perilous Shadow, Tenement Crusher, Eyes in the Skies, Treacherous Instinct, Inspiration, Azorious Guildgate, Oak-Street Inkeeper, Assassin’s Strike, Fencing Ace, Havoc Festival
Havoc Festival is not a pleasant thing to see. Regardless, the pick is between Assassin’s Strike and Fencing Ace. Here it’s a lot closer. With a Menace and 5 scavengers, and 7 other packs to pick up more scavengers, Fencing Ace seems like too good of a beatstick to pass up. I’ll just kill them before I’d need to strike anything down, right?
My Pick:
Fencing Ace
Pick 3, Pack 3:
Pursuit of Flight, Drainpipe Vermin, Giant Growth, Crosstown Courier, Sluiceway Scorpion (?), Spawn of Rix-Maadi, Tenement Crusher, ? (The photo I took of this pack was horrible (It was a black card though)), Tower Drake, Slum Reaper, Ash Zealot, Corpsejack Menace (Foil)
GG.
Never look a gift horse in the mouth. (Hopefully Slum Reaper or Scorpion comes back.)
My Pick:
Corpsejack Menace
Pick 4, Pack 3:
Rakdos Guildgate, Drudge Beetle, Inaction Injunction, Batterhorn, Cremate, Concordia Pegasus, Grisly Salvage, Aerial Predation, Street Sweeper, Phantom General, Blistercoil Weird
Scavenging Bear suddenly jumps up a heck of a lot more in value when you have double Corpsejack Menace.
My Pick: Drudge Beetle
Pick 5, Pack 3:
Dead Reveler, Azorious Guildgate, Towering Indrik, Augur Spreeeeeeee, Trestle Troll, Electrickery, Chorus of Might, Terrus Wurm, Zanikev Locust, Racecourse Fury
At the time, I thought this pick was a lot closer between Dead Reveler and Zanikev Locust. In reality, a 3/3 flyer for 6 is what I need to close out games. I made the correct choice on this one, plus Scavenge, 2 Corpsejack Menaces, blah blah blah. I’m not sure how many times I’m going to repeat that. Let’s find out!
My Pick: Zanikev Locust
Pick 6, Pack 3:
Forest, Izzet Guildgate, Spawn of Rix-Maadi, Ethereal Armor, Dynacharge, Keening Apparition, Inaction Injunction, Gore-House Chainwalker, Syncopate
Best card is Syncopate, but with a Havoc Festival going round and Arrest being a card I always need to account for, I can’t afford to pass a quality sideboard card. (It’s actually maindeckable, but I have enough insane 2-drops already.)
My Pick: Keening Apparition
Pick 7, Pack 3:
Knightly Valor, Stealer of Secrets, Dead Reveler, Auger Spreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, Avenging Arrow, Electrickery, Common Bond, Rakdos Charm
Ew, that’s two insanely late Augur Sprees. I’d hate draft it, but something something Corpsejack Menace something something best combat trick.
My Pick: Common Bond
Pick 8, Pack 3:
Swift Justice, Horncaller’s Chant, Bellows Lizard, Skull Rend, Tower Drake, Sunspire Griffin, Sphere of Safety
I have no issue if my opponents play any of the other cards in this pack. I’ll take the on colour guy.
My Pick: Sunspire Griffin
P9P3:
Drudge Beetle, Keening Apparition, Terrus Wurm, Chemister’s Trick, Izzet Charm, Skyline Predator
EWWWW. Izzet Charm was arguably the best non-rare card in the pack. To everyone reading this, in future, please take it, splash for it, love it.
I’m not going to pass up a third Drudge Beetle though, so menacing.
My Pick: Drudge Beetle
P10P3:
Inspiration, Treacherous Instinct, Chorus of Might, Tenement Crusher, Perilous Shadow
At this point, I don’t think I’m sticking any in the main, but they’re mighty useful to bring in against aggressive Rakdos decks.
My Pick: Perilous Shadow
P11P3:
Tenement Crusher, Drainpipe Vermin, Pursuit of Flight, Slum Reaper
My Pick: Slum Reaper
P12P3:
Cremate, Batterhorn, Phantom General
My Pick: Phantom General
P13P3:
Electrickery, Racecourse Fury
Racecourse Fury is amazing! You can pay an extra mana for a creature, only for it to attack on the same turn if you had’ve cast it for one cheaper! Talk about value!
My Pick: Electrickery
P14P3:
My Pick: Izzet Guildgate
This is how I built it:
4 Plains
7 Forest
5 Swamp
1 Transguild Promenade
3 Drudge Beetle
2 Corpsejack Menace
1 Korozda Guildmage
1 Vitu-Ghazi Guildmage
1 Fencing Ace
1 Dryad Militant
1 Axebane Guardian
1 Korozda Monitor
1 Golgari Decoy
1 Risen Sanctuary
1 Towering Indrik
1 Dreg Mangler
1 Zanikev Locust
1 Thrill-Kill Assassin
1Savage Surge
1 Common Bond
1 Swift Justice
1 Selesnya Charm
1 Call of the Conclave
1 Chorus of Might
I went 2-0-1, ID with prize split in the final round (Sorry Alyssa, I’ll definitely stay around next time to play some games), beating Phil’s turn four Desecration Demon twice in round two and attack of the centaurs in R1 with Vitu-Ghazi Guildmage.
Until next time,
Bill