So, since you saw me last I ran a few drafts here and there when I had time. I tried some decks outside of my usual comfort zone with less than optimal results. I tried Esper, Grixis with a white splash (for Hegemon and Sphinx Sovereign), and A Naya deck focused on the 5 power theme rather than my usual Nacatlpaloza.
After all the Thanksgiving activity, its time for another (recorded) draft!
Draft
As usual there were several picks that could of gone in different directions, but overall I was very happy about the course this draft took. The deck feels focused like a laser on getting my fatties down quickly and clearing the way for them to smash a face or two.
Naya Charm vs Branching Bolt is an interesting choice. I think that the charm gives you more flexibility (tapping all their creatures is a major effect) in exchange for not being able to go 2-for-1 and being a bit tougher on mana.
Round 1
I think the keep in game 1 is justified, but it didn't end well at all. Games 2 & 3 are quick affairs as my opponent doesn't have time to effect the board much at all. Manaplasm is awesome in game 3, although the timely Sigil Blessing was the real back breaker. Oh and if he had let me continue the game I could of done the Naya Charm chain for the win as I hadn't played my land for the turn yet. Good times.
Round 2
So... uh... yeah. Not really sure what to say here. I'm guessing my opponent won his first match on the back of Devour, but with the Excommunicates I'm not too worried about that.
EDIT - It was pointed out to me by Penguinguru917 on the mtgsalvation boards that my opponent this round had an 80 card deck round 1 - suggesting that he got screwed out of deckbuilding and possibly even draft picks. Makes sense to me. Sorry about that EveningHope!
Keith and the Girl!
I split the finals. I like to play it out when I do a video, but if its offered I usually take it.
The way things are shaping up I will probably do a draft or two more this weekend, so keep checking back for updates!
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Saturday, November 22, 2008
AAA Bonus - A little something extra
Well since Friday's draft was light on game footage, here is a little bonus for ya. I did a draft the morning and was recording, but the server conked out halfway through. I got back on, but it seemed like half of the table was absent... making for some interesting late picks. I cut the video because the draft was corrupted (and it took forever), but the actual games were pretty interesting so I decided to post some of the replays.
AAA Bonus
Hope that will tide you over for a while. Thanksgiving is next week and a ton of other stuff is going on as well, so I might be a little light this week on posts. I'll try to get at least one up though.
AAA Bonus
Hope that will tide you over for a while. Thanksgiving is next week and a ton of other stuff is going on as well, so I might be a little light this week on posts. I'll try to get at least one up though.
Friday, November 21, 2008
AAA 11 - Where did everyone go?!?
So, a bit of a weird one. Draft and Round 1 go as normal.
Then my 2nd round opponent concedes game 1 in the face of a 6/6 Thorn-Trash Viashino. Then he mulls to 5 and literally plays his second land and then concedes. Basically nothing happened in these games and the round was over in 6 minutes. A good chunk of that is sideboarding and him just sitting there (probably cursing his hand). I have the video, but its not worth posting.
Then my finals opponent is a no show. Four packs the easy but boring way.
I debated even posting the draft, but the draft was interesting and the first round wasn't bad... and I might not get to draft again this weekend.
Lets do it!
Draft
Video downloads not working right now, I'll put the links up when they are working...
With vision of Grixis still fresh in my mind from the last draft I start down that road until I'm snapped back to Jund with a 10th pick Carrion Thrash. Branching Bolt in pack 2 seals the deal and I end up with a pretty nice Jund deck with Infest and Jund Charm and a ton of other removal.
Round 1
Video downloads not working right now, I'll put the links up when they are working...
Game 1 is rough as I have little offense and what I can muster up is stymied by card advantage and the Hegemon we opened in Pack 2.
Game 2 We get a couple of 4/4s out force through damage until he concedes. I thought that Magma Spray didn't allow regen for some reason, but tapping his Skeletal Kathari and killing a chump blocker in the process was still good enough.
Game 3 We maneuver a Rockslide Elemental out of the range of a Jund Charm sweep with the help of a 2-for-1 Branching Bolt. We end up using the Charm to pump and save the Elemental from an Agony Warp instead. We could of burned out all the other creatures in play to save it and make it slightly bigger, but opted for the more conservative play. After the Elemental is dealt with, we follow up with an Infest to clear the board with the exception of my Carrion Trash, and then Dreg Reaver joins him for the win.
Well, I hope that tides you over for a while. I'll try to squeeze in another draft this weekend if I can find the time. Till next time!
Then my 2nd round opponent concedes game 1 in the face of a 6/6 Thorn-Trash Viashino. Then he mulls to 5 and literally plays his second land and then concedes. Basically nothing happened in these games and the round was over in 6 minutes. A good chunk of that is sideboarding and him just sitting there (probably cursing his hand). I have the video, but its not worth posting.
Then my finals opponent is a no show. Four packs the easy but boring way.
I debated even posting the draft, but the draft was interesting and the first round wasn't bad... and I might not get to draft again this weekend.
Lets do it!
Draft
Video downloads not working right now, I'll put the links up when they are working...
With vision of Grixis still fresh in my mind from the last draft I start down that road until I'm snapped back to Jund with a 10th pick Carrion Thrash. Branching Bolt in pack 2 seals the deal and I end up with a pretty nice Jund deck with Infest and Jund Charm and a ton of other removal.
Round 1
Video downloads not working right now, I'll put the links up when they are working...
Game 1 is rough as I have little offense and what I can muster up is stymied by card advantage and the Hegemon we opened in Pack 2.
Game 2 We get a couple of 4/4s out force through damage until he concedes. I thought that Magma Spray didn't allow regen for some reason, but tapping his Skeletal Kathari and killing a chump blocker in the process was still good enough.
Game 3 We maneuver a Rockslide Elemental out of the range of a Jund Charm sweep with the help of a 2-for-1 Branching Bolt. We end up using the Charm to pump and save the Elemental from an Agony Warp instead. We could of burned out all the other creatures in play to save it and make it slightly bigger, but opted for the more conservative play. After the Elemental is dealt with, we follow up with an Infest to clear the board with the exception of my Carrion Trash, and then Dreg Reaver joins him for the win.
Well, I hope that tides you over for a while. I'll try to squeeze in another draft this weekend if I can find the time. Till next time!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
AAA 10 - Tappin Islands
Yep, it had to happen eventually. AD is tapping for blue.
Draft
Click here to download this video!
Ok, so before I have to hear about it 10 times I totally did not see the Corpse Connoisseur in the pack where I took the Covenant of Minds. It is the obvious pick since I have enough unearth creatures to make it great and I was creature light... I just had a blind spot over that card for some reason. It happens I guess.
Other than that I think the draft went well. I did try to float some UBR cards around that didn't come back, but the cards I took over them weren't exactly slouches. Also, I wasn't too distraught over running 2x Dreg Reavers. Sometimes you just need a solid body at a reasonable price and you can pick them up late. I'm a little less happy about the Submersions, but the back half of packs 2 & 3 were light on playables and we had to make our count somehow.
Round 1
Click here to download this video!
Game 1 was a blowout with quick beats and removal. I miss a ping in there somewhere.
Game 2 was more interesting. First I mull to 5, which I think gave my opponent a bit too much confidence to try to sit back and not risk his Topan Ascetic. Then he does what I was afraid I was going to do in a previous draft and Realm Razors in a terrible position. I make a mistake here as I should of realized that the Razor was going to neuter his Nacatl and ping it before the Razor effect goes off. If he drops a Mountain or a Plains I won't be able to respond and it brings the kitty back out of range. Fortunately he plays an Island and I am able to get the upper hand post Razor, forcing him to lose his Geddon stick to a Blister Beetle and ping. Oops!
Post Razor things get even more interesting as I make a major mental error that I don't realize until the last possible moment. I'm sure its obvious to you guys, but playing in an unfamiliar side of the color wheel really messed up my head. (At least I didn't burn for 8 or something like that!) My head start and Hissing Iguanar keep me from punting this game away though, even in the face of an onslaught of bombs thrown at me from my opponent.
Round 2
Click here to download this video!
Game 1 - Lets hear it for main deck Volcanic Submersions! Another small mistake when I thought I was being clever - I don't play a Swamp that would give me 6 mana on the turn I Covenant in case I draw a Mountain and a Magma Spray (which I do), but I should of just played the Swamp and left a Mountain open so all I have to draw is the Spay.
Shadowfeed in for Swerve... good call or not?
Game 2 - I exasperate his mana troubles by killing off his Etherium Sculptor and the game is over quickly. It's possible that the tap land kept him from playing a 4cc spell on a critical turn.
Round 3
Click here to download this video!
Game 1 is a blowout. Game 2 is more interesting as I try to maximize pingers to damage him and remove blockers. 2x Goblets are keeping it close life total wise. Kederekt Leviathan/Prince of Thralls do not justify their casting costs as I replay most of my board and then dig for a finisher in Covenent of the Minds. My first three have a lethal Grixis Charm, so he has to give me five - which contain an equally lethal Iguanar.
So, pretty impressed overall with the Grixis deck. A lot of things went my way this draft, like 2x Necropolis, and having main deck Submersions against an Esper deck. Still, I think I'm more apt to get out of my safe zone and try some other archtypes... maybe I'll even play Esper one of these days and pick up those 11th pick charms.
Till next time!
Draft
Click here to download this video!
Ok, so before I have to hear about it 10 times I totally did not see the Corpse Connoisseur in the pack where I took the Covenant of Minds. It is the obvious pick since I have enough unearth creatures to make it great and I was creature light... I just had a blind spot over that card for some reason. It happens I guess.
Other than that I think the draft went well. I did try to float some UBR cards around that didn't come back, but the cards I took over them weren't exactly slouches. Also, I wasn't too distraught over running 2x Dreg Reavers. Sometimes you just need a solid body at a reasonable price and you can pick them up late. I'm a little less happy about the Submersions, but the back half of packs 2 & 3 were light on playables and we had to make our count somehow.
Round 1
Click here to download this video!
Game 1 was a blowout with quick beats and removal. I miss a ping in there somewhere.
Game 2 was more interesting. First I mull to 5, which I think gave my opponent a bit too much confidence to try to sit back and not risk his Topan Ascetic. Then he does what I was afraid I was going to do in a previous draft and Realm Razors in a terrible position. I make a mistake here as I should of realized that the Razor was going to neuter his Nacatl and ping it before the Razor effect goes off. If he drops a Mountain or a Plains I won't be able to respond and it brings the kitty back out of range. Fortunately he plays an Island and I am able to get the upper hand post Razor, forcing him to lose his Geddon stick to a Blister Beetle and ping. Oops!
Post Razor things get even more interesting as I make a major mental error that I don't realize until the last possible moment. I'm sure its obvious to you guys, but playing in an unfamiliar side of the color wheel really messed up my head. (At least I didn't burn for 8 or something like that!) My head start and Hissing Iguanar keep me from punting this game away though, even in the face of an onslaught of bombs thrown at me from my opponent.
Round 2
Click here to download this video!
Game 1 - Lets hear it for main deck Volcanic Submersions! Another small mistake when I thought I was being clever - I don't play a Swamp that would give me 6 mana on the turn I Covenant in case I draw a Mountain and a Magma Spray (which I do), but I should of just played the Swamp and left a Mountain open so all I have to draw is the Spay.
Shadowfeed in for Swerve... good call or not?
Game 2 - I exasperate his mana troubles by killing off his Etherium Sculptor and the game is over quickly. It's possible that the tap land kept him from playing a 4cc spell on a critical turn.
Round 3
Click here to download this video!
Game 1 is a blowout. Game 2 is more interesting as I try to maximize pingers to damage him and remove blockers. 2x Goblets are keeping it close life total wise. Kederekt Leviathan/Prince of Thralls do not justify their casting costs as I replay most of my board and then dig for a finisher in Covenent of the Minds. My first three have a lethal Grixis Charm, so he has to give me five - which contain an equally lethal Iguanar.
So, pretty impressed overall with the Grixis deck. A lot of things went my way this draft, like 2x Necropolis, and having main deck Submersions against an Esper deck. Still, I think I'm more apt to get out of my safe zone and try some other archtypes... maybe I'll even play Esper one of these days and pick up those 11th pick charms.
Till next time!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
AAA 09 - Blame WotC
Ok, so here we go again - not to spoil it, but I'm not drafting blue...
Draft
Click here to download this video!
Our first pick was very committal, but I think that destroying three permanents is worth the risk of abandoning our first pick. Fortunately, the rest of the pack was accommodating with Spray and Druid coming around later than expected. Besides opening the Vein Drinker, the rest of the draft when well but not spectacular.
Round 1
Click here to download this video!
Not much to say here as both games were blowouts. Lightning Talons did some nice work here getting in for a lot of damage... I'm coming around.
Round 2
Click here to download this video!
A bad non-mulligan in game 1 leads to all Forests and a loss. In the next two games our opponent concedes a bit prematurely both times. The board positions were definitely favorable for us, but I don't think it was an unwinnable situation for him either time. Killing early Nacatl's were key for these games. Chalk up another point for Talons.
Round 3
Click here to download this video!
Man, Elspeth... how do you deal?!? I don't think I would of had much a chance anyway, but the Planeswalker completely dominated me in these games.
Draft
Click here to download this video!
Our first pick was very committal, but I think that destroying three permanents is worth the risk of abandoning our first pick. Fortunately, the rest of the pack was accommodating with Spray and Druid coming around later than expected. Besides opening the Vein Drinker, the rest of the draft when well but not spectacular.
Round 1
Click here to download this video!
Not much to say here as both games were blowouts. Lightning Talons did some nice work here getting in for a lot of damage... I'm coming around.
Round 2
Click here to download this video!
A bad non-mulligan in game 1 leads to all Forests and a loss. In the next two games our opponent concedes a bit prematurely both times. The board positions were definitely favorable for us, but I don't think it was an unwinnable situation for him either time. Killing early Nacatl's were key for these games. Chalk up another point for Talons.
Round 3
Click here to download this video!
Man, Elspeth... how do you deal?!? I don't think I would of had much a chance anyway, but the Planeswalker completely dominated me in these games.
Friday, November 14, 2008
AAA 08 - Suprise Naya again!
Ok, Ok. I swear I'm going to try to draft some blue at some point... I promise!
(I'm going to try to link the download link for each video below, if it doesn't work let me know and I will think of something else!)
Draft
Download this video here!
Could of gone several different ways in the beginning, but a 7th pick Nacatl was all systems go for another Naya deck. The rest of the table played nice and we got a solid deck with a genuine bomb in Caldera Hellion. I'm still on the fence on Realm Razor, although I think I was being way to shy to use him in this draft...
Round 1
Download this video here!
Ok, so I think I could of played better here. Game 1 I was probably not going to win, but maybe I blew my Excommunicate too early? I'd still have the Dragon problem though, and it looks like a turn earlier as he missed a land drop when he replayed the druid.
Game 2 I make a mistake I've made before when I forget that either pump/counters/devour makes the creature eligible for the 5 power bonuses. Showing him the Hellion with the Gift was a drag, and he played around it all game.
Game 3 was Naya in action all the way. Well, that and he mulls to 5 on the play.
Round 2
Download this video here!
Game 1 was a slow start vs another slow start. Even at quarter speed, my tempo wins the game. Redraw and recast Craw Wurm ftl!
Game 2 I make him Redraw and recast Craw Wurm again while pounding him with the Capsule freed Thoctor. I make a couple of misplays such as not Realm Razoring when all that is on the board is Battlemage and Iguanar and he is tapped out with a lot of land and I have an Obelisk (not to mention I could of stopped playing lands once I got to 6 mana). I shut the door with the Razor and force him to block the lizard or die and I'm left with the only perms on the board. If he tops a removal spell and the mana to cast it, then I get my lands back as well and we start fresh from there.
Also I pay life I don't need to for the Prince since I'm going to wipe the board anyway he can have my guys. He top decks nicely, but so do I and I shut the game down with the Razor and O-Ring.
Round 3
Download this video here!
Game 1 I go 4-for-none with Hellion. Then I blast out a potentially scary Hydra and the game is done.
Game 2 is mired in early mana fixing, but keeping up aggression helps win this game in short order.
My first 8-4 win in AAA! Some sloppy play, but then there always is...
(I'm going to try to link the download link for each video below, if it doesn't work let me know and I will think of something else!)
Draft
Download this video here!
Could of gone several different ways in the beginning, but a 7th pick Nacatl was all systems go for another Naya deck. The rest of the table played nice and we got a solid deck with a genuine bomb in Caldera Hellion. I'm still on the fence on Realm Razor, although I think I was being way to shy to use him in this draft...
Round 1
Download this video here!
Ok, so I think I could of played better here. Game 1 I was probably not going to win, but maybe I blew my Excommunicate too early? I'd still have the Dragon problem though, and it looks like a turn earlier as he missed a land drop when he replayed the druid.
Game 2 I make a mistake I've made before when I forget that either pump/counters/devour makes the creature eligible for the 5 power bonuses. Showing him the Hellion with the Gift was a drag, and he played around it all game.
Game 3 was Naya in action all the way. Well, that and he mulls to 5 on the play.
Round 2
Download this video here!
Game 1 was a slow start vs another slow start. Even at quarter speed, my tempo wins the game. Redraw and recast Craw Wurm ftl!
Game 2 I make him Redraw and recast Craw Wurm again while pounding him with the Capsule freed Thoctor. I make a couple of misplays such as not Realm Razoring when all that is on the board is Battlemage and Iguanar and he is tapped out with a lot of land and I have an Obelisk (not to mention I could of stopped playing lands once I got to 6 mana). I shut the door with the Razor and force him to block the lizard or die and I'm left with the only perms on the board. If he tops a removal spell and the mana to cast it, then I get my lands back as well and we start fresh from there.
Also I pay life I don't need to for the Prince since I'm going to wipe the board anyway he can have my guys. He top decks nicely, but so do I and I shut the game down with the Razor and O-Ring.
Round 3
Download this video here!
Game 1 I go 4-for-none with Hellion. Then I blast out a potentially scary Hydra and the game is done.
Game 2 is mired in early mana fixing, but keeping up aggression helps win this game in short order.
My first 8-4 win in AAA! Some sloppy play, but then there always is...
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
AAA 04-07 - Blerg!
Hmmm... Lets just get this over with shall we?
I'll say this, I haven't reviewed these at all, but I know I have a major problem switching to the blue side of the color wheel... even when everything is pointing in that direction. Well, that and I suck. Really, really suck.
I'm going to try again tonight, but I'll let you guys digest these for a while before I post some more.
Enjoy!
AAA 04 - Draft
AAA 04 - Round 1
AAA 05 - Draft
AAA 05 - Round 1
AAA 06 - Draft
AAA 06 - Round 1
AAA 07 - Draft
AAA 07 - Round 1
AAA 07 - Round 2
I'll say this, I haven't reviewed these at all, but I know I have a major problem switching to the blue side of the color wheel... even when everything is pointing in that direction. Well, that and I suck. Really, really suck.
I'm going to try again tonight, but I'll let you guys digest these for a while before I post some more.
Enjoy!
AAA 04 - Draft
AAA 04 - Round 1
AAA 05 - Draft
AAA 05 - Round 1
AAA 06 - Draft
AAA 06 - Round 1
AAA 07 - Draft
AAA 07 - Round 1
AAA 07 - Round 2
Sunday, November 2, 2008
AAA 03 - "MOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!"
Since Viddler has a download feature, I'm going to stop posting on FileFront. To access the video page and the download link, just click on the Viddler logo in the corner of the video.
Ok, so lets get started...
Draft
I like this how this draft turned out. Not as loaded up on Squires/Nacatls as in AAA 02, but with better mana balance and better late game creatures. And Elspeth. Lets not forget about her.
Round 1
Game one should of been a mull. Even if we get the mana we needed we weren't going to get there with such a mediocre hand. Games one and two were one sided as my opponent put up little resistance.
Round 2
So... sorry about the audio problems. I tried to cut around the commotion, but it was too distracting to try to talk, call her mom's cell on my cell, deal with the irate girlfriend, and play magic at the same time, so I just stopped the commentary.
The first game proved to me the first pick quality of Sigil of Distinction. Even if I manage to get rid of his Rhino, I have to deal with another monster after that. Eeek. Games two and three went better thanks to help from Elspeth, although I think I should of played out the Benediction first in game 3.
Round 3
First time I've seen a 5 color deck in action. Game one he just spins his wheels looking for a threat, but doesn't get one down in time to matter. I had a chance to win game 2, but with 7 cards in hand and access to all that mana I thought it would be safer to kill the Gargoyle and try to win out with the threats I had. Little did I know a nasty Hellkite was awaiting me once he got his green mana. Game three he was able to stall me out until he got Hellkite out again. Yeesh.
Ok, so lets get started...
Draft
I like this how this draft turned out. Not as loaded up on Squires/Nacatls as in AAA 02, but with better mana balance and better late game creatures. And Elspeth. Lets not forget about her.
Round 1
Game one should of been a mull. Even if we get the mana we needed we weren't going to get there with such a mediocre hand. Games one and two were one sided as my opponent put up little resistance.
Round 2
So... sorry about the audio problems. I tried to cut around the commotion, but it was too distracting to try to talk, call her mom's cell on my cell, deal with the irate girlfriend, and play magic at the same time, so I just stopped the commentary.
The first game proved to me the first pick quality of Sigil of Distinction. Even if I manage to get rid of his Rhino, I have to deal with another monster after that. Eeek. Games two and three went better thanks to help from Elspeth, although I think I should of played out the Benediction first in game 3.
Round 3
First time I've seen a 5 color deck in action. Game one he just spins his wheels looking for a threat, but doesn't get one down in time to matter. I had a chance to win game 2, but with 7 cards in hand and access to all that mana I thought it would be safer to kill the Gargoyle and try to win out with the threats I had. Little did I know a nasty Hellkite was awaiting me once he got his green mana. Game three he was able to stall me out until he got Hellkite out again. Yeesh.
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