(no subject)
Pack 1 pick 1:
Jhessian Lookout, Resounding Silence, Dregscape Zombie, Cylian Elf, Soul's Fire, Vectis Silencers, Hindering Light, Wild Nacatl, Grixis Panorama, Glaze Fiend, Bant Charm, Necrogenesis, Swerve, Gather Specimens, Forest
My pick:
Wild Nacatl
Pack 1 pick 2:
Deft Duelist, Court Archers, Resounding Thunder, Jhessian Lookout, Resounding Silence, Dregscape Zombie, Vithian Stinger, Gift of the Gargantuan, Outrider of Jhess, Obelisk of Naya, Crumbling Necropolis, Sangrite Surge, Sacellum Godspeaker, Mountain
My pick:
Resounding Thunder
Pack 1 pick 3:
Obelisk of Esper, Magma Spray, Dispeller's Capsule, Godtoucher, Cathartic Adept, Blightning, Plains (FOIL), Soul's Grace, Skeletal Kathari, Goblin Deathraiders, Dragon's Herald, Cradle of Vitality, Swamp
My pick:
Magma Spray
Pack 1 pick 4:
Jungle Weaver, Thorn-Thrash Viashino, Relic of Progenitus, Resounding Wave, Soul's Might, Knight of the Skyward Eye, Resounding Scream, Naya Panorama, Bant Charm, Filigree Sages, Protomatter Powder, Swamp
My pick:
Knight of the Skyward Eye
Pack 1 pick 5:
Excommunicate, Banewasp Affliction, Jungle Weaver, Hissing Iguanar, Vectis Silencers, Resounding Silence, Shadowfeed, Rip-Clan Crasher, Lush Growth, Exuberant Firestoker, Island
My pick:
Hissing Iguanar
Pack 1 pick 6:
Obelisk of Grixis, Blister Beetle, Cavern Thoctar, Spell Snip, Dispeller's Capsule, Volcanic Submersion, Guardians of Akrasa, Goblin Mountaineer, Sphinx's Herald, Mountain
My pick:
Cavern Thoctar
Pack 1 pick 7:
Cavern Thoctar, Dispeller's Capsule, Relic of Progenitus, Resounding Wave, Sighted-Caste Sorcerer, Shore Snapper, Steward of Valeron, Behemoth's Herald, Swamp
My pick:
Steward of Valeron
Pack 1 pick 8:
Spell Snip (FOIL), Court Archers, Viashino Skeleton, Lightning Talons, Naya Panorama, Onyx Goblet, Godtoucher, Plains
My pick:
Court Archers
Pack 1 pick 9:
Jhessian Lookout, Cylian Elf, Vectis Silencers, Glaze Fiend, Swerve, Gather Specimens, Forest
My pick:
Cylian Elf
Pack 1 pick 10:
Jhessian Lookout, Gift of the Gargantuan, Outrider of Jhess, Sangrite Surge, Sacellum Godspeaker, Mountain
My pick:
Sacellum Godspeaker
Pack 1 pick 11:
Godtoucher, Cathartic Adept, Plains (FOIL), Dragon's Herald, Swamp
My pick:
Dragon's Herald
Pack 1 pick 12:
Resounding Scream, Filigree Sages, Protomatter Powder, Swamp
My pick:
Swamp
Pack 1 pick 13:
Banewasp Affliction, Shadowfeed, Island
My pick:
Island
Pack 1 pick 14:
Sphinx's Herald, Mountain
My pick:
Mountain
Pack 1 pick 15:
Swamp
My pick:
Swamp
Pack 2 pick 1:
Frontline Sage, Fiery Fall, Pestilent Kathari, Valeron Outlander, Armillary Sphere, Drag Down, Rotting Rats, Goblin Outlander, Court Homunculus, Worldly Counsel, Vagrant Plowbeasts, Scornful Æther-Lich, Path to Exile, Ethersworn Adjudicator, Mountain
My pick:
Path to Exile
Pack 2 pick 2:
Faerie Mechanist, Bone Saw, Gleam of Resistance, Sedraxis Alchemist, Vedalken Outlander, Rupture Spire, Suicidal Charge, Constricting Tendrils, Court Homunculus, View from Above, Filigree Fracture, Scarland Thrinax, Cylian Sunsinger, Plains
My pick:
Cylian Sunsinger
Pack 2 pick 3:
Zombie Outlander, Darklit Gargoyle, Wretched Banquet, Esper Cormorants, Nacatl Outlander, Nacatl Savage, Valiant Guard, Grixis Illusionist, Paragon of the Amesha, Unstable Frontier, Esperzoa, Kederekt Parasite, Mountain
My pick:
Nacatl Outlander
Pack 2 pick 4:
Aven Trailblazer, Toxic Iguanar, Traumatic Visions, Mana Cylix, Beacon Behemoth, Might of Alara, Salvage Slasher, Exploding Borders, Maniacal Rage, Corrupted Roots, Skyward Eye Prophets, Forest
My pick:
Might of Alara
Pack 2 pick 5:
Ember Weaver, Kranioceros, Mana Cylix, Gleam of Resistance, Nacatl Savage, Wandering Goblins, Suicidal Charge, Maniacal Rage, Reliquary Tower, Viashino Slaughtermaster, Plains
My pick:
Ember Weaver
Pack 2 pick 6:
Toxic Iguanar, Mana Cylix, Might of Alara, Salvage Slasher, Exploding Borders, Maniacal Rage, Gluttonous Slime, Elder Mastery, Telemin Performance, Island
My pick:
Might of Alara
Pack 2 pick 7:
Aven Squire, Pestilent Kathari, Rhox Bodyguard, Scattershot Archer, Infectious Horror, Worldly Counsel, Jhessian Balmgiver, Aerie Mystics, Mountain
My pick:
Aven Squire
Pack 2 pick 8:
Kaleidostone, Toxic Iguanar, Vectis Agents, Quenchable Fire, Lapse of Certainty, Jhessian Balmgiver, Ancient Ziggurat, Mountain
My pick:
Ancient Ziggurat
Pack 2 pick 9:
Frontline Sage, Valeron Outlander, Rotting Rats, Goblin Outlander, Worldly Counsel, Scornful Æther-Lich, Mountain
My pick:
Valeron Outlander
Pack 2 pick 10:
Faerie Mechanist, Bone Saw, Constricting Tendrils, View from Above, Scarland Thrinax, Plains
My pick:
Faerie Mechanist
Pack 2 pick 11:
Darklit Gargoyle, Valiant Guard, Grixis Illusionist, Kederekt Parasite, Mountain
My pick:
Darklit Gargoyle
Pack 2 pick 12:
Mana Cylix, Maniacal Rage, Corrupted Roots, Forest
My pick:
Maniacal Rage
Pack 2 pick 13:
Mana Cylix, Wandering Goblins, Reliquary Tower
My pick:
Wandering Goblins
Pack 2 pick 14:
Maniacal Rage, Island
My pick:
Maniacal Rage
Pack 2 pick 15:
Mountain
My pick:
Mountain
Pack 3 pick 1:
Sewn-Eye Drake, Mistvein Borderpost, Glassdust Hulk, Bant Sureblade, Terminate, Leonin Armorguard, Arsenal Thresher, Demonic Dread, Offering to Asha, Firewild Borderpost, Demonspine Whip, Illusory Demon, Bloodbraid Elf, Spellbreaker Behemoth, Mountain
My pick:
Bloodbraid Elf
Pack 3 pick 2:
Deadshot Minotaur, Veinfire Borderpost, Esper Stormblade, Deny Reality, Rhox Brute, Fieldmist Borderpost, Vedalken Ghoul, Sigiled Behemoth, Violent Outburst, Grixis Sojourners, Reborn Hope, Illusory Demon, Glory of Warfare, Island
My pick:
Rhox Brute
Pack 3 pick 3:
Jund Hackblade, Winged Coatl, Putrid Leech, Sanctum Plowbeast, Demonic Dread, Magefire Wings, Sigil of the Nayan Gods, Arsenal Thresher, Drastic Revelation, Lorescale Coatl, Sanity Gnawers, Cloven Casting, Forest
My pick:
Jund Hackblade
Pack 3 pick 4:
Mistvein Borderpost, Glassdust Hulk, Bant Sureblade, Leonin Armorguard, Arsenal Thresher, Demonic Dread, Offering to Asha, Firewild Borderpost, Skyclaw Thrash, Anathemancer, Nulltread Gargantuan, Island
My pick:
Bant Sureblade
Pack 3 pick 5:
Cerodon Yearling, Jhessian Zombies, Grixis Grimblade, Naya Hushblade, Sigil of the Nayan Gods, Kathari Bomber, Vectis Dominator, Brainbite, Shield of the Righteous, Double Negative, Island
My pick:
Naya Hushblade
Pack 3 pick 6:
Cerodon Yearling, Jhessian Zombies, Grixis Grimblade, Wildfield Borderpost, Sigil of the Nayan Gods, Vectis Dominator, Brainbite, Gloryscale Viashino, Ardent Plea, Forest
My pick:
Gloryscale Viashino
Pack 3 pick 7:
Pale Recluse, Stormcaller's Boon, Grizzled Leotau, Brainbite, Grixis Sojourners, Valley Rannet, Sanctum Plowbeast, Double Negative, Mountain
My pick:
Valley Rannet
Pack 3 pick 8:
Demonspine Whip, Morbid Bloom, Mountain, Winged Coatl, Esper Sojourners, Godtracker of Jund, Breath of Malfegor, Monstrous Carabid
My pick:
Winged Coatl
Pack 3 pick 9:
Leonin Armorguard, Arsenal Thresher, Demonic Dread, Offering to Asha, Firewild Borderpost, Illusory Demon, Mountain
My pick:
Leonin Armorguard
Pack 3 pick 10:
Vedalken Ghoul, Violent Outburst, Grixis Sojourners, Reborn Hope, Illusory Demon, Island
My pick:
Violent Outburst
Pack 3 pick 11:
Winged Coatl, Demonic Dread, Drastic Revelation, Cloven Casting, Forest
My pick:
Winged Coatl
Pack 3 pick 12:
Arsenal Thresher, Demonic Dread, Anathemancer, Island
My pick:
Arsenal Thresher
Pack 3 pick 13:
Vectis Dominator, Shield of the Righteous, Island
My pick:
Shield of the Righteous
Pack 3 pick 14:
Vectis Dominator, Forest
My pick:
Vectis Dominator
Pack 3 pick 15:
Mountain
My pick:
Mountain
Thoughts on the draft: I still don't know if I should take the Vithian Stinger or the Resounding Thunder, and I'm not sure about Knight of the Skyward-Eye over Naya Panorama and Hissing Iguana over Rip-Clan Crasher. I think Bloodbraid is correct over Spellbreaker, though.
1 Nacatl Outlander
1 Path to Exile
4 Plains
1 Magma Spray
1 Valley Rannet
1 Hissing Iguanar
1 Aven Squire
4 Mountain
1 Jund Hackblade
1 Ember Weaver
1 Steward of Valeron
1 Rhox Brute
1 Cylian Elf
1 Ancient Ziggurat
7 Forest
1 Wild Nacatl
1 Leonin Armorguard
2 Might of Alara
1 Bant Sureblade
1 Gloryscale Viashino
1 Bloodbraid Elf
1 Knight of the Skyward Eye
1 Resounding Thunder
1 Naya Hushblade
1 Valeron Outlander
1 Court Archers
1 Cylian Sunsinger
Sideboard
1 Darklit Gargoyle
1 Wandering Goblins
1 Swamp
2 Mountain
1 Violent Outburst
1 Dragon's Herald
1 Swamp
1 Mountain
1 Arsenal Thresher
1 Vectis Dominator
1 Cavern Thoctar
1 Shield of the Righteous
2 Winged Coatl
1 Island
2 Maniacal Rage
1 Sacellum Godspeaker
1 Faerie Mechanist
Thought on the deck: I've got a lack of fixers, so we'll have to draw that Ziggurat like a pro; and then not lose because we can't cast Pump/Removal. I left the Violent Outburst riding in the sideboard because I didn't really want to play another card that was hard to cast and wasn't helped by Ziggurat, and I left the Cavern Thoctar on the bench because I'm running 16 lands and we want our curve to stay low low low.
Round 1
Game 1
Win the die roll, open with Ancient Ziggurat + Wild Nacatl, then on t2 I have a choice between Valeron Outlander and Nacatl Outlander; his t1 was Swamp and return it for UW Borderpost - I pick teh Valeron for some reason, and his t2 is Dregscape Zombie. Winnar winnar! T3 I play the Mountain to compliment my Plains and Ziggurat and bash for five, following it up with the Nacatl Outlander. He plays Pestilent Kathari and ships back, so I elect not to trade my Nacatl Outlander with his 2/1, and go in with the 3/3 and the pro: black. Kathari trades with the Wild Nacatl and then I've got a post combat Gloryscale Viashino. I Resounding Thunder something and get in for 5, then Path to Exile plus gold-spell for lethal on turn 6.
Game 2
We keep Forest, Mountain, Wild Nacatl, Naya Hushblade, Might of Alara, white spells on the draw. We rip Mountain followed by Jund Hackblade while he dicks around with Borderposts and on turn 3 we've bash him down to 10. He plays a t4 Corpse Conno, we get in and pump to save our dude because he elected not to block the Hushblade (we were in trouble if he did), then he plays just one blocker and swarm swarm past it for the win on turn 5 despite not hitting a plains or 4th land (for Bloodbraid Elf). Some dudes, etc.
Round 2
Game 1
He opens with Court Homunculus and Ethercaste Knight for the quick beats while I've got Cylian Sunsinger, Knight of the Skyward-Eye and a Bloodbraid Elf which hits Might of Alara to get him low. However, I get blown out by Ethersworn Shieldmage twice, and being unable to both pump the Sunsinger and cast white spells due to a lone Plains means I can't get in enough damage before I lose to a exalted Aven Trailblazer
Game 2
He opens with Court Homunculus and Bone Saw (???) while I've got Ancient Ziggurat into Naya Hushblade, and I accept the trade when he offers it with his turn 2 attack. His follow up is a Bant Sureblade, and while I'm stuck on two lands I've got a Nacatl Outlander to hold the fort. The board quickly escalates once I find mana to my Nacatl Outlander, Aven Squire, Hissing Iguanar and Wild Nacatl (a 3/3) versus his Bant Sureblade, Metallurgeon with a Bone Saw and a Deft Duelist, when he in explicably attacks with his Sureblade. The board escalates further as we play more creatures, but he is simply never able to deal with the Aven Squire which gets in for 2/2 a turn, and then a big alpha strike backed up by a pair of Might of Alara combined with Iguanar triggers does him in.
Game 3
I keep a shaky hand with Wild Nacatl, Cylian Elf, and a rainbow of basic land. He opens with Court Humonculus agained, with a turn 2 follow-up of nothing at all, while my first two draw steps are more basics. He excommunicates my Cylian Elf and I'm looking at hand of 5 land, which a 3/3 in play and a 2/2 on top of my library. I get in for another 3 and replay the Cylian Elf. His turn 4 his an Ethercaste Knight to turn of the Court Homunculus and get in for 3. He's missed his fourth land, but things are still looking pretty grim for the home team. An aven squire comes off the top and the Nacatl gets in for 4, and he still hasn't got a 4th land. Come deck, one time. Off the top its Bloodbraid Elf into Jund Hackblade, whoops here's 11 power coming at you, he doesn't have an Ethersworn Shieldmage and that's as good as all she wrote. Sometimes you've just got to believe in the heart of the cards.
Final
Game 1
I've got my slickest draw yet with Steward of Valeron into Gloryscale Viashino into Bloodbraid Elf hitting Cylian Elf into Knight of the Skyward-Eye + Nacatl Outlander + Cylian Sunsinger on turn 5, and a Leonin Armourguard on turn 6. Meanwhile he was casting Lush Growth (???) and Wooly Thoctar and all of zero removal spells. Nice deck, et cetera.
Game 2
I've got turn 2 Wild Nacatl and turn 3 Bant Sureblade off a mulligan while he's got an Armillary Sphere and an Emberweaver. He casts Lapse of Certainty on my Rhox Warmonk, but the Nacatl still gets in for 3. He trades the Ember Weaver with the Sureblade then devours it to a Glutinous Slime, then trades the Glutinous Slime and a Viashino Slaughtermaster with my Nacatl and Rhox after finding a swamp with his armillary sphere. I've still got Cylian Elf and Aven Squire, though, and he's flooded with just a Sanctum Plowbeast on D. I rip Brokenbraid Elf which finds a Nacatl Outlander, attacking with just the Aven Squire, and when he just plays a Talon Trooper and ships it back to me I play the Jund Hackblade and Path to Exile that I've been sandbagging and attack with the two 3/2s and the 2/2 pro: blue at his lone Talon Trooper. He's got a Terminate for the Hackblade and trades with the Elf but I've stil got creatures, and his Wooly Thoctar is no match for my Gloryscale Viashino followed by Leonin Armourgaurd, with the Nacatl Outlander, Aven Squire and Cylian Elf still on the board. 8 packets, please.
Finally winning a draft is nice, and I've learned that Bloodbraid Elf is even more broken than I gave it credit for being. I've also learnt, as ever, better lucky than good: who needs a stable manabase, not me.
Jhessian Lookout, Resounding Silence, Dregscape Zombie, Cylian Elf, Soul's Fire, Vectis Silencers, Hindering Light, Wild Nacatl, Grixis Panorama, Glaze Fiend, Bant Charm, Necrogenesis, Swerve, Gather Specimens, Forest
My pick:
Wild Nacatl
Pack 1 pick 2:
Deft Duelist, Court Archers, Resounding Thunder, Jhessian Lookout, Resounding Silence, Dregscape Zombie, Vithian Stinger, Gift of the Gargantuan, Outrider of Jhess, Obelisk of Naya, Crumbling Necropolis, Sangrite Surge, Sacellum Godspeaker, Mountain
My pick:
Resounding Thunder
Pack 1 pick 3:
Obelisk of Esper, Magma Spray, Dispeller's Capsule, Godtoucher, Cathartic Adept, Blightning, Plains (FOIL), Soul's Grace, Skeletal Kathari, Goblin Deathraiders, Dragon's Herald, Cradle of Vitality, Swamp
My pick:
Magma Spray
Pack 1 pick 4:
Jungle Weaver, Thorn-Thrash Viashino, Relic of Progenitus, Resounding Wave, Soul's Might, Knight of the Skyward Eye, Resounding Scream, Naya Panorama, Bant Charm, Filigree Sages, Protomatter Powder, Swamp
My pick:
Knight of the Skyward Eye
Pack 1 pick 5:
Excommunicate, Banewasp Affliction, Jungle Weaver, Hissing Iguanar, Vectis Silencers, Resounding Silence, Shadowfeed, Rip-Clan Crasher, Lush Growth, Exuberant Firestoker, Island
My pick:
Hissing Iguanar
Pack 1 pick 6:
Obelisk of Grixis, Blister Beetle, Cavern Thoctar, Spell Snip, Dispeller's Capsule, Volcanic Submersion, Guardians of Akrasa, Goblin Mountaineer, Sphinx's Herald, Mountain
My pick:
Cavern Thoctar
Pack 1 pick 7:
Cavern Thoctar, Dispeller's Capsule, Relic of Progenitus, Resounding Wave, Sighted-Caste Sorcerer, Shore Snapper, Steward of Valeron, Behemoth's Herald, Swamp
My pick:
Steward of Valeron
Pack 1 pick 8:
Spell Snip (FOIL), Court Archers, Viashino Skeleton, Lightning Talons, Naya Panorama, Onyx Goblet, Godtoucher, Plains
My pick:
Court Archers
Pack 1 pick 9:
Jhessian Lookout, Cylian Elf, Vectis Silencers, Glaze Fiend, Swerve, Gather Specimens, Forest
My pick:
Cylian Elf
Pack 1 pick 10:
Jhessian Lookout, Gift of the Gargantuan, Outrider of Jhess, Sangrite Surge, Sacellum Godspeaker, Mountain
My pick:
Sacellum Godspeaker
Pack 1 pick 11:
Godtoucher, Cathartic Adept, Plains (FOIL), Dragon's Herald, Swamp
My pick:
Dragon's Herald
Pack 1 pick 12:
Resounding Scream, Filigree Sages, Protomatter Powder, Swamp
My pick:
Swamp
Pack 1 pick 13:
Banewasp Affliction, Shadowfeed, Island
My pick:
Island
Pack 1 pick 14:
Sphinx's Herald, Mountain
My pick:
Mountain
Pack 1 pick 15:
Swamp
My pick:
Swamp
Pack 2 pick 1:
Frontline Sage, Fiery Fall, Pestilent Kathari, Valeron Outlander, Armillary Sphere, Drag Down, Rotting Rats, Goblin Outlander, Court Homunculus, Worldly Counsel, Vagrant Plowbeasts, Scornful Æther-Lich, Path to Exile, Ethersworn Adjudicator, Mountain
My pick:
Path to Exile
Pack 2 pick 2:
Faerie Mechanist, Bone Saw, Gleam of Resistance, Sedraxis Alchemist, Vedalken Outlander, Rupture Spire, Suicidal Charge, Constricting Tendrils, Court Homunculus, View from Above, Filigree Fracture, Scarland Thrinax, Cylian Sunsinger, Plains
My pick:
Cylian Sunsinger
Pack 2 pick 3:
Zombie Outlander, Darklit Gargoyle, Wretched Banquet, Esper Cormorants, Nacatl Outlander, Nacatl Savage, Valiant Guard, Grixis Illusionist, Paragon of the Amesha, Unstable Frontier, Esperzoa, Kederekt Parasite, Mountain
My pick:
Nacatl Outlander
Pack 2 pick 4:
Aven Trailblazer, Toxic Iguanar, Traumatic Visions, Mana Cylix, Beacon Behemoth, Might of Alara, Salvage Slasher, Exploding Borders, Maniacal Rage, Corrupted Roots, Skyward Eye Prophets, Forest
My pick:
Might of Alara
Pack 2 pick 5:
Ember Weaver, Kranioceros, Mana Cylix, Gleam of Resistance, Nacatl Savage, Wandering Goblins, Suicidal Charge, Maniacal Rage, Reliquary Tower, Viashino Slaughtermaster, Plains
My pick:
Ember Weaver
Pack 2 pick 6:
Toxic Iguanar, Mana Cylix, Might of Alara, Salvage Slasher, Exploding Borders, Maniacal Rage, Gluttonous Slime, Elder Mastery, Telemin Performance, Island
My pick:
Might of Alara
Pack 2 pick 7:
Aven Squire, Pestilent Kathari, Rhox Bodyguard, Scattershot Archer, Infectious Horror, Worldly Counsel, Jhessian Balmgiver, Aerie Mystics, Mountain
My pick:
Aven Squire
Pack 2 pick 8:
Kaleidostone, Toxic Iguanar, Vectis Agents, Quenchable Fire, Lapse of Certainty, Jhessian Balmgiver, Ancient Ziggurat, Mountain
My pick:
Ancient Ziggurat
Pack 2 pick 9:
Frontline Sage, Valeron Outlander, Rotting Rats, Goblin Outlander, Worldly Counsel, Scornful Æther-Lich, Mountain
My pick:
Valeron Outlander
Pack 2 pick 10:
Faerie Mechanist, Bone Saw, Constricting Tendrils, View from Above, Scarland Thrinax, Plains
My pick:
Faerie Mechanist
Pack 2 pick 11:
Darklit Gargoyle, Valiant Guard, Grixis Illusionist, Kederekt Parasite, Mountain
My pick:
Darklit Gargoyle
Pack 2 pick 12:
Mana Cylix, Maniacal Rage, Corrupted Roots, Forest
My pick:
Maniacal Rage
Pack 2 pick 13:
Mana Cylix, Wandering Goblins, Reliquary Tower
My pick:
Wandering Goblins
Pack 2 pick 14:
Maniacal Rage, Island
My pick:
Maniacal Rage
Pack 2 pick 15:
Mountain
My pick:
Mountain
Pack 3 pick 1:
Sewn-Eye Drake, Mistvein Borderpost, Glassdust Hulk, Bant Sureblade, Terminate, Leonin Armorguard, Arsenal Thresher, Demonic Dread, Offering to Asha, Firewild Borderpost, Demonspine Whip, Illusory Demon, Bloodbraid Elf, Spellbreaker Behemoth, Mountain
My pick:
Bloodbraid Elf
Pack 3 pick 2:
Deadshot Minotaur, Veinfire Borderpost, Esper Stormblade, Deny Reality, Rhox Brute, Fieldmist Borderpost, Vedalken Ghoul, Sigiled Behemoth, Violent Outburst, Grixis Sojourners, Reborn Hope, Illusory Demon, Glory of Warfare, Island
My pick:
Rhox Brute
Pack 3 pick 3:
Jund Hackblade, Winged Coatl, Putrid Leech, Sanctum Plowbeast, Demonic Dread, Magefire Wings, Sigil of the Nayan Gods, Arsenal Thresher, Drastic Revelation, Lorescale Coatl, Sanity Gnawers, Cloven Casting, Forest
My pick:
Jund Hackblade
Pack 3 pick 4:
Mistvein Borderpost, Glassdust Hulk, Bant Sureblade, Leonin Armorguard, Arsenal Thresher, Demonic Dread, Offering to Asha, Firewild Borderpost, Skyclaw Thrash, Anathemancer, Nulltread Gargantuan, Island
My pick:
Bant Sureblade
Pack 3 pick 5:
Cerodon Yearling, Jhessian Zombies, Grixis Grimblade, Naya Hushblade, Sigil of the Nayan Gods, Kathari Bomber, Vectis Dominator, Brainbite, Shield of the Righteous, Double Negative, Island
My pick:
Naya Hushblade
Pack 3 pick 6:
Cerodon Yearling, Jhessian Zombies, Grixis Grimblade, Wildfield Borderpost, Sigil of the Nayan Gods, Vectis Dominator, Brainbite, Gloryscale Viashino, Ardent Plea, Forest
My pick:
Gloryscale Viashino
Pack 3 pick 7:
Pale Recluse, Stormcaller's Boon, Grizzled Leotau, Brainbite, Grixis Sojourners, Valley Rannet, Sanctum Plowbeast, Double Negative, Mountain
My pick:
Valley Rannet
Pack 3 pick 8:
Demonspine Whip, Morbid Bloom, Mountain, Winged Coatl, Esper Sojourners, Godtracker of Jund, Breath of Malfegor, Monstrous Carabid
My pick:
Winged Coatl
Pack 3 pick 9:
Leonin Armorguard, Arsenal Thresher, Demonic Dread, Offering to Asha, Firewild Borderpost, Illusory Demon, Mountain
My pick:
Leonin Armorguard
Pack 3 pick 10:
Vedalken Ghoul, Violent Outburst, Grixis Sojourners, Reborn Hope, Illusory Demon, Island
My pick:
Violent Outburst
Pack 3 pick 11:
Winged Coatl, Demonic Dread, Drastic Revelation, Cloven Casting, Forest
My pick:
Winged Coatl
Pack 3 pick 12:
Arsenal Thresher, Demonic Dread, Anathemancer, Island
My pick:
Arsenal Thresher
Pack 3 pick 13:
Vectis Dominator, Shield of the Righteous, Island
My pick:
Shield of the Righteous
Pack 3 pick 14:
Vectis Dominator, Forest
My pick:
Vectis Dominator
Pack 3 pick 15:
Mountain
My pick:
Mountain
Thoughts on the draft: I still don't know if I should take the Vithian Stinger or the Resounding Thunder, and I'm not sure about Knight of the Skyward-Eye over Naya Panorama and Hissing Iguana over Rip-Clan Crasher. I think Bloodbraid is correct over Spellbreaker, though.
1 Nacatl Outlander
1 Path to Exile
4 Plains
1 Magma Spray
1 Valley Rannet
1 Hissing Iguanar
1 Aven Squire
4 Mountain
1 Jund Hackblade
1 Ember Weaver
1 Steward of Valeron
1 Rhox Brute
1 Cylian Elf
1 Ancient Ziggurat
7 Forest
1 Wild Nacatl
1 Leonin Armorguard
2 Might of Alara
1 Bant Sureblade
1 Gloryscale Viashino
1 Bloodbraid Elf
1 Knight of the Skyward Eye
1 Resounding Thunder
1 Naya Hushblade
1 Valeron Outlander
1 Court Archers
1 Cylian Sunsinger
Sideboard
1 Darklit Gargoyle
1 Wandering Goblins
1 Swamp
2 Mountain
1 Violent Outburst
1 Dragon's Herald
1 Swamp
1 Mountain
1 Arsenal Thresher
1 Vectis Dominator
1 Cavern Thoctar
1 Shield of the Righteous
2 Winged Coatl
1 Island
2 Maniacal Rage
1 Sacellum Godspeaker
1 Faerie Mechanist
Thought on the deck: I've got a lack of fixers, so we'll have to draw that Ziggurat like a pro; and then not lose because we can't cast Pump/Removal. I left the Violent Outburst riding in the sideboard because I didn't really want to play another card that was hard to cast and wasn't helped by Ziggurat, and I left the Cavern Thoctar on the bench because I'm running 16 lands and we want our curve to stay low low low.
Round 1
Game 1
Win the die roll, open with Ancient Ziggurat + Wild Nacatl, then on t2 I have a choice between Valeron Outlander and Nacatl Outlander; his t1 was Swamp and return it for UW Borderpost - I pick teh Valeron for some reason, and his t2 is Dregscape Zombie. Winnar winnar! T3 I play the Mountain to compliment my Plains and Ziggurat and bash for five, following it up with the Nacatl Outlander. He plays Pestilent Kathari and ships back, so I elect not to trade my Nacatl Outlander with his 2/1, and go in with the 3/3 and the pro: black. Kathari trades with the Wild Nacatl and then I've got a post combat Gloryscale Viashino. I Resounding Thunder something and get in for 5, then Path to Exile plus gold-spell for lethal on turn 6.
Game 2
We keep Forest, Mountain, Wild Nacatl, Naya Hushblade, Might of Alara, white spells on the draw. We rip Mountain followed by Jund Hackblade while he dicks around with Borderposts and on turn 3 we've bash him down to 10. He plays a t4 Corpse Conno, we get in and pump to save our dude because he elected not to block the Hushblade (we were in trouble if he did), then he plays just one blocker and swarm swarm past it for the win on turn 5 despite not hitting a plains or 4th land (for Bloodbraid Elf). Some dudes, etc.
Round 2
Game 1
He opens with Court Homunculus and Ethercaste Knight for the quick beats while I've got Cylian Sunsinger, Knight of the Skyward-Eye and a Bloodbraid Elf which hits Might of Alara to get him low. However, I get blown out by Ethersworn Shieldmage twice, and being unable to both pump the Sunsinger and cast white spells due to a lone Plains means I can't get in enough damage before I lose to a exalted Aven Trailblazer
Game 2
He opens with Court Homunculus and Bone Saw (???) while I've got Ancient Ziggurat into Naya Hushblade, and I accept the trade when he offers it with his turn 2 attack. His follow up is a Bant Sureblade, and while I'm stuck on two lands I've got a Nacatl Outlander to hold the fort. The board quickly escalates once I find mana to my Nacatl Outlander, Aven Squire, Hissing Iguanar and Wild Nacatl (a 3/3) versus his Bant Sureblade, Metallurgeon with a Bone Saw and a Deft Duelist, when he in explicably attacks with his Sureblade. The board escalates further as we play more creatures, but he is simply never able to deal with the Aven Squire which gets in for 2/2 a turn, and then a big alpha strike backed up by a pair of Might of Alara combined with Iguanar triggers does him in.
Game 3
I keep a shaky hand with Wild Nacatl, Cylian Elf, and a rainbow of basic land. He opens with Court Humonculus agained, with a turn 2 follow-up of nothing at all, while my first two draw steps are more basics. He excommunicates my Cylian Elf and I'm looking at hand of 5 land, which a 3/3 in play and a 2/2 on top of my library. I get in for another 3 and replay the Cylian Elf. His turn 4 his an Ethercaste Knight to turn of the Court Homunculus and get in for 3. He's missed his fourth land, but things are still looking pretty grim for the home team. An aven squire comes off the top and the Nacatl gets in for 4, and he still hasn't got a 4th land. Come deck, one time. Off the top its Bloodbraid Elf into Jund Hackblade, whoops here's 11 power coming at you, he doesn't have an Ethersworn Shieldmage and that's as good as all she wrote. Sometimes you've just got to believe in the heart of the cards.
Final
Game 1
I've got my slickest draw yet with Steward of Valeron into Gloryscale Viashino into Bloodbraid Elf hitting Cylian Elf into Knight of the Skyward-Eye + Nacatl Outlander + Cylian Sunsinger on turn 5, and a Leonin Armourguard on turn 6. Meanwhile he was casting Lush Growth (???) and Wooly Thoctar and all of zero removal spells. Nice deck, et cetera.
Game 2
I've got turn 2 Wild Nacatl and turn 3 Bant Sureblade off a mulligan while he's got an Armillary Sphere and an Emberweaver. He casts Lapse of Certainty on my Rhox Warmonk, but the Nacatl still gets in for 3. He trades the Ember Weaver with the Sureblade then devours it to a Glutinous Slime, then trades the Glutinous Slime and a Viashino Slaughtermaster with my Nacatl and Rhox after finding a swamp with his armillary sphere. I've still got Cylian Elf and Aven Squire, though, and he's flooded with just a Sanctum Plowbeast on D. I rip Brokenbraid Elf which finds a Nacatl Outlander, attacking with just the Aven Squire, and when he just plays a Talon Trooper and ships it back to me I play the Jund Hackblade and Path to Exile that I've been sandbagging and attack with the two 3/2s and the 2/2 pro: blue at his lone Talon Trooper. He's got a Terminate for the Hackblade and trades with the Elf but I've stil got creatures, and his Wooly Thoctar is no match for my Gloryscale Viashino followed by Leonin Armourgaurd, with the Nacatl Outlander, Aven Squire and Cylian Elf still on the board. 8 packets, please.
Finally winning a draft is nice, and I've learned that Bloodbraid Elf is even more broken than I gave it credit for being. I've also learnt, as ever, better lucky than good: who needs a stable manabase, not me.