[M:tG] First Draft
So, I went to my first Draft event two weekends ago. Overall, I had fun, despite the fact I lost more times than I won. I ended up going 1-3, only because I got the bye in round 3. Before I start dissecting what I did and where I think I need to do things differently, here’s the 40-card deck I ended up with (in order or rarity):
[cardlist title=”Draft 1″] [Creatures] Colossus of AkrosHundred-Handed One
3 Fanatic of Mogis
Burnished Hart
Purphoros’s Emissary
Deathbellow Raider
2 Guardians of Meletis
3 Leonin Snarecaster
Minotaur Skullcleaver
2 Observant of Alseid
Satyr Rambler [/Creatures] [Spells] Hammer of Purphoros
Lightning Strike
3 Messenger’s Speed
Titan’s Strength
Rage of Purphoros [/Spells] [Land] 10 Mountain
7 Plains
[/Land] [/cardlist] [cardlist title=”Sideboard”] Akroan Hoplite
2 Glare of Heresy
Cavalry Pegasus
Ill-Tempered Cyclops
Lagonna-Band Elder
Messenger’s Speed
Priest of Iroas
Satyr Rambler
Traveler’s Amulet
Two-Headed Cerberus
Wild Celebrants
Yoked Ox [/cardlist]
Construction
I firmly believe that I picked too many creatures. I pulled the [card]Colossus of Akros[/card] the first round and was lured by the fact that I didn’t have to commit to a color yet. Also, it’s efficient being a 10/10 for only 8. I completely disregarded the fact that 8 mana is still 8. Freaking. Mana. I chose the [card]Fanatic of Mogis[/card] every time it came around, because it’s efficient and tags the opponent for some damage when ever it comes out. [card]Hundred-Handed one[/card] was a solid pick, it showed up in my starting hand more times than I can remember.
I’m happy with the creatures I picked, I just picked far too many of them. I know I passed by [card]Lightning Strike[/card] and [card]Shock[/card] a few times, and I really shouldn’t have. Those spells are too good to pass by, not unless there’s something even better.
Gameplay
This deck is fast, and it’s insanely aggressive. There are enough small creatures that I’m usually summoning creatures by round two or three, and if I got the right mana, [card]Hundred-Handed One[/card] can be out pretty early too. [card]Minotaur Skullcleaver[/card] is a great early-game play, especially when followed up by a [card]Fanatic of Mogis[/card] for some nice damage from devotion to red.
I don’t think I ever used [card]Lightning Strike[/card] correctly. Way too often I just tagged my opponent with it as soon as I could, rather than waiting to remove a creature when it attacked, or when it blocked. I went for the easy points, rather than thinking in the long term.
I made lots of other little mistakes: throwing a creature at my opponent who could block it without issue, chump blocking when I had plenty of health and could have taken the hit, etc.
Thoughts for next time…
Obviously, more removal and fewer creatures during the draft.
I definitely enjoyed playing Red, I think the fast and reckless nature works for me, as a newb.
I need to get a better handle on the cards in this set, so I can draft faster and be better prepared for the next Draft.