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Comments
I wonder if there's a thing in some manga about this.
Shorter than I expected. In Buddyfight cards usually had names like Dragon Strike Arts, Dragonic Kaiser Nova. It isn't as long, but it's close.
Oh something that is as close is Fifth Omni Cavalry Dragon Disciple, Explosive Hammer Fekthar.
This is true.
Lest I forget, if silly sets count there's these two. lol flavor text errata
08/11
At first I didn't want to play past the four wins of the day but I did end up playing some more.
2-1 against UW control. I think I could've won that game I lost if I hadn't killed Teferi while my opponent had Elspeth Conquers Death on the battlefield, thus being able to retrieve Teferi.
2-0 against BR Party. Hahah, I didn't expect to see a party deck in constructed, I kinda wanted to see it win, but even after me mulliganing to 5 it wasn't that hard to win, that deck was heavily hurt by me burning/bouncing all those party dudes. Unfortunately on game 2 my opponent got screwed out of black mana.
0-2 against WBR Doom Foretold. I'm not sure what was so different this time but this version of the deck trounced me.
2-0 against UGR Adventures with Obosh, I baaaarely won the first game after my opponent kept ahead of everything I did, untimately that deck isn't very capable of dealing with flyers so I managed to get just enough damage to win. On second game my opponent mulliganed to 5 and so I won handily.
09/11
0-2 against UB mill.
0-2 against UB mill again.
2-0 against WB life gain.
2-0 against UBW Doom Foretold.
10/11
I added Crash Through to my deck. They're not as useful as I expected but not bad nonetheless.
0-2 UB Control
1-2 UW Control, this was the first time I cast a kicked Roil Eruption, on an Archon to no avail.
2-1 WRG Adventures
0-2 UB Rogues
2-0 WUB Control
At this point I reached Platinum rank, that is, the point winning one then losing one sets you back were you started. Even with a good win rate it takes a good amount of time/luck to reach Diamond so I'll probably stay in Platinum.
2-1 UGR Song of Creation, IIRC this was the second time I cast a kicked Roil Eruption, this time it worked.
11/11
0-2 against GB not-sure-how-to-classify-it, some deck with lots of good stuff.
2-1 against UR non-creatures matter, i.e. a mirror match! I won the first game handily, I sided in lots of bounce and burn intending to dry my opponent out of resources. I barely lost game two even though my opponent apparently got a bad hand even after mulliganing. Finally, I won a tight game three, at what could've easily been my final turn I attacked with two Riddleforms while my opponent was at 9, my opponent refrained from blocking with Stormwing Entity, so I cast Raking Claws on one of the Riddleforms and won. My opponent cast Shock so as to show it to me, I didn't make the calculations but I think that would've been enough to kill me off next turn, I suppose that'd be one reason why they didn't block.
2-0 against RG Adventures. I won both games handily, the second one I risked getting my Sprite Dragon killed early on, but my opponent didn't kill it (perhaps due to immediate lack of red mana sources), next turn it became 4/4 thus unable to be killed by a single burn spell at that cost and so after growing a bit more it ended up winning me the game on its own.
2-0 Rogues, I trounced my opponent, first game because they got mana-screwed, second because that's how my deck rolls. I had trouble sideboarding because I won first game before finding out what my opponent was playing.
12-11
Kaladesh Remastered is here! The planeswalkers are in a rush to artifacting in a world of curvy vaguely India-esque inventions. Like Amonkhet Remastered, it's a reprint set based on Kaladesh (though Amonkhet Remastered included loads of stuff not in Amonkhet). Not Standard legal, but still.
But first, some Standard Ranked:
2-1 against WRG Adventures, on the third game my opponent got mana screwed while, although I got a bad hand, I had lucky draws.
2-1 against UW Control, I gotta say I got lucky that third game with my draws.
Being that I'm on a Ranked Standard streak I didn't want to ruin it, instead tried out again the RW Haktos the Unscarred Brawl deck from earlier. I went 6-5 which is nice when you consider that includes games I'd have won hadn't I disconnected.
As for Kaladesh Remastered, hmmm... Sealed looks tempting, if I go 0-3 I get the equivalent of 10 packs for 2000 gems, which works out exactly as buying them from the store (except that in Sealed six aren't actual packs and thus don't have to do with wildcards), it's tempting but purchasing packs for 200 gems is not something I'd do. Also I know next to nothing about the original Kaladesh except that energy and vehicles deck were overpowered.
13/11
In Ranked Standard:
2-0 against GUR ramp
2-0 against GWB Auras
1-2 against UB Rogues
1-2 against BG Adventures. Gosh I hated this, I won game one handily, on game two I messed up and could've beating my opponent handily too, but instead made it such that at best I left them at 1 life, then at a pivotal moment (I draw a non-creature and win, otherwise I likely lose) I got disconnected (being something sudden I belive it was not a problem with my network) and failed to reconnect in time to win the game or play the third match.
2-1 RG Adventures
I'm sure there was another match here that I won
2-1 Monoblack sacrifice
I also played some brawl, ending up 1-1.
14/11
I played quite a bit today.
2-0 Monogreen Aggro
1-2 UB Rogues, IIRC I misplayed by not playing something before attacking, so as to trigger Prowess, failing to hit my opponent for an extra life that ended up making a difference.
1-2 UB Rogues, in this one I attacked with a 1/1 Sprite Dragon into the Soaring Tought-Thief that was about to be played.
2-1 RW Warriors
2-1 WUR Yorion
Forgot what was here. I won two games.
1-2 RG Adventures
0-2 UB Control
1-2 UB Rogues
0-2 RG Adventures, gosh I made such a stupid mistake here, not being aware that the token created with Vivien, Monster's Advocate had reach, instead I decided to burn Edgewall Innkeeper (I didn't even want to burn anything, I just wanted the triggers and draw), and with that blocker there I didn't have enough to finish off my opponent before dying myself.
0-2 UB Rogues
I'm sure there was another game I lost likely for misplaying by ordering wrong cards when scrying, putting Sprite Dragon first then Opt rather than the other way around.
It's disheartening that after all these years of playing this game I still make huge mistakes like those.
So yeah, it wasn't my day. before playing I was Platinum 1 with 0 progress (that is, winning three matches more than I lost would've gotten me to Diamond), but ended up being set back by three matches. I was hoping that with some luck I could reach Diamond (and at one point I was one match away from doing so) but I guess my point of equilibrium is probably around mid-Platinum.
I ended up crafting 3x Mystical Dispute (uncommon), 2x Riverglide Pathway // Lavaglide Pathway (rare) and 2x Ox of Agonas (mythic rare), the Mystical Disputes make quite a difference but I haven't noticed improvements with the others, the Pathways aren't going to be a waste anytime soon but I might have been too impulsive with the oxen, becoming dead draws annoyingly often.
I also played some Brawl with the RW Haktos deck, which I think I'll turn into a Nahiri deck instead. I ended up 3-3, four games being against Heliod lifegain deck and another against a very similar Basri Ket lifegain deck.
I've learned that this is super false, not only were mainly colorless decks common, they were overpowered to the point of dominating the Modern format and warranting a ban (Eye of Ugin) during what's now known as Eldrazi Winter. Even if one doesn't count cards with Devoid's fake colorlessness as such, there were still "true-colorless" variations (not counting a few spells you're not likely to spend colored mana on.
The affinity decks down there are almost-colorless, too.
Even without those updates it's kind of long, I guess that's the effect of updating less often.
[Start of draft]
15-11
I only played Brawl, ending up 6-3.
I got chewed by a The Royal Scions deck focused on drawing triggers. Everything went alright for me until one fateful turn that I attacked into two kraken tokens from one trigger of Ominous Seas copied with Lithoform Engine. It was still a good attack but my Goma Fada Vanguard got stomped and without it the math didn't work out, thus I failed to take away the remaining five life.
Then I immediately played that deck again from another player with a worse hand but better understanding of how it works and thus beat it.
Finally, I trounced a BG Grakmaw, Skyclave Ravager deck from someone who spent the game spamming the sleeping hedron emote. In hindsight I should've emoted back right before winning.
16-11
I played quite a bit of Brawl, ending up 10-6 in rather unremarkable games.
17-11
I went 5-something, I stopped counting at some point during my losing streak trying to get that fifth win
[End of draft]
20-11
The FNM event was Historic. I made a quickie monoblue flyers deck not unlike those I made when I was new. I ended up 3-4 (or maybe it was 3-3?) which I suppose isn't a bad result.
I played more Brawl. One such game was against yet another Heliod deck from someone who spent the match spamming emotes, taunting me when things didn't go my way, etc. and for most of the game s/he seems to have the advantage, although not greatly so. Eventually my Paired Tactician is huge, I have a sizeable board and my opponent only has one blocker (Daxos), I get Embercleave with Nahiri and just enough mana to cast it. My opponent conceded right there and somehow didn't feel like emoting anymore.
I ended up 6-5
21-11
Monoblue Baral - I killed their commander on turn two and on turn three my opponent conceded after I cast Duress on them.
UR Adeliz - I got trounced, I had things under control but eventually my opponent played Monoblue Kasmina, I messed up and failed to kill her before she put her two tokens, and got overwhelmed before long.
Monoblue Barrin - Things were going fine until my opponent played Patient Reconstruction, and thus I couldn't stop them from creating a huge board presence that I couldn't breach.
UG Vannifar - My opponent messed up on turn three by playing Hall Monitor before having Vannifar on the battlefield, they Oops!ed and conceded.
WBR Khalia - After a turn four Fires of Invention I quickly got overwhelmed, I messed up thinking Bone Shard was instant and thus I conceded in shame.
I then switched to a Historic version of my Nahiri deck.
Monowhite Thalia - I beat them up from the get-go, but throughout the game my opponent had good removal and blockers, eventually it all came down to Emeria's Call, with which after three turns I could get through the remaining 15 life my opponent had.
Monored Chandra, Acolyte of Flame - For some reason my opponent conceded right after I played a turn three Ahn-Crop Crasher.
WUBRG Niv-Mizzet Reborn - My opponent conceded on my turn four after I attacked with Seasoned Hallowblade and Bonecrusher Giant. My opponent had three lands that produced WURG so it didn't seem that they got mana scwered. *shrug*
UR Jhoira, Weatherlight Captain - It was a combo deck with lots of cheap mana stones and things to reduce cost of artifacts, however I got a very aggressive hand, getting Embercleave and two 4/3s on turn four while my opponent was not ready to go off, next turn I won.
Monoblue Thassa, Deep-Dwelling - I got trounced, I could not set up blockers as they'd be bounced by Barrin, eventually my opponent got a good board presence and I couldn't keep up with it.
WUBRG Niv-Mizzet Reborn - Now I see how this deck works, only with the cards drawn with a turn four Niv-Mizzet my opponent had answers to pretty much everything I had.
22-11
I played lots of Brawl again, I lost one, then had an 8 games win streak, then a 5 games lose streak, then another win and that's it for the day.
23-11
I played lots of Brawl yet again, I was intending to play some Ranked Standard today too but I had a win streak that I tried to feed. Ended up 4-2 in it.
One of those games was against a very interesting mirror match, with both trying to outdo each other with Kargan Intimidator, Veteran Hallowblade, burn/protect spells, Nahiri herself and back-to-back Emeria's Call. My opponent did something I think was a mistake, attacking with Bonecrusher Giant into Hallowblade, perhaps thinking it was unable to be blocked by cowards. In the end I barely won.
So I did play Ranked Standard:
2-1 against Red Deck Wins. I managed to start game two with three Stormwing Entity and the fourth was the second top card of my library, all without the means to play them, and thus I lost.
2-1 against Monogreen Food. It got an extremely slow first game that I won handily, and a fairly aggressive game two that I lost quicly, game three was much tighter with me eventually winning thanks to a streak of non-creature spells on a favourable board.
2-0 against UB Control.
2-1 against RG Adventures. On game three apparently my opponent got screwed out of red mana sources.
2-1 against Rogues. Hell yeah! I beat rogues while on the draw! Finally those Ox of Agonas justified their existence, I guess the trick is to be aggressive in playing your stuff quickly.
2-0 against GB Adventures.
2-0 against Monogreen mutate. My opponent was inconsistent as to whether they were emoting to compliment me or to annoy me, nonetheless after both games bouncing their Auspicious Starrix at critical times, I managed to beat them.
At this point: I reached Diamond rank!
2-0 against RG Aggro
2-1 against Monoblack control with a bunch of colorless stuff (Forsaken Monument, Ugin). The games were loooooong. On game three my opponent conceded immediately.
2-1 against UB Rogues, I won on the draw again! This time the only anti-rogues sideboard cards I drew were two Mystical Disputes.
2-0 against RG Aggro. My opponent spammed emotes early on during game one, though at some point they learned they weren't in a position to be mocking others.
1-2 against RG Aggro. Well, I won game one handily and had game two in the bag (opponent at 8, my turn with Opt, Stern Dismissal and Roil Eruption with almost enough mana to kick it (Edit: and Riddleform on the battlefield), then I got disconnected and could not reconnect in time.
That was a lot of playing, I played well after the point I stop getting rewards for the day. I still had things to do (namely, the Blender Animation) and should be asleep already so I was hoping my streak would end, but not in such an anticlimactic way.
24-11
Ended up 5-3 playing Brawl
25-11
I completely forgot, there's an unranked best-of-three queue that I can join in and play without the psychological effect of there being something at stake. Ended up: 1-2, 2-0, 1-0, 2-1, 2-0, 0-2
26-11
I accidentally joined a best-of-one ranked and lost a rank bar.
Besides, I got trounced over and over, at some point I stopped counting but I ended up something like 6-12 games total playing unranked Standard.
27-11
The FNM was Historic Artisan. I made another monoblue flyers deck. I won IIRC the first three games so I thought I had something on, but eventually my opponents started whooping me. I ended up 4-6, plus another victory playing Brawl with the Nahiri deck, for which I earned a Maul of the Skyclaves as one of the FNM rewards, immediately added it to the deck.
28-11
I didn't feel like playing today, but I still did. Ended up 5-6.
29-11
I hadn't played draft this month/season, and it takes at least one game to receive end-of-season rewards (a booster in bronze's case) so although I didn't feel like it I thought I'd do at least one Quick Draft to get it (I don't need to win at all), so I did:
Deck
1 Maddening Cacophony (ZNR) 67 (First pick)
1 Bubble Snare (ZNR) 47
1 Silundi Vision (ZNR) 80
3 Demon's Disciple (ZNR) 97
3 Marauding Blight-Priest (ZNR) 112
2 Cunning Geysermage (ZNR) 55
1 Ghastly Gloomhunter (ZNR) 103
1 Myriad Construct (ZNR) 246
4 Feed the Swarm (ZNR) 102
1 Umara Wizard (ZNR) 86
2 Zulaport Duelist (ZNR) 88
1 Dreadwurm (ZNR) 100
1 Risen Riptide (ZNR) 73
1 Mind Drain (ZNR) 114
2 Drana's Silencer (ZNR) 99
8 Swamp (KLR) 293
7 Island (KLR) 290
Sideboard
1 Tazeem Roilmage (ZNR) 84
1 Skyclave Squid (ZNR) 82
1 Cascade Seer (ZNR) 48
1 Shell Shield (ZNR) 79
2 Spare Supplies (ZNR) 254
1 Might of Murasa (ZNR) 194
1 Deliberate (ZNR) 56
1 Living Tempest (ZNR) 65
1 Hagra Constrictor (ZNR) 105
1 Broken Wings (ZNR) 181
1 Sneaking Guide (ZNR) 164
1 Nissa's Zendikon (ZNR) 197
1 Kazandu Mammoth (ZNR) 189
1 Sea Gate Colossus (ZNR) 251
1 Spitfire Lagac (ZNR) 167
1 Strength of Solidarity (ZNR) 206
That's a lot of removal. I had to choose between Relic vial and the second Feed the Swarm, and the second Ghastly Gloomhunter and the third Feed the Swarm, in both cases I picked the Feed the Swarm which by the end I believed was a mistake.
Maddening Cacophony is great and the deck has certain consistency, but I don't have that much hope for it.
So 4-3, in hindsight I shouldn't have left Maddening Cacophony in, with how little mill my deck has it's unlikely that it'd make a difference and win me a game. Also I reached Silver rank so that's an extra 500 gold.
30/11
I got reduced to Gold 3 in Constructed and Bronze 4 in Limited.
1-2 against GW Landfall, I won the first game handily and thought I'd be able to beat that deck easily, I was so wrong.
2-1 against BRU steal-creatures-then-sacrifice-them, my Sprite Dragons had little hope of surviving against that (especially not the one I cast when I knew my opponent had Bonecrusher Giant in hand), however the Riddleforms were more or less unanswerable, I drew two on each of the second and first games and so I managed to chew through their life total (despite a huge mistake at the end when I didn't realize Thassa, Deep-Dwelling allowed my opponent to keep my creatures forever).
2-1 against BG something with Garruk, Vivien Reid, some creatures with Mutate
01/12
I played Brawl, ended up 4-2, one of those games was against Heliod lifegain which unlike pretty much any other time I've played against that deck, I managed to overwhelm my opponent with damage. Also I got to use Nahiri's -3 ability.
Bob Ross lands.
02/12
Did I lose my post draft again? Maybe I forgot to write something down. Perhaps this was the time I ended up something like 4-9 and didn't feel like keeping track.
03/12
I reaaaaally didn't want to play today.
1-2 against Monoblack auras
2-0 against URG Adventures
2-0 against some cutesy deck that uses Valakut Exploration to draw stuff and apparently to deal damage, though I found it to be veeeery slow and not very controll-y.
04/12
This week's FNM event was Mastermind, i.e. playing with a premade deck (this time it was one based on artifacts, mainly Kaladesh Remastered stuff) with no lands and each player being able to discard any card to create a land token that adds mana of any color. I find this to be kind of tedious to play, neither player really understands the decks they're playing and have to read the cards very often so it goes by very slowly. anyhows I ended up 2-3.
I also played quite a bit of Brawl, ended up 6-4.
I also played some Standard, one of which was accidentally ranked best-of-one against a cycling deck, which I lost. I also played, IIRC four matches, losing all of them and only winning two games, so 2-8.
In Standard I ended up: 2-0, 2-0, 1-2, 2-1
Two of those matches I won were against Rogues, one of which was thanks to Midnight Clock, I wonder if I should add the second (or more!). At one point I felt helpless against them but not anymore.
06-12
Played some Brawl, ended up 6-5.
07-12
Ended up Brawl 4-5.
Kaldheim started getting spoiled! I'm not particularly interested in those two cards but I'm looking forward to find out what the new set will offer.
08-12
Two Standard unranked games, 2-0 and 2-1, took me less than an hour, something I wish happened more often.
I'm considering opening my Zendikar Rising boosters, I have 80 which is nowhere near enough to rare-complete the set, however I don't foresee me drafting it more before Kaldheim arrives so that number won't improve much. I don't think I'll draft significantly this week, ZNR's Quick Draft ends this Friday and won't resume until almost the end of the month so that's quite a while to wait for cards. Hmm... I think I'll wait until its Quick Draft opens again and then draft it a lot as a sort of farewell party to what was a great set to draft.
It'll still be possible to draft it in the future (although rarely) but it's not something I'll be able to do without feeling like I'm cheating myself, as pulling a rare that I already have four of gets me very little in return, at that point the entry costs really weigh in.
Lots of people want a "phantom draft" mode, one that's cheaper but you don't get to keep the cards you draft, thus not letting collection considerations get in the way of creating your deck. It's hard to disagree when I'm seeing myself doing these sorts of plans to grow my collection rather than have "normal" fun.
09/12
In Standard I ended up: 2-1, 0-2.
In Brawl I ended up: 2-4
Not a great day.
10/12
Whoo, I won all four (Brawl) games I played today. Three were against Pylath, in all of which by the time my opponent was able to cast Pylath I was able to get through their blockers using creatures with flying. The other was an Orah deck by someone who I felt was a new player.
11/12
This week's FNM is... Historic All Access! (Historic but you aren't restricted to cards in your collection). I took the opportunity to test some budget decks I've been thinking about crafting:
UW Auras:
Lesson learned: Don't play auras on a dude you can't protect.
RG Aggro:
Lesson learned: No wonder Burning-Tree Emissary got suspended (i.e. banned with the expectation that it'd be unbanned eventually), things can get crazy with the possibility of emptying your hand early on.
Monoblue Tempo:
Lesson learned: Clearly I'm getting something wrong with this deck if the games are taking so long.
RG Arcanist:
Lesson learned: Young Pyromancer is insane. Also, the deck is more complicated than it seems, I kinda want to get good at it.
I also tried a non-budget version of RG Aggro, ending up 2-1 on games that were really one-sided either way.
UW Auras and RG Aggro were as interesting as I expected. Surprisingly, monoblue Tempo was a snorefest. RB Arcanist was super interesting, but I feel it's kind of casual-unfriendly, considering my opponent's early concedes without so much as a "Good Game" they probably felt the same. The non-budget version of Auras isn't that budget-unfriendly either so that would be an easy target to attain.
Well, no target is easy to attain if I also have to craft Historic's rare lands, but I feel like there's something more to look forward in the game. I remembered why is it that I'm looking to have a large collection.
Also, I got a Moraug, I'm not sure if it'll fit in my Nahiri deck but I'll try it.
12/12
2-0, 0-2, 1-2, 2-0, 0-2, 2-1, 0-2, 0-2
One of those games was another mirror match, unfortunately in at least one of those games my opponent got a bad hand,, in the end both games were one-sided in my favor.
13/12
2-1, 2-0, 1-2.
I have the feeling each day the matchmaker pairs me with increasingly difficult opponents. With the first few having underwhelming decks or people who seem new at this. Case in point That 2-0 game was against a player who ran something that resembled the New Player Experience GW Adventure deck and who took unusually long to play. Though I almost lost that second game to a misplay on my part, and could've lost it if it hadn't been for a subtle but big mistake on their part (playing their last card before attacking, giving me the information I needed to not make unnecessary blocks and win next turn).
14/12
2-0, 2-0, the first game of each match was fast and clean, but I got mana screwed on game two of both matches, but in the first one their GW something deck was no match for my flyers, and on the second my UB Rogues opponent got screwed as well.
15/12
2-0, 0-2, 2-1
16/12
2-0, 2-0, 1-2
17/12
This week's FNM was Historic Pauper (i.e. commons only). I made a UW flyers deck that I think is terrible but ended up 2-1 with it. I've never really liked Pauper, I feel the game loses a lot from the lack of complexity/"size" of rares (and to a lesser extent, uncommons).
I stopped keeping track of normal games at some point (it got annoying). But I still intend to keep track of drafts.
Deck
1 Jwari Disruption (ZNR) 64
1 Makindi Stampede (ZNR) 26
2 Canyon Jerboa (ZNR) 7
2 Angelheart Protector (ZNR) 3
1 Cunning Geysermage (ZNR) 55
2 Skyclave Squid (ZNR) 82
3 Makindi Ox (ZNR) 25
2 Negate (ZNR) 71
1 Zulaport Duelist (ZNR) 88
1 Maddening Cacophony (ZNR) 67
1 Merfolk Windrobber (ZNR) 70
1 Glacial Grasp (ZNR) 59
1 Mesa Lynx (ZNR) 28
1 Sejiri Shelter (ZNR) 37
1 Ruin Crab (ZNR) 75
2 Tazeem Raptor (ZNR) 43
8 Island (SLD) 102
9 Plains (SLD) 101
Sideboard
1 Riverglide Pathway (ZNR) 264 (First pick)
1 Inordinate Rage (ZNR) 144
1 Skyclave Sentinel (ZNR) 253
1 Field Research (ZNR) 58
1 Silundi Vision (ZNR) 80
2 Spare Supplies (ZNR) 254
1 Kabira Outrider (ZNR) 18
1 Reclaim the Wastes (ZNR) 200
1 Cleric of Chill Depths (ZNR) 51
1 Shell Shield (ZNR) 79
1 Adventure Awaits (ZNR) 177
1 Zareth San, the Trickster (ZNR) 242
1 Seafloor Stalker (ZNR) 78
1 Sea Gate Colossus (ZNR) 251
1 Practiced Tactics (ZNR) 32
1 Murasa Brute (ZNR) 195
1 Cleansing Wildfire (ZNR) 137
1 Nissa's Zendikon (ZNR) 197
So it's UW Landfall, which is going to be an issue since that's not a supported archetype, regardless I did pick up several good landfall creatures and some decent mill so I'm not that bummed, though I would've liked to make use of that third pack Zareth San.
First game was against a UW control deck with lots of
UW Mill - The game was very tight, especially near the end where my Makindi Ox and Canyon Jerboa were plowing through their blockers and their Ruin Crab was plowing through my library, in the end I lost the race.
GBw something - I got a very good hand with lots of creatures with Landfall, however I drew no sixth land so it took me a while to finish the game.
UB mix of Rogues and Wizards - a late game Ruin Crab almost single-handedly won me the game, I did almost nothing besides casting it and protecting it and if it hadn't been for my opponent's Mind Drain I'd have had enough fuel to empty my opponent's library.
WR Landfall - Gosh. My opponent made various questionable attacking/blocking decisions, despite that I failed to find the last land I needed to win from two Tazeem Raptors I couldn't deal with.
So 1-3. I got the bonus booster so it wasn't that bad.
01/01
Deck
1 Valakut Awakening (ZNR) 174 (First pick)
1 Pelakka Predation (ZNR) 120
1 Kazuul's Fury (ZNR) 146
2 Scorch Rider (ZNR) 158
1 Sea Gate Colossus (ZNR) 251
1 Cliffhaven Kitesail (ZNR) 243
2 Dreadwurm (ZNR) 100
3 Hagra Constrictor (ZNR) 105
3 Spitfire Lagac (ZNR) 167
1 Feed the Swarm (ZNR) 102
1 Demon's Disciple (ZNR) 97
2 Nimana Skydancer (ZNR) 117
1 Pyroclastic Hellion (ZNR) 152
1 Skyclave Geopede (ZNR) 163
1 Thwart the Grave (ZNR) 130
1 Akoum Hellhound (ZNR) 133
8 Mountain (SLD) 106
9 Swamp (SLD) 105
Sideboard
1 Vastwood Fortification (ZNR) 216
1 Sejiri Shelter (ZNR) 37
1 Scorch Rider (ZNR) 158
1 Cleansing Wildfire (ZNR) 137
1 Sea Gate Colossus (ZNR) 251
2 Broken Wings (ZNR) 181
1 Orah, Skyclave Hierophant (ZNR) 233
1 Relic Amulet (ZNR) 247
1 Tajuru Blightblade (ZNR) 208
2 Highborn Vampire (ZNR) 107
1 Murasa Brute (ZNR) 195
2 Spare Supplies (ZNR) 254
1 Swarm Shambler (ZNR) 207
1 Roiling Vortex (ZNR) 156
1 Sneaking Guide (ZNR) 164
1 Adventure Awaits (ZNR) 177
Link: tappedout.net/mtg-decks/03-01-21-eBk-br-draft/?share=f72748815683596b71aaadcec2a9eb39
This is probably the worst pile I've drafted so far, six picks in and I still wasn't clear any of the colors I was going to draft. On the plus side I got four rares, it's the first time I get over three rares since the first round of Quick Draft ended. In the end it turned into a combination of decent-ish landfall stuff with bad party stuff.
So I did another draft:
Deck
1 Verazol, the Split Current (ZNR) 239 (First pick)
2 Taunting Arbormage (ZNR) 212
1 Bubble Snare (ZNR) 47
1 Tazeem Roilmage (ZNR) 84
1 Vastwood Surge (ZNR) 217
1 Gnarlid Colony (ZNR) 185
2 Turntimber Ascetic (ZNR) 214
1 Zulaport Duelist (ZNR) 88
2 Deliberate (ZNR) 56
1 Merfolk Falconer (ZNR) 69
1 Reclaim the Wastes (ZNR) 200
1 Cunning Geysermage (ZNR) 55
2 Risen Riptide (ZNR) 73
1 Nissa's Zendikon (ZNR) 197
1 Ashaya, Soul of the Wild (ZNR) 179
1 Canopy Baloth (ZNR) 182
2 Skyclave Sentinel (ZNR) 253
1 Relic Amulet (ZNR) 247
9 Forest (SLD) 108
8 Island (SLD) 102
Sideboard
2 Dauntless Survivor (ZNR) 184
2 Kazandu Nectarpot (ZNR) 190
2 Broken Wings (ZNR) 181
2 Shell Shield (ZNR) 79
1 Magmatic Channeler (ZNR) 148
1 Risen Riptide (ZNR) 73
1 Murasa Brute (ZNR) 195
1 Spitfire Lagac (ZNR) 167
1 Sizzling Barrage (ZNR) 162
1 Tajuru Snarecaster (ZNR) 210
1 Fireblade Charger (ZNR) 139
1 Kazandu Stomper (ZNR) 191
1 Spare Supplies (ZNR) 254
1 Adventure Awaits (ZNR) 177
1 Cascade Seer (ZNR) 48
Link: tappedout.net/mtg-decks/03-01-21-ezY-ug-draft/?share=c8f89d6026e65f89b586872d08077bbf
I have high hopes for this thing, I got lots of goodies with kicker (it was my seventh or so pick that there was no good stuff with kicker for me to pick). Also I got the fourth copy of a card for the first time (Magmatic Channeler), the next time I draft them, they'll turn into gems, which is undesirable.
RB something - I think I messed up by attacking into a blocker when I had reasons to believe my ooponent had Inordinate Rage in hand. I thought it'd be fine since I was about to playa 6/6 Verasol, but nopes, it got removed only after merely copying a Tazeem Roilmage.
UB lost-before-I-could-figure-it-out - I was worried since they played an early Relic Amulet, but I got a nice curve of Gnarlid->Geysermage->Verasol->Ashaya->Kicked Arbormage. My opponent refrained from blocking until it was too late, although with what I had it probably wouldn't have made a difference.
WUB Party - My opponent had decent stuff, Smite the Monstrous is not a good card but it worked more or less fine for them (in once case it forced me to waste a Zulaport Duelist to save my Canopy Baloth), nonetheless the game drew long, which is where I have the advantage, so after a turn where I used Arbormage's ability on my Baloth to trade it for three of their creatures they conceded.
BW Party - My opponent had several really nasty stuff; Nighthack Scavenger, Squad Leader, two Paired Tacticians and miscellaneous stuff. I played my stuff the best I could but couldn't keep up with it. They're probably going to get seven wins.
RG something - My opponent overcommited attacking with a land with Nissa's Zendikon, Cliffhaven Kitesail and Scavenged Blade on it, I played fatties of my own and in the end it turns out my two Turntimber Ascetics' lifegaining is what stopped me from dying to the two Might of Murasa my opponent had in hand. I ended up at 1.
WBR Warriors - My opponent wrecked me early on with Kor Blademaster and lots of equipment, but I held on until I was at low life when I was able to make bad-but-necessary trades, then came in the fatties: again two Turntimber Ascetic's lifegaining saved me, then Ashaya who was able to block without dying, then a humble but useful Riptide and finally a 10/10 Verasol. I was like "oh crap" when my opponent played their first swamp on like turn 12 (so they probably had removal or something they had been sitting on), but nothing came out of it. I still could lose if my opponent had some combat trick somewhere, but when I cast a copied Bubble Snare, that was the end of it. My opponent kept pestering me with "Your Go" emotes, if their purpose was to taunt me then they got told.
UB Rogues - I made a subtle but harsh mistake early on. I played turn one Reclaim the wastes while I had Relic Amulet in hand. If I had waited until having the Amulet in play I'd have been able to kill their Merfolk Windrobber, which is what they used to make their Sure-Footed Infiltrator unblockable. My opponent never stopped drawing cards with it (save for one turn where they attacked before using its ability, and apparently wasn't aware that it wasn't too late to do so) so I ended up losing.
So 4-3 again, not as good as I'd have liked, but not a bad outcome in the least.
I'm not sure if I should bid farewell to Zendikar Rising drafts just yet, I have 51k gold and 7500 gems in reserve for Kaldheim, which sounds like it should be plenty, meanwhile for ZNR I have 60 rares and 95 unopened packs, so nowhere near close for rare completion. Theoretically doing the first round of Quick Drafts should be more profitable, but I may be overdoing it.
02/01
So I decided to draft one last time:
Deck
1 Taborax, Hope's Demise (ZNR) 129 (First pick)
3 Marauding Blight-Priest (ZNR) 112
2 Demon's Disciple (ZNR) 97
1 Vanquish the Weak (ZNR) 131
1 Angelheart Protector (ZNR) 3
2 Makindi Ox (ZNR) 25
1 Skyclave Relic (ZNR) 252
1 Prowling Felidar (ZNR) 34
1 Pelakka Predation (ZNR) 120
1 Kor Celebrant (ZNR) 22
3 Relic Vial (ZNR) 250
1 Drana's Silencer (ZNR) 99
1 Bloodchief's Thirst (ZNR) 94
1 Kabira Takedown (ZNR) 19
1 Nahiri's Binding (ZNR) 29
1 Subtle Strike (ZNR) 128
1 Nimana Skydancer (ZNR) 117
9 Swamp (SLD) 105
8 Plains (SLD) 101
Sideboard
1 Shadow Stinger (ZNR) 123
2 Spare Supplies (ZNR) 254
1 Skyclave Sentinel (ZNR) 253
1 Might of Murasa (ZNR) 194
2 Lithoform Blight (ZNR) 109
2 Tuktuk Rubblefort (ZNR) 173
1 Kabira Outrider (ZNR) 18
1 Oblivion's Hunger (ZNR) 119
1 Glacial Grasp (ZNR) 59
1 Scorch Rider (ZNR) 158
1 Coralhelm Chronicler (ZNR) 54
1 Pressure Point (ZNR) 33
1 Concerted Defense (ZNR) 52
1 Cliffhaven Kitesail (ZNR) 243
1 Tajuru Snarecaster (ZNR) 210
1 Utility Knife (ZNR) 256
Link: tappedout.net/mtg-decks/03-01-21-okx-deck/?share=42888ab82252013e7c15d28c0ac42f94
I've never drafted clerics before, but I'm well aware of how powerful they are. Regardless of the outcome I think I'll have fun with this.
I did another draft, which I expect to be the last Zendikar Rising draft in my MtG life.
Deck
1 Valakut Awakening (ZNR) 174
1 Bala Ged Recovery (ZNR) 180
1 Akoum Warrior (ZNR) 134
2 Skyclave Geopede (ZNR) 163
4 Akoum Hellhound (ZNR) 133
4 Spitfire Lagac (ZNR) 167
1 Kazandu Mammoth (ZNR) 189
1 Kazuul's Fury (ZNR) 146
2 Synchronized Spellcraft (ZNR) 168
1 Might of Murasa (ZNR) 194
1 Kazandu Stomper (ZNR) 191
2 Goma Fada Vanguard (ZNR) 141
9 Forest (SLD) 108
9 Mountain (SLD) 106
1 Taunting Arbormage (ZNR) 212
Sideboard
1 Spitfire Lagac (ZNR) 167
2 Scorch Rider (ZNR) 158
1 Kazandu Stomper (ZNR) 191
1 Expedition Champion (ZNR) 138
1 Pelakka Predation (ZNR) 120
1 Fireblade Charger (ZNR) 139
1 Nissa's Zendikon (ZNR) 197
1 Dreadwurm (ZNR) 100
1 Utility Knife (ZNR) 256
1 Lithoform Blight (ZNR) 109
2 Ardent Electromancer (ZNR) 135
1 Teeterpeak Ambusher (ZNR) 169
1 Broken Wings (ZNR) 181
1 Skyclave Sentinel (ZNR) 253
1 Branchloft Pathway (ZNR) 258 (First pick)
1 Taunting Arbormage (ZNR) 212
1 Base Camp (ZNR) 257
1 Shell Shield (ZNR) 79
Link: https://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/03-01-21-lxg-rg-draft/
So it's an odd combination of warriors and landfall. I had a hard time choosing to which extent to focus on each, but in the end I chose more on the landfall side.
Anyhows, I don't want to say goodbye to Zendikar Rising draft just yet, but I also don't want to draft. Hmmmm...
Not counting rewards right now I have enough for 18 Quick Drafts, I can assume by the time Kaldheim Quick Drafts are available I will have gotten an extra 45k gold, enough for nine extra Quick Drafts, for a total of 27, assuming I get as average reward enough for half a Quick Draft and I spend those rewards recurrently on more Quick Drafts, that's enough for 54(!) Quick Drafts, less optimistically if instead I only get an average of 1/3 Quick Draft worth of prizes I get 3/2 more Quick Drafts for a total of 40.5 Quick Drafts. The Mastery Pass costs about five Quick Drafts worth of gems, so let's round out say I have enough for 35 Quick Drafts.
Assuming Kaldheim has, say, 55 rares (ZNR had IIRC 61 and it was unusually large) and I get an average of 5 rares per draft (3 from first picks, one as reward booster and the assumption that the average of passed rares + bonus booster won is one, which seems pessimistic compared to the first round of ZNR) and discouting 50 boosters from set mastery (ZNR had 57), 13 from renewal (i.e. having been a player already) (ZNR had 13 too) and 10 from season (2-4 per month) that's 80 packs, so I'll need to get 140 from drafting, that is, 28 Quick Drafts.
All that assumes that all I get are rare cards, i.e. no mythics or wildcards, and also ignores the wildcards I get after opening six packs, I think it's a safe assumption that they cancel each other out, although I'm not that hellbent on completing sets that I'd spend wildcards just for that, and for that reason and the calculations above I think I can spare a few more Zendikar Rising drafts. Now now, though. Also I'm neglecting the possibility that there'll be cosmetics I'll want.
Speaking of cosmetics, I bought the France and Japan sleeves that were on sale. Also the other day Wizards gave away the Bob Ross lands for free, something I noticed is that they apply to draft decks by default, which is nice (and the ability to change default is something a lot of people request as a feature), and it also makes pasting decks into TappedOut easier, as it doesn't allow for Arena lands (the previous default).
I was super-certain that Gods Willing had been translated to Spanish as "Con el favor de los dioses", but nope, it was instead translated as "La voluntad de los dioses". I thought about Googling the actual phrase and I learned that apparently "con el favor de Dios" is a very rare phrase in most places.
04/01
So another draft:
Deck
1 Blackbloom Rogue (ZNR) 91
1 Relic Golem (ZNR) 249
2 Vanquish the Weak (ZNR) 131
1 Expedition Skulker (ZNR) 101
1 Seafloor Stalker (ZNR) 78
2 Relic Amulet (ZNR) 247
1 Ghastly Gloomhunter (ZNR) 103
9 Swamp (SLD) 105
2 Deliberate (ZNR) 56
2 Highborn Vampire (ZNR) 107
0 Might of Murasa (ZNR) 194
0 Tormenting Voice (ZNR) 172
1 Thieving Skydiver (ZNR) 85
1 Deadly Alliance (ZNR) 96
1 Mind Carver (ZNR) 113
1 Nimana Skitter-Sneak (ZNR) 116
2 Mind Drain (ZNR) 114
0 Angelheart Protector (ZNR) 3
0 Kor Celebrant (ZNR) 22
0 Sea Gate Banneret (ZNR) 36
1 Sea Gate Colossus (ZNR) 251
1 Zulaport Duelist (ZNR) 88
0 Broken Wings (ZNR) 181
0 Valakut Exploration (ZNR) 175
1 Subtle Strike (ZNR) 128
8 Island (SLD) 102
1 Skyclave Plunder (ZNR) 81
Sideboard
1 Skyclave Relic (ZNR) 252
1 Skyclave Shadowcat (ZNR) 126
1 Guul Draz Mucklord (ZNR) 104
1 Hagra Constrictor (ZNR) 105
1 Highborn Vampire (ZNR) 107
1 Might of Murasa (ZNR) 194
1 Tormenting Voice (ZNR) 172
1 Angelheart Protector (ZNR) 3
1 Kor Celebrant (ZNR) 22
1 Sea Gate Banneret (ZNR) 36
1 Sea Gate Colossus (ZNR) 251
3 Spare Supplies (ZNR) 254
1 Broken Wings (ZNR) 181
1 Valakut Exploration (ZNR) 175
1 Makindi Stampede (ZNR) 26
1 Makindi Ox (ZNR) 25
1 Pressure Point (ZNR) 33
I have so low hopes for this deck. As it shows I never had a clear idea as to what colors it had to be, only that it'd include black. I was considering making it mono-black, but opted against it.
So a very surprising 6-3 with what I think is the worst deck I've drafted (although the RB deck from earlier is a worthy competitor). Since my deck didn't have that many instants or sorceries (and no wizards) I was considering leaving out a Relic Amulet, good thing I didn'. Man how can a single card be so good. It also interacts well with Mind Drain (sorcery that I'm likely to want to play on turn three when my opponent probably hasn't played heavy threats that I'd want to remove, and which serves to slow the game down).
Something that's often said is that rogues can be forced (i.e. you can take cards for a rogue deck even if they're subpar and others are taking those too, and the end result will still be okay), something that maybe would've been useful to do at some point when I picked Blackbloom Rogue (a very good rogue that's okay in other decks) over Soaring Thought-Thief (a super rogue, but requires me to commit to making a rogue deck).
The 850 gem reward is slightly more than enough to do another draft, that means this didn't set me back when i comes to amount of Quick Drafts for Kaldheim (or ZNR for that matter). If things keep going my way as they've been going recently I can do lots more Quick Draft before KHM, at that point I'll instead be limited by real-life time as to how many I can do.
I'm not far from getting to Gold rank, one or two more Quick Draft and it's mine, and the difference in rewards is significant (a pack and 500 gold), so that's a good goal to set as to where to stop.
09/01
Draft:
Deck
1 Khalni Ambush (ZNR) 192
0 Bubble Snare (ZNR) 47
1 Skyclave Relic (ZNR) 252
1 Skyclave Geopede (ZNR) 163
1 Vastwood Fortification (ZNR) 216
2 Kazandu Stomper (ZNR) 191
3 Turntimber Ascetic (ZNR) 214
2 Spitfire Lagac (ZNR) 167
2 Cleansing Wildfire (ZNR) 137
0 Sneaking Guide (ZNR) 164
0 Tormenting Voice (ZNR) 172
0 Spare Supplies (ZNR) 254
0 Thieving Skydiver (ZNR) 85
1 Akoum Warrior (ZNR) 134
2 Vastwood Surge (ZNR) 217
1 Murasa Sproutling (ZNR) 196
1 Synchronized Spellcraft (ZNR) 168
1 Springmantle Cleric (ZNR) 205
0 Sizzling Barrage (ZNR) 162
0 Broken Wings (ZNR) 181
0 Charix, the Raging Isle (ZNR) 49
1 Spikefield Hazard (ZNR) 166
1 Territorial Scythecat (ZNR) 213
1 Pyroclastic Hellion (ZNR) 152
1 Reclaim the Wastes (ZNR) 200
8 Mountain (SLD) 106
9 Forest (SLD) 108
Sideboard
1 Bubble Snare (ZNR) 47
2 Relic Vial (ZNR) 250
1 Sneaking Guide (ZNR) 164
1 Tormenting Voice (ZNR) 172
1 Spare Supplies (ZNR) 254
1 Thieving Skydiver (ZNR) 85
1 Sizzling Barrage (ZNR) 162
1 Broken Wings (ZNR) 181
1 Charix, the Raging Isle (ZNR) 49
1 Scorch Rider (ZNR) 158
1 Nissa's Zendikon (ZNR) 197
2 Utility Knife (ZNR) 256
1 Scale the Heights (ZNR) 202
1 Dauntless Survivor (ZNR) 184
2 Murasa Brute (ZNR) 195
1 Pressure Point (ZNR) 33
I didn't get any bomb, but I got a lot of fatties and some ramp that I can make good use for, probably. Also, I now have four Skyclave Relics, so that's two potential wastes of a rare pick.
Another draft:
Deck
1 Soul Shatter (ZNR) 127
1 Acquisitions Expert (ZNR) 89
1 Marauding Blight-Priest (ZNR) 112
2 Shadow Stinger (ZNR) 123
1 Ghastly Gloomhunter (ZNR) 103
1 Relic Vial (ZNR) 250
1 Drana's Silencer (ZNR) 99
1 Teeterpeak Ambusher (ZNR) 169
2 Scorch Rider (ZNR) 158
1 Thundering Sparkmage (ZNR) 171
2 Stonework Packbeast (ZNR) 255
1 Synchronized Spellcraft (ZNR) 168
2 Ardent Electromancer (ZNR) 135
1 Zof Consumption (ZNR) 132
1 Expedition Skulker (ZNR) 101
2 Base Camp (ZNR) 257
1 Skyclave Geopede (ZNR) 163
1 Vanquish the Weak (ZNR) 131
1 Feed the Swarm (ZNR) 102
1 Nimana Skydancer (ZNR) 117
7 Mountain (SLD) 106
8 Swamp (SLD) 105
Sideboard
1 Teeterpeak Ambusher (ZNR) 169
1 Blood Price (ZNR) 93
2 Dreadwurm (ZNR) 100
1 Hagra Constrictor (ZNR) 105
1 Cleansing Wildfire (ZNR) 137
3 Highborn Vampire (ZNR) 107
1 Throne of Makindi (ZNR) 265
2 Sizzling Barrage (ZNR) 162
1 Roiling Vortex (ZNR) 156
1 Guul Draz Mucklord (ZNR) 104
1 Scavenged Blade (ZNR) 157
1 Utility Knife (ZNR) 256
1 Inordinate Rage (ZNR) 144
Again no bombs, though this looks very consistent so I expect a so-so outcome.
- WB Party - Things were going my way, I had them at 4 life while I had Marauding Blight-Priest with Relic Vial, but one fateful turn my opponent cast Scavenging Nighthawk and Journey to Oblivion, taking my vial. I drew a Synchroniced Spellcraft, but not before it was too late, my opponent had more than enough life to survive, plus a huge Scion of the Swarm.
- GB Landfall? - My opponent got Kazandu Nectarpot and two Scion of the Swarm, I immediately killed one and removed other potential blockers. The remaining Scion of the swarm was a long-term concern but I managed to beat my opponent before it was too late.
- WB Party - I got a slow hand, so by turn five I had trouble blocking my opponent's creatures empowered by Sea Gate Banneret, nonetheless I managed to block enough and gain just enough life to survive at almost 0 for several turns, but eventually I died after a while of having to chump-block several creatures then sacrificing them to Relic Vial.
- UGb Kicker - This was a very tough game, my opponent played an early Drake Roost, but didn't actually make that much use of it, nonetheless they quickly mounted a huge defense that was slowly killing me through flyers. We both had nearly enough to kill each other for several turns, but in the end Relic Vial's life gain, life loss and ability to sacrifice chump-blockers won me the game.
- RW Party or maybe Landfall - It's the second time this draft that my opponents apparently don't realize that Packbeast is a rogue and thus can be tapped for Shadowstinger's ability, and so their Kor Celebrant died to the Stinger's deathtouch. Nonetheless my opponent played two Canyon Jerboa which did their thing and although I tried to block properly and for the most part I did, one fateful turn I had Shadowstinger tapped when I needed it to trade it for Tetterpeak Ambusher and thus had to do bad trades with it. Eventually I lost.
The lack of bombs is really affecting my decks, there's only so much draft chaft can do, even when it's consistent.Man, I'm still two bars away from Gold rank, but I kinda don't want to spend more gold... okay, one more.
Deck
1 Nahiri's Lithoforming (ZNR) 151
1 Roil Eruption (ZNR) 155
1 Canopy Baloth (ZNR) 182
1 Territorial Scythecat (ZNR) 213
2 Feed the Swarm (ZNR) 102
1 Might of Murasa (ZNR) 194
4 Spitfire Lagac (ZNR) 167
1 Shadows' Verdict (ZNR) 124
2 Brushfire Elemental (ZNR) 221
1 Malakir Rebirth (ZNR) 111
1 Cleansing Wildfire (ZNR) 137
1 Reclaim the Wastes (ZNR) 200
1 Nissa's Zendikon (ZNR) 197
5 Swamp (SLD) 105
1 Roiling Regrowth (ZNR) 201
1 Kazuul's Fury (ZNR) 146
1 Bala Ged Recovery (ZNR) 180
2 Turntimber Ascetic (ZNR) 214
6 Forest (SLD) 108
6 Mountain (SLD) 106
Sideboard
1 Shadow Stinger (ZNR) 123
1 Kazandu Nectarpot (ZNR) 190
1 Mind Carver (ZNR) 113
1 Molten Blast (ZNR) 149
1 Spare Supplies (ZNR) 254
3 Teeterpeak Ambusher (ZNR) 169
1 Taunting Arbormage (ZNR) 212
1 Nissa's Zendikon (ZNR) 197
1 Fissure Wizard (ZNR) 140
1 Scorch Rider (ZNR) 158
2 Guul Draz Mucklord (ZNR) 104
1 Cascade Seer (ZNR) 48
1 Lithoform Blight (ZNR) 109
1 Skyclave Apparition (ZNR) 39
1 Concerted Defense (ZNR) 52
1 Adventure Awaits (ZNR) 177
My deck has some good landfall stuff, but not that much of it. I'm concerned about the black splash, I think it'll make me so games are decided more on whether I draw the right lands than on anything else.
Alright, so I'm done with Zendikar, though I've decided not to open the 103 boosters I have, so as to minimize the possibility of repeats from individual card rewards. I'm open to changing my mind if there's more cards from ZNR that I could be using (so far that;s only two Riverglide Pathway // Lavaglide Pathway), or if I need the wildcards.
Also, a subreddit for figuring out how to speak Phyrexian.
29/01
Kaldheim is here! The Planeswalkers are rushing towards a world of snow and vikinging.
So far there's no obvious broken deck, as with Omnath decks when Zenikar Rising was released. UR control decks seem to be the most common, but so far I've mostly just seen players trying whatever out, it feels as if the game got a good dose of fresh air. Also, everything is blue.
I don't know of any card I'd want to put in my deck so far, though I'm also open to craft a new deck entirely if one catches my attention. That'd be after the metagame settles, however.
In terms of collecting, Kaldheim is as large as Zendikar Rising, and is only expected to be current for two months and a half instead of ~four months, so it's much more challenging to collect, nonetheless I think I prepared well and have resources to accrue lots of rares when Quick Drafts become available, provided the early bots are as generous as with ZNR.
The KHM Set Mastery reaches up to level 80, much less than ZNR's 130. I have more than enough to buy the Mastery Pass (in fact, I'd then still have more than enough for Strixhaven's Mastery Pass) but I thought I'd wait until I have leveled up some in case I feel I don't want to play anymore, though from the novelty of having a new set, I feel like I want to keep going. The total rewards is more or less the same as with ZNR (but since it's spread through less levels, in effect it's better), so far each Set Mastery has been less rewarding than the one before, so maybe WotC found their reward sweet spot? Well, there's also a cycle of five rares, each of which is a four-of reward for levels 20, 30, 45, 55 and 65 of the Mastery Pass, AFAIK this is the first time this is so, so with 20 rares as rewards in addition to all the other goodies, that greatly increases the value of the purchase.
Also the Kaldheim battlefield is beautiful.
Good times ahead.
Speaking of which, I spent a lot of the day reading up on whatever MtG thing there was, I thought I had gotten over that habit but it only took a new set to get back to it.
Oh, lest I forget, Kaldheim's release turned out nicely from a technical point of view, the servers did not misbehave and there are no apparent bugs, although I've noticed twice now that after the server reconnects (without restarting the client) I become unable to target players (the emote/mute menu comes up instead).
How do MtGA's play rewards work?
There are two currencies, gold (the usual one) and gems (the one you buy with real monies). For reference, each pack usually costs 1000 gold or 200 gems, and contains 1 rare (potentially, a mythic rare), two uncommons, four commons and wildcard wheel contribution (tl;dr: about 1/6 of a rare of your choice). Most players give very little value to commons and uncommons.
Note that unlike lots of freemium games, there aren't many things that can only be bought with the real-money currency, and can be obtained with relative ease with gold through draft events (the thing I've been spamming this thread with).
In terms of gold:
Each day there are daily rewards for winning: For the first win it's 250 gold, then for the next three wins it's 100 gold, then intermittently it's 50 gold or a random uncommon (potentially a rare or mythic) for the next five wins, then the same except it's 25 gold for the last six wins, then no more.
Notice how the rewards for the first four wins are much better than for the remaining eleven, so most players set their goal to get those four wins and stop, which should usually take less than an hour and rarely over two hours.
Also, every day there's a quest (e.g. play 20/30 blue or red spells) that get done easily in the process of normal play, each reward either 500 gold or 750 gold. Quests don't have to be completed the day they're assigned, but you can only have a maximum of three due.
In terms of experience:
Every set (i.e. for about three months) there's the set mastery, a progression system where as you gain experience doing stuff, you level up and get rewards for each level. There are two paths, the free one and the Mastery Pass one which costs 3400 gems, a steep cost but generally worth it. Despite what "level up" may suggest, all the rewards are "things" (cards and cosmetics) rather than character progression.
It looks like this.
Each level requires 1000 experience. I'd value the rewards as half a pack every level for the free path and one pack every level plus cosmetics for the Mastery Pass path. There's a limit, however, if you play daily you'll reach the maximum level about 3/4 of the way until the next set when it resets. Note that if you have the Mastery Pass, you still have access to the free path rewards.
You get 500 experience per completed quest, plus 25 per victory up to a maximum of 9 per day, plus 250 per victory up to a maximum of 15 per week.
In addition, there's daily deals at the store, always involving cosmetics but now and then it also has discount booster packs or free gold/gems, further encouraging logging in daily.
So all in all, you can count on about two boosters worth of rewards if you play daily, significantly less than that if you only play every three days (even if the actual playing time is the same), and much less than that if you play less often.
It's also worth noting that since the game changes quite a bit with new sets getting released, having a large collection and getting new stuff quickly is useful for competitive play.
Edit: It seems that the metagame is starting to shape up. If that's a reliable view of what things will be like, then it shaped up fast. I heard the metagame started to settle much faster since MTGA came out, I now see why.
I haven't seen that Rakdos yet in Kaldheim Standard, though it was also in Zendikar Rising and I saw it in ranked all the time. I got beat by the Boros one today, and beat a similar monowhite one yesterday. I beat a Naya one easily. I've faced several Izzet ones and it seems to be a bad matchup for me. Haven't seen the Jund one yet.
Edit edit: Also I'd like to clarify that commons and uncommons aren't valued highly not because they're not useful (they are) but because they're easy to get. A new player with a small collection is very likely to find them valuable, I certainly did.
1. So, do you only buy packs using in-game currencies, not directly via real money?
2. Seems like the Quests tons of gold you're talking about are similar to 100% Orange Juice's daily tasks that give bunches of oranges. (100% OJ's dailies are things like "Play a match as character A or character B" or "Play a match on map A or map B" or move a total of X panels in completed games" or "place Y trap cards in completed games" or "win one game".)
3. Are there rewards that the Mastery Pass gets that the free path never gets?
That's in addition to extra packs/golds/gems and the expensive draft voucher, but those can be obtained elsewhere. Kaldheim also introduced several cards not available in boosters, but those too can be obtained in other ways (namely, wildcards, which allow you to craft cards of your choice).
Kaldheim's Quick draft is here! I've been waiting for this.
Draft 1
Deck
1 In Search of Greatness (KHM) 177 (First pick)
1 Littjara Glade-Warden (KHM) 182
0 Feed the Serpent (KHM) 95
2 Boreal Outrider (KHM) 163
2 Guardian Gladewalker (KHM) 174
1 Dwarven Hammer (KHM) 133
2 Icehide Troll (KHM) 176
1 Craven Hulk (KHM) 127
2 Snow-Covered Mountain (KHM) 282
1 Snow-Covered Mountain (KHM) 283
0 Forging the Tyrite Sword (KHM) 211
0 Strategic Planning (KHM) 77
0 Grizzled Outrider (KHM) 173
1 Battle Mammoth (KHM) 160
2 Demon Bolt (KHM) 129
1 Axgard Cavalry (KHM) 121
1 Struggle for Skemfar (KHM) 196
2 Dwarven Reinforcements (KHM) 134
1 Rune of Might (KHM) 191
0 Colossal Plow (KHM) 236
0 Cinderheart Giant (KHM) 126
0 Vault Robber (KHM) 158
0 Tergrid, God of Fright (KHM) 112
1 Basalt Ravager (KHM) 122
1 Svella, Ice Shaper (KHM) 230
1 Magda, Brazen Outlaw (KHM) 142
1 Squash (KHM) 152
1 Fynn, the Fangbearer (KHM) 170
9 Forest (SLD) 108
5 Mountain (SLD) 106
Sideboard
1 Feed the Serpent (KHM) 95
1 Rune of Speed (KHM) 148
1 Forging the Tyrite Sword (KHM) 211
1 Strategic Planning (KHM) 77
1 Grizzled Outrider (KHM) 173
1 Ravenous Lindwurm (KHM) 187
1 Snakeskin Veil (KHM) 194
2 Tormentor's Helm (KHM) 155
1 Crush the Weak (KHM) 128
1 Colossal Plow (KHM) 236
1 Cinderheart Giant (KHM) 126
1 Vault Robber (KHM) 158
1 Tergrid, God of Fright (KHM) 112
1 Gnottvold Recluse (KHM) 172
1 Port of Karfell (KHM) 265
1 Hagi Mob (KHM) 140
1 Invasion of the Giants (KHM) 215
1 Open the Omenpaths (KHM) 143
So GR Somethign it is. I heard this combination is terrible, but we'll see.
So 3-3. When I was 2-0 I thought my deck had something to it, but nopes, it turns out just okay. From what I saw, it seems the archetypes are much less rigid than they were during ZNR. When I got passed a pack the first time and it wasn't a rare, I was worried that this wasn't going to be like during ZNR's first Quick Draft sessions, but I did get an extra rare later on so that's a relief.
Draft 2
Deck
1 Elvish Warmaster (KHM) 167
1 Boreal Outrider (KHM) 163
1 Littjara Kinseekers (KHM) 66
2 Replicating Ring (KHM) 244
0 Tyrite Sanctum (KHM) 272
1 Guardian Gladewalker (KHM) 174
0 Hailstorm Valkyrie (KHM) 97
2 Deathknell Berserker (KHM) 83
0 Grim Draugr (KHM) 96
0 Snow-Covered Mountain (KHM) 283
0 Cinderheart Giant (KHM) 126
0 Open the Omenpaths (KHM) 143
0 Sigrid, God-Favored (KHM) 29
0 Doomskar (KHM) 9
2 Elderleaf Mentor (KHM) 165
2 Frostpeak Yeti (KHM) 57
2 Bind the Monster (KHM) 48
2 Mammoth Growth (KHM) 183
0 Duskwielder (KHM) 91
1 Behold the Multiverse (KHM) 46
0 Village Rites (KHM) 117
0 Undersea Invader (KHM) 78
0 Warhorn Blast (KHM) 38
1 Burning-Rune Demon (KHM) 81
0 The Raven's Warning (KHM) 227
1 Littjara Glade-Warden (KHM) 182
1 Poison the Cup (KHM) 103
1 Ravenous Lindwurm (KHM) 187
1 Struggle for Skemfar (KHM) 196
1 Skull Raid (KHM) 111
1 Berg Strider (KHM) 47
1 Littjara Mirrorlake (KHM) 264
4 Island (SLD) 102
5 Swamp (SLD) 105
6 Forest (SLD) 108
Sideboard
2 Sculptor of Winter (KHM) 193
1 Tyrite Sanctum (KHM) 272 (First pick)
1 Hailstorm Valkyrie (KHM) 97
1 Grim Draugr (KHM) 96
1 Snow-Covered Mountain (KHM) 283
1 Cinderheart Giant (KHM) 126
1 Open the Omenpaths (KHM) 143
1 Sigrid, God-Favored (KHM) 29
1 Doomskar (KHM) 9
1 Frostpeak Yeti (KHM) 57
1 Duskwielder (KHM) 91
1 Village Rites (KHM) 117
1 Undersea Invader (KHM) 78
1 Warhorn Blast (KHM) 38
1 The Raven's Warning (KHM) 227
1 Snakeskin Veil (KHM) 194
1 Broken Wings (KHM) 164
1 Scorn Effigy (KHM) 246
1 Breakneck Berserker (KHM) 124
It was clear from the get-go that I was going to play elves, but I couldn't decide what other color until much later on, when things oriented towards those three colors.
So 3-3 again, not bad I guess, I can't complain at all after picking six rares
Draft 3
Deck
1 Dragonkin Berserker (KHM) 131
1 Tormentor's Helm (KHM) 155
1 Doomskar Titan (KHM) 130
0 Rootless Yew (KHM) 189
1 Gods' Hall Guardian (KHM) 13
3 Doomskar Oracle (KHM) 10
1 Alpine Meadow (KHM) 248
2 Goldmaw Champion (KHM) 14
2 Beskir Shieldmate (KHM) 4
0 Strategic Planning (KHM) 77
0 Tibalt's Trickery (KHM) 153
1 Demon Bolt (KHM) 129
1 Frost Bite (KHM) 138
1 Axgard Cavalry (KHM) 121
1 Struggle for Skemfar (KHM) 196
1 Run Amok (KHM) 147
1 Rune of Speed (KHM) 148
1 Littjara Glade-Warden (KHM) 182
1 Doomskar (KHM) 9 (First pick)
1 Elven Bow (KHM) 166
1 Arctic Treeline (KHM) 249
1 The World Tree (KHM) 275
1 Iron Verdict (KHM) 17
1 Provoke the Trolls (KHM) 144
1 Craven Hulk (KHM) 127
5 Plains (SLD) 101
5 Mountain (SLD) 106
4 Forest (SLD) 108
Sideboard
1 Rune of Might (KHM) 191
1 Rootless Yew (KHM) 189
1 Breakneck Berserker (KHM) 124
2 Fearless Pup (KHM) 136
2 Valor of the Worthy (KHM) 37
1 Strategic Planning (KHM) 77
1 Tibalt's Trickery (KHM) 153
1 Raven Wings (KHM) 243
1 Spectral Steel (KHM) 30
1 Mammoth Growth (KHM) 183
1 Warhorn Blast (KHM) 38
1 Run Ashore (KHM) 74
1 Broken Wings (KHM) 164
1 Funeral Longboat (KHM) 238
1 Surtland Frostpyre (KHM) 271
1 Axgard Braggart (KHM) 1
1 Codespell Cleric (KHM) 7
Again GR
I must have forgotten a game here, I'm pretty sure I ended up 2-3. I got the extra pack so that's extra good.
Draft 4
Deck
1 Icebind Pillar (KHM) 62
1 Glimpse the Cosmos (KHM) 60
1 Bound in Gold (KHM) 5
1 Rune of Flight (KHM) 75
2 Depart the Realm (KHM) 53
2 Berg Strider (KHM) 47
1 Doomskar Oracle (KHM) 10
0 Revitalize (KHM) 23
1 Snow-Covered Forest (KHM) 285
0 Axgard Armory (KHM) 250
0 Invoke the Divine (KHM) 16
1 Brinebarrow Intruder (KHM) 49
0 Annul (KHM) 42
0 Waking the Trolls (KHM) 234
2 Gods' Hall Guardian (KHM) 13
2 Augury Raven (KHM) 44
1 Shimmerdrift Vale (KHM) 267
3 Mistwalker (KHM) 68
1 Snow-Covered Island (KHM) 279
1 Story Seeker (KHM) 34
0 Fynn, the Fangbearer (KHM) 170
0 Koma's Faithful (KHM) 102
1 Undersea Invader (KHM) 78
0 Mammoth Growth (KHM) 183
0 Kolvori, God of Kinship (KHM) 181
1 Bind the Monster (KHM) 48
1 Giant's Amulet (KHM) 59
1 Gates of Istfell (KHM) 256
1 Starnheim Courser (KHM) 32
1 Valor of the Worthy (KHM) 37
6 Plains (SLD) 101
7 Island (SLD) 102
Sideboard
1 Tyrite Sanctum (KHM) 272 (First pick)
1 Frostpyre Arcanist (KHM) 58
1 Revitalize (KHM) 23
1 Wings of the Cosmos (KHM) 39
1 Axgard Armory (KHM) 250
1 Invoke the Divine (KHM) 16
1 Brinebarrow Intruder (KHM) 49
1 Annul (KHM) 42
1 Waking the Trolls (KHM) 234
1 Fynn, the Fangbearer (KHM) 170
1 Koma's Faithful (KHM) 102
1 Mammoth Growth (KHM) 183
1 Kolvori, God of Kinship (KHM) 181
1 Valor of the Worthy (KHM) 37
1 Niko Defies Destiny (KHM) 226
1 Warhorn Blast (KHM) 38
1 Vault Robber (KHM) 158
1 Funeral Longboat (KHM) 238
At first my deck didn't seem like it'd make sense, but in the end it came out as something of a flyers aggro-control deck.
1-3. Well, this one was terrible. I did get the second pack so that's something.
Deck list links pending.
13/02
Draft 5
Fug, I did not save the deck. From memory:
2 Berg Strider
1 Moritte
1 Guardian Gladewalker
1 Sculptor of Winter
1 The Three Seasons
1 Ascendant Spirit (First pick)
1 Brinebarrow Intruder
1 Depart the Realm
1 Rune of Flight
1 Graven Lore
2 Run Ashore
1 Masked Vandal
1 Elderleaf Mentor
1 Struggle for Skemdar
1 Bind the Monster
1 Fynn, the Fangbearer
1 Behold the Multiverse
1 Kolvori, God of Kinship
1 Faceless Haven
2 Snow-covered Island
Then some other stuff plus an assortment of lands. IIRC correctly the rares were Ascendant Spirit, Faceless Haven, Graven Lore, The Bloodsky Massacre, Harald Unites the Elves, Tibalt's Trickery, maybe Dream Devourer?
Whoo, seven rares. I've read that Masked Vandal is not that good, but I've find in this set I very often want to deal with artifacts, so I considered taking a second or even a third.
Draft 6
Deck
1 Old-Growth Troll (KHM) 185 (First pick)
0 Tyrite Sanctum (KHM) 272
1 Svella, Ice Shaper (KHM) 230
0 Tibalt's Trickery (KHM) 153
1 Tuskeri Firewalker (KHM) 157
2 Frost Bite (KHM) 138
1 Cinderheart Giant (KHM) 126
2 Axgard Cavalry (KHM) 121
1 Masked Vandal (KHM) 184
1 Rootless Yew (KHM) 189
1 Mammoth Growth (KHM) 183
1 Guardian Gladewalker (KHM) 174
0 Dual Strike (KHM) 132
0 Arachnoform (KHM) 159
0 Cyclone Summoner (KHM) 52
0 Mystic Reflection (KHM) 69
1 Dwarven Reinforcements (KHM) 134
1 Littjara Glade-Warden (KHM) 182
3 Struggle for Skemfar (KHM) 196
1 Horizon Seeker (KHM) 175
1 Snow-Covered Mountain (KHM) 283
1 Sarulf's Packmate (KHM) 192
1 Fynn, the Fangbearer (KHM) 170
0 Broken Wings (KHM) 164
0 King Harald's Revenge (KHM) 180
0 Jaspera Sentinel (KHM) 178
0 Hengegate Pathway (KHM) 260
1 Squash (KHM) 152
1 Craven Hulk (KHM) 127
1 Arni Slays the Troll (KHM) 201
1 Highland Forest (KHM) 261
1 Arctic Treeline (KHM) 249
7 Mountain (SLD) 106
7 Forest (SLD) 108
Sideboard
1 Tyrite Sanctum (KHM) 272
1 Tibalt's Trickery (KHM) 153
1 Mammoth Growth (KHM) 183
2 Guardian Gladewalker (KHM) 174
1 Dual Strike (KHM) 132
2 Arachnoform (KHM) 159
1 Cyclone Summoner (KHM) 52
1 Mystic Reflection (KHM) 69
1 Dwarven Reinforcements (KHM) 134
2 Fynn, the Fangbearer (KHM) 170
1 Broken Wings (KHM) 164
1 King Harald's Revenge (KHM) 180
1 Jaspera Sentinel (KHM) 178
1 Hengegate Pathway (KHM) 260
1 Immersturm Skullcairn (KHM) 263
1 Codespell Cleric (KHM) 7
I said earlier that I had heard GR isn't good, but in my experience it makes for solid decks. I was concerned about Old-Growth Troll, with the triple green cost I figure I must be very careful lest it end up being a dead card, but I don't know what "being careful" entails. Also I'm concerned about the fact that I seem to be picking up lots of unplayable rares, before long I'll have four Sanctums and Tibalt's Trickeries, reducing the profitability of drafts.
4-3. My worries about Old-Growth Troll's mana cost were overstated, in practice it was a four mana bomb.
Draft 7
Deck
1 Dream Devourer (KHM) 90 (First pick)
0 Tibalt's Trickery (KHM) 153
1 Giant's Amulet (KHM) 59
1 Berg Strider (KHM) 47
1 Depart the Realm (KHM) 53
1 Draugr Recruiter (KHM) 87
2 Karfell Kennel-Master (KHM) 101
1 Demonic Gifts (KHM) 84
1 Littjara Kinseekers (KHM) 66
1 Replicating Ring (KHM) 244
1 Run Ashore (KHM) 74
1 The Bloodsky Massacre (KHM) 207
0 Search for Glory (KHM) 27
0 Old-Growth Troll (KHM) 185
2 Snow-Covered Mountain (KHM) 283
2 Weigh Down (KHM) 118
1 Raise the Draugr (KHM) 105
1 The Trickster-God's Heist (KHM) 232
1 Draugr's Helm (KHM) 88
1 Shimmerdrift Vale (KHM) 267
1 Jarl of the Forsaken (KHM) 100
1 Skemfar Shadowsage (KHM) 110
1 Snow-Covered Island (KHM) 279
1 Elderfang Disciple (KHM) 93
1 Hailstorm Valkyrie (KHM) 97
1 Snow-Covered Mountain (KHM) 282
1 Saw It Coming (KHM) 76
1 Grim Draugr (KHM) 96
6 Island (SLD) 102
6 Swamp (SLD) 105
Sideboard
1 Tibalt's Trickery (KHM) 153
1 Demonic Gifts (KHM) 84
1 Rune of Speed (KHM) 148
2 Annul (KHM) 42
1 Scorn Effigy (KHM) 246
1 Search for Glory (KHM) 27
1 Old-Growth Troll (KHM) 185
1 Squash (KHM) 152
1 Raven Wings (KHM) 243
1 Koma's Faithful (KHM) 102
1 Mists of Littjara (KHM) 67
1 Funeral Longboat (KHM) 238
1 Raiders' Karve (KHM) 242
1 Axgard Braggart (KHM) 1
1 Deathknell Berserker (KHM) 83
1 Dogged Pursuit (KHM) 85
I don't have much hope for this deck. I was undecided as to whether I should splash red, but with five red mana sources I figured it would be alright. Also I considered not playing black at all after the first pack had next to no good black stuff, but the others made up for it.
2-3 may not be a super good record, but I wasn't expecting much.
Draft 8
Deck
1 Calamity Bearer (KHM) 125 (First pick)
2 Demon Bolt (KHM) 129
1 Littjara Glade-Warden (KHM) 182
2 Run Amok (KHM) 147
1 Squash (KHM) 152
1 Frost Bite (KHM) 138
3 Craven Hulk (KHM) 127
3 Tuskeri Firewalker (KHM) 157
2 Axgard Cavalry (KHM) 121
0 Invoke the Divine (KHM) 16
1 Draugr Necromancer (KHM) 86
2 Struggle for Skemfar (KHM) 196
1 Vengeful Reaper (KHM) 116
1 Dwarven Hammer (KHM) 133
1 Immersturm Skullcairn (KHM) 263
1 Gnottvold Recluse (KHM) 172
1 Glittering Frost (KHM) 171
1 Toski, Bearer of Secrets (KHM) 197
1 Fearless Liberator (KHM) 135
3 Swamp (SLD) 105
5 Mountain (SLD) 106
6 Forest (SLD) 108
Sideboard
1 Run Amok (KHM) 147
1 Snow-Covered Plains (KHM) 277
2 Cinderheart Giant (KHM) 126
1 Scorn Effigy (KHM) 246
1 Immersturm Raider (KHM) 141
1 Invoke the Divine (KHM) 16
1 Kolvori, God of Kinship (KHM) 181
1 Karfell Kennel-Master (KHM) 101
2 Grim Draugr (KHM) 96
1 Duskwielder (KHM) 91
1 King Harald's Revenge (KHM) 180
1 Righteous Valkyrie (KHM) 24
1 Rootless Yew (KHM) 189
1 Tormentor's Helm (KHM) 155
1 Dual Strike (KHM) 132
1 Strategic Planning (KHM) 77
1 Roots of Wisdom (KHM) 190
I got several bombs. Yet again I had doubts about having a third color but with the experiences I've had I think it'll probably be fine.
5-3 is of course a good record, but I feel I could've done more, with three bombs like that it's easy to imagine getting 7-x. I wonder when will I get another deck like this.
Draft 9
Deck
0 Darkbore Pathway (KHM) 254
2 Demon Bolt (KHM) 129
1 Basalt Ravager (KHM) 122
1 Depart the Realm (KHM) 53
1 Craven Hulk (KHM) 127
1 Invasion of the Giants (KHM) 215
3 Berg Strider (KHM) 47
1 Snow-Covered Mountain (KHM) 282
2 Littjara Kinseekers (KHM) 66
0 Port of Karfell (KHM) 265
1 Bind the Monster (KHM) 48
0 Axgard Armory (KHM) 250
0 Funeral Longboat (KHM) 238
0 Roots of Wisdom (KHM) 190
0 Annul (KHM) 42
1 Battle of Frost and Fire (KHM) 204
1 Tundra Fumarole (KHM) 156
1 Rune of Speed (KHM) 148
1 Tuskeri Firewalker (KHM) 157
1 Scorn Effigy (KHM) 246
1 Axgard Cavalry (KHM) 121
1 Brinebarrow Intruder (KHM) 49
1 Giant's Amulet (KHM) 59
1 Doomskar Titan (KHM) 130
1 Saw It Coming (KHM) 76
1 Snow-Covered Mountain (KHM) 283
1 Karfell Harbinger (KHM) 65
9 Island (SLD) 102
6 Mountain (SLD) 106
Sideboard
1 Darkbore Pathway (KHM) 254 (First pick)
1 Port of Karfell (KHM) 265
1 Axgard Armory (KHM) 250
1 Funeral Longboat (KHM) 238
1 Roots of Wisdom (KHM) 190
1 Annul (KHM) 42
1 Raven Wings (KHM) 243
1 Mists of Littjara (KHM) 67
1 Brinebarrow Intruder (KHM) 49
1 Ascent of the Worthy (KHM) 202
1 Weathered Runestone (KHM) 247
1 Cinderheart Giant (KHM) 126
1 Seize the Spoils (KHM) 149
1 Waking the Trolls (KHM) 234
1 Rise of the Dread Marn (KHM) 107
1 Moritte of the Frost (KHM) 223
1 Rune of Sustenance (KHM) 25
1 Guardian Gladewalker (KHM) 174
1 Gods' Hall Guardian (KHM) 13
1 Skull Raid (KHM) 111
Before I began drafting I was hoping I'd get a UR Giants deck, finally it's here. I smiled when I got a Battle of Frost and Flame on pack 2.
1-3. Well, that was a disappointment. Also apparently I forgot another game.
Draft 10
Deck
1 The Bloodsky Massacre (KHM) 207 (First pick)
1 Maskwood Nexus (KHM) 240
1 Draugr Recruiter (KHM) 87
1 Immersturm Raider (KHM) 141
1 Tuskeri Firewalker (KHM) 157
1 Rune of Mortality (KHM) 108
1 Skull Raid (KHM) 111
2 Breakneck Berserker (KHM) 124
2 Karfell Kennel-Master (KHM) 101
1 Infernal Pet (KHM) 99
0 Wings of the Cosmos (KHM) 39
0 Great Hall of Starnheim (KHM) 259
1 Faceless Haven (KHM) 255
1 Squash (KHM) 152
1 Tergrid's Shadow (KHM) 113
2 Axgard Cavalry (KHM) 121
1 Dwarven Reinforcements (KHM) 134
2 Deathknell Berserker (KHM) 83
1 Hailstorm Valkyrie (KHM) 97
0 Hagi Mob (KHM) 140
0 Niko Defies Destiny (KHM) 226
0 Esika's Chariot (KHM) 169
1 Egon, God of Death (KHM) 92
1 Weigh Down (KHM) 118
0 Righteous Valkyrie (KHM) 24
1 Kardur's Vicious Return (KHM) 217
1 Snow-Covered Swamp (KHM) 280
7 Swamp (SLD) 105
8 Mountain (SLD) 106
Sideboard
1 Immersturm Raider (KHM) 141
2 Skull Raid (KHM) 111
2 Duskwielder (KHM) 91
1 Village Rites (KHM) 117
1 Hailstorm Valkyrie (KHM) 97
1 Shackles of Treachery (KHM) 150
1 Wings of the Cosmos (KHM) 39
1 Great Hall of Starnheim (KHM) 259
1 Hagi Mob (KHM) 140
2 Draugr Thought-Thief (KHM) 55
1 Niko Defies Destiny (KHM) 226
1 Esika's Chariot (KHM) 169
1 Righteous Valkyrie (KHM) 24
1 Fearless Pup (KHM) 136
1 Raise the Draugr (KHM) 105
1 Inga Rune-Eyes (KHM) 64
1 Karfell Harbinger (KHM) 65
I have good hopes for this deck, so far the aggro decks I've made has been so without me actively trying to make an aggro deck, but this is the exception.
Well, that was a disappointment, this is the first time I end up at 0-3, and that's with what I thought was a good deck. Perhaps I should content myself with the fact that even with that record it's still a good use of my gold, though I'm concerned that I may not have as much of a leeway for rare collecting as I thought I did. Economics aside I wish I knew how to really get good at this, it's disheartening that after all these years I still make mistakes and have doubt about my decisions.
14/02
Draft 11
Deck
0 Ascendant Spirit (KHM) 43 (First pick)
1 Giant's Amulet (KHM) 59
2 Berg Strider (KHM) 47
1 Usher of the Fallen (KHM) 35
1 Master Skald (KHM) 19
1 Snow-Covered Mountain (KHM) 282
1 Rune of Sustenance (KHM) 25
1 Snow-Covered Mountain (KHM) 283
3 Axgard Cavalry (KHM) 121
1 Tuskeri Firewalker (KHM) 157
1 Saw It Coming (KHM) 76
0 Wings of the Cosmos (KHM) 39
0 Grizzled Outrider (KHM) 173
0 Smashing Success (KHM) 151
1 Quakebringer (KHM) 145
2 Glimpse the Cosmos (KHM) 60
1 Goldmaw Champion (KHM) 14
2 Goldvein Pick (KHM) 239
2 Snow-Covered Plains (KHM) 276
1 Craven Hulk (KHM) 127
0 Brinebarrow Intruder (KHM) 49
0 Duskwielder (KHM) 91
0 Draugr Thought-Thief (KHM) 55
0 Draugr Necromancer (KHM) 86
1 Stalwart Valkyrie (KHM) 31
1 Vega, the Watcher (KHM) 233
1 Dwarven Hammer (KHM) 133
1 Rune of Speed (KHM) 148
1 Fearless Liberator (KHM) 135
4 Plains (SLD) 101
5 Island (SLD) 102
4 Mountain (SLD) 106
Sideboard
1 Ascendant Spirit (KHM) 43
1 Master Skald (KHM) 19
1 Depart the Realm (KHM) 53
1 Tuskeri Firewalker (KHM) 157
1 Wings of the Cosmos (KHM) 39
1 Grizzled Outrider (KHM) 173
1 Smashing Success (KHM) 151
1 Rally the Ranks (KHM) 20
1 Iron Verdict (KHM) 17
1 Brinebarrow Intruder (KHM) 49
1 Mists of Littjara (KHM) 67
1 Duskwielder (KHM) 91
1 Draugr Thought-Thief (KHM) 55
1 Draugr Necromancer (KHM) 86
1 Codespell Cleric (KHM) 7
1 Battlefield Raptor (KHM) 3
1 Strategic Planning (KHM) 77
1 Warhorn Blast (KHM) 38
I'm liking this deck. I passed the fourth Tibalt's Trickery in favour of Dwarven Hammer, argueably the best uncommon in the format, I hope I don't end up regretting it. I had bad experiences with Ascendant Spirit last time so I left it out this time, but perhaps I'm wrong and four snow mana sources is enough?
0-3 again. I think I'm getting tilted over the fact that I make simple mistakes, resulting in making more mistakes.
Draft 12
Deck
0 King Narfi's Betrayal (KHM) 219
1 Moritte of the Frost (KHM) 223
2 Struggle for Skemfar (KHM) 196
0 Skemfar Shadowsage (KHM) 110
1 Goldvein Pick (KHM) 239
2 Depart the Realm (KHM) 53
1 Boreal Outrider (KHM) 163
0 Karfell Kennel-Master (KHM) 101
0 Disdainful Stroke (KHM) 54
1 Scorn Effigy (KHM) 246
0 Jaspera Sentinel (KHM) 178
2 Draugr Thought-Thief (KHM) 55
0 Revitalize (KHM) 23
1 Elven Bow (KHM) 166
1 Berg Strider (KHM) 47
1 Inga Rune-Eyes (KHM) 64
1 Mistwalker (KHM) 68
1 Snow-Covered Island (KHM) 278
0 Broken Wings (KHM) 164
2 Rune of Flight (KHM) 75
1 Frostpyre Arcanist (KHM) 58
0 Mammoth Growth (KHM) 183
1 Cyclone Summoner (KHM) 52
1 Horizon Seeker (KHM) 175
1 Augury Raven (KHM) 44
1 Blizzard Brawl (KHM) 162
1 Highland Forest (KHM) 261
1 Littjara Kinseekers (KHM) 66
1 Guardian Gladewalker (KHM) 174
8 Island (SLD) 102
7 Forest (SLD) 108
Sideboard
1 King Narfi's Betrayal (KHM) 219 (First pick IIRC)
1 Maskwood Nexus (KHM) 240
1 Skemfar Shadowsage (KHM) 110
1 Karfell Kennel-Master (KHM) 101
1 Disdainful Stroke (KHM) 54
1 Ravenous Lindwurm (KHM) 187
1 Jaspera Sentinel (KHM) 178
1 Revitalize (KHM) 23
1 Blightstep Pathway (KHM) 252
1 Graven Lore (KHM) 61
1 Berg Strider (KHM) 47
1 Inga Rune-Eyes (KHM) 64
1 Broken Wings (KHM) 164
1 Rune of Flight (KHM) 75
1 Mammoth Growth (KHM) 183
1 Karfell Harbinger (KHM) 65
1 Saw It Coming (KHM) 76
1 Hailstorm Valkyrie (KHM) 97
1 Valor of the Worthy (KHM) 37
1 Brinebarrow Intruder (KHM) 49
Again I'm driven by UG.
Yet again 0-3. I guessed it was a good time to go do something else so I did my dailies by playing constructed instead and left it at that.
15/02
Draft 13
Deck
1 Niko Aris (KHM) 225 (First pick)
1 Aegar, the Freezing Flame (KHM) 200
1 Stalwart Valkyrie (KHM) 31
3 Bind the Monster (KHM) 48
1 Littjara Kinseekers (KHM) 66
1 Inga Rune-Eyes (KHM) 64
1 Alpine Meadow (KHM) 248
0 Battershield Warrior (KHM) 2
0 Wings of the Cosmos (KHM) 39
1 Doomskar Oracle (KHM) 10
0 Warhorn Blast (KHM) 38
0 Undersea Invader (KHM) 78
0 Crippling Fear (KHM) 82
2 Demon Bolt (KHM) 129
1 Behold the Multiverse (KHM) 46
0 The World Tree (KHM) 275
1 Crush the Weak (KHM) 128
1 Berg Strider (KHM) 47
1 Gods' Hall Guardian (KHM) 13
1 Story Seeker (KHM) 34
1 Gates of Istfell (KHM) 256
0 Raiders' Karve (KHM) 242
0 Gnottvold Slumbermound (KHM) 258
0 Open the Omenpaths (KHM) 143
0 Rise of the Dread Marn (KHM) 107
1 Sigrid, God-Favored (KHM) 29
1 Dwarven Reinforcements (KHM) 134
1 Koll, the Forgemaster (KHM) 220
1 Master Skald (KHM) 19
1 Scorn Effigy (KHM) 246
1 Draugr Thought-Thief (KHM) 55
1 Frostpeak Yeti (KHM) 57
4 Plains (SLD) 101
6 Island (SLD) 102
5 Mountain (SLD) 106
Sideboard
2 Replicating Ring (KHM) 244
1 Battershield Warrior (KHM) 2
1 Wings of the Cosmos (KHM) 39
1 Warhorn Blast (KHM) 38
1 Undersea Invader (KHM) 78
1 Crippling Fear (KHM) 82
1 The World Tree (KHM) 275
1 Fearless Pup (KHM) 136
1 Raiders' Karve (KHM) 242
1 Gnottvold Slumbermound (KHM) 258
1 Open the Omenpaths (KHM) 143
1 Rise of the Dread Marn (KHM) 107
1 Depart the Realm (KHM) 53
1 Search for Glory (KHM) 27
1 Saw It Coming (KHM) 76
1 Rune of Sustenance (KHM) 25
1 Seize the Spoils (KHM) 149
2 Invoke the Divine (KHM) 16
First pick Niko clearly decided which two colors I'm going to include.
3-3, so that's okay. Normally I wouldn't be relieved for this result but it leads credence that the three 0-3s in a row were a fluke.
I had no time for a full draft so I played constructed instead for the last daily win reward.
Deck
1 Masked Vandal (KHM) 184
1 Battle for Bretagard (KHM) 203 (First pick)
2 Story Seeker (KHM) 34
2 Svella, Ice Shaper (KHM) 230
1 Master Skald (KHM) 19
1 Struggle for Skemfar (KHM) 196
1 Bound in Gold (KHM) 5
3 Sculptor of Winter (KHM) 193
1 Fynn, the Fangbearer (KHM) 170
2 Snow-Covered Plains (KHM) 276
1 Showdown of the Skalds (KHM) 229
2 Craven Hulk (KHM) 127
1 Snow-Covered Mountain (KHM) 283
1 Guardian Gladewalker (KHM) 174
1 Gnottvold Slumbermound (KHM) 258
1 Valor of the Worthy (KHM) 37
1 Shimmerdrift Vale (KHM) 267
1 Squash (KHM) 152
1 Righteous Valkyrie (KHM) 24
1 Snow-Covered Mountain (KHM) 282
2 Sarulf's Packmate (KHM) 192
1 Tormentor's Helm (KHM) 155
1 Run Amok (KHM) 147
3 Plains (SLD) 101
2 Mountain (SLD) 106
5 Forest (SLD) 108
Sideboard
1 Forging the Tyrite Sword (KHM) 211
1 Pyre of Heroes (KHM) 241
1 Broken Wings (KHM) 164
1 Arachnoform (KHM) 159
1 Jaspera Sentinel (KHM) 178
3 Codespell Cleric (KHM) 7
1 Hagi Mob (KHM) 140
1 Gods' Hall Guardian (KHM) 13
1 Valor of the Worthy (KHM) 37
1 The Bloodsky Massacre (KHM) 207
1 Revitalize (KHM) 23
2 Vault Robber (KHM) 158
Draft 14
I have good hopes for this GWR semi-aggro deck.
0-3 yet again. I gotta ask what happened so suddenly that I've started losing like nobody's business. I did get a second pack, tho.
Draft 15
Deck
0 Darkbore Pathway (KHM) 254
1 Runeforge Champion (KHM) 26
1 Rune of Sustenance (KHM) 25
1 Scorn Effigy (KHM) 246
0 Giant's Amulet (KHM) 59
0 Sculptor of Winter (KHM) 193
2 Battlefield Raptor (KHM) 3
1 Rune of Speed (KHM) 148
2 Master Skald (KHM) 19
0 Surtland Frostpyre (KHM) 271
1 Gods' Hall Guardian (KHM) 13
0 Revitalize (KHM) 23
0 Open the Omenpaths (KHM) 143
0 Blessing of Frost (KHM) 161
1 Goldvein Pick (KHM) 239
0 Tyrite Sanctum (KHM) 272
1 Starnheim Courser (KHM) 32
3 Dwarven Reinforcements (KHM) 134
0 Tibalt's Trickery (KHM) 153
1 Warhorn Blast (KHM) 38
1 Wings of the Cosmos (KHM) 39
1 Codespell Cleric (KHM) 7
1 Craven Hulk (KHM) 127
0 Littjara Kinseekers (KHM) 66
0 Vault Robber (KHM) 158
0 Immersturm Skullcairn (KHM) 263
0 King Harald's Revenge (KHM) 180
0 Tyvar Kell (KHM) 198
1 Beskir Shieldmate (KHM) 4
0 Barkchannel Pathway (KHM) 251
1 Frost Bite (KHM) 138
1 Doomskar Titan (KHM) 130
1 Fearless Liberator (KHM) 135
1 Stalwart Valkyrie (KHM) 31
8 Mountain (SLD) 106
8 Plains (SLD) 101
1 Snow-Covered Plains (KHM) 276
Sideboard
1 Darkbore Pathway (KHM) 254
1 Snow-Covered Island (KHM) 278
1 Giant's Amulet (KHM) 59
1 Sculptor of Winter (KHM) 193
1 Master Skald (KHM) 19
1 Surtland Frostpyre (KHM) 271
1 Revitalize (KHM) 23
1 Open the Omenpaths (KHM) 143
1 Blessing of Frost (KHM) 161
1 Tyrite Sanctum (KHM) 272
1 Tibalt's Trickery (KHM) 153
1 Highland Forest (KHM) 261
1 Littjara Kinseekers (KHM) 66
1 Vault Robber (KHM) 158
1 Immersturm Skullcairn (KHM) 263
1 King Harald's Revenge (KHM) 180
1 Tyvar Kell (KHM) 198
1 Barkchannel Pathway (KHM) 251
1 Gates of Istfell (KHM) 256
1 Smashing Success (KHM) 151
1 Giant Ox (KHM) 11
This RW aggro deck kinda resembles stuff I've seen from streamers recently. The very first Kaldheim limited game I played was against a runes deck with Runeforge Champion so I'm not going to forget easily how badly it trounced me. Nonetheless I really wish I had picked up more runes and equipment, however. Also, I almost refrained from picking Tyrite Sanctum in favour of Dwarven Hammer and Tybalt's Treachery in favour of... I think it was the RW snow land? Nonetheless I resisted the temptation.
3-3, can't complain.
Draft 16
Deck
0 Battle for Bretagard (KHM) 203
1 Graven Lore (KHM) 61
1 Doomskar Oracle (KHM) 10
1 Behold the Multiverse (KHM) 46
1 Snow-Covered Plains (KHM) 276
1 Snow-Covered Mountain (KHM) 283
1 Littjara Kinseekers (KHM) 66
1 Raven Wings (KHM) 243
1 Scorn Effigy (KHM) 246
1 Codespell Cleric (KHM) 7
2 Draugr Thought-Thief (KHM) 55
0 Old-Growth Troll (KHM) 185
1 Giant's Amulet (KHM) 59
1 Berg Strider (KHM) 47
1 Story Seeker (KHM) 34
1 Snow-Covered Island (KHM) 278
1 Goldvein Pick (KHM) 239
2 Battlefield Raptor (KHM) 3
1 Master Skald (KHM) 19
1 Rune of Sustenance (KHM) 25
1 Snow-Covered Forest (KHM) 285
1 Rune of Flight (KHM) 75
0 Guardian Gladewalker (KHM) 174
0 Gnottvold Recluse (KHM) 172
0 Tergrid, God of Fright (KHM) 112
1 Goldmaw Champion (KHM) 14
1 Bind the Monster (KHM) 48
1 Valor of the Worthy (KHM) 37
1 Spectral Steel (KHM) 30
1 Depart the Realm (KHM) 53
1 Gods' Hall Guardian (KHM) 13
6 Plains (SLD) 101
6 Island (SLD) 102
Sideboard
1 Battle for Bretagard (KHM) 203
2 Run Ashore (KHM) 74
1 Warhorn Blast (KHM) 38
2 Wings of the Cosmos (KHM) 39
1 Old-Growth Troll (KHM) 185
1 Master Skald (KHM) 19
1 Guardian Gladewalker (KHM) 174
1 Gnottvold Recluse (KHM) 172
1 Tergrid, God of Fright (KHM) 112
1 Replicating Ring (KHM) 244
1 Giant Ox (KHM) 11
1 Skemfar Elderhall (KHM) 268
1 Funeral Longboat (KHM) 238
1 Dual Strike (KHM) 132
1 Karfell Harbinger (KHM) 65
So UW, I knew I should've taken more green cards. I don't have much hope for this deck. We'll see. Regardless, I don't like the fact that I only got four rares.
(I played the following games the next day.)
17/02
There's also Wizard's Soul, the drama manga involving not-MtG, and Koi-iro Magic (Love-coloured Magic), the one involving actual MtG.
Draft 17
Deck
1 Glorious Protector (KHM) 12 (First pick)
2 Stalwart Valkyrie (KHM) 31
0 Faceless Haven (KHM) 255
0 Fall of the Impostor (KHM) 208
2 Battlefield Raptor (KHM) 3
0 Depart the Realm (KHM) 53
1 Alpine Meadow (KHM) 248
1 Codespell Cleric (KHM) 7
1 Run Amok (KHM) 147
0 Shackles of Treachery (KHM) 150
1 Master Skald (KHM) 19
1 Goldvein Pick (KHM) 239
0 Search for Glory (KHM) 27
0 Pyre of Heroes (KHM) 241
1 Koll, the Forgemaster (KHM) 220
1 Beskir Shieldmate (KHM) 4
1 Doomskar Oracle (KHM) 10
1 Fearless Liberator (KHM) 135
1 Craven Hulk (KHM) 127
0 Elven Bow (KHM) 166
0 Bind the Monster (KHM) 48
1 Axgard Cavalry (KHM) 121
0 Rootless Yew (KHM) 189
0 Broken Wings (KHM) 164
1 Birgi, God of Storytelling (KHM) 123
1 Calamity Bearer (KHM) 125
1 Basalt Ravager (KHM) 122
1 Dwarven Hammer (KHM) 133
1 Starnheim Courser (KHM) 32
1 Gods' Hall Guardian (KHM) 13
1 Tormentor's Helm (KHM) 155
1 Story Seeker (KHM) 34
8 Plains (SLD) 101
8 Mountain (SLD) 106
Sideboard
1 Faceless Haven (KHM) 255
1 Struggle for Skemfar (KHM) 196
1 Fall of the Impostor (KHM) 208
1 Depart the Realm (KHM) 53
1 Scorn Effigy (KHM) 246
1 Replicating Ring (KHM) 244
1 Codespell Cleric (KHM) 7
2 Shackles of Treachery (KHM) 150
1 Hagi Mob (KHM) 140
1 Search for Glory (KHM) 27
1 Pyre of Heroes (KHM) 241
1 Elven Bow (KHM) 166
1 Bind the Monster (KHM) 48
1 Bretagard Stronghold (KHM) 253
1 Rootless Yew (KHM) 189
1 Broken Wings (KHM) 164
1 Withercrown (KHM) 119
1 Wings of the Cosmos (KHM) 39
1 Roots of Wisdom (KHM) 190
1 Ravenous Lindwurm (KHM) 187
I really like this deck. Also it's the first time I skip a rare over having four of it already (Blooodsky Masacre).
3-3. I hoped for more but I guess I can't complain.
Draft 18.
Deck
1 Showdown of the Skalds (KHM) 229 (First pick)
1 Demon Bolt (KHM) 129
1 Axgard Cavalry (KHM) 121
1 Frenzied Raider (KHM) 137
1 Squash (KHM) 152
1 Snow-Covered Mountain (KHM) 282
2 Rune of Speed (KHM) 148
1 Guardian Gladewalker (KHM) 174
1 Sculptor of Winter (KHM) 193
1 Arni Brokenbrow (KHM) 120
1 Bound in Gold (KHM) 5
1 Goldmaw Champion (KHM) 14
1 Snow-Covered Plains (KHM) 276
1 Glacial Floodplain (KHM) 257
1 Blizzard Brawl (KHM) 162
1 Waking the Trolls (KHM) 234
1 Story Seeker (KHM) 34
1 Icehide Troll (KHM) 176
1 Axgard Armory (KHM) 250
1 The World Tree (KHM) 275
2 Sarulf's Packmate (KHM) 192
1 Path to the World Tree (KHM) 186
1 Tormentor's Helm (KHM) 155
1 Spectral Steel (KHM) 30
1 Arctic Treeline (KHM) 249
1 Codespell Cleric (KHM) 7
1 Masked Vandal (KHM) 184
2 Plains (SLD) 101
4 Mountain (SLD) 106
5 Forest (SLD) 108
Sideboard
1 Boreal Outrider (KHM) 163
1 Guardian Gladewalker (KHM) 174
1 Grizzled Outrider (KHM) 173
1 Broken Wings (KHM) 164
1 Mammoth Growth (KHM) 183
1 Roots of Wisdom (KHM) 190
1 Icehide Troll (KHM) 176
1 Jaspera Sentinel (KHM) 178
1 Gnottvold Recluse (KHM) 172
1 Shackles of Treachery (KHM) 150
1 Warhorn Blast (KHM) 38
1 Duskwielder (KHM) 91
1 Hengegate Pathway (KHM) 260
1 Colossal Plow (KHM) 236
1 Demonic Gifts (KHM) 84
1 Craven Hulk (KHM) 127
I don't have much hope for this. I wanted to make it aggro but drew very few creatures, nor much to make up for the white splash.
0-3. Not again. I know I had little hope for the deck at first but even then is too bad a result.
Draft 19
Deck
1 Firja's Retribution (KHM) 210 (First pick)
1 Firja, Judge of Valor (KHM) 209
1 Beskir Shieldmate (KHM) 4
2 Scorn Effigy (KHM) 246
0 Runed Crown (KHM) 245
1 Alpine Meadow (KHM) 248
1 Karfell Kennel-Master (KHM) 101
1 Elderfang Disciple (KHM) 93
1 Valor of the Worthy (KHM) 37
0 Revitalize (KHM) 23
0 Annul (KHM) 42
0 Harald Unites the Elves (KHM) 213
1 Draugr Recruiter (KHM) 87
2 Goldvein Pick (KHM) 239
1 Feed the Serpent (KHM) 95
1 Story Seeker (KHM) 34
1 Battlefield Raptor (KHM) 3
1 Stalwart Valkyrie (KHM) 31
1 Gods' Hall Guardian (KHM) 13
0 Duskwielder (KHM) 91
0 Saw It Coming (KHM) 76
1 Varragoth, Bloodsky Sire (KHM) 115
1 Sigrid, God-Favored (KHM) 29
1 Vengeful Reaper (KHM) 116
1 Goldmaw Champion (KHM) 14
1 Jarl of the Forsaken (KHM) 100
1 Codespell Cleric (KHM) 7
1 Infernal Pet (KHM) 99
1 Immersturm Skullcairn (KHM) 263
8 Plains (SLD) 101
7 Swamp (SLD) 105
Sideboard
1 Spectral Steel (KHM) 30
2 Runed Crown (KHM) 245
1 Deathknell Berserker (KHM) 83
2 Revitalize (KHM) 23
1 Annul (KHM) 42
1 Harald Unites the Elves (KHM) 213
1 Tergrid's Shadow (KHM) 113
1 Replicating Ring (KHM) 244
1 Axgard Braggart (KHM) 1
1 Duskwielder (KHM) 91
1 Master Skald (KHM) 19
1 Saw It Coming (KHM) 76
1 Grim Draugr (KHM) 96
1 Village Rites (KHM) 117
1 Dogged Pursuit (KHM) 85
1 Tormentor's Helm (KHM) 155
1 Guardian Gladewalker (KHM) 174
1 Funeral Longboat (KHM) 238
Whenever I get things like Firja and her Retribution as the first two (flavorful!) picks I feel I have a duty of some sort to perform well in the draft. The deck did not turn out quite how I envisoned it at first, I would've liked at least a rune (note the two Runed Crowns) and more cast-two-spells payoffs, but this will have to do.
4-3. I don't think I made any big mistakes during games this time, so that's good, though clearly the real mistake was that I kept forgetting to take away that Immerstrum Skullcairn, this came up during that last game though I most certainly would've lost anyways.
Besides drafting, Strixhaven info is out! Some stuff is cringey tbh, like the scroll gun or the mathemagic stuff written by somebody who isn't into math. Nonetheless it does look interesting.
MtG moves really fast these days.
Edit: Oh yeah, I've been watching videos from Luis Scott Vargas, my biggest takeaway is that players who are better than I'll ever be make significant mistakes, too. I've been learning quite a bit from him, and to a lesser extent to the Nizzahon Magic dude too.
I find the bear oft-putting, I'm not sure why. Perhaps it's because human-like bears are a rarity in the game and I'm not used to them?
I'm really digging the art direction, that of Strixhaven itself as well as the Mystical Archive. The Japanese ones are also gorgeous.
Also, I wonder what species that Prismari girl is.
On more draft/set-completin matters, let's see. When it comes to Kaldheim, I have 93 rares (and 6 mythics), 44 packs in stock, 20 packs left on both Set Mastery paths, 5-12 packs left as season rewards (I'd say it's 11), I'd estimate 25 more packs for the Mastery Passes of the upcoming six sets, and whatever miscellaneous rares I get as individual card rewards (daily rewards and FNM), I'll guesstimate it's 25 from Kaldheim (without quintuple protection) until it rotates out of standard. There are 64 unique rares in the set, five of which are not from boosters, so that's 236 rares to pick, all in all that means I'm approaching the time I should consider not drafting anymore. Assuming no mythics or wildcards from those packs, that's 125 rares in addition to the 93 I already have, for a total of 218.
Draft 20
Deck
1 Egon, God of Death (KHM) 92 (First pick)
2 Stalwart Valkyrie (KHM) 31
1 Runed Crown (KHM) 245
0 Glimpse the Cosmos (KHM) 60
1 Bloodsky Berserker (KHM) 80
2 Infernal Pet (KHM) 99
2 Goldvein Pick (KHM) 239
2 Rune of Speed (KHM) 148
1 Shimmerdrift Vale (KHM) 267
1 Snow-Covered Mountain (KHM) 282
2 Axgard Armory (KHM) 250
0 Arachnoform (KHM) 159
1 Showdown of the Skalds (KHM) 229
2 Basalt Ravager (KHM) 122
1 Deathknell Berserker (KHM) 83
1 Koll, the Forgemaster (KHM) 220
1 Dwarven Hammer (KHM) 133
0 Colossal Plow (KHM) 236
1 Dwarven Reinforcements (KHM) 134
0 Ascent of the Worthy (KHM) 202
1 Snow-Covered Mountain (KHM) 283
0 Revitalize (KHM) 23
0 Craven Hulk (KHM) 127
1 Dream Devourer (KHM) 90
1 Firja, Judge of Valor (KHM) 209
1 Poison the Cup (KHM) 103
1 Rune of Mortality (KHM) 108
1 Great Hall of Starnheim (KHM) 259
1 Draugr's Helm (KHM) 88
3 Plains (SLD) 101
6 Swamp (SLD) 105
2 Mountain (SLD) 106
Sideboard
1 Glimpse the Cosmos (KHM) 60
1 Skull Raid (KHM) 111
1 Karfell Kennel-Master (KHM) 101
1 Arachnoform (KHM) 159
2 Gods' Hall Guardian (KHM) 13
1 Colossal Plow (KHM) 236
1 Ascent of the Worthy (KHM) 202
1 Revitalize (KHM) 23
1 Craven Hulk (KHM) 127
1 Doomskar Titan (KHM) 130
1 Tuskeri Firewalker (KHM) 157
1 Scorn Effigy (KHM) 246
1 Demonic Gifts (KHM) 84
1 Immersturm Raider (KHM) 141
1 Open the Omenpaths (KHM) 143
I have so-so hopes for this deck.
0-3. Platinum rank (and high-gold) has been clearly having its effect. I also only got three rares for some reason, I got two boosters so it's so-so whether it was worth it depends on whether I think 50 gems are worth three ticks of the wildcard wheel.
Draft 21
Deck
1 Sigrid, God-Favored (KHM) 29 (First pick)
1 Shepherd of the Cosmos (KHM) 28
1 Usher of the Fallen (KHM) 35
2 Story Seeker (KHM) 34
1 Frost Bite (KHM) 138
2 Codespell Cleric (KHM) 7
2 Warhorn Blast (KHM) 38
3 Goldmaw Champion (KHM) 14
1 Squash (KHM) 152
2 Battlefield Raptor (KHM) 3
0 Skull Raid (KHM) 111
1 Run Amok (KHM) 147
0 Karfell Harbinger (KHM) 65
0 Brinebarrow Intruder (KHM) 49
0 Darkbore Pathway (KHM) 254
1 Doomskar Titan (KHM) 130
0 Search for Glory (KHM) 27
2 Stalwart Valkyrie (KHM) 31
1 Beskir Shieldmate (KHM) 4
0 Snow-Covered Island (KHM) 279
0 Wings of the Cosmos (KHM) 39
1 Fearless Pup (KHM) 136
0 Invoke the Divine (KHM) 16
0 Grim Draugr (KHM) 96
0 Realmwalker (KHM) 188
1 Dwarven Reinforcements (KHM) 134
2 Goldvein Pick (KHM) 239
1 Frenzied Raider (KHM) 137
7 Plains (SLD) 101
7 Mountain (SLD) 106
Sideboard
1 Squash (KHM) 152
1 Skull Raid (KHM) 111
1 Karfell Harbinger (KHM) 65
1 Brinebarrow Intruder (KHM) 49
3 Immersturm Raider (KHM) 141
1 Darkbore Pathway (KHM) 254
1 Search for Glory (KHM) 27
1 Snow-Covered Island (KHM) 279
2 Wings of the Cosmos (KHM) 39
1 Fearless Pup (KHM) 136
1 Invoke the Divine (KHM) 16
1 Grim Draugr (KHM) 96
1 Realmwalker (KHM) 188
1 Axgard Braggart (KHM) 1
1 Smashing Success (KHM) 151
1 Strategic Planning (KHM) 77
I have high hopes for this deck. At this rate "high hopes" means something like 3-3.
4-3, so that's good.
Draft 22
Deck
0 Barkchannel Pathway (KHM) 251 (First pick)
1 Demon Bolt (KHM) 129
2 Dwarven Hammer (KHM) 133
1 Iron Verdict (KHM) 17
1 Battershield Warrior (KHM) 2
2 Axgard Cavalry (KHM) 121
0 Snow-Covered Forest (KHM) 285
1 Valor of the Worthy (KHM) 37
3 Goldvein Pick (KHM) 239
0 Immersturm Skullcairn (KHM) 263
1 Snow-Covered Mountain (KHM) 282
0 Vault Robber (KHM) 158
0 Smashing Success (KHM) 151
0 Cosmos Charger (KHM) 51
0 Pyre of Heroes (KHM) 241
1 Starnheim Courser (KHM) 32
1 Run Amok (KHM) 147
0 Saw It Coming (KHM) 76
1 Story Seeker (KHM) 34
2 Dwarven Reinforcements (KHM) 134
0 Disdainful Stroke (KHM) 54
0 Shackles of Treachery (KHM) 150
0 Brinebarrow Intruder (KHM) 49
0 Blood on the Snow (KHM) 79
1 Clarion Spirit (KHM) 6
1 Battlefield Raptor (KHM) 3
1 Doomskar Oracle (KHM) 10
1 Codespell Cleric (KHM) 7
1 Tormentor's Helm (KHM) 155
1 Stalwart Valkyrie (KHM) 31
1 Goldmaw Champion (KHM) 14
1 Fearless Pup (KHM) 136
8 Plains (SLD) 101
7 Mountain (SLD) 106
Sideboard
1 Barkchannel Pathway (KHM) 251
1 Snow-Covered Forest (KHM) 285
1 Immersturm Skullcairn (KHM) 263
1 Vault Robber (KHM) 158
1 Smashing Success (KHM) 151
1 Wings of the Cosmos (KHM) 39
1 Cosmos Charger (KHM) 51
1 Runed Crown (KHM) 245
1 Pyre of Heroes (KHM) 241
1 Doomskar Titan (KHM) 130
1 Saw It Coming (KHM) 76
1 Disdainful Stroke (KHM) 54
1 Shackles of Treachery (KHM) 150
1 Brinebarrow Intruder (KHM) 49
1 Blood on the Snow (KHM) 79
1 Forging the Tyrite Sword (KHM) 211
1 Gods' Hall Guardian (KHM) 13
1 Raven Wings (KHM) 243
1 Broken Wings (KHM) 164
1 Draugr Thought-Thief (KHM) 55
Gosh, I feel like an idiot, I realized a split second too late that I was passing a rare, I'm not sure what it was except that it was blue. In my defense IIRC I took Dwarven Hammer over that so that's a significant benefit. Nonetheless I expect to get a decent result with this deck.
4-3. I notice my results turn out better when I make white decks involving small creatures and equipment, and am conscious about
So that's ten more rares and four more boosters, I'm closing in on this.
Anyhows, numbers:
Wins: 3, 3, 2, 1, 3, 4, 2, 5, 1, 0, 0, 0, 3, 0, 3, 4, 3, 0, 4, 0, 4, 4. Accumulatively: 3-3, 6-6, 8-9, 9-12, 12-15, 16-18, 18-21, 23-24, 24-27, 24-30, 24-33, 24-36, 27-39, 27-42, 30-45, 34-48, 37-51, 37-54, 41-57, 41-60, 45-63, 49-66, or 49/115, or ~42.6%.. I'm disappointed, I thought I'd get at least 50% of wins but I guess not. I'm not sure how to account for the rank that I'm probably overranked due to playing so much limited. Even then, although a week ago I thought I was at least average, I no longer believe so. I guess Zendikar Rising pampered me? I really feel pick and deck building decisions are much more important and harder to evaluate than back then.
Accumulated results and their rewards:
0-3: 6 (300 gems)
1-3: 2 (200 gems)
2-3: 2 (400 gems)
3-3: 6 (900 gems)
4-3: 5 (1800 gems)
5-3: 1 (650 gems)
Total: 4250 gems for 16500 gems worth of entry fees. Ouch, I knew I wasn't getting close to getting an average of half of an entry fee that I was hoping for, but putting that in numbers... yeah, 26% is pretty bad.
Nonetheless, I had lots of fun at this, in fact I probably shouldn't have played as much as I did so as to keep playing over the course of the following week.
I've learned several lessons drafting Kaldheim. I now find educational value (and entertainment!) in watching streamers draft. I now know I should not overly rely on Draftsim's pick rankings, there are loads of dubious decisions in there, and if some players (including myself) contradict it, I should let my intuition guide me instead. I now know the worth of synergy is variable, it may not have been a huge deal outside some obvious cases back in ZNR, but it really was important in KHM, I shoul let my aggro decks be aggro, my X deck have lots of X and payoffs (including implicit payoffs) and so on. While it wasn't a given that I'd have enough decent cards to form a deck in ZNR, in all but one of my drafts I'd have more than enough to get something, meaning I didn't have to commit as hard to a color and leavecan opportunity for a future splash, and could also take "free value" picks in the form of lands.
I can't wait to do the same for Strixhaven. At less than 5k gold and 8100 gems I don't think I'll be anywhere close to having as much resources for (STX?) as I did for KHM, though that's influenced by the fact that KHM was a large set that'll last for short.
Draft 23
Deck
1 Skemfar Avenger (KHM) 109
1 Bloodsky Berserker (KHM) 80
1 Shepherd of the Cosmos (KHM) 28
1 Dwarven Reinforcements (KHM) 134
2 Koma's Faithful (KHM) 102
1 Goldvein Pick (KHM) 239
0 Village Rites (KHM) 117
2 Goldmaw Champion (KHM) 14
0 Revitalize (KHM) 23
1 Karfell Kennel-Master (KHM) 101
0 Niko Aris (KHM) 225
1 Deathknell Berserker (KHM) 83
1 Axgard Cavalry (KHM) 121
1 Sulfurous Mire (KHM) 270
1 Doomskar Titan (KHM) 130
1 Koll, the Forgemaster (KHM) 220
1 Great Hall of Starnheim (KHM) 259
1 Snow-Covered Plains (KHM) 277
0 Saw It Coming (KHM) 76
0 Duskwielder (KHM) 91
0 Shackles of Treachery (KHM) 150
1 Dragonkin Berserker (KHM) 131
1 Bound in Gold (KHM) 5
1 Stalwart Valkyrie (KHM) 31
1 Doomskar Oracle (KHM) 10
1 Iron Verdict (KHM) 17
1 Return Upon the Tide (KHM) 106
1 Raven Wings (KHM) 243
1 Story Seeker (KHM) 34
1 Warhorn Blast (KHM) 38
5 Plains (SLD) 101
5 Swamp (SLD) 105
4 Mountain (SLD) 106
Sideboard
1 Village Rites (KHM) 117
1 Runed Crown (KHM) 245
1 Grim Draugr (KHM) 96
1 Revitalize (KHM) 23
3 Scorn Effigy (KHM) 246
2 Master Skald (KHM) 19
1 Niko Aris (KHM) 225
2 Saw It Coming (KHM) 76
1 Duskwielder (KHM) 91
1 Shackles of Treachery (KHM) 150
1 Battlefield Raptor (KHM) 3
1 Littjara Mirrorlake (KHM) 264
1 Disdainful Stroke (KHM) 54
1 Cinderheart Giant (KHM) 126
1 King Harald's Revenge (KHM) 180
So berserkers it is.
I messed up, I paid the entry fee in gold instead of gems, meaning I have no gold left for whatever daily deal comes up. Also, I only got to pick three rares.
I watched my brother play a draft, he got 7-1 effortlessly with what I thought was a subpar decks. I don't want to disparage people who for all I know are new at the game, but his opponents were clearly less adept at the game than what I'm used to, this leads me to believe that I should let my rank decay rather than to keep grinding against people who from the statistics seem to be above me.
With that in mind I think it's time to wrap up on drafting, I'll stop now and save money for Strixhaven, although I'll probably draft again to qualify for seasonal rewards on March and April, either more Quick Draft or spend one of the many tokens I have on Traditional Draft (i.e. the unranked one). I'll purchase the Kaldheim Mastery Pass soon.
https://scryfall.com/sets/stx?order=set&as=grid
I'm hyped about it, the flavour is nice and I've never played through any of the Ravnicas, Alara or Tarkir. It seems low-powered but after Eldraine, that doesn't sound too bad.
Who couldn't like cards with names like First Day of Class or Divide by Zero?
Also, the Mystical Archives art is gorgeous, especially the Japanese ones, gosh I want some.
As for Arena:
I wanted to make the monowhite aggro deck that's currently competitive, but I was missing lots of cards, so I did the unthinkable; I opened the 114 Zendikar Rising boosters I had.
I got (Name of what I wanted, how many I got/how many I wanted):
Only time will tell if this was a good idea.
I drafted:
Deck
1 The Bears of Littjara (KHM) 205 (First pick)
1 Sarulf's Packmate (KHM) 192
1 Shimmerdrift Vale (KHM) 267
1 Icehide Troll (KHM) 176
1 Rune of Might (KHM) 191
1 Rootless Yew (KHM) 189
3 Sculptor of Winter (KHM) 193
1 Snowfield Sinkhole (KHM) 269
1 Glittering Frost (KHM) 171
2 Struggle for Skemfar (KHM) 196
1 Saw It Coming (KHM) 76
1 Ravenous Lindwurm (KHM) 187
2 Path to the World Tree (KHM) 186
3 Berg Strider (KHM) 47
1 Glimpse the Cosmos (KHM) 60
2 Snow-Covered Island (KHM) 278
1 Toski, Bearer of Secrets (KHM) 197
1 Snow-Covered Forest (KHM) 284
1 Grizzled Outrider (KHM) 173
1 Snow-Covered Mountain (KHM) 283
1 Draugr Thought-Thief (KHM) 55
1 Disdainful Stroke (KHM) 54
5 Island (SLD) 102
6 Forest (SLD) 108
Sideboard
1 The Bloodsky Massacre (KHM) 207
1 Depart the Realm (KHM) 53
1 Colossal Plow (KHM) 236
1 Giant Ox (KHM) 11
1 Scorn Effigy (KHM) 246
2 Warhorn Blast (KHM) 38
1 King Narfi's Betrayal (KHM) 219
1 Squash (KHM) 152
1 Broken Wings (KHM) 164
2 Battlefield Raptor (KHM) 3
1 King Harald's Revenge (KHM) 180
1 Open the Omenpaths (KHM) 143
1 Jaspera Sentinel (KHM) 178
1 Disdainful Stroke (KHM) 54
So it's GU with lots of fatties and ramp. I'm not having a lot of hope for this deck but I've been super wrong before. That The Bloodsky Massacre is a fifth copy, the first one I draft ever, I was unsure if it was a good idea to pick it up (thus get 20 gems) but the rest of the pack wasn't great either, and I was unsure of what colors I'd play besides green.
I can't wat to draft Strixhaven. Besides that...
It occurs to me that "reckless" should more often be translated as "atrevido".
I learned that on Brave Browser, typing something like "scryfall.com o:Adventure" will automagically search Scryfall using the provided filters.