For the first time in 8 years...

[EpilepticCricket]

I might be going to a prerelease. The Shadowmoore prerelease to be exact.

As the thread title states, I haven't drafted in almost a decade now and I'm completely out of the loop. TBH, I don't really even remember how it works, but I can find that information on Wizard's site I'm sure.

What I would like to know from you guys is, what the hell should I try and draft? I'm sure that there will be a lot of people there (It's in Louisville, KY and it's the closest tourney center this side of Columbus OH) so I'll want to have a couple of backup plans just in case.

Any help would be really really nice. :D

[Ryuzaki]

Lets see, first I would read some articles, namely

Death_By_Beebles - "Drafting Lorwyn for the First Time: A Primar (http://magicdeckvortex.com/mdvarticle0330.htm)"

and Lionden_56 - "AEther Pool: Drafting It Casually (http://magicdeckvortex.com/mdvarticle0052.htm)".

I haven't had a draft myself, so these were something interesting to read, even though I still haven't had a draft I would recommend reading them.

DBB's is more up to date and talks about Drafting Lorwyn, but it still helps you pick out some cards, Lionden's does the same thing, but is on older sets.

Hope this helps.

[12q34e]

ccgdeck.com has a basic drafting utility that may help you.

[fatguy_poolshark]

yeah however MOST prereleases arent draft they are sealed. I advise you to look more into that. The main thing to do is to learn the cards before you go.

[Maleficent]

Sealed > Draft imo. :P Drafts can be swingy, and it's important to know like every card in the set when you do one, so you can plan ahead what you'll build by the cards you get/don't get. Color combinations (in Shadowmoor's case you have allied color pairs), each color's strengths/weaknesses compared to the others as well as color combinations, any key commons/uncommons, etc etc. Best advice would probably be to study the spoiler like hell when it comes out, like ^ said. :P And you'll have to know what's good or not... all that.

[Syphon]

Syphon plan: Bring a deck that's been thoroughly tested and will burn down anything that even tries to tap. Ah...the times of bringing WoG to a Kamigawa draft...

Real plan: Cross your fingers more than once and hope for a good card pool.

[Chrome_Kaldra]

From experience [as i've drafted and played sealed quite a few times now] is that creatures = ftw. Seriously. Big creatures win because there's never enough removal to go around, so my advice is this:

- Solid creature base, with good p/t up the ramp [have a fattie or two]

- Have removal. Any removal is better than nothing. You don't know how many times i've lost because of some enchantment or aura when all i put in my deck was burn.

- MANA ACCEL ftw. Anything that speeds up the game for you is worth it, as long as it doesn't interfer with ^ and ^^. AKA: the damn tap lands from Kami.

- Card advantage. Even tidings-like cards are good, although $$$. I actually lost a match because of drelnoch, as he got way better card advantage than me, giving him way more choices.

- last but not least, take your time. Although if you act like you're doing it on purpose, it's bad sportsmanship. But ignore any bad feelings of wasted time if it's critical, as it is not wasted time if you're thinking. In fact, biding your time is good, it can make the diff between win and lose. There have been many many games at these events i go to where there'll be 2 guys still into their first game and there's only 5 minutes left. Good because it's only 1 match [if you win], bad because you've been staring at the cards for too long. [you can miss things.]

that's my advice, take it or leave it, as it's just observations. :D

[EpilepticCricket]

Thanks for all the tips guys.

Now, what cards do you guys feel will do best in draft? What should I look to pull / look out for?

I'm really liking the Fulimator Mage, and I know that that one is going to be many players first pick. Cheap LD and a 2/2 is freaking awesome. So I'm undecided if I should try and draft R/B or draft otherwise due to the popularity of those colors right now....

I've been going over the spoiler repeatedly, but my brain is still pretty much stuck in the "casual" mindset. A card that I think is awesome, probably is, but it might suck in draft. I'm not expecting or looking to win, but I'd like to make it past the first round lol.

[FuDaWg45]

When I draft I usually don't go in looking for a particular color. In general I go for removal first, unless something bomby comes my way. So if you see a red burn spell first pack, I'd say you're going red.

But that's just me, I'm not a pro by any means, and have only gotten 1st at a draft once.

[12q34e]

only hitting non basics makes the mage not so great in draft

[EpilepticCricket]

Well, I understand that with (more than likely) only basic lands available, most of the cards are slightly weakened, but then again, split mana symbols. Makes everything easier. I just see R/B as being one of the more popular colors in shadowmoor. As such, I figured I would try and draft it if my first draft picks were good, or try and draft against it with control. Lots of control if possible. The more the merrier lol.

[lionden_56]

Control is very difficult to pull off in draft. Because of the general lack of answers and the fact that there's no such thing as a wrong threat, you have to have an insanely powerful deck.
That being said, Blue/White does look like a pretty decent combo to try and draft. Especially if you see its underdrafted.

[AlasterEisaroh]

At the last last Sealed Tournament I went to (Morningtide Release) I went three colours :r:, :g:, and :b: and my deck was probably the best one there, but I didn't win because I ended getting either Mana Flooded, or Mana Screw during 4 of my 8 matches.

So long story short, becareful with multiple colours unless you have some way to get the land you need out when you need it. Although with Shadowmoor the Hybrid cards may help to prevent that.

[reapandplant]

2 colors is always doable if you don't have too much 2/3 colored mana costs(non-hybrid) in you deck.

[Syphon]

Also, apparently you need to give signals to others but I don't really do that.

[EpilepticCricket]

what do you mean "signals" syphon?

< is a major noob at draft/sealed whatever it may be. I think I drafted for Onslaught last time I went... I'm sure it's a different game now. (drafting wise anyway)

[Syphon]

Meh. apparently it's reading what kind of colours the players left and right of you keep and what flies by. I don't believe in that crap, though. If there's a bomb or money rare in the pack, your guesses go right out the window.

[FuDaWg45]

I think it depends on the seriousness of the draft. All that techy garbage about signalling is probably very applicable if you're a pro and are drafting in a tournament. People there don't see Extirpate and instantly grab it cus it's worth $$$. They've already got their playset, and it's more important for them to win the draft.

[Drathro]

The preview about hybrid in Shadowmnoor from magicthegathering.com suggests that Shadowmoor is designed to reward mono-color and two color decks, more than 3/4/5 multi-color decks. You can see this with all the preview cards that have almost no colorless mana requirements, but lots of hybrid requirements. These cards support either mono-color of one or the other color, or a deck using both those colors, but how are you going to use that Mountain you included for a splash to pay for your :manaub::manaub::manaub::manaub::manaub: Ghastlord of Fugue?

This is just what they said on the mothership, I don't know how well it translates to real-life Draft or Sealed yet.

[BurnBait]

Here's how signaling works: You open a lorwyn pack, and what you see is this:

merrow reejerey
silvergill douser
sygg, river guide
eyeblight's ending


The other eleven cards in the pack are crap. Ignore them. Anyways, you'd want to pick the ending, for a couple of reasons
1. It's removal.
2. It requires no tribal ties.
3. IT'S THE ONLY GOOD BLACK CARD IN THE PACK

The third one is key. The first two are fairly obvious, but if you take that reejerey, two other guys are going to be drafting merfolk as well, because they're thinking "Golly, some idiot's passing me all kinds of good crap! I better go blue!". And then he takes all the blue you pass. Well, that's not so bad, since you're getting the pack first, but what about pack two? Then HE'S getting the pack first, and now HE'S picking all the good blue cards... and you're forced away from blue and into a color you didn't intend to draft. Because your first pack was probably rendered useless, you're basically building an automatically sub-par deck. That's what hating is: Taking the good card in the pack even if you can't use it, to make sure the other guy doesn't get it. Back to our example, if you take the ending, the next three guys will probably go into blue, if they're intelligent- and end up screwing each other over. Meanwhile, pack two they've gone so deeply into blue or white they can't afford to back out. So they take mediocre blue cards over excellent black cards to fill out their deck, and then you take the good black cards.

Now, signaling doesn't always have to be so onesided: My group of friends and I, when we draft at the local FNM decide beforehand what colors we'd prefer to go into. That way, when the draft actually starts, we work mutually: The same is true of when you see equally good cards in a pack, and neither one is your color, you take the one that's going to benefit the guy you're passing to least (at least if you aren't going to end up playing each other- if you are, hate the sucker), so he might return the favor.

Make sense?

Also:


I think it depends on the seriousness of the draft. All that techy garbage about signalling is probably very applicable if you're a pro and are drafting in a tournament. People there don't see Extirpate and instantly grab it cus it's worth $$$. They've already got their playset, and it's more important for them to win the draft.

... Right. So what I'm seeing is... money draft. Bro, signaling is very complex, but it doesn't take much to get the basics down. Also, not doing so will bugger you up worse than an axe in your royal perogative.

[Grumpherys]

two other guys are going to be drafting merfolk as well, because they're thinking "Golly, some idiot's passing me all kinds of good crap! I better go blue!". And then he takes all the blue you pass. Well, that's not so bad, since you're getting the pack first, but what about pack two? Then HE'S getting the pack first, and now HE'S picking all the good blue cards... and you're forced away from blue and into a color you didn't intend to draft.

true story i was the reejerey guy... i ended up black and blue... well i was smart with some tricks like streams of unconsciousness but other than that I ultimately lost. listen to this guy, burn knows his stuff!

[BurnBait]

You're totally going in my sig! Thx for the support :E

[EpilepticCricket]

listen to this guy, burn knows his stuff!

Yeah, I've taken BB's advice very seriously so far and I have yet to be disappointed by it. :)

I should know by Tuesday if I'm gonna be able to make it or not... *crosses fingers*

[BurnBait]

Manoman! More sig material! If only I could fit all the quotes in...

Well, tell us how it goes if you do end up going- also: do you want a list of first pick material non rares?

[fatguy_poolshark]

hmm I have to say epileptic check with wotc.com on the prereleases. I am 99% sure you will find the main event is sealed. Also deciding what colors are strong based on rares is one of the worst strategies ever since you can do 20 drafts and NEVER see fulminator mage(which sucks in draft btw)

[death by aggro]

It's odd seeing Burn Bait outside the Tournament Deck Section. He kinda owns that place now.

Besides basic draft information, I recommend specifically for Shadowmoor to stick to hybrid ally colors, one or two color decks, Scarecrows are good, and if you're in the right colors, Wither and Persist are amazing Limited Mechanics.

I think Shadowmoor was built by Wizards to be a Limited-centered, Johnny-tastic set for the sole purpose of getting me to sell my soul to them.

[BurnBait]

Indeed. Also, WATCH OUT FOR UNTAP CARDS. They come out of nowhere, I've found, and when they go active, bad stuff happens to you, as one mediocre Q mechanic user throws all the combat math off, and totall mucks up your idea of appropriate blocking- not too mention the chance of chaingunning you.

[EpilepticCricket]

Well, I'm definitely going XD

At this point I'm just going over the prerelease cards as much as I can to sort of get a feel for what to grab or watch out for. Plus the guys I'm going with are pretty big drafters so they've been a big help as well.

[BurnBait]

Aright, cool. Remember, though: If you have a choice between sealed and draft... I'd ALWAYS go sealed. It's so much more fun, to me, especially if I'm still learning the environment. Besides, at prerelease sealed, I think you're allowed to shuffle cards in and out between matches, from your pool... It was instated for lorwyn so that new guys wouldn't be bummed out if they realized their deck was completely wrong for the pod in question.

[lionden_56]

Besides, at prerelease sealed, I think you're allowed to shuffle cards in and out between matches, from your pool... It was instated for lorwyn so that new guys wouldn't be bummed out if they realized their deck was completely wrong for the pod in question.
That's a very house rule...most places won't let you do that. Although to be fair, they're all REL 1, so most places probably won't check...

But yes, draft is a much more skill intensive format than sealed (I have way too much experience with both formats to ever be dissuaded from that.) so for learning a format I would recommend playing sealed first. I always do. If anyone is in Madison this weekend you'll see me in hopefully one of the first sealed pods of the day (not the midnight madness, the 9am ones) and then at the side draft tables later in the day.

Here's another tip. Watch other matches after yours is done. The more cards you see interact with other cards, the better your evaluations and decisions become.

[gamerpunk666]

the best thing to do is print out a list of cards and their abilitys, then send them through an underpaid program (make your friends look at it) to find the cards that best suit eachother.

at the lorwyn pre-release me & my friend Jake Haas did that, we tied for first.

or, find some people willing to share ideas with you, you know, teach you some awesome tek.

[Ex.](learned this in a TS, PC, FS draft)

ok, say theres a deep-sea kraken with one counter on it, play angel's grace the card is on the stack, the counter comes off, the kraken falls off the stack and cant come into play.

thats the kinda tek im talkin about; small inane combos that are extremely overlooked.

[fatguy_poolshark]

That's a very house rule...most places won't let you do that. Although to be fair, they're all REL 1, so most places probably won't check...


actually, With the latest update of the Floor rules it became acceptable to change your deck at a prerelease or release as long as there are no decklists required. So yes you can change your maindeck after the first build.

[EpilepticCricket]

I just found out that Mark Tedin and Rob Alexander are going to be there!

XD

I'm totally getting my Sol Ring and Vanguard Urza Signed! (Among others...)

[Grumpherys]

all i know is I'm going tomorrow with a friend and I'm playing wither creatures in the limited play

[EpilepticCricket]

yeah, I have a feeling that wither is going to screw me over if I don't get any decent cards to draft it myself...

[EpilepticCricket]

Well guys, wish me luck. :D

I'll be heading out in about 30 minutes to the tourney to (hopefully) have a lot of fun and maybe even kick some tail.

[EpilepticCricket]

WOW!

That...

Was a blast.

I haven't slept in 36 hours now, I stink, I'm hungry, and I didn't win. But... DAMN! That was the most fun I've had in a loooong time!

I did pretty crappy actually. I went 3-4-0 total....

I tanked the first three rounds. Oh man it was terrible. I was either mana flooded or screwed. And a turn 4 Una is almost impossible to recover from FYI... After that I went 2-0 in the last 3 rounds. (grr)

Here's what I was using as main deck:


Lands
1 Sapseep Forest (never gained life)
8 Mountain
7 Forests

Creatures
1 Emberstrike Duo
1 Elvish Hexhunter (meh, I needed a cheap dude)
1 Wilt-Leaf Cavaliers
1 Bloodmark Mentor
1 Wildslayer Elves
1 Juvenile Gloomwidow
1 Manaforge Cinder
1 Tattermunge Duo (beastly imo)
1 Boartusk Liege (very beastly)
1 Scuzzback Scrapper (OMGWTF)
1 Scuttlemut

Enchants/Equipment
1 Blight Sickle (again OMG)
1 Runes of the Deus (what were they thinking???)

Spells
2 Toil to Renown (quite possibly one of my worst picks)
2 Gleeful Sabotage (damn scarecrows...)
1 Burn Trail (I was surprised by this one's usability)
1 Wild Swing (this one is just fun)
1 Poison the Well (very useful actually)
1 Howl of the night pack (stupid, stupid, stupid pick!)
1 Giantbaiting (I had to pass 2 of these...)
1 Scar (very useful)
1 Crimson Wisps (meh)

Yeah, not the greatest. I made some bad plays, I made some really bad picks.

The last 4 rounds almost every game I got my "combo" on the table:

Scuzzback Scrapper enchanted with Runes of the Deus with Boartusk Liege out. 5/5 Double Striking Trampler on turn 5... I was beating faces in left and right with that!

In the end, my ranking was only 80. Out of 324 people though, I think I did pretty good for my first sealed tourney in forever.

Here's the rest of what I got:


Should have been main deck as I sided for them almost every game
1 Grim Poppet (I know. don't go there)
1 Kulrath Knight (what was I thinking!?)
1 Murderous Redcap (built in shock and I didn't main deck)

The rest of my primary sideboard options
1 Impromptu Raid (it saved my ass several times)
1 Scuzzback Marauders
1 Boggart Arsonists (scarecrows were everywhere)
1 Fossil Find (good in the early game to get my control back)
1 Gloomwidow's Feast (Flyers rolled me)

The rest

Rare
1 Mana Reflection
1 Memory Plunder

Uncommon
1 Wicker Warcrawler
2 Mistmeadow Skulk (1 shiny)
1 Advice from the Fae
1 Mistmeadow Witch
1 Hallowsage
1 Crowd of Cinders
1 Incremental Blight
1 Gnarled Effigy

Commons
1 Cinderhaze Wretch
1 Sickle Ripper
1 Disturbing Plot
2 Ashenmoor Cohort
1 Rune-Cervin Rider
1 Goldenglow Moth
1 Inquisitor's Snare
2 Apothecary Initiate
1 Barrenton Medic
2 Ghastly Discovery
2 Whimwader
1 Parapet Watchers
1 Crabapple Cohort
1 Power of Fire
1 Wanderbrine Rootcutters
1 Fate Transfer
2 Oona's Gatewarden
1 Torpor Dust
1 Gravegill Axeshark
1 Gravegill Duo
1 Aethertow
1 Silkbind Faerie
1 Somnomancer
1 Medicine Runner
1 Safehold Duo

And I couldn't help but think of the "Memories of an Old Magic Player" as we were going up there, because we were flying up the highway blasting Disturbed the whole way! XD

Thanks for all the help you guys gave. It really did make a difference I believe.

Most of these will be up for trade as well. I'll get the rares added sooner or later...

[Maleficent]

GR can be fearsome if you've got the fatties. Just taking a glance at this, I think WBu might have been very good. Maybe:

Lands (17)
7 Swamp
6 Plains
4 Island

Creatures (16)
1 Kulrath Knight
1 Murderous Recap
1 Grim Poppet
2 Mistmeadow Skulk
1 Sickle Ripper
1 Scuttlemut
1 Mistmeadow Witch
1 Wanderbrine Rootcutters
1 Silkbind Faerie
1 Somnomancer
1 Emberstrike Duo
1 Crowd of Cinders
1 Manaforge Cinder
2 Oona's Gatewarden
1 Gravelgill Axeshark
1 Wicker Warcrawler

Other Spells (8)
1 Scar
1 Incremental Blight
1 Aethertow
1 Fate Transfer
1 Disturbing Plot
1 Gnarled Effigy
1 Blight Sickle


Might not be the best, but looks good? Not sure about Ghastly Discovery, but eh. Without it in this deck you only need Blue mana for the Witch's ability.

[BurnBait]

I thought blue was generally unexciting in this format. The good hybrids were playable because of the black, and, well, I avoided it simply because it was a bunch of mediocre draw, some terrible tricks and two real bombs.

[Syphon]

Threefouroh? :( That's a shameful result! I hope my pal (who qualified for Brussel's next event) will do better. No offense ;)
Oh, and I agree. Blue remains unexciting. Damn rogues and faeries.

[EpilepticCricket]

I can't really argue with you Syphon. :P lol, but as I said, bad picks and some really stupid plays... I still think I did better then the other three guys that I went with. At least I didn't drop after losing two rounds. XD

I'm totally going to the Eventide pre-release though.

[Syphon]

And again, I leave valid advice. :p Also, that means the 2nd time since that 8 year hiatus! Good god!

[Grumpherys]

I'm going because I won a free flight... but I'm glad to hear how active you are 2nd time hopefully a blast!

[reapandplant]

Here's another tip. Watch other matches after yours is done. The more cards you see interact with other cards, the better your evaluations and decisions become.

Plus, you might already see a dude you have to play later play his deck, and know what kind of colours etc he plays.