Draft Report - Dec 4, 2010

- WB Aggro (5-1, 11-4)
- UG Aggro-Control (4-2, 9-6)
- WUG Midrange/Control (3-2, 8-5)
- UB Control (3-1, 6-5)
- WB Midrange (1-4, 5-8)
- Rw Aggro (0-2, 1-4)
- WU Aggro-Control (0-4, 0-8)

I started out trying to draft WG or WU control, but since I only got mass removal I had to diversify and go tri-colored, which is definitely not my place. While the deck got better when I added Time of Need and Impulse to help me find my game breaking bombs (Meloku the Clouded Mirror and Myojin of Cleansing Fire) and removed some ramping that was mana flooding me, my only real plan of action was starving the opponent of threats by mass killing everything, then dropping a fatty to finish him. My lone counter, Voidslime, was always helpful, which made me curse the 3 other blue players competing for them.

Below I detail the decks piloted to 1st and 2nd places:

WB Aggro

8 Swamp
6 Plains
Orzhov Basilica

Carnophage
Kor Skyfisher
Dauthi Horror
Oona's Prowler
Kiku, Night's Flower
Stillmoon Cavalier
Soltari Crusader
Dusk Urchins
Doomed Necromancer
Faceless Butcher
Howling Banshee
Brigid, Hero of Kinsbaile
Throat Slitter
Shriekmaw

Dark Ritual
Dolmen Gate
Doom Blade
Marsh Casualties
Vulshok Battlegear
Necromancy
Solemn Offering
Sudden Death
Story Circle
Swell of Courage
Profane Command

This deck combines a nice aggressive curve of creatures (some being newcomers like Kor Skyfisher and Oona's Prowler) with good assorted support cards, among which Swell of Courage and Profane Command stand out as good surprises. While the 1-3 CC creatures were simply aggressive, the ones in the 4-5 range were perfect for maintaining tempo advantage and stifling the opponent. Shriekmaw, Throat Slitter and Faceless Butcher might be the best black guys at that, and all three in a deck made it quite consistent. They also have synergy with Kor Skyfisher, Dolmen Gate, Necromancy and Profane Command.



UG Aggro-Control

11 Forest
8 Island

Silhana Ledgewalker
River Boa
Garruk's Companion
Wake Thrasher
Ohran Viper
Great Sable Stag
Troll Ascetic
Lorescale Coatl
Ninja of the Deep Hours
Chronozoa
Phantom Centaur

Ancestral Vision
Elixir of Immortality
Diminish
Preordain
Giant Growth
Rancor
Moment's Peace
Memory Lapse
Trade Routes
Grafted Wargear
Loxodon Warhammer
Puppet Strings
Krosan Grip
Might of Oaks
Plow Under
Stunted Growth

Despite not containing a lot of creatures, this aggro-control list has so much support in equipment (Bonesplitter, Grafted Wargear and Loxodon Warhammer), auras (Rancor) and combat tricks (Diminish, Giant Growth and Might of Oaks) that any critter can be a threat. The creature selection is great as well, each one of them being particularly nasty when buffed. This deck can spit out Rancor'ed Ninja of the Deep Hours, Silhana Ledgewalker and Troll Ascetic wearing Grafted Wargear and River Boa wielding Loxodon Warhammer, all particularly hard threats to play around.

Topping the deck, Preordain and Ancestral Vision provide extra fuel, while Plow Under and Stunted Growth hit hard opponents that are still developing, both in tempo and in card advantage. Meanwhile, Moment's Peace ensures races will be won.