Sub 1600 Drafts SSE1

bluefalconer · Joined: 09 Sep 2008 Posts: 2

Hi All,
For a long time my limited rating was 1500. I have crawled back to 1600 (still very poor I know). I have a desire to learn and improve and would welcome any help possible. I have listed my draft and the deck at the end.
In this Draft I started with Mono Blue with WU hybrids, I lost my way in the middle of the draft. Then got some solid red picks lat on and ended up UR. I won R1 but scrubbed out in R2.

------ SHM ------

Pack 1 pick 1:
Oona's Gatewarden
Burn Trail
Wildslayer Elves
Cinderhaze Wretch
Silkbind Faerie
Wanderbrine Rootcutters
Gloomwidow's Feast
Manaforge Cinder
Scuzzback Scrapper
Elvish Hexhunter
Goldenglow Moth
Tatterkite
Thoughtweft Gambit
Heap Doll
--> Thistledown Liege
Between Burntrail, the silkbind or the liege. The Liege seemed like a good pick but should I have taken the Silkbind?

Pack 1 pick 2:
Scar
Boggart Arsonists
Presence of Gond
--> Briarberry Cohort
Safehold Sentry
Consign to Dream
Zealous Guardian
Loch Korrigan
Ember Gale
Niveous Wisps
Loamdragger Giant
Tower Above
Boggart Ram-Gang
Deepchannel Mentor
If i had taken the p1p1 of burntrail i would have taken boggart ram gang. I like the tower but I dont like green in general. I took a very poor pick her the 2/2 flier - what should i have taken?

Pack 1 pick 3:
Cultbrand Cinder
Blistering Dieflyn
Morselhoarder
--> Wingrattle Scarecrow
Shield of the Oversoul
Merrow Wavebreakers
Drowner Initiate
Pili-Pala
Bloodshed Fever
Manamorphose
Turn to Mist
Illuminated Folio
Pale Wayfarer
Turn to mist is nice but seemed ealry to take. Maybe the Pili-Pala was a better pick enabling me to stay open and offering a more playable card.

Pack 1 pick 4:
Boggart Arsonists
Raven's Run Dragoon
Runes of the Deus
--> Kinscaer Harpoonist
Cinderhaze Wretch
Elsewhere Flask
Cerulean Wisps
Ember Gale
Smolder Initiate
Gloomwidow's Feast
Ashenmoor Gouger
Mistveil Plains
I get into blue far to early and start taking subpotimal picks. I think I should be in red and taking the gouger.
Pack 1 pick 5:
Wildslayer Elves
Gloomlance
Morselhoarder
Chainbreaker
Last Breath
Hungry Spriggan
Intimidator Initiate
Niveous Wisps
Zealous Guardian
--> Grief Tyrant
Mercy Killing
I like the tyrant although I could have taken last breath.
Pack 1 pick 6:
Blistering Dieflyn
Presence of Gond
Kinscaer Harpoonist
Rite of Consumption
Bloodshed Fever
Loamdragger Giant
Put Away
Howl of the Night Pack
--> Mistmeadow Witch
Guttural Response
I take the oncolour playable (but decided not to play it!)
Pack 1 pick 7:
Mudbrawler Cohort
Farhaven Elf
Wanderbrine Rootcutters
Sootwalkers
Elvish Hexhunter
Smash to Smithereens
Smolder Initiate
--> Scrapbasket
Strip Bare
I take the neutral scrapbasket for my deck but the cohort would have been better going into red i feel.
Pack 1 pick 8:
Old Ghastbark
--> Ghastly Discovery
Drowner Initiate
Scarscale Ritual
Intimidator Initiate
Sinking Feeling
Inquisitor's Snare
Sapseep Forest
card draw is ok. I think in hindsight the intimidator would have been better.
Pack 1 pick 9:
Cinderhaze Wretch
--> Wanderbrine Rootcutters
Gloomwidow's Feast
Manaforge Cinder
Scuzzback Scrapper
Goldenglow Moth
Heap Doll
Weak pack I took the playable on color rootcutters.
Pack 1 pick 10:
Boggart Arsonists
Presence of Gond
Zealous Guardian
Loch Korrigan
--> Ember Gale
Loamdragger Giant
I really like this card alot and 10th pick seems late - really I should have been in red!!!
Pack 1 pick 11:
Blistering Dieflyn
Drowner Initiate
Bloodshed Fever
Manamorphose
--> Illuminated Folio
Nothing much left.
Pack 1 pick 12:
--> Runes of the Deus
Cinderhaze Wretch
Ember Gale
Smolder Initiate
Wow this seems late - Another indicator I should be red.
Pack 1 pick 13:
--> Morselhoarder
Intimidator Initiate
Zealous Guardian
Wow this seems late - Another indicator I should be red.
Pack 1 pick 14:
--> Blistering Dieflyn
Put Away
Ok Whatever
Pack 1 pick 15:
--> Smash to Smithereens
Rightly or wrongly I have played this in the past. 3 to the dome and taking down a scarewcrow seems not bad.
------ SHM ------

Pack 2 pick 1:
--> Power of Fire
Disturbing Plot
Parapet Watchers
Watchwing Scarecrow
Ballynock Cohort
Plains (FOIL)
Apothecary Initiate
Whimwader
Toil to Renown
Thornwatch Scarecrow
Rustrazor Butcher
Kithkin Rabble
Bloodmark Mentor
Glamer Spinners
Fulminator Mage
I think I was getting signals to go red and power of fire is so good. I take it over the spinners.
Pack 2 pick 2:
--> Thistledown Duo
Fists of the Demigod
Helm of the Ghastlord
Gravelgill Duo
Rune-Cervin Rider
Kithkin Shielddare
Fate Transfer
Poison the Well
Gleeful Sabotage
Ashenmoor Cohort
Fossil Find
Crowd of Cinders
Corrupt
Memory Plunder
This is were I lose my way. I take the Duo after not seeing anything to go Red with.
Pack 2 pick 3:
Traitor's Roar
--> Somnomancer
Rattleblaze Scarecrow
Devoted Druid
Mine Excavation
Blazethorn Scarecrow
Spell Syphon
Rustrazor Butcher
Aphotic Wisps
Wild Swing
Advice from the Fae
Repel Intruders
Reaper King
I take the sarcomancer as he fits my blue plan
Pack 2 pick 4:
Mudbrawler Raiders
Torture
Torpor Dust
--> Watchwing Scarecrow
Scuzzback Marauders
Woeleecher
Prismwake Merrow
Crimson Wisps
Viridescent Wisps
Cinderbones
Inkfathom Witch
Umbral Mantle
I take the playable scarecrow but thing i should have taken the raiders.
Pack 2 pick 5:
Gravelgill Axeshark
Nurturer Initiate
Mine Excavation
Spell Syphon
Inescapable Brute
Foxfire Oak
Splitting Headache
Merrow Grimeblotter
Slinking Giant
--> Puresight Merrow
Dire Undercurrents
Undercurrents is good, but i take the merrow as he is hot with my power of fire.
Pack 2 pick 6:
Disturbing Plot
Nurturer Initiate
--> Æthertow
Safewright Quest
Splitting Headache
Barrenton Medic
Memory Sluice
Poison the Well
Fossil Find
Inkfathom Witch
After getting good red signal at the end of Pack 1, the red has dried up. I revert to blue and take the tow.
Pack 2 pick 7:
Gravelgill Axeshark
Rattleblaze Scarecrow
Emberstrike Duo
Gleeful Sabotage
--> Prismwake Merrow
Inescapable Brute
Spiteflame Witch
Merrow Grimeblotter
Tyrannize
I m not sure what to take here.
Pack 2 pick 8:
Sootstoke Kindler
Helm of the Ghastlord
Juvenile Gloomwidow
Aphotic Wisps
--> Woeleecher
Memory Sluice
Giantbaiting
Sapseep Forest
I have complete lost my way- I should have taken the baiting I guess.
Pack 2 pick 9:
Disturbing Plot
Parapet Watchers
Plains (FOIL)
Apothecary Initiate
--> Whimwader
Toil to Renown
Thornwatch Scarecrow
Seems like a good blocker and if my oppoent is blue also a good sb card.
Pack 2 pick 10:
Helm of the Ghastlord
--> Gravelgill Duo
Poison the Well
Ashenmoor Cohort
Fossil Find
Memory Plunder
On colour playable
Pack 2 pick 11:
Traitor's Roar
Rattleblaze Scarecrow
Mine Excavation
--> Spell Syphon
Wild Swing
Nothing here.
Pack 2 pick 12:
--> Prismwake Merrow
Crimson Wisps
Viridescent Wisps
Cinderbones
On colour playable
Pack 2 pick 13:
Mine Excavation
--> Spell Syphon
Inescapable Brute
Nothing of note
Pack 2 pick 14:
--> Memory Sluice
Fossil Find
Whatever
Pack 2 pick 15:
--> Rattleblaze Scarecrow
ok onto EVE!
------ EVE ------

Pack 3 pick 1:
Razorfin Abolisher
Gilder Bairn
Heartlash Cinder
--> Murkfiend Liege
Trapjaw Kelpie
Hoof Skulkin
Raven's Crime
Jawbone Skulkin
Batwing Brume
Harvest Gwyllion
Favor of the Overbeing
Monstrify
Puncture Blast
Ballynock Trapper
Riverfall Mimic
I consider the blast but I take the bomby rare. Taking me back towards blue.
Pack 3 pick 2:
--> Merrow Levitator
Edge of the Divinity
Tilling Treefolk
Ward of Bones
Fang Skulkin
Cinder Pyromancer
Merrow Bonegnawer
Desecrator Hag
Wickerbough Elder
Nip Gwyllion
Inside Out
Suture Spirit
Crumbling Ashes
Unwilling Recruit
I think i should have taken the pyromancer
Pack 3 pick 3:
Rendclaw Trow
Harvest Gwyllion
Wilderness Hypnotist
Hag Hedge-Mage
Beckon Apparition
Smoldering Butcher
Idle Thoughts
Gift of the Deity
Dream Thief
--> Puncture Blast
Groundling Pouncer
Kithkin Spellduster
Monstrify
Nice 3rd pick and I think I will be splashing red for the power of fire and the blast and possible the tyrant.
Pack 3 pick 4:
Double Cleave
Talara's Bane
Scourge of the Nobilis
Heartlash Cinder
Grazing Kelpie
Banishing Knack
Shell Skulkin
Noxious Hatchling
Cold-Eyed Selkie
Soul Reap
--> Snakeform
Woodlurker Mimic
This pick caused me to use all my time in the end i took the removal over the creature.
Pack 3 pick 5:
Unmake
Oona's Grace
--> Shorecrasher Mimic
Antler Skulkin
Beckon Apparition
Wistful Selkie
Hoof Skulkin
Edge of the Divinity
Smoldering Butcher
Slippery Bogle
Flame Jab
Looking back at this draft I cant believe I took the mimic over the flame jab.
Pack 3 pick 6:
Drain the Well
Duergar Assailant
--> Stream Hopper
Raven's Crime
Wilderness Hypnotist
Cenn's Enlistment
Creakwood Ghoul
Phosphorescent Feast
Springjack Pasture
Gift of the Deity
Nothing much left
Pack 3 pick 7:
--> Favor of the Overbeing
Nightsky Mimic
Inside Out
Nip Gwyllion
Odious Trow
Shell Skulkin
Hobgoblin Dragoon
Dream Thief
Antler Skulkin
I was trying to fuel the poorly picked mimic. The dream thief would be better i feel.
Pack 3 pick 8:
--> Flame Jab
Merrow Bonegnawer
Grazing Kelpie
Banishing Knack
Glamerdye
Hotheaded Giant
Kithkin Zealot
Shorecrasher Mimic
Ok now i take a flame jab doh!
Pack 3 pick 9:
--> Gilder Bairn
Heartlash Cinder
Trapjaw Kelpie
Raven's Crime
Jawbone Skulkin
Batwing Brume
Monstrify
Nothing to note
Pack 3 pick 10:
Tilling Treefolk
Ward of Bones
Fang Skulkin
--> Cinder Pyromancer
Merrow Bonegnawer
Inside Out
I feel I can take this I am suprised it tabled but I think I have enough red to make it work, plus 1 to the head each turn is not bad at chipping away at opponent.
Pack 3 pick 11:
Wilderness Hypnotist
Idle Thoughts
Gift of the Deity
--> Dream Thief
Monstrify
Took the flier.
Pack 3 pick 12:
Talara's Bane
Heartlash Cinder
--> Grazing Kelpie
Shell Skulkin
Nothing to note
Pack 3 pick 13:
--> Oona's Grace
Antler Skulkin
Slippery Bogle
I have played the grace before and liked it so iam happy to see this late.
Pack 3 pick 14:
--> Drain the Well
Creakwood Ghoul
ok
Pack 3 pick 15:
--> Shell Skulkin
ok

So I now I am a bad drafter, I know I made mistakes. But I welcome feedback and advice. This is the deck I played. Feedback on draft picks, overall draft stratergy and deck construction wanted.
I for sure feel like I should have been in mono red, and should have made this move P1P4 taking the Gouger. If not already in red with the first 3 picks.

The Deck I Played
--> 6 Mountains
--> 10 Islands
--> Thistledown Liege
--> Briarberry Cohort
--> Kinscaer Harpoonist
--> Grief Tyrant
--> Scrapbasket
--> Ghastly Discovery
--> Ember Gale
--> Power of Fire
--> Thistledown Duo
--> Somnomancer
--> Watchwing Scarecrow
--> Puresight Merrow
--> Æthertow
--> Murkfiend Liege
--> Merrow Levitator
--> Puncture Blast
--> Snakeform
--> Shorecrasher Mimic
--> Favor of the Overbeing
--> Flame Jab
--> Cinder Pyromancer
--> Dream Thief
--> Grazing Kelpie
--> Oona's Grace

Trotsky1 · Joined: 12 Apr 2005 Posts: 1671

pick 1 pack 1 liege is right pick

pick 2 pack 1 consign is better than cohort

pick 3 pack 1 Its between wavebreaker and cinders im fine with either.

pick 7 pack 1 The person to your left is almost certainly red so its gonna be hard to expect enough playables to make cohort good, though it may be fine as a splash as it should flow pack 3, rootcutters is better than basket staying open is good but blue is almost a lock for you.

pick 8 pack 1 I like ghastbark

pick 1 pack 2 I think many people would agree with power of fire here, but i want to play my mistmeadow witch and other white spells i took so i take cohort.

pick 3 pack 3 with your picks i agree with this

pick 4 pack 3 its between knack and snakeform, i think snakeform is the right pick though knack could be nuts with some of the untappers you have.

pick 5 pack 3 yes jab was pick

pick 6 pack 3 your deck is not super aggresive so i prefer assilant

pick 7 pack 3 yes thief is better

pick 8 pack 3 as explained earlier i think knack is the pick

pick 10 pack 3 i guess with flame jab he is fine though red is nor really your main colour and i love me a fang skulkin and that is what i would have took.

You could have ended up with astronger deck if you went red for sure but I feel you could have still end up with a better deck sticking to blue and white, though not necesarily as good as the red one, hope this helps.

gypsy · Joined: 15 Jun 2007 Posts: 1270

you should have taken the tower above it was the best card in the pack doesnt matter if u dont like green its still playable in non green

bluefalconer · Joined: 09 Sep 2008 Posts: 2

Thank you I really appreciate your comments.I now it takes time for you to go through my last post. I feel that I made lots of mistakes but I did at least notice some of these when I reviewed my draft picks later on. I will study you comments with care and try and improve in my next SSE. Thanks again for your help.

If anyone can add to this analysis or has a different take I would love to hear. I dont mind if you say god you suck as long as you follow it up with advice of what i should do.

Thanks to all that Read.