I ran a draft on Thursday with four students, as early in the semester as I could, using the packs I've built from cards donated to me. We decided to do single-game rounds because many people didn't have much time. I thought I might have a hard time getting dual lands, but a lot of them came around to me. Here's everything I picked:
Here's the deck I put together. It's fun to only need six basic lands!
I got all my matches in before people left, thankfully. In the first round I was up against a swift Boros deck. They had a Felidar Cub out on turn two, then bestowed it with Mogis's Warhound on turn three. Thankfully, I had Runic Shot on my third turn to cut it in half. They didn't slow down, though, and ran out Clarion Cathars. I played Rhox War Monk on my fourth turn to try and keep things at bay. They cast Bonded Construct, swung in, and then cast Touch of the Void to kill my Monk after combat. I cast Unified Front on my turn to slow things down. They played Dwarven Forge-Chanter. I passed and then they started swinging again. I cast Void Grafter to block the Dwarf and then cast Glowspore Shaman on my seventh turn. Since the board started to gum up (I played more strong creatures), I couldn't keep up with my notes until my opponent dropped Coalition Warbrute. Thankfully I drew into Infused Arrows. They played Resolute Blademaster. to again move ahead. I took that back with Garrison Sergeant. I played Ruin Processor the next turn and it was over. 1-0.
In the second round I was up against a Selesnya deck with lots of mana. I got my Glowspore Shaman out on turn two. They responded with a (face down) Mysterious Creature on the next turn and then Market Festival the next. I hit the disguised creature with Runic Shot (paying the ward and kicker). (I don't recall what it actually was.) They played Pharika's Disciple and Baloth Pup on their turn. I got my favorite Infused Arrows again and immediately took out the Disciple. They played Giant Mantis and Harvestguard Alseids on their sixth turn but I dropped Kozilek's Channeler to keep the board kinda even. On their next turn they played Slip on the Ring to make the Mantis their ringbearer and skulked past my Channeler. I played Unified Front to avoid taking more skulk damage, but on their turn eight they took out my Channeler with Mighty Leap and Prey Upon (maybe with the Alseids?) and then attacked me with it and the Mantis. I blocked with all of my tokens and then used my last Infused Arrow to save one of them. (I think I got confused about Prey Upon and thought it was a "bite" card, not a "fight" card.) On my turn I played Voyage Home and Pathway Arrows. After a few passed turns, I played Ulamog's Nullifier and won on turn ten. 2-0.
In round three I was up against someone who had built a bit around Grim Guardian in a previous freepack draft. They ran one again this time in their Golgari deck, but I didn't get to see it. This time I kept a two-land hand. They led off with Pacification Array on turn one, then Leech Fanatic on turn three and Cautious Survivor on turn four. It wasn't fast, but it was enough since I continued to be stuck on two lands. I finally cast Glowspore Shaman on turn seven or eight, but it was too little, too late. 2-1.
In round four I was up against a relatively new player. They started setting up some pieces with Implement of Combusion and Kefnet's Monument on turns two and three. I played the first creature on my third turn with a 3/4 Tajuru Stalwart. They played Vile Aggregate on turn four, then I played Arcus Acolyte, then I played Void Grafter. I tried a successful attack, but they cast Jace's Scrutiny. They also Negated my Runic Shot. I kept the pressure up on my next turn, though, and cast Unified Front. On turn eight, my opponent cast Murk Strider, Mist Intruder, and Essence Scattered my Garrison Sergeant. I still kept attacking in, though, and won shortly after. 3-1.
I really appreciate all the people that have donated cards to me in the past that make these free drafts possible! I know people often want to get rid of bulk, but it's not nothing to hand these cards off to me and I love running these for students. It's not a long list, so Thank You!
And Happy Magicking!
