Drafting With Nico - Zen/Zen/Wwk #1

About Nico Bohny

Nico Bohny

Nico is a level 4 member of the Pro Players Club, he has 79 lifetime Pro Points and is one of the best Limited players worldwide! Some of Nico’s MTG accomplishments include:

• Winning Grand Prix Torino
• Top 8 at Pro Tour Hollywood
• Winning the team World Championship

Apart from playing high-level tournaments, Nico judges various Magic tournaments. In addition Nico is the original designer of the BW token deck. He was also spotted winning matches with 20/20 avatar tokens (or as he says “Chuck Norris tokens”) from Dark Depths at Nationals ;-).

Hi there!

Yay, finally it's Worldwake time, aren’t we all a bit tired of this ZZZ beatdown madness? After gaining some experience with the new draft format while preparing for PT San Diego, I've got a pretty interesting draft for you here, spiked with a lot of interesting pick choices with some discussion potential, and I know, you love discussing picks :-)

If you missed the last episode of "Drafting with Nico" you can find it here:

Off we go!

Booster 1 - Zendikar

Pack 1 pick 1:

My Pick: Sphinx of Lost Truths

There’s nothing to be discussed here. Although there are two nice green cards in here, and I tend to like Green better with Worldwake, the best card in here is the blue sphinx by far. Blue has been upgraded as well with Worldwake, so I'm glad to settle down in Blue.

Pack 1 pick 2:

My Pick: Disfigure

Even though I love combining Blue with White for either evasive beatdown or pure control, the black removal spell is just the best thing I can get out of this pack.

Pack 1 pick 3:

My Pick: Torch Slinger

Yeah, well, so much about choosing colors... There's Torch Slinger and the white trap in here. The Trap sure gained some power because people tend to attack into it now that the format has more cards, and I talked about loving Blue/White, but the Torch Slinger still seems to be more powerful. Also, it offers a possible UbR deck with a splash for Black powered by the refuges.

Pack 1 pick 4:

My Pick: Giant Scorpion

Back to Black, as it seems. It would be too greedy to pick Mind Sludge, Giant Scorpion is much better here. Memo to self: Second Hedron Crab being passed.

Pack 1 pick 5:

My Pick: Summoner's Bane

There are a couple of average blue cards in here, Summoner’s Bane being the best of them. I really want to get to play my first pick, so I try to stick with the Blue/Black plan.

Pack 1 pick 6:

My Pick: Paralyzing Grasp

Paralyzing Grasp is an incredibly mean card when you are playing against Zendikons. Also, it's pretty good in blue control decks since they never keep their guys on defense.

Pack 1 pick 7:

My Pick: Whiplash Trap

Another great weapon against Zendikons, as well as a great tempo card.

Pack 1 pick 8:

My Pick: Baloth Woodcrasher

Well, seems like Green is still hated. Vampire Lacerator isn't exactly the card I want in control, and Trapmaker's Snare only makes sense when you get some Archive Traps, which I won't get now that someone has two Hedron Crabs in his pile.

But look at those good green cards. Maybe I can still end up splashing Black and playing Green if it's that underdrafted. Harrow would be fine for splashing, but Baloth Woodcrasher is
one tough guy.

Pack 1 pick 9:

My Pick: Sejiri Refuge

Probably not going White, but I don't want the white players to have the opportunity to splash blue for Vapor Snare's. And maybe if I get passed multiple Journey's in pack 2...

Pack 1 pick 10:

Spreading Seas Narrow Escape Pillarfield Ox Turntimber Basilisk Sky Ruin Drake Mountain

My Pick: Turntimber Basilisk

Wow, here's the Green. Double green again, grrr. Still, my 5 mana slot is already full, so I won't play Sky Ruin Drake anyway. It's not optimal regarding signs to pass it that late, but I'll take my chance with the green guys.

Pack 1 pick 11:

Swamp Mire Blight Hedron Scrabbler Caravan Hurda Scythe Tiger

My Pick: Hedron Scrabbler

Pack 1 pick 12:

Mind Sludge Celestial Mantle Savage Silhouette Forest

My Pick: Mind Sludge

Pack 1 pick 13:

Ior Ruin Expedition Zendikar Farguide Island

My Pick: Ior Ruin Expedition

Pack 1 pick 14:

Forest Scythe Tiger

My Pick: Forest

Summary Pack 1

This draft is still pretty open. I'm happy about the late Mind Sludge, because it's really good with all my bounce stuff. But I’ve still no idea if we're going to end up UB, UG or maybe even UR. Or maybe even with white splashes? Blue is set so far, but the rest...

Booster 2 - Zendikar

Pack 2 pick 1:

My Pick: Hideous End

No Blue, no Green, so Hideous End it is.

Pack 2 pick 2:

My Pick: Kraken Hatchling

That’s an interesting pick here. Most of you would probably have picked the Surrakar Marauder out of this pack; that's exactly what I wanted to do first. But then, I realized my curve was pretty high and I'd need some early defense, even more than a good early beater. So I went with the Kraken Hatchling. I know that Surrakar Marauder is a pretty good card, but with all the good blue control stuff in pack 3, I'll better prepare myself to be the slower deck and get the tools to survive an early assault.

Pack 2 pick 3:

My Pick: Windrider Eel

There’s a Scute Mob in here, but with the other options, I try to abandon the green plan. Giant Scorpion and Windrider Eel are the options- Scorpion is pretty good, but since we still have a shot at getting Calcite Snappers in pack 3, I'm not worried about defensive 3-drops yet. Windrider Eel is one of those evasive finishers that the deck absolutely needs.

Pack 2 pick 4:

My Pick: Kraken Hatchling

Another Kraken Hatchling for me. I’m not black enough for Crypt Ripper, and not allied enough for Hagra Diabolist.

Pack 2 pick 5:

My Pick: Sea Gate Loremaster

One of those rare gems still going around. This is pretty much a "handle-me-or-die" card in control decks.

Pack 2 pick 6:

My Pick: Hellfire Mongrel

Nothing for me in here, hatedrafting some nice aggro cards.

Pack 2 pick 7:

My Pick: Feast of Blood

Ditto. This has become a real nightmare with the vampire aggro forces in Worldwake.

Pack 2 pick 8:

My Pick: Soaring Seacliff

Pack 2 pick 9:

My Pick: Into the Roil

Pack 2 pick 10:

Expedition Map Caravan Hurda Territorial Baloth Caller of Gales Forest Seismic Shudder

My Pick: Territorial Baloth

Pack 2 pick 11:

Swamp Caravan Hurda Runeflare Trap Caller of Gales Seismic Shudder

My Pick: Runeflare Trap

Pack 2 pick 12:

Quest for the Holy Relic Caller of Gales Carnage Altar Mountain

My Pick: Caller of Gales

Pack 2 pick 13:

Spreading Seas Caravan Hurda Mountain

My Pick: Spreading Seas

Pack 2 pick 14:

Mire Blight Island

My Pick: Mire Blight

Pack 2 pick 15:

Island

My Pick: Island

Summary Pack 2

I have still plenty of options after this pack. We got some more blue cards as well as a good curve, but I guess I'd still move into Green for a bomb...

But let's not think about switching colors, let's just open a Jace...

Booster 3 - Worldwake

Pack 3 pick 1:

My Pick: Mysteries of the Deep

No Jace :-( just a rare picture of him. Some black cards that belong to the aggro players or the sideboards. Mysteries of the Deep is exactly what a control player is looking for, even though the 5 mana slot is pretty crowded at this moment.

Pack 3 pick 2:

My Pick: Jagwasp Swarm

More Jace pics. That's not what I was hoping for when I mentioned Jace, the Mind Sculptor. There’s a Pilgrim's Eye which is not too important, since we will end up playing 19 lands in this deck anyway and we don't have any mana fixing issues right now.

The black Swarm fits perfectly in our mana curve and he's some kind of finisher as well.

Pack 3 pick 3:

My Pick: Urge to Feed

Removal. With an awkward mana cost, but still: removal! What I like about it: It makes us play more Swamps and therefore improves Mind Sludge.

Pack 3 pick 4:

My Pick: Jagwasp Swarm

If my 5 mana slot wasn’t so crowded, I'd pick the Crawler here, for it's way better than the swarm. But for the sake of my mana curve, it's gonna be the Jagwasp Swarm again.

Pack 3 pick 5:

My Pick: Calcite Snapper

There's a cool german song about this guy.

Pack 3 pick 6:

My Pick: Jagwasp Swarm

Ugh, why does nobody love the “build-yourself-a-zoo” kit?! It's just too good to get passed that late. But you know, Jagwasp Swarm isn't that bad either.

Pack 3 pick 7:

My Pick: Enclave Elite

Treasure Hunt would be fine if I had a Halimar Depths, but I don't like it too much without it. Elite is a solid sideboard card as well as it combines pretty nicely with Spreading Seas.

Pack 3 pick 8:

My Pick: Walking Atlas

At and before the Pro Tour, Simon Goertzen (the master) has taught us how good Walking Atlas is. I'll not maindeck it, but it's still a good sideboard option when going second.

Pack 3 pick 9:

My Pick: Nemesis Trap

Wow, that's some late business. Maybe even maindeck material for this deck.

Pack 3 pick 10:

Selective Memory Canopy Cover Bojuka Bog Mire's Toll Explore Plains

My Pick: Selective Memory

Pack 3 pick 11:

Enclave Elite Nature's Claim Quest for Renewal Cosi's Ravager Kitesail Apprentice

My Pick: Enclave Elite

Pack 3 pick 12:

Pulse Tracker Quest for the Goblin Lord Snapping Creeper Swamp

My Pick: Pulse Tracker

Pack 3 pick 13:

Bull Rush Mountain Vastwood Zendikon

My Pick: Vastwood Zendikon

Pack 3 pick 14:

Pulse Tracker Forest

My Pick: Pulse Tracker

Pack 3 pick 15:

Forest

My Pick: Forest

My Deck

Deck Comment

The deck looks good, but not too exciting. Which is no problem since the card quality in this draft didn't seem to be too high anyway.

Round 1 - Mizuchi - Blue/Red

Game 1

Mizuchi wins the roll, I keep 3 Islands, Swamp, Kraken Hatchling, Sea Gate Loremaster and Mysteries of the Deep on the draw.

3 Mountains and Zektar Shrine Expedition come down for my opponent, but then, nothing happens for the next few turns. When I tap my five mana and summon Sea Gate Loremaster, Mizuchi conceedes the game after his next draw step.

I board in my Walking Atlas for a Kraken Hatchling.

Game 2

My hand for game 2: 2 Swamp, Island, Jagwasp Swarm, Paralyzing Grasp, Mysteries of the Deep, Whiplash Trap. Soaring Seacliff, Mountain and Halimar Excavator come down for my opponent, and while I'm wondering how one can put Zektar Shrine Expedition and Halimar Excavator in the same deck, Mizuchi adds the next threat in Voyager Drake. I trade it for my Jagwasp Swarm and summon my sphinx to stand a chance against his Living Tsunami. He attacks nevertheless and my blocking Sphinx gets shot down by Spire Barrage. I keep the Tsunami in check with Paralyzing Grasp, draw some more extra cards and handle his guys with Hideous End, Into the Roil and Summoners Bane. Whiplash Trap and Mind Sludge takes care of the rest of his spells, and after soaking up some more damage from Zektar Shrine Expedition and Goblin Shortcutter, I manage to stick a Sea Gate Loremaster on the board, and start drawing into more creatures to win the game.

Round 2 - Boddl - White/Black

Game 1

I win the die roll and keep 2 Kraken Hatchling, Calcite Snapper, Sphinx of Lost Truths, 2 Swamp and Island. Boddl has quite an aggressive start with Steppe Lynx, Sejiri Steppe and Kor Hookmaster. I fail to draw another Island, and when he attacks with his white guys, I make a crucial mistake by playing Nemesis Trap on the 2/3 Steppe Lynx in order to block and kill one of his other attackers, because Steppe Lynx becomes 0/1 again when entering the battlefield on my side of the table. World Queller comes down to punish me for my mistake. I bounce it with an unkicked Into the Roil, and find an Island in my next draw step to play Sphinx. Veteran's Reflexes take care of my blocking Sphinx, and Kor Skyfisher and Cliff Threader follow up. I have to spend Urge to Feed and Disfigure to kill the World Queller, while Calcite Snapper comes down to guard my life total. But Shepherd of the Lost and Brave the Elements are too much for me to handle.

Game 2

I sideboard out Paralyzing Grasp which isn't too good against Sejiri Steppe, Kor Skyfisher, World Queller andBrave the Elements.

I start with 3 Island, 2 Swamp, Urge to Feed and Into the Roil. Urge takes care of his Surrakar Marauder, and after providing me with two additional lands, the shuffler starts to favor me by giving me Jagwasp Swarm and Sphinx of Lost Truths.

Boddl has Vampire Lacerator, but obviously, the fliers kill him before he even gets me close to 10 life - even World Queller doesn't help here...

Game 3

I mulligan a 1-lander and keep a not much better 5-lander with Giant Scorpion. Calcite Snapper and Windrider Eel wait on the top of my deck to improve my hand, while Steppe Lynx and Cliff Threader opt for a fast game. Snapper bars their way. Quest for the Gravelord, Dread Statuary and Kor Hookmaster keep the beats coming, but by keeping his fifth land in his hand, I get the opportunity to Mind Sludge his hand away without my opponent having a fifth land to activate and attack with the manland.

He draws the fifth land from the top and attacks me down to 6 with his team. I return the favor by bashing in for 8 damage with turtle and eel, and add Scorpion and Hatchling to my defenses. Boddl has another land and goes all in again, brining me down to 2, but losing his Hookmaster, fueling his Quest to 2 counters. I attack for 8 again, having 2 blockers ready for his next assault. He doesn't topdeck and falls to the eel the next turn.

Round 3 - Matteso - Red/White

My opponent asks for a prize split, but I decide to play. "You win game 1" is what he tells me, and while I’m asking him why, I notice his library of 80 cards. Looks like he has disconnected while deckbuilding. He concedes game 1 before playing a card.

Magic Online didn't save game 2 and 3 (again :-/ , but I find out how my opponent managed to fight his path to round 3 with an 80 card-deck.

He had several allies with Kazuul Warlord, as well as some equipment, some enchantments and some fast guys for the early game. Both games, the tempo I lose while playing Sea Gate Loremaster is crucial, while he has Journey to Nowhere as well as another beater.

Thanks for reading!

Nico

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