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Hey all. After a significant number of Zendikar drafts I decided to write a weekly column about my drafts, my picks, game play, and everything about Zendikar limited. This is my first article and my first time writing about limited strategy. Let’s go! *Evan Erwin’s tone*.

Pack 1

Pick 1: Day of Judgement

*Definitely a first pick. No questions asked. I had to pass a Gatekeeper of Malakir though.

Pick 2: River Boa

*I really don’t like WG on Zendikar drafts but the boa is a really good card once unanswered. Passing a lot of blue good cards like Welkin Tern, Into the Roil and a Misty Rainforest.

Pick 3: Cobra Trap

*I was choosing between this card and Territorial Baloth. The beast is a good 5th turn drop but I think Cobra Trap is more flexible and has a huge advantage on the board. It gives you a defensive and offensive edge over the opponent.

Pick 4: Adventuring Gear

Pick 5: Zendikar Farguide

Pick 6: Cobra Trap

*Another trap, looks like no ones choosing green. Great sign.

Pick 7: Pillarfield Ox

Pick 8: Marsh Flats

*Money card!

Pick 9: Hellfire Mongrel

Pick 10: Misty Rainforest

*Wow I got 2 fetches, must be my lucky day.

Pick 11: Relic Crush

*Great sideboard card.

Pick 12: Seismic Shudder

Pick 13: Scythe Tiger

Pick 14: Basic Land

Pick 15: Basic Land

So far I’m gearing towards WG based deck.

Pack 2

Pick 1: Emeria Angel

*Very nice pack 2. Emeria Angel is a bomb when unanswered. I’m still thinking if I can do UW but since I’m passing another Welkin Tern, blue will not be an available color.

Pick 2: Mold Shambler

*Pick this over Welkin Tern. It was a risky move to switch to blue because I have passed a couple of Terns before and I think blue won’t be available anymore.

Pick 3: Territorial Baloth

Pick 4: Pitfall Trap

*Not really a good removal but I have to stick to white. Still a lot of good blue cards in the pack, Welkin Tern, Windrider Eel, and Paralyzing Grasp.

Pick 5: Nissa’s Chosen

Pick 6: Frontier Guide

*Nice, good mana fixer. Looks like green is really wide open.

Pick 7: Nissa’s Chosen

*I’m pretty lock into green. Got already 2 Chosens. I hope to open Nissa in pack 3. =)

Pick 8: Æther Figment

Pick 9: Graypelt Refuge

*Wow, a mana fixer as late as pick 9 and with in favor with my color choice.

Pick 10: Turntimber Basilisk

Pick 11: Cliff Threader

Pick 12: Paralyzing Grasp

Pick 13: Timbermaw Larva

*Very nice pick 13 assuming I go with GW with lots of forest.

Pick 14: Basic Land

Pick 15: Basic Land

My deck is looking good so far. I got a lot of goodies in pack 2.

Pack 3

Pick 1: Shepherd of the Lost

*I really love this card. Its like a pseudo Serra Angel with the advantage of first strike. Passing a Mold Shambler and another Welkin Tern over this. I think Oliver got tons of Welkin Tern. Lol.

Pick 2: Oran-Rief Recluse

*Yes, a card that can hold on Welkin Terns.

Pick 3: Kor Skyfisher

*Choosing between this and Vines of Vastwood. I pick the Kor because I was still low on creatures and figuring that no one plays green so maybe the vines might still come back.

Pick 4: Bladetusk Boar

*Hate pick. This will be a problem because I’m low at removal and there were no good green/white cards in the pack.

Pick 5: Mold Shambler

Pick 6: Zendikar Farguide

Pick 7: Oran-Rief Survivalist

Pick 8: Vines of Vastwood

*Just as expected.

Pick 9: Piranha Marsh

Pick 10: Blood Tribute

Pick 11: Expedition Map

Pick 12: Vines of Vastwood

*Wow this is a really great late pick.

Pick 13: Molten Ravager

Pick 14: Desecrated Earth

Pick 15: Basic Land

After analyzing my picks clearly I am geared for GW. I have some decent aggro like Nissa’s Chosen and Kor Skyfisher and have big time spells like Shepherd of the Lost and Emeria Angel. And when things goes out of hand I have a reset button in the form of DOJ. Here what I’ve come up.

Lands
8 Forest
6 Plains
1 Marsh Flats
1 Misty Rainforest
1 Graypelt Refuge

Creatures
1 Timbermaw Larva
1 Kor Skyfisher
2 Mold Shambler
2 Zendikar Farguide
1 Cliff Threader
1 Oran-Rief Recluse
1 Shepherd of the Lost
1 River Boa
1 Territorial Baloth
1 Pillarfield Ox
1 Emeria Angel
1 Turntimber Basilisk
1 Frontier Guide
2 Nissa’s Chosen

Spells
2 Vines of Vastwood
1 Day of Judgment
1 Pitfall Trap
2 Cobra Trap

Sideboard
1 Expedition Map
1 Paralyzing Grasp
1 Bladetusk Boar
1 Piranha Marsh
1 Molten Ravager
1 Blood Tribute
1 Oran-Rief Survivalist
1 Hellfire Mongrel
1 Relic Crush
1 Seismic Shudder
1 Scythe Tiger
1 Adventuring Gear
1 Æther Figment

The only Sideboard cards that were useful were Relic Crush and Oran-Rief Survivalist (Sideboard in for Cliff Threader for none mountain decks).

Round 1: Oliver (UB Skies)

As expected Oliver was piloting UB with 5 welkin Terns. Game 1 he had a really fast start but I hold on until I got some of my big guys out. Game 2 he had another fast start but luckily I cast DOJ to reset the board. I drop in an Emeria Angel and a couple of turns I win.

1-0

Round 2: Mark (UR Aggro)

I can’t really remember what happened with this match. He was running early aggro with Ruinous Minotaur backed up by Goblin Shortcutter and Caller of Gales but I was just casting threats which outmatched his critters and he couldn’t answer. I easily win 2-0.

2-0

Sometimes you are really lucky in drafts and get big bombs just like myself. I also got a value financially on my draft getting 2 fetch lands, DOJ, and an Emeria Angel.

Until next week. =)

1. 

   errr

   October 27, 2009 at 11:37 pm

   Err, why did you only report two rounds? Lolol?
2. 

   Mao

   October 28, 2009 at 9:35 am

   yup, we only have 2 rounds because only 4 people were drafting. =)