Any comments welcome. This is not a deck I will keep together. I just wanted to record my victory, as it is the first I've been able to enjoy in a tournament and my most successful draft by far. Drafting has been difficult for me, and seeing a deck finally come together inspired me to jot down some thoughts in the hope I (or anyone else) can learn from them in the future. If you have thoughts on or experience with drafting, feel free to share in the comments section below.
On 11/8/13, I played Izzet Aggro to 1st place in a FNM Theros draft at Gerard's One Stop Gaming. Went 2-0 in all three rounds, defeating Gruul fatties, Orzhov and Monowhite in that order. Won promo card, play mat and leather-bound 100 ct. deck box as prize.
Highlight: Second round opponent, Mike was able to kill himself in both games. Game 1, dropped him to 1 life before his turn. During his MP, Mike played Blood-Toll Harpie, causing each player to lose 1 life WEB. Game 2, with Mike's life at 3 and no shot at coming back, he paid 3 life to unnecessarily regenerate Sentry of the Underworld; it had not attacked nor did I play any removal against it.
NOTES:
- Took just 1 of 3 rares in my packs, instead going for an impact card in pack 1 (Fanatic). Pulled Stormbreath Dragon in 3rd pack. Nabbed Ember Swallower as it came through the draft during Pack 2.
- Did not spend first 5 or 6 picks choosing best card, as I'd done it the past. After early picks of Fanatic, the Skullcleaver, Magma Jet and Aqueous Form, committed to Izzet aggro.
- Grabbed value cards early regardless of rarity and assumption they'd stick around. This allowed the deck to run a playset of Nimbus Naiads and two Aqueous Forms.
- Correctly assessed Fate Foretold, as I had been overvaluing it in past drafts. I passed on it at one point but it came back around. Actually drafted two, running just one.
- Filled necessary one-drop spot for an aggro deck, even if not ideal. Akroan Crusader actually was very good early, as the tokens usually went unblocked; the opponent either had no creatures on the board or did not wish to lose a 1/1 or 2/1 creature. Choosing the one Priest of Iroas was a good decision. Having that much more of a chance to drop a creature T1 was key, even if the priest's ability was never utilized (I was not going to screw with my mana base). Lesson: fill your spots with whatever comes by; realize what you're working with in a closed format (vanilla creatures, overpriced removal, etc).
- Even with a 5 CMC creature (Stormbreath Dragon), 17 lands was too many, as I found in one play test game. 16 was fine. Stormbreath only appeared twice and by that time (or soon enough), I had access to five mana.
- Messenger's Speed never had much impact, other than triggering heroic. Another Dragon Mantle would have been better.
- Picking an abundance of small to mid-sized creatures proved a success, as there is generally only situational removal available (Glare of Heresy, Last Breath, etc), with Hero's Downfall the exception.
- Did not draft off-color until late in rounds (not even for rares), when there was nothing available in U/R or nothing I could actually use. In these cases, I usually took something that may hurt me in an opponent's deck. Examples: Pharika's Curse, Last Breath, Disciple of Phenax.