After Nationals, I've been playing a lot of Online and Paper M10 Drafts. And have been trying out as much draft archetypes as possible.
Card advantage is somewhat lacking in M10, well at least compared to Shards Block so everyone just hopes to open a Bomb.
Pack 1 pick 1:
My Pick:
Possible picks in this pack are Blinding Mage, Gravedigger, Wind Drake, and Prodigal Pyromancer.
I can argue that wind drake is 1st Pick-able especially since the UW skies Archetype is one of the stronger archetypes in M10 draft because of its aggressive and evasive qualities.
The tapper in Blinding Mage is also worth a 1st pick since it shuts down your opponent's biggest guy. However, it doesn't remove it. I've had experiences wherein I had a tapper but cannot answer the activated abilities of my opponent's bomb. (last weekend, I drafted a very aggressive Wu deck in a Rarepool draft featuring bombs like Captain of the Watch, a ton of soldiers, drakes, griffins, an Honor of the Pure, and even a Pack 3 Pick 1 Baneslayer. So in order to get the Baneslayer in the Rarepool, I had to go 3-0. So I was in the finals against a GW deck and lost to an Ant Queen as I had no way to remove it. Goobye Baneslayer)
The Pyromancer is also good IMO especially in multiples and if equipped with a Gorgon Flail, though it dies easily to a Sparkmage Apprentice. I pick the Gravedigger because it not only provides Card Advantage that is lacking in M10 draft, but also playing straight up black is very rewarding.
Let's see how things go.
By the way, I can't raredraft the Needle because it only costs 1 tix in Mtgo which is more or less worth 1USD.
Pack 1 pick 2:
My Pick:
Notable cards in this pack are Ice Cage, Giant Growth, and Drudge Skeletons, but all probably are not worth a 2nd pick. I already have 2 Birds of Paradise in my collection and its worth approximately 2 tix, so I guess taking it to help me complete my playset won't hurt.
Pack 1 pick 3:
My Pick:
Merfolk Looter is touted to be the best common and for good reasons. It can win games on its own on sheer Card Quality.
Pyroclasm is also a good card since board sweepers are always good.
I take the Tendrils of Corruption since it is the same color with my 1st pick, and I don't like to branch out to a secondary color this early on. Also, a third pick Tendrils might be a good indication that black is open.
Pack 1 pick 4:
My Pick:
Child of Night is a good early drop and it can help you in the damage race when push comes to shove.
I choose Deathmark because it is an extremely efficient removal spell against Big Green Monsters, and Pesky White Fliers. It is worth a Maindeck slot.
Pack 1 pick 5:
My Pick:
I choose Bog Wraith primarily because of its landwalk ability over the random 5cc 4/3 dude.
Right now, all I'm taking are Black cards. So it should appear to my opponent that I'm forcing Monoblack. If the persons I'm passing to right now know how to read signals, I should expect a very good Pack 2.
Pack 1 pick 6:
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Pack 1 pick 7:
My Pick:
I'm currently short on creatures so I did not take the Vampire Aristocrat.
The Looming Shade should be good in MonoBlack but it goes around quite a lot so I take the Black Knight which is an Uncommon, and has very relevant abilities.
Pack 1 pick 8:
My Pick:
Not Bad! Kill an opposing Bomb and borrow it.
Pack 1 pick 9:
My Pick:
Certainly worth a maindeck slot. My opponents shouldn't be able to cast a Fireball or Overrun.
Pack 1 pick 10:
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Pack 1 pick 11:
My Pick:
Can come in handy to fight against Illusionary Demons and Ice Cages.
Pack 1 pick 12:
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Pack 1 pick 15:
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So far, I've essentially picked Black Cards over anything. That should steer away my neighbors from playing that color. It is now time to reap the rewards.
Pack 2 pick 1:
My Pick:
Here's Black's Phantom Warrior. I hear evasion in Limited is good.
Pack 2 pick 2:
My Pick:
A hard one! Doomblade practically kills anything and is an Instant.
But I choose Consume Spirit since I'm heavy black. Besides, I will have a lot of swamps in play by the time my opponents cast their bomb, so Consume Spirit will be able to deal with it. And an X Spell to the dome should be sweet too.
Gorgon Flail is also good here since i can basically attach it to a First Striking Black Knight that will be able to kill anything that blocks its path, or to a measly Drudge Skeleton, which will make any Craw Wurm to think again before attacking.
Pack 2 pick 3:
My Pick:
another source of Card Advantage.
I just hope no one plays mono-green as I passed a Howl of the Night Pack.
Pack 2 pick 4:
My Pick:
And another X Spell. Keep 'em coming!
Pack 2 pick 5:
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Pack 2 pick 7:
My Pick:
Amazing, this table has no respect for the mighty Looter. I don't have any picks here so might as well take the strongest card.
Pack 2 pick 8:
My Pick:
Black's Centaur Courser.
Pack 2 pick 9:
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Pack 3 pick 1:
My Pick:
I seriously lack creatures.
Pack 3 pick 2:
My Pick:
Must resist the temptation of taking the Fireball. hehe
Pack 3 pick 3:
My Pick:
Wow this will be my 3rd Tendrils. Mind Shatter is also a good pick here.
Pack 3 pick 4:
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Pack 3 pick 5:
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Hmmm.. interesting, I take the Underworld Dreams as I have never experimented with it before, well at least its a clock that's hard to remove. lol
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My deck featured 3 Tendrils, 2 Consume Spirits, 2 Gravediggers, but no bomb critters.
Well at least my opponent thinks my deck is broken after chaining a double Gravedigger and multiple Tendrils to clear the board. lol
I was once able to chain a Rise from the Grave, to double Gravedigger to a random critter. Cool.
Click the image to enlarge
I won the draft and got 4 packs for it. Woot woot!