A Tale of Two Drafts, part two or how I learned to stop worrying and love the B/R Aggro

Pack 1 pick 1:



















My Pick:




So, going into this draft, I realized that aggro was actually a plan, and I might have to, you know, learn to execute it if I'm going to have any chance of winning anything. I like the Geopede.

Pack 1 pick 2:


















My Pick:




Hi! I'm awesome if you have me in your opening hand . . . less so as a topdeck late game . . . but if you're aggro, and it's late game, aren't you losing already? AmIrite?

Pack 1 pick 3:

















My Pick:




I almost took the Lacerator, but I really like the Intimidate Boar. He's a great way to push through . .. you know, unless they have a puma or a red creature. Looking back, if I would have taken the Kor tapper, I might have taken the Steppe Lynx . . . . possibly a mistake in the last two picks.

Pack 1 pick 4:
















My Pick:




I decided to go against my instincts and take the Geopede over the removal. Just call me George Costanza, doing the opposite.

Pack 1 pick 5:















My Pick:




I sense a theme developing here . . .

Pack 1 pick 6:














My Pick:




I contemplated the Mind Sludge, but I knew that I'd be too red (possibly mono-red) for it to be an all-star. So I took the bad removal over the pump creature that will wheel and might be a good creature in mono red.

Pack 1 pick 7:













My Pick:




Have I mentioned that my plan is to be aggro-landfall?

Pack 1 pick 8:












My Pick:




I prefer this guy to the goblin. This guy is great in aggro (as I learned in my last match in game two), as it keeps you whittling away when they try to catch up by playing creatures.

Pack 1 pick 9:











My Pick:




Would you play a card that had a zero casting cost that said: "Put your land for the turn into play tapped: give target creature +2/+2, first strike and flying." With the Geopede, that is this card.

Pack 1 pick 10:










My Pick:




I might play this?

Pack 1 pick 11:









My Pick:




HELLOOOOoooooo NURSE!

Pack 1 pick 12:








My Pick:




Seems bad with my 1/1 dudes, but I play it on my turn and after landfall, most of my guys live, while your 1/1s die. Sideboard.

Pack 1 pick 13:







My Pick:




Sideboard versus intimidate.

Pack 1 pick 14:






My Pick:




Hello better Looming Shade for red.

Pack 1 pick 15:





My Pick:






Pack 2 pick 1:



















My Pick:




I now think this is wrong. I ended up not even playing this card. I think I should have taken the Lacerator or the Machette, probably the latter. The blade just seems situationaly good. Mistake.

Pack 2 pick 2:


















My Pick:




I wanted the Marauder, but I'll be damned if I'm going to pass a Burst Lightning.

Pack 2 pick 3:

















My Pick:




I think it was Jean Paul Sartre, Aaron Burr or Andy Batts who said, "Clean living gets you a third pick Lightning Blast."

Pack 2 pick 4:
















My Pick:




Hi Giant! You are better when you are the top of my curve and not the middle. Kthxbai.

Pack 2 pick 5:















My Pick:




Three Geopedes and two of these--at this point I'm actually considering NINETEEN lands. Just for a second.

Pack 2 pick 6:














My Pick:




I debated over this one for a time. The mark of mutiny seems like a great surprise in an aggro deck to end it, but the Giant will always be fine.

Pack 2 pick 7:













My Pick:




Ugh. Horrible pack. I guess I'll take a second one of these. Should I have taken the War Paint? I'm really not a fan, but I'm new to this aggro stuff. At the end of the day, I was sure I could pick up one later.

Pack 2 pick 8:












My Pick:




You sir, should not be left waiting like this . . . Here, let me show you to your table.

Pack 2 pick 9:











My Pick:




And you were with Mr. Boar? Yes, right this way.

Pack 2 pick 10:










My Pick:




Really? Tenth pick? Okay.

Pack 2 pick 11:









My Pick:




I couldn't decide if I wanted this or the landfall artifact. At the end of the day, I picked the more powerful card, even though I couldn't decide if I wanted to play three or not. Still, great pick for 11.

Pack 2 pick 12:








My Pick:




Meh. Sideboard.

Pack 2 pick 13:







My Pick:






Pack 2 pick 14:






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Pack 2 pick 15:





My Pick:






Pack 3 pick 1:



















My Pick:




I think I just threw up in my mouth a little. Nice opens Meltdown.

Pack 3 pick 2:


















My Pick:




Ever since Jamie made the Twilight comment, I'm not really comfortable with this guy. But winning's the thing . . .

Pack 3 pick 3:

















My Pick:




In the estimable words of Lil' John, "WHAT?"

Pack 3 pick 4:
















My Pick:




To which he followed with, "OKAY!"

Pack 3 pick 5:















My Pick:




Kinda disappointed here. After the last two packs, I was hoping for a golden ticket. That Veruca Salt, she's a sassy one she is. Oh well, I don't think I'll play you . . .

Pack 3 pick 6:














My Pick:




Hmmmm. This cards needs Mountains. I could play mountains . . . you know, in a pinch. I would like to say I considered the Blood Seeker, but given the context of my deck, I don't think its close.

Pack 3 pick 7:













My Pick:




I might have enough vampires? By the end? Maybe?

Pack 3 pick 8:












My Pick:




Am I drafting with Hellen Keller, the Governor of New York, Charlie Babbit, Teri Shivo, Rush Limbaugh, Glen Beck and an empty chair? Oh, and that sanctifiers shouldn't be there.

Pack 3 pick 9:











My Pick:




I would comment on this card, but at this point I'm too busy thinking how crazy this deck is and wondering if I'm going to blow it because the deck is TOO GOOD.

Pack 3 pick 10:










My Pick:




Sideboard.

Pack 3 pick 11:









My Pick:






Pack 3 pick 12:








My Pick:






Pack 3 pick 13:







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Pack 3 pick 14:






My Pick:






Pack 3 pick 15:





My Pick:






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And I built this:

I would tell you about the games, but they were pretty much all the same. I aggressively mulligan until I get a strong start, I bash and remove early drops, if possible, and either overwhelm them or burn them out. Only the last game of the finals was close, as my opponent was on 14, I am at around 5, he has two creatures, but is tapped out. I have the mountain burn and a lightning in my hand and an active Expedition on the table. I send over the 7/1, but he doesn't block. I then proceed to burn him for exactly 7 with the two spells. Even if he blocks, I likely do not die the next turn, as I'd just remove his guy instead of going to the dome, but that was about as close as it got.

My first opponent played the "Time Vault" land in the second game. I had boarded in a Demolish to address a couple of artifacts I had seen. He lets me take an extra turn after my second turn, to get a counter. Needless to say, he never got to take his extra turn, as I Demolished it on my fifth turn when he tapped out to make a dude.

I don't know if I'm going to like this format, as it appears to not involve blocking, and requires quick guys who turn sideways really well.