This episode showcases my last triple Gatecrash draft before Dragon’s Maze shakes up the draft environment. Tri-set limited is an exciting mix of exploration and reassessment, rewarding creativity and adaptability. I’m always on the lookout for topics to talk about, so let me know what questions are on your mind regarding this upcoming transition!
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In round 3, game 1 you decided to play executioner’s swing instead of casting devour flesh. Was that just because it would allow you to keep attacking with the pet?
Hey Simon, I really enjoy the show, but I have something to say about a comment you made in the opening discussion, concerning choosing three colours that utilise RTR and GTC. Any three colours give you 3 guild colour pairings, and the three guilds will always be 2 in GTC, 1 in RTR, or vice-versa (I believe so anyway, I can’t think of a pairing that doesn’t give that combination). For example, in Jund colours (RBG) you have Golgari and Rakdos in RTR, and Gruul in GTC. Anyway, love the videos, and thanks for reading.
I am most interested in whether signaling in Pack 1 with Dragon’s Maze will mean much of anything. Will we be able to read signals from the person passing you cards in Dragon’s Maze since there will be so many split cards and gold cards and mana fixing options? Also, will the signals we send in Pack 1 mean much of anything. Or is this going to come down to – pick 3 colors and stick with it through all 3 packs? Or should we just pick the most powerful in Pack 1 and all the color fixing, and then go 4-5 color goodness throughout the draft? It’s going to be interesting!
I disagree with you’re pics, so i didn’t watch. But nice draft anyway.
I really like your series, because you take the time to explain your decisions.
I don’t like those shows/streams where people just say “I take … because it’s the best card in the pack.”. Basically it doesn’t improve my game if i’m watching these drafts. I want to know the arguments, why a card is strong or not in the eyes of a pro.
This is especially important over the time, as arguments and evaluation of cards changes.
Another thing: I would love to see more shows where you play mediocre decks, like this one. It’s always entertaining to see some1 opening Obzedat and drafting the one powerful Orzhov-deck. But again it does not really improve my game.
Great videos, as always, Simon! This final GC draft was very typical of GC drafts along the way – the power of two drops, importance of mana fixing if you go for a splash (or even have an unbalance of your 2 colors), the ability of a mediocre card selection to go the distance, and the ability of a fringe all-in strategy to carry the day sometimes (mad-cap skills & gift of orzhova – where were the muggings for that?)! Had fun with GC, but can hardly wait for Dragon’s Maze next week!
Right before you conceded: You could have sacced the priest, destroyed the gift-of-orzovahed-hellebardier and and survived, couldn’t you?
Regarding DGM, how highly would you pick the gatekeepers? Would you pick them even if you didn’t have any gates? Do you consider them to be roughly equal in power level or do you think they differ considerably?
@Stefan: High Priest triggers of being dealt damage, so saccing him doesn’t do anything special
People so readily went 3+ colors in GTC draft that often signals were complete garbage and drafting was a bit of a mess. I’m really worried that DGM/GTC/RTR drafts are going to be just as bad if not worse. All of the above options are going to be tried by different people at different times and I think it’s going to lead to a pretty messy and complicated format (i.e. several people forcing their favorite 3 color pairings, some going 5 colors, some trying to read signals). I’m not really looking forward to it, but will try it out at least.
I guess I’m most interested in your thoughts on what the strongest strategy will be. Is straight 2 colors going to be possible or will all decks be at least 3? Is 5-color good stuff going to be the best deck each time since the format will be slower?
Love the series, I would call this the Limited Resources of video series, if you understand what I’m trying to say by that. (You and Marshall are the two people who I watch regularly on this site.) If I could make one request, it would be to have more sealed videos, especially during ptq season. Thanks for the great content!
Hello Simon,
My hunch that DM/GTC/RTR will end up better as sealed format than a draft format. My reasoning is the first pack of dragon maze is split between the allied and enemy colors. This makes it better to open last and use the picks to fill out the deck. I also noticed when drafting RTR and GTC that some pack runs have little to offer specific guilds. Example; In GTC I have opened packs that were stacked for orzhov and gruul and did not have much to offer the other guilds. Boros could have taken a white or red, simic could take green, and dimir could take black but it would have been the weakest card in the pack. So locking into colors in DM could lead the drafter down a bad path. In sealed with 2 DM packs I should be able to have enough fixing to put together a good stuff deck.
What are your thoughts?
Round 3 is a great example of why I didn’t like the gatecrash format. However, I am looking forward to the new one.
I would be most interested in your thoughts on the synergies between the guilds. Personally I will be looking to trying to draft selesnya likely in combination with boros. I feel that the batallion/populate mechanics work best together while also having the option to shape the game with gruul bloodrush creatures. It’s hard to be objective when during the pre-release I played a game with battering krasis, bronzebeak moa into trostani summoner.
@ Wyldcat I had the same thought for DM/GTC/RTR draft. I think they should put it back to the original order for drafting this set. DM first is just weird, cause it’s very good at getting those last few picks for your deck if you go into 3 colours in RTR/GTC, or just fixing your mana. Now you have to hope for some good cards in GTC/RTR to fit with your DM cards… The currenbt way feels way too much like a gamble in DM…
R1G2 I believe you mention something about boros charm blowing out your executioner’s swing – indestructible has no effect vs -X/-X effects correct?
Love your content man, it’s seriously great. No joke, the best limited content on the internet. I wish you had a wider audience but that would mean tougher competition so no complaints
Also the way you pronounce your name sounds like ‘s***n*’ which is very funny to me (I am not bright).
*Content modified by admin. Please refrain from such word choices, thanks.
Thanks for all the comments!
@Elf_Planator: I played the Swing first because it is more situational than Devour Flesh. I can Devour Flesh anything he plays but I can’t Swing without taking additional damage.
@Nick: You make a great point which I already thought about and believe to be a crucial point of drafting DGR. This is high on my list of topics to talk about.
@Frizzel66: Your question and Nick’s comment are quite related, so hopefully we can understand both signaling and guild composition better.
@NeuHier: I’m always trying to teach something with my series, great to hear it’s resonating!
@Stefan: Christian already answered that, High Priest needs to be dealt damage.
@ViengaryMink: I currently think that most Gatekeepers are pretty high picks, especially the black and white one. Quite different in power level though (ordered close to BWUGR probably).
@Marc: I’m not as pessimistic as you, I think it’s going to be exciting. Some of the strategy is going to rely on people doing what you expect them to do, but if they don’t you can usually gain some advantage as well. I think there will be mostly decks with 3+ colors (most 3, some 4-5).
@wyldcat: I don’t see why starting with Dragon’s Maze is bad. Starting with only the five guilds of RTR would be much more awkward I think. I’ll try to cover this question in the near future.
@0m3n: Mechanical overlap and synergy is a great point which is certainly key to drafting pack 2 and 3 in particular. Thanks!
@Osiris: I was on 4 life when I cast Executioner’s Swing. You are correct that Boros Charm wouldn’t have saved his Griffin, but it would have killed us instead.
@Lee: Tell your friends (about the first part at least)!
-Simon
This draft highlighted the importance of getting both of your colors in your opening hand. I wonder if it would have been worth it to play 18 lands with a 10-8 split, in a 41 card deck. The land ratio seems more important than a marginal increase in the chance of drawing the best cards.
I’m am curious why you think Spire Tracer is so good…. I’ve gotten really limited value out of it. My opponents seem to play a lot with it, but it never has been much of an issue, even turn one.
Early game it maybe gets in for 1 to 3 points of damage before becoming irrelevant. Mid to late game it is a dead draw. Could you please explain your strategy with utilizing this card?
Simon – Re: Dragon’s Maze.
I would be most interested in how you view the interlocking of the guild mechanics. Eg. Simic + Golgari’s +1+1 counters, or less clearly Izzet’s proclivity for spell based bonuses supporting Dimir’sremoval/mill. Or are those guild synergies going to be a primary consideration or a secondary bonus when they come together? This may take time to answer accurately, but I’d greatly appreciate hearing your first impressions.
I mostly want suggestions on mana fixing.. there are so many ways to determine what you need, and how to get the spells to land when you need it… Any suggestions or links to good articles would help there.. particularly for playing those strong add in cards, bombs, removal.
@Mike, Spire Tracer starts nice for the fast play ability. If it isn;t dealt with early, it can grow with enchants, burst of strength, blood rush, Adaptive mutation…. tokens, and it has evasion.
@Robin, I can say from the prerelease that Izzet’s; Fluxcharger and Nivix Cyclops with Cipher cards probably won’t work well. Izzet’s own spells seem to play better such as overload, burn, and overload mechanic cards. Azorius with detain might work well. Teleport was, by far, one of my strongest cards.
spectacular content and commentary as always. thank you so much for your service to the community! I eagerly await your drafts of the entire block!
Hi, Simon! Love your series. Sometimes after a few losses in a row I like to try and draft alongside your videos and see how we do– on this one, we drafted pretty much identically. (The main difference was Beckon Apparitions, where I took a Contaminated Ground I probably wouldn’t have used, and hatepicked a Zhur-Taa Swine, and I am willing to concede that it is actually a sweet pick up in Orzhov.)
Thanks for great videos as always.