Magic: The gathering Online
03-23-2010
, 05:17 PM
Since there was such an awesome Triple Worldwake primer earlier I figured I'd reciprocate with my own thoughts on another format that's not drafted a lot.
ALA-ALA-ALA
A lot of people seem to think it drafts similar to ACR but I can tell you it doesn't. It's a much much faster format. I constantly still see people drafting 4 or 5 colour control decks, Esper control or Grixis control. Unless you draft the absolute nuts these aren't really good enough to win an 8-4 if someone who knows the format is in the queue.
Basically you want to be drafting a 2 colour deck with a small splash in a 3rd colour that is full of 2 drops. It's all about aggro aggro aggro. The best colours for this are either GW (with a red or blue splash) or RG (with a white or black splash), I've also seen some seriously fast UW and BR beatdown decks.
This works because almost everyone else is drafting slow control decks and these extremely focused beatdown decks just beat those up.
As with the GW beatdown deck in ACR A*****n Squire is an extremely high pick together with Wild Nacatl. The good thing though is now that you can get them in all 3 packs you can actually pick Oblivion Ring etc over them. In ACR you pretty much had to grab a Squire over an Oring. Now that you have more chances at them you don't have to.
Always try to stick to 2 main colours. This is so all your 2drops can be reliably cast at turn 2. You don't want to be heavy GW and then be playing a RG prot guy or the RW bull cerodon. You should be playing so few mountains that you can't reliable drop them turn 2. So yes, if your GWr you'd rather pick and play a Cylian Elf over a Viashino Slaughtermaster or a Nacatl Outlander.
Always try to draft 2-3 cards that will get in the last few points of damage. In naya this is Colossal Might, Mage Slayer, Giant Ambush Beetle, Welkin Guide or anything that goes to the face. The gameplan of these decks is almost always, t1:1drop, t2:2drop, t3:another 2drop + removal spell, t4:exalted guy to get through, t5+:get them down to 5 or 6 life, alpha strike with finisher. If you don't have the finisher they are going to stabilize on a handful of life.
Yes, fixing is still important but you usually don't need to be picking it in the first 3-4 picks. A solid 2drop like a blade or a 2for1 card like even a lowly Meditant is usually worth picking over fixing. Remember your basically only 2 colours. Focus on fixing that has a main colour/splashcolour, fixing for your main 2 colours is a lot less important. You can usually get the landcyclers pretty late. Only fixing I would take very high is a tri-land or panorama that's in all 3 of your colours or an Armillary Sphere as it allows you to keep 2 landers. As usual Obelisks tend to be bad and don't do anything you want. If it's all you have though, go with them.
I have a bunch of screenshots of decks that went 3-0 or 2-1 in the 8-4 queues. They pretty much speak for themselves. I hope posting this many images isn't a problem.
Green White beats that splashes only red spells that are removal. Not running the Gloryscale and Rakeclaw to keep the deck lowcost and streamlined. And I'd rather have another dude then the Roar (Might and Blessing are vastly superior cause of trample and pumping the team, Roar and Might of Alara are usually worse then just another dude)
Same thing. Red only for removal and a finisher to get in those last 4-5pts of damage (Mage Slayer)
Again same. Red only for a handful of removal and finishers (Colossal Might). You might want to get greedy and run that Necrogenesis or Malfegor (or even the Slaughermster or Outlander). Don't. Fighting temptation is probably the biggest hurdle drafting and playing these decks. Keep it as consistent as you can.
A not so great version because of the lack of 2drops. Luckily the 1drops and 3drops are amazing.
RGb version. Plays much the same except you don't have exalted to push through. You get access to a little more removal though plus your guys tend to be bigger then in GWr. Running Leech goes against the reliable 2drop philosophy but it's still a great late drop. Infest stays in the sb cause it would wreck the mana and it obv destroys my own deck.
Next is the RGw version which is always tougher because you don't have the exalted nor the removal. I can't run the A*****n squires as I'm not reliable dropping it turn 1 or 2. And yeah, lolSledge wins games obv.
Slightly more controlling version thanks to lol2dragons.
ALA-ALA-ALA
A lot of people seem to think it drafts similar to ACR but I can tell you it doesn't. It's a much much faster format. I constantly still see people drafting 4 or 5 colour control decks, Esper control or Grixis control. Unless you draft the absolute nuts these aren't really good enough to win an 8-4 if someone who knows the format is in the queue.
Basically you want to be drafting a 2 colour deck with a small splash in a 3rd colour that is full of 2 drops. It's all about aggro aggro aggro. The best colours for this are either GW (with a red or blue splash) or RG (with a white or black splash), I've also seen some seriously fast UW and BR beatdown decks.
This works because almost everyone else is drafting slow control decks and these extremely focused beatdown decks just beat those up.
As with the GW beatdown deck in ACR A*****n Squire is an extremely high pick together with Wild Nacatl. The good thing though is now that you can get them in all 3 packs you can actually pick Oblivion Ring etc over them. In ACR you pretty much had to grab a Squire over an Oring. Now that you have more chances at them you don't have to.
Always try to stick to 2 main colours. This is so all your 2drops can be reliably cast at turn 2. You don't want to be heavy GW and then be playing a RG prot guy or the RW bull cerodon. You should be playing so few mountains that you can't reliable drop them turn 2. So yes, if your GWr you'd rather pick and play a Cylian Elf over a Viashino Slaughtermaster or a Nacatl Outlander.
Always try to draft 2-3 cards that will get in the last few points of damage. In naya this is Colossal Might, Mage Slayer, Giant Ambush Beetle, Welkin Guide or anything that goes to the face. The gameplan of these decks is almost always, t1:1drop, t2:2drop, t3:another 2drop + removal spell, t4:exalted guy to get through, t5+:get them down to 5 or 6 life, alpha strike with finisher. If you don't have the finisher they are going to stabilize on a handful of life.
Yes, fixing is still important but you usually don't need to be picking it in the first 3-4 picks. A solid 2drop like a blade or a 2for1 card like even a lowly Meditant is usually worth picking over fixing. Remember your basically only 2 colours. Focus on fixing that has a main colour/splashcolour, fixing for your main 2 colours is a lot less important. You can usually get the landcyclers pretty late. Only fixing I would take very high is a tri-land or panorama that's in all 3 of your colours or an Armillary Sphere as it allows you to keep 2 landers. As usual Obelisks tend to be bad and don't do anything you want. If it's all you have though, go with them.
I have a bunch of screenshots of decks that went 3-0 or 2-1 in the 8-4 queues. They pretty much speak for themselves. I hope posting this many images isn't a problem.
Green White beats that splashes only red spells that are removal. Not running the Gloryscale and Rakeclaw to keep the deck lowcost and streamlined. And I'd rather have another dude then the Roar (Might and Blessing are vastly superior cause of trample and pumping the team, Roar and Might of Alara are usually worse then just another dude)
Same thing. Red only for removal and a finisher to get in those last 4-5pts of damage (Mage Slayer)
Again same. Red only for a handful of removal and finishers (Colossal Might). You might want to get greedy and run that Necrogenesis or Malfegor (or even the Slaughermster or Outlander). Don't. Fighting temptation is probably the biggest hurdle drafting and playing these decks. Keep it as consistent as you can.
A not so great version because of the lack of 2drops. Luckily the 1drops and 3drops are amazing.
RGb version. Plays much the same except you don't have exalted to push through. You get access to a little more removal though plus your guys tend to be bigger then in GWr. Running Leech goes against the reliable 2drop philosophy but it's still a great late drop. Infest stays in the sb cause it would wreck the mana and it obv destroys my own deck.
Next is the RGw version which is always tougher because you don't have the exalted nor the removal. I can't run the A*****n squires as I'm not reliable dropping it turn 1 or 2. And yeah, lolSledge wins games obv.
Slightly more controlling version thanks to lol2dragons.
Last edited by Kirg; 03-23-2010 at 05:23 PM.
03-24-2010
, 01:52 AM
Just took down a 4322 w/ this deck. Archive trap almost killed me both games of the finals.
The first pack felt really weak until 6, 7 & 8. I really wish I had seen a luminarch ascension because my deck was pretty much made for it. Someone else saw and drafted one though.
Thoughts?
The first pack felt really weak until 6, 7 & 8. I really wish I had seen a luminarch ascension because my deck was pretty much made for it. Someone else saw and drafted one though.
Thoughts?
Code:
Event #: 1063453
Time: 3/23/2010 8:34:22 PM
Players:
RANMARU
nobaddreams
scoot45
--> Freakin
nokidney13
Abias
Dilemma
adaimas
------ ZEN ------
Pack 1 pick 1:
Demolish
Relic Crush
Kor Aeronaut
Kor Outfitter
Expedition Map
Vampire's Bite
Umara Raptor
--> Kor Sanctifiers
Spell Pierce
Quest for Ancient Secrets
Swamp
Bog Tatters
Magosi, the Waterveil
Æther Figment
Surrakar Marauder
Pack 1 pick 2:
Mindless Null
Spell Pierce
Nimbus Wings
Vampire Hexmage
Relic Crush
Welkin Tern
Vampire's Bite
Island
--> Plated Geopede
Magma Rift
Murasa Pyromancer
Heartstabber Mosquito
Spidersilk Net
Trailblazer's Boots
Pack 1 pick 3:
Savage Silhouette
Scythe Tiger
Forest
--> Pitfall Trap
Mire Blight
Seascape Aerialist
Slaughter Cry
Hedron Scrabbler
Tempest Owl
Zektar Shrine Expedition
Teetering Peaks
Stonework Puma
Hagra Crocodile
Pack 1 pick 4:
Piranha Marsh
Guul Draz Vampire
Bold Defense
Into the Roil
--> Makindi Shieldmate
Tanglesap
Greenweaver Druid
Ruinous Minotaur
Timbermaw Larva
Swamp
Explorer's Scope
Grim Discovery (FOIL)
Pack 1 pick 5:
Spell Pierce
Mind Sludge
Magma Rift
Whiplash Trap
Mindless Null
--> Inferno Trap
Relic Crush
Mold Shambler
Mountain
Nimbus Wings
Noble Vestige
Pack 1 pick 6:
Guul Draz Vampire
Whiplash Trap
Greenweaver Druid (FOIL)
Kabira Crossroads
Mold Shambler
Spreading Seas
--> Arrow Volley Trap
Archive Trap
Jwar Isle Refuge
Mountain
Pack 1 pick 7:
Hagra Diabolist
Tuktuk Grunts
Forest
Highland Berserker
Sky Ruin Drake
Hedron Crab
Kor Cartographer
Umara Raptor
--> Geyser Glider
Pack 1 pick 8:
Stonework Puma
--> Shatterskull Giant
Frontier Guide
Mountain
Ruinous Minotaur
Kraken Hatchling
Nissa's Chosen
Unstable Footing
Pack 1 pick 9:
Demolish
Relic Crush
--> Kor Outfitter
Spell Pierce
Quest for Ancient Secrets
Swamp
Magosi, the Waterveil
Pack 1 pick 10:
Mindless Null
Spell Pierce
--> Nimbus Wings
Relic Crush
Island
Trailblazer's Boots
Pack 1 pick 11:
Forest
Mire Blight
Hedron Scrabbler
Tempest Owl
--> Teetering Peaks
Pack 1 pick 12:
Piranha Marsh
Tanglesap
Swamp
--> Grim Discovery (FOIL)
Pack 1 pick 13:
Mindless Null
Mountain
--> Noble Vestige
Pack 1 pick 14:
--> Spreading Seas
Mountain
Pack 1 pick 15:
--> Forest
------ ZEN ------
Pack 2 pick 1:
Whiplash Trap
Kor Skyfisher
Plains
Vastwood Gorger
Soul Stair Expedition
Tempest Owl
Molten Ravager
--> Shepherd of the Lost
Quest for the Gemblades
Kabira Evangel (FOIL)
Bladetusk Boar
Baloth Woodcrasher
Mindless Null
Sunspring Expedition
Elemental Appeal
Pack 2 pick 2:
Mountain
Goblin Shortcutter
Marsh Casualties (FOIL)
Tanglesap
Mind Sludge
Surrakar Marauder
Goblin Bushwhacker
Bloodchief Ascension
--> Arrow Volley Trap
Æther Figment
Lethargy Trap
Ondu Cleric
Spidersilk Net
Blood Seeker
Pack 2 pick 3:
Windrider Eel
Zendikar Farguide
Adventuring Gear
Cancel
Magma Rift
--> Burst Lightning
Sejiri Refuge
Bog Tatters
Shieldmate's Blessing
Slaughter Cry
Halo Hunter
Island
Cliff Threader
Pack 2 pick 4:
Brave the Elements
Tanglesap
Kazandu Refuge
Seismic Shudder
Spidersilk Net
Caravan Hurda
--> Makindi Shieldmate
Mountain
Kraken Hatchling
Turntimber Grove
Gomazoa
Summoning Trap
Pack 2 pick 5:
Goblin Bushwhacker
Unstable Footing
Sadistic Sacrament (FOIL)
Khalni Gem
Paralyzing Grasp
Vines of Vastwood
Ruinous Minotaur
--> Stonework Puma
Pillarfield Ox
Swamp
Desecrated Earth
Pack 2 pick 6:
Goblin Ruinblaster
Ior Ruin Expedition
Kazandu Refuge (FOIL)
Plains
--> Shatterskull Giant
Oran-Rief Recluse
Hagra Crocodile
Baloth Cage Trap
Feast of Blood
Torch Slinger
Pack 2 pick 7:
Explorer's Scope
--> Pillarfield Ox
Trapfinder's Trick
Plains
Khalni Heart Expedition
Ravenous Trap
Soul Stair Expedition
Sky Ruin Drake
Shoal Serpent
Pack 2 pick 8:
Mire Blight
Zendikar Farguide
Soaring Seacliff
Shieldmate's Blessing
--> Magma Rift
Akoum Refuge
Runeflare Trap
Island
Pack 2 pick 9:
Plains
Vastwood Gorger
Soul Stair Expedition
--> Molten Ravager
Quest for the Gemblades
Mindless Null
Sunspring Expedition
Pack 2 pick 10:
Mountain
Tanglesap
Mind Sludge
Bloodchief Ascension
--> Spidersilk Net
Blood Seeker
Pack 2 pick 11:
Zendikar Farguide
Bog Tatters
--> Shieldmate's Blessing
Slaughter Cry
Island
Pack 2 pick 12:
Tanglesap
--> Kazandu Refuge
Mountain
Turntimber Grove
Pack 2 pick 13:
--> Ruinous Minotaur
Swamp
Desecrated Earth
Pack 2 pick 14:
--> Ior Ruin Expedition
Plains
Pack 2 pick 15:
--> Plains
------ WWK ------
Pack 3 pick 1:
Smoldering Spires
Tectonic Edge
Arbor Elf
Bull Rush
Enclave Elite
Searing Blaze
Treasure Hunt
Walking Atlas
Marsh Threader
Bestial Menace
Veteran's Reflexes
Forest
--> Archon of Redemption
Pulse Tracker
Hada Freeblade
Pack 3 pick 2:
Quag Vampires
Smoldering Spires
Halimar Excavator
Scrib Nibblers
--> Celestial Colonnade
Join the Ranks
Swamp
Vastwood Zendikon
Guardian Zendikon
Canopy Cover
Surrakar Banisher
Jagwasp Swarm
Brink of Disaster
Feral Contest
Pack 3 pick 3:
Rest for the Weary
Cosi's Ravager
Scrib Nibblers
Tuktuk Scrapper
Voyager Drake
Khalni Garden
Treasure Hunt
Surrakar Banisher
--> Fledgling Griffin
Mire's Toll
Halimar Depths
Swamp
Feral Contest
Pack 3 pick 4:
Sejiri Steppe
Corrupted Zendikon
Vastwood Zendikon
Cosi's Ravager
Slingbow Trap
Nature's Claim
--> Goblin Roughrider
Island
Selective Memory (FOIL)
Join the Ranks
Sejiri Merfolk
Amulet of Vigor
Pack 3 pick 5:
Gnarlid Pack
Twitch
Bojuka Bog
Explore
Grotag Thrasher
Slingbow Trap
--> Battle Hurda
Brink of Disaster
Claws of Valakut
Summit Apes
Mountain
Pack 3 pick 6:
--> Raging Ravine
Veteran's Reflexes
Forest
Skitter of Lizards
Bojuka Bog
Graypelt Hunter
Quest for the Goblin Lord
Snapping Creeper
Bojuka Brigand
Claws of Valakut
Pack 3 pick 7:
Vastwood Animist
Canopy Cover
Walking Atlas
Ruin Ghost
--> Goblin Roughrider
Dispel
Æther Tradewinds
Mountain
Roiling Terrain
Pack 3 pick 8:
Brink of Disaster
Twitch
Explore
Bojuka Bog
Battle Hurda
Calcite Snapper
--> Claws of Valakut
Plains
Pack 3 pick 9:
Smoldering Spires
Bull Rush
Enclave Elite
--> Treasure Hunt
Walking Atlas
Veteran's Reflexes
Forest
Pack 3 pick 10:
Smoldering Spires
Scrib Nibblers
Swamp
Vastwood Zendikon
--> Guardian Zendikon
Brink of Disaster
Pack 3 pick 11:
Rest for the Weary
Scrib Nibblers
Khalni Garden
--> Treasure Hunt
Swamp
Pack 3 pick 12:
--> Vastwood Zendikon
Island
Selective Memory (FOIL)
Amulet of Vigor
Pack 3 pick 13:
Twitch
--> Explore
Mountain
Pack 3 pick 14:
Forest
--> Quest for the Goblin Lord
Pack 3 pick 15:
--> Mountain
03-24-2010
, 07:36 PM
You can't get better strategy then watching LSV draft (even if ZZZ and ZZW aren't his best formats).
