From a 64-man PE:


------ ALA ------

Pack 1 pick 1:
Druid of the Anima
Steward of Valeron
Guardians of Akrasa
Etherium Sculptor
Viashino Skeleton
Breath of Malfegor
Rhox Meditant
Rotting Rats
Naya Hushblade
Terminate
Bant Battlemage
Elder Mastery
Bull Cerodon
--> Tezzeret the Seeker
Island

I wish the money weren't here, as I'd be much happier first-picking a terminate. But in my last 64-man esper was severely underdrafted (p3p10 shieldmage, windright mage, and parasitic strix), so maybe he'll play.

Pack 1 pick 2:
--> Esper Stormblade
Steelclad Serpent
Vectis Silencers
Resounding Scream
Mana Cylix
Yoke of the Damned
Matca Rioters
Godtracker of Jund
Naya Sojourners
Angelic Benediction
Sacellum Archers
Anathemancer
Knight-Captain of Eos
Plains

Knight-captain's fine, but blades are sick and this is my favorite. Looks like I might be on the esper path.

Pack 1 pick 3:
Rakeclaw Gargantuan
Undead Leotau
Gift of the Gargantuan
Angelsong
Spell Snip
Worldly Counsel
--> Aven Squire
Paragon of the Amesha (FOIL)
Jhessian Zombies
Scarland Thrinax
Skyclaw Thrash
Sangrite Surge
Forest

I didn't notice the zombies, and in hindsight it's the card I wish I would have picked. I would rather not go 5-color so the paragon's not as attractive as the squire or thrash. Thrash is good but people don't like playing him, so I suspect he may come back. The squire puts me into WU-aggro mode, and I'm happy with that.

Pack 1 pick 4:
Architects of Will
Hindering Light
Ethercaste Knight
Wild Nacatl
Outrider of Jhess
Constricting Tendrils
--> Aven Trailblazer
Mana Cylix
Knotvine Mystic
Double Negative
Ethersworn Canonist
Mountain

Continuing my theme over the canonist who does little more than hose cascade.

Pack 1 pick 5:
Resounding Roar
--> Sighted-Caste Sorcerer
Arsenal Thresher
Nacatl Outlander
Quenchable Fire
Suicidal Charge
Grixis Sojourners
Sigil of the Nayan Gods
Unstable Frontier
Kederekt Parasite
Island

I like exalted in this archetype while the thresher may or may not be good.

Pack 1 pick 6:
Grixis Panorama
Savage Hunger
--> Sanctum Gargoyle
Glaze Fiend
Absorb Vis
Scattershot Archer
Molten Frame
Soul Manipulation
Sigil of the Nayan Gods
Forest

So esper's open. Now I'm liking artifacts.

Pack 1 pick 7:
Shadowfeed
--> Esper Sojourners
Excommunicate
Cylian Elf
Yoke of the Damned
Tukatongue Thallid
Kathari Bomber
View from Above
Swamp

Pack 1 pick 8:
--> Dispeller's Capsule
Jhessian Lookout
Gustrider Exuberant
Valiant Guard
Kaleidostone
Gluttonous Slime
Sunseed Nurturer
Mountain

I was tempted to take the kaleidostone for synergy with gargoyle & tezzeret. But I figured I could get one later (as I'm probably the only person who wants it). I go with hate & sideboard option combo.

Pack 1 pick 9:
--> Guardians of Akrasa
Etherium Sculptor
Viashino Skeleton
Breath of Malfegor
Rotting Rats
Bant Battlemage
Island

Really like this in the WU archetype.

Pack 1 pick 10:
--> Steelclad Serpent
Vectis Silencers
Resounding Scream
Mana Cylix
Yoke of the Damned
Plains

Both do the same thing (hold back ground forces) and cost about the same amount...but one I have to hold back mana for.

Pack 1 pick 11:
Gift of the Gargantuan
Angelsong
Spell Snip
--> Skyclaw Thrash
Forest

It came back!

Pack 1 pick 12:
Outrider of Jhess
Constricting Tendrils
--> Mana Cylix
Mountain

Bad fixing is still the best option.

Pack 1 pick 13:
Suicidal Charge
--> Kederekt Parasite
Island

Pack 1 pick 14:
Savage Hunger
--> Forest

Pack 1 pick 15:
--> Swamp

------ ARB ------

Pack 2 pick 1:
Naya Panorama
Waveskimmer Aven
Dreg Reaver
Incurable Ogre
Brainbite
Pestilent Kathari
Might of Alara
Dark Temper
Vectis Dominator
Sewn-Eye Drake
Dragon's Herald
Vagrant Plowbeasts
Drastic Revelation
--> Sphinx of the Steel Wind
Plains

It's nice to open money bombs in your colors.

Pack 2 pick 2:
Rip-Clan Crasher
Courier's Capsule
Onyx Goblet
Jungle Weaver (FOIL)
Cerodon Yearling
--> Tidehollow Strix
Sylvan Bounty
Faerie Mechanist
Rhox Brute
Rhox Charger
Ancient Ziggurat
Tainted Sigil
Crucible of Fire
Mountain

Tough choice between mechanist strix & capsule. I'm pretty sure I can get one to come back, and of the 3 I think capsule is most likely. Since I'm currently removal-light, and a bit unsure as to how many artifacts I'll have, I go with the strix.

Pack 2 pick 3:
Blister Beetle
Soul's Grace
Hissing Iguanar
Sedraxis Alchemist (FOIL)
Court Archers
Constricting Tendrils
Suicidal Charge
Rotting Rats
Sewn-Eye Drake
Offering to Asha
--> Sludge Strider
Sages of the Anima
Swamp

Can't pass this up. I'm pushing more into black than I wanted...

Pack 2 pick 4:
--> Tidehollow Strix
Guardians of Akrasa
Etherium Sculptor
Viashino Skeleton
Asha's Favor
Sedraxis Alchemist
Scattershot Archer
Stormcaller's Boon
Dragon Appeasement
Filigree Sages
Manaforce Mace
Swamp

Pack 2 pick 5:
Lush Growth
Yoked Plowbeast
Cancel
Goblin Outlander
Sylvan Bounty
Toxic Iguanar
Pale Recluse
Jund Sojourners
--> Fleshbag Marauder
Filigree Fracture
Swamp

Pack 2 pick 6:
Kederekt Creeper
Firewild Borderpost (FOIL)
Godtoucher
Tortoise Formation
Court Homunculus
Salvage Slasher
Goblin Outlander
Jhessian Zombies
--> Sludge Strider
Island

So now I'm thinking UB-base esper.

Pack 2 pick 7:
Bloodthorn Taunter
Deathgreeter
Obelisk of Bant
Kathari Screecher
Goblin Mountaineer
Bone Saw
--> Glassdust Hulk
Demon's Herald
Forest

With the 2 striders & 2 strix, I'm committed to artifact-esper now. I don't like where my mana is going, but I have to just ride it out.

Pack 2 pick 8:
--> Blister Beetle
Soul's Grace
Kaleidostone
Infectious Horror
Sphinx's Herald
Mask of Riddles
Skill Borrower
Mountain

I agonized over this one. The mask fits so well. Skill Borrower wasn't even on the radar--giving opponent free information = bad. In the end I decided I wanted more removal options. Probably a mistake.

Pack 2 pick 9:
Waveskimmer Aven
Dreg Reaver
--> Brainbite
Vectis Dominator
Dragon's Herald
Drastic Revelation
Plains

Pack 2 pick 10:
--> Courier's Capsule
Onyx Goblet
Jungle Weaver (FOIL)
Tainted Sigil
Crucible of Fire
Mountain

Capsule came back, but mechanist didn't. Can't complain, though.

Pack 2 pick 11:
Soul's Grace
Constricting Tendrils
--> Suicidal Charge
Rotting Rats
Swamp

Pack 2 pick 12:
Viashino Skeleton
--> Stormcaller's Boon
Dragon Appeasement
Swamp

Pack 2 pick 13:
Lush Growth
--> Cancel
Swamp

Pack 2 pick 14:
--> Salvage Slasher
Island

Pack 2 pick 15:
--> Forest

------ CON ------

Pack 3 pick 1:
Lush Growth
Yoked Plowbeast
Cancel
Soul's Fire
Bant Panorama
--> Drag Down
Exploding Borders
Wandering Goblins
Rhox Brute
Grizzled Leotau
Giant Ambush Beetle
Drumhunter
Sprouting Thrinax
Lich Lord of Unx
Forest

Lich Lord can be a bomb, but other than his milling, I don't really have ways to exploit his tokens and he dies to a lot. I take the awesome removal.

Pack 3 pick 2:
Rakeclaw Gargantuan
Undead Leotau
Gift of the Gargantuan
Angelsong
Bone Saw (FOIL)
Nacatl Outlander
Darklit Gargoyle
--> Armillary Sphere
Singe-Mind Ogre
Naya Sojourners
Viashino Slaughtermaster
Savage Lands
Blood Tyrant
Island

Another agonizer. Tyrant can give me two reasons to splash red, but my mana's already not looking so good. Gargoyle's strong, especially with my exalted triggers, but it's already looking like they may not play. Sphere plays nicely with my other artifacts, and covers the afore-mentioned mana issues, so I go with it.

Pack 3 pick 3:
Cathartic Adept
Obelisk of Esper
Deadshot Minotaur
--> Esper Panorama
Skeletal Kathari
Valeron Outlander
Frontline Sage
Winged Coatl
Offering to Asha
Unstable Frontier
Sigiled Paladin
Punish Ignorance
Island

if I didn't already have all those nice black artifacts from pack 2, I'd have gone with the paladin. Instead, I continue to shore up my mana.

Pack 3 pick 4:
Steelclad Serpent
Vectis Silencers
Resounding Scream
Sedraxis Alchemist
Tukatongue Thallid
Rhox Bodyguard
Valley Rannet
Grizzled Leotau
Lorescale Coatl
Grixis Charm
--> Master Transmuter
Swamp

O.O
Live the dream of cheating my sphinx into play?! Yes, please. Sad to be passing another alchemist. At this point I start getting a sinking feeling in my stomach that this deck's too insane to win.

Pack 3 pick 5:
Resounding Wave
Soul's Might
Lightning Talons
Jund Panorama
Banewasp Affliction
--> Vedalken Outlander
Gleam of Resistance
Talon Trooper
Godtracker of Jund
Reliquary Tower
Island

I didn't consider the wave, but I probably should have--being so short on tricks/removal. I chose the outlander over the other options because it's an artifact, and the protection should be very relevant. Obviously, a case can be made for either of the other options, though.

Pack 3 pick 6:
Naturalize
Viscera Dragger
Coma Veil
Dragon Fodder
Unsummon
--> Zombie Outlander
Wildfield Borderpost
Monstrous Carabid
Giltspire Avenger
Swamp

Trumping green fat seems good, though again maybe I should have considered the trick more carefully.

Pack 3 pick 7:
--> Windwright Mage
Captured Sunlight
Bant Sojourners
Vectis Agents
Worldly Counsel
Vedalken Ghoul
Mind Funeral
Swerve
Mountain

Pack 3 pick 8:
Cathartic Adept
Obelisk of Esper
Skeletal Kathari
--> Faerie Mechanist
Valiant Guard
Shard Convergence
Illusory Demon
Mountain

Pack 3 pick 9:
Lush Growth
Yoked Plowbeast
Cancel
--> Soul's Fire
Exploding Borders
Wandering Goblins
Forest

Pack 3 pick 10:
Undead Leotau
Gift of the Gargantuan
Angelsong
Bone Saw (FOIL)
--> Nacatl Outlander
Island

Pack 3 pick 11:
Cathartic Adept
--> Obelisk of Esper
Offering to Asha
Punish Ignorance
Island

I was really happy to see this back. At this point, my client crashed and I was given 3 lands and a steelclad serpent.


I dreaded actually playing this, as I knew I'd lose first round with this much good stuff, and sure enough that's what happened. He complained about my deck game 1 (T5 tezzeret, T6 mechanist finding transmuter, T7 tutor obelisk & drop sphinx), but managed to get his sarkhan and all 4 land types every game...oh well.

The overall direction of the draft is as subtle as an 18-wheeler, but I think there's a lot of subtlety in the details. So I welcome any comments.

Brainbite needs to be in the deck over steedclad serpent. The serpent is pretty bad and the your deck desperately needed some removal and brainbite could act like it and with your opponent having srkhan you may have been able to nab it since it's likely he'd wait to play it until he had some sort of board presence. Also aven trailblazer should be in the deck over guardians of akrasa, a 2/3 flyer is much better than a 0/4 even with exalted.

Aven Squire + trailblazer should be in the deck, personally I'd cut steelclad and either the wall or the Sojourners, also mask is definitely better than beetles, unless you have a bone splinters or something but even then mask can be so so good.

I know what you mean about losing tho, like the straight GW I drafted a while ago that lost R2. Happens to me all the time. Just today I drafted a great jund deck to lose to a crappy nay/bant deck (G1 mull to 5 + mana screw, G3 draw 16 of 17 mana sources).

I read in another thread that you love brainbite. I am glad that someone else gives that card respect. I see a lot of people not playing it because they think it is slow, but it absolutely destroys games. Before it was better with ACR because reborn had ridiculous 5 drops. It's still amazing now because 5 mana and up is where people win games in this format.

The serpent is fine in THIS deck imo. It isnt a great card, but with so much artifact interaction it could be fine. Although trailblazer should definitely be in over guardians.

Brainbite is mostly an auto in any Esper I draft and a maybe in Grixis depending on how much removal I pack.

Bant is still not a great deck and Esper seems really bad in this format unless you get some ridiculous cards. I drafted a sick U/W/b Flydown Beats and gawd I was trampled by Naya which I wouldve swept in ACR. I lose with G/W, U/W and those are the colors I usually draft in this ALA Block. However, I may start forcing my fav- Grixis and Jund. I usually win or do very well without complaint even if I lose.

Ok, a resoponse...the guardians was the 23rd, and at that time I just missed/forgot the trailblazer.


Now onto the next one (also 64-man). I don't think the draft is as interesting, but who knows.

------ ALA ------

Pack 1 pick 1:
Yoked Plowbeast
Cancel
--> Soul's Fire
Bant Panorama
Rakeclaw Gargantuan
Undead Leotau
Gleam of Resistance
Mana Cylix
Jhessian Zombies
Offering to Asha
Topan Ascetic
Scornful Æther-Lich
Shield of the Righteous
Ad Nauseam
Island

Pack 1 pick 2:
Cerodon Yearling
Druid of the Anima
Steward of Valeron
Guardians of Akrasa
Vectis Agents
--> Dark Temper
Constricting Tendrils
Grixis Grimblade
Winged Coatl
Dragon's Herald
Vagrant Plowbeasts
Drastic Revelation
Sacellum Godspeaker
Island

Pack 1 pick 3:
Goblin Deathraiders
Obelisk of Jund
Blister Beetle
Soul's Grace
--> Hissing Iguanar
Maniacal Rage
Parasitic Strix
Valiant Guard
Gorger Wurm
Countersquall
Sigil Captain
Thought Hemorrhage
Mountain

Pack 1 pick 4:
Goblin Mountaineer
Welkin Guide
Call to Heel
Pestilent Kathari
Vectis Agents
--> Jund Sojourners
Monstrous Carabid
Celestial Purge
Intimidation Bolt
Dawnray Archer
Realm Razer
Swamp

Pack 1 pick 5:
Carrion Thrash
Court Archers
Rip-Clan Crasher
Courier's Capsule
Onyx Goblet
Nacatl Savage
--> Jund Sojourners
Sanctum Plowbeast
Skyward Eye Prophets
Marrow Chomper
Island

Pack 1 pick 6:
Gift of the Gargantuan
Angelsong
Spell Snip
Tukatongue Thallid
Rhox Bodyguard
Brackwater Elemental
--> Gorger Wurm
Demonspine Whip
Nyxathid
Plains

Pack 1 pick 7:
--> Deadshot Minotaur
Skeletal Kathari
Lush Growth
Molten Frame
Vedalken Outlander
Magefire Wings
Swerve
Tar Fiend
Island

Pack 1 pick 8:
Call to Heel
Demonic Dread
Cavern Thoctar
Molten Frame
Grixis Illusionist
--> Valley Rannet
Thunder-Thrash Elder
Forest

Pack 1 pick 9:
--> Rakeclaw Gargantuan
Jhessian Zombies
Offering to Asha
Scornful Æther-Lich
Shield of the Righteous
Ad Nauseam
Island

Pack 1 pick 10:
--> Cerodon Yearling
Winged Coatl
Dragon's Herald
Drastic Revelation
Sacellum Godspeaker
Island

Pack 1 pick 11:
--> Goblin Deathraiders
Soul's Grace
Valiant Guard
Thought Hemorrhage
Mountain

Pack 1 pick 12:
Goblin Mountaineer
--> Monstrous Carabid
Dawnray Archer
Swamp

Pack 1 pick 13:
Onyx Goblet
--> Nacatl Savage
Island

Pack 1 pick 14:
--> Demonspine Whip
Plains

Pack 1 pick 15:
--> Magefire Wings

------ ALA ------

Pack 2 pick 1:
Goblin Deathraiders
Obelisk of Jund
Etherium Abomination
Blister Beetle
Soul's Grace
Toxic Iguanar
Traumatic Visions
Lapse of Certainty
Leonin Armorguard
Veinfire Borderpost
--> Skeletonize
Corrupted Roots
Jhessian Infiltrator
Memory Erosion
Forest

Pack 2 pick 2:
Obelisk of Naya
Thorn-Thrash Viashino
Mosstodon
Shore Snapper
Architects of Will
Vedalken Outlander
Rhox Bodyguard
Vedalken Ghoul
Leonin Armorguard
Angel's Herald
Fusion Elemental
--> Mage Slayer
Mark of Asylum
Island

Pack 2 pick 3:
Druid of the Anima
Forest (FOIL)
Etherium Sculptor
Viashino Skeleton
Sylvan Bounty
Faerie Mechanist
Sanctum Plowbeast
Violent Outburst
--> Scarland Thrinax
Skyclaw Thrash
Swerve
Skill Borrower
Forest

Pack 2 pick 4:
Bant Sojourners
Resounding Silence
Deathgreeter
Obelisk of Bant
Wandering Goblins
Parasitic Strix
Valeron Outlander
Vedalken Ghoul
--> Pale Recluse
Thunder-Thrash Elder
Jhessian Infiltrator
Forest

Pack 2 pick 5:
--> Vithian Stinger
Cylian Elf
Cathartic Adept
Zombie Outlander
Absorb Vis
Scattershot Archer
Godtracker of Jund
Naya Sojourners
Ignite Disorder
Nemesis of Reason
Plains

Pack 2 pick 6:
Jhessian Lookout
Wandering Goblins (FOIL)
Gustrider Exuberant
--> Jungle Weaver
Zombie Outlander
Mistvein Borderpost
Vectis Dominator
Voices from the Void
Rockslide Elemental
Island

Pack 2 pick 7:
Esper Panorama
Skeletal Kathari
Lush Growth
Rhox Bodyguard
Grixis Illusionist
Trace of Abundance
--> Terminate
Nacatl Hunt-Pride
Forest

Pack 2 pick 8:
Jhessian Lookout
Dregscape Zombie
Gustrider Exuberant
Bone Saw
Violent Outburst
Double Negative
--> Crumbling Necropolis
Swamp

Pack 2 pick 9:
--> Obelisk of Jund
Soul's Grace
Toxic Iguanar
Lapse of Certainty
Corrupted Roots
Memory Erosion
Forest

Pack 2 pick 10:
--> Thorn-Thrash Viashino
Shore Snapper
Architects of Will
Angel's Herald
Mark of Asylum
Island

Pack 2 pick 11:
--> Forest (FOIL)
Viashino Skeleton
Swerve
Skill Borrower
Forest

Pack 2 pick 12:
Deathgreeter
--> Wandering Goblins
Vedalken Ghoul
Forest

Pack 2 pick 13:
Cathartic Adept
--> Scattershot Archer
Plains

Pack 2 pick 14:
--> Vectis Dominator
Island

Pack 2 pick 15:
--> Forest

------ ALA ------

Pack 3 pick 1:
Gift of the Gargantuan
Angelsong
Spell Snip
--> Resounding Thunder
Naya Panorama
Yoke of the Damned
Matca Rioters
Canyon Minotaur
Gorger Wurm
Grizzled Leotau
Scavenger Drake
Kathari Remnant
Rockcaster Platoon
Blood Tyrant
Mountain

Pack 3 pick 2:
Savage Hunger
Glaze Fiend
Sigil Blessing
Resounding Wave
Aven Trailblazer
Mana Cylix
Wretched Banquet
Grixis Grimblade
Pale Recluse
Mighty Emergence
Aerie Mystics
Fire-Field Ogre
--> Deathbringer Thoctar
Swamp

Pack 3 pick 3:
Carrion Thrash
Court Archers
Rip-Clan Crasher
Courier's Capsule
Onyx Goblet
Marble Chalice
Kaleidostone
Sigiled Behemoth
Veinfire Borderpost
Grixis Slavedriver
Mind Funeral
--> Charnelhoard Wurm
Plains

Pack 3 pick 4:
Godtoucher
Tortoise Formation
Blightning
Knight of the Skyward Eye
Exploding Borders
Wandering Goblins
--> Nacatl Outlander
Wildfield Borderpost
Morbid Bloom
Angel's Herald
Thoughtcutter Agent
Island

Pack 3 pick 5:
Yoked Plowbeast
Cancel
--> Soul's Fire
Bant Panorama
Rakeclaw Gargantuan
Undead Leotau
Gleam of Resistance
Bone Saw
Sedraxis Alchemist
View from Above
Mountain

Pack 3 pick 6:
Cavern Thoctar
Ridge Rannet
Dispeller's Capsule
Obelisk of Grixis
Beacon Behemoth
--> Molten Frame
Protomatter Powder (FOIL)
Winged Coatl
Demon's Herald
Forest

Pack 3 pick 7:
Rakeclaw Gargantuan
Undead Leotau
Gift of the Gargantuan
Angelsong
Asha's Favor
--> Absorb Vis
Elder Mastery
Demonspine Whip
Mountain

Pack 3 pick 8:
Kederekt Creeper
Godtoucher
Tortoise Formation
--> Blightning
Toxic Iguanar
Worldly Counsel
Gluttonous Slime
Swamp

Pack 3 pick 9:
Angelsong
Spell Snip
Yoke of the Damned
Canyon Minotaur
--> Gorger Wurm
Rockcaster Platoon
Mountain

Pack 3 pick 10:
Savage Hunger
Glaze Fiend
--> Resounding Wave
Mana Cylix
Mighty Emergence
Swamp

Pack 3 pick 11:
--> Carrion Thrash
Onyx Goblet
Marble Chalice
Kaleidostone
Plains

Pack 3 pick 12:
Tortoise Formation
--> Wandering Goblins
Angel's Herald
Island

Pack 3 pick 13:
--> Bone Saw
View from Above
Mountain

Pack 3 pick 14:
--> Demon's Herald
Forest

Pack 3 pick 15:
--> Mountain



Lost R3 to vedalken ountlander