Forced Adaptation was an allstar for me at my pre-release so I'm in love with it so that gets my vote.

That or Rapid Hybridization . Removal is removal.

Frontline Medic . It might be off color with our last pick but it's a good card and it's best to keep ourselves open for now in case green gets drafted heavily. We can always move back into green if we need to but it's the best card in the pack and it's very very early. Besides, our only real options are Rapid Hybridization and AEtherize . Both are fine cards but Medic is just better, and again, we're not committed to Simic yet.

Frontline... there's a debate here?

In terms of raw power, Frontline Medic wins hands down. Unfortunately, it's completely at odds with Gyre Sage in terms of color. With the best case being Boros splashing Gruul or vice versa. The best alternative is to stay in green and go with Scab-Clan Charger . However it's early enough so I say Frontline Medic .

I think Frontline Medic is the best card in the pack but Rapid Hybridization and AEtherize are close enough to it that I could see either one of them instead since they go better with our first pick. I think I'm inclined to favour AEtherize here since it's more powerful (and also we don't want it played against us if we go Simic which gives a tiny edge to it as well).

Oh, nevermind, I missed the fact that it was a continuation of the previous one. But I would have picked Syndic of Tithes previously regardless.

Frontline Medic is the pick here, I'm pretty sure. Even though we passed the Sunhome Guildmage last pack, the Medic creates some unbelievably awkward combats.

Unless there was a foil, what is the Frontline doing there?!

I definitely think you're early enough to jump on it. Frontline Medic all the way.

If you want to try and force Simic, I'd go AEtherize as the backup, but that is a big step down.

Frontline Medic for sure, as early as it is. If this were a for keeps draft it would be worth it to get the medic. IF one has to be strictly simic, Rapid Hybridization makes for a great combat combo, as it can trigger evolve beyond removal. I Find myself often playing Hydroform /Rapid Hybridization combo to get a creature i could keep.

i'm a little partial to AEtherize doesn't require you to have a creature out already, and it could make your opponent effectively slow down by 2 turns of attack, which should be long enough to build your defenses or go in for an all out attack.

Frontline. Next.

Ugh, why'd we take Gyre Sage ?!

AEtherize devastates battalions (Of which, we'll see quite a few of). It can be a real game changer. I'd under estimate it at our own peril. Additionally, our pilot is also very much at home with control. This steers us to Simic with options to do Simic/Gruul or Simic/Dimir.

Frontline Medic is a fantastic card too. Tough choice. I don't think he'd be all that hard to splash in. In draft you'll very likely end up in three colors anyways. Grabbing him steers us towards Gruul/Boros.

Neither of these locks us in to any color of course since we do not have to use them. But, if we don't that makes this a dead draft pick.

My vote goes with AEtherize here. It's fantastic and it's in the pilot's wheelhouse.

Frontline Medic , not even close.

We haven't committed to colors yet, so it is completely okay.

I don't understand why people are going "OMG Gyre Sage has Evolve therefore we must go Simic." That's really not how it works...

I'd say AEtherize offers the biggest game-changing power. The Frontline Medic is very cost effective and has a great effect, but it isn't exactly a "bomb" card. AEtherize offers you the chance to turn total defeat into victory (not to mention that it would hose Frontline Medic should they come face to face by some twist of fate). I'd also say it fits KrazyCaleys playstyle more. The mind games that could be unleashed in games after people know this card is being played are worth it.

It's only the 2nd pick. Like Glen654 said, we haven't committed to which colors we're playing yet. We take the BEST card we're passed in this pack, and probably in the next pack as well before we decide what we're doing.

Frontline Medic

I grabbed Sunhome first, so Medic for sure.

@lucasbuffalo: pretty sure this is consensus picks and cumulative, so "our" first pick was Gyre Sage . I think the process will work better (and give this deck more of a chance) if we follow the explained rules.

I think Frontline Medic is the pick here. AEtherize comes in a close second and Rapid Hybridization third, but it's early enough to take the Medic, if only so that no one else can have it.

AEtherize .

The medic is REALLY good in constructed, but only Really good in Limited. AEtherize is a bomb.

Frontline Medic . Shame about Sunhome, but no use crying over spilt milk. What the heck did number 8 pick? Will we get to know this?

landgrafb says it well. The Frontline Medic is awesome in certain situations, but those situations may be exceeding difficult to manufacture and maintain in a draft deck. AEtherize is powerful all by its lonesome.

i gotta say AEtherize here. and not just because we chose the sage first, but because this will absolutely turn the game in your favor the medic is good, but he is not really that amazing. In passing the medic we all but ensure the person to our left is going to run boros, which is information we can then abuse a few picks later. I also puts us in a good position to run BUG control, which our pilot wants.

KrazyCaley as we move along with this, can you put our previous picks in the OP? just so we can easily see what is in our pool so far. Thanks in advance

Although Frontline Medic is an awesome card, Boros decks are extremely hard to build in draft because everyone wants to pick them. In the last pack, Gyre Sage seemed to be the most popular. Forced Adaptation is an awesome card because it still leaves options open for both Simic and Gruul. Gyre Sage plus Forced Adaptation is a pretty awesome combo. This will leave you open for both Simic and Gruul.

My vote goes to Forced Adaptation

Knight Watch to go with the sweet boros guildmage we just got. It helps turn on battalion and is a pretty good value for 2 vigilant bears.

It may help if some of the newer members here read the old DDD articles. If not to learn the process, then to see how much fun we have.

http://tappedout.net/mtg-articles/categories/daily-draft-debate/

We're far from locked into a color at this point. IMO, there's no sense even thinking about the last pick. This pack is wide open. BREAD is our best guide.

I could go either way: AEtherize or Frontline Medic . I'll vote if it gets close. Right now, I'm too lazy to think it through.

@BrennanMcCabe: Our pick was Gyre Sage not Sunhome Guildmage .

@SupremeAlliesCommander: Forgive my ignorance but, what is BREAD?

Bread is a rule of thumb for drafting priorities. In descending order of importance:

1. Bombs
2. Removal
3. Evasion (i.e., flying)
4. card Advantae
5. Defense

Thank you!

@apt142 BREAD is a guide for drafting.

Bombs

Removal

Efficient Spells/Evasion: Flyers, or combat tricks like Giant Growth

Aggro: low drop, efficient creatures that can swing well for their mana cost

Dreg: The scrap cards

I'm gonna be the wierd person that votes for Scorchwalker .

Unless there is some serious reason to not pick the frontline medic, that is the obvious choice.

Even if it isnt in our colors, we still dont want to play against it.

Aggro: Frontline Medic gets the vote.

Midrangey Aggro: Forced Adaptation gets the vote.

Midrangey control: Rapid Hybridization gets the vote.

It all depends on what you want to run.

Frontline Medic all the way.Huge body at that cost, relevant ability, AND do you really wanna give the guy to our left a Sunhome Guildmage followed by the medic?

I advocated taking the Sunhome Guildmage or Syndic of Tithes last pick and it already looks like it would have payed off. Take the Frontline Medic and you've got a strong Boros backbone.

AEtherize all the way. That card breaks backs and wins games. Bounce is effective against Battalion (ALL the attackers), Bloodrush (whoops they lost a card), Evolve (good bye counters!), AND Cipher (encode-be-gone). Even Orzhov occasonally likes to run out auras on its creatures.

AEtherize varies between being a bomb and being solid removal. Definitely not something you should pass over just to try to deprive ONE opponent of ONE solid card. Hate drafting this early is only going to hurt us in the long run.

AEtherize , not only because of our previous pick, but because it's a complete bomb in a situation against any kind of aggro, which is likely to happen because many people will draft Boros.

Seeing as how we were passed a Frontline Medic , there's a good chance the guy to our left isn't going boros. So we might be able to pick up more strong boros cards as he passes them. I would hardly call it "hate-drafting" this early.

Frontline Medic imho.

Hmm, well assuming we're drafting for fun (i.e not hate drafting) my eyes are personally looking at AEtherize, Forced Adaptation, and Rapid Hybridization. For me personally when I draft simic I'm looking for the mid game, with some good evolve creatures in play, and loving doses of +1/+1 counters through enchantments or other plays.

My thoughts on each of these cards individually:With our first pick, I see mana ramp as well as (though not primarily) creature beating potential. While AEtherize may be a bomb against agro decks like boros and gruul, it is somewhat situational, I feel, as it could only be considered a bomb in the instance of it wrecking their creature state; either returning all their attacking creatures in the case of boros, or the few HUGE creatures bearing down on me in the case of gruul. I also understand that if you're getting milled out by Dimir, or in a simic battle the best play is to just out play them playing the best game you can.

Forced Adaptation is just fun. No if's ands or buts about it, it's just good solid fun. And I have to give credit to WoTC, for making the enchantments not complete two-for-ones this time around; as most of them have relatively good powers to compencate for the fact that are enchantments. And with Naturalize in the format, I might take Adaptation as a prime side card to bring in in the first game against someone, knowing they'll sideboard against it in the second, to at least get the first game on them, and possibly break board lockups because every turn, unless it gets killed, I have an increasingly large creature with upside on the field. That sort of mana coming out of Gyre Sage means that if we splash for any big creatures later on, we have the ability to bring them out all the easier.

Rapid Hybridization. Oh hello there Pongify, long time no see. Also...FROG LIZARDS! WONDERFUL SIMIC HOW I LOVE THEE..

Ok serious face back on, solid removal is awesome, and with only two really 'decent' counterspells in the limited format turning their primordial of doom into a 3/3 is pretty awesome.

So for me, my pick goes with Rapid Hybridization, with Forced Adaptation as a close second pick.

@ TheBearShaker - Yeah, I usually do, completely forgot this time.

I do agree that medic is the pick, but I definitely think I'd take the charger otherwise. Aetherize is over-rated in my opinion.

AEtherize is the best pick for the deck, allows for a powerful removal spell that IMO can be even be run in standard as a tech. Frontline Medic might have been a good choice if we had pick Syndic of Tithes but I would had still sided for AEtherize since it is too good for this kind of 'game mode'. Synergies very well with Gyre Sage mana boost for surprise buffs.

AEtherize is the best pick for the deck, allows for a powerful removal spell that IMO can be even be run in standard as a tech. Frontline Medic might have been a good choice if we had pick Syndic of Tithes but I would had still sided for AEtherize since it is too good for this kind of 'game mode'. Synergies very well with Gyre Sage mana boost for surprise buffs.

Frontline Medic .

We had no way of knowing we'd get passed a white rare, so don't complain that we should have picked Syndic or Sunhome, even though I agree that both of those would have been better picks.

I'm inexperienced at drafting, but here's my thoughts.

If it's like everyone says it is and Boros is such a popular pick, then I think AEtherize is the choice to go with. It removes all their attackers which can be thought of as around 3 because of battalion stuff.

I don't see the point of Rapid Hybridization though, I mean, I get it's a one-drop destory target in blue which is rare but they get a 3/3... to me this seems awful.

Forced Adaptation is good if you get it early to mid game but late game it's meh. Because it's situational and provides no immediate bonus I'm against it.

Frontline Medic requires 3 attackers, which is... hard? Maybe? I don't know. In all actuality I'd pick this because I feel comfortable playing white decks.

Final choice: Frontline Medic for it's 2C cost and being a 3/3 for 3 with awesome abilities. (it can also trigger the gyre sage)

Frontline Medic . We haven't made enough picks yet to be stuck to any one colour. Its a solid 3/3. Can cause a whole host of problems with battalion and only costs one white which doesn't make him restrictive in a 2/3 colour deck.

I'm in the Frontline Medic camp. It's too soon to color commit, and Medic presents a decent threat that I definitely don't want another Boros player to get.

I vote for Frontline Medic as its too strong not to pick and you never want to edge the player to your left into boros if you can help it. Boros is really great in this format.

It would be great if we could have a list of all previous picks at the beginning of each new article.

and to those saying its off color, its the second pick of the draft, and we have two powerful cards with single-mana requirements that work ok together, in an environment where 3 color drafting is very easy. a Prophetic Prism if we need to. YOu could abandon these at any time, but its important that no-one else gets a bomby card like this.

All I know is that someone in the draft is going to pick up AEtherize if we choose Frontline Medic and will reduce the effectiveness of the card by letting such a card that is an easy counter through. AEtherize is really strong with a mechanic like Battalion in this draft, so we should definitely keep it in mind as we make our choices.

The problem is, is that we are much less likely to get passed good Boros cards because of how sought after they are in Draft.

I would have to go with the AEtherize here. Though I did go with the Boros card Sunhome Guildmage in the last pick, I believe AEtherize or Rapid Hybridization would be a better pick. First off, if you take Frontline Medic somebody else is likely to take the Aetherize and facing that would slow you down a couple of turns. The Aetherize will open the opponent up for at least one turn for you to attack and deal some damage or to get set up for something else. If we had taken the guildmage, I would vote for the medic because then you would be able to pump out creatures for the medic's ability using the mage.

Once again: My vote is for AEtherize

Lee must have decided to take some sort of common removal spell, probably in black.

I'm beginning to think maybe Gyre Sage was a mistake.

I vote Frontline Medic . It's ability is too relevant in limited, and we aren't color committed yet. In fact, Frontline Medic is probably stronger the Gyre Sage . We don't necessarily have to abandon it either, although we might have to. AEtherize , while good, isn't good enough to j

Lee must have decided to take some sort of common removal spell, probably in black.

I'm beginning to think maybe Gyre Sage was a mistake.

I vote Frontline Medic . It's ability is too relevant in limited, and we aren't color committed yet. In fact, Frontline Medic is probably stronger the Gyre Sage . We don't necessarily have to abandon it either, although we might have to. AEtherize , while good, isn't good enough to j

I'm not a fan of Rapid Hybridization in this format. With Bloodrush, Battalion and Evolve kicking around, turning a dude into a vanilla 3/3 is just not going to hurt your opponent much a large percentage of the time.

Gyre Sage is a good combo with Forced Adaptation, as has been noted. It's also a good combo with other Simic cards that care about +1/+1.

Still, second pick it's too early to be locked into a deck. I'm with the Frontline Medic crowd. That card is excellent. And heck--ain't no rule says you can't draft Selesnya in Gatecrash.

(We should not draft Selesnya)

Frontline Medic

I have always run Aggro on drafts so hes a beast with the previous Sunhome Guildmage I picked

Frontline Medic is the clear decision. Next.

Dang, that was quick!