Pack 2, Pick 12

Deepwater Hypnotist
Great Hart
Retraction Helix
Forest

Missing from this pack:

Black:
Drown in Sorrow
Claim of Erebos
Weight of the Underworld

Blue:
None

Green:
Aspect of Hydra

Red:
Pharagax Giant

White:
Excoriate
Nyxborn Shieldmate

+1 Deepwater Hypnotist , although shouldn't this be the autodraft portion of the draft already?

Wow, some group(s) decided to take drown in sorrow or claim of erebos over deepwater and retraction helix? Whoever is making an inspired deck might be getting these deepwater's we're passing, so I think we should pick that, and I've never seen a helix this late in a pack, I am very shocked.

+1 Deepwater Hypnotist.

And someone is making a green heavy deck too from the Aspect of Hydra pick - or they don't realize how situational of a card it is

How in the world is Retraction Helix in this pack? That card is first pickable in some packs. We're getting it 12th? I don't honestly think that's a debate. The card is as tempo as all get out, lots of utility, good to push damage as long as we've got two guys on board, fine as a heroic enabler, etc. etc.

Retraction Helix x 50.

Right, i've first-picked retraction helix several times. I think I just like debating and defending cards for fun, but you are right that there shouldn't be a debate about it. But I am sure that there has been a first-pick King Macar, the Gold-Cursed from pack 1, and that is why claim of erebos has been picked. Helix is actually an even better insane card with the king.

-1 Deepwater Hypnotist

+1 Retraction Helix

+1 Retraction Helix

Unsummon that triggers heroic.

Someone picked a Crypsis from our last pack, further evidence of a possible King Macar. but they did not pick the helix from this one; I think they are to our left and just decided to pick claim of erebos over the helix, that's the only reasoning I can think of for the late helix. Also, somone chose a giant, which means no one is going Izzet unless they were desperate for creatures. There were only 3 playable creatures from this pack after we chose the Noble Quarry which could explain the late helix pick.

The better pick is the heroic triggering bounce spell. Sorry hypnotist.

+1 Retraction Helix

Just to name the inspired cards that we've passed:
Disciple of Deceit , 2x Deepwater Hypnotist , Kragma Butcher , Servant of Tymaret , Pheres-Band Tromper , Sphinx's Disciple , and Warchanter of Mogis .

Is there a group making a dedicated inspired deck? Maybe. Does that group have King Macar? It's possible. But so what? They have to be able to tap their dudes first for them to get any value. If we're playing a R/G aggressive deck with creatures they have to block or they'll just die, and splashing blue for tempo (bounce spells) to deal with their best creatures, we're going to have an advantage in board presence.

What are the chances someone has both King Macar, the Gold-Cursed and Phenax, God of Deception ?

I can't imagine anyone realistically putting together an Inspired deck.

You could make a pretty good deck with the King and Siren of the Silent Song. Crypsis, and claim of erebos, and hope for Aqueous Form next pack and you have some very solid combos.

I expect there's just been a lot of grabbing the best on-color card at this point.

So does anybody have any dream choices for what rare we'll open at the top of next round?

Nylea, God of the Hunt or Purphoros, God of the Forge would be great. Of course Stormbreath Dragon and Polukranos, World Eater would be over the top. Basically any of the nice RG cards would be insane. Another Xenagos in the form of Xenagos, The Reveler wouldn't be amiss either.

You know what I want?

Temple of Abandon

All solid choices, as well as the god weapons. In this case I'm talking about Bow of Nylea and Hammer of Purphoros . And if we get the hammer, everyone will know what time it is...

For non-mythic rares, I like Polis Crusher here. Boon Satyr would be awesome, and I think Sylvan Caryatid is a pick 1 also.

hey guys, sorry for the short hiatus as apparently i was unsubscribed for awhile... anyways, i think helix is better here because its tempo, what our deck is, and for the small possibility of drawing it late game with thassa's ire, it could be a game changer. but thats maybe one of the many games we'll be playing haha

+1 retraction helix

So here's another one for to chew on during downtime:

Our blue cards. Assuming that blue will only be a splash, if we don't pick up more mana fixing then how many of our blue cards do you see us running? And which ones?

It's entirely possible that we'll pick up enough red and green in round 3 to go only those colors, so we can be highly selective on blue. What do we like?

I can see us running Hubris , maybe Stormchaser Chimera if we need air threats, but nothing else.

I like Hubris , Retraction Helix , and Stormchaser Chimera . Also possibly siding in Vortex Elemental against decks with large tramplers.

Reasons:
1. Hubris and Retraction Helix are tempo cards, and pseudo-removal.
2. Stormchaser Chimera has what I would say in an "every other turn" ability. It's expensive, but in the mid-game we use it once to set up our draw. Then the next turn we play that card. Then the next turn we do it again. In the late game, when we're sitting on 8+ lands, then it turns into an "every turn" ability.
3. Siding in Vortex Elemental is another tempo-like play. And getting rid of the opponents best creature that we can't answer is always a nice deterrent to keep them from attacking.

I would concur with dcarpntr. I hadn't considered activating the Chimera twice in a turn. That's pretty nice indeed.

I think playing Triton Shorestalker against decks that can't deal with it might score us a good chunk of damage too.