Simon Says #6: Innistrad’s Color Pairs
November 10, 2011 by: Simon Goertzen
Introduction
Click the arrow to download the above video in .mp4 format.Draft and Deckbuilding
Click the arrow to download the above video in .mp4 format.Innistrad Draft, Round 1
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Simon Goertzen is back! Armed with a new title for his series, he is ready to explore the vast world of Innistrad Limited. Find out how Simon approaches an unknown format, hear what he has to say about the commons in each color, and join him in his first ever Innistrad Draft on Magic Online.
Check it Out!When you are lost in the woods, you can't tell where to go because you don't know where you are. The same applies to drafting, where your decision-making is guided by your feeling of position. Magic offers its five colors to guide you, but only very rarely will you have a definite idea of where your deck is heading. In order not to get lost, you need to understand, accept, and learn to cope with this uncertainty.
Check it Out!With Dark Ascension on the horizon, Simon Goertzen takes a look at the lessons learned while playing Innistrad Limited, and what to keep in mind for future Limited formats. This episode of Simon Says encourages you to do the same, and once everybody is done reflecting, it's time for another draft!
Check it Out!Simon Goertzen is back from Worlds, where seemingly everyone (including himself) tried to assemble the craziest possible Innistrad Limited decks. In order to rehabilitate, this episode of Simon Says covers the other side of the spectrum: Traditional quality-driven drafting. Find out how Simon fares with his strategy of taking powerful cards and moving into a dedicated control strategy early on!
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Check it Out!It's good to always be prepared, but what if things don't come together? This episode of Simon Says covers the need to improvise and to expect the unexpected. Hear what Simon Goertzen has to say about this underestimated topic and join him for a draft in which not everything goes according to plan!
Check it Out!With one last episode to close out the year, Simon Goertzen covers the broad topic of information advantage and its positive impact on your decision-making process. Applying this concept to the current Limited format, this episode of Simon Says covers the list of most-first-picked Innistrad commons on Magic Online. Join Simon for another draft and find out what he calls the big sleeper hit of Innistrad.
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Check it Out!Simon Says #5: Exploring Innistrad
Simon Says #16: Color Uncertainty
Simon Says #11: Lessons Learned
Simon Says #8: Conservative Drafting
Simon Says #7: Traitorous Blood
Simon Says #10: On the Fly
Simon Says #9: Information Advantage
Limited Resources: Innistrad Draft #9
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Limited Resources: Innistrad Draft #10
I’m pretty sure Mulch is the pick over Wreath of Gheists. You have no way to put Creatures into your yard before turn 3 and all your Drakes and Lhurgoyfs can’t be used before turn.
I second that. Mulch is great and no one takes em.
After playing with Wreath of Geists, I have to agree with you both. I’m glad I got to try out the uncommon aura in such a deck but Mulch would have added much more value and synergy.
Academy_PointsI love combodrafting. It’s cool and entertaining when it pays off. But I was a bit sad that Gnaw to the Bone didn’t get the cut. I was looking forward to see it in action in a deck like this. And I also noticed you would have won 2 of the games you lost if it was in there instead of Sensory Deprivation.
But entertaining videos, am looking forward for the next one.
Your deck was cool and synergistic but I still think that UG is one of the worst draft archetypes in Innistrad. I mean, your one was the nut selfmill deck and it still was somehow clunky. I had a very similar UG deck at GP Milan with 2 splinterfrights, some self-mill (mindshrieker, deranged assistant, the 1/4…) but that didn’t work out that great. The deck was fine and when it worked it made some filthy stuff, but it was much less consistent than it needed… With double splinterfright and cagebreaker, though, you definitely chose the right route in this draft!
Great draft Simon. You’ve quickly become one of my favorite drafters to watch. I like that you’ve tried the UG archetype; it’s something that I’ve been thinking of but never had an opportunity to make. I completely agree that spider spawning isn’t the put in all decks bomb that everyone makes it out to be. I think you may have to reevaluate inquisitor’s flail, with the right evasion/tap/unblockable/bounce cards (many of which you can pick up late) it is an absolute beating.
Very cool draft! That’s as good of a spawning as I’ve ever seen, too bad you couldn’t rip that last land to hold him off in the final game.
Your focus on the educational, especially in the intro videos, is something rare (mythic, perhaps?) in the draft video community. I only started drafting ’seriously’ during ROE, so I can tell you that they’re very helpful to the less experienced. Thank you for posting!
I would like to second what nolander said here. You explain your positions and choices very well for us limited noobs.
Thanks
also, what was up with that swamp!? never seen a singleton card show up so frequently in opening hands
Simon, your videos are certainly among the best on the web. Your detailed explanations show your innate talents as an educator. Your discipline and commitment to your strategy is inspiring! I don’t think I could’ve so easily passed the Brimstone Volley, much less the Devil’s Play! Bravo!
I enjoyed round 2, when you milled yourself to 0 and still won!
Who needs a Laboratory Manic card when you, the player is the Laboratory Maniac! Nice calculations.
Tough loss at the end, Simon! Thanks so much for your great commentary. Very educational.
Simon –
I adore your videos, but I do think it was a mistake R1G2 on Turn 9 not to attack with the viper and then 2nd mainphase your dudes. I don’t think you’re blocking the pitchburn cuz you don’t want the occultist to die.
Same thing on Turn 10! What am I missing here?
-Z
Thanks again for all the feedback and comments, I really appreciate it! You are the reason why I put so much effort into each of these videos
.
@Zach: Yes, I simply played too defensively these turns and missed 2-4 damage as a result. There was just too much stuff to think about, I believe that if my deck would have been any more complex I probably wouldn’t have been able to reasonably play and commentate at all!
Academy_PointsI would’ve taken the Runic Repetition over the second Lost in the Mist. If you pick up a Memory’s Journey it allows you to mill the entire deck without losing, which could be relevant with two splinterfrights.