Last night I was involved in a Rise of the Eldrazi draft event. This was my deck:
WHITE
Linvala, Keeper of Silence
Guard Duty
Hyena Umbra
Dawnglare Invoker
GREEN
Kazandu Tuskcaller
Wildheart Invoker
Growth Spasm
Daggerback Basilisk
Beastbreaker of Bala Ged
Boar Umbra
Pelakka Wurm
Naturalize
Nest Invader x3
Kozilek Predator
RED
Brood Birthing x2
Raid Bombardment x2
COLORLESS
Runed Servitor x2
Artisan of Kozilek
Ulamog's Crusher
LAND
Mountain x3
Forest x7
Planis x6
I had other white stuff I could have run, such as some Lone Missionaries and a Caravan escort, but with 4 guys who made Eldrazi Spawn, I felt that the Brood Birthings were worth running. I actually could have run a third Birthing, but I felt that the Raid Bombardments might be a nice stalemate breaker, and I had 9 guys with power 2 (counting the Beastbreaker). As we'll see later, that paid off.
Round 1, I went 2-1 against a Defender deck with three Vent Sentinels. Game 1, I got out the Tuskcaller, and he didn't get out a Vent Sentinel quick enough. I stomped him to death with Elephants, though he did manage chip away at my life. Game 2, I misplayed. I was at 12 and had out a Nest Invader, Wildheart Invoker, a couple Eldrazi Spawn, and the Wurm. He was at 9, with 5 defenders out. Two of them were Vent Sentinels. Rather than swinging into his walls (which I should have done to a force him to block and lose a guy), I played Dawnglare Invoker so that I could win definitively on my next turn. Instead, he topdecked another Defender, dropped it, and hit double Sentinel for the win. Game Three, I got out the Wurm and some Invaders really fast. I stomped him to death before he could do anything. I win 2-1.
Round 2, I played against a fast Blue/Green deck with Vengevine. Game 1, I had out Tuskcaller on turn 2. He had no bounce, so I eventually swarmed him. Game 2 was close, and my opponent only won because I was nice. He had out Renegade Doppelganger and played an Ondu Giant, never declaring that he was having the Doppelganger become the Giant. Then he declared he was attacking with Vengevine and a 2/4 Doppelganger. I chastised him, but let him do it. My Invoker was forced to chump block it and die, while my Wurm killed his Vengevine. Next turn, I didn't draw another creature. He dropped a Predator, and swung in with Giant and a 3/3 Doppleganger. I blocked the Giant, and Doppelganger got Might of the Masses for the win. Game 3 was also close, and I won on an opponent misplay. Opponent tried to play Unified Will when he couldn't, then assumed he'd never be able to play it and missed a key opportunity to play it. I win 2-1.
Round 3 comes down to me and the best player at the tournament. Winner gets firstplace. I win the roll and go first. I drop turn 2, Beast Breaker. Turn 3, I level it and swing for 4 into an empty board. Turn 4, I drop a Predator. Turn 5, I have out the Wurm. My opponent has stuff out by now, most notably the blue leveler who forks spells... and he's active at the first tier. After eating Wurm damage once, he Flame Slashes it and forks it, killing the Wurm. He's starting to game a little momentum. Next turn, I drop a Nest Invader and play Birthing Brood. Opponent taps out to place the red Tim leveler and bring his blue leveler up to full force. He is now tapped out. This is awesome for me, because this guy ALWAYS has counter magic. I play Artisan of Kozilek, retrieving my Wurm. Opponent takes his draw, probably hoping for a Heat Ray. He doesn't get it, and scoops.
But Game 2 is the story that he'll be telling people for the next week or so. I'm on the play and my hand is much slower than before. I get a Turn 2 Nest Invader and Turn 3 Birthing Brooder, then I get a Predator, which is promptly slashed. Meanwhile, my opponent has out two Black levelers and that damn Fork guy again. I have 6 Eldrazi spawn and neither of my ridiculous Eldrazi guys are in my hand, I don't have the third green mana necessary to cast the Wurm. But I do have my second Raid Bombardment, and I play. I swing with a 2/2 and six 0/1s. Both Raid Bombardments trigger, and he takes 14 damage on. His black levelers are still 1/1s at this point, and his Fork mage is tapped out from swinging. He blocks 2 0/1, and takes another 2. He goes down to 4. I'm down to 4 Eldrazi and the Invader. Next turn he Staggershocks and copies it, taking out Nest Invader and an Eldrazi. But I still have three guys, and swing in for 6 more Raid Bombardment damage and the win on Turn 6. My opponent is annoyed, confused, and impressed.
And so, the unnecessary red cards in my deck ended up winning me the tournament.
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