Tournament Report: Booster Draft at Pi-Con

Tournament Location: Pi-Con Convention, West Springfield MA.

Tournament Format: Time Spiral Block Booster Draft (non-sanctioned). Three rounds, round-robin.

Pi-Con had one Magic event, which ended up being a four-player Time Spiral Block booster draft. The tournament prize structure involved a re-draft at the end of the event, so I didn't get a chance to get a complete list of my deck down.

Suffice it to say that I went with four-color slivers, with the stars of the show being Necrotic Sliver, Pulmonic Sliver (particularly in combination with Necrotic Sliver), and Homing Sliver (usually cycled to fetch Gemstone Sliver to fix mana). Aside from the slivers, I had four saproling-generators including two Pallid Mycoderms and a Sporoloth Ancient, along with Dead/Gone, Word of Seizing, and Stingscourger, and Riddle of Lightning for removal.

Round 1 vs. G

In four-player draft, it's a lot easier to go monocolored. Opponent has drafted a solid green beatdown deck, and it's packing a Groundbreaker, which proceeds to smack me for six. She follows that up with an Uktabi Drake that starts hitting me for two each turn while I build up spore counters. I was building up a nice army of thallids on the ground, but had no defense against the flyer. When I finally managed to use Word of Seizing to take control of opponent's sliver and then sacrifice it (using the Necrotic Sliver ability) targeting the drake, opponent proceeded to regenerate the drake with Wrap in Vigor. In the end, though, Sporoloth Ancient hits the table and I run the opponent over with a horde of 5/5 saprolings for the win with me at 3 life remaining. Second game is easier as I get the slivers into play early and Pulmonic Sliver gives me the flying capabilities I was lacking in game 1. Opponent doesn't draw enough creatures and it's an easy win for me.

Results: I win 2-0.

Round 2 vs. U/W/B

This match goes pretty easily for me and it's all about the slivers. I manage to exploit the Pulmonic Sliver/Necrotic Sliver combo, and my only real problem is maneuvering around a couple of slivers on the opponent's side of the table. Word of Seizing pretty much solves that.

Results: I win 2-0.

Round 3 vs. U/R

Opponent's deck is loaded with removal and bounce and he's got some good efficient creatures. Coal Stoker early lets him bring out a second creature with the extra mana. In game 1, he gets me down to three life before I finally stabalize things and take control. Unfortunately he topdecks a Ghostfire. Game 2, the four-color thing finally catches up with me and I'm color-screwed. Opponent wins fast with creatures and burn.

Results: I lose 0-2.

Final results: Second place gives me second pick of the rares. I end up with Extirpate and Torchling and a couple of playable but not money-value rares.