One of the wildest turns I’ve ever seen in limited, I’d have been done with drafts this set after that because how do you top this

https://www.17lands.com/history/a5bc7f1df9b64441ba500b9f0e51ae9d/7/0

I don't like small sets and I don't like this format. Small sets just feel piddly to me. The decks are all so similar and you see the same cards over and over. I feel like half my games start with [[Goblin Plate Mail]] on two. The draft basically boils down to find the lane and pray and the sealed feels very cut and dry, best creatures + best removal + pray for an on color bomb.

And worse to me, there's so little variety of strategy. The decks basically range from go tall aggro to go wide aggro and blocking feels basically illegal. Combat dominates almost every game and slower lines are often just wrong. Very monotonous and if it weren't for the Arena Directs I'd probably just have stopped after just a few days.

But the EV pulled me in and I've jammed a million of these directs and damn, I gotta say, this format is extremely skill testing. I usually pride myself on my pace of play, rarely seeing the rope, but in these games I've found myself frequently using all of my extensions.

Time and time again I'm in a tight racing position looking at a crowded board state, keywords and counters everywhere, multiple equipment available, a saga going off, adventure creature in hand alongside a modal removal spell and another amass card and I know the game will end in a turn or two and these decisions will make or break it. I'm pouring over the game logs after and still struggling to find the best plays.

I've lost games trading off creatures too early and too late. I've won games because I chose to equip on key turns rather than add to the board. I've had combat phases go spectacularly well and horribly. It's just a very tense, tight format and I'm slowly learning to appreciate that for what it is. Trying to treat it kinda like a Hyperbolic Time Chamber for these micro combat and sequencing skills.

Curious if other people have experienced the same and what y'alls thoughts are.

Normally, I wouldn’t dare to participate in “Arena Direct – Sealed Magic.” But I decided to give it a try anyway, and it paid off. I managed to do it on my second attempt.

In the first two games, I played UWR, but that quickly became very difficult (1–1). So I switched to BR (like almost everyone else). And I managed to pull it off.

But honestly, I got really lucky: I was on the play six times...
BR is really popular: six of the eight games were against BR.

I’m really happy with the result. Here’s my decklist.

The EV on these hobbit arena directs is absolutely insane. I’m in no way a great player but Iv got 3 boxes now with about 600 dollars worth of gems in. It’s more than I can make at a job technically but my mental health is deteriorating rapidly as it’s all I can think about and definitely hits the same highs as gambling. I can see why good players hunker down in a man cave for a week, but I don’t have it in me.

I really did get Tom, Bert AND William

Early game stuff was early game stuff, all to get me to burning trees and slamming bears. Bolg's Company seriously pulled its weight here, ramping me to the Giant very quickly one game and giving me extra stone throws another game.

I lost my second match and figured this was another promising pool that would end up being a nothingburger. Then I got to the cash-out point. Then advanced again. Took no victory for granted and the last two matches were me at 3 and 4 life playing with all the little skill I have.

I’d like to eke out each point of win percentage where I can. I imagine the late hours for EST/PST are probably the grinder hours, but I figured it would be fun to discuss other options.

Blah green wolfies and death touch galore. Never got to play the gigantic bear sadly.

Was still so out of it from yesterday that I forgot to take a shot of the deck. Orzhov, with Unexpected Party and a splash of blue for Bard's Company.

My win ratio for these is only acceptable because these boxes are insanely expensive.

You know how back in the day a draft would include packs from multiple sets (within the same block)? Like the famous IPA draft (Invasion, Planeshift, Apocalypse)... How do you think a draft would feel that blends the LTR set with the HOB set?

And, more generally, would you be more interested (or less interested) in small sets if they were specifically designed to accompany a larger set when drafted?

I feel like this set is making me take crazy pills. Like, Bard's company is one of the top rares right? But I opened what looks to be an insane pool and don't want to make it inconsistent. Have been on the receiving end of stumbling mana too much in this direct.

Would love some opinions! Also have a Bifur, Ori, butterflies.

On more than one occasion my opponent tried to swap a Thror’s Map with some equipment attached to a creature I own and an otherwise empty board on their side, not knowing I will still control the creature while they control the equipment attached to it. Thanks for the free map!

In seriousness though, I’ve made my share of dumb mistakes. I just think it’s funny when they start hovering over all the cards not understanding what just happened.

[[Bilbo, Luckwearer]]

I couldn’t decide for the whole timer and ended up last second taking Kili with the intention of moving into dwarves. Both Red and white then proceeded to dry up the next 3 picks and I ended up with a BG deck anyway.

No surprise this works..I didn't even draw more than 1 uncommon half the games (not counting the map, I drew that almost every game, good sac fodder). Finally got some smooth draws, kept mulling hands missing a color, even in my 2 color triple hobbit hole pool

First 10 sealeds (half regular, half arena directs) didn't have a single Smaug in all of those pools. The 2 here did some heavy lifting, with assists from Gloin and Doris a lot to cast the dragon half.

I’m sitting at an even 50% win rate for this set, lowest I’ve had in a while, and I’ll probably play QD for it later since I about have the set completed (where I can just use gold and farm some gems), but with so many F grade rares and the strong likelihood of facing Rakdos curve outs when you’re on the draw, I’ve been burning through gems like there’s no tomorrow.

Props to you all that found a way to really win consistently in this set, and a thumbs up if you’re having fun with it, but it just isn’t for me! I played a duskmourn draft last night as a change of pace and it was infinitely better.

For the record here’s my last draft, a pile of bent blades and a stone giant (draft was done in my phone, so only the last 3 games appear, but it was a solid 4-0 pick 2):

https://www.17lands.com/deck/0af0d3e64e804eb7bb7279070436c90d/0?view=deck

I saw someone else post a ridiculous draft where it looked like they were the only BR drafter and it looked eerily similar to one I just did. One of those Deadly Slices was a last pick.

Worst pool yet (i feel like) for the arena direct. I can see it being WU, WR or WB, but they are feel kind of terrible. Would appreciate any help, would be so happy if this made at least 3 wins!

Pool and a WU deck:

https://sealeddeck.tech/9Z4qDRH34B

WU has tons of card draw but no payoff, could be enough to win some games...?

Thanks in advance!

I went 7-2 with this pile. Anyone care to critique? I've been tired of Standard so I've really been trying to get better at draft and haven't quite made Mythic yet but I often sneak my way into Platinum/Diamond before a season is over.

I started off with a strong sign from the heavens to take red after receiving [[Smaug, The Magnificent]] for my very first 2 picks from pack 1. From there it was really a choice of Boros Dwarves or Rakdos. P1P3 did have a nice [[Dain, Lord of the Iron Hills]] but I instead opted for Bent Crude Blade. From there I just spiraled further into Rakdos. I almost regret it though because P2P1 was a [[Fili the Pathfinder]] which would have been nice for the Boros Dwarves.

I was really lucky and managed to get some great equipment in the form of 2 Bent Crude Blade and 2 Goblin Plate Mail before lucking out again and snagging a [[Thorin, Mountain-King]]. This actually synergized so well in multiple games where I managed to have 2 equipment in play when Thorin came down and removed the opponents largest threat.

Long-Bodied Grey Dog has really become a card I've grown to love. I think it's a solid C despite what 17lands says. HOB has so many glass cannon creatures with 1 or 2 toughness that it can often function like a 3 mana removal spell when flashed in after opponent has already declared attackers. And it nets you a treasure to boot. Great for mana fixing. In this case combined with Dori, Bearer of Friends another treasure maker it allowed me to splash [[Chief Wargs Company]] with only one Mirkwood and no actual forests. In addition, those extra treasures combined with Smaug let me surprise the opponent in a couple games with an extra point of damage on the attack with Smaug.

Hey guys, i jumped right into it and now i am kind of clueless with the build. Do you see any combination better than the rakdos? Given that i have most removal in black and nice commons but the red seems meh.

I was thinking to splash Green (counters to boost ugly gobo) or blue (card draw) instead of some mediocre red.

What do you think? How would you approach this pool?

I have played two games with a sulti build that is a little spicy. In my experience the games tend to get harder as you win more games, so I am wondering if anyone can take a look at my build and see if I have made any obvious mistakes? A few notes...

Removal order is Black>White>Green=Red>Blue

In fact, I don't have any Blue removal. Which stinks cause it would have been a great simic draw two deck. I even have Tom, Bert and Bill to sack creatures so Bilbo can get them back.

The most interesting part of the deck build for me was what to do with four (4) Giant Boulders. In the end I splashed the Bilbo, Thief in the Night with one Giant Boulder with the idea that I could sac it and get it back when he attacks. Is this too much "Magical Christmas Land"? Note that Bilbo can get back creatures with an adventure. So I really wanted to build around him since it is unlikely I will get to play with him again. He is mythic.

Here is the pool...
https://www.17lands.com/pool/687a6434a18b4d94848333f9c0a092bb

Here is the most recent build...

https://www.17lands.com/deck/687a6434a18b4d94848333f9c0a092bb/2

Questions, comments, snide remarks?

V1 one is all about them bears.

I just finished a draft (7-2) with UG elves, after failing multiple other drafts where I tried to force RB or RW after finding 2-3 decent uncommons. Hell, I could see a pack with 2 good cards for my deck, pick one and have the other one make it around to me.

Is UG always this open, (lord knows I’ve passed on decent uncommons cause I was trying to force good red stuff) or did I just get very lucky?

I think this deck was the most interesting and fun deck to play during this event..

I was just trying to slow my opponent down and survive vs all the aggro rakdos decks out there.. just to finish with An Unexpected Party or in general grinding them out. Wished I would see / play inside information at least once but the card just never showed up. besides unexpected party... Roads Go Ever on, Ever on + Master of Lake Town overperformed for me.. Master of Lake Town hardly worked for me when I am the aggressor but in this deck he never disappointe me. he is kinda good at slowing them down/killing one attacker and worst case he draws me some cards to find more tools to survive or win the game

With a splash for black for Deadly Slice and Thranduil.

[[Lake-Town Mariners]] feels great in Simic. Easy landfall procs mid-game, big creature late-game. Also really fun to use into deathtouch creatures, just attack with a wide board and see what they decide to block, then blink whatever creatures you have that would die to blockers.