NEVER Draft These Cards in Thunder Junction Draft!

[@NicolaiBolas]

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[@JordyShortRibs]

i really love this set but damn I have been struggling with it

[@Redpoppy80]

Me too. I have a win rate less than 33% in this format. More often than not, I just go 0 and 3.

[@NicolaiBolas]

It can be challenging for sure. The cards are pretty complex and the gameplay is quite skill intensive in my opinion because of the modality with a lot of the Plot cards and things like that. I definitely found myself losing games early in the format that I felt I could have won if I’d done things differently. I’ve got a few videos like my Draft Meta Update that might help you out, as well as some gameplay videos of decks that found success. I’ll try to brainstorm some other videos I can make to help out folks who are struggling. Thanks for letting me know!

[@Redpoppy80]

@@NicolaiBolas You would have to be very creative to be able to help someone like me do better. I have to rare draft or else it is an outright waste of money which leaves me with none of the actual good cards in this format. Combined with my horrible skill level and I don't see how I will ever get better. MTG really needs a far more sterile way to just gauge yourself against the same deck, same opponent to see what people do right and wrong. I just spend most of my time on Bot Play but those decks are far too simple to pose a challenge, but people are too variable, and decks are too numerous to learn anything either.

[@JordyShortRibs]

@@NicolaiBolas its such a crazy format..i keep thinking i have the most bad ass deck ever and it then i get smoked lol..i normally do really well consistently. i can tell wizards are getting good at creating a solid limited format

[@waynewells7471]

I’ve won 6, once. No 7 wins and probably 3 win average

[@Daltron5K]

I went diamond last season in draft, mythic in constructed. IN a vacuum I agree with all the cards individually. but some of them I have won with on their back alone. I think that taking into consideration your deck identity. I personally have lost too, and won with, both those red enchantments.

[@Xylol1337]

funny the overzealous muscle overperformed in pro tour limited

[@naltaca]

Which video is this?

[@nicholasabraham259]

@@naltacathere are livestream VODs I’m sure you can find on twitch and KZbin or the pro tour draft

[@NicolaiBolas]

That’s interesting. I don’t know the specifics of what you’re referring to because I didn’t see that part of coverage myself, but I do think pro tour limited is a bit different from a normal pod. Every player is great and knows the good cards, so the quality playables dry up a lot more quickly. As a result, you often see pros playing cards they would normally leave on the sidelines, so I would caution folks against thinking a card is good just because a pro put it in their deck (which I know isn’t what you’re saying, but I figured I’d add that tidbit for folks who were curious, as it’s an easy trap to fall into). The pro tour is also a small sample size so it is more likely for there to be random variance in card performance. Finally, the cards are being wielded by the best players in the world, so those players are more likely to find homes for niche cards or bad cards that make them look a little better (which is part of the fun of the Pro Tour). I do think if you asked the pros about it though, none of them are prioritizing Overzealous Muscle. I did say it’s probably the best of these bad cards, but it’s still bad. There are just much better spells to be playing. As a simple exercise, compare it to other common 5 drops in the format and the comparison does not go well for Overzealous Muscle. Thanks for bringing up an interesting topic!

[@lennartvandereijk6126]

@@NicolaiBolas While I wouldn't pick an Overzealous Muscle earlier than pick 8( and hope to have better choices), I feel it's better than something to never draft. Understandabably you would want 10 cards rather than 9, but for the most playable card of 10 OTJ cards you should never draft I feel Rodeo Pyromancers would be better served.

[@dickdeoreo]

It’s certainly not an unplayable card

[@danielwilson8495]

I like the muscle in green black with back for more.

[@meaningfulmindfulness15]

I did that! 🤟

[@0rcd0c]

Would be great to have a list like this for cards that look bad but can be okay depending on the circumstances. One example is Boom Box. A bad card on the surface but sometimes you just couldn't get enough or any removal and it's a card that's available to every color and oftentimes passed on the wheel. It was also interesting to see a lot of opponents overreact to it. It often eats a removal or the opponent delays their best play in fear it would destroy their bomb.

[@NicolaiBolas]

This video seemed to be helpful so I’m definitely thinking of other lists I could make in this vein.

[@seilaoquemvc2]

Neutralize the Guards is not that bad.... it's instant, it makes trades into favorable blocks, it makes for nice card selections, it clears the battalion of mercenary tokens, it actually can be a nice tempo swing if you're being attacked by 4 dudes or something. sure it's not good and all but I doubt it's fair to put it together alongside the other stuff in this list.

[@NicolaiBolas]

I made this list based on my experience, and my experience is that even though the card doesn’t look as bad, I’ve never wanted to put it in my deck and I’ve never seen it cast by my highly ranked opponents. It feels like a card you could maybe sideboard in highly specific matchups, but I just don’t think it’s worth drafting.

[@michaelpolgar7420]

I do agree with every card but the Sheriff, it has performed great for me. Been casting it as a 5/5, 7/7. Learned the hard way that bovine intervention is a really bad card. 😅 Had 2 in a deck and hated it every time a drew it. 😂

[@DoctorV_]

No wonder i dropped 0-2 today, basically all these cards are in my sultai deck 😢

[@NicolaiBolas]

I’m glad to be able to provide some tips.

[@aminqasim9150]

fun fact i lost/won against/using those cards at least once, and i really like that, limited is going towards the path that no card is unplayable. but i agree in most cases dont draft those cards.

[@NicolaiBolas]

I also think it’s cool that most cards have a home somewhere! The bar for a “bad” card is a lot higher than it once was!

[@aaronlindo6853]

I've been forced to play a few of these before and was not happy about it. Ogre has been an ok card in some lists. I don't think Ogre is in the actual bottom 10, but a lot of these certainly are. I had to play bovine intervention a couple times in GW because I couldn't find any good removal. I think the hottest take I have on this is I actually think neutralize the guards is better than Caught in the Crossfire in this format. I think Crossfire may be the biggest trap because of how good this effect USUALLY is in draft formats but man is it a stinker in Junction, especially in Bo1.

[@NicolaiBolas]

I’m glad you found the list helpful. Ogre is a card that several players are telling me they’ve played, but I still haven’t seen it in practice really.

[@SuperF16-h4r]

I’ve drafted for the first time yesterday and turns out I have drafted 3 of these cards

[@NicolaiBolas]

Everyone starts somewhere!

[@artofstorytelling9406]

I won 1 or 2 games on a 5-3 run with the vault buster

[@xyPitFighter]

Awesome video idea ❤ i am not sure about silver deputy. Is it. That bad? At least in comiiting crime deck and dual deserts it has a home imo. Also the black spell which gives -1/-1 i liked. Survival 2 is close to draw one and in 🪦 synergy decks (green/black) it is fine too. However i would not prioritise it. On the contrary. You are the better drafter so i will at least try to ignore silver deputy now 😂

[@ezekielacton8211]

Nicolai, when I lived in Arizona, I had a friend named Nicolai who used to play Yu-Gi-Oh with me on occasion. We would purchase cards off troll-and-toad and hangout at his house. I haven’t seen him in more than a decade I think. I lost his phone number at some point around high school. Any chance that’s actually you?

[@NicolaiBolas]

I have never lived in Arizona. It is definitely not me.

[@ezekielacton8211]

@@NicolaiBolas Damn. That would’ve been cool. Love the videos either way

[@Kal1voda]

thank you

[@NicolaiBolas]

You are welcome!

[@chenhan22]

Overzealous muscle is great but it’s basically free 😂

[@NicolaiBolas]

I’ve never had to prioritize it at all. Even if you do play it, you can basically pick them up for free. I wouldn’t call it great, but I like the point you’re making.

[@chenhan22]

@@NicolaiBolas with the way I draft, I get too distracted. Any playable is good for me by the end 🫣

[@j453]

No no no no no, you draft those bad cards, and draft shifting grift, then for those bsd cards onto your opponent! Lulz

[@NicolaiBolas]

This is a quality comment. Well played!