2024-1-20 Festival in a box draft (Limited)

1-2
2-0
2-0

Placed 4th out of 8

I got first pick so I took MH2. I also got two March of the Machine packs.

First pack was bad, I got Sanctum Weaver as my rare. Maybe I could have taken it, would have been interesting with all the role enchantment tokens from the Wilds of Eldraine packs but didn't seem like a great build around.

I remember also seeing a Filigree Attendant and a Wavesifter. They didn't seem that great.

I picked Guardian Kirin, which seemed like a good build around.

The second pack I got passed was Dominaria Remastered, which was super weak like I thought it would be. I took the Howl from Beyond because it seemed like it could help me snipe games. Eventually, it got cut.

Then I started picking up two for one creatures. I got Fairgrounds Patrol, Argivian Cavalier, Malcator, Purity Overseer, and Heron-Blessed Geist all early on.

Seemed like we were getting into Azorious aggro and possibly fliers.

Celebrity Fencer was a great addition to the deck, like a second Guardian Kirin.

I opened Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit which also seemed like a powerhouse.

I also managed to pick up Tranquil Cove and Idyllic Beachfront by the start of the second pack so fixing seemed really great.

I had a number of ways to make 1/1s so I picked up Brute Suit and Dragonfly Suit.

Midway through the second pack, red seemed to be open.

Fallaji Vanguard fit the deck well.

I remember having a difficult choice picking between Reyav, Master Smith and something else that was in Azorious colors and seemed to be doing what we were already doing. I thought it was an interesting idea for aggro because it's a 2 mana 2/2, it can lead to a lot of damage, I don't have to attack with it, and I already had ways to get fliers. It was awkward because I already passed all the equipment I saw in the first pack, I was doing both vehicles and equipment now which didn't seem like it had any synergy, and it means I had to commit more to Jeskai.

I managed to get Jackhammer and Armguard Familiar for Reyav, Master Smith. I think Jackhammer is a so so card; Armguard Familiar is a lot better cause it can also attack early on as a creature for my aggro deck. Both ended up being decent and contributed to my wins. Sadly, I never once got to play Reyav, Master Smith though.

I also tried looking for good role cards from Wilds of Eldraine for Reyav, Master Smith as well. The best I could find was Charmed Clothier. I eventually cut it.

I remember getting passed an Icewrought Sentry and immediately taking it. I remember facing the card in Wilds of Eldraine prerelease and it was sooo strong being a big vigilance creature and also tapping down the opponent's biggest blockers. Seemed great for the aggro deck.

I got passed the Extraordinary Journey. I think it's an alright card but decided to cut it because I thought it was too slow. Looking back, maybe it wouldn't have been that bad to play it but I never saw any enter or cast from exile in my games. In exchange, I played Rob the Archives which did tons of work with all my 1/1 tokens. I cast it with casualty a few times in my games and got lots of value every time.

I wasn't sure about the Alabaster Host Intercessor. I was low on removal. Plus, I thought it was interesting that it could fetch my Idyllic Beachfront. Ironically, I always drew the Idyllic Beachfront whenever I had a chance to cycle it. The removal part did help out a lot in two of my games.

I took Burning Sun's Fury and Sure Strike as removal and a way to end the game with aggro.

First match was very hard. Opponent had a Scurry Oak that was impossible for me to remove. The best option I had was Intercessor's Arrest but it doesn't stop triggered abilities. He also played two games with Skystrike Officer and a Combat Research on it. Just too much.

The other two matches were easy. My deck was just so much faster than theirs.

MVP was definitely Fallaji Vanguard. I was always happy to play it and it always pulled its weight. Second best was Cathar Commando. I often cast it with flash on the opponent's turn and just started swinging.