I would be very surprised if I didn't see an AEtherling first pick, in team 8's pack.

I agree completely with your analysis, Blue, White and Black has some very serviceable cards in this round. Based on these cards, I don't think we'll be seeing a Gruul build attempt.

Pack 1: My pick would probably be Warleader's Helix, the only thing I'd consider over Warleader's is Beetleform Mage.Pack 2: Blood Baron of Vizkopa but doing so gives away Far//Away and Carnage Gladiator. Pack 3: Extremely poor pack but Putrefy is the obvious pick. If I had to pick anything but I'd just go for the guildgate.Pack 4: I actually haven't drafted triple DGM that much so I don't know how we'll Renounce the Guilds works but I'm guessing its actually pretty poor. Anyways, my other pick would probably be Spike Jester.Pack 5: This pack is either Fluxcharger or Beetleform Mage. That Fluxcharger can be great along side the Nivix Cyclopses of this set, but Beetleform is also a great pick.Pack 6: Carnage Gladiator, Selesnya from what I can remember is a bad combination to be in. I'd rather take Carnage Gladiator over Advent and Bronzebeak.Pack 7: Scab-Clan Giant. The only thing rivaling it is Maze Abomination and you can pick those up later on.Pack 8: Slam Aetherling. Bomb in limited.

@mirosith25 - Good thoughts. I think I'd prefer Far / Away to Fluxcharger in pack 5. Spike Jester would be a bit lower on the list in pack 4 (if I saw that pack, I'd just be trying to keep my options open). Pack 6, I agree that Selesnya can be dubious, but Advent of the Wurm is tough to pass up. If I did want to leave it, I might be thinking about Zhur-Taa Druid first. Otherwise, I agree with you in all aspects.

Pack 1: I would pick [Runner's Bane] due to it's ability to detain fairly low powered creatures at a low cost early or late in the game. Pack 2: [Far / Away] seems to be the best due to its ability to remove 2 creatures for relatively low cost. Pack 3: I agree with mirosith25 on picking [Putrefy] although it rather depends on preference another choice i would possibly make would be [Render Silent]. Pack 4: My personal pick is [Steam Vents] it's a great dual land card that's almost too good to pass up. However, [Give / Take] is also a good card not to be overlooked. Pack 5: In this pack you could really go with any removal spell and be fine but i would possibly lean towards [Ready / Willing] than most. Pack 6: I would pick [Zhur-Taa Druid] due to its mana ramp ability. Pack 7: Is a hard choice but in the late game i would most likely depend on is [Scab-Clan Giant] due to its the only reliable creature that actually gives you great defender. [Maze Abomination] is good but in draft i don't won't to be held to picking only multicolor creatures. Pack 8: [AEtherling] is the obvious choice for pack 8 and is indeed the best pull from all the packs.

One rule to remember that I haven't told you guys yet (and which I have already broken) - don't tag cards here. Comments with cards that are tagged, even on a private decklist, show up on that card's page.

The groups will get their packs in about 90 minutes.

Hmmm, interesting. I don't personally like drafting triple DGM due to the inconsistency, but it can lead to very interesting games

1. Warleader's Helix or Runner's Bane (Standard, safe picks)
2. Blood Baron of Vizkopa (the pro White/Black can be insanely annoying, especially in a multicolored draft)
3. Putrefy (kind of a lousy pack, this is probably the safest and best option)
4. Viashino Firstblade/Spike Jester are both pretty decent, I think the Jester is somewhat more reliable, the 3 power is great for trading
5. Beetleform Mage (Frilled Oculus has proven to me that self-pumping spells work)
6. Advent of the Wurm (Just because it can be good if played well. Not much populate so this might not be so good)
7. Deadbridge Chant/Battering Krasis (I think the krasis is somewhat decent, it can become quite a threat)
8. Aetherling, no competition. Even if they're not going to use it, it works great as hate-draft

And we're off! I'll post the selections, with commentary, as I receive them, in the update space above.

@DaShPrime I agree completely with your picks. Advent of the Wurm, is just such a good card, even if Selesnya is not much to be getting into.

@KrazeyCaley I can't believe I missed Far//Away :D but in pack 5 Far//Away is the definite pick over Fluxcharger.Also, the Advent of the Wurm, I'm not sure... It probably is the pick, but Selesnya alone is poor so what guild would we pair ourselves up with?

mirosith25 I could see some WBG or WGR possibly? So much fixing in DGM that it should be easy.

Attention everybody - Update is in with the first few picks.

Interesting picks. I fully support the Advent pick; a surprise 5/5 trample is fantastic no matter how you slice it. If Ready//Willing hadn't been snatched I could've forseen a nice midrange junk build. As it is, they could end up naya; it's a strong color set with some great cards in its pool, and they might get a chance at that Zhur-Ta Druid. I really think esper will be the most common color combo if other packs look like these. I've really noticed, other than Advent and Voice, they really didn't give green any love with DGM.

Interesting.

Pack 1: Saruli Gatekeepers seems like a good pick actually, seeing as they want to gain life and it allows them to go into Junk colors, which will allow them to take either the Debt to the Deathless or Unflinching Courage from the next pack, both of which are great for them.

Pack 2: Carnage Gladiator seems like a decent choice, but Golgari Cluestone might actually be a decent pick.

Pack 3: Either Opal Lake Gatekeepers or Protect/Serve would be decent choices I think. Not very exciting picks for them

Pack 4: Very much not a fan of the Ready/Willing pick, I would say screw it and pick Spike Jester still. Sinister Possession is not a bad pick if they want to stay in color, if not they should just pick the Orzhov Guildgate

Pack 5: Sunspire Gatekeepers might be quite good for the Selesnya tokens plan actually, I can't think of any other pick that might synergize with Advent of the Wurm. Saruli Gatekeepers is always a safe pick, and none of the other cards really stand out. They do have the benefit of almost definitely getting Wake the Reflections from the next pack, which I think would benefit them enormously, provided they decide not to take the Bronzebeak Moa. Pure Selesnya might actually be possible.

Pack 6: Carnage Gladiator or Bronzebeak Moa both seem decent. Bronzebeak Moa seems like it would synergize better with Deadbridge Chant as the Chant increases the chances of creatures entering the battlefield. Zhur-Taa Druid is OK as well, though I don't think they need to pick it early.

Pack 7: I think Pilfered Plans is by far the best pick in this pack, I really hated playing against it in the DGM Prerelease. None of the other cards really seem good, maybe the Maze Abomination

Pack 8: The gold mine among the packs. Almost every group is going to want something from this pack. Debt to the Deathless should be a brain-dead easy pick though, even if just as hate-draft. I fondly recall casting Debt for X=9 a few weeks ago.

I would actually consider Render Silent in pack 3 now, I think, but then, I have a noted counterspell bias.

Hahaha or so I've heard! I thought we weren't supposed to link cards in this thread?

Render Silent almost definitely forces them to play WU though, which may not be the best idea at the 2nd pick

Goddamn it, I always forget that. Nothing to do now, I s'pose.

If you've subscribed to this area, this is your notification that we are into pick 3.

Pack 1: Extremely ?! reaction from me, Blood Scrivener is way too conditional to be considered so early. I have no idea what I would pick from this, Gleam of Battle as suggested by Kaley sounds the best.

Pack 2: Once again I agree with Kaley, Maze Abomination or Far/Away seem the best

Pack 3: The Black gatekeeper makes sense, though I think I prefer the Blue one. GureiSeion could just go for the Orzhov Guildgate, though Steeple Roc makes sense

Pack 4: Another ?! choice. Renounce the Guilds runs a very high risk of 2-for-1-ing yourself in this multicolored draft, and you dont even get to choose which creature they sacrifice. The current holders should probably take Give/Take.

Pack 5: I still think Sunspire Gatekeepers wouldve been nice, but Beetleform Mage is certainly a decent pick. The current holders could take Far/Away, leaning into Blue which seems to have some decent cards. Runners Bane or Fatal Fumes looks good too.

Pack 6: Another ?! choice. The Kraul Warrior is almost definitely going to wheel, they could take it later. I do like pumping creatures, but 5G is crazy to pay for. Nothing nice stands out for the current holders, so Wind Drake seems to have to do. Sinister Possession or Carnage Gladiator look ok if theyre willing to go Grixis.

Pack 7: Yet another ?!. Blast of Genius falls into the same category as Blood Scrivener, its too wacky to be played properly. Toil/Trouble seems to be the best way to go for RussischerZars group

Pack 8: I think Unflinching Courage would probably be the best pick, synergizes with Blood Baron well. Hopefully they can pick up more removal in the next two packs, another Putrefy would work wonders for them.

So far I think RussischerZar's group has the best picks. Just curious, will the group leaders know if you hyperlink their names in this thread?

Yep, though they won't see it unless they think to check your recent comments, which they shouldn't be doing.

Man, private decks are NOT that private.

Caley, is it possible to group what cards each team have picked so far, below the boosters list? I think it'll become quite hard to follow up things as they get going.

Or am I missing something here? :P

I could do that, sure, although it will quickly become rather unwieldy. :P I'll have it below tonight's update.

Just a suggestion, putting the little decklist/odds thing of the current holder after each Pack list might help :)

Pack 1: Definitely didnt expect Beetleform Mage. Woodlot Crawler might actually be a good pick for them, seeing as theyre solidly in Dimir so far, though Runners Bane is a good choice because the Crawler will probably wheel

Pack 2: Far/Away is pretty good, though I havent had much personal experience with it. I think either Maze Abomination or Rot Farm Skeleton would be decent, though Maze Abomination has anti-synergy with Renounce the Guilds

Pack 3: Steeple Roc is safe, uninteresting. Opal Lake Gatekeepers is probably the right choice, though I would like to see them get a Wake the Reflections and get a 5/5 trample for W

Pack 4: Give/Take is good. Rakdos Drake is probably the safest choice, though not very good. Battering Krasis would be my pick.

Pack 5: I agree with Kaley, Runners Bane is probably the best pick here

Pack 6: Not quite sure about this one, I would probably go with Rubblebelt Maaka, though Hired Torturer fits their theme better

Pack 7: I agree with Kaley, Maze Abomination

Pack 8: I have no idea where this is going, Punish the Enemy is probably the safest, following BREAD. And its decent removal too, not like Renounce the Guilds

Your commentary is spot on as always. I don't think I have anything to add.

Just a thought, it might be that Goody's group is going to go for a B/G/R agro deck. Deathbridge Chant works as a contengency plan if they don't hit the creatures they need initially and as late game preasure. Also, a lot of solid/playable cards in the packs they've seen may wheel to them. Druid, Maaka, Rakdos Drake, etc.

I don't know if this is even close to correct, just an idea.

Btw, I am enjoying observing. Thank you for coordinating this. It is very interesting to have a bird's eye view of the drafting process.