Today we will draft with Ixalan cards!

I simulate the 8 first pick of a draft and asked to 4 Hareruya Pros what they would pick.

Here are the 4 gentlemen who accepted to participated to this experience:

You can see their profiles, more in details, here: Hareruya Pro

It will be interesting to see if they will do the same choices or not.

One by one Pick

PICK 1

Christian Calcano:

I think the clear best cards in the pack here are 《Imperial Aerosaur》 and 《Unfriendly Fire》. I think there is enough removal in this format that I’m ok passing up on the Fire and taking the Aerosaur here. Sets you up for RW/GW Dinosaurs as well as just being a powerful white card that will always make your deck.

Petr Sochurek:

《Imperial Aerosaur》. Strong flying creature that pushes through damage is premium and I don’t think that anything in the pack comes close to it.

Javier Dominguez:

《Imperial Aerosaur》. I like proactive cards, and this is a very relevant text on a card with solid stats.

Luis Salvatto:

《Imperial Aerosaur》. I think this creature is really good, there is not so many flyers and can give you a good hit when comes into play. Both removals are ok, but I think here I prefer the good creature.

PICK 2

Christian Calcano:

Nothing incredibly powerful in this pack to make me want to go into a 2nd color just yet. So, I’m happy to stay in white and take 《Sheltering Light》. as a great cheap trick to save a creature in combat or from a removal spell.

Petr Sochurek:

《Marauding Looter》. I think this pick is pretty close, because we already have a white card and 《Sheltering Light》 is a nice way to get some tempo and value, but it’s one of those cards that makes good decks better, but it doesn’t really have a huge power level itself and I like to take powerful build around cards early so I would go with the Looter.

Javier Dominguez:

《Watertrap Weaver》. Great in all tempo decks.

Luis Salvatto:

《Sheltering Light》. 1 mana saves any creature in combat or counter target removal spell, plus scry 1, I’m in. Also stay in one color.

PICK 3

Christian Calcano:

Easy 《Pious Interdiction》 here as it’s a great on color removal spell.

Petr Sochurek:

《Pious Interdiction》. Best card in the pack.

Javier Dominguez:

《Pious Interdiction》. Unconditional removal plus some value.

Luis Salvatto:

《Pious Interdiction》. Unconditional removal plus stay in white, good pick. (also taking the good white cards give me good chances that my left drafters don’t pick white in pack 2).

PICK 4

Christian Calcano:

While staying on color is definitely the safest choice, I think 《Walk the Plank》 is by far the best card here. Seeing a removal of this calibre 4th pick is a strong signal that black is open.

Petr Sochurek:

《Walk the Plank》. I don’t know anything about how good certain archetypes are yet, so I would just go with the best card and likely a signal.

Javier Dominguez:

《Bishop's Soldier》. Solid curve play, also a vampire.

Luis Salvatto:

This is though, because there are 3 white cards (and also the 2nd 《Legion Conquistador》), but I pick the best card, and it is 《Walk the Plank》.

PICK 5

Christian Calcano:

I definitely want to start picking up creatures at this point so taking 《Paladin of the Bloodstained》 seems good. We are setting ourselves up well to potentially be in BW Vampires.

Petr Sochurek:

This is a pick I am not sure about at all and it will be determined in future. I don’t know how good dinosaurs are or how good UW tempo with One with the 《Favorable Winds》 is. I don’t really want to take 《Paladin of the Bloodstained》. It is fine, but 4 drops are usually replaceable and if I end up green I am really going to regret not taking this 2 drop. My pick: 《Deeproot Warrior》.

Javier Dominguez:

《Paladin of the Bloodstained》. I value lifelinkers a lot in many matchups.

Luis Salvatto:

《Vampire's Zeal》. Black White is the vampire theme, so I think is a really good trick here, and I have enough time to pick creatures after.

PICK 6

Christian Calcano:

I like taking 《Unfriendly Fire》 here. Leaves us open to the possibility of not only being RW, but it’s also a card that we could end up splashing if we don’t end up in red.

Petr Sochurek:

《Legion's Judgment》. I still don’t know what my second color and this card seems good to me so.

Javier Dominguez:

《Watertrap Weaver》. More tempo!

Luis Salvatto:

《Legion's Judgment》. I think I can play 1 of these main deck, and is better than a black bear.

PICK 7

Christian Calcano:

《Shining Aerosaur》. Pretty happy to see another flying dinosaur here.

Petr Sochurek:

《Shining Aerosaur》. I think that 《River Heralds' Boon》 is insane with merfolks, but that is not what I am drafting and 《Shining Aerosaur》 is a good card in my colors.

Javier Dominguez:

《Shining Aerosaur》. Big enough to trump other fliers.

Luis Salvatto:

《Shining Aerosaur》. 3/4 flying for 5 is ok.

PICK 8

Christian Calcano:

I like taking 《Sunrise Seeker》 here. Unfortunately, it doesn’t serve any tribal theme, but 5 mana 3/3 Vigilance is still serviceable and as a 4/4 it becomes a very good threat.

Petr Sochurek:

《Sunrise Seeker》. Similar to last pick, this card is worse the flyer, but it’s still passable.

Javier Dominguez:

《Vampire's Zeal》. 1-mana tricks are always at least OK.

Luis Salvatto:

《Sunrise Seeker》 at this moment because I prefer one more creature, I have enough non-creature spells.

The 8 Picks together

Christian Calcano

Petr Sochurek

Javier Dominguez

Luis Salvatto

I hope you like the article and learn about Ixalan limited.

Thank you for reading,

Jeremy Dezani