First Block draft

[Jlamb5]

Ill be doing my first block draft tonight and I'm not sure what to expect. What are some things to look for. I've only drafted once before and I don't know much about understanding a draft. I've read the BREAD thing and I think I understand that, but how else do you evaluate the draft and the cards being drafted around you.

[Iandtormentor]

Here's an important tip ONLY hate draft if
1 the card will SMASH your deck
2 the card is a must-have for your opponents deck.

Don't hate draft just to do it

[Gorzo]

It's tough to explain, it's more a thing you need to experience but I'll try

I'm assuming this is a RTR - GTC - DGM block draft, btw.

First things first. Your opening pack (dragons maze first) is going to be a big deal, and can easily sway your way through the entire draft. If you open a {Voice of Resurgence}, you can expect to be on high-lookout for green and white playable cards, and can more easily allow yourself to pass otherwise great picks. A {Turn // Burn} is an amazing card, but if you have no good red or blue by the first couple of cards, and you see good cards in your colors instead, your choice becomes easier.

But if you open a junk rare, don't worry. I've first picked more {Zhur-Taa Druid}s than any single rare in the set, I think. A good common or uncommon that will consistently help your deck is better for you than picking up a 10c rare that will sit idle in your trade binder forever.

As for reading signals and telling what players next to you are taking - this takes a lot of experience. Considering that the colors of cards in packs are random, determining which colors are being picked first, and who is picking what, well... It's not easy. You can usually easily start to see which color people are not taking after 4-5 cards go by, though. This signal can mean many things though. The cards in that color are bad, maybe. Perhaps the people next to you are just getting crazy good stuff in other colors. Maybe the guy next to you is trying to force you into a color for his own benefit.

Honestly just follow the BREAD guideline for now, that other stuff you will pick up as you play more. Just look at your cards and ask yourself "which one of these can win the game for me?" {Trait Doctoring} (dud) will never win you the game. {Riot Piker} (agro) might. {Jelen Sphinx} (evasion) might. {Turn // Burn} will undoubtedly sway a game in your favor. {Rurik Thar, the Unbowed} will win you games for sure.

Finally, if you lose a match, talk to your opponent! Ask them if they would mind looking at your deck and giving you pointers. Most players are very friendly, and besides, it's in their best interest to help you! The better you do, the better their score is on tiebreakers! So them helping you learn helps them too! Don't be afraid to ask questions before the draft, or during deck construction after the cards are drafted, either. As one of the unofficial 'judges' at my LGS, I make sure I review draft procedures and ask if anyone has questions before every draft, just in case anyone is new.

[Jlamb5]

It's tough to explain, it's more a thing you need to experience but I'll try

I'm assuming this is a RTR - GTC - DGM block draft, btw.

First things first. Your opening pack (dragons maze first) is going to be a big deal, and can easily sway your way through the entire draft. If you open a {Voice of Resurgence}, you can expect to be on high-lookout for green and white playable cards, and can more easily allow yourself to pass otherwise great picks. A {Turn // Burn} is an amazing card, but if you have no good red or blue by the first couple of cards, and you see good cards in your colors instead, your choice becomes easier.

But if you open a junk rare, don't worry. I've first picked more {Zhur-Taa Druid}s than any single rare in the set, I think. A good common or uncommon that will consistently help your deck is better for you than picking up a 10c rare that will sit idle in your trade binder forever.

Exactly what I did. First pack three me a junk rare and a {trostani's summoner}. I knew that that was the card!  From there forward I drafted selesnya. I saw some good boros colored cards as well being passed some decided to splash red and play Naya. I picked up {warleaders helix} and a {scab-clan giant}. I was also passed a {skylasher}. Along with two cluestones I was sitting pretty good after the DMZ pack. The gatecrash pack game me my MVPs, double {crocanura}! 

I pulled bombs like crazy and the format was so slow that there wasn't an issue getting them out there. I dropped {trostani's summoner} turn five to beat my second to last match and keep me in the running for first place. I finished X-0 and took first. BREAD deserves all the credit here.

[Gorzo]

NICE! good job! Sounds like an awesome night, and congrats on your good draft and well earned wins!

That Skylasher is one of my faves, it's first pick material for sure! Must have been some awesome stuff or a shock land in there if someone passed you that little fella.

[Jlamb5]

NICE! good job! Sounds like an awesome night, and congrats on your good draft and well earned wins!

That Skylasher is one of my faves, it's first pick material for sure! Must have been some awesome stuff or a shock land in there if someone passed you that little fella.

I actually played the guy who opened it in the final match. He passed it up for a {turn // burn}. He wanted to play a rug deck based on his opening pack and decided that green was easier to pick up late than izzet would have been.