What to expect in a booster draft?

howelllawson

howelllawson

Brony
Member
I'm going to my first Pokemon booster draft on Sunday. I'm well versed on how a draft works since I've played in many of them for Magic: The Gathering.

In M:tG you draft based on what works well together. Pokemon differs by needing specific cards to play others.

My question is how should I draft in Pokemon? What strategies should I use when drafting to get the best possible deck?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
 
Do not go for Stage Twos. Instead go for powerful basics/stage ones. I would also try to get Pokémon of the same type, or Pokémon that cover each other's weaknesses (many decks are all one type, so covering weaknesses is important). Also, get attackers that don't need to many energy, or that have unique energy costs (like require 3 different energy types).
 
Glaceon, Stage 2s are viable for DE PR if you pull enough RC. Other than that Glaceon is absolutley right, play awesome Basics/Stage 1s.
Also, don't just play something because it is a really good card (eg. Zekrom EX as your only {L} Pokemon)
 
Blui129 said:
Glaceon, Stage 2s are viable for DE PR if you pull enough RC. Other than that Glaceon is absolutley right, play awesome Basics/Stage 1s.
Also, don't just play something because it is a really good card (eg. Zekrom EX as your only {L} Pokemon)
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And if you pull the right Basics and Stage 2s, and also long as if you do pull the line it isn't of a Stoutland or some bad Pokémon.
 
Blui129 said:
Glaceon, Stage 2s are viable for DE PR if you pull enough RC. Other than that Glaceon is absolutley right, play awesome Basics/Stage 1s.
Also, don't just play something because it is a really good card (eg. Zekrom EX as your only {L} Pokemon)
Click to expand...

DE = Dark Explorers
PR = Pre-Release?
RC = ...Rare Candy?

Anyway, thanks for the help guys.
Now I'll just need to familiarize myself with the set by Sunday.
 
howelllawson said:
DE = Dark Explorers
PR = Pre-Release?
RC = ...Rare Candy?

Anyway, thanks for the help guys.
Now I'll just need to familiarize myself with the set by Sunday.
Click to expand...

Yeah, all of those are correct.
 
I wrote an article about Prereleases and drafting that goes into more detail: http://www.pokebeach.com/forums/thread-prerelease-pathfinder-everything-you-need-to-know-about-constructed--104535

The draft section is towards the end of the article.
 
If you pull a Groudon EX, play it by itself. It's so good because it tanks. I went 3-0 with it in the draft and it went 3-0 in the main event. Some other good cards include all the EXs, Carnivine, and all trainers/supporters.
 
@Celebi23
Those who do want to draft to win are looking at a tough challenge. While choosing cards to take in a draft, it’s important to think not only about making your deck as strong as possible, but also about making your opponent’s deck as weak as possible.

...

While drafting, also pay attention to the types you’re seeing go by. If you notice very few cards of one type, say Water, pull out any cards of that type when given the chance. This “starves” whatever player is building their deck around that type of important cards, making their deck worse. Because there are usually only two or players in the draft who are drafting to win, weakening one of them can put you at a big advantage.
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If I've learned one thing from drafting M:tG, it's that hate drafting is counter productive. Why would I pick a card that wouldn't help my deck over a card that would? It just doesn't make sense to me.
 
One of the easiest things to draft in this newest set is probably the Eeveelutions. Although not the strongest, being mostly commons and uncommons it's pretty easy to make an at least half decent decent deck with them. At the draft I attended I ended up with like 4 Eevees and 8 in some combination of Eeveelutions. Other cards that are at least somewhat helpful for any deck are things like Plusle and Minun and of course whatever Trainers and Supporters you can get your hands on.

My draft deck wasn't super great but I did walk away with a couple of extra booster packs after going 2-1 and my one loss was against someone who was able to setup Empoleon.
 
If you pull an EX, just run it with the rest being Energy. I know some people take these things kinda seriously, but I just like to make the most funny deck. If you pull Tornadus EX just run 39 random energy, that's what I plan on doing. :)
 
Afro-G said:
One of the easiest things to draft in this newest set is probably the Eeveelutions. Although not the strongest, being mostly commons and uncommons it's pretty easy to make an at least half decent decent deck with them. At the draft I attended I ended up with like 4 Eevees and 8 in some combination of Eeveelutions. Other cards that are at least somewhat helpful for any deck are things like Plusle and Minun and of course whatever Trainers and Supporters you can get your hands on.

My draft deck wasn't super great but I did walk away with a couple of extra booster packs after going 2-1 and my one loss was against someone who was able to setup Empoleon.
Click to expand...

Stop. Just stop it now.
 
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