Favorite LLM Draft Strategy

Ok, I'm bored. What's your favorite LLM Draft strategy?

Mine is currently R/x elementals. Basically, if anyone ever passes you a Smokebraider, just start taking some elementals and sprinkle in whatever secondary color you want. It's best if you're blue for a Mulldrifter or two, but any color you're getting passed will work. The secret is to have patience and wait for the 3rd pack, which is the goldmine for this archetype. I'm going to write an article about drafting Elementals, it should be up soon.

ugh so I wrote an article about this but I was pretty disgusted with a lot of my picks while i was writing it so i just decided to post it here. it's super long but oh well.

Recently, I’ve been dipping my toe in the limited format via some LLM Booster Drafts. My favorite deck to draft has been R/x Elementals. Normally the deck either ends up straight red-blue Elementals or red-green Elemental/Warriors. In either archetype, the lynchpin common is Smokebraider. I’ll often keep my options open just in case I happen to see one, because he just lets you accelerate and do silly things before people can deal with them. It’s not an archetype I’ll force, but I do tend to gravitate towards it. Today I’m going to do a walkthrough of a draft where I ended up in red-green Elemental/Warriors and provide reasoning for my picks. I don’t claim to be a limited expert, so feel free to chime in on the forums if you disagree or would have picked differently. This was an 8-man draft on TCGPlayer. If you haven’t drafted there before, you basically draft with seven bots that make their picks by taking into consideration the picks of everyone who has drafted on the site, and trying to stay within two colors. Thus, the bots try to represent what an average drafter would do. I fully suggest anyone who wants to work on their draft game or try out a new tribe to log onto TCGPlayer and give it a try; it’s completely free. Finally, if you’d like to just look at all my picks before you read the article, you can do so here:
here
Now, let’s get started.

Pack 1, Pick 1
Wanderwine Hub, Vivid Marsh, Tar Pitcher, Makeshift Mannequin, Hillcomber Giant, Kinsbaile Balloonist, Eyeblight’s Ending, Aquitect’s Will, Leaf Glider, Ingot Chewer, Elvish Branchbender, Lace with Moonglove, Pestermite, Peppersmoke, Lash Out
I think the strongest cards in their colors are Lash Out, Pestermite, and Eyeblight’s Ending. Leaf Glider and Kinsbaile Balloonist are here as well but are pretty underwhelming powerwise. If we take Eyeblight’s Ending, we are still passing Makeshift Mannequin and Peppersmoke to the left, which is probably a bad signal to send. If we take Pestermite, nobody will be tempted into blue by Aquitect’s Will. I can’t really fault anyone for taking Pestermite, and many times I would do so. However, I think the stronger card and best pick here is Lash Out. My favorite, and pick for most underdrafted, archetype in LLM Draft is Elementals, and Lash Out positions us to scoop up any Smokebraiders that come and run with them. Additionally, Lash Out is splashable, and splash-worthy, than Pestermite, so we’re more likely to play it in the end. That’s always important in a first pick.
My Pick: Lash Out

Pack 1, Pick 2
Favor of the Mighty, Turtleshell Changeling, Seedguide Ash, Inner-Flame Acolyte, Cloudcrown Oak, Blades of Velis Vel, Elvish Handservant, Springjack Knight, Goldmeadow Dodger, Hornet Harasser, Zephyr Net, Warren-Scourge Elf, Kinsbaile Skirmisher, Leaf Glider
Inner-Flame Acolyte is the best card in our current color, but it’s not really powerful enough to take second pick. Turtleshell Changeling is alright but the real power in this pack is the two green fatties. Of the two, I prefer Cloudcrown Oak. A 3/4 is usually going to be bigger than anything on the board anyway, and it’s fairly relevant that it costs four mana instead of five. I hate to have to play 18 land in my limited decks because I have to hit five lands as often as possible. I also like drafting aggressive decks because I just generally think it’s too difficult to generate card advantage in this draft format, which makes drafting control decks a difficult proposition. Cloudcrown Oak keeps the curve a bit lower and does a great job of saving you from fliers. Moreover, once you’ve gotten to five mana to actually cast Seedguide Ash, you rarely care about getting three more lands. Sure, it’s a bit nice for deck-thinning, but I find that I never actually need the mana. I think the choice is clear here.
My Pick: Cloudcrown Oak

Pack 1, Pick 3
Gilt-Leaf Palace, Flamekin Spitfire, Ego Erasure, Incremental Growth, Mudbutton Torchrunner, Hunt Down, Faultgrinder, Stonybrook Angler, Kithkin Daggerdare, Bog-Strider Ash, Axegrinder Giant, Tideshaper Mystic, Black Poplar Shaman
Stonybrook Angler would have been nice if we took Pestermite first, but we have no reason to complain. Third pick Incremental Growth! Fist pump and windmill slam!
My Pick: Incremental Growth

Pack 1, Pick 4
Hunter of Eyeblights, Scattering Stroke, Goldmeadow Harrier, Thieving Sprite, Spellstutter Sprite, Dreamspoiler Witches, Kithkin Daggerdare, Fire-Belly Changeling, Kithkin Greatheart, Zephyr Net, Woodland Changeling, Cenn’s Heir
Eww. Not what we wanted really. You’re allowed to sigh as you pass another pretty good blue card in Spellstutter Sprite. Woodland Changeling is the best green or red card in the pack (better than Kithkin Daggerdare by the way), but Goldmeadow Harrier is card we can actually be happy with. I just think White is so weak in this block that unless the Kitkin really start to flow, I probably won’t play him. Still, it’s the strongest card, so take it and see what happens.
My Pick: Goldmeadow Harrier

Pack 1, Pick 5
Lammastide Weave, Giant Harbinger, Shimmering Grotto, Heal the Scars, Wellgabber Apothecary, Lignify, Hornet Harasser, Lowland Oaf, Giant’s Ire, Soulbright Flamekin, Nath’s Elite
That’s more like it. There are no worthy white cards in this pack, but we do have the choice of Giant Harbinger, Lignify, Lowland Oaf, Soulbright Flamekin, and Nath’s Elite. I’m not a big fan of Giants in LLM Draft because they are so weak in Morningtide, so I’m not interested in the Giant Harbinger. Lignify is really just never as good as I want it to be unless my deck has a lot of evasion. Lowland Oaf is very average and doesn’t excite me at all. Soulbright Flamekin is a nice man that can help you curve out and be pretty nutty lategame in the Elemental archetype, but Nath’s Elite is a great card for any aggressive deck to force through the last few points and often force the opponent to trade for his best man. If I already had some Elementals I might take the Soulbright Flamekin, but for now I’ll stick with the safer pick of Nath’s Elite and hope for some Warriors.
My Pick: Nath’s Elite

Pack 1, Pick 6
Nettevine Blight, Hearthcage Giant, Surge of Thoughtweft, Herbal Poultice, Spiderwig Boggart, Smokebraider, Lace with Moonglove, Dawnfluke, Ponder, Nath’s Buffoon
Yay, a Smokebraider! If we can pick up one more or even just a Flamekin Harbinger, we’re looking at a pretty good Elemental deck.
My Pick: Smokebraider

Pack 1, Pick 7
Colfenor’s Plans, Glimmerdust Nap, Ringskipper, Lowland Oaf, Kithkin Healer, Soulbright Flamekin, Facevaulter, Judge of Currents, Rootgrapple
We can now happily take the Soulbright Flamekin who, as already noted, is a nice man on the curve and helpful lategame as well.
My Pick: Soulbright Flamekin

Pack 1, Pick 8
Adder-Staff Boggart, Herbal Poultice, Kinsbaile Skirmisher, Heal the Scars, Boggart Sprite-Chaser, Rootgrapple, Nath’s Elite, Lairwatch Giant
Hmm, well Nath’s Elite is a bit clunky and we already have one. Adder-Staff Boggart, on the other hand, is another nice man on the all-important mana curve who can be a 3/2 for 2 half the time, so join the team buddy.
My Pick: Adder-Staff Boggart

Pack 1, Pick 9
Wanderwine Hub, Vivid Marsh, Makeshift Mannequin, Hillcomber Giant, Aquitect’s Will, Ingot Chewer, Elvish Branchbender
The off-color Vivid land is not bad, and the Hillcomber Giant is a slightly appealing hatedraft, but of course Makeshift Mannequin outclasses them in power by a mile. I sort of doubt we’ll play it because remember, we passed Peppersmoke and Eyeblight’s Ending out of this pack, so there are already two black drafters at the table. But there’s a chance we could splash it if we pick up a Shriekmaw, Mulldrifter, or Briarhorn in pack two.
My Pick: Makeshift Mannequin

Pack 1, Pick 10
Favor of the Mighty, Inner-Flame Acolyte, Blades of Velis Vel, Elvish Handservant, Springjack Knight, Goldmeadow Dodger
My Pick: Inner-Flame Acolyte

Pack 1, Pick 11
Gilt-Leaf Palace, Flamekin Spitfire, Hunt Down, Faultgrinder, Tideshaper Mystic
My Pick: Faultgrinder (should have been Gilt-Leaf Palace)

Pack 1, Pick 12
Scattering Stroke, Thieving Sprite, Fire-Belly Changeling, Cenn’s Heir
My Pick: Cenn’s Heir

Pack 1, Pick 13
Lammastide Weave, Wellgabber Apothecary, Giant’s Ire
My Pick: Lammastide Weave

Pack 1, Pick 14
Nettlevine Blight, Nath’s Buffoon
My pick: Nettlevine Blight

Pack 1, Pick 15
My Pick: Colfenor’s Plans

Pack 2, Pick 1
Twinning Glass, Merrow Rejeerey, Drowner of Secrets, Hoarder’s Greed, Inner-Flame Acolyte, Boggart Loggers, Nightshade Stinger, Oaken Brawler, Warren Pilferers, Goldmeadow Dodger, Zephyr Net, Cloudcrown Oak, Flamekin Brawler, Whirlpool Whelm, Streambed Aquitects
I think I have a problem because I always get sad when I open good blue cards, even if I’ve drafted zero so far. Luckily, I came to my senses and realized that Warren Pilferers and Cloudcrown Oak were possible picks here. If I would have taken the Gilt-Leaf Palace in pack 1, I think I would have taken the Warren Pilferers here since it’s doubtful we’ll be picking up a Mulldrifter now, and Pilferers is the best splashable card advantage I’m likely to see. As is, I think the pick is Cloudcrown Oak. He’s still an efficient man and he still blocks fliers.
My Pick: Cloudcrown Oak

Pack 2, Pick 2
Arbiter of Knollridge, Guardian of Cloverdell, Sentry Oak, Glarewielder, Kinsbaile Skirmisher, Lignify, Zephyr Net, Springleaf Drum, Peppersmoke, Woodland Changeling, Smokebraider, Thieving Sprite, Fire-Belly Changeling, Runed Stalactite
Yay, another Smokebraider. We should be trying to keep our eyes open for any fat Elementals or Changelings we can find at this point to take advantage of our pair of accelerators.
My Pick: Smokebraider

Pack 2, Pick 3
Sentry Oak, Marsh Flitter, Crush Underfoot, Kithkin Greatheart, Consuming Bonfire, Weed Strangle, Smokebraider, Streambed Aquitects, Broken Ambitions, Deeptread Merrow, Gilt-Leaf Seer, Bog-Strider Ash, Quill-Slinger Boggart
Well, it sucks that we have to pass a Consuming Bonfire, which is a great removal spell that isn’t really even overcosted in our deck. Still, a third Smokebraider is nuts. Peanut Butter Jelly Time.
My Pick: Smokebraider

Pack 2, Pick 4
Goatnapper, Hornet Harasser, Triclopean Sight, Wispmare, Giant’s Ire, Kinsbaile Skirmisher, Elvish Eulogist, Neck Snap, Lace with Moonglove, Gilt-Leaf Ambush, Zephyr Net, Flamekin Brawler
This isn’t really a tough one. Goatnapper and Lace with Moonglove are just very situational and Gilt-Leaf Ambush has decent blowout potential.
My Pick: Gilt-Leaf Ambush

Pack 2, Pick 5
Ceaseless Searblades, Veteran of the Depths, Wispmare, Hillcomber Giant, Silvergill Douser, Cloudcrown Oak, Boggart Forager, Inkfathom Divers, Boggart Sprite-Chaser, Spiderwig Boggart, Shimmering Grotto
Another pretty easy one. Ceaseless Searblades doesn’t hold a candle to an unconditional 3/4 who blocks fliers.
My Pick: Cloudcrown Oak

Pack 2, Pick 6
Turtleshell Changeling, Familiar’s Ruse, Exiled Boggart, Weed Strangle, Woodland Changeling, Elvish Branchbender, Shields of Velis Vel, Judge of Currents, Mudbutton Torchrunner, Peppersmoke
Woodland Changeling is normally nice, but we have three Smokebraiders, an Adder-Staff Boggart and Soulbright Flamekin as two-drops already, so he’s not going to make our deck. Mudbutton Torchrunner just constantly disappoints me; it seems like I can never coordinate a board position where he can kill the creature I want him to. I decided to hatedraft a removal spell here, and I decided on Peppersmoke. Weed Strangle is more powerful, but an opposing Peppersmoke can delay us badly. In addition, we have already seen two of them go around, so we need to not let someone’s deck get out of hand with them. I think it’s time to lower the hammer.
My Pick: Peppersmoke

Pack 2, Pick 7
Vivid Marsh, Adder-Staff Boggart, Shimmering Grotto, Fertile Ground, Ponder, Quill-Slinger Boggart, Mudbutton Torchrunner, Bog-Strider Ash, Hillcomber Giant
I still don’t want another two-drop or Mudbutton Torchrunner. Bog-Strider Ash is also ruled out because, though he’s a good sideboard card, he’s outclasses by our triple Cloudcrown Oak. Therefore I think we should take a land, and I decided Vivid Marsh was better than Shimmering Grotto, especially since we were considering splashing black.
My Pick: Vivid Marsh

Pack 2, Pick 8
Prowess of the Fair, Wispmare, Elvish Eulogist, Oaken Brawler, Battlewand Oak, Black Poplar Shaman, Thieving Sprite, Stinkdrinker Daredevil
A good three-drop sounds lovely, thanks.
My Pick: Battlewand Oak

Pack 2, Pick 9
Twinning Glass, Nightshade Stinger, Oaken Brawler, Goldmeadow Dodger, Zephyr Net, Flamekin Brawler, Streambed Aquitects
My pick: Streambed Aquitects

Pack 2, Pick 10
Arbiter of Knollridge, Sentry Oak, Glarewielder, Zephyr Net, Springleaf Drum, Fire-Belly Changeling
It’s a bit surprising to see Springleaf Drum this late, but we can’t capitalize on it since many of our small men already tap for mana. Arbiter of Knollridge is a bit cute, but I think we’ll normally be the ones ahead on life. Additionally, Glarewielder does a pretty good job of removing a couple of blockers to help finish an opponent off, much like Nath’s Elite.
My Pick: Glarewielder

Pack 2, Pick 11
Sentry Oak, Broken Ambitions, Deeptread Merrow, Gilt-Leaf Seer, Bog-Strider Ash
My Pick: Bog-Strider Ash

Pack 2, Pick 12
Wispmare, Giant’s Ire, Elvish Eulogist, Zephyr Net

Wispmare is actually totally castable since we have a Vivid land and three Smokebraiders. He’s still sideboard material.
My Pick: Wispmare

Pack 2, Pick 13
Wispmare, Boggart Forager, Boggart Sprite-Chaser
My Pick: Wispmare

Pack 2, Pick 14
Shields of Velis Vel, Judge of Currents
My Pick: Judge of Currents

Pack 2, Pick 15
My Pick: Adder-Sraff Boggart (how lucky?)

part 2:
Pack 3, Pick 1
Door of Destinies, Noggin Whack, Redeem the Lost, Thieves’ Fortune, Stingmoggie, Lys Alana Bowmaster, Kithkin Zephyrnaut, Blightsoil Druid, Coordinated Barrage, Hostile Realm, Floodchaser, Mothdust Changeling, Morsel Theft, Fertilid, Fire Juggler
To be honest, I’m not completely sure Door of Destinies is that great. But since we’re just giving up a Lys Alana Bowmaster and Fertilid, this seems like a good spot to give it a try.
My Pick: Door of Destinies

Pack 3, Pick 2
Nightshade Schemers, Nevermaker, Waterspout Weavers, Lunk Errant, Roar of the Crowd, Order of the Golden Cricket, Prickly Boggart, Fencer Clique, Violet Pall, Blightsoil Druid, Reins of the Vinesteed, Weight of Conscience, Sunflare Shaman, Negate
This was a misclick. I meant to take Reins of the Vinesteed, but while I was reading Lunk Errant I accidentally picked him. He made the deck though, so all is not lost.
My Pick: Lunk Errant (Reins of the Vinesteed)

Pack 3, Pick 3
Kinsbaile Cavalier, Release the Ants, Noggin Whack, Final-Sting Faerie, Stonybrook Schoolmaster, Order of the Golden Cricket, Stream of Unconsciousness, Fire Juggler, Deglamer, Fertillid, Shard Volley, Festercreep, Pack’s Disdain
At the time, I made this pick based on the fact that I didn’t have many three-drops. If I could go back, I kind of wish I would have taken Shard Volley here. I’m not sure I should expect Fertilids to flow as they did though. In addition, if I can count on picking up multiple Fertilids often, I could make my picks from the start planning on splashing more.
My pick: Fertilid

Pack 3, Pick 4
Primal Beyond, Offalsnout, Graceful Reprieve, Sage of Fables, Coordinated Barrage, Roar of the Crowd, Hostile Realm, Dewdrop Spy, Earthbrawn, Lys Alana Bowmaster, Stingmoggie, Festercreep
Lys Alana Bowmaster is pretty good, but we are short on tricks so Earthbrawn is a great card for our deck.
My Pick: Earthbrawn

Pack 3, Pick 5
Fendeep Summoner, Rage Forger, Waterspout Weavers, Squeaking Pie Grubfellows, Stream of Unconsciousness, Burrenton Shield-Bearers, Blightsoil Druid, Hostile Realm, Mothdust Changeling, Prickly Boggart, Fencer Clique
Well, we don’t have many Shamans, but there isn’t anything incredibly appealing to hatedraft other than possibly Fencer Clique, so I suppose we have to take Rage Forger here.
My Pick: Rage Forger

Pack 3, Pick 6
Revive the Fallen, Orchard Warden, Changeling Sentinel, Everbark Shaman, Luminescent Rain, Fertilid, Weed-Pruner Poplar, Bosk Banneret, Kindled Fury, Ink Dissolver
Again, I wish I would have taken Kindled Fury here because it’s a nice trick and incredible tempo. Fertilid is pretty hard to deny, though.
My Pick: Fertilid

Pack 3, Pick 7
Feudkiller’s Verdict, Warren Wierding, Disperse, Roar of the Crowd, Frogtosser Banneret, Kithkin Zephyrnaut, Stream of Unconsciousness, Distant Melody, Stonybrook Banneret
Feudkillier’s Verdict, pick 7?!? Pretty shocking, but I think Roar of the Crowd or Distant Melody are our choices here. I chose Roar of the Crowd because I thought it was too late to splash blue. We can probably use it for three damage on average, but it didn’t make my deck, so who knows.
My Pick: Roar of the Crowd

Pack 3, Pick 8
Forfend, Kindled Fury, Stream of Unconsciousness, Pulling Teeth, Coordinated Barrage, Lunk Errant, Fertilid, Sunflare Shaman
Yeah, I’m pretty sure I was on autopilot at this point. Passed ANOTHER Kindled Fury. Sigh.
My Pick: Fertilid

Pack 3, Pick 9
Stingmoggie, Blightsoil Druid, Hostile Realm, Floodchaser, Mothdust Changeling, Morsel Theft, Fertilid
Awk.
My Pick: Fertilid

Pack 3, Pick 10
Waterspout Weavers, Roar of the Crowd, Prickly Boggart, Fencer Clique, Blightsoil Druid, Negate
My Pick: Roar of the Crowd

Pack 3, Pick 11
Release the Ants, Noggin Whack, Final-Sting Faerie, Fire Juggler, Deglamer
My Pick: Release the Ants

Pack 3, Pick 12
Offalsnout, Sage of Fables, Hostile Realm, Stingmoggie
My Pick: Sage of Fables

Pack 3, Pick 13
Waterspout Weavers, Stream of Unconsciousness, Blightsoil Druid
My Pick: Stream of Unconsciousness

Pack 3, Pick 14
Luminescent Rain, Ink Dissolver
My Pick: Ink Dissolver

Pack 3, Pick 15
My Pick: Stream of Unconsciousness

This is what I built:
3 Smokebraider
2 Adder-Staff Boggart
1 Soulbright Flamekin
3 Fertilid
1 Battlewand Oak
1 Inner-Flame Acolyte
1 Bog-Strider Ash
3 Cloudcrown Oak
1 Glarewielder
1 Nath’s Elite
1 Lunk Errant
1 Faultgrinder

1 Lash Out
1 Earthbrawn
1 Door of Destinies
1 Incremental Growth

Relevant SB:
1 Fertilid
1 Release the Ants
1 Roar of the Crowd
1 Rage Forger
2 Wispmare

I wish I would have picked up an Obsidian Battle-Axe because it’s pretty nuts with all my Warriors, and I wish I would have either tried to splash earlier anticipating Fertilids or just taken more removal and tricks instead of them. A word on Roar of the Crowd: it’s really good in the R/u build because almost all your creatures are Elementals, but nowhere near as good in R/G because you just rely on Treefolk and other random good creatures. I feel like the deck has a lot of decent cards but not really enough fatties to capitalize on all its acceleration.