Thank you very much for the content! Patting myself on the back for not trying the win-a-box events. Congratulations to everyone who can make it work. I'm not among you :)
Hey! I just started playing magic a few weeks ago, I originally looked at draft only as a way to grow my constructed collection but thanks to your videos I am now completely addicted. I actually now play constructed just to complete my daily challenges for gold to fuel my draft addiction lol. Thanks for the great vids!
I tried this event for the first time in my MTG "career" and ended up 3-2. Losing to a Fecund Greenhell into a Fecund Greenshell and then my 2nd loss got handed to me by a frogs deck that had Clement, Innkeeper's Talent, Dour Port Mage and Thundertrap Trainer (which they bounced 2-3 times back to hand thank you very much). Sometimes it just isn't your day... best to laugh it off :) On a more positive note, I have to credit you and Kenji for making me TONS better at drafting. I haven't gone worse than 2-1 in months at my LGS and Cube group and even had three 3-0s in a row! Three! It's my crowning MTG achievement and owe it to the two of you
Been following your videos since you came back. Congrats on growing your base so quickly - well deserved! Best wishes in 2025! Sorry for the rough luck in Bloomburrow sealed here.
my jaw dropped when I read the description and saw 0 for 18. Oof man. We do a little gambler's fallacizing and say "surely our upswing is around the corner." The content has been excellent though. high quality as always.
Sealed has extremely crazy variance. Don't apologize Paul! This is part of the experience. I think it's important for players to see the good and the bad. Its all part of the experience and growth.
Of course I want to see more bloomburrow sealed 😂. I love draft and sealed, never really got into pioneer or vintage cube but I watched them all as they came out every morning. But man these bloomburrow sealed decks are exactly what I’ve been missing. Can’t wait for u to draft some innistrad remastered when it comes out and then aetherdrift. Keep it up Paul.
Since it’s the holiday season I splurged a bit and decided to draft a few extras this month and, wow, some opponents just… have it ALL. I think I went 1-3 with possibly the best izzet deck I could’ve drafted solely because I just couldn’t draw my cards in time and my opponent was casting like Extorted Rats and anything I’d cast was just immediately removed. Honestly I miss the card, “High Noon.” Just… slow down, partner! *EDIT* Oh and great draft btw, Paul. I don’t know how I forgot to mention that 😂
Do you think there was any viability in playing green in the first sealed in the vid? Felt like it would have provided the solid creatures black didn't have and given a bit more ability with the combat tricks. Would have lacked some synergy but would have given you the ability to play double colored cards plus a few more combat tricks. Pawpatch Recruit may also just be that good
Hey Paul, I was your 3rd opponent with the insane GB. Seemed like you could win with the flyers so I felt I needed to play the Season of Loss. I went 6-0 (I was 4-0 when playing you, weird matchmaking). Deck was very sweet, glad I did not get smashed with the variance machine as with other pools. This event felt like a proper gambling slot machine
@@haumphI got 4 trophies out of 8 tries, then 3 bust. But 4/11 still pretty nice value. Better than my foundations 1 in 10. What I take from these events is to try to build the best deck, really put in the time and effort and then just play your best and try not to get tilted by variance. Because the variance here is just so high, you can bring your A game and still go 0 for 20. Limited magic always had that part of luck and gambling but this is the closest we ever flew I feel. Anyway love your videos, keep it up.
Ahahaha heard that. I've cashed the Arena Open once, and Arena Direct four times. But with all my event entries have about broken even. Not a bad way to see a lot of action.
I finally managed a 6 and 1 with a blue white birds deck last night, if you have enough fliers you can just stay aggressive and chump with rabbit tokens, it was pretty effective. I definitely credit watching you talk through deck construction with helping me develop my thinking on the format, so thank you.
My heart sank when I saw mist breath elder into innkeepers talent. These sealed pools are absolutely brutal, the chance of winning boxes is nice but make it draft not sealed
I had been doing quite well lately and was on a bit of a high when I finally made Diamond! Then I proceeded to draft the most mid-BW deck ever in Magic Foundations and went 0-3.
In the latest episode of Limited Level Ups Alex talks about how play boosters have made sealed a worse format by increasing the variance of packs. Seeing folks like Paul continuing to struggle in this format only seems to drive this point home. The sad thing is, I’m not sure if WOTC even cares - as long as people are still pulling the lever on the slot machine, why change?
Reality check for all of us. Makes me feel ever so slightly better to see a top worldwide player struggle with this event too. I tried my best this time around. First time I actually put money into arena. Got myself 10k Gems and had 10k gems from F2P. Lost them all in 5 rounds. Happy I noticed it was the gamblers fallacy or I mightve gotten myself another 10k 😂 Got to 5-0 and then swiftly and brutally destroyed into a 5-2
You always gift the card when stealing the dragon. Unless they have enchantment removal they will need to spend a card (and most of their turn) to remove it and if it attacks once then you are up cards (or they are dead).
4:04 is where the list of cards is for first Sealed Deck. I think that Paul is too quick to dismiss blue based off "knowing" it's the weakest colour in the set. Sometimes when you get a lot of blue, you just gotta do it. If he had tried to build the UB deck probably splash green, I think he would have found it looks pretty decent. Early game has the Savors, Ruthless Negotiation, Bandit's Talent and some blue two drops. He also had triple Tempest Angler which I think he either missed or dismissed since it is normally not that great of a card, but since he's so spell-heavy, this is the deck for it. Green splash would be good for the two green bombs in Pawpatch Recruit and Lilysplash mentor. I think that such a deck would give the best opportunity for higher skill players (like Paul) to demonstrate skill expression. Not much hard removal in his pool though, so he'd need to use the discard cards really well.
Bloomburrow Sealed is legit terrible; it's an On-The-Rails Limited set in general, it's so difficult to get a typal deck together in Sealed. Anyway, enough whining from me. Glad to know I'm not the only one to struggle this badly with it.
Blacksmiths Talent is a card that just wins games by itself and you had more than enough fixing to put it in your deck. I get that isnt not at it's best in your deck, but surely you could have found room for it. Some decks just lose to Blacksmiths Talent + a flyer.
these events are such bad value, wizards should be ashamed of themselves. All BO1 events should be 3 loss elimination. Also, they are pairing based on deck strength and that should be criminal.
I know you are not happy with the results, but I continue to learn more each time you play. Your efforts (wins or losses) are much appreciated.
Appreciate it!
Thank you very much for the content! Patting myself on the back for not trying the win-a-box events. Congratulations to everyone who can make it work. I'm not among you :)
Hey! I just started playing magic a few weeks ago, I originally looked at draft only as a way to grow my constructed collection but thanks to your videos I am now completely addicted. I actually now play constructed just to complete my daily challenges for gold to fuel my draft addiction lol. Thanks for the great vids!
That's awesome! I'm glad I could help introduce you to draft.
I tried this event for the first time in my MTG "career" and ended up 3-2. Losing to a Fecund Greenhell into a Fecund Greenshell and then my 2nd loss got handed to me by a frogs deck that had Clement, Innkeeper's Talent, Dour Port Mage and Thundertrap Trainer (which they bounced 2-3 times back to hand thank you very much). Sometimes it just isn't your day... best to laugh it off :)
On a more positive note, I have to credit you and Kenji for making me TONS better at drafting. I haven't gone worse than 2-1 in months at my LGS and Cube group and even had three 3-0s in a row! Three! It's my crowning MTG achievement and owe it to the two of you
That's super awesome to hear. Keep crushing those drafts!
Been following your videos since you came back. Congrats on growing your base so quickly - well deserved! Best wishes in 2025! Sorry for the rough luck in Bloomburrow sealed here.
Not a problem. Sealed is definitely NOT my jam
my jaw dropped when I read the description and saw 0 for 18. Oof man. We do a little gambler's fallacizing and say "surely our upswing is around the corner." The content has been excellent though. high quality as always.
Sealed has extremely crazy variance. Don't apologize Paul! This is part of the experience. I think it's important for players to see the good and the bad. Its all part of the experience and growth.
Of course I want to see more bloomburrow sealed 😂. I love draft and sealed, never really got into pioneer or vintage cube but I watched them all as they came out every morning. But man these bloomburrow sealed decks are exactly what I’ve been missing. Can’t wait for u to draft some innistrad remastered when it comes out and then aetherdrift. Keep it up Paul.
No worries on the results Paul, variance is pain.
Careful though, you dropped your crown king 👑
Good morning! I've been up since 3am due to jet lag, so this is awesome. Hope to see you get some boxes :D
Hope the jet lag isn't too bad!
Since it’s the holiday season I splurged a bit and decided to draft a few extras this month and, wow, some opponents just… have it ALL. I think I went 1-3 with possibly the best izzet deck I could’ve drafted solely because I just couldn’t draw my cards in time and my opponent was casting like Extorted Rats and anything I’d cast was just immediately removed. Honestly I miss the card, “High Noon.” Just… slow down, partner! *EDIT* Oh and great draft btw, Paul. I don’t know how I forgot to mention that 😂
GG good beats. Keep your head up Paul!
This was such a rollercoaster, thanks for sharing!
I kind of want to give it a try, I just know I'd regret it, though 😆
yeah i wouldn't recommend it unless you have gems to spare!
Not using pawpatch recruit on that first round was wild. That card dominates this event
If you keep making them, I'll keep watching them =) !
Do you think there was any viability in playing green in the first sealed in the vid? Felt like it would have provided the solid creatures black didn't have and given a bit more ability with the combat tricks. Would have lacked some synergy but would have given you the ability to play double colored cards plus a few more combat tricks.
Pawpatch Recruit may also just be that good
A humble offering for the almighty algorithm.
Hey Paul, I was your 3rd opponent with the insane GB. Seemed like you could win with the flyers so I felt I needed to play the Season of Loss. I went 6-0 (I was 4-0 when playing you, weird matchmaking). Deck was very sweet, glad I did not get smashed with the variance machine as with other pools. This event felt like a proper gambling slot machine
Awesome deck! Yeah I think sealed in general is a gambling slot machine these days.
@@haumphI got 4 trophies out of 8 tries, then 3 bust. But 4/11 still pretty nice value. Better than my foundations 1 in 10. What I take from these events is to try to build the best deck, really put in the time and effort and then just play your best and try not to get tilted by variance. Because the variance here is just so high, you can bring your A game and still go 0 for 20. Limited magic always had that part of luck and gambling but this is the closest we ever flew I feel. Anyway love your videos, keep it up.
Ahahaha heard that. I've cashed the Arena Open once, and Arena Direct four times. But with all my event entries have about broken even. Not a bad way to see a lot of action.
I finally managed a 6 and 1 with a blue white birds deck last night, if you have enough fliers you can just stay aggressive and chump with rabbit tokens, it was pretty effective. I definitely credit watching you talk through deck construction with helping me develop my thinking on the format, so thank you.
41:45 Am I dumb? What is the difference to just casting the Cash Grab first?
Casting bodyguard first guarantees there's a squirrel so Cache Grab can make a guaranteed food
@bakarogers7146 Nice! Thanks, didn't see that.
My heart sank when I saw mist breath elder into innkeepers talent. These sealed pools are absolutely brutal, the chance of winning boxes is nice but make it draft not sealed
My ev would skyrocket if they changed it to draft
I had been doing quite well lately and was on a bit of a high when I finally made Diamond! Then I proceeded to draft the most mid-BW deck ever in Magic Foundations and went 0-3.
oof sorry
In the latest episode of Limited Level Ups Alex talks about how play boosters have made sealed a worse format by increasing the variance of packs. Seeing folks like Paul continuing to struggle in this format only seems to drive this point home. The sad thing is, I’m not sure if WOTC even cares - as long as people are still pulling the lever on the slot machine, why change?
Yes I think sealed deck is as bad as it's ever been. Draft is amazing however
Reality check for all of us. Makes me feel ever so slightly better to see a top worldwide player struggle with this event too.
I tried my best this time around. First time I actually put money into arena.
Got myself 10k Gems and had 10k gems from F2P. Lost them all in 5 rounds. Happy I noticed it was the gamblers fallacy or I mightve gotten myself another 10k 😂
Got to 5-0 and then swiftly and brutally destroyed into a 5-2
maybe next time!
You always gift the card when stealing the dragon. Unless they have enchantment removal they will need to spend a card (and most of their turn) to remove it and if it attacks once then you are up cards (or they are dead).
4:04 is where the list of cards is for first Sealed Deck.
I think that Paul is too quick to dismiss blue based off "knowing" it's the weakest colour in the set. Sometimes when you get a lot of blue, you just gotta do it.
If he had tried to build the UB deck probably splash green, I think he would have found it looks pretty decent.
Early game has the Savors, Ruthless Negotiation, Bandit's Talent and some blue two drops.
He also had triple Tempest Angler which I think he either missed or dismissed since it is normally not that great of a card, but since he's so spell-heavy, this is the deck for it.
Green splash would be good for the two green bombs in Pawpatch Recruit and Lilysplash mentor.
I think that such a deck would give the best opportunity for higher skill players (like Paul) to demonstrate skill expression. Not much hard removal in his pool though, so he'd need to use the discard cards really well.
Don’t apologize for the losses king… this format is just so unforgiving; every game feels lopsided somehow
was a beating for sure
So this is what downward dog looks like in yoga class.
The main thing I've learned is that if extremely capable Mythic players like yourself deal with this, sealed really is just a casino format
probably is
I believe in you Paul!
This last game, what a nail-biter.
sure was!
I was sure happy I managed it in 2 runs!
gz!
valley might caller is so good in 🐸 s
Bloomburrow Sealed is legit terrible; it's an On-The-Rails Limited set in general, it's so difficult to get a typal deck together in Sealed.
Anyway, enough whining from me. Glad to know I'm not the only one to struggle this badly with it.
It’s rough out there for sure
Blacksmiths Talent is a card that just wins games by itself and you had more than enough fixing to put it in your deck. I get that isnt not at it's best in your deck, but surely you could have found room for it. Some decks just lose to Blacksmiths Talent + a flyer.
mountain did not seem needed with the 4 sources
I was so lucky this arena direct won 4 boxes in the 2 tries i played
grats!
They have to give you the crappy pulls. You have enough to go again. =P
I hope the first rakdos player won the boxes
yesterday finally a game where i went 0/6, insane green/black deck. Feels way more difficult to earn boxes here than in modern horizons direct.
tough indeed!
these events are such bad value, wizards should be ashamed of themselves. All BO1 events should be 3 loss elimination. Also, they are pairing based on deck strength and that should be criminal.
These events are such a scam 😂
yeah 2 losses and out is really hard