The unofficial leader of FTN (the “official” leader is David Leader . . . but I digress), Michael Dalton is an unparalleled all-around player. He is a master of deck building, and a strong Sealed player—he has a Vs. System Sixth Sense™ the likes of which very few players possess. He dominated LotR, and now he’s been a dominant force in the Vs. world. He’s looking to repeat his prior Modern Age success—second place at PC Amsterdam—with a repeat Top 8 and, fingers crossed, a win. He’s almost there—14-4 and rafting at the top table—and he’s hoping to get a deck to 2-1 with, to guarantee him a spot. With two other FTN members threatening at the top table (Leader and Jason Dawson), Dalton is leading a pack of unforgiving Vs. masters into the Top 8 spotlight.

Dalton’s Draft (alternate choices in parentheses)

PACK 1

1) Locked in Combat (Hal Jordan, Green Lantern of Earth, Kyle Rayner, Ion, Sinestro, Lantern in Exile, Hector Hammond)

2) Kyle Rayner, Last Green Lantern (G’Nort, Guy Gardner, Warrior)

3) Olapet (Hal Jordan, Reborn, Tomar Re, In Remembrance)

4) Dr. Ub’X (In Evil Star’s Evil Clutches,St’nlli, Hush)

5) Yellow Impurity (Fatality, Dr. Polaris,St’nlli)

6) Major Disaster (Black Hand, Hal Jordan, Reborn, Fire Support)

7) Grayven (Shock Troops, Rain of Acorns, Sector 2814)

8) Only a Friend Can Betray You (Weaponers of Qward, Yellow Power Ring)

9) Major Force (Battle of Wills)

10) Guardians Reborn (Ganthet)

11) Brik (Central Power Battery, Coast City)

12-14) Hush, In Evil Star’s Evil Clutches, Garth ◊ Aqualad

PACK 2

1) Kyle Rayner, Green Lantern of the Universe (Legion, St’nlli, No Evil Shall Escape Our Sight, Dr. Polaris)

2) Light Armor (Hard-Traveling Heroes, Evil Star, Kilowog, Myrwhydden)

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3) Malvolio (Kreon, Sinestro, Lantern in Exile, Qwardian Pincer)

4) Nero (The Shark, Dr. Ub’X, Living Ink)

5) Helping Hand (Alan Scott, Owlman)

6) Book of Oa (Golden Death, Ultraman, Dr. Polaris)

7) Green Power Ring (Dimming of the Starheart)

8) Yellow Impurity (Uppercut)

9) Fire Support (In Evil Star’s Evil Clutches)

10) Gnaxos (Mouse Trap, Highmaster)

11-14) Manhunter Science, Force Sphere, Manhunter Science, Stealing the Light

PACK 3

1) Dr. Light, Master of Holograms (Olapet, Guy Gardner, Warrior, Johnny Quick, Hector Hammond, John Stewart)

2) G’Nort (Breaking Ground, Hector Hammond, Grayven)

3) Sweeping Up (John Stewart, Olapet)

4) Krona (Empire of Tears, Dr. Ub’X, Sweeping Up)

5) Fatality (Sector 2814, Virman Vundabar, Cosmic Conflict)

6) Birthing Chamber (Only a Friend Can Betray You, Mark Shaw, Supermanhunter)

7) Battle of Wills (Sonar)

8) Jade (Lanterns In Love, Qwardian Council Hall)

9) Helping Hand (Battle of Wills, Mosaic World)

10) Breaking Ground (Jade)

11) Mouse Trap (Mean Green Machine, Anti-Monitor)

12) Catcher’s Mitt (Anti-Matter Universe)

13-14) Q Field, Manhunter Sniper

Michael and I spent a little while talking about this Bizarro draft—we couldn’t believe the sheer number of packs filled with nothing and the sheer number of packs with five good cards! The choices were madness, and it was hard for me to wonder whether or not he made the correct choices. When there are so many options, how can one tell what the correct choice is?

Well, the first choice for Michael was GLEE. He was gunning for GLEE and got it, so he was pretty happy with the overall shape of his deck. One worry, however, was that he had only one 6-drop and only two 5s when he would have liked one of each. “I have a hole here, that’s a problem,” he mused. In the end swarm will probably be a necessary choice in at least one or two matches, with Malvolio as a desperation 5-drop with high DEF.

He tends to aim for 18-20 characters and always plays the minimum 30 cards.  

Michael chose Locked in Combat as his first pick because “it’s good on either offense or defense.” Its versatility is what makes it so useful in Michael’s opinion.

With the odd curve happening, Michael hoped that he could flush his needed character out through other means. “I have Book of Oa and I’ll play the Chamber which helps.”. As for passing on a few Olapets, which might have improved the swarm (if necessary), “I’ve got one. I think that’s enough, since I’ve also got Light on 3.” As well, two copies of Helping Hand “makes the swarm a pretty good play.” And Breaking Ground goes in as well. “I had to pass Qwardian Council Hall—I can’t play it! But I didn’t want to pass it!”

He considered putting Mouse Trap in the deck but switched at the last second to Only a Friend Can Betray You.