Today, the top twenty-four players have been divided into three pods. The top pod, which you can see pictured here, is quite possibly the best draft pod ever assembled in the history of Vs. System. For this draft, I am featuring Adam Bernstein, winner of PC New York. To his right sits Ryan Jones, winner of PC Los Angeles. To his left sits Neil Reeves, who has a PC Top 8, a reputation for Sealed Pack prowess, and the girlish adulation of one Nick Little. Adam has done a total of one draft before this (a 5-man last night), but he’s fairly familiar with the set and feels confident. Following are Ryan’s picks; the first card listed is the card he selected, while the other cards are possible alternative picks that he chose not to take.

Pack 1

Glass Jaw, Wall of Will, Atlantean Trident, Shayera Thal ◊ Hawkwoman, Gang-Up

Booster Gold, Captain Atom, Libra, Alien Conqueror, Bulletproof, High-Tech Flare Gun

UN Recognition, Bluejay, Mysterious Benefactor, Oliver Queen ◊ Green Arrow, Hard-Traveling Hero

Ted Kord ◊ Blue Beetle, Batman, Hidden Crusader, Secret Files

Sue Dibny, Gang-Up, Zauriel, Running Interference

Aquaman, Arthur Curry, Guy Gardner, Egomaniac, Kimiyo Hoshi ◊ Dr. Light

Staged Attack, Vicarious Living, Resistance is Useless,

Ice, Satellite HQ, Philosophers Stone

Gang-Up, Wall of Will, Metamorpho

High-Tech Flare Gun, Circe,

Bluejay, Satellite HQ

Matter Convergence, Bumblebee, Secret Files

Rama Khan

Field of Honor

After the first pack, Bernstein had established himself as exclusively JLI/JLA. He had several opportunities to take quality characters in different affiliations, but chose to forego them in favor of going “AI.” His deck seemed to be off to a good start—all of his cards were playable—but he didn’t have much in the way of high-end drops.

Pack 2

Katar Hol ◊ Hawkman, Rallying Cry!, Dinah Laurel Lance ◊ Black Canary, Blonde Bombshell

Air Strike, Trial by Fire, JLI Embassy, Justice League Task Force

Red Tornado, UN Building, Midnight Cravings, Disband the League, Ultra-Humanite

Crimson Fox, John Stewart, Emerald Architect,  JLI Embassy, James Jesse ◊ Trickster

Oliver Queen ◊ Green Arrow, Hard-Traveling Hero, Bluejay

Shake it Off, UN Building, Hal Jordan, Hard-Traveling Hero

Firestorm, Silver Sorceress, Bizarro Ray

Mogo, Not On My Watch, Professor Ivo, Satellite HQ

Dr. Destiny, Floronic Man, Alien Hybrid, Catherine Cobert

Queen of Fables, Circe

T.O. Morrow, Die for Darkseid!

Queen of Fables, Shadow-Thief

Ocean Master

Kanjar Ro

Continuing with the JLI/JLA theme, Adam picked up a few more solid characters. His lack of a higher-end curve showed throughout this pack, though, as he took Firestorm over an offensive plot twist and the very poor Dr. Destiny over superior but lower-cost, characters.

Pack 3

Glass Jaw, Shake it Off, Bulletproof, Booster Gold

Captain Atom, Staged Attack, Funky’s Big Rat Code

Wonder Woman, Princess Diana, John Henry Irons ◊ Steel, Remoni-Notra ◊ Star Sapphire, Zamoran Champion

Air Strike, Plasma Blast, Batman, Avatar of Justice

Plasma Blast, James Jesse ◊ Trickster, Gypsy, Poison Ivy, Deadly Rose

Aquaman, Arthur Curry, Sue Dibny

Bulletproof, Faith, Copperhead, The Castle, Guy Gardner, Egomaniac

John Henry Irons ◊ Steel, Metamorpho

Bulletproof, Oliver Queen ◊ Green Arrow, Emerald Archer, High-Tech Flare Gun

Staged Attack, Tomorrow Woman, Dinah Laurel Lance ◊ Black Canary, “Pretty Bird”

High-Tech Flare Gun

Batman, Avatar of Justice

Kelex

Lex Luthor, Evil Incorporated