Wilds of Eldraine Quick Draft Guide ⎯ Overview
Wilds of Eldraine introduces ten compelling two-color draft archetypes‚ deeply rooted in beloved fairy tales and enchanting adventures‚ offering diverse gameplay experiences.
This set‚ released September 8th‚ unfolds on a post-Phyrexian Eldraine‚ emphasizing enchantments and the potent ‘Role’ mechanic for strategic deckbuilding.
Wilds of Eldraine (WOTR) transports players to a realm steeped in fairy tale lore‚ now recovering from the Phyrexian invasion. This set dramatically shifts the Magic: The Gathering landscape‚ introducing a unique draft experience centered around enchantments and the innovative ‘Role’ mechanic. Prepare to encounter familiar characters and narratives reimagined for strategic gameplay.
The core of WOTR draft lies in its ten distinct two-color archetypes‚ each embodying a classic fairy tale theme. Success requires understanding these archetypes‚ recognizing key synergies‚ and adapting your strategy based on available cards. Expect a slower‚ more interactive format where enchantment-based strategies and incremental advantages often prevail. Prioritizing card evaluation and identifying open lanes will be crucial for building a competitive deck.
Draft Archetypes: A Core Concept
Understanding the ten two-color draft archetypes is paramount to success in Wilds of Eldraine. These archetypes aren’t rigid constraints‚ but rather guiding principles for deck construction‚ offering synergistic pathways to victory. Each archetype focuses on a specific theme‚ like tokens and roles in Blue/White‚ or treasures and mill in Blue/Black.
Identifying your archetype early – or recognizing which ones are ‘open’ based on card flow – dictates your drafting priorities. Forcing an archetype is risky; flexibility is key. However‚ committing to a strong archetype with readily available signals significantly increases your chances of building a cohesive and powerful deck. Mastering archetype recognition is the foundation of effective WOTR drafting.
Exploring the Archetypes
Wilds of Eldraine’s ten archetypes offer unique strategies‚ from aggressive sacrifice tactics to ramp-focused big creature builds‚ demanding adaptable drafting skills.
Blue/White: Roles & Tokens
The Blue/White archetype in Wilds of Eldraine centers around accruing value through the ‘Role’ mechanic and generating a substantial number of tokens. This strategy aims to overwhelm opponents with a board presence bolstered by enchantments and synergistic creatures.
Prioritize cards that both assign and benefit from Roles‚ creating a powerful engine for card advantage. Token generators‚ like those found in other archetypes‚ are also valuable here‚ providing bodies to attach Roles to and fueling further plays. Look for cards that reward you for having enchantments‚ as this archetype leans heavily into that card type.
Successfully navigating this archetype requires a balance between Role payoffs and consistent token production‚ creating a resilient and adaptable deck capable of controlling the board and securing a victory.
Synergies within Blue/White
The core synergy in Blue/White revolves around maximizing the impact of the ‘Role’ mechanic. Cards that assign Roles efficiently‚ combined with creatures that excel when Roles are present‚ form the backbone of this archetype. Enchantments further amplify this strategy‚ providing additional benefits and triggering Role-related abilities.
Token generation complements this strategy by providing numerous targets for Roles‚ increasing the overall board presence and creating opportunities for overwhelming attacks. Cards that draw cards or provide card selection are also crucial‚ ensuring a consistent stream of synergistic pieces.
Effectively combining these elements allows for a powerful‚ value-driven deck capable of outgrinding opponents and controlling the battlefield through strategic Role assignment and token deployment.
Blue/Black: Treasures & Mill
Blue/Black in Wilds of Eldraine leans into a strategy of accruing value through Treasures and disrupting opponents with mill. This archetype aims to generate card advantage by creating Treasures‚ then leveraging those resources for powerful plays and tempo swings. Mill serves as a secondary win condition‚ slowly depleting the opponent’s library while controlling the board.
Key cards focus on Treasure creation‚ card draw‚ and efficient removal. Synergies arise from using Treasures to cast spells that further mill the opponent or generate more Treasures‚ creating a positive feedback loop. Control elements are vital for surviving the early game.
This archetype thrives on outmaneuvering opponents and capitalizing on their dwindling resources.
Key Cards for Blue/Black
Prioritize cards that generate Treasures and enable milling strategies. Harsh Reclamation offers repeatable Treasure creation alongside removal‚ a powerful combination. Virtue of Persistence provides card advantage and late-game power‚ especially with a full graveyard. Look for efficient removal like Snarlbite Drake to control the board.
Cards that benefit from a filled graveyard‚ such as those with reanimation effects‚ are also valuable. Etrata‚ the Silken-Faced can be a potent threat‚ especially when milled into the opponent’s hand. Don’t overlook cards that offer card selection to consistently find your key pieces.
Building a critical mass of Treasures is essential for success.
Black/Red: Sacrifice & Aggression
Black/Red thrives on aggressive strategies fueled by sacrifice effects. Prioritize creatures with impactful “on-death” triggers and cards that reward sacrificing permanents. Embereth Veteran gains power with each sacrifice‚ becoming a significant threat. Redcap Melee provides reach and removal‚ capitalizing on your aggressive board state.
Cards like Bloodthirsty Adversary offer both aggression and sacrifice synergy. Look for repeatable sacrifice outlets to maximize value. Don’t underestimate the power of cheap removal to clear the path for your attackers. A critical mass of low-cost creatures is key to overwhelming opponents.
Focus on quick wins!
Utilizing Sacrifice Effects
Sacrifice effects are central to the Black/Red archetype’s success. Prioritize cards that generate value when creatures die‚ such as Embereth Veteran‚ which grows stronger with each sacrifice. Harvester of Souls provides card advantage‚ rewarding you for losing life and creatures.
Look for repeatable sacrifice outlets like Claim the Firstborn to control the board and trigger beneficial effects multiple times. Don’t be afraid to sacrifice your own threats to disrupt your opponent’s plans or gain a crucial advantage. Remember‚ sacrificing isn’t always a loss; it’s often a strategic trade.
Maximize value from each sacrifice!
Red/Green: Ramp & Big Creatures
The Red/Green archetype thrives on accelerating into powerful‚ game-ending creatures. Prioritize early-game ramp spells like Brushstrider and Overgrown Tomb to quickly reach higher mana costs. These enable you to deploy impactful threats ahead of schedule‚ overwhelming your opponent.
Seek out large creatures with strong abilities‚ such as those with trample or haste‚ to capitalize on your mana advantage. Cards like Giant Opportunity can flood the board. Don’t neglect combat tricks to protect your investments and push through damage. A consistent ramp strategy is key to success.
Prioritizing Ramp in Red/Green
In Red/Green‚ ramp isn’t merely beneficial—it’s foundational. The deck’s core strategy revolves around deploying substantial creatures before your opponent can effectively answer them. Therefore‚ cards like Rootrider Faun and Return from the Wilds become exceptionally high picks‚ ideally securing two copies of each.
These not only accelerate your mana but also generate value through tokens. Supplementing ramp with cards like Hollow Scavenger and Welcome to Sweettooth provides early defense and token generation. Remember‚ a consistent ramp curve is crucial for consistently casting your impactful late-game threats.
Green/White: Food & Lifegain
The Green/White archetype centers around generating Food tokens and leveraging lifegain synergies. While not the most explosive strategy‚ it offers resilience and a consistent path to victory. Food tokens provide valuable resources‚ enabling card advantage and mana acceleration when cracked.
A fortunate draft including Sanguine Bond transforms this archetype into a potent engine‚ allowing you to win by repeatedly gaining life and draining your opponent. Prioritize cards that create Food‚ gain life‚ or benefit from both. This strategy excels in attrition-based matchups‚ slowly overwhelming opponents with incremental advantages.
Sanguine Bond Potential
Sanguine Bond elevates the Green/White Food strategy to a dominant level‚ offering a unique win condition. This enchantment drains opponents for each life you gain‚ creating a powerful feedback loop when combined with consistent lifegain sources and Food token generation.
To maximize Sanguine Bond’s effectiveness‚ prioritize cards that both create Food and provide lifegain. Repeatedly cracking Food tokens not only fuels your life gain but also accelerates the drain on your opponent’s life total. This archetype thrives in slower matchups‚ gradually overwhelming opponents with incremental advantages and inevitable life loss.
Green/Blue: +1/+1 Counters & Growth
The Green/Blue archetype centers around steadily growing creatures with +1/+1 counters‚ overwhelming opponents with increasingly large threats. This strategy leverages cards like Rootrider Faun and Return from the Wilds‚ which efficiently generate tokens and apply counters‚ building a board presence over time.
Prioritizing these key cards – aiming for two copies of each – is crucial. Supplementing this core with token producers like Hollow Scavenger and Welcome to Sweettooth provides early defense and fuels further growth. Don’t shy away from synergistic cards from other archetypes‚ like Up the Beanstalk‚ to enhance ramp and draw potential.
Rootrider Faun and Return from the Wilds
Rootrider Faun and Return from the Wilds are cornerstones of the Green/Blue +1/+1 counter strategy‚ demanding high priority during drafting. Rootrider Faun provides consistent token generation‚ establishing an early board presence and enabling counter synergy. Return from the Wilds offers repeatable value‚ creating additional tokens while furthering the growth theme.
Securing two copies of each card significantly boosts the archetype’s consistency and power. These cards aren’t solely reliant on other Green/Blue cards; they function effectively even when incorporating strong cards from adjacent colors‚ enhancing overall deck strength and flexibility.
White/Black: Cinderella & Celebration
The White/Black archetype centers around the “Celebration” mechanic – triggering abilities when two or more permanents enter the battlefield under your control each turn. Surprisingly‚ Wilds of Eldraine makes this consistently achievable‚ unlike in many other sets. The abundance of Food tokens‚ Rats‚ and the ‘Role’ mechanic all contribute to reliably meeting this condition.
This synergy allows for powerful‚ repeatable effects‚ turning seemingly simple cards into significant advantages. Prioritize cards that generate multiple permanents or benefit from frequent battlefield entries. The deck thrives on incremental value and snowballing advantages through triggered abilities.
Triggering Celebration Consistently
Successfully activating Celebration requires a steady stream of permanents hitting the battlefield each turn. Wilds of Eldraine provides several avenues for achieving this. Food tokens‚ easily generated by Green and White cards‚ offer a reliable source of value and triggers. The Rat token strategy in Black also contributes to consistent battlefield presence.
Furthermore‚ the ‘Role’ mechanic‚ granting additional abilities to creatures upon entering‚ synergizes perfectly with Celebration. Cards that create multiple tokens simultaneously‚ or those with low mana costs for repeated plays‚ are exceptionally valuable. Prioritize cards that facilitate a constant flow of permanents to maximize Celebration’s impact.
Black/Green: Rats & Control
The Black/Green archetype centers around a swarm of Rats‚ leveraging their numbers for control and eventual victory. This strategy excels at overwhelming opponents with a constant stream of creatures‚ disrupting their plans and establishing board dominance. Prioritize cards that generate Rat tokens‚ such as Rat Pack Leader‚ and those that benefit from a high creature count.
Complementing the Rat swarm‚ Black provides potent removal and discard spells to control the board and disrupt the opponent’s hand. Green offers ramp to accelerate into larger threats and provides resilience through lifegain. This combination creates a resilient and aggressive strategy capable of outlasting and overpowering opponents.
Red/White: Equipment & Combat Tricks
The Red/White archetype thrives on aggressive strategies‚ utilizing Equipment and combat tricks to overwhelm opponents in direct combat. This deck aims to quickly establish a board presence and then enhance its creatures with powerful Equipment‚ creating significant threats. Prioritize cards that provide Equipment‚ like Argent Armor‚ and those that offer impactful combat tricks‚ such as Stoke the Flames.
Red contributes direct damage spells to clear blockers and finish off opponents‚ while White provides efficient creatures and protective spells. Synergies between Equipment and combat tricks allow for explosive turns‚ swinging the game in your favor. Focus on cards that maximize combat efficiency and capitalize on aggressive openings.
Key Mechanics & Considerations
Wilds of Eldraine centers around the ‘Role’ mechanic‚ Food tokens‚ and a strong enchantment theme‚ demanding strategic drafting and deckbuilding choices for success.
The Role Mechanic Explained
The ‘Role’ mechanic in Wilds of Eldraine is central to many archetypes‚ granting powerful abilities when you become a specific Role – such as Hero‚ Villain‚ or Sorcerer.
These Roles are assigned by enchantments‚ and having multiple Roles can significantly amplify your strategy. Understanding how to consistently become a Role‚ and then maximizing its payoff‚ is crucial for drafting success.
Cards that support Role assignment‚ or directly benefit from being a specific Role‚ are highly valuable.
Prioritize cards that either grant Roles or offer substantial advantages when you fulfill a Role condition‚ as they drive the core gameplay loop of the set.
Evaluating Role payoffs is key to building a cohesive and powerful deck.
Evaluating Role Payoffs
When assessing Role payoffs in Wilds of Eldraine drafts‚ consider the consistency of achieving the Role and the magnitude of the reward. A powerful effect is useless if you rarely trigger it.
Look for cards that offer incremental advantages even without the Role‚ providing value regardless of enchantment availability. Synergies between Roles are also incredibly strong; a deck that can consistently become multiple Roles will outperform those focused on a single one.
Don’t overvalue high-impact payoffs that require specific‚ difficult-to-assemble board states.
Prioritize cards that offer a reasonable payoff for a readily achievable Role‚ ensuring a consistent and reliable advantage throughout the game.
Food Tokens: Value and Synergy
Food tokens are a central element of Wilds of Eldraine‚ offering versatile value beyond simple mana ramp. They provide life gain‚ enable powerful synergies‚ and contribute to the ‘Celebration’ mechanic in White/Red decks.
Prioritize cards that generate Food consistently‚ as a steady stream provides consistent advantage. Cards that efficiently ‘crack’ Food for significant effects‚ like card draw or creature buffs‚ are highly valuable.
Consider how Food interacts with your chosen archetype; Green/White benefits from Sanguine Bond‚ while others utilize it for incremental life gain or triggering abilities.
Don’t underestimate the inherent value of a repeatable source of life!
Cracking Food for Advantage
Effectively “cracking” Food tokens – sacrificing them for their effect – is crucial in Wilds of Eldraine drafts. Prioritize cards that yield substantial benefits upon consumption‚ exceeding a simple life gain of 3.
Look for opportunities to draw cards‚ create additional tokens‚ or apply disruptive effects when sacrificing Food. Cards that offer multiple modes‚ allowing flexibility in how you crack Food‚ are particularly strong.
Remember that Food serves as a resource‚ and timing is key. Don’t hoard Food unnecessarily; proactively use it to advance your game plan and maintain momentum.
Synergies with Food are abundant‚ so maximize their potential!
Enchantments: A Dominant Theme
Wilds of Eldraine heavily features enchantments‚ making them a cornerstone of many successful draft strategies. Recognizing and prioritizing enchantment synergies is vital for building a competitive deck.
Beyond individual enchantment power‚ look for cards that reward you for controlling multiple enchantments or specifically benefit from their presence on the battlefield. These synergies can quickly snowball into a significant advantage.
Don’t underestimate the value of common enchantments that provide consistent‚ incremental benefits. They form a solid foundation for a dedicated enchantment-based strategy.
Be mindful of enchantment removal in your deck construction.
Building Around Enchantment Synergies
Successfully drafting enchantments in Wilds of Eldraine requires identifying key synergy pieces early. Prioritize cards that directly benefit from‚ or enhance‚ the effects of other enchantments.
Look for cards that create additional enchantments‚ like those generating Food tokens‚ which function as a type of enchantment for synergy purposes. Cards that trigger abilities when enchantments enter the battlefield are also crucial.
Don’t solely focus on powerful‚ rare enchantments; common and uncommon cards often provide the necessary glue to tie your strategy together. A consistent stream of smaller enchantments can be surprisingly effective.
Remember to balance enchantment synergy with a solid mana base and removal.
Draft Tips & Card Evaluation
Prioritize early game consistency‚ identify open archetypes quickly‚ and recognize impactful removal spells. Card flexibility is key to navigating Wilds of Eldraine drafts.
Prioritizing Early Game
In Wilds of Eldraine drafts‚ securing a strong early game is paramount for consistent success. The format rewards proactive strategies‚ and falling behind on the board can be difficult to recover from. Focus on drafting efficient one and two-mana creatures‚ particularly those that contribute to your chosen archetype’s synergies.
Don’t undervalue cards that provide immediate board presence‚ even if their late-game impact is limited. Early interaction‚ such as removal spells or combat tricks‚ is also crucial for disrupting your opponent’s plans and establishing control. A curve that allows you to consistently play spells on turns one‚ two‚ and three will significantly increase your chances of winning.
Remember that Eldraine’s enchantments and ‘Role’ mechanic often require time to set up‚ making a solid early game even more important to survive until you can capitalize on those synergies.
Identifying Open Lanes
Successfully navigating a Wilds of Eldraine draft hinges on recognizing which archetypes are “open” – meaning few players are actively drafting them. Pay close attention to the signals you receive during the first few packs. Are certain color combinations consistently flowing back to you? Are key archetype cards appearing frequently?
If you notice a lack of competition for a particular archetype‚ it may be a good idea to pivot towards it‚ even if it wasn’t your initial plan. Don’t force an archetype if it’s heavily contested‚ as you’ll likely end up with a diluted and inconsistent deck. Being adaptable and reading the draft signals is key to maximizing your chances of success.
Remember that Eldraine’s ten archetypes offer diverse strategies‚ so staying flexible and open to new possibilities is crucial.
Recognizing Powerful Removal
In Wilds of Eldraine draft‚ prioritizing removal is paramount. Efficient answers to opposing threats can swing games dramatically. Look beyond simple destroy effects; consider versatile options like bounce spells‚ exile effects‚ and those that offer additional value. Cards that handle problematic enchantments are particularly strong‚ given the set’s enchantment focus.
Evaluate removal based on mana cost and impact. A cheap‚ unconditional removal spell is often better than a more expensive one with restrictions. Pay attention to removal that can deal with multiple threats or provides card advantage. Don’t underestimate the power of temporary removal‚ especially in aggressive matchups.
Strong removal allows you to control the board and dictate the pace of the game.
Evaluating Card Flexibility
Wilds of Eldraine rewards drafters who prioritize card flexibility. Cards that function well in multiple archetypes or offer diverse modes are incredibly valuable. Look for spells that can serve as both removal and combat tricks‚ or creatures with abilities relevant in various strategies. These cards increase your deck’s adaptability and open up drafting options.
Consider cards that scale well with the game. Early-game plays that remain relevant later are preferable. Cards with multiple triggered abilities or those that generate value over time are excellent choices. Prioritize cards that don’t lock you into a specific archetype too early in the draft.
Flexibility ensures a smoother draft experience.
Card Tier List (Overview)
This ranking categorizes Wilds of Eldraine cards into Top‚ Mid‚ and Low tiers‚ aiding draft decisions and evaluating card power levels effectively.
Top Tier Cards
Top Tier cards in Wilds of Eldraine consistently deliver significant value and impact‚ often shaping draft outcomes. These are premier picks‚ frequently game-winning or archetype-defining. Cards like Virtue of Loyalty and Spell Stutter exemplify this tier‚ offering powerful effects and versatility.
Expect to prioritize these cards highly during the draft‚ as they provide a substantial advantage. They often enable key synergies or provide crucial control elements. Securing multiple copies of these cards dramatically increases your deck’s consistency and power. Don’t hesitate to deviate from your archetype slightly to acquire these impactful cards; they are worth the investment.
Examples include cards that generate significant card advantage‚ provide strong removal‚ or enable explosive plays. These cards are worth prioritizing even if they don’t perfectly fit your initial archetype.
Mid Tier Cards
Mid Tier cards in Wilds of Eldraine are solid‚ reliable picks that contribute meaningfully to a successful draft deck. While not as immediately impactful as Top Tier cards‚ they offer strong support for your chosen archetype and fill crucial roles. Cards like Hylda of the Icy Crown and Harbin‚ Vanguard Aviator fall into this category.
These cards are generally worth taking when available‚ but shouldn’t dictate a complete archetype shift. They provide valuable utility‚ such as efficient removal‚ consistent card advantage‚ or synergistic effects. Prioritize them when they align with your existing strategy.
Building around these cards often requires careful consideration of synergy‚ but they consistently contribute to a well-rounded and competitive deck.
Low Tier Cards
Low Tier cards in Wilds of Eldraine generally lack the immediate impact or synergistic potential of higher-ranked options. These cards aren’t necessarily bad‚ but they require significant support to become truly effective within a draft deck. Examples include situational removal or cards with narrow applications.
Drafting these cards should primarily occur when you’re deep into the draft and have limited choices‚ or if they specifically address a glaring weakness in your current build. Don’t prioritize them early on‚ as they often won’t contribute significantly to a winning strategy.
Consider them as filler‚ and only include them if they don’t dilute your deck’s overall focus.