Build creatures and artifacts that leave resources when they die, then turn spare bodies into cards and life-drain pressure.
Build creatures and artifacts that leave resources when they die, then turn spare bodies into cards and life-drain pressure.
Commit when repeated useful cards and enough support make a complete deck in these colors.
Four checks while you draft
Can I affect the board before the payoff?
An early creature leaves a Hero when it dies. It can absorb a trade or sacrifice without removing your entire creature presence.
Do my actual cards enable this plan?
Rufus supplies Darkstar on an attack when none is present. Ahriman can later sacrifice that Dog for a card; a future attack replaces it if Rufus survives.
Can I stop their strongest play and finish a stalled game?
Build creatures and artifacts that leave resources when they die, then turn spare bodies into cards and life-drain pressure.
Choose the missing job before another reward that needs it.
The key card is present but its support is thin.
Prioritize useful support such as Dwarven Castle Guard or Ahriman.
Rufus supplies Darkstar on an attack when none is present. Ahriman can later sacrifice that Dog for a card; a future attack replaces it if Rufus survives.
Your deck already enables the plan but is losing the early turns.
Take a castable early creature or efficient answer before a second expensive payoff.
Ahriman’s ability costs three mana and another permanent. Do not count a sacrificed Treasure both as the sacrifice payment and as mana for the same activation.
The support is missing
Favor independently useful creatures and interaction if the narrow support does not arrive.
Repeated useful cards are clues, not proof that the colors are open.
Ahriman’s ability costs three mana and another permanent. Do not count a sacrificed Treasure both as the sacrifice payment and as mana for the same activation.
Answer the sacrifice engine before its controller has spare mana and bodies. Exile death-payoff creatures when possible to reduce the value from their final trade.
Dragoon's Lance63.1% GIH · 6,799 instances
Delivery Moogle61.4% GIH · 6,767 instances
Sidequest: Hunt the Mark60.8% GIH · 5,524 instances
White Auracite60.7% GIH · 15,581 instances
Overkill60.2% GIH · 5,008 instances
Battle Menu59.6% GIH · 5,938 instances17Lands ↗ · Jun 10–Jul 14, 2025 · at least 100 card-in-hand instances in this pair’s no-splash decks. Choose the job your deck needs first.
Dion, Bahamut's Dominant 3WFour mana supplies Dion and a Knight, both able to fly during your turn. The six-mana tap activation exiles and returns him as a new Saga, so it normally cannot attack that turn. Use the first chapters to improve the rest of your board; the last chapter destroys a permanent and returns Dion for another Knight.
Ardyn, the Usurper 5BBBEight mana and three black symbols require substantial mana support. Cast before combat to turn a creature in either graveyard into a hasty, lifelinking 5/5 Demon immediately; that token remains. Graveyard removal before the trigger resolves can stop the copy, and the printed cost makes a casual splash unrealistic.
Smuggler's Copter 2Crew one turns a small creature into a flying attacker or blocker, and either action can draw then discard. A creature that just entered can crew it, but a Copter that just entered still normally cannot attack. The rummage supports flashback and permanent-count graveyards without losing the Vehicle after combat.17Lands Premier Draft ↗ · Jun 10–Jul 14, 2025 · 100-instance minimum
Dwarven Castle GuardAn early creature leaves a Hero when it dies. It can absorb a trade or sacrifice without removing your entire creature presence.
Undercity Dire RatAn ordinary early creature leaves Treasure on death. That resource can pay future mana or fuel an artifact sacrifice, but spending it once cannot do both.
Al Bhed SalvagersCreature or artifact deaths drain life. One dying artifact creature triggers once, not once for each type; the Salvagers also count their own death.
Adelbert SteinerExamples apply the printed rules; judge the board, costs and timing.
| One-pick | Sealed |
|---|---|
| With one pick, fill the missing early play, answer or support card before adding another narrow payoff. The plan must work without drawing its key card. | Compare complete builds from the cards you opened. Keep the castable curve and interaction even if the draft theme is only partly supported. |
Rufus supplies Darkstar on an attack when none is present. Ahriman can later sacrifice that Dog for a card; a future attack replaces it if Rufus survives.
