Attack with a low curve, use expendable bodies to keep attacks acceptable, and turn raid creatures and end-step pressure into a sustained resource squeeze.
Attack with a low curve, use expendable bodies to keep attacks acceptable, and turn raid creatures and end-step pressure into a sustained resource squeeze.
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?
A one-mana creature leaves a flying Insect when it dies. It can trade or pay a sacrifice cost without leaving an empty board, but exile and bounce do not create the replacement token.
Do my actual cards enable this plan?
Attack with a creature that can profitably trade or survive, then cast Goblin Boarders in your second main phase. Perforating Artist can stay back and still receive its end-step raid trigger.
Can I stop their strongest play and finish a stalled game?
Attack with a low curve, use expendable bodies to keep attacks acceptable, and turn raid creatures and end-step pressure into a sustained resource squeeze.
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 Infestation Sage or Sanguine Syphoner.
Attack with a creature that can profitably trade or survive, then cast Goblin Boarders in your second main phase. Perforating Artist can stay back and still receive its end-step raid trigger.
Your deck enables the plan but is losing the early turns.
Take a castable early creature or efficient answer before another expensive payoff.
Raid needs an attack, not a combat hit or a surviving attacker. Do not make a disastrous attack merely to grow Boarders when a normal creature and a stable board would be better.
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.
Raid needs an attack, not a combat hit or a surviving attacker. Do not make a disastrous attack merely to grow Boarders when a normal creature and a stable board would be better.
Trade efficiently with early attackers and make raid attacks costly. Keep in mind that removing an attacker after declaration does not undo the fact that the opponent attacked this turn.
Vampire Gourmand59.8% GIH · 12,194 instances
Perforating Artist59.5% GIH · 20,607 instances
Battlesong Berserker59.3% GIH · 10,650 instances
Fiery Annihilation59.2% GIH · 9,417 instances
Infernal Vessel58.7% GIH · 9,864 instances
Vampire Nighthawk58.5% GIH · 7,887 instances17Lands ↗ · Nov 12–Dec 15, 2024 · at least 100 card-in-hand instances in this pair’s no-splash decks. Choose the job your deck needs first.
Bloodthirsty Conqueror 3BBThe 5/5 flying deathtouch body converts every opposing life-loss event into life for you, including damage from your other creatures. That can reverse a race, but it does not stop removal or an attack that deals lethal damage before its life-gain trigger resolves.
Liliana, Dreadhorde General 4BBChoose between adding a blocker and making each player sacrifice two creatures. Your sacrificed creatures, including tokens, draw cards through her death trigger; expendable bodies improve the exchange, while an opponent with many small bodies can protect a larger threat.
Embercleave 4RRDeclare attackers before casting it to reduce the generic cost, then attach through its entry trigger to a creature that can use double strike and trample. You still need two red mana, and removal of the chosen creature can stop the free attachment; later equip costs three.
Alesha, Who Laughs at Fate 1BRAttack with Alesha to grow it before first-strike damage, but any creature attacking can enable its end-step reanimation. Choose a graveyard creature whose mana value fits Alesha's power; develop expendable attackers and protect Alesha when repeated returns matter more than one hit.
Sire of Seven Deaths 7Seven mana buys a resilient attacker and blocker: vigilance keeps it available, first strike and trample punish blocks, and lifelink can reverse races. Ward asks an opponent to pay seven life to target it; it is a cost they may pay, and untargeted removal still works normally.17Lands Premier Draft ↗ · Nov 12–Dec 15, 2024 · 100-instance minimum
Infestation SageA one-mana creature leaves a flying Insect when it dies. It can trade or pay a sacrifice cost without leaving an empty board, but exile and bounce do not create the replacement token.
Sanguine SyphonerIts attack trigger drains a life even when it is blocked, enabling life-gain and life-loss rewards. It still needs a survivable attack or a worthwhile trade to repeat that effect.
Goblin BoardersAttack with any creature before casting this in the second main phase to receive its entry counter. The attacker need not deal damage or survive; casting Boarders first misses raid.
Arbiter of WoeExamples apply the printed rules; judge the board, costs and timing.
| One-pick | Sealed |
|---|---|
| With one pick at a time, 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. |
Abrade
