Play creatures burdened by removable counters, add bodies to restore their size, and convert counter removal into evasion or disabled blockers.
Play creatures burdened by removable counters, add bodies to restore their size, and convert counter removal into evasion or disabled blockers.
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?
Removing a counter both grows the creature and stops a blocker. Use main-phase mana to prepare an attack rather than treating this as an instant trick.
Do my actual cards enable this plan?
Elder Auntie and its token remove both counters from Dounguard. Later Hurler can give a restored attacker flying before combat.
Can I stop their strongest play and finish a stalled game?
Play creatures burdened by removable counters, add bodies to restore their size, and convert counter removal into evasion or disabled blockers.
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 Brambleback Brute or Reluctant Dounguard.
Elder Auntie and its token remove both counters from Dounguard. Later Hurler can give a restored attacker flying before combat.
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.
Hurler can only give another creature flying. Budget its activation before spending all your mana on a new spell.
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.
Hurler can only give another creature flying. Budget its activation before spending all your mana on a new spell.
Remove the growing body before its counters disappear, and leave flying or instant interaction available for Hurler’s target.
Explosive Prodigy58.9% GIH · 263 instances
Pyrrhic Strike58.0% GIH · 440 instances
Boldwyr Aggressor57.9% GIH · 477 instances
Thoughtweft Imbuer57.7% GIH · 227 instances
Meanders Guide57.6% GIH · 125 instances
Tweeze57.1% GIH · 970 instances17Lands ↗ · Jan 20–Mar 5, 2026 · at least 100 card-in-hand instances in this pair’s no-splash decks. Choose the job your deck needs first.
Curious Colossus 5WWIts enter trigger strips abilities and sets the opposing creatures currently on the battlefield to base 1/1. The effect has no end-of-turn limit; later creatures are unaffected, and counters or later boosts still matter.
Kinbinding 3WWEach creature entering this turn strengthens your whole team. Its combat trigger supplies a creature every turn, so play additional bodies before combat when you want a larger attack.
Soul Immolation 3RRChoose X no larger than your greatest creature toughness and pay blight on one creature. It can clear the opposing board while sparing your other creatures, but the payment can kill its recipient.
Spinerock Tyrant 3RRA flying threat that also copies single-target instants and sorceries. Removal can leave permanent -1/-1 counters through wither; check the target count before expecting a copy.
Figure of Fable G/WStarts as an early play and turns spare mana into a larger threat. Follow the Scout and Soldier requirements in order; its final protection makes opposing targeting, blocking and damage difficult.
Chronicle of Victory 6Choose the creature type your deck actually supports. Changelings help, but six mana is a major investment: retain enough early creatures to survive and use the immediate team bonus.17Lands Premier Draft ↗ · Jan 20–Mar 5, 2026 · 100-instance minimum
Elder AuntieTwo Goblin bodies support death rewards and blight costs. The black-red token also contributes two colors for vivid.
Clachan Festival
Brambleback BruteRemoving a counter both grows the creature and stops a blocker. Use main-phase mana to prepare an attack rather than treating this as an instant trick.
Reluctant DounguardLater creatures remove its entry counters and restore its size. Multiple-body cards can clear both counters quickly.
Brigid, Clachan's Heart
Eirdu, Carrier of Dawn
Ashling, Rekindled
Abigale, Eloquent First-Year
Bre of Clan Stoutarm
Catharsis
Eclipsed Boggart
Eclipsed Flamekin
Eclipsed Kithkin
Eclipsed Merrow
EmptinessFigure of Fable
Hovel Hurler
Kirol, Attentive First-Year
Noggle Robber
Reaping Willow
Sanar, Innovative First-Year
Shadow Urchin
Vibrance
ManamorphoseExamples 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. |
Elder Auntie and its token remove both counters from Dounguard. Later Hurler can give a restored attacker flying before combat.
Cinder Strike
