The Lost Caverns of Ixalan

One-pick Draft · Cards, plans & rules · Arena win rates (Premier Draft, Nov 9–Dec 25, 2023)

Released November 17, 2023

The ten-second pick check

4 questions

Ask them in this order.

Can I cast it?

Check colored mana and the turn when this card needs to matter.

What job is missing?

An early creature or answer may matter more than another expensive payoff.

Does the support exist?

Count actual cards that enable the reward, not the ones you hope to open.

What will I cut?

Keep a coherent deck and enough lands instead of every interesting card.

What job does this card do?

All 50 card notes →

Look past the power level. Name the job before deciding whether it belongs.

Enablers

Spyglass Siren

A one-mana flyer plus a Map supplies both an attacker and an artifact for craft, counters or exploration.

11 enablers →

Enablers

Deathcap Marionette

Trades with larger creatures and can mill permanent cards for descend before combat.

11 enablers →

Mana & fixing

Poison Dart Frog

Fixes any color and blocks flyers; keep two mana available when deathtouch matters.

1 mana & fixing →

What matters in The Lost Caverns of Ixalan

All mechanics →

Artifacts do several jobs

Maps, Gnomes and used artifacts can support craft, tapping and sacrifice. Spend each piece on the job your board needs most.

Learn craft and the set mechanics →

Count the right graveyard cards

Descend counts permanent cards. Tokens and cast instants do not build that count, while a milled land does.

Keep developing while you explore

Explore improves draws or creatures, but lands revealed normally go to hand. Play enough early creatures to make Maps useful.

Before your event & where to play

Draft with friends
Paper, at homeAny time
Event rules
Use three Draft Boosters per player; take one card per pick and build at least 40 cards.

Before a paper event

Confirm the format, start time and registration with the store. For Two-Headed Giant, confirm the team’s booster allocation.
Bring sleeves, a deck box, blank paper and a pen, and distinct counters for loyalty and +1/+1 counters.
Have your Wizards account ready in the Companion app. The store can explain joining and reporting results.
Keep pools from different events separate. Use only this event’s cards and permitted basic lands.
Read the guide before play; ask the judge when outside notes or devices may be used.

Find a store → Event locator ↗ Magic Companion ↗

Take with you

Your first Prerelease →Learn · 4 min

Outside strategy notes cannot be consulted during sanctioned drafting, construction or games. Brief prewritten notes may be reviewed between games; public Oracle lookup follows separate rules. Ask your organizer about devices and note use.