Stabilize with black removal, then use large creatures and recursion to outlast the opponent.
Stabilize with black removal, then use large creatures and recursion to outlast the opponent. Old Man Willow can turn spare Food or creatures into -2/-2 each time it attacks.
Choose these colors when useful cards and the support below keep arriving. One gold card is a possibility, not an obligation.
Four checks while you draft
Can this pick help me play a creature or answer by turn two?
Keep time to set up without taking free attacks.
Am I adding the missing half of the plan?
Partings finds a land to hand and makes Food. Willow grows with lands you control; on its attack you may sacrifice that Food to shrink an opposing creature.
Can I win without drawing my best rare?
Stabilize with black removal, then use large creatures and recursion to outlast the opponent. Old Man Willow can turn spare Food or creatures into -2/-2 each time it attacks.
Can I stop a threat my creatures cannot block profitably?
Keep real removal or a counterspell for the card that changes the game.
Choose the missing job before another reward that needs it.
You have Old Man Willow but need support.
Look for Dunland Crebain or Many Partings.
Expendable material and a real return target. You cannot sacrifice a nontoken artifact such as Lembas to Willow unless it is also a creature. The cost says another creature or a token.
You already have Many Partings.
Consider Old Man Willow if it fills a useful job.
Partings finds a land to hand and makes Food. Willow grows with lands you control; on its attack you may sacrifice that Food to shrink an opposing creature.
The support is missing
Take castable creatures and answers. If the engine never arrives, use the good cards rather than forcing narrow support.
Repeated useful cards are clues, not proof that the colors are open.
You cannot sacrifice a nontoken artifact such as Lembas to Willow unless it is also a creature. The cost says another creature or a token.
Exile a large graveyard target before reanimation if you can. Remove Willow before combat rather than after its attack trigger has already given them value.
Nazgûl63.0% GIH · 3,315 instances
Old Man Willow62.7% GIH · 8,025 instances
Voracious Fell Beast62.2% GIH · 3,569 instances
The Torment of Gollum61.8% GIH · 8,030 instances
Dunland Crebain61.4% GIH · 9,602 instances
Wizard's Rockets61.3% GIH · 194 instances17Lands ↗ · Jun 15–Aug 28, 2023 · at least 100 card-in-hand instances in this pair’s no-splash decks. Choose the job your deck needs first.
Orcish Bowmasters 1BTake it early. Keep two mana available for flash, especially before an extra draw. One black pip makes a splash possible with reliable fixing; it is strongest when you can cast it on time.
Witch-king of Angmar 3BBBuild a black deck with early defense and five mana. Save a spare card to discard for indestructible when needed; double black is a poor casual splash.
Andúril, Flame of the West 3Fits any colors, but needs creatures and two mana to equip. A legendary attacker, including your Ring-bearer, makes the Spirits attack immediately. Keep your creature count high.
Horn of Gondor 3Fits any colors. Defend while you spend three mana per activation; existing Humans make the token growth faster. Do not cut the early creatures that keep you alive.
Palantír of Orthanc 3Fits any colors and improves your draws or pressures the opponent each end step. Keep early defense; it does not affect attackers immediately. Watch your shrinking library in a long game.17Lands Premier Draft ↗ · Jun 15–Aug 28, 2023 · 100-instance minimum
Wose PathfinderSpeeds up expensive spells and fixes colors. It is vulnerable: do not keep a hand that works only if it survives.
Easterling VanguardA two-mana creature that leaves an Army or grows the one you have when it dies. Useful early defense and later sacrifice material.
Dunland CrebainA flyer plus an Army supports both attacks and sacrifice. A small flyer also makes a useful Ring-bearer.
Mordor Muster
Rise of the Witch-kingEach player sacrifices a creature, then you return a permanent. Cycling a large creature sets up a strong return, but you still need a useful board before turn four.
Gothmog, Morgul LieutenantOld Man WillowStabilize with black removal, then use large creatures and recursion to outlast the opponent. Old Man Willow can turn spare Food or creatures into -2/-2 each time it attacks.
NazgûlPick support you can cast in your final colors. Each Ring temptation grows every Wraith you control. You may play any number in Limited, but still need early defense and ways to tempt the Ring.
Examples apply the printed rules; judge the board, costs and timing.
| One-pick | Sealed |
|---|---|
| Use three Draft Boosters each and take one card per pick. Premier data describes Arena games, not an exact forecast for a family draft. | Build from the cards you opened. Choose colors with enough early plays, answers and a way to win before chasing a theme. |
Many Partings
