Trade resources and block early, then win with a growing Army and evasive Ring-bearers.
Trade resources and block early, then win with a growing Army and evasive Ring-bearers. The Mouth of Sauron mills the opponent and turns their graveyard of instants and sorceries into a larger Army.
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?
Crebain supplies a flyer and an Army. The Mouth then adds counters to that Army based on the opponent’s instants and sorceries in their graveyard.
Can I win without drawing my best rare?
Trade resources and block early, then win with a growing Army and evasive Ring-bearers. The Mouth of Sauron mills the opponent and turns their graveyard of instants and sorceries into a larger Army.
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 The Mouth of Sauron but need support.
Look for Dunland Crebain or Claim the Precious.
Defense before the expensive reward. Milling a few cards is usually setup, not a plan to empty their entire library.
You already have Dunland Crebain.
Consider The Mouth of Sauron if it fills a useful job.
Crebain supplies a flyer and an Army. The Mouth then adds counters to that Army based on the opponent’s instants and sorceries in their graveyard.
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.
Milling a few cards is usually setup, not a plan to empty their entire library.
Keep pressure on while their answers are expensive. Bounce or exile a large Army to undo several amass spells; a removal spell on a small disposable creature is less valuable.
Nazgûl65.7% GIH · 11,901 instances
Saruman's Trickery65.3% GIH · 17,589 instances
Voracious Fell Beast63.9% GIH · 11,537 instances
Claim the Precious63.8% GIH · 33,001 instances
Gollum's Bite63.1% GIH · 11,743 instances
Horses of the Bruinen63.1% GIH · 13,143 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.
Rangers of Ithilien 2UUPlay enough blue sources for double blue and protect Rangers after stealing a creature. If Rangers leaves, the creature goes back. Not an easy splash.
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
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.
Ithilien Kingfisher
Dunland CrebainA flyer plus an Army supports both attacks and sacrifice. A small flyer also makes a useful Ring-bearer.
Birthday EscapeReplaces itself while advancing the Ring. After level two, attacking with your Ring-bearer helps discard excess lands.
Claim the PreciousUnconditional creature removal that also advances the Ring. Keep it for the threat your creatures cannot handle.
Glorious Gale
The Mouth of SauronTrade resources and block early, then win with a growing Army and evasive Ring-bearers. The Mouth of Sauron mills the opponent and turns their graveyard of instants and sorceries into a larger Army.
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. |
Pelargir Survivor
