Make mana, deploy large creatures, and attack with a size advantage.
Make mana, deploy large creatures, and attack with a size advantage. Strider’s landfall bonus can turn a four-power creature into a first-striking attacker. Have enough creatures for Friendly Rivalry.
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?
Ent can find a Forest early or become a large creature late. With Strider in play, make your land drop before combat to give a creature the bonus and possibly first strike.
Can I win without drawing my best rare?
Make mana, deploy large creatures, and attack with a size advantage. Strider’s landfall bonus can turn a four-power creature into a first-striking attacker. Have enough creatures for Friendly Rivalry.
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 Strider, Ranger of the North but need support.
Look for Wose Pathfinder or Generous Ent.
Threats as well as mana. Fixing lets you splash a powerful card, but too many off-color spells slow down the creatures that make this plan work.
You already have Strider, Ranger of the North.
Consider Generous Ent if it fills a useful job.
Ent can find a Forest early or become a large creature late. With Strider in play, make your land drop before combat to give a creature the bonus and possibly first strike.
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.
Fixing lets you splash a powerful card, but too many off-color spells slow down the creatures that make this plan work.
Kill a mana creature when it will delay a big play. Answer their creature in response to a damage spell, and remember that first strike changes which blocks trade.
Éomer of the Riddermark63.0% GIH · 1,612 instances
Fear, Fire, Foes!61.9% GIH · 1,498 instances
Book of Mazarbul61.3% GIH · 1,231 instances
Great Hall of the Citadel59.3% GIH · 322 instances
Rally at the Hornburg58.9% GIH · 3,006 instances
Lembas58.6% GIH · 345 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.
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
Battle-Scarred GoblinA cheap attacker that deals one damage to each of its blockers. Count that extra damage before deciding whether an attack is profitable.
Erebor Flamesmith
Smite the DeathlessThree damage with an exile clause answers small creatures cleanly. Save it for a creature it can actually kill.
Friendly RivalryTwo of your creatures can combine their damage. Keep them alive through resolution and use it before you sacrifice either.
Strider, Ranger of the NorthMake mana, deploy large creatures, and attack with a size advantage. Strider’s landfall bonus can turn a four-power creature into a first-striking attacker. Have enough creatures for Friendly Rivalry.
Fiery InscriptionPick support you can cast in your final colors. Turns repeated instants and sorceries into damage. Add cheap spells and enough defense; a creature-heavy deck will trigger it too rarely.
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. |
Wose Pathfinder
Generous Ent
