wild of eldraine draft guide

Wilds of Eldraine Draft Guide

Wilds of Eldraine is a new Magic⁚ The Gathering set that takes place on the plane of Eldraine. It’s a fast but balanced format with several viable playstyles and decks. There are plenty of strategies to go around, and splashing a bit of anything is great. This guide will tell you everything you need to know for success in the wilds, including color pairings, top commons, and drafting strategies.

Introduction

Welcome to the enchanting world of Wilds of Eldraine, a Magic⁚ The Gathering set brimming with fairytale charm and exciting draft opportunities. As you delve into the realm of knights, fairies, and enchanted forests, prepare to experience a draft environment that’s both fast-paced and strategically rewarding. This guide serves as your compass, navigating you through the intricacies of Wilds of Eldraine draft, equipping you with the knowledge to build powerful decks and conquer your opponents.

Wilds of Eldraine offers a diverse range of draft archetypes, each with its own unique flavor and playstyle. Whether you’re drawn to the aggressive rush of Boros Aggro, the resilient power of Golgari Food, or the cunning control of Dimir Faeries, you’ll find a home among the ten two-color draft strategies. Each color combination is associated with a specific fairytale, adding a layer of thematic depth to your deckbuilding experience.

Prepare to encounter a wealth of exciting new mechanics, from the return of the beloved “Adventure” cards to the introduction of the “Enchantment” keyword, adding a whole new dimension to the battlefield. With so much to explore and strategize, Wilds of Eldraine promises to be a delightful and challenging draft experience for players of all skill levels.

Set Overview

Wilds of Eldraine, the 97th expansion set in the Magic⁚ The Gathering universe, transports players to the enchanting plane of Eldraine, a realm steeped in the magic of fairytales. This set is a love letter to classic fairy tales, with each color pair in the draft format representing a distinct fairytale archetype, offering a unique thematic experience.

The set features a diverse range of cards, including powerful creatures, impactful spells, and a variety of new mechanics. The return of the “Adventure” mechanic adds another layer of complexity and strategic decision-making, allowing players to utilize a card’s abilities in different ways depending on the situation.

One of the key features of Wilds of Eldraine is the emphasis on “Enchantment” cards. These cards offer a unique set of abilities and synergies that can greatly impact the course of the game. Whether you’re enchanting creatures to boost their power or using enchantments for powerful effects, mastering the use of enchantments is essential for success in Wilds of Eldraine.

Draft Archetypes

Wilds of Eldraine offers a variety of draft archetypes, each with its own unique strengths and weaknesses. These archetypes are often defined by the color pairs and the specific mechanics and cards that synergize within them. Understanding these archetypes is crucial for making informed drafting decisions and building a competitive deck.

The most common archetypes in Wilds of Eldraine include Aggro, Midrange, and Control. Aggro decks aim to overwhelm opponents with a relentless stream of early creatures and aggressive attacks. Midrange decks focus on a balanced approach, utilizing a mix of creatures, removal spells, and powerful threats to control the board and eventually win the game. Control decks, on the other hand, prioritize disrupting the opponent’s game plan with counterspells, removal spells, and powerful board wipes, often aiming for a late-game victory.

In addition to these general archetypes, Wilds of Eldraine also features a number of more specialized archetypes, such as the “Food” archetype, which focuses on generating and utilizing food tokens, and the “Faerie” archetype, which leverages the strengths of Faerie creatures and enchantments. Exploring these specialized archetypes can lead to unique and powerful deckbuilding strategies.

Aggro

Aggro decks in Wilds of Eldraine are all about speed and aggression. They aim to overwhelm the opponent with a relentless stream of early creatures and aggressive attacks, aiming to finish the game before the opponent can stabilize. These decks often feature low mana-cost creatures with haste, aggressive removal spells, and cards that generate card advantage to fuel their early game pressure.

The most common colors for Aggro decks are Red and White, which provide access to powerful one- and two-mana creatures with haste, like Gingerbread Hunter and Brave the Elements, as well as efficient removal spells such as Slash and Searing Spear. These decks often splash Black for additional removal and card advantage, utilizing cards like Cutthroat Charm and Deadly Reckoning.

Successful Aggro decks require a good balance of early aggression and card advantage. They need to be able to apply pressure early on and maintain that pressure throughout the game. They also need to be able to recover from board wipes and other threats that might slow down their momentum.

Midrange

Midrange decks in Wilds of Eldraine aim to strike a balance between early game presence and late game power. They aim to develop a strong board presence early on, while also building towards powerful threats that can close out the game later. Midrange decks often feature a mix of efficient creatures, removal spells, and card advantage engines, with a focus on playing powerful cards on curve and generating value throughout the game.

The most common colors for Midrange decks are Green and Black, which provide access to powerful creatures like Giant Growth and Shambling Ghast, as well as versatile removal spells like Deadly Reckoning and Claim the Firstborn. These decks often splash Blue for card advantage, utilizing cards like Spellbinder and Ravenous Flock.

Successful Midrange decks require a strong understanding of the format and the ability to adapt to different matchups. They need to be able to play both aggressively and defensively, depending on the situation. They also need to be able to generate enough value to stay ahead of the opponent’s board presence and threats.

Control

Control decks in Wilds of Eldraine aim to dominate the game through disruption and card advantage. They excel at slowing down the opponent’s game plan, removing their threats, and grinding them out over time. Control decks typically rely on a combination of removal spells, counterspells, and card draw engines to achieve their goals.

Blue is the core color for Control decks, offering access to powerful countermagic like Counterspell and Negate, as well as efficient removal spells like Cancel and Cancel. Black is often splashed for removal and lifegain, utilizing cards like Deadly Reckoning and Soul Shepherd. White can also be a valuable splash for additional removal and board wipes, such as Banishing Light and Swords to Plowshares;

Control decks need to be careful not to fall too far behind in board presence. It’s important to have a plan to deal with aggressive threats and to build a strong late game presence. Control decks often feature a mix of powerful finishers like Dragon Slayer and Scion of Oona, which can close out the game once the opponent has been sufficiently weakened.

Color Pair Synergies

Wilds of Eldraine features ten distinct two-color archetypes, each with unique synergies and gameplay styles. These color combinations provide a variety of options for players to explore, from aggressive strategies to controlling game plans.

Some of the most popular and effective color pairs include⁚

• Boros (Red/White): This aggressive archetype focuses on fast creatures and burn spells. It aims to overwhelm the opponent with early pressure and finish the game quickly.
• Golgari (Black/Green): This midrange archetype leverages powerful creatures, card draw, and graveyard synergies. It can be both aggressive and controlling, adapting to the needs of the game.
• Dimir (Blue/Black): This control archetype excels at disrupting the opponent’s plans with countermagic and removal. It also features strong card draw engines and powerful finishers.
• Selesnya (Green/White): This archetype focuses on creating a large and resilient board presence. It utilizes powerful creatures with strong abilities, and can either be aggressive or controlling depending on the specific cards drafted.

These are just a few examples of the many color pair synergies available in Wilds of Eldraine. Experimenting with different combinations and finding the right fit for your playstyle is key to success in this format.

Top Commons

Commons are the most common cards in any Magic⁚ The Gathering set, and they often form the backbone of your draft deck. In Wilds of Eldraine, there are several commons that stand out as particularly powerful and valuable.

Here are some of the top commons you should be looking for in your drafts⁚

• Candy Grapple⁚ This cheap removal spell is incredibly efficient, capable of dealing with early threats and even some larger creatures.
• Gingerbread Hunter⁚ A solid two-power creature with a powerful ability, allowing you to gain life and deal damage to an opponent, making it effective in both aggressive and controlling decks.
• Nightmarish Imp⁚ This card is a strong removal spell with the added benefit of card draw, making it a great choice for both aggressive and controlling decks.
• Whispering Fae⁚ A valuable card draw engine, especially in decks that focus on creatures with strong abilities or those with a higher mana curve.
• Wellspring of Courage⁚ This card can be a strong source of life gain in aggressive decks, and it can also be used to pump your creatures to deal extra damage.

Keep an eye out for these commons in your drafts, and be sure to pick them highly if you see them in your packs. They will help you build a strong and competitive deck, regardless of your chosen archetype.

Drafting Strategies

Drafting in Wilds of Eldraine requires a keen eye for synergy and a willingness to adapt to the cards you’re offered. Here are some general strategies to guide you⁚

• Prioritize Removal⁚ Wilds of Eldraine is a relatively aggressive format, so having removal spells is crucial to staying ahead of the curve. Aim for spells like Candy Grapple, Nightmarish Imp, and even the occasional expensive removal spell like Glimmer of the Fae.
• Don’t Overcommit to One Color⁚ While the set features strong two-color archetypes, be open to splashing a third color if you get a strong signal for it early in the draft. This allows you to access more powerful cards and build a more diverse deck.
• Value Card Draw⁚ Card advantage is king in Magic, and Wilds of Eldraine is no exception. Look for cards like Whispering Fae, Wellspring of Courage, and even the occasional enchantment that gives card draw.
• Consider the Meta⁚ Pay attention to what your opponents are drafting. If you see a lot of aggressive decks, you may want to lean towards a more controlling strategy. Conversely, if others are drafting control, you might want to go aggressive.
• Don’t Forget the Bombs⁚ While commons are important, don’t neglect the uncommons and rares. If you see a powerful card that fits your strategy, don’t be afraid to splash for it, even if it means deviating from your initial color plan.

By following these strategies, you can increase your chances of drafting a powerful deck and winning your next Wilds of Eldraine draft event. Remember, the key to success is to be adaptable, open to new opportunities, and always be thinking ahead!

Card Evaluation

Evaluating cards in Wilds of Eldraine draft requires understanding the format’s speed, the power level of individual cards, and the importance of synergy. Here are some key factors to consider when assessing a card’s draft value⁚

• Early Game Impact⁚ In a fast-paced format like Wilds of Eldraine, cards that can affect the board early on are incredibly valuable. Look for creatures with decent power and toughness, efficient removal spells, and cards that can generate early card advantage.
• Synergy⁚ Wilds of Eldraine heavily emphasizes synergy between cards. Pay attention to keywords like “Counters,” “Lifedrain,” and “Enchanted,” as these can create powerful combos and make otherwise average cards much stronger.
• Late Game Value⁚ While early game impact is crucial, you also need cards that can close out games in the late stages. Look for creatures with powerful abilities, spells that can generate a lot of value, and cards that can win you the game on their own.
• Versatility⁚ Cards that can be played in multiple decks and are useful in a variety of situations are often highly valuable. For example, a removal spell that can target both creatures and enchantments is more versatile than one that can only target creatures.
• Color Pair⁚ Some color pairs in Wilds of Eldraine are stronger than others. If you’re offered a card that seems good but doesn’t fit your current color pair, consider whether the card is strong enough to warrant splashing for it.

Remember, card evaluation is subjective and depends on the context of the draft. Be open to changing your opinions as you see more cards and learn more about the format. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try different strategies.

Navigating the Wilds of Eldraine draft format is a thrilling journey filled with enchantment and adventure. Mastering the art of drafting in this set requires a keen eye for synergies, a grasp of the format’s speed, and an understanding of the power level of individual cards. Remember, the key to success lies in building a cohesive deck that plays to its strengths and capitalizes on the unique mechanics of the set.

As you embark on your Wilds of Eldraine drafting adventures, keep these key takeaways in mind⁚

• Embrace the Fairytale Themes⁚ Each color pair in Wilds of Eldraine is inspired by a different fairytale, offering unique themes and synergies. Embrace these themes and build decks that capitalize on the specific abilities and mechanics associated with each color combination.
• Prioritize Early Game Impact⁚ The format is fast-paced, so cards that can affect the board early on are crucial. Look for efficient creatures, removal spells, and cards that can generate card advantage quickly.
• Seek Powerful Synergies⁚ The set heavily emphasizes synergy between cards. Pay close attention to keywords and mechanics, as these can create powerful combos and elevate your deck’s overall power level.
• Don’t Forget the Late Game⁚ While early game impact is important, you’ll need cards that can close out games in the late stages. Look for powerful creatures, late-game spells, and cards that can win the game on their own.
• Be Adaptable⁚ The metagame is constantly evolving, so be prepared to adjust your strategies as you encounter different decks and playstyles. Be open to experimenting and trying new things to stay ahead of the curve.

The Wilds of Eldraine draft format offers a unique and exciting experience for Magic players of all levels. By understanding the key principles and strategies outlined in this guide, you’ll be well on your way to conquering the wilds and achieving draft success.