Welcome, drafters, to the enchanting realm of Eldraine! This guide unveils strategies for navigating this captivating set, steeped in fairytale lore and compelling gameplay.
Understanding the Set’s Themes
Wilds of Eldraine deeply immerses players in a world inspired by classic fairytales, but with a distinctly dark and twisted edge. The set’s core revolves around the concept of roles – specifically, how characters embody fairytale archetypes like heroes, villains, and those caught in between. Expect to see significant synergy with cards that reward you for playing into these roles, or for disrupting your opponent’s narrative.
Enchantments are absolutely central to the Eldraine experience, representing the magical influence woven into the fabric of the realm. Many cards directly interact with enchantments, either enhancing their power or exploiting their presence. Furthermore, the ‘Adventure’ mechanic returns, offering versatile cards with two distinct spells in one, mirroring the dual nature of many fairytale characters and storylines. Prepare to embrace the whimsical, yet perilous, atmosphere of Eldraine!
Key Mechanics in Wilds of Eldraine
Adventure returns, offering cards with two spells – a Sorcery and an Instant – attached. This provides flexibility, allowing you to use the Instant portion later, often for interaction or reach. Enchantments are incredibly potent, not just as standalone spells, but as enablers for numerous synergies. Many cards care about having enchantments in play, or reward you for casting them;
A new mechanic, Roles, defines creatures with specific fairytale archetypes (Hero, Villain, etc.). Cards interact with these Roles, granting bonuses or triggering effects. Understanding which Roles are prevalent in your draft will be crucial. Finally, Bargain allows you to sacrifice cards to power up spells, offering a risk-reward element. Mastering these mechanics is key to success in Wilds of Eldraine drafts!
Color Pair Strategies
Eldraine’s color pairs offer diverse paths to victory. Each combination boasts unique strengths, from aggressive strategies to controlling enchantment-based builds, demanding adaptable drafting.
White/Blue ― Control & Enchantments
White/Blue in Wilds of Eldraine excels at a controlling game plan, leveraging enchantments for value and disruption. This archetype aims to stabilize the board early with efficient removal and then overwhelm opponents with powerful enchantments and resilient creatures. Prioritize cards that generate card advantage, such as those with draw triggers or repeatable effects. Look for synergies between auras and creatures, creating a board state difficult for opponents to dismantle.
Key cards will include those that protect your enchantments, counter spells to disrupt key threats, and creatures that benefit from being enchanted. Don’t shy away from cards that offer incremental value over time. A strong White/Blue deck will often win through attrition, slowly grinding opponents down with consistent advantage and a resilient board presence. Remember to balance enchantment density with enough creatures to apply pressure.
Blue/Black ─ Disruption & Card Advantage
Blue/Black in Wilds of Eldraine thrives on disrupting your opponent’s plans while simultaneously building a substantial card advantage engine. This archetype focuses on controlling the flow of the game through counterspells, discard effects, and efficient removal. Prioritize cards that allow you to react to your opponent’s threats and consistently refill your hand. Look for synergies between creatures that benefit from opponents’ actions, like those triggered by spells cast or cards discarded.
Key cards will include those that offer repeatable card draw, hand disruption to dismantle opposing strategies, and creatures with evasive abilities. Don’t underestimate the power of a well-timed counterspell or a strategically placed discard spell. A successful Blue/Black deck aims to outmaneuver opponents, leaving them resource-starved and unable to compete. Balancing disruption with card advantage is crucial for long-term success.
Black/Red ― Aggro & Sacrifice
Black/Red in Wilds of Eldraine is a potent archetype built around aggressive strategies and the powerful synergy of sacrifice mechanics. This combination excels at quickly overwhelming opponents with a relentless stream of creatures, backed by efficient removal and the ability to generate value from sacrificing your own board. Prioritize low-cost creatures with aggressive stats and cards that reward you for sacrificing them.
Look for cards that provide immediate impact, such as haste creatures and direct damage spells. Sacrifice outlets are essential, allowing you to turn creatures into additional resources like card draw or damage. A successful Black/Red deck aims to apply early pressure, disrupt opponent’s development, and close out the game before they can stabilize. Don’t be afraid to trade resources aggressively and capitalize on every opportunity to push damage.
Red/Green ─ Midrange & Ramp
Red/Green in Wilds of Eldraine leans into a powerful midrange strategy, utilizing ramp spells to accelerate into larger, impactful creatures. This archetype aims to establish board control in the mid-game and overwhelm opponents with efficient threats. Prioritize cards that allow you to generate mana quickly, such as land ramp spells and creatures that produce additional resources.
Look for creatures with strong stats and abilities that provide value over time. Removal is crucial for clearing the path for your larger threats, and combat tricks can help you win crucial battles. A successful Red/Green deck balances ramp, efficient creatures, and removal to create a resilient and overwhelming force. Focus on curving out effectively and maximizing the impact of your mana advantage.
Green/White ─ Tokens & Lifegain
Green/White in Wilds of Eldraine excels at a synergistic strategy centered around generating tokens and accruing life gain. This archetype aims to build a wide board presence with resilient creatures, overwhelming opponents with sheer numbers while simultaneously stabilizing with life gain effects. Prioritize cards that create multiple tokens, such as those that generate Food or other token types.
Cards that reward you for having tokens or gaining life are also key components of this strategy. Removal that can protect your board and disrupt your opponent’s plans is essential. A successful Green/White deck combines token generation, life gain, and efficient creatures to create a resilient and value-oriented game plan. Focus on building a strong board presence and outlasting your opponents.
Important Card Types & Synergies
Synergistic cards define Eldraine drafts! Enchantments, Role Players, and powerful Rares intertwine, creating explosive combinations and defining successful deck archetypes.
Role Players & Utility Cards
Eldraine’s strength lies in its flexible role players. These aren’t always flashy, but they consistently contribute to a cohesive strategy. Prioritize cards offering multiple functions – a creature with a relevant keyword and a useful etb effect is gold. Look for cards that shore up weaknesses in your chosen archetype.
Utility lands, while limited, can be impactful. Cards providing mana fixing or repeatable effects are valuable. Don’t underestimate the power of efficient removal, especially those that interact with enchantments, a cornerstone of the set. Cards that disrupt opponent’s plans, like temporary bounce or hand disruption, are crucial for control strategies. Remember, a well-rounded draft deck needs more than just threats; it needs answers and consistent value engines.
Powerful Rare & Mythic Rares
Wilds of Eldraine’s rares and mythics can dramatically swing a draft. Identifying these bombs is crucial for success. Cards that generate overwhelming value, like those creating multiple tokens or providing significant card advantage, should be prioritized. Pay attention to cards that enable powerful synergies within specific archetypes – a mythic that fuels a Faerie swarm is incredibly strong in the right deck.
Don’t automatically slam-dunk every rare; consider its fit within your current strategy. A powerful creature might be less valuable if it doesn’t align with your color pair or archetype. Removal that answers key threats is often more valuable than a high-cost, situational bomb. Recognizing these impactful cards and building around them is key to dominating your Eldraine drafts.
Enchantments and their Impact
Enchantments are a defining feature of Wilds of Eldraine, significantly shaping draft strategies and gameplay. They aren’t merely support spells; many are central to key archetypes, offering powerful ongoing effects. Auras, in particular, can create explosive turns when combined with creatures possessing relevant abilities. Global enchantments often dictate the flow of the game, influencing board states and dictating combat.
Prioritize enchantments that synergize with your chosen colors and archetype. Cards that benefit from having multiple enchantments in play are especially potent. Be mindful of enchantment removal – having access to answers for opposing enchantments is crucial. Don’t underestimate the power of enchantments to provide consistent value and control the board, making them a cornerstone of successful Eldraine decks.
Draft Archetypes ― Deep Dive
Eldraine offers diverse archetypes! We’ll explore synergistic strategies, focusing on color pair combinations and key cards for maximizing your draft’s potential.
Faerie Tale Aggro (Blue/Black)
Faerie Tale Aggro in Wilds of Eldraine thrives on a swift, evasive strategy, overwhelming opponents with a constant stream of small, flying creatures. This archetype leverages the power of Faerie tokens and synergistic enchantments to establish early board presence and maintain relentless pressure. Key to success is prioritizing cards that generate value from entering the battlefield or have inherent evasion.
Look for cards that boost Faerie power or provide card advantage, ensuring a consistent flow of threats. Disruption spells, like counterspells or discard effects, are crucial for hindering your opponent’s development. Remember, the goal isn’t necessarily to build a complex engine, but to consistently apply pressure and finish the game before your opponent can stabilize. Efficient removal is also valuable for clearing blockers and pushing through damage. Embrace the whimsical nature of Faeries and overwhelm your foes!
Brave the Elements (Red/Green)
Brave the Elements in Wilds of Eldraine is a powerful midrange strategy centered around the “Adventure” mechanic and capitalizing on the “Bravely” keyword. This archetype aims to build a resilient board presence with efficient creatures, utilizing Adventures for versatile plays and value generation. Prioritize cards that synergize with the “Bravely” ability, rewarding you for attacking and applying pressure.
Ramp spells are essential for accelerating into larger threats, while removal helps control the board and clear a path for your attackers. Look for creatures with strong Adventure sides, providing flexibility and card advantage. The deck excels at overwhelming opponents with consistent threats and capitalizing on combat tricks. Don’t be afraid to trade resources, as Red/Green can often rebuild quickly. Focus on a proactive game plan and punish opponents who stumble.
Corrupted Conviction (Black/Red)
Corrupted Conviction embodies aggressive strategies within Wilds of Eldraine, leaning heavily into sacrifice synergies and direct damage. This Black/Red archetype thrives on a fast, disruptive game plan, aiming to overwhelm opponents before they can establish control. Prioritize cards that reward sacrificing creatures, generating value and furthering your aggression. Efficient removal is crucial for clearing blockers and pushing through damage.
Look for creatures with impactful “enter the battlefield” or “dies” triggers, maximizing the benefit from sacrifice outlets. Cards that provide card draw or additional threats upon sacrificing are particularly valuable. Black/Red excels at applying constant pressure and punishing opponents for stumbling. Embrace a proactive approach, utilizing discard spells to disrupt their plans and maintain a relentless offensive. Don’t shy away from aggressive trades to maintain momentum.
Draft Tips & Tricks
Success in Eldraine drafts hinges on adaptability! Carefully observe pack order, identify open colors, and prioritize impactful removal alongside synergistic card choices.
Reading Signals & Identifying Open Lanes
Decoding draft signals is paramount to building a cohesive Eldraine deck. Pay close attention to what your opponents are passing – repeated colors or archetypes flowing back indicate an open lane. Early picks shouldn’t lock you into a strategy; remain flexible. If you notice a scarcity of certain colors in the first few packs, it’s a strong indicator they’re less contested.
Conversely, if powerful cards from a specific color consistently make it back to you, that color is likely open. Don’t be afraid to pivot if your initial plan isn’t materializing. Look for common cards that heavily support a particular archetype; these are strong signals that others aren’t prioritizing that strategy. Remember, a successful draft isn’t about forcing your preferred archetype, but capitalizing on what the draft presents.
Prioritizing Removal & Interaction
In Wilds of Eldraine, proactive plays are strong, but reliable removal and interaction are crucial for success. The set features powerful creatures and enchantments that can quickly spiral out of control. Prioritize cards that answer these threats, such as direct damage spells, enchantment removal, and efficient combat tricks. Don’t underestimate the value of bounce spells; they can disrupt your opponent’s tempo and buy you valuable time.
Cards that allow you to interact with your opponent’s plays – counterspells, discard, or even simple combat tricks – are incredibly valuable. A well-timed removal spell can swing a game in your favor. Aim for a healthy balance between threats and answers in your deck. Over-committing to creatures without sufficient removal can leave you vulnerable to board wipes or aggressive strategies.
Evaluating Card Power Levels
Wilds of Eldraine’s card power level is surprisingly varied. Many cards shine within specific archetypes, while others are generally strong across the board. Don’t automatically dismiss cards that don’t fit neatly into a pre-conceived strategy; flexibility is key. Pay close attention to cards with “roleplayer” potential – those that excel in niche situations or synergize powerfully with specific enchantments.
Rare and mythic rares often have a significant impact, but common and uncommon cards can be equally valuable. Consider how a card’s abilities interact with the set’s mechanics, like Adventure and enchantments. A seemingly mediocre card can become a powerhouse with the right support. Prioritize cards that provide card advantage, tempo swings, or efficient removal, as these tend to be consistently strong throughout the draft.
Post-Draft Considerations
Refine your drafted deck with careful attention to mana curve and synergy. Sideboarding choices are crucial; anticipate common matchups and prepare accordingly for success!
Deckbuilding Best Practices
Crafting a cohesive deck post-draft requires thoughtful consideration. Aim for a balanced mana curve, ensuring you have plays at each stage of the game. Prioritize cards that synergize with your chosen archetype, maximizing their impact. Don’t be afraid to include a few strong role-players, even if they don’t perfectly fit the theme, for added flexibility.
Typically, a 15×40 format is ideal – fifteen cards in your main deck and forty total cards including lands. Adjust land count based on your deck’s mana requirements; aggressive decks need fewer lands, while controlling decks require more. Evaluate your removal suite; sufficient interaction is vital for disrupting opponent’s strategies. Consider including cards that provide card advantage, allowing you to outpace your opponent in the late game. Finally, remember that consistency is key – a focused deck will generally outperform a collection of powerful but disjointed cards.
Sideboarding Strategies
Effective sideboarding is crucial for adapting to diverse matchups in Wilds of Eldraine drafts. Identify cards that are weak against common archetypes and prepare replacements. Against aggressive strategies, prioritize removal spells and lifegain effects to stabilize the board. For control matchups, bring in cards that generate card advantage or disrupt their plans, like counterspells or discard effects.
Consider cards that answer specific threats – enchantment removal against enchantment-heavy decks, or graveyard hate against reanimator strategies. Don’t be afraid to swap out situational cards for more broadly applicable options; Remember to assess your opponent’s potential sideboard options as well, anticipating their adjustments. A well-constructed sideboard allows you to tailor your deck to exploit weaknesses and maximize your chances of victory in each game. Careful planning is paramount!