No surprise here, as Bleed Dry is a beater that answers anything in the format not named Avabruck Caretaker. You’ll win more when you stick to the script: a highly synergistic and linear deck that casts creatures to exploit and creatures to do the exploiting. The biggest mistake I see is people trying to add Blood or lifegain packages to their Dimir decks. You’ll see games where this plays out okay and you’ll think, “Old Uncle Cardboard lied to me.” Decks that play this card and don’t draw it win 5% more games, comparable to other flotsam like Unholy Officiant. We’re not even sure if training is a viable mechanic. I know it seems like a solid training enabler, but Estwald Shieldbasher is too vulnerable to cheap removal to justify four mana. Menace also plays quite well with the only combat tricks you’re happy to run here in Sure Strike. Ideally, this is the top of your curve, and you can pitch lands into your graveyard for the rest of your life. A Top 5 Boros common, these party animals are going a full pick later than much worse cards like Drogskol Infantry and Gryff Rider. I get visibly upset when I see Falkenrath Celebrants going as late as they have been. Best Common You’re Not Drafting Highly Enough: Falkenrath Celebrants 99% of the time, that’s the wrong decision, but I can’t stop you. In a pinch, you can even snap off a Blood token. Boros wants to clear the path early for aggressive creatures while building out its battlefield, making this ideal removal. Three damage at instant speed turns out to be a deal in this Limited format, where Abrade kills almost 71% of creatures. With no payoffs at common for going wide, you’re counting on efficiency from top to bottom. Keep it low and tight, eschewing expensive removal and creatures for speed. Skip leg day (and training), focusing obsessively on your curve instead. You know, like that Minister we were just talking about. Azorius is actively trying to trade its cheap disturb creatures and get value later from the back half, so don’t waste a card on mediocre removal that doesn’t hit some of the best creatures in the format. In a format that values cheap interaction, it feels wild to call out Piercing Light. Tip: avoid the temptation to toss one on your Traveling Minister Turn 2, but I love slapping it on a Lantern Bearer and going to work. Enough enchantments-matter cards are floating around you don’t mind jamming bonus Auras that aren’t your disturb creatures. Creating a 1/1 flyer when Nurturing Presence sticks (and the immediate trigger) is the key here, as your Ministers love an evasive target to hit. Best Common You’re Not Drafting Highly Enough: Nurturing Presence The best decks are playing upwards of four, as the data doesn’t hate drawing them late: 17Lands IWD (Win Rate Improvement When Drawn) is a net 5.4 percentage points higher than never drawing them. It makes every creature you cast better while helping you win any race. Buffing your creatures for free always feels like you’re getting away with something, but gaining life while doing it is a downright steal. It’s the golden age of one-drops, everyone, and Traveling Minister is preaching the gospel. The deck plays faster than you’d imagine and then closes the game with its evasive threats, protecting them in myriad ways. Trade your creatures early, reap the rewards down the road. What’s on the menu? What commons are the stuffing and mashed potatoes? Which ones are the yams? Azorius Today, I’m breaking down each of the main archetypes. Predicting things is hard that’s why meteorologists make the big bucks and get cool fake names like Dallas Raines. Thanks to 17Lands, we no longer have to rely on grades to be our guide to the new format. It’s been two weeks since the digital release of Innistrad: Crimson Vow and I finally have some data to get my grindy little hands on. I even got a couple of games in before my flight back from Vegas. If you’re not spending a national holiday drafting four-color Hullbreaker Horror, what are you even doing? Draft is a hell of a drug. Now that Thanksgiving/ National Day of Mourning, is over, I hope you also had a chance to see your family for a few minutes, then ducked off somewhere to draft.
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