Home » Blogs » Uncle Ho's blog

MTG Drafting Tactica I

Submitted by Uncle Ho on August 15, 2008 - 03:05

For many people, one of the best way to start playing Magic: The Gathering is by "Drafting". Drafting is very simple. In fact, all you need is 4 or more players (there are 2 player versions but we won't be talking about that today), each with 3 booster packs.

HOW TO DRAFT
All you do is randomly sit around a table and decide on the order to open the booster packs (everybody need to open theirs in the same way):

1. Open your first pack and look over the cards thoroughly.
2. Pick one card and pass to the left.
3. Repeat until there are no more cards to be passed.

4. Open your second booster pack and look over the cards thoroughtly.
5. Pick one card and pass to the right.
6. Repeat until there are no more cards to be passed.

7. Open your first pack and look over the cards thoroughly.
8. Pick one card and pass to the left.
9. Repeat until there are no more cards to be passed.

Here is the meat and potatoes of this article: BOMBS KILLS CREATURES!

That's how I choose my cards.

There are many criteria on choosing cards for Drafting. You need to go into a Draft with some idea of what to choose. Now, of course the whole idea is to have fun BUT nobody will tell you truthfully that losing is more fun than winning. So let's try keep the BS out of the picture and try to play to win.

BOMBS
What do I mean by BOMBS KILLS CREATURES is the priority I draft cards. I try to get BOMBS first. BOMBS are cards that can win you the game immediately or shortly thereafter. For example, cards that gives you massive advantage.

KILLS
Secondly, I look for KILL spells. Usually KILL spells are available in white, black and red only and I try to splash at least one of those colours, if not able to play one or more of them as my main colours. Red KILL spells are usually the best because they can do damage to an opponent or remove a creature but they are limited in the amount of damage they can do. Black KILL spells usually do not care what is the toughness of the creature and outright destroys it. White KILL spells destroy or remove creature from play just like a black spell but has some restriction in the sense that it only works while the creature is attacking or blocking. Obviously, in some sets where there are hybrid or multicolour cards, kill spells may combine other features.

CREATURES
Thirdly, look for CREATURES. Good creatures. Creatures that come into play with good effects are sometimes better than KILL spells (especially creatures that come into play with KILL effects). It is not always better to have bigger creatures if a smaller creature can deal with it. For example, creatures that can tap other creatures. A 1/1 that taps can tap a 10/10 and laugh in its face. So, look for creatures that have good abilities. Then, look for creatures with evasion. That means, creatures that have landwalk, fly, unblockable, shadow, protection or fear. This gives your opponent a clock since you are attacking every turn. For example, a 3/1 shadow gives your opponent 7 turns if you do not have burn or pump spells/effects.

These are by no means comprehensive. As you play more and more games, experience will teach you many more lessons than this article can. Your local gaming scene may be different, so take that into account also.

What else do you think is essential for winning Magic: The Gathering games? Got a good idea? Please Share in the comments. We'd love to hear from you!

Written for Two Headed Dragon by Uncle Ho.

»