Crush your next MTG draft! This guide includes a color tier list, card ratings, set mechanics, and more. Guilds of Ravnica is back as a Premier Draft,
Overview of Guilds of Ravnica
Guilds of Ravnica marks a return to the beloved plane of Ravnica, a world-city governed by ten distinct guilds. This set focuses on five of those guilds⁚ Boros (Red/White), Golgari (Black/Green), Dimir (Blue/Black), Izzet (Blue/Red), and Selesnya (Green/White). Each guild has its own unique identity, playstyle, and keyword mechanic, shaping the drafting experience.
The set emphasizes synergy within each guild, rewarding players who commit to a specific color combination and strategy. Understanding these guild identities is crucial for successful drafting. Guilds of Ravnica is a set where knowing the best common and uncommon cards for each guild is essential.
Navigating the draft requires awareness of open lanes and signals from other drafters, allowing players to adapt and build powerful, cohesive decks. The set is known for its balanced gameplay, offering opportunities for both aggressive and controlling strategies within each guild. Identifying early game creatures and removal is a must.
Key Mechanics in Guilds of Ravnica
Guilds of Ravnica introduces five key mechanics, each tied to a specific guild. Boros utilizes Mentor, triggering when an attacking creature with Mentor is on the field, and puts a +1/+1 counter on target attacking creature with less power. Golgari employs Undergrowth, abilities get stronger depending on the number of creature cards in your graveyard. Dimir uses Surveil, which lets you look at cards from the top of your library, and put any of them into your graveyard.
Izzet brings back Jump-start, which allows you to cast an instant or sorcery from your graveyard by paying its mana cost and discarding a card. Selesnya features Convoke, which allows you to tap your creatures when casting the card. Understanding these mechanics is paramount to drafting successfully.
These mechanics influence card evaluation and deck-building decisions. Recognizing how these mechanics synergize within their respective guilds, and with other cards, is crucial for creating powerful draft decks. The instruction to surveil always includes a number, such as surveil 2.
Guild Strategies and Archetypes
Guilds of Ravnica is defined by its distinct guild strategies, each offering a unique play style. Boros (Red/White) focuses on aggressive strategies, utilizing Mentor to boost attacking creatures. Golgari (Black/Green) thrives on Undergrowth, gaining value from creatures in the graveyard. Dimir (Blue/Black) aims for control through Surveil, manipulating the top of the library and disrupting opponents.
Izzet (Blue/Red) revolves around spells, using Jump-start to cast spells. Selesnya (Green/White) floods the board with tokens using Convoke, overwhelming opponents with numbers. Identifying which guild aligns with your preferred play style is key to a successful draft.
Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each guild allows for informed drafting decisions, enabling you to build cohesive and powerful decks. Each guild’s strategy is deeply intertwined with its signature mechanic, shaping card evaluation and deck construction. This leads to distinct and enjoyable draft experiences.
Boros (Red/White): Mentor Aggro
The Boros guild in Guilds of Ravnica embodies aggressive strategies centered around the Mentor mechanic. This archetype seeks to overwhelm opponents with early, efficient creatures that become even more potent as the game progresses. Mentor allows larger creatures to buff smaller attacking creatures, creating a snowball effect.
Drafting Boros involves prioritizing low-cost creatures with aggressive stats and abilities. Cards that provide additional combat tricks or removal are also valuable, ensuring a clear path for your mentored creatures. Key cards include those with first strike or double strike, maximizing the impact of Mentor triggers.
Building a successful Boros deck requires a critical mass of creatures. Aim for a low mana curve, enabling you to deploy multiple threats each turn. A Boros deck is at its best when it can consistently pressure the opponent from the early to mid-game, closing out the game before opponents can stabilize.
Golgari (Black/Green): Undergrowth Value
The Golgari guild in Guilds of Ravnica thrives on attrition warfare, utilizing the Undergrowth mechanic to generate value from creatures in the graveyard. This archetype focuses on filling the graveyard and then leveraging the number of creatures there to power up spells and abilities.
Drafting Golgari requires a balance between early-game creatures that can trade favorably and cards that enable self-milling or creature recursion. Cards with “enter the battlefield” (ETB) effects are particularly valuable, as they provide immediate impact and contribute to the graveyard count. Removal spells are also crucial for controlling the board and facilitating creature deaths.
A successful Golgari deck aims to grind out opponents, slowly accumulating advantages through graveyard synergies. Prioritize creatures that provide value, whether through card draw, life gain, or disruption. The goal is to create a resilient deck that can outlast opponents in longer games, eventually overwhelming them with powerful Undergrowth-fueled plays.
Dimir (Blue/Black): Surveil Control
Dimir in Guilds of Ravnica centers around control through information and manipulation, utilizing the Surveil mechanic to sculpt draws and maintain card advantage. The archetype aims to disrupt the opponent’s plans, filter through the deck for key cards, and eventually win with evasive threats or powerful late-game spells.
Drafting Dimir requires a focus on card selection, removal, and efficient threats. Surveil cards are paramount for smoothing draws and setting up future plays. Counterspells and removal spells are essential for controlling the board and preventing the opponent from establishing a strong presence. Evasive creatures, such as those with flying or unblockable, provide a reliable path to victory once control is established.
A successful Dimir deck excels at stalling the game, gaining incremental advantages through Surveil, and then capitalizing on the opponent’s weakened state. Prioritize cards that offer card advantage, disrupt the opponent’s strategy, and provide a consistent path to victory. The goal is to create a deck that can outmaneuver opponents and control the flow of the game.
Izzet (Blue/Red): Spells Matter
Izzet in Guilds of Ravnica thrives on casting a multitude of spells, leveraging the synergy between instants, sorceries, and creatures that benefit from spellcasting. The archetype focuses on generating value from spells, controlling the board with burn spells, and overwhelming opponents with powerful late-game plays. This strategy rewards players who can efficiently manage their resources and sequence their spells effectively.
Drafting Izzet involves prioritizing cheap instants and sorceries, creatures with abilities that trigger upon spellcasting, and card draw spells to maintain momentum. Burn spells are essential for controlling the board and removing key threats, while card draw ensures a steady stream of spells to cast. Look for creatures that provide additional value when spells are cast, such as generating tokens or dealing extra damage.
A well-constructed Izzet deck can quickly overwhelm opponents with a flurry of spells, generating value and controlling the board. Efficient spell sequencing and resource management are key to success with this archetype. Prioritize cards that contribute to the overall game plan of casting multiple spells and capitalizing on the resulting synergies.
Selesnya (Green/White): Convoke Tokens
Selesnya in Guilds of Ravnica revolves around creating a wide board of creatures, primarily tokens, and utilizing the Convoke mechanic to cast powerful spells ahead of curve. This archetype aims to overwhelm opponents with a swarm of creatures and capitalize on the ability to deploy impactful threats early in the game. The focus is on generating tokens efficiently and leveraging the Convoke mechanic to its full potential.
Drafting Selesnya involves prioritizing token generators, creatures with abilities that synergize with tokens, and Convoke spells that provide significant value. Token generators provide the necessary fodder for Convoke, while synergistic creatures enhance the effectiveness of the token swarm. Convoke spells allow you to deploy powerful threats early on, overwhelming opponents with a combination of creatures and spells.
A well-constructed Selesnya deck can quickly establish a wide board presence and capitalize on the Convoke mechanic to deploy impactful threats. Efficient token generation and strategic use of Convoke are key to success with this archetype. Prioritize cards that contribute to the overall game plan of creating tokens and leveraging the Convoke mechanic.
Color Tier List for Drafting
When drafting Guilds of Ravnica, understanding the relative power levels of each color is crucial for making informed decisions. A color tier list provides a general guideline for prioritizing colors based on their overall strength, depth of playable cards, and synergy with the set’s mechanics. This tier list is based on factors such as the availability of strong commons and uncommons, the power of the guild archetypes associated with each color, and the overall flexibility of the color in different draft strategies.
Typically, colors with strong removal, efficient creatures, and access to card advantage tend to be ranked higher. Colors that are more reliant on specific synergies or have a weaker pool of playable cards may be ranked lower. However, it’s important to remember that a color’s ranking can change depending on the specific draft environment and the signals you receive from other drafters.
While a color tier list provides a helpful starting point, it’s essential to remain flexible and adapt your drafting strategy based on the cards you open and the signals you receive. Don’t be afraid to move into a lower-ranked color if it’s open and offers strong cards for your deck.
Top Commons and Uncommons by Guild
Identifying the best commons and uncommons within each guild is critical for successful drafting in Guilds of Ravnica. These cards form the backbone of your deck and often define the strength of your chosen archetype. Knowing which cards to prioritize allows you to build a consistent and powerful strategy. For Boros, look for efficient creatures with Mentor, like Swiftblade Trickster, and combat tricks such as Sure Strike.
Golgari thrives on Undergrowth, so cards like Burglar Rat and Hired Poisoner, which provide early game value and fill your graveyard, are essential. Dimir benefits from Surveil, making cards like Thoughtbound Phantasm and Dimir Informant high picks. Izzet relies on spells, so prioritize cards like Goblin Electromancer and Radical Idea. Selesnya leverages Convoke, making creatures like Knight of Autumn and Loxodon Restorer valuable.
Understanding these key commons and uncommons will significantly improve your drafting success.
Drafting Tips and Tricks
Mastering Guilds of Ravnica draft requires more than just knowing the guilds; it demands strategic drafting and adaptable gameplay. One crucial tip is to stay open to signals. Pay attention to what colors and cards are being passed to you, as this can indicate which archetypes are under-drafted and therefore more likely to yield a strong deck. Don’t be afraid to switch guilds mid-draft if the signals point you in a different direction.
Another key aspect is mana curve. Ensure you have a balance of early-game creatures, mid-range threats, and late-game finishers. Prioritize removal spells, as they are essential for controlling the board and disrupting your opponent’s strategy. Lastly, remember the importance of synergy. Focus on drafting cards that work well together, amplifying the strengths of your chosen guild and creating a cohesive, powerful deck.
Mana Fixing and Gate Strategy
In Guilds of Ravnica, mana fixing is crucial for consistent gameplay, especially when drafting multi-colored decks. Gates play a pivotal role in enabling these strategies. Prioritize drafting Gates early if you plan to run a three-to-five color deck. You usually want about 6-8 gates in the deck; that’s all that is necessary. Cards that reward you for having multiple Gates, such as “Glaive of the Guildpact”, become powerful payoffs.
Don’t underestimate the value of cards that fetch or synergize with Gates. These cards not only fix your mana but also provide card advantage or tempo. When drafting, consider the trade-offs between taking a powerful guild card versus a Gate or mana-fixing spell. A smoother mana base can often outweigh the raw power of a single card, leading to more consistent wins in the long run. Balancing these priorities is key to mastering the format.
Early Game vs. Late Game Strategies
Guilds of Ravnica offers diverse strategic options, demanding adaptability in both the early and late game. Aggressive decks, like Boros, aim to establish early board presence and pressure opponents from the start. These decks require cheap creatures and efficient removal to maintain momentum. Conversely, control-oriented strategies, such as Dimir, focus on surviving the early onslaught and transitioning to a powerful late game.
Golgari decks often blend early-game trades with late-game value through Undergrowth mechanics. Recognizing your deck’s strengths and weaknesses at different stages is vital for informed decisions. Prioritize early defensive plays or aggressive pushes based on your archetype and opponent’s strategy. Efficiently trading resources and managing your life total are key to navigating the early game, while card advantage and powerful threats dominate the late game. Adjust your play style accordingly to maximize your chances of victory.
Navigating Archetype Switches
Drafting in Guilds of Ravnica requires flexibility, and recognizing when to switch archetypes is crucial for success. Early signals, such as a lack of key cards for your intended guild or an abundance of strong cards in another color combination, can indicate the need to pivot. Be open to changing your strategy based on the cards you are being passed and the perceived strength of other players’ decks.
A mid-draft archetype switch involves carefully evaluating your existing card pool and identifying potential synergies with the new direction. Prioritize cards that are versatile and can fit into multiple archetypes, minimizing wasted picks; Don’t be afraid to abandon a weak or contested archetype for a more open and potentially powerful strategy. Successful archetype switches require adaptability, card evaluation skills, and the willingness to deviate from your initial plan.