Playing a standard game is not the idea for the MTG expansion Throne of Elaine. You can expect to have various situations that keep the game going for more than thirty minutes at least. Some mechanics also add up to the game, making each match something like no other. Either you are here to learn about this new expansion or have a refresher course. You are in the right spot. Here is our guide for your next Throne of Eldraine draft game.
What Is Throne of Elaine?
Throne of Eldraine is Magic the Gathering’s 82nd expansion set. The set takes inspiration from Grimm’s fairy tales and the Arthurian legend known as Camelot. It is a plane that boasts high fantasy themes, such as knights, fairies, castles, and wild magic.
Hang On For A Moment
Let us first take a look at the new card mechanics and types that the expansion has to offer. The expansion showcases three primary mechanics:
- Adventure
Adventure is by far the most crucial mechanic that Throne of Eldraine has to offer. Cards that utilize the adventure mechanic are limited to creatures. You either cast the creature that shares the mechanic like how you usually do. You cannot utilize the adventure mechanic once you do so. But you might want to cast the adventure first. The spell goes to exile as it resolves. You can cast the creature part from exile.
Adventure cards work best for any draft game. These cards come with a 2-in-1 punch. The best part is that it does not mess with your total card deck count.
- Food
Food is an interesting mechanic that works as an artifact subtype. You will have to pay two mana, tap, and sacrifice the token. The process allows you to gain three life. Cards with the food mechanic work pleasantly for the draft. You can enjoy that life gain for a small cost.
- Adamant
Mono-colored decks enjoy the adamant mechanic the most. A card that has an adamant mechanic will reward the player. That is if they use three mana of the same color as they cast the spell. Some adamant cards will specify what mana you will have to use. You can still utilize adamant cards in multi-colored decks. But keep in mind that you might not get the bonus effect that much.
The Best Throne Of Eldraine Common Cards For Draft
- White
You can get away with casting Ardenvale Tactician, a card that has the adventure mechanic. But you do not have to cast the adventure part. Instead, you get a flying 2/3 attacker for the cost of only three mana.
Another white card is Trapped in the Tower. This card is the expansion’s take on the game’s classic pacifism. Any creature it enchants cannot attack and block. Not only that, but the creature cannot use its activated abilities as well.
- Blue
Blue has Charmed Sleep. It is an enchantment that works like the pre-mentioned Trapped in the Tower. However, the enchanted creature taps instead, and it stays so. That means the poor thing can no longer attack or block. It is a pleasant removal card for a color that does not have a lot of it.
Another decent blue draft card is wishing well. It is an artifact that gives you a significant card advantage in the late game.
- Black
Baked into a Pie is a card that sounds as dark as it can get. The card allows you to destroy a creature in play. In addition, you get a food token that you can sacrifice for extra life points. It is hands down the best common card in the entire set.
Black is known for thousands of creature-destroy spells. This set has a lot, but not all of them are for the draft format. You can use Reave Soul for the draft format. It allows you to eliminate a creature with a power of three or fewer. The neat thing is that Throne has 115 of them.
- Red
While Black boasts destroy spells, Red offers tons of burn spells. A neat Red draft card is Scorching Dragonfire. The instant card deals three damage to a creature or planeswalker. It is enough to get rid of one of the many creatures in the set. You can never go wrong with high damage for a cheap cost.
You can boost your creatures if you are not busy burning your enemy units. One red card that does the job is Barge In. An attacking creature you control gets an additional two to its power and toughness until the end of the turn. The best part is that the spell only costs one red mana.
- Green
Tuinvale Treefolk is a creature card that shares the adventure ability. It is an ideal card for a draft. Why? The adventure portion will make any small creature you own a significant threat. Your enemy can still eliminate the pumped unit. But they will have to deal with the tree folk after that.
Another decent green card is Rosethorn Acolyte. It is a ramp card that allows you to have additional mana each time you use it. You can use it to cast a spell or ability.
- Multi-color
Maraleaf Pixie is one card you cannot miss. It is a faerie that allows you to boost your mana advantage. In addition, the creature’s tap ability produces more than just green mana. On top of all that, the creature has flying ability. What more can you ask for a creature that costs only two mana? Another useful multi-color creature is Wintermoor Commander. Having enough knights will be a delight once you have this creature in play. Enough said.
Our Final Thoughts
Now, these cards pack a draft punch. But you can still find other cards that might give you the upper hand. You can check them out from dozens and dozens of sites online. This guide is far from perfect. So what you can do is look for other Throne of Eldraine draft guides that will teach you another thing or two. Good luck!