Drafting into Nyx (Brainz)

This week I will be discussing how I draft MTG and what to look for while drafting Theros block. Unfortunately I haven't had the chance to draft Theros block with Journey into Nyx yet because I have been busy. I have done some virtual drafts using a free website called Bestiaire. It is a great way to simulate a ton of drafting for free before you go spend money to do the real thing at your local shop.

First thing you should do before drafting is to familiarize yourself with the cards from the sets you will be drafting. This can be easily accomplished via the official Card Image Gallery for a particular set. Another way to familiarize yourself with the cards and how someone else would draft them is to check out the many different set reviews. My favorite set reviewer is Conley Woods. Even thought our strategies or opinions on certain cards may differ, he provides a great review of the cards and how they affect draft. My strategy for drafting in general is the BREAD philosophy. This philosophy/strategy is not perfect but it will provide you with some very helpful guidelines. It stands for Bombs, Removal, Evasion, Aggro, and Duds. That is the order you should usually pick cards from packs.

For the first pack, I generally try to pick really good cards, in my opinion, without stressing too much about color. I still keep color choices in my mind of course. Then for the second and third pack I usually try to stick to the color(s) that I have chosen in the first pack. If I see something very strong that I am able to splash reasonably then I will take that over something more on color. If I see something that is super strong, or a bomb, in an off color and  there is nothing really good in the colors I am drafting then I will "hate draft" that card so I do not see it across the table from me when it is time to play.

There are other, more advanced, strategies that you should at least be aware of and eventually incorporate. These strategies include forcing, which is trying to force your picks into a color. Signaling is also a more advanced strategy which means that if you are getting passed a bunch of black cards then no one is probably in black and it is a good idea to start drafting that color. On the other hand if you start drafting one color and suddenly stop seeing any of that color it is a good idea to switch to a color that is more readily available. Hate drafting is when you take a really good card or bomb that is not in your color to prevent other drafters from including it in their decks. These strategies are more advanced and may be a topic for another post.

I hope to draft this block soon with my friends and in a more competitive environment at my local gaming store. Drafting is mostly about solid commons and creating a synergistic deck that is consistent. I'll leave you with some cards that I would be happy drafting.