guilds of ravnica draft guide

Selesnya: Token Generation and Lifegain Synergies

Selesnya focuses on overwhelming opponents with token generation and lifegain synergies. Cards like March of the Multitudes and Trostani Discordant create and enhance tokens, while Conclave Cavalier provides a powerful anthem effect. Lifegain is central, with Divine Visitation and Venerated Loxodon amplifying the strategy. When drafting Selesnya, prioritize token generators and anthems. Avoid drafting without a strong payoff for lifegain. Focus on a curve that ensures early token production and mid-game synergies. Selesnya is less flexible than other guilds, so commit fully to its archetype for maximum effectiveness. This approach rewards players who build cohesive, synergistic decks.

Dimir: Control and Surveillance Archetypes

Dimir excels at controlling the board through surveillance and card advantage. Cards like Doom Whisperer and Dream Eater provide consistent value, while Find Finality offers versatile removal. The archetype relies on disrupting opponents with counterspells like Quasiduplicate and Syncopate, ensuring tempo advantage. Dimir decks often feature a mix of evasive creatures and card draw engines, making them resilient in the late game. When drafting Dimir, prioritize removal, card draw, and flyers. Avoid overloading on creatures without sufficient removal or counterspells. Balance the mana curve to ensure early interaction and late-game threats. Dimir rewards players who value consistency and adaptability in their builds.

Rakdos: Aggressive Midrange and Sacrifice Synergies

Rakdos combines aggressive creatures with sacrifice synergies for a powerful midrange strategy. Cards like Aurelia, Exemplar of Justice and Judith, the Blazing Brushcutter provide early-game aggression, while Carrion Feeder and Altar’s Reap enable sacrifice-based card advantage. The archetype thrives on cheap, impactful creatures and removal spells like Skewer the Critics and Fleshbag Marauder. Drafting Rakdos requires balancing aggressive starts with mid-game powerhouses. Prioritize low-to-the-ground creatures, sacrifice outlets, and removal. Avoid overloading on high-cost cards without sufficient support. Rakdos rewards players who embrace a mix of early aggression and mid-game grind, making it a versatile choice for drafters who enjoy proactive strategies.

Draft Strategy and Tips

Mastering Guilds of Ravnica Draft requires balancing the mana curve, prioritizing removal spells, and staying flexible. Adapt to signals, focus on synergy, and avoid overcommitting to weak archetypes.

First-Pick-First-Pack (FPFP) Strategy

FPFP strategy in Guilds of Ravnica Draft focuses on selecting the most powerful card in the first pack to set the tone for your draft. Prioritize high-impact cards like Doom Whisperer, Aurelia, Exemplar of Justice, and Dream Eater, as they often dictate the flow of the game. Early picks should emphasize removal spells, card advantage, and creatures with evasion or synergy. Avoid committing to a guild too early unless a premium card forces your hand. Use the first pack to identify potential archetypes and signal your table about your preferences. Adaptability is key, as the draft’s direction can shift based on subsequent picks.

Signal and Adapt: Reading the Draft

Reading the draft is crucial for success in Guilds of Ravnica. Pay attention to the cards passed to you and the signals they send about popular archetypes. If high-impact cards like Truefire Captain or Find Finality are taken early, it indicates a competitive table. Adapt by pivoting to open guilds or splashing powerful cards. Avoid overcommitting to a guild if its key cards are being passed later. Use the draft’s flow to identify underserved archetypes and capitalize on them. Flexibility is key—be prepared to shift strategies based on the cards available and the metagame signals from other players.

Balancing the Mana Curve

Balancing your mana curve is essential for a competitive draft deck. Aim for a mix of early-game creatures (two-drops), mid-game threats (three-drops), and a few high-impact four-drops. Avoid overloading on expensive spells or too many low-impact creatures. A well-balanced curve ensures you can develop your board consistently and adapt to the opponent’s plays. Prioritize removal spells like Faiths Fetters or Find Finality to disrupt opponents while maintaining your own tempo. Adjust your curve based on the draft’s progression—aggressive decks may favor cheaper spells, while controlling decks can afford slightly higher mana costs. A balanced curve maximizes your chances of winning in any matchup.

Key Commons and Uncommons to Prioritize

Identifying high-value commons and uncommons is crucial for building a competitive draft deck. Cards like Doom Whisperer, Aurelia, Exemplar of Justice, and Find Finality are top picks due to their versatility and impact. Removal spells such as Faiths Fetters and Quarantine are premium, offering both removal and additional benefits. For token strategies, Divide and Conquer and Trostani Discordant shine. Tempo-oriented decks benefit from Skyknight Legionnaire and Dream Eater. Prioritize these cards early to strengthen your deck’s foundation. Adapt your picks based on the draft’s flow, but securing these staples ensures a solid base for success in any archetype.

Archetype-Specific Drafting

Archetype-specific drafting focuses on aligning card picks with guild strategies, optimizing deck synergy and power. Prioritize cards that enhance your chosen archetype’s strengths, like Boros’s aggressive creatures or Izzet’s tempo plays.

Azorius Tempo: Card Advantage and Flying

Azorius Tempo combines card advantage with flying creatures to dominate the board. This archetype thrives on controlling the game through efficient flyers and card draw engines. Key cards like Faith’s Fetters and Doom Whisperer provide both removal and card advantage, while creatures like Skyknight Legionnaire and Cyclops of Eternal Fury offer evasion and aggression. The strategy focuses on curving out with cheap, impactful spells and creatures, ensuring consistent pressure. Drafting for Azorius requires prioritizing flying threats and card draw, while balancing removal to disrupt opponents. This archetype excels in metagames where tempo and evasion are rewarded, making it a strong choice for players who enjoy proactive, controlling strategies.

Dimir Control: Removal and Card Draw

Dimir Control excels at disrupting opponents while generating card advantage. This archetype relies on powerful removal spells like Find Finality and Death’s Duet to neutralize threats. Card draw engines such as Doom Whisperer and Quasiduplicate ensure you maintain a strong hand. The strategy involves controlling the board early with cheap removal before transitioning into larger threats. Dimir also benefits from surveillance effects, allowing you to anticipate opponents’ moves. Drafting for Dimir requires prioritizing removal and card draw, while splashing in high-impact creatures. This archetype shines in longer games, making it ideal for players who enjoy methodical, controlling strategies and value consistency over aggression.

Rakdos Aggro: Early Game Aggression

Rakdos Aggro is a high-octane archetype that thrives on overwhelming opponents with an aggressive start. The strategy revolves around cheap, powerful creatures like Wee Dragonauts and Spawnwrithe, supported by sacrifice outlets such as Carrion Feeder or Sacrifice. These allow you to generate value from your creatures even after they die. Burn spells like Lightning Strike and Fiery Cannonade help finish off opponents quickly. Rakdos Aggro punishes slow starts, so prioritizing early-game threats and maintaining a balanced mana curve is crucial. Drafting for Rakdos requires grabbing high-impact creatures and removal early, as the archetype relies on tempo and aggression to dominate the board.

Gruul: Midrange and Powerhouse Creatures

Gruul is a midrange archetype that leverages powerhouse creatures to dominate the board. Cards like Gruul Ragebeast and Judith, the Scourge Diva provide early pressure and late-game threats. The strategy focuses on curving out with efficient creatures and using trample or fight effects to break through defenses. Gruul also benefits from synergies with Conclave Cavalier and Beast Whisperer, enhancing creature power and card draw. A balanced mana curve is essential, with an emphasis on two- to four-drop creatures. Removal spells like Find Finality or Collision // Colossus help clear the way for your threats. Gruul rewards players who prioritize high-impact creatures and build a cohesive, aggressive game plan.

Card Evaluation and Tier List

Card evaluation is crucial in Guilds of Ravnica Draft, with top-tier cards like Doom Whisperer and Find Finality offering significant advantages. Prioritize high-impact removal and card draw to build a competitive deck.

Top 10 Cards for Each Guild

Evaluating the best cards for each guild is essential for drafting success. Boros excels with Aurelia, Exemplar of Justice and Skyknight Legionnaire, offering aggressive might. Izzet relies on Dream Eater and Quasiduplicate for tempo and card advantage. Selesnya thrives with March of the Multitudes and Trostani Discordant, generating tokens and gaining life. Dimir controls games with Doom Whisperer and Find Finality, ensuring removal and card draw. Rakdos dominates with Rakdos, the Showstopper and Carnival, sacrificing for power. These top-tier cards define each guild’s strengths and are crucial for building a cohesive strategy.

Hidden Gems and Sleeper Picks

Identifying hidden gems and sleeper picks is crucial for gaining an edge in Guilds of Ravnica Draft. Cards like Faiths Fetters and Lawmage’s Binding often fly under the radar but provide exceptional value. Faiths Fetters is a versatile removal spell that also gains life, making it a standout in Selesnya and Azorius decks. Similarly, Pitiless Pontiff is a sleeper pick in Rakdos for its ability to disrupt opponents while generating card advantage. These cards may not always be first picks but can significantly strengthen your deck when utilized correctly. Recognizing their potential can lead to surprising wins and make your draft experience more rewarding.

Removal Spells and Their Importance

Removal spells are pivotal in Guilds of Ravnica Draft, enabling control over the board and protection of your threats. Cards like Faiths Fetters and Find Finality stand out as premium removal options. Faiths Fetters is exceptional for its versatility, answering creatures while gaining life, making it a staple in Selesnya and Azorius decks. Find Finality, on the other hand, excels in Rakdos and Gruul for its ability to clear multiple threats at once. Having multiple removal spells ensures flexibility and adaptability, allowing you to disrupt opponents’ plans and maintain board dominance. Prioritizing these spells in your draft can significantly enhance your deck’s effectiveness and improve your chances of success. They are often splashed in multicolor decks due to their high utility.

Common Draft Mistakes

Overvaluing guild synergy, ignoring mana curve balance, and not adapting to the metagame are frequent errors. Avoid these pitfalls to improve your drafting efficiency and deck performance.

Overvaluing Guild Synergy

One of the most common mistakes in Guilds of Ravnica Draft is overvaluing guild synergy. While guild-specific interactions can be powerful, they often come at the cost of consistency. Drafters may prioritize weaker cards that fit their guild’s theme over more versatile, high-impact options. This can lead to decks that are overly reliant on specific combinations, making them fragile and less adaptable. Instead, focus on building a balanced deck with strong individual cards that happen to align with your guild’s strategy. Flexibility and adaptability are key to success in limited formats, so avoid forcing synergy at the expense of overall deck strength.

Ignoring Mana Curve Balance

Ignoring mana curve balance is a critical mistake in Guilds of Ravnica Draft. A well-balanced mana curve ensures you have plays throughout the game, while an unbalanced one can leave you struggling. Too many high-cost cards without sufficient early-game support can lead to slow starts, allowing opponents to take control. Conversely, too many low-cost cards may leave you without impactful late-game options. Aim for a mix of two-, three-, and four-drop creatures and spells, with a few heavier hitters to finish games. Prioritizing early-game stability ensures you can develop your board and adapt as the game progresses, making your deck more resilient and competitive.

Not Adapting to the Metagame

Not adapting to the metagame is a common mistake in Guilds of Ravnica Draft. Each format has dominant strategies, and failing to recognize them can lead to poor deck performance. For example, if aggressive decks like Boros or Rakdos are prevalent, neglecting removal or defensive measures can be costly. Conversely, in a metagame dominated by control decks like Dimir, not including card draw or counterspells can leave you at a disadvantage. Adapting involves adjusting your card priorities and deck composition based on the current trends. Stay flexible and be willing to pivot your strategy to counter what others are doing, ensuring your deck remains competitive in the evolving metagame landscape.

Final Tips for Success

Stay flexible, adapt to the table, and manage resources wisely. Prioritize consistency and synergy while making informed decisions to maximize your deck’s potential in every match.

Practicing with Draft Simulators

Practicing with draft simulators is an invaluable tool to refine your skills in Guilds of Ravnica Draft. These platforms replicate real draft experiences, allowing you to test strategies and adapt to different scenarios. By simulating multiple drafts, you can improve your decision-making, such as evaluating card synergies and understanding archetype priorities. Simulators also help you identify common mistakes, like overvaluing guild synergy or ignoring mana curve balance. Additionally, they provide insights into how to respond to signals from other players’ picks, ensuring you adapt effectively. Regular practice with simulators sharpens your ability to build cohesive decks and execute winning game plans consistently.

Staying Flexible in Picks

Staying flexible during the draft is crucial for success in Guilds of Ravnica. While entering with a preferred archetype is natural, rigidly sticking to it can lead to missed opportunities. Pay attention to the signals sent by other players’ picks, as this can reveal which guilds are underdrafted or overdrafted. Be willing to pivot if high-value cards in another guild consistently appear in your picks. Flexibility also means adapting to the flow of the draft, such as switching gears if your initial plan isn’t unfolding as expected. This adaptability allows you to capitalize on unexpected synergies and build a stronger, more cohesive deck.

Mastering Mulligan Decisions

Mastering mulligan decisions is vital in Guilds of Ravnica Draft to ensure a strong start. Always assess your opening hand for a balanced mana curve and early-game plays. Prioritize hands with a mix of cheap, impactful creatures and removal spells to disrupt opponents. Avoid keeping hands with too many high-cost cards or those lacking interaction. Be willing to mulligan if your hand doesn’t align with your archetype’s strategy. For aggressive decks, look for hands that enable a fast tempo, while control decks should aim for hands with removal and card draw. Adapt your mulligan strategy based on your archetype to maximize your chances of winning.