GUIDE UPDATES: 3:18 Top White Commons. Steadfast Paladin is the actual #2 White Common. Paladin is just a great two drop because it can help you pressure the opponent while also being nearly impossible to race in aggressive matchups. Minimus Containment remains at #3. 3:56 Top Blue Commons. Clever Conjurer is the #3 Blue Common. It helps you ramp to the lategame which is often what Blue wants to do. 5:36 Top Red Commons. Hobgoblin Captain is the actual #2 Red Common by a wide margin. Plundering Barbarian takes the #3 slot over Valor Singer as well because there are just tons of Artifacts to destroy and making a Treasure is a great fallback plan. 7:20 Color Rankings. I got this ranking completely backwards (which is actually kind of impressive). It turns out that the aggressive decks are quite well supported this set, so the card advantage in Blue and Green is far less relevant, and the raw power of Red and Black's creatures and removal wins the day. Accordingly, the revised color ranking is: Red > Black > White > Green > Blue. Blue is the worst by a considerable margin. Remember to LIKE, SHARE, and SUBSCRIBE to support the channel, and COMMENT if you have any questions! Support my work by becoming a Patron here: www.patreon.com/nicolaibolas As a Patron you can even gain access to my Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Tier List! To watch me play LIVE, follow my Twitch stream here: www.twitch.tv/nicolaibolas Discuss all things Magic on the FREE NicolaiBolas Community Discord server here: discord.gg/E756hh9 Read all my Limited Strategy Articles here: blog.cardsphere.com/author/nicolaibolas/ If you'd like to make a contribution to my channel, you can do so via Paypal here: www.paypal.me/nicolaibolas ! This channel is partnered with TCGplayer, so be sure to use my affiliate link when buying cards: bit.ly/TCGplayerStore
I know this set didn't have the impact on standard most players expected/wanted, but boy was it *FUN* to draft. I wish they revisit the forgotten realms again, but after the backlash I don't know if they'll ever do that. They did the mistake with the missing impact all over again with the commander D&D set... I think they could fix that by including one to three MtG staple/chase reprints with alternative D&D artwork (like they did in the commander precons). Conditional untapped dual lands or triomes are always desired for example.
Thanks Daniel! I try to make sure they are focused and packed with useful information, so it is good to hear you are looking forward to them. I definitely work very hard on them to make them the best they can be!
Thanks a million Octavio! Your kind comments always bring a smile to my face and make my day brighter. I truly appreciate all of the positive energy you bring into my life!
Appreciate how you are a mtg streamer we uses clean language. It makes the videos so much more enjoyable. Your attitude when you get recked also makes your content great.
Thank you James! I always try to stay positive and family friendly with my language so it feels good to hear that people enjoy those aspects of my content!
Can't wait for some more solid drafting content from you as you venture through this set. Your guides and drafting videos, especially with your card pick reasons and commentary, have helped me massively with Strixhaven. #ReadyForAdventure
As commanded, I've come back. Went to pre release, built a BW venture/lifegain thing out of the scraps i had. 2-0, 1-1 (W), 1-2, 2-1 3-1 win/loss for 2nd overall. Three prize packs, and I pulled a Demilich!
I think red looks better than the predictions, green has not me convinced enough yet. If you open the 2 drop goblins with pack tactics you can just run people over, plus red has good removal.
I've found "You find some prisoners" to be quite good. I'll wait until I'll have 5 mana on my next turn, and cast it as an instant at the end of theirs. Then take my choice of three cards. Alternatively, if I'm short on mana, I'll cast it on turn 2 and grab one of their lands. Never been sad to draw my 1-of in my draft decks.
These have to be your most viewed videos, if no other reason than the sheer amount of times people need to rewatch the video to absorb the immense amount of information. A real test of my memory when i'm at the draft table!
Great Video, It helped me build a sealed deck by choosing the arch type that I had the most cards you mention in. It ended up being a Red White Bruenor Battlehamer jaded Sell-Sword slugfest. Quick games 7-1. Thanks keep up the amazing work!
I also see reference to a pack mechanic.. Don't know if it's just a return mechanic.. But worth a mention to say returning machines is .. relevant to the set.. Idk just a thought
Hey man I've been looking for some info like this for starting to draft. my first experience was a total disaster as I didn't know what was what. watching this has given me alot of valuable info so thank you I hope I can break my cycle of 0 wins - 3 losses LMAO
As always awesome content on this channel my friend. Very helpful and informative! Looking forward to draft up a few D&D decks soon. #ReadyForAdventure
I just didn't see that card when I was making the Guide (the preview season being so weird definitely made things more challenging!) I'm just glad that it is an Uncommon because that makes me feel a little better about not including it (if it was a Common it would have a much larger impact on how the set plays out).
Do you think you got the color rating wrong, since red and black played out to be pretty good in the format and blue doesn't perform as well? Might it be because the format is faster than expected?
I definitely missed on the color ranking. I think part of it was also that Dragon’s Fire was not revealed until I had already basically finished constructing my guide due to the way preview season went this time around, so I think my mind didn’t fully internalize how good it would be for Red to get such a premium common. A lot of Red’s other good commons (like Hobgoblin Captain) are the sort of card that could be deeply medium in certain formats (if attacking is harder), so I was wary. The speed of the format definitely played a key role in shaking up the rankings, making Black and Red go up, while Blue and Green fell. Great observation Tea and I like the insight in your comment. I will also add, that Blue just seemed like it had a lot of good cards to me, and it just hasn’t played out that way.
I try to focus on the Commons and Uncommons because they are seen a lot more and will therefore be more useful to evaluate. A lot of Rares are pretty obviously powerful when they are good.
I guess I could have included Pack tactics, but I think it is generally more of a keyword than a mechanic (I think I remember hearing that it is not technically an actual mechanic). I've certainly included stuff like it before (Landfall comes to mind) but it just didn't even cross my mind to include it this time. It is a pretty simple in its execution though so I don't think it will be confusing for folks who are new to the set. I'm glad you enjoyed the video!
Love the vid not so much the new DND print run takes away from the roots while seemingly adding to the basis of MTG if you as me. Not a big fan cool vid tho really helps
Yeah, someone else pointed that out to me as well once I finished the video. I usually call them Bites, but I'm not infallible and at least I explained what I meant by punch.
I also see reference to a pack mechanic.. Don't know if it's just a return mechanic.. But worth a mention to say returning machines is .. relevant to the set.. Idk just a thought
![Are Dungeons Worth Playing in EDH? [MTG | Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Commander Application]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ja7EJCHmPxQ/mqdefault.jpg)
GUIDE UPDATES:
3:18 Top White Commons. Steadfast Paladin is the actual #2 White Common. Paladin is just a great two drop because it can help you pressure the opponent while also being nearly impossible to race in aggressive matchups. Minimus Containment remains at #3.
3:56 Top Blue Commons. Clever Conjurer is the #3 Blue Common. It helps you ramp to the lategame which is often what Blue wants to do.
5:36 Top Red Commons. Hobgoblin Captain is the actual #2 Red Common by a wide margin. Plundering Barbarian takes the #3 slot over Valor Singer as well because there are just tons of Artifacts to destroy and making a Treasure is a great fallback plan.
7:20 Color Rankings. I got this ranking completely backwards (which is actually kind of impressive). It turns out that the aggressive decks are quite well supported this set, so the card advantage in Blue and Green is far less relevant, and the raw power of Red and Black's creatures and removal wins the day. Accordingly, the revised color ranking is: Red > Black > White > Green > Blue. Blue is the worst by a considerable margin.
Remember to LIKE, SHARE, and SUBSCRIBE to support the channel, and COMMENT if you have any questions!
Support my work by becoming a Patron here: www.patreon.com/nicolaibolas
As a Patron you can even gain access to my Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Tier List!
To watch me play LIVE, follow my Twitch stream here: www.twitch.tv/nicolaibolas
Discuss all things Magic on the FREE NicolaiBolas Community Discord server here: discord.gg/E756hh9
Read all my Limited Strategy Articles here: blog.cardsphere.com/author/nicolaibolas/
If you'd like to make a contribution to my channel, you can do so via Paypal here: www.paypal.me/nicolaibolas !
This channel is partnered with TCGplayer, so be sure to use my affiliate link when buying cards: bit.ly/TCGplayerStore
I know this set didn't have the impact on standard most players expected/wanted, but boy was it *FUN* to draft.
I wish they revisit the forgotten realms again, but after the backlash I don't know if they'll ever do that. They did the mistake with the missing impact all over again with the commander D&D set...
I think they could fix that by including one to three MtG staple/chase reprints with alternative D&D artwork (like they did in the commander precons). Conditional untapped dual lands or triomes are always desired for example.
I love how “to-the-point” you are in these bro! Sincerely look forward to and appreciate these each set release season!!
Thanks Daniel! I try to make sure they are focused and packed with useful information, so it is good to hear you are looking forward to them. I definitely work very hard on them to make them the best they can be!
The only reason why I sometimes do great in a draft is because I watch your draft videos like 20 times. Thanks again for a great video!
Thanks a million Octavio! Your kind comments always bring a smile to my face and make my day brighter. I truly appreciate all of the positive energy you bring into my life!
Appreciate how you are a mtg streamer we uses clean language. It makes the videos so much more enjoyable. Your attitude when you get recked also makes your content great.
Thank you James! I always try to stay positive and family friendly with my language so it feels good to hear that people enjoy those aspects of my content!
I, for one, welcome our visitors from the 19thC.
Hey, you're great, just wanted to let you know. Keep hustling
Thanks Quentin! Your words of encouragement mean a lot and I appreciate you!
I really love your video format, your clear delivery and actionable intelligence. High quality video brother
Thank you Panda!
I really wish Magic was as popular as it was several years ago. There would be no doubt you’d be the king of drafts on TH-cam.
Magic is more popular than ever. 2019/20 were probably it’s best years to date
Went 6/3 in draft and 7/2 sealed
Rakdos aggro
Thanks man
Awesome stuff Martin! I'm so glad you found my video helpful!
Can't wait for some more solid drafting content from you as you venture through this set. Your guides and drafting videos, especially with your card pick reasons and commentary, have helped me massively with Strixhaven. #ReadyForAdventure
Thank you so much Destroyer!
@@NicolaiBolas No worries Nicolai, you've just earned yourself a Patron.
As commanded, I've come back. Went to pre release, built a BW venture/lifegain thing out of the scraps i had.
2-0, 1-1 (W), 1-2, 2-1
3-1 win/loss for 2nd overall. Three prize packs, and I pulled a Demilich!
I think red looks better than the predictions, green has not me convinced enough yet. If you open the 2 drop goblins with pack tactics you can just run people over, plus red has good removal.
Thanks for this, with this info I went from 0/3 on a draft, to actually winning some!
That's awesome Kelly!
Thank you. I don't go 0 for 3 because of these videos!
I'm glad you like them James!
A combo I used in prerelease: Lurking Roper + Reaper's Talisman.
Heck yeah! These guides are always top tier!
Thanks for the kind words Kelsey!
Hey ! Very interresting video, thanks for all these information. I see more clearly !
I’m so glad you liked it Jojo!
I've found "You find some prisoners" to be quite good. I'll wait until I'll have 5 mana on my next turn, and cast it as an instant at the end of theirs. Then take my choice of three cards. Alternatively, if I'm short on mana, I'll cast it on turn 2 and grab one of their lands. Never been sad to draw my 1-of in my draft decks.
Ready for adventure
thanks so much for the guide! #readyforadventure
#ReadyForAdventure thanks for the tips!
These have to be your most viewed videos, if no other reason than the sheer amount of times people need to rewatch the video to absorb the immense amount of information. A real test of my memory when i'm at the draft table!
I'm so glad you liked it Dylan!
Great Video, It helped me build a sealed deck by choosing the arch type that I had the most cards you mention in. It ended up being a Red White Bruenor Battlehamer jaded Sell-Sword slugfest. Quick games 7-1. Thanks keep up the amazing work!
I’m so glad you found it helpful Cory! Sounds sweet!
Interesting that you at least had what others considered the worst and the best color mixed up ^^
This is amazing! Exactly what I needed to get up to speed and be #ReadyForAdventure 😁
I'm so glad you found it helpful Annabelle! Thanks for the kind words!
You are the reason I'm playing draft.
That is high praise indeed! Thank you so much Penguino!
I also see reference to a pack mechanic..
Don't know if it's just a return mechanic..
But worth a mention to say returning machines is .. relevant to the set..
Idk just a thought
Awesome, always appreciate your stuff. Getting ready for our sealed draft IRL in a couple weeks.
I'm glad you liked it Ian! That sounds like fun!
Very helpful, thank you, planning to draft as well as get collector boosters
I'm glad you found it helpful Brian!
I actually think red is one of the stronger colors, but we'll see how this set evolves. I'll put it in #2 or #1 for now.
my two last drafts with red were awful... let's see now after this great info
Hey man I've been looking for some info like this for starting to draft. my first experience was a total disaster as I didn't know what was what. watching this has given me alot of valuable info so thank you I hope I can break my cycle of 0 wins - 3 losses LMAO
Thanks for the kind words!
Great Vid! I didn't keep with the previews that much so was a perfect vid before jumping into my draft!
I'm so glad to hear it Honey Badger! That's one of the reasons I make it, so I'm glad the Guide is serving its intended purpose!
thx, as always this short guide videos is great for head start in new set drafts
Thanks Petr!
#ReadyForAdvneture. Excellent video! Thank you!
I'm so glad you enjoyed it Thomas!
Great video bro . I have been trying to play more draft lately and get better at it . Your tips helped out a lot. #ReadyForAdventure
I'm so glad you liked it!
WHOO! Just in time. Keep up the good work, mate
Thanks Ejiggle!
As always awesome content on this channel my friend. Very helpful and informative! Looking forward to draft up a few D&D decks soon. #ReadyForAdventure
Thank you Anders! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
I agree your content is great love the draft guides!
Thanks!
Very helpful! #ReadyForAdventure
I’m glad you liked it Stephanie!
Great vid!
I need all the draft help I can get lol
I'm glad you liked it Steve!
Really excited for this set! I'm thinking it's a set that is gonna have great replayability. #ReadyForAdventure
I'm really excited for it too Wavves!
#Readyforadventure !!!! Thanks man this gonna help me a lot!!!
I'm so glad Emeror!
@@NicolaiBolas 6-3 thanks to you!!!
@@TheGreatEmerorMu That's awesome news!
Thanks again, lol, you (your vids) are one of the main reasons i get so excited at new set time. edit for #ReadyforAdventure
I'm so glad you are enjoying my videos lret!
Thanks for this! Always useful. #ReadyForAdventure
I'm glad you liked it Robert!
#readyforadventure - great content !!!
Thank you Flintz!
This is gold
Thanks!
Thaks Nicolai!
I'm so glad you enjoyed it Tamara! Thank you for all of your kind comments!
#readyforadventure. Great content, thanks!
I'm so glad you liked it Tim!
Dagger with Deathtouch works well too
That is definitely a nice combination to keep in mind!
Seems like a fun set to draft but not too OP for standard built. Leaves you with much more flexibility than strixhaven for draft it seems.
I think the set looks like a ton of fun too Spooki!
Love this channel
Thank you so much Jeff!
Temple of the Dragon Queen doesn't deserve a mention for the Fixing segment? #ReadyForAdventure
I just didn't see that card when I was making the Guide (the preview season being so weird definitely made things more challenging!) I'm just glad that it is an Uncommon because that makes me feel a little better about not including it (if it was a Common it would have a much larger impact on how the set plays out).
What are your thoughts on build-around rares and is there any mass removal to look out for?
#readyforadventure!
I'm glad you liked it Mitch!
Do you think you got the color rating wrong, since red and black played out to be pretty good in the format and blue doesn't perform as well? Might it be because the format is faster than expected?
I definitely missed on the color ranking. I think part of it was also that Dragon’s Fire was not revealed until I had already basically finished constructing my guide due to the way preview season went this time around, so I think my mind didn’t fully internalize how good it would be for Red to get such a premium common. A lot of Red’s other good commons (like Hobgoblin Captain) are the sort of card that could be deeply medium in certain formats (if attacking is harder), so I was wary. The speed of the format definitely played a key role in shaking up the rankings, making Black and Red go up, while Blue and Green fell. Great observation Tea and I like the insight in your comment. I will also add, that Blue just seemed like it had a lot of good cards to me, and it just hasn’t played out that way.
Thanks. #readyforadventure
I'm glad you liked it Elt!
What do you consider to be the aggro deck of this format? WR equipment?
It is really difficult to say at this point. White Red is a good guess though as it often is a premier aggro deck!
Maybe include the planswalkers or best singler cards like bombs
I try to focus on the Commons and Uncommons because they are seen a lot more and will therefore be more useful to evaluate. A lot of Rares are pretty obviously powerful when they are good.
new sub
White and dungeons seem pretty weak. I get the feeling that Red and Pact Tactics will end up being a stronger option in Limited.
That common 3/3 angel that ventures on attack is pretty ridiculous though
#ready4adventure ty! Is pack tactics no defining mechanic?
I guess I could have included Pack tactics, but I think it is generally more of a keyword than a mechanic (I think I remember hearing that it is not technically an actual mechanic). I've certainly included stuff like it before (Landfall comes to mind) but it just didn't even cross my mind to include it this time. It is a pretty simple in its execution though so I don't think it will be confusing for folks who are new to the set. I'm glad you enjoyed the video!
@@NicolaiBolas thank you for the reply. Imo it feels like another reason to draft aggro
i predict that i will be referring back to this video multiple times
I'm glad you enjoyed it Ooba!
#ReadyForAdventure
#readyforadventure
I'm so glad you liked it Steven!
If Red and Black are the worst why is that the only color combination I run into people using?
Check the Pinned Comment. I got it backwards due to the format being super fast.
I had a draft and five out of 8 people went blue black….
Love the vid not so much the new DND print run takes away from the roots while seemingly adding to the basis of MTG if you as me. Not a big fan cool vid tho really helps
#ReadyforAdventure
I'm glad you liked the video Thomas!
#Readyforadventure
I'm glad you enjoyed it Evelyn!
Shep-ul-Cher
It's a bite not a punch. Rapid bite...
Yeah, someone else pointed that out to me as well once I finished the video. I usually call them Bites, but I'm not infallible and at least I explained what I meant by punch.
@@NicolaiBolas Love your stuff, didnt mean to critique so harshly
How is my boo shambling ghast worse than precipitous drop lol
“Boi”
fuck autocorrect
Wow dude you got the color rankings backward, you should edit a note in.
Check the pinned comment my friend.
@@NicolaiBolas Yeah the comment was how I found out in the first place. By chance I read the entire thing.
dungeons makes it feel like players are playing two different games. one if which is slower and less interested in 0 life for the opponent.
👍
#ready for adventure
'eam'vnlkevlnka
#adeventure
?
ready for adventure
I also see reference to a pack mechanic..
Don't know if it's just a return mechanic..
But worth a mention to say returning machines is .. relevant to the set..
Idk just a thought
#ReadyForAdventure
I'm glad you liked it!
#readyforadventure
#ReadyForAdventure
Thanks Alana!
#ReadyForAdventure
I'm glad you liked it Voriax!
#ReadyForAdventure
I'm glad you liked the video David!
#ReadyForAdventure
I'm glad you enjoyed it José!
#readyforadventure
#readyforadventure
I'm glad you liked it!