Drafting Innistrad

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kabrazell

31 October 2011

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I’ve been drafting Innistrad on MTGO almost every afternoon and I’m starting to get the hang of this wacky format, and it really is wacky. There are a lot of exciting and complicated interactions in this format, as well as many tricks you’ll need to play around. Take note of what your opponent is playing, get used to certain ‘niche’ board states. (e.g.: Your opponent passes with 3UU untapped; he has Lost in the Mist). Flashback spells are awesome; as they give you reach and keep the game state fresh. I’ve had the most trouble getting a reasonable number of creatures, especially creatures that are standalone threats. There are so many sweet spells and things to do, but ultimately you need dudes that turn sideways, and you should prioritize bodies when drafting. Due to the ‘werewolves’ mechanic, having things to do in early turns is more important than usual. It also makes ‘flashback’ cards better.

Here are some guidelines that will help any drafter succeed in this new format.

Rule 1: Pick a theme.

Innistrad has a ton of ‘niche’ cards, which makes it a great set to draft since the cards you want aren’t necessarily very good for other drafters. A card like Elder Cathar is just a grey ogre with an unexciting ability to most decks, but in an aggressive humans deck, the card is amazing. Somewhere along pack 1, or early pack 2, you should have some idea of what you want your final product to look like. Once you have a ‘snapshot’ of the final product, you can start taking cards that have synergy with your deck. If you pick a direction, you’ll end up with a better final product. I’ve listed some of the better archetypes below, but it certainly isn’t an exhaustive list. I’ve played a Green ramp list with 2x Moldgraf Monstrosity, I’ve played a red/black vampires list with 2x Vampire's Rage, and I’ve played Blue/Red Burning Vengeance. The lists goes on and on, but try to find synergy within your deck and use it to guide your picks.

Rule 2: Stick with your theme, even if it means playing awkward cards.

The best example I can give of this rule is a W/G aggro deck I played with one Devine Reckoning, I main boarded it because it was technically a powerful card, but it didn’t have any synergy with my list and I ended up cutting it for every game two. The Moment of Heroism I brought in was far better in every match.

I never dreamt I would want a Mulch, a Desperate Ravings, or a Furor of the Bitten in my deck, but I’ve played them all to great effect already. If it has synergy with your deck, give it a try. Random ‘better in a vacuum’ cards that do nothing with your deck will be unimpressive.

Rule 3: Be aggressive.

Innistrad isn’t an inherently ‘fast’ format, but there are explosive openers in almost every color. If you aren’t the blue drafter, chances are you will have less ‘reach’ than some of your opponents. Having strong, aggressive openings can put your opponent on the back foot and give them less time to set up. Try to prioritize 2-CMC creatures and efficient removal.

Below are some of the most powerful archetypes that you should be looking for while drafting.

Archetype #1: Blue Self mill.

Blue is probably the strongest stand-alone color in Innistrad. The Blue ‘skaab’ creatures are very powerful and are strong whether the blue drafter are trying to be aggressive or playing control. . Deranged Assistant, Forbidden Alchemy and other self-mill engines can help to ensure they can play these creatures consistently. Silent Departure helps the blue drafter buy time and have an effective late game. Self-mill also gives them the opportunity to mill flashback cards such as Think Twice, which puts them way up in the tempo race.

Blue is extremely strong because almost every blue common is playable- if not very good. If the blue drafter can pick up plenty of ‘engine cards’ to fuel their graveyard, then they are hard to beat.

Archetype # 2: W/G Aggro/Humans

Yayyy! Green is good again! ...Though in this deck it is usually just a support for white. This color combination gives you access to numerous strong 2-drops such as Unruly Mob, Darkthicket Wolf, Avacynian Priest, Ambush Viper, and others. While any creature will do, Humans are preferred since they make cards like Elder Kathar a blowout. The main reason I like pairing White with green is for Travel Preparations, and green ‘morbid’ creatures like Festerhide Boar are also very awesome in this deck. If I can’t get any Travel Preparations, I play Feeling of Dread or Spare from Evil. This deck wants 2-4 tricks that help save its creatures and get in for damage.

Archetype #3: Black/Red Sac-A-Go-Go

This deck is made possible by one card: Traitorous Blood- This card needs to be much higher on a Red drafter’s priority list and if I am Black/Red, I would pick it over almost anything. With Skirsdag Cultist, Disciple of Griselbrand , Altar's Reap, and Demonmail Hauberk, you have almost infinite ways to make this card into a blowout. It can be easy to wheel Traitorous bloods and if you end up with at least 2 of them, this deck is powerful.

That’s about all the advice for now! You’ve really got to try this format, it’s one of the best I’ve drafted too date. Best of luck and have fun!