Why is the White the Worst Color at Filling its Graveyard?

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Posted on Feb. 26, 2026, 8:44 p.m. by DemonDragonJ

In this post, Mark Rosewater stated that white is the worst color at filling its own graveyard, and I do not wish to disagree with someone who actually designs this game, but I have been playing this game since 2003, and I have observed that white is not far behind black and green in terms of using the graveyard as a resource (and all three colors have a focus on rebirth and renewal), whereas red and blue are the colors that care the least about using the graveyard as a resource (again, simply from my own observations), so I personally would think that those colors were the colors that were the least adept at filling their graveyards (although red and blue are the colors with the greatest emphasis on instants and sorceries, so, perhaps they are adept at filling their own graveyards).

What does everyone else say, about this? Do you agree with Mark Rosewater that white is the color that is the least adept at filling its own graveyard, and, if you do, why do you believe that that is the case, especially considering that white focuses strongly and rebirth and renewal? I certainly am interested to hear your thoughts, on this matter.

DragonMaster420 says... #2

using the graveyard isn't the same as filling it. blue has mill and surveil, while red has looting.

February 26, 2026 9:30 p.m.

clayperce says... #3

I got got curious just how bad W has it. For anyone else interested, here's a VERY quick (and therefore certainly incomplete) glance at the numbers:

• W: 325 cards (268 sac, 3 mill, 49 discard, 5 Surveil, 0 Dredge)
• U: 812 cards (259 sac, 180 mill, 317 discard, 56 Surveil, 0 Dredge)
• B: 1,484 cards (799 sac, 121 mill, 509 discard, 49 Surveil, 5 Dredge)
• R: 822 cards (511 sac, 8 mill, 300 discard, 2 Surveil, 1 Dredge)
• G: 452 cards (293 sac, 75 mill, 69 discard, 10 Surveil, 5 Dredge)

February 26, 2026 11:19 p.m.

clayperce says... #4

(Please note the 'discard' number for Black is especially off ... it includes both opponent- and self-discard)

February 26, 2026 11:23 p.m.

wallisface says... #5

Filling a graveyard is not using a graveyard - you’ve incorrectly combined two entirely different mechanics.

White might be good at rebirth/resurrection, but it also has a strong emphasis on not losing resources/lives to begin with - hence it is trash at “filling the grave”.

February 27, 2026 5:43 a.m.