Rivals of Ixalan offers a dynamic draft environment, blending the tribal synergies of Ixalan with exciting new mechanics and powerful cards. This guide will help you navigate the complexities of the set and consistently build winning decks. Whether you’re a seasoned drafter or a newcomer to the format, understanding the key archetypes and strategies will significantly improve your win rate.
Understanding the Rivals of Ixalan Draft Landscape
Rivals of Ixalan presents two distinct but interconnected worlds: the Sunken City and the Raptor's Lair. Each offers unique tribal synergies and strategic advantages. Successfully navigating the draft hinges on identifying these synergies early and building your deck around them.
Key Archetypes:
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Dinosaurs: Powerful creatures with high power and often impressive abilities. Look for ways to pump their power and leverage their inherent strengths. Cards that grant +1/+1 counters or provide trample are highly valuable.
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Pirates: Aggressively-inclined tribe that focuses on early game pressure and card advantage through looting and treasure generation. Strong early drops are crucial for this archetype.
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Vampires: A midrange-to-late game tribe that thrives on lifegain and card draw. They excel at attrition and outlasting opponents with consistent value generation.
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Merfolk: A synergistic tribe relying on evasion and tempo plays. They often benefit from high-impact spells and creatures that can control the board early.
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Multicolored Decks: While tribal strategies dominate, don't underestimate the power of strong multicolored cards, particularly those that bridge different tribes or offer potent abilities regardless of tribe.
Drafting Strategies:
Early Picks:
Your first few picks are critical. Prioritize strong, flexible cards that fit multiple archetypes. Consider these factors:
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Rarity: Rare and mythic rare cards are typically powerful, but don't force a bad archetype simply for a rare.
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Color Pairings: Decide on a color pair early, avoiding spreading your colors too thin. This becomes increasingly important as the draft progresses.
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Curve: Balance your curve by picking cards that smoothly progress from early-game plays to late-game threats.
Mid-Game Decisions:
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Identify Your Tribe: By the middle of the draft, you should have a clear idea of which tribe (or tribes) you're building around.
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Assess Your Curve: Are you missing key pieces in your mana curve? Focus on filling gaps to ensure consistent tempo.
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Evaluate Synergies: Look for cards that synergize with your existing cards, even if they aren't part of your primary tribe. Consider cards that provide card advantage, removal, or board control.
Late-Game Choices:
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Solidify Your Archetype: Refine your deck, cutting weaker cards that don't fit your strategy.
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Boost Your Win Condition: Make sure you have enough late-game power to close out games.
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Add Essential Removal: Don't underestimate the importance of removal spells.
Important Cards to Look For:
While specific card values can fluctuate based on the overall draft, these cards tend to be highly sought after:
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High-Impact Creatures: Creatures with high power/toughness ratios and valuable abilities.
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Efficient Removal: Spells that effectively deal with opposing threats.
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Card Advantage Engines: Cards that generate additional cards or provide value over multiple turns.
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Treasure Generators: Crucial for Pirate decks, allowing access to powerful effects.
Beyond the Cards: Mastering the Draft
Success in Rivals of Ixalan draft goes beyond simply picking good cards. Consider these key factors:
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Opponent Awareness: Pay attention to your opponents' picks to infer their strategies and anticipate their potential threats.
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Adaptability: Be prepared to adjust your strategy if your early picks don't pan out as expected. Sometimes you need to pivot to a secondary archetype.
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Practice: The more you draft, the better you'll become at recognizing powerful cards and constructing effective decks.
By understanding the key archetypes, focusing on strong early picks, and adapting to the flow of the draft, you'll significantly improve your chances of success in Rivals of Ixalan. Good luck and happy drafting!
