Dominaria United Draft: Cracking the Color Code – Which Colors Reign Supreme?

If you’re diving into Dominaria United Draft, you’re in for a treat! It’s a complex and rewarding format. But to truly succeed, you need to understand the color dynamics. So, let’s get straight to the point: the best colors in Dominaria United Draft are Blue and Black. Blue’s card draw and powerful spells, combined with Black’s efficient removal and graveyard synergy, make for a potent combination that can dominate the late game. Green is also very strong due to the prevalence of “Domain” as an ability.

Decoding Dominaria United’s Color Archetypes

Dominaria United provides a rich tapestry of color combinations, each with its own unique playstyle and power level. Understanding these archetypes is crucial for drafting effectively. Let’s break down some of the strongest contenders:

Blue-Black (Dimir): Graveyard Shenanigans and Control

As mentioned earlier, Blue-Black focuses on leveraging the graveyard. This archetype excels at filling its graveyard with creatures and spells, then using powerful cards to bring them back or gain value from them. Think of cards like Vohar, Vodalian Desecrator and Phyrexian Espionage as key components. This is a great archetype because black is a great control color, which blue also enjoys. These colors are both control, and get card advantage.

Blue-Green: The Domain Powerhouse

The combination of the colors Blue and Green provides great value when used correctly. With Domain, the power of the cards only grows stronger as the game goes on. Blue also provides control to stop any aggro plays in the early game. This is an all-around very good color combination.

Black-Green (Golgari): Reanimation and Value

Similar to Blue-Black, Black-Green also utilizes the graveyard, but with a heavier emphasis on reanimating creatures. Look for cards that let you fill your graveyard quickly and efficiently, as well as those that bring creatures back to the battlefield. Garna, Bloodfist of Keld is a great card. It enables a slower game, and provides great value by the end.

Red-White (Boros): Aggressive Tempo

Red-White is an aggressive archetype that aims to overwhelm opponents with early creatures and efficient combat tricks. Cards like Keldon Strike Team and Balmor, Battlemage Captain can quickly put pressure on your opponent. The problem with aggro is that it can’t last into the late game. Card draw is also important, as white and red lack a lot of card draw.

White-Blue (Azorius): Flying Men

White-Blue is an often-underrated archetype that leverages the power of creatures with flying. This color combination is very good at stopping other aggro decks in the format, due to the high number of blockers in this deck. An example of a good card to use is Raff, Weatherlight Stalwart.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Dominaria United Draft Colors

1. Is Mono-Color viable in Dominaria United Draft? While possible, mono-color decks are generally less consistent than multi-color decks due to the need for specific fixing. Domain is a good ability, however.

2. What role does fixing play in Dominaria United Draft? Fixing is crucial, especially if you’re aiming for a domain strategy or a three-color deck. Prioritize lands that produce multiple colors of mana.

3. Which color is the weakest in Dominaria United Draft? While every color has its strengths, White can sometimes struggle due to its reliance on specific synergies and a relative lack of card advantage, which is a great draw for the color Blue.

4. How important is knowing the color archetypes when drafting? Understanding the color archetypes is vital for identifying open lanes and building a cohesive deck.

5. What are some key commons to look for in each color? Good common cards are important for drafting, as these are the cards that are most commonly found in packs.

6. How does the “Domain” mechanic influence color choices in Dominaria United Draft? Domain rewards you for playing multiple basic land types, incentivizing you to draft a more diverse mana base.

7. What are some tips for drafting a three-color deck in Dominaria United? Prioritize mana fixing, focus on cards with flexible mana costs, and be willing to cut cards that don’t fit your overall strategy.

8. How does the presence of legendary creatures affect color choices in Dominaria United Draft? Legendary creatures can be powerful build-arounds, encouraging you to draft the colors that best support them.

9. Is aggression or control a more effective strategy in Dominaria United Draft? Both aggression and control can be effective, depending on your deck’s composition and the overall meta. In general, Blue and Black do a very good job at controlling the game.

10. How does knowing the top commons, uncommons and rares affect my draft pick choices? Commons are often the glue that holds your deck together, uncommons provide powerful synergies, and rares can be game-changing bombs.

11. What cards should I avoid drafting in Dominaria United? Avoid cards that are too narrow, require specific synergies you’re unlikely to achieve, or are simply underpowered for their mana cost.

12. Are there any color combinations that should be avoided in Dominaria United Draft? Some color combinations are less synergistic than others, such as Red-Green (Gruul) being not particularly good.

13. How do the Legends Retold box toppers influence draft strategy? The Legends Retold box toppers don’t directly influence draft strategy, as they are not part of the draft pool, but are used for Commander.

14. What is the ideal mana curve for a Dominaria United Draft deck? A well-rounded mana curve is essential, with a good mix of early-game plays, mid-range threats, and late-game bombs. Too many cards in the 5-7 mana range can be overkill.

15. Where can I learn more about draft strategy?
    You can learn more about draft strategy and other topics by checking out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. This is a non-profit, professional organization dedicated to advancing knowledge of learning through games.

Mastering the color dynamics of Dominaria United Draft is key to success. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each color combination, prioritizing fixing, and drafting a well-rounded deck, you’ll be well-equipped to dominate your next draft!