Begin the Begin: Invasion Drafting

Gary Wise

As one of those players who enjoy Draft more than other formats, I generally judge a new set on how good it's going to be for Limited play. I don't really care about the Tolarian Academies or Yawgmoth's Bargains of a set. Where most people see broken combo-waiting-to-happen cards, I see Booster Draft mediocrity. At the other end of the spectrum though, we find Invasion.
I present to you the single greatest draft set of all time

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the single greatest draft set of all time. Where Mercadian Masques limited our creative flow as drafters, Invasion exploits it. No more "just two colors," now you have to decide if you're going to play one color or five. Where for the last five years we've asked the same old questions about each set upon its release, Invasion forces us to change the questions. Confused? Everyone is. That's what is so great about Invasion.

This article is the introduction to what will be a daily series exploring the intricacies of drafting Invasion. I'll be starting with the commons and working my way up.

This will help players gradually gain an understanding of the format. With the commons completed, those of you playing in the GPs in Helsinki and Dallas should be feeling a little more knowledgeable about the format. In a couple of weeks, you'll have a little more. By the conclusion of the series, I hope that you will be ready to storm your local PTQs and use the information I've presented here to earn your way onto the Pro Tour.


GP Dallas 10/27-10/29
GP Helsinki 10/28-10/29

When I mentioned that the questions have changed, there was one very specific question I was referring to. In the past, the most asked question about each Limited format has been "what's the best color?" While now, the simple answer may be 'gold,' in truth the answer lies in the fact that there are no longer individual colors so much as individual color combinations. While in Urza's block, the answer was 'black,' now the answer must be, for example, either 'black/blue,' or black/red.' This is because Invasion is so thoroughly based upon the idea of neighboring colors working together, that the black deck that would use with blue is different from the one that would use with red.

This equation is made simpler by the direction gold cards point out for us: allied colors. The majority of the most powerful cards in the set have at least two colors in their casting cost, and many more require off-color mana to be fully effective. With all this crossover, not once does a card require the use of an opposing color of mana to reach peak effectiveness.

The rating system I'll be using is different from those I've used in the past. First, with each colored card having completely different values for each color combination, I'll be using its highest two-color-combo value when bestowing its 'grade,' and when it should be noted, I'll include which color combination that is. Additionally, instead of a score out of ten, I'll be designating each card with an approximate draft value, so the bombs will be rated as first picks, the worst cards 15th, and everything else will be in between.

So, with all that said, I hope you get something out of this. Keep in mind that in draft, there are no absolutes, only opinions, and while mine may be an educated one, it is still just an opinion. Don't use these articles as an absolute authority, but as a set of guidelines. Keep all this in mind and you will find that they will serve as an important tool in gaining a fuller understanding of the format. Good luck.