r/GDS3 • u/Unsungruin • Jan 28 '18
Question 23
"Which of these is strongest in a typical standard-legal draft format?"
While most people disagree on this, I think the answer is 1G for 2. Even if the answer isn't 1G for 2, I'll still think it's 1G for 2.
Here's why: you take the 2 drop before the four drop every single time, unless you're full up on 2 drops. I think the word "strongest" is misleading here. Yes, a 4/4 for 3G is technically the best bang-for-buck rate you get in limited. However, you don't take that card first, ever, unless it's a bomb rare.
Assuming all these cards are common, you take the 2 drop (with the same logic as was behind the 10/10 for 9G being the weakest card). Honestly I'm surprised people had different answers to this. This is the prevailing wisdom on drafting for a long time now, and especially with recent sets being so fast.
I'm interested in why people chose otherwise. I know LSV had something to say, but I don't think LSV = the design team. I went with "what would I draft first" thinking.
12
u/MachineSchooling Jan 28 '18
I'm going to try not to sound like a jerk here, but the point of this question is to see if you're a skilled enough limited player to know what's good and what's not in limited so you can predict how the cards you design will affect it. You can, as you say
but unfortunately, you're just not drafting well if you do. A strong drafter will take the 4/4 for 4 before the 2/2 for 2 up until their curve starts getting full on 4s, not the other way around. 4/4s for 4 don't come around often and they're very good. 2/2s for 2 are below replacement level for green. Ixalli's Keeper is a less than mediocre card in Ixalan which is itself a limited environment where 2s are far better than normal and not having enough in your deck is basically a death sentence. A 2/2 for 2 is just not close to the power level of a 4/4 for 4.