- Small Set Format: Fewer than 200 cards, comparable to TMNT set size.
- Recruit Mechanic: Draw/discard and make tokens upon opponent non-creature spells.
- Storied Status: Gain buffs by controlling artifacts, legendaries, or sagas.
- Five Armies: Archetypes focus on Humans, Dwarves, Elves, Goblins, and Wolves.
- Adventure Returns: Powerful value cards like The Arkenstone define the format.
Set Overview & Mechanics
This set is a small set containing fewer than 200 cards, comparable in size to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles set. Despite its smaller size, the mechanics and archetypes are designed to create a solid limited environment. The set revolves around the "Five Armies" theme, introducing new keywords like Recruit and Storied, while bringing back favorites like Adventure and Landfall.
Video Highlights:
- Introduction to the Recruit mechanic and its synergy with Human tokens.
- Explanation of Storied as a new status similar to City's Blessing.
- Breakdown of the Five Armies archetypes and their color pairs.
- Analysis of the Adventure mechanic's return on cards like The Arkenstone.
As a small set, the card pool is shallower than full expansions. Drafting requires flexibility, as you may not see the same archetype repeatedly. Prioritize versatile cards that can fit multiple strategies.
New Mechanics: Recruit & Storied
The set introduces two primary mechanics that define the limited environment: Recruit and Storied. Understanding these is crucial for building a coherent deck.
Recruit
Recruit is a triggered ability found primarily on Human creatures and within the Blue-White color pair. Whenever an opponent casts their first non-creature spell each turn, you Recruit.
- Effect: Draw a card, then discard a card.
- Bonus: If you discarded a non-land card, create a 1/1 white Human Soldier creature token.
- Strategy: This mechanic provides card advantage and board presence simultaneously. It digs through your deck, fills your graveyard, and adds bodies to the board.
Storied
Storied is a status you gain for the rest of the game, similar to the City's Blessing or Renown.
- Requirement: You gain the status of an "Enduring Story" by having a card with Storied in play while you control three or more artifacts, legendaries, and/or sagas.
- Synergy: This mechanic cares about historic card types. It is primarily featured in the Red-White archetype (Dwarves).
- Impact: Once achieved, it buffs other cards that care about the status, often causing abilities to trigger additional times.
A minor mechanic, Hone, places counters on Equipment (like Sting) to buff the equipped creature. While not a primary archetype, it offers combat tricks and incremental value in artifact-focused decks.
| Mechanic | Primary Color Pair | Key Effect | Trigger Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recruit | White-Blue | Draw/Discard, make 1/1 Token | Opponent casts 1st non-creature spell/turn |
| Storied | Red-White | Gain permanent status buff | Control 3+ Artifacts, Legendaries, or Sagas |
| Hone | Colorless/Artifacts | Buff equipped creature | Enters battlefield with counters |
| Adventure | Various | Cast spell, then cast permanent | Pay alternative cost (sorcery speed) |
The Five Armies Archetypes
The limited format is structured around five distinct archetypes, each corresponding to one of the "Five Armies" from The Hobbit. While creature types matter, the mechanical identity is the primary focus.
White-Blue: Humans (Draw Two)
This archetype focuses on drawing multiple cards per turn. The signpost uncommon, Bard the Bowman, provides a payoff whenever you draw your second card, placing a +1/+1 counter and granting lifelink. Recruit enables this by replacing itself.
Red-White: Dwarves (Storied)
Led by Thorin Oakenshield, this deck aims to achieve the Storied status quickly. It utilizes a mix of artifacts, legendary creatures, and Sagas. Once active, cards like Biffer gain additional triggers, doubling their effectiveness.
Green-Blue: Elves (Landfall)
This archetype leverages Landfall to generate value. Sylvan Reveler acts as a signpost, allowing you to play lands from the graveyard to trigger Landfall effects repeatedly. It excels in the late game by ensuring every draw is impactful.
Red-Black: Goblins (Amass)
Focusing on Amass Orcs (or Goblins in this set), this archetype creates an "Army" token that grows larger. Bolg of the North offers a powerful payoff by sacrificing a creature to deal damage and amassing, functioning as both removal and a threat.
Black-Green: Wolves (Ferocious)
This archetype rewards you for controlling creatures with power 4 or greater. Ferocious abilities trigger additional effects, such as drawing cards, when attacking with a high-power creature. It requires careful deck construction to ensure consistent access to heavy hitters.
While creature types (Humans, Dwarves, etc.) provide flavor, the mechanical themes (Draw Two, Storied, Landfall) are the primary drivers of the archetypes. Tribal synergies exist but are secondary to the mechanics.
Key Cards & Returning Mechanics
Beyond the new mechanics, several returning mechanics provide depth to the format.
Adventure
Adventure returns as a powerful tool for card advantage. Cards like The Arkenstone can be cast as a spell ("Seek the Heart") to find a key piece, and later cast as the permanent to provide ongoing value. Even if the Adventure cost is inefficient, the combined value makes these cards high picks.
Sagas
Sagas play a significant role, particularly in enabling Storied. They are based on songs from The Hobbit and offer high value at low costs. For example, Burn, Burn, Tree, and Fern acts as a two-for-one removal spell that can transition into a threat.
Amass
Amass returns in the Red-Black Goblin archetype. Unlike previous iterations, this version creates Goblin Army tokens. It supports a "go-tall" strategy (building one massive creature) or a "go-wide" strategy (sacrificing and recreating tokens).
| Card Name | Type | Mechanic | Role in Limited |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bard the Bowman | Creature | Draw Two | Signpost uncommon; payoff for drawing extra cards |
| Thorin Oakenshield | Creature | Storied | Aggressive lord; enables Storied status |
| The Arkenstone | Artifact | Adventure | Value engine; tutors for key legends |
| Bolg of the North | Creature | Amass | Removal spell that creates a token body |
| Sylvan Reveler | Creature | Landfall | Mana fixing; enables landfall triggers |
Draft Strategy & Tips
Success in this limited format depends on identifying open signals and understanding the speed of the environment.
Aggressive Curves
- Red-White and Red-Black decks favor aggressive curves.
- Low-cost creatures with Recruit or Amass apply early pressure.
- Don't overcommit into board wipes if possible.
Value Grinding
- White-Blue and Green-Blue decks excel at generating card advantage.
- Prioritize Adventure cards to ensure card flow.
- Use Landfall to out-value opponents in the late game.
As a small set, removal spells are scarce. Cards that can deal with threats efficiently (like Bolg or burn spells) should be valued higher than usual.
Draft Priorities:
- Signpost Uncommons: Identify your archetype early by prioritizing cards like Thorin or Bard.
- Mana Fixing: With multi-color requirements for Storied and Adventure, ensure your mana base is consistent.
- Creature Quality: Since Ferocious and Amass rely on creature power, avoid low-power creatures in Black-Green and Red-Black decks.
Checklist & Goals
Use this checklist to ensure your deck is optimized for the format.
Deck Building Checklist:
- Identify your primary archetype (e.g., Red-White Dwarves)
- Ensure 3+ sources of Storied enablers (Artifacts/Legendaries/Sagas) if playing RW
- Include 2-3 Adventure cards for value
- Check mana requirements for double-colored costs
- Verify you have enough removal (3-5 spells)
FAQ
Q: Is the set size similar to standard expansions?
No, it is a small set with fewer than 200 cards. This means the draft format is faster and shallower, requiring you to be more flexible with your archetype choices compared to full-sized sets.
Q: How does the Recruit mechanic work?
Recruit triggers whenever an opponent casts their first non-creature spell each turn. It allows you to draw a card, discard a card, and create a 1/1 white Human Soldier token if the discarded card was a non-land.
Q: What is the best archetype for beginners?
White-Blue Humans is often forgiving due to the **Recruit** mechanic providing card advantage and tokens. Red-White Dwarves is also strong for its straightforward aggressive strategy with **Storied** payoffs.
Q: Are Adventure cards always good?
Generally, yes. Even if the Adventure spell is inefficient, the combined value of two effects (spell + permanent) makes them excellent for card advantage and deck consistency.