The Ultimate MTG Arena Core Set 2020 Draft Guide. Here’s everything you need to know about the best archetypes, draft strategy and tips. Are you ready to improve your Core Set 2020 Drafting?

Magic the Gathering’s Core sets are generally less complex than other sets, which makes them ideal for beginners to learn how to draft or Magic strategies in general. However, the lesser complexity doesn’t make Core Set 2020 less fun! On the contrary, I find Core Set 2020 to be a pretty interesting set with a lot of potentially cool decks to draft.

If you’ve never drafted before, this set is a fantastic starting point. Hopefully, this MTG Arena Core Set 2020 draft guide can help you navigate your drafts.

Compared to M19, the M20 core set offers a higher power level, which makes it more fun to play. In addition, there are no new keywords in this set. Be aware though, ‘Protection from’ makes a return, so make sure to understand that keyword. 

What colors and archetypes you should be drafting should be pretty clear in your first two packs, but you should know which different archetypes are available to you in Core Set 2020.

Core Set 2020 Draft Archetypes

The Core Set 2020 draft archetypes seem to be divided by five 3-color combinations: Temur (green/blue/red), Jeskai (blue/white/red), Mardu (red/white/black), Abzan (white/black/green) and Sultai (blue/black/green).

Of course, you could also just draft a mono-color or 2-color deck, but these 3-color wedges are well-supported in the M20 core set.

Let’s have a look at each of the five combinations.

Green/blue/red Elementals (Temur)

The elementals deck is one the real powerhouses in the MTG Arena Core Set 2020 draft. There are many cards in the set that combine the Elemental tribal theme with good effects of all three colours. When drafting elementals in M20 you have a plethora of choice: Cloudkin Seer, Frost Lynx, Lavakin Brawler and Thicket Crasher are all important commons. Boreal Elemental and Healer of the Glade are decent filler cards.

However, the uncommons are what makes the Elementals deck go nuts. Risen Reef is both an all-star card and a very good reason to go for the Elemental archetype. But it’s not alone: Creeping Trailblazer, Chandra, Novice Pyromancer and Overgrowth Elemental are all amazing cards for the archetype.

And don’t forget about the good red, blue and green removal: Rabid Bite, Sleep Paralysis, Chandra’s Outrage, Reduce to Ashes, … . 

I think elemental tribal is one of the strongest archetypes in the MTG Arena Core Set 2020 draft and I’m always looking to draft it.

Great Temur Elementals commons:

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Great Temur Elementals uncommons:

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Blue/white/red fliers (Jeskai)

Just like in every set, the MTG Arena Core Set 2020 draft has its own version of the popular blue white fliers archetype. In M20 it can sometimes be better to splash some red cards and going for more of a Jeskai fliers deck.

Typically, the fliers deck offers good removal and evasive creatures, at the cost of raw power. Key uncommon in this deck is Empyrean Eagle, which makes all your other fliers stronger. Your deck will be filled with commons like Boreal Elemental, Cloudkin Seer, Metropolis Sprite and Daggersail Aeronaut. In addition to Empyrean Eagle, try picking up a couple uncommons like Herald of the Sun, Loyal Pegasus or Warden of Evos Isle.

Your fliers all have average or below stats, so you’ll need to support them with the decent removal white and red have to offer: think Pacifism, Chandra’s Outrage, Shock, Aerial Assault or even Reckless Air Strike.

I feel like white is a little weaker in MTG Arena Core Set 2020 drafting, but the Jeskai fliers archetype shouldn’t be underestimated.

Great Jeskai commons:

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Great Jeskai uncommons:

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Red/white/black aggro (Mardu)

The Mardu colors in M20 are aggro, something in between Rakdos and Boros. The deck relies on putting down pressure early with cheap, aggressive creatures like Vampire of the Dire Moon, Fencing Ace, Skynight Vanguard and Moorland Inquisitor.

Then you’ll want to keep pressuring your opponent with constant attacks, all the while keeping the board clear with your removal spells. Cards like Murder, Pacifism and Shock are a great way to deal with opposing blockers, but don’t underestimate a well timed combat trick like Infuriate or Moment of Heroism.

A Mardu aggro deck in the MTG Arena Core Set 2020 draft has a pretty low curve, with only a couple 5-cost cards. Your big creatures consist of Ogre Siegebreaker, Rapacious Dragon or Master Splicer.

You’ll need some way to draw cards or you might run out steam too soon, so keep an eye out for a Keldon Raider or Audacious Thief or two.

Great Mardu commons:

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Great Mardu uncommons:

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White/black/green ‘go wide’/tokens (Abzan)

The “go wide”/tokens archetype in MTG Arena Core Set 2020 drafting is in Abzan colors. There’s some good multicolored uncommons in this set with great pay offs for token decks: Ironroot Warlord, Moldervine Reclamation and Corpse Knight are great examples. Ironroot Warlord is a token engine which increases in power with every creature you put out. Moldervine Reclamation rewards you for sacrificing or trading your tokens. Corpse Knight is a slow clock, but it can’t be ignored.

However, you’ll also need some decent commons to build your board. Ferocious Pup and Raise the Alarm are decent options, but I feel like there’s a lack of really good token engines. It seems like there are many pay off cards, but few enablers for tokens in the M20 set. So just try picking strong creatures in the Abzan colors and support them with removal spells to keep your board full.

The Abzan go wide archetype might also be the only archetype to make good use of cards like Overcome and Inspired Charge.

Great Abzan commons:

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Great Abzan uncommons:

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Blue/black/green control (Sultai)

The control archetype in MTG Arena Core Set 2020 drafting is found in the Sulai colors: blue, black and green, with a lean towards enter-the-battlefield (ETB) effects. Tomebound Lich is one of the prime examples of this archetype. It creates value for you when it enters the battlefield, it’s a threat in combat with its Deathtouch and it can generate even more value every time it deals damage to your opponent.

The control archetype is all about answering threats with removal or counter spells and then taking over in the late-game. Coincidentally, blue and black have a lot of good common removal spells in the M20 Core Set: Murder, Bone to Ash, Agonizing Syphon, Bone Splinters, Sleep Paralysis and so on.

Meanwhile, slowly whittle down your opponent with evasive creatures, like Cloudkin Seer or Air Elemental. You could also wait until late game to drop down some heavy hitters like Frilled Sea-Serpent, Howling Giant or Silverback Shaman.

Great Sultai commons:

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Great Sultai uncommons:

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Core Set 2020 Draft Pick Order

You’ve read about the archetypes.
Now, improve your drafting even more with my handy Core Set 2020 Draft pick order.

Core Set 2020 Draft Strategy & Tips

Here’s a couple more tips to improve your MTG Arena Core Set 2020 draft strategy.

You’re drafting on MTG Arena

Normally, you’d have to worry about how many other people are drafting your colors, but MTG Arena doesn’t work that way. You can draft any archetype you want without having to worry about other players being in the same color combination as you.

Take your time while drafting

Unlike in a physical draft, on MTG Arena you don’t have a time limit while drafting. So take advantage of this: think about your mana curve, card synergies and what card would be best for your strategy.

Know your best commons and uncommons

The strength of a draft deck is decided by its commons and uncommons. Don’t focus on that bomb rare you might never get. Instead, concentrate on getting a solid base common and uncommon cards that you know will put in the work for you.

Core Set 2020 is a slower format

The lack of good aggro creatures makes for a slower format. Removal spells are very important, but don’t take weaker removal spells over a solid threat.