If you never played the original Strixhaven (STX), this is a true successor. The set supports a specific 5 archetypes; Silverquill (Orzhov), Prismari (Izzet), Witherbloom (Golgari), Lorehold (Boros), and Quandrix (Simic). A few of the archetypes may operate differently than you would expect the color pair to, specifically Silverquill being the fastest archetype, and Lorehold being a “slow” archetype as far as Boros is concerned. There is 0 support for color pairs outside of the 5 “Schools”, but splashing a third color is possible. When evaluating single-colored cards, I will often identify what archetype it works the best/worst in.
5.0: Disgustingly powerful and basically unbeatable. Either answer it the turn it comes down or just pack up your cards. (Gruff Triplets, Virtue of Persistence, The Eternal Wanderer)
4.5: Incredible bomb that still gives your opponent a slim chance. (Virtue of Loyalty, Imodane's Recruiter, Realm-Scorcher Hellkite)
4.0: Great rare or the absolute best uncommons and removal. (Faunsbane Troll, Gumdrop Poisoner, Talion’s Messenger)
3.5: Great role filler or removal that you never cut. (Candy Grapple, Hearth Elemental, Torch the Tower)
3.0: Good playable that I’m basically never cutting. (Shrouded Shepherd, Spellscorn Coven, Sharae of Numbing Depths)
2.5: Decent playable and the bar I hope nearly every card in my deck to reach. (Evolving Wilds, Archon's Glory, Flick a Coin)
2.0: Mediocre filler that normally is your 20-23rd card(s). (Mintstrosity, Ice Out, Grabby Giant)
1.5: Replaceable, overall bad filler. Could also be decent sideboard cards. (Titanic Growth, Scarecrow Guide, Territorial Witchstalker)
1.0: Bad filler. Gets cut most of the time. (Dark Tutelage, Kindled Heroism, Impact Tremors)
0.5: Very unhappy to main deck this, but maybe it has fringe sideboard applications. Cards that “could” be situationally decent, but bad in most situations. (Smothering Tithe, Rhystic Study, Mana Flare)
0.0: Unplayable in every possible situation. They rarely print cards this bad these days. (Hew the Entwood, One with Nothing)
Ajani’s Response
Rating: 2.5 // 5.0
This is a much better defensive removal spell than offensive, and will likely be much stronger in Lorehold than in Silverquill.
Antiquities on the Loose
Rating: 4.0 // 5.0
The first half of this card is a cheaper Gallant Cavalry, which are normally pretty solid on their own. The second half is free value, and can make for huge board swings.
Ascendant Dustspeaker
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
I do like the +1/+1 counter compared to other iterations, like Enfocer Griffin. The exile can have some cool synergies within Lorehold, like Spirit Mascot, and is probably a bit slow for Silverquill.
Daydream
Rating: 2.5 // 5.0
This does a couple things well. First, it triggers repartee, it works well with ETB triggers, and can work in Lorehold with the Flashback. It’s hard to say exactly how strong this will be, but I think it has a lot of utility behind it.
Dig Site Inventory
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
2 mana for 2 +1/+1 counters is pretty solid value. Especially if you get to trigger repartee with it.
Eager Glyphmage
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
A solid 4 drop I’m happy to put in most decks.
Elite Interceptor // Rejoinder
Rating: 2.5 // 5.0
This is pretty darn close to Thraben Inspector, though it is limited to sorcery speed. It still looks like good value to me.
Emeritus of Truce // Swords to Plowshares
Rating: 4.0 // 5.0
Sometimes you won’t be able to have this come in prepared, but in that case – you are still getting a 3/3 and 1/1 flyer for 3 mana, which is very strong.
Ennis, Debate Moderator
Rating: 3.0 // 5.0
This guy can scale throughout the game, and accrue a little value on the turn you play him.
Erode
Rating: 3.5 // 5.0
You won’t want to play this during the early-mid game, but it’s really hard to beat the value on this removal spell.
Graduation Day
Rating: 1.0 // 5.0
This is potentially even weak as a build around. You need to have this, a creature, and an isntant/sorcery to start getting value off of it. This is the type of card I don’t enjoy trying to make work.
Group Project
Rating: 3.0 // 5.0
This isn’t too tall of an order to be 2 mana for 2 2/2’s. It won’t always be a foregone conclusion, but it’s a solid win-more creature, with 0 downside.
Harsh Annotation
Rating: 1.5 // 5.0
I honestly think Stroke of Midnight might be a better removal spell than this, and that card was pretty bad. A 1/1 flyer can be problematic.
Honorbound Page // Forum’s Favor
Rating: 1.5 // 5.0
Not a huge fan of this guy, but it seems like alright filler in Silverquill.
Informed Inkwright
Rating: 3.5 // 5.0
If possible, you want to keep this guy in hand until you can trigger the repartee on the same turn you play him. He is a kill-on-sight creature.
Inkshape Demonstrator
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
I don’t love this card, but it seems strong enough. Only triggering this once or twice seems like a big enough life swing to impact the game.
Interjection
Rating: 1.5 // 5.0
This looks like a decent trick for Silverquill decks that need one, and likely unplayable for Lorehold.
Joined Researchers // Secret Rendezvous
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
I wouldn’t really read too much into this card aside from being a 2/2 first strike for 2. The sorcery half shouldn’t come up too much, but it is something that may come up time-to-time.
Owlin Historian
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
The surveil 1 is a nice bonus to this otherwise underwhelming creature.
Practiced Offense
Rating: 4.0 // 5.0
This card can definitely fall short, but when you’ve got creatures – it hits hard. It’s also not very difficult to cast it twice in one turn, making for some devastating turns.
Primary Research
Rating: 2.5 // 5.0
I really like this card from a design standpoint as a pull towards Lorehold. It triggers the turn you play it, and isn’t
Quill-Blade Laureate // Twofold Intent
Rating: 3.0 // 5.0
I love my 2 drop 1/1 double-strikers, and this iteration looks solid to me.
Rapier Wit
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
This is 100% a Silverquill card, and can be very strong in the most aggressive decks.
Rehearsed Debater
Rating: 1.5 // 5.0
This is a very replaceable card in any deck.
Restoration Seminar
Rating: 4.0 // 5.0
This may take a while to get going, but Paradigm is an insane mechanic for limited.
Shattered Acolyte
Rating: 2.5 // 5.0
2 mana 2/2 lifelinkers are typically very strong, and the ability for this to Disenchant, is pure upside.
Soaring Stoneglider
Rating: 2.5 // 5.0
You will pay 5 mana for this far more often than 3, and that’s completely ok.
Spiritcall Enthusiast // Scrollboost
Rating: 2.5 // 5.0
In reality, there aren’t a high number of reliable tokens to make this creature prepared. If you do get some token generation, this obviously get’s much better.
Stand Up for Yourself
Rating: 3.0 // 5.0
This should kill anything you care about in the mid-late game.
Stirring Hopesinger
Rating: 4.0 // 5.0
Oh boy. If you don’t kill this thing on-sight, well, I feel bad for you, son.
Stone Docent
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
I actually don’t mind playing this in any White deck, though it is obviously more suited for Lorehold.
Summoned Dromedary
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
This thing seems totally fine in most White decks.
Top 3 White Commons:
Elite Interceptor Ajani's Response Shattered Acolyte
White has a lot of solid creatures and utility spells this go-around. It’s a bit weak on the removal front, so keep that in mind. White looks more like a creature base/utility color for both Silverquill and Lorehold, and nothing special at that. I’ll be breaking down Blue next, stay tuned!
Lose and Learn, Learn and Win!
