Cloned from Irrelevent's DESCEND INTO AVERNUS [Grixis] with modifications

Overview / Design Principles

• Players should be able to draft a coherent deck, not just a pile of cards.
• Gameplay, while swingy, should not be purely chaotic. Players should feel agency and that their actions impact the game.
• No huge power outliers. Each P1P1 should have multiple cards someone would be excited to choose.
• A variety of strategies and archetypes should be viable, including card interactions that the designer did not seed or anticipate.
• There's a desire to achieve regularly emergent gameplay, novel Magic experiences, and replayability with <150 cards.
• Draft and gameplay should take 1-1.5hrs.

Archetypes & Colors

Each color is uniquely strong at a few things. Additionally, each color pair has suggested (though by no means limiting) archetypes in addition to the commander-specific and Grixis options.

Efficient stack interaction

Blue is able to do a little bit of everything. It has the highest proportion of instant-speed effects and the most efficient counterspells.

Creature removal, lifegain, recursion

Black specializes in creature removal. It also can play a longer game with lifegain effects and graveyard recursion.

Copies & redirection, mana generation

Red brings the highest proportion of copies and forks. It also has the best ways to generate a mana advantage.

Creatures / Flash Control

Control the board and the stack with flash creatures and blink effects. Games end quickly, so have a way to turn the corner.

Spellslinger

Storm off with X-spells, or copy opponents' spells for your own needs.

"Pingers"

Put permanents into play that limit opponents' options and hasten the end of the game.

Mill & Anti-Mill

With 20-card decks, mill is a potent strategy. Be sure to have a plan!