A total of 10 Magic: The Gathering Limited archetypes are in the Phyrexia: All Will Be One set, with a heavy focus on the Toxic mechanic and Artifacts.
Dual-color archetypes return to the Limited format with Phyrexia: All Will Be One, an MTG set that showcases new and returning mechanics that will have a major impact on Draft and Sealed games. Toxic is the big returning mechanic, using Poison counters to end games or provide additional value throughout the stages of a game through the new Corrupted mechanic. And the Proliferate mechanic returns as well, synergizing with all counters, while For Mirrodin! Incorporates Equipment into the mix.
A majority of the ONE returning and new mechanics are evenly distributed between all five colors, with For Mirrodin! being found in the colors Red and White. Because the mechanics are spread throughout each of the colors, players will find that the ONE archetypes rely upon traditional Limited strategies in conjunction with the Toxic mechanic.
What are the Limited Draft archetypes in ONE?
The 10 ONE Draft archetypes were first announced after the debut stream during MTGWeekly by game designer Andrew Brown. Each of the Limited Draft archetypes is an approximation as the Phyrexia: All Will Be One spoiler season has just begun and the list from Brown wasn’t official.
- White/Blue (WU): Artifacts
- Blue/Black (UB): Corrupted and Proliferate Control
- Black/Red (BR): Sacrifice and Oil counters
- Red/Green (RG): Oil counters MIdrange
- Green/White (GW): Go-wide Aggro and Toxic
- White/Black (WB): Toxic and Corrupted synergies
- Blue/Red (UR): Instant and Sorcery matters with Oil counters
- Black/Green (BG): Toxic and Reanimation synergies
- Red/White (RW): Aggro Equipment
- Green/Blue (GU): Stompy Toxic, Proliferate, and ramp
What are the Limited Draft signpost cards in ONE?
At the time of writing, only a few ONE signpost cards have been revealed through spoilers. Updates will take place after the gold signpost cards have been previewed. In addition to the 10 Uncommon Dual-colored signposts, there are also 10 Dual-color Rare legendaries within the ONE set that synergize with the Draft archetypes as well.
Blue/Red (UR) Instant and Sorcery matters with Oil counters
Serum-Core Chimera, the Uncommon UR signpost, is a unique spells matter card. The Chimera is a 2/4 with Flying for four mana, which is fine, and synergizes with Oil counters. Each non-creature spell cast puts an Oil counter on Serum-Core Chimera, which can then get removed for card advantage and direct damage to a creature or planeswalker.
The Rare signpost, Ovika, Enigma Goliath, is a finisher. The Phyrexian nightmare has Flying, 6/6 stats, double Ward costs, and creates tokens with Haste upon casting non-creature spells that have a power and toughness equal to the mana cost of that spell. It’s a neat design and a very powerful card that should pull players into the UR colors.
Red/Green (RG) Oil counters MIdrange
Oil counters are a major theme in ONE, with the color Red containing the most cards. Cinderslash Ravager is a pricey Uncommon signpost but it does cost one less mana to cast for each permanent you control with an Oil counter on it. This might reduce it by two to three typically, giving players a 5/5 with Vigilance at a cost of around 1RG or 2RG, instead of 4RG. But a board with no permanents and no Oil counters doesn’t fair well with the Phyrexian Warrior.
Migloz, Maze Crusher is the Rare signpost and a beast of a card. The legendary uses Oil counters for a variety of abilities. Find ways to Proliferate or generate Oil counters and Migloz, Maze Crusher can win games.
Green/White (GW) Toxic go-wide
Slaughter Singer, the Uncommon signpost for GW, synergizes with other creatures that have Toxic. The cleric acts as a lord, pumping their stats up by +1/+1 when they attack until the end of that turn. Melira, the Living Cure is a Rare legendary human scout who protects against multiple Poison counters getting applied per turn.
Black/Green (BG) Reanimation and Toxic
Necrogen Rotpriest is the opposite of Melira, the Living Cure, adding an additional Poison counter each time a creature you control with Toxic deals combat damage. The cleric also has a solid late-game activation ability that gives all Toxic creatures Deathtouch. Glissa Sunslayer is a ONE LImited Draft Rare worth grabbing as a first pick, having three modal abilities, 3/3 stats, and powerful keywords for only three mana.
Red/White (RW) Aggro Equipment
The Uncommon signpost for RW, Bladehold War-Whip features the new ONE mechanic For Mirrodin! It’s an Equipment that reduces the abilities of other Equipment costs while creating a 2/2 token upon ETB and giving the Equipped creature Double Strike. The Artifacts Equip cost is high, though, when attempting to Equip another creature.
Jor Kadeen, First Goldwarden is a solid two-drop with Trample that can have his stats pumped by the number of Equipped creatures you control. He can also draw a card when his power is four or greater.
Black/Red (BR) Sacrifice and Oil counters
Charforger is the Limited gold signpost Uncommon for ONE, creating sacrificial fodder upon entering the battlefield while also providing Oil counter synergy when another creature or Artifact is put into the graveyard. The Phyrexian beast has a slightly weak body with 2/3 stats and its mana cost is fine.
The Rare legendary is Kethek, Crucible Goliath, sacrificing a creature at the beginning of your end step for card advantage. Similar to Charforger, the beast has vanilla stats and mana cost.
Green/Blue (GU) Stompy Toxic, Proliferate, and ramp
Both of the GU signpost cards, Tainted Observer at Uncommon and Ezuri, Stalker of Spheres at Rare, support Proliferate. Tainted Observer is an ok Flyer with Toxic one. But it does have a solid mana sink that Proliferates every time another creature enters the battlefield under your control. And Ezuri, Stalker of Spheres has a Proliferate twice upon ETB option while also drawing a card every time you Proliferate (no once per turn clause).
Blue/Black (UB) Corrupted and Proliferate Control
Voidwing Hybrid, the Uncommon gold signpost for Blue and Black in ONE is a cute two-drop that can apply early Poison counters while having the ability to return to hand from the graveyard later in the game when you Proliferate. Also synergizing with Proliferate is the legendary Venser, Corpse Puppet, offering modal options when you use the mechanic in addition to having Lifelink and Toxic one.
White/Blue (WU) Artifacts
Artifacts are the main theme within the ONE Limited format for the colors White and Blue. Cephalopod Sentry, the Uncommon gold signpost, uses Artifacts to determine the squid’s power level. As a four-drop with five toughness and Flying, Cephalopod Sentry can quickly end games with a large number of Artifacts (Skullbombs) on the battlefield.
White/Black (WB) Toxic and Corrupted synergies
Both of the gold signpost cards for White and Black in ONE are on the expensive side. And neither has Toxic as a mechanic. Vivisection Evangelist has Corrupted, which synergizes with Toxic and Poison counters, able to destroy a creature or planeswalker upon entering the battlefield. The ability is a solid one in that for five mana players can destroy a card and get a 4/4 body on the battlefield. But without Corrupted getting triggered, the Phyrexian Cleric is a dead card in hand.
Ria Ivor, Bane of Bladehold is the Rare signpost, showcasing Battle Cry. The Phyrexian knight can also produce 1/1 Mite tokens with Toxic one but at the cost of not having a creature attack that turn.
Update Jan. 26 7am CT: All ONE Limited signpost cards were added following the end of the spoiler season.
