Wildcards are a precious resource in MTG Arena. Magic: The Gathering releases new expansions every three months, each with around 53 rares and 15 mythic rares – which is a lot if you multiply that by four for a full playset! The fact that cards of the same rarity are worth exactly the same – whether they are good or bad – can be both a blessing and a curse. Players will also find that a lot of these cards are unplayable or too specific to be any good. You will need to navigate yourself around these cards especially if you are a new player or your resources are limited. In this series of crafting guides, we will review the notable cards in each set, how many you should be safe to craft, and how they can be used.

Make sure to check out our metagame tier list guides to find out what Theros Beyond Death cards are being used in competitive decks:

Check out the crafting guides from other sets:

Wildcard Crafting Strategy

In general, our recommendation for the best way to use your Wildcards is to choose a deck you would want to play, and craft just the missing cards from your collection. Take this guide as an indication of cards that are played (or not played) in the current competitive metagame.

If you plan to open more packs or play a mixture of limited formats (i.e. sealed and draft) then the longer you hold off using Wildcards, the better. This also allows you to potentially build up your resources for the next set.

As the current system stands, players will either not have too much trouble getting common or uncommon cards from the latest set or have a build up of common and uncommon Wildcards. For now, we will not include these in these guides but may introduce them for older sets for newer players.

This guide will be updated and more cards added as the meta develops and as our evaluation of the cards changes. The Standard meta is not static (in fact, more fluid than ever due to wealth of information out there) and there is always a degree of uncertainty when ranking these cards.

Wildcard Crafting Category

With all that being said, we will attempt to categorize cards into categories so you get a general idea on how many copies a card might be in a deck and thus Wildcards you may need. This also pertains to fundamentals of deck building in general and also will depend on the format and meta on how much you may need.

Tier A – Top Priority Craft : These are cards you will usually want to craft four copies of and safe to do even if you do not end up using it right away. Whether they are powerful cards or not on their own, they will be a key component of your deck and cannot generally be replaced.

Example: Godless Shrine, Nissa, Who Shakes the World, Teferi, Time Raveler

: These are cards you will usually want to craft four copies of and safe to do even if you do not end up using it right away. Whether they are powerful cards or not on their own, they will be a key component of your deck and cannot generally be replaced. Example: Godless Shrine, Nissa, Who Shakes the World, Teferi, Time Raveler Tier B – High Priority Craft: These are powerful cards, but you may not need the full four copies because you don’t necessarily want to have more than one during the game. This includes legendary permanents as you cannot own more than one of the same card on the battlefield or just an expensive but very powerful spell you won’t get to cast too much of. These cards also may still warrant four copies in your deck, but may not be essential.

Example: Knight of the Ebon Legion

These are powerful cards, but you may not need the full four copies because you don’t necessarily want to have more than one during the game. This includes legendary permanents as you cannot own more than one of the same card on the battlefield or just an expensive but very powerful spell you won’t get to cast too much of. These cards also may still warrant four copies in your deck, but may not be essential. Example: Knight of the Ebon Legion Tier C – Medium Priority Craft: Cards that may be somewhere in the middle – not so great in multiples, slightly specific in its purpose and/or not essential to the deck’s strategy and may be replaceable with other cards. Still, they may be a necessary evil in the deck’s archetype and still may need four copies for the deck’s consistency.

Example: Agent of Treachery, Fervent Champion

Cards that may be somewhere in the middle – not so great in multiples, slightly specific in its purpose and/or not essential to the deck’s strategy and may be replaceable with other cards. Still, they may be a necessary evil in the deck’s archetype and still may need four copies for the deck’s consistency. Example: Agent of Treachery, Fervent Champion Tier D – Low Priority Craft: Cards that are specific or narrow in nature so your deck will still function without it and you can find replacements relatively easily. This also applies to expensive spells (compared to your rest of your deck) and cards that may act as a finisher in your deck, don’t mind drawing these later on in the game, and/or you have ways to tutor/search for them. You would rarely need to craft more than one copy.

Example: Chandra, Awakened Inferno, Realm-Cloaked Giant

Cards that are specific or narrow in nature so your deck will still function without it and you can find replacements relatively easily. This also applies to expensive spells (compared to your rest of your deck) and cards that may act as a finisher in your deck, don’t mind drawing these later on in the game, and/or you have ways to tutor/search for them. You would rarely need to craft more than one copy. Example: Chandra, Awakened Inferno, Realm-Cloaked Giant Tier E – Bad Craft: These cards should only be used if you want to build a specific deck around them, and there are no alternatives available. They are likely made for playing in draft and not used in any constructed decks in the metagame except for very rare circumstances.

Example: Clackbridge Troll, Wakeroot Elemental

These cards should only be used if you want to build a specific deck around them, and there are no alternatives available. They are likely made for playing in draft and not used in any constructed decks in the metagame except for very rare circumstances. Example: Clackbridge Troll, Wakeroot Elemental Sideboard: Cards that are powerful but very specific or narrow in nature. If you only play best-of-one games, cards in this category will likely not apply to you unless the meta is so warped that you want to include some of these cards in your main deck.

Example: Noxious Grasp, Hushbringer

Theros Beyond Death Overview

Theros Beyond Death seems to be more balanced compared to the previous set Throne of Eldraine, with less must-have rares and mythic rares.

There are more powerful, build around cards at uncommon, good for building budget decks.

As with Throne of Eldraine, this is a standalone set but the mechanics and themes are generic, such as Escape (graveyards), Constellation (enchantments) and Devotion (casting costs). This means that the synergies will not be confined by the set only, unlike Adventure or Food, which we will not likely see anywhere else.

Tier A – Top Priority Craft





Mythic Rares

Uro, Titan of Nature’s Wrath: Another powerful Simic card while not as broken as Oko was, it has enough synergies going for it in its color pair to enable decks into top tier status such as Simic Ramp and Temur Reclamation. Ramp, big creature, lifegain, card draw and graveyard synergy all in one, which is what Simic does well.

Rares

Temples: The five temples aren’t great for aggro decks, and hence the priority of color pair will be different. For example, you will most likely want Temple of Enlightenment and Temple of Deceit first, as they fit perfectly in their corresponding decks, where as the other three tend to be more on the aggressive side and usually don’t want lands that come into the play tapped. These don’t work terribly well with the Castle lands from Throne of Eldraine either. Having said all that, these dual lands are a necessary evil and we will have to stick with them for the next year until they rotate out.

Tier B – High Priority Craft







Mythic Rares

No cards in this tier yet!

Rares

Elspeth Conquers Death: This is a really versatile and value-filled Saga comparable to The Eldest Reborn, and will be playing a role in control decks until the foreseeable future. It also pairs really well with Dream Trawler, since you have the option to use its discard ability to bring out a creature or planeswalker if you don’t have a suitable card in your graveyard.

This is a really versatile and value-filled Saga comparable to The Eldest Reborn, and will be playing a role in control decks until the foreseeable future. It also pairs really well with Dream Trawler, since you have the option to use its discard ability to bring out a creature or planeswalker if you don’t have a suitable card in your graveyard. Shatter the Sky: This will be a very important board wipe spell for white-based control decks without having to rely on the restrictive mana cost of Kaya’s Wrath. The drawback is not as bad as predicted and will almost always be a better choice than the five or six mana spells (e.g. Time Wipe, Planar Cleansing) available.

This will be a very important board wipe spell for white-based control decks without having to rely on the restrictive mana cost of Kaya’s Wrath. The drawback is not as bad as predicted and will almost always be a better choice than the five or six mana spells (e.g. Time Wipe, Planar Cleansing) available. Thassa’s Intervention: This is the best card out of the Intervention cycle by far, as it can apply itself in most situations without being a dead card in your hand. Highly recommended if you like strategies involving Blue.

This is the best card out of the Intervention cycle by far, as it can apply itself in most situations without being a dead card in your hand. Highly recommended if you like strategies involving Blue. Woe Strider: This card gives you two bodies, a free sacrifice ability and even a threatening Escape ability. If this card does not become played, then the only reason would be the glut of three drops in relevant deck archetypes. We still believe it outclasses most, and will be a player in the new metagame.

This card gives you two bodies, a free sacrifice ability and even a threatening Escape ability. If this card does not become played, then the only reason would be the glut of three drops in relevant deck archetypes. We still believe it outclasses most, and will be a player in the new metagame. Phoenix of Ash: This card is what red-based aggro decks needed, as it is good in longer games and even gives you a mana sink ability (though it may not come up often). It will potentially be a staple in these decks to come, though it may not always be a full playset.

This card is what red-based aggro decks needed, as it is good in longer games and even gives you a mana sink ability (though it may not come up often). It will potentially be a staple in these decks to come, though it may not always be a full playset. Dream Trawler: This card is the finisher that control and even midrange decks have been looking for. You will most likely want this in decks that has these colors, whether you are in Azorius, Bant or Esper territory. As mentioned previously, it combines well with Elspeth Conquers Death.

Tier C – Medium Priority Craft







Mythic Rares

Heliod, Sun-Crowned: This God is an integral part of the Mono White Devotion deck, and will likely not be played anywhere else. Only craft this if that is one of the decks you really want to play.

This God is an integral part of the Mono White Devotion deck, and will likely not be played anywhere else. Only craft this if that is one of the decks you really want to play. Thassa, Deep-Dwelling: One of the better Gods in the set that can be exploited with enter the battlefield effects. Whether that becomes a tier one strategy is yet to be proven, and even then having all four copies of the card seems unnecessary.

One of the better Gods in the set that can be exploited with enter the battlefield effects. Whether that becomes a tier one strategy is yet to be proven, and even then having all four copies of the card seems unnecessary. Ashiok, Nightmare Muse: Definitely a good planeswalker (some even compare it to Teferi, Hero of Dominaria), but in a color combination that makes it more tricky to use. At this moment in time, there is no reason to play Dimir or Esper over Azorius hence its tier C status.

Rares

Tier D – Low Priority Craft







Mythic Rares

Rares

Tier E – Bad Craft







Mythic Rares

Erebos, Bleak-Hearted: We don’t think current versions of Mono Black has space for this card and 2 life is a big price to pay compared to cards like Midnight Reaper and paying mana to sacrifice things is not required as we still have Witch’s Oven and Ayara, First of Locthwain.

We don’t think current versions of Mono Black has space for this card and 2 life is a big price to pay compared to cards like Midnight Reaper and paying mana to sacrifice things is not required as we still have Witch’s Oven and Ayara, First of Locthwain. Purphoros, Bronze-Blooded: You can definitely do some fun things with this Purphoros but is likely to be too slow.

You can definitely do some fun things with this Purphoros but is likely to be too slow. Nylea, Keen-Eyed: By the time you cast this, its creature cost reduction ability will be less relevant and its passive ability is pretty average.

By the time you cast this, its creature cost reduction ability will be less relevant and its passive ability is pretty average. Nyxbloom Ancient: We have no doubt this is a fun “win more” card, but is not close to being competitive.

We have no doubt this is a fun “win more” card, but is not close to being competitive. Athreos, Shroud-Veiled: We never thought cards like Korvold or Kenrith would be staples in a tier one deck, so we won’t rule this card out completely. We still say it will collect dust in your collection!

Rares

Sideboard







Eidolon of Obstruction: A two mana for a 2/1 first strike is not a terrible deal. In comparison to Hushbringer, this card only affects your opponent, so it’s really all upside. You won’t be in a huge rush to craft this one unless the meta calls for it, as there are a plethora of two drops in white that will do a similar job.

A two mana for a 2/1 first strike is not a terrible deal. In comparison to Hushbringer, this card only affects your opponent, so it’s really all upside. You won’t be in a huge rush to craft this one unless the meta calls for it, as there are a plethora of two drops in white that will do a similar job. Heliod’s Intervention: This card does not quite seem good enough for the maindeck but may be useful in sideboards.

This card does not quite seem good enough for the maindeck but may be useful in sideboards. Erebos’s Intervention: This card does not quite seem good enough for the maindeck but may be useful in sideboards.

This card does not quite seem good enough for the maindeck but may be useful in sideboards. The Akroan War: The card is used as a means to break board stalls in creature vs. creature decks but I’m not quite sold on it yet. It may be moved to the Tier D or E category eventually.

The card is used as a means to break board stalls in creature vs. creature decks but I’m not quite sold on it yet. It may be moved to the Tier D or E category eventually. Kunoros, Hound of Athreos: Grafdigger’s Cage on a solid body with a lot of keywords. It’s no Questing Beast, and there are probably more efficient graveyard hate cards, but it seems too good not to see play eventually.

Changelog