Boros (red-white) cards in Magic: The Gathering are often labeled as “aggressive” by default, but that doesn’t mean every Boros card is worth playing in your deck. Whether you’re brewing for Standard, Draft, or Commander, not all red-white spells hit the same.

Some cards speed up the game, others set up clever combat maneuvers, and a handful even challenge Boros’s long-standing image of running out of steam. To determine which new Boros cards deserve your focus in the latest set, you’ll need a keen eye.

Here are four key ways to pick the standouts.

1. It Has to Advance the Board Immediately

Boros doesn’t play the long game unless it absolutely has to. The best Boros cards—especially creatures—either hit the board early or change the combat math the turn they enter. Haste, double strike, enter-the-battlefield damage, or token generation are all green flags. If a card demands setup or has a delayed payoff, it likely isn’t making the cut. Boros wants board presence now, not later.

2. It Synergizes With Combat

Great Boros cards don’t just survive combat—they thrive in it. The best ones reward attacking, blocking smart, or casting spells mid-combat. Look for cards with mentor, battalion, prowess, or trigger-on-attack mechanics. A solid Boros card might not have huge stats, but if it pushes damage or buffs your team when attacking, it’s doing its job. Bonus points for cards that create combat puzzles for your opponent.

3. It Offers Card Advantage or Staying Power

Modern Boros isn’t just about dumping your hand anymore. The best new Boros cards often include built-in ways to stay in the game—impulse draw, graveyard recursion, token engines, or creatures that replace themselves. Cards like Reckless Impulse, or Feather, the Redeemed, show how Boros can maintain momentum without burning out. Don’t sleep on low-cost engines just because they don’t scream aggression.

4. It Has Flexibility or Utility Beyond Combat

To stand out, a Boros card needs to do more than just hit hard. Removal spells with modality, creatures that interact with artifacts or enchantments, or spells that double as protection or reach are all worth a second look. Boros doesn’t often get pure value spells, so when it does, they matter. A two-drop that can attack or remove a blocker, or a four-drop that pumps your team and draws a card? That’s gold.

Final Check: Fast, Focused, and Efficient

When preview season hits, don’t just skim for red-white cards with big numbers. Look for ones that check at least two of these boxes: early impact, combat synergy, card advantage, and utility. The best Boros cards will fuel aggression while covering your weaknesses. If a card looks splashy but doesn’t help you win faster or more reliably, leave it behind. Boros doesn’t need fancy—it needs function, and it needs it now.

Thank you for reading.