Playing first in Magic: the Gathering is crucial especially if you are piloting an aggro deck as Red Deck Wins and Suicide Black. The term “aggro curve” is really important for the archetype to be consistent in the explosive one-two-three punch in their first three turns, and often catching opponents off-guard.

In Magic: The Gathering, playing first (also known as being on the play) has a few potential benefits:

Tempo advantage: Playing first allows you to play your cards before your opponent does, giving you a potential tempo advantage. You can start attacking or building up your board presence earlier, putting pressure on your opponent to react. Best example is a Turn-1 Llanowar Elf or Birds of Paradise which lets you ramp into your best three-drop card or creature.

Card advantage: If you play a card with a draw effect, like “Draw a card” or “Scry 1,” you’ll get to draw a card before your opponent has a chance to play a card and potentially disrupt your plans.

Initiative advantage: By playing first, you can dictate the pace of the game and force your opponent to react to your moves. This can be especially useful if you have a strong opening hand or if your opponent is playing a slow or reactive deck.

Of course, playing first isn’t always advantageous, and there are times when playing second (being on the draw) can be more beneficial. For example, if you have a lot of reactive cards in your hand, like counterspells or removal spells, playing second allows you to wait for your opponent to make the first move before you start using them. Ultimately, the decision of whether to play first or second depends on the specifics of the game and the decks being played.