If you’re heading into a Magic: the Gathering Edge of Eternities draft and see the white-black Orzhov cards floating your way, you might just be sitting on one of the most reliable paths to victory in the set. Orzhov isn’t flashy at first glance—no massive haymakers that scream “game over” the moment they hit the battlefield—but that’s exactly what makes it so deadly. This archetype thrives on subtle, grinding efficiency, wearing opponents down until they have no good plays left and every turn feels like quicksand.

Drafting Orzhov in Edge of Eternities is all about leaning into its signature game plan: grindy value backed by efficient removal and incremental life gain. As a competitive player, I approach this color pair with a focus on staying alive early, controlling the board midgame, and pulling ahead through card advantage and synergy. Orzhov in this set rewards patient, disciplined play—it’s not here to win in a flurry of aggression, but to choke the opponent’s resources and stabilize into inevitability.

1. Prioritize Premium Removal Early

In Edge of Eternities, Orzhov has access to some of the best removal in the format, including unconditional kill spells and efficient exile effects. I draft these highly, even over some solid creatures, because removal is the backbone of Orzhov’s strategy. Having answers to bombs and evasive threats keeps you in the game until your own late-game cards can take over. If you don’t have enough removal, you risk losing to a single threat you can’t answer.

2. Lean Into Life Gain Synergies

One of Orzhov’s unique strengths in this set is its life gain payoff package. Cards that trigger extra effects when you gain life—whether it’s creating tokens, draining opponents, or drawing cards—can quickly turn small life swings into overwhelming board states. The trick is to draft a balance of life gain enablers and payoff cards so you’re not stuck with one without the other. In the right build, every combat step and incidental heal becomes a value engine.

3. Value Durable, Utility Creatures

Unlike aggressive decks that prioritize raw power, Orzhov thrives on creatures that provide value over time or impact the game when they enter the battlefield. Draft creatures with built-in lifelink, death triggers, or defensive stats that stall aggressive starts. In Edge of Eternities, some of the best Orzhov creatures are those that hold back early attackers while advancing your long-term plan, that is, forcing your opponent to commit more threats into your removal.

4. Play the Long Game With Card Advantage

Orzhov’s win condition often isn’t a single bomb, but an accumulation of small advantages that snowball over many turns. Cards that generate tokens, recur from the graveyard, or drain life each turn fit perfectly into this strategy. When drafting, I always aim for at least a couple of repeatable advantage engines—things that keep giving you value as the game drags on. Against slower decks, this lets you win without overextending into board wipes.

Drafting Orzhov in Edge of Eternities means embracing patience and resource management. You’re not racing to deal 20 damage as fast as possible—you’re wearing down your opponent’s options, locking up the board, and turning every life point and token into a step toward victory. In the right hands, Orzhov becomes one of the most frustrating archetypes to face, because it doesn’t just win—it smothers.

Thanks for reading!

Critical Hit’s owner Johann recently contacted me about his plan to hold a Guilds of Ravnica Booster draft with additional prizes for the players. He said that he still has a few boxes to dispose of before the second set, Ravnica Allegiance arrives in January. I asked him to also contact Ace about the plan and to make the announcement on his store’s Facebook page.

The registration fee would be a little higher than usual but the players get to keep the rares that they drafted, unlike the previous method of drafting them after the 3 rounds. The first-place winner will also get an exclusive promo foil card. The set draft schedule started last Monday but I don’t think that one pushed through because of the lack of participants. Hopefully this coming Thursday or Friday there will be 8 players available.

For the event details of the booster draft, you can check it in our MTG Iloilo groups or on the Critical Hit: Comics and Games Facebook page. You can sign up there directly by sending them a message.