As an avid player of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), I have often been asked, “What is the best MTG color combo?” This is a difficult question to answer because it ultimately depends on personal play style and the current meta. However, in this article, I will explore the different color combinations and provide insights on which ones are generally considered the strongest and why.
To understand which MTG color combo is the best, we first need to understand the philosophy behind MTG colors. Each color represents a different approach to the game, with its own strengths and weaknesses.
For example, white is about order, protection, and life gain, while black is about sacrifice, death, and manipulation. By combining two or more colors, you can create a deck that has a wider range of abilities and strategies.
In this article, we will explore the different two-color, three-color, four-color, and five-color combinations, and explain their strengths and weaknesses. We will also provide tips on how to build a deck using these color combinations, as well as key strategies and tactics to employ during gameplay.
By the end of this article, you should have a better understanding of which MTG color combo is the best for you and your play style.
Key Takeaways – Best MTG Color Combo
- Understanding the philosophy behind MTG colors is crucial in determining the best color combo.
- Two-color combinations are the most common and offer a balanced approach to gameplay.
- Three-color combinations offer more versatility and flexibility, but can be harder to manage.
Understanding MTG Color Philosophy
Magic: The Gathering is a collectible card game that revolves around five colors, each with its own philosophy, strengths, and weaknesses. Understanding the color philosophy is essential to build a successful deck and win games.
In this section, I will explain the MTG color pie and the meanings behind each color, as well as their strengths and weaknesses.
The Color Pie and Its Meanings
The MTG color pie represents the five colors of magic, each with its own personality and philosophy. Here is a brief overview of each color and its meanings:
| Color | Personality | Philosophy |
|---|---|---|
| White | Orderly | Peace through structure |
| Blue | Analytical | Mastery and control |
| Black | Ambitious | Power at any cost |
| Red | Impulsive | Freedom and chaos |
| Green | Instinctive | Harmony with nature |
White cards focus on creating a structured environment and maintaining order. Blue cards prioritize knowledge and control, seeking to outsmart opponents. Black cards prioritize power and ambition, often at the cost of others. Red cards seek freedom and expression, embracing chaos. Finally, green cards prioritize harmony with nature and instinctive growth.
Strengths and Weaknesses of Each Color – Best MTG Color Combo
Each color has its own strengths and weaknesses, making them unique in their own way. Here is a brief overview of the strengths and weaknesses of each color:
White
Strengths:
- Excellent at creating a stable board state
- Great at removing creatures and artifacts
- Can gain life and prevent damage
Weaknesses:
- Limited card draw and ramp
- Weak to board wipes and mass removal
- Lack of direct damage spells
Blue
Strengths:
- Great at card draw and card selection
- Excellent at countering spells and controlling the board
- Can bounce creatures and permanents back to hand
Weaknesses:
- Weak creatures and combat abilities
- Limited direct damage spells
- Vulnerable to non-creature threats
Black
Strengths:
- Excellent at destroying creatures and discarding cards
- Can drain life from opponents and gain life for itself
- Strong removal and board wipes
Weaknesses:
- Limited enchantment and artifact removal
- Vulnerable to exile effects
- Can hurt itself in exchange for power
Red
Strengths:
- Excellent at direct damage and burn spells
- Great at hasty creatures and fast damage
- Can destroy artifacts and lands
Weaknesses:
- Limited card draw and selection
- Lack of creature removal
- Vulnerable to board wipes and mass removal
Green
Strengths:
- Great at ramp and mana acceleration
- Excellent at creature growth and large creatures
- Can destroy enchantments and artifacts
Weaknesses:
- Limited card draw and selection
- Vulnerable to flying creatures and evasion
- Lack of direct damage spells
| Color | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
| White | Excellent at creating a stable board state, great at removing creatures and artifacts, can gain life and prevent damage | Limited card draw and ramp, weak to board wipes and mass removal, lack of direct damage spells |
| Blue | Great at card draw and card selection, excellent at countering spells and controlling the board, can bounce creatures and permanents back to hand | Weak creatures and combat abilities, limited direct damage spells, vulnerable to non-creature threats |
| Black | Excellent at destroying creatures and discarding cards, can drain life from opponents and gain life for itself, strong removal and board wipes | Limited enchantment and artifact removal, vulnerable to exile effects, can hurt itself in exchange for power |
| Red | Excellent at direct damage and burn spells, great at hasty creatures and fast damage, can destroy artifacts and lands | Limited card draw and selection, lack of creature removal, vulnerable to board wipes and mass removal |
| Green | Great at ramp and mana acceleration, excellent at creature growth and large creatures, can destroy enchantments and artifacts | Limited card draw and selection, vulnerable to flying creatures and evasion, lack of direct damage spells |
Exploring Two-Color Combinations
When it comes to two-color combinations in MTG, there are two types: Allied Color Pairs and Enemy Color Pairs. Each of these pairs has its own unique strengths and weaknesses, making them suitable for different playstyles and strategies.
Allied Color Pairs
Allied Color Pairs are two colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. These pairs tend to work well together because they share similar attributes and can complement each other’s strengths. Here are some examples of Allied Color Pairs:
- Boros (Red/White): This color combination is known for its aggressive playstyle and has a focus on creatures and direct damage spells.
- Selesnya (Green/White): This color combination has a focus on creature tokens and life gain, making it a great choice for players who want to build a strong board presence.
- Simic (Green/Blue): This color combination has a focus on creature buffs and card draw, making it a great choice for players who want to build a deck around a specific creature or archetype.
- Gruul (Red/Green): This color combination has a focus on creature ramp and direct damage spells, making it a great choice for players who want to build a deck around big, powerful creatures.
Enemy Color Pairs
Enemy Color Pairs are two colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel. These pairs tend to have conflicting attributes, but can still work well together if built correctly. Here are some examples of Enemy Color Pairs:
- Azorius (White/Blue): This color combination has a focus on control and tempo, making it a great choice for players who want to slow down their opponents and control the board.
- Izzet (Blue/Red): This color combination has a focus on spellcasting and direct damage, making it a great choice for players who want to build a deck around powerful spells and abilities.
- Golgari (Black/Green): This color combination has a focus on creature recursion and graveyard play, making it a great choice for players who want to build a deck around a specific creature or archetype.
- Orzhov (White/Black): This color combination has a focus on life gain and creature removal, making it a great choice for players who want to control the board and outlast their opponents.
The Power of Three-Color Combinations
As an experienced Magic: The Gathering player, I can confidently say that three-color combinations are some of the most powerful and versatile in the game. These combinations, also known as shards or wedges, allow players to access a wide range of spells and creatures, making them a great choice for both beginners and seasoned players alike.
Shards of Alara
The shards of Alara are three-color combinations that were first introduced in the Shards of Alara set. Each shard consists of three colors that are adjacent to each other on the Magic color wheel. The five shards are:
- Esper (white, blue, black)
- Grixis (blue, black, red)
- Jund (black, red, green)
- Naya (red, green, white)
- Bant (green, white, blue)
Esper, for example, is a powerful combination that allows players to control the board with a mix of removal spells and counterspells. Grixis, on the other hand, is a more aggressive combination that focuses on dealing damage quickly and efficiently. Each shard has its own unique playstyle, making them all worth exploring.
Khans of Tarkir Wedges
The Khans of Tarkir set introduced another set of three-color combinations known as wedges. Unlike the shards, the wedges consist of three colors that are not adjacent to each other on the color wheel. The five wedges are:
- Abzan (white, black, green)
- Jeskai (blue, red, white)
- Sultai (black, green, blue)
- Mardu (red, white, black)
- Temur (green, blue, red)
Abzan, for example, is a combination that focuses on using creatures with powerful abilities to control the board. Jeskai, on the other hand, is a more spell-focused combination that utilizes a mix of instants and sorceries to control the game. As with the shards, each wedge has its own unique playstyle that is worth exploring.
Navigating Four-Color Combinations
When it comes to MTG color combos, four-color combinations can be tricky to navigate. These combinations were first introduced with the Nephilim creatures in the original Ravnica block, and have since been expanded upon with the Glint, Dune, and Witch cards. Each of these combinations has its own unique strengths and weaknesses, making them a popular choice for players looking to create a unique and challenging deck.
The Nephilim and Yore
The Nephilim were the first four-color creatures introduced in MTG, and they remain a popular choice for players looking to create a four-color deck. These creatures were first introduced in the original Ravnica block, and they have since become a staple of the format.
The Nephilim are unique in that they have a color identity that includes all four colors of their combination, which means that they can be used in any deck that includes those colors.
One of the most popular four-color combinations is Yore. This combination includes white, blue, black, and green, and it is known for its versatility and flexibility. Yore decks can be built in a variety of ways, from control to aggro to combo, and they are often used in Commander decks.
Commander Deck Considerations
When building a four-color Commander deck, there are a few things to keep in mind.
First, it’s important to choose a commander that fits the theme of the deck. For example, if you’re building a Yore deck that focuses on control, you might choose a commander like [[Yore-Tiller Nephilim]] or [[Atraxa, Praetors’ Voice]].
Another consideration when building a four-color Commander deck is color identity. Your commander’s color identity determines which cards you can include in your deck, so choose a commander that allows you to include the cards you want to play. For example, if you want to include black and green cards in your Yore deck, you’ll need to choose a commander that includes those colors.
Mastering the Five-Color Deck
As a Magic: The Gathering player, I have always been fascinated with the five-color deck. It is a unique and challenging color combination that requires careful consideration of mana sources and card selection.
In this section, I will share some of my insights into mastering the five-color deck.
Challenges and Strategies
One of the biggest challenges of a five-color deck is mana fixing. With access to all five colors, it can be difficult to ensure that you have the right mana sources at the right time.
To overcome this challenge, I recommend including a variety of lands that can produce multiple colors of mana, such as the tri-lands from Alara block. Additionally, cards like Chromatic Lantern can help to fix your mana and allow you to cast spells of any color.
Another strategy for a successful five-color deck is to focus on a specific theme or strategy.
For example, a five-color dragon deck can use cards like Dragon’s Hoard and Sarkhan, Fireblood to ramp and draw into powerful dragons. Meanwhile, a five-color control deck can use cards like Supreme Verdict and Sphinx’s Revelation to control the board and draw more cards.
Famous Five-Color Decks
There have been many famous five-color decks throughout Magic: The Gathering history. One of the most iconic is the “Five-Color Control” deck played by Brian Kibler at the 2008 World Championships.
This deck used powerful cards like Cryptic Command and Wrath of God to control the board, and finished off opponents with cards like Ajani Vengeant and Cruel Ultimatum.
Another famous five-color deck is the “Scapeshift” deck played by Valentin Mackl at the 2018 World Championships. This deck used the card Scapeshift to sacrifice lands and search for Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle and other Mountains, dealing massive damage to opponents in a single turn.
Deck Building Essentials
When building an MTG deck, there are a few essential factors to consider to ensure that your deck is well-rounded and effective. In this section, I will discuss two of the most critical aspects of deck building: mana base and curve, and card advantage and tempo.
Mana Base and Curve
The mana base is the foundation of any MTG deck. It is essential to ensure that you have enough mana sources to play your spells consistently.
A good rule of thumb is to have around 24 lands in your deck, but this can vary depending on your deck’s curve.
The curve of your deck refers to the distribution of spell costs in your deck. A well-balanced curve will have a mix of low-cost spells that you can play early in the game and high-cost spells that can help you close out the game.
It is crucial to ensure that your curve is balanced to avoid getting stuck with too many high-cost spells in your hand early in the game.
Card Advantage and Tempo
Card advantage and tempo are two critical concepts in MTG.
Card advantage refers to having more cards in your hand or on the battlefield than your opponent. This can be achieved through spells that draw cards or create tokens.
Tempo, on the other hand, refers to the pace of the game. A deck with good tempo can control the pace of the game and keep their opponent on the back foot.
To ensure that your deck has good card advantage and tempo, it is essential to include spells that draw cards and remove your opponent’s creatures. It is also crucial to ensure that your deck has a good mix of spells that can help you control the pace of the game.
Key Strategies and Tactics
As a seasoned Magic: The Gathering player, I have found that the best MTG color combo is one that has a balance of control, removal, and aggressive plays.
In this section, I will discuss some key strategies and tactics that will help you achieve victory with your MTG color combo.
Control and Removal
Control and removal spells are essential in any MTG deck. They allow you to dictate the pace of the game and keep your opponent’s threats in check.
Blue and black are the best colors for control and removal spells. Blue has counterspells that can stop your opponent’s spells from resolving, while black has destruction spells that can remove creatures and other permanents from the board.
In addition to control and removal spells, flying creatures are also an effective way to control the board. Creatures with flying can easily bypass ground-based blockers and deal damage directly to your opponent. White and blue are the best colors for flying creatures.
Aggressive and Combo Plays
Aggressive and combo plays are another important aspect of any MTG deck.
Red and green are the best colors for aggressive and combo plays. Red has direct damage spells that can deal damage to your opponent or their creatures, while green has creature buffs that can make your creatures more powerful.
Tempo plays are also effective in aggressive and combo decks. Tempo plays involve playing spells that disrupt your opponent’s game plan while advancing your own.
Blue is the best color for tempo plays, with bounce spells that can return your opponent’s creatures to their hand and card draw spells that can keep your hand full.
Lore and Flavor of Color Combinations
As an avid player of Magic: The Gathering, I have always been fascinated by the lore and flavor of the game’s color combinations. Each color has its own ideology, character archetypes, and creatures that make it unique.
In this section, I will delve deeper into the lore and flavor of the different color combinations in MTG.
Guilds and Their Ideologies
The guilds of Ravnica are a perfect example of how each color combination has its own ideology. There are ten guilds in Ravnica, each with its own unique philosophy and approach to life.
The Azorius Senate, for example, is a blue-white guild that values law and order above all else. The Golgari Swarm, on the other hand, is a black-green guild that embraces death and decay as a natural part of life.
The guilds of Ravnica were formed as part of the Guildpact, a magical agreement that brought peace to the plane of Ravnica. Each guild has its own set of responsibilities and duties, and they work together to maintain the balance of power on the plane. The guilds are also in a constant struggle for dominance, with each one trying to gain the upper hand.
Character Archetypes and Creatures
In addition to their ideologies, each color combination has its own set of character archetypes and creatures.
Warriors and soldiers are common in red-white decks, while humans and angels are prevalent in white decks. Blue decks often feature sphinxes and other creatures with high intelligence, while black decks are known for their reanimation abilities.
The shards of Alara and wedges are other examples of how color combinations can influence the flavor of a deck.
The shards of Alara are three-color combinations that were formed after the plane of Alara was shattered into five shards. The wedges, on the other hand, are three-color combinations that consist of an allied pair of colors and their enemy color.
Related Reading: Best MTG Color Combo
Exploring the Top MTG Color Combinations – Dive into the strategic depth of MTG’s color dynamics, highlighting the top combinations for competitive play.
Comprehensive Guide to MTG Color Combos – Unpack the intricacies of MTG’s color combos with insights on building a winning deck.
Decoding MTG Color Combos – Explore the lore and strategy behind the names of MTG’s color combinations.
Mastering MTG Tri-Color Pairings – A strategic guide to crafting powerful decks with MTG’s tri-color pairings.
Magic Colors Guide: Understanding Combinations – Delve into the philosophies and strategies of MTG’s color schemes for better gameplay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which two-color pairings are considered most powerful in MTG?
When it comes to two-color pairings, there are several that are considered to be the most powerful in MTG. The most popular and effective ones are:
- Dimir (Blue-Black): This color combination is known for its control and manipulation abilities. It is often used in control decks that aim to disrupt the opponent’s strategy and win through a slow but steady approach.
- Azorius (White-Blue): Azorius is a color combination that focuses on defense and control. It is often used in control decks that aim to stall the game and win through card advantage and incremental damage.
- Golgari (Black-Green): Golgari is a color combination that focuses on graveyard recursion and creature sacrifice. It is often used in midrange and aggro decks that aim to overwhelm the opponent with powerful creatures.
What are the top three-color combinations in MTG for competitive play?
There are many three-color combinations in MTG, but the most popular and effective ones are:
- Jund (Black-Red-Green): Jund is a color combination that focuses on aggression and removal. It is often used in midrange and aggro decks that aim to deal a lot of damage quickly and disrupt the opponent’s strategy.
- Esper (White-Blue-Black): Esper is a color combination that focuses on control and card advantage. It is often used in control decks that aim to stall the game and win through card advantage and incremental damage.
- Bant (White-Blue-Green): Bant is a color combination that focuses on defense and creature synergy. It is often used in midrange and control decks that aim to outlast the opponent and win through incremental damage.
How do different color combinations impact playstyle in MTG?
Different color combinations in MTG have different strengths and weaknesses, which impact playstyle.
For example:
- Red: Red is a color that focuses on aggression and direct damage.
- Decks that use this color are often fast and aggressive, aiming to deal a lot of damage quickly.
- Blue: Blue is a color that focuses on control and manipulation.
- Decks that use this color are often slow and defensive, aiming to disrupt the opponent’s strategy and win through card advantage.
- Black: Black is a color that focuses on sacrifice and graveyard recursion.
- Decks that use this color are often midrange or aggro, aiming to overwhelm the opponent with powerful creatures and spells.
- Green: Green is a color that focuses on creature synergy and ramp.
- Decks that use this color are often midrange or control, aiming to outlast the opponent and win through incremental damage.
What are the most successful color combos in MTG Commander format?
MTG Commander format is a bit different from other formats, as it allows players to use any color combination. However, there are some color combinations that are more successful than others. The most popular and effective ones are:
- Sultai (Black-Blue-Green): Sultai is a color combination that focuses on control and graveyard recursion.
- It is often used in control decks that aim to disrupt the opponent’s strategy and win through card advantage and incremental damage.
- Jeskai (White-Blue-Red): Jeskai is a color combination that focuses on control and direct damage.
- It is often used in control decks that aim to disrupt the opponent’s strategy and win through card advantage and incremental damage.
- Naya (Red-Green-White): Naya is a color combination that focuses on creature synergy and aggression.
- It is often used in aggro decks that aim to overwhelm the opponent with powerful creatures and spells.
How are MTG color combinations ranked in terms of synergy and strength?
MTG color combinations are ranked based on their synergy and strength. The most powerful and synergistic color combinations are:
- Blue-Black: This color combination has a lot of control and manipulation abilities, making it very strong in control decks.
- White-Blue: This color combination has a lot of defense and control abilities, making it very strong in control decks.
- Black-Green: This color combination has a lot of graveyard recursion and creature sacrifice abilities, making it very strong in midrange and aggro decks.
Which MTG color combinations are generally seen as the weakest?
While all MTG color combinations have their strengths and weaknesses, some are generally seen as weaker than others.
The weakest MTG color combinations are:
- Red-White: This color combination is often too aggressive and lacks control abilities. This makes it weak in control decks.
- Blue-Red: This color combination is often too focused on direct damage and lacks defense abilities. This makes it weak in control decks.
- Green-White: This color combination
