Choose a clear way to win

Write the plan in one sentence

Start with a win condition. Say what will let your deck win. A useful sentence is: “I will build a board early, keep it in play, and use it to deal the last damage.”

You can also plan to stop early attacks, save cards, and win later. Compare the aggro guide, control guide, and combo guide to see how each plan changes the jobs your cards need to do. The deck types guide can help you name the plan. A name is a starting point. It does not choose all the cards for you.

Give the plan three steps

Describe what your deck does at the start, in the middle, and near the end. Use actions you can check during a game.

For an imaginary board deck, those steps could be:

1. Play useful low-cost minions.
2. Remove enemy blockers while keeping your minions alive.
3. Make another board if the first one is cleared, then finish with attacks.

Ask what happens when the other player stops one step. If a board clear leaves you with no next play, your plan needs a way to recover.

Choose a class that supports it

Read the class guides. Look for tools that match the jobs you need. Check cards you already own before building around cards you would have to craft.

Use cards allowed by the live Standard deck builder and this site's selected card pool. Read the full text of any card your plan depends on.

Set one goal for the first draft

Write one question you want real games to answer. For example: “Can I keep making useful threats after my first board is removed?”

Avoid trying to cover every possible enemy deck at once. You have limited deck space. A second way to win should share cards with the main plan when it can. Two separate plans may both miss the support they need.

Keep your one-sentence plan beside your card list. When a card seems exciting, ask which step it helps. If you cannot say, leave it out of the first draft.