Understand aggro, tempo, midrange, control, and combo

The main plans

• Aggro tries to win early with pressure and damage. It can still trade to protect later damage.
• Token decks make many small minions. Buffs can turn them into a big threat.
• Tempo tries to stay ahead on the board. It plays threats while dealing with the enemy's plays.
• Midrange uses solid minions and changes its plan with the matchup. It may attack a slow deck and defend against a fast one.
• Control answers threats and aims to win later. It still needs a way to end the game.
• Combo uses cards together for a strong effect. The combo does not always win in one turn. Other decks may try to stop it or win first.

These labels can overlap. A deck may use more than one plan.

Find what the plan needs

Look at cards that draw, make new cards, protect minions, lower costs, or remove threats. Ask how each one helps the deck's main plan.

This also helps you choose which starting cards to keep. A good opening hand supports your plan in that matchup.

Your job can change

An aggro deck may need to defend against an even faster deck. Its usual label does not change, but its job in this game does.

For any deck, write down its usual way to win, its weakest stage, and its backup plan. Use the deck archetypes overview to compare the plans. Then choose a winning plan and give your cards jobs that support it.