Image courtesy of Scryfall.com
Role-playing the Rules at Local Store Events and Drafts
In the cozy chaos of a local game store, every card becomes more than its mana cost and text—it becomes a story hook, a strategy prompt, and a social contract. Decisions, Decisions blends neatly into that vibe. Released with the whimsical Unfinity set, this blue sorcery invites players to peek beyond the top of their library and pick a path based on letters, not just power. It’s the kind of spell that makes a draft room buzz with laughter, side chatter, and quick math about which cards are most likely to appear in the top three. 🧙♂️🔥💎
What the card actually does—and why it matters at a local event
Mana cost {3}{U} kicks off the blue-alchemy vibe: draw-or-bust is a classic, but this spell asks you to think in letters. Reveal the top three cards of your library, then choose a consonant (note that Y counts as a consonant). Put each card that has the chosen letter in the first word of its name from among them into your hand, and move the rest to the bottom of your library in any order. In practice, that means you’re mining for specific first-words—things like Deep, Blue, Counter, or Mystical—that start with the letter you’ve picked. It’s a playful constraint that rewards knowledge, memory, and those “edge-case” pulls that only show up in a draft format. ⚔️🎨
“To B, or not to B.”
This flavor text from the Unfinity card signals the tongue-in-cheek nature of the design. It’s not just about efficiency; it’s about embracing a creative approach to card selection that fits the set’s over-the-top, carnival-ground energy. In a store event, that means players aren’t just racing through their stacks; they’re riffing with friends, debating which consonant will unlock the most surprising hand size that turn. The card is common but wonderfully disruptive in casual play, and that combination—usable enough to draft, quirky enough to cause smiles—makes it a crowd-pleaser. 🧙♂️💎
Draftroom tactics: turning a quirky mechanic into practical value
In a sealed or booster-dage draft, Decisions, Decisions isn’t a guaranteed game-winner by raw numbers. Its strength lies in the information and the dramatic swings it creates. Here are a few store-level play tips that help you maximize its potential in a local format:
- Letter scouting: While you’re wheeling cards during a draft, mentally tag which cards start with consonants that could realistically appear as the “chosen letter.” If your pool includes several first-words that begin with D, B, or N, you’ll have a higher chance of snatching multiple useful cards in a single draw. This is where deckbuilding becomes a linguistic puzzle as well as a tactical one. 🧩
- Top-three planning: Since you only look at the top three, the order you place the rest of your library matters. If you’re aiming for a long game or trying to stash a couple of specific enablers for later turns, you can shape your draws subtly by how you order bottom cards. It’s a small control-lever that shines in a relaxed shop environment with friendly players. 🎲
- Blue tempo and card quality: Expect to pair this spell with other blue cantrips and counterplay. It’s not a traditional “draw more” engine, but it leans into tempo with a targeted hand refill that can outvalue slower opponents who expect your deck to run on pure efficiency. Think bounce, think bounce-into-early-card-draw, and think clever counterplay to keep the flow going. 🧙♂️
- Casual bragging rights: Unfinity’s vibe thrives on memorable moments. If you can reveal a couple of high-utility cards that start with your chosen consonant, you’ll generate a moment that’s perfect for social media posts or a quick recap at the next game night. Your store crew will remember that dip into “the letter pool” long after the draft ends. 🎨
Hosting store events that honor the card’s playful spirit
Staff and organizers can lean into the card’s design with light-hearted events that still respect competitive integrity. Ideas include a “Letter of the Day” draft challenge where participants pick a consonant before each round and score bonus points for hand value generated from cards whose first words begin with that letter. It’s approachable for newcomers and exciting for veterans who love the set’s meta-wackiness. The Unfinity backdrop—artful chaos, carnival vibes, and a gentle nudge toward clever solutions—lends itself to these formats beautifully. And yes, you’ll want to capture the moment with photos, because a table full of players debating letter choices is internet gold. 🧙♂️⚔️
Flavorful consideration: design, lore, and the social fabric of drafts
Decisions, Decisions sits at an intersection of classic blue control and the set’s comedic ethos. The mechanic echoes blue’s love of knowledge and manipulation, but the practical effect is more about social interaction than pure board state domination. In the store environment, that means more conversations at the table—why choose that consonant, what other primero cards exist in your stack, and which first words would you love to pull into your hand? The flavor text—“To B, or not to B”—isn’t just a joke; it’s a reminder that MTG is as much about storytelling as it is about timing and resource management. The card’s artful presentation by Setor Fiadzigbey adds to the conversational atmosphere around the table, making even a gentle misplay feel like part of a larger, shared joke. 🎨
For local stores, the practical takeaways are simple: celebrate the whimsy, encourage strategic thinking, and keep space for casual play. When players feel included and entertained, they come back—not just for the wins, but for the memories created over a few rounds of a charming, letter-based blue spell. And if you’re juggling side-prizes, promos, or a bit of merch, this is the moment to weave in cross-promotions that feel natural. For instance, a stylish way to carry your notes or small decks between matches is with a compact, sturdy accessory — and that’s where a certain Phone Case with Card Holder can become a store favorite. It keeps your hands free, your cards close, and your lore-rich conversations ongoing. 🧙♂️💎
Bringing it all together: a practical playbook for store events
Whether you’re a player who loves puzzles, a judge who adores the social texture of drafts, or a store owner crafting an inviting weekend, Decisions, Decisions offers a delightful anchor for your games. It’s a reminder that MTG’s strength isn’t only in its numbers but in the conversations, the laughs, and the shared moments around the table. So next time you run a draft night or a themed event, invite your players to embrace the letter game, savor the “choose a consonant” constraint, and celebrate the clever pulls that emerge from the top three. And if you’re looking to blend practicality with play—the store vibe you crave and a dash of everyday magic—this combo of card design and community-building is exactly the kind of spark that keeps the floor humming. 🧙♂️🔥
- Encourage players to explain their consonant choices aloud—sound bites become shareable content for your store’s social channels.
- Keep a small whiteboard handy to track which consonants have yielded the strongest results in a given night.
- Offer a light, approachable promo bundle that includes handouts about the card’s mechanic and a few blue staples to help new players test the waters in a friendly environment.