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Draft Timing: When to Prioritize Strict Proctor in MTG
White is not always about simply beating face in Strixhaven: School of Mages; it’s about tempo, value, and careful management of the battlefield. Strict Proctor steps into the scene as a curious blend of wings and willpower: a 1/3 flyer for {1}{W} with a taxes-the-ETB-touches-everything drawback. In limited, that combination can tilt the pacing of a game in your favor, or at least derail an opponent’s carefully laid plan. If you’re drafting with an eye toward controlling the flow of the battlefield while still staying true to your white midrange or control shell, Strict Proctor deserves a good look. 🧙🔥💎⚔️
What Strict Proctor Does
- Creature type and stat line: Creature — Spirit Cleric with flying, a modest 1/3 body, and a mana cost of {1}{W}. This makes it a credible early drop that can pressure the air and help you stabilize the early game.
- Key ability: “Whenever a permanent entering causes a triggered ability to trigger, counter that ability unless its controller pays {2}.” In other words, any ETB trigger that would go off as a permanent enters the battlefield gets taxed by the presence of this Proctor. If your opponent wants to proliferate ETB effects, they’ll need to invest extra mana. If they don’t, you’ve bought a moment of disruption. 🧙♂️
- Rarity and set: Rare from Strixhaven: School of Mages (STX). In draft, rares can anchor a deck’s plan and offer powerful, game-defining plays when you can protect them or leverage them over the course of a game.
Why It Shines in Strixhaven Limited
Strixhaven’s limited environment leans into a lot of on-curve play, and a flying 1-drop or near-2-drop with a taxation twist can warp the way opponents deploy ETB effects. White often finds itself deploying evasive threats and resilient blockers; a flyer with a built-in tax engine adds a layer of strategic depth. The card’s ability interacts notably with any permanent entering the battlefield—creatures, artifacts, enchantments, or even lands with enters-the-battlefield effects. If you’re faced with a board full of ETB triggers—tokens that explode, auras that attach, or land-based mana rocks entering for ramp—Strict Proctor can force your opponent into a high arithmetic trap: pay up or lose the trigger. That decision point is where a lot of limited games swing. 🧩
In your lanes, you’ll often see this card shine when paired with a robust white curve and enough removal to keep the board clear while you pressure with flyers. It’s not a standalone finisher; rather, it’s a tempo anchor that buys you turns to deploy your big spells or key cleansing effects. When you draft around it, you’ll look to pick up a mix of efficient 2- and 3-drops that complement a tax-heavy plan and cards that reward you for having a stable battlefield. The Strixhaven flavor—mages, learning, and precise study—lends itself to a strategic, measured approach to the game, and Strict Proctor embodies that ethos with a wry wink. 🎨
Draft Timing: Early vs. Late Picks
So, when should you prioritize Strict Proctor in your booster-driven journey through Strixhaven? Here are practical guidelines to help you decide at the table:
- Early pick value: If you’re seeing a strong white signal in packs—especially a density of low-cost, evasive threats and ETB-heavy roles—locking in a dependable disruptive creature early pays dividends. A paid {2} to counter a big ETB can decisively swing a game if you’re already on the front foot. This is particularly true in a format where players lean on repetitive ETB triggers for value. Grab it when you’re confident you’ll see enough white cards to support a tempo–control shell. 🧙🔥
- Mid-to-late pick tradeoffs: If the pack is crowded with removal or if you sense a ramp or token-reliant deck coming together, Strict Proctor can still be worth a pick later in the draft—especially if you’re short on early flying pressure. Its mana cost is friendly for a two-color strategy, and its resilience (thanks to flying and the inevitability of a tax) means it’s not going to be worthless on a stalled board.
- Deck pairing: It pairs nicely with white removal, anthem effects, and cards that stop or slow opponents’ ETB lines of play. If your deck includes a number of ETB triggers from your own side, you’ll want to weigh the benefits of tax vs. triggering considerations for both players. In short: feel good about taking it when you’re leaning white and anticipate a format rich with ETB opportunities. ⚔️
- Red, blue, and colorless matchups: Against aggressive red decks or decks that rely on instant-speed ETB tactics, Strict Proctor can give you a tempo edge by forcing opponents to pay extra to realize their gore of value. In slower, more controlling matchups, you’ll use it to protect your plan and tax the opponent’s attempts to chain effects. The card’s strategic diversity is one of its biggest strengths. 🧙♂️
Practical Play Patterns to Exploit
Beyond the curve, the real trick is recognizing when to deploy Strict Proctor for maximum impact. Here are concrete patterns to consider at the table:
- Protect your own ETB engines: If you’re running a deck that relies on your own ETB triggers (for value or token generation), keep Strict Proctor on the board to threaten tax on your opponent’s triggers while your own triggers still resolve. It’s a subtle dance, but the payoff can be significant when you’re applying pressure while maintaining control. 🧙♀️
- Tempo vs. value decisions: In early turns, decide whether paying {2} to dodge a critical ETB effect is worth it to preserve tempo. If the trigger would swing the board in your opponent’s favor, paying may be worth it; if not, you might pivot to more aggressive plays that push you ahead before the tax becomes a real obstacle. 💎
- Board state awareness: If you’re facing a board full of permanents with strong ETB lines, Strict Proctor can swing the pace by muting those effects. However, if your opponent’s deck has minimal ETB triggers, you may want to shift toward more traditional white threats or proven removal. Reading the table is as important as reading the text box. 🎲
Market Reality: Value and Collectibility
Strict Proctor is a rare in Strixhaven, and while the current market price sits as a practical consideration, its true value often lies in its functionality in draft rooms and casual games. The card’s foil and non-foil variations add extra flair for collectors who love a white-themed, flight-capable defender with a mind for taxation. If you’re building a sweet Strixhaven draft deck or want to spice up your LGS games, this rare provides a reliable, on-theme option that can tip the scales when the draft becomes a tug-of-war over triggered abilities. 🧙♂️💎
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Final Thoughts
In the end, Strict Proctor isn’t just a stat line and a reminder about tax narratives; it’s a thoughtful tool for shaping the pace of a Strixhaven draft. Its flying body gives you a resilient clock to pressure your opponent, while its taxation on ETB triggers challenges the other side to innovate or pay up. If you enjoy a measured approach to winning—where tempo, disruption, and careful timing intersect—this card can be a standout pick in a white-inflected Strixhaven deck. The format rewards players who can spot the subtle moments when paying 2 is worth it to extinguish a massive ETB chain, while preserving your own game plan. 🧙🔥