Basically I've come to realize that the best strategy isn't to just jam as many 1-one drops as possible in aggro. The only exception might be red aggro, because in red you have plenty of burn to finish the opponent off.
However in Mono W and B, I rarely play more than 3-4 1-one drops and focus more on 2, 3, 4 and even one or two 5-CMC cards. My issue with jamming lots of 1-drops is you get brick walled easily by a turn 2 signet into some 4 drop that is impossible to beat with solely 1-drops and perhaps some 2-drop.
This way, increasing the curve slightly, I've found to have more success. You certainly still want some 1-drops for curve purposes though.
I find both black and white have access to the best removal so keeping a low curve is still able to beat out an ahead of curve midrange blocker in a lot of instances, though I find that they do tend to curve higher on average compared the mono red. Adanto vanguard, seasoned hallowblade, and thalia, heretic cathar are white's big time beaters in my cube. Black also has the recursive threats like bloodsoaked champion which combined with things like judith, the scourge diva negates a lot of the drawback of getting blocked by midrange threats.
Red has cards that can get in for damage despite blockers with all the burn, and things like hellrider, sulfuric vortex, etc. So in these instances I also like to keep a high number of 1 drops, around 5 or 6.
recently had a game where soul-scar mage was able to shrink a 5 power hydroid krasis with an exerted glorybringer which was a really cool interaction. So depending what you are playing for 1 drops, even they can contribute to beating out chunky blockers.
Yeah, I'd say that's basically right. I mean, the best way to draft aggro is to draft the deck that's open, that way you get everything. Aggro is much worse when you're competing with someone for picks. But as far as pick order goes for me for sending the best signals, I'd say:
Red
1. Wheel of Fortune
2. One-drops
3. Burn Spells
4. Rabblemasters
White
1. Thalia Guardian of Thraben
2. Swords to Plowshares/Path to Exile
3. Brimaz
4. Mother of Runes/Giver of Runes
Black
1. Recurring Nightmare/Griselbrand
2. Dark Confidant
3. Necropotence
4. Thoughtseize/Smuggler's Copter/Pack Rat
I still want 5 or 6 one-drops in black and white, but it's less of a priority than it is in red.
However in Mono W and B, I rarely play more than 3-4 1-one drops and focus more on 2, 3, 4 and even one or two 5-CMC cards. My issue with jamming lots of 1-drops is you get brick walled easily by a turn 2 signet into some 4 drop that is impossible to beat with solely 1-drops and perhaps some 2-drop.
This way, increasing the curve slightly, I've found to have more success. You certainly still want some 1-drops for curve purposes though.
How do you draft aggro?
Red has cards that can get in for damage despite blockers with all the burn, and things like hellrider, sulfuric vortex, etc. So in these instances I also like to keep a high number of 1 drops, around 5 or 6.
recently had a game where soul-scar mage was able to shrink a 5 power hydroid krasis with an exerted glorybringer which was a really cool interaction. So depending what you are playing for 1 drops, even they can contribute to beating out chunky blockers.
Red
1. Wheel of Fortune
2. One-drops
3. Burn Spells
4. Rabblemasters
White
1. Thalia Guardian of Thraben
2. Swords to Plowshares/Path to Exile
3. Brimaz
4. Mother of Runes/Giver of Runes
Black
1. Recurring Nightmare/Griselbrand
2. Dark Confidant
3. Necropotence
4. Thoughtseize/Smuggler's Copter/Pack Rat
I still want 5 or 6 one-drops in black and white, but it's less of a priority than it is in red.
[180 classic cube]