A new Standard is upon us with the return of opening weekend Standard opens by StarCityGames (Thank you!) at Indianapolis. Now that we have some results, let’s look at what will be successful in Standard going forward.
Ravnica Allegiance has widely increased the power level of all colors with almost the same mana base as Innistrad/Return to Ravnica Standard. If history is to repeat itself we will be looking at a Standard metagame full of aggressive two-color decks and midrange/control three-color decks. The Standard Open in Indianapolis was dominated by three-color decks, but today I want to highlight some aggressive decks that may have slipped below the radar.
Mono Red
Mono Red by maxxattack
| Creatures (16) 4 Ghitu Lavarunner 4 Runaway Steam-Kin 4 Viashino Pyromancer 4 Goblin Chainwhirler Spells (22) 4 Shock 4 Lightning Strike 4 Light Up the Stage 2 Skewer the Critics 4 Wizard’s Lightning 4 Experimental Frenzy | Lands (22) 22 Mountain Sideboard (15) 3 Fiery Cannonade 2 Fight with Fire 4 Lava Coil 3 Treasure Map 2 Banefire 1 Mountain |
It turns out that all you need to register is a bunch of bolts and a bunch of mountains. While Skewer the Critics is the namesake bolt that has piqued everyone’s interest, the card I’m excited about is Light up the Stage. For the low cost of a single red mana, you can plan out your next turn in advance, play lands, and end up massively ahead on both tempo and card advantage. Mono Red wins by taking the initiative against you and never letting go. Light Up the Stage plays right into that strategy.
None of the Mono Red players broke into the top 8 of the SCG Open, but a few came close. It may be that adding a second color will push red aggro back into the top tier.
Azorius Benalia
Azorius Aggro by Max Magnuson
| Creatures (29) 4 Snubhorn Sentry 4 Hunted Witness 1 Healer’s Hawk 4 Tithe Taker 4 Dauntless Bodyguard 4 Benalish Marshal 4 Deputy of Detention 4 Venerated Loxodon Spells (10) 4 History of Benalia 4 Legion’s Landing 1 Conclave Tribunal 1 Unbreakable Formation | Lands (21) 4 Hallowed Fountain 4 Glacial Fortress 13 Plains Sideboard (15) 3 Tocatli Honor Guard 3 Ajani, Adversary of Tyrants 3 Negate 2 Spell Pierce 3 Baffling End 1 Island |
Here’s an example of a new guild from Ravnica Allegiance sliding into a preexisting archetype. Max Magnuson finished third in the SCG Indianapolis Standard Open amid the sea of three-color midrange decks. History of Benalia defined the metagame at Pro Tour Guilds of Ravnica, and it looks like it can adapt for a new metagame. Ravnica Allegiance offers new mono-white cards to mix into the deck, like Tithe Taker replacing Adanto Vanguard.
But the big upgrade comes from Hallowed Fountain enabling Deputy of Detention and the usual sideboard suite of cheap counterspells. Adding blue to an aggro deck usually slows it down slightly in return for more interaction, and that seems to be the case again here. Unbreakable Formation is also a promising addition, especially if the deck is slower, as resilience against sweepers will be more important than the extra damage previously provided by Pride of Conquerors or Heroic Reinforcements.
Mardu Aristrocrats
Mardu Aristocrats by jakedurshimer
| Creatures (30) 4 Gutterbones 4 Footlight Fiend 4 Hero of Precinct One 4 Pitiless Pontiff 4 Priest of Forgotten Gods 4 Judith, the Scourge Diva 3 Midnight Reaper 3 Elenda, the Dusk Rose Spells (6) 2 Mortify 1 Theater of Horrors 3 Carnival // Carnage | Lands (24) 4 Blood Crypt 4 Sacred Foundry 4 Godless Shrine 4 Clifftop Retreat 4 Isolated Chapel 1 Dragonskull Summit 3 Swamp Sideboard (15) 4 Drill Bit 3 Lava Coil 2 Ethereal Absolution 2 Angrath, the Flame-Chained 2 Plaguecrafter 1 Theater of Horrors 1 Midnight Reaper |
The incredibly popular archetype has returned to Standard, and it looks very punishing. While Mardu Aristocrats may look like a three-color combo deck, the strategy is pure and simple. Beat down until your opponent can’t afford to let your creatures die, thanks to ping effects from Judith, the Scourge Diva and Footlight Fiend.
While the creature core of the deck generally looks the same, players will have to choose their remaining spells carefully. Cards like Mortify and Light up the Stage are powerful enough to make most people’s versions of the deck, but ther are some interesting niche options. Try casting Status // Statue on Judith with some of her triggers on the stack, for example. If the deck leans more on afterlife cards, Divine Visitation or Teysa Karlov could supercharge the mechanic. A deck like Aristocrats could take weeks to refine.
Izzet Drakes
Izzet Drakes by Brad Carpenter
| Creatures (12) 4 Pteramander 4 Arclight Phoenix 4 Crackling Drake Spells (27) 4 Opt 4 Chart a Course 4 Discovery // Dispersal 4 Shock 3 Dive Down 4 Lava Coil 3 Spell Pierce 1 Beacon Bolt | Lands (21) 4 Steam Vents 4 Sulfur Falls 1 Blood Crypt 8 Island 4 Mountain Sideboard (15) 2 Disdainful Stroke 2 Entrancing Melody 2 Fiery Cannonade 2 Treasure Map 2 Shivan Fire 2 Niv-Mizzet, Parun 2 Ral, Izzet Viceroy 1 Star of Extinction |
You can’t keep Arclight Phoenix down. Now that Pteramander has joined the mix, the deck should be even stronger. Brad Carpenter finished sixth in the SCG Open with this list.
The deck does have its detractors, as you can expect for any deck playing “Limited filler” as opposed to the most powerful collection of spells in the format. “Bad card” decks have a long history of success in Magic, however, and they’re exactly the kind of decks I enjoy most. Izzet Drakes gives new players an option that’s completely different to most Standard decks. And the deck has plenty of power for experienced tournament grinders as well.
The SCG results may suggest to you that aggressive decks are dead in Standard. But aggro decks have some powerful new tools that haven’t shown up yet, like Hero of Precinct One. What about tribal decks? Can Merfolk finally shine? With our first standard MagicFest three weeks away, there is plenty of time to find out.
Daniel Roberts (@Razoack) is a UK based player writing about all things Standard. Playing since the release of Gatecrash, he loves nothing better than travelling to European GPs with friends and losing in the feature match area. His best record is 12-3 at GP Barcelona 2017, but he’s aiming for that one more win.