After five weeks and seven rounds of play, the Magic Pro League’s inaugural Spark Split has concluded, finalizing the standings and the winners of each of its four divisions.
Brad Nelson was the only player to emerge undefeated, winning the Emerald Division with a 7-0 record. The other three Division winners finished with 6-1 records: Brian Braun-Duin won the Pearl Division, Ken Yukuhiro won the the Ruby Division (over William Huey Jensen based on the games won tiebreaker), and Rei Sato won the Sapphire Division. Each of those players will advance directly to the Top 16 on Day 2 of the upcoming Mythic Championship III in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Division Winning Decklists
Players were allowed to change decks from week to week, except for Week 5, when the were required to play the same deck they played in Week 4.
Brad Nelson
Nelson changed his deck choice for every week he was allowed to, eventually settling on Esper Hero for Weeks 4 and 5.
Week 1: Standard Azorious Aggro
| Creatures (26) 3 Adanto Vanguard 4 Benalish Marshal 4 Dauntless Bodyguard 3 Law-Rune Enforcer 4 Snubhorn Sentry 4 Skymarcher Aspirant 4 Venerated Loxodon Planeswalkers (4) 2 Teferi, Time Raveler 2 Gideon Blackblade Enchantments (10) 4 History of Benalia 4 Legion’s Landing 2 Conclave Tribunal | Lands (20) 4 Glacial Fortress 4 Hallowed Fountain 12 Plains Sideboard (15) 2 Teferi, Time Raveler 4 Baffling End 1 Spell Pierce 2 Deputy of Detention 1 Island 1 Demystify 1 Disdainful Stroke 3 Dovin’s Veto |
Week 2: Standard Bant Nexus
| Creatures (1) 1 Deputy of Detention Instants (20) 4 Chemister’s Insight 4 Growth Spiral 4 Nexus of Fate 4 Revitalize 4 Root Snare Planeswalkers (6) 3 Tamiyo, Collector of Tales 3 Teferi, Hero of Dominaria Enchantments (7) 3 Search for Azcanta 4 Wilderness Reclamation | Lands (26) 2 Blast Zone 4 Breeding Pool 1 Forest 3 Glacial Fortress 4 Hallowed Fountain 4 Hinterland Harbor 1 Island 3 Sunpetal Grove 4 Temple Garden Sideboard (15) 3 Deputy of Detention 2 Dovin’s Veto 1 God-Eternal Kefnet 2 Hydroid Krasis 2 Bond of Flourishing 2 Lyra Dawnbringer 3 Teferi, Time Raveler |
Week 3: Standard Selesnya Tokens
| Creatures (15) 1 District Guide 4 Venerated Loxodon 3 Emmara, Soul of the Accord 3 Trostani Discordant 4 Thorn Lieutenant Spells (10) 4 Flower // Flourish 4 Saproling Migration 2 March of the Multitudes Planeswalkers (1) 1 Gideon Blackblade Artifacts (2) 2 The Immortal Sun Enchantments (11) 4 Conclave Tribunal 4 History of Benalia 3 Legion’s Landing | Lands (21) 4 Sunpetal Grove 4 Temple Garden 9 Plains 4 Forest Sideboard (15) 2 March of the Multitudes 2 Gideon Blackblade 2 Prison Realm 2 Sorcerous Spyglass 3 Knight of Autumn 1 Ajani, Adversary of Tyrants 3 Baffling End |
Weeks 4 & 5: Standard Esper Midrange
| Creatures (8) 4 Hero of Precinct One 4 Basilica Bell-Haunt Spells (11) 4 Thought Erasure 1 Command the Dreadhorde 1 The Elderspell 3 Tyrant’s Scorn 2 Dovin’s Veto Planeswalkers (12) 4 Teferi, Hero of Dominaria 4 Teferi, Time Raveler 3 Narset, Parter of Veils 1 Liliana, Dreadhorde General Enchantments (3) 3 Oath of Kaya | Lands (26) 4 Glacial Fortress 4 Godless Shrine 4 Hallowed Fountain 4 Isolated Chapel 4 Watery Grave 4 Drowned Catacomb 1 Swamp 1 Plains Sideboard (15) 1 Command the Dreadhorde 2 The Elderspell 2 Lyra Dawnbringer 2 Cry of the Carnarium 2 Duress 1 Ixalan’s Binding 3 Kaya’s Wrath 2 Despark |
Brian Braun-Duin
Braun-Duin chose to play Esper Midrange for each of the five weeks. He made small changes each week, with Command the Dreadhorde making it into the sideboard for Weeks 4 and 5.
Week 1: Standard Esper Midrange
| Creatures (11) 4 Hero of Precinct One 3 Hostage Taker 4 Thief of Sanity Spells (14) 4 Thought Erasure 2 Enter the God-Eternals 2 Dovin’s Veto 4 Mortify 2 Despark Planeswalkers (9) 3 Teferi, Hero of Dominaria 2 Liliana, Dreadhorde General 1 Sorin, Vengeful Bloodlord 3 Teferi, Time Raveler | Lands (26) 4 Glacial Fortress 4 Godless Shrine 4 Hallowed Fountain 4 Isolated Chapel 4 Watery Grave 4 Drowned Catacomb 1 Swamp 1 Island Sideboard (15) 2 Dovin’s Veto 2 Moment of Craving 2 Oath of Kaya 2 Duress 2 Time Wipe 2 Basilica Bell-Haunt 3 Narset, Parter of Veils |
Week 2: Standard Esper Midrange
| Creatures (11) 4 Hero of Precinct One 3 Hostage Taker 4 Thief of Sanity Spells (12) 4 Thought Erasure 1 Dovin’s Veto 3 Mortify 2 Tyrant’s Scorn 2 Despark Planeswalkers (10) 3 Teferi, Hero of Dominaria 2 Liliana, Dreadhorde General 2 Sorin, Vengeful Bloodlord 3 Teferi, Time Raveler Enchantments (2) 2 Oath of Kaya | Lands (25) 4 Glacial Fortress 4 Godless Shrine 4 Hallowed Fountain 4 Isolated Chapel 4 Watery Grave 4 Drowned Catacomb 1 Swamp Sideboard (15) 2 Dovin’s Veto 1 Tyrant’s Scorn 1 Kaya, Orzhov Usurper 2 Duress 2 Time Wipe 2 Basilica Bell-Haunt 3 Narset, Parter of Veils 1 The Elderspell 1 Deputy of Detention |
Week 3: Standard Esper Midrange
| Creatures (11) 4 Hero of Precinct One 3 Elite Guardmage 4 Thief of Sanity Spells (10) 4 Thought Erasure 1 The Elderspell 2 Tyrant’s Scorn 2 Mortify 1 Despark Planeswalkers (11) 4 Teferi, Hero of Dominaria 2 Ugin, the Ineffable 3 Teferi, Time Raveler 2 Sorin, Vengeful Bloodlord Enchantments (2) 2 Oath of Kaya | Lands (26) 4 Glacial Fortress 4 Godless Shrine 4 Hallowed Fountain 4 Isolated Chapel 4 Watery Grave 4 Drowned Catacomb 1 Swamp 1 Island Sideboards (15) 1 Tyrant’s Scorn 1 The Elderspell 2 Dovin’s Veto 1 Kaya, Orzhov Usurper 1 Time Wipe 2 Duress 2 Narset, Parter of Veils 2 Enter the God-Eternals 2 Hostage Taker 1 Deputy of Detention |
Weeks 4 & 5: Standard Esper Hero
| Creatures (13) 4 Hero of Precinct One 3 Elite Guardmage 4 Thief of Sanity 2 Hostage Taker Spells (10) 4 Thought Erasure 1 The Elderspell 3 Tyrant’s Scorn 2 Despark Planeswalkers (9) 4 Teferi, Hero of Dominaria 2 Ugin, the Ineffable 3 Teferi, Time Raveler Enchantments (2) 2 Oath of Kaya | Lands (26) 4 Glacial Fortress 4 Godless Shrine 4 Hallowed Fountain 4 Isolated Chapel 4 Watery Grave 4 Drowned Catacomb 1 Swamp 1 Island Sideboard (15) 2 The Elderspell 1 Hostage Taker 2 Dovin’s Veto 2 Narset, Parter of Veils 2 Duress 2 Enter the God-Eternals 2 Deputy of Detention 2 Command the Dreadhorde |
Ken Yukuhiro
Yukuhiro, ever the brewer, brought Bant Aggro to his Week 1 matchup, then cycled through a series of Standard mainstays for the rest of the Split.
Week 1: Standard Bant Aggro
Week 2: Standard Bant Midrange
| Creatures (30) 4 Llanowar Elves 4 Incubation Druid 4 Paradise Druid 4 God-Eternal Oketra 4 Growth-Chamber Guardian 4 Hydroid Krasis 4 Frilled Mystic 2 Deputy of Detention Planeswalkers (7) 3 Teferi, Time Raveler 4 Vivien, Champion of the Wilds | Lands (23) 3 Forest 4 Hinterland Harbor 4 Breeding Pool 4 Hallowed Fountain 1 Glacial Fortress 4 Temple Garden 3 Sunpetal Grove Sideboard (15) 1 Deputy of Detention 1 Teferi, Time Raveler 3 Negate 2 Trostani Discordant 2 Thorn Lieutenant 2 Nissa, Who Shakes the World 4 Baffling End |
Week 3: Standard Golgari Midrange
| Creatures (24) 4 Llanowar Elves 2 Paradise Druid 4 Wildgrowth Walker 4 Jadelight Ranger 4 Merfolk Branchwalker 3 Carnage Tyrant 2 Ravenous Chupacabra 1 Massacre Girl Spells (7) 3 Casualties of War 4 Assassin’s Trophy Planeswalker (5) (5) 3 Vivien Reid 1 Vraska, Golgari Queen 1 Nissa, Who Shakes the World | Lands (24) 8 Forest 4 Swamp 4 Field of Ruin 4 Woodland Cemetery 4 Overgrown Tomb Sideboard (15) 1 Nissa, Who Shakes the World 4 Duress 2 The Elderspell 1 Ob Nixilis’s Cruelty 2 Moment of Craving 2 Cast Down 2 Thrashing Brontodon 1 Crucible of Worlds |
Weeks 4 & 5: Standard Mono-Red Aggro
| Creatures (20) 4 Ghitu Lavarunner 4 Fanatical Firebrand 4 Viashino Pyromancer 4 Runaway Steam-Kin 4 Goblin Chainwhirler Spells (16) 4 Light Up the Stage 4 Shock 4 Lightning Strike 4 Wizard’s Lightning Enchantments (4) 4 Experimental Frenzy | Lands (20) 20 Mountain Sideboard (15) 4 Lava Coil 2 Rekindling Phoenix 2 Tibalt, Rakish Instigator 3 Dire Fleet Daredevil 1 Chandra, Fire Artisan 3 Risk Factor |
Rei Sato
Sato added new (at the time) toy Teferi, Time Raveler to his Azorius Aggro deck in Week 1, and then settled into various shades of Green Midrange for Weeks 2 through 5.
Week 1: Standard Azorius Aggro
| Creatures (26) 4 Dauntless Bodyguard 2 Law-Rune Enforcer 4 Skymarcher Aspirant 3 Snubhorn Sentry 4 Adanto Vanguard 1 Tomik, Distinguished Advokist 4 Benalish Marshal 4 Venerated Loxodon Planeswalkers (2) 2 Teferi, Time Raveler Enchantments (12) 4 Legion’s Landing 4 History of Benalia 4 Conclave Tribunal | Lands (20) 12 Plains 4 Glacial Fortress 4 Hallowed Fountain Sideboard (15) 4 Baffling End 3 Tocatli Honor Guard 2 Gideon Blackblade 2 Ajani, Adversary of Tyrants 2 Disdainful Stroke 2 Demystify |
Week 2: Standard Bant Midrange
| Creatures (30) 4 Llanowar Elves 4 Incubation Druid 4 Paradise Druid 4 God-Eternal Oketra 4 Growth-Chamber Guardian 4 Hydroid Krasis 4 Frilled Mystic 2 Deputy of Detention Planeswalkers (7) 3 Teferi, Time Raveler 4 Vivien, Champion of the Wilds | Lands (23) 3 Forest 4 Hinterland Harbor 4 Breeding Pool 4 Hallowed Fountain 1 Glacial Fortress 4 Temple Garden 3 Sunpetal Grove Sideboard (15) 1 Deputy of Detention 1 Teferi, Time Raveler 3 Negate 2 Trostani Discordant 2 Thorn Lieutenant 2 Nissa, Who Shakes the World 4 Baffling End |
Week 3: Standard Golgari Midrange
| Creatures (24) 4 Llanowar Elves 2 Paradise Druid 4 Wildgrowth Walker 4 Jadelight Ranger 4 Merfolk Branchwalker 3 Carnage Tyrant 2 Ravenous Chupacabra 1 Massacre Girl Spells (7) 3 Casualties of War 4 Assassin’s Trophy Planeswalkers (5) 3 Vivien Reid 1 Vraska, Golgari Queen 1 Nissa, Who Shakes the World | Lands (24) 8 Forest 4 Swamp 4 Field of Ruin 4 Woodland Cemetery 4 Overgrown Tomb Sideboard (15) 1 Nissa, Who Shakes the World 4 Duress 2 The Elderspell 1 Ob Nixilis’s Cruelty 2 Moment of Craving 2 Cast Down 2 Thrashing Brontodon 1 Crucible of Worlds |
Weeks 4 & 5: Standard Gruul Midrange
| Creatures (24) 3 Legion Warboss 4 Rekindling Phoenix 4 Thorn Lieutenant 4 Growth-Chamber Guardian 4 Gruul Spellbreaker 4 Llanowar Elves 1 Skarrgan Hellkite Spells (8) 3 Shock 4 Lightning Strike 1 Collision // Colossus Planeswalkers (4) 2 Nissa, Who Shakes the World 2 Domri, Anarch of Bolas | Lands (24) 9 Forest 7 Mountain 4 Rootbound Crag 4 Stomping Ground Sideboard (15) 1 Shock 2 Collision // Colossus 1 Thrashing Brontodon 4 Lava Coil 3 Dire Fleet Daredevil 4 Cindervines |