Farewell, Favorite Standard Decks

Jameydae Tome card art

Having looked at the four sets leaving Standard (see previous posts), today I will conclude the month looking at favorite decks that will no longer be in Standard.

Of course, once Standard rotates, you can easily keep the decks you love and shift them into Pioneer or Modern formats, where they will still be legal. However, deck power levels are relative to the format in which they are played, so something consistently successful in Standard will almost certainly need upgrades to remain so in the other two (since they have such larger card pools). So I generally tag a few of my faves on Arena, delete the others, and play the favorites in casual formats.

In no particular order, here are some of the decks I will miss as they rotate out.

Bluey (mono-blue)

This modified net deck was a lot of fun. I enjoyed Tolarian Terror and Haughty Djinn, and simple spellslinging. 

4 Consider (MID) 44

2 Essence Scatter (IKO) 49

4 Delver of Secrets (MID) 47

4 Fading Hope (MID) 51

3 Shore Up (DMU) 64

3 Ledger Shredder (SNC) 46

3 Negate (ZNR) 71

4 Tolarian Terror (DMU) 72

1 Essence Scatter (DMU) 49

4 Impulse (DMU) 55

4 Thirst for Discovery (VOW) 85

3 Slip Out the Back (SNC) 62

1 Haughty Djinn (DMU) 52

20 Island (ANA) 10

Silly(3) (mono-black)

This home brew was more successful than I anticipated. It is a simple tempo deck taking advantage of some of the most powerful cards in this color. As the number implies, I've done variations of this.

3 Phyrexian Obliterator (NPH) 68

2 Knight of Dusk's Shadow (DMU) 96

3 Sheoldred, the Apocalypse (DMU) 107

2 Blood Pact (MID) 88

4 Evolved Sleeper (DMU) 93

3 Phyrexian Arena (ONE) 104

4 Hopeless Nightmare (WOE) 95

4 Go for the Throat (BRO) 102

2 Misery's Shadow (BRO) 107

2 Sheoldred's Edict (ONE) 108

3 Gix, Yawgmoth Praetor (BRO) 95

2 Dross Skullbomb (ONE) 225

3 Battlefly Swarm (DMU) 81

23 Swamp (HBG) 300

Malcolm (blue-red)

This modified net deck will see play in the new Standard, but I'll have to take out 5 cards for it to do so. That should be easy.

4 Malcolm, the Eyes (OTJ) 219

2 Fading Hope (MID) 51

2 Consider (MID) 44

4 Reckless Lackey (OTJ) 140

4 Staunch Crewmate (LCI) 79

4 Goblin Tomb Raider (LCI) 151

4 Slick Sequence (OTJ) 233

4 Captain Storm, Cosmium Raider (LCI) 227

4 Spyglass Siren (LCI) 78

4 Breeches, Eager Pillager (LCI) 137

2 Lightning Strike (DMU) 137

7 Island (OTJ) 280

9 Mountain (OTJ) 284

1 Stormcarved Coast (VOW) 265

4 Eroded Canyon (OTJ) 256

1 Shivan Reef (DMU) 255

Aggro (red-green)

This net deck will have to be heavily modified for the new Standard. I wonder if it will remain competitive.

4 Monastery Swiftspear (BRO) 144

4 Play with Fire (MID) 154

4 Ancestral Anger (VOW) 142

4 Kumano Faces Kakkazan (NEO) 152

1 Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance (NEO) 276

4 Cacophony Scamp (ONE) 124

4 Monstrous Rage (WOE) 142

3 Witchstalker Frenzy (WOE) 159

4 Questing Druid (WOE) 234

4 Fugitive Codebreaker (MKM) 127

1 Great Train Heist (OTJ) 125

2 Slickshot Show-Off (OTJ) 146

2 Trash the Town (OTJ) 186

1 Wooded Ridgeline (DMU) 260

11 Mountain (MIR) 346

4 Karplusan Forest (DMU) 250

3 Copperline Gorge (ONE) 249

Legendary(7) (five colors)

I spent a month blogging last year about this deck and some of its iterations, so I won't repeat that here. This is one version.

1 Dennick, Pious Apprentice (MID) 217

2 Shanna, Purifying Blade (DMU) 218

1 Halana and Alena, Partners (VOW) 239

1 Katilda, Dawnhart Prime (MID) 230

4 Jodah, the Unifier (DMU) 203

3 Reclusive Taxidermist (VOW) 214

2 Leyline Binding (DMU) 24

2 Plains (DMU) 263

1 Raffine's Tower (SNC) 254

1 Ziatora's Proving Ground (SNC) 261

2 Idyllic Beachfront (DMU) 249

1 Plaza of Heroes (DMU) 252

4 Secluded Courtyard (NEO) 275

1 Spara's Headquarters (SNC) 257

1 Geothermal Bog (DMU) 247

2 Wooded Ridgeline (DMU) 260

2 Radiant Grove (DMU) 253

1 Contaminated Aquifer (DMU) 245

2 Island (DMU) 265

2 Swamp (DMU) 268

2 Forest (DMU) 274

2 Mountain (DMU) 272

1 Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim (DMU) 198

1 Loran of the Third Path (BRO) 12

1 Baird, Argivian Recruiter (DMU) 195

1 Ertai Resurrected (DMU) 199

1 Hajar, Loyal Bodyguard (BRO) 211

1 Nemata, Primeval Warden (DMU) 209

1 Torens, Fist of the Angels (VOW) 249

1 Samut, Vizier of Naktamun (MAT) 45

1 Danitha, New Benalia's Light (MAT) 29

1 Sigarda, Font of Blessings (MAT) 47

1 Thalia and The Gitrog Monster (MOM) 255

1 Skrelv, Defector Mite (ONE) 33

1 Glissa Sunslayer (ONE) 202

1 Ruby, Daring Tracker (WOE) 212

1 Tomik, Wielder of Law (MKM) 431

1 Jem Lightfoote, Sky Explorer (OTJ) 209

1 Honest Rutstein (OTJ) 207

1 Aurelia, the Law Above (MKM) 188

1 Jirina, Dauntless General (MAT) 32

1 Kutzil, Malamet Exemplar (LCI) 232

GrMeanieND2 (mono-green)

This modified net teck saw a lot of play because . . . I like green.

2 Augur of Autumn (MID) 168

4 Ascendant Packleader (VOW) 186

2 Cemetery Prowler (VOW) 191

1 Boseiju, Who Endures (NEO) 266

4 Jewel Thief (SNC) 151

2 Topiary Stomper (SNC) 160

2 Defiler of Vigor (DMU) 160

2 Llanowar Loamspeaker (DMU) 170

1 Silverback Elder (DMU) 177

2 Poison Dart Frog (LCI) 207

4 Crystal Grotto (DMU) 246

20 Forest (ELD) 269

1 Titan of Industry (SNC) 159

2 Ulvenwald Oddity (VOW) 225

2 Bushwhack (BRO) 174

1 Quirion Beastcaller (DMU) 175

1 Up the Beanstalk (WOE) 195

1 Cavern Stomper (LCI) 177

1 Gruff Triplets (WOE) 172

1 Surrak and Goreclaw (MOM) 337

2 Ghalta, Stampede Tyrant (LCI) 185

1 Mossbeard Ancient (DMU) 173

1 Jadelight Spelunker (LCI) 196

Outlawed (black-red)

This should be easily adjusted for the new Standard.

4 Jagged Barrens (OTJ) 259

4 Vial Smasher, Gleeful Grenadier (OTJ) 235

7 Mountain (OTJ) 284

6 Swamp (OTJ) 282

4 Laughing Jasper Flint (OTJ) 215

3 Nezumi Linkbreaker (OTJ) 96

4 Shoot the Sheriff (OTJ) 106

2 Vault Plunderer (OTJ) 114

4 Reckless Lackey (OTJ) 140

2 Discerning Peddler (OTJ) 121

4 Prickly Pair (OTJ) 137

2 Hellspur Posse Boss (OTJ) 128

2 Deadeye Duelist (OTJ) 119

3 Unscrupulous Contractor (OTJ) 112

3 Play with Fire (MID) 154

4 Haunted Ridge (MID) 263

2 Geothermal Bog (DMU) 247

BurnND (mono-red)

This one hurts. One of my favorite burn decks ever.

20 Mountain (MIR) 346

4 Lightning Strike (XLN) 149

4 Monastery Swiftspear (BRO) 144

4 Play with Fire (MID) 154

1 Chandra, Dressed to Kill (VOW) 149

4 End the Festivities (VOW) 155

4 Reckless Impulse (VOW) 174

4 Voldaren Epicure (VOW) 182

4 Kumano Faces Kakkazan (NEO) 152

4 Phoenix Chick (DMU) 140

1 Squee, Dubious Monarch (DMU) 146

2 Feldon, Ronom Excavator (BRO) 135

4 Mechanized Warfare (BRO) 139

OrzhovSac (white-black)

One of my few home brews that did okay.

3 Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim (DMU) 198

9 Plains (HBG) 292

9 Swamp (HBG) 300

2 Fleshtaker (MID) 222

2 Rite of Oblivion (MID) 237

2 Aron, Benalia's Ruin (DMU) 193

4 Sunlit Marsh (DMU) 257

4 Lunarch Veteran (MID) 27

2 Cathar Commando (MID) 10

2 Benalish Sleeper (DMU) 8

4 Phyrexian Missionary (DMU) 27

2 Bereaved Survivor (MID) 4

1 Vanquish the Horde (MID) 41

3 Persistent Specimen (VOW) 125

4 Doomed Dissenter (VOW) 106

4 Jadar, Ghoulcaller of Nephalia (MID) 108

3 Morbid Opportunist (MID) 113

That's enough for now . . . may post others tomorrow.

Farewell, Streets of New Capenna

Concluding rotation month (see previous post), today I look at Streets of New Capenna.

Released in April 2022, Streets of New Capenna (hereafter SNC) was the first look at a new plane. Here, per MTG Wiki, an 'art deco metropolis' created by angels is now run by five demon-led (and tri-allied-colored) crime families. 

Themes & Mechanics

For theme, think early twentieth-century American gangsters. Only with a fantasy twist. There are five families, each with an allied color trio associated with them.

Mechanics include:

- Shield Counters (prevents a permanent from taking damage or being destroyed. Removed after use.)

- Connive (draw and discard and card. If the discarded card was nonland, put a +1/+1 counter on the creature with this ability.)

- Casualty X (you may sacrifice a creature with power X or greater as you cast this spell. If you do, the spell is copied.)

- Blitz (you may cast a creature for its blitz cost instead of its regular cost. If you do, it gains haste, "when this creature dies, you draw a card," and is sacrificed at the next end step.)

- Alliance (an ability word that has varying effects based on when other creatures enter the battlefield under your control)

Favorites

Giada, Font of Hope and Inspiring Overseer were auto-includes in Angel decks (and Giada became my commander for the white angel deck I run in that format). Slip Out the Back was in my Bluey deck. Gala Greeters saw a lot of play, with three nice abilities that could trigger on a turn. Jewel Thief, Titan of Industry, Topiary Stomper, and Workshop Warchief saw play in green stompy decks. Rocco was fun in my legendary decks, and the tri-lands (note the example is Forest Plains Island) were powerful.

Good Riddance

Depopulate was a staple in control decks that drove me nuts. Illuminator showed up in decks that kept 1-2 creatures alive through protection spells; I tired of those, too. Make Disappear could be powerful(ly annoying). Tenacious Underdog wasn't horrible but showed up enough to become annoying; same with Strangle. Fight Rigging signified that something terrible was coming. Lord Xander, like the other four crime bosses, were costed too highly to see play (which was disappointing more than annoying). Ob Nixilis is the planeswalker I will not miss. And sacrifice lands like Riveteers Overlook were okay on their own, but exploited in a landfall combo deck that should have been banned (for being annoying more than powerful).

More than anything, SNC 'jarred' me with the theme. I don't know why . . . maybe it hit too close to real life? But for some reason, I felt the theme clashed with the spirit of 'typical' fantasy, and that diminished my enjoyment of the set. The mechanics didn't grab me, either. I won't miss it.

Farewell, Neon Dynasty

Continuing rotation month (see previous post), today I look at Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty.

Released in February 2021, Neon Dynasty (hereafter NEO) was a return to the Kamigawa plane and the first time they did so since the Kamigawa block (2004-5), a set themed on Japanese mythology. NEO takes place 1200 years later, though, and this futuristic focus is billed as "Magic's first science fiction set."

Themes & Mechanics

For theme, equipment and enchantments (auras, sagas, and shrines) feature heavily on this plane. Prevalent creature types include samurai, ninja, monk, spirit, fox, and snake.

Mechanics include:

- Reconfigure (artifact cards that are both equipment and creatures, and can switch roles even once in play)

- Modified (modified creatures are those with auras, equipment, or counters)

- Sagas (enchantments were something different happens each turn; here, on conclusion, they transform to the other side)

- Ninjutsu (paying a creature's ninjutsu cost while it's in your hand enables you to play it on the battlefield tapped and attacking if you return an unblocked attacker to your hand)

- Channel (paying a card's channel cost and discarding it while it's in your hand enables you to do its stated effect)

Favorites

As enchantments featured here, I enjoyed some of those (Michiko's Reign of Truth, Spirited Companion, Generous Visitor, Kodama of the West Tree, Jukai Naturalist) in a Selesnya enchantment deck. Gravelighter had a nice ability. Kumano Faces Kakkazan was a staple in many an aggro deck; Thundering Raiju showed up in a few as well. And Secluded Courtyard is great for tribal decks.

Good Riddance

Farewell was a super board-wipe, destroying not only the battlefield but eliminating graveyards, too. The Wandering Emperor drove me bonkers (as planeswalkers do); she was a staple in control decks that I did not care for. I appreciated the ninjutsu mechanic but never made a deck and grew to dislike facing them, so Moon-Circuit Hacker and Dokuchi Silencer make the list. Invoke Despair had its intended effect (I think it was banned though). Fable of the Mirror-breaker was super annoying until it was banned. Tamiyo's Safekeeping was okay but often in decks that frustrated me. Oni-Cult Anvil signified a drawn out experience. Iron Apprentice could do bad things. And the channel land cycle was overpowered.

On the whole, NEO wasn't a bad set, but I am very happy The Wandering Emperor is leaving standard. And I never really got into the theme of the set, either. I won't lose sleep over this one.

Farewell, Crimson Vow

 Continuing rotation month (see previous post), today I look at Crimson Vow.

A sister set to Midnight Hunt, Crimson Vow was release just two months later (November 2021). Like Hunt, Vow is set on Innistrad. This time, as the set name implies, the focus is on vampires. And, thus, blood.

Some themes from Midnight Hunt carried over, so I won't repeat those. The three new ones:

- Blood tokens were introduced in this set. I felt them underpowered on their own (pay, tap, sacrifice, discard is a high cost for the benefit), but they could work in red/black vampire decks with the right cards.

- Training helped creatures (generally humans) by buffing them (putting a +1/+1 counter) if they attacked with creatures with greater power.

- Exploit (generally found on zombies) provided powerful effects if you had a creature to sacrifice

Favorites

Thalia and Hopeful Initiate were staples in  many a white aggro deck. Voice of the Blessed was fun and had to be handled early or things got out of hand. Thirst for Discovery was key in one of my 'bluey' decks. Fell Stinger and Headless Rider were fun in an Exploit Zombie deck. Persistent Specimen makes the list because I enjoy skeletons (for whatever reason). It's not as good as Reassembling Skeleton, but fun nonetheless. Four cards were staples in red burn decks: Ancestral Anger, End the Festivities, Reckless Impulse, and Voldaren Epicure. For green, Ascendant Packleader was nice, Ulvenwald Oddity/Behemoth (it's flip card) saw frequent play in my green stompy decks, and Halana and Alena were super fun in my legendary deck iterations.

Good Riddance

As with Midnight Hunt, there wasn't a lot about this set that bothered me outside of a few minor irritants: Wedding Announcement/Festivity generally signaled a drawn-out control game that I seldom enjoy. Hullbreaker Horror was an overpowered nuisance until it was (thankfully) banned. Stormchaser Drake saw play in decks that had a few creatures and a million ways to buff/protect them . . . that could be annoying. Sorin makes my list because of my general disdain for planeswalkers and how often he extended the game. Bloodtithe Harvester wasn't terrible but mildly bothersome. And the land cycle (Dreamroot Cascade is an example) continues from last time: lands that aren't overly expensive but open up a lot of options come turn three.

I think I'll miss Crimson Vow more than Midnight Hunt, only for the hit my red burn deck will take when it departs.