Some days gamers
really amaze
me. When there
are one or two
big decks in a
format, they
will complain
that something
needs to be
banned. Maybe
they'll even
complain about
the format being
stale and
boring.
Other times, we
have a situation
like the current
standard format
where there are
a lot of
different decks
being played.
That's when we
get players
talking about
your matchups
being a coinflip.
Some will even
complain that
it's a format
that can't be
prepared for. I
completely
disagree.
I think this
type of
environment
generally favors
the creative
deck builders
and those
players that do
a lot of
preparation. A
good sideboard
is very
important.
Those that are
the most
prepared will
likely have the
best
sideboards.
Don't forget
that the bulk of
your tournament
games are played
post-sideboard.
I've been
heavily
reviewing the
standard
tournament scene
over the past
three weeks or
so. All signs
point to me
playing in Pro
Tour Hollywood,
so I want to be
a current on my
standard facts
as possible. I
figured, while
I'm at it, I can
detail out the
format for those
of you that
can't take the
time to find the
info yourself.
You can thank me
later :)
The most popular
decks in the
format appear to
be:
Blue/White
Reveillark
Green/Black
Aggro Control
(Sometimes Elf
Heavy)
Red/Green Aggro
(Sometimes
Warrior Heavy)
Red/Green Mana
Ramp
Blue/Black
Faeries
Kithkin
Obviously, these
aren't all of
the best decks.
These are the
decks you
absolutely have
to be prepared
for though.
Each of these
decks has made
an appearance in
the latest Top 8
lists from
Standard events
around the
world. I have
yet to see a Top
8 from the past
few weeks that
didn't include
at least to
variants of any
decks in that
list.
Now, just
knowing the
decks are out
there doesn't do
you any good.
You need to know
how to prepare
for them. Let's
go deck by deck
and
break them down
a little to see
what we can do.
Blue/White
Reveillark
4 Aven
Riftwatcher
4 Body Double
3 Mirror Entity
4 Mulldrifter
4 Reveillark
4 Riftwing
Cloudskate
2 Venser, Shaper
Savant
3 Momentary
Blink
4 Wrath of God
4 Mind Stone
Obvious land
choices.
Pros:
This deck is
able to slow the
tempo of the
game down
drastically. It
can also win by
attacking and
doesn't need to
combo as much as
the list would
get you to think
at first
glance.
Cons:
It can get
really bogged
down sometimes.
Games are also
slow. This can
lead to time
issues.
Strategy
to combat this
deck:
You'll need to
find a good mix
cards that can
apply pressure,
but at the same
time not
overcommit.
That can be hard
to do. Deal
with Mirror
Entity as
quickly as you
can, or it can
get out of
control fast.
Mana destruction
can be ke yin
this match as
well. This deck
is very mana
intensive.
Also, graveyard
removal can get
cards like Body
Double and
Reveillark from
going nuts on
you as well.
Green/Black
Aggro Control
(Sometimes Elf
Heavy)
Because these
list vary so
much I'll just
give you a list
of key cards
that most of
them play:
Imperious
Perfect
Wren's Run
Vanquisher
Chameleon
Colossus
Tarmogoyf
Thoughtseize
Profane Command
Garruk
Wildspeaker
Pros:
This deck has a
lot of balance
to it. It can
be super
aggressive and
snag an early
win. Though, if
it has to get
into a stalemate
or standoff it's
very likely to
hold it own and
pull through as
well.
Cons:
Several cards
can end up
fighting for
mana, so the
deck has to run
a little more
than it
prefers. It can
also be
expensive to
build. There
isn't a lot of
evasion within
it's creature
lineup.
Strategy
to combat this
deck:
Two cards to
keep your eye on
are Imperious
Perfect and
Chameleon
Colossus. Save
some cards to
deal with those
problems. Don't
be overly
intimidated by
Wren's Run
Vanquisher.
Just commit to
it and kill it
quickly so it
doesn't become a
bother or focus
later in your
match. If they
are playing the
elf version kill
the Bramblewood
Paragon quickly
as the trample
it provides is
very
problematic.
Green/Red Aggro
Again, a list of
spells:
Countryside
Crusher
Tarmogoyf
Mogg War Marshal
Mogg Fanatic
Incinerate
Tarfire
Pros:
Easy to play.
Produces a lot
of damage over
the early turns
that can be hard
to keep up with.
Cons:
It doesn't have
a lot
surprises. If
the game goes
long, it loses
it's advantage.
Strategy
to combat this
deck:
The best plan is
to fight them
threat for
threat. Don't
let them get the
jump on you and
try to drag the
game out. Get
them to
overcommit and
sweep their
board whenever
possible.
Protection from
Red can be a
huge boon in
this matchup as
well.
Green/Red Mana
Ramp
Key cards:
Chameleon
Colossus
Cloudthresher
Siege-Gang
Commander
Rampant Growth
Tarmogoyf
Into the North
Skred
Pros:
This deck has a
lot of
versatility.
The deck list is
also very
flexible. This
can allow you to
be well prepared
for most
metagames.
Cons:
You obviously
need your mana.
The spells in
this deck are
expensive.
Sometimes you
feel like you're
putting a lot of
eggs into one
basket
Strategy
to combat this
deck:
When convenient,
attack the mana
base. Also, be
aware that this
deck has started
to evolve into
playing black
for cards like
Extirpate in the
sideboard. It
can also run
surprise board
sweepers like
Bogardan
Hellkite.
Blue/Black
Faeries
Key Cards:
Mistbind Clique
Spellstutter
Sprite
Cryptic Command
Sower of
Temptation
Scion of Oona
Bitterblossom
Pros:
With so many
creatures having
powerful
abilities and
having Flash,
you get to leave
a ton of options
open on your
opponents turn.
Flying on all
your creatures
makes them hard
to block as
well.
Cons:
Your creatures
are small, so
they don't want
to get into
fistfights.
Strategy
to combat this
deck:
Deal with every
threat as
quickly as
possible. it
may not seem
like it, but
Faeries is
definitely a
"strength in
numbers" kind of
deck. Be
careful how you
attack, because
Flash creature
can make combat
ugly.
Kithkin
Key Cards:
Goldmeadow
Harrier
Goldmeadow
Stalwart
Kinsblade
Borderguard
Knight of
Meadowgrain
Wizened Cenn
Griffon Guide
Oblivion Ring
Ajani Goldmane
Pros:
It's quick and
has some neat
tricks available
to it. It's
also easy to
play and
relatively cheap
to build.
Cons:
It's still
standard White
Weenie, which
means any big
creatures or
mass removal can
lead to a long
hard day.
Strategy
to combat this
deck:
Try to match
them threat for
threat. Also be
aware that this
deck has started
splashing green
for Gaddock Teeg,
who happens to
be a Kithkin
Advisor. The
Harrier can be
problematic long
term, if not
dealt with
properly.
I'm sure you
could spend
pages talking
about each of
these decks.
This article
should be
considered more
of a primer.
With so many
players coming
back to the game
(or just getting
into the game),
articles like
this can be used
as a jumpstart
to your Standard
preparations.
Until next time,
DeQuan Watson
a.k.a. PowrDragn
PowrDragn at
Pojo dot com
