Last weekend I was blindsided by a thief. That's right, some one had to go out of there way and build Jeskai Tempo and stole my heart from Temur. I won't delve too much on this deck as Christian did an awesome article that can be found here.
Diversity was abundant in Indianapolis and New Jersey this weekend. There are 3 lists I want to talk about today; the first one is a blast from the not so distant past. Reanimator. There was only one list I could track down in the top 32 of both scg events but I have a feeling this deck will be a familiar face by the time the pro tour rolls around.
Abzan Reanimator:
1x Ashen Rider
4x Elvish Mystic
3x Hornet Queen
4x Satyr Wayfinder
4x Siege Rhino
4x Sylvan Caryatid
4x Courser of Kruphix
4x Abzan Charm
2x Rescue from the Underworld
1x Whip of Erebos
3x Commune with the Gods
3x Endless Obedience
4x Forest
4x Caves of Koilos
3x Llanowar Wastes
2x Mana Confluence
4x Sandsteppe Citadel
4x Temple of Malady
2x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
There are several really powerful things going on with this deck. The biggest, of course, is the namesake reanimation. Siege Rhino is the real deal, gaining three life while draining it from your opponent is really good; doing it again by bring it back while he's in the bin is just filthy. I picture this deck in the early game just filling the bin then casting a rhino, then Rescue from the Underworld post combat, sacrifice one get one back from the bin. This is the equivalent of whipping back a Gray Merchant of Asphodel only better, Seige Rhino brings the beats.
It's not all about the power of Siege Rhino though. Reanimating an Ashen Rider or Hornet Queen is a pretty good way to lock down a game as both are huge threats in the air your opponent will have a tough time dealing with.
The only thing I think would be a good addition to this deck is Nyx Weaver. It is a great way to recur a removal spell or buy back a Siege Rhino or even a Hornet Queen if the game goes late. I think it adds another must be answered threat to avoid getting behind on cards.
This next deck is one I hold in very high regards as one of the more powerful decks you can suit up for an event this weekend. This deck finished short of beating the final boss, bringing home second place at a SCG Open this weekend, Mardu Midrange.
4x Butcher of the Horde
4x Goblin Rabblemaster
3x Stormbreath Dragon
3x Brimaz, King of Oreskos
2x Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker
2x Sorin, Solem Visitor
4x Crackling Doom
4x Hero's Downfall
4x Lightning Strike
1x Despise
4x Thoughtseize
2x Mountain
2x Swamp
1x Battlefield Forge
4x Bloodstained Mire
4x Caves of Koilos
2x Mana Confluence
4x Nomad Outpost
2x Temple of Malice
2x Temple of Silence
1x Temple of Triumph
1x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
This deck is extremely powerful though I must be up front, it seems very weak to removal. Fourteen creatures is a very small amount. This deck easily gets away with it though because all fourteen of the little buggers have to be answered by your opponent in a way generally other than trading in combat. Butcher of the Horde is phenomenal in conjunction with Goblin Rabblemaster and with Brimaz, King of Oreskos. With Goblin Rabblemaster you can sacrifice a token the turn you play him enabling an excellent buff that makes life very difficult for your opponent. If that isn't the avenue you need to take? Well, jam Brimaz, King of Oreskos or Goblin Rabblemaster and start laying the beats until Stormbreath Dragon or Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker can come in and clean up the rest of your opponents dwindling life total.
More than the creatures, the spells in the deck are insane. Five ways to disrupt your opponents hand means more often than not you'll be able to start off with excellent information and your opponent down one of the key cards in their hand. This can also work wonders with Crackling Doom as you can sculpt your opponents hand to play a large threat whenever you want them to allowing you to have them simply lose it to the Crackling Doom along with some life for even trying to play a creature against you. Hero's Downfall clears out the planeswalkers that have been making appearances in this standard and also clears any must be answered creatures. Lightning Strike will get rid of opposing Rabblemasters which is exacly what needs to be done in order to not get overrun in this deck. The power level of the spells and creatures make this a deck that will continue to see great success in the coming weeks of standard.
This next deck is one I'm not sure where it will go; I'm hoping it will be in more deck boxes though!
Ascendency combo
4x Kiora's Follower
4x Rattleclaw Mystic
4x Sylvan Caryatid
1x Astral Cornucopia
1x Briber's Purse
4x Dragon Mantle
4x Jeskai Ascendency
1x Nylea's Prescence
3x Dig Through Time
4x Retraction Helix
4x Commune with the Gods
2x Taigam's Scheming
3x Twinflame
3x Battlefield Forge
4x Mana Confluence
2x Shivan Reef
2x Temple of Abandon
1x Temple of Epiphany
3x Temple of Mystery
2x Temple of plenty
4x Yavimaya Coast
This deck is all about going infinite with Jeskai Ascendency making one big dude then closing the game. This can be done with one of the theoretically 0 cast artifacts in our deck which allow the deck with a Retraction Helix to permanently be able to untap our mana dorks for infinite mana. This is sadly an unexplored deck for me, the power level is definitely there as long as the format doesn't evolve into one filled with counter spells.
This standard format is showing a lot of diversity despite it being a world run by Courser of Kruphix and Goblin Rabblemaster. I hope things don't turn out like Theros block, playing one of two decks week in and week out. There's still huge room for growth. With that I would love to see some rogue decks that didn't have a great showing this weekend.
As stated, I'd love to hear about a few brews to talk about next time. If anyone has an underrepresented deck you'd like to share feel free to post it in the comments a long with a description of what the deck does!
No comments:
Post a Comment