[Community Discussion]: Standard Chat
Standard forum
Posted on Oct. 3, 2015, 11:37 p.m. by Epochalyptik
Just like Modern, Standard now has its own "chat" thread. We're hoping that this thread draws avid Standard players to share their knowledge.
This thread is dedicated entirely to Standard. Feel free to post your thoughts on the meta, ideas for your next decklist, and just chat generally about the format!
Of course, you can always start a new thread if you're interested in discussing one particular aspect of the format; this thread should be used for the quick thoughts and informal questions about the format.
This discussion will be ongoing; you are free to post here as long as you're on topic.
This is NOT a deck help thread. Please do not spam deck help requests.
VampireArmy says... #2
i prefer the utility of Abzan Charm Abzan Ascendancy and Rally over the 2 color versions. As i stated earlier, without an efficient way to handle Anafenza you'll get steamrolled by the more traditional abzan decks.
October 14, 2015 1:32 p.m.
@ Vampire Army What colors does the Zulaport decks you've seen run?
Now I have 18 slots opened up in my Mardu deck. The core is still Grim Haruspex + Butcher of the Horde + Bloodsoaked Champion. I am thinking of taking some inspiration from these new Zulaport decks though I won't be able to cast big Rally the Ancestors as consistently.
October 14, 2015 1:38 p.m.
Darnit I meant to ask you VampireArmy. I feel that Rally the Ancestors is a little off for Mardu and that my creatures should be able to take on aggro roles so at least be 2/2, 2/3, or 3/2 if I'm playing them on T2.
October 14, 2015 1:40 p.m.
VampireArmy says... #5
There's
BW, GB, Mardu, Abzan, and GWRB
BW and GB tend to be aggressive and relly more heavily on tusk to get through.
Mardu and abzan can be grindier and play more close to midrange.
4 color just goes nuts with butcher
October 14, 2015 1:46 p.m.
Is the 4 color version more Abzan splash 
for butcher or more Mardu splash 
for....stuff I guess?
Regardless I'll be checking out the gatherer to see what creatures I would play. I like Mardu Ascendancy over Abzan Ascendancy which means I'll probably be playing an aggro version where the P/T of my 1, 2 and 3 drops really matters.
October 14, 2015 1:50 p.m.
VampireArmy says... #7
note: im doing odd things.
I play Smothering Abomination over Grim
I play 2 maindeck Sorin, Solemn Visitor
October 14, 2015 1:51 p.m.
VampireArmy says... #8
My Abzan : Salvation At What Cost?
4Color Who Devours better?
October 14, 2015 1:53 p.m.
Thanks i've been looking over them for a bit. In your opinion does the fact that our new spawn tokens are now 1/1s make them worth putting into a deck? I was thinking of using Carrier Thrall but I really hate the fact that he's a 2/1 instead of a 2/2. Threatening to trade with a Seeker of the Way is great but I hate that it cannot Chump scion tokens as well if I run into an Abzan Rally deck.
October 14, 2015 2:08 p.m.
VampireArmy says... #10
I don't like Carrier Thrall unless you don't have access to Blisterpod. I did test out carrier but it never felt that good to play a 2/1 that only gives you a 1/1. People don't usually trade seekers for 2/x's anyways since they'll more than likely have something for prowess anyways. I find when you're caught in a wall that stalling with Abzan Ascendancy and a sac outlet is the best idea. You go from aggro to combo because you can chump block all day long if you need to
October 14, 2015 2:15 p.m.
So I'm still undecided about just what my finished Butcher deck will look like, but I just realized with pain lands I can cast Radiant Flames for just enough to clear out pesky tokens and then bring back my Bloodsoaked Champions post combat or just Sacrifice Mardu Ascendancy and attack afterwards..
I think I prefer this over Anger of the Gods.
October 14, 2015 2:22 p.m.
VampireArmy says... #12
what's nice Bloodsoaked Champion is that when you have either ascendancy is that you can attack with him, it triggers Mardu you get your token, they block it triggers abzan you get your token, then you pay the two since him attacking counts and get him right back.
October 14, 2015 2:25 p.m.
Hm yeah when you put it like that he might be better with the Abzan Ascendancy than the Mardu one. Not sure. Either way he's good with both.
Oh and R.I.P. Spirit of the Labyrinth. Such good aggro for the Ascendancy and stomping Sphinx's Tutelage was always great to.
October 14, 2015 2:28 p.m.
Standard is so fucked up right now. White has the best removal spells: Surge of Righteousness, Valorous Stance and Gideon's Reproach. Green has the best recurring engine with Den Protector and Deathmist Raptor (nice try Erebos's Titan lol...)
October 15, 2015 4:43 a.m.
kengiczar it probably is in standard, but for older formats, I'm gonna have to stick with Electrickery, Pyroclasm, and good old anger cuz of exile...
October 15, 2015 8:21 a.m.
SpringingTiger says... #16
Putrefy, black and red have good removal spells, too. Here's a list of some of the black and red removal spells that made the Top 8 of at least one of the SCG Opens the past two weekends: Ultimate Price, Ruinous Path, Foul-Tongue Invocation, Murderous Cut, Ob Nixilis Reignited, Self-Inflicted Wound, Wild Slash, Fiery Impulse, Draconic Roar, Roast, Exquisite Firecraft, and Kolaghan's Command.
October 15, 2015 11:47 a.m.
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/4-color-coco-deck/
please check it out, it is a fun build focusing on everything but black!
October 15, 2015 1:43 p.m.
Caravaneer546 says... #19
I'm currently trying to finish up a build of Naya allies, using the green mana elf who just so happens to also be an ally, Sylvan Scrying, and Tajuru Warcaller as my current green cards.
October 15, 2015 3:34 p.m.
Forget Jeskai black! I'm trying out a midrange strategy... not sure how it's going to work out, but I'm going to try.
October 15, 2015 6:34 p.m.
Gorgosaurusrex says... #21
I'm trying to make a Noyan Dar, Roil Shaper/Jeskai Ascendancy combo deck work... With little success :/
My other brew is a 5 color deck with Siege Rhino, Woodland Wanderer, Dragonlord Ojutai, and Bring to Light. I can't seem to get it right either.
October 15, 2015 7:04 p.m.
Mandalorian says... #22
Mortem I'm right there with you. I tried jeskai black and hated it. Went back to midrange and have won two tournaments in a row. It's much more consistent a powerful without having to worry about the splash.
Gorgosaurusrex, Woodland Wanderer would be bad for a Bring to Light deck because you cast him for zero colors with Bring to Light
October 15, 2015 9:40 p.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #23
I've been testing a Bant Dragons deck, been doing pretty well. Worst matches on Trice have sadly been Sphinx's Tutelage decks.
What other enchantments are there in Standard Bant colors that would warrant sideboard enchantment removal?
October 15, 2015 11:15 p.m.
Mandalorian says... #24
Bant deck having issues with enchantments? But you have Dromoka's Command
October 16, 2015 12:10 a.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #25
I have since removed Dromoka's Command. It didn't provide enough utility with so few creatures, and was replaced with more dragons to fill the count (you were right about that). I'm considering a pair of sided D-Commands, but only if there are other relevant threats other than Tutelage.
October 16, 2015 12:35 a.m.
My Triple A [Allies] deck did well in its first tournament except for against Mill decks.
That damn Sphinx's Tutelage.
I have added Utter End to the Sideboard, so we'll see how that goes.
October 16, 2015 12:41 a.m.
Mandalorian says... #27
As far as enchantments other than tutelage, there is Stasis Snare, Silkwrap, any of the Ascendancies, Sigil of the Empty Throne, Evolutionary Leap, Mastery of the Unseen.
I just run 2 Fate Forgotten in the side since it doubles as enchantment removal and efficient Hangarback removal.
October 16, 2015 12:46 a.m. Edited.
ducttapedeckbox says... #28
Argeaux I've seriously considered a Cranial Archive just because it's so frustrating to lose to that card. I actually played against an extremely efficient list earlier that ran all of the "When X dies, draw 1/2 card(s)" creatures, Bone Splinters, etc., and destroyed me. The guy even missed over a dozen triggers over our two games and still shat on me.
Mandalorian, I think I'll end up doing that. Although Stasis Snare is also nice Hangarback removal. I had one player Utter End my Snare in attempt to get his Hangarback back... That was a funny moment. Any thoughts on what to remove in my current sideboard?
October 16, 2015 12:52 a.m.
asasinater13 says... #29
Cranial Archive isn't bad against Jace, Vryn's Prodigy Flip decks and is also not terrible against the aristocrat decks or rally the ancestor decks. I think it's pretty legitimate sideboard tech right now.
October 16, 2015 1:42 a.m.
In a deck I was running after Origins came out I had both Cranial Archive and Orbs of Warding.
They both worked a treat against Sphinx's Tutelage and the like.
This build I'm going with Utter End in the Sideboard as it can also deal with Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger, which a lot of Mill decks run.
Together with Crackling Doom it gives me options to remove pesky Enchantments, Artifacts, Indestructible, and Hexproof Creatures.
I suggested Fate Forgotten for my partner's Sideboard as he's playing Control. Love that card.
Mind you, if Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger drops early enough you are pretty much screwed, due to his casting ability.
Sometimes for the second and third games I just throw my whole Sideboard into my deck. That gives me a bit longer to draw stuff before I am milled out. Surprisingly it does often work.
October 16, 2015 2:38 a.m.
Do not think Cranial Archive is a way to beat Jace, Vryn's Prodigy Flip. They will blow you out while you spend 2 turns trying to stop their Jace flipping for 1. Cranial Archive is basically only good against Tutalage decks, which I don't feel make up a large enough part of the metagane to sideboard for.
October 16, 2015 8:21 a.m.
One thing Cranial Archive can do once Jace, Telepath Unbound is on the field is take cards out of your Opponent's graveyard for a while.
I'm not saying it's the best thing to play against a Jace, but it's not completely useless.
October 16, 2015 8:29 a.m.
SpringingTiger says... #33
You can crack a Cranial Archive in response to Jace, Telepath Unbound's -3.
October 16, 2015 9:15 a.m.
But I can't imagine you'd ever want to board in Cranial Archive just for Jace. If you're going to bring it in it will require more targets.
October 16, 2015 11:30 a.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #35
I agree, tooTimid, Cranial Archive is primarily for Sphinx's Tutelage decks. It's not useless against JaceVP, but not something I'd board in just for him.
October 16, 2015 11:36 a.m.
Gorgosaurusrex says... #36
Mandalorian: I know that, which is why I wouldn't cast Woodland Wanderer with Bring to Light. I'd rather grab a Rhino or Ojutai in most cases anyway. Woodland Wanderer is a 6/6 with vigilance and trample for 4 mana in my deck, which I'm happy with.
October 16, 2015 11:51 a.m.
asasinater13 says... #37
jace deck also have dig through times. I think it's worth considering Cranial Archive depending on what other sideboard cards a person has in the matchup. I wouldn't include it in my sideboard because of jace, but I would know that it's good against him.
also don't forget Cranial Archive stop Rally the Ancestors decks, which are seeing some fringe play. a card that stops an otherwise difficult engine (tutelage) and also stops one of controls best cards, while being good against fringe decks you don't want to dedicate a slot to but would be happy to have hate for (rally) is pretty solid to consider.
October 16, 2015 2:32 p.m.
Mandalorian says... #38
Before Cranial Archive there was a better card for that effect with Tormod's Crypt and very few felt the need to play that to beat Jace or Rally so I don't see why people would start looking at a card like Cranial Archive now.
October 16, 2015 2:49 p.m. Edited.
TheNextRedDude says... #39
What cards work well and poorly against 5 color, seeing as it's pretty popular.
October 16, 2015 3:40 p.m.
asasinater13 says... #40
Cranial Archive replaces itself, so it's much better than Tormod's Crypt (see Relic of Progenitus vs Tormod's Crypt in modern). The added utility against Sphinx's Tutelage is also pretty good. it could totally be a meta call for people, but if there's like a tutelage and a rally deck in your group the card is worth considering.
October 16, 2015 11:18 p.m.
Just to highlight something else: Cranial Archive shuts down Ally decks who rely on March from the Tomb to replenish their field (just about all of them).
I know that I hate my Allies leaving my graveyard.
I think we're all pretty much in agreement that you would only put it in your Sideboard in response to your local meta, though.
October 17, 2015 3:10 a.m.
Just saw we had a standard discussion thread and figured I'd get involved.
I'll start off by saying I've been at work all day and haven't had a chance to watch the first day of the pro, and have no idea if the meta has changed.
What I've been playing is 5c control, only splashing red for Exert Influence. I'm running three in the main board, and the card is dirty. You play it at the right time, and you win the game on the spot. There's no coming back from the tempo boost it gives you.
If you watch competitive magic streams, or read articles, you'll know about "the squeeze". This is like, the ultimate form of it. Either they play their threat and get it stolen, or they play worse threats and save removal, and you win on tempo. It's fantastic. And don't even get me started on how well it works with Jace.
I'll post a deck list in a few days if there's interest.
October 17, 2015 9:34 p.m.
Mandalorian says... #44
October 17, 2015 10:29 p.m.
Not at all a fan of Radiant Purge. People can plan for it and play around it with Rhino, Wingmate Roc, and a ton of other stuff.
October 17, 2015 11:08 p.m.
deathtouch_roadrunner says... #46
I've having loads of fun with my deck: Wealthy Renewal, but I'm a little concerned about the format overall. It seems suddenly much more expensive ($$$) and much less diverse than the Theros-Khans-Origins format that proceeded it.
October 18, 2015 2:31 a.m.
Yeah, I agree that things don't feel very diverse right now.
Watching the Pro Tour right now and most of the decks have been played since Khans, with a few changes.
Artarka Red, Esper Dragons, Dark Jeskai.
Only one that seems fresh to me is the UB Aristocrats.
October 18, 2015 2:52 p.m.
PT final is going to be Jeskai vs Abzan. PT final 1 year ago was Jeskai vs Abzan. That alone shows how strong and powerful KTK was and still is.
October 18, 2015 3:17 p.m.
Sometimes I think the only thing that could take down Siege Rhino is Scyther. Oh wait... Scyther is just the Pokemon version of Mantis Rider...Jungle decks favored cheaper spells that can hit hard and fast..like Jeskai. Oh my god it's a conspiracy!
All kidding aside I am always perfectly fine with Jeskai fighting for #1 vs Abzan, even if I prefer Mardu more. I guess you could say that Jeskai is my #2 team. : )
October 18, 2015 3:23 p.m.
Yeah I'm Mardu with Jeskai second.
Let's face it, BFZ has just made it easier to go back to playing tri instead of dual colour decks.
AndWelcomeToTheJam says... #1
Ah, gotcha. I've been seeing a lot of Zulaport decks popping up. I just playtested my Golgari one against Orzhov Allies, and the game just took FOREVER.
October 14, 2015 1:29 p.m.