What's SOI Standard Like?
Standard forum
Posted on June 23, 2016, 4:10 p.m. by ducttapedeckbox
I haven't played Standard for a while, and it's the only constructed format that I'll have paper access to over the next two months. What does the format look like right now?
From the looks of the MTGTop8 stats, the format is dominantly white aggro with maybe green and some blue splash. Is this true at the general FNM level as well?
Ideally I'd like to avoid building an aggro deck and maintain a rather tight budget, but I realize that this is highly unlikely. I'd be willing to put more towards a midrange or control deck. So, other than the looks of the format in general, what archetype(s) should I look at? Am I stuck turning dudes sideways?
ducttapedeckbox says... #3
I'm pretty much in the same boat, DrFunk27. Don't care much for standard, just want a deck to play and hopefully do decently well at FNM.
June 23, 2016 4:51 p.m.
GoldGhost012 says... #4
I haven't gone as much as I've wanted to, but my LGS is always a bit more diverse. Of course there's the White Humans, G/W tokens, and Company decks, but I've seen BR control, Jund midrange, Blue control, Naya Dragons, Season's Past, and W/B control.
I've been having fun jamming Blue Brains, at least until the rest of my Blue Prison deck comes in.
June 23, 2016 4:58 p.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #5
Is that the deck from MTGGoldfish GoldGhost012?
I just brewed up BR Control. Kinda budgeted DrFunk's lists (no Kalitas or Nahiri for me).
June 23, 2016 5:01 p.m.
ducttapedeckbox I wouldn't have Nahiri myself if she wasn't so good in Modern. I figured I would try her. Honestly though, the Mono Black deck is fun. I enjoy it.
June 23, 2016 5:12 p.m.
Did you sell out of your Esper dragons list? It's still decent. Running 4 Languish main really hurts all the aggro in the format.
June 23, 2016 5:14 p.m.
I've been playing a $20 landfall/ramp deck at FNM for a while now that doesn't do too bad. I normally go 2-2 with an occasional 3-1. It's not very competitive, but it's fun to play and not a big investment. If you're interested, here's my list:
Standard Landfall
Standard*
SCORE: 2 | 5 COMMENTS | 242 VIEWS | IN 1 FOLDER
June 23, 2016 5:20 p.m.
I started this thread a bit ago to help people playtest against the best decks in the format. Would suggest you give it a look for your testing needs.
June 23, 2016 5:36 p.m.
TheRedMage says... #10
I'd take a look at this article by LSV, which gives a quick analysis of the metagame.
It is accepted that the best deck in standard at the moment is GW Tokens, with Nissa and Gideon supporting a go-wide strategy.
The second and third best deck in the format are mono-W humans and Collected Company - which exact flavor of CoCo changes from week to week, but I believe at this point in time Bant CoCo Humans is the favorite build.
Finally, the control decks in the format are BW Control and Grixis Control. BW is considered more powerful, but occasionally loses to itself. Grixis is more midrange-y and can leverage cards like Jace and Kalitas.
GW Tokens is absent from my local metagame, which means I get to run a UR Goggles Control list that is good against Mono-W. I wouldn't recommend it for as long as GW is this dominant though.
June 23, 2016 5:46 p.m. Edited.
ducttapedeckbox says... #11
I just played a few games with BR control and loved it. GDD + Mindwrack Demon is fun. Lots of flexibility.
Yes and no, TheHroth. I have (had?) a trade set up with most of the pieces but the other user has been AWOL since. Still trying to get rid of it, doubt that trade is going to go through.
Thanks for the list, Nebman227!
Thanks for the resource, Wabbbit!
Thanks for the article, TheRedMage! I just want something that doesn't fold to aggro. I'm ok losing to control as hardly anyone plays it at my lgs.
June 23, 2016 5:53 p.m.
TheRedMage says... #12
@ducttapedeckbox: If you want another sweet deck to take a look at and your priority is beating Aggro, do you want me to send my UR list over? If you are into drawing cards (I am) it's pretty sick :)
Also, my control matchup is actually pretty ok, it's specifically Tokens that is problematic. The deck is not great at facing Planeswalkers out of midrange decks.
CoCo is also fairly rough.
June 23, 2016 5:55 p.m. Edited.
ducttapedeckbox says... #13
Sure! Rather see my options now than see something I like after building something else.
June 23, 2016 5:56 p.m.
TheRedMage says... #14
@ducttapedeckbox: Here you go!
Punishing Aggro Decks Since 2013
Standard
SCORE: 1 | 1 COMMENT | 54 VIEWS
The deck sports 15 whole cheap removal spells to eliminate your opponent's threats until you eventually drop a Pyromancer's Goggles and draw a billion cards while doubling your removal spells, or just drop a Chandra and let her attack your opponent to victory. Doubling a surged Fall of the Titans also can end the game on the spot, it is not unusual that when I feel I am in control I just untap and deal 20 in a single turn.
Against control decks you are going to lose game 1 pretty much always, but the Fevered Visions backed by 5 counterspells make you much more likely to win in games 2 and 3, to the point where the game is, I think, slightly in your favor. What you don't want to see is mostly Planeswalkers out of decks where Fevered Visions won't consistently damage them, since you don't have many answers to them.
June 23, 2016 6:13 p.m. Edited.
JANKYARD_DOG says... #15
I've done decently with this in the FNM Scene so far. Have gone 2-1 couple times. Altering it minorly (more Things) but it's still not bad budget wise. Side needs changing mind you, but even the losses are fun with this because its always edge of the seat.
U/R Not Touching This
Standard
SCORE: 96 | 167 COMMENTS | 21911 VIEWS | IN 75 FOLDERS
June 23, 2016 6:40 p.m.
BW control looks like its going to be getting better with the new Thalia. End the secure the wastes defense that token decks thrive on.
June 23, 2016 10:12 p.m.
The token decks can just use that as well to even things up.
It also doesn't matter to them if Creature tokens enter tapped as they can still just sac them to flip Westvale Abbey Flip, which will be untapped because it isn't entering the field.
Then there is Declaration in Stone.
June 23, 2016 10:25 p.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #18
Thanks for the two UR sample lists guys!
What are the best ways to deal with World Breaker and a flipped Abbey? I've sided Infinite Obliterations for the Eldrazi, but what about Abbeys?
June 23, 2016 11:27 p.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #20
I've sided one, TheHroth. It'll depend on my local meta, but it doesn't seem like GR ramp is popular enough to warrant more than one maybe two. Thank you :)
DrFunk27 says... #2
I'm playing Mono Black and it's a ton of fun. I'm branching out with Mardu Mid now. Here are both of the decks. I do fairly well at FNM, but honestly it's just to play for fun. I care more about Modern and Legacy than Standard.
Mardu
Mono Black
June 23, 2016 4:16 p.m.