The Innistrad Championship got underway this morning and ran throughout the full day, with some of the world’s best Magic players battling through seven rounds of Swiss competition – three rounds of Standard, and three rounds of Historic. This championship is notable for being the first event of the 2021-22 MTG pro season, as well as the first professional tournament since Standard rotation and the first major tournament of any kind to feature the Historic format since October.
Yesterday, we examined the Standard and Historic metagame of the Innistrad Championship, so be sure to check it out through the link below if you missed it:
Now, the first day of competition is behind us, and the Swiss rounds are just under halfway through. Tomorrow, play will resume with four more rounds of Historic and four more rounds of Standard, culminating with a Top 8 Historic playoff on Sunday.
After today’s rounds, we still have two players, Tim MacSaveny and Christian Hauck, who are 7-0 undefeated. Yuta Takahashi, the reigning world champion, managed to go most of the day undefeated but is now trailing just behind in fourth place at 6-1. The rest of the Top 16 is currently determined by tiebreakers, as the players in the positions 3-16 all stand together at 6-1.
By the end of the day tomorrow, we’ll know the final Top 8 players who will advance to the finals, but for now, we’re going to take a look at the Day 1 results and see what decks the players have managed to take to an early lead.
Find coverage from Day 2 here:
Innistrad Championship: Day 1 Standings Rank Player Historic Deck Standard Deck Overall Record1 Tim MacSaveny Dimir Control Mono Green Aggro 7-0 2 Christian Hauck Selesnya Humans Mono Green Aggro 7-0 3 Tristan Wylde-LaRue Izzet Phoenix Izzet Epiphany 6-1 4 Yuta Takahashi Izzet Phoenix Izzet Epiphany 6-1 5 Riku Kumagai Golgari Food Izzet Epiphany 6-1 6 Toru Kono Golgari Food Izzet Epiphany 6-1 7 Shahar Shenhar Rakdos Arcanist Izzet Dragons 6-1 8 Stefan Schütz Izzet Phoenix Mono Green Aggro 6-1 9 Sam Rolph Jeskai Creativity Dimir Control 6-1 10 Luca Moretti Jund Citadel Izzet Epiphany 6-1 11 Zachary Kiihne Izzet Phoenix Izzet Epiphany 6-1 12 Kai Budde Rakdos Arcanist Izzet Epiphany 6-1 13 William Jensen Rakdos Arcanist Izzet Epiphany 6-1 14 Raphaël Lévy Mono Red Madness Mono Black Control 6-1 15 Yuuki Ichikawa Golgari Food Izzet Epiphany 6-1 16 Atushi Fujita Heliod Company Mono White Aggro 6-1
In Standard, ten of the Top 16 decks are Izzet, with nine of those being the Izzet Epiphany archetype specifically. Out of those remaining, three of the players brought Mono Green, just one managed to scrape by into 16th place with Mono White, and there are a couple of outliers in the form of Dimir Control and Mono Black Control.
izzet turns
52.2% global win rate
16.56% metagame share
vs mono-white humans
100.0% win rate
6 tracked matches
vs sultai control
90.0% win rate
10 tracked matches
vs grixis dragons
87.5% win rate
8 tracked matches
vs rakdos control
87.5% win rate
8 tracked matches
vs naya humans
85.7% win rate
7 tracked matches
vs izzet tempo
83.3% win rate
6 tracked matches
vs golgari aggro
83.3% win rate
6 tracked matches
vs orzhov control
83.3% win rate
30 tracked matches
vs dimir tempo
80.0% win rate
10 tracked matches
vs orzhov sacrifice
80.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs boros humans
80.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs mono-red aggro
73.1% win rate
26 tracked matches
vs golgari control
73.0% win rate
37 tracked matches
vs naya werewolves
71.4% win rate
7 tracked matches
vs mardu midrange
71.4% win rate
14 tracked matches
vs selesnya burn
71.4% win rate
7 tracked matches
vs rakdos sacrifice
71.4% win rate
7 tracked matches
vs azorius aggro
70.0% win rate
10 tracked matches
vs mono-black control
69.9% win rate
156 tracked matches
vs jeskai control
69.8% win rate
43 tracked matches
vs orzhov midrange
69.2% win rate
240 tracked matches
vs selesnya humans
68.9% win rate
45 tracked matches
vs dimir rogues
68.8% win rate
16 tracked matches
vs esper tempo
68.4% win rate
19 tracked matches
vs mono-black aggro
67.6% win rate
37 tracked matches
vs mono-black zombies
67.4% win rate
43 tracked matches
vs 5c treasures
66.7% win rate
6 tracked matches
vs selesnya ramp
66.7% win rate
60 tracked matches
vs boros aggro
66.7% win rate
60 tracked matches
vs izzet delver
66.7% win rate
33 tracked matches
vs rakdos treasures
64.0% win rate
25 tracked matches
vs naya aggro
63.6% win rate
22 tracked matches
vs orzhov clerics
62.7% win rate
51 tracked matches
vs temur epiphany
62.5% win rate
8 tracked matches
vs gruul tokens
62.5% win rate
8 tracked matches
vs grixis control
62.1% win rate
66 tracked matches
vs bant ramp
61.5% win rate
65 tracked matches
vs simic ramp
60.7% win rate
28 tracked matches
vs azorius control
60.6% win rate
175 tracked matches
vs esper epiphany
60.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs mardu clerics
60.0% win rate
10 tracked matches
vs dimir zombies
60.0% win rate
15 tracked matches
vs mono red aggro
60.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs grixis turns
59.4% win rate
212 tracked matches
vs dimir control
59.3% win rate
312 tracked matches
vs rakdos midrange
58.3% win rate
48 tracked matches
vs jeskai epiphany
58.3% win rate
12 tracked matches
vs azorius tempo
57.4% win rate
54 tracked matches
vs izzet dragons ️
57.3% win rate
641 tracked matches
vs abzan counters
57.1% win rate
7 tracked matches
vs bant aggro
57.1% win rate
14 tracked matches
vs golgari midrange
55.6% win rate
18 tracked matches
vs naya ramp
53.8% win rate
13 tracked matches
vs izzet control
53.1% win rate
98 tracked matches
vs abzan midrange
52.9% win rate
17 tracked matches
vs esper control
51.0% win rate
98 tracked matches
vs sultai midrange
50.0% win rate
110 tracked matches
vs mono-white aggro
49.8% win rate
1540 tracked matches
vs rakdos vampires
49.4% win rate
79 tracked matches
vs jund werewolves
46.7% win rate
15 tracked matches
vs selesnya aggro
45.8% win rate
24 tracked matches
vs mono blue tempo
45.7% win rate
35 tracked matches
vs orzhov tempo
45.5% win rate
44 tracked matches
vs naya midrange
45.0% win rate
20 tracked matches
vs temur aggro
43.2% win rate
271 tracked matches
vs rakdos aggro
42.9% win rate
7 tracked matches
vs orzhov aggro
42.9% win rate
7 tracked matches
vs gruul aggro
42.9% win rate
42 tracked matches
vs jund midrange
42.3% win rate
324 tracked matches
vs mono-green aggro
42.2% win rate
1786 tracked matches
vs gruul werewolves
37.7% win rate
106 tracked matches
vs dimir delver
33.3% win rate
9 tracked matches
vs mardu fury
33.3% win rate
9 tracked matches
vs orzhov zombies
33.3% win rate
6 tracked matches
vs rakdos tokens
33.3% win rate
6 tracked matches
vs simic aggro
25.0% win rate
20 tracked matches
vs grixis treasures
20.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs mono-black midrange
20.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs temur werewolves
0.0% win rate
7 tracked matches
Izzet Epiphany has been a dominant deck in the competitive Standard meta since the World Championship XXVII and even before, so it’s really not a surprise to see how well the archetype is doing here. We’ll have to see if the Izzet players continue to outperform their competition, and if so, if Wizards of the Coast might finally take action against the deck.
If there is a surprise to be found in Standard, it’s the near-absence of Mono White decks in the Top 16. Mono White has been doing fairly well in the Standard tournament scene as a deck that gets under both Izzet and Mono Green, the format’s other top aggro shell. Mono White also got one of the strongest cards in Crimson Vow, Thalia, Guardian of Thraben . It’s not too late for Mono White to shine, but the Green and Izzet decks are outperforming them at this stage.
mono-white aggro
54% global win rate
14.28% metagame share
vs selesnya blink
100.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs esper epiphany
100.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs jund control
100.0% win rate
6 tracked matches
vs izzet mill
100.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs bant aggro
84.6% win rate
13 tracked matches
vs mardu midrange
84.6% win rate
13 tracked matches
vs mono-white humans
80.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs simic tempo
80.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs mono blue tempo
78.6% win rate
14 tracked matches
vs bant ramp
78.6% win rate
28 tracked matches
vs rakdos treasures
77.8% win rate
9 tracked matches
vs naya ramp
76.9% win rate
13 tracked matches
vs selesnya aggro
75.0% win rate
8 tracked matches
vs naya aggro
75.0% win rate
20 tracked matches
vs gruul aggro
75.0% win rate
28 tracked matches
vs dimir rogues
73.1% win rate
26 tracked matches
vs rakdos sacrifice
69.2% win rate
13 tracked matches
vs dimir zombies
68.8% win rate
16 tracked matches
vs naya midrange
66.7% win rate
6 tracked matches
vs mono-white control
66.7% win rate
6 tracked matches
vs jeskai aggro
66.7% win rate
6 tracked matches
vs azorius tempo
66.7% win rate
30 tracked matches
vs simic ramp
65.4% win rate
26 tracked matches
vs dimir tempo
64.7% win rate
17 tracked matches
vs selesnya humans
63.8% win rate
58 tracked matches
vs temur ramp
62.5% win rate
8 tracked matches
vs mardu vampires
60.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs rakdos control
60.0% win rate
15 tracked matches
vs selesnya midrange
60.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs golgari control
60.0% win rate
20 tracked matches
vs mono-green aggro
59.1% win rate
1539 tracked matches
vs mono-red aggro
58.3% win rate
24 tracked matches
vs esper control
58.1% win rate
86 tracked matches
vs dimir control
57.8% win rate
249 tracked matches
vs rakdos midrange
57.5% win rate
40 tracked matches
vs temur werewolves
57.1% win rate
7 tracked matches
vs simic aggro
56.5% win rate
23 tracked matches
vs izzet delver
56.3% win rate
16 tracked matches
vs grixis dragons
55.6% win rate
9 tracked matches
vs boros aggro
55.1% win rate
49 tracked matches
vs sultai midrange
54.9% win rate
71 tracked matches
vs azorius control
54.7% win rate
139 tracked matches
vs mono-black control
53.3% win rate
137 tracked matches
vs orzhov control
53.1% win rate
49 tracked matches
vs golgari midrange
52.9% win rate
17 tracked matches
vs temur aggro
52.3% win rate
260 tracked matches
vs izzet control
52.0% win rate
75 tracked matches
vs izzet dragons ️
51.4% win rate
591 tracked matches
vs gruul werewolves
51.3% win rate
76 tracked matches
vs orzhov clerics
50.9% win rate
55 tracked matches
vs izzet turns
50.2% win rate
1540 tracked matches
vs grixis turns
50.0% win rate
198 tracked matches
vs esper tempo
50.0% win rate
14 tracked matches
vs orzhov aggro
50.0% win rate
12 tracked matches
vs grixis control
48.8% win rate
41 tracked matches
vs selesnya ramp
48.0% win rate
50 tracked matches
vs jund werewolves
47.4% win rate
19 tracked matches
vs jund midrange
47.2% win rate
305 tracked matches
vs sultai control
45.5% win rate
11 tracked matches
vs rakdos vampires
45.5% win rate
77 tracked matches
vs orzhov tempo
43.5% win rate
23 tracked matches
vs naya werewolves
42.9% win rate
7 tracked matches
vs mono-black aggro
42.9% win rate
49 tracked matches
vs temur epiphany
42.9% win rate
7 tracked matches
vs grixis treasures
40.0% win rate
10 tracked matches
vs mono-black zombies
40.0% win rate
40 tracked matches
vs golgari planeswalkers
40.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs naya humans
40.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs orzhov midrange
38.4% win rate
177 tracked matches
vs abzan midrange
36.4% win rate
22 tracked matches
vs jeskai epiphany
36.4% win rate
11 tracked matches
vs jeskai control
33.3% win rate
30 tracked matches
vs izzet tempo
33.3% win rate
9 tracked matches
vs mardu fury
33.3% win rate
15 tracked matches
vs rakdos tokens
12.5% win rate
8 tracked matches
Meanwhile, the Historic Top 16 is looking significantly more diverse. Golgari Sacrifice decks, an evolution of Jund based on the Food synergies between Trail of Crumbs , Gilded Goose , Cauldron Familiar , and friends, are looking quite good along with Izzet Phoenix – an old Historic staple – and Rakdos Arcanist. However, it’s a Dimir Control list and Selesnya Humans that stand with our remaining undefeated players.
golgari food
51.9% global win rate
7.94% metagame share
vs orzhov aristocrats
100.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs izzet turns
90.9% win rate
11 tracked matches
vs gruul aggro
87.5% win rate
8 tracked matches
vs bant turbo-fog
80.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs selesnya humans
64.7% win rate
51 tracked matches
vs rakdos arcanist
61.8% win rate
34 tracked matches
vs bant blink (yorion)
60.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs bant company
60.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs dimir control
60.0% win rate
10 tracked matches
vs jeskai control
54.8% win rate
31 tracked matches
vs jund food
53.3% win rate
30 tracked matches
vs orzhov auras
50.0% win rate
6 tracked matches
vs five-color niv-mizzet
50.0% win rate
12 tracked matches
vs izzet phoenix
50.0% win rate
74 tracked matches
vs jund citadel
46.7% win rate
15 tracked matches
vs azorius artifacts
44.4% win rate
9 tracked matches
vs jeskai creativity
42.9% win rate
28 tracked matches
vs jeskai lotus field
40.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs azorius auras
36.4% win rate
11 tracked matches
vs mono-red goblins
35.7% win rate
14 tracked matches
vs heliod company
35.6% win rate
59 tracked matches
vs azorius lotus field
35.3% win rate
17 tracked matches
vs dragonstorm
33.3% win rate
6 tracked matches
vs izzet creativity
28.6% win rate
7 tracked matches
vs selesnya enchantress
27.3% win rate
11 tracked matches
vs bant angels
18.2% win rate
11 tracked matches
vs grixis combo
16.7% win rate
6 tracked matches
izzet phoenix
53.7% global win rate
11.19% metagame share
vs esper control
100.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs bant angels
83.3% win rate
6 tracked matches
vs mono-red goblins
81.8% win rate
11 tracked matches
vs mono-red aggro
80.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs azorius control
75.0% win rate
12 tracked matches
vs azorius lotus field
71.4% win rate
14 tracked matches
vs bant blink (yorion)
66.7% win rate
12 tracked matches
vs dimir control
64.7% win rate
17 tracked matches
vs five-color niv-mizzet
62.5% win rate
32 tracked matches
vs jund food
62.1% win rate
58 tracked matches
vs jeskai control
61.8% win rate
55 tracked matches
vs izzet creativity
61.5% win rate
26 tracked matches
vs gruul aggro
61.5% win rate
13 tracked matches
vs orzhov death's shadow
60.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs rakdos arcanist
56.8% win rate
37 tracked matches
vs azorius artifacts
54.5% win rate
11 tracked matches
vs dragonstorm
53.3% win rate
15 tracked matches
vs jund citadel
52.2% win rate
23 tracked matches
vs heliod company
50.6% win rate
85 tracked matches
vs golgari food
50.0% win rate
74 tracked matches
vs selesnya humans
45.5% win rate
88 tracked matches
vs azorius auras
45.2% win rate
31 tracked matches
vs mono-red madness
42.9% win rate
14 tracked matches
vs jeskai creativity
40.0% win rate
20 tracked matches
vs dimir pact
40.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs simic merfolk
40.0% win rate
15 tracked matches
vs izzet turns
38.5% win rate
26 tracked matches
vs jeskai lotus field
33.3% win rate
9 tracked matches
vs grixis combo
30.0% win rate
10 tracked matches
vs selesnya enchantress
20.0% win rate
20 tracked matches
rakdos arcanist
55.9% global win rate
2.92% metagame share
vs jeskai control
82.4% win rate
17 tracked matches
vs jund citadel
77.8% win rate
9 tracked matches
vs mono-red madness
77.8% win rate
9 tracked matches
vs selesnya humans
76.7% win rate
30 tracked matches
vs azorius auras
70.0% win rate
10 tracked matches
vs azorius control
66.7% win rate
6 tracked matches
vs izzet turns
54.5% win rate
11 tracked matches
vs heliod company
52.2% win rate
23 tracked matches
vs five-color niv-mizzet
50.0% win rate
8 tracked matches
vs izzet phoenix
43.2% win rate
37 tracked matches
vs jund food
40.0% win rate
20 tracked matches
vs golgari food
38.2% win rate
34 tracked matches
vs jeskai creativity
37.5% win rate
8 tracked matches
vs selesnya enchantress
25.0% win rate
8 tracked matches
We’ve collected all of the Standard and Historic decks from our Top 16 players as of the end of day one; check them out below. We’ll be back tomorrow with continuing coverage of the Innistrad Championship, and you can check out the live coverage starting again tomorrow and on Sunday at 9:00 am Pacific over on twitch.tv/magic .
Top 8 Day One Historic Decklists
Historic Dimir Control by Tim MacSaveny
by Paul
Historic
Control
best of 3
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Historic Selesnya Humans by Christian Hauck
by Paul
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Izzet Phoenix by Tristan Wylde-LaRue
by Paul
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Historic Izzet Phoenix by Yuta Takahashi
by Paul
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Historic Golgari Food by Riku Kumagai
by Paul
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Historic Golgari Food by Toru Kono
by Paul
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Midrange
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Historic Rakdos Arcanist by Shahar Shenhar
by Paul
Historic
Midrange
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Historic Izzet Phoenix by Stefan Schütz
by Paul
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Top 8 Day One Standard Decklists
Mono Green Aggro by Tim MacSaveny
by Paul
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Mono Green Aggro by Christian Hauck
by Paul
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Izzet Epiphany by Tristan Wylde-LaRue
by Paul
Standard
Control
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Izzet Epiphany by Yuta Takahashi
by Paul
Standard
Control
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Izzet Epiphany by Riku Kumagai
by Paul
Standard
Control
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Izzet Epiphany by Toru Kono
by Paul
Standard
Control
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Izzet Dragons by Shahar Shenhar
by Paul
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Mono Green Aggro by Stefan Schütz
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