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Painful Bond Art by Jodie Muir

Alchemy Metagame Snapshot: Top Decks for the Week of April 7, 2022

Hello everyone! Starting with this week, we’re going to be acting upon a new initiative! We want you to have the most up to date information on the formats, and initially, we did that by providing deck guides to fill out your knowledge. However, we realized that we could still do more so we’re looking to be updating each formats tier list biweekly as well as provide analysis on the standout decks, whether they stand out for their strength, weaknesses, or they have a large change in positioning. As always, you can find the link to the complete tier lists below.

The latest rebalancing changes to Alchemy, will not likely affect the current metagame too much (if at all). There are no nerfs, and it buffs existing underplayed archetypes – Warriors and Elves tribal. It may end up becoming decent like Orzhov Venture, but still may find themselves hard to power through all the value currently manifesting in Alchemy. Let’s get into it.


This Week’s Top Performers

Undercity [card name=
Undercity Plunder Art by Mirko Failoni

Rakdos Midrange

rakdos midrange
57.1% global win rate
7.88% metagame share
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vs mono-black control
100.0% win rate
6 tracked matches
vs azorius control
86.4% win rate
22 tracked matches
vs esper control
80.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs grixis midrange
60.9% win rate
23 tracked matches
vs izzet mill
60.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs orzhov venture
60.0% win rate
10 tracked matches
vs mono-white aggro
59.4% win rate
32 tracked matches
vs other
57.1% win rate
7 tracked matches
vs naya runes
56.3% win rate
16 tracked matches
vs orzhov midrange
55.6% win rate
9 tracked matches
vs esper clerics
50.0% win rate
6 tracked matches
vs mardu midrange
50.0% win rate
16 tracked matches
vs gruul werewolves
42.9% win rate
56 tracked matches
vs rakdos sacrifice
38.2% win rate
34 tracked matches
vs mono-green aggro
0.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
Bo1 Rakdos Midrange
by DoggertQBones
Buy on TCGplayer $262.37
Alchemy
best of 1
5 mythic
44 rare
9 uncommon
2 common
0
1
2
3
4
5
6+
Instants (9)
2
Infernal Grasp
$4.58
4
Painful Bond
$0.00
1
Hagra Mauling
$0.99
Sorceries (13)
4
Molten Impact
$0.00
4
Invoke Despair
$1.96
Enchantments (6)
60 Cards
$351.88
Rakdos Midrange by martos
by DoggertQBones
Buy on TCGplayer $352.59
Alchemy
best of 3
5 mythic
44 rare
8 uncommon
3 common
0
1
2
3
4
5
6+
Instants (9)
1
Infernal Grasp
$2.29
4
Painful Bond
$0.00
1
Hagra Mauling
$0.99
Sorceries (13)
4
Molten Impact
$0.00
4
Invoke Despair
$1.96
Enchantments (6)
60 Cards
$349.98
15 Cards
$119.22

If you’ve been following Alchemy at all, this should come as no real surprise to you. Ever since Alchemy: Kamigawa came out (and arguably even before then), Rakdos has been the top dog with nothing really coming close to usurping it. The deck just has way too many powerful tools, too much card advantage, and too much power to be toppled right now.

Maybe there’s some non-Rakdos deck that can contest it, but I definitely haven’t seen it yet. The efficiency of this deck is pretty unreal and it’s very surprising there were no changed addressed in the card rebalancing. We’ll see if anything can at least challenge Rakdos in the future, but I’m certainly not holding my breath.

Rakdos Sacrifice

rakdos sacrifice
55.2% global win rate
6.63% metagame share
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vs gruul werewolves
77.8% win rate
9 tracked matches
vs izzet mill
75.0% win rate
8 tracked matches
vs mono-white aggro
71.4% win rate
28 tracked matches
vs mono-red aggro
66.7% win rate
6 tracked matches
vs rakdos midrange
61.8% win rate
34 tracked matches
vs esper clerics
60.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs jeskai hinata
60.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs orzhov venture
57.1% win rate
14 tracked matches
vs grixis midrange
56.3% win rate
16 tracked matches
vs mardu midrange
56.0% win rate
25 tracked matches
vs esper midrange
40.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs selesnya ramp
40.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs azorius control
30.8% win rate
13 tracked matches
vs naya runes
27.6% win rate
29 tracked matches
Bo1 Rakdos Sacrifice
by DoggertQBones
Buy on TCGplayer $190.35
Alchemy
best of 1
3 mythic
20 rare
12 uncommon
25 common
0
1
2
3
4
5
6+
Creatures (8)
Instants (12)
4
Voltage Surge
$1.40
4
Painful Bond
$0.00
4
Deadly Dispute
$9.96
Sorceries (3)
2
Molten Impact
$0.00
Artifacts (8)
4
Oni-Cult Anvil
$1.56
Enchantments (6)
60 Cards
$227.92
Rakdos Sacrifice
by DoggertQBones
Buy on TCGplayer $247.86
Alchemy
best of 3
3 mythic
20 rare
12 uncommon
25 common
0
1
2
3
4
5
6+
Creatures (8)
Instants (12)
4
Voltage Surge
$1.40
4
Painful Bond
$0.00
4
Deadly Dispute
$9.96
Sorceries (3)
2
Molten Impact
$0.00
Artifacts (8)
4
Oni-Cult Anvil
$1.56
Enchantments (6)
60 Cards
$227.92
15 Cards
$75.03

If you’re not a fan of Rakdos Midrange, maybe Anvil is more your speed. Anvil shares many of the same elements that the midrange deck does, but rather than leaning on interaction heavily, it looks to grind people out with Anvil. I’ve heard murmurs that Anvil has a good midrange matchup, but I’m personally not convinced as Midrange is so malleable that it can board to beat pretty much anything.

Nevertheless, Anvil is definitely a great archetype right now and if you like the play style, I think it’s a great option.

Grixis Midrange

grixis midrange
52.1% global win rate
3.83% metagame share
Powered by
vs mardu midrange
93.8% win rate
16 tracked matches
vs azorius control
70.0% win rate
10 tracked matches
vs gruul werewolves
55.6% win rate
9 tracked matches
vs izzet mill
50.0% win rate
6 tracked matches
vs mono-white aggro
45.5% win rate
22 tracked matches
vs rakdos sacrifice
43.8% win rate
16 tracked matches
vs rakdos midrange
39.1% win rate
23 tracked matches
vs orzhov venture
33.3% win rate
6 tracked matches
vs mono-red aggro
20.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
Bo1 Grixis Midrange
by DoggertQBones
Buy on TCGplayer $250.4
Alchemy
best of 1
10 mythic
39 rare
5 uncommon
6 common
0
1
2
3
4
5
6+
Planeswalkers (4)
4
Kaito Shizuki
$13.96
Instants (7)
2
Abrade
$0.78
1
Infernal Grasp
$2.29
4
Painful Bond
$0.00
Sorceries (10)
2
Duress
$0.70
4
Molten Impact
$0.00
Enchantments (4)
Lands (25)
1
Mountain
$0.35
1
Swamp
$0.35
4
Haunted Ridge
$35.96
2
Shipwreck Marsh
$13.98
60 Cards
$321.1
Grixis Midrange
by DoggertQBones
Buy on TCGplayer $368.03
Alchemy
best of 3
8 mythic
39 rare
5 uncommon
8 common
0
1
2
3
4
5
6+
Planeswalkers (4)
4
Kaito Shizuki
$13.96
Creatures (8)
Instants (8)
2
Spell Pierce
$1.58
4
Painful Bond
$0.00
1
Infernal Grasp
$2.29
1
Abrade
$0.39
Sorceries (11)
3
Duress
$1.05
4
Molten Impact
$0.00
Enchantments (4)
Lands (25)
1
Mountain
$0.35
1
Swamp
$0.35
4
Haunted Ridge
$35.96
2
Shipwreck Marsh
$13.98
60 Cards
$311.66
Sideboard
1
Mind Flayer
$0.59
2
Test of Talents
$0.78
2
Negate
$0.70
1
Abrade
$0.39
1
Duress
$0.35
1
Go Blank
$0.59
15 Cards
$161.33

Unfortunately this is where Alchemy is at right now. If you don’t want to play Rakdos, splash Blue to try and beat it! Grixis offers the same package that Rakdos does, but is a bit more teched for the mirrors than the other variants. While this is likely worse in an open field, for something like the MCQ coming up this weekend, this may be the ticket to beating through the endless Rakdos matchups you would likely find.


The Deck’s Looking To Break In / Next Best Options

Reflection of Kiki-Jiki Art by akio
Reflection of Kiki-Jiki Art by akio

Mardu Midrange

mardu midrange
55.4% global win rate
3.83% metagame share
Powered by
vs gruul werewolves
80.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs naya runes
76.9% win rate
13 tracked matches
vs azorius control
71.4% win rate
7 tracked matches
vs orzhov venture
57.1% win rate
7 tracked matches
vs mono-white aggro
52.5% win rate
40 tracked matches
vs rakdos midrange
50.0% win rate
16 tracked matches
vs rakdos sacrifice
44.0% win rate
25 tracked matches
vs izzet calamity
40.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs grixis midrange
6.3% win rate
16 tracked matches
Bo1 Mardu Midrange
by DoggertQBones
Buy on TCGplayer $332.59
Alchemy
best of 1
7 mythic
46 rare
1 uncommon
6 common
0
1
2
3
4
5
6+
Planeswalkers (6)
Creatures (5)
Instants (5)
2
Abrade
$0.78
2
Vanishing Verse
$2.58
1
Power Word Kill
$0.35
Sorceries (10)
2
Duress
$0.70
4
Molten Impact
$0.00
Enchantments (8)
60 Cards
$461.45
Mardu Midrange
by DoggertQBones
Buy on TCGplayer $472.2
Alchemy
best of 3
9 mythic
43 rare
1 uncommon
7 common
0
1
2
3
4
5
6+
Planeswalkers (6)
Creatures (7)
Instants (5)
2
Abrade
$0.78
2
Vanishing Verse
$2.58
1
Power Word Kill
$0.35
Sorceries (7)
3
Duress
$1.05
Artifacts (1)
Enchantments (8)
60 Cards
$469.77
Sideboard
2
Abrade
$0.78
1
Duress
$0.35
1
Go Blank
$0.59
2
Portable Hole
$1.98
15 Cards
$181.41

The last form of Rakdos, I promise! Rather than trying to be hyper efficient with Painful Bond, Mardu moves up the curve a bit to play a litany of Planeswalkers and more expensive threats. Although this deck is certainly powerful, I have to question how well it could match up against the Duress and Citystalker Connoisseur of Rakdos.

That said, since you’re playing a more threat dense deck, you’re going to be a bit stronger in a top deck war as well so this may match up better than it looks.

Gruul Werewolves

gruul werewolves
57.5% global win rate
8.50% metagame share
Powered by
vs orzhov midrange
92.9% win rate
14 tracked matches
vs other
85.7% win rate
7 tracked matches
vs azorius control
81.8% win rate
22 tracked matches
vs mono-black control
80.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs jeskai hinata
72.2% win rate
18 tracked matches
vs mono-white aggro
63.2% win rate
19 tracked matches
vs naya enchantments
60.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs mono-red aggro
57.1% win rate
7 tracked matches
vs rakdos midrange
57.1% win rate
56 tracked matches
vs mono-green aggro
50.0% win rate
6 tracked matches
vs boros dragons
50.0% win rate
6 tracked matches
vs grixis midrange
44.4% win rate
9 tracked matches
vs orzhov venture
33.3% win rate
6 tracked matches
vs esper clerics
28.6% win rate
7 tracked matches
vs naya runes
25.9% win rate
27 tracked matches
vs rakdos sacrifice
22.2% win rate
9 tracked matches
vs selesnya clerics
22.2% win rate
9 tracked matches
vs mardu midrange
20.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs orzhov clerics
20.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs golgari midrange
16.7% win rate
6 tracked matches
Bo1 Gruul Werewolves
by DoggertQBones
Buy on TCGplayer $128.88
Alchemy
best of 1
5 mythic
41 rare
4 uncommon
10 common
0
1
2
3
4
5
6+
Instants (2)
2
Snakeskin Veil
$0.78
Sorceries (5)
3
Molten Impact
$0.00
Enchantments (4)
4
Ranger Class
$2.76
60 Cards
$159.83
Gruul Werewolves
by DoggertQBones
Buy on TCGplayer $143.29
Alchemy
best of 3
5 mythic
41 rare
4 uncommon
10 common
0
1
2
3
4
5
6+
Instants (2)
2
Snakeskin Veil
$0.78
Sorceries (5)
3
Molten Impact
$0.00
Enchantments (4)
4
Ranger Class
$2.76
60 Cards
$159.83
15 Cards
$24.26

Now this is a welcome surprise! It seems that every deck in Alchemy right now is just an iteration of Rakdos, but in that it leaves an opportunity. If Rakdos is becoming more inbred to beat mirrors, they’re likely cutting removal. If they’re cutting removal, it’s time to race!

Werewolves is fast, powerful, and punishing to any opponent who is durdling around for too long. If Rakdos cares about aggro it’s probably going to be too difficult to win, but I can’t imagine that Rakdos could justify many slots at the moment which could mean this is an excellent time to get aggressive.

Naya Runes

naya runes
48.7% global win rate
9.02% metagame share
Powered by
vs izzet calamity
100.0% win rate
6 tracked matches
vs gruul werewolves
74.1% win rate
27 tracked matches
vs rakdos sacrifice
72.4% win rate
29 tracked matches
vs selesnya ramp
60.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs mardu sacrifice
57.1% win rate
7 tracked matches
vs azorius control
52.8% win rate
36 tracked matches
vs rakdos midrange
43.8% win rate
16 tracked matches
vs jeskai mill
40.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs esper clerics
33.3% win rate
6 tracked matches
vs jeskai hinata
33.3% win rate
18 tracked matches
vs mono-white aggro
32.0% win rate
50 tracked matches
vs izzet control
30.0% win rate
10 tracked matches
vs mardu midrange
23.1% win rate
13 tracked matches
vs orzhov venture
15.8% win rate
19 tracked matches
Bo1 Naya Runes
by DoggertQBones
Buy on TCGplayer $137.03
Alchemy
best of 1
0 mythic
35 rare
19 uncommon
6 common
0
1
2
3
4
5
6+
Creatures (16)
Sorceries (4)
Enchantments (18)
2
Rune of Speed
$0.70
4
Rune of Might
$1.40
3
Ranger Class
$2.07
60 Cards
$175.24
Naya Runes
by DoggertQBones
Buy on TCGplayer $178.38
Alchemy
best of 3
0 mythic
35 rare
19 uncommon
6 common
0
1
2
3
4
5
6+
Creatures (16)
Sorceries (4)
Enchantments (18)
2
Rune of Speed
$0.70
4
Rune of Might
$1.40
3
Ranger Class
$2.07
60 Cards
$175.24
15 Cards
$58.59

In a similar vein to Werewolves, if Rakdos is becoming less about interaction, Runes could make a comeback. The deck has a great ability to grind, and although it’s not as efficient as Rakdos, can be significantly faster to catch opponents off guard. If you play a heavily Rakdos teched version like this one maxing out on value enchantments, I could definitely see this being a reasonable answer in a field of inbred Rakdos decks.

Izzet Mill

izzet mill
43.9% global win rate
1.66% metagame share
Powered by
vs grixis midrange
50.0% win rate
6 tracked matches
vs mono-white aggro
50.0% win rate
10 tracked matches
vs rakdos midrange
40.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs rakdos sacrifice
25.0% win rate
8 tracked matches
Bo1 Izzet Mill
by DoggertQBones
Buy on TCGplayer $122.88
Alchemy
best of 1
0 mythic
33 rare
13 uncommon
14 common
0
1
2
3
4
5
6+
Instants (25)
2
Abrade
$0.78
4
Invoke Calamity
$3.16
Sorceries (13)
4
Molten Impact
$0.00
Lands (22)
3
Island
$1.05
5
Mountain
$1.75
60 Cards
$115.15
7 Cards
$3.41
Izzet Mill
by DoggertQBones
Buy on TCGplayer $130.35
Alchemy
best of 3
0 mythic
33 rare
13 uncommon
14 common
0
1
2
3
4
5
6+
Instants (25)
2
Abrade
$0.78
4
Invoke Calamity
$3.16
Sorceries (13)
4
Molten Impact
$0.00
Lands (22)
3
Island
$1.05
5
Mountain
$1.75
60 Cards
$115.15
15 Cards
$16.35

By playing Painful Bond, you want your curve to be really low to make the best use of it. What card also likes decks with low curves? Tasha's Hideous Laughter! Mill could be a great way to game this meta as a copied Laughter could deal some serious deck damage to any Rakdos opponent and is definitely worth a consideration right now.

There’s a lot of different iterations of Mill right now, but I like avoiding Ruin Crab for now and focusing solely on Laughing the opponent to death. Furthermore, since Rakdos isn’t a particularly fast deck, you’ll have a good amount of time to set up a combo and ideally kill them in one fell swoop!


Decklists in this Article

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DoggertQBones
DoggertQBones

Robert "DoggertQBones" Lee is the content manager of MTGAZone and a high ranked Arena player. He has one GP Top 8 and pioneered popular archetypes like UB 8 Shark, UB Yorion, and GW Company in Historic. Beyond Magic, his passions are writing and coaching! Join our community on
Twitch and Discord.

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