Core Set 2020 Standard Decks Day 1 – What’s Hot

What are players brewing in Core Set 2020 (M20) Standard after the first day of Core Set 2020 release? Tribal decks, Affinity, and updates to current archetypes!

Core Set 2020 has now been released for more than 24 hours, and while we have been playing some Sealed Events, many players are working on exciting breakthrough decks for the new Core Set 2020 (M20) Standard format. Today we round up some interesting decklists that have been showcased so far!

Elementals

Players are most excited about Risen Reef, which is a powerful card advantage engine not hosed by Narset, Parter of Veils. Here’s a sample decklist that is a good starting point (source: Logan Powell).

4 Scorch Spitter (M20) 159
4 Creeping Trailblazer (M20) 207
4 Runaway Steam-Kin (GRN) 115
4 Thunderkin Awakener (M20) 162
4 Living Twister (WAR) 203
4 Risen Reef (M20) 217
4 Scampering Scorcher (M20) 158
2 Omnath, Locus of the Roil (M20) 216
2 Sylvan Awakening (DAR) 183
1 Multani, Yavimaya's Avatar (DAR) 174
3 Chandra, Acolyte of Flame (M20) 126
4 Unclaimed Territory (XLN) 258
4 Steam Vents (GRN) 257
4 Sulfur Falls (DAR) 247
4 Stomping Ground (RNA) 259
4 Rootbound Crag (XLN) 256
4 Breeding Pool (RNA) 246

Vampires

There are already some effective Vampires in Standard like Legion’s Landing, Adanto Vanguard, Skymarcher Aspirant, Cruel Celebrant and Legion Lieutenant. Sorin also lets us cheat any Vampire in, which is always a great ability. An aggressive strategy is the best bet for this tribe (similar to Merfolks) with some removal spells mixed in, as Vampires lack strong late game options. Brad Nelson had a 18-3 record with this decklist during his stream in BO1:

4 Adanto Vanguard (XLN) 1
7 Plains (XLN) 261
3 Legion's Landing (XLN) 22
2 Prison Realm (WAR) 26
4 Dusk Legion Zealot (RIX) 70
5 Swamp (XLN) 269
4 Champion of Dusk (RIX) 64
4 Call to the Feast (XLN) 219
4 Legion Lieutenant (RIX) 163
4 Godless Shrine (RNA) 248
4 Isolated Chapel (DAR) 241
2 Mavren Fein, Dusk Apostle (XLN) 24
2 Cast Down (DAR) 81
4 Temple of Silence (M20) 256
4 Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord (M20) 115
2 Vona, Butcher of Magan (XLN) 231
1 Despark (WAR) 190

Goblins

Goblin Ringleader is an exceptionally powerful card in formats like Legacy, but can Standard support it? We already have access to some good ones like Goblin Chainwhirler, Siege-Gang Commander, Legion Warboss, Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin, Fanatical Firebrand, and Goblin Warchief. Credit to Todd Stevens for his take on Goblins during his stream.

1 Dark-Dweller Oracle (M19) 134
4 Ember Hauler (M20) 137
4 Fanatical Firebrand (RIX) 101
4 Goblin Chainwhirler (DAR) 129
2 Goblin Cratermaker (GRN) 103
4 Goblin Instigator (M19) 142
4 Goblin Ringleader (M20) 143
1 Goblin Trashmaster (M19) 144
4 Goblin Warchief (DAR) 130
4 Legion Warboss (GRN) 109
23 Mountain (XLN) 272
2 Siege-Gang Commander (DAR) 143
3 Volley Veteran (M19) 168

1 Chandra, Fire Artisan (WAR) 119
3 Experimental Frenzy (GRN) 99
2 Fry (M20) 140
1 Grafdigger's Cage (M20) 227
3 Lava Coil (GRN) 108
3 Shock (M19) 156
1 Volley Veteran (M19) 168
1 Silent Gravestone (RIX) 182

Dinosaurs

We covered our version of Dinosaurs yesterday, but looks it’s a real contender among all the new decks. Martin Juza reckons it’s the best deck in Standard so far! Here’s his version:

4 Llanowar Elves (DAR) 168
4 Shock (M19) 156
4 Commune with Dinosaurs ()
4 Marauding Raptor (M20) 150
2 Lightning Strike ()
2 Domri's Ambush (WAR) 192
3 Gruul Spellbreaker (RNA) 179
3 Domri, Anarch of Bolas (WAR) 191
4 Ripjaw Raptor (XLN) 203
2 Shifting Ceratops (M20) 194 
2 Regisaur Alpha (XLN) 227
3 Charging Monstrosaur (XLN) 138
8 Forest (RIX) 196
7 Mountain (RIX) 195
4 Rootbound Crag (XLN) 256
4 Stomping Ground (RNA) 259

Almost Mono Green Stompy

Mono Green Stompy is always a popular deck due to relative ease of building, consistency and big creatures are always fun! Logbomb took this list to Mythic Rank, though still early in the season.

4 Llanowar Elves (DAR) 168
14 Forest (RIX) 196
4 Pelt Collector (GRN) 141
2 Giant Growth (WAR) 162
4 Kraul Harpooner (GRN) 136
4 Barkhide Troll (M20) 165
4 Steel Leaf Champion (DAR) 182
4 Gruul Spellbreaker (RNA) 179
4 Nullhide Ferox (GRN) 138
2 Shifting Ceratops (M20) 194
2 Vine Mare (M19) 207
4 Ghalta, Primal Hunger (RIX) 130
4 Stomping Ground (RNA) 259
4 Rootbound Crag (XLN) 256

Affinity

Here’s another deck that caught our attention – an Artifact based tempo deck (source) that tries to go wide with Saheeli and Sai and making use of Steel Overseer.

4 Steel Overseer (M20) 239
4 Silent Submersible (WAR) 66
8 Island (RIX) 193
4 Mox Amber (DAR) 224
4 Sparring Construct (DAR) 232
4 Chamber Sentry (GRN) 232
4 Sai, Master Thopterist (M19) 69
4 Saheeli, Sublime Artificer (WAR) 234
4 Opt (XLN) 65
4 Spell Pierce (XLN) 81
4 Unsummon (M20) 78
4 Depose // Deploy (RNA) 225
4 Glacial Fortress (XLN) 255
4 Hallowed Fountain (RNA) 251 

BloodHulk

Here’s a graveyard based deck by yoman5, renowned deck builder. Put stuff in your graveyard with Stitcher’s Supplier and Glowspore Shaman, then cheat Molderhulk and Lotleth Giant out with Blood for Bones.

4 Stitcher's Supplier (M19) 121
4 Glowspore Shaman (GRN) 173
4 Merfolk Branchwalker (XLN) 197
4 Wildgrowth Walker (XLN) 216
4 Gorging Vulture (M20) 102
4 Jadelight Ranger (RIX) 136
2 Lotleth Giant (GRN) 74
4 Molderhulk (GRN) 190
4 Blood for Bones (M20) 89
7 Forest (XLN) 277
4 Memorial to Folly (DAR) 242
4 Overgrown Tomb (GRN) 253
2 Swamp (XLN) 269
2 Temple of Malady (M20) 254
4 Woodland Cemetery (DAR) 248
2 Ravenous Chupacabra (RIX) 82
1 Command the Dreadhorde (WAR) 82

3 Duress (XLN) 105
2 Kitesail Freebooter (XLN) 110
2 Assassin's Trophy (GRN) 152
3 Vivien, Champion of the Wilds (WAR) 180
1 Thrashing Brontodon (RIX) 148
1 The Elderspell (WAR) 89
2 Massacre Girl (WAR) 99
1 Reclamation Sage (M19) 196

Abundant Cavaliers

People are also trying to break Flood of Tears (with Omniscience) and Leyline of Abundance. The below deck by Bryan Gottlieb has a bit of everything we like and can’t wait to try it later!

4 Flood of Tears (M20) 59
4 Island (RIX) 193
1 Omniscience (M19) 65
4 Llanowar Elves (DAR) 168
8 Forest (RIX) 196
4 Incubation Druid (RNA) 131
2 Leafkin Druid (M20) 178
3 Paradise Druid (WAR) 171
4 Risen Reef (M20) 217
4 Leyline of Abundance (M20) 179
3 Tamiyo, Collector of Tales (WAR) 220
3 Cavalier of Gales (M20) 52
4 Cavalier of Thorns (M20) 167
4 Temple of Mystery (M20) 255
4 Breeding Pool (RNA) 246
4 Hinterland Harbor (DAR) 240

Special Mentions

We are also closely watching Jim Davis’ brews – they look super fun to play! Pirates and Wizards also look like interesting tribes to experiment with.

Andrea Biaggi also has some decks for us, that gives a bit of spice to some of the current Standard archetypes.

Wrapping Up

We hope you enjoyed today’s edition – tune in tomorrow for more decklists! If you have any other decks you want to share or showcase with us, leave a comment below or on our Discord channel and we will feature it in tomorrow’s edition.