Gideon’s Sacrifice Ravnica Constructed Part V Event Decklists and Guide

The MTG Arena War of the Spark Chronicles event is now in its fifth and final week. The format this time is Ravnica Constructed, and we will look at ten different decklists and a Gates deck for this event.

Event Information

Duration: June 21 2019 to June 28 2019
Format: Ravnica Constructed
Cost: Free
Rewards: Planeswalker Glass Card Styles and 200 Gold (at 5 wins) for cumulative wins (up to 10) throughout the event duration as below:

What is Ravnica Constructed?

Below is the description of the event from the official source.

Serve Bolas or die. In a moment of defiance, Liliana chooses death. Her contract is broken. Her life, forfeit. But as Gideon steps forward to bear the cost of her betrayal, he grants Liliana the strength to finish the fight.

Bring a 60-card deck consisting only of cards from Guilds of Ravnica, Ravnica Allegiance, and War of the Spark. Gates Ablaze is banned in this format.

Wizards of the Coast Official Website

Build a deck from the three sets Guilds of Ravnica, Ravnica Allegiance and War of the Spark – simple enough. However, Gates Ablaze has been banned as well. This is interesting as they might have thought the Gates deck was too good when playtesting.

Building Your Ravnica Constructed Deck

For this event, you can bring your best Standard deck, give it some modification to fit the format requirements, and see how you go. Fortunately (or unfortunately) for us, a lot of the currently competitive Standard decks are built around the powerful Planeswalkers in War of the Spark.

What cards are missing then? Some examples below:

• Llanowar Elves
• Opt
• Shock, Lightning Strike
• Teferi, Hero of Dominaria
• Explore package: Wildgrowth Walker, Jadelight Ranger and Merfolk Branchwalker
• Premium removal: Vraska’s Revenge, Cast Down
• Most importantly: The dual “checklands” (e.g. Hinterland Harbor)

Green decks and three color decks (Sultai) we feel will be hurting the most if you are using a modified Standard deck. Infact, I would shy away from three colors at all if possible, because if you are using Gates instead, you would be a turn behind your opponent most of the game.

Using the ten different Ravnica Guild strategies is a good starting point:

• Dimir (Blue Black) has surveil, and we know Disinformation Campaign is powerful in the right deck.
• Selesnya (White Green) has convoke and can make a huge army with March of the Multitudes.
• Simic (Blue Green) has adapt and there’s a few ways to put counters on your creatures, and Proliferate synergizes well with this strategy too.

Since they also banned a Gate-specific card specifically for this event, that might be a hint that Gate synergy is very strong in this format as well…

Our Top 10 + 1 Decklist Choices

Today we’re going to be showing you 10 decks, one from each dual color combination. We’ve tried making the decks a bit more friendly to new players as well by not using too many Rares or Mythic Rares. These decks are ready to import directly into MTG Arena.

As for the past events, I do not recommend you use wildcards for this event if possible, just replace the cards you don’t have with something similar. If you need any help, post in the comments below!

Azorius Prison – Ravnica Constructed

I enjoyed playtesting this deck (in normal Standard). It’s like a control deck, but rather than using counterspells we deal with your opponent by putting stuff on the battlefield.

4 Law-Rune Enforcer (WAR) 20
10 Plains (RIX) 192
1 Time Wipe (WAR) 223
4 Tithe Taker (RNA) 27
1 Ugin, the Ineffable (WAR) 2
2 Gideon Blackblade (WAR) 13
4 Prison Realm (WAR) 26
1 Tomik, Distinguished Advokist (WAR) 34
4 Conclave Tribunal (GRN) 6
2 God-Eternal Oketra (WAR) 16
4 Azorius Guildgate (RNA) 243
4 Hallowed Fountain (RNA) 251
2 Dovin's Veto (WAR) 193
6 Island (RIX) 193
4 Deputy of Detention (RNA) 165
4 Teferi, Time Raveler (WAR) 221
3 Elite Guardmage (WAR) 195

Boros Mentor – Ravnica Constructed

We could’ve shown you a Boros Feather variation, but we’ve already done that last week. This deck focuses on what the Boros deck does best – small aggressive creatures that must be dealt with.

4 Swiftblade Vindicator (GRN) 203
3 Truefire Captain (GRN) 209
3 Legion Warboss (GRN) 109
4 Sunhome Stalwart (GRN) 26
3 Tajic, Legion's Edge (GRN) 204
3 Aurelia, Exemplar of Justice (GRN) 153
2 Conclave Tribunal (GRN) 6
4 Lava Coil (GRN) 108
2 Justice Strike (GRN) 182
2 Integrity // Intervention (GRN) 227
2 Gideon Blackblade (WAR) 13
4 Law-Rune Enforcer (WAR) 20
4 Sacred Foundry (GRN) 254
2 Boros Guildgate (GRN) 243
9 Plains (XLN) 261
9 Mountain (XLN) 273

Dimir Control – Ravnica Constructed

Grindy, spell and Planeswalker based deck for those that enjoy control decks.

3 God-Eternal Kefnet (WAR) 53
2 Ob Nixilis's Cruelty (WAR) 101
2 Chemister's Insight (GRN) 32
2 Liliana's Triumph (WAR) 98
2 Sinister Sabotage (GRN) 54
3 Tyrant's Scorn (WAR) 225
4 Discovery // Dispersal (GRN) 223
2 Cry of the Carnarium (RNA) 70
4 Enter the God-Eternals (WAR) 196
1 Ritual of Soot (GRN) 84
1 The Elderspell (WAR) 89
4 Thought Erasure (GRN) 206
2 Liliana, Dreadhorde General (WAR) 97
3 Narset, Parter of Veils (WAR) 61
1 Ugin, the Ineffable (WAR) 2
2 Blast Zone (WAR) 244
4 Dimir Guildgate (GRN) 245
7 Island (GRN) 261
7 Swamp (GRN) 262
4 Watery Grave (GRN) 259

Golgari Midrange – Ravnica Constructed

This deck is based on the current Standard Golgari deck. We miss out on the Explore creature package but we can replace them with decent enough cards to grind out victories. I would replace the Field of Ruins with normal lands if you aren’t playing against a lot of 3 color decks with greedy mana bases.

1 District Guide (GRN) 128
2 Vraska, Golgari Queen (GRN) 213
3 Nissa, Who Shakes the World (WAR) 169
2 Arboreal Grazer (WAR) 149
2 Paradise Druid (WAR) 171
1 Liliana, Dreadhorde General (WAR) 97
2 Midnight Reaper (GRN) 77
4 Growth-Chamber Guardian (RNA) 128
2 Doom Whisperer (GRN) 69
2 Deathsprout (WAR) 189
1 Massacre Girl (WAR) 99
3 Casualties of War (WAR) 187
3 Assassin's Trophy (GRN) 152
6 Swamp (XLN) 269
10 Forest (XLN) 277
4 Golgari Guildgate (GRN) 249
4 Overgrown Tomb (GRN) 253
1 Biogenic Ooze (RNA) 122
2 Find // Finality (GRN) 225
1 Golgari Findbroker (GRN) 175
4 Incubation Druid (RNA) 131

Gruul Aggro – Ravnica Constructed

4 Nullhide Ferox (GRN) 138
8 Mountain (RIX) 195
4 Legion Warboss (GRN) 109
10 Forest (RIX) 196
4 Gruul Spellbreaker (RNA) 179
4 Growth-Chamber Guardian (RNA) 128
2 Paradise Druid (WAR) 171
4 Zhur-Taa Goblin (RNA) 215
3 Domri, Anarch of Bolas (WAR) 191
2 Rhythm of the Wild (RNA) 201
3 Domri's Ambush (WAR) 192
4 Lava Coil (GRN) 108
2 Gruul Guildgate (RNA) 249
4 Stomping Ground (RNA) 259
2 Nissa, Who Shakes the World (WAR) 169

Izzet Control – Ravnica Constructed

I couldn’t make Izzet Phoenix work, so we’ve gone for the controlling route.

2 Niv-Mizzet, Parun (GRN) 192
1 Maximize Velocity (GRN) 111
4 Crackling Drake (GRN) 163
4 Shimmer of Possibility (RNA) 51
4 Radical Idea (GRN) 52
2 Expansion // Explosion (GRN) 224
1 Chandra, Fire Artisan (WAR) 119
2 Beacon Bolt (GRN) 154
4 Lava Coil (GRN) 108
3 Ionize (GRN) 179
2 Ral's Outburst (WAR) 212
4 Steam Vents (GRN) 257
4 Sinister Sabotage (GRN) 54
3 Chemister's Insight (GRN) 32
2 Ral, Izzet Viceroy (GRN) 195
4 Izzet Guildgate (GRN) 252
7 Island (M19) 267
7 Mountain (M19) 273

Orzhov Attrition – Ravnica Constructed

White Black has a lot of tools to out value the opponent and you can get cute with Teysa.

4 Hero of Precinct One (RNA) 11
3 Basilica Bell-Haunt (RNA) 156
4 Seraph of the Scales (RNA) 205
4 Tithe Taker (RNA) 27
2 Teysa Karlov (RNA) 212
1 Massacre Girl (WAR) 99
2 Consecrate // Consume (RNA) 224
3 Mortify (RNA) 192
2 Kaya's Wrath (RNA) 187
2 Sorin, Vengeful Bloodlord (WAR) 217
4 Hunted Witness (GRN) 15
4 Godless Shrine (RNA) 248
2 Orzhov Guildgate (RNA) 253
10 Plains (GRN) 260
9 Swamp (GRN) 262
3 Gideon Blackblade (WAR) 13
1 Liliana, Dreadhorde General (WAR) 97

Rakdos Aristocrats – Ravnica Constructed

3 Heartfire (WAR) 131
4 Fireblade Artist (RNA) 172
4 Footlight Fiend (RNA) 216
4 Gutterbones (RNA) 76
3 Judith, the Scourge Diva (RNA) 185
4 Legion Warboss (GRN) 109
2 Midnight Reaper (GRN) 77
3 Priest of Forgotten Gods (RNA) 83
2 Plaguecrafter (GRN) 82
4 Rix Maadi Reveler (RNA) 109
4 Dreadhorde Butcher (WAR) 194
4 Blood Crypt (RNA) 245
2 Rakdos Guildgate (RNA) 255
7 Mountain (XLN) 273
10 Swamp (XLN) 269

Selesnya Tokens – Ravnica Constructed

2 Ajani, the Greathearted (WAR) 184
4 Growth-Chamber Guardian (RNA) 128
4 Venerated Loxodon (GRN) 30
3 Emmara, Soul of the Accord (GRN) 168
3 Trostani Discordant (GRN) 208
4 Flower // Flourish (GRN) 226
4 March of the Multitudes (GRN) 188
4 Conclave Tribunal (GRN) 6
3 Knight of Autumn (GRN) 183
4 Paradise Druid (WAR) 171
4 Law-Rune Enforcer (WAR) 20
6 Forest (WAR) 264
8 Plains (WAR) 252
2 Selesnya Guildgate (GRN) 256
4 Temple Garden (GRN) 258
1 Karn's Bastion (WAR) 248

Simic Ramp – Ravnica Constructed

4 Hydroid Krasis (RNA) 183
4 Incubation Druid (RNA) 131
2 Arboreal Grazer (WAR) 149
4 Paradise Druid (WAR) 171
4 Growth Spiral (RNA) 178
4 Mass Manipulation (RNA) 42
4 Nissa, Who Shakes the World (WAR) 169
4 Tamiyo, Collector of Tales (WAR) 220
4 Breeding Pool (RNA) 246
10 Forest (GRN) 264
4 Simic Guildgate (RNA) 257
8 Island (GRN) 261
4 Frilled Mystic (RNA) 174

4 Color Gates – Ravnica Constructed

Last but not least, here is the Gates deck without the banned Gates Ablaze. Even without it, we think this deck could be quite strong regardless. Personally I will play this deck at least for a few games because I had a lot of fun with it last time this deck was sort of competitive.

4 Gate Colossus (RNA) 232
4 Gatebreaker Ram (RNA) 126
4 Hydroid Krasis (RNA) 183
1 Forest (XLN) 277
4 Azorius Guildgate (RNA) 243
1 Breeding Pool (RNA) 246
2 Gateway Plaza (GRN) 247
4 Gruul Guildgate (RNA) 249
4 Izzet Guildgate (GRN) 251
4 Plaza of Harmony (RNA) 254
2 Selesnya Guildgate (GRN) 256
4 Simic Guildgate (RNA) 257
2 Stomping Ground (RNA) 259
4 Guild Summit (GRN) 41
4 Growth Spiral (RNA) 178
4 Lava Coil (GRN) 108
4 Circuitous Route (GRN) 125
2 Deafening Clarion (GRN) 165
2 Electrodominance (RNA) 99

Wrapping Up

We would love to know how you went with these decks – what you improved on, how many wins you had, and so on. Hit us up on our Discord or Twitter, or leave a comment below!

That’s it for the War of the Spark Chronicles event, and in just a couple of weeks time (July 2 to be precise) we’ll see the release of Core Set 2020 in Arena. Thanks for joining us the last five weeks as we are working hard to get content up and running on our new website here at MTG Arena Zone!