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III: Storm the Citadel - Singleton

Guide to Part III: Storm the Citadel – Singleton

This MTG Arena War of the Spark Chronicles event continues on to its third week this Friday, with the popular Singleton format. Find the best MTG Arena Singleton decks in its current rendition right here!

Event Information

Duration: June 7 2019 to June 14 2019
Format: Singleton
Cost: Free
Rewards: Gold and Card Styles for cumulative wins (up to 15) throughout the event duration

Singleton event rewards

Click here to go to our MTG Arena Event Calendar for more information on current and upcoming events!

What is Singleton?

Singleton, as the name suggests, is a casual format in MTG Arena where players build and play against a deck of at least 60 cards with no more than a single copy of one card (except Basic Lands).

[c]Persistent Petitioners[/c] and [c]Rat Colony[/c] override this rule also. Feel free to use as much of them in your deck.

As announced yesterday, the new London mulligan rule will be tested in this particular event to make sure everything is working correctly technically and players get to familiarize themselves with the new rule. More information can be found here.

Guide to Building Your Singleton Deck

MTG Arena Singleton decks by nature, will lack consistency of a competitive Standard deck as you cannot have four copies of one card. However, it will still be important to pick your general strategy when building your Singleton deck. Consider the following:

  • Firstly, review your card collection and see the number of playable cards you have in each color (as well as Lands).
  • Generally, a Singleton deck consists of your most powerful cards available in your chosen color – the more colors you want to play, the more Rares and Mythic Rares you will require to build a decent deck. The best decks therefore tend to be midrange to control consisting of higher mana cost spells. There may not be enough cards available yet to build a decent Mono Red Aggro deck, for example.
  • Think about how many Wildcards you have and willing to spend to make a good deck for this event. One to two colored decks will be the easiest to build, while three or more colors will be more for players with a more complete collection.
  • You can definitely build more synergistic or aggro decks which may be more fun to play. You may need to spend less Wildcards this way as the deck will consist of more commons and uncommons, but also the deck strength and consistency may suffer.

One approach to build your own competitive Singleton deck is using a top Standard deck as the building block for the structure of your deck. For example, an Esper Hero deck may have 11 creatures, 11 Planeswalkers, 4 hand disruption spells, 8 removal spells, and 26 lands. Now replace multiples of a card with something that has a similar function. A few examples for you:

  • Black removal spells: [c]Cast Down[/c], [c]Vraska’s Contempt[/c] and [c]Ob Nixilis’s Cruelty[/c].
  • Green mana rampers: [c]Paradise Druid[/c], [c]Druid of the Cowl[/c] and [c]Incubation Druid[/c]
  • White removal enchantments: [c]Prison Realm[/c], [c]Conclave Tribunal[/c] and [c]Ixalan’s Binding[/c]

This approach is not really possible for decks that are built around a card, such as Nexus of Fate and Wilderness Reclamation, so you can choose a different synergy. Gates is a good starting point.

Our Top MTG Arena Singleton Decklists

Get ready, this will be long! Personally I love Singleton more than Pauper, so I have more experience and success with this format under my belt. Here are seven (saving the best for the last) decks for you to get started with before the event begins, but the fun is also with building your own deck so make sure you try other color combinations throughout the week.

My favorite decks are the three color decks, which offer a more consistently powerful gameplay. Let’s start with single colored decks and branch out from there, as it highlights what cards in each color are worth using.

Singleton Mono Green Stompy

This deck is your typical Green deck, and it does a good job at pumping out large creatures. Your opponent will have a hard time keeping up. The deck is not one dimensional though, as it has some card draw engines to feed you with more creatures.

1 Llanowar Elves (DAR) 168
1 Pelt Collector (GRN) 141
1 Drover of the Mighty (XLN) 187
1 Druid of the Cowl (M19) 177
1 Incubation Druid (RNA) 131
1 Kraul Harpooner (GRN) 136
1 Merfolk Branchwalker (XLN) 197
1 Paradise Druid (WAR) 171
1 Thorn Lieutenant (M19) 203
1 Elvish Rejuvenator (M19) 180
1 Jadelight Ranger (RIX) 136
1 Steel Leaf Champion (DAR) 182
1 Thrashing Brontodon (RIX) 148
1 Wayward Swordtooth (RIX) 150
1 Beast Whisperer (GRN) 123
1 Goreclaw, Terror of Qal Sisma (M19) 186
1 Nullhide Ferox (GRN) 138
1 Ripjaw Raptor (XLN) 203
1 Biogenic Ooze (RNA) 122
1 Gigantosaurus (M19) 185
1 God-Eternal Rhonas (WAR) 163
1 Aggressive Mammoth (M19) 302
1 Carnage Tyrant (XLN) 179
1 End-Raze Forerunners (RNA) 124
1 Ghalta, Primal Hunger (RIX) 130
1 Adventurous Impulse (DAR) 153
1 Bond of Flourishing (WAR) 155
1 Finale of Devastation (WAR) 160
1 Vivien's Arkbow (WAR) 181
1 Colossal Majesty (M19) 173
1 Vivien, Champion of the Wilds (WAR) 180
1 Guardian Project (RNA) 130
1 Path of Discovery (RIX) 142
1 Awakening of Vitu-Ghazi (WAR) 152
1 Nissa, Who Shakes the World (WAR) 169
1 Vivien Reid (M19) 208
1 Arch of Orazca (RIX) 185
1 Blast Zone (WAR) 244
1 Field of Ruin (XLN) 254
21 Forest (XLN) 277

Singleton Mono White Weenies

The signature mono white deck, which is half way between aggro and midrange. It has some closers like Dawn of Hope if the game goes longer, and White has an abundance of enchantments that exile your opponent’s permanents. You can even use more if required, like [c]Baffling End[/c] and [c]Seal Away[/c].

1 Dauntless Bodyguard (DAR) 14
1 Haazda Marshal (GRN) 13
1 Healer's Hawk (GRN) 14
1 Hunted Witness (GRN) 15
1 Law-Rune Enforcer (WAR) 20
1 Leonin Vanguard (M19) 22
1 Skymarcher Aspirant (RIX) 21
1 Snubhorn Sentry (RIX) 23
1 Adanto Vanguard (XLN) 1
1 Ajani's Pridemate (M19) 5
1 Bounty Agent (GRN) 2
1 Knight of Grace (DAR) 23
1 Sunhome Stalwart (GRN) 26
1 Tithe Taker (RNA) 27
1 Tocatli Honor Guard (XLN) 42
1 Tomik, Distinguished Advokist (WAR) 34
1 Benalish Marshal (DAR) 6
1 Mentor of the Meek (M19) 27
1 Militia Bugler (M19) 29
1 Resplendent Angel (M19) 34
1 Leonin Warleader (M19) 23
1 Angel of Grace (RNA) 1
1 God-Eternal Oketra (WAR) 16
1 Lyra Dawnbringer (DAR) 26
1 Venerated Loxodon (GRN) 30
1 Legion's Landing (XLN) 22
1 Dawn of Hope (GRN) 8
1 Finale of Glory (WAR) 12
1 Pride of Conquerors (RIX) 17
1 Gideon Blackblade (WAR) 13
1 History of Benalia (DAR) 21
1 Prison Realm (WAR) 26
1 Radiant Destiny (RIX) 18
1 Unbreakable Formation (RNA) 29
1 Ajani, Adversary of Tyrants (M19) 3
1 Conclave Tribunal (GRN) 6
1 Hieromancer's Cage (M19) 14
1 Ixalan's Binding (XLN) 17
1 Arch of Orazca (RIX) 185
1 Field of Ruin (XLN) 254
20 Plains (XLN) 261

Singleton Gruul Beatdown

Red Green decks are strong in the Standard meta right now, and I expect it will be the same in the Singleton format also. This deck has many creatures ahead of the curve.

1 Llanowar Elves (DAR) 168
1 Pelt Collector (GRN) 141
1 Druid of the Cowl (M19) 177
1 Incubation Druid (RNA) 131
1 Kraul Harpooner (GRN) 136
1 Merfolk Branchwalker (XLN) 197
1 Paradise Druid (WAR) 171
1 Thorn Lieutenant (M19) 203
1 Captain Lannery Storm (XLN) 136
1 Gruul Spellbreaker (RNA) 179
1 Jadelight Ranger (RIX) 136
1 Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin (WAR) 137
1 Legion Warboss (GRN) 109
1 Living Twister (WAR) 203
1 Beast Whisperer (GRN) 123
1 Nullhide Ferox (GRN) 138
1 Rekindling Phoenix (RIX) 111
1 Ripjaw Raptor (XLN) 203
1 Biogenic Ooze (RNA) 122
1 Regisaur Alpha (XLN) 227
1 Skarrgan Hellkite (RNA) 114
1 Carnage Tyrant (XLN) 179
1 Shivan Fire (DAR) 142
1 Shock (M19) 156
1 Lava Coil (GRN) 108
1 Lightning Strike (XLN) 149
1 Domri, Anarch of Bolas (WAR) 191
1 Rhythm of the Wild (RNA) 201
1 Vivien, Champion of the Wilds (WAR) 180
1 Chandra, Fire Artisan (WAR) 119
1 Collision // Colossus (RNA) 223
1 Domri, Chaos Bringer (RNA) 166
1 Sarkhan the Masterless (WAR) 143
1 Vivien Reid (M19) 208
1 Thrash // Threat (RNA) 229
1 Evolving Wilds (RIX) 186
11 Forest (XLN) 277
1 Gruul Guildgate (RNA) 249
10 Mountain (XLN) 273
1 Rootbound Crag (XLN) 256
1 Stomping Ground (RNA) 259

Singleton Merfolk Ascendency

Incase you didn’t notice, I really like Green decks. This fun deck is a little different though, as it has the standard Merfolk tribe package, but tries to make up for its weakness with +1/+1 counter synergies – if you can win with [c]Simic Ascendency[/c] the victory is even sweeter.

1 Benthic Biomancer (RNA) 32
1 Jade Bearer (RIX) 134
1 Kumena's Speaker (XLN) 196
1 Mist-Cloaked Herald (RIX) 43
1 Combine Guildmage (RNA) 163
1 Deeproot Champion (XLN) 185
1 Deeproot Elite (RIX) 127
1 Merfolk Branchwalker (XLN) 197
1 Merfolk Mistbinder (RIX) 164
1 Merfolk Skydiver (WAR) 205
1 Merfolk Trickster (DAR) 56
1 River Sneak (XLN) 70
1 Silvergill Adept (RIX) 53
1 Jadelight Ranger (RIX) 136
1 Jungleborn Pioneer (RIX) 137
1 Kopala, Warden of Waves (XLN) 61
1 Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca (RIX) 162
1 Shapers of Nature (XLN) 228
1 Swift Warden (RIX) 146
1 Tishana's Wayfinder (XLN) 211
1 Vineshaper Mystic (XLN) 214
1 Watertrap Weaver (XLN) 87
1 Forerunner of the Heralds (RIX) 129
1 Herald of Secret Streams (XLN) 59
1 Spark Double (WAR) 68
1 Waker of the Wilds (XLN) 215
1 Zegana, Utopian Speaker (RNA) 214
1 Biogenic Ooze (RNA) 122
1 Spell Pierce (XLN) 81
1 Disdainful Stroke (GRN) 37
1 Negate (RIX) 44
1 Simic Ascendancy (RNA) 207
1 Song of Freyalise (DAR) 179
1 Deeproot Waters (XLN) 51
1 Hadana's Climb (RIX) 158
1 Aquatic Incursion (RIX) 32
1 Incubation // Incongruity (RNA) 226
1 Vanquisher's Banner (XLN) 251
1 Breeding Pool (RNA) 246
1 Evolving Wilds (RIX) 186
7 Forest (XLN) 277
1 Hinterland Harbor (DAR) 240
8 Island (XLN) 265
1 Karn's Bastion (WAR) 248
1 Simic Guildgate (RNA) 257
1 Unclaimed Territory (XLN) 258
1 Woodland Stream (XLN) 284t

Singleton Grixis Control

This is my favorite deck so far, packed with powerful cards made even better by War of the Spark. It can deal with most things quite well. If you can survive the early turns you are sure to win.

1 Dreadhorde Butcher (WAR) 194
1 Captain Lannery Storm (XLN) 136
1 Legion Warboss (GRN) 109
1 Thief of Sanity (GRN) 205
1 God-Eternal Kefnet (WAR) 53
1 Nicol Bolas, the Ravager (M19) 218
1 Ravenous Chupacabra (RIX) 82
1 Doom Whisperer (GRN) 69
1 Massacre Girl (WAR) 99
1 Duress (XLN) 105
1 Opt (XLN) 65
1 Angrath's Rampage (WAR) 185
1 Cast Down (DAR) 81
1 Discovery // Dispersal (GRN) 223
1 Disdainful Stroke (GRN) 37
1 Lava Coil (GRN) 108
1 Negate (RIX) 44
1 Search for Azcanta (XLN) 74
1 The Elderspell (WAR) 89
1 Thought Erasure (GRN) 206
1 Tyrant's Scorn (WAR) 225
1 Bedevil (RNA) 157
1 Cry of the Carnarium (RNA) 70
1 Narset, Parter of Veils (WAR) 61
1 Notion Rain (GRN) 193
1 Ob Nixilis's Cruelty (WAR) 101
1 Ritual of Soot (GRN) 84
1 Vraska's Contempt (XLN) 129
1 Angrath, the Flame-Chained (RIX) 152
1 Enter the God-Eternals (WAR) 196
1 Nicol Bolas, Dragon-God (WAR) 207
1 The Eldest Reborn (DAR) 90
1 Liliana, Dreadhorde General (WAR) 97
1 Ugin, the Ineffable (WAR) 2
1 Bedeck // Bedazzle (RNA) 221
1 Blood Crypt (RNA) 245
1 Cinder Barrens (RIX) 205
1 Dimir Guildgate (GRN) 246
1 Dragonskull Summit (XLN) 252
1 Drowned Catacomb (XLN) 253
1 Evolving Wilds (RIX) 186
1 Highland Lake (RIX) 189
3 Island (XLN) 265
1 Izzet Guildgate (GRN) 251
3 Mountain (XLN) 273
1 Rakdos Guildgate (RNA) 255
1 Steam Vents (GRN) 257
1 Submerged Boneyard (M19) 257
1 Sulfur Falls (DAR) 247
6 Swamp (XLN) 269
1 Watery Grave (GRN) 259t

Singleton Sultai Midrange

Another personal favorite, this Sultai Singleton deck had the best win rate out of all of them and rewarded me with maximum wins in many events. I love this deck because it can accomodate numerous ways to bring back key cards from your graveyard back to your hand, like Command the Dreadhorde and Find // Finality.

1 Llanowar Elves (DAR) 168
1 Druid of the Cowl (M19) 177
1 Hydroid Krasis (RNA) 183
1 Incubation Druid (RNA) 131
1 Merfolk Branchwalker (XLN) 197
1 Paradise Druid (WAR) 171
1 Seekers' Squire (XLN) 121
1 Wildgrowth Walker (XLN) 216
1 Jadelight Ranger (RIX) 136
1 Thief of Sanity (GRN) 205
1 Thrashing Brontodon (RIX) 148
1 Hostage Taker (XLN) 223
1 Golgari Findbroker (GRN) 175
1 Ravenous Chupacabra (RIX) 82
1 Biogenic Ooze (RNA) 122
1 Doom Whisperer (GRN) 69
1 Massacre Girl (WAR) 99
1 Carnage Tyrant (XLN) 179
1 Muldrotha, the Gravetide (DAR) 199
1 Assassin's Trophy (GRN) 152
1 Cast Down (DAR) 81
1 Finale of Eternity (WAR) 91
1 Find // Finality (GRN) 225
1 Vivien, Champion of the Wilds (WAR) 180
1 Tamiyo, Collector of Tales (WAR) 220
1 Vraska's Contempt (XLN) 129
1 Vraska, Golgari Queen (GRN) 213
1 Nissa, Who Shakes the World (WAR) 169
1 The Eldest Reborn (DAR) 90
1 Vivien Reid (M19) 208
1 Casualties of War (WAR) 187
1 Command the Dreadhorde (WAR) 82
1 Liliana, Dreadhorde General (WAR) 97
1 Ugin, the Ineffable (WAR) 2
1 Vraska, Relic Seeker (XLN) 232
1 Breeding Pool (RNA) 246
1 Dimir Guildgate (GRN) 246
1 Drowned Catacomb (XLN) 253
1 Evolving Wilds (RIX) 186
6 Forest (XLN) 277
1 Foul Orchard (RIX) 188
1 Golgari Guildgate (GRN) 249
1 Hinterland Harbor (DAR) 240
1 Island (XLN) 265
1 Overgrown Tomb (GRN) 253
1 Simic Guildgate (RNA) 257
6 Swamp (XLN) 269
1 Watery Grave (GRN) 259
1 Woodland Cemetery (DAR) 248
1 Woodland Stream (XLN) 284k

5 Color Niv-Mizzet

This final deck really shows what Singleton can do – a mish-mash of good cards and Planeswalkers. This was already a popular deck but with the introduction of the new [c]Niv-Mizzet Reborn[/c] and more powerful Planeswalkers, you can build a five color deck in many different ways. This version is based on the recent Arena Boys deck, which has less Planeswalkers but more controlling spells.

1 Dragonskull Summit (XLN) 252
1 Rootbound Crag (XLN) 256
1 Watery Grave (GRN) 259
1 Rupture Spire (M19) 255
1 Interplanar Beacon (WAR) 247
1 Woodland Cemetery (DAR) 248
1 Glacial Fortress (XLN) 255
1 Isolated Chapel (DAR) 241
1 Clifftop Retreat (DAR) 239
1 Gateway Plaza (GRN) 247
1 Guildmages' Forum (GRN) 250
1 Forest (XLN) 277
1 Unknown Shores (XLN) 259
1 Steam Vents (GRN) 257
1 Sacred Foundry (GRN) 254
1 Overgrown Tomb (GRN) 253
1 Sulfur Falls (DAR) 247
1 Blood Crypt (RNA) 245
1 Hinterland Harbor (DAR) 240
1 Temple Garden (GRN) 258
1 Hallowed Fountain (RNA) 251
1 Stomping Ground (RNA) 259
1 Drowned Catacomb (XLN) 253
1 Breeding Pool (RNA) 246
1 Godless Shrine (RNA) 248
1 Sunpetal Grove (XLN) 257
1 Knight of Autumn (GRN) 183
1 Hostage Taker (XLN) 223
1 Ravager Wurm (RNA) 200
1 Tolsimir, Friend to Wolves (WAR) 224
1 Niv-Mizzet Reborn (WAR) 208
1 Teferi, Hero of Dominaria (DAR) 207
1 Karn, Scion of Urza (DAR) 1
1 Ugin, the Ineffable (WAR) 2
1 Deputy of Detention (RNA) 165
1 Hydroid Krasis (RNA) 183
1 Niv-Mizzet, Parun (GRN) 192
1 Regisaur Alpha (XLN) 227
1 Despark (WAR) 190
1 Angrath's Rampage (WAR) 185
1 Assassin's Trophy (GRN) 152
1 Deafening Clarion (GRN) 165
1 Mortify (RNA) 192
1 Chromatic Lantern (GRN) 233
1 Chamber Sentry (GRN) 232
1 Awakened Amalgam (RIX) 175
1 Mox Amber (DAR) 224
1 Teferi, Time Raveler (WAR) 221
1 Oath of Kaya (WAR) 209
1 Angrath, the Flame-Chained (RIX) 152
1 Find // Finality (GRN) 225
1 Solar Blaze (WAR) 216
1 Justice Strike (GRN) 182
1 Discovery // Dispersal (GRN) 223
1 Warrant // Warden (RNA) 230
1 Bedevil (RNA) 157
1 Ionize (GRN) 179
1 Enter the God-Eternals (WAR) 196
1 Tamiyo, Collector of Tales (WAR) 220
1 Vraska, Golgari Queen (GRN) 213

Wrapping Up

Singleton is definitely the most enjoyable format for me, as I can play with a variety of powerful cards and the games are less predictable. There’s a reason why Commander and Highlander is so popular in paper Magic!

I would like to make a final note that we are working on our deck section of the website which is coming soon and we will have more of the Pauper and Singleton decks listed as well, complete with their guide. Keep your eyes peeled, and enjoy!

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