MTGO Standard Challenge – April 30, 2023 – Top 8 Decklists

Hi! My name is Vertyx and I will go over the top finishes of the Magic Online Standard Challenge that took place on the weekend: April 30, 2023 and April 29, 2023. With rotation looming and 8 set worth of cards looking for spots in the most competitive decks, we are looking to pore through recent results to see whether the new set has made an impact on the meta.

standard challenge #12545378

30 April, 2023 - standard - 32 players

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Top 8 Decks

This is a very diverse top 8. I am glad to see two Domain decks in the top 4 since they provide another archetype into the midrange dominated format. At the bottom end we can see Esper Legends, which has been on a slow decline after it dominated the Europe Regional Championship. Another one is Selesnya Toxic which is a fairly new deck consisting of cards mostly from Phyrexia: All Will Be One.

At #7th we have a popular strategy of reanimating Atraxa, grand unifier with The Cruelty of Gix. At the last place we have a person that also managed to top 8 the challenge on April 29, 2023 with the same Boros Midrange deck. A very interesting take on the white- based midrange strategy!

Grixis Midrange by O_danielakos

by Vertyx

Buy on TCGplayer $402.37

Buy on Card Kingdom $540.45

Standard

best of 3

5 mythic

34 rare

16 uncommon

5 common

0

1

2

3

4

5

6+

Generate hand save deck (mtgo/arena) copy to clipboard (arena) Visual view Copy URL

Planeswalkers (2)

2

Liliana of the Veil

$39.98

Creatures (13)

4

Bloodtithe Harvester

$1.56

4

Corpse Appraiser

$1.40

2

Ertai Resurrected

$1.18

2

Sheoldred, the Apocalypse

$159.98

1

Bladecoil Serpent

$0.99

Instants (12)

3

Cut Down

$2.37

1

Negate

$0.35

2

Abrade

$0.70

3

Go for the Throat

$2.07

3

Make Disappear

$3.87

Artifacts (3)

3

Reckoner Bankbuster

$11.97

Enchantments (4)

4

Fable of the Mirror-Breaker

$87.96

Lands (26)

1

Swamp

$0.35

2

Sulfurous Springs

$7.98

1

Underground River

$4.49

3

Shivan Reef

$2.97

4

Blackcleave Cliffs

$17.96

2

Darkslick Shores

$6.98

2

Haunted Ridge

$31.98

2

Shipwreck Marsh

$11.98

2

Stormcarved Coast

$39.98

4

Xander’s Lounge

$43.96

1

Otawara, Soaring City

$17.99

1

Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance

$4.49

1

Takenuma, Abandoned Mire

$9.49

60 Cards
$514.98

Sideboard

1

Saheeli, Filigree Master

$1.49

2

Razorlash Transmogrant

$1.38

1

Flame-Blessed Bolt

$0.35

1

Cut Down

$0.79

1

Negate

$0.35

1

Disdainful Stroke

$0.35

2

Duress

$0.70

1

Lithomantic Barrage

$0.35

1

Blue Sun’s Twilight

$0.59

1

Brotherhood’s End

$5.99

1

Glistening Deluge

$0.35

1

Gix’s Command

$0.79

1

Unlicensed Hearse

$11.99

15 Cards
$25.47

Almost no new cards from March of the Machine aside from a few sideboard cards but still some interesting maindeck choices. We can see a single copy of Bladecoil Serpent which is a very strong card in the midrange mirror. Being able to draw cards and make the opponent discard cards on top of providing a big threat is a beating for the opponent.

Some of the less standard card choices also include Liliana of the veil and Ertai resurrected. Both of these are also good in the midrange mirror which this decklist clearly tries to hedge against.

Domain Control by a.c.a.i_20006

by Vertyx

Buy on TCGplayer $413.29

Buy on Card Kingdom $554.77

Standard

best of 3

5 mythic

36 rare

4 uncommon

15 common

0

1

2

3

4

5

6+

Generate hand save deck (mtgo/arena) copy to clipboard (arena) Visual view Copy URL

Planeswalkers (5)

3

The Wandering Emperor

$77.97

2

The Eternal Wanderer

$3.58

Creatures (5)

3

Chrome Host Seedshark

$8.97

2

Atraxa, Grand Unifier

$55.98

Instants (4)

1

Negate

$0.35

3

Make Disappear

$3.87

Sorceries (9)

4

Lay Down Arms

$2.76

2

Depopulate

$1.38

3

Herd Migration

$1.47

Artifacts (3)

3

Reckoner Bankbuster

$11.97

Enchantments (8)

4

Wedding Announcement

$63.96

4

Leyline Binding

$55.96

Lands (26)

2

Forest

$0.70

3

Island

$1.05

1

Mountain

$0.35

4

Plains

$1.40

1

Swamp

$0.35

1

Deserted Beach

$8.99

4

Spara’s Headquarters

$39.96

4

Jetmir’s Garden

$51.96

4

Raffine’s Tower

$59.96

1

Boseiju, Who Endures

$42.99

1

Otawara, Soaring City

$17.99

60 Cards
$513.92

Sideboard

1

Nissa, Ascended Animist

$4.99

2

Thrun, Breaker of Silence

$0.98

2

Negate

$0.70

2

Disdainful Stroke

$0.70

1

Tear Asunder

$1.99

1

Knockout Blow

$0.35

2

Memory Deluge

$1.98

1

Depopulate

$0.69

2

Farewell

$27.98

1

Ossification

$0.49

15 Cards
$40.85

A control deck taking advantage of the domain mechanic by playing most of the triomes from Streets of New Cappena. It’s goal is to control the board early in the game while slowly developing their manabase to hardcast Atraxa, grand unifier and bury the opponent in card advantage.

Domain Ramp by Oderus Urungus

by Vertyx

Buy on TCGplayer $397.6

Buy on Card Kingdom $511.65

Standard

best of 3

4 mythic

35 rare

8 uncommon

13 common

0

1

2

3

4

5

6+

Generate hand save deck (mtgo/arena) copy to clipboard (arena) Visual view Copy URL

Creatures (14)

4

Topiary Stomper

$7.96

3

Archangel of Wrath

$1.47

3

Etali, Primal Conqueror

$19.47

4

Atraxa, Grand Unifier

$111.96

Sorceries (6)

2

Sunfall

$3.98

4

Herd Migration

$1.96

Artifacts (2)

2

Reckoner Bankbuster

$7.98

Enchantments (8)

4

Ossification

$1.96

4

Leyline Binding

$55.96

4

Invasion of Zendikar

$1.40

Lands (26)

6

Forest

$2.10

1

Island

$0.35

2

Mountain

$0.70

3

Plains

$1.05

1

Swamp

$0.35

4

Spara’s Headquarters

$39.96

4

Jetmir’s Garden

$51.96

4

Ziatora’s Proving Ground

$37.96

1

Boseiju, Who Endures

$42.99

60 Cards
$391.52

Sideboard

2

The Wandering Emperor

$51.98

1

The Eternal Wanderer

$1.79

2

Tyrranax Rex

$11.98

2

Destroy Evil

$1.38

3

Sunset Revelry

$1.05

1

Sunfall

$1.99

2

Farewell

$25.98

2

Unlicensed Hearse

$23.98

15 Cards
$120.13

Another deck using the domain mechanic with Triome lands. This one on top of controlling the board is also trying to ramp into big threats and cast them earlier than they would normally be able to.

Rakdos Midrange by 1337Waffles

by Vertyx

Buy on TCGplayer $501.17

Buy on Card Kingdom $574.15

Standard

best of 3

6 mythic

32 rare

11 uncommon

11 common

0

1

2

3

4

5

6+

Generate hand save deck (mtgo/arena) copy to clipboard (arena) Visual view Copy URL

Planeswalkers (2)

2

Chandra, Hope’s Beacon

$19.98

Creatures (13)

4

Bloodtithe Harvester

$1.56

4

Graveyard Trespasser

$7.16

1

Archfiend of the Dross

$0.49

4

Sheoldred, the Apocalypse

$299.96

Instants (7)

3

Cut Down

$2.37

4

Go for the Throat

$2.76

Sorceries (5)

4

Invoke Despair

$5.16

1

Gix’s Command

$0.79

Artifacts (3)

3

Reckoner Bankbuster

$11.97

Enchantments (4)

4

Fable of the Mirror-Breaker

$87.96

Lands (26)

2

Mountain

$0.70

9

Swamp

$3.15

4

Sulfurous Springs

$15.96

4

Blackcleave Cliffs

$17.96

4

Haunted Ridge

$63.96

1

Mirrex

$2.49

1

Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance

$4.49

1

Takenuma, Abandoned Mire

$9.49

60 Cards
$558.36

Sideboard

2

Razorlash Transmogrant

$1.38

1

Cut Down

$0.79

4

Duress

$1.40

3

Lithomantic Barrage

$1.05

1

Soul Transfer

$0.49

1

Brotherhood’s End

$5.99

2

Glistening Deluge

$0.70

1

Reckoner Bankbuster

$3.99

15 Cards
$15.79

A fairly stock Rakdos Midrange list using the new card Chandra, Hope's Beacon as a strong top end finisher in fair matchups.

Esper legends by Plaza23

by Vertyx

Buy on TCGplayer $513.71

Buy on Card Kingdom $685.95

Standard

best of 3

9 mythic

46 rare

3 uncommon

2 common

0

1

2

3

4

5

6+

Generate hand save deck (mtgo/arena) copy to clipboard (arena) Visual view Copy URL

Creatures (29)

4

Skrelv, Defector Mite

$25.96

1

Faerie Mastermind

$10.99

4

Thalia, Guardian of Thraben

$3.96

4

Dennick, Pious Apprentice

$2.76

1

Harbin, Vanguard Aviator

$0.49

1

Loran of the Third Path

$8.99

3

Adeline, Resplendent Cathar

$23.97

4

Raffine, Scheming Seer

$13.96

2

Ertai Resurrected

$1.18

4

Sheoldred, the Apocalypse

$319.96

1

Ao, the Dawn Sky

$2.79

Instants (3)

3

Go for the Throat

$2.07

Lands (28)

1

Island

$0.35

1

Plains

$0.35

1

Underground River

$4.49

4

Caves of Koilos

$2.36

3

Seachrome Coast

$8.37

3

Darkslick Shores

$10.47

3

Shattered Sanctum

$38.97

4

Plaza of Heroes

$43.96

3

Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire

$26.97

3

Otawara, Soaring City

$53.97

2

Takenuma, Abandoned Mire

$18.98

60 Cards
$626.32

Sideboard

2

Kaito Shizuki

$8.98

1

Faerie Mastermind

$10.99

1

Loran of the Third Path

$8.99

2

Cut Down

$1.58

2

Surge of Salvation

$2.58

1

Negate

$0.35

2

Disdainful Stroke

$0.70

1

Destroy Evil

$0.69

1

Gix’s Command

$0.79

2

Invasion of Gobakhan

$23.98

15 Cards
$59.63

Esper Legends. A deck that has slowly been on the decline, but still puts up good results from time to time. Few interesting one of card choices including the Yuta Takahashi showcase card Faerie Mastermind that he took part in designing thanks to winning the 2021 World Championship!

Selesnya Toxic by finnthewizard33

by Vertyx

Buy on TCGplayer $205.83

Buy on Card Kingdom $297.87

Standard

best of 3

0 mythic

36 rare

15 uncommon

9 common

0

1

2

3

4

5

6+

Generate hand save deck (mtgo/arena) copy to clipboard (arena) Visual view Copy URL

Creatures (27)

4

Venerated Rotpriest

$13.96

4

Crawling Chorus

$1.40

4

Skrelv, Defector Mite

$25.96

4

Slaughter Singer

$1.40

3

Jawbone Duelist

$1.05

4

Annex Sentry

$1.40

4

Bloated Contaminator

$11.16

Instants (6)

4

Tyvar’s Stand

$7.96

2

Destroy Evil

$1.38

Enchantments (4)

4

Skrelv’s Hive

$17.96

Lands (23)

1

Forest

$0.35

2

Plains

$0.70

4

Brushland

$13.96

4

Razorverge Thicket

$11.96

1

Overgrown Farmland

$7.49

4

Mirrex

$9.96

4

The Seedcore

$3.16

1

Boseiju, Who Endures

$42.99

2

Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire

$17.98

60 Cards
$192.18

Sideboard

3

Ajani, Sleeper Agent

{G/W/P}

$14.97

2

Destroy Evil

$1.38

4

Knockout Blow

$1.40

2

Unlicensed Hearse

$23.98

4

Wedding Announcement

$63.96

15 Cards
$105.69

At #6th place we have Selesnya Toxic. A stock list that tries to abuse the toxic mechanic and make the opponent loose the game thanks to having 10 poison counters.

Rakdos Reanimator by David1987

by Vertyx

Buy on TCGplayer $467.14

Buy on Card Kingdom $576.05

Standard

best of 3

1 mythic

37 rare

12 uncommon

10 common

0

1

2

3

4

5

6+

Generate hand save deck (mtgo/arena) copy to clipboard (arena) Visual view Copy URL

Creatures (8)

4

Bloodtithe Harvester

$1.56

3

Etali, Primal Conqueror

$19.47

1

Atraxa, Grand Unifier

$27.99

Instants (8)

3

Cut Down

$2.37

1

Abrade

$0.35

3

Go for the Throat

$2.07

1

Sheoldred’s Edict

$1.49

Sorceries (2)

1

Duress

$0.35

1

Brotherhood’s End

$5.99

Artifacts (2)

2

Reckoner Bankbuster

$7.98

Enchantments (13)

1

Bitter Reunion

$0.79

4

Fable of the Mirror-Breaker

$87.96

4

The Elder Dragon War

$1.96

4

The Cruelty of Gix

$7.16

Lands (27)

4

Mountain

$1.40

4

Swamp

$1.40

4

Sulfurous Springs

$15.96

4

Blackcleave Cliffs

$17.96

4

Haunted Ridge

$63.96

1

Xander’s Lounge

$10.99

2

Mirrex

$4.98

2

Ziatora’s Proving Ground

$18.98

1

Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance

$4.49

1

Takenuma, Abandoned Mire

$9.49

60 Cards
$317.1

Sideboard

3

Sheoldred, the Apocalypse

$239.97

1

Cut Down

$0.79

2

Abrade

$0.70

1

Go for the Throat

$0.69

2

Sheoldred’s Edict

$2.98

3

Duress

$1.05

2

Brotherhood’s End

$11.98

1

Bitter Reunion

$0.79

15 Cards
$258.95

A popular strategy of using The Cruelty of Gix to reanimate big threats into play for 5 mana. This deck got a new reanimate target in the form of Etali, primal conqueror which immediately provides two other spells that you can cast for free. It is also way easier to hardcast than Atraxa, Grand unifier but that is not a big issue in most scenarios.

Boros Midrange by pepeisra

by Vertyx

Buy on TCGplayer $304.88

Buy on Card Kingdom $370.72

Standard

best of 3

6 mythic

24 rare

11 uncommon

19 common

0

1

2

3

4

5

6+

Generate hand save deck (mtgo/arena) copy to clipboard (arena) Visual view Copy URL

Planeswalkers (4)

3

The Wandering Emperor

$77.97

1

The Eternal Wanderer

$1.79

Creatures (19)

3

Ambitious Farmhand

$2.97

4

Spirited Companion

$1.96

4

Guardian of Ghirapur

$1.96

2

Loran of the Third Path

$17.98

3

Serra Paragon

$28.47

3

Etali, Primal Conqueror

$19.47

Sorceries (4)

4

Lay Down Arms

$2.76

Artifacts (2)

2

Reckoner Bankbuster

$7.98

Enchantments (7)

3

Ossification

$1.47

4

Fable of the Mirror-Breaker

$87.96

Lands (24)

1

Mountain

$0.35

10

Plains

$3.50

4

Sundown Pass

$37.96

1

Roadside Reliquary

$0.49

4

Cabaretti Courtyard

$1.56

4

Jetmir’s Garden

$51.96

60 Cards
$348.56

Sideboard

4

Anointed Peacekeeper

$2.76

1

Loran of the Third Path

$8.99

3

Surge of Salvation

$3.87

2

Destroy Evil

$1.38

1

Depopulate

$0.69

2

Sunfall

$3.98

1

Ossification

$0.49

14 Cards
$22.16

An interesting take on the white-based midrange strategy splashing red for Etali, Primal Conqueror and Fable of the Mirror-Breaker. Another new card is Guardian of Ghirapur that can provide card advantage in the form of flickering your permanents with enter the battlefield triggers. This exact list also managed to get 2 copies in the top 8 of the Saturday Standard Challenge that took place on April 29 (one of them being the same pilot as this exact decklist). A very good chain of results for this interesting deck idea.

Thanks for reading this article! It is still very early into the format since MOM released but we can already see that people are trying to innovate with new cards. I am looking forward to see what the format brings to us in the upcoming weeks and if we will see a new archetype emerge with some of the new cards from March of the Machine: The Aftermath!