Play Any Deck Event Guide and Decklists • MTG Arena Zone

The new expansion Throne of Eldraine and the new Standard format is here, and MTG Arena is making its official launch out of the open beta phase after almost exactly one year. To commemorate this occasion, MTG Arena is holding a special two-part event that allows you to play with all the cards in Standard, and an opportunity to win a copy of each card as well!

Like the events, this will also be a two-part guide – in this first one, we explore the new cards, theorycraft and early access decks, and the first week brews of the new era of Throne of Eldraine Standard. In the upcoming second guide, we will find out what kind of decks survived the meta once the dust has settled, and what decks are expected to perform the best where higher stakes are involved.

Click here to view all Throne of Eldraine Standard decks!

Event Information

View Event Page
Duration: September 26 at 8 a.m. PT (3 p.m. UTC) to October 1 at 8 a.m. PT (3 p.m. UTC)
Format: Throne of Eldraine Standard Constructed – Cards from Guilds of Ravnica forward (Guilds of Ravnica, Ravnica Allegiance, War of the Spark, Core Set 2020, and Throne of Eldraine)
Entry Fee: None, but you can only participate once.
Ends After: Up to 12 games (win or lose)
Match Structure: Single matches (BO1)
Rewards: None specific for this event – games still count towards Daily Quests, Daily and Weekly Wins.

What is Play Any Deck?

We’ll provide access to playsets (four copies) of every card in Standard, which you can use to build and play any deck in Standard. You can build as many decks as you like, and you can change them between matches.

The first part of the MTG Arena two-part launch celebration goes live as soon as the game update hits. This event allows players to build Throne of Eldraine Standard decks without being restricted to their collection – that is, we can use any card we want!

This allows us to test new Standard cards and decks without having to craft them for no cost, but only for up to 12 games. This will prove to be important as part of the testing process, as the second part of the event that comes a few days later – called the Win Every Card Challenge – is a high-stakes event that rewards a copy of every card in Standard for winning 12 matches.

For this event, we will look maximizing our 12 game limit and find out what cards to build around, and decks to watch, so that we are well prepared for the next event and have a more refined list. We also do not want to be using our Wildcards frivolously outside of the event so early on in the set as well!

Top Throne of Eldraine Cards

Here are the cards we look forward to playing with the most on the surface level.

Planeswalkers

New set, new Planeswalkers to build around! Three mana cost Planeswalkers are no joke, especially when they can tick up to six loyalty as soon as it comes down. At the very least, they do not have passive abilities like the War of the Spark ones.

Oko, Thief of Crowns: We are excited to see what the best shell would be for Oko – whether it be a Food deck, or just for some midrange value. It can be a deterrent to aggro decks, steal your opponent’s creatures (in exchange for a Food token) as early as the second turn it comes down, or render their artifact or creature less useful.
The Royal Scions: In order to maximize the use of Will and Rowan, it can’t all be about spells – we need to add creatures as well! Arclight Phoenix is the most obvious pairing that comes to mind, but Irencrag Pyromancer and Crackling Drake are all fine partners too.
Garruk, Cursed Huntsman: There are other 6 mana Planeswalkers can fill a similar role to the returned Garruk – such as Liliana, Dreadhorde General and Ugin, the Ineffable. On the surface, it definitely is a decent Planeswalker,

Fires of Invention

Any card that allows you play cards without paying their mana cost is just asking to be broken and the more creative minds will be sure to come up with something good very quickly. Part of the reason why it’s so good is that it can act as mana fixing, and you can even cast something else the turn it is played.

Torbran, Thane of Red Fell

This card makes red decks even more scarier. If Experimental Frenzy was all about adding resilience to red decks, Torbran adds explosiveness and speed. Opponents will have to be more careful about taking early damage, as when this dwarf comes down on turn 4 – even with 2 or 3 creatures on the board could end things quickly. Mono Red Aggro is here to stay

Castles

All the castles are fine additions to any one or even two color decks – there is hardly any downside to including these in your deck, and they all have decent abilities towards mid to late game. Even if they don’t fit your game plan perfectly they should warrant 2 to 4 land spots in your deck.

In a three color deck it might be questionable – though cards like Castle Ardenvale and Castle Vantress have broad enough abilities that if you don’t mind them coming into play tapped, could still be well worth including.

Legendary Artifacts

These signature artifacts are cards that can be built around or can just augment your deck in some way. At first glance, they seem a bit too slow for competitive Standard to be the focus of the deck, but rather look to be better as 1 or 2 copies to help your game plan. You definitely do not want to have multiple copies in your hand, or even your starting hand as their cost reduction requires a board presence or cards already in your graveyard. That being said, they could just be even better than it looks, especially The Great Henge where it can be relatively easier to cast compared to the others.

Brazen Borrower

Our pick for the favorite card of the set – it doesn’t do anything flashy (pun intended) but it is just an all-rounder that will be on everybody’s minds if you have blue mana available. Like its cousin Vendillion Clique, we expect this card to be a strong contender in Standard and will be in many, if not most decks that play blue.

Food

Food is looking like it will be more similar to the Energy mechanic from Kaladesh. Gilded Goose will be the new Llanowar Elves even without decks that don’t make use of Food Tokens. Feasting Troll King cam be cheated out in combination with cards like Witch’s Oven. Golden Egg will also be a quintessential card (similar to Chromatic Sphere) that brings these decks together in terms of consistency.

Murderous Rider

This card is good even just as its Adventure spell and fills the gaps of black decks to deal with both creatures and planeswalkers quite nicely. Being a creature as well is just icing on the cake. On the same note, there are a lot of other good Knights in the set and they look to be quite pushed – like Fervent Champion and Acclaimed Contender. With Witch’s Vengeance in the same set, we will have to find out whether they can be just as good as the dominant Vampires from the previous Standard.

Irencrag Pyromancer

Irencrag Pyromancer is enabled by a lot of cards. Opt, The Royal Scions, Thrill of Possibility, and others to add the Lightning Bolt effect to those cards. 0/4 is also a big body. Improbable Alliance is also another one worth mentioning. Similar to Saheeli, Master Artificer, except it is a little bit more flexible and difficult to remove. I think these Izzet-related cards will play a big role in the new Standard format.

Planeswalker Hate

Continuing on from War of the Spark, we still have a bunch of broken Planeswalkers in Standard (Teferi, Time Raveler and Narset, Parter of Veils) and we are set to add more (namely Oko, Thief of Crowns). These two creatures are efficient, full of value and a beating, but good especially because they can deal with the above mentioned Planeswalkers effectively. They are also generic enough to be included in many decks.

Rankle, Master of Pranks

Our last card of noteworthy mention has a lot of abilities, is an evasive creature with haste. It seems to fit best in a midrange deck that aims to outvalue your opponent. On a similar note, Stormfist Crusader is also an interesting card that affects both players, and is a Knight to boot.

Building Your Throne of Eldraine Standard Deck

The New Manabase

With only access to the new Fabled Passage, Temples and the Shocklands for our mana, three colors is going to be harder to come by more consistently without lands coming into play tapped or having to pay 2 life. We mentioned in the previous Standard 2020 guide that this will have a big impact on Standard decks going forward. This is why we feel mono or two colored decks will perform the best in the new Standard, especially with the utility lands such as Castle Vantress.

If you need further help choosing the right amount of lands in your deck if it has a more complicated mana base, check out Frank Karsten’s signature article on this topic.

https://www.channelfireball.com/articles/how-many-colored-mana-sources-do-you-need-to-consistently-cast-your-spells-a-guilds-of-ravnica-update/

Best-of-One Metagame

Best-of-one matches will naturally favor aggro, combo or more linear decks that do their own thing. Without a sideboard it is harder to prepare against them, especially for control decks that require a variety of answers to threats.

Mono Red Aggro has been the king of best-of-one queues and it looks to be getting stronger in this Standard. It is one of the best decks to choose especially in a new metagame, as players experiment with new cards.

Our Throne of Eldraine Standard Decklist Choices

Here are the cream of the crop decks we want to test out for the event. They account for the cards we mentioned above, and are diverse enough to find out what cards might over and under-perform before we dive in and craft them with Wildcards. There are obvious more we want to play, but being restricted to 12 games means that we want to quickly try and find decks that would be more refined for the next event.

Happily Ever After – Play Anything – Throne of Eldraine Standard

What better way to test the new cards than to try an alternate win condition? This deck is originally by AliEldrazi, creator unique brews and such as ones based around Golos, Tireless Pilgrim. Leyline of Anticipation is a really interesting inclusion as it allows you to resolve Happily Ever After at end of your opponent’s turn, and if you have a Teferi, Time Raveler on your side then it’s game over (provided you meet the conditions).

4 Breeding Pool (RNA) 246
1 Castle Ardenvale (ELD) 238
2 Castle Vantress (ELD) 242
1 Chemister's Insight (GRN) 32
2 Drawn from Dreams (M20) 56
4 Fabled Passage (ELD) 244
4 Fae of Wishes (ELD) 44
2 Forest (ELD) 266
2 Growth Spiral (RNA) 178
4 Hallowed Fountain (RNA) 251
3 Happily Ever After (ELD) 16
4 Island (ELD) 254
4 Leyline of Anticipation (M20) 64
3 Narset, Parter of Veils (WAR) 61
2 Plains (ELD) 250
3 Planewide Celebration (WAR) 172
4 Teferi, Time Raveler (WAR) 221
4 Temple Garden (GRN) 258
2 Time Wipe (WAR) 223
4 Wilderness Reclamation (RNA) 149

1 Absorb (RNA) 151
1 Devious Cover-Up (GRN) 35
1 Dovin's Veto (WAR) 193
1 Happily Ever After (ELD) 16
1 Jace, Wielder of Mysteries (WAR) 54
1 Mass Manipulation (RNA) 42
1 Once and Future (ELD) 168
1 Planar Cleansing (M20) 33
1 Planewide Celebration (WAR) 172
1 Precognitive Perception (RNA) 45
1 Prison Realm (WAR) 26
1 Root Snare (RNA) 137
1 Tamiyo, Collector of Tales (WAR) 220
1 Time Wipe (WAR) 223
1 Veil of Summer (M20) 198

Decklist

❓ Importing and Copying Decks into MTG Arena

Decklists that are older than 6 months and using Streamdecker to display decklists are being phased out! If you would like access to this deck, please contact us and include the link to this deck so we can fix it for you.

➕ Submit and Share Your Deck!

Esper Doom – Play Anything – Throne of Eldraine Standard

This is a deck by Andrew Cuneo and also adopted by Ondrej Strasky to play the attrition game with Doom Foretold and get back your sacrificed artifacts and enchantments with Dance of the Manse. This deck is well suited for this event as these are very specific rares you don’t want to risk your Wildcards on.

1 Castle Vantress (ELD) 242
3 Dance of the Manse (ELD) 186
3 Doom Foretold (ELD) 187
1 Dovin's Veto (WAR) 193
3 Fabled Passage (ELD) 244
4 Godless Shrine (RNA) 248
4 Golden Egg (ELD) 220
4 Guild Globe (WAR) 239
4 Hallowed Fountain (RNA) 251
1 Island (ELD) 254
4 Kaya's Wrath (RNA) 187
1 Legion's End (M20) 106
2 Murderous Rider (ELD) 97
4 Oath of Kaya (WAR) 209
2 Plains (ELD) 250
1 Planar Cleansing (M20) 33
2 Swamp (ELD) 258
4 Teferi, Time Raveler (WAR) 221
4 Temple of Silence (M20) 256
3 Thought Erasure (GRN) 206
4 Watery Grave (GRN) 259
1 Wishclaw Talisman (ELD) 110
2 Ashiok, Dream Render (WAR) 228
1 Cry of the Carnarium (RNA) 70
2 Disenchant (M20) 14

1 Disfigure (M20) 95
2 Dovin's Veto (WAR) 193
2 Duress (XLN) 105
1 Legion's End (M20) 106
1 Realm-Cloaked Giant (ELD) 26
2 The Elderspell (WAR) 89
1 Unmoored Ego (GRN) 212

Decklist

❓ Importing and Copying Decks into MTG Arena

➕ Submit and Share Your Deck!

Rakdos Pyromancer – Play Anything – Throne of Eldraine Standard

This is a deck by K/DA renji that exploits the interaction between Stormfist Crusader and Irencrag Pyromancer. There are even more ways to draw your second card, like Foulmire Knight, Midnight Reaper and Rankle, Master of Pranks. This deck will make a good opportunity to try a linear aggro deck that includes a lot of the new cards.

2 Foulmire Knight (ELD) 90
8 Mountain (ANA) 64
4 Knight of the Ebon Legion (M20) 105
2 Shock (M20) 160
8 Swamp (ANA) 63
4 Rix Maadi Reveler (RNA) 109
4 Dreadhorde Butcher (WAR) 194
4 Stormfist Crusader (ELD) 203
3 Midnight Reaper (GRN) 77
4 Murderous Rider (ELD) 97
4 Bonecrusher Giant (ELD) 115
3 Irencrag Pyromancer (ELD) 128
3 Rankle, Master of Pranks (ELD) 101
2 Castle Locthwain (ELD) 241
1 Castle Embereth (ELD) 239
4 Blood Crypt (RNA) 245

Decklist

❓ Importing and Copying Decks into MTG Arena

➕ Submit and Share Your Deck!

Jeskai Fires – Play Anything – Throne of Eldraine Standard

This is a deck by KanyeBest, an up and coming MTG Arena streamer and player. This deck is Jeskai Superfriends in its core, and makes use of the new Fae of Wishes to fetch silver bullet cards from the sideboard and Fires of Invention to cast two spells every turn. The deck looks to be well-positioned even against aggro decks with incidental lifegain via Interplanar Beacon, Fae of Wishes as a good blocker and Deafening Clarion to wipe the board.

4 Fae of Wishes (ELD) 44
4 Narset, Parter of Veils (WAR) 61
4 Teferi, Time Raveler (WAR) 221
2 The Royal Scions (ELD) 199
1 Kasmina, Enigmatic Mentor (WAR) 56
3 Sarkhan the Masterless (WAR) 143
1 Chandra, Awakened Inferno (M20) 127
1 Ugin, the Ineffable (WAR) 2
4 Fires of Invention (ELD) 125
2 Shock (M19) 156
2 Justice Strike (GRN) 182
1 Castle Vantress (ELD) 242
3 Fabled Passage (ELD) 244
4 Hallowed Fountain (RNA) 251
4 Interplanar Beacon (WAR) 247
2 Island (XLN) 265
2 Mountain (XLN) 273
1 Plains (XLN) 261
4 Sacred Foundry (GRN) 254
4 Steam Vents (GRN) 257
1 Temple of Epiphany (M20) 253
1 Temple of Triumph (M20) 257
1 Time Wipe (WAR) 223
4 Deafening Clarion (GRN) 165

1 Devout Decree (M20) 13
1 Disenchant (M20) 14
1 Sarkhan the Masterless (WAR) 143
1 Time Wipe (WAR) 223
1 Dawn of Hope (GRN) 8
1 Command the Dreadhorde (WAR) 82
1 Dovin's Veto (WAR) 193
1 Prison Realm (WAR) 26
1 Pulse of Murasa (M20) 189
1 Tamiyo, Collector of Tales (WAR) 220
1 The Elderspell (WAR) 89
1 Sky Tether (RNA) 21
1 Enter the God-Eternals (WAR) 196
1 Chandra, Awakened Inferno (M20) 127
1 Casualties of War (WAR) 187

Decklist

❓ Importing and Copying Decks into MTG Arena

➕ Submit and Share Your Deck!

Bant Ramp – Play Anything – Throne of Eldraine Standard

2 Deputy of Detention (RNA) 165
1 Brazen Borrower (ELD) 39
3 Hydroid Krasis (RNA) 183
4 Leafkin Druid (M20) 178
4 Gilded Goose (ELD) 160
4 Charming Prince (ELD) 8
4 Risen Reef (M20) 217
1 Trostani Discordant (GRN) 208
1 Harmonious Archon (ELD) 17
1 Finale of Glory (WAR) 12
3 Nissa, Who Shakes the World (WAR) 169
4 Oko, Thief of Crowns (ELD) 197
4 Teferi, Time Raveler (WAR) 221
4 Breeding Pool (RNA) 246
4 Forest (XLN) 277
4 Hallowed Fountain (RNA) 251
1 Plains (XLN) 261
1 Island (XLN) 265
1 Castle Garenbrig (ELD) 240
1 Castle Vantress (ELD) 242
4 Temple Garden (GRN) 258
4 Temple of Mystery (M20) 255

Decklist

❓ Importing and Copying Decks into MTG Arena

➕ Submit and Share Your Deck!

Izzet Phoenix – Play Anything – Throne of Eldraine Standard

Make use of the key new cards added to blue and red in this archetype.

1 Castle Embereth (ELD) 239
1 Castle Vantress (ELD) 242
2 Radical Idea (GRN) 52
1 Chemister's Insight (GRN) 32
2 Merchant of the Vale (ELD) 131
4 Crackling Drake (GRN) 163
4 Arclight Phoenix (GRN) 91
3 Improbable Alliance (ELD) 193
4 Irencrag Pyromancer (ELD) 128
6 Island (XLN) 265
6 Mountain (XLN) 273
4 Opt (XLN) 65
1 Scorching Dragonfire (ELD) 139
1 Beacon Bolt (GRN) 154
4 Shock (M19) 156
4 Steam Vents (GRN) 257
4 Temple of Epiphany (M20) 253
4 The Royal Scions (ELD) 199
4 Thrill of Possibility (ELD) 146

Decklist

❓ Importing and Copying Decks into MTG Arena

➕ Submit and Share Your Deck!

Sultai Food – Play Anything – Throne of Eldraine Standard

This deck goes all-in on Food token synergies. Another possible inclusion is Savvy Hunter if you want to make the deck a little bit less reliant on them.

2 Assassin's Trophy (GRN) 152
4 Breeding Pool (RNA) 246
3 Feasting Troll King (ELD) 152
3 Forest (XLN) 277
4 Giant Opportunity (ELD) 159
4 Gilded Goose (ELD) 160
1 Island (XLN) 265
4 Oko, Thief of Crowns (ELD) 197
4 Overgrown Tomb (GRN) 253
4 Paradise Druid (WAR) 171
1 Swamp (XLN) 269
4 Temple of Malady (M20) 254
4 Temple of Mystery (M20) 255
3 Vraska, Golgari Queen (GRN) 213
3 Watery Grave (GRN) 259
4 Wicked Wolf (ELD) 181
4 Witch's Oven (ELD) 237
4 Cauldron Familiar (ELD) 81

Decklist

❓ Importing and Copying Decks into MTG Arena

➕ Submit and Share Your Deck!

Golgari Aggro – Play Anything – Throne of Eldraine Standard

2 Castle Garenbrig (ELD) 240
6 Forest (XLN) 277
4 Knight of the Ebon Legion (M20) 105
4 Murderous Rider (ELD) 97
4 Once Upon a Time (ELD) 169
4 Overgrown Tomb (GRN) 253
4 Paradise Druid (WAR) 171
4 Pelt Collector (GRN) 141
3 Questing Beast (ELD) 171
3 Rankle, Master of Pranks (ELD) 101
4 Rotting Regisaur (M20) 111
4 Spawn of Mayhem (RNA) 85
7 Swamp (XLN) 269
4 Temple of Malady (M20) 254
3 The Great Henge (ELD) 161

Decklist

❓ Importing and Copying Decks into MTG Arena

➕ Submit and Share Your Deck!

Mono Red Aggro – Play Anything – Throne of Eldraine Standard

We are curious to see how this deck will play out without the Experimental Frenzy and Runaway Steam-Kin combo, or Cavalcade of Calamity. This deck gives us a chance to test out the new red cards, and has a slightly higher curve.

4 Fervent Champion (ELD) 124
4 Scorch Spitter (M20) 159
4 Tin Street Dodger (RNA) 120
4 Robber of the Rich (ELD) 138
4 Bonecrusher Giant (ELD) 115
4 Shock (M19) 156
4 Slaying Fire (ELD) 143
4 Skewer the Critics (RNA) 115
4 Light Up the Stage (RNA) 107
3 Torbran, Thane of Red Fell (ELD) 147
17 Mountain (XLN) 273
4 Castle Embereth (ELD) 239

Decklist

❓ Importing and Copying Decks into MTG Arena

➕ Submit and Share Your Deck!

Mardu Knights – Play Anything – Throne of Eldraine Standard

Why not try all the new different Knights in Standard? Each color has its own Knight that feels amiss if we only pick two colors. The deck can fold hard to Witch’s Vengeance, so play around cards like that and try not to vomit your hand all at once!

4 Venerable Knight (ELD) 35
4 Fervent Champion (ELD) 124
4 Knight of the Ebon Legion (M20) 105
4 Worthy Knight (ELD) 36
4 Stormfist Crusader (ELD) 203
4 Inspiring Veteran (ELD) 194
3 Order of Midnight (ELD) 99
4 Smitten Swordmaster (ELD) 105
1 Embercleave (ELD) 120
2 Conclave Tribunal (GRN) 6
2 The Circle of Loyalty (ELD) 9
2 Icon of Ancestry (M20) 229
4 Sacred Foundry (GRN) 254
4 Godless Shrine (RNA) 248
4 Blood Crypt (RNA) 245
1 Temple of Silence (M20) 256
1 Temple of Triumph (M20) 257
2 Plains (XLN) 261
2 Swamp (XLN) 269
4 Tournament Grounds (ELD) 248

Decklist

❓ Importing and Copying Decks into MTG Arena

➕ Submit and Share Your Deck!

Simic Flash – Play Anything – Throne of Eldraine Standard

I am dubious about Wildborn Preserver as it does not do too much other than being potentially a bigger creature – but it’s worth trying, at least. Once Upon a Time is a potential inclusion if we cut some counterspells and add another creature suite.

4 Spectral Sailor (M20) 76
4 Brineborn Cutthroat (M20) 50
4 Wildborn Preserver (ELD) 182
4 Brazen Borrower (ELD) 39
4 Nightpack Ambusher (M20) 185
4 Frilled Mystic (RNA) 174
4 Opt (XLN) 65
4 Quench (RNA) 48
4 Sinister Sabotage (GRN) 54
8 Island (XLN) 265
6 Forest (XLN) 277
4 Breeding Pool (RNA) 246
4 Temple of Mystery (M20) 255
2 Castle Vantress (ELD) 242

Decklist

❓ Importing and Copying Decks into MTG Arena

➕ Submit and Share Your Deck!

Mono Blue Tempo – Budget Explorer Deck

Mono Blue Tempo is a prime example of a deck that does not mess around. You play a cheap creature, counter anything of relevance, and peck your way to victory. It’s unfortunate that a budget deck has to have some rares, but you may have noticed that there isn’t an updated version. Well, you don’t really need one!

The only change you could make is shaving some Brineborn Cutthroat or Spell Pierce for Brazen Borrower and some Otawara, Soaring City over an Island or two, but this is the closest to complete out of all of the decks on the list! That said, this isn’t the most competitive Mono Blue deck either, so if you want the best form of Mono Blue, even if it looks different, you have to go with Spirits.

Bo1 Mono Blue Spirits

by DoggertQBones

Buy on TCGplayer $63.65

Explorer

best of 1

mythic
rare
uncommon
common

Creatures (25)

$9.16

$1.05

$1.96

$1.96

$1.96

$1.96

$17.98

Instants (6)

Lofty Denial

$0.70

Geistlight Snare

$1.40

Enchantments (6)

Combat Research

$0.70

Curious Obsession

$5.96

Lands (23)

Snow-Covered Island

$37.81

Otawara, Soaring City

$24.99

Faceless Haven

$1.77

60 Cards
$109.36

Guide

MTG Arena Budget Explorer Decks for Beginners

Decklist

(E) Budget Mono Blue Tempo

by DoggertQBones

Buy on TCGplayer $14.4

Explorer

best of 1

mythic
rare
uncommon
common

Creatures (20)

$1.40

$1.40

$1.40

$1.40

$5.96

Instants (16)

$2.36

$1.40

$1.40

$1.40

Enchantments (4)

Curious Obsession

$5.96

Lands (20)

Island

$7.00

60 Cards
$31.08

❓ Importing and Copying Decks into MTG Arena

➕ Submit and Share Your Deck!

Rakdos Knights by Johx77 – #211 Mythic – July 2020 Season

Ranking screen here:

This was my take on answers to a rec/ramp dominated meta. It’s a very fun, aggressive deck to play that does a huge amount of damage very quickly, without the monotony of mono red – there’s still a fair bit of decision making to be done here. The key differentiator from other aggro is the access to drill bit and duress to pick out the board wipes/nissas/krasis’/ugins/recs at a critical point, buying just enough time to win by T4/5. As the season went on it was also extremely effective against the mono green and black decks that were being run against the other two main ones, given the potent creature removal synergies with blacklance and co. Also, landing a reggie early against mono G, R, or B often effectively ends the game – mono green can’t hit it hard enough without using two cards, and it hits faster with cleave than anyone. I’ve really not been grinding particularly hard to get this high in mythic at all (unlike plenty other seasons!). Full card breakdown below if of interest.

Breakdown of cards:

Knight of the ebon legion-

Amazing one drop, can win a game on it’s own. Also happens to be a Knight. The pump is insanely threatening on its own, and should you be able to put an embercleave on it and attack and pump the following turn, the deathtouch trample combo is absolutely devastating to any blockers. Also has great synergy with stormfist, blacklance or demonic embrace to trigger the counters at the end of turn. 4 of without doubt. Entirely valid play to drop him against control decks by himself and just pump, sometimes forcing a board wipe on one card.

Fervent champion –

Average by itself, dangerous with another fervent as everyone knows from mono red, and absolutely lethal with a blacklance paragon for clearing out a big blocker or attacker. Helps pump any other knight on the board, can help to get paragon up to 4/1 which can turn into 5/2 double strike trample as early as T3 with the cleave. Also an absolute bomb late game (eg post wipe) if you have a cleave on the field and demonic embrace in hand or in the yard, as the equip discount means from nowhere you can end up with 10 haste flying trample damage for BBRR.

Blacklance paragon –

Strong creature removal, lifelink and a dangerous body all in one. Surprisingly modular that can be useful in a broad range of situations. Exceptional with fervent champion for flash speed big creature removal whilst providing a 3/1 for a sum total of 1B. Carries a cleave well to boot.

Stormfist crusader –

Primary card draw in this deck. Menace makes it costly to block, esp with a paragon in hand (kill two blockers). Triggers spectacle every turn just like spawn of mayhem, allowing you to drill bit whatever card the opp drew from it immediately. Opp often avoids killing it on the erroneous logic that they get cards too – but with your game plan being win on T4 or so, the benefit you get vastly outweighs theirs.

Drill bit –

I swear this is the most under rated card in standard! You should never need to pay full cost for this, you’re an extremely aggressive deck so any turn you’re not doing damage to trigger spectacle something has gone badly wrong. Paying B to get rid of any card is amazing. Targets are usually removal/boardwipes or teferi/nissa/ugin/krasis, so can be worth saving until they are a turn away from having the mana to play those bigger threats.

Spawn of mayhem –

Flying trample 4/4 that pings every turn. A very solid carrier for embercleave, and the 4cmc means he’s the only creature in the deck safe from claim the firstborn. Also a good target for demonic embrace,and has some synergy with the life loss required for casting embrace from the yard. In running 3 rather then 4 just to provide space for the T1 and T2 drops, but I’m rarely sorry to see multiple in hand so 4 might well be correct.

Rotting regisaur –

Still the best creature in standard to put a cleave on. On his own, can be underwhelming if he gets chump blocked by 1/1s, and the discard cost does hurt if you don’t have a stormfist keeping more coming in. Also very painful to be instantly killed/bounced on your turn with the discard trigger on the stack. I often side him out entirely against instant speed removal, and also against sacrifice as he’s a godawful mess to deal with if he gets Claimed. That said, having him out on T3 wirg cleave in hand frequently means game over for opp, as you just can’t do a whole lot about a 8/7 double strike tranpler. Also a phenomenal card against any other aggro, esp mono red or green, they just can’t get past him and if you give him shadowspear it’s usually lights out.

Murderous rider –

Great catch all removal, also leaves you with a lifelink Knight which is decent against aggro. I used to run 4 of them, but 1BB is quite a tempo loss when you could be spending that on a spawn or reggie,especially when any creatures you’re facing will die to blacklance for B cheaper and also leave a body on the field already. 2 of seems right but sometimes he gets cut entirely in favour of cheaper removal (bonecrusher, dragonfire or noxious grasp usually).

Demonic embrace –

I love this card, it turns a chump blocked reggie into a flying 10/7 nightmare, and makes any other creature in our deck suddenly a lot more threatening. The trick with a fervent and embrace in hand plus a cleave on the field is an absolute blowout, just when opp thinks they’ve stabilised having cleared the field. Other fun tricks are casting blacklance on opps end step, then embrace T3 for a pseudo hasted 6/2 flyer out of nowhere. Also gives you something to do with your spare lands in hand if you want to cast from the yard. 2 of, as you really don’t want to draw more than 1 a game.

Rimrock Knight –

Good for surprise pumps on the play, and the 3/1 body carries the cleave as well as blacklance, but the inability to block means he goes out after game 1 in most match ups in favour of tailored removal. Definitely the flex slot in this deck, but a 2 of for game 1.

Embercleave – believe!

Sideboard

Duress – if I could have 6 drill bits I would, but against control and ramp, duress almost always find a juicy target. Just be mindful of filling their yard too much for uro.

Shadowspear –

Brilliant card against other aggro, if you get it on reggie or spawn and they can’t remove it is game over. Don’t see them much but the ability is also very handy against gods and dreamtrawlers.

Soul guide lantern –

Graveyard hate, zap them uros,and shut off any ECD shenanigans. Chosen over grafdiggers cage as the card draw Olton can be very useful in a pinch. Side in for any Uro or lurrus decks.

Noxious grasp –

kill nissa, uro, hydroid, teferi, anything in mono G or mono W, at instant speed for 1B. Fantastico. Sub in 2 or 3 depending on density of green threats in matchup.

Scorching dragonfire –

Mostly there to make sure mayhem devils really definitely die. Also an effective if slightly inefficient way to exile a non escaped uro as he’s awaiting to hit the yard.

Bonecrusher giant –

Very strong anti aggro, 2 for 1 with a very solid 4/3 for 3 that carries a cleave nicely.

Stonecoil serpent –

Meta call, as it doesn’t die to ugin, and can’t be targeted by t3feri, mayhem devil etc. Generally fine to cast for 2 or even 1 mana on a pinch.

Play advice –

I aggressively mulligan anything without a mountain and swamp down to as low as 4 – not ideal but you absolutely can win games from 4 card openers, particularly if you have a knight of ebon legion or a stormfist. You really need both colours of mana for the deck to work, and your only card draw needs both to cast (stormfist again). A dream hand has a couple of one drops and two drops, reggie or spawn, a cleave and a pair of shocklands.

Typical turn sequence options:

T1: ebon/fervent

T2: 2nd fervent/ebon and drill bit, or hold mana for blacklance, or stormfist

T3: spawn, reggie, or a two drop and drill bit/duress for the 4 mana wipe removal

T4: believe in the cleave!

Decklist

❓ Importing and Copying Decks into MTG Arena

➕ Submit and Share Your Deck!

Theorycraft Decklists

We also have a bunch of theorycraft articles for each color and a few color combinations that you might enjoy.

No posts found.

More Pre-meta Decklists

Early Access Streamer Event Decklists: For about 24 hours, various players have showcased the huge variety of decks – streamers and pro players alike. They will be our go-to for tournament worthy decklists, so make sure to check them out.
Standard 2020 Decklists: Check out our Standard 2020 page for inspiration if you prefer to build your own decks – you can use the core of the deck and improve them with Throne of Eldraine cards.
Fandom Legends Week 25 Decklists: This week tournament will host the first Standard event between 16 players – pretty much as soon as Throne of Eldraine releases. Decklists are now up and the tournament is currently in progress!

Wrapping Up

So this is all you need to know to prepare for the new Standard. Experiment with the new cards as much as you can in this event, and bring your A game for the next part of the event. The Win Every Card Challenge arrives October 5, 2019 @ 8:00 PM PST so we will post our thoughts and reviews right before that date. Of course, we will also keep this guide updated if any interesting decks appear.

Remember, you can contact us on our social channels on Discord or Twitter, email us, or leave a comment below if you have any feedback or just want to let us know how the decks went.