Hello my fellow Planeswalkers! I am The MTG Hero, and Standard just got another Universes Beyond shake-up and this time the heroes in a half shell have entered the battlefield.
Love it or hate it, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles set is here, and whenever Universes Beyond drops into Standard, things get interesting. New mechanics, unique build arounds, and some cards that immediately demand attention. It is the kind of chaos brewers like us live for.
So in this article I will be discussing some of the cards that immediately jumped out to me as potential players. Just because I don’t mention your favorite card from the set, definitely doesn’t mean it is bad, just that it didn’t jump out to me as soon as i seen it. On the flipside, just because I mention a card, does not mean it will be a big hit.
Did Izzet Really Need This?
Let’s start with the biggest headline card: Cool but Rude.
Izzet has been a dominant force in Standard ever since Tarkir Dragonstorm. Despite repeated, very targeted bans, the archetype simply refuses to die. We’ve seen it evolve from ”Cori-Steel shells, to Vivi Cauldron builds, and now into the current Lessons configuration. It really is the color combination that just refuses to die.
Cool but Rude is a massive upgrade to a deck that didn’t need one. Once the enchantment hits level two, Lessons suddenly gains an additional win condition that pairs beautifully with ”Artist’s to close games quickly and race nearly any aggro strategy in the format. It gives the deck inevitability while still fueling its spell-slinging engine.
But the Izzet upgrades don’t stop there.
Donatello's Technique might be one of the most quietly busted cards in the set. A one-mana “draw two” is about as close as we get to a modern-day Pot of Greed. The “cost” of returning an unblocked Gran-Gran to your hand, replaying it, or even bouncing an Otter token is trivial in a deck designed to extract value from every cast trigger. The tempo loss is negligible because the value gained is enormous.
I would be genuinely shocked if this card doesn’t find a home in Lessons or at least some flavor of U/X Aggro. With Azorius Merfolk and tempo strategies gaining traction, Donatello's Technique slots in seamlessly. Rebuying powerful enter-the-battlefield effects like Aang, Swift Savior or Aven Interrupter is exactly the kind of incremental edge tempo decks thrive on.
Will Orzhov Finally Breakthrough from the Grave?
Orzhov Sacrifice is a deck that has been flirting with greatness for what feels like forever. Every set gives it “almost” what it needs to break through, and TMNT continues that trend.
Super Shredder and Dark Leo & Shredder are exactly the kind of aggressive, synergistic threats the deck has been craving. They fit naturally into the sacrifice engine while applying real pressure. Are they format-defining? Probably not. But they are high-quality upgrades that raise the deck’s overall power level and consistency. Slot them alongside Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER and the rest of the sacrifice core, and suddenly Orzhov looks a lot more cohesive.
Then there’s Leonardo’s Technique, which feels more fringe at first glance. I’ll need reps to decide whether it’s better than Dewdrop Cure, but the flexibility is intriguing. Casting it for two with sneak is efficient, and the ability to return two three-drops can be a massive swing in grindy games. It’s not an auto-include yet — but it’s certainly on my watch list.
The Deck I Hate the Most
Now, as much as it pains me to admit it, Jeskai Artifacts gets a serious boost from this set.
Krang, Master Mind is tailor-made for the strategy. Being an artifact creature means it scales aggressively with affinity and can hit the board for next to nothing while still representing a meaningful threat. That’s exactly what the deck wants.
Don & Leo, Problem Solvers feel more niche, but blinking artifacts in a deck built around artifact ETB triggers is extremely powerful. Resetting a mana rock and a Repurposing Bay for an extra activation can absolutely decide games on the spot. There’s real combo potential here that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Reanimating Upgrades
For Sultai Reanimator, I’m very high on Armaggon, Future Shark. Reanimating a threat that can answer multiple opposing creatures immediately is a massive tempo swing. Against creature decks, it can single-handedly stabilize a board.
And in the mirror? It gets even more brutal. Bringing back Bringer of the Last Gift while sweeping away whatever your opponent reanimates is the kind of backbreaking sequence that wins tournaments.
Raphael Seeing Red
Finally, my favorite red aggro card from the set: Raphael, the Nightwatcher.
Mono-Red has been searching for a true top-end finisher, and this might be it. Granting your entire board double strike for just three mana is terrifying. Bounce back your Burnout Bashtronaut, reload the pressure, and suddenly your opponent’s life total disappears in a single combat step.
Honestly, it almost makes me grateful that Monstrous Rage is banned.
Wrap-Up
Standard didn’t just get new cards. It got a kick in the ass turtle style. Izzet gets better. Artifacts get scarier. Sacrifice inches closer. Reanimator gains power. And Mono-Red might finally have its closer. And that’s just scratching the surface! How can you not be excited as a Standard player?
Love Universes Beyond or not, I love exciting Magic cards and this set looks to deliver in spades and I can’t be more excited to log into Arena when the set drops and I hope you are to! Until next times Planeswalkers, Hero out!
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