Standard Metagame Snapshot and Tier List Update – June 29, 2022
The best decks in Magic: The Gathering's Standard format, what to watch out for, and our recommendations.
Table of Contents
- Overview
- Events
- Tier 1 Decks
- Tier 2 Decks
- Tier 3 Decks
- Conclusion
- Decklists
- Jeskai Hinata – June 29, 2022 Standard Metagame Snapshot
- Grixis Control – June 29, 2022 Standard Metagame Snapshot
- Boros Aggro – June 29, 2022 Standard Metagame Snapshot
- Jund Midrange – June 29, 2022 Standard Metagame Snapshot
- Rakdos Aggro – June 29, 2022 Standard Metagame Snapshot
- Orzhov Midrange – June 29, 2022 Standard Metagame Snapshot
- Mono Red Aggro – June 29, 2022 Standard Metagame Snapshot
- Esper Control – June 29, 2022 Standard Metagame Snapshot
Overview
While Izzet decks and their variants have firmly cemented themselves into the top of the metagame by the grave of Hinata, Dawn-Crowned, the meta has been slowly adapting to help overcome the Kirin menace.
While many of the decks from last week or even last month are still viable and see large amounts of play, it’s the small adjustments and improving upon the core concepts that make shifts tenable. Furthermore, we’re seeing new decks start to rise to prominence and a more balanced metagame within the last few weeks off the back of aggressive decks becoming more popular as a means to punish players who stopped respecting them.
Before we dive in, I want to make a note that this is by no means a complete analysis of every deck within a tier, but rather the most important ones or the decks that had the greatest delta from last week.
For the full metagame and tier lists:
As always, you can also check out the full metagame data and tier list over at MTG Meta for best of 3.
Events
While there weren’t too many Standard events last weekend, being able to analyze two Standard Challenges alongside the information we can derive from ladder will be extremely helpful.
Tier 1 Decks
Jeskai Hinata
Jeskai Hinata by Folero
by DoggertQBones
Standard
Control
best of 3
8 mythic
31 rare
11 uncommon
10 common
0
1
2
3
4
5
6+
Instants (20)
Sorceries (4)
Artifacts (2)
Enchantments (4)
Lands (22)
60 Cards
$424.78
Sideboard
15 Cards
$12.43
jeskai hinata
54% global win rate
Powered by 
vs Angels
100.0% win rate
7 tracked matches
vs esper control
76.5% win rate
17 tracked matches
vs dimir control
75.0% win rate
8 tracked matches
vs izzet mill
72.7% win rate
11 tracked matches
vs grixis control
72.7% win rate
11 tracked matches
vs izzet dragons ️
66.7% win rate
9 tracked matches
vs jund midrange
65.4% win rate
81 tracked matches
vs other
65.2% win rate
115 tracked matches
vs naya humans
63.6% win rate
11 tracked matches
vs Mono Black Midrange
62.5% win rate
8 tracked matches
vs Bant Midrange
60.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs golgari midrange
60.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs grixis vampires
59.8% win rate
117 tracked matches
vs orzhov midrange
59.3% win rate
189 tracked matches
vs Jeskai Combo
57.7% win rate
52 tracked matches
vs Mono Red Aggro
56.3% win rate
16 tracked matches
vs temur control
55.0% win rate
40 tracked matches
vs naya runes
53.5% win rate
101 tracked matches
vs mardu midrange
52.4% win rate
21 tracked matches
vs boros aggro
51.9% win rate
129 tracked matches
vs Mono Green Stompy
50.0% win rate
100 tracked matches
vs temur aggro
50.0% win rate
26 tracked matches
vs sultai control
50.0% win rate
6 tracked matches
vs izzet control
50.0% win rate
62 tracked matches
vs five-color ramp
50.0% win rate
6 tracked matches
vs esper midrange
48.8% win rate
205 tracked matches
vs selesnya enchantments
47.6% win rate
21 tracked matches
vs azorius control
47.4% win rate
38 tracked matches
vs selesnya midrange
45.0% win rate
20 tracked matches
vs Mono White Aggro
43.0% win rate
86 tracked matches
vs Mono Blue Tempo
41.7% win rate
12 tracked matches
vs esper planeswalkers
40.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs rakdos anvil
38.3% win rate
47 tracked matches
vs rakdos midrange
36.7% win rate
30 tracked matches
vs izzet tempo
28.6% win rate
7 tracked matches
vs azorius tempo
26.7% win rate
15 tracked matches
vs gruul werewolves
20.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs dimir delver
20.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs naya midrange
12.5% win rate
8 tracked matches
Key Cards
To the surprise of pretty much nobody, Jeskai Hinata is still ruling the top tables of Standard. While the metagame has substantially adjusted to help deal with this extremely powerful deck (a lot more on this later), it goes to show how hard it is to keep Jeskai down as it still has a very high play and win rate.
Per usual, the deck is just really good at stopping other strategies at doing their thing. If you’re playing an aggro deck, you have to contend with a lot of spot removal into Hinata itself or Goldspan Dragon which is a tough curve to beat. If you’re a midrange or control deck, you have to worry about their copius counterspells, incredible threats, and the chance that at any point the opponent can start chaining Magma Opus until you explode.
While this may make it seem that the deck in unbeatable, within the last few weeks I’ve seen substantially fewer Hinata decks on the winner’s podium and fewer within the top 8 and 16 as well. While the deck is powerful and has the tools to contend with anything, decks like that are endemic to having the wrong half of their deck at the wrong time. The further the meta diversifies, the more apparent this deck building schism will be as Hinata will continue to be assailed at all angles. Historically, a really diverse metagame is what took it out of the metagame initially, and while I doubt that’s going to happen again, I wouldn’t be surprised if Hinata, Dawn-Crowned eventually becomes de-crowned.
Grixis Control
Grixis Control by Graciasportanto
by DoggertQBones
Standard
Control
best of 3
0 mythic
34 rare
14 uncommon
12 common
0
1
2
3
4
5
6+
Instants (17)
Artifacts (3)
Enchantments (4)
Lands (23)
60 Cards
$392.96
Sideboard
15 Cards
$109.39
grixis control
42.8% global win rate
Powered by
vs izzet control
80.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs azorius control
71.4% win rate
7 tracked matches
vs other
66.7% win rate
21 tracked matches
vs Jeskai Combo
60.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs Mono White Aggro
50.0% win rate
10 tracked matches
vs orzhov midrange
42.9% win rate
14 tracked matches
vs esper midrange
42.1% win rate
19 tracked matches
vs naya humans
40.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs boros aggro
37.5% win rate
8 tracked matches
vs mardu midrange
33.3% win rate
6 tracked matches
vs Mono Red Aggro
33.3% win rate
6 tracked matches
vs jeskai hinata
27.3% win rate
11 tracked matches
vs Mono Green Stompy
25.0% win rate
8 tracked matches
vs jund midrange
18.2% win rate
11 tracked matches
vs naya runes
9.1% win rate
11 tracked matches
Key Cards
The winner of the largest improvement award within the last few weeks easily has to go to Grixis Control. A direct answer to Jeskai Hinata, Izzet looks to leverage a plethora of interaction and card advantage to stall out any strategy until they can take over the game with either an uncontested Hullbreaker Horror or a Wandering Mind / Reflections of Kiki-Jiki engine.
What has made this deck so effective, as previously stated, is how geared it is to beat Jeskai Hinata. Between the obvious good cards like counterspells and Expressive Iteration, additions like Reckoner Bankbuster, Check for Traps, Soul Shatter, and the sideboard Siphon Insight makes it clear that they are on a mission to win this matchup.
However, to become better in any matchup, you have to give up equity elsewhere. While I wouldn’t say this deck is actively bad against aggro, it’s definitely lacking in the meaningful interaction department with only four Voltage Surge for cheap interaction main deck and a lone Burn Down the House main deck to help deal with an offensive blitz. Without a superb draw (or a bad draw from the opponent), I imagine the game one matchup against aggressive decks is really poor and then gets ok in the boarded games where you can rely more on the Ray of Enfeeblement, The Meathook Massacre, and the additional Soul Shatter.
I imagine Grixis will persist as a good choice as long as Hinata is taking up a large slice of the metagame, but they may have to give aggro a bit more respect as it’s definitely been trending up recently. Speaking of aggro…
Boros Aggro
Boros Aggro by Xuxa
by DoggertQBones
Standard
Aggro
best of 3
4 mythic
31 rare
9 uncommon
16 common
0
1
2
3
4
5
6+
Creatures (24)
Sorceries (4)
Enchantments (4)
Lands (23)
60 Cards
$165.72
Sideboard
15 Cards
$9.21
boros aggro
50.2% global win rate
Powered by
vs Angels
85.7% win rate
7 tracked matches
vs mardu midrange
78.6% win rate
14 tracked matches
vs temur control
73.9% win rate
23 tracked matches
vs esper control
72.7% win rate
11 tracked matches
vs Mono Black Midrange
71.4% win rate
7 tracked matches
vs Jeskai Combo
67.7% win rate
31 tracked matches
vs other
67.7% win rate
65 tracked matches
vs naya runes
64.9% win rate
77 tracked matches
vs grixis control
62.5% win rate
8 tracked matches
vs naya humans
57.9% win rate
19 tracked matches
vs selesnya enchantments
55.6% win rate
9 tracked matches
vs naya midrange
54.5% win rate
11 tracked matches
vs grixis vampires
51.0% win rate
49 tracked matches
vs izzet control
50.0% win rate
28 tracked matches
vs jund midrange
48.4% win rate
31 tracked matches
vs Mono Green Stompy
48.2% win rate
56 tracked matches
vs jeskai hinata
48.1% win rate
129 tracked matches
vs selesnya midrange
46.7% win rate
15 tracked matches
vs orzhov midrange
44.3% win rate
115 tracked matches
vs azorius control
42.3% win rate
26 tracked matches
vs esper midrange
40.2% win rate
132 tracked matches
vs golgari midrange
40.0% win rate
10 tracked matches
vs rakdos midrange
38.9% win rate
18 tracked matches
vs Mono Blue Tempo
37.5% win rate
8 tracked matches
vs temur aggro
37.5% win rate
24 tracked matches
vs Mono Red Aggro
37.5% win rate
8 tracked matches
vs Mono White Aggro
32.4% win rate
71 tracked matches
vs rakdos anvil
31.3% win rate
32 tracked matches
Key Cards
Boros Aggro finally cracks into Tier 1 as it’s play rates and consistency have been very high the past few weeks. You can even see in these challenges that Boros occupies a large amount of slots within the top 32; despite it having trouble converting into a first place finish, having a few copies in the top 8 every week as well as a deluge of them in the top 32 is good enough for me.
Boros is really emblematic of what aggro decks do best, they get on board quickly and look to punish any player with a clunky draw or those who aren’t respecting a solid curve. It really takes the principles of “there’s no wrong threats, only wrong answers) and runs with it as not worrying about what deck you’re facing and just looking to smash face is a tried and true game plan no matter the metagame.
As the weeks continue, I expect Boros to retain it’s popularity as it’s honestly hard to imagine it being more popular than it already is. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see other aggro decks start rearing their heads out as well now that the archetype is looking viable again.
Tier 1 Overview
Moving into this week, I expect the aforementioned decks to be the most popular and best choices. Beyond those, Esper Midrange is still going strong as a constantly good option in this metagame.
Grixis Vampires and Temur Control, while falling off in popularity, continue to be powerful options that’ll steal a top slot or two every now and again so don’t think those decks have left the metagame.
For decks that have firmly left Tier 1, Jeskai Combo and Naya Runes are suddenly nowhere to be found in the last few weeks. Jeskai Combo is no doubt feeling the collateral damage that Hinata is putting on the metagame with decks packing way more hand disruption, counterspells, and effective removal which puts Combo in a bind. Naya Runes has pretty much lost all of it’s popularity being supplanted by Boros as the aggressive deck of choice.
Tier 2 Decks
Jund Midrange
Jund Midrange by Marolanzi
by DoggertQBones
Standard
Midrange
best of 3
2 mythic
46 rare
8 uncommon
4 common
0
1
2
3
4
5
6+
Planeswalkers (1)
Creatures (15)
Instants (10)
Artifacts (4)
Lands (25)
60 Cards
$445.34
Sideboard
15 Cards
$123.05
jund midrange
49.1% global win rate
Powered by
vs dimir control
87.5% win rate
8 tracked matches
vs Mono Blue Tempo
83.3% win rate
6 tracked matches
vs grixis control
81.8% win rate
11 tracked matches
vs rakdos anvil
67.5% win rate
40 tracked matches
vs Mono White Control
66.7% win rate
9 tracked matches
vs Mono Black Midrange
66.7% win rate
9 tracked matches
vs rakdos midrange
66.7% win rate
9 tracked matches
vs grixis vampires
63.6% win rate
44 tracked matches
vs golgari midrange
62.5% win rate
8 tracked matches
vs esper control
62.5% win rate
16 tracked matches
vs mardu midrange
61.5% win rate
13 tracked matches
vs selesnya midrange
60.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs Bant Midrange
58.3% win rate
12 tracked matches
vs naya midrange
58.3% win rate
12 tracked matches
vs izzet control
55.6% win rate
45 tracked matches
vs Mono White Aggro
55.6% win rate
54 tracked matches
vs Jeskai Combo
55.3% win rate
38 tracked matches
vs temur aggro
52.4% win rate
21 tracked matches
vs boros aggro
51.6% win rate
31 tracked matches
vs naya humans
50.0% win rate
6 tracked matches
vs other
50.0% win rate
86 tracked matches
vs Angels
47.5% win rate
40 tracked matches
vs Mono Green Stompy
44.2% win rate
43 tracked matches
vs azorius control
42.9% win rate
7 tracked matches
vs orzhov midrange
42.3% win rate
71 tracked matches
vs naya runes
41.8% win rate
91 tracked matches
vs esper midrange
39.7% win rate
156 tracked matches
vs temur control
36.8% win rate
19 tracked matches
vs jeskai hinata
34.6% win rate
81 tracked matches
vs grixis tempo
33.3% win rate
9 tracked matches
vs five-color ramp
0.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
Key Cards
Topping tier 2, we have a somewhat contentious option with Jund Midrange. It’s hard to say whether this deck is a low tier 1 option or very high tier 2, but I have two reasons to put it at the top of tier 2 for now: play rate and it’s stability. Play rate is obvious, while it has been performing reasonably well in tournament settings, it sees drastically less play than the Tier 1 decks mentioned above. By stability, I mean the deck construction.
Jund, more so than the other 3 color decks, has gone through the most change since it’s inception into the format. Every week I feel that we’re seeing a new build of Jund that’s doing well, and while that could be interpreted as the deck adapting to the metagame, it seems that it has more to do with the deck just finding it’s footing. With this list though, I think it’s finally coming into it’s own.
Jund was always a very solid midrange deck, but since it’s taken a more aggressive slant with Black Market Tycoon and Briarbridge Tracker, I’ve been seeing this iteration becoming the base line. I really like aggressively slanted midrange right now as you have the tools to fight late if you need to, get access to great interaction, and will randomly have tough to beat curves which can catch players off guard.
While I only have Jund at the top of tier 2 right now, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see it reclaim it’s spot in the top tier before long.
Rakdos Aggro
Rakdos Aggro by Talisker
by DoggertQBones
Standard
Aggro
best of 3
2 mythic
30 rare
15 uncommon
13 common
0
1
2
3
4
5
6+
Planeswalkers (1)
Creatures (21)
Instants (3)
Sorceries (3)
Lands (24)
60 Cards
$300.3
Sideboard
15 Cards
$25.87
rakdos aggro
40.9% global win rate
Powered by
vs esper midrange
66.7% win rate
6 tracked matches
Key Cards
I don’t want to give anything away just in case you haven’t seen Avengers: Endgame and care to, but right now I’m feeling like Thor – “I knew it.”
Although a good deal different from my initial list, this list and lists more like the initial base have suddenly been popping up within the last two weeks and achieving reasonable results in that time frame.
Rakdos looks to capitalize on the same metagame hole that Boros does, but in a slightly different way. While Boros is excellent getting onto the board quickly and applying pressure, they really can’t shift their game plan in any capacity if they need to. They have one mode and it’s attack and hope it’s good enough. Rakdos, on the other hand, gives up a bit of that speed for access to excellent interaction. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t even think Rakdos in conceding much in terms of speed as the curve that Talisker has is quite slick so gaining access to cards that normally aren’t afforded to aggro is quite the treat.
While I’m happy to see Rakdos doing well, I still think it has a ways ago to prove that it will remain a competitive option in the metagame. Personally, I think it’ll remain a solid choice as the deck has a great aggressive game plan and has the ability to shift gears when needed, but am unsure if that’ll prove good enough to break into the top tiers of play. Only time will tell and I’m excited to see where it ends up.
Orzhov Midrange
Orzhov Midrange by Sapoa
by DoggertQBones
Standard
Midrange
best of 3
10 mythic
33 rare
11 uncommon
6 common
0
1
2
3
4
5
6+
Creatures (15)
Artifacts (2)
Lands (19)
60 Cards
$365.26
Sideboard
15 Cards
$19.17
orzhov midrange
52.7% global win rate
Powered by
vs selesnya lifegain
87.5% win rate
8 tracked matches
vs naya werewolves
83.3% win rate
6 tracked matches
vs izzet giants
83.3% win rate
6 tracked matches
vs izzet mill
76.9% win rate
13 tracked matches
vs selesnya enchantments
71.9% win rate
32 tracked matches
vs sultai ninjas
71.4% win rate
7 tracked matches
vs izzet turns
71.4% win rate
7 tracked matches
vs Mono Blue Tempo
70.0% win rate
10 tracked matches
vs esper control
68.6% win rate
70 tracked matches
vs sultai control
66.7% win rate
9 tracked matches
vs Mono Red Aggro
66.7% win rate
39 tracked matches
vs Mono Black Midrange
65.0% win rate
40 tracked matches
vs naya enchantments
64.3% win rate
14 tracked matches
vs Angels
63.6% win rate
11 tracked matches
vs other
63.3% win rate
109 tracked matches
vs dimir control
60.0% win rate
30 tracked matches
vs Mono Black Zombies
60.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs boros artifacts
60.0% win rate
10 tracked matches
vs Mono Red Goblins
60.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs gruul aggro
58.8% win rate
17 tracked matches
vs jund midrange
57.7% win rate
71 tracked matches
vs rakdos anvil
57.3% win rate
103 tracked matches
vs Mono White Aggro
57.2% win rate
250 tracked matches
vs Mono White Control
57.1% win rate
7 tracked matches
vs grixis control
57.1% win rate
14 tracked matches
vs izzet control
56.5% win rate
138 tracked matches
vs selesnya midrange
56.2% win rate
121 tracked matches
vs boros aggro
55.7% win rate
115 tracked matches
vs izzet tempo
55.6% win rate
9 tracked matches
vs mardu aggro
55.6% win rate
9 tracked matches
vs izzet dragons ️
54.8% win rate
31 tracked matches
vs golgari midrange
54.8% win rate
62 tracked matches
vs naya midrange
54.5% win rate
22 tracked matches
vs grixis vampires
54.1% win rate
37 tracked matches
vs temur aggro
53.9% win rate
76 tracked matches
vs Mono Green Stompy
53.8% win rate
143 tracked matches
vs abzan midrange
52.9% win rate
17 tracked matches
vs jeskai control
50.0% win rate
6 tracked matches
vs esper planeswalkers
50.0% win rate
18 tracked matches
vs dimir ninjas
50.0% win rate
6 tracked matches
vs Bant Midrange
50.0% win rate
10 tracked matches
vs rakdos midrange
50.0% win rate
42 tracked matches
vs Jeskai Combo
50.0% win rate
134 tracked matches
vs azorius tempo
48.4% win rate
31 tracked matches
vs azorius control
48.3% win rate
118 tracked matches
vs mardu midrange
47.3% win rate
74 tracked matches
vs naya runes
46.9% win rate
209 tracked matches
vs naya humans
45.3% win rate
75 tracked matches
vs gruul werewolves
45.0% win rate
20 tracked matches
vs jund treasures
42.9% win rate
7 tracked matches
vs jeskai hinata
40.7% win rate
189 tracked matches
vs esper midrange
40.0% win rate
310 tracked matches
vs temur werewolves
36.4% win rate
11 tracked matches
vs five-color ramp
28.6% win rate
7 tracked matches
vs temur control
28.6% win rate
21 tracked matches
vs naya aggro
16.7% win rate
6 tracked matches
Key Cards
Another slight vindication for me! Orzhov Midrange has been an on again / off again option in Standard recently as Esper was just the substantially more popular variant, but Sapoa is looking to bring it back with tech I was raving about before Streets of New Capenna hit, Extraction Specialist.
Trust me, I’m not taking any credit for this innovation, I’m just glad to see Specialist is finally getting some rightfully deserved play!
What I really like about Orzhov, and this version in particular, is that it’s an aggressively slanted midrange deck that can fight a long fight, but also punk out slow draws with a good curve. Back to the aforementioned Extraction Specialist, it seems really good right now as there are plenty of decks running cheap removal so rebuying a Luminarch Aspirant or Acquisitions Expert is going to give slow decks some real headaches.
Between a strong curve and excellent disruption, I’m really liking Orzhov’s positioning moving forward. Furthermore, Orzhov’s versatility in how it’s built can help it compete in an evolving metagame which is a great tool to have.
Tier 2 Overview
While the tier 2 decks as a whole are struggling to fight against the ubiquity of the Tier 1 decks, we are definitely seeing some mobility. Decks like Boros have fought their way into tier 1 and other aggressive options are looking to cement their place in the metagame as well.
While there aren’t many other tier 2 decks of note right now, I do expect that to change shortly.
Tier 3 Decks
Mono Red Aggro
Mono Red Aggro by _Against_
by DoggertQBones
Standard
Aggro
best of 3
4 mythic
21 rare
8 uncommon
27 common
0
1
2
3
4
5
6+
Creatures (24)
Instants (4)
Sorceries (4)
Enchantments (4)
60 Cards
$103.08
Sideboard
15 Cards
$124.35
Mono Red Aggro
47.8% global win rate
Powered by
vs rakdos anvil
71.4% win rate
7 tracked matches
vs other
70.6% win rate
17 tracked matches
vs grixis control
66.7% win rate
6 tracked matches
vs esper midrange
64.7% win rate
17 tracked matches
vs azorius control
62.5% win rate
8 tracked matches
vs boros aggro
62.5% win rate
8 tracked matches
vs izzet control
60.0% win rate
20 tracked matches
vs mardu midrange
60.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs golgari midrange
50.0% win rate
6 tracked matches
vs Jeskai Combo
50.0% win rate
8 tracked matches
vs jeskai hinata
43.8% win rate
16 tracked matches
vs selesnya midrange
40.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs naya humans
37.5% win rate
8 tracked matches
vs orzhov midrange
33.3% win rate
39 tracked matches
vs Mono White Aggro
25.0% win rate
20 tracked matches
vs naya runes
14.3% win rate
14 tracked matches
Key Cards
Looking to capitalize on the success of Boros Aggro, Mono Red Aggro may be next as another way to get under the metagame.
While the list looks somewhat promising, I am a bit concerned at the card quality here compared to Boros. Sure, going monocolored makes your mana much cleaner, but without the draw of Faceless Haven and all your threats being powerful, it’s hard to say how this will perform long term.
If Red can manage to secure a few more strong threats along it’s curve or a better burn spell, I could definitely see it being a promising option moving forward. Right now, it has a whole lot to prove before going any higher on the tier list.
Esper Control
Esper Control by Ekkoftime
by DoggertQBones
Standard
Control
best of 3
9 mythic
39 rare
6 uncommon
6 common
0
1
2
3
4
5
6+
Instants (14)
Artifacts (4)
Enchantments (2)
Lands (26)
60 Cards
$476.16
Sideboard
15 Cards
$31.01
esper control
43.2% global win rate
Powered by
vs izzet dragons ️
80.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs other
66.7% win rate
24 tracked matches
vs selesnya midrange
63.6% win rate
11 tracked matches
vs naya humans
62.5% win rate
8 tracked matches
vs Mono White Aggro
62.5% win rate
32 tracked matches
vs Mono Black Midrange
60.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs rakdos anvil
57.1% win rate
7 tracked matches
vs temur aggro
50.0% win rate
8 tracked matches
vs izzet control
50.0% win rate
30 tracked matches
vs Mono Green Stompy
45.5% win rate
22 tracked matches
vs Jeskai Combo
41.2% win rate
17 tracked matches
vs golgari midrange
40.0% win rate
5 tracked matches
vs naya runes
39.3% win rate
28 tracked matches
vs jund midrange
37.5% win rate
16 tracked matches
vs esper midrange
35.3% win rate
34 tracked matches
vs orzhov midrange
31.4% win rate
70 tracked matches
vs boros aggro
27.3% win rate
11 tracked matches
vs azorius control
25.0% win rate
8 tracked matches
vs jeskai hinata
23.5% win rate
17 tracked matches
vs grixis vampires
16.7% win rate
6 tracked matches
vs mardu midrange
0.0% win rate
7 tracked matches
Key Cards
For the deck of the list, we have a bit of a throwback. Before Streets of New Capenna, Esper Planeswalkers was one of, if not the best deck in the metagame as it’s copious amounts of interaction and card advantage made it difficult to usurp. Things have obviously changed a lot since then and it fell out of favor in lieu of it’s leaner build, but going back to hard control may be a very legitimate move.
What I enjoy the most about this list is that it’s clearly a pet theory in deck list form. With a bunch of 1 and 2 ofs, it’s clear that EkkofTime was feeling the archetype out and seeing what it needed, and for their ingenuity, they were rewarded a fourth place finish. Considering this is the first solid attempt at this deck in awhile, you have to wonder how it will perform if there are more people picking it up looking to circumvent the metagame a little bit themselves. It’s hard to say where this will end up, but between this and Mono Red, I have more faith that this may put a dent in the metagame.
Tier 3 Overview
For the longest time, the tier 3 decks had absolutely no shot at competing since the tier 1 and 2 decks were so strong and I still mostly feel that’s the case. Out of any tier 3 deck that may make an impact beyond those listed above, I feel that Izzet Mill and Gruul Werewolves have the best chance. Neither have performed particularly well in this meta, but have enough potential that they may make waves if they hit the right deck list, metagame, or both.
Conclusion
Standard felt like it stagnated for awhile s it just seemed that Esper and Hinata were trading trophies with some other strategies acting mostly as background noise, but we’re finally seeing some real change in the metagame. Whether it’s other control variants rising to prominence or aggressive decks finally carving out their spot in the meta, I imagine that this is going to be a relatively tumultuous time for the Standard metagame as Hinata’s grip on the format definitely seems to be slipping.
Thank you for reading!
Decklists
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DoggertQBones
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