Standard

Standard is the most accessible and widely played constructed format in Magic: The Gathering. Four sets rotate once a year on September, making it a dynamic format that evolves constantly as new sets are released. You can find all our Standard content here, from strategy, decks, guides and tier lists.

Shigeki, Jukai Visionary Art by Anna Podedworna

Standard Shigeki Four-Color Control Deck Guide: Grind Them to Dust

Deck Guides Standard

Hello fellow gamers, I have a confession to make, I love to make my opponents despair by robbing them of everything. It’s not because I am vindictive, it is more that I like to have an answer to their threat,…

Josh
March 2, 2022

Wedding Festivity Art by Caroline Gariba

The Top 10 Rares to Craft in Standard Based on Data – Full Breakdown and Decklists

Standard

DoggertQBones thought Mythics were harder to come by, but it seems Rare wildcards are just as elusive! He analyzes play rates, win rates, and how many decks a rare is played in to give you the best Rares you should focus on crafting!

DoggertQBones
March 1, 2022

Show of Confidence Art by Paul Scott Canavan

Standard Metagame Analysis – Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty Week 2

Standard

Tournaments We’re now into the second week of Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty standard, and there’s been plenty of tournaments this week. Between the 21st and the 27th, there’s been over 15 different Standard tournaments. Many of them are fairly small but…

Arty
March 1, 2022

Dragonspark Reactor Art by Billy Christian

Standard Izzet Artifact Combo Deck Guide: An Explosion of Fun

Deck Guides Standard

Welcome back to the exciting return of Brewing in a Top Hat! After a brief hiatus to deal with the real world (new job; now I make video games! Dream come true!), I am ready to play some Magic! Kamigawa has…

MonkeyInATopHat
February 28, 2022

Toski, Bearer of Secrets Art by Jason Rainville

The Data Driven Winners and Losers of Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty Standard, the Secret High Tier Deck, and the Unexpected Best Deck In Standard

Premium Standard

It seems the Standard meta is becoming solved, but DoggertQBones says the data indicates differently! What is the secret deck that's been crushing Bo3 queues and what does the data suggest Standard's best deck actually is?

DoggertQBones
February 25, 2022

Halana and Alena Partners Art by Jason Rainville

Standard Naya White Aggro Deck Guide: This Weird Aggro Deck May Be Standard’s Best Deck

Deck Guides Standard

Sometimes the weirdest decks are the best ones. Naya Aggro has taken Standard by storm and DoggertQBones is all about weird aggro decks! Learn why double splashing in Mono White is the future of the archetype!

DoggertQBones
February 24, 2022

The Top 10 Mythic Rares to Craft in Standard Based on Data – Full Breakdown and Decklists

Standard

Mythic wildcards are one of the hardest commodities to come by in Arena and DoggertQBones want to make sure you don't waste yours! Find out what the safest crafts are this Standard season to get the most out of your wildcards!

DoggertQBones
February 23, 2022

Standard Izzet Delver Deck Guide: The Best Budget Deck in Standard

Deck Guides Standard

Sometimes certain decks can go unnoticed. Maybe because nobody has taken them to win a tournament or they aren’t at the top of the ladder. However, in the many decks that can fly under the radar, there are some true…

Bohe
February 23, 2022

Kami of Transience Art by Steve Prescott

Standard Metagame Analysis – Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty Week 1

Standard

Tournaments Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty is out, and with it a bunch of cool new cards. The set brings a bunch of new Ninjas, Artifacts, and Enchantments – along with some powerful planeswalkers. There were several tournaments this weekend, and the…

Arty
February 22, 2022

Tergrid, God of Fright Art by Yongjae Choi

Standard Mono Black Discard Deck Guide: Why Should the Opponent Have Cards?

Deck Guides Standard

Monoblack Discard was one of DoggertQBones' favorite decks in 2022 and it finally seems viable again! Learn the art of grinding the opponent into the dirt with this fun and surprisingly strong deck!

DoggertQBones
February 21, 2022

Tezzeret, Betrayer of Flesh Art by Bryan Sola

Standard Azorius Artifacts Guide: The Best of a Control and Synergy Deck

Deck Guides Standard

Having played about a week of this new Standard, I can say that it’s definitely been a long time since I had this much fun in this format. Unlike last week when I wrote about Mono Red and everything was…

Bohe
February 19, 2022

Prosperous Thief Art by Fajareka Setiawan

The Data Driven Top 5 New Standard Decks Coming Out of Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty – Bo1 and Bo3 Lists

Premium Standard

Why waste wildcards when you can use data to find out what new decks are good! DoggertQBones pores over win rate data, tournament results, and personal experience to give you his top 5 new Standard decks from Kamigawa!

DoggertQBones
February 18, 2022

February 2022 Standard Metagame Snapshot – The Explosion of Creature Decks

Standard

Hello everyone! With a set of bans and a whole new set being introduced into Standard, I think it’s safe to say that a good amount has changed in Standard. As the metagame begins to settle in its place and…

DoggertQBones
February 16, 2022

Tamiyo, Compleated Sage Art by Chris Rahn

Standard Simic Ramp Guide: Ramp Your Way to Compleation

Standard

Why fight on an even playing field when you can go comically bigger than your opponent? Simic Ramp has been excellent for DoggertQBones. Learn as he breaks down what makes this deck so good!

DoggertQBones
February 15, 2022

The Wandering Emperor Art by William Arnold

25 New Standard Decks with Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty

Standard

Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty CONSTRUCTED Articles The Winners and Losers of Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty Standard and the One Deck That May Break Standard Review and Preliminary Decklists of Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty’s Planeswalkers Here Be Dragons! – Review and Decklists with Kamigawa:…

DotGG
February 10, 2022

Nashi, Moon Sage's Scion Art by Valera Lutfullina

Top 5 Overrated and Underrated Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty Cards With Decklists and the Card That May Break Standard

Standard

Another set, another set of hot takes! What're the cards that caught @DoggertQBones eyes the most and what's the one card he thinks everyone is sleeping on that may break Standard?

DoggertQBones
February 10, 2022

Three Unique Enchantress Decks for Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty Standard

Standard

Bohe
February 9, 2022

Three Awesome Standard Aggro Decks Made Competitive by Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty

Standard

DoggertQBones loves aggro, but needs some cool new fast decks to spice up Standard. Thankfully, he found 3 that look amazing! What're the 3 new aggro decks that he believes could make an impact on the Standard meta?

DoggertQBones
February 8, 2022

Three New Tempo Decks Made Possible by Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty

Standard

Reto
February 7, 2022

Spirit-Sister's Call Art by Dominik Mayer

Three New Graveyard Decks with Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty

Standard

Josh
February 6, 2022

Rite of Oblivion Art by Martina Pilcerova

My Top 5 Standard Decks Going Into Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty – Bo1 and Bo3 Lists

Premium Standard

Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty Standard format is almost here, but we've barely explored the new format we just got post bannings! Find out the top 5 decks going into Kamigawa so you can have a leg up on the competition!

DoggertQBones
February 4, 2022

Standard on a Budget: Gruul Landfall

Guides Standard

Hello Planeswalkers, I am The MTG Hero. The Standard bans are in, and Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty is right around the corner. With players not knowing what to play in the meantime, as well as new players coming in and old…

The MTG Hero
January 30, 2022

Post-Ban Standard: Where Standard Goes From Here – Why These Were The Best Possible Bans

Standard

The Standard bans have been announced and the whole format is about to be flipped on it's head! DoggertQBones is coming right out of the gate with a bold statement - these were the best bans. What happens from here?

DoggertQBones
January 26, 2022

Sunset Reverly Art by Antonio José Manzanedo

Bo1 Standard Jeskai Turns Deck Guide: How to Be the Villain 101

Deck Guides Standard

DoggertQBones is a brewer at heart, but even he goes to the dark side sometimes! Learn why Jeskai Turns may not only be the best Bo1 Turns variant, but potentially the best Bo1 deck in Standard!

DoggertQBones
January 19, 2022

Katilda, Dawnhart Martyr Art by Manuel Castañón

Standard Mardu Haunting Deck Guide: Turning the Meme into a Contender

Deck Guides Standard

Hello Planeswalkers, I am The MTG Hero and recently I came across a sweet deck with a lot of potential, which is Haunted Mardu! This is a deck as far as I can tell was originally created by fellow YouTuber…

The MTG Hero
January 15, 2022

Lier, Disciple of the Drowned Art by Ekaterina Burmak

Bo1 Esper Lier Deck Guide: The Best Anti-Creature Deck Around – Bo1 Standard, Alchemy, and Budget Lists

Alchemy Deck Guides Standard

Esper Lier is one of DoggertQBones' favorite decks, but you can play it 3 different ways!? See how you can build it for Bo1 Standard, Alchemy, and even a Budget version for those who only have a few wildcards!

DoggertQBones
January 12, 2022

Koma, Cosmos Serpent Art by Jesper Ejsing

Bo1 Standard Temur Ramp Deck Guide: Go Over The Aggro Decks!

Deck Guides Standard

Who says Standard is stale? Doggert takes his favorite Standard 2022 deck for a spin and had strong results! Is Ramp secretly great in Bo1?

DoggertQBones
January 9, 2022

December 2021 Standard Meta Snapshot: The Best Options for the Decathlon and the Meta Killer That I’m Considering

Standard

Hello everyone! As everyone is now aware, the impact of Alchemy has been the center of Magic discourse. It’s cool to see how these new cards and rules shake things up, but they aren’t the only formats that matter! With…

DoggertQBones
December 29, 2021

Standard Orzhov Control Deck Guide: The 5th Pillar of Standard

Deck Guides Standard

Hello Planeswalkers! I am The MTG Hero. Orzhov Control has been the constant “5th Pillar” of Standard. Always putting up fantastic results, but not getting the recognition that the other big four decks (Mono White, Mono Green, Izzet Dragons, and…

The MTG Hero
December 16, 2021

Bo1 + Bo3 Standard Boros Combo Deck Guide: Infinite Life Is Just Two Cards Away

Deck Guides Standard

Yes, dear readers. You can gain infinite life in Standard with a two card combo. Let me explain it to you before we do anything else. Whenever is dealt damage, it deals that much damage to any target. Now, what…

Bohe
December 5, 2021

Hullbreaker Horror Art by Svetlin Velinov

Bo1 Standard Izzet Control Deck Guide: Izzet the Best Deck?

Deck Guides Standard

Hello everyone! Since I’ve been more on a Bo1 kick, I noticed I was facing, let’s say, a bit of Mono-White Aggro. Alright, maybe I’m facing like 50% Mono-White at certain points, but that’s Best of One for you! To…

DoggertQBones
December 1, 2021

Arlinn, the Pack's Hope Art by Anna Steinbauer

Bo1 + Bo3 Standard Bard Class Deck Guide: I Am Legend!

Deck Guides Standard

Since the release of Adventures in Forgotten Realms, Class enchantments have seen a bit of play here and there. Some like have been in a staple position in some archetypes, others like started as a strong main board option and…

Bohe
November 30, 2021

Stormchaser Drake Art by Brent Hollowell

Bo1 Standard Simic Spells Deck Guide: The Budget-Friendly Control Deck Killer

Deck Guides Standard

DoggertQBones is returning to Bo1 with a bang! Simic Spells has been helping him tear through the Blue decks of the meta and you can find out what he thinks the best build is.

DoggertQBones
November 27, 2021

Standard Best of Three Meta Snapshot – November 2021

Standard

Hello everyone! Like I said in the Bo1 Standard snapshot, we’ll be doing snapshots for each of the tier lists we provide so you can get an idea on why the meta is the way it is! If you want…

DoggertQBones
November 24, 2021

Standard Best of One Meta Snapshot – November 2021

Standard

Hello everyone! With the advent of our new Bo3 Tier Lists, we’ll be doing meta snapshots a bit differently. Best of One Tier Lists will still be curated by me and/or the other members of MTG Arena Zone and they’ll…

DoggertQBones
November 23, 2021

Standard Temur Blitz Deck Guide

Deck Guides Standard

Greetings Planeswalkers! Crimson Vow is on its second week in Standard. With spirits, zombies, and vampires taking over the landscape and multiple decks looking to find their spot in the Standard Tier List, I figured I would show you the…

The MTG Hero
November 23, 2021

Standard Rakdos Dragons Deck Guide: Bo1 and Bo3 Lists

Deck Guides Standard

Hello everyone! Today I’m going over one of the cooler midrange decks that I’ve tried in Crimson Vow: Rakdos Dragons! Funny enough, I got the idea for the deck when I was writing an article before Crimson Vow’s release, the…

DoggertQBones
November 22, 2021

Bo1 + Bo3 Standard Azorius Spirits Deck Guide: Call the Ghostbusters!

Deck Guides Standard

From this point, our deck guides are going to present two decklists one of each for BO1 and BO3! Some will be more focused towards one than the other depending on their state in the metagame.

Bohe
November 21, 2021

Cultivator Colossus Art by Antonio José Manzanedo

Bo1 Standard Sultai Cultivator Deck Guide: Beast Mode Engaged

Deck Guides Standard

Hello fellow gamers, I am not sure what exactly the is. The card type says Beast. I think that is apropos – because this plant monster definitely activates beast mode on the regular. Over the last week or so, I…

Josh
November 20, 2021

Standard Dimir Aggro Deck Guide: Exploit Your Zombies!

Deck Guides Standard Strategy

Today, I’ll be going over Standard’s latest viable tribe, Dimir Zombies! Arguably the deck that gained the most from vampire-centric Innistrad: Crimson Vow, Zombies can play a powerful early and late-game thanks to some help from its new additions. The…

Omrithopter
November 18, 2021