Hello everybody!
In the previous article I talked about Jund and its evolution with Dragon’s Maze, today I want to talk about how the other archetypes in standard make use of Dragon’s Maze and overview the current deck choice.
Everybody realized the power of Voice of Resurgence and it’s no coincidence that it was present in all the Birthing Pod decks in Modern; meanwhile, in Block, it has even won the Pro Tour. It didn’t take very much to try it in standard where it has been added to Naya aggro and Midrange decks – here are two examples:
Naya Aggro by Aaron Barich
Creatures
4 Boros Reckoner
4 Dryad Militant
4 Experiment One
4 Ghor-Clan Rampager
4 Loxodon Smiter
4 Voice of Resurgence
4 Strangleroot Geist
Spells
2 Rancor
2 Advent of the Wurm
2 Boros Charm
4 Searing Spear
Lands
2 Forest
4 Rootbound Crag
4 Temple Garden
4 Stomping Ground
4 Sacred Foundry
4 Sunpetal Grove
Sideboard
3 Pacifism
3 Volcanic Strenght
2 Boros Charm
2 Ray of Revelation
3 Skullcrack
2 Mizzium Mortars
Naya Domri by Willy Edel
Creatures
4 Boros Reckoner
4 Avacyn’s Pilgrim
2 Experiment One
4 Thundermaw Hellkite
3 Loxodon Smiter
4 Voice of Resurgence
3 Restoration Angel
3 Flinthoof Boar
Spells
2 Mizzium Mortars
3 Selesnya Charm
4 Domri Rade
Lands
1 Forest
3 Rootbound Crag
4 Temple Garden
4 Stomping Ground
4 Sacred Foundry
3 Sunpetal Grove
2 Gavony Township
3 Clifftop Retreat
Sideboard
3 Oblivion Ring
2 Blasphemous Act
2 Assemble the Legion
2 Boros Charm
2 Pillar of Flames
2 Unflinching Courage
1 Rest in Peace
1 Thragtusk
Another deck that underwent very good changes is UWR control, obtaining cards like Turn//Burn as an excellent solution to Angel of Serenity and Obzedat, Ghost Council; Warleader’s Helix that does not need much explanation: 4 damage and 4 life makes a huge difference against aggressive decks; and lastly it earns the best closer that I’ve ever seen in Aetherling, which is simply unmanageable since it’s basically immortal as long as it’s supported by 1-2 open mana and, on top of that, it can just kill you in a couple attacks. Here is an example:
UWR Control by Ken Min Yeoh
Creatures
1 Aetherling
2 Snapcaster Mage
Spells
1 Jace, Architect of Thought
1 Tamiyo, the Moon Sage
1 Assemble the Legion
1 Detention Sphere
3 Azorius Charm
2 Dissipate
1 Essence Scatter
2 Searing Spear
4 Sphinx’s Revelation
1 Syncopate
3 Think Twice
2 Turn-Burn
2 Warleader’s Helix
1 Mizzium Mortars
2 Pillar of Flame
3 Supreme Verdict
1 Terminus
Lands
1 Island
1 Plains
3 Clifftop Retreat
1 Desolate Lighthouse
4 Glacial Fortress
4 Hallowed Fountain
4 Steam Vents
4 Sacred Foundry
4 Sulfur Falls
Sideboard
1 Aetherling
3 Clone
1 Oblivion Ring
2 Negate
2 Renounce the Guilds
1 Turn-Burn
1 Jace, Memory Adept
2 Pillar of Flame
2 Terminus
Unflinching Courage made Bant Hexproof a lot more playable, making the deck similar to its modern version thanks to the lifegain and allowing it to race even aggressive decks, which wasn’t always the case before. An example:
Bant Hexproof by Woodrwo Bogucki
Creatures
4 Avacyn’s Pilgrim
4 Fencing Ace
4 Invisible Stalker
4 Geist of Saint Traft
4 Loxodon Smiter
1 Voice of Resurgence
Spells
4 Ethereal Armor
4 Rancor
4 Spectral Flight
4 Unflinching Courage
1 Simic Charm
Lands
4 Breeding Pool
4 Hallowed Fountain
4 Temple Garden
4 Hinterland Harbor
3 Glacial Fortress
3 Sunpetal Grove
Sideboard
2 Nearheath Pilgrim
2 Strangleroot Geist
2 Ground Seal
1 Feeling of Dread
2 Fog
1 Selesnya Charm
3 Spell Rupture
2 Sigarda, Host of Herons
The other decks had smaller upgrades in cards like Sin Collector and Sire of Insanity according to their colours, both great cards against control and that is partially why Bant Control and Esper Control aren’t the best choices right now.
Also, don’t underestimate decks that have had very few changes like RG Aggro: even if it didn’t get any new cards, the other decks changing passively made RG good again. The Aristocrats and Junk Rites are still solid choices.
Lastly, I leave you a list of Jund Midrange that I suggest you to play at your upcoming standard tournaments:
Jund Midrange by Emanuele Giusti
Creatures
4 Thragtusk
4 Huntmaster of the Fells
3 Olivia Voldaren
2 Sire of Insanity
Spells
4 Farseek
3 Bonfire of the Damned
2 Putrefy
2 Mizzium Mortars
2 Tragic Slip
1 Dreadbore
2 Liliana, of the Veil
2 Garruk, Primal Hunter
3 Ground Seal
1 Rakdos’s Return
Lands
4 Overgrown Tomb
4 Stomping Ground
4 Blood Crypt
2 Kessig Wolf Run
2 Cavern of Souls
3 Rootbound Crag
2 Dragonskull Summit
4 Woodland Cemetery
Sideboard
2 Gloom Surgeon
2 Pillar of Flame
3 Slaughter Games
1 Grafdigger’s Cage
2 Tragic Slip
1 Rakdos’s Return
2 Acidic Slime
1 Deadbridge Chant
1 Liliana, of the Veil
Now you only have to choose a deck and go to your standard event. I hope you enjoyed it, see you next time!
Emanuele Giusti