Since standard finally looks like it is on it's way to getting better, it's time to open the book on the current state of the color wheel and what people are thinking on their choices. Personally, after two days of just throwing deck lists together, looking at what other people are playing, and then going back to the drawing board, I've settled on going white and possibly splashing green.
Moving forward with rotation, the loss of Oketra's Monument, Renegade Rallier, and Fairground's Warden will be offset by the more midrange knights strategy using History of Benalia and Leonin Warleader. Also, the new 3 drop angel is just strong on it's own as a powerful mid-game to late game flying threat, depending on how one boosts her. I'm almost certain that with rotation red will lose a lot of power and Ajani himself will become a sideboard piece as Leonin Warleader is just far more main deck material even in the really clustered 3-4 range. The 5 mana slot is where things get tricky. I think that Vivien Reid will still see at least a one or two of spot in most creature decks vs control. Lyra Dawnbringer is a powerful card that will likely still get shot down by Vraska's Contempt, Fight With Fire, and Murder, but the payoff for landing her and getting her to stick is pretty high. Hopefully we'll get a replacement for Blossoming Defense as Sheltering Light isn't particularly great against exile. Maybe a bant build that splashes for Dive Down is possible, but at that point I think Shalai, voice of plenty is a better option in the 4 mana spot.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
i have built:
Steel Leaf Stompy - just like SLC
GW Angels - beats the Big Red Machine
UB Midrange - favorite color combo. Id rather play a control version but black lacks a decent sweeper
Im in the process of building:
BW Zombies - I like the life gain aspect vs Red as well as the draining aspect to play around opposing Settles. GY shenanigans are an added bonus
i have built:
Steel Leaf Stompy - just like SLC
GW Angels - beats the Big Red Machine
UB Midrange - favorite color combo. Id rather play a control version but black lacks a decent sweeper
Im in the process of building:
BW Zombies - I like the life gain aspect vs Red as well as the draining aspect to play around opposing Settles. GY shenanigans are an added bonus
I feel that zombies is a real deck before rotation hits in september. It's largely the little things that are going unnoticed that are catching my own eye. The new Liliana +1 will net two life, which can trigger Oathsworn Vampire mid-late game. Graveyard Marshal is going to be a player if the format gets slower, and it's an easy to cast target alongside Diregraf Ghoul.
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
i have built:
Steel Leaf Stompy - just like SLC
GW Angels - beats the Big Red Machine
UB Midrange - favorite color combo. Id rather play a control version but black lacks a decent sweeper
Im in the process of building:
BW Zombies - I like the life gain aspect vs Red as well as the draining aspect to play around opposing Settles. GY shenanigans are an added bonus
I feel that zombies is a real deck before rotation hits in september. It's largely the little things that are going unnoticed that are catching my own eye. The new Liliana +1 will net two life, which can trigger Oathsworn Vampire mid-late game. Graveyard Marshal is going to be a player if the format gets slower, and it's an easy to cast target alongside Diregraf Ghoul.
i have built:
Steel Leaf Stompy - just like SLC
GW Angels - beats the Big Red Machine
UB Midrange - favorite color combo. Id rather play a control version but black lacks a decent sweeper
Im in the process of building:
BW Zombies - I like the life gain aspect vs Red as well as the draining aspect to play around opposing Settles. GY shenanigans are an added bonus
I feel that zombies is a real deck before rotation hits in september. It's largely the little things that are going unnoticed that are catching my own eye. The new Liliana +1 will net two life, which can trigger Oathsworn Vampire mid-late game. Graveyard Marshal is going to be a player if the format gets slower, and it's an easy to cast target alongside Diregraf Ghoul.
Im starting with Liliana, Marshal, & Ghoul. Not playing the other stuff
After throwing a few lists together I'm not sure my idea could even be called zombies. It's actually kind of like a Delve deck in that you just dump as much stuff into the graveyard as possible to enable some unexpected plays. Bone Dragon feels really undervalued...
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
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The main reasons I picked white is that they have a lot of recursion and value at the low CMC range. Ajani, Adversary of Tyrants feels really strong and surprisingly, I think he is actually stronger than Tezzeret, Artifice Master. The main reason is the shell he can play around in. We still have Renegade Rallier in the format along with Oketra's Monument. On top of which, we just got Militia Bugler along with some significant support pieces like Thorn Lieutenant. Interaction looks really good right now as well, with not just Cast Out and seal Away, but Reclamation Sage and Fairgrounds Warden being a thing.
Moving forward with rotation, the loss of Oketra's Monument, Renegade Rallier, and Fairground's Warden will be offset by the more midrange knights strategy using History of Benalia and Leonin Warleader. Also, the new 3 drop angel is just strong on it's own as a powerful mid-game to late game flying threat, depending on how one boosts her. I'm almost certain that with rotation red will lose a lot of power and Ajani himself will become a sideboard piece as Leonin Warleader is just far more main deck material even in the really clustered 3-4 range. The 5 mana slot is where things get tricky. I think that Vivien Reid will still see at least a one or two of spot in most creature decks vs control. Lyra Dawnbringer is a powerful card that will likely still get shot down by Vraska's Contempt, Fight With Fire, and Murder, but the payoff for landing her and getting her to stick is pretty high. Hopefully we'll get a replacement for Blossoming Defense as Sheltering Light isn't particularly great against exile. Maybe a bant build that splashes for Dive Down is possible, but at that point I think Shalai, voice of plenty is a better option in the 4 mana spot.
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
Steel Leaf Stompy - just like SLC
GW Angels - beats the Big Red Machine
UB Midrange - favorite color combo. Id rather play a control version but black lacks a decent sweeper
Im in the process of building:
BW Zombies - I like the life gain aspect vs Red as well as the draining aspect to play around opposing Settles. GY shenanigans are an added bonus
I feel that zombies is a real deck before rotation hits in september. It's largely the little things that are going unnoticed that are catching my own eye. The new Liliana +1 will net two life, which can trigger Oathsworn Vampire mid-late game. Graveyard Marshal is going to be a player if the format gets slower, and it's an easy to cast target alongside Diregraf Ghoul.
If you're trying out Desecrated Tomb, you might want to consider Sequestered Stash as well in the build. It basically lets you get back the tomb if you mill it with Sticher's Supplier.
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
After throwing a few lists together I'm not sure my idea could even be called zombies. It's actually kind of like a Delve deck in that you just dump as much stuff into the graveyard as possible to enable some unexpected plays. Bone Dragon feels really undervalued...
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!