A Standard Proposal: Five Viable, Unexplored Decks
Cabezadebolo looks to break the format with five unexplored archetypes for today's Standard rotation.
The Proposal
Hello everyone! Alessandro Carvallo here again. Today, I want to present some interesting decklists that I have been testing for a couple of weeks, which I feel are just waiting to come to light when it is their moment to shine.
We are in a Standard dominated by midrange decks at the moment – so, I have the feeling that it is a good time to innovate and try to break the format with a solid and well-crafted deck.
Let’s jump right in!
Esper Vehicles
Esper Vehicles is a deck that I really enjoyed in the final days of the previous Standard before the rotation. I’ve made small updates since then, as you can see here.
Esper Greasefang
Standard
2 mythic
38 rare
11 uncommon
9 common
0
1
2
3
4
5
6+
Planeswalkers (2)
Creatures (16)
Artifacts (18)
Lands (24)
60 Cards
$236.32
Sideboard
15 Cards
$22.71
- Solid mana base, upgraded by Adarkar Wastes
- It has many ways of approaching each game. It is capable of very aggressive starts, has access to a very respectable midgame and quite powerful lines of play if we are lucky with some interactions.
- Access to very good tools in the sideboard that we can configure to any type of metagame.
- It is fun to play!
Naya Tokens
Naya tokens has a very aggressive game plan that tries to close games in the early turns, but we also have a more midrange-y Plan B, with cards that are a headache on their own (like Wedding Announcement, Fable of the Mirror-Breaker and The Wandering Emperor).
Naya Tokens
Standard
5 mythic
39 rare
12 uncommon
4 common
0
1
2
3
4
5
6+
Planeswalkers (3)
Creatures (14)
Sorceries (4)
Lands (25)
60 Cards
$437.42
Sideboard
15 Cards
$42.37
- King Darien has been a new acquisition for this archetype, giving it a very notable upgrade.
- The mana base is well-balanced.
- Meathook Massacre is a threat to Naya tokens, but we have a plan to get back up after a sweeper or even play around them – with cards like Cabaretti Charm, which can be a trick that can give us victory in decisive situations.
Dimir Control
Dimir Control is a classic control deck that always finds a place in nearly every format. Usually, playing black in Standard gives you a level of quality in choosing removal and sweepers, and blue gives us power with counterspells that are also very unbalanced right now in Standard meta.
Dimir Control
Standard
4 mythic
25 rare
8 uncommon
23 common
0
1
2
3
4
5
6+
Creatures (6)
Instants (22)
Sorceries (2)
Artifacts (4)
Enchantments (2)
Lands (24)
60 Cards
$247.96
Sideboard
15 Cards
$29.33
Some high points of the deck:
- High-quality Removal
- We play with open mana almost every turn, which gives us the advantage of keeping our options open and pressuring the opponent to play around many cards. This can cause the opponent to play the game a little more conservatively, and this is the point where Dimir truly gains its power.
- Very complete sideboard plan capable of adapting to any matchup
Selesnya Midrange
Selesnya Midrange has all the tools necessary to put up a serious fight against the top-tier Standard decks of the moment, possessing a very solid mana curve and a very effective midgame plan.
Selesnya Midrange
Standard
9 mythic
27 rare
6 uncommon
18 common
0
1
2
3
4
5
6+
Planeswalkers (7)
Creatures (15)
Instants (2)
Sorceries (3)
Enchantments (8)
Lands (25)
60 Cards
$331.14
Sideboard
15 Cards
$34.23
While I have tried to bring this build up to its full potential, it probably needs a little more work. Everything will depend on how the meta evolves in the coming weeks, but I would not hesitate to submit this deck in an upcoming tournament.
If you’re a Selesnya fan and aren’t into the Enchantress deck currently holding space in the meta, check out this list!
Artifact Beatdown
This deck is a brother of one of Standard’s top-tier decks, Rakdos Anvil – only with a more aggressive plan, a much lighter curve and very powerful interactions in very early turns. I really like the idea and the way the deck works.
Artifact Beatdown
Standard
0 mythic
16 rare
16 uncommon
28 common
0
1
2
3
4
5
6+
Creatures (11)
Instants (4)
Artifacts (16)
Lands (22)
60 Cards
$190.16
Sideboard
15 Cards
$112.41
I really liked Yotia Declares War when I read it for the first time, and I feel that this shell is a good home to make this card work in our favor.
Braids, Arisen Nightmare is probably the best card in the deck, as it will give us the card advantage we need to be able to fight in the midgame if need be.
