After a few months of working with Standard tier lists, I'm happy to announce that we are starting a weekly Modern Meta Tier List article!
Modern is one of the biggest formats in Magic: The Gathering. It allows cards from Eight Edition forward making many powerful archetypes part of the competitive environment. With this work, I will aim to let you know the state of the format, which archetypes have better results, and what is and what is not to be expected at your next event.
Without further ado, thank you so much for your support to playingmtg, and let's dive into Modern!
Tiers
- Tier 1: The most dominant decks of the moment. This implies the percentage of victories, presence in the meta, and favorable games.
- Tier 2: These will be solid decks with a relevant presence in the meta. A good pilot will probably be able to play one of these archetypes and have a good result in a competitive event. They usually have at least one difficult match against the rest of the archetypes.
- Tier 3: In this tier, we find decks with little presence, but enough to be considered when preparing for a tournament. In addition to their low popularity, they are decks that present two or more complicated matchups against the meta. This prevents them until the release of additional support or a meta shift from standing out. However, players who dedicate themselves to mastering these archetypes usually have the opportunity to obtain good results.
- Silent Performer: Lastly, at the end of the spectrum we find some decks that are little to almost non-present in the current metagame state. However, these archetypes may have won or reached the Top 8 in a relevant tournament with 50 or more players or the Top 16 in any event with more than 100 players. The sample size may be too small to represent their actual strength.
This meta-report Tier List covers the top 16 from the last 19 relevant tournaments from 25/10 to 31/10 2024.
Meta Overview
After Modern Horizons III's release, one mechanic was a clear winner above any other. Ajani, Nacatl Pariah and Ocelot Pride combine amazingly well with Guide of Souls and Amped Raptor.
If we also look at Galvanic Discharge and Static Prison, thinking about why this core is flooding every Modern event after August bans become logical.
This doesn't mean that Boros Energy is a Tier 0 in power level above anything else. Landless Belcher, Dimir Control, and Breach have double digits. However, if we sum Mardu, Jeskai, and Naya iterations to the Energy equation, I wonder if Wizards is still waiting for the format to auto-adjust to 0K or if we need a ban before 2024 ends.
After Nadu, Winged Wisdom, and Grief bans, do you think Wizards need to ban any of these energy cards to have a better Modern state? 36 different archetypes with 4 energy iterations. Just imagine what happens if you distribute the 80 energy pilots between the other 32 archetypes...
Top 16 Archetypes
- Boros Energy: 48
- Landless Belcher: 27
- Mardu Energy: 23
- Dimir Control: 18
- Breach: 12
- Amulet Titan: 9
- Creatures Toolbox: 8
- Ruby Storm: 8
- Jeskai Energy: 7
- Eldrazi Ramp: 6
- Twiddle Storm: 6
- Jeskai Control: 5
- Living End: 5
- Omnath Control: 5
- Martyr: 4
- Domain Aggro: 3
- Eldrazi Breach: 3
- Eldrazi Tron: 3
- Goryo's Vengeance: 3
- Eldrazi Aggro: 2
- Golgari Midrange: 2
- Jund: 2
- Hardened Scales: 2
- Merfolk: 2
- Naya Energy: 2
- Creativity: 1
- Esper Aggro: 1
- Hammertime: 1
- Izzet Wizards: 1
- Mono Black Control: 1
- Mono White Control: 1
- Rhinos: 1
- Shifting Woodland: 1
- Soultrader: 1
- UR Murktide: 1
- Urza: 1
- White Weenie: 1
Tier List
| Tier | Archetype |
|---|---|
| Tier 1 | - Boros Energy - Landless Belcher - Mardu Energy - Dimir Control - Breach -Amulet Titan |
| Tier 2 | - Creatures Toolbox - Ruby Storm - Jeskai Energy - Eldrazi Ramp - Twiddle Storm - Jeskai Control - Living End - Omnath Control - Martyr |
| Tier 3 | - Domain Aggro - Eldrazi Breach - Goryo's Vengeance - Jund - Creativity - Hammertime - Soultrader - Urza |
| Silent Performer | - Eldrazi Aggro - Eldrazi Tron - Esper Aggro - Golgari Midrange - Hardened Scales - Izzet Murktide - Izzet Wizards - Merfolk - Mono Black Control - Mono White Control - Naya Energy - Rhinos - Shifting Woodland - White Weenie |
Tier 1
Boros Energy
Boros Energy was a clear winner after Nadu, Winged Wisdom bans. This archetype is the king of the hill, there's no doubt about it.
Just look at the numbers. There is a difference of 20+ top pilots using this deck compared to its closest competitor, Landless Belcher. This is without taking Mardu, Jeskai, and Naya iterations into consideration.
I'm not saying Boros Energy is invincible. Many other archetypes won one of the nineteen tournaments analyzed for this work: Belcher, Breach, Amulet Titan, Twiddle Storm, Living End, Eldrazi Aggro, and Eldrazi Tron. However, this overrepresentation is a clear sign of a format that could now give unhealthy signs that may mean a change is needed.
Landless Belcher
Without considering other energy iterations, this archetype is your second-best choice for a competitive event.
Don't get me wrong; you may surely win a 50+ tournament with one of many archetypes I mentioned above, however with a difference of more than 10 top finishes this week compared to Dimir Control, you may have a greater chance playing Belcher.
Tameshi, Reality Architect can put Goblin Charbelcher in play after playing Fallaji, Archeologist and Whir of Invention give us enough redundancy to find our win condition every game.
With many cheap and free countermagic, disrupt and delay our opponents' plans until Lotus Bloom comes into play letting us find and activate Goblin Charbelcher is not a problem and is the way this archetype is now the top contender.
Mardu Energy
The biggest iteration of Boros Energy is Mardu. I don't blame anyone for splashing Black for playing Orcish Bowmasters. This creature is a powerhouse anywhere you decide to play it and is all over every eternal format.
Thanks to Toughtseize cutting important pieces of our opponent's hand gives Mardu an upper hand against certain scenarios over Boros, and Ob Nixilis, the Adversary plays in the same direction, giving us agency over Ajani, Nacatl Pariah transformation.
Dimir Control
Murktide Regent has been a pillar of this format since its printing. Now, with Modern Horizon's 3 release, Psychic Frog has been making us remember why Psychatog was one of the most powerful cards during its era.
Murktide has had many iterations over the years. Izzet has been one of the most popular and strongest iterations thanks to Ragavan, Nimble Piliferer. Nevertheless, with Psychic Frog and Orcish Bowmasters being Black cards, the rise of Dimir as the main iteration was only a matter of time.
There is a world where Dimir Control can take Boros Energy's spot at the top surpassing it and Landless Belcher. What do you think is needed for that?
Breach
From October 8th to the moment I'm this article was published, Killa_SUV has had 12 top finishes in MTGO Challenge events with Breach. This is solid proof of what I have been talking about how you can win a big competitive event with many different archetypes besides Boros Energy or Landless Belcher.
This case makes me wonder if Boros Energy and Landless Belcher are superior to the other Big Six options or if it is only a bias over the archetype. The truth is that there are not many other aggressive strategies besides energy to play in the current Modern state and its power level.
Breach, Titan, and Belcher are three different combo decks, and the three have their intricacies. However, their weaknesses are different from one to another. Choosing between them for your next event should be a matter of comfort and mastery over the archetype plus your expected environment.
Amulet Titan
Since its first iterations, Amulet Titan has been one of the strongest decks in the format. However, I firmly believe that it requires an extremely high level of mastery to play it optimally, which is one reason why it isn't more popular.
Just a few other decks can be that hard to master. A good example could be Hardened Scales. However, dedicating yourself to learning every game path these archetypes have, can bring you many rewards.
Gabriel's first place with a 61-card special is solid proof of this. The deck also uses new cards like Lumra, Bellow of the Woods, and some other Modern Horizon III cards, making it an archetype that can still be actualized to the current format power state.
Tier 2
Creatures Toolbox
When a format is so diverse like Modern, this archetype flexibility makes it capable of competing. With answers for many situations and ways for finding its win condition in Chord of Calling or Birthing Ritual many ways of building the deck are possible.
You can play the classic Yawgmoth, Thran Physician combo or Amalia Benavides Aguirre one. Being one of the combo decks with more creatures allows this archetype to play a fair game of Magic when needed.
Two pilots reached the final match of their respective tournaments letting everybody know that Creatures Toolbox can compete against Breach and Amulet Titan for the title of the best combo deck in the format.
Ruby Storm
If we sum the number of top finishes Ruby Storm and Twiddle Storm got, Storm Wish decks are the fourth strongest strategy behind Energy, Belcher, and Dimir Control.
Ral, Monsoon Mage, and [Card]Ruby Medallion[/card] propel this iteration over Twiddle Storm. Its mono-colored approach gives it consistency, a valuable characteristic of a combo deck.
Ruby Storm has opening hands that make it win games faster than almost any other archetype, making it a great choice if you like to play fast combo decks that are also easier to play than Amulet Titan.
Jeskai Energy
Expressive Iteration is the main reason for going Jeskai. If you are reading this article you know how strong this sorcery is.
Since its Standard days, playing Expressive Iteration whenever possible became a thing. However, nowadays Modern is so wide, and there are many viable strategies that this spell is just an option.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying this card isn't strong. It gives any deck chances to pass from a just 0K scenario to finding anything you need.
With Consign to Memory in the sideboard that serves well against Eldrazis and other archetypes, splashing Blue has its upsides but, does Boros Energy need it? Mardu makes Orcish Bowmasters shine in an aggressive deck. Does Jeskai make Expressive Iteration shine in the same situation?
Eldrazi Ramp
Sowing Mycospawn makes many Eldrazi decks viable. With Eldrazi Ramp getting second place, and Eldrazi Aggro and Eldrazi Tron winning big tournaments, I think this may be the moment many players should realize that Eldrazi decks are in a fantastic position.
If you like to play big creatures, this deck is for you. Devourer of Destiny and Emrakul, the Promised End are powerful, and you may have it on the field quickly enough to put any opponent in trouble.
Malevolent Rumble and Kozilek's Command also help Eldrazi decks shine. Being one of the most beneficiated archetypes alongside Energy with the Modern Horizon III release, it surprises me how Energy is popular and Eldrazi isn't.
Twiddle Storm
Twiddle Storm made Storm decks comeback to the metagame a few years ago. It has been refined and with Desert Temple, playing Lotus Field iterations have its upsides.
However, with Ral, Monsoon Mage being so strong, and Mono Red Storm aka Ruby Storm being so consistent, choosing Twiddle Storm over Ruby is not easy.
In any case, mosh_joscoe shows us that there are valid reasons for this. Winning an MTGO Challenge 64 is not an easy achievement, and the big brother of the Storm decks proves again that it would be part of the meta for the years to come.
Jeskai Control
If you don't like to play Dimir Control for any reason, Jeskai is your second-best option.
I would recommend this archetype to you if you like a harder draw-go style of play. Dimir Control has many slower-paced games, but you are playing more tempo-ish-oriented gameplay most of the time.
You can look closer and then realize Jeskai Control is UW disguised as a tri-colored deck. Phlage, Titan of Fire's Fury is the only red card in the main deck, and playing cards like Obsidian Charmaw is completely optional.
With Energy Decks all over the place, playing Control is a challenge, but iamyep's decklist made it to the semifinals in a big tournament, which lets anyone know that true control is still here.
Living End
Winning one of the biggest tournaments of the week in MagicCon: Las Vegas with Living End shows us this combo deck has many advantages over other options like Belcher, Titan, or Storm decks.
With Modern now in a creature-centric metagame with Boros Energy at the top of the race, Living End is a great choice because executing our game plan usually disrupts the opponent, making them lose their board.
Even after Violent Outburst ban, the deck is still solid, and Joseph's result is proof of that. You have many cycles that make this archetype fast, and disruptive free spells that let us play this archetype proactive or reactive as needed.
Being a one-card combo makes this deck stay relevant, and you always need to have a plan for playing against it.
Omnath Control
Omnath, Locus of Creation is a card that gives you more value than many others in the format. Even if you play Elementals or the Control iteration, triggering the Omnath Landfall ability multiple times in one turn, puts you many steps ahead of your opponent.
It's not easy to cast, but the investment can have big payouts. With elementals, you may have help from Risen Reef, but playing Teferi, Time Raveler has many upsides.
With Energy Decks being so aggressive, trying to play Planeswalkers is not an easy task. However, with Solitude and Phlage, Titan of Fire's Fury there to help, Omnath iterations have tools to keep fighting until our legendary elemental enters to seal the deal.
Martyr
Martyr Proc is one of my favorite decks in Modern. Now, with many Enery decks trying to kill every opponent before their turn four, playing a life gain deck is better than ever.
With [card]White Orchid Phantom stopping any pretentious mana base, and Ranger-Captain of Eos finding our silver bullets this deck is not a joke. Thanks to Abiding Grace you may gain hundreds of life with Martyr of Sands have infinite fogs with Kami of False Hope, or extreme flexibility with Insidious Fungus.
The plan is so consistent that playing Supreme Veredict even with 24 creatures is not a problem.
Rohan Wallace reached the final match in a 192-payer tournament in Las Vegas, and Benny Zeoli got 7th place in the same event! with another great finish making a top three in another event in Vegas.
This may be the best deck for the current metagame state and it is navigating under the radar.
Tier 3
Domain Aggro
Eldrazi Breach
Goryo's Vengeance
Jund
Creativity
Hammertime
Soultrader
Urza
Silent Performer
Eldrazi Aggro
Eldrazi Tron
Esper Aggro
Golgari Midrange
Hardened Scales
Izzet Murktide
Izzet Wizards
Merfolks
Mono Black Control
Mono White Control
Naya Energy
Rhinos
Shifting Woodland
White Weenie
End Step
Thank you, dear reader, for reaching this last paragraph. This was one of my biggest works in the past few months, and I truly appreciate all the support to this new project called playingmtg.
Modern is a big format to tackle, but after 36 different archetypes and revising 227 decklists, I hope you have enough information to understand what is happening with this amazing format.
Let's see you again in a week for more Modern data and a few days from now for our next Standard Tier List.
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