Looking back on my last post, I realized that I only really posted one new deck. While I do play a lot of White Aggro, it’s not the only Standard BO1 deck I’m playing. Along with my Izzet Giants (which also works in BO3), I also play a fun Orzhov Clerics deck.

As the name implies, the deck is built around Clerics. It is more of a midrange deck with a good balance of creatures and spells (albeit more creature heavy in its latest incarnations). Lifegain a key mechanic that not only helps us preserve health as I build out my offence but also triggers abilities on cards like Cleric of Life’s Bond and Voice of the Blessed, making them stronger threats as the game develops.

Here is what the deck looks like:

Deck

• 4 Cleric of Life’s Bond (ZNR) 222
• 2 Crippling Fear (KHM) 82
• 3 Vanishing Verse (STX) 244
• 1 Valkyrie Harbinger (KHM) 374
• 3 Orah, Skyclave Hierophant (ZNR) 233
• 4 Luminarch Aspirant (ZNR) 24
• 4 Righteous Valkyrie (KHM) 24
• 4 Elite Spellbinder (STX) 17
• 2 Voice of the Blessed (VOW) 44
• 1 Markov Purifier (VOW) 241
• 3 Lunarch Veteran (MID) 27
• 2 Cleric Class (AFR) 6
• 3 Baleful Mastery (STX) 64
• 1 Agadeem’s Awakening (ZNR) 90
• 4 Brightclimb Pathway (ZNR) 259
• 2 Cave of the Frost Dragon (AFR) 253
• 2 Hive of the Eye Tyrant (AFR) 258
• 8 Plains (ZNR) 266
• 3 Shattered Sanctum (VOW) 264
• 4 Swamp (ANA) 5

Sideboard

• 1 Academic Probation (STX) 7
• 1 Expanded Anatomy (STX) 2
• 2 Inkling Summoning (STX) 195
• 1 Environmental Sciences (STX) 1
• 1 Mascot Exhibition (STX) 5
• 1 Reduce to Memory (STX) 25
• 2 Chaplain of Alms (MID) 13
• 1 Voice of the Blessed (VOW) 44
• 1 Path of Peril (VOW) 124

The deck has gone through a lot of tweaks since I first put it together several months back. I played a version of it during Standard 2022 (the short-lived format that gave us a taste of the new Standard before Midnight Hunt came out).

There was more removal in earlier versions of the deck. I’ve cut cards such as Feed the Swarm and Soul Shatter. Clerics that made an appearance in the deck in the past include Angel of Destiny, Soulmender, Priest of Ancient Lore and Righteous Valkyrie. Voice of the Blessed was an early cut but I brought it back more recently as I built up the lifegain aspect of the deck a bit more.

A word of warning: The deck does not fare well against the White Aggro decks that are popular at the moment. Mono-green and other Orzhov desks can also be difficult to be play against but it does fare better against the Epiphany decks if it can establish an early foothold.

The deck has a sideboard but I’ve not played in BO3 so not sure how it would perform. My guess is that the sideboard is under-optimized and would need some work to help make the deck more competitive beyond the first game.

Drop a comment below if you play this deck with a few different cards.