Time for my usual new set review to see how I might be able to improve my Standard B01 Orzhov Cleric deck. As always, each new set offers the possibility that we can finally turn this deck into a strong Tier 1 competitor. Alas! While Aetherdrift is better than Outlaws of Thunder Junction when it comes to clerics, it’s not by much. Unless you include the clerics in the Commander sets, there are only two new cards to consider.

Of these two, only one is works in an Orzhov deck. A closer look reveals it to be slightly more than a vanilla 2/2. Granted it throws in Flying and ETB lifelink and indestructible trigger but that will not be enough to displace an other card from my current deck.

Samut, the Driving Force is a card with more upside but unfortunately sports Naya colours. As an aside, I’m not sold on Start your engines! as one of the new mechanics of the set. But let me see how the Aetherdrift pre-release goes before I commit to my current opinion.

Taking a look at Clerics in the Commander decks, there are three additional cards. None of them could go into a Standard deck but they are worth a look as I continue to think about a Commander version of my Clerics deck.

Vizier of Many Faces is as Blue a card as ever so it is automatically out.

Priest of the Crossing is less interesting version of Luminarch Aspirant, a card that was nerfed on Arena (to become an Alchemy card). While the stat improvement and Flying are nice improvements, the fact that some of my other creatures have to die to trigger the pump is enough to pass on this card unless I would be hard-pressed to come up with 99 other cards for a Commander deck.

Wizened Mentor lacks any synergy with the deck and is also a hard pass. Maybe in an Orzhov Zombie deck?

All in all, Aetherdrift will certainly not go down as a favourite for Orzhov Clerics. There simply not enough cards and especially good ones.

With no changes with the launch of Aetherdrift, here is the current version of my kindred Standard B01 Orzhov Cleric deck:

Deck

• 2 Go for the Throat (BRO) 102
• 2 Anointed Peacekeeper (DMU) 2
• 2 Fell (BLB) 95
• 3 Evolved Sleeper (DMU) 93
• 8 Plains (THB) 250
• 6 Swamp (THB) 252
• 3 Shadow-Rite Priest (DMU) 106
• 1 Forlorn Flats (OTJ) 258
• 1 The Fair Basilica (ONE) 252
• 2 Scoured Barrens (NEO) 274
• 1 The Dross Pits (ONE) 251
• 1 Valgavoth’s Lair (DSK) 271
• 2 Loran’s Escape (BRO) 14
• 3 Essence Channeler (BLB) 12
• 2 Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim (DMU) 198
• 3 Phyrexian Missionary (DMU) 27
• 2 Annex Sentry (ONE) 2
• 3 Preacher of the Schism (LCI) 113
• 2 Cavern of Souls (LCI) 269
• 2 Roaming Throne (LCI) 258
• 2 Metropolis Reformer (MAT) 4
• 2 Cut Down (DMU) 89
• 2 Fabled Passage (ELD) 244
• 3 Infernal Vessel (FDN) 63

Sideboard

• 2 Grand Abolisher (BIG) 2
• 1 Skrelv, Defector Mite (ONE) 33
• 1 Pest Control (BIG) 22
• 2 Lay Down Arms (BRO) 11
• 1 The Witch’s Vanity (WOE) 119
• 1 Sanguine Evangelist (LCI) 34
• 1 Zoraline, Cosmos Caller (BLB) 242
• 1 Leyline Binding (DMU) 24
• 2 Liliana of the Veil (DMU) 97
• 2 Virtue of Persistence (WOE) 115
• 1 Moonrise Cleric (BLB) 226

P.S. For fun, I tried the AI generated feature image tool for this post. Is it possible that some Magic characters have six fingers?