If I needed evidence that the gaming gods sometimes listen, it came through pretty loud and clear with the full reveal of the Marvel’s Spider-Man set for Magic: The Gathering. Remember how I complained that sets were coming out too fast? Well, they have not slowed down any but I will definitely be able to catch my breath when it comes to my B01 Standard Orzhov Cleric deck. Why, you ask. Simply because there are no Clerics at all in the new set. Absolutely none. Nary a one. Zilch.

A quick aside: You may have noticed that posts on this site have slowed down. I can confirm that this is the case because I’ve started playing Dungeons & Dragons and have foolishly agreed to recap each session. It’s taking me longer to do these than I had anticipated. With that, back to our normal programming.

When Edge of Eternities came out (and rotation hit), I landed on the following deck to resume the Standard journey.

Deck

• 3 Murder (J25) 467
• 2 Bitter Triumph (LXI) 91
• 2 Sanguine Savior (MKM) 230
• 4 Essence Channeler (BLB) 12
• 2 Grand Abolisher (BIG) 2
• 2 Authority of the Consuls (FDN) 137
• 3 Preacher of the Schism (LCI) 113
• 3 Rosa, Resolute White Mage (FIN) 555
• 3 Starscape Cleric (BLB) 116
• 2 Minwu, White Mage (FIN) 26
• 3 Aerith Gainsborough (FIN) 4
• 2 Sheltered by Ghosts (DSK) 30
• 3 Sunstar Chaplain (EOE) 40
• 2 Get Lost (LCI) 14
• 8 Plains (THB) 250
• 6 Swamp (THB) 252
• 1 Susur Secundi, Void Altar (EOE) 259
• 1 Adagia, Windswept Bastion (EOE) 250
• 3 Scoured Barrens (IKO) 254
• 1 Valgavoth’s Lair (DSK) 271
• 2 Cavern of Souls (LCI) 269
• 2 Fabled Passage (ELD) 244

Sideboard

• 1 Pest Control (BIG) 22
• 1 The Witch’s Vanity (WOE) 119
• 1 Starscape Cleric (BLB) 116
• 1 Krumar Initiate (TDM) 84
• 1 Sanguine Evangelist (LCI) 34
• 1 Zoraline, Cosmos Caller (BLB) 242
• 1 Virtue of Persistence (WOE) 115
• 1 Moonrise Cleric (BLB) 226
• 1 Roaming Throne (LCI) 258

Since then, the deck has evolved into the following after some small tweaks, primarily around removal. As for the creatures, Sunstar Chaplain has worked better than I thought but the real star after rotation continues to be Preacher of the Schism and Rosa, Resolute White Mage.

Deck

• 3 Murder (J25) 467
• 2 Bitter Triumph (LCI) 91
• 4 Essence Channeler (BLB) 12
• 2 Grand Abolisher (BIG) 2
• 2 Authority of the Consuls (FDN) 137
• 4 Preacher of the Schism (LCI) 113
• 3 Rosa, Resolute White Mage (FIN) 555
• 3 Starscape Cleric (BLB) 116
• 3 Minwu, White Mage (FIN) 26
• 3 Aerith Gainsborough (FIN) 4
• 2 Sheltered by Ghosts (DSK) 30
• 3 Sunstar Chaplain (EOE) 40
• 2 Get Lost (LCI) 14
• 2 Cavern of Souls (LCI) 269
• 2 Fabled Passage (ELD) 244
• 9 Plains (THB) 250
• 7 Swamp (THB) 252
• 3 Scoured Barrens (IKO) 254
• 1 Valgavoth’s Lair (DSK) 271

Sideboard

• 1 Sanguine Evangelist (LCI) 34
• 1 Zoraline, Cosmos Caller (BLB) 242
• 1 Pest Control (BIG) 22
• 1 The Witch’s Vanity (WOE) 119
• 1 Moonrise Cleric (BLB) 226
• 1 Krumar Initiate (TDM) 84
• 1 Roaming Throne (LCI) 258
• 1 Virtue of Persistence (WOE) 115

Looking through what else the Spider-Man (aka Through the Omenpath) set offers, I’ve not seen anything yet that makes me want to make further alterations to the deck. I did consider the following:

• The Soul Stone (The Terminus of Return) – Harnessing it is just too expensive!
• Spectacular Tactics – Perhaps instead of Get Lost?
• Clandestine Work – Card draw is never a bad thing but what do I give up for it?
• Villainous Wrath – I like it until the last sentence: “Then destroy all creatures.” That does not help my creature focused deck.

In the end, I don’t think that there is much that I can do except experiment a bit with these cards and perhaps go back to older sets to see how I can improve the deck a bit but it looks like consistent wins are going to be a while away still.

With Avatar up next, we’ll have to see if there are real improvements to be found. I’m not familiar with the lore so not sure that there are any clerics but I will be disappointed if we have two sets in a row without any.