Standard

Duskmourn Clerics: Worth Adding to Your Standard B01 Orzhov Cleric Deck?

/ Jerome / Leave a comment

A new set means that it’s once again time to see how we might possibly improve our Standard B01 Orzhov Cleric typal deck. Unfortunately, Duskmourn: House of Horrors only brings three new Cleric cards to Standard. Commander players will find an additional five, mostly reprints, in the pre-constructed decks. I guess that clerics are not very welcome on a plane ruled by a demon although Valgavoth might have been more open minded about clerics who worshiped at its feet, especially if they were willing to suffer for him.

Let’s take a closer look at these new Clerics. All three new Standard Clerics are Black cards. There are no Mythics or Rates, only one Uncommon and two Commons.

Valgavoth's Faithful
Fanatic of the Harrowing
Resurrected Cultist

Valgavoth’s Faithful is a cheap card at only Black pip for a 1/1. But unlike many such cards, it comes with an activated ability that costs Black pip that could be very useful in bringing back a more expensive card later. But it will either require protection until then or a later play.

Fanatic of the Harrowing is not jumping out at me either. For Black pip, you get a 2/2 that forces card discards. It might get you a card back but this is the type of card that is just too situational in my opinion. In the right circumstances, it can be useful but it can also prove to be useless. For example, my opponent could have no cards in hand or I could be forced to discard something that I would rather hang on to. It won’t displace anything in my deck at this cost.

Resurrected Cultist is bit cheaper than Fanatic but offers less for it. A 4/1 is likely destined for a quick death and bringing it back with Delirium only means another quick death. It is again a card that does not offer better value than existing Clerics.

While I may play with all three just to see if I’m wrong, my initial thought is that the deck will remain unchanged for now. If it changes, it may be to bring other cards in. For example, Sanguine Savior has disappointed and is on the chopping block. But I doubt that it will make room for a Duskmourn Cleric.

So, no changes to the current deck:

  • 3 Go for the Throat (BRO) 102
  • 2 Anointed Peacekeeper (DMU) 2
  • 2 Valorous Stance (OTC) 88
  • 3 Evolved Sleeper (DMU) 93
  • 3 Shadow-Rite Priest (DMU) 106
  • 2 Essence Channelers (BLB)
  • 4 Starscape Cleric (BLB)
  • 2 Loran’s Escape (BRO) 14
  • 2 Moonrise Clerics (BLB)
  • 2 Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim (DMU) 198
  • 2 Phyrexian Missionary (DMU) 27
  • 2 Sanguine Savior (MKM) 230
  • 3 Preacher of the Schism (LCI) 113
  • 2 Roaming Throne (LCI) 258
  • 2 Annex Sentry (ONE) 2
  • 8 Plains (THB) 250
  • 7 Swamp (THB) 252
  • 2 Forlorn Flats (OTC) 258
  • 3 Three Tree City (BLB) 264
  • 2 Fabled Passage (BLB) 252
  • 2 Cavern of Souls (LCI) 269

Sideboard:

  • 2 Cut Down (DMU) 89
  • 2 Chaplain of Alms (MID) 13
  • 1 Essence Channeler (BLB)
  • 2 Skrelv, Defector Mite (ONE) 33
  • 2 Liliana of the Veil (DMU) 97

MTG Arena hates me today

/ Jerome / Leave a comment

So, September has comfortably settled in which means that summer is winding down (where did it go?) and school season is upon us again. It also means that a new Arena season has kicked off with me finding my way back into the Silver tier in Standard.

Bristly Bill, Spine -Sower
Monastery Swiftspear
Mirran Banesplitter

Let’s just say it’s not been a great run. Granted, I’ve been playing decks that are not top meta but that has translated to an absolutely abysmal track record. At the time of this post, I’m holding a 8-28 record for the current season. Yep, that’s not a typo! How bad is it? I’ve fallen from Silver 1 to Silver 3!

Three decks in particular have contributed to this less than stellar run:

  • Green Stomping deck – 3 and 9
  • Black Crime Pays deck (an evolution of an earlier version) – 2 and 7
  • Red Prowess deck – 2 and 7
  • Boros Convoke – 1 and 3

I’ve deliberately tried to stay away from the top meta with Boros Convoke being my sole attempt at something looking more like a higher tier deck. Instead, I’ve played some mono-coloured decks in Best of 1 as well as playing more Best of 3.

Tinybones, the Pickpocket
Aclazotz, Deepest Betrayal

While this is somewhat frustrating, it is to be expected given that I’m deliberately trying to stay away from what has been confirmed to work. Could it lead to a new Tier 1 deck? Sure, but I also know that I’m not that good a deck builder.

More frustrating were today’s games. I’d not played too much but I finally had to pause and walk away. In my last three games, I drew one land to start. Worse, in all three, I had to mulligan down to four cards as I kept drawing one land hands. Needless to say, I notched up three more defeats with those hands. It was time for a break.

The Red Prowess deck that I was playing today only has 18 lands. I know it’s greedy but a mono-coloured deck should let you get away with it with better odds than a multi-coloured one. Then again, maybe I’m too greedy. It might be time for some time with pen, paper and probabilities.

If you play enough Magic, there will come a time where you will run into such a situation. But what are the odds of that. I’ll need someone to help me with the math but I know that it’s going to be pretty rare.

This is part of Magic, I fully recognize that. Much as mana floods can happen (and have happened to me), mana screws happen. I just hope that my run of bad luck has come to an end and that I can get back to at least winning a bit more frequently. Maybe I just need to dust off the old Red Aggro deck!

Standard B01: Does Crime Pay?

/ Jerome / Leave a comment

My go-to decks in Standard B01 currently are a Red Prowess deck and a Selesnya Enchantment deck. The former is something I picked up a while back based on the meta. The latter is one that I have been playing for a while and enjoy playing.

It’s time for a little variety. While I do play a few other decks in other formats, I decided to build a new one focused on the new Commit a Crime mechanic introduced in Outlaws of Thunder Junction for Standard B01.

Commit a crime is well represented across Blue, Black, Red and Green. It’s no big surprise that there is only one White card using the mechanic. For my first build, I decided to go with a mono-Black build focused around Tinybones, Vadmir, New Blood, Kaervek, the Punisher and Gisa, the Hellraiser.

Kaervek, the Punisher
Gisa, the Hellraiser

From there, I added a few additional cards that should complement these nicely. Among these are Tinybones, the Pickpocket, Gix, Yawgmoth Praetor and Aclazotz, Deepest Betrayal. I also threw in Sheoldred, the Apocalypse (which is almost an auto-include in Black decks these days).

Tinybones, the Pickpocket
Gix, Yawgmoth -Praetor
Aclazotz, Deepest Betrayal

From there, I filled out the deck with cards to go and commit crimes. It’s the usual mix of removal spells and others that target my opponent.

Deck

  • 2 Tinybones Joins Up (OTJ) 108
  • 2 Tinybones, the Pickpocket (OTJ) 109
  • 2 Cut Down (DMU) 89
  • 4 Deep-Cavern Bat (LCI) 102
  • 3 Vadmir, New Blood (OTJ) 113
  • 2 Kaervek, the Punisher (OTJ) 92
  • 2 Gisa, the Hellraiser (OTJ) 89
  • 3 Gix, Yawgmoth Praetor (BRO) 95
  • 2 Aclazotz, Deepest Betrayal (LCI) 88
  • 3 Sheoldred, the Apocalypse (DMU) 107
  • 2 Gix’s Command (BRO) 97
  • 2 Infernal Grasp (MID) 107
  • 3 Bitter Triumph (LCI) 91
  • 2 March of Wretched Sorrow (NEO) 111
  • 2 Liliana of the Veil (DMU) 97

Lands

  • 2 Demolition Field (BRO) 260
  • 2 Mirrex (ONE) 254
  • 2 Takenuma, Abandoned Mire (NEO) 278
  • 18 Swamp (MH3) 315

I have played 10 games in Standard Play to get a sense of how the deck works. I won 7 times (70% win rate) so far. A good start but it’s time to take it to Ranked and see how it fares against the top decks in the meta.

In the meantime, a few observations from those first 10 games:

  • The deck feels a little top-heavy with 9 cards costing 4 or more mana. I may lighten it up a bit, perhaps with Preacher of the Schism.
  • Aclazotz is a great card. It is one of those that needs to be removed quickly or it can put the game away. I don’t like playing against it but I sure do like watch it resolve.
  • I may add one or two more Instant or Sorcery spells and cut the corresponding number of creatures (21 at the moment).
  • I might look to make it a Dimir deck to give me a few spell options. On the creature side, perhaps Lazav, Familiar Stranger or Nimble Brigand. Both cost 3 mana and could help with my first point above.

Anyone else playing a Commit a Crime deck? How is it going ?

Standard B01 Orzhov Cleric Typal in Outlaws of Thunder Junction

/ Jerome / Leave a comment

This will be a very short installment in our Standard B01 Orzhov Cleric Typal adventure. While with a new set comes the promise of new cards and hopefully a strong deck, this latest set fails to deliver. Why? you ask. Well, simply put, there are no Clerics in Thunder Junction. Nary a one! Not even one! But it still finds room for squirrels? Don’t believe me? Have a look at Scryfall and see for yourself.

I’ll take a look at other cards that could slot into the deck to work alongside the clerics. Maybe I should look at the new Saddle mechanic. Can you imagine the fear when a Cleric mounted on a Bounding Felidar, a Bridled Bighorn or a Caustic Bronco comes riding at their opponent?

More seriously, I think I may look at the new Commit a Crime mechanic and see what options there might be.

For now, here is my unchanged Orzhov Cleric Typal deck:

  • 3 Infernal Grasp (MID) 107
  • 2 Anointed Peacekeeper (DMU) 2
  • 2 Valorous Stance (VOW) 42
  • 3 Evolved Sleeper (DMU) 93
  • 3 Shadow-Rite Priest (DMU) 106
  • 2 Voice of the Blessed (VOW) 44
  • 4 Lunarch Veteran (MID) 27
  • 2 Loran’s Escape (BRO) 14
  • 2 Markov Purifier (VOW) 241
  • 2 Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim (DMU) 198
  • 2 Phyrexian Missionary (DMU) 27
  • 2 Sanguine Savior (MKM) 230
  • 3 Preacher of the Schism (LCI) 113
  • 2 Roaming Throne (LCI) 258
  • 2 Annex Sentry (ONE) 2
  • 8 Plains (THB) 250
  • 6 Swamp (THB) 252
  • 2 Scoured Barrens (NEO) 274
  • 3 Shattered Sanctum (VOW) 264
  • 1 Takenuma, Abandoned Mire (NEO) 278
  • 2 Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire (NEO) 268
  • 2 Cavern of Souls (LCI) 269

Sideboard:

  • 2 Farewell (NEO) 13
  • 2 Cut Down (DMU) 89
  • 2 Chaplain of Alms (MID) 13
  • 1 Voice of the Blessed (VOW) 44
  • 1 Intercessor’s Arrest (NEO) 20
  • 2 Skrelv, Defector Mite (ONE) 33
  • 2 Fateful Absence (MID) 18
  • 2 Liliana of the Veil (DMU) 97

Orzhov Cleric Tribal in MOM: The Aftermath

/ Jerome / Leave a comment

My apologies to anyone who follows my set reviews to see how my Standard B01 Orzhov Cleric Tribal deck evolves when a new set comes out. March of the Machine: The Aftermath came out in May so this is much overdue. On the flip side, part of the reason that I did not rush to post is that there are but two clerics in the set and only one could slot into an Orzhov Cleric Tribal deck.

That sole qualifying cleric is Metropolis Reformer, a 2/3 Angel Cleric with flying and vigilance and gives you hexproof. It additional gains you as much life as it is dealt damage. All for 2 and a W. Not a bomb by any means.

The question now is, does it fit into the deck? If so, what comes out? For the same mana cost, I see two options: Annex Sentry or Yotian Medic. I think the latter makes more sense to cut. The two have the same Power and Toughness so that does not play into my decision. While the Annex Sentry is not a great card, its removal is a more potent ability than lifelink. Easy decision in the end. Besides I have three Yotian Medics in the deck and only two Annex Sentries.

On a note unrelated to this latest set, one additional change I have made is replace the 2 Valorous Stances with 2 Fateful Absences.

Here is what the updated deck looks like:

  • 3 Infernal Grasp (MID) 107
  • 2 Anointed Peacekeeper (DMU) 2
  • 2 Fateful Absence (MID) 18
  • 3 Evolved Sleeper (DMU) 93
  • 9 Plains (THB) 250
  • 7 Swamp (THB) 252
  • 3 Shadow-Rite Priest (DMU) 106
  • 2 Voice of the Blessed (VOW) 44
  • 3 Shattered Sanctum (VOW) 264
  • 4 Lunarch Veteran (MID) 27
  • 2 Scoured Barrens (NEO) 274
  • 1 Takenuma, Abandoned Mire (NEO) 278
  • 2 Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire (NEO) 268
  • 2 Loran’s Escape (BRO) 14
  • 4 Markov Purifier (VOW) 241
  • 2 Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim (DMU) 198
  • 2 Phyrexian Missionary (DMU) 27
  • 2 Liliana of the Veil (DMU) 97
  • 3 Metropolis Reformer (MAT) 0004
  • 2 Annex Sentry (ONE) 2

Sideboard:

  • 2 Farewell (NEO) 13
  • 1 Cut Down (DMU) 89
  • 2 Chaplain of Alms (MID) 13
  • 1 Voice of the Blessed (VOW) 44
  • 1 Intercessor’s Arrest (NEO) 20

Changes:

  • In: 3 Metropolis Reformer (MAT) 0004
  • Out: 3 Yotian Medic (BRO) 33
  • Out: 2 Valorous Stance (VOW) 42
  • In: 2 Fateful Absence (MID) 18

Let’s see how this new deck does!

As always, feel free to drop us a comment with your thoughts and suggestions for this deck.

WOTC announces new card banning schedule

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WOTC announced a significant change to the Standard format earlier this month. With sets now rotating out of the format after three years rather than two, a concern emerged about the format potentially getting stale due to overly oppressive cards. For example, many are tired of seeing yet another Sheoldred, the Apocalypse or Fable of the Mirror-Breaker come down during a game.

WOTC this week announced another change that it hopes will rejuvenate the Standard format. Bans will now take place on a more regular schedule and with less unpredictability. Instead of a reactive schedule, bans will now take place only once a year in late summer just ahead of previews for the rotation sets (or fall sets). For this year, that will be ahead of the release of Wilds of Eldraine.

The company did give itself some flexibility to deal with

Each set will be followed by a “mini band window” lasting three weeks with each set release. It will allow WOTC to make adjustments should a card have a “significant negative effect on a format.” These smaller windows will cover all formats, not just Standard. They expect bans in these windows to be “extremely rare” but would cover cards such as Felidar Guardian or Oko, Thief of Crowns that completely warp a format.

With the first ban window scheduled for this fall, WOTC did give itself an additional one-time ban window for Standard. It will take place on May 29th. While they did not actually confirm any bans, one can surmise that they would not announce such a special event without declaring some on that day.

Wilds of Eldraine, the upcoming Fall set, was not designed with a tree-year Standard rotation in mind. As a result, the May 29th band will look to ban cards that could prevent the new set from having an effect in Standard. I suspect that a few cards will get named and I would not be surprised if Invoke Despairs, Sheoldred, the Apocalypse and/or Reckoner Bankbuster would be among them.

The changes are meant to address complaints that bans are currently happening “too frequently, too randomly.” They will hopefully give users the confidence that their decks will not change with little notice.

WOTC also hinted that future announcements will cover play events.

What cards are you hoping to see banned? Drop us a note below.

WOTC extends Standard rotation to three years

/ Jerome / Leave a comment

Do you remember Standard, that rotating Magic format, that was the format of choice for many FNMs before COVID hit? More often than not, it is now something I play only on Arena as none of my LGS offer it anymore.

WOTC today announced some a pretty significant change to the Standard format. Starting with  the release of Wilds of Eldraine, Standard will cover three years of sets rather than the current two.

Before the rule change, Innistrad: Crimson Vow, Innistrad: Midnight Hunt, Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty, and Streets of New Capenna would all have rotated out of Standard this upcoming September. Now they will do so only in September 2024, giving them an additional year of life in the format. And from there, every new set will remain in the format for three years as well. According to Wizards:

Extending the Standard rotation to three years will, we believe, achieve two main points (and an additional benefit) that can make tabletop Standard more enjoyable:

  • This will give current Standard cards more longevity. Time and again, we hear that players want to play with cards they love and enjoy longer. Standard is our only rotating format, and while keeping it fresh is important, we also feel that there’s a more effective middle ground.
  • It will allow mechanics and archetypes to be more effectively built on over time. As we moved away from the block model, we gained a lot of flexibility, but we also lost some ability to build on mechanics and themes within a set. With a longer window, we can find more opportunities to build up or revitalize archetypes. Coupled with the point above, that can lead to more diversity, longer-lasting archetypes, and enough competitive churn to keep players engaged.
  • It also gives us stronger tools to create an environment where decks are more “color(s) and mechanic” (like Green-White Toxic or Blue-White Soldiers) and less midrange. With a larger card pool, the format can handle bigger swings with entire decks seeded at once.

More sets should indeed lead to more diversity in the meta. But it also means that cards that become staples for Tier 1 decks may persist in the meta longer than before. Cards like Invoke Despair or Reckoner Bankbuster will likely continue to appear in decks for another year. Diversity will hopefully also lead to cheaper cards but it could have the reverse effect for staples. For example, Sheoldred, the Apocalypse is already a CA$100 card and Fable of the Mirror-Breaker is a CA$40 card. Could they climb higher or will the diversity of cards allow for more answers to those types of cards and reduce their hold on the format?

The change could also lead to more bans. With a longer shelf life for cards, WOTC may need to ban cards that warp gameplay for too long. Many players have already expressed how much they despite Invoke Despair (still less annoying than Ruin Crab was in its day in my opinion) and bringing Standard back to life may be difficult if players find themselves facing the same decks over and over.

The Standard format change will carry over to Arena as well. Alchemy will not change and will keep the current two-year rotation schedule.

Wizards also announced that this is a first step in helping Standard finds its way back into more LGS. Exactly what those steps are is not immediately clear as WOTC has only promised that additional developments are “still in the planning stages.”

Will the announced changes to Standard get you back in the format? Or are you among those who never left? Drop us a note below to let us know.

Playing with Ichormoon Gauntlet

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Ever since Ichormoon Gauntlet was spoiled during Phyrexia: All Will Be One previews, I was intrigued and curious how playable it could be. As you can see, this Artifact gives Planeswalkers additional abilities, namely Proliferate for a cost of 0 and an additional turn for a far more expensive 12.

I finally decided to put curiousity to action and built the following Blue deck centered around Jace and Teferi for Arena Standard B01. I burned 5 Mythic wild cards despite some reservations that I was doing so for a foolish quest. But you only live once after all.

Here is the first deck I built. Essentially, I threw a few cards together around the three main ones.

  • 3 Jace, the Perfected Mind (ONE) 57
  • 2 Teferi, Temporal Pilgrim (BRO) 66
  • 4 Delver of Secrets (MID) 47
  • 4 Fading Hope (MID) 51
  • 2 Shore Up (DMU) 64
  • 3 Disdainful Stroke (SNC) 39
  • 4 Ichormoon Gauntlet (ONE) 56
  • 3 Third Path Savant (BRO) 67
  • 2 Academy Loremaster (DMU) 40
  • 4 Stormchaser Drake (VOW) 82
  • 2 Silver Scrutiny (DMU) 65
  • 4 Essence Capture (NEO) 52
  • 23 Island (ONE) 273

After only one game, a loss, it was clear that Third Path Savant was just not a good card. 7 for the ability to draw two cards was simply too expensive. Out it went. I also added an additional Teferi card (using up another wild card) given that the whole idea is to build Planeswalkers up with the extra ability. I also added 2 Prolog To Phyresis for the card draw.

I won my second game thanks to my Stormchaser Drakes but realized that they would not give me much card draw given how few spells I had that could target them. I never drew any of my Planeswalkers, leaving my Ichormoon Gauntlet on the board with little effect.

Here is what the deck looks like now:

  • 3 Jace, the Perfected Mind (ONE) 57
  • 23 Island (ONE) 273
  • 3 Teferi, Temporal Pilgrim (BRO) 66
  • 4 Delver of Secrets (MID) 47
  • 4 Fading Hope (MID) 51
  • 3 Shore Up (DMU) 64
  • 3 Disdainful Stroke (SNC) 39
  • 4 Ichormoon Gauntlet (ONE) 56
  • 2 Academy Loremaster (DMU) 40
  • 4 Stormchaser Drake (VOW) 82
  • 3 Silver Scrutiny (DMU) 65
  • 4 Essence Capture (NEO) 52

Before my third game, in went one additional Shore Up and One Silver Scrutiny in favour of Prolog To Phyresis. That third game was a blowout – Playing against a red aggro deck with 2 lands after turn 4 proved painful.

After a few more games, my record is 2-6. Looks like I have a few things to think about:

  • I need more Planeswalkers if I will make Ichormoon Gauntlet the focus of the deck
  • A mono-Blue deck is probably not the best option. I suspect I will need to add at least one more colour and more likely two.
  • What are the wincons that Ichormoon Gauntlet opens up? It’s great to have the ability to take another turn but what do I do with it? I’m thinking that I need to focus more on the 0 cost Proliferate ability. Is it time to look at Poison counters?
  • I may need to burn more wild cards to get Tekuthal, Inquiry Dominus into future decks.

More to come!

Standard BO1 Orzhov Clerics live on in Dominaria United

/ Jerome / Leave a comment

Noah has mocked my Orzhov Cleric tribal decks since I first started playing with them. But they have proven to be fun decks and have performed better than I expected for the most part through various iterations. The first deck I posted here dates back almost a year ago. The recent Standard rotation unfortunately saw a good number of cards drop out of Standard.

With Noah still teasing me about my Cleric decks, I decided that it was time to see whether I could rebuild the deck for the new Standard. The good news is that there are enough new clerics in Dominaria United to make up for the ones lost during rotation. The bad news is that they are not as powerful as the old ones.

The ones that look to be good additions include Shadow-Rite Priest, a lord for clerics, and Evolved Sleeper, which starts as a Human but can quickly become a cleric with an additional Black.

Liliana of the Veil may not be a cleric but is just too powerful not include. I did check with the clerics if they had any objections and they were unanimously happy to have her on their side.

Here is the deck as it stands now (the sideboard remains a work in progress):

Deck

  • 3 Infernal Grasp (MID) 107
  • 2 Anointed Peacekeeper (DMU) 2
  • 1 March of Otherworldly Light (NEO) 28
  • 2 Valorous Stance (VOW) 42
  • 3 Evolved Sleeper (DMU) 93
  • 9 Plains (THB) 250
  • 7 Swamp (THB) 252
  • 3 Shadow-Rite Priest (DMU) 106
  • 2 Voice of the Blessed (VOW) 44
  • 3 Shattered Sanctum (VOW) 264
  • 4 Lunarch Veteran (MID) 27
  • 2 Scoured Barrens (NEO) 274
  • 1 Takenuma, Abandoned Mire (NEO) 278
  • 2 Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire (NEO) 268
  • 4 Inspiring Overseer (SNC) 18
  • 4 Markov Purifier (VOW) 241
  • 2 Boon of Safety (SNC) 4
  • 2 Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim (DMU) 198
  • 3 Phyrexian Missionary (DMU) 27
  • 2 Liliana of the Veil (DMU) 97

Sideboard

  • 2 Farewell (NEO) 13
  • 1 Cut Down (DMU) 89
  • 2 Chaplain of Alms (MID) 13
  • 1 Voice of the Blessed (VOW) 44
  • 1 Intercessor’s Arrest (NEO) 20

Here’s hoping that The Brothers’ War and other upcoming sets bring some additional clerics.