This past weekend we got our first look at the impact of Core Set 2020 on the standard metagame. The decks from the Win Condition Cup Qualifier (WCCQ) and Star City Games Worchester (SCGW) events gives a picture of where we can expect the metagames to move. Here are a few takeaways from these events.
First, Mono-Red still has a place in the metagame. SCGW Open was won by Aaron Barich running Mono-Red. The deck used two Core Set 2020 cards that added power to it. Chandra’s Spitfire and Ember Hauler give additional reach to the deck. One problem for Mono-Red has been its lack of flyers. Spitfire does not look like a powerful game ending play, but it has the potential to be. Playing Spitfire then attacking with it on the next turn can provide lethal damage when paired with a Shock, Lightning Strike, or Wizard’s Lightning. Each time you damage an opponent, Spitfire gets +3/+0 until the end of the turn.
Chandra’s Spitfire can easily do four to ten damage on a single turn to end the game. Ember Hauler provides a good blocker that can be sacrificed to do two damage to any target. These new cards with the existing power of the deck will make Mono-Red playable throughout this season.
Mono-Red Aggro Aaron Barich 1st Place at Star City Games Open on 7/13/2019
| Creatures (24) 4 Chandra’s Spitfire 4 Ember Hauler 4 Fanatical Firebrand 4 Ghitu Lavarunner 4 Goblin Chainwhirler 4 Runaway Steam-Kin Lands (20) 20 Mountain Spells (16) 1 Experimental Frenzy 4 Lightning Strike 4 Shock 4 Light Up the Stage 3 Skewer the Critics | Sideboard (15) 3 Experimental Frenzy 3 Fry 2 Chandra, Acolyte of Flame 3 Tibalt, Rakish Instigator 4 Lava Coil |
Second, Simic has several good deck options that present real challenges for opponents. The three versions that have performed well so far are Simic Nexus, Simic Flash, and Simic Reef Ramp. Each variant takes a different path to victory using the Simic land base.
The top two decks at the WCCQ played Simic. Additionally, Simic Nexus and Simic Flash had five of the Top 16 places at SCGW Open with a Bant deck in the Top 8 and two additional Top 16 finishers at SCGW Classic with two Bant decks also in the Top 8.
SIMIC REEF RAMP, ANDREW QUINONES, 1ST PLACE WIN CONDITION CUP QUALIFIER JULY 2019
| Creatures (24) 4 Llanowar Elves 4 Leafkin Druid 4 Incubation Druid 4 Risen Reef 4 Voracious Hydra 4 Hydroid Krasis Planeswalkers (4) 4 Nissa, Who Shakes the World Instants (4) 4 Growth Spiral Sorcery (4) 3 Mass Manipulation 1 Entrancing Melody Land (24) 7 Island 8 Forest 4 Breeding Pool 4 Hinterland Harbor 1 Temple of Mystery | Sideboard (15) 2 Aether Gust 2 Carnage Tyrant 3 Cerulean Drake 3 Negate 2 Thrashing Brontodon 3 Veil of Summer |
SIMIC FLASH, JAMES HAMES, 2ND PLACE WIN CONDITION CUP QUALIFIER JULY 2019
| Creatures (19) 4 Brineborn Cutthroat 4 Frilled Mystic 4 Nightpack Ambusher 4 Merfolk Trickster 3 Spectral Sailor Instant (17) 2 Syncopate 2 Opt 3 Unsummon 3 Essence Scatter 3 Negate 4 Sinister Sabotage Land (24) 5 Forest 8 Island 3 Temple of Mystery 4 Hinterland Harbor 4 Breeding Pool | Sideboard (14) 2 Vivien Reid 4 Shifting Ceratops 2 Entrancing Melody 2 Cerulean Drake 2 Aether Gust 1 Negate 1 Essence Scatter |
Andrew Quinones won the WCCQ with Simic Reef Ramp utilizing elementals to gain card advantage and ramp into Hydroid Krasis and Voracious Hydra. The deck also has Mass Manipulation to take away opponent’s creatures and/or planeswalkers in the late game to eliminate their defenses.
The Simic Flash deck utilizes a control package and playing creatures will flash to control the game by limiting what your opponent can do. James Hames second place deck at the WCCQ effectively used the strategy to beat his opponents except for Boros Feather and Simic Reef Ramp. The other Simic Flash deck in the tournament lost to Boros Feather and Esper Hero while defeating the other decks it faced. Overall, Simic Flash went 8-4-1 in the tournament. Simic has explosive play options that make these decks powerful options in the metagame.
Third, Esper Hero is still a force in the metagame. Core Set 2020 only provided additional dual lands for the deck. The decks strength remains the same. Expect to see the deck remain a popular choice.
ESPER HERO, KYLE REICHARD, 5-8 PLACE WIN CONDITION CUP JULY 2019
| Creatures (10) 4 Hero of Precinct One 3 Elite Guardmage 3 Hostage Taker Planeswalkers (10) 2 Narset, Parter of Veils 4 Teferi, Time Raveler 4 Teferi, Hero of Dominaria Artifacts (1) 1 Bolas's Citadel Instant (5) 2 Despark 3 Tyrant's Scorn Sorcery (5) 1 Command the Dreadhorde 4 Thought Erasure Enchantment (3) 3 Oath of Kaya Land (26) 2 Temple of Silence 1 Swamp 4 Glacial Fortress 4 Godless Shrine 3 Isolated Chapel 4 Hallowed Fountain 4 Watery Grave 4 Drowned Catacomb | Sideboard (15) 1 Bolas's Citadel 2 Cry of the Carnarium 1 Narset, Parter of Veils 2 Dovin's Veto 2 Duress 2 Enter the God-Eternals 2 Kaya's Wrath 2 The Elderspell 1 Ashiok, Dream Render |
Fourth, elementals and vampires have proven that they have a place in the metagame. Both decks placed in the Top 8 at SCG Worchester Classic and Open. I don’t think that either has reached its full potential, so expect to see the decks continue to evolve over time.
Temur Elementals Chris Johnson 3rd Place at Star City Games Open on 7/13/2019
| Creatures (23) 3 Cavalier of Thorns 4 Creeping Trailblazer 4 Leafkin Druid 2 Living Twister 2 Overgrowth Elemental 4 Risen Reef 4 Omnath, Locus of the Roil Planeswalkers (6) 4 Chandra, Acolyte of Flame 2 Chandra, Awakened Inferno Lands (24) 1 Forest 2 Mountain 4 Breeding Pool 3 Hinterland Harbor 4 Rootbound Crag 4 Steam Vents 4 Stomping Ground 2 Temple of Mystery Spells (7) 4 Lightning Strike 3 Shock | Sideboard (15) 2 Shifting Ceratops 3 Cindervines 3 Aether Gust 2 Disdainful Stroke 2 Flame Sweep 3 Fry |
Orzhov Vampires Ashford Smith 2nd Place at Star City Games Classic on 7/14/2019
| Creatures (26) 4 Adanto Vanguard 4 Champion of Dusk 2 Dusk Legion Zealot 4 Knight of the Ebon Legion 4 Legion Lieutenant 2 Sanctum Seeker 4 Skymarcher Aspirant 1 Vicious Conquistador 1 Vona, Butcher of Magan Planeswalkers (4) 4 Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord Lands (22) 7 Plains 7 Swamp 4 Godless Shrine 4 Isolated Chapel Spells (8) 2 Cast Down 2 Mortify 4 Legion’s Landing | Sideboard (15) 3 Plague Mare 2 Despark 4 Noxious Grasp 2 Gideon Blackblade 4 Duress |
Finally, Boros Feather now has the strength to be a Tier 1 deck. God’s Will provides the needed piece of protection for the creatures in the deck. When Feather, the Redeemed is on the battlefield and God’s Will in hand the deck can be unbeatable. Expect to see continued play and to win some tournaments.
BOROS FEATHER, ABBY GIBSON, 5-8 PLACE WIN CONDITION CUP JULY 2019
| Creatures (17) 4 Feather, the Redeemed 4 Adanto Vanguard 4 Dreadhorde Arcanist 4 Tenth District Legionnaire 1 Tomik, Distinguished Advokist Planeswalker (3) 3 Gideon Blackblade Instants (18) 1 Gird for Battle 1 Sheltering Light 4 Reckless Rage 4 Gods Willing 4 Shock 4 Defiant Strike Land (22) 4 Mountain 6 Plains 4 Clifftop Retreat 4 Sacred Foundry 4 Temple of Triumph | Sideboard (15) 1 Prison Realm 3 Flame Sweep 2 Ajani, Adversary of Tyrants 2 Fry 2 Legion Warboss 2 Demystify 3 Tocatli Honor Guard |
Until next time. Good luck finding your win condition!