As Streets of New Capenna gets closer and closer, now is a great time to look at Standard decks that are close to breaking through in today's metagame. Depending on the support these decks get in the next set, we could see a lot more of them in the weeks to come.
We have seen Clerics decks perform well in Alchemy, but this hasn't really been the case in Standard. Here is what the current version of Orzhov Clerics looks like:
Magic: The Gathering TCG Deck - Orzhov Clerics by Joey Wittman
'Orzhov Clerics' - constructed deck list and prices for the Magic: The Gathering Trading Card Game from TCGplayer Infinite!
Created By: Joey Wittman
Event: MMA Ma Melee Arena Standard Mars#9
Rank: 17th-32nd
Standard
Market Price: $305.16
Righteous Valkyrie
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $6.62
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/230869_200w.jpg
Flying Whenever another Angel or Cleric enters the battlefield under your control, you gain life equal to that creature's toughness. As long as you have at least 7 life more than your starting life total, creatures you control get +2/+2.
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Voice of the Blessed
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $2.61
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/253148_200w.jpg
Whenever you gain life, put a +1/+1 counter on Voice of the Blessed. As long as Voice of the Blessed has four or more +1/+1 counters on it, it has flying and vigilance. As long as Voice of the Blessed has ten or more +1/+1 counters on it, it has indestructible.
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Takenuma, Abandoned Mire
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $5.04
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/262420_200w.jpg
{T}: Add {B}. Channel — {3}{B}, Discard Takenuma, Abandoned Mire: Mill three cards, then return a creature or planeswalker card from your graveyard to your hand. This ability costs {1} less to activate for each legendary creature you control.
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Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $3.46
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/262746_200w.jpg
{T}: Add {W}. Channel — {2}{W}, Discard Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire: It deals 4 damage to target attacking or blocking creature. This ability costs {1} less to activate for each legendary creature you control.
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Cleric of Life's Bond
Color Identity:B,W
Market Price: $0.09
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/221846_200w.jpg
Whenever another Cleric enters the battlefield under your control, you gain 1 life. Whenever you gain life for the first time each turn, put a +1/+1 counter on Cleric of Life's Bond.
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Skyclave Apparition
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $2.52
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/221860_200w.jpg
When Skyclave Apparition enters the battlefield, exile up to one target nonland, nontoken permanent you don't control with mana value 4 or less. When Skyclave Apparition leaves the battlefield, the exiled card's owner creates an X/X blue Illusion creature token, where X is the mana value of the exiled card.
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Swamp
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.04
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/268413_200w.jpg
({T}: Add {B}.)
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Doomskar
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $1.50
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/230872_200w.jpg
Destroy all creatures. Foretell {1}{W}{W} (During your turn, you may pay {2} and exile this card from your hand face down. Cast it on a later turn for its foretell cost.)
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Brutal Cathar
Color Identity:R,W
Market Price: $1.79
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/249413_200w.jpg
When this creature enters the battlefield or transforms into Brutal Cathar, exile target creature an opponent controls until this creature leaves the battlefield. Daybound (If a player casts no spells during their own turn, it becomes night next turn.)
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The Meathook Massacre
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $60.77
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/248212_200w.jpg
When The Meathook Massacre enters the battlefield, each creature gets -X/-X until end of turn. Whenever a creature you control dies, each opponent loses 1 life. Whenever a creature an opponent controls dies, you gain 1 life.
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Rite of Oblivion
Color Identity:B,W
Market Price: $0.25
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/248309_200w.jpg
As an additional cost to cast this spell, sacrifice a nonland permanent. Exile target nonland permanent. Flashback {2}{W}{B} (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost and any additional costs. Then exile it.)
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Portable Hole
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $1.83
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/239192_200w.jpg
When Portable Hole enters the battlefield, exile target nonland permanent an opponent controls with mana value 2 or less until Portable Hole leaves the battlefield.
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Brightclimb Pathway
Color Identity:B,W
Market Price: $4.58
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/221817_200w.jpg
{T}: Add {W}.
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Taborax, Hope's Demise
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.17
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/221907_200w.jpg
Flying Taborax, Hope's Demise has lifelink as long as it has five or more +1/+1 counters on it. Whenever another nontoken creature you control dies, put a +1/+1 counter on Taborax. If that creature was a Cleric, you may draw a card. If you do, you lose 1 life.
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Luminarch Aspirant
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.55
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/269441_200w.jpg
At the beginning of combat on your turn, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control.
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Nullpriest of Oblivion
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.40
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/222171_200w.jpg
Kicker {3}{B} Menace, lifelink When Nullpriest of Oblivion enters the battlefield, if it was kicked, return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield.
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Kaya the Inexorable
Color Identity:B,W
Market Price: $2.85
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/229252_200w.jpg
+1: Put a ghostform counter on up to one target nontoken creature. It gains "When this creature dies or is put into exile, return it to its owner's hand and create a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying." −3: Exile target nonland permanent. −7: You get an emblem with "At the beginning of your upkeep, you may cast a legendary spell from your hand, from your graveyard, or from among cards you own in exile without paying its mana cost."
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Reidane, God of the Worthy
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.80
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/230921_200w.jpg
Flying, vigilance Snow lands your opponents control enter the battlefield tapped. Noncreature spells your opponents cast with mana value 4 or greater cost {2} more to cast.
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Mascot Exhibition
Market Price: $0.79
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/235914_200w.jpg
Create a 2/1 white and black Inkling creature token with flying, a 3/2 red and white Spirit creature token, and a 4/4 blue and red Elemental creature token.
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Shattered Sanctum
Color Identity:B,W
Market Price: $8.21
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/252854_200w.jpg
Shattered Sanctum enters the battlefield tapped unless you control two or more other lands. {T}: Add {W} or {B}.
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Skyclave Cleric
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.10
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/221961_200w.jpg
When Skyclave Cleric enters the battlefield, you gain 2 life.
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Hagra Mauling
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.75
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/222096_200w.jpg
This spell costs {1} less to cast if an opponent controls no basic lands. Destroy target creature.
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Baleful Mastery
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.53
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/235848_200w.jpg
You may pay {1}{B} rather than pay this spell's mana cost. If the {1}{B} cost was paid, an opponent draws a card. Exile target creature or planeswalker.
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Plains
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.03
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/268408_200w.jpg
({T}: Add {W}.)
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Duress
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.04
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/248314_200w.jpg
Target opponent reveals their hand. You choose a noncreature, nonland card from it. That player discards that card.
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Pyre of Heroes
Market Price: $0.64
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/229212_200w.jpg
{2}, {T}, Sacrifice a creature: Search your library for a creature card that shares a creature type with the sacrificed creature and has mana value equal to 1 plus that creature's mana value. Put that card onto the battlefield, then shuffle. Activate only as a sorcery.
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Cleric Class
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.97
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/243329_200w.jpg
(Gain the next level as a sorcery to add its ability.) If you would gain life, you gain that much life plus 1 instead. {3}{W}: Level 2 Whenever you gain life, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control. {4}{W}: Level 3 When this Class becomes level 3, return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield. You gain life equal to its toughness.
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Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $1.07
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/252859_200w.jpg
First strike Noncreature spells cost {1} more to cast.
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Emeria's Call
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $2.00
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/221952_200w.jpg
Create two 4/4 white Angel Warrior creature tokens with flying. Non-Angel creatures you control gain indestructible until your next turn.
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Elite Spellbinder
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.57
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/235554_200w.jpg
Flying When Elite Spellbinder enters the battlefield, look at target opponent's hand. You may exile a nonland card from it. For as long as that card remains exiled, its owner may play it. A spell cast this way costs {2} more to cast.
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Valorous Stance
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.08
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/253037_200w.jpg
Choose one — • Target creature gains indestructible until end of turn. (Damage and effects that say "destroy" don't destroy it.) • Destroy target creature with toughness 4 or greater.
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Orah, Skyclave Hierophant
Color Identity:B,W
Market Price: $0.12
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/221867_200w.jpg
Lifelink Whenever Orah, Skyclave Hierophant or another Cleric you control dies, return target Cleric card with lesser mana value from your graveyard to the battlefield.
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Vanishing Verse
Color Identity:B,W
Market Price: $2.65
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/235926_200w.jpg
Exile target monocolored permanent.
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Hive of the Eye Tyrant
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $5.19
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/243021_200w.jpg
If you control two or more other lands, Hive of the Eye Tyrant enters the battlefield tapped. {T}: Add {B}. {3}{B}: Until end of turn, Hive of the Eye Tyrant becomes a 3/3 black Beholder creature with menace and "Whenever this creature attacks, exile target card from defending player's graveyard." It's still a land.
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The Wandering Emperor
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $29.02
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/262039_200w.jpg
Flash As long as The Wandering Emperor entered the battlefield this turn, you may activate her loyalty abilities any time you could cast an instant. +1: Put a +1/+1 counter on up to one target creature. It gains first strike until end of turn. −1: Create a 2/2 white Samurai creature token with vigilance. −2: Exile target tapped creature. You gain 2 life.
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Angel of Destiny
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $4.19
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/221948_200w.jpg
Flying, double strike Whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to a player, you and that player each gain that much life. At the beginning of your end step, if you have at least 15 life more than your starting life total, each player Angel of Destiny attacked this turn loses the game.
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Cave of the Frost Dragon
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $2.09
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/243071_200w.jpg
If you control two or more other lands, Cave of the Frost Dragon enters the battlefield tapped. {T}: Add {W}. {4}{W}: Cave of the Frost Dragon becomes a 3/4 white Dragon creature with flying until end of turn. It's still a land.
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Infernal Grasp
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.39
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/246014_200w.jpg
Destroy target creature. You lose 2 life.
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March of Otherworldly Light
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $4.66
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/262232_200w.jpg
As an additional cost to cast this spell, you may exile any number of white cards from your hand. This spell costs {2} less to cast for each card exiled this way. Exile target artifact, creature, or enchantment with mana value X or less.
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This deck gains its power from getting multiple Clerics into play, which can create lifegain triggers through cards like Cleric of Life's Bond and Righteous Valkyrie. The lifegain triggers also help grow your creatures into larger threats, and Voice of the Blessed can become absolutely massive.
Orzhov Clerics wants to play against linear aggressive decks. Those decks tend not to have a lot of removal, and the lifegain is more relevant against decks with lots of creatures trying to attack you. Unfortunately, right now Standard is full of midrange decks. that play a healthy amount of removal.
Between all the midrange decks and efficient removal spells in Standard right now, it's difficult to get lots of Clerics into play. Without a high density of Clerics on the battlefield this deck loses a lot of its power.
The metagame needs to shift back toward aggro decks being popular, and we need one more playable Cleric, preferably one that provides card advantage. Inquisitor Captain makes all the difference for the deck in Alchemy. A creature that produces some type of card advantage but is also a Cleric is exactly what this deck is looking for. As currently constructed, the deck simply isn't playing enough Clerics in it.
It's been a while since Mono-Red has been a major force in Standard. The combination of the Faceless Haven ban and the presence of other good monocolored aggressive decks in Standard has stopped Mono-Red Aggro from seeing that much play. It still pops up here and there, but it hasn't put up very strong results over the past few months.
Magic: The Gathering TCG Deck - Mono-Red Aggro by Anonymous Platinum-Mythic Rank Player
'Mono-Red Aggro' - constructed deck list and prices for the Magic: The Gathering Trading Card Game from TCGplayer Infinite!
Created By: Anonymous Platinum-Mythic Rank Player
Event:
Rank: 6-0
Standard
Market Price: $180.42
Voldaren Epicure
Color Identity:R
Market Price: $0.16
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/253753_200w.jpg
When Voldaren Epicure enters the battlefield, it deals 1 damage to each opponent. Create a Blood token. (It's an artifact with "{1}, {T}, Discard a card, Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.")
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Flame-Blessed Bolt
Color Identity:R
Market Price: $0.21
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/253765_200w.jpg
Flame-Blessed Bolt deals 2 damage to target creature or planeswalker. If that creature or planeswalker would die this turn, exile it instead.
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Rabbit Battery
Color Identity:R
Market Price: $0.29
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/262809_200w.jpg
Haste Equipped creature gets +1/+1 and has haste. Reconfigure {R} ({R}: Attach to target creature you control; or unattach from a creature. Reconfigure only as a sorcery. While attached, this isn't a creature.)
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Reinforced Ronin
Color Identity:R
Market Price: $0.10
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/262810_200w.jpg
Haste At the beginning of your end step, return Reinforced Ronin to its owner's hand. Channel — {1}{R}, Discard Reinforced Ronin: Draw a card.
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Snow-Covered Mountain
Color Identity:R
Market Price: $0.49
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/230150_200w.jpg
({T}: Add {R}.)
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Abrade
Color Identity:R
Market Price: $0.09
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/253063_200w.jpg
Choose one — • Abrade deals 3 damage to target creature. • Destroy target artifact.
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Frost Bite
Color Identity:R
Market Price: $0.05
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/230127_200w.jpg
Frost Bite deals 2 damage to target creature or planeswalker. If you control three or more snow permanents, it deals 3 damage instead.
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Bloodthirsty Adversary
Color Identity:R
Market Price: $1.81
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/248077_200w.jpg
Haste When Bloodthirsty Adversary enters the battlefield, you may pay {2}{R} any number of times. When you pay this cost one or more times, put that many +1/+1 counters on Bloodthirsty Adversary, then exile up to that many target instant and/or sorcery cards with mana value 3 or less from your graveyard and copy them. You may cast any number of the copies without paying their mana costs.
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Rowan, Scholar of Sparks
Color Identity:R,U
Market Price: $3.74
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/235166_200w.jpg
Instant and sorcery spells you cast cost {1} less to cast. +1: Rowan, Scholar of Sparks deals 1 damage to each opponent. If you've drawn three or more cards this turn, she deals 3 damage to each opponent instead. −4: You get an emblem with "Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, you may pay {2}. If you do, copy that spell. You may choose new targets for the copy."
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Chandra, Dressed to Kill
Color Identity:R
Market Price: $27.69
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/252918_200w.jpg
+1: Add {R}. Chandra, Dressed to Kill deals 1 damage to up to one target player or planeswalker. +1: Exile the top card of your library. If it's red, you may cast it this turn. −7: Exile the top five cards of your library. You may cast red spells from among them this turn. You get an emblem with "Whenever you cast a red spell, this emblem deals X damage to any target, where X is the amount of mana spent to cast that spell."
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Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance
Color Identity:R
Market Price: $2.24
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/262172_200w.jpg
{T}: Add {R}. Channel — {3}{R}, Discard Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance: Create two 1/1 colorless Spirit creature tokens. They gain haste until end of turn. This ability costs {1} less to activate for each legendary creature you control.
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Roiling Vortex
Color Identity:R
Market Price: $0.48
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/221923_200w.jpg
At the beginning of each player's upkeep, Roiling Vortex deals 1 damage to them. Whenever a player casts a spell, if no mana was spent to cast that spell, Roiling Vortex deals 5 damage to that player. {R}: Your opponents can't gain life this turn.
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Shatterskull Smashing
Color Identity:R
Market Price: $3.24
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/222030_200w.jpg
Shatterskull Smashing deals X damage divided as you choose among up to two target creatures and/or planeswalkers. If X is 6 or more, Shatterskull Smashing deals twice X damage divided as you choose among them instead.
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Fireblade Charger
Color Identity:R
Market Price: $0.14
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/222150_200w.jpg
As long as Fireblade Charger is equipped, it has haste. When Fireblade Charger dies, it deals damage equal to its power to any target.
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Play with Fire
Color Identity:R
Market Price: $1.21
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/246017_200w.jpg
Play with Fire deals 2 damage to any target. If a player is dealt damage this way, scry 1. (Look at the top card of your library. You may put that card on the bottom of your library.)
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Kumano Faces Kakkazan
Color Identity:R
Market Price: $0.16
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/262776_200w.jpg
(As this Saga enters and after your draw step, add a lore counter.) I — Kumano Faces Kakkazan deals 1 damage to each opponent and each planeswalker they control. II — When you cast your next creature spell this turn, that creature enters the battlefield with an additional +1/+1 counter on it. III — Exile this Saga, then return it to the battlefield transformed under your control.
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Roil Eruption
Color Identity:R
Market Price: $0.05
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/222015_200w.jpg
Kicker {5} (You may pay an additional {5} as you cast this spell.) Roil Eruption deals 3 damage to any target. If this spell was kicked, it deals 5 damage instead.
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Den of the Bugbear
Color Identity:R
Market Price: $6.26
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/243062_200w.jpg
If you control two or more other lands, Den of the Bugbear enters the battlefield tapped. {T}: Add {R}. {3}{R}: Until end of turn, Den of the Bugbear becomes a 3/2 red Goblin creature with "Whenever this creature attacks, create a 1/1 red Goblin creature token that's tapped and attacking." It's still a land.
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Cemetery Gatekeeper
Color Identity:R
Market Price: $3.95
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/253771_200w.jpg
First strike When Cemetery Gatekeeper enters the battlefield, exile a card from a graveyard. Whenever a player plays a land or casts a spell, if it shares a card type with the exiled card, Cemetery Gatekeeper deals 2 damage to that player.
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End the Festivities
Color Identity:R
Market Price: $0.09
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/253770_200w.jpg
End the Festivities deals 1 damage to each opponent and each creature and planeswalker they control.
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This is arguably the fastest deck in Standard. Notice all the cards that cost only one mana to cast. The deck is able to get on the board very quickly, and easily capitalizes on any stumbles by the opponent. Mono-Red has lots of cheap removal to get rid of any early blockers the opponent may have, and the burn spells can also target the opponent directly to finish them off.
This deck doesn't have a good late game. While that's typically true for Mono-Red Aggro, it is especially true for this particular version of Mono-Red Aggro. Chandra, Dressed to Kill is the only card that costs more than two mana in the maindeck. There are very powerful four-mana cards in Standard like Esika's Chariot and The Wandering Emperor that can stop the aggression of Mono-Red Aggro in its tracks.
The creatures in this deck are tiny, and without a card like Embercleave or Torbran, Thane of Red Fell to buff them up, the creatures in Mono-Red Aggro get outclassed quickly. This deck can certainly win games on the back of fast starts, but it's extremely reliant on having a good opening hand and winning the die roll.
A good three-drop or two-drop creature to replace one of the redundant one-mana plays would be nice. Also, Mono-Red Aggro would love some type of card advantage card like Light up the Stage. The deck doesn't want to play this many one-mana creatures that only have 1 power. At the end of the day, this deck just needs better card quality if it's going to compete.
Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty introduced lots of white and green cards that rewarded players for building around enchantments, like Generous Visitor, Kami of Transience, and Jukai Naturalist. After some experimentation, players started adding red to their enchantment decks, to great effect.
While the Naya version of the deck is probably stronger, I still have a soft spot for regular Selesnya Enchantments.
Magic: The Gathering TCG Deck - Selesnya Enchantments by James Bryant
'Selesnya Enchantments' - constructed deck list and prices for the Magic: The Gathering Trading Card Game from TCGplayer Infinite!
Created By: James Bryant
Event: Best Of 3 Cup Preliminary
Rank: 3rd-4th
Standard
Market Price: $114.76
Forest
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $0.04
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/268417_200w.jpg
({T}: Add {G}.)
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Branchloft Pathway
Color Identity:G,W
Market Price: $2.38
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/221843_200w.jpg
{T}: Add {G}.
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Ranger Class
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $0.71
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/243348_200w.jpg
(Gain the next level as a sorcery to add its ability.) When Ranger Class enters the battlefield, create a 2/2 green Wolf creature token. {1}{G}: Level 2 Whenever you attack, put a +1/+1 counter on target attacking creature. {3}{G}: Level 3 You may look at the top card of your library any time. You may cast creature spells from the top of your library.
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Curse of Silence
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.19
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/248130_200w.jpg
Enchant player As Curse of Silence enters the battlefield, choose a card name. Spells with the chosen name enchanted player casts cost {2} more to cast. Whenever enchanted player casts a spell with the chosen name, you may sacrifice Curse of Silence. If you do, draw a card.
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Wedding Announcement
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $1.70
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/255021_200w.jpg
At the beginning of your end step, put an invitation counter on Wedding Announcement. If you attacked with two or more creatures this turn, draw a card. Otherwise, create a 1/1 white Human creature token. Then if Wedding Announcement has three or more invitation counters on it, transform it.
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Katilda, Dawnhart Martyr
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $5.16
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/255000_200w.jpg
Flying, lifelink, protection from Vampires Katilda, Dawnhart Martyr's power and toughness are each equal to the number of permanents you control that are Spirits and/or enchantments. Disturb {3}{W}{W} (You may cast this card from your graveyard transformed for its disturb cost.)
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Boseiju, Who Endures
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $24.25
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/262050_200w.jpg
{T}: Add {G}. Channel — {1}{G}, Discard Boseiju, Who Endures: Destroy target artifact, enchantment, or nonbasic land an opponent controls. That player may search their library for a land card with a basic land type, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle. This ability costs {1} less to activate for each legendary creature you control.
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Kami of Transience
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $0.21
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/262734_200w.jpg
Trample Whenever you cast an enchantment spell, put a +1/+1 counter on Kami of Transience. At the beginning of each end step, if an enchantment was put into your graveyard from the battlefield this turn, you may return Kami of Transience from your graveyard to your hand.
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Tamiyo's Safekeeping
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $0.41
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/262765_200w.jpg
Target permanent you control gains hexproof and indestructible until end of turn. You gain 2 life. (A permanent with hexproof and indestructible can't be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control. Damage and effects that say "destroy" don't destroy it.)
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Snakeskin Veil
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $0.06
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/230183_200w.jpg
Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control. It gains hexproof until end of turn.
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Borrowed Time
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.09
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/248131_200w.jpg
When Borrowed Time enters the battlefield, exile target nonland permanent an opponent controls until Borrowed Time leaves the battlefield.
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Hallowed Haunting
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $11.08
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/253009_200w.jpg
As long as you control seven or more enchantments, creatures you control have flying and vigilance. Whenever you cast an enchantment spell, create a white Spirit Cleric creature token with "This creature's power and toughness are each equal to the number of Spirits you control."
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Michiko's Reign of Truth
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.10
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/261980_200w.jpg
(As this Saga enters and after your draw step, add a lore counter.) I, II — Target creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn for each artifact and/or enchantment you control. III — Exile this Saga, then return it to the battlefield transformed under your control.
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Spirited Companion
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.23
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/262157_200w.jpg
When Spirited Companion enters the battlefield, draw a card.
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Valorous Stance
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.08
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/253037_200w.jpg
Choose one — • Target creature gains indestructible until end of turn. (Damage and effects that say "destroy" don't destroy it.) • Destroy target creature with toughness 4 or greater.
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Overgrown Farmland
Color Identity:G,W
Market Price: $5.41
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/247822_200w.jpg
Overgrown Farmland enters the battlefield tapped unless you control two or more other lands. {T}: Add {G} or {W}.
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Circle of Confinement
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.10
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/253548_200w.jpg
When Circle of Confinement enters the battlefield, exile target creature an opponent controls with mana value 3 or less until Circle of Confinement leaves the battlefield. Whenever an opponent casts a Vampire spell with the same name as a card exiled with Circle of Confinement, you gain 2 life.
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Plains
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.03
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/268408_200w.jpg
({T}: Add {W}.)
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Rune of Might
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $0.22
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/230878_200w.jpg
Enchant permanent When Rune of Might enters the battlefield, draw a card. As long as enchanted permanent is a creature, it gets +1/+1 and has trample. As long as enchanted permanent is an Equipment, it has "Equipped creature gets +1/+1 and has trample."
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Cave of the Frost Dragon
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $2.09
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/243071_200w.jpg
If you control two or more other lands, Cave of the Frost Dragon enters the battlefield tapped. {T}: Add {W}. {4}{W}: Cave of the Frost Dragon becomes a 3/4 white Dragon creature with flying until end of turn. It's still a land.
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Guardian of Faith
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $3.09
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/243270_200w.jpg
Flash Vigilance When Guardian of Faith enters the battlefield, any number of other target creatures you control phase out. (Treat them and anything attached to them as though they don't exist until their controller's next turn.)
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Paladin Class
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $0.51
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/243374_200w.jpg
(Gain the next level as a sorcery to add its ability.) Spells your opponents cast during your turn cost {1} more to cast. {2}{W}: Level 2 Creatures you control get +1/+1. {4}{W}: Level 3 Whenever you attack, until end of turn, target attacking creature gets +1/+1 for each other attacking creature and gains double strike.
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Lair of the Hydra
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $0.98
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/243438_200w.jpg
If you control two or more other lands, Lair of the Hydra enters the battlefield tapped. {T}: Add {G}. {X}{G}: Until end of turn, Lair of the Hydra becomes an X/X green Hydra creature. It's still a land. X can't be 0.
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Generous Visitor
Color Identity:G
Market Price: $0.12
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/262205_200w.jpg
Whenever you cast an enchantment spell, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature.
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Jukai Naturalist
Color Identity:G,W
Market Price: $0.59
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/262257_200w.jpg
Lifelink Enchantment spells you cast cost {1} less to cast.
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Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire
Color Identity:W
Market Price: $3.46
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/262746_200w.jpg
{T}: Add {W}. Channel — {2}{W}, Discard Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire: It deals 4 damage to target attacking or blocking creature. This ability costs {1} less to activate for each legendary creature you control.
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The deck plays in a similar way to Naya Runes. There are a ton of enchantments in the deck, which makes cards like Generous Visitor and Kami of Transience very powerful. While this deck does play Rune of Might, it isn't as reliant as Naya on getting a Rune onto a creature.
Since the deck only plays four Runes, it can play more threats. Cards like Michiko's Reign of Truth and Ranger Class push through damage over the course of multiple turns. With four copies of Snakeskin Veil in the maindeck, the deck has a good way to protect its creatures from opposing spot removal. As a two color deck, the mana is pretty consistent.
While the deck is reasonable as-is, the red splash for Showdown of the Skalds is too powerful to pass up. There isn't one card in the deck that match Showdown of the Skalds on power level, which is a problem when you look at late game situations. Notice the deck plays the maximum amount of cards like Borrowed Time and Spirited Companion. Ideally there would be better options, but there are only so many enchantments within these two colors.
If there was another enchantment or two printed in the Selesnya colors that this deck wanted to play, it wouldn't need to add red. This would be especially true if a new enchantment gets printed that can generate card advantage, in a similar way to Showdown of the Skalds. If that doesn't happen, Selesnya Enchantments is going to remain a worse version of Naya Runes.
https://infinite.tcgplayer.com/article/robot/049f4be5-2b66-4ae3-8756-f1cde75a4c7a
The best control decks in Standard right now play white cards. What would it take for a different flavor of control to make its mark on the format?
Magic: The Gathering TCG Deck - Dimir Control by friedpetable
'Dimir Control' - constructed deck list and prices for the Magic: The Gathering Trading Card Game from TCGplayer Infinite!
Created By: friedpetable
Event: MTGO Standard League
Rank: 5-0
Standard
Market Price: $250.73
Clearwater Pathway
Color Identity:B,U
Market Price: $5.15
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/221830_200w.jpg
{T}: Add {U}.
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Lolth, Spider Queen
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $12.07
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/239359_200w.jpg
Whenever a creature you control dies, put a loyalty counter on Lolth, Spider Queen. 0: You draw a card and you lose 1 life. −3: Create two 2/1 black Spider creature tokens with menace and reach. −8: You get an emblem with "Whenever an opponent is dealt combat damage by one or more creatures you control, if that player lost less than 8 life this turn, they lose life equal to the difference."
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Ray of Enfeeblement
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.11
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/243400_200w.jpg
Target creature gets -4/-1 until end of turn. If that creature is white, it gets -4/-4 until end of turn instead.
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Shipwreck Marsh
Color Identity:B,U
Market Price: $2.97
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/247826_200w.jpg
Shipwreck Marsh enters the battlefield tapped unless you control two or more other lands. {T}: Add {U} or {B}.
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Kaito Shizuki
Color Identity:B,U
Market Price: $8.77
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/257673_200w.jpg
At the beginning of your end step, if Kaito Shizuki entered the battlefield this turn, he phases out. +1: Draw a card. Then discard a card unless you attacked this turn. −2: Create a 1/1 blue Ninja creature token with "This creature can't be blocked." −7: You get an emblem with "Whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to a player, search your library for a blue or black creature card, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle."
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Kairi, the Swirling Sky
Color Identity:U
Market Price: $0.87
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/262032_200w.jpg
Flying, ward {3} When Kairi, the Swirling Sky dies, choose one — • Return any number of target nonland permanents with total mana value 6 or less to their owners' hands. • Mill six cards, then return up to two instant and/or sorcery cards from your graveyard to your hand.
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Field of Ruin
Market Price: $0.12
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/248181_200w.jpg
{T}: Add {C}. {2}, {T}, Sacrifice Field of Ruin: Destroy target nonbasic land an opponent controls. Each player searches their library for a basic land card, puts it onto the battlefield, then shuffles.
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Negate
Color Identity:U
Market Price: $0.10
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/222130_200w.jpg
Counter target noncreature spell.
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Snow-Covered Island
Color Identity:U
Market Price: $0.74
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/230148_200w.jpg
({T}: Add {U}.)
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Ice Tunnel
Color Identity:B,U
Market Price: $0.39
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/230110_200w.jpg
({T}: Add {U} or {B}.) Ice Tunnel enters the battlefield tapped.
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Port of Karfell
Color Identity:B,U
Market Price: $0.11
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/230851_200w.jpg
Port of Karfell enters the battlefield tapped. {T}: Add {U}. {3}{U}{B}{B}, {T}, Sacrifice Port of Karfell: Mill four cards, then return a creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped. (To mill a card, put the top card of your library into your graveyard.)
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The Meathook Massacre
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $60.77
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/248212_200w.jpg
When The Meathook Massacre enters the battlefield, each creature gets -X/-X until end of turn. Whenever a creature you control dies, each opponent loses 1 life. Whenever a creature an opponent controls dies, you gain 1 life.
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Infernal Grasp
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.39
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/246014_200w.jpg
Destroy target creature. You lose 2 life.
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Siphon Insight
Color Identity:B,U
Market Price: $0.15
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/248147_200w.jpg
Look at the top two cards of target opponent's library. Exile one of them face down and put the other on the bottom of that library. You may look at and play the exiled card for as long as it remains exiled, and you may spend mana as though it were mana of any color to cast that spell. Flashback {1}{U}{B}
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The Reality Chip
Color Identity:U
Market Price: $1.79
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/262058_200w.jpg
You may look at the top card of your library any time. As long as The Reality Chip is attached to a creature, you may play lands and cast spells from the top of your library. Reconfigure {2}{U} ({2}{U}: Attach to target creature you control; or unattach from a creature. Reconfigure only as a sorcery. While attached, this isn't a creature.)
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Takenuma, Abandoned Mire
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $5.04
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/262420_200w.jpg
{T}: Add {B}. Channel — {3}{B}, Discard Takenuma, Abandoned Mire: Mill three cards, then return a creature or planeswalker card from your graveyard to your hand. This ability costs {1} less to activate for each legendary creature you control.
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Syncopate
Color Identity:U
Market Price: $0.02
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/253448_200w.jpg
Counter target spell unless its controller pays {X}. If that spell is countered this way, exile it instead of putting it into its owner's graveyard.
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Memory Deluge
Color Identity:U
Market Price: $0.97
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/248210_200w.jpg
Look at the top X cards of your library, where X is the amount of mana spent to cast this spell. Put two of them into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order. Flashback {5}{U}{U} (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
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Soul Shatter
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.95
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/221926_200w.jpg
Each opponent sacrifices a creature or planeswalker with the highest mana value among creatures and planeswalkers they control.
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Snow-Covered Swamp
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.24
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/230149_200w.jpg
({T}: Add {B}.)
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Blood on the Snow
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.14
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/230737_200w.jpg
Choose one — • Destroy all creatures. • Destroy all planeswalkers. Then return a creature or planeswalker card with mana value X or less from your graveyard to the battlefield, where X is the amount of {S} spent to cast this spell. ({S} is mana from a snow source.)
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Test of Talents
Color Identity:U
Market Price: $0.60
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/235929_200w.jpg
Counter target instant or sorcery spell. Search its controller's graveyard, hand, and library for any number of cards with the same name as that spell and exile them. That player shuffles, then draws a card for each card exiled from their hand this way.
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Power Word Kill
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.15
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/239193_200w.jpg
Destroy target non-Angel, non-Demon, non-Devil, non-Dragon creature.
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Hullbreaker Horror
Color Identity:U
Market Price: $4.23
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/253668_200w.jpg
Flash This spell can't be countered. Whenever you cast a spell, choose up to one — • Return target spell you don't control to its owner's hand. • Return target nonland permanent to its owner's hand.
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Invoke Despair
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.30
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/262133_200w.jpg
Target opponent sacrifices a creature. If they can't, they lose 2 life and you draw a card. Then repeat this process for an enchantment and a planeswalker.
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Otawara, Soaring City
Color Identity:U
Market Price: $11.97
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/262434_200w.jpg
{T}: Add {U}. Channel — {3}{U}, Discard Otawara, Soaring City: Return target artifact, creature, enchantment, or planeswalker to its owner's hand. This ability costs {1} less to activate for each legendary creature you control.
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Kotose, the Silent Spider
Color Identity:B,U
Market Price: $0.07
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/262779_200w.jpg
When Kotose, the Silent Spider enters the battlefield, exile target card other than a basic land card from an opponent's graveyard. Search that player's graveyard, hand, and library for any number of cards with the same name as that card and exile them. Then that player shuffles. For as long as you control Kotose, you may play one of the exiled cards, and you may spend mana as though it were mana of any color to cast it.
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Shadows' Verdict
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.11
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/222137_200w.jpg
Exile all creatures and planeswalkers with mana value 3 or less from the battlefield and all creature and planeswalker cards with mana value 3 or less from all graveyards.
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Hall of Storm Giants
Color Identity:U
Market Price: $2.43
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/243193_200w.jpg
If you control two or more other lands, Hall of Storm Giants enters the battlefield tapped. {T}: Add {U}. {5}{U}: Until end of turn, Hall of Storm Giants becomes a 7/7 blue Giant creature with ward {3}. It's still a land. (Whenever it becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, counter it unless that player pays {3}.)
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The Celestus
Market Price: $1.60
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/247961_200w.jpg
If it's neither day nor night, it becomes day as The Celestus enters the battlefield. {T}: Add one mana of any color. {3}, {T}: If it's night, it becomes day. Otherwise, it becomes night. Activate only as a sorcery. Whenever day becomes night or night becomes day, you gain 1 life. You may draw a card. If you do, discard a card.
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Reckoner Bankbuster
Market Price: $0.78
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/262560_200w.jpg
Reckoner Bankbuster enters the battlefield with three charge counters on it. {2}, {T}, Remove a charge counter from Reckoner Bankbuster: Draw a card. Then if there are no charge counters on Reckoner Bankbuster, create a Treasure token and a 1/1 colorless Pilot creature token with "This creature crews Vehicles as though its power were 2 greater." Crew 3
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Disdainful Stroke
Color Identity:U
Market Price: $0.02
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/268769_200w.jpg
Counter target spell with mana value 4 or greater.
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Bloodchief's Thirst
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.23
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/221776_200w.jpg
Kicker {2}{B} (You may pay an additional {2}{B} as you cast this spell.) Destroy target creature or planeswalker with mana value 2 or less. If this spell was kicked, instead destroy target creature or planeswalker.
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Sorin the Mirthless
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $9.04
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/252850_200w.jpg
+1: Look at the top card of your library. You may reveal that card and put it into your hand. If you do, you lose life equal to its mana value. −2: Create a 2/3 black Vampire creature token with flying and lifelink. −7: Sorin the Mirthless deals 13 damage to any target. You gain 13 life.
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March of Wretched Sorrow
Color Identity:B
Market Price: $0.13
ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/262443_200w.jpg
As an additional cost to cast this spell, you may exile any number of black cards from your hand. This spell costs {2} less to cast for each card exiled this way. March of Wretched Sorrow deals X damage to target creature or planeswalker and you gain X life.
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Dimir Control plays oodles of removal and countermagic. With lots of one and two-ofs in the deck, it's tough for opponents to know what to play around. Mass removal like The Meathook Massacre, Shadows' Verdict, and Blood on the Snow do a good job cleaning up any small creatures that the opponent may present. Dimir Control is also able to leverage the opponent's own cards against them with Siphon Insight and Kotose, the Silent Spider.
Most of the top decks in Standard right now play white, either for The Wandering Emperor, Vanishing Verse, March of Otherworldly Light, or all three. Dimir has access to some strong removal spells like Bloodchief's Thirst and Infernal Grasp, but blue and black struggle at exiling opposing threats. A simple Kami of Transience can be a big problem for this deck.
Having more removal options would go a long way. A way to gain life early in the game would be nice as well, in order to protect against aggressive draws from the opponent. If this deck could play some inexpensive threats to try and bring the curve down that would be a nice way to provide more options on the early turns. If the format moves in a direction where Azorius Control is very popular, I think that Dimir Control can be built to have a strong matchup against opposing control strategies.
Thanks for reading,
Seth Manfield