Beating Every Deck In Standard

A Rhino, a Butcher, and a Mantis Riding Monk walk into a Standard format…

Wizards, whatever it is you did, keep doing it! No joke.

So exactly what is it that they did that made Standard so great right now?

Obviously, it’s not just one thing, but I think a big part of what is helping make Standard play so well is that each clan has a flagship (or bannership?)
creature.

Each of these cards is seeing plenty of play in different decks. Is that really all it takes? Five champions of similar power levels that work in different
strategies? I feel like multicolor is a key element since it forces your hand a little as to where you can play them, but it forces you in a good way and
provides you plenty of options once you’ve made your choice.

Let me tell you, there are plenty of viable decks to choose from. This isn’t your typical Mono Blue vs Mono Black vs U/W Control Rock-Paper-Scissors
Standard. This is at a minimum Rock-Paper-Scissors-Lizard-Spock-Ikea-Wallaby Standard. I was never any good at making the Wallaby. So far there hasn’t been
a Nuke discovered that destroys the format by beating everything else, and it seems like new strategies are popping up weekly.

Whether Wizards R&D attained this balance through skill, random chance, or ritual sacrifice I want them to keep it up.

In summary: diverse decks, deep games, blah blah blah.

So how do we break it?

The short answer is that you probably don’t. There are too many decks and they’re all performing very well. The long answer will remain unanswered for now
until we’ve put some length into the format.

It looks like we’re in for a “pick your deck of choice and master it” or “switch decks from week to week based on what slight shifts in the metagame you
expect” style of Standard. The first step is just knowing all the decks in the format and what they do best. That’s what I’ll be covering today as well as
each deck’s weaknesses and how to destroy them. The frustrating and amazing part is that it’s often not clear which strategies and decks are the best at
getting an edge on another deck, since specific card choices in known archetypes can drastically alter how each matchup plays out.

I’ll also throw in my thoughts on each deck’s best matchups and worst matchups, which won’t be completely accurate, but it should give you a general idea
of what’s good against what.

Jeskai Aggro

Maneuverability. Speed. Class. Mantis Power. Excellence

Jeskai embodies all these buzzwords and so much more.

One of Jeskai’s main strengths is its flexibility to dictate the course of the game and point it in a favourable direction. You probably won’t be losing
too many games where there was nothing you could’ve done differently to pull out a win.

The two main directions to take the deck is a focus on the white splash for Brimaz, King of Oreskos and Seeker of the Way or the blue splash for Dig
Through Time and Nullify. Brimaz, King of Oreskos provides yet another amazing three-drop, and Dig Through Time provides a bit more flexibility and
lategame inevitability.

How To Beat Jeskai Aggro

Sylvan Caryatid, Courser of Kruphix, Siege Rhino, Wingmate Roc. All of these cards matchup very well against the cards in a cookie cutter Jeskai list. They
are all hard to burn and most of them will gain their master some life while pressuring the opponent. Flying blockers like Arbor Colossus and cheap removal
like Bile Blight are also good against Jeskai.

Good Matchups For Jeskai Aggro –
Aggro, U/B Control

Bad Matchups For Jeskai Aggro –
Abzan Midrange, Siege Rhino

Jeskai Heroic Combo

Spicy and new. Jeskai Ascendancy can be abused in many ways, and this deck does so in a somewhat fair manner. It can win through basic heroic beatdown or
by making gigantic creatures with Jeskai Ascendancy, Springleaf Drum, and Retraction Helix. Akroan Crusader seems made for this deck since it’s able to
pump out hasty soldiers that grow large and tap to add mana with Springleaf Drum. Chasm Skulker seems like a positively nasty card when nearly every
non-creature card is going to be drawing you a card or two with Jeskai Ascendancy out.

How To Beat Jeskai Heroic Combo

Spot removal, mass removal, and ways to deal with Jeskai Ascendancy. The deck doesn’t function as all-in aggro, so control decks should have more time to
deal with everything it throws out.

There is something to be said for just having the knowledge that the deck exists. Information is a very important part of Magic and now that the cat is out
of the bag, Jeskai Heroic Combo should slot into the metagame. There is a chance Jeskai Heroic Combo is the realest of deals and proves to be a real
challenge to deal with.

Good Matchups For Jeskai Heroic Combo –
Green Devotion, Abzan Midrange

Bad Matchups For Jeskai Heroic Combo –
Mono Red, Control

Abzan Midrange

The Jundiest Junkiest Jund deck of the format. Any decks that don’t take it into consideration will succumb to its efficiency and be spit out. That’s the
best way to describe its cards. Efficient. It’s resistant to decks trying to go under it with beatdown or decks trying to go over it with Hornet Queen and
Whip of Erebos. While Abzan might just be the best deck of the format and has game against the entire field, it’s certainly not oppressive.

How To Beat Abzan Midrange

In general, going over rather than under is the best way to deal with Abzan. Perilous Vault, Genesis Hydra, Hornet Queen, and Whip of Erebos are hard to
deal with for an unprepared Abzan player. That is until Abzan players compensate by adding many Utter Ends, End Hostilities, and Thoughtseizes, and it
becomes a good idea to punish them with fire once again.

Good Matchups For Abzan Midrange –
Jeskai

Bad Matchups For Abzan Midrange –
U/B Control, Sultai Reanimator, Green Devotion

Abzan Aggro

The aggressive little brother of the midrange version. The good thing about this deck is that cards like Fleecemane Lion and Rakasha Deathdealer fare well
in the earlygame and still scale up in the lategame. It is often dismissed because it has a worse matchup versus bigger Abzan versions, but the difference
isn’t necessarily lopsided.

How To Beat Abzan Aggro

Punish their manabase with fire before they land a Sorin, Solemn Visitor, have removal that deals with their threats (not burn spells), or play a bunch of
bigger green creatures.

Good Matchups For Abzan Aggro –
Jeskai

Bad Matchups For Abzan Aggro –
Green Devotion

U/B Control

Thoughtseize and Despise are actually some of the best delve enablers in the format. The deck is lacking in two-drops and is generally underpowered
compared to previous formats’ control decks, so it can’t just brute force through most decks on power alone. Its strength lies in the power of Hero’s
Downfall and Dissolve being able to efficiently deal with most threats if it untaps on turn 3 without much pressure already being applied.

U/B Control requires precise play and can be unforgiving. It can also feel like your opponent is pulling the strings, and you need them to make some
incorrect judgement calls to get a leg up.

How To Beat U/B Control

U/B is consistent and will win the long game so pressure, the kind that makes Perilous Vault look like a nine mana hunk o’ junk, is the name of the game.
Abzan decks running maindeck End Hostilities or Jeskai decks running, ahem, maindeck Anger of the Gods, will lose valuable percentage points in game 1.
Make sure your deck doesn’t have a high density of dead cards game 1 and no dead cards against them postboard.

Good Matchups For U/B Control
– Green Devotion, U/W Control

Bad Matchups For U/B Control
– Mono Red, Jeskai Aggro

U/W Control

U/W and U/B Control are similar. U/W is better against aggressive strategies thanks to End Hostilities and Elspeth, Sun’s Champion and worse versus decks
focused on the lategame without Thoughtseize. Note that Dig Through Time is worse in U/W since Banishing Light doesn’t fuel delve like Hero’s Downfall.
Having your Banishing Light get blown up feels about as good as having someone feed your puppy dynamite.

How To Beat U/W Control

Still going under is a strong plan as well as bringing a couple pieces of enchantment removal.

Good Matchups For U/W Control
– Green Devotion

Bad Matchups For U/W Control
– U/B Control, Mono Red

Boss Sligh

Mono Red is quick and painful. Right now most lists are focused on making sure opposing creatures can’t block its swarm of 1 drops.

How To Beat Boss Sligh

Be prepared! Bring Drown in Sorrows and Anger of the Gods. Sylvan Carytid, Courser of Kruphix, and Siege Rhino will also do the trick in a pinch.

Good Matchups For Boss Sligh
– Control, Combo

Bad Matchups For Boss Sligh
– Lots of Drowns and Angers

Sultai Reanimator

The deck relies on synergies rather than outright powerful cards. It does have more variance built in with all the milling and the chance of drawing too
many enablers and not enough threats or vice versa.

Planeswalkers are not dominating this format. Hornet Queen, Wingmate Roc, Mantis Rider, and Siege Rhino put a ton of pressure on them. Whip of Erebos is an
example of a card that edges out many walkers while filling a similar role. Whip provides inevitability while its other “half” provides lifegain that is
good against aggro decks and buys time to Whip back more things.

Sidisi, Brood Tyrant can be very hit or miss, literally. She will run away with a game if left unchecked and reminds me of Huntmaster of the Fells,
constantly generating advantage the longer she stays around and at least providing a 2/2 (usually, if she hits a creature and isn’t removed in response to
her trigger). She also mills you, which is what the deck wants to be doing.

How To Beat Sultai Reanimator

Don’t try to beat them at their own midrange game or you will find yourself stung to death. Perilous Vault and Anger of the Gods seem good here with their
exile clauses being pure grade A gravy.

Good Matchups For Sultai Reanimator –
Midrange

Bad Matchups For Sidisi Reanimator –
Control, Combo

Jeskai Ascendancy Combo

I have to admit this list looks spicy. Heliod’s Pilgrim can act as a tutor effect and Retraction Helix target (you don’t actually need a mana-producing
creature to bounce a Briber’s Purse and loot through your deck).

How To Beat Ascendancy Combo

Stare it directly in the eyes and make sure you let it know you see it.

Good Matchups For Ascendancy Combo –
Green Devotion

Bad Matchups For Ascendancy Combo –
Pressure, Disruption, Variance, and Sideboards Full Of Hate

G/B Constellation

This list focuses on the graveyard and the enchantment subtheme, having ramp and explosiveness combined with lategame card draw and Whip of Erebos.
Murderous Cut is also going to be a one-mana catchall a great deal of the time.

How To Beat G/B Constellation

Your classic go over or under them scenario.

Good Matchups For G/B Constellation
– Midrange

Bad Matchups For G/B Constellation –
Control, Combo

G/R Devotion

This list is all about getting a bunch of mana quickly while dropping fatties and finishing with a Genesis Hydra or Crater’s Claws. Xenagos, the Reveler
can add a lot of mana if left unchecked.

How To Beat G/R Devotion

Mass removal like Perilous Vault and End Hostilities. G/R should be better at handling an early game rush than G/B and worse at pulling ahead after running
into a bunch of removal spells since it’s lacking Eidolon of Blossoms and Whip.

Good Matchups For G/B Constellation
– Midrange

Bad Matchups For G/B Constellation –
Control, Combo

Mardu Midrange

Another hybrid deck that can play the control role or the aggro role depending on the matchup thanks to the sideboard. The removal available to Mardu is
the best in the format. Chained to the Rocks is incredibly efficient and Crackling Doom kills Siege Rhinos semi-efficiently, while also being able to take
out Sylvan Caryatids. Butcher of the Horde can single-handedly win thanks to its lifelink ability or haste out of nowhere, but it suffers by having only
four toughness, which makes it vulnerable to Stoke the Flames and Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker.

How To Beat Mardu Midrange

Be a focused strategy, either aggro or control. Mardu is another strategy that is very average against the field, and matchups will depend on what you are
trying to beat. If you are against another midrange deck, the advantage should go to whoever is better prepared to grind the other person down. Read the
Bones seems like a great sideboard card in these cases.

Good Matchups For Mardu Midrange
– Solid against most of the field.

Bad Matchups For Mardu Midrange
– U/B Control or Mono Red and other swarm strategies, depending on what it’s prepared to beat.

Temur Monsters

Savage beatings for bargain prices. The downside being the manabase can be a little painful, and the spells, a little demanding. The deck is powerful and
flexible for an aggro deck but loses points for consistency.

How To Beat Temur Monsters

Be faster than them and punish stumbles and the painful manabase.

Good Matchups For Temur Monsters
– Control

Bad Matchups For Temur Monsters –
Mono Red

Joke

A Rhino, a Butcher, and a Mantis-riding monk walk into a Standard format.

Siege Rhino: “Drinks are on me, I have been crushing it lately.”

Butcher of the Horde: *laughs jovially* “Next round is on me then, I have been doing preeeeetty well too.” *wink*

Mantis Rider: “I’ve been doing well too, I put up plenty of results. Good results.”

Siege Rhino: *snorts derisively* “C’mon those were flukes. It’s only a matter of time before you’re hated out of the format. I don’t even think I’ve seen
you win a game where I’ve resolved.”

Mantis Rider: “Well that’s not entirely accurate, but I do have a strategy to fight you Rhino. I’ve upgraded the Mantis I’m riding.”

Siege Rhino: “Oh, yeah? To what?

Mantis Rider: “A ‘Praying They Don’t Have It’ Mantis.”

And The Rest…

Astute readers may have noticed that wasn’t actually every deck in Standard. There are many fringe and not-so-fringe strategies I didn’t touch on,
including Ensoul Artifact decks, Mono-Black Aggro, B/W Aggro, U/W Heroic, R/W Soldiers, Abzan Reanimator, Mono-Green Devotion, G/R Monsters, Jeskai
Control, Assorted Aggro Decks, and You Forgot My Favourite Deck. There are also many variations and directions to take each known strategy.

Abzan is the safe bet. They aren’t going anywhere and will likely outlast everyone and be a tier 1 deck the entire stay in Standard.

Any given week Mono Red might be the best deck choice, or on the other end of the spectrum, U/B Control might be the best choice depending on which way the
metagame is leaning. Counter to that, there are many little quirks in the gameplay that reward an expert who has mastered their deck.

The diversity of threats makes the format great. It feels like the center of the format is a bunch of midrange decks muddling about and trying to
efficiently go bigger than the rest of the pack without sacrificing too much against aggressive decks.

Is Hornet Queen, Sidisi, Brood Tyrant, and Whip of Erebos the best midrange gameplan? Or are Utter End, Thoughseize, and Elspeth, Sun’s Champion enough to
disrupt them and pull ahead? Perhaps Doomwake Giant, Eidolon of Blossoms, and See the Unwritten provide the ultimate combination. Still, End Hostilities,
Nullify, and Dig Through Time combined with pressure might be best. Then again, Perilous Vault, Jace’s Ingenuity, and Dissolve do seem like value. Maybe
Ascendancy Combo or a quick Crater’s Claws hold the keys to the format.

All of these strategies can make a case that they are the best way to defeat the others. Decks are still all over the place.

Whether you’re trying to solve things once and for all, or just put up solid results with a solid deck, knowing the format and knowing your deck will
always be the key to success.