Peanut butter and Jelly.
Movies and popcorn.
Sunday afternoons and football.
Mint chocolate chip ice cream and gummy bears.
(What, is that last one just me? Don’t knock it if you haven’t tried it.)
Life is full of wonderful combinations, and the new Standard format is no different. Very often formats are defined by certain cards which end up being
“pillars” of the format, but today – on the eve of Pro Tour Khans of Tarkir – we are going to be looking at pairs which are currently defining the format.
While many of these pairs are already in the top decks in the format, they synergize so well together that it’s likely they will be good in other shells as
well.
First up is one of the most powerful tandems in the format. Both are very powerful cards by themselves, when put together they really do everything you
could ask for.
Brimaz, King of Oreskos had a really tough time in the old Standard, being held in check by massive amounts of two mana spot removal spells, Supreme
Verdict, and the ever-oppressive Lifebane Zombie. Free from all of these trappings, Brimaz is finally free to roam the format as a simultaneously
aggressive and defensive token making machine.
While Sorin, Solemn Visitor was misunderstood when he was first spoiled (by myself included), he is much better in practice than in theory. The life swings
he provides on attacks are monumental, and his ability to also effect an empty board by making flying tokens or threatening a quick ultimate gives him a
lot of versatility. Most any deck interested in attacking will be interested in Sorin, but his only true downside is that he does not defend himself well;
when you pump the team you also want to swing with the team.
The vigilance on Brimaz solves this problem perfectly, and the fact that Sorin’s effect lasts until your next turn means that Sorin also pumps your
blockers as well. While Sorin will not affect the token Brimaz makes (because he only works on creatures that were in play when his ability was activated),
Brimaz being a 4/4 lifelinking attacker and blocker presents quite the obstacle.
Creatures (14)
Planeswalkers (4)
Lands (25)
Spells (17)
We’ve seen this duo in a few Mardu and Abzan midrange decks so far, and I think they will be a staple for the life of the format.
It’s pretty impressive how Goblin Rabblemaster was able to slip under the radar when M15 first came out. Regardless, the secret has been out for a while
that it’s one of the most powerful cards in Standard. The strange hybrid of Bitterblossom and Goblin Piledriver presents a very fast clock and an endless
stream of attackers, and it is murder on any deck without a way to kill it quickly.
Stoke the Flames is a natural pairing, as not only do the creatures created by Rabblemaster help to pay for it, it also can prevent them from attacking if
need be. Four damage for four mana is almost good enough regardless of convoke, and this might be the most obvious pairing of the group.
However, while this duo has seen a ton of success in aggressive red decks, it is also applicable in other places as well.
Creatures (12)
Planeswalkers (2)
Lands (24)
Spells (22)
- 4 Magma Jet
- 2 Gods Willing
- 4 Lightning Strike
- 2 Banishing Light
- 4 Stoke the Flames
- 4 Jeskai Charm
- 2 Dig Through Time
Sideboard
Goblin Rabblemaster has shown that it is powerful enough to not need a bunch of one and two drops around it, and its use in decks like Jeskai Tempo shows
us that. Wherever Goblin Rabblemaster goes, Stoke the Flames is likely to follow, and it is going to be very interesting to see where they pop up next.
One thing the new Standard format has lacked is a true control deck. Or really any control deck at all. Part of this is, of course, the void left by the
exodus of Sphinx’s Revelation, and people are going to have to once again learn how to build a control deck without one of the best card draw
spells/inevitability engines we’ve had in years.
Without one end-all endgame answer, Standard decks are going to be a bit more creative. One path I can definitely see that has been touched on a bit by our
own Carsten Kotter is to use Steam Augury as a faux Fact or Fiction that can help to fuel our powerful delve spells.
Lands (27)
Spells (33)
While I don’t completely agree with Carsten’s decklist or his evaluation of Empty the Pits being in the same class as Psychatog (Psychatog was insane
because it was not only a fast killing finisher but also a three mana Moat in the early game), I do very much like the idea of using delve cards like Dig
Through Time and Treasure Cruise as the card draw engine of a control deck.
Control decks with a bunch of cheap removal already put a good amount of cards in the graveyard, and while Steam Augury isn’t amazing it is at least as
good as an Inspiration that also has a Lotus Petal or two attached to it, and perhaps that is good enough.
This pairing certainly does not have the pedigree of some of the others we are looking at today, but it is the one that excites me the most. One of the
biggest questions that will need to be answered is what is better for a control deck, Dig Through Time or Treasure Cruise?
This duo, last seen dominating Pro Tour Journey into Nyx and in over half of the week one decklists for our new Standard format, is one of the most sturdy
and reliable of the bunch.
It’s pretty clear how good Sylvan Caryatid and Courser of Kruphix are at this point, but the most interesting thing about them is how flexible they are.
This duo can slot into any deck from Mono Green Devotion to any variety of three or four color brews with great ease, and certainly form one of the most
solid backbones in the format. Because Caryatid makes any color and Courser is so good with fetchlands and Temples, they are both going to be doing a lot
of work in tons of different decks throughout the whole life of the format.
Creatures (35)
- 2 Hornet Queen
- 4 Elvish Mystic
- 4 Polukranos, World Eater
- 1 Nylea, God of the Hunt
- 4 Sylvan Caryatid
- 4 Voyaging Satyr
- 4 Courser of Kruphix
- 4 Eidolon of Blossoms
- 4 Doomwake Giant
- 4 Genesis Hydra
Planeswalkers (1)
Lands (24)
We’ve already seen about six different flavors of Caryatid/Courser decks, and I’m sure plenty more are on the way.
Much like Sylvan Caryatid and Courser of Kruphix, Thoughtseize and Hero’s Downfall is a very powerful, and more importantly, versatile pairing. Also able
to slot into many decks, this pairing has had more trouble finding a home now that Pack Rat and company is gone.
Pack Rat was to Mono Black Devotion as Sphinx’s Revelation was to U/W Control – it simply overpowered all other options and made the game really revolve
around it. Without the very fast clock of Pack Rat or Desecration Demon to back it up, Thoughtseize has lost a bit of its luster. There are a lot of
redundant decks full of powerful cards, along with very fast decks backed by burn that make it almost feel like a liability.
Creatures (18)
Planeswalkers (5)
Lands (24)
Spells (13)
Sideboard
However, it won’t be long before we see this versatile pair of answers get right back on the horse. Right now decks are untuned piles of good cards, and
once decks coalesce more into well-oiled machines, both Thoughtseize and Hero’s Downfall will be there to pick them to pieces again.
Our last pair of the day is my favorite, as I’ve already spent a good amount of ink ranting and raving about Rattleclaw Mystic into Sagu Mauler. I put my
money where my mouth was playing Temur Devotion at the Open Series in New Jersey, but I fell a bit short. Rattleclaw Mystic is already seeing a bunch of
play in various decks, and how easily it can cast Sagu Mauler on turn 4 (turn 3 with an Elvish Mystic) paired with how well it can masquerade as one in the
midgame makes this a really tricky duo. It’s awesome seeing that morph sub-games can have an impact on Constructed.
Creatures (30)
- 2 Hornet Queen
- 4 Elvish Mystic
- 4 Polukranos, World Eater
- 1 Nylea, God of the Hunt
- 4 Sylvan Caryatid
- 4 Courser of Kruphix
- 4 Genesis Hydra
- 4 Rattleclaw Mystic
- 3 Sagu Mauler
Planeswalkers (6)
Lands (24)
Sideboard
At the moment, the current format isn’t really built for this pair to attack. Many decks, like the green devotion decks, are going really big and over the
top, while Sagu Mauler is definitely a more grindy card that is very good against removal-heavy decks.
Still, this pair will see their time in the spotlight. Sagu Mauler is a powerful endgame card, and you can probably count the playable cards that deal with
it on one hand.
New Standard is largely unexplored, and I am very much looking forward to seeing what brews are born at Pro Tour Khans of Tarkir. What pair, listed or not,
do you think will take down the trophy?