Aggressive token-based decks, or "Weenies," have been dominating Magic: The Gathering's Standard format since the release of the Guilds of Ravnica.
With what we know, it looks like Ravnica Allegiance will not stray away from the paradigm. Consequently, it's safe to expect a lot more tokens in Standard; combinations like Rakdos, Orzhov, and Mardu will be common.
There are a few other options as well, but tokens will keep dominating this season just like last season.
If you're trying to figure out which archetypes to play at your next Magic event, then here are a few suggestions of cards that may take the brightest spots in many Standard decks to come.
Skewer the Critics
Burn decks have a new addition to Standard lists in the form of Skewer the Critics. This little spell has a Spectacle keyword that makes it as cheap as one red mana, which can be easily triggered by a series of other cheap burn spells, such as Shock and Lightning Strike.
If you're running Wizards in your deck, then you could also add a full set of Wizard's Lightning to an already explosive recipe.
As a matter of fact, Skewer the Critics allows you so many burn spells that there is simply no way your opponents will be able to counter them all.
Judith, the Scourge Diva
If the idea of burning your opponents down with the help of spells doesn't sound too exciting, then you could focus on an alternatively aggressive approach, except with the help of creatures.
Rakdos and Mardu Aggro lists that run a lot of cheap creatures, such as Fanatical Firebrand and Legion Warboss, will have a blast playing Judith. She can buff all those tokens with haste and win through sheer pressure. And if one of the non-token creatures dies, then you can use her second ability to ping your opponents for even more damage.
This type of gameplay requires a bit more strategic thinking than your typical Burn deck, but that's what makes it so much more fun.
Hero of Precinct One
Token producers have always been some of the most sought-after cards in Magic: The Gathering. While Hero of Precinct One has a very specific ruling when it comes to generating tokens, it isn't hard to see where this card could do wonders.
Again, think of Mardu lists that run a lot of cheap golden creatures, such as Boros Challenger, Fireblade Artist, and Swiftblade Vindicator. Every time you play these cards, a Hero will put one token on the board, and keep doing so until you build up a small army.
Then, you can play Judith, the Scourge Diva and buff all of those tokens with an attack power.
Incubation Druid
Mana producers are just as valuable as token producers in certain decks. Incubation Druid is a very powerful mana generator that can help Adapt itself on turn-four, and then keep pumping out three additional mana each turn.
Obviously, this kind of card should go into Bant and Temur lists that rely on ramping up and pushing out big creatures, such as Hydroid Krysis and Skarrgan Hellkite. But there is also a big chance of winning with the help of Simic Ascendancy.
In any case, Incubation Druid is a fantastic card for any ramp deck enthusiasts, so watch out for this little Elf at your next Magic event.
Tithe Taker
Death and Taxes in Standard is now a possibility because of this little annoyance named Tithe Taker. The card not only pushes your opponents back for one turn, but it also has Afterlife, as if the taxing ability wasn't enough.
Orzhov and Mardu Token lists will definitely want to have a full set of Tithe Taker. But other decks that run white humans would want to include at least two copies of it for ruining opponents' single-target removal spells and AoEs.
Some of the control decks would surely benefit from a few copies in their sideboards as well because it contests against other control match-ups.
Gruul Spellbreaker
Jund has been one of the most impressive archetypes in Modern MtG for many years. But for some reason, it never took off in Standard. But times have changed, and you can start playing Jund in Standard with complete confidence.
Gruul Spellbreaker and Rhythm of the Wild will instigate a series of events that will put an opponent in a rather difficult situation. Rhythm of the Wild can give all the creatures you play Haste and Gruul Spellbreaker will protect them from that pesky Settle the Wreckage AoE.
Then, in the latter stages of the match-up, you can start pushing forward such threats like Carnage Tyrant and Ghalta just to ensure another easy victory.
Theater of Horrors
It's really easy to get lost in the wording of the rules on this card. But when you understand what it's all about, you will see just how effective this enchantment can be in Rakdos and Mardu Burn decks.
Theater of Horrors basically lets you draw an additional card each turn, but you can play those cards only if you've dealt damage to your opponent this turn. That means you could stack cards from your library and wait for the best moment to play them.
You can also choose from among the exiled cards which ones you want to play, and that gives a huge advantage in the latter stages of the game.
Rix Maadi Reveler
The Spectacle cost of this card is similar to the Modern staple card, Bedlam Reveler. That card has done a lot of damage in the Modern format, which may signal that Rix Maadi Reveler will have a similar impact on Standard.
For the best effect, one needs to play Rix Maadi with no other cards in hand — or at least with an extra land. It's a perfect looter for aggressive Rakdos and Mardu lists.
But of course, it can be just as effective in Mono Red lists that need to cycle through a bunch of lands in order to find the right answer at the right time.
Priest of Forgotten Gods
This little cleric does a lot of things at a small cost. If you're in the business of making tokens, then it will be really easy to utilize all of these abilities for maximum effect.
Start with a target player losing 2 life, which doesn't seem much at first. you'll find that if you're able to stack at least three to four of those, then lifedrain quickly stacks
After that, an opponent needs to sacrifice a creature. If they aren't playing any tokens, then it's going to be really hard for them to give up any of their threats.
Lastly, you get to draw a card and add 2 black mana to your pool, which may let you cast another Priest or a cheap spell.
Teysa Karlov
Teysa is tailor-made for all those Afterlife cards that you can now play in token-based decks. If any of your cards have Afterlife 2, then Teysa will create four tokens instead of two and will give them Vigilance and Lifelink, which can be quite overwhelming.
Teysa and Judith will work amazingly together in Mardu token lists, which can go wide very quickly. This kind of board will look so threatening that you may see opponents quit just out of sheer desperation.
But that is not the only possible combo you can achieve with Teysa Karlov, so just keep experimenting until you find the right balance.
Fireblade Artist
Lately, Viashino Pyromancer has been included into many Rakdos Aggro lists for its ability to deal two damage to opponents. But now there is a card that is far more effective than Pyromancer.
Fireblade Artist not only has Haste, which allows it to attack on play, but it can use redundant tokens and convert them into damage. That is a far more effective use of two mana in Rakdos and Mardu lists, so be sure to replace your Viashino Pyromancers with this little devil.
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That is all on the 11 best Ravnica Allegiance cards for Standard format, and for other Magic: The Gathering guides, check out the related content below:
Published: Jan 17, 2019 09:58 am