Standard Rotation Proof Decks - Pt.1

The first announcements of our fall set Throne of Eldraine are upon us, which means Standard rotation is eminent. Upon release of the new fall set expected to drop October 4, 2019, Ixalan, Rivals of Ixalan, Dominaria and M19 will no longer be Standard legal. This means that format staples like Teferi, Hero of Dominaria, Nexus of Fate, Goblin Chainwhirler, and many more cards bid their farewell.

Until this release we are in somewhat of a lull in Standard where historically we've seen lower participation rates and less innovation due to unwillingness to invest in physical cards so close to rotation. While we have seen some new decks with the release of M20 in Vampires and Scapeshift variants, there still is the hesitation investing in cards with such a short shelf life. This is only further exemplified on Arena, where the economy relies on Wild Cards that once crafted are single time uses. Despite the announcement of the Historic format, the feedback of a lot of newer players on Arena, or just the "Free-to-Play" crowd, are hesitant to commit their hard-earned Wild Cards.

One question or theme that has come up a lot on the Arena subreddit, particularly the weekly New-Comer thread has been the concept of Rotation Proof decks. I thought this would be an interesting exercise to see what kind of decks we could theorycraft and test out using only the non-rotating sets of Guilds of Ravnica, Ravnica Allegiance, War of the Spark and Core Set 2020. To preface, I am not claiming the below decks will be tier 1 in the new Fall Standard, as we are still expecting a big shakeup from the new set which will account for about 20% of the card pool. What I am looking to do is offer up some decks that people can feel safe crafting in some variant at the present moment without having to worry about the cards becoming obsolete in the next few months. It also provides us with a thought exercise in seeing what constraints certain decks may have with the departure of certain less flashy cards like Cast Down as a 2 drop removal spell.

Rotation Proof - BW Lifegain Midrange

• Visual
• CMC
• Compact
• Export

Main 60 cards (17 distinct)

Lands - 24

Side 15 cards (6 distinct)

Main 60 cards (17 distinct)

Lands - 24

Side 15 cards (6 distinct)

$€Tix

Main 60 cards (17 distinct)

Planeswalker (7)
2 Kaya, Orzhov Usurper			$0.50€0.750.02
3 Sorin, Vengeful Bloodlord			$1.40€1.000.02
2 Ajani, Strength of the Pride			$3.91€3.670.27
Creature (12)
4 Basilica Bell-Haunt			$0.22€0.120.03
4 Ajani's Pridemate			$0.25€0.150.04
4 Healer's Hawk			$0.20€0.130.03
Instant, Sorcery, Enchantment, Artifact (17)
3 Mortify			$0.25€0.150.03
4 Oath of Kaya			$0.39€0.240.02
2 Prison Realm			$0.20€0.150.03
2 Ob Nixilis's Cruelty			$0.15€0.050.03
4 Dreadhorde Invasion			$0.75€0.490.02
2 Dawn of Hope			$0.49€0.400.02
Land (24)
2 Temple of Silence			$0.40€0.340.02
4 Godless Shrine			$10.00€9.660.07
8 Swamp			$0.58€0.160.03
2 Scoured Barrens			$0.24€0.080.03
8 Plains			$0.39€0.170.03

Side 15 cards (6 distinct)

2 Devout Decree			$0.20€0.140.03
4 Noxious Grasp			$0.24€0.060.03
4 Duress			$0.20€0.060.03
2 Despark			$0.47€0.270.03
2 Cry of the Carnarium			$0.21€0.100.03
1 Liliana, Dreadhorde General			$8.34€7.820.07

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Gameplay for BW Lifegain

This first deck is a midrange-control list that looks to use life as a resource. We have a number of Planeswalkers that can gain us life such as Kaya, Orzhov Usurper and Sorin, Vengeful Bloodlord along with creatures and spells like Basilica Bell-Haunt and Oath of Kaya. With gaining all this life, we have payoff cards in the form of Ajani's Pridemate which can grow massive if left unchecked as well as Dawn of Hope which can be used as a card draw engine. Finally we have Dreadhorde Invasion which can create a stream of tokens with that extra life, while if they get large enough gain lifelink as well. One card that was asked about was the exclusion of Bloodthirsty Aerialist. My rationale was two fold; 1) 3 drop slot was pretty crowed 2) wanted to treat pridemate like a Tarmogoyf 2 drop that I could then drop powerful control options from CMC 3 onwards.

After playing some games, I felt the growing Ajani's Pridemate and/or Bloodthirsty Aerialist if you wanted to play it, didn't work out that great. Current standard has a number of reoccurring lifegain effects at 1 CMC like Ajani's Welcome or Leonin Vanguard which we lose out on post rotation. This ensures that you can get the lifegain trigger as soon as the turn you drop those creatures. In this deck, often times Pridemate just was killed on spot, while Healer's Hawk was a chump block + gain 1 life. Ajani, Strength of the Pride also felt really underwhelming. There were many turns where it could have been cast, but was basically a do nothing based on the board state.

What did feel strong was the core of Sorin, Kaya and Bell-Haunt in conjunction with the powerful enchantments in the deck. I think the deck evolves more effectively into a Orzhov Control deck like the mock up below. Orzhov gives us access to the only non-conditional 4 mana sweeper in Kaya's Wrath. Liliana, Dreadhorde General 's passive ability also triggers when any of our tokens generated by our enchantment die, drawing us extra cards. Finally, having a density of Planeswalker also turns on Mobilized District as a creature land that can survive board wipes and pressure our opponent.

Rotation Proof - Orzhov Control

• Visual
• CMC
• Compact
• Export

Main 60 cards (20 distinct)

Lands - 24

Side 15 cards (6 distinct)

Main 60 cards (20 distinct)

Lands - 24

Side 15 cards (6 distinct)

$€Tix

Main 60 cards (20 distinct)

Instant, Sorcery, Enchantment, Artifact (23)
1 Finale of Glory			$1.01€0.660.02
2 Disfigure			$0.20€0.080.03
4 Oath of Kaya			$0.39€0.240.02
2 Prison Realm			$0.20€0.150.03
2 Ob Nixilis's Cruelty			$0.15€0.050.03
4 Dreadhorde Invasion			$0.75€0.490.02
3 Kaya's Wrath			$0.50€0.450.02
2 Dawn of Hope			$0.49€0.400.02
3 Mortify			$0.25€0.150.03
Planeswalker (9)
1 Davriel, Rogue Shadowmage			$0.30€0.200.03
2 Sorin, Vengeful Bloodlord			$1.40€1.000.02
2 Kaya, Orzhov Usurper			$0.50€0.750.02
3 Liliana, Dreadhorde General			$8.34€7.820.07
1 Ugin, the Ineffable			$1.25€0.890.02
Creature (4)
4 Basilica Bell-Haunt			$0.22€0.120.03
Land (24)
4 Godless Shrine			$10.00€9.660.07
3 Mobilized District			$0.25€0.110.02
4 Temple of Silence			$0.40€0.340.02
6 Plains			$0.39€0.170.03
7 Swamp			$0.58€0.160.03

Side 15 cards (6 distinct)

2 Tomik, Distinguished Advokist			$0.30€0.180.02
3 Devout Decree			$0.20€0.140.03
3 Noxious Grasp			$0.24€0.060.03
4 Duress			$0.20€0.060.03
1 Cry of the Carnarium			$0.21€0.100.03
2 Despark			$0.47€0.270.03

Export

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Next up is a Golgari Undergrowth Graveyard focused deck

Rotation Proof - Golgari Graveyard

• Visual
• CMC
• Compact
• Export

Main 60 cards (15 distinct)

Lands - 24

Side 15 cards (7 distinct)

Main 60 cards (15 distinct)

Lands - 24

Side 15 cards (7 distinct)

$€Tix

Main 60 cards (15 distinct)

Creature (27)
4 Gorging Vulture			$0.18€0.090.03
2 Midnight Reaper			$0.50€0.370.02
4 Paradise Druid			$0.25€0.190.03
3 Plaguecrafter			$0.32€0.280.03
4 Lotleth Giant			$0.20€0.190.03
4 Molderhulk			$0.24€0.150.03
2 Golgari Findbroker			$0.20€0.130.03
4 Glowspore Shaman			$0.19€0.090.03
Instant, Sorcery, Enchantment, Artifact (7)
4 Blood for Bones			$0.45€0.340.03
3 Assassin's Trophy			$2.99€1.910.13
Planeswalker (2)
2 Vraska, Golgari Queen			$3.38€2.660.02
Land (24)
4 Temple of Malady			$0.40€0.230.02
4 Overgrown Tomb			$11.91€10.240.15
8 Swamp			$0.58€0.160.03
8 Forest			$1.03€0.180.03

Side 15 cards (7 distinct)

3 Shifting Ceratops			$0.39€0.210.02
1 Massacre Girl			$0.50€0.260.02
2 Kraul Foragers			$0.15€0.090.03
2 Thrashing Brontodon			$0.24€0.120.03
3 Noxious Grasp			$0.24€0.060.03
2 Vivien's Arkbow			$0.34€0.190.03
2 Veil of Summer			$6.90€6.235.34

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Gameplay for Golgari Graveyard

This deck is focused around putting creatures into our graveyard with cards like Glowspore Shaman and Gorging Vulture. The main payoff cards for this strategy are Molderhulk which often times can be a 6/6 for 2 mana and Lotleth Giant to throw damage at the opponent. Blood for Bones is a way we can cheat out an early Lotleth Giant as well as return a relevant creature back to our hand.

After playing some games, I think going up to a 3rd Midnight Reaper to increase the card draw in the deck and swapping 1 Lotleth Giant for an Izoni, Thousand-Eyed. Izoni can allow us to swarm the board to either create a bunch of chump blockers or alpha strike our opponent.

Rotation Proof Gruul Midrange

• Visual
• CMC
• Compact
• Export

Main 60 cards (16 distinct)

Lands - 24

Side 15 cards (6 distinct)

Main 60 cards (16 distinct)

Lands - 24

Side 15 cards (6 distinct)

$€Tix

Main 60 cards (16 distinct)

Creature (24)
4 Paradise Druid			$0.25€0.190.03
1 Voracious Hydra			$5.50€2.270.02
3 Incubation Druid			$1.99€1.390.02
4 Shifting Ceratops			$0.39€0.210.02
4 Skarrgan Hellkite			$0.60€0.530.02
4 Gruul Spellbreaker			$0.39€0.370.02
4 Zhur-Taa Goblin			$0.20€0.110.03
Instant, Sorcery, Enchantment, Artifact (7)
3 Shock			$0.20€0.100.03
2 Collision // Colossus			$0.25€0.150.03
2 Domri's Ambush			$0.25€0.120.03
Planeswalker (5)
3 Domri, Anarch of Bolas			$1.81€0.820.02
2 Chandra, Awakened Inferno			$12.21€9.261.17
Land (24)
2 Gruul Guildgate			$0.19€0.090.03
4 Stomping Ground			$11.02€10.370.88
9 Mountain			$1.76€0.090.04
9 Forest			$1.03€0.180.03

Side 15 cards (6 distinct)

2 Kraul Harpooner			$0.23€0.140.03
2 Thrashing Brontodon			$0.24€0.120.03
3 Fry			$0.25€0.190.03
2 Rhythm of the Wild			$2.98€1.990.03
3 Lava Coil			$0.24€0.070.03
3 Nissa, Who Shakes the World			$3.75€2.440.02

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Gameplay for Gruul Midrange

This is a take on Gruul Midrange, focused around hasty threats. Gruul is one of the most flexible guilds, allowing you to build aggro, midrange fatties or heavy planeswalker focused. This version of the deck is looking to take advantage of hasty Riot creatures like Gruul Spellbreaker and Skarrgan Hellkite. Domri, Anarch of Bolas was a real star in the deck, serving as both removal ramp/preventing our creatures from being countered, all while giving our creature +1/+0. In the gameplay I was trying out [Vivien, Champion of the Wilds]], but ended up cutting it for a 3rd Domri. Another consideration I'd probably go with is swap the Incubation Druid and Voracius Hydra for 4x Pelt Collector, as it is a threat that scales up well with the deck.

Last one up is a take on Azorius Fliers:

Rotation Proof - Azorius Fliers

• Visual
• CMC
• Compact
• Export

Main 60 cards (16 distinct)

Lands - 22

Side 15 cards (6 distinct)

Main 60 cards (16 distinct)

Lands - 22

Side 15 cards (6 distinct)

$€Tix

Main 60 cards (16 distinct)

Creature (25)
3 Sephara, Sky's Blade			$3.37€1.410.02
4 Pteramander			$0.25€0.810.03
2 Tomik, Distinguished Advokist			$0.30€0.180.02
4 Hanged Executioner			$0.34€0.140.02
4 Empyrean Eagle			$0.30€0.140.03
4 Spectral Sailor			$0.25€0.150.03
4 Healer's Hawk			$0.20€0.130.03
Instant, Sorcery, Enchantment, Artifact (7)
2 Dovin's Veto			$3.06€1.860.04
3 Winged Words			$0.24€0.120.03
2 Rally of Wings			$0.25€0.160.03
Planeswalker (6)
4 Teferi, Time Raveler			$3.95€5.305.39
2 Dovin, Grand Arbiter			$0.67€0.430.02
Land (22)
2 Azorius Guildgate			$0.19€0.090.03
8 Island			$0.79€0.070.03
8 Plains			$0.39€0.170.03
4 Hallowed Fountain			$8.25€9.460.17

Side 15 cards (6 distinct)

2 God-Eternal Kefnet			$1.90€1.640.02
4 Cerulean Drake			$0.25€0.140.03
3 Deputy of Detention			$0.39€0.360.02
2 Prison Realm			$0.20€0.150.03
2 Dovin's Veto			$3.06€1.860.04
2 Unbreakable Formation			$0.50€0.260.02

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Gameplay for Azorius Fliers

This deck looks to play a bunch of cheap, useful flyers like Pteramander (becomes a 5/5), Spectral Sailor (Card Draw) and Healer Hawk (lifelink). The deck then uses Empyrean Eagle or Rally of Wings as an anthem. There is also the powerful interaction where Sephara, Sky's Blade can be cast for her alternate cost of 1 white mana and tapping 4 fliers. Sephara is a power 7/7 that also makes all our other creatures with flying indestructible. Dovin, Grand Arbiter can make more flying creatures and has the potential to draw us cards. Teferi, Time Raveler is a super powerful card worth including. It throws off the opponent's sequencing for casting spells and has the tempo play of bouncing opponent's permanents and drawing cards.

This wraps up pt.1 of the Rotation Proof Deck series. Let me know if there are any decks/themes/colors you'd be interested in seeing in future videos. I'll be back hopefully this weekend with a couple more decks.

MTG_Joe

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