Introduction

Hi everyone, I know it near the end of the Standard season but I would like to share the deck that we have been testing for 2018 World Magic Cup and also one of the break out deck of the tournament – Selesnya Tokens.

The deck is very well position now as the only bad matchup is Jeskai Control and Izzet Drakes with 《Arclight Phoenix》 and people have been moving away from this build as the version without 《Arclight Phoenix》 have a better general matchup overall. Unless control make up a huge part of your metagame, I believe Selesnya Tokens will still be a huge contender moving forward as Ravnica Allegiance also seem to bring a great mechanics (Afterlife) for the deck.

Current Decklist

Selesnya Tokens is a deck that aim to go wide with token producer and has the ability to pump your team with 《Trostani Discordant》, 《Venerated Loxodon》 and 《Flower // Flourish》. This deck is also good at casting multiple spells in a turn thanks to the “Convoke” mechanic. It has one of the best end game combo in 《March of the Multitudes》 + 《Flourish》, creating an army of 3/3 Lifelink token to overrun your opponent.

One of the weakness we found out is that the deck is pretty bad to sweeper like 《Deafening Clarion》 and 《Find // Finality》 as we need to cast multiple cards to produce a board advantage. After sideboard, you have threat which is hard to answer like 《Vivien Reid》 and 《The Immortal Sun》 to play around the sweepers.

《Adanto Vanguard》 or 《Thorn Lieutenant》??

The major difference I saw in the list is usually 《Adanto Vanguard》 or 《Thorn Lieutenant》. I believe for now, 《Adanto Vanguard》 is the choice as it is superior against matchup like Jeskai Control and Izzet Drakes as they have a hard time answering it and it is also better against Golgari compare to 《Thorn Lieutenant》. I would switch back to 《Thorn Lieutenant》 if aggressive deck is on the rise.

Sideboard Guide

Golgari Midrange

The matchup usually depends on two cards, 《Wildgrowth Walker》 and 《Finality》. If the Golgari player have an unanswered 《Wildgrowth Walker》 on the battlefield, it usually buy them enough time to dig through their deck with Explore creatures to find 《Finality》 to clear your board.

Against Golgari Midrange (On the Play)

Out

In

Against Golgari Midrange (On the Draw)

Out

In

After sideboard, we board in more answers to 《Wildgrowth Walker》 and we try to go bigger with 《The Immortal Sun》 and 《Vivien Reid》. An unanswered 《The Immortal Sun》 with 《March of the Multitudes》 is usually enough to win the game.

Usually I would save to cast a big 《March of the Multitudes》 unless I am pretty sure I have my opponent dead on board the next 2 turns. Always try to make your 《Trostani Discordant》 a 2/5 either with 《Venerated Loxodon》 or 《Ajani, Adversary of Tyrants》 which means that 《Finality》 can’t kill both 《Trostani》 and 《Loxodon》.

Mono White / Boros Weenie

One of the best matchup as you have 《Trostani》 and 《March of the Multitudes》 to go over the top of them. Always save your removal for 《Benalish Marshal》 because it is the card which allows their creatures to attack through your board.

Against Mono White / Boros Weenie

Out

In

After Sideboard, 《Knight of Autumn》 is the best card against them as it can destroy 《History of Benalia》, 《Experimental Frenzy》 and 《Conclave Tribunal》.

Izzet Drakes

Most of the Izzet Drakes list are moving away from 《Arclight Phoenix》 which is a good thing for us. The matchup is close. You need to try and put in as much early pressure as you can because pre board we only have 4 《Conclave Tribunal》 for their drakes and they also have 《Dive Down》 to protect it. 《Adanto Vanguard》 is also one of the best card against them as their removal can’t kill it. Prioritising making your 《Adanto Vanguard》 into an 2/2 if able so that it is able to attack through the drakes.

Against Izzet Drakes

Out

In

After sideboard, 《Citywide Bust》 allows us to play around 《Dive Down》 and kill multiple drakes and if 《Ixalan's Binding》 resolve, it stops them from casting further drakes with the same name.

Jeskai Control

Jeskai Control is your worst matchup, they have 《Deafening Clarion》 for your tokens and also 《Settle the Wreckage》 is crucial as well and finding one of them is easy as they have a lots of card drawing spells.

I found that the way I beat Jeskai is by drawing multiple 《Adanto Vanguard》 as they don’t have a lot of ways to remove it.

Against Jeskai Control

Out

In

Post board, 《Knight of Autumn》 is good against 《Seal Away》 while also leaving a threat on the battlefield. We also have 《Vivien Reid》 and 《The Immortal Sun》 which allow us to progress our battlefield without exposing to sweepers.

Mono Red

《Goblin Chainwhirler》 is the best card against us and 《Adanto Vanguard》 is not great in this matchup. Try to sequence your 《Venerated Loxodon》 without overexposing to 《Goblin Chainwhirler》 so that it allows you to pump your 1/1 tokens into 2/2.

Against Mono Red

Out

In

Always save your 《Knight of Autumn》 or 《Ixalan's Binding》 for 《Experimental Frenzy》 because it is the only way to lose the game after stabilizing the board.

Selesnya Tokens

This is the matchup where the player, who is able to create an early board advantage, wins. If both players failed to this, then the game will usually be decided by 《March of the Multitudes》.

Against Selesnya Tokens

Out

In

Conclusion

That marks the end of my article! I hope this helps you to understand Selesnya Tokens better. I am also excited to see what Ravnica Allegiance will be bringing to the archetype.

If you have any questions regarding the deck or sideboard, I will be happy to answer them in the comments section or via Twitter. Thanks!

Kelvin Chew@KelvinCh3w