Decklists contain the essence of Magic.

The cards included in a decklist tell us a tale, they do also show us something about what its creator was trying to achieve.

In short, to try and understand a decklist is
to try and understand the mind of it’s creator.

This article is devoted to finding interesting decklists and introducing them to everyone.
If you come across a decklist you like, don’t hesitate to use it as inspiration or tamper with it to make it into something of your own!

Without further ado, here are the 3 decklists that made the pick this time!

In this age and day of Standard, a 4/4 for 2 mana is very rare, and those stats can go toe to toe with nearly all 3 drops as well. Currently there’s only 2 creatures that cost 2 and have 4/4 stats. 《Heart of Kiran》 & 《Lone Rider》, with both requiring a cost to be paid for “activating” them.

With 《Glory-Bound Initiate》 even finding success in Modern, as seen in this GP Kobe 2017 Top 8 list due to being able to exert into a 4/4 lifelinker. It also immediately transforms a 《Lone Rider》 the same turn it is played if the initiate is allowed to deal damage, allowing you to win almost any damage race.

The 4/4 lifelinkers get help to stay alive from 《Selfless Spirit》 and 《Blossoming Defense》, 《Prepare // Fight》 is also great here since it untaps the exerted initiate and is all-round great in the deck.

They say the best defense is a good offense. With 《Aetherworks Marvel》 now gone, there will be more midrange strategies around and an aggressive deck that can also gain life should be well positioned.

Since the start of June this deck has been racking up 5-0’s on Magic Online daily, and many pro players have been trying the deck out. The deck I’m talking about is of course Human Company. 《Thalia's Lieutenant》 serves as 《Champion of the Parish》 5 thru 8 while 《Reflector Mage》 is an improved Man-o`-war. The human deck feels quite similar to the merfolk deck with all the tribal synergies and similar effects stapled to the creatures, allowing you to take control over any battlefield.

The deck utilizes 《Xathrid Necromancer》 to allow your early game mana creatures to still be of use once you run out of cards. The base coloring is GW with a small blue/black splash, but with lands such as 《Mana Confluence》 and 《Cavern of Souls》 it is no problem at all to get the colored mana you need.

Not just decks like Affinity or Eldrazi Tron, but also Storm and 《Death's Shadow》 etc. are decks centered around creatures. So, your 《Path to Exile》 and 《Reflector Mage》 will rarely be without a target helping you put pressure on your opponent while hampering their gameplan. While the human decks of old were just straight aggro decks, this new deck is able to interact efficiently with opposing creatures while not abandoning the aggro plan. I at least look forward to seeing more of the Human Company decks in Modern.

The combination of 《As Foretold》 and 《Restore Balance》 was expected to make some waves in Modern, but who would have thought it would also be able to make a splash in Legacy?

Utilizing a UR prison shell with 《Chalice of the Void》 and 《Blood Moon》. in addition, helping the deck recover from the loss of resources from using 《Chrome Mox》 and 《Simian Spirit Guide》 we have 《As Foretold》 casting 《Ancestral Vision》 and 《Restore Balance》 from hand. Visions helps you refill your hand, while 《Restore Balance》 instead helps offset card disadvantage and clear the board.

《As Foretold》 also helps you cast your finishers; 《Chandra, Torch of Defiance》& 《Jace, the Mind Sculptor》 which ends games quite fast while 《Ensnaring Bridge》 helps ensure they stay alive.

With miracles mostly disappearing and an increase in Delver and Lands decks, now is a great time to play a prison deck. Should the current meta stay as is, I’m certain prison type decks will continue to perform.

I hope I managed to pique your interest with some of the decks showcased, should they not have caught your fancy, feel free to browse the deck database at your own leisure!

Thanks for reading everyone!

Until next time.

Atsushi Ito (Translated by: Emil Hoffman)