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I've been playing Selesnya Toxic on Arena and a bit in paper (mostly the standard set of cards that's been going around) and I'm struggling. My experiences with the deck:

• Mono white sweeps it. Known bad matchup. I've also seen people run fields of ruin, which is just insult to injury, as you can't even try to weather the sweeps with Mirrex.
• Mono blue seems fine, but then my opponent sideboards [[Argentum Masticore]] and [[Blue Suns Twilight]]. Looking at the deck again, and maybe the problem is I need to sideboard the 4x [[Carnivorous Canopy]]. That said, there aren't many people playing this so its hard to get a lot of practice.
• Soldiers seems disadvantaged, especially if they have a sideboard plan. All their stuff gets much bigger than my stuff, and a single [[Brutal Cathar]] can swing games so hard it's nuts.
• Grixis seems like a coinflip using the old [[Wedding Announcement]] sideboard plan. The issue is their deck is waaaaay more consistent. I feel like the 23 lands has me mulling a good 1/4 of the time, and that is not a matchup where you can mull once or twice and still have a go at it.
• Esper Legends is the same problem as Soldiers. Things get real big real fast, and out valuing them late game seems like a trap.
• Mono Red goes brrrrr. It's hard to keep pace. Feels slightly unfavored without some heavy sideboard hate.
• Atraxa junk is all over the place, so it's hard to describe how the average matchup goes, but I haven't felt advantaged here either.

I just... the deck feels so inconsistent. I'm mulling a ton. 5 cards and two lands? Too bad they are both [[The Seedcore]] and most of the hand is 2 [[Tyvar's Stand]] and a [[Skrelv's Hive]]. Next hand is 1 Plains and 1 playable 1 drop. The hand after that I'm going second and its full of 3 drops... Then i'll get a good 2 land had with playables, but hit my third land two turns too late. I know, I know, shufflers rigged, RNG be RNG, but the fragile and aggro nature of the deck seems to punish not having specific colors, too little, and too much land more than I've experienced playing stuff like Grixis, Mono-white, Mono red, or Soldiers.

People who are having different experiences please speak up. I love the general idea of the deck, but it seems like a trap deck that's all at once fragile, especially if an opponent wants to plan against the deck, hard to play (oh god don't make a single mistake. You WILL get punished for it), inconsistent, and doesn't have a great matchup spread to make up for it. I need other minds out there to let me know if it's just me being bad at Magic, or if I can let the deck go quietly into the night and focus on other stuff.

How does shining shoal interact with Asmo's ability? Does it fizzle or will it be able to redirect that 6 damage somewhere else?

I ran into the creator of the white weenie deck in a league, he was on a different deck but he reassured me it DIDN'T work at all against Asmo?

https://scryfall.com/card/mh2/186/asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar

https://scryfall.com/card/bok/21/shining-shoal

Errant and Giada 1WU

Legendary Creature - Human Angel

Flash Flying

You may look at the top card of your deck at any time.

You may cast spells with Flash or Flying from the top of your library.

2/3

I don't play Standard, but possibly good in Pioneer? Angels, Spirits, UWx Fliers?

I was on a long hiatus and I recently started playing Magic again.

How do I find competitive tabletop Magic nowadays? I see GPs are gone.

Back in my day I could just go to the WOTC website and find a list of PPTQs and figure out the dates for the ones within an hour or two drive.

How does it work now?

Knight-Errant of Eos 4W

Creature — Human Knight (R)

Convoke

When Knight-Errant of Eos enters the battlefield, look at the top six cards of your library. You may reveal up to two creature cards with mana value X or less from among them, where X is the number of creatures that convoked Knight-Errant of Eos. Put the revealed cards into your hand, then shuffle.

4/4

Bloodfeather Phoenix

1R

Creature - Phoenix (Rare)

Flying

Bloodfeather Phoenix can't block.

Whenever an instant or sorcery you control deals damage to an opponent or battle, you may pay R. If you do, return Bloodfeather Phoenix from your graveyard to the battlefield. It gains haste until end of turn.

2/2

This isn't ridiculously pushed. It doesn't have haste the turn you play it and that's certainly a real weakness compared to Adversary and Feldon. But as long as mono red is rocking all 4 Play With Fires and Lightning Strikes the sheer reach your getting here seems very strong.

Hey everyone! :)

I will play my first CCG on Sunday (April 2). A long time, I came back to magic with pioneer, and I've been playing UW Control in explorer for a while, but I'm still looking for some sideboard guide for the metagame now. My Sideboard covers a lot, but I don't want to take it off sometimes. Could someone help me?

I used fewer removals on the main deck and focused on the mass removals, counters, and PW. But after some matches against Mono-Red and Mono U Spirits, I thought of changing the decklist for this one with 4x Lay Down Your Arms.

For the Sideboard, I tried to cover most of the decks: Neoform/Atraxa, Greasefang, Lotus Field, Creativity, and Mono-Green.

I know there is a wide variety of lists for UW Control, but it's been the one that I feel safer playing and knowing what I need to do. Any suggestion?

Cards that I'm considering, but I was not sure about:

• Commit // Memory (Maindeck)
• Temporary Lockdown (Maindeck)
• Narset, Part of the Veils (Maindeck/Sideboard)
• Containment Priest (Sideboard)
• Settle the Wreckage (Maindeck/Sideboard)
• Regal Caracal (Sideboard)

Decklist:

https://www.moxfield.com/decks/EP1_Z4UXpE6QTNjPf3KaUQ

https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/5515102#paper

https://mythicspoiler.com/mom/cards/haloforager.html

Halo Forager

1UB

Creature - Faerie Rogue

Uncommon

Flying

When Halo Forager enters the battlefield, you may pay X. When you do, you may cast target instant or sorcery card with mana value X from a graveyard without paying its mana cost. If that spell would be put into a graveyard, exile it instead.

3/1

https://mythicspoiler.com/mom/cards/invasionoftolvada.html

Invasion of Tolvada

3WB

Battle - Siege

Rare

When Invasion of Tolvada enters the battlefield, return target nonbattle permanent card from your graveyard to the battlefield.

{5}

//

The Broken Sky

(White and Black) Enchantment

Creature tokens you control get +1/+0 and have lifelink.

At the beginning of your end step, create a 1/1 white and black spirit creature token with flying.

https://mythicspoiler.com/mom/cards/etaliprimalconqueror.html

Etali, Primal Conqueror

5RR

Legendary Creature - Elder Dinosaur

Rare

Trample

When Etali, Primal Conqueror enters the battlefield, each player exiles cards from the top of their library until they exile a nonland card. You may cast any number of spells from among the nonland cards exiled this way without paying their mana costs.

9(G/P) Transform Etali. Activate only as a sorcery.

7/7

//

Etali, Primal Sickness

(Red and Green) Legendary Creature - Phyrexian Elder Dinosaur

Trample, Indestructible

Whenever Etali, Primal Sickness deals combat damage to a player, they get that many poison counters.

11/11

https://mythicspoiler.com/mom/cards/realmbreakertheinvasiontree.html

3

Legendary Artifact

Rare

2, T: Target opponent mills three cards. Put a land card from their graveyard onto the battlefield tapped under your control. It gains "If this land would leave the battlefield, exile it instead of putting it anywhere else."

10, T, Sacrifice Realmbreaker, the Invasion Tree: Search your library for any number of Praetor cards, put them onto the battlefield, then shuffle.

https://mythicspoiler.com/mom/cards/glissaheraldofpredation.html

Glissa, Herald of Predation

3BG

Legendary Creature - Phyrexian Zombie Elf

Rare

At the beginning of combat on your turn, choose one -
* Incubate 2 twice. (To incubate 2, create an Incubator token with two +1/+1 counters on it and "2: Transform this artifact." It transforms into a 0/0 Phyrexian artifact creature.)

* Transform all Incubator tokens you control.

* Phyrexians you control gain first strike and deathtouch until end of turn.

3/5

https://mythicspoiler.com/mom/cards/quintoriusloremaster.html

Quintorius, Loremaster

3RW

Legendary Creature - Elephant Cleric

Rare

Vigilance

At the beginning of your end step, exile target noncreature, nonland card from your graveyard. Create a 3/2 red and white Spirit creature token.

1RW, T, Sacrifice a Spirit: Choose target card exiled with Quintorious. You may cast that card this turn without paying its mana cost. If that spell would be put into a graveyard, put it on the bottom of its owner's library instead.

3/5

https://mythicspoiler.com/mom/cards/invasionofnewphyrexia.html

Invasion of New Phyrexia

XWU

Battle - Siege

Mythic Rare

When Invasion of New Phyrexia enters the battlefield, create X 2/2 white and blue knight creature tokens with vigilance.

{6}

//

Teferi Akosa of Zhalfir

(White and Blue) Legendary Planeswalker - Teferi

+1 Draw two cards. Then discard two cards unless you discard a creature card.

-2 You get an emblem with "Knights you control get +1/+0 and have ward 1."

-3 Tap X creatures you control. When you do, shuffle target nonland permanent an opponent controls with mana value X or less into its owner's library.

[4]

https://mythicspoiler.com/mom/cards/rankleandtorbran.html

Rankle and Torbran

1BBRR

Legendary Creature - Faerie Dwarf

Rare

Flying, first strike, haste

Whenever Rankle and Torbran deals combat damage to a player or battle, choose any number -

* Each player creates a Treasure token.

* Each player sacrifices a creature.

* If a source would deal damage to a player or battle this turn, it deals that much damage plus 2 instead.

3/4

https://mythicspoiler.com/mom/cards/invasionoftarkir.html

Invasion of Tarkir

1R

Battle - Siege

Mythic Rare

When Invasion of Tarkir enters the battlefield, reveal any number of Dragon cards from your hand. When you do, Invasion of Tarkir deals X plus 2 damage to any other target, where X is the number of cards revealed this way. (X can be 0).

{5}

//

Defiant Thundermaw

(Red) Creature - Dragon

Flying, Trample

Whenever a Dragon you control attacks, it deals 2 damage to any target.

4/4

https://mythicspoiler.com/mom/cards/graftedbutcher.html

Grafted Butcher

1B

Creature - Phyrexian Samurai

Rare

When Grafted Butcher enters the battlefield, Phyrexians you control gain menace until end of turn.

Other Phyrexians you control get +1/+1.

3B, sacrifice an artifact or creature: Return Grafted Butcher from your graveyard to battlefield. Activate only as a sorcery.

2/2

https://mythicspoiler.com/mom/cards/terroroftowashi.html

Terror of Towashi

2BB

Creature - Phyrexian Ogre

Rare

Deathtouch

Whenever Terror of Towashi attacks, you may pay 3B. When you do, return target creature card from your graveyard to to battlefield. It's a Phyrexian in addition to its other types.

4/3

https://mythicspoiler.com/mom/cards/swordofonceandfuture.html

Sword of Once and Future

3

Artifact - Equipment

Mythic Rare

Equipped creature gets +2/+2 and has protection from blue and from black.

Whenever equipped creature deals combat damage to a player, surveil 2. Then you may cast an instant or sorcery spell with mana value 2 or less from your graveyard without paying its mana cost. If that spell would be put into your graveyard, exile it instead.

Equip 2

I’ll be piloting a mono green devotion deck this week at an RCQ. Local meta is mostly aggro decks and mid range. I expect a couple of good players to show up with control decks.

Given the decks that I’m expecting I would like to run a couple of copies of [[Thrun, breaker of silence]] and other 2 of [[Voracious Hydra]].

Do you have any recommendations on which artifacts I can cut in order to have 3 more slots? I plan to put one of the Thruns in the main.

Also, do you board any artifacts from the side on game 2? I’ve found this to be useful, for example, playing agains aggro I usually replace a elf with the artifact land, and try to bring [[Esika's Chariot]] and [[Skysovereign, Consul Flagship]] as I feel that drawing them would be more useful than wasting a karn activation.

Invasion of Fiora

4BB

Battle - Siege (As a siege enters, choose an opponent to protect it. You and others can attack it. When it’s defeated, exile it, then cast it transformed.)

When Invasion of Fiora enters the battlefield, choose one or both —

•Destroy all legendary creatures •Destroy all nonlegendary creatures

4 Defense counters

//

Marchesa, Resolute Monarch

Legendary creature - Human Noble

Menace, Deathtouch

Whenever Marchesa, Resolute Monarch attacks, remove all counters from up to one target permanent.

At the beginning of your upkeep, if you haven’t been dealt combat damage since your last turn, you draw a card and you lose 1 life.

3/6

Polukranos Reborn

GGG

Legendary Creature - Hydra

Reach

6(W/P): Transform Polukranos Reborn. Activate only as a sorcery. (W/P can be paid with either W or 2 life.)

4/5

//

Polukranos, Engine of Ruin

(Color is WG)

Legendary Creature - Phyrexian Hydra

Reach, lifelink

Whenever Polukranos, Engine of Ruin or another nontoken Hydra you control dies, create a 3/3 green and white Phyrexian Hydra creature token with reach and a 3/3 green and white Phyrexian Hydra creature token with lifelink.

6/6

Elspeth's Smite {W}

Instant

~ deals 3 damage to target attacking or blocking creature. If that creature would die this turn, exile it instead.

Not the most flashy card, but it's good pretty nice in an agressive meta I think. I know most of you don't play standard bo1, but I know this will make a lot of my decklists, and I guess it's good for bo3 sideboards at least (in decks without black at least).

2URW

Legendary Creature - Orc Dragon

Flying, haste

Zurgo and Ojutai has hexproof as long as it entered the battlefield this turn.

Whenever one or more Dragons you control deal combat damage to a player or battle, look as the top three cards of your library. Put one of them into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library in any order. You may return one of those Dragons to its owner's hand.

4/4

Archpriest of Shadows 3BB

Creature - Human Warlock

Backup 1 (When this creature enters the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature. If that’s another creature, it gains the following abilities until end of turn.)

Deathtouch

Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player or battle, return target creature from your graveyard to the battlefield.

4/4

Boon-Bringer Valkyrie 3WW

Creature — Angel Warrior

Backup 1 (When this creature enters the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature. If that’s another creature, it gains the following abilities until end of turn.)

Flying, first strike, lifelink

Backup by itself seems like quite a strong mechanic, almost like haste if you have a creature on board already. But the interaction of these two with a flipped Fable is beyond bonkers, especially with the black one. You can just keep triggering the backup every turn AND get another haste attacker. It will just drown your opponent in value without removal.

https://www.magicspoiler.com/mtg-spoiler/elesh-norn/

Elesh Norn -- 2WW

Creature — Phyrexian Preator (M)

Vigilance -- 3/5

Whenever a source an opponent controls deals damage to you or a permanent you control, that source's controller loses 2 life unless they pay 1.

2W, Sacrifice three other creatures: Exile Elesh Norn, then return it to the battlefield transformed under its owner's control. Activate only a sorcery.

***

The Argent Etchings

Enchantment -- Saga

I: Incubate [2] 5 times, then transform all Incubator tokens you control

II: Creatures you control get +1/+1 and double strike until end of turn

III: Destroy all other permanents except for artifacts, lands, and Phyrexians. Exile The Argent Etchings and return it to the battle field (front face up).

Monastery Mentor - 2W

Creature - Human Monk - Mythic

Prowess

Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, create a 1/1 white Monk creature token with prowess.

2/2

Botanical Brawler GW

Creature — Elemental Warrior (U)

Trample

Botanical Brawler enters the battlefield with two +1/+1 counters on it. Whenever one or more +1/+1 counters are put on another permanent you control, if it's the first time +1/+1 counters have been put on that permanent this turn, put a +1/+1 counter on Botanical Brawler.

0/0

I am thinking about playing in the explorer metagame challenge after getting juicy rewards (120 packs ) in the historic challenge last time.

What do you guys think are some solid options? What I am considering.

-Rakdos: I am very familiar with the playstyle.

-bant spirits:

Seems strong and with s flexible sideboad. Feels like the sort of decks that the better you know how to pilot the more profit you will get. Also faster games will mean more replayability.

-abzan greeasefangs.

Deck seems strong but I don't know if it still is...graveyard hate can be an issue.

What do you guys think ?

Tha is

Hey spikes!

We just published a new article by Mogged, focusing on his latest version of Esper Legends, specifically tailored to tackle the current Standard metagame.

Some of the interesting card choices include The Raven Man and Unctus Grand Metatect!

The article includes his best tips and tricks and a comprehensive sideboard guide.

https://mtgdecks.net/guides/standard-esper-legends-guide-tips-tricks-mtg-128

Whether you're a seasoned Esper Legend player or just interested in exploring the archetype, I really hope you find it useful!