Hello, and welcome back to Metagame Mentor, your weekly guide to the top decks and latest Constructed developments on the path to the Pro Tour. This past weekend, 1,270 players competed in the Regional Championships for Japan/Korea and United States, all vying for a share of the 48 coveted Pro Tour invitations. To ensure players had ample time to prepare and secure the necessary cards, Aetherdrift was not legal for Constructed play at those events. In this article, I'll analyze the metagame and spotlight the Modern decks that rose to the top.

Peter Husisian Triumphs in the United States with Amulet Titan

Congratulations to Peter Husisian for emerging victorious at the United States Regional Championship in Portland, Oregon! Piloting his trusty Amulet Titan deck, Husisian ramped up his gameplay and bested over 1,000 competitors, ultimately clinching the title with a decisive victory in the finals over Jackson Knorr, who was running Temur Breach. Both finalists secured invitations to Magic World Championship 31, scheduled for December 2025. Additionally, the Top 32 unqualified players earned seats at Pro Tour Magic: The Gathering®—FINAL FANTASY™, set to take place during MagicCon: Las Vegas in June 2025.

1 Aftermath Analyst 4 Amulet of Vigor 4 Arboreal Grazer 3 Boseiju, Who Endures 3 Crumbling Vestige 1 Dryad Arbor 1 Dryad of the Ilysian Grove 1 Echoing Deeps 1 Expedition Map 3 Forest 3 Green Sun's Zenith 4 Gruul Turf 1 Hanweir Battlements 2 Lotus Field 3 Malevolent Rumble 1 Mirrorpool 1 Otawara, Soaring City 4 Primeval Titan 2 Scapeshift 1 Shifting Woodland 3 Simic Growth Chamber 4 Spelunking 3 Summoner's Pact 1 Tolaria West 4 Urza's Saga 1 Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle 1 Vesuva 1 Bojuka Bog 2 Collector Ouphe 3 Dismember 2 Dryad of the Ilysian Grove 1 Endurance 2 Force of Vigor 1 Grist, the Hunger Tide 1 Keen-Eyed Curator 2 Vampires' Vengeance

As Peter Husisian confirmed in his winner's interview, Amulet Titan has remained a top tier-deck "through metagames containing KCI, Hogaak, Uro, and Oko." While some players believe that the deck is always the most broken thing in Modern, Husisian believes its true strength lies in how it rewards experience. "I've been playing Amulet for about two, two-and-a-half years, and I'm just happy I have something to show for it," Husisian said. "I put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into the deck. I know more about it than a person probably should."

Despite losing The One Ring in the latest round of bans, Amulet Titan gained a powerful new tool in Green Sun's Zenith. This versatile tutor provides utility at every stage of the game, fetching Dryad Arbor for early ramp, Primeval Titan for massive swings, and Collector Ouphe after Game 1 to shut down Grinding Station combos.

Another dominant Green Sun's Zenith target was Aftermath Analyst. By copying your creatures with Mirrorpool and Shifting Woodland while generating mana from Lotus Field, you can set up an infinite loop that ends the game on the spot. Many Amulet Titan lists support this combo with Lumra, Bellow of the Woods, but Husisian opted for a leaner build, relying on three copies of Malevolent Rumble to ramp ahead while setting up his recursion loops. Interestingly, this common from Modern Horizons 3 was the most played card across all Modern main decks this past weekend. It was already acting as the essential glue for many graveyard-reliant combo and ramp strategies, and it has now proven itself in Amulet Titan as well.

Following Amulet Titan's victory, it might be time for Boros Energy players to dust off their copies of Blood Moon. The card had fallen out of favor in recent weeks, which created the perfect opening for Husisian to exploit.

4 Mox Opal 4 Emry, Lurker of the Loch 3 Grinding Station 1 Haywire Mite 4 Malevolent Rumble 4 Mishra's Bauble 3 Mox Amber 1 Island 1 Aether Spellbomb 1 Flame of Anor 1 Sink into Stupor 1 Breeding Pool 1 Grapeshot 4 Underworld Breach 1 Unholy Heat 4 Urza's Saga 1 Soul-Guide Lantern 1 Stomping Ground 1 Steam Vents 4 Tamiyo, Inquisitive Student 1 Hedge Maze 1 Shifting Woodland 2 Preordain 1 Otawara, Soaring City 1 Swan Song 4 Scalding Tarn 3 Misty Rainforest 1 Lightning Bolt 1 Spell Pierce 1 Pithing Needle 4 Consign to Memory 1 Jace, Wielder of Mysteries 1 Wrenn and Six 2 Boseiju, Who Endures 2 Firespout 1 Kappa Cannoneer 1 Flame of Anor 1 Nature's Claim 1 Lightning Bolt

Finalist Jackson Knorr locked in his invitation to Magic World Championship 31 with one of the most popular—and by far the best-performing—decks of the weekend: Temur Breach. The archetype posted an astounding 58.2% win rate across both Regional Championships in non-mirror, non-bye, non-draw matches. In the United States alone, sixteen of the Top 32 players were leveraging Grinding Station loops to secure their wins, solidifying Temur Breach as the defining Modern deck.

It's not as if opponents weren't prepared. Sideboards were brimming with hate cards like Stony Silence, Drannith Magistrate, Surgical Extraction, Wrath of the Skies, The Stone Brain, Force of Vigor, Wear // Tear, Soulless Jailer, Leyline of the Void, and beyond. Many competitors dedicated half their sideboards to disrupting the combo. Yet, it wasn't enough to keep the deck from dominating.

Temur Breach not only has answers to these hate pieces, but it can also pivot into a more grindy midrange strategy. With access to Urza's Saga tokens and a transformed Tamiyo, Inquisitive Student, the deck is dangerous even when opponents neutralize its primary combo. Knorr's sideboard even included a single Kappa Cannoneer, offering yet another backup win condition after his key combo pieces would get stripped away.

So, Temur Breach is not a one-dimensional, all-in combo deck, especially post-sideboard. Beating the deck requires more than just a handful of hate cards; you need a game plan that can win on fair terms. As a result, some players may want to reconsider cards like Orim's Chant or Ghost Vacuum as sideboard options against Temur Breach, as they may be less effective against the archetype's resilient post-sideboard plan. In any case, based on its versatility and results, Temur Breach is the clear frontrunner in Modern right now.

Ma Noah Triumphs in Japan with Boros Energy

Congratulations to Ma Noah for claiming victory at the Champions Cup Final in Chiba, Japan (the Regional Championship for Japan and Korea). Following a Top 8 finish at Pro Tour Modern Horizons 3 last year, this result further cements the Korean competitor's mastery of the Modern format. In the finals, he defeated Masataka Hori, piloting Orzhov Blink. Both finalists secured invitations to Magic World Championship 31, and the Top 16 players who had not yet qualified for Pro Tour Magic: The Gathering—FINAL FANTASY earned their spots for that event.

4 Ajani, Nacatl Pariah 3 Arena of Glory 3 Marsh Flats 2 Elegant Parlor 3 Flooded Strand 4 Galvanic Discharge 3 Goblin Bombardment 4 Guide of Souls 4 Arid Mesa 4 Ocelot Pride 4 Phlage, Titan of Fire's Fury 3 Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer 3 Ranger-Captain of Eos 3 Sacred Foundry 2 Seasoned Pyromancer 3 Static Prison 2 Thraben Charm 2 Windswept Heath 1 Mountain 2 Plains 1 Fable of the Mirror-Breaker 1 Ghost Vacuum 1 Prismatic Ending 4 Obsidian Charmaw 2 Orim's Chant 1 Showdown of the Skalds 2 Stony Silence 1 Wear // Tear 2 Wrath of the Skies 1 Surgical Extraction

Boros Energy didn't just win the event; it was also the most played deck across both Regional Championships. Even though its overall win rate was underwhelming this past weekend, Ma Noah chose it with confidence, valuing the explosive advantage that Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer provides on turn one. While many of the deck's creatures come from Modern Horizons 3, Ragavan remains one of the format's most powerful openers.

Likely drawing inspiration from Simon Piché's winning list from the Canadian Regional Championship, Ma Noah's three-drop of choice was Ranger-Captain of Eos. Beyond fetching key one-drops to maintain pressure, it also offers crucial interaction against Underworld Breach. Sacrificing Ranger-Captain in response to your opponent's attempt to combo can drastically limit their options, often functioning as a hard counter to Breach's recursion engine.

2 Godless Shrine 2 Shadowy Backstreet 3 Plains 1 Swamp 2 Arid Mesa 4 Marsh Flats 2 Flagstones of Trokair 1 Takenuma, Abandoned Mire 4 Phelia, Exuberant Shepherd 2 White Orchid Phantom 3 Emperor of Bones 3 Recruiter of the Guard 1 Aven Interrupter 3 Flickerwisp 1 Skyclave Apparition 1 Boggart Trawler 4 Witch Enchanter 4 Solitude 4 Overlord of the Balemurk 4 Aether Vial 4 Fatal Push 4 Ephemerate 1 Flooded Strand 1 Drannith Magistrate 1 Aven Interrupter 2 White Orchid Phantom 3 Wrath of the Skies 1 March of Otherworldly Light 3 Thoughtseize 2 Surgical Extraction 1 Plague Engineer 1 Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines

Masataka Hori reached the finals with Orzhov Blink, another standout performer with a strong 53.7% win rate across both Regional Championships (excluding mirror matches, byes, and draws). While it struggles against Eldrazi Ramp, its midrange-control strategy is faring quite well against much of the Modern metagame.

Hori's list was emblematic of the archetype, and he praised the "many useful little techniques" enabled by Flickerwisp. The card provides a variety of options: blinking Overlord of the Balemurk to remove its time counters, turning Witch-Blessed Meadow into a creature, blinking Solitude for additional removal, or eliminating an opponent's land during their main phases via Aether Vial. These flexible lines make Orzhov Blink a formidable contender, proving it has the interaction and depth to compete at the highest level of Modern play.

The Metagame and Win Rates

A total of 1,270 decklists were submitted across both Regional Championships. Although February 8–9 was the Prerelease weekend for Aetherdrift and cards typically become legal then, an exception was made to ensure players had ample time to prepare and secure cards for the Regional Championships. As a result, Aetherdrift was not legal at these events.

After standardizing archetype names and resolving discrepancies, I compiled the overall metagame share and match win rates for each deck archetype (excluding mirror matches, byes, and draws) based on Swiss rounds. These metrics are provided in the table below, which also links each archetype name to a top-performing decklist that best represents its aggregate build.

The "Other" category reflects the sheer diversity of Modern, encompassing a wide range of archetypes such as Jeskai Chant, Merfolk, Jund Creativity, Esper Blink, Mono-Green Broodscale, Domain Rhinos, Jund Sagavan, Mono-Black Necro, Dimir Murktide, Hardened Scales, Jeskai Breach, Hammer Time, Selesnya Ritual, Four-Color Omnath, Azorius Affinity, Jeskai Wizards, Living End, Mono-Blue Affinity, Neobrand, Domain Oculus, Dredge, Grixis Goryo's, Rakdos Creativity, and more.

While Boros Energy and Dimir Oculus were the most played decks in the metagame at the preceding Regional Championships in Europe, Brazil, and Canada, both decks have lost ground. Meanwhile, Temur Breach, Eldrazi Ramp, and Orzhov Blink have surged in popularity. These decks were among the best performers in those earlier championships, and their momentum has continued.

A notable development is the refinement of Eldrazi Ramp. Most players have now gravitated toward the version that recently propelled Fernando Palmero García to a 2nd-place finish at the Ultimate Guard European Magic Series Regional Championship. Rather than splashing blue for Nulldrifter and Consign to Memory, the deck now favors Writhing Chrysalis in the main deck and Stone Rain in the sideboard.

Temur Breach remains the undisputed deck to beat, posting a staggering 58.2% win rate this past weekend, far outperforming the 47.6% win rate of Four-Color Breach. This gap suggests that, in the current metagame, a streamlined mana base is proving more valuable than access to additional white cards. Beyond Temur Breach, several other archetypes also delivered impressive performances. Below, I've highlighted six standout decks that deserve a closer look.

Dimir Mill Secured a Pro Tour Invite

4 Polluted Delta 3 Field of Ruin 2 Flooded Strand 2 Scalding Tarn 2 Misty Rainforest 2 Undercity Sewers 2 Island 2 Snow-Covered Island 1 Swamp 1 Watery Grave 1 Oboro, Palace in the Clouds 1 Otawara, Soaring City 4 Hedron Crab 4 Ruin Crab 4 Thought Scour 4 Visions of Beyond 4 Fatal Push 4 Fractured Sanity 4 Archive Trap 2 Surgical Extraction 2 Spell Snare 2 Extirpate 2 Drown in the Loch 1 Sheoldred's Edict 3 Mystical Dispute 2 Consign to Memory 2 Dress Down 2 Ensnaring Bridge 1 Extirpate 1 Shoot the Sheriff 1 Crypt Incursion 1 Toxic Deluge 1 Nihil Spellbomb 1 Pithing Needle

Shintaro "rizer" Ishimura, a seasoned Pro Tour veteran, secured another Pro Tour invite with a 9-3 finish at the Regional Championship for Japan/Korea, piloting an unconventional Dimir Mill deck. The deck's objective is straightforward: deplete the opponent's library as quickly as possible. But Ishimura's approach featured some intriguing deviations from the norm. Instead of traditional inclusions like Tasha's Hideous Laughter, his list leaned on Spell Snare to efficiently counter Underworld Breach and Extirpate to exile key combo pieces entirely.

In theory, these choices should tilt the Temur Breach matchup in Dimir Mill's favor, and Ishimura's results backed that up. He went 4-0 against the format's premier combo deck and pulled off a 10th-place finish. Beyond that, Dimir Mill's proactive game plan remains well-positioned in the metagame, capitalizing on the near absence of graveyard shufflers like Emrakul, the Aeons Torn. Alongside an element of surprise, it's a compelling Modern deck choice.

Jeskai Chant Secured a Pro Tour Invite

2 Arena of Glory 4 Arid Mesa 4 Counterspell 4 Flame of Anor 4 Flooded Strand 4 Galvanic Discharge 1 Hall of Storm Giants 1 Hallowed Fountain 1 Island 1 Memory Deluge 2 Meticulous Archive 1 Mountain 1 Mystic Gate 3 Orim's Chant 2 Path to Exile 3 Phlage, Titan of Fire's Fury 2 Plains 2 Scalding Tarn 4 Snapcaster Mage 2 Spell Snare 2 Steam Vents 3 Tamiyo, Inquisitive Student 1 Thundering Falls 3 Tune the Narrative 3 Wrath of the Skies 2 Celestial Purge 4 Consign to Memory 1 Mystical Dispute 1 Orim's Chant 1 Sire of Seven Deaths 2 Surgical Extraction 1 Wrath of the Skies 3 Isochron Scepter

Ryo Ito reached the Top 8 at the Regional Championship for Japan/Korea with a control deck built to dictate the pace of the game. Jeskai Chant has emerged as a dominant control build in Modern. Counterspell shuts down key threats, Wrath of the Skies clears the battlefield, and Flame of Anor generates card advantage. To close things out, Phlage, Titan of Fire's Fury acts as a formidable win condition, even if it falters after sideboards. If Phlage falls victim to Surgical Extraction, Sire of Seven Deaths steps in, equally powerful when boosted by Arena of Glory.

While this deck could be labeled Jeskai Control or Jeskai Wizards, its defining feature is Orim's Chant. Three main-deck copies not only stop Underworld Breach but also allow it to play more like a prison strategy, locking down opponents entirely. Casting and kicking Orim's Chant during an opponent's upkeep prevents them from casting spells or attacking that turn, and the deck can recur Orim's Chant with Tamiyo, Seasoned Scholar or Snapcaster Mage. After sideboarding, there's even the potential for Isochron Scepter to come in, setting up the classic Scepter-Chant combo that can shut down opponents indefinitely. Against Eldrazi Ramp—often lacking instant-speed answers—this can be a game-ending lock.

Esper Oculus on the Rise

4 Polluted Delta 2 Flooded Strand 4 Marsh Flats 2 Darkslick Shores 2 Watery Grave 1 Hallowed Fountain 1 Undercity Sewers 1 Meticulous Archive 1 Island 1 Swamp 1 Sink into Stupor 4 Abhorrent Oculus 2 Murktide Regent 1 Harbinger of the Seas 3 Picklock Prankster 4 Psychic Frog 4 Thought Scour 3 Pest Control 4 Fatal Push 4 Unearth 3 Spell Snare 4 Counterspell 3 Force of Negation 1 Nihil Spellbomb 1 Harbinger of the Seas 4 Consign to Memory 3 Stern Scolding 4 Thoughtseize 2 Nihil Spellbomb 1 Stony Silence

This past weekend, Esper Oculus overtook Dimir Oculus in both popularity and performance. While the white splash isn't entirely new, its rapid adoption marks a significant shift. Takumi Tanabe piloted the above-shown list to an 8-3-1 record in Japan, securing a Pro Tour invite with a 14th-place finish.

The primary reason to splash white is access to Pest Control, a devastating tool against Boros Energy and Temur Breach. For just two mana, it can wipe away tokens, cheap artifacts, and even Static Prison or Tamiyo, Seasoned Scholar. Most Esper lists also feature Picklock Prankster to find it, making it a consistent game-changer. And while you might assume Pest Control is ineffective against Eldrazi Ramp, destroying Utopia Sprawl and an Eldrazi Spawn token can disrupt their game plan more than expected.

Beyond Pest Control, the white splash also unlocks Stony Silence, arguably the best sideboard card against Temur Breach. While its impact diminishes post-board as Breach players adjust, it still shuts down their combo, mana engine, and card draw. Esper Oculus was one of the few decks to post a favorable matchup against Temur Breach this weekend, while Dimir Oculus struggled, making it clear why the metagame is shifting in this direction.

Jeskai Energy on the Rise

4 Ajani, Nacatl Pariah 2 Arena of Glory 4 Arid Mesa 1 Elegant Parlor 4 Flooded Strand 4 Galvanic Discharge 3 Goblin Bombardment 4 Guide of Souls 1 Hallowed Fountain 4 Marsh Flats 1 Meticulous Archive 2 Mockingbird 4 Ocelot Pride 4 Phlage, Titan of Fire's Fury 2 Plains 3 Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer 2 Ranger-Captain of Eos 3 Sacred Foundry 4 Seasoned Pyromancer 2 Static Prison 1 Steam Vents 1 Thraben Charm 4 Consign to Memory 1 Deafening Silence 3 Expressive Iteration 1 Ghost Vacuum 1 Lithomantic Barrage 2 Orim's Chant 1 Showdown of the Skalds 1 Stony Silence 1 Wear // Tear

While Jeskai Energy has yet to surpass Boros Energy in terms of popularity, its performance this past weekend was significantly more impressive. Luke Brandes, for instance, achieved an 11-3-1 record at the United States Regional Championship with the list shown above, clinching a Pro Tour invite with a 23rd-place finish.

The primary reason for splashing blue is the main-deck duo of Mockingbirds. A one-mana Mockingbird for X=0 can turn into an Ocelot Pride with flying, which can quickly begin dealing lifelink damage, triggering its end-of-turn ability to create additional tokens. Alternatively, Ranger-Captain of Eos can fetch Mockingbird, which can then be played for X=2 to copy Ranger-Captain of Eos, grabbing another Mockingbird. The resulting stream of flying creatures can quickly overwhelm the opponent. Another useful option is to have Mockingbird for X=1 turn into a legendary copy of Ajani, Nacatl Pariah, transforming the original Ajani into a planeswalker.

In addition to these powerful synergies, blue offers valuable sideboard options, including Consign to Memory and Expressive Iteration. The mana base concessions are relatively modest, requiring only a handful of blue dual lands, but the rewards are considerable in the current metagame. As such, Jeskai could very well be the ideal path forward for energy decks.

Azorius Hammer Went 10-5

4 Battlefield Improvisation 4 Colossus Hammer 3 Flooded Strand 1 Forge Anew 2 Hallowed Fountain 3 Inkmoth Nexus 1 Lavaspur Boots 4 Leyline Axe 4 Memnite 1 Meticulous Archive 4 Mox Opal 1 Nettlecyst 4 Ornithopter 3 Plains 4 Puresteel Paladin 1 Razorgrass Ambush 1 Shadowspear 2 Steelshaper's Gift 4 Stoneforge Mystic 2 Surge of Salvation 4 Urza's Saga 3 Windswept Heath 3 Consign to Memory 1 Grafdigger's Cage 4 Hushbringer 1 Pithing Needle 2 Rest in Peace 2 Surge of Salvation 2 Wear // Tear

Although Travis "Disgruntled_Elk" Brown's 10-5 finish was likely one win shy of a Pro Tour invite, he still made a significant impression with his trusty copies of Colossus Hammer. The deck sidesteps the Hammer's equip cost by leveraging Puresteel Paladin, effortlessly assembling a massive attacker. The addition of Mox Opal has been a notable upgrade for Hammer Time because it features more than enough artifacts to unlock metalcraft consistently, sometimes as early as turn one.

What's striking about this list is its omission of Sigarda's Aid, a long-established staple in the archetype. Instead, it features Battlefield Improvisation, a card from Magic: The Gathering—Assassin's Creed's Starter Kit that has largely flown under the radar. This card allows you to equip any number of Colossus Hammers for just two mana, even mid-combat. And unlike Sigarda's Aid, Battlefield Improvisation also lets you freely equip a Leyline Axe that you started the game with, all while granting a power boost. This innovative approach can quickly yield a deadly double striking creature, allowing Hammer Time to strike with the precision of an assassin perched on a rooftop.

Grixis Goryo's Went 10-5

1 Blood Crypt 4 Bloodstained Mire 1 Cephalid Coliseum 1 Island 4 Polluted Delta 1 Raucous Theater 2 Scalding Tarn 1 Steam Vents 1 Swamp 1 Thundering Falls 1 Undercity Sewers 2 Watery Grave 4 Atraxa, Grand Unifier 3 Emperor of Bones 2 Griselbrand 4 Picklock Prankster 4 Psychic Frog 4 Consign to Memory 4 Faithless Looting 4 Fatal Push 3 Force of Negation 4 Goryo's Vengeance 3 Thoughtseize 1 Spell Snare 2 Abrade 2 Engineered Explosives 1 Pyroclasm 2 Stern Scolding 2 Surgical Extraction 1 Thoughtseize 2 Through the Breach 1 Plague Engineer 1 Toxic Deluge 1 Nihil Spellbomb

With a 10-5 finish at the United States Regional Championship, Ricky Tovar showcased an innovative new direction for Goryo's Vengeance decks. Traditionally, these decks would aim to return Atraxa, Grand Unifier to the battlefield and avoid the end-of-turn sacrifice trigger by blinking her with Ephemerate. However, Tovar's list takes a different approach, completely eschewing white and instead leveraging Consign to Memory to counter that trigger.

This shift to blue-black-red opens the door for Faithless Looting in a three-color mana base, providing an excellent setup for Goryo's Vengeance. The list even includes some spicy sideboard tech like Through the Breach to navigate around graveyard hate. This clever innovation points to a fresh and exciting potential direction for the archetype.

What's Next for Magic Premier Play?

With five Regional Championships already behind us and seven more to go, the Modern format is steadily taking shape. Temur Breach has emerged as the clear topdeck. Regardless of which deck you choose, dedicating at least half of your sideboard to countering Breach will be a necessity. Looking ahead, it will be fascinating to see how different regions adapt and innovate in response to this dominant force. Here's what's on the horizon:

• February 15–16: Chinese Taipei
• February 22–23: No Regional Championship (due to Pro Tour Aetherdrift)
• March 1–2: China
• March 8–9: Australia/New Zealand and United States
• March 15–16: South America, Southeast Asia, and Mexico/Central America/Caribbean (coinciding with Magic Spotlight: Modern in Utrecht)

Meanwhile, Standard Constructed and Aetherdrift Draft will take center stage at Pro Tour Aetherdrift. Standard appears to be in great shape, as the latest set has provided powerful buffs for both established archetypes and fresh strategies. Pro Tour Aetherdrift takes place from February 21–23, and you can follow the action online at twitch.tv/magic or experience the excitement in person at MagicCon: Chicago. The Pro Tour Aetherdrift Viewer's Guide has all the details so that you don't miss a second of this high-stakes competition.