Hello, and welcome back to Metagame Mentor, your weekly guide to the top decks and latest Constructed developments on the road to the Pro Tour. Aetherdrift is set to race onto the scene as the first Standard-legal release of the year, with Prerelease events kicking off this weekend, February 8–9. The new set promises to shake up the Standard format just in time for Pro Tour Aetherdrift on February 21–23, where the world's best players will put the pedal to the metal in both deck building and gameplay.

If you're ready to take the wheel and leave your foes in the dust, now's the time to get up to speed on the evolving Standard landscape. To offer an early glimpse of what to expect at the Pro Tour, today's article provides a snapshot of the Standard metagame right before the release of Aetherdrift, along with my initial thoughts on the set's most promising new cards. So, here's everything we know about the format as Aetherdrift roars onto the track—and what we expect to see battle it out at both your local RCQs and the upcoming Pro Tour.

Standard Before Aetherdrift

Standard, a rotating 60-card format, currently includes expansion sets from Dominaria United onward. To get a clear snapshot of the metagame, I analyzed all 480 published decklists from Magic Online Challenges held from January 16 through February 3, along with 210 decklists from Standard tournaments on Melee over the same period. Additionally, I factored in the Top 8 decks from the well-attended RCQs at Playtime Merate, el Nucli, and Top Deck Games.

To provide a crash course on the rules of the road, I assigned points to each deck based on its rectified number of net wins—calculated as the number of match wins minus losses, with negative values adjusted to zero. By combining these points across all events, each archetype's share of the total rectified net wins blends popularity and performance into a single, comprehensive metric: the winner's metagame share.

In this table, each archetype name hyperlinks to a well-performing, representative decklist. The "Other" category encompasses a wide range of strategies, including Selesnya Tokens, Boros Tokens, Jund Delirium, Simic Terror, Jeskai Oculus, Dimir Oculus, Temur Analyst, Grixis Throne, Rakdos Sacrifice, and more.

Compared to the metagame at Magic Spotlight: Foundations, the breakout decks from that tournament—Esper Pixie and Dimir Bounce—have surged in popularity, while Dimir Midrange has lost significant ground. This shift becomes even clearer when we examine the five most played non-land cards across all Standard main decks in my dataset.

This Town Ain't Big Enough Go for the Throat Nowhere to Run Stormchaser's Talent Spyglass Siren

When Outlaws of Thunder Junction first introduced This Town Ain't Big Enough, few could have predicted that it would become the most played main-deck spell in Standard. Yet here we are, on the eve of Aetherdrift's release, with the versatile bounce spell defining the format.

Back in October 2024, visionaries from Team Sanctum of All showcased its power at Magic World Championship 30, using Stormchaser's Talent to loop This Town Ain't Big Enough repeatedly in their innovative Temur Otters deck. That strategy remains viable today, as evidenced by Rei Zhang's recent Top 4 finish at Magic Spotlight: Foundations.

By December 2024, at Arena Championship 7, Stormchaser's Talent and This Town Ain't Big Enough had found a home in Simic Terror, a deck that leveraged graveyard synergies and Up the Beanstalk's card-draw trigger—even when casting the bounce spell for just two mana. Though Simic Terror now lurks at the fringes of Standard, its core interactions remain potent.

Then, in January, at Magic Spotlight: Foundations, Stormchaser's Talent and This Town Ain't Big Enough took center stage in Esper Pixie and Dimir Bounce. These decks exploited the ability to return Hopeless Nightmare and Nowhere to Run to hand, generating a burst of card advantage for just two mana. Meanwhile, the late-game recursion of Stormchaser's Talent provided long-term inevitability—no one wins a race when they run out of gas.

Between its efficiency, synergy, and versatility, This Town Ain't Big Enough has cemented its place as a defining force in Standard. Heading into Pro Tour Aetherdrift, Esper Pixie and Dimir Bounce stand as the decks to beat, poised to gain even more tools from the newest set. But Standard isn't just a two-car race—many other archetypes remain competitively viable.

To capture the format's diversity, I've constructed aggregate lists for the top-performing strategies, using an algorithm that weighs popularity, success, and individual card synergies. Let's take a closer look at the fourteen most prominent archetypes—each holding at least a 2% share of the winner's metagame—along with a promising Aetherdrift addition for each.

1. Gruul Aggro

6 Mountain 4 Copperline Gorge 4 Karplusan Forest 4 Thornspire Verge 4 Heartfire Hero 4 Manifold Mouse 4 Emberheart Challenger 4 Monstrous Rage 4 Hired Claw 3 Questing Druid 3 Innkeeper's Talent 3 Burst Lightning 3 Screaming Nemesis 2 Pawpatch Recruit 2 Rockface Village 2 Soulstone Sanctuary 2 Torch the Tower 1 Restless Ridgeline 1 Obliterating Bolt 3 Lithomantic Barrage 3 Pawpatch Formation 1 Torch the Tower 1 Witchstalker Frenzy 1 Screaming Nemesis 1 Questing Druid 1 Pyroclasm 1 Sentinel of the Nameless City 1 Ghost Vacuum 1 Obliterating Bolt 1 Scorching Shot

Gruul Aggro, holding a commanding 14.3% share of the winner's metagame, is built for speed and raw power. Unlike Gruul Leyline, the deck Nicholas Odenheimer piloted to victory at Magic Spotlight: Foundations, which accounts for just 1.1% of the winner's metagame, Gruul Aggro forgoes the explosive turn-two kill potential of Leyline of Resonance, Cacophony Scamp, and double Turn Inside Out.

Instead, it shifts gears toward consistency, favoring individually strong cards like Hired Claw, Manifold Mouse, and Burst Lightning over fragile combo pieces. The result? A classic, hard-hitting aggro deck that thrives on relentless pressure with aggressive creatures and burn spells. After all, you can't win a race without going fast.

With Aetherdrift rolling onto the scene, several new tools could slot into Gruul Aggro, but one early standout is Agonasaur Rex. An 8/8 trampler at the top end of the curve has the potential to dominate mirror matches and can shrug off damage-based removal. In a 22-land deck with 13 green sources, casting a {3}{G}{G} spell is not unrealistic. And in other matchups, you can cycle it as a surprise combat trick when the opponent is tapped out, use it in response to Go for the Throat, and/or trigger the valiant abilities of Heartfire Hero or Emberheart Challenger. It's akin to a beefed-up Monstrous Rage, costing a bit more mana but offering additional protection and card advantage. Whether it ends up a format staple or just a fun detour remains to be seen, but at first glance, it could be a sweet addition to Gruul Aggro's garage.

2. Esper Pixie

4 Stormchaser's Talent 4 This Town Ain't Big Enough 4 Hopeless Nightmare 4 Nowhere to Run 4 Nurturing Pixie 4 Optimistic Scavenger 4 Fear of Isolation 4 Seachrome Coast 4 Concealed Courtyard 4 Darkslick Shores 3 Underground River 3 Caves of Koilos 3 Kaito, Bane of Nightmares [bGPbmuxtex3AmlffwZUqv] 2 Adarkar Wastes 2 Go for the Throat 2 Restless Anchorage 2 Mockingbird 1 Swamp 1 Defiled Crypt // Cadaver Lab 1 Sheltered by Ghosts 3 Rest in Peace 2 The Witch's Vanity 2 No More Lies 2 Cut Down 2 Destroy Evil 2 Break the Spell 1 Tithing Blade 1 Sheltered by Ghosts

Esper Pixie, now holding a 14.1% share of the winner's metagame, first made its mark at Magic Spotlight: Foundations, where it sped into the top tier as one of the weekend's breakout performers. Also known as Esper Bounce, the deck thrives on a finely tuned engine: twelve sources of card advantage (Stormchaser's Talent, Hopeless Nightmare, and Nowhere to Run) seamlessly paired with twelve self-bounce effects (Nurturing Pixie, Fear of Isolation, and This Town Ain't Big Enough). Repeated usage of Nowhere to Run keeps aggressive decks in check, while recurring Hopeless Nightmare triggers can grind control decks into submission.

As a relatively new contender, Esper Pixie continues to evolve. Recent builds have shifted toward a higher count of Go for the Throat while trimming Spiteful Hexmage in the main deck. Meanwhile, Break the Spell has risen in prominence as a sideboard option, responding to the increasing popularity of enchantment-based strategies. And with Aetherdrift entering the format, more fine-tuning is on the horizon.

One standout addition from Aetherdrift could be Momentum Breaker. Functionally, it's an almost strict upgrade over Tithing Blade, which already occupies flex slots in some lists. Against control decks, it effectively serves as additional copies of Hopeless Nightmare, fueling the deck's disruptive core. More importantly, Momentum Breaker is an enchantment, meaning Optimistic Scavenger can leverage it for even greater board presence. This might just give Esper Pixie the acceleration it needs to leave the competition in the dust.

3. Dimir Bounce

4 Fear of Isolation 4 Stormchaser's Talent 4 Nowhere to Run 4 This Town Ain't Big Enough 4 Darkslick Shores 4 Gloomlake Verge 4 Swamp 4 Underground River 4 Island 4 Hopeless Nightmare 4 Spyglass Siren 4 Floodpits Drowner 3 Kaito, Bane of Nightmares [bGPbmuxtex3AmlffwZUqv] 3 Enduring Curiosity 2 Restless Reef 2 Soulstone Sanctuary 1 Go for the Throat 1 Cut Down 3 Preacher of the Schism 2 Cut Down 2 Negate 2 Tishana's Tidebinder 2 Duress 1 Sheoldred, the Apocalypse 1 Gix's Command 1 Get Out 1 The Witch's Vanity

Dimir Bounce burst onto the scene at Magic Spotlight: Foundations, delivering an impressive win rate and quickly establishing itself as a top-tier contender. Now holding 13% of the winner's metagame, it blends the best elements of Esper Pixie and Dimir Midrange. By bouncing Hopeless Nightmare with Fear of Isolation, you can generate steady incremental value, while Enduring Curiosity keeps the engine running with an extra boost of card draw.

Unlike Esper Pixie, Dimir Bounce trims Nurturing Pixie and Optimistic Scavenger in favor of a cleaner two-color mana base. This allows it to take full advantage of utility lands like Soulstone Sanctuary while avoiding the heavy reliance on pain lands that Esper Pixie demands. The result? A smoother ride that sacrifices some raw synergy for a more streamlined and resilient game plan.

From Aetherdrift, Grim Bauble stands out as a promising new addition. It's an efficient removal tool against aggressive decks, and thanks to This Town Ain't Big Enough, it can be repeatedly rebought for added value. While Momentum Breaker may be a stronger fit for Esper Pixie due to its synergy with Optimistic Scavenger, Dimir Bounce has no such eerie requirements—making the more mana-efficient Bauble a compelling option.

4. Golgari Midrange

5 Swamp 4 Blooming Marsh 4 Forest 4 Llanowar Wastes 4 Restless Cottage 4 Mosswood Dreadknight 4 Go for the Throat 4 Llanowar Elves 4 Preacher of the Schism 4 Mishra's Foundry 3 Cut Down 3 Sentinel of the Nameless City 2 Sheoldred, the Apocalypse 2 Maelstrom Pulse 2 Gix's Command 2 Anoint with Affliction 2 Thrun, Breaker of Silence 1 Tranquil Frillback 1 Tear Asunder 1 The End 4 Harvester of Misery 3 Duress 2 Nissa, Ascended Animist 2 Obstinate Baloth 1 Tear Asunder 1 Tranquil Frillback 1 The End 1 Maelstrom Pulse

Golgari Midrange has held steady at 9.8% of the winner's metagame over the past two weeks, typically faring well against Gruul but struggling against Dimir. However, the deck's composition has been evolving to keep pace with Standard's evolving metagame. A month ago, Llanowar Elves would typically accelerate into a turn-two Glissa Sunslayer or Unholy Annex. But now, the three-drops of choice have shifted toward Preacher of the Schism and Sentinel of the Nameless City. This change is caused by the rising prevalence of Nowhere to Run, making Glissa's 3 toughness a massive liability, and This Town Ain't Big Enough, which brutally bounces Ritual Chamber's 6/6 Demon token.

Another notable trend is the rising popularity of Obstinate Baloth in the sideboard. Against Esper Pixie and Dimir Bounce, it turns Hopeless Nightmare's discard effect into a free 4/4 creature, sometimes as early as turn one. With these self-bounce decks on the rise, Obstinate Baloth has become a go-to sideboard piece in many different decks, ranging from Golgari Midrange to Zur Overlords.

From Aetherdrift, several cards could bolster Golgari Midrange. Debris Beetle conjures memories of Siege Rhino, while Webstrike Elite offers an effective reach blocker against Spyglass Siren and Fear of Isolation, as well as a way to prevent Stormchaser's Talent from leveling up in the mid-game. But while those are maybes, the value of Wastewood Verge is clear.

Even in a deck with an already strong mana base, Wastewood Verge is effectively a strict upgrade over Forest, improving the consistency of double-black for Sheoldred, the Apocalypse and other key spells. The five new Verges—Beachbone Verge, Riverpyre Verge, Sunbillow Verge, Wastewood Verge, and Willowrush Verge—will surely see widespread adoption, especially in two-color decks. Yet given the current Standard landscape, expect Wastewood Verge to be one of the most played among them.

5. Dimir Midrange

4 Gloomlake Verge 4 Island 4 Swamp 4 Underground River 4 Cut Down 4 Darkslick Shores 4 Floodpits Drowner 4 Spyglass Siren 4 Faerie Mastermind 3 Enduring Curiosity 3 Go for the Throat 3 Kaito, Bane of Nightmares 3 Soulstone Sanctuary 3 Preacher of the Schism 2 Restless Reef 2 Deep-Cavern Bat 1 Anoint with Affliction 1 Sheoldred, the Apocalypse 1 Phantom Interference 1 Tishana's Tidebinder 1 Mockingbird 3 Duress 2 Negate 2 Tishana's Tidebinder 2 Ghost Vacuum 1 Gix's Command 1 Anoint with Affliction 1 Malicious Eclipse 1 Blot Out 1 Preacher of the Schism 1 Faebloom Trick

Dimir Midrange has slipped to 6.9% of the winner's metagame, as the synergy-driven Dimir Bounce build has gained traction. Still, the classic midrange strategy remains a formidable choice, blending removal and countermagic with efficient threats. Though its creatures are mostly unassuming 1/1s and 2/1s, their evasive nature fuels Enduring Curiosity and enables the ninjutsu ability of Kaito, Bane of Nightmares—two of the deck's defining powerhouses.

Compared to the aggregate list from Magic Spotlight: Foundations, recent iterations have shifted away from Spell Stutter in favor of Preacher of the Schism and Deep-Cavern Bat, trading some instant-speed interaction for stronger board presence.

Aetherdrift introduces several compelling four-mana options for the deck, chief among them being The Aetherspark: a trophy worth winning the Ghirapur Grand Prix. When played on turn four and immediately attached to, say, Faerie Mastermind or Preacher of the Schism, their combat triggers could amass 11 loyalty counters by turn five. That's enough to generate ten extra mana, letting you play out your hand or fuel Faerie Mastermind's ability at will. The Aetherspark is a completely unique effect, and I'm eager to see how it plays out. Other potential four-drops for Dimir Midrange include Mu Yanling, Wind Rider and Oildeep Gearhulk, so there's no shortage of new options to explore. And remember: it's only a death race if you're the one who crashes.

6. Jeskai Convoke

4 Battlefield Forge 4 Inspiring Vantage 4 Seachrome Coast 4 Spirebluff Canal 4 Gleeful Demolition 4 Novice Inspector 4 Spyglass Siren 4 Resolute Reinforcements 4 Imodane's Recruiter 4 Knight-Errant of Eos 4 Warden of the Inner Sky 4 Sheltered by Ghosts 4 Case of the Gateway Express 3 Adarkar Wastes 2 Shivan Reef 2 Mockingbird 1 Plains 4 Protect the Negotiators 4 Torch the Tower 3 Destroy Evil 3 Rest in Peace 1 Lithomantic Barrage

Jeskai Convoke can start its engine early, curving Novice Inspector or Spyglass Siren into Gleeful Demolition to convoke out Knight-Errant of Eos as soon as turn two. This sequence generates card advantage while rapidly developing the board, making it resilient to spot removal. The momentum continues with Imodane's Recruiter, delivering a devastating burst of damage. Additional payoffs like Case of the Gateway Express and Warden of the Inner Sky also reward you for flooding the board with tokens, and with sweepers largely absent from the metagame, going wide is a winning strategy. Blue is included mainly for Spyglass Siren, offering extra fuel for Gleeful Demolition. Your tokens will be hitting the road before your opponents even get out of the garage.

From Aetherdrift, Nesting Bot could be a good addition for this deck. As a one-mana artifact, it can be sacrificed to Gleeful Demolition while leaving behind a token. In fact, it enables a wild turn-two sequence where you play two Gleeful Demolitions and end up with six tokens! If Nesting Bot catches on, the deck might abandon blue entirely and return to its Boros roots, improving its mana with Sunbillow Verge. This shift could also make room for Voyager Glidecar over Mockingbird, as the Vehicle both fuels Gleeful Demolition and mimics Warden of the Inner Sky. And once Voyager Glidecar gains its first counter, it would dodge Go for the Throat, Nowhere to Run, Cut Down, and Sunfall, making it an unexpectedly resilient option. With these new tools, convoke decks are poised to speed ahead.

7. Mono-Red Aggro

16 Mountain 4 Hired Claw 4 Lightning Strike 4 Rockface Village 4 Emberheart Challenger 4 Burst Lightning 4 Screaming Nemesis 4 Monstrous Rage 4 Monastery Swiftspear 4 Heartfire Hero 4 Manifold Mouse 3 Witchstalker Frenzy 1 Soulstone Sanctuary 4 Sunspine Lynx 4 Torch the Tower 3 Lithomantic Barrage 3 Twisted Fealty 1 Pyroclasm

Mono-Red Aggro is essentially a Gruul aggro deck without the green splash. This version boasts a smoother and less painful mana base, running more copies of Rockface Village to target your Mice and Lizards. In place of Gruul's green cards, Mono-Red includes extra copies of Monastery Swiftspear, Lightning Strike, and Witchstalker Frenzy, fueling explosive bursts of firepower. Witchstalker Frenzy works exceptionally well with Screaming Nemesis, as you can target your own Nemesis to deal 5 damage directly to your opponent.

With Aetherdrift introducing the speed mechanic, cards like Burnout Bashtronaut and Hazoret, Godseeker catch the eye. Given that you need your opponent to lose life to increase your speed, these new additions seem perfect for an aggressive strategy like mono-red aggro. Burnout Bashtronaut's double-strike bonus makes it an excellent target for Monstrous Rage, while Hazoret can trigger the valiant abilities of Heartfire Hero or Emberheart Challenger. But questions remain: Are these cards fast enough to keep up with the rest of the pack? If they are, what should we cut for them? And can we afford to take a turn off to refuel with the new Count on Luck? While I don't have the answers just yet, I'm eager to take these new cards for a test ride.

8. Zur Overlords

4 Up the Beanstalk 4 Cavern of Souls 4 Leyline Binding 4 Overlord of the Hauntwoods 4 Hushwood Verge 4 Lush Portico 3 Zur, Eternal Schemer 3 Overlord of the Mistmoors 3 Get Lost 2 Forest 2 Plains 2 Analyze the Pollen 2 Floodfarm Verge 2 Hedge Maze 2 Sunfall 2 Overlord of the Floodpits 2 Elspeth's Smite 2 Meticulous Archive 1 Swamp 1 Island 1 Herd Migration 1 Shadowy Backstreet 1 Day of Judgment 1 Split Up 1 Beza, the Bounding Spring 1 Atraxa, Grand Unifier 1 Seized from Slumber 3 Obstinate Baloth 3 Authority of the Consuls 2 Rest in Peace 2 Negate 2 Temporary Lockdown 1 Elspeth's Smite 1 Nissa, Ascended Animist 1 Doppelgang

Zur Overlords represents the evolution of Domain Ramp, leveraging Zur, Eternal Schemer to transform Overlords into lifelinking threats with devastating attack triggers. For example, you could start by casting Overlord of the Hauntwoods on turn three, triggering Up the Beanstalk and enabling full domain for Leyline Binding right away. By turn four, you'll have five mana, enough to cast and activate Zur, allowing you to attack with the Overlord for a sizable advantage. It's a high-speed acceleration into an overwhelming advantage in the race.

An intriguing option from Aetherdrift is Ketramose, the New Dawn. When Ketramose is on the battlefield, exiling an opposing creature on your turn with Leyline Binding or Elspeth's Smite lets you draw a card. If Ketramose enters the battlefield after Sunfall, it may be able to immediately attack or block. A 4/4 menace, lifelink, indestructible creature for three mana is undeniably powerful. However, adding Ketramose might require a revamp of the deck's removal. Cards like Deadly Cover-Up or Ride's End—another option from Aetherdrift—could supercharge this exile package while also triggering Up the Beanstalk. While it's possible that Ketramose finds a home in a different deck, it's all about exploring what can put us across the finish line.

9. Azorius Oculus

4 Abhorrent Oculus 4 Chart a Course 4 Floodfarm Verge 4 Haughty Djinn 4 Helping Hand 4 Island 4 Meticulous Archive 4 Picklock Prankster 4 Seachrome Coast 4 Moment of Truth 4 Founding the Third Path 3 Recommission 3 Adarkar Wastes 3 Soul Partition 2 Plains 2 Unsummon 2 Negate 1 Undercity Sewers 3 Monastery Mentor 2 Negate 2 Elspeth's Smite 2 Exorcise 2 Temporary Lockdown 2 Ghost Vacuum 1 Destroy Evil 1 Split Up

The primary strategy for Azorius Oculus revolves around getting Abhorrent Oculus into the graveyard through spells like Chart a Course, Picklock Prankster, or Moment of Truth. From there, it's a matter of returning it to the battlefield, circumventing its additional cost with Helping Hand or Recommission. The Oculus then dominates the battlefield, generating an army of manifested creatures and overwhelming opponents with sheer numbers. Hilariously, when Azorius Oculus is hit with a turn-one Hopeless Nightmare, it can discard Abhorrent Oculus and return it on turn one, accelerating past any and all obstacles.

Aetherdrift brings back Spell Pierce, one of the most efficient permission spells in the game, now reprinted for Standard. Azorius Oculus can leverage a strong tempo game with cards like Unsummon and Soul Partition, and Spell Pierce would fit seamlessly into that strategy, replacing or complementing Negate. The added flexibility makes it an exciting tool for an already tricky deck.

10. Azorius Bunnicorn

4 Seachrome Coast 4 Island 4 Floodfarm Verge 4 Adarkar Wastes 4 Warden of the Inner Sky 4 Novice Inspector 4 Mockingbird 4 Spyglass Siren 4 Floodpits Drowner 4 Regal Bunnicorn 4 Sheltered by Ghosts 3 Plains 3 Enduring Curiosity 2 Restless Anchorage 2 Steel Seraph 2 Sanguine Evangelist 1 Soulstone Sanctuary 1 Raise the Past 1 Unidentified Hovership 1 Subterranean Schooner 3 Destroy Evil 3 Protect the Negotiators 2 Raise the Past 2 Split Up 2 Tishana's Tidebinder 1 Rest in Peace 1 Elspeth's Smite 1 Ajani, Caller of the Pride

Previously labeled as Azorius Curiosity or Azorius Aggro, this deck has been renamed Azorius Bunnicorn to better reflect its core strategy. The deck leverages token-generating creatures like Novice Inspector and Spyglass Siren to flood the battlefield with permanents, enabling Regal Bunnicorn to grow into a formidable threat. The finishing blow typically comes when you enchant it with Sheltered by Ghosts, transforming it into a massive creature with lifelink that's capable of easily outpacing red aggro decks.

From Aetherdrift, an exciting addition would be Basri, Tomorrow's Champion. Its tokens bolster Regal Bunnicorn and Warden of the Inner Sky while helping protect one of the deck's standout cards: Enduring Curiosity. Since Enduring Curiosity is a Cat, cycling Basri keeps it safe with hexproof and indestructible, offering a layer of resilience.

11. Mono-White Tokens

16 Plains 4 Beza, the Bounding Spring 4 Caretaker's Talent 4 Fountainport 4 Lay Down Arms 4 Get Lost 4 Carrot Cake 4 Sunfall 4 Enduring Innocence 3 Sunken Citadel 3 Overlord of the Mistmoors 2 Demolition Field 2 Split Up 1 Archangel Elspeth 1 Elspeth's Smite 3 Authority of the Consuls 3 Elspeth's Smite 3 Rest in Peace 2 Exorcise 2 Destroy Evil 1 Serra Paragon 1 Split Up

Mono-White Tokens, also known as Mono-White Caretaker, shines when dismantling creature-based strategies with efficient removal like Lay Down Arms and Sunfall. The deck controls the board with cheap removal and powerful sweepers, buying time until it can capitalize on Caretaker's Talent and Enduring Innocence. These enchantments allow for a steady stream of card advantage, triggering off each Carrot Cake activation and overwhelming opponents with relentless value.

An intriguing option from Aetherdrift is Valor's Flagship. Its cycling ability can trigger both Caretaker's Talent and Enduring Innocence, much like Carrot Cake. In the late game, it offers formidable board presence, even surviving your own Sunfall as a Vehicle, making it a potent way to dominate the battlefield.

12. Azorius Omniscience

4 Picklock Prankster 4 Abuelo's Awakening 4 Moment of Truth 4 Invasion of Arcavios 4 Island 4 Meticulous Archive 4 Fallaji Archaeologist 4 Confounding Riddle 4 Chart a Course 4 Ephara's Dispersal 4 Omniscience 4 Adarkar Wastes 3 Floodfarm Verge 3 Seachrome Coast 2 Blast Zone 2 Fabled Passage 1 Plains 1 Conduit Pylons 3 Grand Abolisher 3 Temporary Lockdown 2 Minor Misstep 2 Exorcise 1 Negate 1 Unnerving Grasp 1 Season of Weaving 1 Get Lost 1 Defabricate

Azorius Omniscience, a relatively recent innovation, is the premier combo deck in today's Standard. Whether you're cruising down a smooth highway or taking the scenic route, this deck offers a clear path to victory. The core strategy revolves around milling or discarding Omniscience and then bringing it back onto the battlefield on turn four via Abuelo's Awakening. From there, you cast Invasion of Arcavios for free, fetching Season of Weaving from your sideboard. With Season of Weaving, you'll create a token copy of Omniscience if Abuelo's Awakening makes it a creature and bounce everything else, including Invasion of Arcavios. Afterward, you can replay Invasion of Arcavios for free, retrieve Season of Weaving from your graveyard, and repeat the loop, now with two free pawprints worth of modes each time. This ultimately generates infinite creature tokens while drawing your entire deck in the process.

Aetherdrift introduces a cycle of five Gearhulks, with Riptide Gearhulk being a noteworthy consideration for any fair Azorius deck. While Azorius Omniscience remains primarily focused on its combo, Riptide Gearhulk could offer a transformational sideboard plan. When facing opponents who board out creature removal in favor of counterspells like Negate and graveyard hate like Rest in Peace, Riptide Gearhulk might slip past their defenses and swing the board in your favor. Additionally, it could serve as a backup target for Abuelo's Awakening if you don't see Omniscience. Though it would start as a 1/1 flyer, its prowess and double strike can quickly turn it into a significant threat.

13. Selesnya Cage

4 Overlord of the Mistmoors 4 Llanowar Elves 4 Pawpatch Recruit 4 Collector's Cage 4 Sandstorm Salvager 4 Sanguine Evangelist 4 Brushland 4 Restless Prairie 4 Razorverge Thicket 4 Plains 4 Hushwood Verge 3 Sheltered by Ghosts 3 Forest 2 Seraphic Steed 2 Wilt-Leaf Liege 2 Melira, the Living Cure 2 Get Lost 1 Toby, Beastie Befriender 1 Mirrex 4 Aven Interrupter 2 Elspeth's Smite 2 Destroy Evil 2 Split Up 2 Invasion of Gobakhan 1 Wilt-Leaf Liege 1 Sheltered by Ghosts 1 Thrun, Breaker of Silence

Selesnya Cage leverages Collector's Cage to play Overlord of the Mistmoors as early as turn three. The ideal sequence starts with Llanowar Elves on turn one, followed by Sandstorm Salvager on turn two. On turn three, you cast the Cage, exile the seven-drop, and place a +1/+1 counter on a 1/1 creature. This creates three creatures of different powers, allowing you to play the Overlord for free. The deck posted an impressive win rate against Dimir Midrange and Esper Pixie at Magic Spotlight: Foundations, utilizing Wilt-Leaf Liege against Hopeless Nightmare, having gained popularity since.

Brightglass Gearhulk from Aetherdrift could be an exciting addition to this deck. In the current version, it can fetch two copies of Pawpatch Recruit, offering solid card advantage while ensuring three different creature sizes for Collector's Cage. Additional cards such as Valgavoth's Lair, Dusk Rose Reliquary, Nurturing Pixie, or Ghost Vacuum could further enhance the Gearhulk's versatility. As a trampler, it also benefits greatly from the counters provided by Collector's Cage. Beyond the Gearhulk, Aetherdrift introduces March of the World Ooze, which could transform a board full of small tokens into a devastating onslaught.

14. Boros Mice

6 Mountain 4 Flowerfoot Swordmaster 4 Heartfire Hero 4 Battlefield Forge 4 Manifold Mouse 4 Inspiring Vantage 4 Emberheart Challenger 4 Monstrous Rage 4 Burst Lightning 4 Sheltered by Ghosts 3 Restless Bivouac 3 Hired Claw 2 Mabel, Heir to Cragflame 2 Plains 2 Screaming Nemesis 2 Shardmage's Rescue 2 Rockface Village 1 Raucous Carnival 1 Lightning Helix 4 Destroy Evil 3 Sunspine Lynx 2 Witchstalker Frenzy 2 Torch the Tower 2 Screaming Nemesis 2 Lithomantic Barrage

Boros Mice, the fourteenth and final deck in this overview, shares the core of Heartfire Hero, Emberheart Challenger, Manifold Mouse, Monstrous Rage, and Burst Lightning with Gruul Aggro and Mono-Red Aggro, but it doubles down on Mice synergies. White contributes Flowerfoot Swordmaster and Mabel, Heir to Cragflame, which can elevate the Mice to even more formidable sizes. Additional utility spells like Sheltered by Ghosts and Lightning Helix provide more reasons to splash white.

Before Aetherdrift, the main reason Gruul Aggro outpaced Boros Mice was its access to Thornspire Verge, while Boros lacked a red-white equivalent. As a result, Boros decks often relied on less efficient options like Raucous Carnival, Restless Bivouac, and basic lands, which hampered the deck's speed and colored mana consistency. The introduction of Sunbillow Verge is a substantial mana base upgrade, potentially heralding a shift in the typical color combinations for aggro decks in Standard.

What's Next for Standard?

Magic is off to the races in Aetherdrift, and if you're looking to burn rubber at your next Standard event, any of the decks and cards covered in this article would be a great addition to your garage. Aetherdrift not only provides powerful buffs to existing archetypes but also introduces numerous build-arounds, enabling the creation of brand-new decks or revitalizing forgotten ones. With an abundance of new possibilities, the set is overflowing with potential. Just to throw out some ideas:

• Dinosaurs with Regal Imperiosaur
• Goblins with Howlsquad Heavy
• Merfolk with Mindspring Merfolk
• Naya Mounts with Kolodin, Triumph Caster and District Mascot
• Abzan Reanimator with Tune Up and Thundering Broodwagon
• Orzhov Speed Sacrifice with Gas Guzzler; Zahur, Glory's Past; and Embalmed Ascendant
• Golgari Insidious Roots with Molt Tender, Bloodghast, and Afterburner Expert
• Azorius Affinity with Memory Guardian and Voyage Home
• Temur Repurposing Bay featuring the infinite combo of Boommobile, Lilysplash Mentor, and Simulacrum Synthesizer

Aetherdrift brings a wealth of exciting cards, and I can't wait to see what the Pro Tour metagame will look like! Pro Tour Aetherdrift takes place February 21–23, and you'll be able to follow the action live at twitch.tv/magic or experience the excitement in person at MagicCon: Chicago.

Until then, for those aspiring to qualify for a future Pro Tour or Regional Championship, the current round of Regional Championship Qualifiers (running through March 22) offers Standard as the format for in-store Constructed events. To learn more about how to prove your skill on the track, this article provides an overview of the various paths to qualifying for the Pro Tour in 2025.

All in all, Standard is in great shape going into Aetherdrift, and this new expansion is brimming with excitement. For new or returning Magic players eager to dive into Standard, I recommend starting with Magic: The Gathering Foundations products—the Beginner Box is a great introduction to learning the game, and the Starter Collection helps kickstart your deck-building adventures—before adding to the experience with Aetherdrift products. And when you're ready to hit the track, you can preorder products ahead of Aetherdrift's release on February 14 at your local game store, online retailers like Amazon, and everywhere else Magic products are sold.