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 weekend marks the beginning of a brand-new round of Regional Championship Qualifiers (RCQs) with Modern as the Constructed format for in-store events. The format has shifted dramatically following the recent banning of Underworld Breach, revitalizing the metagame and sparking a wave of fresh innovation.

At this upcoming RCQ cycle, running from April 12 through July 20, participants will receive a Prosperous Innkeeper promo card while supplies last, with top-performing players also earning a beautiful Fauna Shaman promo card. More importantly, this round provides a pathway for aspiring competitors to qualify for their respective Modern Regional Championships, scheduled for October through November 2025, which in turn can qualify them for the first Pro Tour of 2026.

To help you stay ahead of the curve, today's article offers a comprehensive overview of the Modern format, complete with a current metagame snapshot and a deep dive into the top archetypes that have risen in the wake of the Breach ban. Along the way, I'll also spotlight several intriguing new cards from Tarkir: Dragonstorm that may soon find a home in the format.

The Modern Metagame Without Underworld Breach

Modern is a nonrotating 60-card format based on expansion sets, core sets, and straight-to-Modern sets from Eighth Edition forward, save for cards on the banned list. With a deep card pool that spans more than two decades of Magic history, Modern offers intricate card interactions, complex synergies, and a wide variety of viable strategies.

Consign to Memory 489782 489766 662349 522214

To understand the shape of the metagame in a post-Breach world, I dove into the published Magic Online decklists from the first eleven Modern Challenges and Last Chance events held after the Underworld Breach ban. While the sample size of 352 decklists is modest, it still offers valuable insights into the format. The five most played nonland cards across all main decks and sideboards were Consign to Memory; Thoughtseize; Fatal Push; Phlage, Titan of Fire's Fury; and Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer.

To blend popularity and performance into a single metric, I assigned points to each deck based on its rectified net wins (calculated as the number of match wins minus losses, with negative values treated as zero). By summing these points across all events, each archetype's share of the total reflects its winner's metagame share: a snapshot of what you can expect to see at the top tables.

In this table, each archetype name hyperlinks to a top-performing decklist that closely reflects its aggregate build. The Other category—consisting of archetypes with less than one percent metagame share—featured a wild mix of strategies, including Urza ThopterSword, Eldrazi Aggro, Kethis Combo, Lantern Control, Jund Sagavan, Hollow One, Mono-Black Eldrazi, Azorius Miracles, Boros Burn, Living End, Golgari Yawgmoth, Jund Creativity, Eldrazi Metalcraft, Dimir Oculus, Eldrazi Breach, and more. The number of competitively viable Modern archetypes remains enormous, and the field is wide open.

Compared to the metagame at MagicSpotlight: Modern—the last major event before Underworld Breach was banned—the format has already begun to evolve in fascinating ways. As indicated by the arrows in the table, Boros Energy has risen as the early deck to beat, while combo decks like Tameshi Belcher and Ruby Storm are also gaining traction, rushing to fill the void left by the absence of Underworld Breach.

One of the biggest questions in the wake of the ban was whether Mox Opal might find a new home in Modern. Of the 352 decklists examined, 23 (or 6.5%) featured at least one copy of the legendary artifact. This subset of decks was a diverse bunch, including Azorius Affinity, Ascendancy Combo, Kethis Combo, Urza ThopterSword, Lantern Control, Eldrazi Metalcraft, and Asmo Food. Among them, two intriguing newcomers stand out for their similarity in style to the former Temur Breach archetype. Both leverage the familiar core of Mox Opal; Mox Amber; Emry, Lurker of the Loch; Tamiyo, Inquisitive Student; Mishra's Bauble; and Urza's Saga to set up game-winning combos:

• Ascendancy Combo: This deck seeks to assemble Jeskai Ascendancy alongside Emry, Lurker of the Loch and double Mox Opal. With the pieces in place, Emry recasts Mox Opal, Jeskai Ascendancy untaps Emry, and the legend rule clears the way for recursion. By looping, you get an infinitely large Emry and, usually, a win on the spot.
• Kethis Combo: This deck aims to combine Kethis, the Hidden Hand with Jace, the Perfected Mind and two copies of Mox Opal. Each Kethis activation lets you replay your Opals from the graveyard, while Jace mills yourself to fuel even more activations. Eventually, you switch gears and use recurring Jace copies to deck your opponent instead.

Though both Modern decks are still in their infancy, they hold promise. Whether they can ascend to prominence remains to be seen, but I'll keep a close eye on them in the coming weeks.

To offer a clearer sense of what to expect at upcoming RCQs, I've constructed aggregate lists for the top-tier strategies using an algorithm that weighs popularity, success, and individual card synergies. Let's dive into the ten most prominent archetypes—each representing at least three percent of the winner's metagame over the past week—along with a few standout cards from Tarkir: Dragonstorm that caught my eye.

1. Boros Energy (15.1% of the Winner's Metagame)

4 Ajani, Nacatl Pariah 4 Guide of Souls 4 Ocelot Pride 4 Phlage, Titan of Fire's Fury 4 Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer 4 Galvanic Discharge 4 Arid Mesa 4 Flooded Strand 3 Goblin Bombardment 3 Arena of Glory 3 Sacred Foundry 3 Seasoned Pyromancer 3 Marsh Flats 3 Fable of the Mirror-Breaker 2 Elegant Parlor 2 Plains 2 Static Prison 2 Thraben Charm 1 Mountain 1 Windswept Heath 4 Molten Rain 2 Orim's Chant 2 Deafening Silence 1 Wear // Tear 1 Showdown of the Skalds 1 Celestial Purge 1 March of Otherworldly Light 1 Wrath of the Skies 1 Blood Moon 1 Stony Silence

In the early days of the post-ban Modern format, Boros Energy has established itself as the deck to beat. Powered by the potent combination of Guide of Souls and Galvanic Discharge, it dominates the battlefield with ruthless efficiency. Its aggressive core is further bolstered by the feline firepower of Ocelot Pride and Ajani, Nacatl Pariah, which together apply relentless pressure. Sacrificing Cat tokens to Goblin Bombardment chips away at life totals and lets Ajani transform into a formidable planeswalker. In longer games, Phlage, Titan of Fire's Fury acts as a resilient threat, especially when given haste by Arena of Glory. Although variants splashing blue or black in their main decks claim 2.1% and 1% of the winner's metagame respectively, classic Boros builds remain the most prevalent.

With the disappearance of Underworld Breach decks from the metagame, there's no longer a pressing need for main-deck Ranger-Captain of Eos or sideboard copies of Stony Silence. This shift has opened up space for new tools. Many successful Boros Energy lists now feature Fable of the Mirror-Breaker as a better all-round three-drop in the main deck, while Deafening Silence has become a prime answer to Ruby Storm after sideboard.

As Tarkir: Dragonstorm swoops into the format, several new cards could slot into Boros Energy. Early standouts include Voice of Victory and Dalkovan Encampment. Their 1/1 Warrior tokens accelerate your damage output and synergize with the deck's existing cards. The tokens fuel Guide of Souls, contribute to the city's blessing, get copied by Ocelot Pride, and serve as ammunition for Goblin Bombardment. Given their synergy potential, these new cards are well worth exploring.

2. Eldrazi Ramp (10.8% of the Winner's Metagame)

4 Sowing Mycospawn 4 Kozilek's Command 4 Eldrazi Temple 4 Forest 4 Ugin's Labyrinth 4 Malevolent Rumble 4 Talisman of Impulse 4 Utopia Sprawl 4 Devourer of Destiny 3 Emrakul, the Promised End 3 Kozilek's Return 3 Writhing Chrysalis 2 World Breaker 2 Stomping Ground 2 Ancient Stirrings 1 Commercial District 1 Bojuka Bog 1 Sanctum of Ugin 1 Misty Rainforest 1 Verdant Catacombs 1 Cavern of Souls 1 Wooded Foothills 1 Windswept Heath 1 Sire of Seven Deaths 3 Stone Rain 2 Dismember 2 Soulless Jailer 2 Torpor Orb 2 Trinisphere 1 Kozilek's Return 1 The Stone Brain 1 Nature's Claim 1 Sire of Seven Deaths

Eldrazi decks appear in a wide range of configurations, but they all lean heavily on the raw efficiency of Eldrazi Temple and Ugin's Labyrinth. The most prominent variant, which I call Eldrazi Ramp, blends a diverse mix of card types to ramp into Emrakul, the Promised End. The central graveyard enabler that binds the strategy together is Malevolent Rumble. Further supported by ramp effects like Utopia Sprawl, Sowing Mycospawn, Talisman of Impulse, and Kozilek's Command, Eldrazi Ramp consistently jumps ahead on mana, paving the way for colossal threats far earlier than expected.

With the banning of Underworld Breach and the ensuing decline in artifact cards like Grinding Station, Mox Opal, Mox Amber, and Mishra's Bauble, the metagame has shifted—and so has the role of Karn, the Great Creator. Once a formidable piece of disruption, Karn has largely fallen out of favor in more recent Eldrazi Ramp builds. In its place, Ancient Stirrings has reclaimed space in the main deck, while sideboards have opened up for multiple copies of Trinisphere to keep explosive combo decks like Ruby Storm in check.

From Tarkir: Dragonstorm, a compelling new addition is Ugin, Eye of the Storms. As a ramp payoff, Ugin offers an imposing suite of abilities: exiling nearly any nonland permanent on entry, drawing cards and gaining life each turn, and chaining additional exile triggers as spells are cast. Given that most spells in the deck are colorless, Ugin's potential ceiling is sky-high. Yet, the question remains: is it stronger than World Breaker or Sire of Seven Deaths? Those Eldrazi, after all, benefit from Eldrazi Temple's discount and trigger Kozilek's Return. Ugin certainly warrants testing in Eldrazi Ramp, but it may shine even brighter in shells like Eldrazi Tron or Eldrazi Metalcraft.

3. Dimir Murktide (9.1% of the Winner's Metagame)

4 Orcish Bowmasters 4 Psychic Frog 4 Counterspell 4 Fatal Push 4 Polluted Delta 4 Thoughtseize 3 Murktide Regent 3 Force of Negation 3 Preordain 2 Subtlety 2 Sink into Stupor 2 Spell Snare 2 Undercity Sewers 2 Watery Grave 2 Tamiyo, Inquisitive Student 2 Dismember 2 Island 2 Kaito, Bane of Nightmares 2 Darkslick Shores 2 Flooded Strand 1 Swamp 1 Misty Rainforest 1 Marsh Flats 1 Scalding Tarn 1 Sauron's Ransom 4 Consign to Memory 2 Harbinger of the Seas 2 Stern Scolding 2 Nihil Spellbomb 1 Jace, the Mind Sculptor 1 Engineered Explosives 1 Subtlety 1 Mystical Dispute 1 The Meathook Massacre

Dimir Murktide stands as the format's premier interactive midrange deck, using a mix of countermagic, discard, and removal to dismantle opposing plans. A well-timed turn-two Psychic Frog can snowball into a commanding advantage, while Murktide Regent often soars in as an 8/8 flier for just two mana.

Earlier in 2025, Psychic Frog builds largely leaned on Abhorrent Oculus and Unearth to win the game. But as the metagame tilted toward graveyard hate—particularly following Aetherdrift's Ketramose, the New Dawn—those cards became increasingly fragile. In contrast, Murktide Regent requires fewer deck slots and is slightly less vulnerable to graveyard disruption, helping it reclaim its position as the deck's go-to finisher.

Since the ban of Underworld Breach, Dimir Murktide has made a remarkable comeback. From a modest percentage of the winner's metagame in the final premier events before the ban, it has more than tripled its representation. The deck boasts favorable matchups against rising combo contenders like Tameshi Belcher and Ruby Storm, particularly when it runs a full playset of Thoughtseize in the main deck. And even though it struggles against Orzhov Blink, that deck appears to be fading from the spotlight, leaving Dimir Murktide well-positioned all around.

4. Tameshi Belcher (8.6% of the Winner's Metagame)

4 Goblin Charbelcher 4 Lotus Bloom 4 Fallaji Archaeologist 4 Hydroelectric Specimen 4 Tameshi, Reality Architect 4 Thundertrap Trainer 4 Beyeen Veil 4 Disrupting Shoal 4 Flare of Denial 4 Jwari Disruption 4 Sink into Stupor 4 Whir of Invention 4 Sea Gate Restoration 4 Suppression Ray 3 Spell Snare 1 Stern Scolding 3 Consign to Memory 3 Harbinger of the Seas 1 Force of Negation 1 Mountain 1 Into the Flood Maw 1 Portable Hole 1 Commandeer 1 Pact of Negation 1 Stern Scolding 1 Flusterstorm 1 Tezzeret the Seeker

Tameshi Belcher has emerged as Modern's premier combo deck in the wake of the Underworld Breach ban. With Goblin Charbelcher as its primary win condition, the deck thrives in a metagame where once prominent staples like Stony Silence; Karn, the Great Creator; and Collector Ouphe are on the decline. And since Tameshi Belcher runs no actual lands, a single Belcher activation reliably deals damage equal to the number of cards in your library—typically more than enough to end the game on the spot.

To reach the necessary mana for this activation, the deck leans heavily on Lotus Bloom and a suite of modal double-faced cards (MDFCs). The blue MDFCs support Disrupting Shoal and facilitate a mono-blue mana base for Whir of Invention, which can fetch Lotus Bloom just in time for a lethal turn-four Belcher activation. In addition to this primary plan, the deck also features a potent backup combo: Tameshi, Reality Architect paired with Lotus Bloom can generate immense amounts of mana, often culminating in an enormous Sea Gate Restoration that seals the game.

5. Ruby Storm (7.2% of the Winner's Metagame)

4 Ruby Medallion 4 Ral, Monsoon Mage 4 Desperate Ritual 4 Manamorphose 4 Pyretic Ritual 4 Reckless Impulse 4 Wrenn's Resolve 3 Mountain 3 Glimpse the Impossible 3 Past in Flames 3 Arid Mesa 2 Wish 2 Valakut Awakening 2 Bloodstained Mire 2 Scalding Tarn 2 Elegant Parlor 2 Strike It Rich 2 Wooded Foothills 2 Artist's Talent 1 Sacred Foundry 1 Gemstone Caverns 1 Grapeshot 1 Sunbaked Canyon 4 Orim's Chant 3 Prismatic Ending 1 Grapeshot 1 Past in Flames 1 Empty the Warrens 1 Brotherhood's End 1 Abrade 1 Galvanic Relay 1 Into the Flood Maw 1 Return the Favor

Ruby Storm is a blisteringly fast combo deck centered around Ruby Medallion and Ral, Monsoon Mage. With either card on the battlefield, spells like Pyretic Ritual and Desperate Ritual cost just a single red mana, unlocking a massive mana boost. The cost reduction also applies to card-draw spells like Reckless Impulse and Wrenn's Resolve, allowing you to churn through your library with startling speed. The core game plan is to cast a flurry of spells in a single turn, flash them back with Past in Flames, and finish with a lethal Grapeshot. It's combo in its purest, most tempestuous form.

Disrupting these combo turns is vital. If your sideboard includes cards like Orim's Chant, Deafening Silence, Soulless Jailer, Damping Sphere, Drannith Magistrate, or Trinisphere, then you can bring their turns to a screeching halt. Cheap removal for artifacts or creatures can also pick off Ruby Medallion or Ral before the fireworks begin. Either way, Ruby Storm is a blazing presence that demands serious respect in the current metagame.

6. Orzhov Blink (6.2% of the Winner's Metagame)

4 Overlord of the Balemurk 4 Phelia, Exuberant Shepherd 4 Solitude 4 Witch Enchanter 4 Marsh Flats 4 Thoughtseize 4 Ketramose, the New Dawn 3 Emperor of Bones 3 Ephemerate 3 Fatal Push 3 Godless Shrine 3 Flickerwisp 3 Relic of Progenitus 2 Plains 2 Shadowy Backstreet 2 Bleachbone Verge 2 Prismatic Ending 2 Windswept Heath 1 Boggart Trawler 1 Swamp 1 Sacred Foundry 1 Arid Mesa 4 White Orchid Phantom 3 Wrath of the Skies 2 Drannith Magistrate 2 Vindicate 2 Aven Interrupter 1 Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines 1 Orcish Bowmasters

Orzhov Blink thrives on the potent synergy between Overlord of the Balemurk and Phelia, Exuberant Shepherd. When blinked, Overlord returns without its time counters, creating an undercosted threat that fuels repeatable card advantage. While the deck is capable of grinding through long games, its real strength lies in its balanced, interactive game plan. With Thoughtseize, Fatal Push, and a suite of efficient disruption, Orzhov Blink can adapt to a wide range of matchups. Raul Porojan's recent victory at Magic Spotlight: Modern highlighted the deck's intricate gameplay, fair matchups across the board, and ability to outvalue opponents over time.

The most impactful new addition is Aetherdrift's Ketramose, the New Dawn, which adds another powerful engine to the mix. With Ketramose on the battlefield, each card you exile on your turn with Emperor of Bones or Phelia draws a card, creating a steady stream of advantage. It won't be long before Ketramose transforms into a 4/4 lifelinker that helps you race toward victory. Additional exile effects such as Solitude, Flickerwisp, Ephemerate, and Relic of Progenitus further fuel Ketramose's draw ability, often triggering it multiple times per turn.

From Tarkir: Dragonstorm, several new tools may find a home in this archetype. Great Arashin City synergizes beautifully with Ketramose, generating both a 1/1 Spirit token and a card. While Great Arashin City won't let you cast Thoughtseize or Fatal Push on turn one, the fetch land-heavy mana base should enable it to enter untapped by the midgame. I could see the inclusion of one or two copies. Another interesting option is Clarion Conqueror, a versatile hate piece that shuts down key activated abilities—from Goblin Charbelcher and Mox Opal to Eldrazi Spawn; Talisman of Impulse; Ral, Leyline Prodigy; Emry, Lurker of the Loch; and more. While it may require sideboarding out Relic of Progenitus to avoid anti-synergy, the Conqueror's broad disruptive net and ability to be grabbed by Overlord of the Balemurk make it a strong contender for the sideboard.

7. Amulet Titan (5.5% of the Winner's Metagame)

4 Amulet of Vigor 4 Arboreal Grazer 4 Primeval Titan 4 Spelunking 4 Crumbling Vestige 4 Gruul Turf 4 Urza's Saga 4 Scapeshift 4 Explore 3 Boseiju, Who Endures 3 Simic Growth Chamber 2 Summoner's Pact 2 Forest 2 Lotus Field 2 The Mycosynth Gardens 1 Aftermath Analyst 1 Echoing Deeps 1 Mirrorpool 1 Hanweir Battlements 1 Otawara, Soaring City 1 Shifting Woodland 1 Tolaria West 1 Vesuva 1 Cultivator Colossus 1 Urza's Cave 3 Dismember 2 Tireless Tracker 2 Vampires' Vengeance 1 Forest 1 Bojuka Bog 1 Otawara, Soaring City 1 Six 1 Cavern of Souls 1 Force of Vigor 1 Stock Up 1 Pyroclasm

Amulet Titan is one of Modern's most intricate ramp decks, built around the explosive synergy between Amulet of Vigor and bounce lands like Gruul Turf or Simic Growth Chamber. With Amulet in play, those lands effectively enter untapped and generate additional mana, enabling you to cast Primeval Titan ahead of time. Even when Amulet of Vigor doesn't show up, Spelunking and Urza's Saga serve as redundant copies. Once Primeval Titan hits the battlefield, it often fetches Hanweir Battlements to gain haste and immediately shift the game in your favor. Mastering the deck requires a deep knowledge of its available lines of play, making it a high-skill, high-reward archetype.

Recent builds have trimmed cards like Malevolent Rumble and Green Sun's Zenith, opting instead for maxed-out copies of Explore and Scapeshift. The Scapeshift combo line has become a powerful alternate-win condition. With Amulet of Vigor in play and enough lands on the battlefield, casting Scapeshift to fetch two Lotus Fields, Simic Growth Chamber, Tolaria West, and Shifting Woodland unlocks a chain reaction: the bounce land returns Tolaria West, which transmutes for Summoner's Pact, which finds Aftermath Analyst. The Analyst recurs the Lotus Fields, generating even more mana. At that point, Shifting Woodland can become a copy of Aftermath Analyst, allowing you to sacrifice and reanimate it and generate infinite mana and eventually infinite Mirrorpool and Hanweir Battlements activations to produce a horde of hasty attackers. The combo is complex, but the lesson is simple: when playing against Amulet Titan, don't let Scapeshift resolve!

8. Samwise Gamgee Combo (3.5% of the Winner's Metagame)

4 Cauldron Familiar 4 Gilded Goose 4 Samwise Gamgee 4 Viscera Seer 4 Birthing Ritual 4 Chord of Calling 4 Verdant Catacombs 4 Windswept Heath 3 Wall of Roots 2 Boseiju, Who Endures 2 Overgrown Tomb 2 Temple Garden 2 Orcish Bowmasters 2 Young Wolf 2 Thoughtseize 1 Dryad Arbor 1 Forest 1 Godless Shrine 1 Lush Portico 1 Underground Mortuary 1 Grist, the Hunger Tide 1 Wooded Foothills 1 Sylvan Safekeeper 1 Haywire Mite 1 Nurturing Peatland 1 Swamp 1 Brightglass Gearhulk 1 Skyclave Apparition 3 Force of Vigor 2 Fatal Push 2 Veil of Summer 2 Thoughtseize 1 Drannith Magistrate 1 Suncleanser 1 Crystal Barricade 1 Endurance 1 Enduring Innocence 1 Collector Ouphe

Samwise Gamgee Combo is a creature-based combo deck that revolves around the trifecta of Samwise Gamgee, Viscera Seer, and Cauldron Familiar. Together, these cards form an infinite loop: you sacrifice Familiar to Seer, drain your opponent, then use Samwise Gamgee's Food token to bring Familiar back, repeating the process until the opponent is out of life. With Birthing Ritual and Chord of Calling providing tutoring power, the combo can be assembled with impressive consistency. While some lists flirt with secondary combos, the most successful recent versions have doubled down on this single, streamlined path to victory.

From Tarkir: Dragonstorm, Nature's Rhythm is a compelling new tool that could boost the deck's consistency. Although its mana cost may be a touch steep for Modern's pacing, it's worth noting that an opening hand of Gilded Goose, Wall of Roots, Nature's Rhythm, and four lands can assemble the full combo unassisted. You can tutor up Samwise Gamgee on turn three, then harmonize into Brightsteel Gearhulk on turn four, fetching both Viscera Seer and Cauldron Familiar to go infinite soon after. Nature's Rhythm also adds resilience to discard and counterspells, making it an intriguing option as an auxiliary Samwise tutor.

And for the more adventurous brewer: Nature's Rhythm happens to be one of the cleanest ways to put Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar directly onto the battlefield. If you're looking to cook up something truly wild, that's a dish worth considering.

9. Azorius Chant (3.3% of the Winner's Metagame)

4 Solitude 4 Counterspell 4 Orim's Chant 4 Flooded Strand 4 Narset, Parter of Veils 4 Prismatic Ending 3 Teferi, Time Raveler 2 Spell Snare 2 Hallowed Fountain 2 Island 2 Meticulous Archive 2 Plains 2 Day's Undoing 2 Supreme Verdict 2 Teferi, Hero of Dominaria 2 Misty Rainforest 2 Windswept Heath 1 Lórien Revealed 1 Isochron Scepter 1 Breeding Pool 1 Geier Reach Sanitarium 1 Hall of Storm Giants 1 Mystic Gate 1 Otawara, Soaring City 1 Monumental Henge 1 Force of Negation 1 March of Otherworldly Light 1 Hedge Maze 1 Wrath of the Skies 1 Marsh Flats 4 Consign to Memory 2 Rest in Peace 2 Subtlety 2 Celestial Purge 2 Mystical Dispute 1 Isochron Scepter 1 Kaheera, the Orphanguard 1 Temporary Lockdown

Azorius Chant is a white-blue control strategy that seeks to dictate the pace of the game through efficient interaction. At its core are staples like Counterspell and Prismatic Ending, but the deck's signature piece is Orim's Chant. This one-mana instant can stifle a Ruby Storm opponent mid-combo, prevent a suspended Lotus Bloom from being cast, or lock down a midrange opponent's ability to cast spells or attack for a crucial turn. In most cases, that one-turn reprieve is all you need to seize control. Moreover, Isochron Scepter imprinted with Orim's Chant can completely lock the opponent out of the game, ensuring a slow but inevitable victory.

If your opponent reveals Kaheera, the Orphanguard as their companion, Azorius Chant is the most likely culprit. If your opening hand is full of creature removal, consider a mulligan—those cards will do little here. Be wary of Counterspell and Spell Snare before casting key spells, and avoid overextending into Supreme Verdict. Even if you're not playing any draw spells yourself, it's wise to attack Narset before she can lock you out with Day's Undoing or Geier Reach Sanitarium.

10. Mono-Green Broodscale (3% of the Winner's Metagame)

4 Blade of the Bloodchief 4 Basking Broodscale 4 Glaring Fleshraker 4 Walking Ballista 4 Kozilek's Command 4 Eldrazi Temple 4 Prismatic Vista 4 Urza's Saga 4 Ancient Stirrings 4 Malevolent Rumble 3 Springleaf Drum 3 Forest 2 Agatha's Soul Cauldron 2 Boseiju, Who Endures 2 Cavern of Souls 2 Grove of the Burnwillows 1 Emrakul, the Promised End 1 Haywire Mite 1 Gemstone Caverns 1 Traverse the Ulvenwald 1 Vexing Bauble 1 Snow-Covered Wastes 3 Thief of Existence 3 Veil of Summer 2 Dismember 2 Torpor Orb 1 Grafdigger's Cage 1 Pithing Needle 1 Vexing Bauble 1 Haywire Mite 1 Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre

Mono-Green Broodscale revolves around the infinite combo of Basking Broodscale and Blade of the Bloodchief. Each time you sacrifice an Eldrazi Spawn for mana, Blade of the Bloodchief places a +1/+1 counter on Basking Broodscale, triggering its ability to create another Spawn. This loop produces an infinitely large Broodscale and infinite mana. To convert this into a win, the deck employs finishers like Glaring Fleshraker or Walking Ballista, with Kozilek's Command offering a reliable way to tutor them up and end the game with infinite damage.

When playing against Mono-Green Broodscale, be aware that Blade of the Bloodchief also functions as a potent offensive tool outside of the infinite combo. For instance, imagine they control a 1/1 Walking Ballista equipped with Blade of the Bloodchief and four Eldrazi Spawn. By sacrificing the tokens and spending four mana, the Ballista becomes a 6/6, capable of connecting for a brutal 12-point swing. Moreover, thanks to Blade of the Bloodchief, it can mow down multiple 1-toughness blockers for free. Spotting these lines in advance is key to disrupting their strategy before it spirals out of control.

What's Next for Modern and Magic Premier Play?

With the Modern RCQ season just around the corner, the format is bursting with new and innovative decks. While I've spotlighted the top ten archetypes kicking off the season, countless other strategies remain competitively viable, and the metagame will surely continue to evolve week by week. The months ahead promise fierce competition, surprising breakouts, and ongoing refinement as players push their decks to the limit and unearth powerful new options.

You can find Regional Championship Qualifiers near you with the store and event locator or your regional organizer's website. While there are multiple paths to qualify for the Pro Tour, the infographic below provides a visual overview to Pro Tour fame through Regional Championships.

Ultimately, the sheer number of viable Modern archetypes means that anything is possible in the hands of a skilled pilot. Success often comes down to knowing your deck inside and out—its interactions, its sideboard pivots, and its most common matchups. So, choose a deck you enjoy, master its intricacies, and tune it for the expected field!

While I've already highlighted some standout cards from Tarkir: Dragonstorm—like Ugin, Eye of the Storms—plenty of other additions may breathe new life into forgotten archetypes. Cori-Steel Cutter could bolster prowess strategies. Additionally, Mox Jasper can treat Universal Automaton and Mothdust Changeling as one-mana Dragons. It's an exciting time to build new decks.

You'll also see Tarkir: Dragonstorm in action this weekend at Magic Spotlight: Dragons, where the format is Tarkir: Dragonstorm Limited. Magic Hall of Fame members Reid Duke and Luis Scott-Vargas will lead coverage, guiding views through Tarkir: Dragonstorm. Catch all the action on Star City Games's YouTube and Twitch channels!