Metagame Mentor: The Top Standard Decks to Expect at Pro Tour Secrets of Strixhaven

April 23, 2026

Frank Karsten

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. With the release of Secrets of Strixhaven, we're stepping into an exciting season of Standard, and the Pro Tour promises quite the spectacle. Pro Tour Secrets of Strixhaven boasts a $500,000 prize pool, the world's top competitors, and a showcase of Secrets of Strixhaven in Standard. Check out the viewer's guide for all the details on the event.

To give an early indication of what to expect at the Pro Tour, today's article presents a snapshot of the Standard metagame just before the release of Secrets of Strixhaven. I'll also spotlight several potential new additions from Magic's newest set. In true Quandrix fashion, I used a mathematical algorithm to provide aggregate decklists of the top fifteen archetypes as of now, along with full numerical breakdowns of card choices.

The Standard Metagame Before Secrets of Strixhaven

Standard is a rotating 60-card format that currently allows expansion sets from Wilds of Eldraine forward. To analyze the shape of the metagame after the conclusion of Regional Championships from January through March, I analyzed 1,248 successful tournament decks from March 16 through April 18. Specifically, my dataset is comprised of every published Magic Online Standard Challenge decklist during this time period.

To show which decks are dominating the top tables, 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.

Archetype	Winner's Metagame Share
1. Izzet Prowess	23.7%
2. Mono-Green Landfall	15.7%
3. Izzet Lessons	10.2%
4. Dimir Excruciator	9.2%
5. Izzet Spellementals	9.2%
6. Bant Rhythm	5.6%
7. Selesnya Rhythm	4.4%
8. Izzet Elementals	4.3%
9. Boros Mobilize	2.5%
10. Dimir Midrange	2.1%
11. Azorius Momo	1.9%
12. Jeskai Control	1.2%
13. Temur Omniscience	1.1%
14. Mono-Red Aggro	0.9%
15. Sultai Reanimator	0.9%
16. Other	6.9%

In this table, each archetype name hyperlinks to a top-performing decklist that closely reflects its aggregate build. The "Other" category collects decks with less than one percent winner's metagame share, including Mono-White Momo, Orzhov Mono, Temur Harmonizer, Boros Dragons, Golgari Pursuit, Azorius Tempo, Azorius Artifacts, Esper Pixie, Four-Color Control, Bant Airbending, Simic Rhythm, Temur Robots, and more.

Izzet Prowess emerged during the latter half of the Regional Championship cycle, and it quickly established itself as the most popular deck, backed by an impressive win rate. Compared to the metagame at the last four Regional Championships, the archetype has continued to build momentum on Magic Online. Meanwhile, Dimir Midrange has waned in popularity, likely due to a weak matchup against Izzet Prowess, while Selesnya Rhythm has enrolled as a new color pair to exploit Badgermole Cub. For most other decks, their prevalence has remained largely unchanged. All in all, Standard has not undergone a dramatic evolution over the past month.

Steam Vents
Spirebluff Canal
Riverpyre Verge
Burst Lightning
Stock Up
Opt
Sleight of Hand
Multiversal Passage
Llanowar Elves
Badgermole Cub

In all main decks combined, the most played nonland cards were Burst Lightning, Stock Up, Opt, and Sleight of Hand. This underscores the popularity of the Izzet colors in Standard. Close behind were Llanowar Elves and Badgermole Cub, which reflect the other major pillar of the format.

To highlight the most relevant Standard contenders for the upcoming Pro Tour, based on the metagame right before the release of Secrets of Strixhaven, I've constructed aggregate decklists using an algorithm that balances popularity and performance of individual cards. Let's take a closer look at the top fifteen archetypes, along with promising Secrets of Strixhaven additions for each.

1. Izzet Prowess (23.7% of the Winner's Metagame)

7 Island 4 Stormchaser's Talent 4 Opt 4 Riverpyre Verge 4 Spirebluff Canal 4 Steam Vents 4 Boomerang Basics 4 Sleight of Hand 4 Slickshot Show-Off 4 Burst Lightning 4 Stock Up 4 Elusive Otter 2 Multiversal Passage 2 Wild Ride 2 Eddymurk Crab 2 Bounce Off 1 Secret Identity

2 Ral, Crackling Wit 2 Soul-Guide Lantern 2 Eddymurk Crab 2 Spell Pierce 2 Sear 1 Get Out 1 Roaring Furnace 1 Broadside Barrage 1 Fire Magic 1 Spell Snare

To highlight how a Quandrix student would approach the Pro Tour, this article lists the full distribution of card choices from the set of Magic Online decklist data. As an example of how to read the numbers below, the average Izzet Prowess list uses 3.42 copies of Elusive Otter, broken down as follows: 218 decks ran four copies, 19 decks ran three copies, and 35 decks used zero. That data is displayed like this:

3.42 Elusive Otter — 4: 218, 3: 19, 0: 35.

Though impossible to tell from the breakdown below, most builds with zero Elusive Otter cards instead relied on Hearth Elemental.

Numerical breakdown of card choices

IZZET PROWESS (272 decks): average 20.96 land, 10.17 creature, 28.87 spell, 60.00 total.

5.92 Island — 8: 6, 7: 111, 6: 45, 5: 92, 4: 13, 3: 1, 1: 1, 0: 3.
4.00 Stormchaser's Talent — 4: 272,
4.00 Opt — 4: 272,
4.00 Spirebluff Canal — 4: 272,
4.00 Steam Vents — 4: 272,
4.00 Sleight of Hand — 4: 271, 3: 1,
3.96 Boomerang Basics — 4: 268, 2: 2, 1: 2,
3.94 Burst Lightning — 4: 265, 3: 3, 1: 2, 0: 2.
3.92 Riverpyre Verge — 4: 253, 3: 17, 2: 2,
3.89 Slickshot Show-Off — 4: 256, 3: 3, 2: 12, 0: 1.
3.71 Stock Up — 4: 225, 3: 28, 2: 13, 0: 6.
3.42 Elusive Otter — 4: 218, 3: 19, 0: 35.
2.25 Multiversal Passage — 4: 1, 3: 78, 2: 182, 1: 10, 0: 1.
1.99 Eddymurk Crab — 4: 36, 3: 35, 2: 142, 1: 9, 0: 50.
1.36 Wild Ride — 4: 4, 2: 134, 1: 86, 0: 48.
1.26 Bounce Off — 3: 1, 2: 142, 1: 55, 0: 74.
0.62 Secret Identity — 3: 1, 2: 33, 1: 99, 0: 139.
0.57 Willowrush Verge — 2: 49, 1: 56, 0: 167.
0.49 Into the Flood Maw — 4: 1, 3: 1, 2: 35, 1: 55, 0: 180.
0.46 Drake Hatcher — 4: 4, 3: 14, 2: 30, 1: 6, 0: 218.
0.36 Get Out — 3: 2, 2: 33, 1: 25, 0: 212.
0.34 Hearth Elemental — 3: 1, 2: 21, 1: 48, 0: 202.
0.34 Roaring Furnace — 2: 4, 1: 84, 0: 184.
0.18 Sear — 2: 3, 1: 43, 0: 226.
0.17 Starting Town — 4: 4, 2: 15, 1: 1, 0: 252.
0.17 Torch the Tower — 1: 46, 0: 226.
0.10 Shock — 1: 28, 0: 244.
0.10 Breeding Pool — 1: 26, 0: 246.
0.08 Iroh's Demonstration — 2: 8, 1: 5, 0: 259.
0.06 Callous Sell-Sword — 4: 4, 0: 268.
0.06 Turn Inside Out — 4: 3, 3: 1, 0: 268.
0.04 Full Bore — 3: 4, 0: 268.
0.04 Spell Pierce — 2: 4, 1: 2, 0: 266.
0.03 Soul-Guide Lantern — 1: 9, 0: 263.
0.03 Abrade — 1: 9, 0: 263.
0.03 Plasma Bolt — 2: 4, 0: 268.
0.03 Octopus Form — 1: 7, 0: 265.
0.02 Winternight Stories — 4: 1, 2: 1, 0: 270.
0.01 Stormcarved Coast — 4: 1, 0: 271.
0.01 Unsummon — 1: 4, 0: 268.
0.01 Mountain — 1: 3, 0: 269.
0.01 Valley Floodcaller — 2: 1, 1: 1, 0: 270.

Sideboard

2.09 Ral, Crackling Wit — 3: 63, 2: 181, 1: 18, 0: 10.
1.84 Soul-Guide Lantern — 3: 19, 2: 212, 1: 19, 0: 22.
1.51 Spell Pierce — 3: 5, 2: 178, 1: 40, 0: 49.
1.26 Eddymurk Crab — 3: 15, 2: 130, 1: 39, 0: 88.
1.23 Sear — 3: 1, 2: 132, 1: 67, 0: 72.
0.90 Get Out — 3: 3, 2: 51, 1: 134, 0: 84.
0.81 Broadside Barrage — 2: 49, 1: 121, 0: 102.
0.72 Annul — 2: 64, 1: 68, 0: 140.
0.61 Fire Magic — 2: 12, 1: 143, 0: 117.
0.57 Spell Snare — 2: 25, 1: 105, 0: 142.
0.49 Roaring Furnace — 2: 1, 1: 132, 0: 139.
0.45 Slagstorm — 2: 42, 1: 39, 0: 191.
0.44 Sunderflock — 4: 2, 3: 34, 2: 5, 0: 231.
0.39 Drake Hatcher — 4: 1, 3: 3, 2: 38, 1: 18, 0: 212.
0.26 Ghost Vacuum — 2: 1, 1: 69, 0: 202.
0.23 Torch the Tower — 2: 6, 1: 51, 0: 215.
0.16 Pyroclasm — 3: 1, 2: 6, 1: 29, 0: 236.
0.16 Hearth Elemental — 4: 1, 2: 5, 1: 29, 0: 237.
0.11 Wild Ride — 1: 31, 0: 241.
0.10 Quantum Riddler — 1: 28, 0: 244.
0.08 Iroh's Demonstration — 2: 3, 1: 16, 0: 253.
0.08 Bounce Off — 1: 22, 0: 250.
0.08 Slickshot Show-Off — 2: 10, 1: 1, 0: 261.
0.07 Into the Flood Maw — 2: 2, 1: 15, 0: 255.
0.06 Stock Up — 2: 1, 1: 13, 0: 258.
0.05 Bulk Up — 1: 14, 0: 258.
0.04 The Legend of Kuruk — 1: 10, 0: 262.
0.03 Burst Lightning — 3: 1, 2: 3, 0: 268.
0.02 Disdainful Stroke — 1: 6, 0: 266.
0.02 Wan Shi Tong, Librarian — 1: 6, 0: 266.
0.02 Dreadmaw's Ire — 2: 2, 1: 1, 0: 269.
0.02 Twinmaw Stormbrood — 2: 2, 1: 1, 0: 269.
0.01 Scorching Shot — 2: 2, 0: 270.
0.01 Poison Dart Frog — 1: 4, 0: 268.
0.01 The Ooze — 1: 4, 0: 268.

Right before the release of Secrets of Strixhaven, Izzet Prowess has cemented itself as the deck to beat in Standard, commanding 23.7% of the winner's metagame. The strategy relies on a flurry of cheap card-draw spells to grow Slickshot Show-Off to frightening proportions, turning empty boards into lethal attacks out of nowhere. On turn four, you can deploy a plotted Slickshot Show-Off, cast Stormchaser's Talent, pump the Otter token with Wild Ride and Secret Identity, burn the opponent with Burst Lightning, and attack with two 9-power fliers for the win.

Vibrant Outburst
Flow State
Prismari Charm

Looking ahead to Secrets of Strixhaven, the newest set offers several enticing upgrades to the deck's already formidable spell suite. Vibrant Outburst functions as an improved Lightning Strike, increasing your clock while cleanly removing a blocker. Flow State is reminiscent of Expressive Iteration, as Izzet Prowess runs enough instants and sorceries to easily put one of each into the graveyard. And Prismari Charm provides a versatile mix of card draw and removal. There is only so much space in the deck, but all of these new tools are worth considering.

2. Mono-Green Landfall (15.7% of the Winner's Metagame)

14 Forest 4 Badgermole Cub 4 Icetill Explorer 4 Llanowar Elves 4 Sazh's Chocobo 4 Earthbender Ascension 4 Ba Sing Se 4 Fabled Passage 4 Mightform Harmonizer 4 Esper Origins 3 Escape Tunnel 2 Meltstrider's Resolve 2 Archdruid's Charm 1 Promising Vein 1 Royal Treatment 1 Surrak, Elusive Hunter

4 Mossborn Hydra 3 Soul-Guide Lantern 2 Pawpatch Formation 2 Meltstrider's Resolve 2 Eumidian Terrabotanist 1 Royal Treatment 1 Sapling Nursery

Numerical breakdown of card choices

MONO-GREEN LANDFALL (198 decks): average 26.01 land, 21.95 creature, 12.04 spell, 60.00 total.

13.77 Forest —
4.00 Badgermole Cub — 4: 198,
4.00 Llanowar Elves — 4: 198,
4.00 Sazh's Chocobo — 4: 198,
4.00 Earthbender Ascension — 4: 198,
4.00 Fabled Passage — 4: 198,
3.98 Icetill Explorer — 4: 197, 1: 1,
3.93 Mightform Harmonizer — 4: 189, 3: 7, 1: 1, 0: 1.
3.48 Ba Sing Se — 4: 98, 3: 98, 2: 2,
3.19 Escape Tunnel — 4: 82, 3: 72, 2: 44,
2.29 Meltstrider's Resolve — 4: 53, 3: 4, 2: 112, 1: 5, 0: 24.
2.24 Esper Origins — 4: 86, 3: 26, 2: 11, 0: 75.
1.54 Promising Vein — 3: 6, 2: 95, 1: 96, 0: 1.
1.33 Royal Treatment — 4: 42, 3: 1, 2: 25, 1: 43, 0: 87.
1.08 Archdruid's Charm — 2: 75, 1: 64, 0: 59.
0.99 Mossborn Hydra — 4: 13, 3: 35, 2: 18, 1: 3, 0: 129.
0.81 Sapling Nursery — 4: 31, 3: 4, 2: 11, 1: 3, 0: 149.
0.65 Surrak, Elusive Hunter — 2: 33, 1: 62, 0: 103.
0.21 Lumbering Worldwagon — 2: 19, 1: 4, 0: 175.
0.18 Leatherhead, Swamp Stalker — 2: 13, 1: 9, 0: 176.
0.13 Webstrike Elite — 2: 11, 1: 4, 0: 183.
0.03 Michelangelo, Weirdness to 11 — 4: 1, 2: 1, 0: 196.
0.03 Bushwhack — 2: 1, 1: 3, 0: 194.
0.02 Bristly Bill, Spine Sower — 2: 2, 0: 196.
0.02 Overgrown Tomb — 4: 1, 0: 197.
0.02 Keen-Eyed Curator — 2: 1, 1: 1, 0: 196.
0.02 Mikey & Leo, Chaos & Order — 2: 1, 1: 1, 0: 196.
0.01 Snakeskin Veil — 1: 2, 0: 196.
0.01 Hunter's Talent — 2: 1, 0: 197.
0.01 Fecund Greenshell — 2: 1, 0: 197.
0.01 Innkeeper's Talent — 2: 1, 0: 197.

Sideboard

2.78 Mossborn Hydra — 4: 124, 3: 7, 2: 14, 1: 6, 0: 47.
2.38 Soul-Guide Lantern — 4: 5, 3: 92, 2: 78, 1: 19, 0: 4.
1.92 Pawpatch Formation — 3: 1, 2: 186, 1: 5, 0: 6.
1.59 Meltstrider's Resolve — 4: 16, 3: 4, 2: 116, 1: 7, 0: 55.
1.30 Sapling Nursery — 4: 47, 3: 13, 2: 14, 1: 3, 0: 121.
1.07 Eumidian Terrabotanist — 4: 1, 3: 2, 2: 99, 1: 4, 0: 92.
0.92 Torpor Orb — 4: 3, 3: 10, 2: 69, 1: 3, 0: 113.
0.61 Royal Treatment — 3: 25, 2: 8, 1: 29, 0: 136.
0.57 Surrak, Elusive Hunter — 3: 1, 2: 20, 1: 70, 0: 107.
0.43 Origin of Metalbending — 3: 2, 2: 38, 1: 3, 0: 155.
0.40 Leatherhead, Swamp Stalker — 2: 13, 1: 53, 0: 132.
0.34 Scrapshooter — 2: 2, 1: 64, 0: 132.
0.29 Keen-Eyed Curator — 3: 3, 2: 12, 1: 25, 0: 158.
0.09 Esper Origins — 2: 8, 1: 2, 0: 188.
0.08 Webstrike Elite — 3: 1, 1: 12, 0: 185.
0.08 Longstalk Brawl — 4: 1, 3: 1, 2: 3, 1: 2, 0: 191.
0.04 Archdruid's Charm — 1: 8, 0: 190.
0.02 The Ooze — 2: 1, 1: 2, 0: 195.
0.02 Requiting Hex — 4: 1, 0: 197.
0.02 Primal Might — 3: 1, 0: 197.
0.01 Scavenging Ooze — 2: 1, 0: 197.
0.01 Sandman, Shifting Scoundrel — 1: 2, 0: 196.
0.01 Bitter Triumph — 2: 1, 0: 197.

Mono-Green Landfall is another defining force in Standard today. The deck leverages Escape Tunnel and Fabled Passage to generate multiple landfall triggers in a single turn, with Icetill Explorer doubling the rate of land drops. When you do this, Sazh's Chocobo grows to an enormous size, Earthbender Ascension piles on additional +1/+1 counters, and Mightform Harmonizer threatens lethal attacks out of nowhere. Recently, most of the successful lists have cut Sapling Nursery and Mossborn Hydra from the deck, instead making room for Meltstrider's Resolve as additional interaction and Esper Origins as a value engine to mill with Icetill Explorer.

Planar Engineering

Secrets of Strixhaven offers an especially exciting new tool for Mono-Green Landfall in Planar Engineering, a card that generates four landfall triggers all on its own. Add a normal land drop on turn four, and that rises to five landfall triggers in a single turn. This lets Tifa Lockhart or Mossborn Hydra balloon into a 32-power trampler on turn four, presenting a potent two-card combination that would make any ambitious student proud.

3. Izzet Lessons (10.2% of the Winner's Metagame)

6 Island 4 Abandon Attachments 4 Accumulate Wisdom 4 Combustion Technique 4 Firebending Lesson 4 It'll Quench Ya! 4 Riverpyre Verge 4 Spirebluff Canal 4 Steam Vents 4 Gran-Gran 4 Monument to Endurance 4 Artist's Talent 2 Mountain 2 Agna Qel'a 2 Iroh's Demonstration 2 Three Steps Ahead 1 Boomerang Basics 1 Burst Lightning

2 Quantum Riddler 2 Slagstorm 1 Spell Pierce 1 Spell Snare 1 Broadside Barrage 1 Annul 1 Flashfreeze 1 Ral, Crackling Wit 1 Wan Shi Tong, Librarian 1 Disdainful Stroke 1 Sear 1 Soul-Guide Lantern 1 Negate

Numerical breakdown of card choices

IZZET LESSONS (105 decks): average 22.07 land, 4.21 creature, 33.72 spell, 60.00 total.

6.00 Island — 8: 6, 7: 6, 6: 81, 5: 9, 3: 3,
4.00 Accumulate Wisdom — 4: 105,
4.00 Firebending Lesson — 4: 105,
4.00 Riverpyre Verge — 4: 105,
4.00 Spirebluff Canal — 4: 105,
4.00 Steam Vents — 4: 105,
3.97 Abandon Attachments — 4: 102, 3: 3,
3.97 Combustion Technique — 4: 102, 3: 3,
3.96 Gran-Gran — 4: 104, 0: 1.
3.47 Artist's Talent — 4: 91, 0: 14.
3.41 Monument to Endurance — 4: 85, 3: 6, 0: 14.
3.03 It'll Quench Ya! — 4: 41, 3: 26, 2: 38,
1.91 Mountain — 3: 2, 2: 96, 1: 3, 0: 4.
1.61 Boomerang Basics — 4: 31, 3: 5, 2: 5, 1: 20, 0: 44.
1.50 Agna Qel'a — 3: 1, 2: 56, 1: 43, 0: 5.
1.47 Iroh's Demonstration — 4: 2, 3: 9, 2: 41, 1: 37, 0: 16.
1.37 Three Steps Ahead — 4: 1, 3: 7, 2: 58, 1: 3, 0: 36.
1.10 Stormchaser's Talent — 4: 21, 3: 4, 2: 10, 0: 70.
0.53 Multiversal Passage — 3: 4, 2: 3, 1: 38, 0: 60.
0.48 Burst Lightning — 2: 1, 1: 48, 0: 56.
0.32 Spell Snare — 2: 3, 1: 28, 0: 74.
0.29 Ral, Crackling Wit — 2: 10, 1: 10, 0: 85.
0.29 Spell Pierce — 2: 1, 1: 28, 0: 76.
0.28 Stock Up — 3: 3, 2: 10, 0: 92.
0.24 Roaring Furnace — 3: 8, 1: 1, 0: 96.
0.11 Willowrush Verge — 4: 3, 0: 102.
0.09 The Legend of Kuruk — 1: 9, 0: 96.
0.09 Fire Magic — 2: 3, 1: 3, 0: 99.
0.06 Soul-Guide Lantern — 1: 6, 0: 99.
0.06 Quantum Riddler — 4: 1, 1: 2, 0: 102.
0.06 Eddymurk Crab — 4: 1, 2: 1, 0: 103.
0.04 Into the Flood Maw — 2: 2, 0: 103.
0.04 Opt — 4: 1, 0: 104.
0.04 Sleight of Hand — 4: 1, 0: 104.
0.04 Essence Scatter — 1: 4, 0: 101.
0.04 April O'Neil, Hacktivist — 2: 2, 0: 103.
0.03 Does Machines — 1: 3, 0: 102.
0.03 Toph, Hardheaded Teacher — 1: 3, 0: 102.
0.03 Hearth Elemental — 3: 1, 0: 104.
0.03 Sunderflock — 3: 1, 0: 104.
0.02 Slagstorm — 1: 2, 0: 103.

Sideboard

1.50 Quantum Riddler — 3: 3, 2: 69, 1: 11, 0: 22.
1.37 Spell Pierce — 4: 1, 3: 1, 2: 44, 1: 49, 0: 10.
1.14 Annul — 3: 5, 2: 29, 1: 47, 0: 24.
1.11 Broadside Barrage — 4: 1, 3: 2, 2: 33, 1: 41, 0: 28.
1.09 Flashfreeze — 3: 1, 2: 37, 1: 37, 0: 30.
0.97 Slagstorm — 3: 2, 2: 34, 1: 28, 0: 41.
0.89 Ral, Crackling Wit — 3: 2, 2: 27, 1: 33, 0: 43.
0.84 Sear — 2: 33, 1: 22, 0: 50.
0.82 Price of Freedom — 4: 11, 3: 12, 2: 2, 1: 2, 0: 78.
0.76 Spell Snare — 2: 21, 1: 38, 0: 46.
0.71 Wan Shi Tong, Librarian — 2: 11, 1: 53, 0: 41.
0.69 Disdainful Stroke — 2: 5, 1: 62, 0: 38.
0.64 Soul-Guide Lantern — 3: 2, 2: 15, 1: 31, 0: 57.
0.35 Negate — 1: 37, 0: 68.
0.23 Ghost Vacuum — 3: 1, 2: 1, 1: 19, 0: 84.
0.20 Iroh's Demonstration — 1: 21, 0: 84.
0.17 Essence Scatter — 2: 2, 1: 14, 0: 89.
0.16 Ill-Timed Explosion — 3: 1, 2: 7, 0: 97.
0.15 Three Steps Ahead — 1: 16, 0: 89.
0.14 Stormchaser's Talent — 2: 6, 1: 3, 0: 96.
0.13 Fire Magic — 2: 1, 1: 12, 0: 92.
0.10 Torpor Orb — 2: 2, 1: 7, 0: 96.
0.10 Eddymurk Crab — 2: 4, 1: 2, 0: 99.
0.09 Roaring Furnace — 1: 9, 0: 96.
0.09 Burst Lightning — 2: 2, 1: 5, 0: 98.
0.08 Stock Up — 1: 8, 0: 97.
0.07 Abrade — 1: 7, 0: 98.
0.06 Origin of Metalbending — 2: 3, 0: 102.
0.06 April O'Neil, Hacktivist — 1: 6, 0: 99.
0.06 Pyroclasm — 1: 6, 0: 99.
0.04 Torch the Tower — 3: 1, 1: 1, 0: 103.
0.04 It'll Quench Ya! — 1: 4, 0: 101.
0.04 Get Out — 1: 4, 0: 101.
0.02 Summon: Leviathan — 2: 1, 0: 104.
0.02 Toph, Hardheaded Teacher — 1: 2, 0: 103.
0.02 Boomerang Basics — 2: 1, 0: 104.

Izzet Lessons is a control deck that revolves around a dense suite of Lesson cards, many of them efficient removal spells. That structure makes it easy to put three Lessons in the graveyard, unlocking the deck's true engine. With Gran-Gran on the battlefield, Accumulate Wisdom effectively becomes Ancestral Recall, and Combustion Technique resembles Swords to Plowshares. Most lists combine Artist's Talent and Monument to Endurance for an almost inexhaustible flow of value, while Stormchaser's Talent has typically been cut to fit in more interactive spells.

The Dawning Archaic
Muse Seeker
Tablet of Discovery
Fractal Anomaly

Secrets of Strixhaven offers several intriguing options for the deck. Muse Seeker could act as extra copies of Artist's Talent, letting you reliably turn The Dawning Archaic into an undercosted win condition and create a cheap blocker with Fractal Anomaly. Tablet of Discovery has potential as a mana accelerant that fills the graveyard while spotting you the mana to play Combustion Technique.

4. Dimir Excruciator (9.2% of the Winner's Metagame)

10 Swamp 4 Deceit 4 Requiting Hex 4 Gloomlake Verge 4 Restless Reef 4 Watery Grave 4 Superior Spider-Man 3 Doomsday Excruciator 3 Bitter Triumph 3 Day of Black Sun 3 Stock Up 3 Insatiable Avarice 3 Duress 2 Undercity Sewers 2 Winternight Stories 2 Deadly Cover-Up 2 Cavern of Souls

3 Oildeep Gearhulk 2 Quantum Riddler 2 Flashfreeze 2 Qarsi Revenant 1 Duress 1 Intimidation Tactics 1 Strategic Betrayal 1 Cruelclaw's Heist 1 Annul 1 Day of Black Sun

Numerical breakdown of card choices

DIMIR EXCRUCIATOR (116 decks): average 25.80 land, 12.32 creature, 21.88 spell, 60.00 total.

10.32 Swamp — 8: 3,
4.00 Deceit — 4: 116,
4.00 Requiting Hex — 4: 116,
4.00 Gloomlake Verge — 4: 116,
4.00 Restless Reef — 4: 116,
4.00 Watery Grave — 4: 116,
4.00 Superior Spider-Man — 4: 116,
3.28 Doomsday Excruciator — 4: 33, 3: 83,
3.15 Stock Up — 4: 18, 3: 97, 2: 1,
3.14 Bitter Triumph — 4: 35, 3: 62, 2: 19,
2.44 Day of Black Sun — 4: 8, 3: 35, 2: 73,
2.34 Insatiable Avarice — 3: 46, 2: 67, 0: 3.
2.34 Duress — 4: 1, 3: 77, 2: 7, 1: 22, 0: 9.
2.04 Winternight Stories — 4: 1, 3: 3, 2: 112,
1.62 Undercity Sewers — 2: 72, 1: 44,
1.57 Cavern of Souls — 2: 80, 1: 22, 0: 14.
1.53 Deadly Cover-Up — 2: 70, 1: 37, 0: 9.
0.45 Harvester of Misery — 2: 24, 1: 4, 0: 88.
0.44 Shoot the Sheriff — 2: 13, 1: 25, 0: 78.
0.35 Quantum Riddler — 1: 41, 0: 75.
0.29 Multiversal Passage — 2: 10, 1: 14, 0: 92.
0.22 Archenemy's Charm — 1: 26, 0: 90.
0.22 Intimidation Tactics — 2: 8, 1: 9, 0: 99.
0.22 Malboro — 2: 3, 1: 19, 0: 94.
0.02 Marang River Regent — 1: 2, 0: 114.
0.02 Cruelclaw's Heist — 2: 1, 0: 115.

Sideboard

2.59 Oildeep Gearhulk — 4: 33, 3: 41, 2: 23, 0: 19.
2.19 Quantum Riddler — 4: 6, 3: 15, 2: 90, 1: 5,
1.43 Duress — 4: 8, 2: 29, 1: 76, 0: 3.
1.27 Intimidation Tactics — 3: 1, 2: 57, 1: 30, 0: 28.
1.13 Flashfreeze — 2: 58, 1: 15, 0: 43.
0.98 Strategic Betrayal — 3: 2, 2: 42, 1: 24, 0: 48.
0.96 Qarsi Revenant — 2: 55, 1: 1, 0: 60.
0.84 Annul — 2: 37, 1: 24, 0: 55.
0.80 Cruelclaw's Heist — 2: 35, 1: 23, 0: 58.
0.44 Soul-Guide Lantern — 2: 15, 1: 21, 0: 80.
0.42 Day of Black Sun — 1: 49, 0: 67.
0.41 Heartless Act — 2: 14, 1: 20, 0: 82.
0.27 Deadly Cover-Up — 1: 31, 0: 85.
0.16 Negate — 1: 19, 0: 97.
0.16 The End — 1: 18, 0: 98.
0.16 Outrageous Robbery — 1: 18, 0: 98.
0.16 Overlord of the Balemurk — 1: 18, 0: 98.
0.15 Shoot the Sheriff — 2: 5, 1: 7, 0: 104.
0.14 Archenemy's Charm — 1: 16, 0: 100.
0.13 Ghost Vacuum — 2: 5, 1: 5, 0: 106.
0.08 Disdainful Stroke — 1: 9, 0: 107.
0.04 Tishana's Tidebinder — 1: 5, 0: 111.
0.03 Harvester of Misery — 2: 1, 1: 2, 0: 113.
0.03 Binding Negotiation — 2: 2, 0: 114.
0.02 Unholy Annex — 2: 1, 0: 115.

Dimir Excruciator, the deck that won Pro Tour Lorwyn Eclipsed in the hands of Christoffer Larsen, is built around the devastating potential of Doomsday Excruciator. After the Excruciator exiles both libraries down to six cards, a single attack with Restless Reef or an Insatiable Avarice targeting the opponent is usually enough to force a fatal draw from an empty library. Stock Up can put one of those cards on the bottom of your library, ensuring you draw it after casting Doomsday Excruciator. Superior Spider-Man also plays a crucial role in the deck, as it retains "if you cast it" triggers from Deceit or Doomsday Excruciator. Compared to Larsen's winning list, today's aggregate build has replaced Harvester of Misery with Day of Black Sun and Duress.

Emeritus of Ideation

From Secrets of Strixhaven, Emeritus of Ideation looks appealing. It presents a powerful threat that is difficult to remove, while granting access to one of the most iconic spells in the history of Magic. The ability to target your opponent with Ancestral Recall can let you win the game, as it can help to deck them after playing Doomsday Excruciator.

5. Izzet Spellementals (9.2% of the Winner's Metagame)

7 Island 4 Eddymurk Crab 4 Hearth Elemental 4 Sunderflock 4 Burst Lightning 4 Opt 4 Riverpyre Verge 4 Spirebluff Canal 4 Steam Vents 4 Sleight of Hand 4 Winternight Stories 3 Abandon Attachments 2 Spell Pierce 2 Spell Snare 1 Bounce Off 1 Abrade 1 Into the Flood Maw 1 Three Steps Ahead 1 Sear 1 Multiversal Passage

2 Annul 2 Soul-Guide Lantern 2 Hydro-Man, Fluid Felon 2 The Legend of Kuruk 1 Broadside Barrage 1 Disdainful Stroke 1 Fire Magic 1 Get Out 1 Ral, Crackling Wit 1 Abrade 1 Ghost Vacuum

Numerical breakdown of card choices

IZZET SPELLEMENTALS (112 decks): average 20.01 land, 12.02 creature, 27.99 spell, 60.02 total.

7.26 Island —
4.00 Eddymurk Crab — 4: 112,
4.00 Hearth Elemental — 4: 112,
4.00 Sunderflock — 4: 112,
4.00 Burst Lightning — 4: 112,
4.00 Opt — 4: 112,
4.00 Riverpyre Verge — 4: 112,
4.00 Spirebluff Canal — 4: 112,
4.00 Steam Vents — 4: 112,
4.00 Sleight of Hand — 4: 112,
3.77 Winternight Stories — 4: 86, 3: 26,
2.84 Abandon Attachments — 4: 1, 3: 92, 2: 19,
2.34 Spell Snare — 3: 39, 2: 72, 1: 1,
1.65 Spell Pierce — 2: 73, 1: 39,
1.11 Bounce Off — 2: 28, 1: 68, 0: 16.
1.08 Abrade — 2: 34, 1: 53, 0: 25.
0.84 Into the Flood Maw — 2: 15, 1: 64, 0: 33.
0.74 Multiversal Passage — 2: 23, 1: 37, 0: 52.
0.71 Sear — 2: 8, 1: 63, 0: 41.
0.62 Three Steps Ahead — 1: 70, 0: 42.
0.62 Glacial Dragonhunt — 2: 5, 1: 59, 0: 48.
0.18 Get Out — 2: 1, 1: 18, 0: 93.
0.12 Spider-Sense — 1: 14, 0: 98.
0.05 Stock Up — 1: 6, 0: 106.
0.02 Broadside Barrage — 1: 2, 0: 110.
0.02 Long River's Pull — 2: 1, 0: 111.

Sideboard

2.00 Annul — 3: 1, 2: 110, 1: 1,
1.86 Hydro-Man, Fluid Felon — 2: 102, 1: 4, 0: 6.
1.55 Soul-Guide Lantern — 2: 66, 1: 42, 0: 4.
1.29 The Legend of Kuruk — 2: 58, 1: 29, 0: 25.
1.21 Broadside Barrage — 2: 26, 1: 83, 0: 3.
1.09 Disdainful Stroke — 2: 28, 1: 66, 0: 18.
1.04 Fire Magic — 2: 47, 1: 22, 0: 43.
0.85 Ral, Crackling Wit — 2: 24, 1: 47, 0: 41.
0.63 Get Out — 3: 1, 2: 5, 1: 58, 0: 48.
0.60 Sear — 3: 2, 2: 16, 1: 29, 0: 65.
0.56 Ghost Vacuum — 3: 2, 2: 7, 1: 43, 0: 60.
0.37 Abrade — 2: 4, 1: 33, 0: 75.
0.30 Flashfreeze — 1: 34, 0: 78.
0.30 Pyroclasm — 2: 6, 1: 22, 0: 84.
0.29 Slagstorm — 2: 14, 1: 4, 0: 94.
0.26 Wan Shi Tong, Librarian — 2: 2, 1: 25, 0: 85.
0.22 Spell Pierce — 1: 25, 0: 87.
0.20 Negate — 1: 22, 0: 90.
0.10 Torch the Tower — 1: 11, 0: 101.
0.09 Spider-Sense — 1: 10, 0: 102.
0.05 Sunspine Lynx — 2: 1, 1: 4, 0: 107.
0.04 Three Steps Ahead — 1: 4, 0: 108.
0.02 Quantum Riddler — 2: 1, 0: 111.
0.02 Spell Snare — 1: 2, 0: 110.
0.02 Ill-Timed Explosion — 1: 2, 0: 110.

Izzet Spellementals is built around a high density of cheap instants and sorceries that draw cards, interact early, and stock the graveyard for Eddymurk Crab and Hearth Elemental. Because both creatures are Elementals, they can reduce the cost of Sunderflock to just two or three mana, allowing you to reset the opponent's board and decisively swing the game. The inclusion of Sunderflock sets this archetype apart from Izzet Prowess.

Traumatic Critique
Splatter Technique
Impractical Joke

Secrets of Strixhaven provides a clear upgrade to Abandon Attachments in the form of Traumatic Critique. Unlike Izzet Lessons, Spellementals doesn't care about Lessons, while the ability to draw before discarding and deal X damage is always welcome. I could also imagine the deck adopting Impractical Joke as a highly efficient piece of removal. Finally, Splatter Technique could fit as a one-sided sweeper that preserves your 5-toughness creatures while clearing your opponent's board, like a problematic Kaito, Bane of Nightmares.

6. Bant Rhythm (5.6% of the Winner's Metagame)

4 Badgermole Cub 4 Gene Pollinator 4 Llanowar Elves 4 Breeding Pool 4 Hushwood Verge 4 Multiversal Passage 4 Starting Town 4 Nature's Rhythm 4 Spider Manifestation 4 Temple Garden 3 Mockingbird 3 Seam Rip 3 Quantum Riddler 2 Brightglass Gearhulk 2 Ouroboroid 1 Craterhoof Behemoth 1 Meltstrider's Resolve 1 Forest 1 Hallowed Fountain 1 Keen-Eyed Curator 1 Beza, the Bounding Spring 1 Unable to Scream

3 Sage of the Skies 2 Spider-Sense 2 Oko, Lorwyn Liege 2 Rest in Peace 1 Soul-Guide Lantern 1 Insidious Fungus 1 Beza, the Bounding Spring 1 Disdainful Stroke 1 Surrak, Elusive Hunter 1 Champion of the Weird

Numerical breakdown of card choices

BANT RHYTHM (66 decks): average 22.00 land, 28.47 creature, 9.53 spell, 60.00 total.

4.00 Badgermole Cub — 4: 66,
4.00 Gene Pollinator — 4: 66,
4.00 Spider Manifestation — 4: 66,
3.97 Nature's Rhythm — 4: 64, 3: 2,
3.95 Llanowar Elves — 4: 64, 3: 1, 2: 1,
3.95 Hushwood Verge — 4: 64, 3: 1, 2: 1,
3.95 Starting Town — 4: 63, 3: 3,
3.92 Breeding Pool — 4: 63, 3: 1, 2: 2,
3.77 Temple Garden — 4: 55, 3: 9, 2: 1, 0: 1.
3.33 Multiversal Passage — 4: 44, 3: 1, 2: 20, 1: 1,
3.30 Quantum Riddler — 4: 29, 3: 34, 0: 3.
3.08 Seam Rip — 4: 12, 3: 47, 2: 7,
2.79 Mockingbird — 4: 3, 3: 46, 2: 17,
1.95 Ouroboroid — 4: 2, 3: 3, 2: 52, 1: 8, 0: 1.
1.86 Brightglass Gearhulk — 3: 7, 2: 44, 1: 14, 0: 1.
1.09 Meltstrider's Resolve — 2: 8, 1: 56, 0: 2.
1.00 Craterhoof Behemoth — 1: 66,
0.97 Forest — 1: 64, 0: 2.
0.73 Botanical Sanctum — 4: 1, 3: 2, 2: 19, 0: 44.
0.67 Hallowed Fountain — 3: 1, 2: 2, 1: 37, 0: 26.
0.62 Keen-Eyed Curator — 3: 1, 2: 2, 1: 34, 0: 29.
0.48 Willowrush Verge — 2: 8, 1: 16, 0: 42.
0.48 Unable to Scream — 2: 1, 1: 30, 0: 35.
0.38 Beza, the Bounding Spring — 1: 25, 0: 41.
0.35 Soul-Guide Lantern — 1: 23, 0: 43.
0.24 Archdruid's Charm — 2: 7, 1: 2, 0: 57.
0.18 Bounce Off — 1: 12, 0: 54.
0.14 Surrak, Elusive Hunter — 1: 9, 0: 57.
0.14 Floodfarm Verge — 4: 1, 2: 1, 1: 3, 0: 61.
0.11 Starfield Shepherd — 4: 1, 3: 1, 0: 64.
0.08 Wistfulness — 4: 1, 1: 1, 0: 64.
0.08 Figure of Fable — 1: 5, 0: 61.
0.08 Plains — 3: 1, 2: 1, 0: 64.
0.06 Spider-Sense — 3: 1, 1: 1, 0: 64.
0.06 Nurturing Pixie — 2: 1, 1: 2, 0: 63.
0.05 Formidable Speaker — 1: 3, 0: 63.
0.03 Aang, Swift Savior — 1: 2, 0: 64.
0.03 Scavenging Ooze — 1: 2, 0: 64.
0.03 Honest Work — 1: 2, 0: 64.
0.02 Insidious Fungus — 1: 1, 0: 65.
0.02 Shimmerwilds Growth — 1: 1, 0: 65.
0.02 Marang River Regent — 1: 1, 0: 65.
0.02 Ghost Vacuum — 1: 1, 0: 65.
0.02 Ygra, Eater of All — 1: 1, 0: 65.
0.02 Blossoming Defense — 1: 1, 0: 65.

Sideboard

2.44 Sage of the Skies — 4: 5, 3: 27, 2: 28, 1: 4, 0: 2.
1.95 Spider-Sense — 3: 3, 2: 58, 1: 4, 0: 1.
1.68 Rest in Peace — 3: 1, 2: 54, 0: 11.
1.47 Oko, Lorwyn Liege — 2: 39, 1: 19, 0: 8.
0.86 Disdainful Stroke — 3: 1, 2: 10, 1: 34, 0: 21.
0.76 Soul-Guide Lantern — 3: 1, 2: 5, 1: 37, 0: 23.
0.71 Insidious Fungus — 1: 47, 0: 19.
0.70 Beza, the Bounding Spring — 1: 46, 0: 20.
0.52 Unable to Scream — 2: 1, 1: 32, 0: 33.
0.50 Surrak, Elusive Hunter — 2: 3, 1: 27, 0: 36.
0.44 Champion of the Weird — 1: 29, 0: 37.
0.38 Get Lost — 2: 2, 1: 21, 0: 43.
0.30 Pawpatch Formation — 2: 10, 0: 56.
0.23 Seam Rip — 2: 1, 1: 13, 0: 52.
0.23 Leatherhead, Swamp Stalker — 2: 1, 1: 13, 0: 52.
0.21 Focus Fire — 1: 14, 0: 52.
0.20 Chomping Changeling — 1: 13, 0: 53.
0.15 Authority of the Consuls — 1: 10, 0: 56.
0.15 Meltstrider's Resolve — 2: 1, 1: 8, 0: 57.
0.14 Ygra, Eater of All — 1: 9, 0: 57.
0.11 Curious Farm Animals — 1: 7, 0: 59.
0.11 Keen-Eyed Curator — 2: 2, 1: 3, 0: 61.
0.09 Aang, Swift Savior — 2: 2, 1: 2, 0: 62.
0.09 Glen Elendra Guardian — 2: 2, 1: 2, 0: 62.
0.09 Kitesail Larcenist — 1: 6, 0: 60.
0.06 Explosive Prodigy — 1: 4, 0: 62.
0.06 Shimmerwilds Growth — 2: 2, 0: 64.
0.06 Torpor Orb — 4: 1, 0: 65.
0.05 Vivien Reid — 1: 3, 0: 63.
0.05 Bounce Off — 1: 3, 0: 63.
0.03 Flashfreeze — 2: 1, 0: 65.
0.03 Repulsive Mutation — 1: 2, 0: 64.
0.03 Wistfulness — 2: 1, 0: 65.
0.03 Aven Interrupter — 2: 1, 0: 65.
0.02 Witness Protection — 1: 1, 0: 65.
0.02 Ouroboroid — 1: 1, 0: 65.
0.02 Sentinel of Lost Lore — 1: 1, 0: 65.
0.02 Quantum Riddler — 1: 1, 0: 65.
0.02 Honest Work — 1: 1, 0: 65.
0.02 Exorcise — 1: 1, 0: 65.
0.02 Ingenious Prodigy — 1: 1, 0: 65.

Bant Rhythm heavily relies on the mana acceleration from Llanowar Elves, Gene Pollinator, Spider Manifestation, and Badgermole Cub to flood the battlefield with cheap creatures while ramping toward a game-ending payoff. A turn-three Ouroboroid can quickly scale the board's power to astronomical heights, but the best draws are even more spectacular. With the right draw, you can generate ten mana by turn three, allowing Nature's Rhythm to fetch a game-ending Craterhoof Behemoth as early as turn three.

Vastlands Scavenger
Pensive Professor
Emeritus of Truce

From Secrets of Strixhaven, any creature with a unique effect or prepared spell might slot into the deck as a one-of tutor target for Nature's Rhythm. Emeritus of Ideation deserves to be considered, and Vastlands Scavenger offers an alternative source of card advantage. Emeritus of Truce, meanwhile, brings along one of the game's most iconic removal spells, potentially adding further flexibility to the toolbox. Besides these prepared creatures, I have my eye on Pensive Professor as a potential value machine in a deck packed with X-spells. It is never easy for new cards to earn a spot, but exploring these possibilities is half the fun

7. Selesnya Rhythm (4.4% of the Winner's Metagame)

8 Forest 4 Badgermole Cub 4 Brightglass Gearhulk 4 Gene Pollinator 4 Llanowar Elves 4 Ouroboroid 4 Hushwood Verge 4 Temple Garden 4 Nature's Rhythm 4 Spider Manifestation 3 Abandoned Air Temple 2 Seam Rip 2 Multiversal Passage 2 Plains 2 Archdruid's Charm 1 Craterhoof Behemoth 1 Meltstrider's Resolve 1 Insidious Fungus 1 Soul-Guide Lantern 1 Nurturing Pixie

3 Sage of the Skies 2 Seam Rip 2 Leatherhead, Swamp Stalker 2 Pawpatch Formation 2 Get Lost 1 Meltstrider's Resolve 1 Beza, the Bounding Spring 1 Soul-Guide Lantern 1 Surrak, Elusive Hunter

Numerical breakdown of card choices

SELESNYA RHYTHM (58 decks): average 23.00 land, 27.29 creature, 9.71 spell, 60.00 total.

8.03 Forest — 8: 56,
4.00 Badgermole Cub — 4: 58,
4.00 Gene Pollinator — 4: 58,
4.00 Llanowar Elves — 4: 58,
4.00 Ouroboroid — 4: 58,
4.00 Hushwood Verge — 4: 58,
4.00 Temple Garden — 4: 58,
4.00 Nature's Rhythm — 4: 58,
4.00 Spider Manifestation — 4: 58,
3.95 Brightglass Gearhulk — 4: 56, 3: 1, 2: 1,
2.88 Abandoned Air Temple — 3: 51, 2: 7,
2.33 Seam Rip — 3: 26, 2: 25, 1: 7,
2.07 Multiversal Passage — 4: 1, 3: 2, 2: 55,
2.02 Plains — 3: 5, 2: 50, 1: 2, 0: 1.
1.36 Archdruid's Charm — 3: 2, 2: 35, 1: 3, 0: 18.
1.12 Meltstrider's Resolve — 2: 7, 1: 51,
1.00 Craterhoof Behemoth — 1: 58,
0.90 Soul-Guide Lantern — 1: 52, 0: 6.
0.88 Insidious Fungus — 1: 51, 0: 7.
0.50 Nurturing Pixie — 1: 29, 0: 29.
0.41 Figure of Fable — 1: 24, 0: 34.
0.31 Surrak, Elusive Hunter — 1: 18, 0: 40.
0.12 Goldvein Hydra — 2: 1, 1: 5, 0: 52.
0.03 Keen-Eyed Curator — 1: 2, 0: 56.
0.03 Leatherhead, Swamp Stalker — 1: 2, 0: 56.
0.03 Lightstall Inquisitor — 2: 1, 0: 57.
0.02 Kutzil's Flanker — 1: 1, 0: 57.

Sideboard

3.02 Sage of the Skies — 4: 4, 3: 51, 2: 3,
1.88 Leatherhead, Swamp Stalker — 2: 51, 1: 7,
1.74 Get Lost — 2: 49, 1: 3, 0: 6.
1.72 Pawpatch Formation — 3: 1, 2: 45, 1: 7, 0: 5.
1.41 Seam Rip — 2: 27, 1: 28, 0: 3.
1.05 Meltstrider's Resolve — 2: 5, 1: 51, 0: 2.
1.02 Soul-Guide Lantern — 2: 7, 1: 45, 0: 6.
0.97 Beza, the Bounding Spring — 1: 56, 0: 2.
0.79 Surrak, Elusive Hunter — 2: 5, 1: 36, 0: 17.
0.43 Rest in Peace — 3: 4, 2: 6, 1: 1, 0: 47.
0.33 Authority of the Consuls — 1: 19, 0: 39.
0.33 Insidious Fungus — 1: 19, 0: 39.
0.05 Torpor Orb — 3: 1, 0: 57.
0.03 Origin of Metalbending — 2: 1, 0: 57.
0.03 Bovine Intervention — 2: 1, 0: 57.
0.03 Keen-Eyed Curator — 2: 1, 0: 57.
0.03 Spectacular Spider-Man — 2: 1, 0: 57.
0.03 Abandoned Air Temple — 1: 2, 0: 56.
0.02 Goldvein Hydra — 1: 1, 0: 57.
0.02 Lightstall Inquisitor — 1: 1, 0: 57.
0.02 Nurturing Pixie — 1: 1, 0: 57.
0.02 Vivien Reid — 1: 1, 0: 57.
0.02 Dusk Rose Reliquary — 1: 1, 0: 57.

Selesnya Rhythm is a relative newcomer to Standard, though it has the same explosive foundation as Bant Rhythm. Compared to its older Bant sibling, the deck gives up Mockingbird and Quantum Riddler for a better mana base, allowing it to incorporate Abandoned Air Temple, Archdruid's Charm, and additional copies of Brightglass Gearhulk. The Gearhulk can fetch a variety of one-mana interactive cards, from Soul-Guide Lantern to Seam Rip, or it can grab Nurturing Pixie to reuse the Gearhulk.

Ambitious Augmenter
Slumbering Trudge
Erode

Secrets of Strixhaven offers Ambitious Augmenter and Slumbering Trudge as relevant new options for Brightglass Gearhulk. With enough patience or mana investment, they can eventually become enormous creatures. In addition, Erode brings back memories of Path to Exile. Whether it will ultimately prove superior to Get Lost remains an open question. Get Lost can target enchantments and is likely stronger in the early turns, while Erode may shine brighter in the late game. Still, white instant-speed removal is always worth close attention, especially in a Selesnya Rhythm deck that lacks access to interactive blue spells.

8. Izzet Elementals (4.3% of the Winner's Metagame)

4 Ashling, Rekindled 4 Flamebraider 4 Vibrance 4 Wistfulness 4 Burst Lightning 4 Cavern of Souls 4 Secluded Courtyard 4 Starting Town 4 Steam Vents 3 Deceit 3 Roaming Throne 3 Winternight Stories 2 Sunderflock 2 Bounce Off 2 Breeding Pool 2 Island 2 Spirebluff Canal 1 Pit of Offerings 1 Ill-Timed Explosion 1 Sear 1 Cori Mountain Monastery 1 Thundering Falls

2 Beza, the Bounding Spring 2 Soul-Guide Lantern 2 Pyroclasm 2 Spell Pierce 1 Disdainful Stroke 1 Sear 1 Ygra, Eater of All 1 Ill-Timed Explosion 1 Bounce Off 1 Pit of Offerings 1 Spell Snare

Numerical breakdown of card choices

IZZET ELEMENTALS (45 decks): average 24.82 land, 24.71 creature, 10.47 spell, 60.00 total.

4.00 Ashling, Rekindled — 4: 45,
4.00 Flamebraider — 4: 45,
4.00 Vibrance — 4: 45,
4.00 Wistfulness — 4: 45,
4.00 Cavern of Souls — 4: 45,
4.00 Steam Vents — 4: 45,
3.84 Secluded Courtyard — 4: 41, 3: 1, 2: 3,
3.84 Starting Town — 4: 41, 3: 1, 2: 3,
3.60 Burst Lightning — 4: 28, 3: 16, 2: 1,
3.24 Roaming Throne — 4: 11, 3: 34,
3.13 Deceit — 4: 6, 3: 39,
2.56 Winternight Stories — 3: 30, 2: 12, 1: 1, 0: 2.
2.20 Breeding Pool — 3: 9, 2: 36,
2.18 Sunderflock — 3: 8, 2: 37,
2.07 Bounce Off — 4: 1, 3: 7, 2: 31, 1: 6,
1.93 Spirebluff Canal — 3: 3, 2: 36, 1: 6,
1.82 Island — 2: 37, 1: 8,
1.20 Ill-Timed Explosion — 3: 3, 2: 6, 1: 33, 0: 3.
1.00 Pit of Offerings — 1: 45,
0.93 Sear — 2: 2, 1: 38, 0: 5.
0.89 Cori Mountain Monastery — 1: 40, 0: 5.
0.76 Thundering Falls — 1: 34, 0: 11.
0.27 Restless Vinestalk — 1: 12, 0: 33.
0.16 Eclipsed Realms — 2: 3, 1: 1, 0: 41.
0.13 Quantum Riddler — 2: 1, 1: 4, 0: 40.
0.11 Stomping Ground — 1: 5, 0: 40.
0.11 Unsummon — 1: 5, 0: 40.
0.02 Catharsis — 1: 1, 0: 44.

Sideboard

1.78 Beza, the Bounding Spring — 2: 38, 1: 4, 0: 3.
1.69 Soul-Guide Lantern — 3: 1, 2: 33, 1: 7, 0: 4.
1.56 Pyroclasm — 2: 31, 1: 8, 0: 6.
1.44 Disdainful Stroke — 3: 1, 2: 18, 1: 26,
1.24 Ygra, Eater of All — 2: 17, 1: 22, 0: 6.
1.09 Spell Pierce — 2: 18, 1: 13, 0: 14.
0.93 Sear — 2: 1, 1: 40, 0: 4.
0.87 Spell Snare — 2: 7, 1: 25, 0: 13.
0.73 Ill-Timed Explosion — 1: 33, 0: 12.
0.73 Pit of Offerings — 1: 33, 0: 12.
0.71 Bounce Off — 1: 32, 0: 13.
0.36 Sunderflock — 2: 1, 1: 14, 0: 30.
0.33 Ghost Vacuum — 2: 4, 1: 7, 0: 34.
0.24 Broadside Barrage — 2: 2, 1: 7, 0: 36.
0.20 Fire Magic — 2: 4, 1: 1, 0: 40.
0.20 Abrade — 2: 2, 1: 5, 0: 38.
0.20 Deceit — 1: 9, 0: 36.
0.16 Flashfreeze — 2: 2, 1: 3, 0: 40.
0.09 Winternight Stories — 2: 2, 0: 43.
0.09 Spider-Sense — 1: 4, 0: 41.
0.09 Essence Scatter — 1: 4, 0: 41.
0.09 The Unagi of Kyoshi Island — 1: 4, 0: 41.
0.07 Catharsis — 1: 3, 0: 42.
0.07 Leatherhead, Swamp Stalker — 2: 1, 1: 1, 0: 43.
0.04 Untimely Malfunction — 2: 1, 0: 44.

Izzet Elements leverages Flamebraider and Ashling, Rekindled to ramp into powerful evoke Elementals, while Roaming Throne doubles their triggers for maximum impact and Sunderflock can sweep the opponent's whole board. Though it remains an Izzet deck at its core, the off-color costs on cards like Vibrance, Deceit, and Wistfulness are easily met via the two-drop accelerants and flexible five-color lands such as Cavern of Souls.

Stormcarved Coast

Secrets of Strixhaven brings a cycle of slow lands originally seen in Innistrad: Midnight Hunt, with Stormcarved Coast as the blue-red version. Standard mana bases are already quite strong, and untapped lands are often more critical to have in the first three turns rather than later in the game, so I do not expect these lands to see widespread adoption. However, a single copy of Stormcarved Coast could reasonably find a place in Izzet Elementals. The deck runs relatively few one-drops, making a tapped land on turn one less punishing, and it may well be the optimal dual land to fetch with Vibrance in the mid-to-late game.

9. Boros Mobilize (2.5% of the Winner's Metagame)

9 Mountain 4 Fanatical Firebrand 4 Howlsquad Heavy 4 Shocking Sharpshooter 4 Stadium Headliner 4 Voice of Victory 4 Warleader's Call 4 Burst Lightning 4 Inspiring Vantage 4 Sacred Foundry 3 Ojer Axonil, Deepest Might 3 Dalkovan Encampment 3 Sunbillow Verge 2 Raphael, Tough Turtle 2 Seam Rip 2 Torch the Tower

4 Sear 4 Magebane Lizard 3 Rest in Peace 2 Battle Menu 2 Exorcise

Numerical breakdown of card choices

BOROS MOBILIZE (37 decks): average 23.30 land, 24.97 creature, 11.73 spell, 60.00 total.

8.92 Mountain — 8: 2, 7: 7,
4.00 Shocking Sharpshooter — 4: 37,
4.00 Stadium Headliner — 4: 37,
4.00 Voice of Victory — 4: 37,
4.00 Burst Lightning — 4: 37,
4.00 Inspiring Vantage — 4: 37,
4.00 Sacred Foundry — 4: 37,
3.97 Howlsquad Heavy — 4: 36, 3: 1,
3.97 Warleader's Call — 4: 36, 3: 1,
3.95 Fanatical Firebrand — 4: 36, 2: 1,
3.16 Sunbillow Verge — 4: 7, 3: 29, 2: 1,
3.03 Ojer Axonil, Deepest Might — 4: 1, 3: 36,
2.97 Dalkovan Encampment — 4: 1, 3: 34, 2: 2,
1.84 Raphael, Tough Turtle — 2: 31, 1: 6,
1.73 Seam Rip — 2: 29, 1: 6, 0: 2.
1.51 Torch the Tower — 3: 1, 2: 26, 1: 1, 0: 9.
0.43 Shock — 2: 8, 0: 29.
0.19 Fountainport — 1: 7, 0: 30.
0.05 Magebane Lizard — 2: 1, 0: 36.
0.05 Cosmogrand Zenith — 2: 1, 0: 36.
0.05 Abandoned Air Temple — 1: 2, 0: 35.
0.03 Sanguine Evangelist — 1: 1, 0: 36.
0.03 Battle Menu — 1: 1, 0: 36.
0.03 Kinscaer Sentry — 1: 1, 0: 36.
0.03 Sear — 1: 1, 0: 36.
0.03 Song of Totentanz — 1: 1, 0: 36.
0.03 Anim Pakal, Thousandth Moon — 1: 1, 0: 36.

Sideboard

3.81 Magebane Lizard — 4: 32, 3: 3, 2: 2,
3.62 Sear — 4: 28, 3: 5, 2: 3, 1: 1,
2.84 Rest in Peace — 3: 31, 2: 6,
2.05 Battle Menu — 4: 1, 3: 6, 2: 24, 1: 6,
1.68 Exorcise — 3: 1, 2: 27, 1: 5, 0: 4.
0.41 Dewdrop Cure — 3: 5, 0: 32.
0.27 Slagstorm — 2: 5, 0: 32.
0.08 Seam Rip — 2: 1, 1: 1, 0: 35.
0.05 Shock — 2: 1, 0: 36.
0.05 Sage of the Skies — 2: 1, 0: 36.
0.05 Sheltered by Ghosts — 2: 1, 0: 36.
0.03 Clarion Conqueror — 1: 1, 0: 36.
0.03 Torch the Tower — 1: 1, 0: 36.
0.03 High Noon — 1: 1, 0: 36.

Boros Mobilize excels at creating a steady stream of tokens through Stadium Headliner, Voice of Victory, and Dalkovan Encampment. Although these Warrior tokens enter attacking and are sacrificed at the beginning of the next end step, their brief appearance is enough to trigger Warleader's Call; Shocking Sharpshooter; and Raphael, Tough Turtle. With Ojer Axonil, Deepest Might on the battlefield, these pings each deal 4 damage.

Lorehold Charm

Secrets of Strixhaven introduces a cycle of five Charms, and Lorehold Charm could be a viable addition to Boros Mobilize. The first mode offers a clean answer to a Monument to Endurance. The second mode can revive Voice of Victory to maintain pressure or Stadium Headliner if you need removal. The third mode can boost all your creatures, including tokens, opening the door to a surprise lethal attack. That's an impressive range of modality for a two-mana spell.

10. Dimir Midrange (2.1% of the Winner's Metagame)

4 Spyglass Siren 4 Requiting Hex 4 Gloomlake Verge 4 Watery Grave 4 Kaito, Bane of Nightmares 4 Floodpits Drowner 4 Dream Beavers 4 Multiversal Passage 3 Island 3 Swamp 3 Enduring Curiosity 3 Super Shredder 2 Tishana's Tidebinder 2 Shoot the Sheriff 2 Restless Reef 2 Soulstone Sanctuary 2 Bitter Triumph 2 Starting Town 2 Phantom Interference 1 Wan Shi Tong, Librarian 1 Spell Snare

2 Annul 2 Disdainful Stroke 2 Duress 2 Tishana's Tidebinder 2 Day of Black Sun 1 Soul-Guide Lantern 1 Wan Shi Tong, Librarian 1 The Unagi of Kyoshi Island 1 Flashfreeze 1 The Ooze

Numerical breakdown of card choices

DIMIR MIDRANGE (25 decks): average 24.16 land, 22.32 creature, 13.52 spell, 60.00 total.

4.00 Watery Grave — 4: 25,
3.92 Gloomlake Verge — 4: 23, 3: 2,
3.84 Kaito, Bane of Nightmares — 4: 21, 3: 4,
3.56 Swamp — 6: 1, 4: 11, 3: 13,
3.52 Floodpits Drowner — 4: 20, 3: 2, 2: 1, 0: 2.
3.48 Spyglass Siren — 4: 16, 3: 5, 2: 4,
3.48 Island — 4: 12, 3: 13,
3.32 Dream Beavers — 4: 14, 3: 9, 0: 2.
3.32 Requiting Hex — 4: 14, 3: 5, 2: 6,
3.24 Enduring Curiosity — 4: 9, 3: 15, 0: 1.
2.80 Multiversal Passage — 4: 13, 3: 6, 0: 6.
2.24 Shoot the Sheriff — 3: 6, 2: 19,
2.24 Restless Reef — 4: 3, 3: 2, 2: 18, 1: 2,
2.04 Tishana's Tidebinder — 4: 2, 2: 20, 1: 3,
1.84 Bitter Triumph — 3: 1, 2: 20, 1: 3, 0: 1.
1.80 Soulstone Sanctuary — 3: 3, 2: 15, 1: 6, 0: 1.
1.68 Deep-Cavern Bat — 4: 9, 3: 2, 0: 14.
1.64 Super Shredder — 3: 13, 2: 1, 0: 11.
1.56 Starting Town — 2: 19, 1: 1, 0: 5.
1.04 Phantom Interference — 2: 13, 0: 12.
0.88 Cecil, Dark Knight — 2: 11, 0: 14.
0.68 Preacher of the Schism — 3: 3, 2: 4, 0: 18.
0.60 Wan Shi Tong, Librarian — 1: 15, 0: 10.
0.60 Spell Snare — 1: 15, 0: 10.
0.48 Fountainport — 2: 2, 1: 8, 0: 15.
0.32 Mockingbird — 2: 4, 0: 21.
0.28 Intimidation Tactics — 2: 3, 1: 1, 0: 21.
0.24 Tragic Trajectory — 2: 2, 1: 2, 0: 21.
0.20 Azure Beastbinder — 2: 2, 1: 1, 0: 22.
0.20 Flitterwing Nuisance — 1: 5, 0: 20.
0.16 Deceit — 4: 1, 0: 24.
0.16 Superior Spider-Man — 4: 1, 0: 24.
0.16 Bitterbloom Bearer — 2: 1, 1: 2, 0: 22.
0.12 Cavern of Souls — 3: 1, 0: 24.
0.08 Pilfer — 2: 1, 0: 24.
0.08 Undercity Sewers — 1: 2, 0: 23.
0.04 Malcolm, Alluring Scoundrel — 1: 1, 0: 24.
0.04 Great Arashin City — 1: 1, 0: 24.
0.04 Agna Qel'a — 1: 1, 0: 24.
0.04 Realm of Koh — 1: 1, 0: 24.
0.04 Spell Pierce — 1: 1, 0: 24.

Sideboard

1.92 Annul — 2: 23, 1: 2,
1.64 Disdainful Stroke — 2: 17, 1: 7, 0: 1.
1.52 Duress — 4: 1, 2: 13, 1: 8, 0: 3.
1.40 Tishana's Tidebinder — 2: 12, 1: 11, 0: 2.
1.36 Soul-Guide Lantern — 2: 10, 1: 14, 0: 1.
1.12 Day of Black Sun — 2: 13, 1: 2, 0: 10.
0.88 Flashfreeze — 2: 8, 1: 6, 0: 11.
0.68 The Unagi of Kyoshi Island — 1: 17, 0: 8.
0.68 Wan Shi Tong, Librarian — 2: 1, 1: 15, 0: 9.
0.64 Intimidation Tactics — 2: 3, 1: 10, 0: 12.
0.52 The Ooze — 1: 13, 0: 12.
0.40 Strategic Betrayal — 1: 10, 0: 15.
0.40 Spell Pierce — 2: 2, 1: 6, 0: 17.
0.36 Ghost Vacuum — 1: 9, 0: 16.
0.32 Shoot the Sheriff — 1: 8, 0: 17.
0.24 Faebloom Trick — 1: 6, 0: 19.
0.16 Bitter Triumph — 1: 4, 0: 21.
0.16 The Legend of Kuruk — 1: 4, 0: 21.
0.12 Quantum Riddler — 2: 1, 1: 1, 0: 23.
0.12 Requiting Hex — 2: 1, 1: 1, 0: 23.
0.08 Negate — 1: 2, 0: 23.
0.08 Spell Snare — 1: 2, 0: 23.
0.08 Heartless Act — 1: 2, 0: 23.
0.04 Deathmark — 1: 1, 0: 24.
0.04 Essence Scatter — 1: 1, 0: 24.
0.04 Pilfer — 1: 1, 0: 24.

Dimir Midrange seeks to disrupt opponents with a mix of removal, discard, and countermagic while pressuring them with cheap, evasive creatures. Once Enduring Curiosity hits the board, those creatures can refill your hand, and Kaito, Bane of Nightmares provides additional card advantage. As a recent evolution, the aggregate main deck has embraced two cheap evasive creatures from Magic: The Gathering® | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Dream Beavers and Super Shredder.

Scheming Silvertongue
Moseo, Vein's New Dean
Withering Curse

With every new set, Dimir Midrange players eagerly scan the card image gallery for cheap evasive creatures, and Secrets of Strixhaven presents two notable standouts in Scheming Silvertongue and Moseo, Vein's New Dean. These additions may even point toward a novel life-gain variant of the archetype, which could additionally use Dream Beavers and Deep-Cavern Bat to enable more consistent life-gain triggers. From there, such a build might also take advantage of Withering Curse as a board sweeper, though that may require a full redesign of the deck.

11. Azorius Momo (1.9% of the Winner's Metagame)

8 Plains 4 Springleaf Drum 4 Haliya, Guided by Light 4 Momo, Friendly Flier 4 Sage of the Skies 4 Starfield Shepherd 4 Seam Rip 4 Floodfarm Verge 4 Hallowed Fountain 4 Cosmogrand Zenith 3 Nurturing Pixie 3 Quantum Riddler 3 Abandoned Air Temple 3 Multiversal Passage 3 Parting Gust 1 Mockingbird

4 Clarion Conqueror 3 Rest in Peace 2 Spider-Sense 2 Avatar's Wrath 2 No More Lies 1 Curious Farm Animals 1 Quantum Riddler

Numerical breakdown of card choices

AZORIUS MOMO (28 decks): average 21.86 land, 26.57 creature, 11.61 spell, 60.04 total.

7.89 Plains — 8: 25, 7: 3,
4.00 Momo, Friendly Flier — 4: 28,
4.00 Sage of the Skies — 4: 28,
4.00 Seam Rip — 4: 28,
4.00 Floodfarm Verge — 4: 28,
4.00 Hallowed Fountain — 4: 28,
3.96 Springleaf Drum — 4: 27, 3: 1,
3.93 Starfield Shepherd — 4: 26, 3: 2,
3.79 Haliya, Guided by Light — 4: 22, 3: 6,
3.39 Cosmogrand Zenith — 4: 19, 3: 5, 2: 2, 0: 2.
2.96 Multiversal Passage — 4: 2, 3: 23, 2: 3,
2.93 Abandoned Air Temple — 3: 26, 2: 2,
2.86 Nurturing Pixie — 4: 1, 3: 22, 2: 5,
2.61 Quantum Riddler — 4: 2, 3: 15, 2: 9, 1: 2,
2.43 Parting Gust — 4: 8, 3: 12, 0: 8.
0.96 Mockingbird — 1: 27, 0: 1.
0.96 Get Lost — 4: 3, 3: 5, 0: 20.
0.32 Curious Farm Animals — 1: 9, 0: 19.
0.25 Figure of Fable — 2: 3, 1: 1, 0: 24.
0.21 Spider-Sense — 2: 3, 0: 25.
0.18 Voice of Victory — 3: 1, 2: 1, 0: 26.
0.14 Arachne, Psionic Weaver — 3: 1, 1: 1, 0: 26.
0.07 Restless Anchorage — 1: 2, 0: 26.
0.04 Rest in Peace — 1: 1, 0: 27.
0.04 Aang, Swift Savior — 1: 1, 0: 27.
0.04 Leonardo, Leader in Blue — 1: 1, 0: 27.
0.04 Leonardo, Cutting Edge — 1: 1, 0: 27.
0.04 Sygg, Wanderwine Wisdom — 1: 1, 0: 27.

Sideboard

3.93 Clarion Conqueror — 4: 26, 3: 2,
2.11 Spider-Sense — 4: 1, 3: 2, 2: 24, 1: 1,
2.00 Rest in Peace — 4: 6, 3: 8, 2: 4, 0: 10.
1.93 No More Lies — 3: 12, 2: 9, 0: 7.
1.61 Avatar's Wrath — 3: 1, 2: 21, 0: 6.
0.82 Quantum Riddler — 2: 1, 1: 21, 0: 6.
0.68 Curious Farm Animals — 1: 19, 0: 9.
0.64 Soul-Guide Lantern — 2: 9, 0: 19.
0.36 Requisition Raid — 2: 5, 0: 23.
0.29 Sheltered by Ghosts — 3: 2, 2: 1, 0: 25.
0.18 Flashfreeze — 2: 2, 1: 1, 0: 25.
0.07 Disdainful Stroke — 2: 1, 0: 27.
0.07 Morningtide's Light — 2: 1, 0: 27.
0.07 Voice of Victory — 2: 1, 0: 27.
0.07 Winnowing — 2: 1, 0: 27.
0.07 Expel the Interlopers — 2: 1, 0: 27.
0.07 Ghost Vacuum — 2: 1, 0: 27.
0.04 Get Lost — 1: 1, 0: 27.

Azorius Momo has a favorable matchup against Izzet Prowess, partly due to its explosive starts. The dream draw leads with Momo, Friendly Flier on turn one, followed by Springleaf Drum and Sage of the Skies on turn two. That early pair of 2/3 flying lifelinkers can quickly put you ahead in the damage race while blocking Slickshot Show-Off or drawing extra cards with Haliya, Guided by Light. Momo, Friendly Flier also reduces the cost of warping Starfield Shepherd, which can fetch Nurturing Pixie to bounce itself and keep the engine humming. After flooding the board with inexpensive fliers, you can boost all of them with Cosmogrand Zenith and Abandoned Air Temple.

Skycoach Conductor
Daydream

From Secrets of Strixhaven, both Skycoach Conductor and Daydream could serve as excellent ways to blink your own warped Quantum Riddler. Skycoach Conductor has an additional perk with flying, so it benefits from the cost reduction provided by Momo, Friendly Flier when cast during your own turn. While these cards may lack the flexibility of Parting Gust, they make up for it with greater efficiency when your primary goal is to blink your own creatures.

12. Jeskai Control (1.2% of the Winner's Metagame)

4 Consult the Star Charts 4 Get Lost 4 Lightning Helix 4 Floodfarm Verge 4 Hallowed Fountain 4 Steam Vents 4 Sunbillow Verge 4 No More Lies 3 Jeskai Revelation 3 Meticulous Archive 3 Stock Up 2 Seam Rip 2 Cori Mountain Monastery 2 Sacred Foundry 2 Ultima 2 Three Steps Ahead 2 Riverpyre Verge 2 Wan Shi Tong, Librarian 1 Plains 1 Day of Judgment 1 Spell Snare 1 Island 1 Abrade

3 Tishana's Tidebinder 2 Annul 2 Wan Shi Tong, Librarian 2 Pyroclasm 2 Rest in Peace 2 Disdainful Stroke 1 Day of Judgment 1 The Unagi of Kyoshi Island

Numerical breakdown of card choices

JESKAI CONTROL (15 decks): average 26.67 land, 1.93 creature, 31.40 spell, 60.00 total.

4.00 Consult the Star Charts — 4: 15,
4.00 Get Lost — 4: 15,
4.00 Hallowed Fountain — 4: 15,
3.93 Floodfarm Verge — 4: 14, 3: 1,
3.80 Sunbillow Verge — 4: 12, 3: 3,
3.73 Lightning Helix — 4: 12, 3: 2, 2: 1,
3.73 Steam Vents — 4: 13, 2: 2,
3.47 No More Lies — 4: 13, 0: 2.
3.00 Jeskai Revelation — 4: 1, 3: 13, 2: 1,
2.87 Meticulous Archive — 4: 6, 3: 3, 2: 4, 1: 2,
2.87 Stock Up — 4: 4, 3: 9, 0: 2.
2.20 Seam Rip — 4: 1, 3: 1, 2: 13,
2.00 Three Steps Ahead — 3: 4, 2: 9, 0: 2.
1.93 Riverpyre Verge — 3: 3, 2: 10, 0: 2.
1.80 Ultima — 2: 12, 1: 3,
1.73 Sacred Foundry — 4: 1, 2: 8, 1: 6,
1.60 Cori Mountain Monastery — 2: 9, 1: 6,
1.53 Day of Judgment — 3: 1, 2: 6, 1: 8,
1.00 Wan Shi Tong, Librarian — 2: 5, 1: 5, 0: 5.
1.00 Spell Snare — 2: 2, 1: 11, 0: 2.
1.00 Plains — 1: 15,
0.80 Island — 1: 12, 0: 3.
0.73 Abrade — 2: 2, 1: 7, 0: 6.
0.53 Mistrise Village — 2: 2, 1: 4, 0: 9.
0.53 Thundering Falls — 4: 2, 0: 13.
0.53 North Wind Avatar — 3: 2, 2: 1, 0: 12.
0.33 Fire Magic — 2: 1, 1: 3, 0: 11.
0.27 The Unagi of Kyoshi Island — 2: 2, 0: 13.
0.27 Rest in Peace — 2: 2, 0: 13.
0.27 Sear — 2: 2, 0: 13.
0.20 Elegant Parlor — 1: 3, 0: 12.
0.20 Roiling Dragonstorm — 3: 1, 0: 14.
0.13 Aang, Swift Savior — 2: 1, 0: 14.

Sideboard

1.87 Annul — 2: 13, 1: 2,
1.87 Tishana's Tidebinder — 3: 8, 2: 1, 1: 2, 0: 4.
1.53 Pyroclasm — 2: 10, 1: 3, 0: 2.
1.53 Rest in Peace — 2: 10, 1: 3, 0: 2.
1.40 Wan Shi Tong, Librarian — 2: 7, 1: 7, 0: 1.
1.33 Disdainful Stroke — 2: 8, 1: 4, 0: 3.
0.80 The Unagi of Kyoshi Island — 1: 12, 0: 3.
0.60 Beza, the Bounding Spring — 2: 2, 1: 5, 0: 8.
0.47 Day of Judgment — 1: 7, 0: 8.
0.27 Exorcise — 2: 2, 0: 13.
0.27 Torpor Orb — 2: 2, 0: 13.
0.27 Mistrise Village — 1: 4, 0: 11.
0.20 Elspeth's Smite — 1: 3, 0: 12.
0.20 Negate — 2: 1, 1: 1, 0: 13.
0.20 High Noon — 1: 3, 0: 12.
0.20 Jeskai Revelation — 1: 3, 0: 12.
0.20 Riverchurn Monument — 1: 3, 0: 12.
0.20 Soul-Guide Lantern — 1: 3, 0: 12.
0.20 Ultima — 1: 3, 0: 12.
0.13 Fire Magic — 1: 2, 0: 13.
0.13 Repel Calamity — 2: 1, 0: 14.
0.13 Seam Rip — 2: 1, 0: 14.
0.13 Pyrrhic Strike — 1: 2, 0: 13.
0.13 Shiko, Paragon of the Way — 1: 2, 0: 13.
0.13 Split Up — 1: 2, 0: 13.
0.07 Glen Elendra Guardian — 1: 1, 0: 14.
0.07 Flashfreeze — 1: 1, 0: 14.
0.07 Spell Snare — 1: 1, 0: 14.
0.07 Abrade — 1: 1, 0: 14.
0.07 Herald of Eternal Dawn — 1: 1, 0: 14.
0.07 Aang's Iceberg — 1: 1, 0: 14.
0.07 Clarion Conqueror — 1: 1, 0: 14.
0.07 Dispelling Exhale — 1: 1, 0: 14.
0.07 Marang River Regent — 1: 1, 0: 14.

Jeskai Control is a classic control strategy that aims to dictate the pace of the game through countermagic, removal, sweepers, and card-draw effects. The typical win conditions are Jeskai Revelation and Wan Shi Tong, Librarian.

Resonating Lute
Mathemagics
Great Hall of the Biblioplex

From Secrets of Strixhaven, Resonating Lute is a standout card that lets you effectively double your mana for instants and sorceries. As long as you run almost entirely instant or sorcery spells, it evokes the raw power of Fires of Invention or Wilderness Reclamation. In Jeskai Control, it could ramp you into a turn-five Jeskai Revelation or even set up the ultimate Quandrix kill: Mathemagics for X=6, forcing your opponent to draw 64 cards. While Resonating Lute, alongside Great Hall of the Biblioplex, may ultimately find a stronger home in five-color builds featuring Inevitable Defeat, it still promises to provide meaningful support to spell-heavy control decks.

13. Temur Omniscience (1.1% of the Winner's Metagame)

4 Formidable Speaker 4 Kona, Rescue Beastie 4 Omniscience 4 Cavern of Souls 4 Shimmerwilds Growth 4 Evendo, Waking Haven 3 Marang River Regent 3 North Wind Avatar 3 Breeding Pool 3 Uthros, Titanic Godcore 3 Stock Up 3 Multiversal Passage 3 Starting Town 3 Ashling, Rekindled 2 Winternight Stories 2 Stomping Ground 1 Steam Vents 1 Spider-Sense 1 Kavaron, Memorial World 1 Riverpyre Verge 1 Ill-Timed Explosion 1 Pyroclasm 1 Spell Snare 1 Spell Pierce

2 Soul-Guide Lantern 2 Spider-Sense 2 Abrade 2 Stormkeld Vanguard 1 Marang River Regent 1 Omni-Changeling 1 Pyroclasm 1 Extinguisher Battleship 1 Ill-Timed Explosion 1 North Wind Avatar 1 Into the Flood Maw

Numerical breakdown of card choices

TEMUR OMNISCIENCE (17 decks): average 25.41 land, 15.88 creature, 18.71 spell, 60.00 total.

4.00 Kona, Rescue Beastie — 4: 17,
4.00 Omniscience — 4: 17,
3.88 Formidable Speaker — 4: 16, 2: 1,
3.65 Cavern of Souls — 4: 11, 3: 6,
3.59 Uthros, Titanic Godcore — 4: 10, 3: 7,
3.06 Breeding Pool — 4: 1, 3: 16,
3.00 Marang River Regent — 3: 17,
3.00 North Wind Avatar — 3: 17,
3.00 Stock Up — 4: 2, 3: 13, 2: 2,
2.35 Multiversal Passage — 3: 8, 2: 8, 0: 1.
2.35 Starting Town — 3: 8, 2: 8, 0: 1.
2.29 Kavaron, Memorial World — 4: 8, 1: 7, 0: 2.
2.18 Stomping Ground — 3: 5, 2: 11, 0: 1.
2.06 Winternight Stories — 3: 4, 2: 11, 1: 1, 0: 1.
2.00 Ashling, Rekindled — 4: 7, 3: 2, 0: 8.
1.88 Shimmerwilds Growth — 4: 8, 0: 9.
1.88 Evendo, Waking Haven — 4: 8, 0: 9.
1.41 Steam Vents — 4: 1, 2: 4, 1: 12,
1.35 Ill-Timed Explosion — 3: 2, 2: 6, 1: 5, 0: 4.
1.12 Pyroclasm — 3: 1, 2: 6, 1: 4, 0: 6.
1.00 Spirebluff Canal — 3: 1, 2: 7, 0: 9.
0.94 Spell Pierce — 2: 7, 1: 2, 0: 8.
0.94 Spider-Sense — 1: 16, 0: 1.
0.88 Riverpyre Verge — 4: 1, 1: 11, 0: 5.
0.59 Into the Flood Maw — 3: 1, 2: 1, 1: 5, 0: 10.
0.47 Forest — 1: 8, 0: 9.
0.47 Spell Snare — 1: 8, 0: 9.
0.35 Firebending Lesson — 1: 6, 0: 11.
0.35 Abrade — 2: 1, 1: 4, 0: 12.
0.35 Thunder Magic — 1: 6, 0: 11.
0.35 Fire Magic — 2: 2, 1: 2, 0: 13.
0.35 Bounce Off — 2: 1, 1: 4, 0: 12.
0.24 Burst Lightning — 1: 4, 0: 13.
0.18 Springleaf Drum — 3: 1, 0: 16.
0.18 Willowrush Verge — 3: 1, 0: 16.
0.12 Roiling Dragonstorm — 2: 1, 0: 16.
0.12 Thornspire Verge — 2: 1, 0: 16.
0.06 Lost in the Maze — 1: 1, 0: 16.

Sideboard

2.06 Spider-Sense — 3: 2, 2: 14, 1: 1,
1.71 Abrade — 2: 13, 1: 3, 0: 1.
1.71 Soul-Guide Lantern — 2: 12, 1: 5,
1.35 Stormkeld Vanguard — 2: 8, 1: 7, 0: 2.
1.00 Marang River Regent — 1: 17,
1.00 Omni-Changeling — 1: 17,
0.94 Extinguisher Battleship — 1: 16, 0: 1.
0.94 Ill-Timed Explosion — 1: 16, 0: 1.
0.88 Pyroclasm — 2: 3, 1: 9, 0: 5.
0.76 North Wind Avatar — 1: 13, 0: 4.
0.65 Into the Flood Maw — 1: 11, 0: 6.
0.35 Ghost Vacuum — 1: 6, 0: 11.
0.29 Origin of Metalbending — 2: 1, 1: 3, 0: 13.
0.24 Lost in the Maze — 2: 1, 1: 2, 0: 14.
0.18 Fire Magic — 1: 3, 0: 14.
0.12 Voice of Victory — 1: 2, 0: 15.
0.12 Cavern of Souls — 1: 2, 0: 15.
0.12 Heritage Reclamation — 1: 2, 0: 15.
0.12 Quantum Riddler — 1: 2, 0: 15.
0.06 Terror of the Peaks — 1: 1, 0: 16.
0.06 Firebending Lesson — 1: 1, 0: 16.
0.06 Spell Pierce — 1: 1, 0: 16.
0.06 Disdainful Stroke — 1: 1, 0: 16.
0.06 Evendo, Waking Haven — 1: 1, 0: 16.
0.06 Frostcliff Siege — 1: 1, 0: 16.
0.06 Stock Up — 1: 1, 0: 16.
0.06 Koma, World-Eater — 1: 1, 0: 16.

Temur Omniscience is a combo deck that aims to play Kona, Rescue Beastie; tap it via Uthros, Titanic Godcore or Evendo, Waking Haven; and put Omniscience onto the battlefield for free. From there, the typical win condition is North Wind Avatar. You grab Marang River Regent from your sideboard, bounce North Wind Avatar, replay it, fetch Omni-Changeling, use it to copy Marang River Regent, and loop for infinite North Wind Avatar triggers, endless bounce, and an overwhelming board presence.

Improvisation Capstone

Secrets of Strixhaven introduces paradigm, a new keyword featured on a cycle of five mythic rare sorceries. It resembles the epic mechanic, though without locking you out of casting other spells. The red paradigm sorcery, Improvisation Capstone, could prove especially powerful in decks built around low-cost ramp and high-cost finishers. Temur Omniscience may be a solid home for the card.

14. Mono-Red Aggro (0.9% of the Winner's Metagame)

12 Mountain 4 Hired Claw 4 Burst Lightning 4 Shock 4 Hearthborn Battler 4 Scalding Viper 4 Riverpyre Verge 4 Razorkin Needlehead 4 Steam Vents 3 Nova Hellkite 3 Scorching Shot 3 Ojer Axonil, Deepest Might 2 Fanatical Firebrand 2 Kellan, Planar Trailblazer 1 Rockface Village 1 Spirebluff Canal 1 Multiversal Passage

4 Magebane Lizard 3 Twisted Fealty 3 Sear 2 Tokka & Rahzar, Terrible Twos 1 Scorching Shot 1 Hexing Squelcher 1 Soul-Guide Lantern

Numerical breakdown of card choices

MONO-RED AGGRO (22 decks): average 23.18 land, 25.55 creature, 11.27 spell, 60.00 total.

15.36 Mountain —
4.00 Hired Claw — 4: 22,
4.00 Burst Lightning — 4: 22,
3.41 Nova Hellkite — 4: 11, 3: 9, 2: 2,
3.32 Shock — 4: 14, 3: 1, 2: 7,
2.91 Hearthborn Battler — 4: 16, 0: 6.
2.41 Scorching Shot — 4: 7, 3: 7, 2: 2, 0: 6.
2.36 Razorkin Needlehead — 4: 13, 0: 9.
2.36 Scalding Viper — 4: 13, 0: 9.
2.36 Riverpyre Verge — 4: 13, 0: 9.
2.18 Steam Vents — 4: 12, 0: 10.
1.91 Ojer Axonil, Deepest Might — 4: 3, 3: 10, 0: 9.
1.59 Hexing Squelcher — 4: 6, 3: 1, 2: 4, 0: 11.
1.45 Burnout Bashtronaut — 4: 8, 0: 14.
1.36 Fanatical Firebrand — 3: 4, 2: 7, 1: 4, 0: 7.
1.18 Rockface Village — 4: 3, 2: 2, 1: 10, 0: 7.
1.09 Soulstone Sanctuary — 4: 2, 3: 1, 2: 5, 1: 3, 0: 11.
1.05 Sear — 4: 5, 3: 1, 0: 16.
0.86 Kellan, Planar Trailblazer — 2: 9, 1: 1, 0: 12.
0.68 Tokka & Rahzar, Terrible Twos — 3: 3, 2: 1, 1: 4, 0: 14.
0.55 Spirebluff Canal — 2: 1, 1: 10, 0: 11.
0.55 Emberheart Challenger — 4: 3, 0: 19.
0.50 Tersa Lightshatter — 3: 3, 2: 1, 0: 18.
0.45 Multiversal Passage — 1: 10, 0: 12.
0.41 Raphael, the Nightwatcher — 3: 1, 2: 2, 1: 2, 0: 17.
0.36 Zhao, the Moon Slayer — 2: 3, 1: 2, 0: 17.
0.36 Howlsquad Heavy — 4: 2, 0: 20.
0.32 Gastal Thrillroller — 3: 1, 2: 2, 0: 19.
0.18 Kavaron Harrier — 2: 2, 0: 20.
0.18 Inti, Seneschal of the Sun — 2: 2, 0: 20.
0.09 Lightning Strike — 2: 1, 0: 21.
0.09 The Ooze — 1: 2, 0: 20.
0.09 Sunspine Lynx — 1: 2, 0: 20.

Sideboard

4.00 Magebane Lizard — 4: 22,
2.23 Sear — 4: 4, 3: 10, 2: 1, 1: 1, 0: 6.
1.64 Twisted Fealty — 3: 8, 2: 6, 0: 8.
1.00 Sunspine Lynx — 3: 6, 2: 2, 0: 14.
0.91 Soul-Guide Lantern — 3: 4, 2: 4, 0: 14.
0.64 Expedited Inheritance — 2: 7, 0: 15.
0.64 Ghost Vacuum — 4: 1, 2: 5, 0: 16.
0.64 Tokka & Rahzar, Terrible Twos — 2: 7, 0: 15.
0.50 Slickshot Show-Off — 4: 2, 3: 1, 0: 19.
0.50 Scorching Shot — 2: 2, 1: 7, 0: 13.
0.45 Leyline of the Void — 2: 5, 0: 17.
0.36 Abrade — 4: 2, 0: 20.
0.27 Slagstorm — 2: 3, 0: 19.
0.27 Stingerback Terror — 2: 3, 0: 19.
0.27 The Legend of Roku — 2: 3, 0: 19.
0.23 Hexing Squelcher — 1: 5, 0: 17.
0.23 Shock — 1: 5, 0: 17.
0.09 Hazoret, Godseeker — 2: 1, 0: 21.
0.09 The Ooze — 2: 1, 0: 21.
0.05 Ojer Axonil, Deepest Might — 1: 1, 0: 21.

The classic formula of cheap, hasty threats backed by burn spells never goes out of style. Mono-Red Aggro aims to win as fast as possible, relying on Hired Claw, Nova Hellkite, and Burst Lightning to rapidly reduce the opponent's life total to zero. The most prominent version of the deck uses Razorkin Needlehead, Scalding Viper, and Hearthborn Battler to ping opponents. With Ojer Axonil, Deepest Might in play, each of these pings turns into a four-damage burst.

Maelstrom Artisan
Molten-Core Maestro
Emeritus of Conflict

Secrets of Strixhaven offers several new options for the creature base, cementing the deck's aggressive and disruptive strategy. Molten-Core Maestro has particularly strong synergy with Burst Lightning. If you pay the kicker cost, then Molten-Core Maestro's opus ability adds a +1/+1 counter and rewards you with a bunch of red mana. Meanwhile, the two creatures with prepared spells offer interaction, though Emeritus of Conflict may require a deck with more multi-spell support.

15. Sultai Reanimator (0.9% of the Winner's Metagame)

4 Bringer of the Last Gift 4 Deceit 4 Overgrown Tomb 4 Watery Grave 4 Willowrush Verge 4 Superior Spider-Man 4 Dredger's Insight 4 Requiting Hex 3 Formidable Speaker 3 Overlord of the Balemurk 3 Wistfulness 3 Wastewood Verge 2 Ardyn, the Usurper 2 Breeding Pool 2 Cavern of Souls 2 Gloomlake Verge 2 Undercity Sewers 2 Underground Mortuary 2 Bitter Triumph 1 Swamp 1 Awaken the Honored Dead

3 Tragic Trajectory 2 Intimidation Tactics 2 Soul-Guide Lantern 2 Quantum Riddler 2 Duress 2 Deadly Cover-Up 1 Glarb, Calamity's Augur 1 Wistfulness

Numerical breakdown of card choices

SULTAI REANIMATOR (13 decks): average 25.31 land, 24.38 creature, 10.31 spell, 60.00 total.

4.00 Bringer of the Last Gift — 4: 13,
4.00 Deceit — 4: 13,
4.00 Superior Spider-Man — 4: 13,
3.92 Overgrown Tomb — 4: 12, 3: 1,
3.85 Watery Grave — 4: 11, 3: 2,
3.54 Requiting Hex — 4: 10, 3: 2, 0: 1.
3.23 Dredger's Insight — 4: 10, 2: 1, 0: 2.
3.23 Willowrush Verge — 4: 7, 3: 3, 2: 2, 1: 1,
3.15 Formidable Speaker — 4: 2, 3: 11,
3.15 Overlord of the Balemurk — 4: 3, 3: 9, 2: 1,
2.77 Wistfulness — 4: 1, 3: 10, 2: 1, 0: 1.
2.69 Wastewood Verge — 4: 1, 3: 10, 1: 1, 0: 1.
2.31 Breeding Pool — 3: 4, 2: 9,
2.15 Cavern of Souls — 3: 4, 2: 7, 1: 2,
2.00 Ardyn, the Usurper — 2: 13,
2.00 Undercity Sewers — 3: 5, 2: 3, 1: 5,
1.92 Bitter Triumph — 3: 1, 2: 11, 0: 1.
1.77 Gloomlake Verge — 4: 1, 3: 1, 2: 5, 1: 6,
1.77 Underground Mortuary — 2: 10, 1: 3,
1.31 Awaken the Honored Dead — 4: 1, 3: 1, 2: 1, 1: 8, 0: 2.
1.00 Swamp — 1: 13,
0.62 Oblivious Bookworm — 4: 2, 0: 11.
0.46 Blooming Marsh — 3: 2, 0: 11.
0.38 Terror of the Peaks — 1: 5, 0: 8.
0.23 Harvester of Misery — 2: 1, 1: 1, 0: 11.
0.15 Day of Black Sun — 2: 1, 0: 12.
0.15 Analyze the Pollen — 2: 1, 0: 12.
0.08 Island — 1: 1, 0: 12.
0.08 Hedge Maze — 1: 1, 0: 12.
0.08 Raph & Mikey, Troublemakers — 1: 1, 0: 12.

Sideboard

2.31 Tragic Trajectory — 3: 10, 0: 3.
1.92 Intimidation Tactics — 3: 2, 2: 9, 1: 1, 0: 1.
1.85 Deep-Cavern Bat — 4: 6, 0: 7.
1.62 Soul-Guide Lantern — 2: 10, 1: 1, 0: 2.
1.31 Quantum Riddler — 3: 1, 2: 7, 0: 5.
1.23 Glarb, Calamity's Augur — 2: 5, 1: 6, 0: 2.
0.92 Wistfulness — 1: 12, 0: 1.
0.85 Duress — 3: 1, 2: 4, 0: 8.
0.54 Harvester of Misery — 2: 1, 1: 5, 0: 7.
0.38 Deadly Cover-Up — 2: 2, 1: 1, 0: 10.
0.31 Requiting Hex — 4: 1, 0: 12.
0.23 Awaken the Honored Dead — 2: 1, 1: 1, 0: 11.
0.23 Bitter Triumph — 3: 1, 0: 12.
0.23 Spider-Sense — 3: 1, 0: 12.
0.15 Strategic Betrayal — 2: 1, 0: 12.
0.15 Lazav, Wearer of Faces — 2: 1, 0: 12.
0.15 Oko, Lorwyn Liege — 2: 1, 0: 12.
0.08 Cavern of Souls — 1: 1, 0: 12.
0.08 Kaito, Bane of Nightmares — 1: 1, 0: 12.
0.08 Shoot the Sheriff — 1: 1, 0: 12.
0.08 Tishana's Tidebinder — 1: 1, 0: 12.
0.08 Webstrike Elite — 1: 1, 0: 12.
0.08 Dauntless Scrapbot — 1: 1, 0: 12.
0.08 Day of Black Sun — 1: 1, 0: 12.
0.08 Stormkeld Vanguard — 1: 1, 0: 12.

Sultai Reanimator is a graveyard-centric combo deck that intends to fill the graveyard while digging for Superior Spider-Man, which can enter as a copy of Bringer of the Last Gift to effectively end the game on the spot. The deck continues to struggle in a metagame where Soul-Guide Lantern is the most played sideboard card, but the core combo remains undeniably powerful.

Dina's Guidance

From Secrets of Strixhaven, Dina's Guidance may offer a welcome boost in consistency. It can either place Bringer of the Last Gift directly into your graveyard or put Superior Spider-Man into your hand. Sultai Reanimator might value that sort of flexibility.

New Deck Ideas with Secrets of Strixhaven

While Secrets of Strixhaven brings a wide range of upgrades for existing Standard archetypes, the set also introduces numerous other cards that could give rise to entirely new decks. Here are a few that have captured my attention.

Professor Dellian Fel
Hardened Academic
Blech, Loafing Pest
Informed Inkwright
Tragedy Feaster

Professor Dellian Fel could herald the return of a Golgari Midrange deck, boasting high loyalty and a flexible set of abilities that reminds me of Jace, the Mind Sculptor. Hardened Academic might slot well into a Mardu Discard deck, while Blech, Loafing Pest could be perfect for an Abzan Bats deck packed with life-gain effects. Informed Inkwright, meanwhile, could enable an Orzhov Repartee deck built around a suite of targeting spells. And Tragedy Feaster looks like the perfect Demon for Unholy Annex decks.

This is merely a glimpse of what the set has to offer, as there are numerous other appealing cards that I didn't even cover. The possibilities with the newest set feel nearly limitless, like a library whose shelves stretch far beyond sight.

Prepare for Pro Tour Secrets of Strixhaven

Secrets of Strixhaven introduces an exciting array of new cards to explore and role-players to evaluate, opening the doors to a fresh semester of creative deck building and strategic innovation. Yet no matter how sweet a new Standard deck may be, it still has to pass the ultimate test: beating both Izzet Prowess and Mono-Green Landfall. Given all that, I am eager to see what the Pro Tour competitors will bring to the table. Pro Tour Secrets of Strixhaven takes place May 1–3, featuring Secrets of Strixhaven Draft and Standard.

You can experience the excitement in person at MagicCon: Las Vegas, or you can follow the action live on YouTube or Twitch. With $500,000 in prizes on the line and the best players in the world battling for glory, it promises to be a showcase of high-level gameplay.