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. Modern is one of the most beloved formats in Magic, and it will take center stage at Pro Tour Edge of Eternities in just two weeks, marking the eleventh Modern Pro Tour. Over the course of the ten Modern Pro Tours that came before, the format has served as a crucible for innovation, a testament to enduring archetypes, and a proving ground for powerful new cards.

In this article, I'll recount the history of those ten events, following Modern's evolution from its unpredictable beginnings to today's high-powered metagame. I'll highlight the winning decks, outline the shifting metagames, and reflect on what these events can tell us about Modern. Don't miss Corbin Hosler's article tomorrow chronicling the journeys of the champions who hoisted the trophies, alongside the stories of the players who shaped these tournaments.

To compare the diversity of these Pro Tour metagames, I'll use a measure inspired by ecology's inverse Simpson index: The inverse of the sum of each archetype's squared fraction of the field. For example, if the metagame is 50% Affinity, 30% Boros Burn, and 20% Amulet Titan, then the metagame diversity index would be 1 / (0.5²+ 0.3²+ 0.2²) ≈ 2.6. That means in Round 1, roughly one in every 2.6 tables would be expected to feature a mirror match—a low-diversity scenario. By contrast, I'd consider an index of 13 or higher to indicate a properly varied, healthy metagame.

Pro Tour Philadelphia (2011): The Birth of a Format

The inaugural Modern Pro Tour, held in Philadelphia, arrived just one month after its introduction. Competitors were entering uncharted waters, combining years of cards that had never before coexisted. There has never been a Pro Tour metagame as wide open as this one. From September 2–4, 2011, 417 players assembled to compete in this brand-new format. Samuele Estratti emerged victorious with Splinter Twin, using a timely Blood Moon to defeat Josh Utter-Leyton's Zoo deck in the finals.

4 Deceiver Exarch 2 Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker 2 Spellskite 3 Pestermite 4 Preordain 1 Sleight of Hand 4 Ponder 3 Firespout 2 Pact of Negation 1 Disrupting Shoal 2 Dispel 4 Remand 1 Lightning Bolt 4 Splinter Twin 3 Mountain 4 Cascade Bluffs 5 Island 3 Steam Vents 4 Scalding Tarn 3 Misty Rainforest 1 Breeding Pool 2 Spellskite 2 Lightning Bolt 2 Ancient Grudge 2 Dismember 3 Blood Moon 2 Engineered Explosives 1 Deprive 1 Vendilion Clique

Winning deck: Splinter Twin – The first Modern champion relied on a classic combo. Splinter Twin alongside Deceiver Exarch or Pestermite forms a game-winning loop by creating infinite hasty tokens that can swing for lethal. With Preordain and Ponder to dig for cards, the combo reliably came online by turn four. Meanwhile, since Deceiver Exarch could be deployed at instant speed, opponents had to respect the threat of the combo at all times, forcing them to leave mana untapped or risk sudden death.

Metagame diversity index: 9.2 – The tournament was a true Wild West. Everyone sought to play something broken, and no one knew what would stick. The most popular deck was 12-Post, a deck that ramped into Emrakul, the Aeons Torn via Cloudpost, Glimmerpost, and Vesuva. Splinter Twin and Zoo followed close behind. Together, these three decks made up over half the field. Other decks relied on Blazing Shoal, Rite of Flame, and/or numerous other broken cards.

Modern takeaway: Combo-control – Splinter Twin's power came not only from its combo but also from its ability to function as a flexible control deck. Counterspells like Remand and cheap removal like Lightning Bolt let it play a disruptive game, while the constant threat of instant victory always loomed. This duality of roles made it notoriously difficult to play against. Shortly after the Pro Tour, Wizards of the Coast banned Blazing Shoal, Cloudpost, Green Sun's Zenith, Ponder, Preordain, and Rite of Flame from Modern. Yet Splinter Twin survived, cementing itself as a dominant force in competitive Modern for years.

Pro Tour Return to Ravnica (2012): A Breakfast of Champions

The second Modern Pro Tour, Pro Tour Return to Ravnica, took place in Seattle on October 19–21, 2012, with 383 competitors. The tournament was won by Stanislav Cifka, who piloted the infamous Eggs combo deck to an astounding 15-1 finish in the Swiss before cruising through the Top 8 in a near-flawless weekend.

1 Plains 7 Island 3 Sleight of Hand 4 Serum Visions 4 Second Sunrise 4 Conjurer's Bauble 4 Reshape 1 Pyrite Spellbomb 4 Chromatic Sphere 4 Ghost Quarter 1 Hallowed Fountain 4 Chromatic Star 4 Lotus Bloom 4 Elsewhere Flask 2 Silence 2 Misty Rainforest 2 Scalding Tarn 1 Gitaxian Probe 4 Faith's Reward 4 Echoing Truth 2 Pithing Needle 1 Grapeshot 2 Silence 4 Leyline of Sanctity 1 Nihil Spellbomb 1 Grafdigger's Cage

Winning deck: Eggs – Cifka's plan revolved around building a critical mass of artifacts like Chromatic Sphere, Elsewhere Flask, and Conjurer's Bauble, often cheating copies of Lotus Bloom into play with Reshape. From there, Cifka would repeatedly sacrifice them for cards and mana, then bring everything back with Second Sunrise or Faith's Reward. By repeatedly cycling through his deck, he would eventually find his sole copy of Pyrite Spellbomb and fire it again and again for lethal damage.

Metagame diversity index: 8.0 – The tournament was dominated by Jund, which made up 31% of the field. With Thoughtseize, Lightning Bolt, Deathrite Shaman, Tarmogoyf, and Bloodbraid Elf, it embodied the quintessential midrange attrition strategy with efficient disruption. Yet in the finals, Cifka defeated Yuuya Watanabe's Jund in a dramatic fifth game, keeping a no-land hand with two copies of Lotus Bloom. Eggs took home the trophy, even though only eight players brought it to the event.

Modern takeaway: Linear combo – Cifka's dominant run with Eggs revealed Modern's vulnerability to highly linear, non-interactive combo decks. Unlike Splinter Twin, which could pivot into a control plan, Eggs was closer to a solitaire strategy, focused solely on executing a lengthy combo turn with little regard for what the opponent was doing. It was an early warning signal that maintaining the format's health would require vigilance against such decks. In 2013, Second Sunrise was banned.

Pro Tour Born of the Gods (2014): A Diverse Metagame

Pro Tour Born of the Gods was held in Valencia, Spain, on February 21–23, 2014, with 393 players in attendance. The format had undergone major shakeups since the previous Pro Tour. Bloodbraid Elf and Deathrite Shaman had both been banned, diminishing Jund's dominance and leaving the metagame wide open once again. Emerging from this turbulent field, Shaun McLaren captured the trophy with Jeskai Control.

2 Ajani Vengeant 4 Snapcaster Mage 1 Vendilion Clique 1 Anger of the Gods 2 Sphinx's Revelation 4 Lightning Bolt 3 Path to Exile 1 Spell Snare 2 Remand 4 Mana Leak 4 Lightning Helix 3 Electrolyze 3 Cryptic Command 4 Celestial Colonnade 4 Tectonic Edge 4 Scalding Tarn 3 Arid Mesa 2 Sulfur Falls 2 Hallowed Fountain 2 Steam Vents 1 Sacred Foundry 2 Island 1 Mountain 1 Plains 1 Anger of the Gods 1 Izzet Staticaster 2 Relic of Progenitus 2 Stony Silence 1 Counterflux 1 Timely Reinforcements 1 Threads of Disloyalty 1 Crucible of Worlds 1 Celestial Purge 1 Logic Knot 1 Wear // Tear 2 Porphyry Nodes

Winning deck: Jeskai Control – Many players identified the trio of Snapcaster Mage, Lightning Bolt, and Path to Exile as the strongest reactive package in Modern, and Jeskai Control proved to be the perfect response to Modern's aggressive metagame. Bolstered by sweepers, countermagic, and card draw, the deck dictated the pace of play and thrived in long games. In the finals, McLaren outmaneuvered Jacob Wilson's Melira Pod, sealing the match with a perfectly timed Threads of Disloyalty to steal a crucial Scavenging Ooze.

Metagame diversity index: 14.0 – Zoo, led by Wild Nacatl, was the most popular choice at 16% of the field, though it underperformed. The rest of the tournament showcased striking diversity. Splinter Twin, Melira Pod, Jeskai, and Jund all appeared in smaller numbers, while the graveyard-reliant Storm deck gained new life from the recent ban of Deathrite Shaman. The vibrant Top 8 featured eight distinct archetypes, including three different takes on Splinter Twin.

Modern takeaway: Deck mastery – In a metagame where nearly anything was possible, success hinged less on deck selection and more on mastery. The Top 8 was filled with players who knew their archetypes inside and out. These experts could navigate complex Birthing Pod chains, perfectly time their Splinter Twin combo attempts, and choose the perfect target for a counterspell. The players who did best tended to be those who had played the same deck or strategy for a very long time, so deck familiarity defined this Pro Tour.

Pro Tour Fate Reforged (2015): Twin's Last Stand

Pro Tour Fate Reforged took place in Washington, DC, on February 6–8, 2015, with 407 competitors. The format was still adjusting to the banning of Dig Through Time, Treasure Cruise, and Birthing Pod, and many players were searching for the next best strategy. Rising above them all, Antonio Del Moral León took home the trophy with Splinter Twin, marking the second and final time a Modern Pro Tour would be won by this iconic red enchantment.

3 Snapcaster Mage 2 Vendilion Clique 4 Deceiver Exarch 2 Pestermite 1 Flame Slash 4 Serum Visions 1 Peek 1 Dispel 2 Electrolyze 2 Spell Snare 2 Cryptic Command 4 Remand 4 Lightning Bolt 4 Splinter Twin 4 Misty Rainforest 4 Scalding Tarn 4 Sulfur Falls 1 Stomping Ground 3 Steam Vents 1 Desolate Lighthouse 1 Tectonic Edge 1 Mountain 5 Island 1 Dispel 1 Flame Slash 2 Keranos, God of Storms 2 Blood Moon 2 Spellskite 1 Negate 1 Ancient Grudge 1 Pyroclasm 1 Threads of Disloyalty 1 Jace, Architect of Thought 1 Shatterstorm 1 Anger of the Gods

Winning deck: Splinter Twin – Like the deck that triumphed at the very first Modern Pro Tour, this blue-red combo-control shell used Splinter Twin to generate an infinite army of hasty Deceiver Exarch or Pestermite tokens. Without Preordain and Ponder, the combo lacked some consistency, but the deck could also win through fair means, for example by deploying fliers and closing games with a Lightning Bolt plus Snapcaster Mage.

Metagame diversity index: 8.6 – Abzan was the clear frontrunner, representing 28% of the field with a suite of midrange staples: Thoughtseize, Abrupt Decay, Tarmogoyf, Lingering Souls, and the format's new headline act, Siege Rhino. The mighty Rhino defined much of the weekend, though aggressive strategies like Burn, Affinity, and Infect also had a strong presence. Splinter Twin, by contrast, made up a modest 4% of the metagame.

Modern takeaway: Amulet Titan – One of the event's most memorable stories was the breakout of Amulet Titan (known then as Amulet Bloom because Summer Bloom was still legal). Despite being registered by only eight players, the archetype achieved an astonishing win rate. Combining Amulet of Vigor, Primeval Titan, and Simic Growth Chamber, the powerful strategy rewarded deep experience. Justin Cohen's runner-up finish put the strategy firmly on the Modern map, where it has remained a top-tier deck through a wide variety of metagames. To many, Amulet Titan decks have always felt like the most broken thing you could be doing in Modern.

Pro Tour Oath of the Gatewatch (2016): The Dawn of Eldrazi Winter

After the landmark bans of Splinter Twin and Summer Bloom in January 2016, Pro Tour Oath of the Gatewatch unfolded in Atlanta on February 5–7, 2016, with 389 competitors. The trophy went to Jiachen Tao, piloting the now infamous Eldrazi deck.

3 Dismember 2 Ruination Guide 3 Eldrazi Obligator 4 Eldrazi Mimic 4 Eldrazi Skyspawner 4 Endless One 4 Reality Smasher 4 Thought-Knot Seer 4 Vile Aggregate 4 Drowner of Hope 1 Gemstone Caverns 2 Steam Vents 2 Island 3 Cavern of Souls 4 Eldrazi Temple 4 Shivan Reef 4 Scalding Tarn 4 Eye of Ugin 1 Tomb of the Spirit Dragon 3 Stubborn Denial 2 Relic of Progenitus 1 Ratchet Bomb 3 Hurkyl's Recall 2 Gut Shot 2 Chalice of the Void 1 Spellskite

Winning deck: Izzet Eldrazi – The defining story of this Pro Tour was the rise of Eldrazi decks, which could deploy oversized threats like Thought-Knot Seer and Reality Smasher far ahead of schedule thanks to Eye of Ugin and Eldrazi Temple. Several flavors emerged, ranging from Tao's Izzet variant to Ivan Floch's colorless build, but all shared the same terrifying combination of speed and size. The archetype quickly earned a place among the most feared in Modern's history.

Metagame diversity index: 15.7 – Although the weekend is remembered for the Eldrazi menace, it wasn't obvious to everyone before the event. Many competitors underestimated the potential of Oath of the Gatewatch's Eldrazi, so Eldrazi decks made up merely 8% of the field on Day One. Instead, Affinity and Burn were the most popular decks, each at a seemingly reasonable 13% of the field. As a result, the metagame looked surprisingly varied on paper, even if hindsight tells a different story.

Modern takeaway: Two-mana lands – Throughout Magic's history, lands that tap for more than one mana have often proven problematic. With the printing of powerful new Eldrazi creatures, Eye of Ugin and Eldrazi Temple effectively became two-mana lands, enabling the blistering starts that defined the Pro Tour. The results were staggering. Six of the Top 8 decks were Eldrazi variants, and the following months became known as "Eldrazi Winter," with the archetype dominating Modern in unprecedented fashion. Wizards of the Coast eventually stepped in, banning Eye of Ugin two months later.

Pro Tour Rivals of Ixalan (2018): Lantern Control's Unexpected Victory

After a two-year hiatus, Modern returned to the Pro Tour stage in Bilbao, Spain, on February 2–4, 2018, drawing 463 competitors. In the end, Luis Salvatto claimed the trophy with Lantern Control, defeating Gerry Thompson's Mardu Pyromancer in the finals.

1 Witchbane Orb 1 Grafdigger's Cage 1 Abrupt Decay 1 Pyrite Spellbomb 2 Pyxis of Pandemonium 2 Pithing Needle 3 Ensnaring Bridge 3 Thoughtseize 4 Mox Opal 4 Lantern of Insight 4 Ancient Stirrings 4 Codex Shredder 4 Mishra's Bauble 4 Whir of Invention 4 Inquisition of Kozilek 1 Inventors' Fair 1 Island 1 Academy Ruins 1 River of Tears 3 Botanical Sanctum 3 Darkslick Shores 4 Glimmervoid 4 Spire of Industry 2 Welding Jar 2 Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas 1 Search for Azcanta 1 Pyroclasm 1 Nature's Claim 1 Maelstrom Pulse 2 Leyline of Sanctity 1 Collective Brutality 1 Ancient Grudge 1 Grafdigger's Cage 1 Abrupt Decay 1 Pithing Needle

Winning deck: Lantern Control – Lantern Control remains one of the strangest and most captivating archetypes in Modern history. Its game plan was to use Lantern of Insight alongside mill effects like Codex Shredder to dictate what opponents were allowed to draw, while Ensnaring Bridge and other prison tools would essentially lock them out of the game. Rather than relying on traditional win conditions, the deck suffocatingly aimed to achieve complete information control.

Metagame diversity index: 21.1 – The most popular deck was Five-Color Humans at 9% of the field. This typal deck was fueled by the mana consistency of Unclaimed Territory and the disruptive potential of Kitesail Freebooter. Aggressive decks like Affinity and Burn followed close behind, making one-drops—from Champion of the Parish to Vault Skirge to Goblin Guide—the defining cards of the tournament. Yet with no archetype claiming even a tenth of the metagame and dozens of strategies on display, this Pro Tour metagame was the most diverse in Modern's history.

Modern takeaway: Innovation – This event marked a return to a healthy format where creativity and innovation could pay off. While Zac Elsik had pioneered Lantern Control years earlier, the archetype was gradually perfected by a devoted group of fans who invested the time, skill, and patience to master it. Salvatto's victory was the culmination of that effort. It was a testament to innovation, perseverance, and the idea that even the most unconventional strategies could triumph on Magic's grandest stage.

Mythic Championship II (2019): A New Mulligan Rule

Mythic Championship II took place in London, England, on April 26–28, 2019, with 512 competitors. The tournament introduced the brand-new "London mulligan" rule, which is still in use today: Each time you mulligan, you draw seven cards, then put a number of cards on the bottom equal to the number of times you have mulliganed. While many expected this change to benefit linear or combo strategies by boosting consistency, Eli Loveman ultimately captured the title with Five-Color Humans.

4 Noble Hierarch 4 Champion of the Parish 4 Thalia's Lieutenant 4 Meddling Mage 4 Phantasmal Image 3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben 3 Kitesail Freebooter 4 Reflector Mage 1 Militia Bugler 2 Deputy of Detention 4 Mantis Rider 4 Aether Vial 4 Ancient Ziggurat 4 Cavern of Souls 4 Horizon Canopy 4 Unclaimed Territory 1 Seachrome Coast 1 Island 1 Plains 1 Militia Bugler 1 Deputy of Detention 4 Auriok Champion 3 Damping Sphere 2 Dismember 1 Gaddock Teeg 1 Sin Collector 1 Whirler Rogue 1 Izzet Staticaster

Winning deck: Five-Color Humans – Powered by Aether Vial and a robust suite of five-color lands, this deck assembled the best Humans from all colors. Champion of the Parish, Thalia's Lieutenant, and Mantis Rider enabled explosive, aggressive openings, while disruptive creatures like Reflector Mage and Meddling Mage disrupted opposing strategies. The result was a deck that blended speed with interaction, coming at the opponent from multiple angles.

Metagame diversity index: 14.2 – Three archetypes cleared the 10% threshold: Tron, Izzet Phoenix, and Five-Color Humans. Yet even with Tron as the most played deck at 15%, no single archetype monopolized the field. The rest of the metagame was filled with a wide range of strategies, giving the Modern rounds a varied feel overall.

Modern takeaway: The London mulligan – Tron's rise was fueled in part by the new mulligan rule, which made it easier to assemble its signature three-land engine. Two Tron pilots reached the Top 8, but overall, the deck underperformed, as opponents came prepared with sideboard cards such as Damping Sphere. In the finals, Eli Loveman's Humans defeated Matt Sperling's Affinity, and the new mulligan proved its worth, reducing the number of non-games without breaking the format. Shortly afterward, the London mulligan became the game's official standard.

Mythic Championship IV (2019): Tron Reclaims the Throne

Several months later, Mythic Championship IV was held in Barcelona, Spain, from July 26–28, 2019, with 457 invited players. The release of Modern Horizons—one of the most impactful sets in the format's history—had dramatically reshaped the metagame. After three days of competition, Thoralf Severin emerged victorious, piloting Mono-Green Tron to triumph over Alvaro Fernandez Torres's Hardened Scales in the finals.

1 All Is Dust 2 Ugin, the Spirit Dragon 3 Oblivion Stone 3 Relic of Progenitus 3 Chromatic Sphere 4 Expedition Map 4 Chromatic Star 4 Karn Liberated 4 Sylvan Scrying 4 Ancient Stirrings 2 Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger 3 Walking Ballista 4 Wurmcoil Engine 1 Sanctum of Ugin 1 Blast Zone 4 Urza's Tower 4 Urza's Power Plant 4 Urza's Mine 5 Forest 1 Warping Wail 1 Veil of Summer 3 Thragtusk 1 Spatial Contortion 2 Nature's Claim 4 Leyline of the Void 1 Emrakul, the Promised End 2 Dismember

Winning deck: Mono-Green Tron – Tron is a quintessential ramp strategy built around Urza's Mine, Urza's Tower, and Urza's Power Plant. This iconic trio was nicknamed "Urzatron" in the 1990s as a nod to the Voltron series. Together, these lands unlock massive amounts of mana as early as turn three. With that acceleration, the deck slams haymakers like Karn Liberated and overwhelms opponents with sheer power.

Metagame diversity index: 10.7 – At this event, Hogaak reigned supreme, commanding 21% of the field. Even though Bridge from Below was banned just weeks prior, Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis remained terrifyingly efficient. By exploiting Stitcher's Supplier and Faithless Looting, players could reliably cast Hogaak from the graveyard as early as turn two, trigger Vengevine, and swing for lethal on turn three. Other archetypes like Izzet Phoenix, Eldrazi Tron, and Humans were present in meaningful numbers but struggled to keep pace with the rest of the field.

Modern takeaway: Hogaak Summer – Although Mono-Green Tron claimed the trophy, the true story of the event was Hogaak's dominance. Even with Leyline of the Void as the most played card of the tournament, sometimes even appearing in main decks, the graveyard menace still posted a staggering 56% win rate in Modern rounds. The following weeks only intensified its grip, and players soon dubbed this period "Hogaak Summer." One month later, both Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis and Faithless Looting were banned, ending one of the most notorious chapters in Modern's history.

Pro Tour The Lord of the Rings (2023): The Era of the Straight-to-Modern Sets

After a long hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Pro Tour returned to Modern with Pro Tour The Lord of the Rings, held at MagicCon: Barcelona from July 28–30, 2023. The event drew 269 competitors, and Jake Beardsley emerged victorious, piloting a Rakdos Grief deck that overcame Christian Calcano's Mono-Green Tron in the finals.

4 Fury 4 Grief 4 Fable of the Mirror-Breaker 4 Orcish Bowmasters 1 Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger 4 Dauthi Voidwalker 4 Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer 4 Thoughtseize 2 Terminate 3 Undying Malice 3 Feign Death 2 Fatal Push 1 Blood Moon 2 Verdant Catacombs 2 Marsh Flats 2 Bloodstained Mire 3 Polluted Delta 1 Takenuma, Abandoned Mire 3 Blackcleave Cliffs 4 Blood Crypt 3 Swamp 2 Sheoldred, the Apocalypse 1 Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger 1 Terminate 2 Lightning Bolt 1 Pithing Needle 1 Nihil Spellbomb 3 Chalice of the Void 2 Engineered Explosives 2 Blood Moon

Winning deck: Rakdos Grief – Rakdos Grief was a midrange powerhouse that could evoke Grief or Fury on turn one and return it to the battlefield with Feign Death or Undying Malice. This produces a devastating early threat, either a 4/3 menace with double discard to a 4/4 double striker. The deck also capitalized on the recently released Orcish Bowmasters from The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth™, punishing one-toughness creatures as well as opponents who drew too many cards with The One Ring.

Metagame diversity index: 11.6 – Rakdos Grief led the way, claiming 19% of the field and posting a 54% win rate. Other prominent archetypes included Four-Color Omnath, Rhinos, and Mono-Green Tron. Across the tournament, the most played nonland card was The One Ring, whose ability to provide protection while generating card advantage left a significant mark on the Modern rounds.

Modern takeaway: Straight-to-Modern sets – Prior to 2019, Modern's card pool consisted of Standard-legal sets, but the release of straight-to-Modern sets signaled a new era. These sets introduced novel archetypes alongside interactive staples like Fury and Grief, which added the powerful elements critical to Beardsley's success. Cards like The One Ring also reshaped the competitive metagame. To preserve format health, several of these high-powered cards would later be banned in 2023 and 2024, underscoring the delicate balance involved in designing Modern-ready sets.

Pro Tour Modern Horizons 3 (2024): The Dawn of Nadu Summer

The most recent Modern Pro Tour, Pro Tour Modern Horizons 3, took place at MagicCon: Amsterdam on June 28–30, 2024. Simon Nielsen emerged victorious from a field of 241 competitors, piloting Bant Nadu and defeating Sam Pardee in a mirror match in the finals.

1 Outrider en-Kor 1 Endurance 4 Nadu, Winged Wisdom 4 Springheart Nantuko 2 Bristly Bill, Spine Sower 2 Wall of Roots 2 Haywire Mite 1 Sylvan Safekeeper 1 Noble Hierarch 4 Delighted Halfling 1 Dryad Arbor 4 Chord of Calling 2 Summoner's Pact 2 The One Ring 4 Shuko 4 Urza's Saga 1 Hallowed Fountain 1 Lush Portico 2 Forest 1 Hedge Maze 4 Windswept Heath 1 Waterlogged Grove 1 Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth 4 Misty Rainforest 1 Breeding Pool 1 Shifting Woodland 1 Otawara, Soaring City 1 Temple Garden 2 Boseiju, Who Endures 2 Teferi, Time Raveler 1 Endurance 1 Drannith Magistrate 2 Suncleanser 1 Volatile Stormdrake 1 Soulless Jailer 1 Burrenton Forge-Tender 1 Force of Vigor 1 Dismember 1 Spell Pierce 2 Veil of Summer 1 Shadowspear

Winning deck: Bant Nadu – Bant Nadu was a combo deck aiming to get out Nadu, Winged Wisdom alongside Shuko. Shuko allowed you to target your creatures for zero mana, triggering Nadu's ability twice for each creature you control. Each land put onto the battlefield by Nadu would trigger Springheart Nantuko, creating an additional 1/1 creature that could be targeted by Shuko twice. Once the engine was online, you could easily draw your entire deck and ultimately finish the game via a convoluted Endurance loop.

Metagame diversity index: 9.9 – This tournament was largely defined by a single Modern Horizons 3 card: Nadu, Winged Wisdom. Between Bant Nadu, Four-Color Nadu, and other variants—all counted as a single macro-archetype—nearly 26% of the field exploited the powerful Bird Wizard, resulting in a disappointing metagame diversity index. Although it wasn't the largest metagame share in Modern Pro Tour history—Jund claimed 31% in 2012 and Abzan claimed 28% in 2015—the influence of Nadu was overwhelming, with many games ending as early as turn three.

Modern takeaway: Nadu Summer – Bant Nadu was not only a major presence but also overwhelmingly powerful. It posted an astounding 59% win rate at the Pro Tour, one of the highest among major archetypes in Modern Pro Tour history. The top four decks all relied on Nadu, Winged Wisdom, and it heralded a period soon referred to as "Nadu Summer." The card was banned just two months after the Pro Tour, cementing its brief but explosive impact on the format.

What's Next for Modern?

Since its introduction in 2011, Modern has captivated Magic players worldwide, and its Pro Tour history offers a breathing narrative of living nostalgia. The early years belonged to combo decks like Splinter Twin and Eggs. Later Pro Tours were warped by titanic forces like Eldrazi or Nadu. Yet there were also lengthy, shining eras of balance, when unconventional strategies such as Lantern Control thrived. Or when, across metagames brimming with diversity, fair decks like Jeskai Control or Five-Color Humans triumphed. Victories from archetypes like Mono-Green Tron and Rakdos Grief also underscored Modern's hallmark: the extraordinary depth of its card pool, synergies, and interactions.

With Pro Tour Edge of Eternities just two weeks away, followed closely by a Modern Regional Championship cycle in October and November, the stage is set for another defining chapter. Based on August's winner's metagame (fully splitting out its "Other" category) the latest metagame diversity index stands at 17.8, which is higher than nine of the ten previous Modern Pro Tours. By this measure, Modern currently looks extremely vibrant and healthy. Quantum Riddler is making its mark as an impactful recent addition, dozens of archetypes are ready to contend, and fresh innovation can be just around the corner.

Mark your calendars: Pro Tour Edge of Eternities takes place at MagicCon: Atlanta from September 26–28, 2025. With a $500,000 prize pool on the line as well as Modern and Edge of Eternities Draft across three days of live coverage, it promises unforgettable play and the next historic moments in Modern's ongoing saga.