Metagame update: Monday 7-17-17

Standard Deck Help forum

Posted on July 17, 2017, 9:32 a.m. by RowdyMagic18

Hey everyone,

I just was recently looking at the standard metagame on mtggoldfish and noticed that WU Monument has just taken over the top spot of the standard metagame from Temur Energy. It appears that Mono black zombies are heading for the graves (decline in numbers) and Mardu vehicles has made a comeback, jumping to 2nd in the the metagame.

So I have a two questions for everyone.

  • what are your thoughts on this shift in the standard metagame?

Also,

  • Based off this new standard metagame, what cards and/or decks will best suit this new metagame?(Note: I'm building a Esper Zombies deck that I was considering for next Gameday, but am now not convinced on building it due to this metagame shift.)

Thanks for taking the time to read this, stay tuned for more standard metagame updates every week, but until then look forward to your responses and good luck on the battlefield. Cheers!

Oloro_Magic says... #2

I think this may be a reaction to the upcoming rotation. Sure, monument is going to lose some valuable pieces (for example Spell Queller) but the deck will still be able to compete, the same is true for mardu vehicles which loses Gideon, Ally of Zendikar. Zombies on the other hand loses Relentless Dead and Cryptbreaker, two of the cards that make that deck so good. In my opinion, people are looking to play decks they think can still be competitive after rotation with a few tweaks and zombies is a real grey area in that respect.

July 17, 2017 10:03 a.m.

Argy says... #3

Having playtested the shiz out of Monument I think you should just build that deck if you want to stay ahead in the meta game.

Of course your local meta game is the one to keep your eye on, but that deck is REALLY strong at the moment.

When you have Creatures that can act like Non-Creature spells that means you don't lose any tempo in your play.

You have at least three of these in that deck: Selfless Spirit, Spell Queller, and Archangel Avacyn  Flip.

If you lean on Spirits you can give them all Flash (Rattlechains), and let them give you draw (Bygone Bishop).

You will also end up with a tonne of fliers on the field.

July 17, 2017 11:26 p.m.

RowdyMagic18 says... #4

Oloro_Magic, that does make a lot of sense, after reading your comment I went on the official MTG website and LSV was covering "Up and Down standard, Hours of Devastation." It covered the ideas of what decks take advantage of cards in the new set. You should check it out it was a great article.

Argy, I totally agree with you! The deck kicks butt! I was watching GP Cincinnati yesterday and the deck just didn't want to quit! The deck was on steroids!

Anyways, the only thing about me is I'm the type of Magic player who likes to explore outside of the metagame to build an idea that nobody else has thought of. I don't really want to "copy an idea already out there and just pick up an easy win." Of course there is nothing wrong with that, I just want a personal challenge to create something new, if you know what I mean. Keep the play testing going and kick some butt! Best of luck!

July 18, 2017 9:06 a.m.

Oloro_Magic says... #5

RowdyMagic18 do you mind posting a link, that sounds interesting.

July 18, 2017 9:12 a.m.

RowdyMagic18 says... #6

Here's the link, if you can't access it just copy and paste, it appears it is not giving me a hyperlink no matter which way I did it. Best of luck on the battlefield.

http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/top-decks/and-down-standard-hour-devastation-2017-07-17

July 18, 2017 9:58 a.m.

Oloro_Magic says... #7

July 18, 2017 10:02 a.m.

RowdyMagic18 says... #8

Oloro_Magic, No problem, best of luck on the battlefield.

July 18, 2017 10:06 a.m.

Argy says... #9

Oh I totally get you RowdyMagic18.

I always build my own decks from scratch.

Worthy Minotaurs is my latest brew.

July 18, 2017 2:15 p.m.

TuckerMTG says... #10

How good is R/G Pummeler in the metagame right now?

July 18, 2017 3:17 p.m.

Oloro_Magic says... #11

TuckerMTG Abrade and Solemnity really hurt it. So does the current popular removal packages in Harnessed Lightning, Fatal Push, and Cast Out. The deck is okay but Monument and Temur Energy are really taking a tool on it.

July 18, 2017 3:28 p.m.

RowdyMagic18 says... #12

Hi TuckerMTG, not sure if you mean how it stacks up against the decks in the metagame or where the deck is in the current metagame standings.

but according to mtggoldfish's metagame tracker, today, RG pummeler is 7th in the current meta and making up about ~4.20% of decks in the format.

Unfortunately I have not tested the deck against the top meta decks in standard, but all I know is the deck put up a very good fight at my last Gameday, and the deck is very strong overall.

Hope this helps.

Rowdy

July 18, 2017 3:33 p.m.

RowdyMagic18 says... #13

A good point Oloro_Magic, Forgot that Solemnity hurts all energy decks like pummler. Also worth noting TuckerMTG since the release of HOD, Energy decks have seen a drop of numbers through the meta game. But my best suggestion is to run Natural State in the sideboard, it's a cheap removal spell perfect for taking out cards like Solemnity, as well as some vehicles. Also listed above, pummler is very vulnerable to many types of removal, and worst, fog spells.

July 18, 2017 3:43 p.m.

Oloro_Magic says... #14

RowdyMagic18 I think all artifact based decks need to fear Abrade, so much so that I have considered splashing white for Selfless Spirit whenever I play energy.

July 18, 2017 3:49 p.m.

RowdyMagic18 says... #15

Oloro_Magic, unfortunately Selfless Spirit only works for creatures and won't protect your artifacts, to deal with Abrade, you could run cards like Negate, and/or Dispel if you have blue in your deck.

July 18, 2017 4:01 p.m.

Oloro_Magic says... #16

RowdyMagic18 I'm speaking in relation to Electrostatic Pummeler, to keep it around seeing how I would just hold Abrade in hand until it did.

July 18, 2017 4:12 p.m.

TuckerMTG says... #17

Oloro_Magic and RowdyMagic18,

Against fog spells, I have Fling. I will run Natural State in the Sideboard against Solemnity. Against Abrade I have Blossoming Defense.

July 18, 2017 5:52 p.m.

Argy says... #18

Oloro_Magic if someone is going to Abrade your Electrostatic Pummeler, you just hold up Blossoming Defense or Heroic Intervention to shut that down.

July 19, 2017 8:44 a.m.

Oloro_Magic says... #19

Sadly I lack those cards in my collection whereas I have Selfless Spirit.

July 19, 2017 8:50 a.m.

Argy says... #20

That also works.

July 19, 2017 9:26 a.m.

RowdyMagic18 says... #21

Oloro_Magic, on my earlier comment, sorry about that, miss understood what you were implying.

July 19, 2017 9:45 a.m.

Just play a Nicol Bolas, God-Pharaoh deck. Seriously. The card just takes over games. It is phenomenal. After testing with it, there are a ton of times that it just wins the game by itself. Think of it this way, it's a planeswalker that can virtually/potentially protect itself in 3 different ways when it first hits, and it can protect itself a 4th way when you need to ultimate. It wins games.

July 19, 2017 4:03 p.m.

RowdyMagic18 says... #23

UpperDeckerTaco, I'm going to make my first metagame prediction of the series.

I'm predicting that after this rotation, that grixis control is going to start jumping up to the top of the metagame. As you stated, Nicol Bolas, God-Pharaoh is just that good! Hopefully that will be the case (not) and if I'm right you have my permission call me "seer Rowdy!" (jk... for now)

July 19, 2017 7:44 p.m.

Oloro_Magic says... #24

I dont care what happens at rotation I just know I'm making dino tribal in standard when Ixalan releases lol.

July 19, 2017 7:57 p.m.

Argy says... #25

I agree that Nicol Bolas, God-Pharaoh is excellent, and there are quite a few ways to colour fix now for him.

July 20, 2017 8:55 a.m.

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