Archetype Explanation?
General forum
Posted on Oct. 25, 2015, 9:25 p.m. by Scytec
I am not new to this game, but I am still learning the terms related to different archetypes. Could someone please explain the Aristocrats archetype? I've heard it before, and I have seen it a few times in relation to modern, but it has become much more popular this standard rotation and I would like to better understand the term. Thanks!!!
So basically JWiley129 it is sac to empower? Meaning you generate value by sacrificing cheaper small creatures in order to pump your primary creatures? Do you happen to have, or know of a list I could take a look at?
October 25, 2015 9:32 p.m.
Dalektable says... #4
To understand the archetype, you need a short history lesson. So, back when innistrad was in standard as well as return to ravnica there was a deck going around based around two cards, Falkenrath Aristocrat and Cartel Aristocrat. The idea of the deck was to sacrifice your creatures to progress your game plan, this could be done through the helpful triggers on the creatures or cards like Blood Artist. So, the name of the deck originated based on it's namesake creatures. Now, any deck that sacrifices it's own creatures to further it's game plan basically can be referred to as an aristocrats deck. In current standard, this is a bunch of creatures that replace themselves when they die, Zulaport Cutthroat and sacrifice outlets like Nantuko Husk and Butcher of the Horde.
Edit: Ninja'd JWiley129
October 25, 2015 9:33 p.m. Edited.
Scytec - Are you looking for more historical examples or current examples?
October 25, 2015 9:33 p.m.
MagicalHacker says... #6
The Aristocrats is a Rogue deck, a three-color B/R/W aggro deck that won Pro Tour Gatecrash and top-8ed several other events in the Innistrad-Return to Ravnica block. The deck seeks to put pressure on the opponent in the early stages in the game by deploying cheap threats in the form of Champion of the Parish and Knight of Infamy, then switch to a defensive mode after deploying the resilient threat Falkenrath Aristocrat, sneaking damage in with the protection ability of Cartel Aristocrat, flying over the opponent with tokens from Lingering Souls or Doomed Traveler, steal opposing creatures with Zealous Conscripts, or create a huge number of demon tokens with Skirsdag High Priest. The deck typically deploys the powerful Boros Reckoner as blocker, and uses Orzhov Charm to recycle one drops to feed it's aristocrats, bounce threats to save them from removal, or kill opposing creatures.
The deck relies on synergy between all of its component parts to be competitive, rather than relying on the power of its cards. Doomed Traveler functions as a blocker and a sacrifice target that will keep Cartel Aristocrat and Falkenrath Aristocrat on the board, but it can also produce a token to swing in the air. Creatures stolen with Zealous Conscripts can be sacrificed to the Aristocrats. Champion of the Parish can grow quite large because almost all the creatures in the deck are humans. Silverblade Paladin can make any creature a threat. The deck has many, many tricky interactions, and the deck list is very rigid. But the Aristocrats is well-positioned to switch tactics according to the current board state, and can overcome many of the popular archetypes in the hands of a skilled player.
As the metagame evolved, the original deck shifted into more of a midrange/combo strategy, switching out threats for removal. A combo fashioned out of the interaction of Blasphemous Act and Boros Reckoner with a Blood Artist on the board ended games in short order, or else used attacks by tokens and the Aristocrats to wear down an opponent before sacrificing creatures en masse for Blood Artist triggers.
Another iteration traded out red for green, introducing Voice of Resurgence, Varolz, the Scar-Striped, Young Wolf and other cheap Undying creatures, and Abrupt Decay to the list.
A final iteration of The Aristocrats returned to the creature-heavy build with the inclusion of Xathrid Necromancer, turning the deck into more of a B/W Human Tribal build with a red splash. The already powerful interactions grew even more potent when you could double the number of creatures in play.
Found on MtGSalvation's wikipedia.
October 25, 2015 9:34 p.m.
Serendipitous_Hummingbird says... #7
This is the original tom martell deck: http://www.mtgtop8.com/event?e=4363&d;=225422&f;=ST
This list just recently placed 14 at Grand Prix Oklahoma City: http://www.mtgtop8.com/event?e=10481&d;=259974&f;=MO
October 25, 2015 10:44 p.m.
VampireArmy says... #9
Seems everything has been covered. Most recent iterations of the deck have leaned towards Rally the Ancestors as a combo kill
October 26, 2015 12:19 a.m.
ComradeJim270 says... #10
I actually run the Rally the Ancestors version and there's been some debate among people who've seen my deck in action as to whether it counts. It's one of those weird semantic things. "Aristocrat-ish" seems to be the most common descriptor.
The Rally version is doing the same thing from a different angle. And it does switch to straight-up Aristocrats in some situations.
JWiley129 says... #2
The Aristocrats' deck first showed up during Innistrad - Return to Ravnica Standard due to the success Tom Martell had at PT Gatecrash with a deck featuring Cartel Aristocrat and Falkenrath Aristocrat sac-ing creatures like Doomed Traveler for value. Either by making tokens or draining life with Blood Artist.
It's popped up this Standard because Zulaport Cutthroat and great sacrifice outlets like Butcher of the Horde or Nantuko Husk. Then you either make more tokens with cards like Abzan Ascendancy or use tokens as sacrifice fodder utilizing Mardu Ascendancy or Smothering Abomination.
October 25, 2015 9:29 p.m.