MBD, Where It's Going
Standard forum
Posted on May 29, 2014, 5:38 p.m. by strateupjee
So although everyone already knows, MBD stands for Mono-Black Devotion, and it has been the powerhouse of Standard pretty much since it's conception.
Now that the redundant history sentence is out of the way, where do you guys think MBD is going? I know RTR will be rotating in a couple months, but I noticed that the recent outbreak of the B/G variant has died off, at least it didn't make the top 8 list from the Somerset Open. Didn't even make top 16. However, the B/W variant took first place, though it has been struggling to get into top 4 until this week. I personally have been tweaking B/W since Theros hit and I saw it as being a possible deck to break ahead of the pack.
I also am SUPER excited for Waste Not in M15. I am fully preparing to run Mono-Black Discard in Standard.
The question I'm posing to you guys is, where is MBD going? Has it reached it's peak power level, or is there some other variant or playstyle that will break it even more?
ChrisHansonBiomancin says... #3
Despite the weak showing at Somerset, I still think the Golgari version will be tops until rotation, as Abrupt Decay and Golgari Charm fill some major holes of the mono deck, namely Enchantment removal and an answer to Supreme Verdict .
I see Waste Not spurring its own archetype and not necessarily fitting into MBD. A Rakdos deck with Rakdos's Return and Sire Of Insanity could be pretty solid, and I like the jankier idea of Dimir for Whispering Madness and Soul Ransom .
It's still too early to say anything definitive about the deck post-rotation, but it's highly unlikely that it will look the same since basically all of the creatures will be gone.
May 29, 2014 6:03 p.m.
The Doctor says... #4
Post rotation, I think that Naya, B/W Midrange, and Golgari are going to be the top decks until a control deck is properly developed.
May 29, 2014 6:24 p.m.
Control already has most of its post-rotation pieces; it just needs a board-wipe.
Junk is currently poised to be a top deck, if not the top deck, if PT JOU's block constructed is anything to go by (which it is).
May 29, 2014 6:26 p.m.
ChrisHansonBiomancin says... #6
There's one other piece that control decks desperately need to be replaced: Sphinx's Revelation . While we can't expect the replacement to be as powerful (thank God), a big draw spell is still in order.
May 29, 2014 8:28 p.m.
@zandl, Didn't BUG do just as well, if not better, as Junk at the PT? I could see BUG control becoming a thing, especially if Damnation gets a reprint.
May 29, 2014 8:30 p.m.
Junk was in the top 2 spots at the end of the tournament. BUG was a contender, but it lost frequently to Junk, too.
May 29, 2014 8:53 p.m.
I haven't looked over M15 so I may change my mind saying it'll move to discard later but for now I think devotion will still be in with some more life gain, some recursion, and utility creatures since Rest in Peace
is going out. Gary will see more decks running 2 and maybe even 3 now.
June 2, 2014 5:02 p.m.
Gary + Whip of Erebos is a thing, too.
G/B Devotion could be very popular.
June 2, 2014 5:13 p.m.
BoromirOfGondor says... #11
zandl BUG Control recently proved victorious at Grand Prix Manchester. I think its very well poised to become the dominant control deck post-RTR.
zandl says... #2
B/W Midrange is probably the best deck in Standard right now. Its hand disruption combined with creatures that already usually need more than 1 answer is just too good for most decks to handle. And then spot-removal.
Control decks only have a few ways to deal with Blood Baron of Vizkopa , but Thoughtseize and Duress really shit on control and make Blood Baron almost invincible.
That being said, MBD and B/W Midrange simply won't exist post-rotation, at least not as they look now. They lose almost the entire deck, including Pack Rat , Blood Baron of Vizkopa , Desecration Demon , Nightveil Specter , Underworld Connections , Mutavault , Devour Flesh , Lifebane Zombie , Obzedat, Ghost Council , Sin Collector , and Ultimate Price . In fact, the only thing they won't be losing is a few removal spells and Elspeth.
May 29, 2014 5:53 p.m.