So Much Ravnica Allegiance Standard
Pteramander Adapts to Allegiance Standard
Alexander Hayne, the great Canadian Pro Tour Champion, put out a new Mono-Blue deck featuring Pteramander this week. Packing only 19 Islands, Hayne’s deck relies on a ton of super cheap threats, including 11 one casting cost evasion creatures.
Here’s the MonoU list and sb plans I got to Mythic 1 with. Will probably post a more detailed guide for subscribers in the next couple days. @arenadecklists pic.twitter.com/UWoEMXkJEb
— Alexander Hayne (@InsayneHayne) February 6, 2019
Alongside Pteramander, Mist-Cloaked Herald and Siren Stormtamber make for many creatures to catalyze Chart a Course or Curious Obsession on turn two.
Overall, this strategy can keep the opponent on their toes; it’s got just enough permission to hold a lead — not indefinitely, but maybe long enough to get Tempest Djinn across the Red Zone once or twice…
Light Up the Stage Brings Back Experimental Frenzy
After an off week, Mono-Red players suddenly remembered they are allowed to run Experimental Frenzy!
Part of the Red Deck’s bounce back came from the power of Light Up the Stage. This Ravnica Allegiance sorcery found homes immediately, but often at the cost of the more expensive Frenzy. Why? Light Up the Stage kind of does the same thing as Experimental Frenzy (draws cards). Turns out it doesn’t have to be either / or.
Casting Light Up the Stage with Experimental Frenzy in play gives you the option of casting an instant on top of your library before Light Up the Stage resolves.
This creates a bit of a tension in Mono-Red Land. Do you maximize your instants? That would mean playing Wizard’s Lightning… Possibly over Skewer the Critics. But is Skewer — Light Up the Stage’s Spectacle buddy — just too good not to play?
How about Fanatical Firebrand? Many mages have cited the little Pirate as the weakest card in Mono-Red. Maybe… But it’s also the best setup man for Spectacles in the deck. There is no easy cut for the format’s Red Deck.
Allegiance Standard Gives Hostage Taker a New Mission
Hostage Taker seems amazing in the format right now!”
-Patrick
Why?
Two words: Hydroid Krasis.
Yeah? Not only can you follow up by casting their Hydroid Krasis for a bunch if your Hostage Taker lives, even if it doesn’t, the opponent will get back a 0/0 Krasis.
Not bad.
Tons more Standard in this week’s podcast!