Updates and an Offering

Posted on July 27, 2018

What's up everyone? I hope you've had a good week. I for one am glad that it's Friday. I want to play some more Standard with Magic 2019. Every week the metagame is evolving and adapting. Nicol Bolas was the original card and deck to beat week one of the new metagame, but things have changed a little. Vine Mare is a staple in the Green decks now and Mono-Blue Paradoxical Outcome is the new combo deck to beat. Mono-Red seems to be on the decline as we have an uptick in Green decks and Llanowar Elves respectively. God-Pharaoh's Gift decks also seem to be picking up a little more steam. It's exciting to see the metagame ebb and flow. While this makes my job harder, since my brews must adapt to the new decks and changes, I really enjoy when decks are changing slightly every week. It rewards you for being on top of your game and it's great for a brewer.

So today I want to give updates to my Esper Nexus deck and Mirari Conjecture deck. Then I'll also be talking about a new deck featuring Yawgmoth's Vile Offering. If you're looking for fun and powerful decks to play at FNM or your next event, you've come to the right place!

Last weekend I played in a team event in Philadelphia, I played Esper Nexus. I felt the deck was good, but I sadly didn't get to finish many matches. Justin Parnell, our modern player, was playing Mardu Pyromancer and he had the misfortune of running into Tron four times. Harlan Firer was our Legacy player and while I had no idea what happened in his matches, he also played against some of his worst matchups. I finished about three matches before our team either had won or lost. Regardless, even though our team didn't do too hot in the team event, Esper Nexus is still my go to deck for Standard now and this is where I'm at.

Esper Nexus -- Magic 2019 Standard | Ali Aintrazi

Creatures (2)
2 Torrential Gearhulk

Planeswalkers (4)
4 Teferi, Hero of Dominaria

Sorceries (1)
1 Fumigate

Enchantments (3)
1 Seal Away
2 Search for Azcanta

I've added a couple of Torrential Gearhulks main deck over the Chromium, this is due to running into a lot more midrange and aggressive matchups than control matchups. Torrential Gearhulk really shines in the midrange matchups, especially against the Green decks since it can just block and kill Vine Mare where Chromium cannot. Even if they Blossoming Defense Vine Mare, Gearhulk will still kill it. I've also upped the battlefield board clears to three, again because people seem to be playing more midrange decks. Settle the Wreckage is also just great against Vine Mares, Scrapheap Scrounger, Hazoret the Fervent, and Rekindling Phoenix. I've also traded the Cast Down for a Seal Away. Both don't kill Heart of Kiran but Seal Away keeps Scrapheap Scrounger away while also being able to hit legendary creatures like Nicol Bolas, the Ravager and Kari Zev, Skyship Raider.

Outside of that, the deck is largely the same. This deck is very powerful because it's a control deck that ends up becoming a combo deck late game thanks to Nexus of Fate, Azcanta, the Sunken Ruin, and Teferi, Hero of Dominaria. You'll end up taking enough turns to ultimate Teferi and exile all your opponent's permanents. Nexus of Fate is a stronger Time Warp in my opinion, if you ever think you'll play the card in Standard, I recommend picking them up sooner rather than alter because when someone places well with it in a big event, the price is going to spike hard since it's a buy a box promo only.

My good friend Joseph Herrera has still been piloting Mirari Conjecture since I gave him the original list. Earlier this week he went undefeated in a Standard competitive league on Magic Online. This is the updated list he played.

U/B Mirari Conjecture -- Magic 2019 Standard | Joseph Herrera

The addition of Evolving Wilds alongside Field of Ruin here really helps to turn on Fatal Push to kill bigger threats like Nicol Bolas, the Ravager. When playing with The Mirari Conjecture, you need to make sure you have a good balance of instants and sorceries so that you are always getting something back on all the modes with The Mirari Conjecture. Hieroglyphic Illumination is a sorcery that can act as a bad Opt early that you can re-buy later and draw four cards when you reach the third chapter with The Mirari Conjecture. Opt is still a solid card because it lets you dig deep when you are copying spells.

Also, it's very important to know that you can Consign or Blink of an Eye your Mirari Conjecture when it reaches the third chapter. This will allow you to still double all your spells on your turn while still be able to deploy The Mirari Conjecture again later for even more value.

The decks main win condition is still Mastermind's Acquisition for Torment of Hailfire but you have another option in The Scarab God if need be. Nexus of Fate at the end of your opponent's turn lets you setup The Mirari Conjecture easily. You can also use it as a Time Stretch when you reach the third chapter in The Mirari Conjecture.

This deck is still a blast to play and it is still very powerful. People don't have The Mirari Conjecture on their radar, so you can get some free wins with the deck too because of the rogue factor.

All right, finally, I have an offering for you! Justin Parnell and I brewed this deck on the trip back from Philadelphia and then ran it through a competitive league on MTG Arena. We ended up going 5-1 and the deck shows that it has a lot of promise.

Grixis Legends -- Magic 2019 Standard | Ali Aintrazi

Enchantments (1)
1 Arguel's Blood Fast

Artifacts (1)
1 Mox Amber

This deck is full of so much value. Baral, Chief of Compliance allows for some pretty insane turns, turn four Yawgmoth's Vile Offering can just end the game by itself. Mid to late game you'll be able to do some silly things like Yawgmoth's Vile Offering killing your opponent's best creature or planeswalker and then putting your Liliana, Death's Majesty onto the battlefield just to reanimate Nicol Bolas, the Ravager and not only have your opponent discard a card but also threaten to transform Nicol Bolas the following turn. It's also great to just reanimate opposing planeswalkers like Teferi, Hero of Dominaria.

Outside of Yawgmoth's Vile Offering and the legendary package, the deck functions mostly like other Grixis decks. The difference is it can be more explosive thanks to Baral, Chandra, Mox Amber, and Yawgmoth's Vile Offering. This is a great trade off in my opinion, especially since very few decks can even beat your late game card advantage because of The Scarab God and Nicol Bolas, the Arisen. If you enjoy playing Grixis or just grindy midrange decks, I highly recommend giving this deck a try. You're going to love it!

That's all I have for you today.

As always, thanks for reading!

I'll see you all next Friday,

Ali Aintrazi

Follow me @AliEldrazi

Twitch Channel

Think Twice MTG Podcast