Locations
SCG Open: Washington DC – The Results
Here are the Top 16 decks from StarCityGames Open: DC. I determined the average mana costs of the main decks and prices in dollars and Magic Online tickets by importing each decklist into the Decked Builder app. Dollars are from CoolStuffInc.com, and tickets are from MTGOTraders.com. The graphs display the strategies, colors, and most-played archetypes of the Top 16.
| Place | Deck | Colors | Avg Mana | Cost ($) | Cost (Tix) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reanimator |
|
3.59 | $537 | 365 | |||||
| 2 | Junk Midrange |
|
3.08 | $595 | 400 | |||||
| 3 | Dark Naya Midrange |
|
3.14 | $802 | 550 | |||||
| 4 | Esper Control |
|
2.79 | $513 | 333 | |||||
| 5 | Esper Control |
|
3.27 | $529 | 301 | |||||
| 6 | Reanimator |
|
3.72 | $539 | 408 | |||||
| 7 | BW Zombies |
|
2.05 | $411 | 266 | |||||
| 8 | Naya Humans |
|
1.85 | $486 | 190 | |||||
| 9 | Reanimator |
|
3.51 | $453 | 371 | |||||
| 10 | Solar Flare |
|
3.43 | $496 | 315 | |||||
| 11 | Esper Control |
|
3.18 | $525 | 359 | |||||
| 12 | GR Aggro |
|
2.51 | $321 | 212 | |||||
| 13 | Naya Aggro |
|
2.69 | $621 | 337 | |||||
| 14 | Esper Tokens |
|
2.61 | $386 | 196 | |||||
| 15 | Reanimator |
|
3.49 | $563 | 423 | |||||
| 16 | Bant Auras |
|
1.77 | $482 | 277 | |||||
| Average: | 2.9 | $516 | 331 |
Creatures of Choice
The following charts and graphs display the most-played creatures in the Top 16 decks of the tournament.
| Creature | # Decks | Avg Main | Avg Side |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restoration Angel | 10 | 3.5 | 0.0 |
| Avacyn's Pilgrim | 7 | 4.0 | 0.0 |
| Thragtusk | 7 | 3.7 | 1.0 |
| Centaur Healer | 6 | 2.6 | 1.8 |
| Angel of Serenity | 7 | 2.7 | 2.0 |
| Obzedat, Ghost Council | 9 | 1.0 | 1.4 |
| Deathrite Shaman | 5 | 3.0 | 2.2 |
| Rhox Faithmender | 6 | 0.0 | 2.2 |
| Arbor Elf | 5 | 2.6 | 0.0 |
White and black were the two most-played colors in the Top 16 and were usually played together, which made Obzedat, Ghost Council a popular creature in DC, appearing in nine decks.
Deck Distribution (Creatures)
Where might you find these creatures and need a plan to deal with them? Here are the decks they appeared in this week:
| Card | Archetype | Average | Avg Main | Avg Side |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restoration Angel | BW Zombies | 4.0 | 4.0 | 0.0 |
| Dark Naya Midrange | 4.0 | 4.0 | 0.0 | |
| Esper Control | 2.5 | 2.5 | 0.0 | |
| Junk Midrange | 4.0 | 4.0 | 0.0 | |
| Naya Aggro | 3.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | |
| Reanimator | 3.8 | 3.8 | 0.0 | |
| Avacyn's Pilgrim | Bant Auras | 4.0 | 4.0 | 0.0 |
| Dark Naya Midrange | 4.0 | 4.0 | 0.0 | |
| Junk Midrange | 4.0 | 4.0 | 0.0 | |
| Reanimator | 4.0 | 4.0 | 0.0 | |
| Thragtusk | Dark Naya Midrange | 4.0 | 4.0 | 0.0 |
| Junk Midrange | 4.0 | 4.0 | 0.0 | |
| Naya Aggro | 3.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | |
| Reanimator | 4.0 | 4.0 | 0.0 | |
| Centaur Healer | Dark Naya Midrange | 3.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 |
| Junk Midrange | 4.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | |
| Reanimator | 3.3 | 2.8 | 0.5 | |
| Angel of Serenity | Esper Control | 2.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
| Junk Midrange | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | |
| Reanimator | 3.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | |
| Solar Flare | 3.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | |
| Obzedat, Ghost Council | BW Zombies | 2.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
| Esper Control | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 | |
| Junk Midrange | 2.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | |
| Reanimator | 1.8 | 0.5 | 1.3 | |
| Solar Flare | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | |
| Deathrite Shaman | Junk Midrange | 3.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 |
| Reanimator | 2.8 | 0.8 | 2.0 | |
| Arbor Elf | GR Aggro | 4.0 | 4.0 | 0.0 |
| Reanimator | 2.3 | 2.3 | 0.0 | |
| Rhox Faithmender | Esper Control | 2.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
| Junk Midrange | 2.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | |
| Reanimator | 2.3 | 0.0 | 2.3 | |
| Solar Flare | 2.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
Removal Spells
The following charts and graphs display the most-played removal spells in the Top 16.
| Removal | # Decks | Avg Main | Avg Side |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azorius Charm | 5 | 3.4 | 1.0 |
| Supreme Verdict | 5 | 3.3 | 3.0 |
| Tragic Slip | 5 | 2.7 | 2.3 |
| Abrupt Decay | 5 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| Searing Spear | 3 | 3.3 | 0.0 |
| Oblivion Ring | 6 | 0.0 | 1.5 |
| Ultimate Price | 4 | 1.8 | 1.0 |
| Terminus | 2 | 4.0 | 0.0 |
| Mizzium Mortars | 3 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| Sever the Bloodline | 4 | 1.0 | 1.5 |
Esper-based decks propelled Azorius Charm, Supreme Verdict, and Ultimate Price onto this list. Esper and Junk decks made Tragic Slip a popular choice as well. Overall, 40% of the removal spells in the DC Top 16 were in a sideboard.
Deck Distribution (Removal)
When should you look out for these removal spells and potentially play around them? Here are the decks they appeared in this week:
| Card | Archetype | Average | Avg Main | Avg Side |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azorius Charm | Esper Control | 4.0 | 4.0 | 0.0 |
| Esper Tokens | 3.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | |
| Solar Flare | 3.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | |
| Supreme Verdict | Esper Control | 3.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 |
| Esper Tokens | 3.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | |
| Solar Flare | 4.0 | 4.0 | 0.0 | |
| Tragic Slip | BW Zombies | 3.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 |
| Esper Control | 2.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | |
| Esper Tokens | 4.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | |
| Junk Midrange | 3.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | |
| Reanimator | 3.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | |
| Abrupt Decay | Junk Midrange | 3.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 |
| Reanimator | 2.3 | 0.0 | 2.3 | |
| Searing Spear | Dark Naya Midrange | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 |
| Naya Aggro | 4.0 | 4.0 | 0.0 | |
| Naya Humans | 4.0 | 4.0 | 0.0 | |
| Oblivion Ring | BW Zombies | 2.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
| Dark Naya Midrange | 2.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | |
| Esper Control | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | |
| Naya Aggro | 2.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | |
| Reanimator | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | |
| Ultimate Price | Esper Control | 2.0 | 1.5 | 0.5 |
| Esper Tokens | 3.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | |
| Solar Flare | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | |
| Mizzium Mortars | Dark Naya Midrange | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 |
| GR Aggro | 4.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | |
| Naya Aggro | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | |
| Sever the Bloodline | Junk Midrange | 2.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
| Reanimator | 2.0 | 0.7 | 1.3 | |
| Terminus | Esper Control | 4.0 | 4.0 | 0.0 |
Leading Indicators
Here are the cards that have made their first Top 16 appearances at SCG: DC. Are they the next hot tech? You be the judge.
| Card | # Copies | Main | Side | Decks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beckon Apparition | 3 | 3 | Esper Tokens (14th) | |
| Gideon, Champion of Justice | 1 | 1 | Esper Control (4th) | |
| Psychic Strike | 2 | 2 | Esper Control (4th) | |
| Simic Charm | 3 | 3 | Bant Auras (16th) | |
| Thrull Parasite | 2 | 2 | BW Zombies (7th) | |
| Undying Evil | 4 | 4 | Junk Midrange (2nd); Dark Naya Midrange (3rd) |
The Standard Metagame
The following graphs track the deck archetypes with the most Top 16 finishes at major Standard tournaments. They include results from not only SCG: Indy but also Grand Prix: Verona and Grand Prix: Rio.
The Last Month
Jund Midrange is still the big bad of the last month, but Reanimator is gaining fast with three Top 16 finishes at SCG: Indy and four in DC. Esper Control is also surging with two at Indy and three in DC.
This Standard Season (since rotation)
Deck Dissection: Reanimator
Let’s take a closer look at a deck that is coming on strong in the Standard metagame. Here are the cards played in 50% or more of the Reanimator Top 16 decks over the past month:
| Card | % Decks | Average | Avg Main | Avg Side |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avacyn's Pilgrim | 100% | 4.4 | 4.4 | 0.0 |
| Overgrown Tomb | 100% | 3.9 | 3.9 | 0.0 |
| Unburial Rites | 100% | 3.9 | 3.9 | 0.0 |
| Woodland Cemetery | 100% | 3.8 | 3.8 | 0.0 |
| Temple Garden | 100% | 3.7 | 3.7 | 0.0 |
| Angel of Serenity | 100% | 3.2 | 3.2 | 0.0 |
| Mulch | 100% | 3.1 | 3.1 | 0.0 |
| Sunpetal Grove | 100% | 3.1 | 3.1 | 0.0 |
| Forest | 100% | 2.7 | 2.7 | 0.0 |
| Craterhoof Behemoth | 100% | 1.9 | 1.8 | 0.1 |
| Godless Shrine | 100% | 1.7 | 1.7 | 0.0 |
| Grisly Salvage | 91% | 4.0 | 4.0 | 0.0 |
| Thragtusk | 91% | 3.9 | 3.9 | 0.0 |
| Restoration Angel | 91% | 3.2 | 3.2 | 0.0 |
| Centaur Healer | 91% | 2.9 | 2.3 | 0.6 |
| Acidic Slime | 91% | 2.8 | 0.1 | 2.7 |
| Deathrite Shaman | 91% | 2.4 | 0.3 | 2.1 |
| Rhox Faithmender | 82% | 2.4 | 0.0 | 2.4 |
| Abrupt Decay | 73% | 2.8 | 0.5 | 2.3 |
| Arbor Elf | 73% | 2.8 | 2.8 | 0.0 |
| Lingering Souls | 73% | 2.6 | 2.6 | 0.0 |
| Gavony Township | 73% | 1.6 | 1.6 | 0.0 |
| Obzedat, Ghost Council | 73% | 1.6 | 0.6 | 1.0 |
| Sever the Bloodline | 64% | 1.4 | 0.3 | 1.1 |
| Tragic Slip | 55% | 2.5 | 0.0 | 2.5 |
| Cavern of Souls | 55% | 2.3 | 1.5 | 0.8 |
| Duress | 55% | 1.8 | 0.0 | 1.8 |
| Isolated Chapel | 55% | 1.7 | 1.7 | 0.0 |
| Vault of the Archangel | 55% | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
By the Numbers: Competitive Reprints
Of the three hundred sixty-four cards that have seen play in a Top 16 deck this Standard season, seventy-two are reprints. This excludes cards that have only been reprinted in special products such as Duel Decks and From the Vault: Legends. A good chunk of these reprints, twenty-three in total, are lands: basics, shock lands, M10 dual lands, Evolving Wilds, Reliquary Tower, and Ghost Quarter.
Here are the most-played nonland reprints since rotation:
Here are the cards that have appeared in the most sets and expansions:
Unsummon is the only overlapping card between the two graphs. Giant Growth and Fog have both been played in Top 16 decks this season, but only a couple copies each. Birds of Paradise has been printed fourteen times, and a fifteenth showing would most likely land it on both graphs.
What Do You Think? M14 Reprints
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[poll id=229]
The Close
That’s it for this week’s article on SCG Open: Washington DC. Join me next week for more Standard tournament results, metagame review, and Magic analysis. Thanks for reading!
Nick Vigabool
