Normal Takes Flight with Tarkir: Dragonstorm

Good day, and welcome again to Metagame Mentor, your weekly information to the highest decks and newest Constructed developments on the trail to the Professional Tour. Magic‘s latest set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm, has made its mark on Normal, introducing new archetypes and shaking up the metagame.

On this article, I will dive into the earliest Normal outcomes that includes Tarkir: Dragonstorm, highlighting a very powerful additions from the set. The primary week of this new Normal format has solely scratched the floor, but when the early improvements are any indication, the upcoming sequence of Regional Championships promise to be an exciting journey.

Standard, the rotating 60-card format, at present spans enlargement units from Dominaria United onward. To seize an early snapshot of the metagame, I analyzed 192 revealed decklists from Magic Online Challenges held from April 9–12, together with Prime 8 lists from the Standard RCQ at SCG CON Denver. Whereas the pattern measurement of 200 decklists is modest, it presents a priceless glimpse at what the set guarantees.

To indicate which decks are dominating the highest tables, I assigned factors to every deck primarily based on its rectified variety of web wins—calculated because the variety of match wins minus losses, with unfavourable values adjusted to zero. By combining these factors throughout all occasions, every archetype’s share of the overall rectified web wins blends recognition and efficiency right into a single, complete metric: the winner’s metagame share.

On this desk, every archetype title hyperlinks to a top-performing decklist that carefully displays its combination construct. The “Different” class collects decks with lower than one p.c metagame share, together with creative brews like Five-Color Legends, Dimir Demons, Mardu Pixie, Gruul Leyline, Mono-White Tokens, and Boros Prowess.

Essentially the most-played non-land playing cards throughout all most important decks had been Monstrous Rage, Stormchaser’s Expertise, Burst Lightning, Nowhere to Run, and Heartfire Hero. Their prevalence underscores that Normal is pushed by environment friendly one-mana creatures and interactive spells, significantly in aggressive crimson decks. In in the present day’s metagame, falling behind just isn’t an possibility.

In comparison with my earlier metagame snapshot earlier than the discharge of Tarkir: Dragonstorm, there’s been a transparent shift. Izzet Prowess has rocketed right into a top-tier contender, seemingly out of nowhere. With Cori-Metal Cutter at its core, the archetype now rivals Mono-Pink Aggro in each recognition and efficiency. In the meantime, Area Overlords—the deck that triumphed at Professional Tour Aetherdrift—has seen a pointy decline. In consequence, Up the Beanstalk has largely vanished from the highlight.

Tarkir: Dragonstorm has injected a wealth of highly effective new playing cards into Normal, respiratory new life into each established and rising archetypes. The desk under highlights the 20 most performed new-to-Normal playing cards throughout the decklists I analyzed.

Sunpearl Kirin claims the title of essentially the most performed card in Normal from Tarkir: Dragonstorm. Functionally, it is a two-mana Nurturing Pixie with flash, which has bolstered the consistency of self-bounce methods. From Esper Pixie to Orzhov Pixie and even Mardu Pixie, the Kirin has proved itself as a powerful role-player.

However when it comes to uncooked energy and multi-format potential, the standout star is arguably Cori-Metal Cutter. It is a formidable token-generating engine that, as an artifact, is extra to take away than a creature. In the appropriate shell, Cori-Metal Cutter is straightforward to set off flip after flip, snowballing right into a relentless swarm of Monks. Whereas its most important house is in Izzet Prowess, a variety of decks have embraced it, together with Boros Pia, Grixis Bounce, and Mardu Pixie. Even a handful of Mono-Pink Aggro and Gruul Mice decks have already included Cori-Metal Cutter.

To higher perceive how these new playing cards are shaping the metagame, let’s take a more in-depth have a look at the archetypes which have gained essentially the most from Tarkir: Dragonstorm‘s standout additions.

693583



1 Bounce Off
4 Burst Lightning
4 Cori-Metal Cutter
5 Island
4 Monastery Swiftspear
4 Monstrous Rage
4 Mountain
4 Choose
4 Riverpyre Verge
4 Shivan Reef
4 Sleight of Hand
4 Slickshot Present-Off
2 Spell Pierce
4 Spirebluff Canal
4 Inventory Up
4 Stormchaser’s Expertise


2 Disdainful Stroke
3 Ghost Vacuum
2 Sunspine Lynx
3 Third Path Iconoclast
4 Torch the Tower
1 Witchstalker Frenzy

At first look, it may appear odd to run an aggressive crimson deck in Normal with out the ever-present Mice package deal. However Cori-Metal Cutter has modified the equation, catapulting Izzet Prowess into the identical tier as Mono-Pink Aggro, if not past it.

The deck is as elegant as it’s lethal. On flip three, forged Cori-Metal Cutter and an affordable spell like Choose to generate a Monk token, equip it with Cori-Metal Cutter, and swing for 2. From there, the deck makes use of a collection of one-mana spells, card-draw results, and a plotted Slickshot Present-Off, it turns into trivial to set off flurry on successive turns. Every pair of spells you forged fuels a rising military of Monk tokens, whereas prowess amplifies their risk degree flip by flip.

One of many few playing cards that may cleanly reply this explosive technique is Momentary Lockdown, however even that is not a assured answer due to main-deck copies of Spell Pierce. With this highly effective configuration, Darthkid piloted Izzet Prowess to a 4th-place end in a latest Magic On-line Problem, and lots of different gamers have discovered related success with this sizzling new archetype.

Sunpearl Kirin



2 Adarkar Wastes
3 Caves of Koilos
4 Hid Courtyard
4 Darkslick Shores
2 Entity Tracker
2 Worry of Isolation
1 Go for the Throat
4 Hopeless Nightmare
1 Momentum Breaker
4 Nowhere to Run
4 Nurturing Pixie
4 Optimistic Scavenger
2 Stressed Anchorage
4 Seachrome Coast
3 Spiteful Hexmage
4 Stormchaser’s Expertise
4 Sunpearl Kirin
1 Swamp
4 This City Ain’t Huge Sufficient
3 Underground River


1 Defiled Crypt // Cadaver Lab
2 Destroy Evil
2 Grim Bauble
1 Loran of the Third Path
2 No Extra Lies
3 Relaxation in Peace
2 Inventory Up
2 The Witch’s Self-importance

Sunpearl Kirin has been adopted by Esper Pixie. Whereas its stats are barely weaker than Worry of Isolation, flash provides a brand new layer of flexibility. Now you can maintain up two mana, assess your opponent’s play, after which reply with the best choice—whether or not that is Nowhere to Run, This City Ain’t Huge Sufficient, or one other Kirin.

Esper Pixie was already leaning closely on a collection of self-bounce results, and Sunpearl Kirin slots seamlessly into that framework. To create space, most lists have trimmed copies of Kaito, Bane of Nightmares and/or Inventory Up. The self-bounce configuration of 4 This City Ain’t Huge Sufficient, 4 Sunpearl Kirin, 4 Nurturing Pixie, and a couple of Worry of Isolation has change into the brand new norm. With that setup, HouseOfManaMTG took down a latest Normal Problem on Magic On-line.

The inclusion of the Kirin has additionally rippled by means of the remainder of the deck. Entity Tracker has joined as a complementary flash risk, whereas Sunpearl Kirin‘s synergy with Spiteful Hexmage—drawing a card once you bounce the Cursed Position—has prompted a resurgence of the black one-drop. The result’s a leaner, extra aggressive model of Esper Pixie, which stays a formidable power within the Normal format.

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4 Burst Lightning
4 Emberheart Challenger
4 Heartfire Hero
4 Employed Claw
4 Lightning Strike
4 Manifold Mouse
4 Monstrous Rage
16 Mountain
4 Rockface Village
4 Screaming Nemesis
3 Soulstone Sanctuary
4 Tersa Lightshatter
1 Witchstalker Frenzy


2 Case of the Crimson Pulse
2 Lithomantic Barrage
4 Sunspine Lynx
4 Torch the Tower
3 Witchstalker Frenzy

Very like Screaming Nemesis, Tersa Lightshatter delivers three explosive factors of hasty injury whereas providing the potential for lasting worth. Early on, it helps filter your attracts, letting you sculpt your hand to search out the right combination of threats, lands, or instants. And later, once you hit the graveyard threshold, Tersa grants entry to free playing cards—maybe a game-ending Monstrous Rage.

Lots of the top-performing Mono-Pink Aggro decks—together with Latorretta’s successful listing from a latest Magic On-line Problem—have adopted a number of copies of Tersa, trimming Monastery Swiftspear to make room. In comparison with pre-Tarkir: Dragonstorm builds, this model embraces a barely larger curve and runs 23 lands, underlining a shift towards mid-game endurance.

Personally, I just like the route, however I consider there’s nonetheless room for tuning. I might think about shaving a replica every of Lightning Strike and Tersa Lightshatter in favor of Monastery Swiftspear and Sunspine Lynx. With a bit extra optimization, we are able to get nearer to perfection.

Determined Measures



4 Blackcleave Cliffs
1 Blazemire Verge
4 Cacophony Scamp
4 Callous Promote-Sword
4 Determined Measures
4 Emberheart Challenger
4 Heartfire Hero
4 Leyline of Resonance
4 Manifold Mouse
4 May of the Meek
4 Monstrous Rage
11 Mountain
4 Sulfurous Springs
4 Flip Inside Out


4 Duress
4 Leyline of the Void
2 Pyroclasm
2 Sunspine Lynx
3 Torch the Tower

Though Skullclamp is banned in a number of Constructed codecs, Determined Measures brings the same impact to Normal. After all, it is a one-shot impact somewhat than a repeatable engine. However what in the event you might use it twice?

Paired with Leyline of Resonance, Determined Measures begins to look extra like its Gear counterpart. Casting it in response to a elimination spell allows you to draw 4 playing cards for only one mana—an absurd change. And that is not the one trick. Need to push injury? Goal your individual Emberheart Challenger twice, then swing in with a 5/1 creature. On the lookout for worth? Goal your individual Cacophony Scamp to attract playing cards and take away a creature.

These highly effective interactions helped Bunnyfat clinch a victory at a latest Magic On-line Problem. Due to Tarkir: Dragonstorm, Leyline of Resonance methods should not solely viable once more, however they’re downright harmful.

693547



4 Abhorrent Oculus
2 Adarkar Wastes
2 Battlefield Forge
1 Bitter Reunion
4 Worry of Lacking Out
2 Glacial Dragonhunt
4 Serving to Hand
4 Inspiring Vantage
4 Proft’s Eidetic Reminiscence
2 Recommission
4 Seachrome Coast
4 Shivan Reef
4 Spirebluff Canal
4 Spyglass Siren
4 Steamcore Scholar
2 Tersa Lightshatter
2 Thundering Falls
4 Torch the Tower
3 Winternight Tales


2 Chandra, Spark Hunter
3 Destroy Evil
2 Ghost Vacuum
1 Lithomantic Barrage
1 Negate
2 Pyroclasm
2 Spell Pierce
2 The Filigree Sylex

Tarkir: Dragonstorm introduces the harmonize mechanic, which helps you to forged playing cards out of your graveyard. It is a pure match for decks already utilizing draw-and-discard results, akin to Jeskai Oculus. Discarding a harmonize card early is not a loss—it is an funding into the long run. When these spells additionally enable you loot, the synergy potential in Jeskai Oculus grows even bigger.

RubyXillia’s model of Jeskai Oculus runs each Glacial Dragonhunt and Winternight Tales, which serve a number of roles. Not solely can they be pitched to Worry of Lacking Out or Steamcore Scholar, however in addition they energy up Proft’s Eidetic Reminiscence and fill the graveyard for Serving to Hand, Recommission, and Abhorrent Oculus. To make room for this new recursive graveyard potential, Inti, Seneschal of the Solar has gotten lower, however the ensuing listing is extra constant and explosive.

693703



1 Abrade
3 Beza, the Bounding Spring
1 Cori Mountain Monastery
1 Day of Judgment
2 Dispelling Exhale
3 Elegant Parlor
4 Floodfarm Verge
4 Get Misplaced
2 Island
4 Lightning Helix
3 Marang River Regent
3 Meticulous Archive
1 Mountain
3 Plains
1 Experience’s Finish
3 Riverpyre Verge
4 Shiko, Paragon of the Method
1 Cut up Up
4 Inventory Up
3 Sunbillow Verge
3 Momentary Lockdown
3 Three Steps Forward
3 Thundering Falls


2 Authority of the Consuls
1 Beza, the Bounding Spring
1 Day of Judgment
1 Ghost Vacuum
2 Jace, the Perfected Thoughts
2 Kutzil’s Flanker
2 Negate
2 Tishana’s Tidebinder
2 Wilt-Leaf Liege

Management decks purpose to dictate the circulation of the sport by answering early threats and ultimately pulling forward with uncooked card benefit or late-game energy. Two new Dragons from Tarkir: Dragonstorm provide precisely that, bolstering Jeskai Management as an archetype.

Main the cost is Shiko, Paragon of the Method, who gives worth and adaptability. You possibly can forged Inventory Up for sources, Cut up Up to clear the board, or Get Misplaced to keep up management.

Marang River Regent comes with an Omen spell, letting you retain mana up for both countermagic or card draw in your opponent’s flip. And once you play it as a six-mana Dragon, it helps stabilize the board and go for the win.

Gerardo94 showcased the power of this new core with a Third-place end in a latest Magic On-line Problem. Their listing additionally featured Dispelling Exhale, which capabilities like a supercharged No Extra Lies with a much less demanding mana value. Collectively, these additions present a compelling new route for management decks.

693491



2 Anoint with Affliction
3 Beza, the Bounding Spring
4 Bleachbone Verge
4 Caretaker’s Expertise
4 Carrot Cake
4 Hid Courtyard
4 Lower Down
2 Day of Judgment
2 Demolition Discipline
2 Elspeth, Storm Slayer
1 Elspeth’s Smite
4 Enduring Innocence
4 Fountainport
2 Get Misplaced
2 Go for the Throat
1 Kaya, Intangible Slayer
2 Overlord of the Mistmoors
5 Plains
4 Shadowy Backstreet
2 Sunfall
2 Swamp


2 Destroy Evil
3 Duress
1 Elspeth’s Smite
1 Ghost Vacuum
2 Outrageous Theft
1 Pest Management
2 The Stone Mind
3 Wilt-Leaf Liege

In a deck already constructed to flood the board with tokens, Elspeth, Storm Slayer is an Anointed Procession with loyalty talents that supply much more versatility. On this model of Orzhov Tokens, piloted by Ivan_Draw_Go to a Fifth-place end in a latest Normal Problem, Elspeth doubles down on what the deck does finest.

She enhances all kinds of token sources: Rabbit tokens from Carrot Cake, Treasure and Fish from Beza, the Bounding Spring and Fountainport, Bugs from Overlord of the Mistmoors, and even her personal Troopers. With so many alternative token sources already bolstered by Caretaker’s Expertise, Elspeth’s doubling impact compounds rapidly.

Gamers are debating whether or not to splash black for Lower Down or to stay mono-white for Lay Down Arms, however these are minor questions. What’s clear is that Elspeth, Storm Slayer elevates this archetype to new heights, offering a dominant win situation that matches seamlessly into the prevailing recreation plan.

693676



4 Abuelo’s Awakening
4 Adarkar Wastes
2 Blast Zone
2 Chart a Course
3 Confounding Riddle
3 Ephara’s Dispersal
1 Fabled Passage
4 Fallaji Archaeologist
4 Floodfarm Verge
3 Invasion of Arcavios
4 Island
4 Meticulous Archive
4 Second of Reality
4 Omniscience
1 Oracle of Tragedy
2 Plains
3 Seachrome Coast
4 Inventory Up
4 Momentary Lockdown


1 Beza, the Bounding Spring
1 Day of Judgment
2 Disenchant
2 Get Misplaced
2 Grand Abolisher
1 Jeskai Revelation
2 Negate
3 Riptide Gearhulk
1 Spell Pierce

The final new standout card price spotlighting, Jeskai Revelation, appears to be like like a sideboard card, but it surely performs a surprisingly central position in Azorius Omniscience. Its key operate is to streamline the deck’s win situation. After reanimating Omniscience with Abuelo’s Awakening, the deck can forged Invasion of Arcavios, seize Jeskai Revelation from the sideboard, and start a loop. Bounce Invasion, deal 4 injury to the opponent, recast Invasion, and repeat.

In earlier iterations, the combo end relied on a clunky sequence with Johann’s Stopgap, This City Ain’t Huge Sufficient, and Hang-out the Community. Now, Jeskai Revelation presents a one-card kill loop, the win is cleaner and the sideboard has opened up. Free of needing a number of items, the sideboard now has room for extra utility playing cards like further copies of Disenchant.

The arrival of Cori-Metal Cutter and different game-changing playing cards from Tarkir: Dragonstorm has shaken up the Normal format. However we’re nonetheless solely scratching the floor. The approaching weeks promise an exciting interval of discovery, as new archetypes emerge and top-tier methods are refined throughout high-stakes competitors.

Here is the schedule for the upcoming Regional Championship cycle:

For those who’re desperate to witness high-level Normal play in motion, do not miss the Ultimate Guard European Magic Series Regional Championship in Bologna, Italy, on April 25–26!

Fanfinity will present stay video protection on each Twitch and YouTube, that includes excessive manufacturing worth, superior options, and insightful commentary from seasoned champions. Protection begins at 9 a.m. Central European Summer time Time (that is 3 a.m. Japanese Time/6 p.m. Japan Normal Time) on each days. Catch the epic matches that may redefine what’s attainable in Normal!