All articles tagged with #standard
A TMNT crossover spoiler centers on Donatello’s Technique, a one-mana common that draws two cards and could enable new infinite combos. While not fitting every deck, it shines in Standard (e.g., Esper Pixie, Dimir Midrange) and looks like an easy upgrade for Commander (Yuriko ninjutsu, Blink decks), making it a strong candidate for the set’s best card.
Pro Tour Lorwyn Eclipsed kicked off in snowy Richmond with 300+ competitors as players navigated a new five-archetype Limited format and a reshaped Standard dominated by Badgermole Cub and Izzet Rhythm. Marco Belacca led Day One undefeated with a near-creature-free Jeskai Control, while others showcased diverse builds—from five-color vivid drafts to Dimir Control and Sunderflock variants—setting the stage for Day Two's Draft and a final Standard sprint toward Sunday’s Top 8.
At Pro Tour Lorwyn Eclipsed, 306 Standard decks showcased a metagame dominated by Simic/Bant/Sultai rhythms, but nine spicy builds stood out: Dimir Excruciator with Superior Spider-Man; Sultai Elementals driven by Formidable Speaker; Jeskai Elementals featuring Beza, the Bounding Spring; Four-Color Reanimator blending Ashling with Ill-Timed Explosion; Selesnya Landfall led by Doorkeeper Thrull; Golgari Gravefall’s Beifong’s Bounty Hunters loop; Abzan Roots using Dawnhand Dissident for graveyard synergy; Temur Harmonizer’s Mightform combo; and Rakdos Monument around Moonshadow. Each leverages Lorwyn Eclipsed cards to push innovative lines with real tournament potential.
Over 1,500 players competed in Magic Spotlight: The Avatar in Lyon and Atlanta, earning 16 Pro Tour invites and $100k. Simon Nielsen won Lyon with Simic Ouroboroid, while Kye Nelson won Atlanta with Bant Airbending, and six Top 8s went to Ouroboroid across the events. Mono-Green Landfall posted the highest win rate (about 58%), Badgermole Cub decks around 56%, and Izzet Lessons remained a top archetype (~52–54%). Jeskai Control offers a viable answer to Ouroboroid, Boros Aggro showed gains with white splash, and Esper Pixie/Dimir Bounce were present in the mix. The piece emphasizes Standard’s fluid meta and tees up Pro Tour Lorwyn Eclipsed and RCQs as the next big tests.
Aliro, the new open standard for smart locks that enables NFC-based tap-to-unlock and UWB hands-free unlocking, is set to launch in early 2026, allowing Android and other smart device users to access smart locks seamlessly, similar to Apple's Home Key feature, through collaboration among major tech and lock manufacturers.
Wizards of the Coast announced significant bans across multiple Magic: The Gathering formats, including banning Vivi Ornitier in Standard to curb deck dominance, along with bans on Proft’s Eidetic Memory, Screaming Nemesis, and others to promote diversity and balance. Additionally, they banned Entomb and Nadu in Legacy, and re-banned High Tide in Pauper due to problematic gameplay. Several pre-bans were also issued in Historic and Brawl, reflecting a focus on maintaining format health. The next bans are scheduled for February 9th, with hopes for a more balanced metagame.
Wizards of the Coast banned Vivi Ornitier and Proft’s Eidetic Memory in Standard to address their dominance, along with banning Screaming Nemesis to balance Mono-Red Aggro, and made additional bans across Pioneer, Legacy, and Pauper formats to maintain game health and diversity.
The article details the November 10, 2025, banned and restricted list updates across various Magic: The Gathering formats, including bans in Standard (Vivi Ornitier, Screaming Nemesis, Proft's Eidetic Memory), Pioneer (Heartfire Hero), Legacy (Entomb, Nadu, Winged Wisdom), and Brawl (multiple cards), with explanations from Wizards' design team on the reasons behind these changes aimed at maintaining game balance and diversity. No changes were made in Modern, Vintage, Pauper, Alchemy, Historic, or Timeless formats.
The article discusses leaked cards from the Edge of Eternities set, highlighting three notable ones: Lightstall Inquisitor, a rare one-mana Angel with disruptive abilities; Hardlight Containment, an aura that counters artifacts but with limited deck options; and Pinnacle Emissary, a flying artifact creature promising in artifact-focused Commander decks. These leaks showcase efficient and potentially impactful cards across various formats, though their authenticity is not confirmed.
Recent bans in Magic: The Gathering's Standard format aimed to curb problematic strategies, but new threats like Tinybones Joins Up and persistent decks like Orzhov Pixie and Dimir Midrange are emerging as dominant forces, indicating the bans may not fully resolve the meta's issues and could lead to ongoing shifts in deck strategies.
A major Magic: The Gathering ban announcement is expected to target cards like Cori-Steel Cutter and Monstrous Rage in Standard and Pioneer, with potential restrictions on Lurrus and Stock Up in Vintage, while other formats like Legacy and Pauper are unlikely to see changes.
Outlaws of Thunder Junction is set to release on MTG Arena, and the article discusses the evaluation philosophy for new cards, highlighting potential impactful cards for Standard and Alchemy. It covers cards that could be added to existing decks, create new decks, or revive abandoned ones, as well as impactful sideboard options. The article provides examples of cards like Duelist of the Mind and The Gitrog for Standard, and Lively Dirge and Honest Rutstein for Alchemy, while also mentioning Legion Extruder and Loot, the Key to Everything. It concludes with a discussion on impactful sideboard options like Rest in Peace and Requisition Raid, and expresses excitement for trying out new brews in both formats.
Outlaws of Thunder Junction spoiler season for Magic: The Gathering has begun with early leaks of new cards, including the introduction of a new mechanic called Spree. Cards like Insatiable Avarice and Vraska Joins Up showcase exciting abilities and potential for play in Standard and Commander formats. Additional early spoilers hint at more intriguing cards to come, building anticipation for the upcoming set release.
MagicCon: Chicago saw Seth Manfield win with Rakdos Vampires and Rei "ctfsoc" Zhang triumph with Sultai Ramp at the $75K Standard Open, while the impact of Murders at Karlov Manor on the Standard format was analyzed. The most-played new-to-Standard cards were revealed, and innovative new decks and developments, including Sultai Ramp with Aftermath Analyst and Boros Convoke with Novice Inspector, were highlighted. The article also discussed Azorius Control with No More Lies, Boros Control with Lightning Helix, Sultai Reanimator with Steamcore Scholar, Dimir Reanimator with Reenact the Crime, and Grixis Hidetsugu and Kairi with Push // Pull, showcasing the diverse and powerful new strategies in Standard.
A newly spoiled uncommon card, Forensic Researcher, from the Murders at Karlov Manor set has been discovered to create a three-card infinite combo in Standard, allowing players to generate an infinite number of Merfolk tokens. While the combo seems powerful, it can be disrupted easily and relies on specific conditions to work. However, with enough Merfolk support in Standard and potential untap effects from the new set, the combo could become a viable strategy for competitive play.