A Journey into the Auras


Our next stop in Standard is on Theros’ third and completing set, Journey into Nyx. This weekend will be the set prerelease and I am pretty sure you all are excited to open packs and play the new cards. As with every new set released, every format is again open for brewing and brainstorming deck strategies and card interactions. Standard is no exception, even with the expected Tier 1 decks to still continue to flourish after Journey into Nyx is added to the format. I have been testing the new cards since the complete set spoiler was revealed last Friday, and I can say that this set will truly affect and again shape the metagame.

First off on my list of test decks is an archetype that is a less popular choice for most players but can end games quickly given the standard opening. The deck is Naya Auras and here is the list with a taste of Journey into Nyx.

Naya Auras by Mark Ian Alloso
JOU Standard

Lands
4 Temple Garden
4 Sacred Foundry
4 Stomping Ground
4 Temple of Plenty
1 Temple of Triumph
2 Forest
4 Mana Confluence

Creatures
4 Bassara Tower Archer
2 Fiendslayer Paladin
4 Gladecover Scout
4 Witchstalker

Spells
3 Banishing Light
3 Boros Charm
4 Ethereal Armor
4 Madcap Skills
4 Unflinching Courage
2 Selesnya Charm
1 Chained to the Rocks
1 Ajani, Caller of the Pride
1 Gift of Orzhova

Sideboard
2 Selesnya Charm
1 Banishing Light
2 Mending Touch
3 Skylasher
3 Deicide
2 Mizzium Mortars
1 Reprisal
1 Last Breath

Here are some notes on the changes:

Change of Voice of Resurgence to Bassara Tower Archer – VoR is a powerful two-drop but I think it is still vulnerable to removals and I would not want to waste an Aura spell on it. Remove from the game effects are expected to be popular and with Magma Spray and Banishing Light to enter Standard, I think the elemental needs to go. Plus the deck needs more Hexproof critters to enchant and the Tower Archer is the new card to fill that slot.

Addition of Mana Confluence – the new pseudo-City of Brass and the set’s money card will really enhance the deck’s powerful openings.

A fifth Lifelink source via Gift of Orzhova – with Mana Confluence now in the mana base, the deck will need to increase the chances to draw its Lifelink auras to be able to compensate the life loss.

Enchantment removal upgrade to Banishing Light – Chained to the Rocks can get you into awkward situations wherein you do not have the Mountain for it to enchant so I’ve cut it down to one and added three ‘fixed-Oblivion Rings’, Banishing Light.

As for the sideboard, the new card that I am testing is Deicide (which will now become the newest arsenal of control vs Thasa decks) which I board in for opposing D-spheres and and Banishing Lights. I am also considering Nyx-Fleece Ram for fast aggro and Boros Burn matchups.

Here is a recap of the playtest matches I made on Magic Workstation:

Match no. 1 vs Jund Monsters (Won)

Game One was a slow start with mulligan to five & turn three scout enchant with Madcap skills. He got turn-three courser into Polukranos while my second aura was Gift of Orzhova and swung for 5 damage and gain 5 life. He swung back for 7 and casted Scavenging Ooze. I drew an Ethereal Armor, enchanted it on the scout and swung again for 8 damage and gained 8 life. He drew for the turn, surveyed the scenario and then promptly conceded.

Game Two was a fast start for him with turn 3 Xenagos planeswalker while I again started slow with a turn 3 stalker. I also was not able to drew the correct auras and with only Ethereal Armor, my attacks were chump blocked by Satyr tokens. He then casted the Xenagod, but with one lacking devotion as I think he was preparing for a big swing. I drew Madcap Skills, enchanted the stalker and swung with huge damage as he only left his ooze to block. I just needed another turn to win but on his turn, he casted Stormbreath Dragon which made Xenagod a creature. He then pumped the dragon with the combat trigger and swung enough damage to kill me on 17 life. I was looking at my Reprisal on my hand with mana open and just smiled.

Game Three was the deck’s God draw with turn one scout, turn two skills, and turn-three courage. He played Temple of Abandons on his two turns and just conceded.

Record: 1-0, Games: 2-1

Match no. 2 vs Black splash Green Devotion (Won)

I won Game One even with a mull to five in which I was able to setup a Witchstalker with Gift of Orzhova & Ethereal Armor which he didn’t immediately answered. He found Golgari Charm to destroy it but I have Boros Charm for indestructibility. Thoughtseize & Abrupt Decays slowed me on Game two and he was able to roll me over with Desecration Demon and Pack Rat tokens.

Game Three was another God draw start for me with scout, Ethereal Armor and Unflinching Courage. He wasn’t able to setup defense and I just banished his biggest threat and attacked for the win.

Record: 2-0, Games: 4-2

Match no. 3 vs Selesnya Midrange (Lost)

He overwhelmed me on two games with turn two Loxodon Smiter, turn three Wurm token and turn four Ajani, Mentor of Heroes. Mana issues on both games, in terms of color screw and land screw. The deck is best not played with a mulligan to five, and with little luck.

Record: 2-1, Games: 4-4

Match no. 4 vs Grixis Control (Won)

I capitalized his slow start on Game One with an enchanted scout. I misplayed by casting Witchstalker into his Anger of the Gods next turn but was able to recover with Fiendslayer Paladin. He casted Niv Mizzet which was promptly Banished and the paladin got him into the range of the Boros Charm.

In Game Two I was just pinching damage with the tower archer as I cannot get to draw my Auras while he setup his mana and then played a turn four Jace (-2). His walker delayed some damage while I was playing around his Anger of the Gods with Selesnya Charm and Mending Touch. I was then able to sneak in an Unflinching Courage to increase the clock. I knew he had revealed a Counterflux to Jace earlier so I just leave enough mana for the two spells and on his sixth turn he casted the Anger with Counterflux backup. I casted Selesnya Charmed to get out of range of three damage from the sorcery and which he countered. I then responded with Mending Touch to regenerate and then enchanted the archer with more Auras the next turn and swung for the win.

Record: 3-1, Games: 6-4

Overall, the deck given its regular draws can get you to win games quickly and effectively. It usual issue though is the consistency on the draws and the mana base. Mana Confluence will certainly help fix the latter whereas the draws will still depend on your shuffling style and your mulligan decisions.

That is a wrap for Naya Auras in the Journey into Nyx Standard and until the next post.

Thanks for reading.