In Magic: the Gathering Standard format, one of the rising archetypes is the Blue-Red Prowess. It is a fast, aggressive deck that combines cheap spells with creatures that grow stronger every time you cast a noncreature spell. Blending explosive offense with light disruption creates constant pressure that can overwhelm opponents before they stabilize.

A standard Blue-Red (Izzet) Prowess deck revolves around cheap, efficient spells and creatures that reward you for casting noncreature spells. The core idea is to play low-cost threats like Monastery Swiftspear (utilizing the Prowess trigger), and recently from the Tarkir: Dragonstorm set Cori-Steel Cutter, all of which benefit from spellcasting by gaining temporary buffs or creating additional value when casting two spells. The deck maximizes its efficiency with a dense spell package made up of cheap cantrips, burn spells, and protection spells like Spell Pierce to maintain constant pressure while disrupting opponents.

The strength of Blue-Red Prowess lies in its ability to be explosively aggressive while also having a tempo-control element. You can play a lightning-fast game, chipping in damage with ever-growing threats, then finish opponents with spells like Burst Lightning, or even newer burn variants. The blue side of the deck brings resilience: counterspells and bounce effects help protect your board from sweepers and remove key blockers.

This dual nature—being both proactive and reactive—makes Blue-Red Prowess an ideal choice for players who enjoy dynamic, decision-heavy games where timing is critical and small advantages snowball into quick victories.

Check out below an example decklist that finished 1st place in a recent MTG Event.