Today I am going to tackle again my favorite archetype in Standard, the Naya Midrange. I have observed lately that the aggro decks have been winning tournaments locally and online. One in particular was the success of Naya Blitz in dominating the format which was once held by Junk Reanimator.

Although I can say that the reanimator decks has not yet faded in the horizon, Red and Green based aggro decks has been emerging recently as an anti. With that trend, I think I should make changes as well to cope up.

Here is an update that I have in mind, in order to deal with fast aggro decks as well as not slowing down against control:

Naya Mid Aggro by Mark Ian Alloso
Standard

Lands
1 Slayers’ Stronghold
1 Kessig Wolf Run
3 Sunpetal Grove
3 Clifftop Retreat
4 Temple Garden
4 Rootbound Crag
4 Stomping Ground
4 Sacred Foundry

Creatures
3 Ghor-Clan Rampager
2 Restoration Angel
4 Loxodon Smiter
4 Flinthoof Boar
4 Thundermaw Hellkite
1 Wolfir Silverheart
4 Avacyn’s Pilgrim
4 Boros Reckoner

Spells
2 Selesnya Charm
4 Mizzium Mortars
4 Searing Spear

So what are the changes?

1. The four-ofs of the hellkite and reckoner. These are the two best creatures in the deck much suited for the meta.

2. Addition of the the Flinthoof Boar. You might say Burning-Tree Emissary should also be in the list but I don’t think she’ll fit in the deck. Sure she can get you explosive starts, but I am looking at the card value. I don’t want top decking her later in the game, like drawing a Farseek off the top.

Flinthoof Boar fits well if you want it at turn two or hasty at turn three. Plus it’s a 3/3 most of the time.

3. Searing Spears and Selesnya Charm. I’ve added more spot removals to stop early aggro from opponents. Spears answer opposing Reckoners and charms for Angel of Serenity and other Hellkites.

4. Ghor-Clan Rampager replacing a few Restoration Angels. Blood rush or a 4/4 Trampler are your best options in the fourth turn. Hellrider might be a suggestion, but Restoration Angel is just too good even with just two copies in the deck. Plus it works well with the Hellkites and the Silverheart on combat tricks as I’ve learned from experience.

Dragon’s Maze is offering arsenal to use for the deck. Let us take a look at a few improvements.

Legion’s Initiative – this mythic is on top of my list as it can pump most of the critters and can be utilized to evade mass removals.

Tajic, Blade of the Legion – although the boros champion is a good four drop, I would need to add Huntmasters and Thragtusks to make him Battalion more often.

Unflinching Courage – Armadillo Cloak reprint might work well with Boros Reckoner, but we still have Azorius charms to deal with so this goes only with Hexproof Bant at the moment.

I think that’s about it for now. I am looking to test the deck with Dragons Maze legal already so as to prepare for the new metagame and to practice for the third and last WMCQ on the first week of June.

Until next time and thanks for the read. 🙂