The Mono Blue Flyers deck is a classic archetype in Magic: The Gathering (MTG) that leverages the power of evasive creatures—specifically those with flying—combined with blue’s signature control elements. This throwback deck harkens to a time when simplicity in strategy and synergy in card design made for both effective and enjoyable gameplay.

Here below is an example deck list of the deck build:

Creatures (16):
4x Serendib Efreet
4x Faerie Squadron
4x Cloud Djinn
4x Spiketail Hatchling

Spells (20):
4x Counterspell
4x Mana Leak
4x Boomerang
4x Unsummon
4x Brainstorm

Artifacts (2):
2x Scroll Rack

Lands (22):

18x Island
4x Faerie Conclave

Let’s dive into this nostalgic deck’s key components, strategies, and appeal.

1. Core Strategy

• Evasion with Flying: The primary strategy of the Mono Blue Flyers deck is to dominate the battlefield with flying creatures. Flying is a powerful evasion ability that makes creatures difficult to block, allowing consistent damage to be dealt to the opponent. This deck often aims to whittle down the opponent’s life total over several turns using creatures that can soar over most defenses.
• Control Elements: As with many blue decks, control plays a critical role in Mono Blue Flyers. Counterspells, bounce effects, and card draws are integral to maintaining board dominance and ensuring that the opponent’s threats are kept in check.

2. Key Creatures

• Serendib Efreet: A staple in early Mono Blue Flyers decks, Serendib Efreet is a 3/4 flyer for three mana that offers both power and evasion, though it does come with a minor drawback of dealing damage to its controller.
• Faerie Squadron: Another efficient flyer, Faerie Squadron, provides flexibility. It can be played early as a 1/1 flyer or later in the game as a 3/3, depending on the player’s needs.
• Cloud Djinn: A potent finisher, Cloud Djinn is a 5/4 flyer that requires a bit more mana but delivers a significant punch when it hits the battlefield.

3. Control Spells

• Counterspell: The iconic blue spell, Counterspell, is an auto-include. It allows the player to negate any threat the opponent tries to resolve, keeping the skies clear for their flyers.
• Boomerang: A versatile bounce spell, Boomerang can be used to return any permanent to its owner’s hand, disrupting the opponent’s strategy or clearing a path for your flyers to attack.
• Unsummon: A more specialized bounce spell, Unsummon is particularly effective at removing blockers or resetting an opponent’s tempo.

4. Card Draw and Advantage

• Brainstorm: One of the most efficient card draw spells, Brainstorm, allows you to dig through your deck quickly and set up future draws.
• Impulse: Another great card for digging deeper into the deck, Impulse lets you look at the top four cards and choose the one that best fits your current needs.

5. Land Base

• Islands: As a mono-colored deck, the land base is straightforward. Islands are the sole mana source, providing the blue mana needed to cast your spells. The simplicity of the mana base ensures consistency in drawing the necessary mana.
• Faerie Conclave: This land can become a 2/1 flying creature, adding another threat to the board while also contributing mana when needed.

6. Playing the Deck

• Early Game: In the early game, you’ll want to establish a board presence with smaller flyers like Faerie Squadron and protect them with counterspells. Drawing cards to keep your hand full of options is crucial.
• Mid to Late Game: As the game progresses, bring out heavy hitters like Serendib Efreet and Cloud Djinn. Use your control spells to clear the way and keep the pressure on your opponent. The goal is to chip away at their life total steadily while maintaining board control.
• Winning the Game: The deck wins through sustained damage from flying creatures that are difficult for opponents to deal with due to their evasion and the protective control spells in your hand.

7. Nostalgia and Appeal

• Timelessness: The Mono Blue Flyers deck is a timeless archetype that has seen iterations in various formats and across different MTG eras. It embodies the classic blue strategy of control mixed with efficient, evasive threats.
• Simplicity and Effectiveness: This deck appeals to both new and veteran players for its straightforward game plan and effectiveness. It showcases the elegance of older MTG design philosophies where synergy and strategy are paramount.
• Collectibility: For those who played MTG during its early years, this deck is a throwback to simpler times. Collecting and playing with these older cards brings back fond memories of kitchen table games and local tournaments.

8. Conclusion

The Mono Blue Flyers deck remains a beloved part of Magic: The Gathering’s history. Its combination of flying creatures and control elements creates a balanced, engaging gameplay experience that highlights the strengths of the blue color. Whether you’re a longtime player looking to revisit the past or a newer player interested in exploring MTG’s roots, Mono Blue Flyers offers a satisfying and nostalgic deck choice.

Magic: the Gathering Standard decks get an update with Adventures in the Forgotten Realms, including those who I think seemed to be ‘forgotten’ in the metagame already. What I am referring to is the Mono-Black Devotion deck, and the last time I checked a deck list was when it was mostly composed of Theros Beyond Death and Kaldheim card components. Seeing a deck that is doing success in the recent MTG Online Standard updated with Adventures in the Forgotten Realms tournament is what prompted me of the potential to become a Tier 1 level again.

Hence, sharing below is the full decklist from that event. I’ve referenced it from this deck tournament results.

Maindeck
24 LANDS
4 Castle Locthwain
20 Swamp

33 CREATURES
4 Ayara, First of Locthwain
1 Erebos, Bleak-Hearted
4 Fiend Artisan
4 Gray Merchant of Asphodel
4 Nightmare Shepherd
4 Nullpriest of Oblivion
4 Serrated Scorpion
4 Shambling Ghast
4 Woe Strider

3 OTHER SPELLS
3 Lolth, Spider Queen

SIDEBOARD
3 Bloodchief’s Thirst
4 Check for Traps
4 Heartless Act
4 Lithoform Blight

A previous deck builds in the Magic2021 update of the Mono-Black Devotion in comparison to the current one can be opened here.

Neutral Ground’s annual major tournament for Magic: the Gathering concluded last weekend at Solaire Tent in Pasay. While my initial plan was to be part of the judge team, I decided not to apply due to financial constraints. Anywho, after 247 participants and about 16 rounds of two-day Magic, the winner of this event was a good of friend of mine, Mr. Julio Espina. He is a known local grinder and his deck of choice was Sultai Sacrifice. The deck is a recent variance of the Sultai food strategy that capitalizes on the advantage of Witches Oven, Trail of Crumbs and Cauldron Familiar.

I have yet to acquire his actual decklist but I think his list is similar to that of the winner of GP Richmond 2019 on which I am sharing the list below.

Maindeck
4 Breeding Pool
2 Castle Locthwain
3 Fabled Passage
5 Forest
1 Island
4 Overgrown Tomb
2 Swamp
4 Watery Grave

4 Cauldron Familiar
4 Gilded Goose
3 Massacre Girl
3 Murderous Rider
1 Wicked Wolf

2 Noxious Grasp
3 Once Upon a Time
1 Liliana, Dreadhorde General
4 Oko, Thief of Crowns
4 Trail of Crumbs
2 Vraska, Golgari Queen
4 Witch’s Oven

Sideboard
2 Aether Gust
2 Duress
2 Leyline of the Void
4 Lovestruck Beast
1 Negate
1 Thrashing Brontodon
2 Veil of Summer
1 Wicked Wolf

Reference: http://mtgtop8.com/event?e=23643&f=ST

Huge congratulations to Julio and to the organizers for a successful Magic the Gathering event.