In the currently ongoing Red Bull Untapped International Qualifier VI, I have found a deck list that is worth the mention in the blog post of featured Standard decks after the bannings of the Wilderness Reclamation batch. This strategy not uncommon but it I am happy to see this deck in the top ranks of the Day 1 of the qualifier event.

While Simic is the popular choice in having a Tempo deck, Blue-White or Azorius is not far behind. They still have access to powerful counterspells like Absorb and the flashy Angel of Grace to quickly end games.

Check out the decklist below played by Tulio Jaudy and is currently at a 7 wins and 1 draw record.

Maindeck
4 Angel of Grace
4 Brineborn Cutthroat
4 Brazen Borrower // Petty Theft

2 Omen of the Sea
4 Absorb
2 Dovin’s Veto
2 Swift Response
2 Opt
2 Essence Scatter
2 Sublime Epiphany
2 Whirlwind Denial
2 Aether Gust
2 Topple the Statue
1 Rewind
1 Chemister’s Insight

Land
8 Island
4 Temple of Enlightenment
4 Hallowed Fountain
3 Plains
2 Castle Vantress
2 Fabled Passage
1 Castle Ardenvale

Sideboard
2 Dovin’s Veto
2 Aether Gust
2 Giant Killer // Chop Down
2 Mangara, the Diplomat
2 Swift Response
2 Mystical Dispute
2 Spectral Sailor
1 Single Combat

You can check the rest of the Standard decks and standings here.

The pandemic effect has limited our social interactions and the people’s movement, including gatherings on celebrations, wake, and the like. The main purpose is to prevent the spread of the virus. One of the activities that might trigger social gathering is the drinking session. Thus, liquor bans are being imposed in cities and municipalities. Iloilo City is not uncommon to implement this regulation and the recent one was initiated by the local government last August 4, 2020, and it will last for two weeks.

While this banning is helpful for virus prevention measures, the consequences now fall on the economic side. Most of the local businesses are already striving to survive and stay afloat the market and a few sells liquor to gain income.

This banning plunges them further and that the two weeks of no sale on their products will surely take a toll on their business. Some cities though did not implement the liquor ban and I am not sure if they have taken into consideration more of the economy.

That said, I do hope the authorities come up with a balance that is a win-win situation for both health and the economy of the country.

The Recent Standard Bannings

Anywho, on the other banning that I implied on this blog post is recent in the Standard format. The cards banned are the tier components of the decks dominating the metagame. Jund Sacrifice, Temur Reclamation, and Blue White Control will probably drop out once these banning take effects and so the Tier 2 decks will become popular. This move is sort of to ‘balance’ the Standard metagame.

Most are already played given the data from the past Magic Arena tournaments, but it was quite obvious that the top decks are still dominating the matchups with their top finishes. The recent Players Tour Finals Top 8 proved the point.

Wizards posted the announcement along with their explanation to justify these bannings on their official website. You can check it here.

In conclusion, both objective are to come up with a solution to solve the problem. Whether there is a consequence or not, it is still aimed to minimize it. Though, there are slight minor differences between the two.

Until the next blog post.

The expected happened, Fields of the Dead is banned in Standard. The rule of the Golos decks in the metagame is finished. While it did not win the recent Mythics Championships, being the highest number in the participants’ decks proved the reason that most pro players will pilot the deck. Producing Zombies in the late game for free is just too imbalanced.

I was expecting not only the land to be banned but also the second card with the huge target mark on it: Oko, Thief of Crowns. The metagame knows that once the Golos decks are gone, Simic-based Food decks will rise to dominate. Basing on what Wizards did on their previous bannings, they also ban cards that are potentially abusing. One example is Rampaging Ferocidon which got banned in the era of Mono-Red aggro and Energy decks in Kaladesh Standard. I think this time they would be needing more data and on what the Standard metagame will turn out after this banning announcement.

Two main components of the Oko decks, the planeswalker himself and Questing Beast had its price rapidly rose in two days. Oko is currently at 61 USD and the beast at 37 USD. We will then expect Esper and maybe Grixis Control decks to rise again to battle these Oko Simic decks. Bedevil, Murderous Rider and even Planar Cleansing can see play again. We shall see in the coming weeks as to what the turnout would be.