It has been a while since I posted some Top 5 cards or was that Top 10 last time? So today, I am having this Top 5 most-played creatures in the Standard Crimson Vow format based on the data of the tournament results and decklists posted at the MTG Top8 website. Last weekend was the year-ender hence this blog post title. I am sharing also its recent paper price on the market via TCG mid.

The first on the top of the list is:

Lier, Disciple of the Drowned (23.2%) – This Human Wizard is an auto-inclusion with one to two copies in Izzet Decks for their late-game plan wherein flashbacking Instants and Sorceries will just overwhelm opponents with its card advantage. It is currently averaged at 10-11 USD and that it will surely rise in value once the face-2-face Magic in your local game store is back.

This is then followed by this batch:

Luminarch Aspirant (22.9%) – A playset copy of this card makes sure that you max its pump-your-dude value by playing it on your starting curve of the White Weenie’s one-two-three punch. It is on five dollars on average price currently in the market.

Goldspan Dragon (22.2%) – Probably still the superstar creature in Izzet deck archetypes, whether it’s the Tempo or Control version. Nothing of a flyer in the format that compares to its ability to churn out card value while being an aggressor at the same time. Backed by counterspells and spot removals, this is a game-over clock in the process. It averaged three copies in the deck and the current price ranges from 35 to 40 USD.

Hullbreaker Horror (19.1%) – Another creature for Blue-based end game finisher, The list may lean more on the control-tempo game strategy depending on the colors. For Izzet, they partner it with bounce spells and cheap burn removal whereas Dimir Control goes with Black’s spot removal spells. It has an average of 1.7 copies on the maindeck and it’s currently priced at 8 to 10 USD.

Elite Spellbinder (18.5%) – The White three-drop which I think has not left the main deck since its printing in the Strixhaven set. Looking at the target opponent’s hand, exile and delaying one relevant non-land spell is a good move that White needs to carry out its next attacking strategy. It averaged at 3.4 means 3 to 4 copies in the main decklist. The price is currently at 3.50 USD so I’d suggest getting your playset today.

Reference: https://www.mtgtop8.com/topcards

The current Magic: the Gathering Standard deck archetypes give us the impression that the decks built around Alrund’s Epiphany are still the best choice among the list. The only variance is on how these decks deal with other mirror-type matchups. Some go with Grixis as Black’s discard spells can surely disrupt their gameplan whereas others come up with the Plan B of just burning off opponents’ life totals with copied burn spells.

Today’s Standard Deck tech feature goes with the built-around card, Olivia, Crimson Bride. The deck caters to four mana colors, which I have thought to be impossible at first. Upon checking the decklist, however, that there are spells that can easily solve this mana issue. Let us check what the current version of Olivia offers.

For a six-drop flying, haste, and gives us a good trigger ability whenever she attacks. Reanimating other creatures and making them attack at the same time is a two-for-one deal. That means you just need good creatures targets, and so included in the lineup are Hullbreaker Horrors and Koma, Cosmos Serpent which gets you good card value with their abilities.

Here below is the visual look of the full decklist.

Reference: https://mtgazone.com/user-decks/h5mtpkzm2y4xif81wvh/