I am updating my list for the Naya Dragons build basing on the recent top finish of RG Devotion decks in the Pro Tour Dragons of Tarkir. They proved that Dragonlord Atarka is a better choice than DL Dromoka and so I am including a full playset of the card along with Thunderbreak Regent. I have also changed the Atarka’s Command to Draconic Roar for added removal and damage.

Here is the second version of Naya Dragons:

Lands (24)
4 Wooded Foothills
2 Plains
4 Forest
3 Mountain
1 Mana Confluence
3 Windswept Heath
3 Temple of Plenty
4 Temple of Abandon

Creatures (25)
3 Courser of Kruphix
2 Dragonlord Dromoka
4 Dragonlord Atarka
3 Elvish Mystic
1 Harbinger of the Hunt
4 Thunderbreak Regent
4 Stormbreath Dragon
4 Sylvan Caryatid

Spells (11)
1 Ajani, Mentor of Heroes
1 Banishing Light
4 Crater’s Claws
3 Draconic Roar
1 Explosive Vegetation
1 Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker

Here is the version one list.

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.

The Standard metagame still continues to evolve after each Grand Prix and other major tournaments. Last weekend revealed the triumph of Blue Black Zombies at Lille, France, while the control version of the same colors dominated SCG 5k at Tampa Florida.

Here is the winning UB Zombies of GP Lille.

With that, we’d expect sideboard hate against Blue & Black as the hype is currently focused.

As for my Naya Aggro list, I was thinking of including two Mirran Crusaders versus U/B and tweak the mana base a little bit. Here is my recent list:

Naya Aggro by Mark Ian Alloso
Lands
2 Rootbound Crag
3 Sunpetal Grove
4 Razorverge Thicket
3 Gavony Township
4 Copperline Gorge
7 Forest
1 Plains

Creatures
2 Mirran Crusader
1 Thrun, the Last Troll
4 Blade Splicer
4 Strangleroot Geist
4 Birds of Paradise
4 Avacyn’s Pilgrim
4 Huntmaster of the Fells
1 Llanowar Elves

Spells
2 Green Sun’s Zenith
4 Oblivion Ring
2 Sword of War and Peace
3 Garruk Relentless
1 Mortarpod

Sideboard
2 Thrun, the Last Troll
1 Mortarpod
2 Celestial Purge
2 Sword of Feast and Famine
1 Garruk, Primal Hunter
2 Nihil Spellbomb
1 Ratchet Bomb
1 Ray of Revelation
1 Dismember
2 Ancient Grudge

I’ve had a few playtests with Blue Black Control earlier, and I must say, it is hard for the deck to beat on preboard. Mana flooding is partially responsible, though it takes a lot of tricks to play around the counterspells and Black Sun Zenith. I might tweak the sideboard again and maybe include cards like this against control.

Anyhow, what I need atm is lots and lots of playtest to discover more flaws while monitoring the metagame in the next two weeks before Kuala Lumpur. Also, might as well monitor my health and diet and avoid sickness. These things I needed to take note of.

Until next post.