MTG Standard TIER LIST for WEEK 4 Thunder Junction | State of the Meta

Who dominates this week with trophies? Will Azorius Control conquer again? Will 5c Domain? What of Temur Ramp and Esper Midrange? Will Max be right about Aggro or Midrange returning? Where will your favorite decklist from Standard Magic place this week? Find this out and much more as we go over the Standard meta. Let Max and Darth Riktus guide you through week 4 of Outlaws of Thunder Junction Standard. PLUS 4 more new decks for you in the Brewer's Corner!
Catch ‪@TheDarkStream‬ & ‪@TheMaxDamage9999‬ on Twitch!
Max Damage: / maxdamage9999
Darth Riktus: / thedarkstream_
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🕘Guide:
00:00 - Intro
00:23 - Tier List
02:00 - Azorius Control
04:02 - Esper Midrange
06:03 - Temur Analyst
07:55 - Dimir Control
10:27 - Golgari Midrange
12:59 - Domain
16:13 - Boros Convoke
18:45 - Bant Toxic
21:13 - Mono-Black Aggro
22:42 - Mono-Green Aggro
24:29 - Azorius Flash Tax
25:51 - Gruul Terror
27:18 - Predictions
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➥Decks - Tier 1
Dimir Control: www.moxfield.com/decks/dB4TMv...
Temur: www.moxfield.com/decks/KYtarR...
Esper: www.moxfield.com/decks/6Bhv0e...
Azorius: www.moxfield.com/decks/f0Dn3E...
➥Decks - Tier 2
Bant Toxic: www.moxfield.com/decks/zYdVSr...
Boros Convoke: www.moxfield.com/decks/bfI4Py...
Domain: www.moxfield.com/decks/R8J4YY...
Golgari Midrange: www.moxfield.com/decks/LF1Ijz...
➥Decks - Brewer's Corner
Gruul Terror: www.moxfield.com/decks/FliSpP...
Mono Black: www.moxfield.com/decks/UrMasl...
Mono Green: www.moxfield.com/decks/n83jwn...
Flashtax: www.moxfield.com/decks/-YVEsu...
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#mtgarena #mtgstandard #magicthegathering
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[@undeadondope1]

Look forward to these videos every single week. Thanks so much. The level of detail and analysis is perfect

[@TheMTGRebellion]

So happy we're reaching the competitive community

[@SaltMinerChad]

With Domain, I love the Ancient Cornucopia list that uses Lightning Helix and Ill-Timed Explosions.

[@TheMTGRebellion]

I love it right up until I get paired against Bant Toxic, but on average, it does feel strong AF. - Riktus

[@SaltMinerChad]

@@TheMTGRebellion 🤣😂🤣

[@evezina96]

It's been fun playing against so many azorius control with my golgari midrange deck. Liliana, Duress and Hostile Investigator abstolutely destroy control's card advantage

[@TheMTGRebellion]

Love this. I've heard the win-rates on those using Hostile Investigator in their golgari lists have skyrocketed recently.

[@juanfranciscobarriga1946]

Great video, I'm enjoying my out-of-meta Dimir control, it gives me the sense of full control matches

[@TheMTGRebellion]

Love rocking out the grindy control matches. Cheers! - Riktus

[@Kodywit-AK]

Thank you for shouting me out, I really appreciate it. I will be representing the rebellion in rc dallas, I will take that trophy

[@TheMTGRebellion]

Love it, go get em

[@sgtpeezda]

@DarkStream Im really liking your Azorius Flash Deck so far.

[@TheMTGRebellion]

Ayyyy! Happy to hear

[@Ddotsattack]

10/10 intro

[@TheMTGRebellion]

Yeeeeeeehawwwwwww ;)

[@joshuawhyte4523]

Love seeing my esper decks consistently up top. Seeing three Rest in Peace cards has me skeptical and 4 ferries over bats… I’ve gone almost a week without playing magic, but to think the meta’s changed this much. I’m still not the biggest fan of kaito. I know he’s good if theirs no answer and your not being rushed, but the majority of mythic players are boros and midrange. I’m looking fwd to seeing if these control/ramp decks are taking over though. Dope vid guys

[@TheMTGRebellion]

Ayyy thank you! Esper remains the single most flexible archetype in standard currently. Love tracking the shifts as it adapts. Online meta changes about every 48-72 hours as everyone updates fast. - Riktus

[@jmoney9494]

I think dimir control is gonna be huge after the rotation. Auzious control is losing enough value over its whole deck and the dimir creature land is so brutal and deadly coverup and destroy so many combo decks I really like the solid deck building

[@TheMTGRebellion]

Dimir Control will def be a starting point post-rotation due to card retention. That said, I'm loving it right now already

[@sylverfyre]

For temur analyst, I like bringing in seismic wave against bat decks, especially dimir aggro - killing both gix and the x/1 flier when they swing in on turn 3 is excellent.

[@TheMTGRebellion]

Ahhhh, now that makes more sense. Was truly confused as to the context of that card. Appreciate ya!

[@MultiVaeVictus]

My heroes! :D

[@TheMTGRebellion]

Ayyy! Thank you

[@pauljimerson8218]

Did you try out Tinybones Joins Up in place of duress? Seems you have enough legendary creatures to make it ok

[@TheMTGRebellion]

Yes, but getting rid of their worst card for 1 mana just didn't do enough in my testing. Wish it were otherwise, love the design of this card.

[@Talos4444]

A silly question probably but i'm still a newbie I was about to pick up my first Standard deck Skill level not a problem (i'm ok playing difficult stuff) So,what's the best deck that suffer less from the rotation? The "safe" craft I don't need necessarly it to be the best I just want a good budget deck that i start playing irl on with and that has majority of cards that don't rotate

[@TheMTGRebellion]

Honestly, I don't track what sticks around for rotation that closely these days. I moreso live in the current meta and just grab the next set as it comes out. That said, I've heard Dimir Control will retain a majority of its base strategy as we move forward, so perhaps that would be a strong starting spot? In all seriousness, I would look at each tier 1 deck, subtract the cards being rotated and ask yourself if the shell that's left retains a majority of its power level. (Are you losing flex slots or staples? Are you losing the reason to play the deck? The manabase even?). Hope this helps! - Riktus

[@TheMTGRebellion]

Boros Convoke is a really decent starting point especially because it's aggro. -MAX

[@Talos4444]

@@TheMTGRebellion Thanks a lot to both! I'll do that.

[@TheMTGRebellion]

Happy to help

[@SaltMinerChad]

Kaervek might be the best black card out of the new set. Certainly is a part of the debate.

[@TheMTGRebellion]

It's been a good long while since I spent hours trying to break a card, but this one feels worth the time. - Riktus

[@SaltMinerChad]

In our local scene he is doing excellent and there are a couple of us trying to break it.

[@TheMTGRebellion]

Probably most busted in pioneer, but there are certainly situations in standard where he shines as well. - Riktus

[@user-wj9su1tu6k]

Predicting a golgari trophy at some point in the next week or 2

[@TheMTGRebellion]

So long as it can reliably plow through a control meta, I think that's a strong bet. - Riktus

[@00110000]

I'm surprised to see no OTJ cards in any of the tier 1 main decks (aside from lands). I wonder if that's just a lack of testing and tempering, with people preferring safely established decks.

[@binbhrf]

ya forgot about Three Steps Ahead. What a card!

[@00110000]

@@binbhrf Whoops, you're right. Yeah, I love modal cards, especially in control. Next I want to see the Trojan Horse card in Standard (whatever it's called).

[@TheMTGRebellion]

It may not be as strong as cryptic command, but it has certainly shifted the dynamic of this standard heavily nonetheless.

[@SirStickBug]

No Mono-Red Aggro 😭

[@TheMTGRebellion]

Gotta let it cook eh?

[@SirStickBug]

@@TheMTGRebellion Seems like it. Played Gruul Prowess with Slickshot Show-Off and Questing Druid in the OTJ Store Championship at my LGS recently and went undefeated with it. Seems like an explored archetype that has real potential!

[@TheMTGRebellion]

It's felt like tier 1.5 to me this season. Has the power to push through, but not if the meta wants to keep it out with sufficient hate. - Riktus

[@nicolasrosso3800]

Oh no... controll meta once again. Now we have to suffer all this vegan matches that last 30 minutes and kills you out of boredom. Awsome

[@TheMTGRebellion]

Azorius Control, the OG Crunchy Mama herself ;) - Riktus

[@Tempest-ec2nn]

What happens when the best 2 cards in the format are a draw spell and a counterspell… though I think midrange has more room than people think and it just hasn’t been figured out yet.

[@TheMTGRebellion]

I lived through the rise of cryptic command in standard, I am prepared for this war ;) - Riktus

[@goreobsessed2308]

I know ain't it great

[@nicolasrosso3800]

@@goreobsessed2308 yeah, awsome... Asorius ctrl is here is queer

[@maltepetersen9064]

I could see Thalia in convoke

[@TheMTGRebellion]

Worked well in pioneer :) - Riktus

[@iamKerrad]

👍

[@TheMTGRebellion]

Appreciate ya tossing us the comment

[@user-fo7sd9rs4b]

Where is mono red aggro? Slickshot?

[@user-fo7sd9rs4b]

Also no abuelos? I watch you guys every week and honestly this list is very off

[@TheMTGRebellion]

It's all about the trophies and top 8 appearances. Red fell off this past week. If you have a brew feel free to submit it in our Discord. -MAX

[@SleevelessMTG]

[@TheMTGRebellion]

Ayyyy

[@SaltMinerChad]

Go KodyWithaK!

[@TheMTGRebellion]

Bruv's been on one heck of a run lately. - Riktus

[@historius92]

4C Legends is still tier 1-2 in terms of power level, people just don’t like to play it on MTGO and Arena because the triggers take forever to resolve. I expect it to be well represented at the upcoming RC.

[@TheMTGRebellion]

Absolutely, the tier list is more about showing how the meta is shaping up each week to help people predict/make hedges. Slogurk is def tier 1, but it didn't make an impact this past week, and thus is excluded, as it fell off a cliff and needs some shifting for the current meta. - Riktus

[@PeanutButterN8]

Team Azorius here!

[@TheMTGRebellion]

Huzzah! - Riktus

[@SaltMinerChad]

With Golgari, you are preaching card advantage more than damage. Therefore, we want Preachers for added card advantage. The 2 power won’t matter. The purpose of the bronco is almost never to add damage. Also, you don’t want Virtue for the same reason Dark expressed, we don’t want to eat 7, but can afford 4 or 5 because our pressure on them is so immense.

[@TheMTGRebellion]

You're talking to a combo lover, Salt. I got tunnel vision when I saw Dark Broncfidant the first time. On the real, the side bonus of dealing with Temur through mainboard GY hate is too tempting to pass up but I definitely agree that the focus of the deck is card advantage. -MAX

[@SaltMinerChad]

@@TheMTGRebellion 💯 Master of the midrange over here ;)

[@TheMTGRebellion]

#blessed - Riktus

[@darron614]

Standard meta is fairly diverse, but still so boring. Can't wait for rotation and hopefully esper to fall off.

[@TheMTGRebellion]

Rotation is always a brewtastic moment, but I gotta say, loving the diversity and nuance in each tier 1 list currently. Tight margins, tighter play, all about it. - Riktus

[@demianrusso2499]

Maybe it is boring because control is the best strategy. Feels bad to have every permanent removed on curve

[@TheMTGRebellion]

I wouldn't call it the best strategy, merely the dominant one currently. There are certainly paths that will wreck it, the question is how far we have to go to beat back the rising tide of control. - Riktus

[@darron614]

@demianrusso2499 look at Azorious and Dimir control both in tier 1. They both play basically no real win cons at all and just want to drag out the game so long you want to kill yourself.

[@TheMTGRebellion]

Honestly, I come from an era of loving control mirrors, but they aren't for those who worry about finishing matches promptly ;). No worries though, I have a feeling it'll get put in check faster than many think. - Riktus

[@WorldofLos]

man. the tier meta decks suck. who wants to play such boring crap

[@TheMTGRebellion]

A majority of the competitive community, honestly. Different strokes for different folks though. Some people wanna brew, some want to hedge margins and play meta decks. No wrong answer here :) - Riktus

[@Elesar13]

Let's gooooooo

[@TheMTGRebellion]

*places crown on head* you forgot this, winner of first comment