Mtg: The Best Decks of Pro Tour Amonkhet!

[@daievo073]

It was great a tournament to be wrong about! So glad that the format is open again. Ad you're on point to realize this is just the beginning of a long season with these cards. I see a return of mono-blue here, and possibly jeskai control.

[@dantrick7216]

Gods I wish I'd bought those Zombie deck pieces when they were cheaper! Also, was funny to see R&D hyping the deck variety around Zombies, when it came about by accident (considering the changed rotations)... Glad it did tho (and W/B), the flavour-wins and power were great to see.

[@matttaylor2803]

got my breakers and diregraf playsets for about $6, and my relentless playset for less than $30 in trades hehehe I really thought plague belcher was going to be a centerpiece and kept every one i opened, but i guess you cant be right all the time.

[@matttaylor2803]

I also bought a bunch of shambling vents and concealed courtyards.....so i took a hit there

[@SunniestAutumn]

The zombies from SOI and EMN weren't rotating yet anyway. Only BFZ and OGW were.

[@Vancity3]

Veikko Elo all 4 of those sets rotate at the same time mate

[@dantrick7216]

Stu R Yeah, as can be seen here: magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/revisiting-standard-rotation-2016-10-19 Diregraf & Cryptbreaker are key pieces to the mono-black with others being key to the wackier B/R variants and they'll all be going. There is, as Dev says, quite a while 'til that rotation, but the schedule emphasises this was not really a deck configuration R&D had in mind (tho HoD's zombies may show they were planning one in a different direction).

[@ow124-k3z]

"Well I was wrong... A little bit wrong..." Priceless xD

[@adamsaltzman6213]

Cool story to everyone that got zombies before price spikes. Such is the ebb and flow of the market. There are still a ton of answers in magma spray, fatal push, unlicensed, grasp of darkness, flaying tendrils, sweltering suns, fumigate, descend upon the sinful...you get the idea. As for marvel, dispossess, transgress and lost legacy seem like solid sideboard options moving forward. Too much of a glass cannon to be considered broken. Strip the artifact and they're left trying to hard cast the stupid eldrazi. I'm happy the format opened up and am excited to see what archetypes formulate moving forward. Good job Dev.

[@SBMTG]

Here's video coverage of the top 8 if anyone's interested: www.twitch.tv/videos/143405781

[@Darkscythe333]

Well I guess i'm going to play standard again... awesome time to be alive!

[@rsmcroberts]

well, I've never bragged on myself, but I kinda had zombies getting into top 8 a few days before the PT. I was testing something very similar, but I included one Bontu simply for the scry, and my board was almost all removal and lili.

[@ribeye10000]

"It was the day of the dead" nice spice ;) About as good as the "nobody ever saw Zombies coming" spice

[@jlove1069]

I think 4 magma spray is going to help any deck that has access to red mana against zombies. Using harnessed lightning against zombies is powerful but quite slow because it is difficult to hold up and still cast. I also wouldn't be surprised if some decks ran shock to deal with cryptbreaker.

[@hawkeye7522]

I feel like Mardu might play with sweltering suns or Fumigate to deal with the zombie horde. I know i'm going to put some copies of Kozilek's return in my Marvel deck to deal with them.

[@bookmedia67]

U/R Control with Magma Spray, Censor, and Sweltering Suns = exiled zombies, countered zombies, and board-wiped zombies. I can't wait for FNM.

[@silverfangmoonhunter]

Andrew sd Void Shatter too. Gotta exile those Zombies while you counter 'em. :)

[@bookmedia67]

Oh, of course! However, I've been debating on how many copies of Void Shatter to run considering how strong Disallow just became in this meta. Currently I've got 3 Disallow and 1 Void Shatter, but I might make room for 3x Disallow, 2x Void Shatter.

[@matttaylor2803]

The multiple anthem effects and of course mimic put zombies out of range of magma spray, and even if it didn't exiling really doesnt hurt mono black like it would u/b or r/b. You'd be surprised how quickly the board recovers from a wipe as well.

[@bookmedia67]

+Matt Taylor I've only lost 1 match out of 4 to zombies thus far with my list. Yes, I've had to go to game 3 in most and mull to get a perfectly curved out opening hand, but with low cost removal and counters, you can keep mimic and +1 creatures off the board fairly easily. But again, you really need to be able to go magma spray, censor, disallow or void shatter, glimmer, gearhulk, sweltering suns, otherwise, you are exactly right.

[@AnHourOfWolves]

You may not be playing opponents who are playing optimally... Once they know your plan, they can sit back and draw cards instead of over extending, while forcing you to spend your sweepers on one cryptbreaker and two zombie tokens.

[@VeronicaFernandez9109]

Niiiiiiiiice. Gonti in the winning decks sideboard

[@anthonysumerel969]

gonna have to play test this mono black zombie deck lol I had one fairly similar when Eldritch Moon came out.

[@MonkeyPantsFace]

Given the meta is wide open at the moment it might be time to revisit my metalwork colossus brew

[@MrCquill]

Hi guys!!! Love the channel! Would you guys please make a video of how to build a good sideboard...

[@Wind_Ninja_Jubei]

Didn't see marvel but MTGO results was indicating Zombies. Glad I picked up the new ones before spike

[@inertia5744]

11:41 I like when my budget decks run Liliana, the Last Hope

[@RedBeardGL1985]

my B/W zombie deck was 12 cards off from being the the one in this list and got stomped at our Saturday standard showdown. Probably just bad luck or be being semi fresh coming back to magic after a long hiatus. Oh well had fun playing still

[@gregoryheck3975]

relentless dead is 26$ right now as of 8 am day after pro tour weekend

[@AhrenGraves]

Gregory Heck I bought my playset at $11 each oh happy days

[@gregoryheck3975]

Ahren Gray lol I pulled a play set when shadows first came out I'm dancing myself. I might be about to finish my commander deck now

[@modernminded5466]

I got my playset for less than 6$

[@Whiskerbro]

Gregory Heck funnily enough, relentless dead is by far the worst and least important zombie in the deck.

[@Whiskerbro]

Gregory Heck funnily enough, relentless dead is by far the worst and least important zombie in the deck.

[@lazysylph3312]

flaying tendrils should take care of those zombies right quick. and if that's not enough, use yahennis expertise to cast the tendrils.

[@garkr]

Those zombies had families! That would just be brutal.

[@turn1solring801]

Garrett Rose i tot of that too! maybe marvel decks shld splash black so in case marvel cant spin out a yahenni's expertise, can still hardcast it.

[@brandenadams701]

only if lord of the accursed isn't on the field

[@Mullac12345678910]

Dev any plans to make a B/W or similar aristocrats deck for standard? Love the videos!

[@dralock1]

You should do a few rounds with the abzan tokens deck. That thing looks like a ton of fun.

[@JCman707]

Holy shit that was the best intro ever.

[@biggestnerdhere5719]

My game shop near me runs a friday night magic draft so me and my friends have been joining in a bit. But i noticed that people where making zombie hoard decks so they could attack and block a lot. So I got the idea to take all the slither blades and crotucher of knowledges i could find. Ya got to the point where i had a 10/10 slither blade that could not be blocked. And then to annoy my opponet even more i had a few cards that just untaped my slither blade. I won fairly easy.

[@jeanmarais337]

nice summary. looks like im gonna play some standard again.

[@IzzetRight]

Will you be able to make a Cat Tribal deck tech?

[@AgentPedestrian]

amonkhet zombies! called it!! maan i've wanted to make one since i saw some of the cards like wayward servant i KNEW it would be poweful. (i've said since before pre-release that zombie synergy would be a thing). damn. this means my broke self is even further from having a deck like that now. price spikes... ah well.

[@01turtlesrule]

Yay i was waiting for this vid! Thanks Dev!

[@danielalexandre89]

I completly agree with you I was getting tierd od playing against mardu all the time its gonna be good to see other decks Only down side is that i just created a mono-white deck that just demolishises mardu

[@bonvoyyawg]

I'm in Gruul and pretty much the only answer, other than racing the zombie deck, is Sweltering Suns, am I missing anything other than the typical removal (shock, spray, lightning)

[@eirikastokes9652]

Get rekt, Mardu! The happiness I feel at Mardu getting shut out of PT Top 8 is indescribable.

[@kylephillips155]

Hey Dev, would it be possible for you to do an Inspiring Statuary deck based around the eldrazi and colorless spells?

[@ivanconnor9564]

i seen a temur ramp deck on channel fireball and I called it for the deck of the format.

[@grymgungus3933]

Time for Mardu control with Fumigate Sweltering Suns and Dispossess in the sideboard

[@Faydrake25]

Hey, do you think Amonkhet may have made Modern Minotaurs viable? Bloodrage Brawler, Metallic Mimic and Neheb seem helpful for the tribal. It almost feels like a sliveresque tribal with the addition of yet another keyword, just add Whip of Erebos and the deck can have Lifelink, First Strike, Deathtouch, Haste and Trample on curve with some real power behind it.

[@endlessmtg5639]

I called the zombies in a mtggoldfish stream

[@manuelaguilartirado8674]

I'll look for your comment >-> haha.

[@aschassburger]

Dev, just made a jund gods deck ( a little different from one at the pro tour). I'm curious how you would build it. Also big fan!

[@darmokandjalad7786]

Hi Dez, I was wondering if you have any upgrades from Amonkeht in mind for your ultra budget mono red improvise deck. My friend is just getting back into magic and is hoping to go to game day. Thanks!

[@donaldbrorson4583]

wouldn't a -1/-1 counter deck be good against a creature heavy deck like zombies?

[@MortimerJones99]

Hey Dev, what do you think of the Temur aggro deck that showed up this weekend?

[@coreyyates3385]

5/14/17, Day of the Dead. love it Dev!

[@terryskiff6748]

Hey Dev. Can you work on a standard mill deck? Is it possible with the cards we have in standard right now?

[@ethanlewis2218]

yo I'd love to see you do a UR control deck as a hard counter to zombies!

[@omniviking]

could take a little time and consider a R/B MADNESS FLING deck? Thanks for all the videos.

[@josephcarter500]

Do you think with Amonkhet now out do you think we’d see more EDH Zombie Tribal Decks?

[@jrvaughn9038]

I got a R/W deck coming to answer the Zombie hoard & all others who wish to challenge it's might. All will parish to the flames!

[@ivanernestomujicarios8647]

zombies!! yeah! happy that I already got my cards.

[@refroggy]

bonepicker is a lot like delver with death touch.

[@BigChungus-fl7ss]

The opening legit made me laugh out loud.

[@iangranger4856]

I think Time to Reflect is something that all these zombie tribals need, you could simply chump block an Ulamog and exile it. I see no downside here. If anyone knows why that card doesn't see more play, please let me know. I can see an argument for Dark Salvation being capable of doing a similar thing but it counts on you having 5+ zombies and/or boatloads of mana to do any serious damage to the bigger creatures in the format.

[@Bromdexx]

SMTGP you should do "how to build your fist deck" for this year of at least whith the realease of amonkhet, my pals and i are kind of lost,we have good ideas but our decks are very slow compared to other guys.

[@fezaru33]

would it be possible to see a simic naga deck ??

[@matthew_thefallen]

thanks dude! useful as always!! btw, what do you think about a nahiri jeskai control deck for standard?

[@AC8GE]

I personally like a Black/White Zombie deck with Anointed Procession. Midrange it makes the Zombie swarm that much more dramatic.

[@AC8GE]

I am also watching New Perspective decks get tweaked with decent results.

[@aegisofhonor]

in the aetherworks marvel deck, I like Shielded Aether Thief over Rogue Refiner. As a stall tactic against aggro, it works MUCH better, can draw more cards and get more energy for less mana. You're not going to win the game by slowly attacking your opponenet for 3 damage, you are going to win by spending 6 on aitherworks and shoving an ulamog down their throat for two turns. So stall them out, build up that energy, draw those cards and activate marvel for the win.

[@d4bl0w]

I really liked the Sultai Marvel

[@vicentepena6386]

Dev, I would love to see a new version of cryptolith bestiary now that cat-lady is dead, and we got some new toys from amonkhet.

[@backalleyediting1992]

Hey Dev, I have a challenge for you. Bant tokens with Aven Wind Guide. That should be able to deal with zombies going wider and quicker. What do you think?

[@schtendo4464]

Why aren't people playing Vizier of the Menagerie in the G/B deck? You can hit insane things off the top of your library. You can get random huge dudes off the top with Greenbelt Rampager, Greenwheel Liberator, and Bone Picker.

[@KBies-ld9bg]

Good analysis, a very enjoyable video.

[@germtheory9053]

If zombies becomes a real contender we might see more play of descend upon the sinful, although it might be too expensive

[@Zacknafin]

ALL HAIL OUR NEW ZOMBIE OVERLORDS!!!

[@9-b_b-9]

Twoo was talking ALLLLL bout zombies being nuts the last week and a half.

[@jonathansadventures8487]

really like your videos man i am a returning mtg player from ice age era. and getting back in to the swing of the meta. i have i question for ya. do you know any decks for standard that use call for unity?

[@mathieug.6855]

standard seems enjoyable again !

[@d.b.scoville]

Why can't I find a video of the whole top 8 coverage

[@SBMTG]

www.twitch.tv/videos/143405781

[@d.b.scoville]

Thanks! I really like your videos.

[@McStarkiller666]

Hello Declaration in Stone making a comeback

[@kamakazi339]

You know what dev. I'd like to apologize. Prior to the PT I was convinced Mardu Heart of Kiran (it's not vehicles man lol) would be the only deck around. I was wrong.... wow was I wrong. You were right though. that's why you're the KZbin personality and I'm not ;)

[@leoskucera3655]

Sadly, Reid Duke didnt make it though he was very close to top 8. Love his Sultai Marvel build. Hit Liliana, mill Ulamog, bring him back. Just amazing.

[@Bobbynohobby]

You should take a look at abzan tokens

[@xMetalxSonicx]

Dude, do you have a list for it?

[@Pairsath]

Bobbynohobby 1 Anguished Unmaking 4 Anointed Procession 4 Anointer Priest 4 Blooming Marsh 4 Catacomb Sifter 4 Concealed Courtyard 3 Cryptolith Rite 4 Evolving Wilds 4 Fatal Push 1 Forest 1 Fortified Village 3 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar 4 Hidden Stockpile 4 Plains 4 Sacred Cat 2 Scattered Groves 2 Shambling Vent 1 Swamp 4 Thraben Inspector 2 Westvale Abbey 1 Ajani Unyielding 2 Anguished Unmaking 3 Dusk // Dawn 1 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar 4 Grasp of Darkness 3 Lost Legacy 1 Swamp

[@ronfrederickcuico730]

Liliana Mastery has always been strong.

[@matttaylor2803]

Not according to Mr. SaffronOlive, tried to hype it up but he shot me down, too slow apparently lol

[@dkres82]

Love the Jafar shirt.

[@gabrielwaliser8092]

I am actually happy I already own 90% of the zombie deck makes it easy to run it gameday this coming saturday

[@magicfortrolls9853]

I bought the zombies cards before the pro tour cus I thought It was gonna be a rogue deck lol now that it has multiple pt top 8's I kinda don't wanna play zombies anymore lol

[@magicfortrolls9853]

One of the hour of devastation arts is a zombie too probably another zombie legendary card

[@ForTheViolence]

Mardu vehicles struggles against zombies, I think they should drop black. Cards like fatal push do not help against all the zombie tokens and ulamog. One of the vehicles decks that did very well was just white red

[@demetriusa.phofolos7184]

All Black Everything also hate against scrapheap is becoming more relevant

[@demetriusa.phofolos7184]

Marry should go back to the kaladesh sort of variant which curved out at 2 basically. People thought because cat combo is gone, midrange is the only way to go, but I think a really good aggro deck could sprout out.

[@keenanmccracken6758]

Wouldnt Flaying tendrils wreck zombies if you can keep the buffs off the table? pick off the lords and board wipe

[@samarbrander981]

Keenan McCracken a fog deck could do rather well against it

[@MagictheGreatening]

People laughed at me when I said binding mummy was a really good card. Then when you're undead horde repeatedly taps down their board, you're the one laughing

[@ohword620]

Oh shit I caan build that temur deck! I do not regret my investments!

[@Neptune8]

what does "bant" and "teamer" mean?? I'm new to magic , only been playing a month

[@PotatoGuidanceMissle]

Joshuabrutl Bant is the color combination of Blue, Green and White, as well as a plane of existence in the Magic: the Gathering universe. Temur is the color combination of Blue, Green and Red, and is also a clan of warriors on the plane of Tarkir.

[@jakebellak8360]

B/U control?

[@theclashinglegend9108]

I think mardu in standard is sort of like affinity in modern. People think its gone, but before they know it its taking over standard

[@demetriusa.phofolos7184]

The Clashing Legend remember when people said "mardu vehicles"? Now it's just every good card in those colors

[@dragnaldave2639]

can you re do your discard deck need something to pick apart marvel it's dumb has took over at my LGS

[@ashadeofnight]

Dev I really don't think blue/red control is gonna happen any time soon lol

[@e5205]

yeah gerry's "budget" deck is now 400 dollars

[@epicdavenport]

Was gideon of the trials played?

[@qualityvodswithchampagne3646]

A google search will answer this question for you

[@epicdavenport]

Googled the card price and that answered it for me.

[@kishurocks]

Where can I watch the games?

[@vlagtr]

Shpeal Hearthstone twitch

[@magicfortrolls9853]

Dusk to dawn seems to shred a tiny bit

[@71chevy0330]

Why didnt plague belcher fit in the deck that won pro tour akh?

[@demetriusa.phofolos7184]

71chevy0330 it seems very strong, I couldn't believe I didn't see it much

[@manuelmenendez8239]

71chevy0330 They want to go wide not kill their own creatures and the 3 drop slot has Lord of the Accursed and Diregraf Collosus.

[@71chevy0330]

True but put the counter on relentless dead or dread wanderer and it make a board wipe spell hard to use tto.

[@failedleadership40k35]

great vid as always, thanks

[@daminalaskarov682]

Yall remember atog to fling?

[@DragonForce1393]

Good for me I'm going to sell my liliana of the last hope so I could invest in a modern deck :D

[@T_Peazy]

I feel like sweltering suns or fumigate shuts down zombies.

[@PotatoGuidanceMissle]

Thomas Peace Definitely in the early game, if you run it out on curve. Unfortunately, you can't really run 4 of both in the main deck or side deck. Better as a one or two of, which is the problem. You can argue 3 or 4 of Sweltering Suns because it's always a full power Radiant Flames or a redraw, but then you become more of boardwipe.dek.

[@basicpigeonbee]

Creatures (4) 4 Torrential Gearhulk (if unable to get full play set use glyph keeper) keep in, i kinda need a win con Spells (29) 3 Magma Spray take out vs control 3 Censor keep in nearly always 3 Essence Scatter take out vs control 4 Harnessed Lightning take out vs control 3 Negate keep in vs control take out vs zombies 2 Pull from Tomorrow keep in 2 Disallow keep in 3 Void Shatter keep in 4 Glimmer of Genius keep in 2 Commit // Memory take out vs marvel and new perspectives. PlanesWalkers 1 Chandra Flame caller 1 Blue's clues(jace secrets dude) Lands (25) 4 Aether Hub 9 Island 5 Mountain 4 Spirebluff Canal 3 Wandering Fumarole (idk if i can get these, may be a problem, use evolving wilds and pray to god) Sideboard (15) 2 By Force mardu/articfacts 2 Dispel control 2 part the waterveil control 1 Magma Spray mardu/creature based/scrapeheap 1 Negate control 1 baral cheif of compliance control 2 Sweltering Suns creatures 1 Void Shatter control 3 Glorybringer control 75 Cards Total What you guys think?

[@WTFA54]

im skeptical of Chandra and Jace mainboard. Chandra coming down turn 6 might be a little too late to wrath the board, and if we're seeing a lot of go-wide aggro decks Jace might be a little low impact.

[@WTFA54]

baral is also super interesting in the sideboard against control. I think it's super cute because removal is probably coming out and the looting is really nice. I don't think part the waterveil is necessarily the finisher you want in the control mirror though. you're committing at least 6 Mana if not more for awaken at sorcery speed which feels dangerous to me. also the Fumaroles are super important to the deck. I'd say replace the main board walkers with like a sweltering suns and another counter or just two sweltering suns?

[@WTFA54]

side note: when ishkanah was big in standard I ran kozilek's return and elder Deep-Fiend so it was 2 Kozilek's Return mainboard and a split of 2 gearhulk, 2 Deep-Fiend. I'd probably do 3 gearhulks now but I see the Deep-Fiend + kozilek's return trigger doing work

[@basicpigeonbee]

Stephen Lin the evolving Wilds are meant as a replacement for any lands I cannot acquire and the Chandra/jace are replacements for dynavolt tower because I cannot get two

[@leebegin4168]

Do you think that since zombies have lots of +1/+1 counter synergies that green for sneak could be added, or even make it an abzan type deck...zombies n sneaks and everything nice

[@noahjones4943]

abzan win condition deck, im not competitive, but i love this deck. NOT IN STANDARD. CREATURES 4 blood pet 4 pride guardian 4 grim haruspex INSTANTS 4 fog 4 plunge into darkness ENCHANTMENTS 4 enduring renewal 4 near-death experience ARTIFACTS 2 elixir of immortality LANDS 5 forests 10 swamps 15 plains i am open to suggestions or you can tell me i suck. i dont really care lol

[@LowPho]

So I made a Zombie deck and before the protour it was about $45 well now its $85 :/

[@JuniorOrtiz738]

Zachary W. why the face if you already have the cards?

[@LowPho]

Junior Ortiz sadly no. I didn't clarify but I made it on a website and I was gonna order it there but now I wait for it to go down in price.

[@lokone303]

this winner deck look just like Liliana story mode from magic duels..... lel thats super weird

[@victordou1138]

Lots of views already

[@sold37sad]

starts vid yep yes you were