Hello, and welcome to another episode of Raise Your Standards. Last weekend a Standard PTQ took place on Magic Online (MTGO). This week, we’ll take a look at some of the decks that were played to see how cards from M19 are being utilized. Let’s get started by looking at the winning deck.

Blue/Black (Grixis) Midrange

Congratulations go out to Gobern on their victory piloting this Grixis-lite deck featuring Nicol Bolas, the Ravager. Let’s look at the deck.

Blue/Black Midrange – (by GOBERN)

Planeswalkers

Creatures

Spells

Lands

Sideboard

With the exception of Nicol Bolas, the Ravager, there are no new cards from M19 in this deck. But that doesn’t mean that this deck isn’t just as much of a powerhouse as it was prior to M19. In fact, with the addition of Nicol Bolas, the Ravager, this deck got a lot stronger. Nicol Bolas, the Ravager is a 4/4 flying creature that can transform into a planeswalker that can run away with the game. He also goes toe-to-toe with Glorybringer, and if he happens to get destroyed, since this deck runs a full playset, the next one will likely show up soon. Or you can use Liliana, Death’s Majesty to return the destroyed copy back to the battlefield. You also have The Scarab God that can return Nicol Bolas as well. It’s almost as if Nicol Bolas has a master plan that supersedes death itself.

This deck looks super powerful and like a lot of fun to play. As soon as I finish getting my playset of Nicol Bolas, the Ravager I plan on sleeving this up and taking it to my local Friday night Magic.

Mono-Green Stompy

The next deck we’ll take a look at came in second place. Let’s look at Mono-Green Stompy.

Mono-Green Stompy – (by WHITNEN)

Creatures

Spells

Lands

Sideboard

Mono-Green Stompy decks have also been around for a while, but this newest version adds Thorn Lieutenant to the mix as another great two-drop. Not only is Thorn Lieutenant good in the early game, it remains relevant in the late game thanks to its activated ability. And, while you’ll likely only get 1 1/1 Elf Warrior token before it gets destroyed, it does provide that little bit of lasting value.

The sideboard of this deck includes a couple of great additions from M19. First is Vivien Reid. Her -3 loyalty ability can help out immensely against White decks utilizing enchantment-based removal effects such as Ixalan’s Binding or Cast Out. It’s also great to use against God-Pharaoh’s Gift decks as well as the new Dragon decks that are enabled by Sarkhan, Fireblood.

Vine Mare is the other card from M19 that is great to sideboard in. Having hexproof means that the spot removal in Standard is useless against Vine Mare, so a board sweeper will be needed. Vine Mare also has good stats, being a 5/3, and has no problems crewing any of your vehicles. Those stats are also helpful in powering out Ghalta, Primal Hunger.

Blue/Green Artifacts

The next deck I have for you came in 5th place. Let’s take a look at Blue/Green Artifacts.

Blue/Green Artifacts – (by MALFICO)

Planeswalkers

4 x Karn, Scion of Urza

Creatures

Spells

Lands

Sideboard

So this deck doesn’t have anything new from M19 yet it still has a bit of innovation in it. While there have been other artifact-based decks recently, none have included Padeem, Consul of Innovation in them. Padeem is a great way to ensure that your artifacts stick around since she provides them all with hexproof. Plus, you’ll likely be able to draw an additional card each turn thanks to her other ability. She also has a 4 toughness, making her difficult to kill with red-based removal spells. Padeem, Consul of Innovation is definitely a nice addition to this archetype.

Blue/Black God Pharaoh’s Gift

The final deck I have for you this week is based around God-Pharaoh’s Gift and it includes a new, interesting way to get creatures into your graveyard. Let’s take a look at the deck.

Blue/Black God-Pharaoh’s Gift – (by DOVES)

Creatures

Spells

Lands

Sideboard

Stitcher’s Supplier is an amazingly effective way to get cards into your graveyard. For only 1 Black mana, you’ll put three cards into your graveyard while also getting a 1/1 creature. If you opponent knows what your deck is built to do, that little 1/1 could make them stop attacking you altogether since you’ll put an additional three cards into your graveyard when it dies. And with this deck, the longer the game goes, the better it is for you. Before you know it, you’ll have a veritable horde of zombies waiting in your graveyard to be summoned to the battlefield by either God-Pharaoh’s Gift or The Scarab God.

Wrapping Up

The online PTQ last weekend brought us many improvements to existing decks and the beginnings of some brand new ones. As the weeks go by, I’m certain that more and more improvements and discoveries will be made with the cards in M19. Which deck from this tournament was your favorite? Let me know by leaving a comment. Or you can reply to me directly on Twitter (@mikelikesmtg), or email me directly at mikelikesmtg@gmail.com. And, don’t forget to like our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/MTGDeckTechs/) to be sure to be notified when a new article is posted.

Also, be sure to check out my articles every week on GatheringMagic.com. My article there is now being posted on Friday. If you like the innovative decks I write about here each week, you’ll want to check out my articles there as well.

Be sure to join me back here next week for another installment of Raise Your Standards. I’ll see you then!

— Mike Likes

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