Paper players may still be waiting for its release, but Dominaria United is already reinventing formats on Magic’s digital clients. After launching MTG Arena and Magic Online last Thursday, it’s no surprise that rotation brought about some significant changes. Many of Standard’s most powerful and annoying decks lost vital cards. However, new menaces are already arising. Unfortunately, these new decks may even be worse than what players were dealing with before.
The Apocalypse Is Here
In the time leading up to Dominaria United’s release, there was no end of cards to be excited about. Whether it was the Commander-focused Legends Retold, the plethora of tribal lords, or a new lotus, Dominaria United looked fantastic. With the set also ushering in rotation, no one knew how Standard would shake out. Mere days after its launch, however, it appears that a new oppressive juggernaut is a mainstay of the format.
Given that Dominaria United has reprinted the format warping Planeswalker Liliana of the Veil, it’s hardly the biggest surprise that black is potentially the strongest color in MTG right now. At just three mana, Liliana of the Veil’s abilities to make opponents sacrifice a creature or discard a card is nothing short of oppressive. While bad enough on their own, this is only one card in black’s devastating arsenal.
Similarly introduced in Dominaria United Sheoldred, the Apocalpyse also proves their worth outside of Commander. By punishing opponents for drawing cards, Sheoldred, the Apocalpyse is horrible to play against, even if they’re not doing anything. As a powerful blocker, with Deathtouch no less, Sheoldred, the Apocalpyse can quickly turn a match into a standstill. However, that typically doesn’t last long, as black’s oppressive nature doesn’t stop there.
Considering it’s what the color is best known for, it’s no surprise that black also has plenty of effective removal. Introduced in Dominaria United
Cut Down
Cut Down
Destroy target creature with total power and toughness 5 or less.
ensures black has answers early on before crushing your board, and your spirit, with
The Meathook Massacre
The Meathook Massacre
When The Meathook Massacre enters, each creature gets -X/-X until end of turn.
Whenever a creature you control dies, each opponent loses 1 life.
Whenever a creature an opponent controls dies, you gain 1 life.
. With little more than removal and affordable bombs in a deck, getting a foothold against post-rotation black decks feels almost impossible.
You Get Nothing! You Lose! Good Day Sir!
In a vacuum, black’s new powerful threats are a force to be reckoned with. The true power, however, is determined by not just themselves but the rest of the Standard environment. Unfortunately for the rest of us, in this regard, black players still come out on top, for now, at least. With more than enough removal to deal with any problem and threats that’ll win games on their own, black has an answer for everything.
While decks will continue to get hosed by
The Meathook Massacre
The Meathook Massacre
When The Meathook Massacre enters, each creature gets -X/-X until end of turn.
Whenever a creature you control dies, each opponent loses 1 life.
Whenever a creature an opponent controls dies, you gain 1 life.
, red decks will lament
Cut Down
Cut Down
Destroy target creature with total power and toughness 5 or less.
’s affordability. Blue decks will grow to hate card draw thanks to
Sheoldred, the Apocalypse
Sheoldred, the Apocalypse
Deathtouch
Whenever you draw a card, you gain 2 life.
Whenever an opponent draws a card, they lose 2 life.
. Green decks will despair as Liliana of the Veil makes them sacrifice their most significant threats. Simply put, everyone else has a bad time, so everyone is playing black.
According to MTGGoldfish’s stats on the most commonly played cards in Standard right now, black isn’t just winning by a little. If MTGGoldfish’s starts are to be believed, 73% of Standard decks are running some amount of The Meathook Massacre. Infernal Grasp, Cut Down, Liliana of the Veil, Duress, and
Tenacious Underdog
Tenacious Underdog
Blitz—{2}{B}{B}, Pay 2 life. (If you cast this spell for its blitz cost, it gains haste and "When this creature dies, draw a card." Sacrifice it at the beginning of the next end step.)
You may cast this card from your graveyard using its blitz ability.
are also in at least 60% of all decks in Standard right now. Black is so dominant in Standard right now that the top 10 most played cards are all black… Well, black and
Reckoner Bankbuster
Reckoner Bankbuster
This Vehicle enters with three charge counters on it.
{2}, {T}, Remove a charge counter from this Vehicle: Draw a card. Then if there are no charge counters on this Vehicle, create a Treasure token and a 1/1 colorless Pilot creature token with "This token crews Vehicles as though its power were 2 greater."
Crew 3
at least.
For better or worse, it’s not only black cards dominating Standard. Sitting just outside of the top 10,
Fable of the Mirror-Breaker
Fable of the Mirror-Breaker
(As this Saga enters and after your draw step, add a lore counter.)
I — Create a 2/2 red Goblin Shaman creature token with "Whenever this token attacks, create a Treasure token."
II — You may discard up to two cards. If you do, draw that many cards.
III — Exile this Saga, then return it to the battlefield transformed under your control.
is still a powerhouse in the format. Having been dominant since its introduction in Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty, this is hardly too much of a surprise. Nevertheless, Fable of the Mirror-Breaker’s treasure generating, card drawing, and creature copying antics has many black players splashing for a touch of red.
It’s Not the End of the World as We Know It
While it may seem like it from the numbers, thankfully, all is not lost for Standard. Black may seem strong for now. However, we are only five days into Standard rotation. As a result, much may change in the format as answers for the Standard’s best deck emerge over time. We might not have those answers right now, but we can’t imagine black will stay this dominant for long.
If black does dominate, Dominaria United might finally be the saving grace for some of Magic’s other much-maligned formats. Currently, everyone loves to lament Alchemy’s very existence. However, its ability to rebalance problematic cards may prove very useful. By mitigating the power of black’s most powerful cards, Alchemy might actually prove to be a lot of fun. Similarly, Brawl’s singleton format may continue to be deeply enjoyable with more variety.
Read More: Dominaria United Errata to Impact Multiple MTG Sets!