Last week saw the digital release of Innistrad: Midnight Hunt on MTG Arena and Magic Online where players are trying out new cards for their preferred formats. Most importantly, the release of Innistrad: Midnight Hunt saw a much-needed rotation which saw Throne of Eldraine, Theros Beyond Death, Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths, and Core Set 2021 rotate out.
With this, it’s giving current-Standard cards a new lease of life without the design woes of 2019 shadowing them. Either way, Standard is looking exciting with various cards making an impact on the format, but you don’t have to spend a bunch of money (or Wildcards) to play something powerful.
Mono-White Aggro in New Standard
Mono-White Aggro came back to the fold with the release of Kaldheim with the printing of
Usher of the Fallen
Usher of the Fallen
Boast — {1}{W}: Create a 1/1 white Human Warrior creature token. (Activate only if this creature attacked this turn and only once each turn.)
. The Spirit Warrior is a powerful threat that allows you to create tokens if the creature attacked this turn. Plus, with the 2/1 stat line, it’s a great foundation for an aggressive Standard deck alongside
Clarion Spirit
Clarion Spirit
Whenever you cast your second spell each turn, create a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying.
.
Backed up with
Faceless Haven
Faceless Haven
{T}: Add {C}.
{S}{S}{S}: This land becomes a 4/3 creature with vigilance and all creature types until end of turn. It's still a land. ({S} can be paid with one mana from a snow source.)
, you have various ways to attack the opponent and never run out of things to do. Since you created so many tokens and had the ability to go wide, sometimes it was difficult to close out games. However, the strategy fell short on anthem effects and ways to replenish your hand and this is where Innistrad: Midnight Hunt comes into the equation.
With the release of Innistrad: Midnight Hunt, there are various ways to strengthen your cheap threats thanks to
Intrepid Adversary
Intrepid Adversary
Lifelink
When this creature enters, you may pay {1}{W} any number of times. When you pay this cost one or more times, put that many valor counters on this creature.
Creatures you control get +1/+1 for each valor counter on this creature.
and
Ritual of Hope
Ritual of Hope
Creatures you control get +1/+1 until end of turn.
Coven — If you control three or more creatures with different powers, creatures you control get +2/+1 until end of turn instead.
. Both of these cards ensure you have enough to go over your opponents and finish games quickly.
Ritual of Hope
Ritual of Hope
Creatures you control get +1/+1 until end of turn.
Coven — If you control three or more creatures with different powers, creatures you control get +2/+1 until end of turn instead.
feels similar to
Pride of Conquerors
Pride of Conquerors
Ascend (If you control ten or more permanents, you get the city's blessing for the rest of the game.)
Creatures you control get +1/+1 until end of turn. If you have the city's blessing, those creatures get +2/+2 until end of turn instead.
which saw heavy play when Rivals of Ixalan was released.
Even in a topdeck,
Intrepid Adversary
Intrepid Adversary
Lifelink
When this creature enters, you may pay {1}{W} any number of times. When you pay this cost one or more times, put that many valor counters on this creature.
Creatures you control get +1/+1 for each valor counter on this creature.
gives you something to do with all that excess mana, and your other creatures become huge threats the longer the game progresses. Then you have
Search Party Captain
Search Party Captain
This spell costs {1} less to cast for each creature you attacked with this turn.
When this creature enters, draw a card.
that offers some card draw to keep the action coming. If you are looking to build Mono-White and Iyou are unable to acquire
Skyclave Apparition
Skyclave Apparition
When this creature enters, exile up to one target nonland, nontoken permanent you don't control with mana value 4 or less.
When this creature leaves the battlefield, the exiled card's owner creates an X/X blue Illusion creature token, where X is the mana value of the exiled card.
,
Brutal Cathar
Brutal Cathar
Whenever this creature enters or transforms into Brutal Cathar, exile target creature an opponent controls until this creature leaves the battlefield.
Daybound (If a player casts no spells during their own turn, it becomes night next turn.)
is a fine alternative as it can still remove a tricky creature.
Read More: Best Mono-Blue Cards to Buy that Survive Rotation for MTG Standard 2022
Adding a Second Color
If you want to freshen up your Mono-White list, you can add Red for
Showdown of the Skalds
Showdown of the Skalds
(As this Saga enters and after your draw step, add a lore counter. Sacrifice after III.)
I — Exile the top four cards of your library. Until the end of your next turn, you may play those cards.
II, III — Whenever you cast a spell this turn, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control.
if you want some extra aggression. If you want to do this, add a couple of
Furycalm Snarl
Furycalm Snarl
As this land enters, you may reveal a Mountain or Plains card from your hand. If you don't, this land enters tapped.
{T}: Add {R} or {W}.
and
Needleverge Pathway
Needleverge Pathway
{T}: Add {R}.
to ensure you can cast the Enchantment. Then, it allows you to open up your sideboard to have cards such as
Play with Fire
Play with Fire
Play with Fire deals 2 damage to any target. If a player is dealt damage this way, scry 1. (Look at the top card of your library. You may put that card on the bottom.)
. You could go into Green too with
Join the Dance
Join the Dance
Create two 1/1 white Human creature tokens.
Flashback {3}{G}{W} (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
and
Sigarda, Champion of Light
Sigarda, Champion of Light
Flying, trample
Humans you control get +1/+1.
Coven — Whenever Sigarda attacks, if you control three or more creatures with different powers, look at the top five cards of your library. You may reveal a Human creature card from among them and put it into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order.
if you have enough creatures to meet the Coven criteria.
Mono-White Aggro is likely to be around in Standard until Kaldheim rotates out next September, which means you’ll get plenty of mileage out of the cards. Even then, you can re-use the cards for Historic on MTG Arena, or for Pioneer if you are preferring paper play. Either way, Mono-White Aggro is here to stay and is a great option if you’re looking to play Standard on the cheap!
Read More: 10 Best Standard Cards from Innistrad: Midnight Hunt