Preliminary Snapshot: Kaladesh - June 7th

This variant sacrifices some of the speed and tenacity of Mono-Red aggro for additional control. As the mainboard rarely runs more than a few black cards, I don’t expect Rakdos to be very popular in the Bo1 ladder in MTGA, but will likely be very popular in Bo3. The addition of black opens incredible sideboard potential through hand disruption and removal, while the Scrapheap Scrounger alone justifies the addition of the black mana in the mainboard.

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Lands (24)
2 Aether Hub
4 Canyon Slough
4 Dragonskull Summit
13 Mountain
1 Spire of Industry

Creatures (24)
4 Bomat Courier
1 Glorybringer
4 Goblin Chainwhirler
2 Kari Zev, Skyship Raider
2 Pia Nalaar
4 Rekindling Phoenix
4 Scrapheap Scrounger
3 Soul-Scar Mage

Spells (10)
3 Abrade
1 Cut / Ribbons
1 Shock
3 Unlicensed Disintegration
2 Heart of Kiran

Planeswalkers (2)
2 Chandra, Torch of Defiance

Gonçalo Pinto, PT Dominaria

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Teferi, Hero of Dominaria is an incredible card, and the players at Pro Tour Dominaria recognized that, painting a huge target on the archetype’s back. The addition of Torrential Gearhulk, Fumigate, and Disallow are a large buff to the most popular control deck in MTGA, but whether the players will adapt and overcome the insane potency of red-based aggro decks remains to be seen. The main difference between UW in Bo1 and Bo3 is the win condition. Approach of the Second Sun is a decent card in a Bo1 environment but becomes a liability when the opponents have access to sideboard. One of the options to circumvent it is either siding them out for game two and possibly three, or only running them in the sideboard.

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Lands (26)
1 Arch of Orazca
2 Field of Ruin
4 Glacial Fortress
2 Ipnu Rivulet
4 Irrigated Farmland
5 Island
2 Meandering River
6 Plains

Creatures (1)
1 Torrential Gearhulk

Spells (29)
1 Blink of an Eye
1 Commit / Memory
4 Disallow
1 Essence Scatter
2 Fumigate
2 Glimmer of Genius
2 Hieroglyphic Illumination
1 Negate
3 Settle the Wreckage
3 Syncopate
3 Cast Out
4 Seal Away
2 Search for Azcanta

Planeswalkers (4)
4 Teferi, Hero of Dominaria

Jayden Davison, PTQ Atlanta

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Dimir and Esper Control decks are quite literally the same, the latter splashing white for Teferi, Hero of Dominaria. The Scarab God and Torrential Gearhulk are generally the sole creatures in the deck, whilst the rest consists of various removals, counterspells, and card draw. Glimmer of Genius is an incredible tool to dig for your answers, while the addition of Fatal Push allows for an easier way to deal with aggressive archetypes. It’s noteworthy to consider the value of counterspells vs removal when sideboarding for game two, the former being better on the play whilst losing a lot of value on the draw.

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Lands (27)
1 Aether Hub
4 Drowned Catacomb
4 Fetid Pools
2 Field of Ruin
2 Glacial Fortress
2 Irrigated Farmland
4 Island
2 Isolated Chapel
1 Plains
1 Submerged Boneyard
4 Swamp

Creatures (5)
2 The Scarab God
3 Torrential Gearhulk

Spells (26)
1 Blink of an Eye
2 Cast Down
3 Disallow
1 Essence Scatter
4 Fatal Push
2 Glimmer of Genius
1 Hieroglyphic Illumination
1 Negate
3 Syncopate
1 Aether Meltdown
2 Search for Azcanta
1 Sorcerous Spyglass

Planeswalkers (2)
2 Teferi, Hero of Dominaria

Ernest Lim Pei Jin, PT Dominaria

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Although Golgari aggro/midrange variants didn’t perform incredibly well, they remain the best shell for the green mages and are showing a lot of promise in MTG: Online. This archetype was not uncommon in MTGA prior to the addition of Kaladesh, but is one of those that benefits the most with it. Winding Constrictor doesn’t only play well and ties together the +1/+1 counter synergy, but more or less sends it into overdrive. Walking Ballista, Verdurous Gearhulk, and the ability to sideboard ungodly amounts of premium removal make this deck a real pain for other midrange and aggro decks to deal with, and the Blossoming Defense assists greatly against control.

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Lands (23)
4 Aether Hub
4 Blooming Marsh
7 Forest
2 Ifnir Deadlands
2 Swamp
4 Woodland Cemetery

Creatures (29)
2 Bristling Hydra
4 Glint-Sleeve Siphoner
4 Jadelight Ranger
4 Llanowar Elves
3 Ravenous Chupacabra
1 Rishkar, Peema Renegade
3 Verdurous Gearhulk
4 Walking Ballista
4 Winding Constrictor

Spells (7)
3 Adventurous Impulse
2 Blossoming Defense
2 Aethersphere Harvester

Planeswalkers (1)
1 Vraska, Relic Seeker

Forrest Kamperman, PT Dominaria

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This stompy deck remains largely the same as it was in the last month of Dominaria, although it does get a couple sexy new toys. Heart of Kiran and Blossoming Defense improve the matchups against Control, and allows them to stand up against Red-based aggro a little better. Much like GB Constrictor, this deck can have some difficulty ending games against control archetypes, but always threatens a quick blow-out with a decent hand.

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Lands (23)
4 Hashep Oasis
19 Forest

Creatures (28)
1 Carnage Tyrant
2 Ghalta, Primal Hunger
3 Jadelight Ranger
4 Llanowar Elves
4 Merfolk Branchwalker
2 Rhonas the Indomitable
4 Steel Leaf Champion
3 Thrashing Brontodon
2 Verdurous Gearhulk
3 Walking Ballista

Spells (9)
4 Blossoming Defense
1 Aethersphere Harvester
3 Heart of Kiran
1 Skysovereign, Consul Flagship

Phimus Pan, PT Dominaria

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White-black aggro was all the rage in the first few weeks after Dominaria’s hit, and rightfully so. With a very fast curve, efficient early game and powerful removal, these aggressive midrange decks use a combination of Dominarian Knights and Kaladesh Vehicles to pressure the opponent and use Karn, Scion of Urza and his Constructs to not run out of steam and seal the game. The sideboard gives Orzhov vehicles a lot of room for answers to anything they might run into, and allow for an almost full transition into a control deck.

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Lands (25)
4 Concealed Courtyard
1 Forsaken Sanctuary
4 Ifnir Deadlands
4 Isolated Chapel
9 Plains
3 Swamp

Creatures (17)
3 Knight of Malice
2 Lyra Dawnbringer
4 Scrapheap Scrounger
4 Toolcraft Exemplar
4 Walking Ballista

Spells (14)
3 Fatal Push
3 Cast Out
4 Heart of Kiran
4 History of Benalia

Planeswalkers (4)
4 Karn, Scion of Urza

David Chamberlain, PTQ Atlanta

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UB midrange has all but disappeared from MTGA’s metagame towards the end of May, but will likely gain back a lot of popularity with the addition of Fatal Push, Glint-Sleeve Siphoner, and Gifted Aetherborn. Not only do they improve the matchup against aggro by a ton, these cards allow UB to create real pressure versus control. The deck is much faster, meaner and resilient than it was, and Scarab Daddy finally reunite with his Torrential friend, allowing them to wreak havoc in both Bo1 and Bo3. Sideboard allows them to defend against control with Negate, hand disruption, and Sorcerous Spyglass, without having to concede game one to aggro.

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Lands (25)
4 Aether Hub
4 Drowned Catacomb
4 Fetid Pools
3 Field of Ruin
3 Island
7 Swamp

Creatures (16)
4 Gifted Aetherborn
4 Glint-Sleeve Siphoner
3 Ravenous Chupacabra
2 The Scarab God
1 Torrential Gearhulk
2 Walking Ballista

Spells (17)
2 Cast Down
1 Commit / Memory
2 Doomfall
4 Fatal Push
2 Never / Return
1 Supreme Will
4 Vraska's Contempt
1 The Eldest Reborn

Planeswalkers (2)
2 Liliana, Death's Majesty

Misplacedginger, MTGO PTQ

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The Simic artifact deck was definitely one of the highlights of the Pro Tour for me personally. The deck itself functions very similar to Orzhov vehicles, using the synergy between Karn’s constructs and other artifacts. Instead of the premium removal offered by white and black, this archetype focuses on card advantage through artifact recursion using Scrap Trawler and the +1/+1 counter synergy with Walking Ballista. The deck is definitely a work of art and personally reminds me of the Modern Eggs in some obscure way.

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Lands (23)
4 Aether Hub
4 Botanical Sanctum
7 Forest
2 Hashep Oasis
2 Hinterland Harbor
1 Inventors' Fair
3 Island

Creatures (21)
4 Glint-Nest Crane
4 Llanowar Elves
4 Scrap Trawler
1 Servant of the Conduit
4 Verdurous Gearhulk
4 Walking Ballista

Spells (12)
4 Aethersphere Harvester
2 Implement of Ferocity
2 Renegade Map
1 Skysovereign, Consul Flagship
2 Sorcerous Spyglass
1 The Antiquities War

Planeswalkers (4)
4 Karn, Scion of Urza

Ivan Floch, PT Dominaria

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God-Pharaoh's Gift finally got access to all its support cards. The best available variant is ironically no longer one of the red-based ones, but rather the UW Refurbish version. Angel of Invention and Minister of Inquiries are the two biggest additions to the archetype other than Refurbish. This variant can consistently dig and tutor for their key cards whilst filling the graveyard simultaneously. The deck is somewhat resilient to disruption and has several ways to refill their life total in both mainboard and sideboard. That said, it remains vulnerable to extreme aggression and denial of key pieces. It’s relatively easy to hate on after the sideboard, and will therefore be a lot more popular in Bo1 than in Bo3.

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Lands (23)
4 Glacial Fortress
3 Ipnu Rivulet
3 Irrigated Farmland
7 Island
6 Plains

Creatures (17)
4 Angel of Invention
1 Angel of Sanctions
4 Champion of Wits
2 Merfolk Trickster
4 Minister of Inquiries
2 Sunscourge Champion

Spells (19)
4 Chart a Course
1 Fumigate
4 Refurbish
4 Strategic Planning
4 God-Pharaoh's Gift
2 Search for Azcanta

Planeswalkers (1)
1 Teferi, Hero of Dominaria

levunga21, MTGO PTQ

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Selesnya decks were somewhat scarce in MTGA, and most likely won’t make a comeback with Kaladesh. That said, they will likely find their niche in hunting for red aggro. Shalai, Voice of Plenty, Blossoming Defense and Walking Ballista alongside early ramp allow this deck to put up a decent fight against control while maintaining an edge against aggro, especially Aethersphere Harvester and Lyra Dawnbringer providing a way to regain life and provide a resilient defense. White removal and Green artifact/enchantment/counterspell denial provide excellent sideboarding capabilities allowing the deck to stay relevant in both, Bo1 and Bo3 environments.

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Lands (23)
1 Aether Hub
10 Forest
1 Hashep Oasis
4 Plains
4 Scattered Groves
4 Sunpetal Grove

Creatures (17)
1 Jadelight Ranger
4 Llanowar Elves
3 Lyra Dawnbringer
3 Rishkar, Peema Renegade
4 Servant of the Conduit
3 Shalai, Voice of Plenty
1 Thrashing Brontodon
4 Walking Ballista

Spells (11)
4 Blossoming Defense
2 Aethersphere Harvester
3 Cast Out
2 Skysovereign, Consul Flagship

Planeswalkers (2)
2 Ajani Unyielding

Craig Wescoe, PT Dominaria

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