By Niels Viaene

This is the most exciting part of being a Constructed player, new deck ideas suddenly pop up, and forgotten strategies re-emerge now that half the things holding them back have fallen by the wayside. In this article, we will have a look at some of the ideas Sander De Quick have had so far. These are far from the only things that are possible and beyond some more fleshed out decks, they are just ideas at this point. The goal of this article is to both give you some inspiration to get started, and to give you an idea of some of the decks you will need to be able to beat.

Clarion Spirit

Mono-white aggro build around Clarion Spirit has an astounding amount of tools to its disposal. Between Sander and me, we have been bickering over so many different options and angles this deck could be taken it feels like there are multiple options that can be optimized separately. In the version below, you will see a +1/+1 counters subtheme that might one day receive enough support in other colors to become a menace of its own.

Deck (60)
20 Plains (MID) 380
Clever Lumimancer (STX) 10
Codespell Cleric (KHM) 7
Guiding Voice (STX) 19
Homestead Courage (MID) 24
Cathar Commando (MID) 10
Star Pupil (STX) 30
Usher of the Fallen (KHM) 35
Clarion Spirit (KHM) 6
Shaile, Dean of Radiance (STX) 158
Show of Confidence (STX) 28
Search Party Captain (MID) 32
Sparring Regimen (STX) 29
Intrepid Adversary (MID) 25
Leonin Lightscribe (STX) 20

RG Landfall

mainDeck (60)
Brushfire Elemental (ZNR) 221
12 Forest (MID) 384
12 Mountain (MID) 383
Phylath, World Sculptor (ZNR) 234
Run Amok (KHM) 147
Akoum Hellhound (ZNR) 133
Cleansing Wildfire (ZNR) 137
Kazuul’s Fury (ZNR) 146
Roil Eruption (ZNR) 155
Moraug, Fury of Akoum (ZNR) 150
Skyclave Pick-Axe (ZNR) 204
Roiling Regrowth (ZNR) 201
Territorial Scythecat (ZNR) 213
Wrenn and Seven (MID) 208
Ancient Greenwarden (ZNR) 178
Targ Nar, Demon-Fang Gnoll (AFR) 234

Delver of Secrets

Deck (60)
Clever Lumimancer
Plains
Island
Evolving Wilds
Guiding Voice
Curate
Flare of Faith
Fading Hope
Consider
Show of Confidence
Delver of Secrets // Insectile Aberration
Monk of the Open Hand
Homestead Courage
Fateful Absence
Hallowed Respite
Monk Class
Poppet Stitcher // Poppet Factory
Sideboard (5)
Introduction to Prophecy
Environmental Sciences
Inkling Summoning
Introduction to Annihilation
(60)
Delver of Secrets // Insectile Aberration
Consider
Otherworldly Gaze
Expressive Iteration
Frost Bite
Negate
Seize the Storm
Cinderclasm
Curate
Demilich
Poppet Stitcher // Poppet Factory
Smoldering Egg // Ashmouth Dragon
Faceless Haven
Shell Shield
10 Snow-Covered Island
10 Snow-Covered Mountain
Thermo-Alchemist

Two decks for the price of one! Delver of Secrets is a deceptively strong card, and coupling it with the correct amount of spells really puts this strategy on a competitive level. Sander found that pairing the little blue menace with White offered surprisingly good results. The red pairing is a more classical one for Delver, but one that is lacking a little bit in good burn spells it seems at the moment.

Conclusion

Aggro has some strong contenders at the moment, which is usually the case in the beginning of a format. Tom’s Mono green Fynn, the Fangbearer poison deck is still viable as well, but it took some losses in consistency. These are also not the only aggro decks available by any means, with UW fliers, mono red Goblins, and suicide Black all offering options.

These aggro decks will need to contend with UG-based goodstuff deck as Sarulf’s Packmate and friends are still legal. They will likely shift into red for access to sweepers, which means losing some consistency due to paying multiple colors, and since they no longer gain life off their lands, they are a little more vulnerable as well.

Gentry is starting up again soon, season IV will need to be the revival of Gentry in paper and I will do everything in my power to help it. Happy brewing and have fun!

Niels Viaene came into contact with Magic first through the Kazz & Zakk starter set in 1996, but it wouldn’t be until 2000, around the time Prophecy came out that he actually started playing magic thanks to his nephew. Niels’ Magic career has been a roller coaster up to now, including Grand Prix Paris 2009 top 8, Pro Tour San Diego 2010 top 8, becoming a L3 Magic Judge in 2015 and managing the community effort that is the League of New and Beginning Magic: the Gathering Players, the birthing ground for Gentry since 2012. All this comes from a deep love for the game that is far from diminishing.

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