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Pro Tour FF: Top MTG Decks & Spicy Lists

Top Standard Decks from Pro Tour Magic: the Gathering-FINAL FANTASY

The Pro Tour Magic: The Gathering®-FINAL FANTASY™ saw the submission of 331 Standard decklists, but some stood out for their innovation and potential. This article dives into some of the most intriguing Standard decks that caught our eye, showcasing clever card combinations and novel archetypes. These decks leverage cards from Magic: The Gathering-FINAL FANTASY and demonstrate real potential for competitive success.

Naya Yuna: Reanimator Enchantress Burn

Bryan Hohns’ Unique Strategy

Bryan Hohns distinguished himself by being the only player to bring Overlord of the Boilerbilges and The Elder Dragon War to the Pro tour. These cards synergize powerfully wiht Yuna, Hope of Spira, the deck’s cornerstone. Hohns’ passion for this card drove him to develop this unique strategy.

Did you Know? This deck has been described as Naya Burn reanimator Control Enchantress, blending five different themes into one cohesive strategy.

The deck’s core strategy revolves around reanimating Overlord of the Boilerbilges from the graveyard. Cards like Fear of Missing out, Joshua, Phoenix’s Dominant, and The Elder Dragon War facilitate discarding the Overlord, while esper Origins‘ surveil effect aids in milling.Yuna, Hope of Spira then brings the Overlord back to life on turn five, creating a strong board presence and enabling lifelink pings.


2 Cori Mountain Monastery
4 Lush Portico
4 High Noon
1 Brushland
4 Elegant Parlor
2 Get Lost
4 Overlord of the Boilerbilges
2 Mountain
2 Cavern of Souls
2 Esper Origins
4 Thornspire Verge
4 Lightning Helix
4 The Elder Dragon War
4 Fear of Missing Out
2 Plains
3 Joshua, Phoenix’s Dominant
4 Yuna, Hope of Spira
1 Karplusan Forest
3 Screaming Nemesis
4 Sunbillow Verge

1 Devout Decree
1 Sheltered by Ghosts
1 Overwhelming Surge
3 destroy Evil
2 Ghost Vacuum
2 Esper Origins
1 Pyroclasm
1 Summon: Bahamut
2 Heritage Reclamation
1 Screaming Nemesis

Izzet Cauldron: Explosive Mana Combo

Paulo Vitor Damo da Rosa’s Innovative Approach

While most Izzet players favored Cori-Steel Cutter, Paulo Vitor Damo da Rosa, along with Peter Husisian and Jake Beardsley, opted for a different strategy centered around Agatha’s Soul Cauldron. Damo da Rosa and Beardsley, collaborating as team Cosmos Heavy Play, refined the same list.

The deck aims to discard Vivi Ornitier using cards like Glacial Dragonhunt, Fear of missing Out, Tersa Lightshatter, or Winternight Stories, and then exile it with Agatha’s Soul cauldron.This grants Vivi Ornitier‘s mana ability to creatures with +1/+1 counters, which are plentiful thanks to Marauding Mako and Proft’s Eidetic Memory.

Pro Tip: Agatha’s soul Cauldron also provides graveyard hate,a valuable asset against decks like Azorius Omniscience.


3 Thundering Falls
4 Agatha’s Soul cauldron
2 Abrade
4 Vivi Ornitier
4 Winternight Stories
3 Into the Flood Maw
3 Mountain
2 Island
3 Voldaren Thrillseeker
1 Spell Pierce
4 Marauding Mako
4 Fear of Missing Out
3 Tersa Lightshatter
2 Soulstone Sanctuary
4 Riverpyre Verge
2 Glacial Dragonhunt
4 Spirebluff Canal
4 Shivan Reef
4 Proft’s Eidetic Memory

2 negate
1 Scorching Shot
2 Draconautics Engineer
2 Enduring Curiosity
3 Unable to scream
1 Abrade
3 lithomantic Barrage
1 Spell Pierce

Orzhov Sacrifice: Draining the Competition

Juli Caballero Queralt’s Sacrifice-focused Build

Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER has revitalized Orzhov Sacrifice, with Luis Monge and Juli Caballero Queralt independently choosing the archetype. Caballero Queralt’s list, featured here, emphasizes the sacrifice theme.

Like a Vengeful Bloodwitch that triggers off all creatures, Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER drains opponents upon creature death. His card draw ability makes him a strong standalone card, turning even Infestation Sage or Voice of Victory tokens into card advantage. With enough tokens and sacrifice outlets, transforming Sephiroth into a 5/5 flier becomes a viable strategy.


4 Infestation Sage
4 Concealed Courtyard
4 Dark Confidant
2 Dalkovan Encampment
2 Starting Town
1 Zahur, Glory’s Past
5 swamp
4 Caves of Koilos
3 Enduring Innocence
4 Voice of Victory
4 Vengeful Bloodwitch
4 Nezumi Linkbreaker
2 Shadowy Backstreet
4 Bleachbone Verge
3 worthy Cost
4 Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER
2 Raise the Past
4 Bartolomé del Presidio

2 Go for the Throat
2 Strategic Betrayal
1 Get Lost
2 Destroy Evil
2 Ghost Vacuum
1 Loran of the Third Path
3 Duress
2 Invasion of Gobakhan // Lightshield Array

Golgari Roots: Token Swarm and Explosive Turns

Simon Nielsen’s Unexpected Resurgence

A notable metagame surprise was the resurgence of Insidious Roots decks. Five members of team Handshake Moxfield-Simon Nielsen, Matti Kuisma, Eli Kassis, Julien Henry, and Alex Friedrichsen-chose a Golgari build hoping to surprise the competition.

Insidious Roots is the deck’s key card, an enchantment that floods the board with Plant tokens. Exiling or returning creatures from the graveyard with cards like Molt Tender,Scavenging Ooze,or Overlord of the Balemurk creates Plants and buffs them with +1/+1 counters. Tyvar, Jubilant Brawler further enhances this synergy by allowing Plants to tap for mana immediately, enabling explosive turns.


1 Swamp
1 Agatha’s Soul Cauldron
4 Molt Tender
2 Llanowar Elves
2 Town Greeter
6 Forest
1 Coati Scavenger
4 Llanowar Wastes
2 Scavenging Ooze
4 Wastewood Verge
4 Blooming Marsh
4 Insidious Roots
2 Osteomancer Adept
4 Tyvar, Jubilant Brawler
2 Dragon Sniper
2 Rubblebelt Maverick
2 disruptive Stormbrood
1 Great Arashin City
2 Cache Grab
4 Haywire Mite
4 Overlord of the Balemurk
2 Dredger’s Insight

3 Dark Confidant
1 Skyfisher Spider
2 Go for the Throat
1 Coati Scavenger
1 Ghost Vacuum
1 Cankerbloom
2 Souls of the Lost
1 Voldaren Thrillseeker
2 Dragon Sniper
1 Gastal Raider

Pro Tour Standard Deck Performance Comparison

Deck Archetype Key Card Strategy Strengths Weaknesses
Naya Yuna Yuna, Hope of Spira Reanimator/Enchantress/Burn Versatile, strong board presence Complex, vulnerable to graveyard hate
Izzet Cauldron Agatha’s Soul Cauldron Mana Combo/Graveyard Hate explosive potential, maindeck hate Relies on specific card combinations
Orzhov Sacrifice sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER Sacrifice/Drain Card draw, consistent damage Vulnerable to creature removal
Golgari Roots Insidious Roots Token Swarm Explosive turns, board flooding Relies on graveyard and enchantment

The Evolution of Standard Metagames

The Standard format in Magic: The Gathering is constantly evolving, driven by new card releases and innovative deckbuilding. Pro Tours serve as a crucible, testing the viability of new strategies and solidifying the metagame. The decks highlighted here represent a snapshot of the creativity and competitive spirit within the community.

Historically, Standard has seen a wide range of dominant archetypes, from aggressive strategies to control decks and combo-oriented builds. The success of decks like Naya Yuna and Izzet Cauldron demonstrates the ongoing search for novel approaches that can exploit the format’s strengths and weaknesses.

Frequently Asked Questions About Standard Decks

What makes a Standard deck “spicy”?
A “spicy” Standard deck typically features innovative card combinations, introduces a novel archetype, or does something unexpected within the format.
How does Agatha’s Soul Cauldron work in the Izzet Cauldron deck?
Agatha’s Soul Cauldron exiles Vivi Ornitier from the graveyard, granting its mana ability to creatures with +1/+1 counters, enabling explosive mana generation.
Why is Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER significant in Orzhov Sacrifice decks?
Sephiroth, fabled SOLDIER provides both life drain and card draw, making him a powerful engine for the Orzhov Sacrifice strategy.
What is the main goal of the Golgari Roots deck?
The Golgari Roots deck aims to flood the board with Plant tokens using Insidious Roots and then buff them with +1/+1 counters for overwhelming attacks.
Are these Standard decks viable for competitive play?
The decks featured in this article demonstrated potential at the Pro Tour and offer unique strategies for competitive play.Though, their success depends on the evolving metagame and player skill.
Where can I find more details about these Standard decks?
You can find decklists and discussions on websites like MTGGoldfish,TappedOut,and various Magic: the Gathering forums and communities.
How frequently enough does the Standard format change?
The Standard format rotates annually with the release of new Magic: The Gathering sets, introducing new cards and shifting the metagame.

Disclaimer: This article provides analysis of Magic: The Gathering decks and strategies. It does not constitute professional gaming advice. Deck viability may vary based on metagame conditions and player skill.

What are your thoughts on these innovative Standard decks? which one would you play, and why? Share your comments and let’s discuss!

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