The Star of Aftermath
Hello everyone! Welcome to Standard Weekly!
Recently we had the release of “March of the Machine: The Aftermath.” The key story element was that some planeswalkers have lost their spark and have become legendary creatures. Each of the mythic rares from the set is a de-sparked planeswalker. Many of these new legendary creatures have only appeared as planeswalkers in the past, so seeing them as legendary creatures is an interesting twist.
Instead of creating a Top 10 or Top 5 list for the set, today I am going to focus on the new card that fits best into an expanded standard. For those of you who haven’t heard, there will not be a fall rotation this year because sets will now remain part of standard for up to three years. As a result, we hope to see more deck possibilities emerge in standard.
Currently, black/Red/x decks dominate the format, with “Fable of the Mirror-Breaker” reigning as the top card in standard. However, “March of the Machine: The Aftermath” offers some interesting deck options that don’t include “Fable of the Mirror-Breaker.” I will explore some of them over the next couple of weeks.
One card that will have an immediate impact is “Coppercoat Vanguard.” For two mana, you get a 2/2 human soldier that gives each other human you control +1/+0 and has ward 1.
“Coppercoat Vanguard” fits well into several decks. Azorius or Mono-White Soldiers will benefit from including “Coppercoat Vanguard.” After reviewing the deck lists for both versions, the only non-human cards in these decks are “Yotian Frontliner” and “Valiant Veteran.” Replacing “Yotian Frontliner” with “Coppercoat Vanguard” would be an easy exchange for soldiers, allowing you to keep all the other humans in the deck.
MONO-WHITE SOLDIERS, Scott Trepanier
CREATURES: (27)
4 Recruitment Officer (BRO) 23
4 Coppercoat Vanguard (MAT) 1
3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben (DKA) 24
4 Valiant Veteran (DMU) 38
4 Brutal Cathar (MID) 7
1 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben (MUL) 72
4 Siege Veteran (BRO) 25
3 Myrel, Shield of Argive (BRO) 18
PLANESWALKERS (2)
2 Archangel Elspeth (MOM) 6
SORCERIES (2)
2 Lay Down Arms (BRO) 11
INSTANTS (2)
2 Surge of Salvation (MOM) 41
BATTLE (3)
3 Invasion of Gobakhan (MOM) 22
LANDS (24)
21 Plains (SLD) 63
3 Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire (NEO) 268
SIDEBOARD: (15)
2 Lay Down Arms (BRO) 11
4 Destroy Evil (DMU) 17
1 Lantern Flare (VOW) 23
2 Lantern Flare (VOW) 23
4 Ossification (ONE) 26
2 Sungold Sentinel (MID) 37
Azorius Soldiers gives you access to flyers. This gives the deck the ability to go over the top when the battlefield is filled with other creatures. Blue gives the deck to eleven flyers. Each adds additional value. Zephyr Sentinel gives you the ability to return a creature to your hand in exchange for putting a +1/+1 counter on Sentinel. Resolute Reinforcements makes an ideal target for Zephyr Sentinel. This will allow you to create an additional soldier token when you recast Resolute Reinforcements. Zephyr Sentinel can also return to your hand a creature that was targeted with removal. Skystrike Officer gives you the ability to draw cards and create a soldier token when it attacks. Finally, Harbin, Vanguard Aviator serves as the finisher for the deck. When you have five or more soldiers attack, Harbin gives each one +1/+1 and flying. This usually finishes the game.
AZORIUS SOLDIERS, Scott Trepanier
CREATURES (30)
4 Resolute Reinforcements
4 Valiant Veteran
4 Recruitment Officer
4 Skystrike Officer
4 Zephyr Sentinel
3 Harbin, Vanguard Aviator
3 Skrelv, Defector Mite
4 Knight-Errant of Eos
INSTANTS: (6)
4 Protect the Negotiators
2 Destroy Evil
LANDS (24)
3 Plains
1 Island
4 Adarkar Wastes
3 Seachrome Coast
3 Deserted Beach
1 Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire
1 Otawara, Soaring City
4 Fortified Beachhead
2 Mirrex
SIDEBOARD: (15)
4 Brutal Cathar
3 Lantern Flare
2 Knockout Blow
2 Unlicensed Hearse
2 Loran of the Third Path
2 Ossification
Another deck that Coppercoat Vanguard has a place in is Humans. Multiple versions of the deck exist: Mono-White and Naya are the most popular.
MONO_WHITE HUMANS, Scott Trepanier
CREATURES (30)
4 Hopeful Initiate (VOW) 20
3 Recruitment Officer (BRO) 23
4 Coppercoat Vanguard (MAT) 1
3 Intrepid Adversary (MID) 25
3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben (DKA) 24
1 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben (MUL) 72
4 Adeline, Resplendent Cathar (MID) 1
4 Anointed Peacekeeper (DMU) 2
4 Brutal Cathar (MID) 7
SORCERIES (2)
2 Lay Down Arms (BRO) 11
INSTANTS (2)
2 Surge of Salvation (MOM) 41
BATTLE (4)
4 Invasion of Gobakhan (MOM) 22
LANDS: (22)
19 Plains (SLD) 63
3 Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire (NEO) 268
SIDEBOARD: (15)
2 Cathar Commando (MID) 10
2 Sungold Sentinel (MID) 37
2 Lay Down Arms (BRO) 11
1 Surge of Salvation (MOM) 41
3 Destroy Evil (DMU) 17
2 Lantern Flare (VOW) 23
2 Ossification (ONE) 26
Naya Humans are looking to take advantage of Halana and Alena, Partners. For those unfamiliar with Halana and Alena, Partners, these 2/3 human rangers have first strike and reach. What makes them special is their ability. At the beginning of combat on your turn, put X +1/+1 counters on another target creature you control, where X is Halana and Alena’s power. That creature gains haste until end of turn. Once Halana and Alena make it to combat, they can quickly take over a game.
Coppercoat Vanguard not only boosts your humans in general, but also gives Halana and Alena an extra +1/+1 counter to give out. This will help you finish off an opponent more quickly.
NAYA HUMANS
CREATURES (34)
4 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
3 Adeline, Resplendent Cathar
4 Brutal Cathar
1 Sigarda, Champion of Light
3 Hopeful Initiate
3 Anointed Peacekeeper
4 Halana and Alena, Partners
3 Skrelv, Defector Mite
3 Melira, the Living Cure
4 Coppercoat Vanguard
2 Sigarda, Font of Blessings
INSTANTS (2)
2 Valorous Stance
LANDS (24)
1 Plains
4 Brushland
4 Battlefield Forge
4 Razorverge Thicket
1 Boseiju, Who Endures
2 Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire
4 Secluded Courtyard
4 Plaza of Heroes
Coppercoat Vanguard also fits nicely into Mono-White Humans in Pioneer. I wrote about the deck just before the Phyrexia: All Will Be One Store Championship. The deck is fast already. Coppercoat Vanguard makes it faster and offers another card that can protect key cards in the deck from spot removal. To make room for Coppercoat Vanguard, I removed Kytheon, Hero of Akros, along with one copy of Recruitment Officer, Hopeful Initiate, and Skrelv, Defector Mite. This might not be the best changes for the deck, but they make the most sense right now.
MONO-WHITE HUMANS, by Scott Trepanier
CREATURES (34)
4 Luminarch Aspirant
4 Coppercoat Vanguard
4 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
4 Thalia’s Lieutenant
3 Recruitment Officer
3 Hopeful Initiate
2 Skrelv, Defector Mite
4 Brutal Cathar
2 Dauntless Bodyguard
4 Adeline, Resplendent Cathar
ENCHANTMENTS (4)
4 Ossification
LANDS: (22)
14 Plains
2 Castle Ardenvale
4 Mutavault
2 Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire
SIDEBOARD: (15)
4 Portable Hole
2 Guardian of Faith
4 Wedding Announcement
3 Reidane, God of the Worthy
2 Sword of Forge and Frontier
The great thing about all these decks is that they will be relevant and playable for at least the next year. Any of the standard decks would make a good option for this weekend’s March of the Machine Store Championship. The event is Saturday at 4 PM. I hope to see you there.
That’s it for this week. I’ll see you next time!
By: Scott Trepanier
Scott began playing Magic the Gathering in 1994. His preferred format is standard. Typically, you will see him playing aggro decks focused on quickly defeating his opponent but will pivot to midrange or control when standard is unfavorable for aggro decks. He began creating Magic content in 2019.
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