Hi Planeswalkers!
I put together a tier list for BO1 to help with anyone tackling the competitive MTGA Landscape, those who like a visual or just to discuss! As a player I know it can be a tough choice to figure out which deck you would like to play, additionally knowing the importance of playing decks that you don’t play I wanted to share some thoughts!
A few updates with the list based on community feedback:
- Thank you for all the feedback! My goal with this one is to provide a smaller deck (12) snapshot of current meta (I will do a revised one with broader decks options later – in the past these have been 20+) If you have a deck you think I should cover please let me know!
- Please note this is not ALL available, meta decks etc re above. With that said this Tier is also within the decks represented against those decks as well as how they perform against meta.
- Tier list is prioritized within tiers (obviously) and within tiers consider the deck on top the ranking of decks within tier etc (The higher the better)
As we have seen an interesting Zendikar Drop and Uro Ban I thought this information would be helpful for everyone. Last, particularly for those of us who still enjoy being competitive or playing even in the face of some of the client base frustrations with Standard format.
You can also check out Augusts BO1 & BO3 Tiers here.
What it is, current meta observations, and deck overviews! Additionally I love sharing the observations and recent changes we have faced in an ever evolving fast paced format.
Items of Interest (Trends)
- Uro Shift – Once Zendikar dropped minus the meta scramble we saw Omnath quickly rise above the rest leading to the emergency ban. One key observation here is the rate at which we can see, share, and understand meta development. Incredibly fast! Now post ban I would make a key consideration is the field once again becoming more broad and the opening of several decks to compete…Stay tuned for next BO1 Tier list
- Landfall – There certainly has been a meta impact where we see the cobra and decks utilizing this mechanic to their advantage…Additionally, we see the mutate mechanic being less played minus one key card Gem Razer
- Sacrifice – Currently a drop in meta still feeling pain from other bannings, and potentially not a viable option. Seen some attempts at Clerics but not a ton of success. Closest would be some sac with Rakdos Midrange but a totally different goal – mainly locking out your opponents hand
- Ramp – Impacted with Uro unable to escape ban, and I would add the addition of confounding conundrum. Still a good option, taken a bit off warp speed.
- Mono Colored Decks – Mono colored decks becoming strong again or two colored. Especially in BO1 space…I would keep an eye on Mono White and potentially Selesnya
- Oldies but Goodies still a great option – We see Temur Clover making a strong comeback, and even evolving a bit with omnath. Post Uro Ban we see more Boros Cycling getting back into the mix.
I have produced this list from a culmination of a few things. I have reached this point by pulling together research data from multiple sources like untapped, MTGAzone, twitter, personal gameplay, tournament matches, this reddit as well as others, personal stats, and consistently hitting Mythic over the last year and participation in the last Mythic Qualifier.
Again, Happy to discuss or talk about decks not included! Tier list below plus deck lists (shells) if you are looking for some options most all top 1500 at some point many at the #1 Rank! .
MTGA BO1 October 2020 Tier List
Tier 1 (2)
Tier 2 (6)
Tier 3 (4)
Deck lists in Detail
*Note you can copy and paste the specific lists right into MTG, and you are off to the races!
Tier 1
Deck 4 Anax, Hardened in the Forge (THB) 125 4 Bonecrusher Giant (ELD) 115 4 Castle Embereth (ELD) 239 4 Embercleave (ELD) 120 4 Fervent Champion (ELD) 124 4 Fireblade Charger (ZNR) 139 2 Furor of the Bitten (M21) 145 4 Kargan Intimidator (ZNR) 145 16 Mountain (ANB) 114 4 Robber of the Rich (ELD) 138 2 Roil Eruption (ZNR) 155 2 Shatterskull Smashing (ZNR) 161 4 Shock (M21) 159 2 Torbran, Thane of Red Fell (ELD) 147 Sideboard 4 Redcap Melee (ELD) 135 3 Claim the Firstborn (ELD) 118 4 Embereth Shieldbreaker (ELD) 122 4 Roiling Vortex (ZNR) 156
Deck 4 Brazen Borrower (ELD) 39 2 Rankle, Master of Pranks (ELD) 101 4 Drown in the Loch (ELD) 188 1 Castle Locthwain (ELD) 241 4 Slitherwisp (IKO) 208 4 Thieves' Guild Enforcer (M21) 125 4 Lofty Denial (M21) 56 4 Merfolk Windrobber (ZNR) 70 2 Nighthawk Scavenger (ZNR) 115 4 Soaring Thought-Thief (ZNR) 236 1 Glasspool Mimic (ZNR) 60 4 Clearwater Pathway (ZNR) 260 5 Island (ANB) 113 4 Swamp (ANB) 116 2 Hagra Mauling (ZNR) 106 1 Castle Vantress (ELD) 242 3 Swamp (ZNR) 274 2 Agadeem's Awakening (ZNR) 90 4 Jwari Disruption (ZNR) 64 1 Island (ZNR) 271 Sideboard 2 Ashiok's Erasure (THB) 43 2 Mystical Dispute (ELD) 58 3 Heartless Act (IKO) 91 3 Bloodchief's Thirst (ZNR) 94 3 Pestilent Haze (M21) 118 2 Nighthawk Scavenger (ZNR) 115
Tier 2
Deck 2 Archon of Emeria (ZNR) 4 3 Castle Ardenvale (ELD) 238 2 Emeria's Call (ZNR) 12 3 Giant Killer (ELD) 14 3 Glass Casket (ELD) 15 1 Kabira Takedown (ZNR) 19 2 Legion Angel (ZNR) 23 4 Luminarch Aspirant (ZNR) 24 1 Makindi Stampede (ZNR) 26 4 Maul of the Skyclaves (ZNR) 27 18 Plains (ANB) 115 4 Seasoned Hallowblade (M21) 34 3 Selfless Savior (M21) 36 2 Shepherd of the Flock (ELD) 28 4 Skyclave Apparition (ZNR) 39 4 Venerable Knight (ELD) 35 Sideboard 2 Archon of Emeria (ZNR) 4 2 Baneslayer Angel (M21) 6 2 Containment Priest (M21) 13 1 Glass Casket (ELD) 15 2 Idol of Endurance (M21) 23 2 Lavabrink Venturer (IKO) 19 2 Legion Angel (ZNR) 23 2 Revoke Existence (THB) 34
Deck 3 Temple of Mystery (M20) 255 4 Brazen Borrower (ELD) 39 4 Fae of Wishes (ELD) 44 4 Bonecrusher Giant (ELD) 115 4 Beanstalk Giant (ELD) 149 4 Edgewall Innkeeper (ELD) 151 4 Lovestruck Beast (ELD) 165 3 Escape to the Wilds (ELD) 189 4 Lucky Clover (ELD) 226 1 Of One Mind (IKO) 60 4 Ketria Triome (IKO) 250 1 Shatterskull Smashing (ZNR) 161 1 Bala Ged Recovery (ZNR) 180 4 Cragcrown Pathway (ZNR) 261 4 Riverglide Pathway (ZNR) 264 3 Island (ANB) 113 1 Mountain (ANB) 114 7 Forest (ANB) 112 Sideboard 2 Negate (RIX) 44 1 Return to Nature (WAR) 175 2 Mystical Dispute (ELD) 58 1 Embercleave (ELD) 120 1 Redcap Melee (ELD) 135 1 Once and Future (ELD) 168 1 Escape to the Wilds (ELD) 189 1 Storm's Wrath (THB) 157 1 Blazing Volley (IKO) 107 1 Ugin, the Spirit Dragon (M21) 1 1 Tormod's Crypt (M21) 241 1 Kazuul's Fury (ZNR) 146 1 Inscription of Abundance (ZNR) 186
Companion 1 Lurrus of the Dream-Den (IKO) 226 Deck 3 Boon of the Wish-Giver (IKO) 43 4 Brightclimb Pathway (ZNR) 259 4 Drannith Healer (IKO) 10 4 Drannith Stinger (IKO) 113 4 Flourishing Fox (IKO) 13 4 Footfall Crater (IKO) 118 2 Frostveil Ambush (IKO) 52 4 Go for Blood (IKO) 122 4 Memory Leak (IKO) 95 4 Needleverge Pathway (ZNR) 263 3 Plains (ANB) 115 4 Riverglide Pathway (ZNR) 264 1 Sejiri Shelter (ZNR) 37 1 Shatterskull Smashing (ZNR) 161 1 Shredded Sails (IKO) 136 1 Spikefield Hazard (ZNR) 166 4 Startling Development (IKO) 68 4 Valiant Rescuer (IKO) 36 4 Zenith Flare (IKO) 217 Sideboard 2 Blitz of the Thunder-Raptor (IKO) 109 1 Deafening Silence (ELD) 10 1 Drannith Magistrate (IKO) 11 1 Fight as One (IKO) 12 1 Lurrus of the Dream-Den (IKO) 226 1 Redcap Melee (ELD) 135 1 Scorching Dragonfire (M21) 158 1 Sejiri Shelter (ZNR) 37 1 Selfless Savior (M21) 36 2 Shredded Sails (IKO) 136 1 Soul-Guide Lantern (THB) 237 1 Spikefield Hazard (ZNR) 166 1 Thundering Rebuke (ZNR) 170
Deck 1 Bala Ged Recovery (ZNR) 180 4 Beanstalk Giant (ELD) 149 4 Bonecrusher Giant (ELD) 115 2 Brazen Borrower (ELD) 39 3 Cragcrown Pathway (ZNR) 261 4 Edgewall Innkeeper (ELD) 151 3 Escape to the Wilds (ELD) 189 3 Fabled Passage (M21) 246 4 Fae of Wishes (ELD) 44 4 Forest (ANB) 112 1 Giant Killer (ELD) 14 5 Island (ANB) 113 1 Kenrith, the Returned King (ELD) 303 2 Ketria Triome (IKO) 250 2 Lovestruck Beast (ELD) 165 4 Lucky Clover (ELD) 226 2 Mountain (ANB) 114 4 Omnath, Locus of Creation (ZNR) 232 1 Plains (ANB) 115 2 Raugrin Triome (IKO) 251 3 Riverglide Pathway (ZNR) 264 1 Shatterskull Smashing (ZNR) 161 Sideboard 1 Escape to the Wilds (ELD) 189 1 Fabled Passage (M21) 246 1 Fling (JMP) 320 2 Mystical Dispute (ELD) 58 1 Negate (ZNR) 71 1 Neutralize (IKO) 59 1 Once and Future (ELD) 168 1 Primal Might (M21) 197 1 Redcap Melee (ELD) 135 1 Return to Nature (M21) 200 1 Shadowspear (THB) 236 1 Stern Dismissal (THB) 68 1 Storm's Wrath (THB) 157 1 Ugin, the Spirit Dragon (M21) 1
Deck 2 Castle Garenbrig (ELD) 240 17 Forest (ANB) 112 2 Garruk's Harbinger (M21) 185 1 Garruk, Unleashed (M21) 183 4 Gemrazer (IKO) 155 4 Kazandu Mammoth (ZNR) 189 4 Lovestruck Beast (ELD) 165 2 Nessian Hornbeetle (THB) 182 4 Primal Might (M21) 197 2 Scavenging Ooze (M21) 204 4 Stonecoil Serpent (ELD) 235 4 Swarm Shambler (ZNR) 207 2 The Great Henge (ELD) 161 4 Turntimber Symbiosis (ZNR) 215 1 Vivien, Monsters' Advocate (IKO) 175 3 Yorvo, Lord of Garenbrig (ELD) 185 Sideboard 2 Chainweb Aracnir (THB) 167 2 Garruk's Harbinger (M21) 185 4 Oakhame Adversary (ELD) 167 4 Ram Through (IKO) 170 2 Run Afoul (M21) 201 1 Vivien, Monsters' Advocate (IKO) 175
Deck 1 Agadeem's Awakening (ZNR) 90 3 Bloodchief's Thirst (ZNR) 94 4 Bonecrusher Giant (ELD) 115 1 Castle Locthwain (ELD) 241 4 Fabled Passage (M21) 246 2 Hagra Mauling (ZNR) 106 2 Heartless Act (IKO) 91 4 Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger (THB) 221 2 Liliana, Waker of the Dead (M21) 108 4 Magmatic Channeler (ZNR) 148 4 Mire Triton (THB) 105 4 Mountain (ANB) 114 2 Murderous Rider (ELD) 97 2 Nighthawk Scavenger (ZNR) 115 2 Rankle, Master of Pranks (ELD) 101 3 Shatterskull Smashing (ZNR) 161 2 Spikefield Hazard (ZNR) 166 6 Swamp (ANB) 116 4 Temple of Malice (THB) 247 4 Tymaret Calls the Dead (THB) 118 Sideboard 3 Agonizing Remorse (THB) 83 2 Cling to Dust (THB) 87 1 Embereth Shieldbreaker (ELD) 122 2 Nighthawk Scavenger (ZNR) 115 1 Ox of Agonas (THB) 147 2 Shredded Sails (IKO) 136 3 Skyclave Shade (ZNR) 125 1 Soul-Guide Lantern (THB) 237
Tier 3
Deck 2 Brazen Borrower (ELD) 39 4 Crash Through (AKR) 149 6 Island (ANB) 113 4 Magmatic Channeler (ZNR) 148 6 Mountain (ANB) 114 3 Mystical Dispute (ELD) 58 4 Opt (M21) 59 4 Riverglide Pathway (ZNR) 264 4 Roil Eruption (ZNR) 155 3 Shock (ANB) 84 1 Shock (M21) 159 4 Spikefield Hazard (ZNR) 166 4 Sprite Dragon (IKO) 211 4 Stormwing Entity (M21) 73 4 Temple of Epiphany (M21) 252 3 The Royal Scions (ELD) 199 Sideboard 3 Cinderclasm (ZNR) 136 3 Embereth Shieldbreaker (ELD) 122 2 Miscast (M21) 57 1 Mystical Dispute (ELD) 58 2 Ox of Agonas (THB) 147 4 Redcap Melee (ELD) 135
Deck 1 Ashiok, Nightmare Muse (THB) 208 3 Bloodchief's Thirst (ZNR) 94 4 Brightclimb Pathway (ZNR) 259 4 Clearwater Pathway (ZNR) 260 4 Confounding Conundrum (ZNR) 53 3 Dance of the Manse (ELD) 186 4 Doom Foretold (ELD) 187 1 Dream Trawler (THB) 214 4 Emeria's Call (ZNR) 12 1 Extinction Event (IKO) 88 1 Hagra Mauling (ZNR) 106 2 Island (ANB) 113 2 Jwari Disruption (ZNR) 64 2 Mystical Dispute (ELD) 58 2 Neutralize (IKO) 59 4 Omen of the Sea (THB) 58 1 Plains (ANB) 115 2 Shark Typhoon (IKO) 67 4 Skyclave Apparition (ZNR) 39 1 Swamp (ANB) 116 4 Temple of Deceit (THB) 245 4 Temple of Enlightenment (THB) 246 2 Temple of Silence (M21) 255 Sideboard 1 Agonizing Remorse (THB) 83 1 Archon of Sun's Grace (THB) 3 1 Bloodchief's Thirst (ZNR) 94 1 Disenchant (ZNR) 10 2 Extinction Event (IKO) 88 2 Heartless Act (IKO) 91 2 Mystical Dispute (ELD) 58 2 Negate (ZNR) 71 2 Shark Typhoon (IKO) 67 1 Zareth San, the Trickster (ZNR) 242
Deck 4 Basri's Lieutenant (M21) 9 4 Branchloft Pathway (ZNR) 258 4 Conclave Mentor (M21) 216 2 Emeria's Call (ZNR) 12 2 Fearless Fledgling (ZNR) 15 7 Forest (ANB) 112 2 Giant Killer (ELD) 14 2 Kabira Takedown (ZNR) 19 1 Khalni Ambush (ZNR) 192 4 Luminarch Aspirant (ZNR) 24 4 Oran-Rief Ooze (ZNR) 198 5 Plains (ANB) 115 2 Primal Might (M21) 197 4 Skyclave Apparition (ZNR) 39 4 Stonecoil Serpent (ELD) 235 3 Swarm Shambler (ZNR) 207 4 Temple of Plenty (THB) 248 1 The Great Henge (ELD) 161 1 Vastwood Fortification (ZNR) 216 Sideboard 3 Archon of Emeria (ZNR) 4 2 Basri Ket (M21) 7 3 Chainweb Aracnir (THB) 167 2 Containment Priest (M21) 13 3 Gemrazer (IKO) 155 2 Scavenging Ooze (M21) 204
Deck 4 Crash Through (AKR) 149 7 Island (ANB) 113 2 Magmatic Channeler (ZNR) 148 4 Needleverge Pathway (ZNR) 263 4 Opt (M21) 59 4 Raugrin Triome (IKO) 251 4 Riverglide Pathway (ZNR) 264 1 Sea Gate Restoration (ZNR) 76 2 Sea Gate Stormcaller (ZNR) 77 3 See the Truth (M21) 69 2 Shark Typhoon (IKO) 67 2 Shatterskull Smashing (ZNR) 161 3 Shock (ANB) 84 1 Shock (M21) 159 3 Spikefield Hazard (ZNR) 166 4 Sprite Dragon (IKO) 211 4 Stormwing Entity (M21) 73 2 The Royal Scions (ELD) 199 3 Vadrok, Apex of Thunder (IKO) 214 1 Jace, Mirror Mage (ZNR) 63 Sideboard 2 Blitz of the Thunder-Raptor (IKO) 109 2 Confounding Conundrum (ZNR) 53 1 Into the Roil (ZNR) 62 1 Mythos of Vadrok (IKO) 127 1 Ox of Agonas (THB) 147 2 Redcap Melee (ELD) 135 1 Shark Typhoon (IKO) 67 1 Teferi, Master of Time (M21) 75 4 Thundering Rebuke (ZNR) 170
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed this slice of competitive Magic the Gathering on Arena or if you are lucky right now in paper. Thank you for your time, and feedback is always welcome! As previously mentioned happy to discuss deck choices, decks, and lists as always!