MTGA Standard BO3 October 2020 Short Tier List


Hi Planeswalkers!

I recently put together a tier list here on this website for BO1 to help with anyone tackling the competitive MTGA Landscape, those who like a visual or just to discuss! Along with providing a BO1 tier list take I wanted to provide a BO3 one as well.  Especially since we all know that the metas are different.  In addition, with recent weekend events and speculation (confirmed now 10/12) of further bannings tomorrow I figured this might help provide a decent head start for decks that will remain intact! Last I have laid out more trends, key considerations, and expanded on observations for BO3 below as well.

Please note: Given feedback last time this is a 12 version list vs a 20+ (which I plan to still do). Also, note I would consider Gruul in this list at T2 – specifically calling this one out based on the weekend tournament plus Emma & Autumns impact on it!

TLDR: Players consolidating around one deck, and potential (speculation) emergency ban tomorrow. Sultai has gone bye-bye, mono colored weakened, and continue look for increased deck types and strength of current coming out of post uro and continued potential bans.

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 & Considerations:

  • Consolidation – Lots of access, lack of ban in the shell, and still easy synergies  for Omnath has created the only deck to play  in the meta! Based on weekend events of a strong 65%ish of the field running omanth flavors of ramp or adventures.  Personally, I am an anti everyone else deck player but that’s just how I try to run.  
  • Fall of Sultai – It used to be called Sultai (insert deck archetype part 2 here) and now it remains to have been squashed by an elemental.
  • Loss of the Sacrifice – Between the Great Rotation, bannings, and ZNR sacrifice has continued to see the fall from grace.  My how fast things change, and may everyone remember this when it comes to Omnath, because there will be a time!
  • Juiced Archetypes continue into ZNR – I think based on last time this is pretty interesting and important.  Clover & Cycle still remain, and additionally have taken on a few new forms.  Temur has broken into 4C omnath adventures, and boros cycle has become Yore cycle with the unlocking power of the modal lands.
  • Strength in Mana Numbers – I find that mono colored decks have in particular weakened pretty heavily in BO3 vs where they were at the same time around last season.  Mono Green is still very strony, and we are starting to see White Weenies making a comeback out of redbull untapped.  I do feel modal lands have created a health access for multi-colored decks and a prime example is omnath.  You would like it would be much harder to hit 4Cs consistently, but I always find myself on the short end of the stick with my opponents.
  • Post Uro world and “to be continued” – As I mentioned above there is a chance based on this weekend’s events, and some interesting ideas on ban/restricted page that we may yet get another change up with playables tomorrow.  Stay tuned…However, based on experience and watching these trends here is some key information I have found helpful to capitalize on myself.  Typically decks pre banning that face no change tend to be stronger post banning or better positioned to swiftly rank climb.  A good example here would be Dimir Rogues.  The other take that I personally enjoy most about bannings is the fact that the meta does turn over slightly, we lose deck consolidation, and things tend to open up more with as called out last time a more go wide approach.  With the Uro banning I would say there was a greater influx of new decks and this can definitely be seen with: Mono White, Yore Cycle, and Rakdos Midrange to name a few.  Again, I look forward as always to a diverse set of decks and archetypes to play, and play against!

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!

All Full Deck lists below!

MTGA BO3 October 2020 Tier List

Tier 1 (1)

4C Omnath

Tier 2 (7)

Dimir Rogues

Temur Adventure

Mono White Aggro

Mono Green

Rakdos Midrange

Boros – Yore Cycling

Esper Doom

Tier 3 (4)

Mono Red Aggro

Izzet Tempo

Selesnya Counters

Jeskai Spells

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 (1)

4C Omnath

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

Tier 2 (7)

Dimir Rogues

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

Temur Adventure

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

Mono White Aggro

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

Mono Green

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

Rakdos Midrange

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

Boros – Yore Cycling

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

Esper Doom

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

Tier 3 (4)

Mono Red Aggro

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

Izzet Tempo

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

Selesnya Counters

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

Jeskai Spells

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!