The release of Lost Caverns of Ixalan (LCI) has brought about significant changes to the Standard meta in Magic: The Gathering. Two new decks, Boros Humans and Gruul Dinosaurs, have emerged as strong contenders in the current Standard format.
Boros Humans MTG Standard Deck
Boros Humans, featuring new LCI cards like Anim Pakal, Thousandth Moon and Inti, Seneschal of the Sun, has made a strong showing in recent tournaments. Piloted by Hamuda, the deck placed in the top four and top 16 at the MTGO Standard Challenger on Nov. 18. Other LCI cards such as Warden of the Inner Sky and Kellen, Daring Traveler were also included in the deck.
This RW Standard deck is known for its aggressive playstyle, utilizing cards like Hopeful Initiate to apply early pressure. Thalia, Guardian of Thraben and Anim Pakal, Thousandth Moon help maintain a steady flow of threats. Inti, Seneschal of the Sun ensures the deck doesn’t run out of resources.
Boros Humans continued to perform well in the Nov. 19 MTGO Standard Challenge, securing a spot in the top eight alongside another rising deck, Gruul Dinosaurs.
Gruul Dinosaurs MTG Standard Deck
Gruul Dinosaurs has gained popularity with the release of LCI, thanks to two powerful early game cards: Belligerent Yearling and Itzquinth, Firstborn of Gishath. MTGBentCard piloted a Gruul Dinosaur deck that placed in the top eight at the Nov. 19 MTGO Standard Challenge.
While Dinosaurs are more of a Midrange build compared to Boros Humans, the deck still maintains an aggressive strategy. Scytheclaw Raptor, a new LCI card, effectively counters Flash decks while applying early pressure as a 4/3 creature on turn three. The sideboard includes End the Festivities to handle Aggro matchups and Nissa Ascended Animist for Control decks.
Both Boros Humans and Gruul Dinosaurs are available for digital and tabletop play. These decks have shown excellent performance in best-of-one matches on MTG Arena.
| Date | Tournament | Deck | Placement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 18 | MTGO Standard Challenger | Boros Humans | Top 4 |
| Nov. 18 | MTGO Standard Challenger | Boros Humans | Top 16 |
| Nov. 19 | MTGO Standard Challenge | Boros Humans | Top 8 |
| Nov. 19 | MTGO Standard Challenge | Gruul Dinosaurs | Top 8 |
Source: DOTESPORTS
