Standard Deck Guide: Dimir Midrange

Dimir Midrange is an exceptional strategy, and was once the most dominant list in the format... But, after Esper Pixie came along, the meta changed a lot, and Dimir Midrange suffered. Now, it is coming back - in a new font!

Today, we'll show you everything Dimi Midrange can do in the current meta, and how you can get results with it!

About Dimir Midrange

On April 26th, 2025, bernardocssa won the Standard RC Qualifier with a very unusual list featuring Vren, the Relentless, which was very surprising to more than a few players. This card wasn't seeing play anywhere, but now, with The Filigree Sylex in the sideboard, it has become a great answer for Izzet lists.

This Midrange archetype has always been a bit complex - mostly because you often can play too many things. For instance, with it, you can remove an enemy creature, wait to tap it with Floodpits Drowner, save enough mana to counter it, or simply decide to attack instead. The sheer number of lines you can play makes it too complex for beginners. However, when you know how to pilot it, having all these options available is definitely amazing!

The idea is to hold off the early game with removals like Cut Down and Go for the Throat. Then, counter something here and there with Spell Pierce, and use Duress to buy time by removing that Cori-Steel Cutter or anything relevant your opponent plays. You'll do all of this until you can stabilize the board with a Preacher of the Schism or Sheoldred, the Apocalypse, for instance.

Another less popular game plan is to open with Spyglass Siren or play any 2-cost creature on turn 2 and, on turn 3, come back with Kaito, Bane of Nightmares, which is often one of the best openers for this deck.

Another relatively new card in this version is Azure Beastbinder, which has been extremely efficient in many matchups. You can use it to make a certain creature "small" enough to use Cut Down on it (and that's why this list plays 4 Cut Down). The most interesting detail, though, is that it is also a Rat, so it is great with Vren, the Relentless.

For grindier* matches, this list includes the classics, namely Enduring Curiosity, Kaito, Bane of Nightmares, and Gix's Command. The idea is to get ahead in card advantage by going 2 or 3 for 1.

Decklist

Why Play Dimir Midrange?

This archetype has been unpopular since the last Pro Tour, when it didn't perform as well as we expected. Then, the competitive scene changed after Izzet Prowess started to dominate the meta.

But Dimir Midrange usually doesn't perform well against Izzet Prowess anyway.

So, why play this list?

The answer is in the current meta: now, many players are focusing on "beating the best deck in the format", Izzet Prowess, and what often works against it doesn't work against Dimir. This means Dimir has the upper hand against most decks trying to beat Izzet right now.

In other words, Dimir isn't the best against Izzet Prowess, but it is strong against all the decks trying to beat Izzet Prowess.

Furthermore, bernardocssa included a specific answer that is efficient against Izzet Prowess itself. It makes this matchup a bit better than usual: using Vren, the Relentless alongside The Filigree Sylex in the sideboard.

Just keep in mind you still have to learn how to pilot this list very well before bringing it to tournaments. Because it is so complex, you'll need to invest some time into it and get used to all the answers you'll have available and the situations you'll find yourself in when you play it.

Mulligan

Mulliganing in game 1 is usually not the best idea, and you should only do it in emergencies. This list plays a decent mana curve, with many 1-drops and 2-drops, so, if you get more reactive cards early on, it might still be a good strategy in game 1. Another option is to plan a strong sequence right from the start. Let's see some examples.

Avoid hands like this:

This hand doesn't play anything on the first few turns (neither proactively nor reactively). This means you can't keep it, even though it is quite balanced in terms of the spell-to-land ratio.

Let's see another example.

This hand might not be spectacular, but it has something to play on turn 1, and, even if you don't draw anything for turn 2, you can still use the Map token to manipulate your topdeck. As for turn 3, this hand has something to play that is strong against most opponents: Preacher of the Schism. It also has a big threat for turn 4, our dear Sheoldred, the Apocalypse. If your opponent can't answer her fast enough, she can win the game by herself.

Keep in mind that Preacher of the Schism can also give you a very relevant amount of card advantage.

Now, imagine an exceptional hand, with a fantastic sequence of plays and a fast answer for creatures that will let you push forward without worrying about your opponent:

Please note that you must look for a hand with a decent spell-to-land ratio, and also pay attention to your mana curve. Our last example would be a reasonably flooded land, with 4 or even 5 lands, but with a Duress or a Go for the Throat. These two cards would be answers for the main threats in the meta, and you'd have all your land drops, which is very relevant for this archetype.

Clearly, it isn't ideal, but keep in mind your mulligan can punish you a lot if you can't play your land drops until turn 4.

This sideboard is a bit different from others, as it includes, mostly, just one of every card. This might seem weird at first, but it is quite efficient, considering your main deck is already well-set for game 1.

You'll only have to swap multiple cards in a few matchups. And, like so, this list will have a spot answer for practically all the main archetypes in the format.

Please note that the only exceptions are The Filigree Sylex (3 copies), which is a powerful answer against Izzet Prowess, and Ghost Vacuum (2 copies), which is efficient against any deck that uses the graveyard.

Vs. Izzet Prowess

Finally, let's see how this list deals with the most popular matchup right now, Izzet Prowess! This is certainly the deck of the hour, and some players have even been asking WotC to ban its main card, Cori-Steel Cutter. But this list has great weapons to play against it.

Side In

Side Out

Remember to make the most out of the interaction between Vren, the Relentless and The Filigree Sylex: if you do, you'll win the game. When you have Duress, always try to discard Cori-Steel Cutter, as you'll struggle to push forward with it in play.

Vs. Mono Red Aggro

You need to be ready to play against this deck at all times. The meta changes, the format changes, but a Mono Red Aggro is always around the corner, waiting to beat you. This is one of the most explosive decks in Standard right now, so you need to be fast with your answers. There's only one thing I must urge you to pay attention to for this sideboard: whether you're playing first or drawing first.

Side In

Side Out

Wait, how will we remove 5 cards from our deck and add just 4?

Remember what I said about playing first or drawing first? So, when you're playing first, keep Kaito, Bane of Nightmares. Now, if you're drawing first, then keep Enduring Curiosity.

But why? Basically, when you're playing first, you can be more proactive. As you'll be one turn ahead, you might be able to put Kaito, Bane of Nightmares in play on your opponent's second turn, which will force them to answer immediately. This essentially changes the entire rhythm of the game.

On the other side, if you're drawing first, you must be more reactive. There is a chance the game will turn into a "topdeck" war. If, at this moment, you manage to stick an Enduring Curiosity on the board as you pass, and your opponent can't answer it immediately, then you'll almost certainly have won the match.

Vs. Esper Pixie

Esper Pixie also changed. Currently, most players have been more aggressive with it and have played Optimistic Scavenger, which grows as they play the many enchantments in this list. So, your game plan for this matchup is similar to what you'll do against Izzet Prowess.

Try to get the most out of the interaction between The Filigree Sylex and Vren, the Relentless so you can deal with your opponent's small creatures.

Side In

Side Out

Vs. Azorius Omniscience Combo

This matchup, in general, is already a bit favorable to you, but it gets even better post-side. I believe this is when you'll use your sideboard the most. Dimir Midrange plays many strong cards against this deck, but others are practically useless in most cases. So, post-side, this matchup will improve a lot, and you need to know how to make the most out of this.

Side In

Side Out

Pay attention, as, in game 2 and game 3, your opponent might become more aggressive and play 4 copies of Overlord of the Mistmoors, 2 Voice of Victory, and other creatures. So, keep your 4 Go for the Throat in your deck and be ready to face this aggressive approach.

Vs. Domain or 4c Zur

This matchup is quite hard, considering you practically don't have any ways to deal with your opponent's strongest enchantments. You can just use Duress to try to make them discard their cards and avoid their main threats. If they manage to play their "perfect sequence", that is, Up the Beanstalk on turn 2, Overlord of the Hauntwoods on turn 3, and Zur, Eternal Schemer on turn 4, already activating Overlord of the Hauntwoods' ability, you can either answer immediately, or lose.

Unfortunately, this type of sequence isn't as rare as you'd like it to be, precisely because of Up the Beanstalk. So your priority with Duress is to discard this card. Save another removal for Zur, Eternal Schemer.

Side In

Side Out

Remember: Cut Down has one target only, and its name is Zur, Eternal Schemer. That's why you can't remove all Cut Downs from this deck. You need to use it at the right time, so always save mana for it if your opponent tries to push forward with Zur.

Dimir Midrange might seem discreet at a first glance, but is extremely powerful in the right hands. It is definitely not easy, as you'll constantly have to analyze the game state, know how each interaction works really well, and be very patient. If you've just started to play it, get ready to make some mistakes: it's all part of the process. This deck will force you to think everything through, plan ahead, and adapt to each situation. But that's precisely why it is so rewarding.

The most interesting part is that, in the current meta, it is very well-positioned. Its spot answers and solid game plan make it a great choice if you enjoy consistency and complexity. Don't expect easy wins every time, but know that, once you understand all its layers, you'll be able to win any matchup.

So, my best tip is: practice. The more matches you play, the better you'll be at making decisions with it. And, if you're trying to get to Mythic, this could be the perfect weapon for you, as long as you're willing to master it.

What do you think? Tell us your thoughts in our comment section below.

I'm Rodrigo Monteiro, or the Professor from ProfFriend's, and I thank you for reading this article.

Good luck, and see you next time!