Izzet Spellementals is one of the most popular decks in Standard today. The archetype emerged following the release of Sunderflock in Lorwyn Eclipsed, when players began combining the card with Elemental creatures whose costs were reduced by the number of spells in the graveyard. Today, the deck is considered one of the format's top competitors, going toe‑to‑toe with other Izzet variants and possibly seeing more play than Prowess versions at the moment.The DecklistMaindeckOur plan revolves around filling the graveyard to reduce our creatures' costs, and once an Elemental is on board, casting Sunderflock to "clear" the opponent's board while pushing damage.Hearth Elemental and Eddymurk Crab are the main enablers. Both are also versatile, with roles that include filtering your hand or controlling combat during the match. Crab, for instance, can swing games quickly or buy several "extra turns" by tapping down the opponent's creatures.Colorstorm Stallion is the flex slot. I like running a full set split between the maindeck and sideboard for matches where racing with a cheap threat that punishes interaction is our best route.Sleight of Hand and Opt filter the top of the library and fuel the graveyard at a low cost, helping to enable Flow State as a "Draw 2" for two mana. Since we are a deck heavily reliant on the graveyard, we do not want four copies.Winternight Stories fills the graveyard and can be reused in the late game with our creatures. In the late game, we can also use Harmonize to create copies of Colorstorm Stallion.Traumatic Critique is another enabler for Stallion, but it also works universally as looting attached to board interaction. Prismari Charm does a bit of everything we want: filter the top, answer small threats, protect our creatures, remove a blocker, or let us reuse some of our ETBs.One‑mana interaction is still necessary, and the split of Burst Lightning and Impractical Joke ensures early‑game versatility, speed, and reach in the mid‑to‑late game.Spell Pierce protects our threats or stops overly greedy spells from the opponent, while Spell Snare lets us answer Badgermole Cub or Slickshot Show‑Off on the stack and on the play.Get Out has the flexibility to answer opponent creatures or protect our own from removal and sweepers.SideboardRal, Crackling Wit and Colorstorm Stallion come in when you do not want Sunderflock, or when the match requires a specific threat line. Against Landfall and Red Aggro, Stallion puts more pressure on the board, while it can be punishing to answer in Control games if you are on the play.Ral works when we want more long‑term permanent power, especially in Control matches, the mirror, Lessons, and other slower decks.Specific interaction for various matches. Annul comes in more often and therefore deserves two slots, but Disdainful Stroke and Flashfreeze are more conditional. They provide a small edge in some matches when they resolve, but they do not change the dynamic enough to want more copies today.Abrade is another relevant one‑of in some matches due to its versatility. Broadside Barrage handles creatures or Planeswalkers while filtering our hand. Avengers Disassembled clears the board of smaller creatures and, in some cases, answers a manland or an Earthbending land whose power has grown too high.Two graveyard hate slots are the bare minimum, but the choices can vary. Ghost Vacuum works better against Flashback and Superior Spider‑Man, while Soul-Guide Lantern is a broader option against Lessons and Spellementals.Sideboard GuideSelesnya OuroboroidINOUTIzzet SpellementalsINOUTLandfallINOUTIzzet ProwessINOUTFour-Color ControlINOUTLessonsINOUTDimir ExcruciatorINOUTWrapping UpThat's all for today!If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment!Thanks for reading!
Reactions
0
0 Comments
Be the first to comment