The Hobbit is coming. Standard is in an odd spot if we do not get a Banned and Restricted update in the next announcement. The Metagame appears diverse, with enough strategic variety despite the established staples, but the combination of a three‑year rotation and a card pool already packed with powerful pieces makes it harder for each new set to make a significant impact on the competitive environment.That might be the case with The Hobbit. The new Middle‑earth collaboration has plenty of potential in some specific cards, but they all come with the same question: "Does it do anything better than what is already being done?" In past times, that answer was easier to reach. Today, card game design makes it much harder for each new expansion to have a meaningful impact on the competitive environment; the pendulum now swings heavily toward stability over innovation, and a 190‑card set ends up having fewer chances.That does not mean the expansion is bad. Quite the opposite: compared to Marvel Super Heroes or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, I believe this Universes Beyond set has individually stronger cards for Standard. Below, we point out our main bets for the format!WhiteI am deeply divided on Bilbo's Gambit's viability in Standard. I can imagine games where, from Selesnya Offense, I hold up white mana with a dork to counter a Sunderflock and win on the swing back, and that same possibility exists for a dozen matches due to the nature of some cards being overly high‑impact. On the other hand, it also means losing some turns if we are a proactive deck, and more reactive strategies do not capitalize as much on it when cards like Aven Interrupter or Aang, Swift Savior already exist in Azorius Tempo.It has potential, that is undeniable. But how much potential is something that still needs to be defined.The best way to look at The Eagles Are Coming! is as a 4/4 for two mana with Flying that cannot attack on the turn cycle it enters and protects one of your creatures from removal or lets you reuse its ETB. In the late game, we can turn some games around with an army of tokens, but the card was designed to prevent unexpected hit‑kills.With so many Izzet lists available and Jeskai Control being a viable archetype, The Queen of Dale can easily filter your hand each turn cycle and potentially increase board power, but the 2/1 body trades poorly against Aggro decks, and there are matches where she will do nothing beyond being a legendary two‑drop.Settle the Wreckage goes the opposite direction. Excellent against go‑wide Aggro with Practiced Offense or Ouroboroid, decent against Mardu Looting, but terrible when all you need to answer is one or two creatures. Potential Sideboard staple.BlueThe best Bilbo in the set is a Dreadhorde Arcanist with extra Snapcaster Mage steps that could be beneficial in Standard's current state. He is closer to grind slots and may not find room in Prowess, but Dimir lists could run one or two copies to cast Duress and removal spells a second time while having the tools to protect him.Elrond, Moon-Reader has everything to be broken, but perhaps the current Metagame does not have room to optimize his use. He turns even mana dorks into card advantage sources and can guarantee two draws each turn cycle, and today's decks run a significant number of mana dorks to interact with Badgermole Cub. The question is whether there is actually an archetype that can abuse his ability to do something beyond what the other Cub archetypes already do.You should test The Lord of the Eagles in Azorius Tempo and Azorius Momo, but without high expectations. Sometimes it will be absurd in a sequence with Momo, Friendly Flier and Sage of the Skies or Quantum Riddler, but it will also be the worst possible topdeck if your opponent controls the board.It is a bit hard to evaluate how much difference a 2/2 with Flying for makes in current Standard. Fueling the graveyard with the Adventure makes it easier to cast cards like Eddymurk Crab and Hearth Elemental, so perhaps Most Decrepit Old Bird makes sense since it does not generate negative value if bounced back to hand with Sunderflock. It is also an aggressive beater that fuels the graveyard for Accumulate Wisdom in Lessons lists, but that archetype is more on the Control spectrum.Slickshot Show‑Off and Drake Hatcher are Wizards whose doubled triggers can make an absurd difference. Add the new Gandalf, Goblins' Bane and you have material to consider an Izzet Wizards list, whether blending with Stormchaser's Talent or the Gran‑Gran package.BlackGollum offers quite a bit of long‑term value if we have predictability regarding the opponent's card costs. If he generates a draw and a life drain on the same turn, he has already done enough, and replacing himself if hit by a Requiting Hex or Burst Lightning means he is never a bad trade. Worth testing, but he needs to find a home that accommodates him when black Midrange decks are not performing well.Speaking of black, Inside Information can turn games around if it resolves in an Excruciator/Control mirror. Potential Sideboard one‑of that could grow if we have a slower Metagame in the future.RedBoros Dragons is a real archetype in Standard, and Desolation of Smaug sequences into Smaug the Magnificent or Magmatic Hellkite while clearing the board of dorks and small creatures from the opponent. It could serve as a stabilizer for an archetype that currently relies only on explosive sequences with Momo, Friendly Flier or Sarkhan, Dragon Ascendant to keep up with the Metagame.The Vivi Ornitier we have at home trades the absurdity of generating mana and being copied with Agatha's Soul Cauldron for a "Draw 2" that works if you control a Wizard and serves as setup for its own ability. With Wizard's Staff and other Wizards, it has enough potential to impact the Metagame in yet another Izzet variant.While we are talking about Smaug for Boros Dragons, his ability to create Treasures each turn is essential for traditional Midrange decks. The issue is that those have practically disappeared from the Metagame, and the only versions with good results right now do not even run red among their colors. Perhaps this could be a motivator for a Mono Red Aggro return with a slightly higher curve.GreenI want to say excellent things about Bejeweled Warg because it generates incremental value each turn and is an excellent target for Practiced Offense. The issue is that, as a two‑drop, it falls short compared to Badgermole Cub. It could complement it, could come in a more aggressive list, but it is still below par in deckbuilding quality.Beorn is another in the long series of mythics that bury the opponent in a snowball if they stay on board and demand immediate answers. Potential staple that deserves slots in both Ouroboroid and Landfall decks.Gigantic Big Bear has a specific role in Control matches where the opponent has few or no blockers. The high cost is not a problem for Landfall/Cub if the game goes long.Protection, evasion, and removal against Sunderflock and Slickshot Show‑Off in the same card should secure one or two Sideboard slots for Warg Tactics.Honorable mention that Wood Elves can fetch Shock Lands, Surveil Lands, and, should they ever return, Triomes. It may not mean much today, but it becomes manafixing and a staple if we get a Goodstuff/Ramp deck in the future.MulticoloredThere was a time when a card that created 2/2s each turn would be enough to become a staple. Today, I have doubts whether Chief Warg's Company would justify its slots in Golgari Midrange, even costing less than Huntmaster of the Fells.ArtifactsA Legends‑based deck put up results in recent Challenges with Celestial Reunion. The Arkenstone does not put the creature directly onto the battlefield, but it offers a Glorious Anthem and a recurring card advantage source in the mid‑game. It could be worth some testing.A creature equipped with My Precious becomes almost impossible to remove without sweepers, and the two‑mana Village Rites ensures the equipment is not a dead topdeck. It has potential, but still lacks a home.LandsWe can ignore the equipment theme and consider The Lonely Mountain a land that enters tapped and puts a 2/2 into play whenever we pay six mana. It seems like the kind of card that would find a slot as a one‑of in late‑game decks.Wrapping 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