Standard: 8 Lost Caverns of Ixalan Cards to Keep an Eye Post-Rotation

Standard rotation is coming. Starting with the prerelease of Edge of Eternities, the sets from Dominaria United to March of the Machines: Aftermath leave the format and, with them, a range of preexisting options and staples that have solidified in recent years: Temporary Lockdown, Cut Down, Atraxa, Grand Unifier, Monastery Swiftspear, Sheoldred, the Apocalypse, the pain lands and half of the fast lands are just a few examples.

With this blank space and the clear changes in the Metagame caused by them, it is natural that some cards that were previously irrelevant may gain more space in Standard, whether due to their individual power level, interaction with a specific mechanic, or simply because their deck becomes more viable without certain cards in the Metagame.

In this series of articles, we've listed cards from each set that will remain in Standard that deserve a second look for the next season, and today we're covering cards from Lost Caverns of Ixalan.

Kellan, Daring Traveler

Kellan, Daring Traveler has been surprising me positively in the last few weeks due to an archetype based on legendary creatures that I built with Final Fantasy cards, but its ability is not limited to them: if there is any “White Weenie Aggro” or go wide strategy with plenty of cheap creatures, it becomes a recurring source of card advantage.

Combined with Dark Confidant, I can imagine a Aggro using both to keep the threats running. Perhaps, if combined with Alesha, Who Laughs at Death and Inti, Seneschal of the Sun, we will have a very efficient Mardu Aggro archetype in the next Metagame.

Deeproot Pilgrimage

Just like Ego Drain in Wilds of Eldraine, Deeproot Pilgrimage can benefit from a creature type being among the most prominent in a plane that we will revisit in January with Lorwyn Eclipsed.

Back in 2008, the theme of tapping and untapping permanents was part of the Merfolk mechanic in Lorwyn, and it is possible that Magic will revisit this theme in the return, in addition to, of course, adding several other cards of this type for us to experiment with the enchantment.

Malcolm, Alluring Scoundrel

Without Faerie Mastermind, unless Edge of Eternities brings an equivalent card, it is possible or even likely that Malcolm, Alluring Scoundrel will become a viable two-drop for Dimir Midrange decks next season.

In addition to this, other archetypes, whether based on cheap creatures or playing on your opponent's turn, may benefit more from this card in the absence of Mastermind, making it a potential source of card advantage next season.

Bloodletter of Aclazotz

Bloodletter of Aclazotz already has the spotlight on it due to its combo with Unstoppable Slasher — and that's why it's on this list: without Abuelo's Awakening or the superfast Red Aggro, the combination between these two cards becomes the most effective and consistent way to win games with an unfair line, while the entire base and structure of the black Midranges can be allocated with the Shock Lands to create a consistent list.

Between Unholy Annex, Deep-Cavern Bat, Duress and several removals, it will be necessary for Edge of Eternities to bring very efficient answers or an even better combination of cards to not make the Slasher Combo one of the main competitors in the Metagame.

Stalactite Stalker

There are two archetypes where Stalactite Stalker can and should be evaluated: the first is the Golgari Mill. Without Up the Beanstalk to generate rivers of value and Overwhelming Remorse to deal with creatures, it is possible that the deck will take a more aggressive line with Stalactite Stalker.

The second option are the lists with Tifa Lockhart, which already naturally run 12 “fetch lands” to trigger her ability. In this case, Stalker is a cheap and complementary threat that works well with the number of lands we can crack while also growing each turn, not unlike Sazh’s Chocobo.

Bonehoard Dracosaur

Many cards have been overshadowed this season by more efficient combinations or threats, and Bonehoard Dracosaur was one of them.

With Sheoldred, the Apocalypse out of the way, Dracosaur is one of the options we have to generate value every turn it's on the board. Combined with the fact that it's a Dragon with a 5/5 Flying body, we can imagine some Gruul Midrange or Rakdos Dragons lists wanting this card, especially since Caustic Exhale might be the closest thing to Cut Down we'll get after rotation.

Abuelo, Ancestral Echo

Abuelo, Ancestral Echo does a great impression of Eldrazi Displacer and benefits from a design philosophy that has increasingly prioritized ETB effects. In addition, its ability also works as a protection effect in longer games, or generates extra value with several creatures and artifacts present in the Metagame.

It also interacts with the upcoming Warp mechanic, but we need to know which cards from EOE will have the best LTB effects to see whether it's good enough to constantly blink them with Abuelo.

The Ancient One

Like Stalactite Stalker, The Ancient One can be an essential piece for Self-Mill decks alongside Diamond Weapon and Exdeath, Void Warlock.

The addition of blue also provides other ways to put cards in the graveyard and other payoffs like Wail of the Forgotten, and having another 8/8 for two mana on top of the many other cheap high-power creatures we keep post-rotation is a good reason to consider Sultai over Golgari with the right mana base.

That's all for today!

If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment!

Thanks for reading!