Standard Review: Murders at Karlov Manor!

The Lost Caverns of Ixalan set impacted Standard pretty significantly. Soon, this format will also get a new set that will shake up its metagame!

Currently, Standard's metagame is dominated by five decks: Domain Ramp, Rakdos Carnosaur, Mono-Red Aggro, Esper Raffine and Dimir Schooner. Decks like Bant Toxic, Azorius Soldiers, Golgari Mosswood and Gruul Aggro are also quite present in the meta.

In today's article, I'll discuss the best Murders at Karlov Manor cards, bring you each color's breakout cards and approach the strategies in which they might see play.

White

Delney, Streetwise Lookout is a creature that will certainly impact this format because its ability interacts well with various creatures that are present in the meta. Decks like Azorius Soldiers, Esper Raffine and Azorius Schooner can gain a lot of advantage from it by doubling the effects of creatures like Resolute Reinforcements, Werefox Bodyguard, Deep-Cavern Bat, Raffine, Scheming Seer and Faerie Mastermind. We can create absurd value by interacting with this card for more than one turn.

A factor that will impact this card's relevance is the strong presence of cards like Wedding Announcement and Virtue of Loyalty in lists that use these creatures. Even though they are powerful cards, they don't have any synergy with Delney, and you'll need to adapt these lists to extract as much value as possible out of the new creature.

Another archetype that should benefit Delney's arrival is Bant Poison, which can use the new card as an evasion mechanism, so its creatures manage to deal some damage and increase Toxic counters more easily.

This format is stocked full of global removals, but No Witnesses is an upgraded Depopulate, and can integrate into lists of decks that are more Control to deal with the Aggro decks in the meta.

Other cards similar to Tenth District Hero have already gone through this format and saw their own amount of play, such as Ascendant Spirit and, more recently, Evolved Sleeper.

Humans is an archetype that shows up in the meta occasionally, and can adopt this new card in its lists, considering it can take advantage of its 3-cost ability and grant Indestructible to other creatures on the board. With multiple copies of Tenth District Hero or a Coppercoat Vanguard on the board, you can evade all your opponent's removals.

Blue

Blue isn't one of the strongest colors in this set for Standard, but there are some new cards that deserve to be mentioned. Case of the Ransacked Lab is one of them. Cases are a new permanent subtype that has three abilities. The first ability is always active once this enchantment is in play, so it doesn't matter whether the Case was solved or not.

The second ability is a condition that can be met to reach its third ability, but, if the Case isn't "solved" by meeting this condition, it will be "solved" at the end step, reaching the third ability and remaining in the game as long as it isn't removed through secondary effects.

Case of the Ransacked Lab is an interesting card because it reduces the cost of instants and sorceries, besides creating card advantage, which can be valuable in strategies that use several instant spells and sorceries. Even though they aren't that common in Standard, they can now pop off after this card comes along. An example of a strategy with this game style is Mono-Blue Tempo.

Forensic Researcher enables an infinite combo in Standard. Combining two copies of this creature on the board while you control Deeproot Pilgrimage will allow you to create infinite Merfolk tokens, which can be quite interesting, particularly considering this format has Agatha's Soul Cauldron.

Will it be strong enough to be a real competitor in the meta? Hard to tell, but it certainly deserves further testing.

Black

Barbed Servitor is an Indestructible creature with evasion that can both create card advantage and block bigger creatures without any further issues, and it also deals damage to your opponent in the process.

Its body seems not that relevant, even more considering it will make it very susceptible to removals that grant cards -1/-1 or similar, but it is still an interesting card.

Case of the Stashed Skeleton is a two-drop that places an interesting body in play, has synergy with sacrifice, and can become a powerful tutor on a later turn. This enchantment can easily go in any deck with a black base that can support the sacrifice mechanic.

Being able to tutor any card you want for just two mana is indeed an interesting ability for this format.

Deadly Cover-up is a global removal with a reasonable mana value that can attack your opponent's resources. Mono-Black, Rakdos and Golgari will certainly find utility in this card. The additional cost of Collecting Evidence isn't that difficult to pay, once these color combinations use many removals and swap several creatures. Even if you can't pay for the additional cost, it is still a board wipe.

Stealing resources from your opponent is always very interesting. Outrageous Robbery does that and can also be a possible finisher, which is even better. With this card and the right amount of mana, you can exile your opponent's deck or steal their best cards and use them against them.

We can also create a Control build around this card with the simple strategy of forcing your opponent to lose by Deck-Out.

Red

This is an effect that resembles Indomitable Creativity and Transmogrify, but it is valid in Standard. It might be possible to play a combo with this type of strategy in this format, considering Atraxa, Grand Unifier and Etali, Primal Conqueror are available. Additionally, there are the creatures with Discover, which can go really well with this effect.

You can cast Anzrag's Rampage and find a Trumpeting Carnosaur, placing it on the board with Haste and triggering its Discover ability. This will create a double Cascade effect.

If you know Fable of the Mirror-Breaker, then you'll understand why Case of the Crimson Pulse might be good in this format. Of course, it is far from being a Fable, but, as long as Reanimator strategies are strong and present in the metagame, cards like this will have their space.

A Goblin Lord that can fill the board, has synergy with cards like Experimental Synthesizer and comes in play as a 3/3 creature with Haste certainly stands out, even more so considering this format has a few other interesting Goblins.

Who knows, maybe a Mono-Red Goblins version using Krenko, Baron of Tin Street will pop up in this format. Even if it doesn't, it is still an interesting creature and can fit into some strategies.

Green

I wrote an article discussing Archdruid's Charm and how it can impact several formats. In Standard, I believe it will find a home in Domain Ramp because it can act as ramp and serve as a creature, enchantment or artifact removal.

Its mana value, which is a bit restrictive, can fit into Domain's mana base well, considering it is quite solid and versatile.

Axebane Ferox is a 4-drop that brings a mighty body to the board, comes with Haste, Deathtouch and an extra protection, which will certainly place this creature in a special place. Its Ward ability can end up being harder to pay than what it seems, and, with Cavern of Souls in this format, you will be able to cast this beast without worrying about counters. Like so, you'll be able to massacre your opponent as long as they can't pay for the Ward.

It is a card that can go into Golgari Midrange, Jund and Grull lists, and even go into some sideboards as a tool against Control decks.

Domain Ramp continues to get more and more cards; this one is certainly another one of them. Unlike Invasion of Zendikar, which searches for lands and places them in the game, Case of the Locked Hothouse allows you to play an additional land every turn. You will also be able to cast creatures and enchantments from the top of your deck if you control seven or more lands, which makes this card even more interesting.

Multi-Colored

This is a good card for this combination. With the new mechanic, Suspect, you'll be able to exile a creature that has been "suspected" any time Agrus Kos, Spirit of Justice comes into play or attacks. This card can be an interesting option in decks like Humans, Soldiers and even other Aggro variations that can splash these colors without any further issues.

This is this set's planeswalker. Kaya, Spirits' Justice comes with a fair mana value and an ability that has synergy with the exile and the graveyard.

Orzhov Control and Midrange are still relevant decks in the metagame, and Kaya can fit into these lists well if she combines her +1 with her +2 and these deck's removals to use your opponent's creatures against them or even reuse your own creatures and ETB effects.

A mighty removal has returned to Standard. Assassin's Trophy on its own is already a reason to splash Black or Green in several lists. It easily goes into Golgari lists and even Domain lists, and can remove anything on the board.

This is another card I highlighted during spoiler season. Judith, Carnage Connoisseur's abilities allow you to transform any burn, like a Play with Fire, into something as efficient as Terminate, and can destroy Sheoldreds and Atraxas easily.

Additionally, its second ability allows you to fill the board, which makes this card a viable option to build a list entirely focused on burn spells, even more so considering Shock was reprinted in this set.

Lands

MKM will also bring surveil lands, which work similarly to scry lands, but they have two basic types, which can help Domain lists. Each guild will have a land with the types and colors they represent.

Another article is finished. I hope you liked reading it. Leave your questions in the comment section, and tell me what you expect from this new set for Standard. I'll try to answer all.

See you next time!