LCI Standard Decks

Top New Standard Performers from Lost Caverns of Ixalan

Tom AndersonStandard, Strategy

Every Magic set goes through an excitable honeymoon phase, and it’s only after the first few weeks of events that you can really measure their impact on the metagame. The top minds in Constructed Magic have had some time to thoroughly explore Lost Caverns of Ixalan, so which shiny new decks have emerged to flash their tournament potential? More importantly, …

The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Standard Cards You'll Want to Play

The Lost Caverns of Ixalan: Standard Cards You’ll Want to Play

Tom AndersonStandard

The new cards from The Lost Caverns of Ixalan hit Standard this week! Fittingly, they’re about to enter a strange and deadly environment unlike anything ever seen before.  Changes to Standard legality have led to a larger card pool and higher standard of card quality than in many other years, which makes it hard for new mechanics and archetypes to …

What Makes a God in Magic

What Makes a God in Magic

Tom AndersonCommander, Standard

Even in an epic fantasy card game like Magic: the Gathering, populated by giants, dragons, angels, titans, krakens and demons, labeling something a “god” creates an extra layer of expectation. A god card has to feel powerful, and in a unique way that sets them apart from other high-impact creatures. Some games might elevate them above the mere mortals by …

The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Exploring Flip-Lands

The Lost Caverns of Ixalan: Exploring Flip Lands

Tom AndersonCommander, Standard

Other than mighty dinosaurs and mythical treasures, the big theme in The Lost Caverns of Ixalan is exploration and discovery — the different factions of pirates, vampires, merfolk and native Oltcec all racing to reach the mysterious Core. This journey to the center of the Earth is represented in-game not just by the explore keyword action, but the signature, transforming …

Exploring Cavern of Souls' Reprint

Exploring Cavern of Souls’ Reprint

Tom AndersonCommander, Standard

To enfranchised Magic players, rare lands are always headline cards for any new set. The availability of color-fixing lands is a huge factor in deciding the metagame of a format, especially the presence of multicolor aggro decks. But despite this vital role, there’s usually not a lot interesting to say about the cards themselves. But that’s different for Cavern of …

The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Early Look

The Lost Caverns of Ixalan: Early Look

Chris CornejoCommander, Products, Standard

It’s been a while since Magic: The Gathering last visited Ixalan, and a lot has changed on the Meso-American inspired plane. Let’s jump in and take a look at everything we know about the upcoming set, The Lost Caverns of Ixalan!  The Story  A year has passed since the Phyrexian invasion of the Multiverse and Ixalan is healing its wounds …

World Championship XXIX Lessons Learned

World Championship XXIX: Lessons Learned

Michael RappLimited, Standard

More than 100 of the best Magic players in the world gathered in Las Vegas for the 2023 World Championship last weekend to compete in a tournament split between Wilds of Eldraine Draft and Standard Constructed. And as with the conclusion of any tournament, there are lessons to be learned from World Championship XXIX. What expectations did players and spectators …

Lost Caverns of Ixalan: Early Impressions

Mason ClarkModern, Pioneer, Standard

We continued our descent toward the Lost Caverns of Ixalan during the weekend at MagicCon Las Vegas. While we have still only seen a few previews, they point us in some fun directions, so we’re going to look at the potential standouts.  Ojer Axonil, Deepest Might  Now this is an exciting god. Ojer turns all your burn spells into Boros …

Wilds of Eldraine Updated Decks for Standard

Wilds of Eldraine: Updated Decks for Standard

Tom AndersonStandard

I’ve been keeping a close eye on the early Standard decks post-Wilds of Eldraine, and I’m sure I’m not the only one with great expectations. The original Throne of Eldraine was among the most impactful sets ever, immediately reshaping not only Standard but every other format, too.  Wilds of Eldraine doesn’t seem to include must-ban outliers on the level of …