Instant Speed Gazette #001

Instant Speed Gazette, the fastest place to get your MTG news and tidbits!

The Star City Games Open was held this past weekend in Atlanta. Which cards from Oath of the Gatewatch have been adopted by standard players only a week after their release into the wilds?

REFLECTOR MAGE IS IN!


Reflector Mage, that's who.  Jeskai Black and 4-Color-Rally decks peppered the top 24 finishing decks in the Standard Open event. It was clear to anyone watching that these decks were highly empowered and perhaps had already become dependent on Reflector Mage for they're viability. There were Reflector Mages bouncing eldar dragons, bouncing Jace, Vryn's Prodigy's, even Reflector Mages bouncing other Reflector Mages!

The top deck of the tournament went to an Atarka Red build, many of which were sporting the handiness of Relentless Bushwacker, a three drop that can go along with a one mana burn spell to out-cast opponents before mid-game.









RISE OF THE ELDRAZI

Another takeaway from this past weekend's Open tournaments as relates to Standard is the rise of the Eldrazi decks.  The release of Oath of the Gatewatch on January 22nd has, only days later, led to an upper crust of various Eldrazi themed decks. Five of the top Sixteen decks were Eldrazi based decks, with a Mono-Green construction taking the silver medal for the event. Other builds finishing highly were Red/Green and Mono Black Eldrazi.

An interesting slot for the fantastic card Sylvan Advocate appears here, this ally protecting the mid game and paving the way for Ulamog and Kozilek!

Stay tuned for more developments as they develop from INSTANT SPEED MTG!