Post-Rotation U/W Control - Cody Jacobs (9/13/2012)

Everyone is pretty excited about Return to Ravnica releasing in a few weeks. So in celebration I've gone ahead and brewed up a blue white control list. With any luck U/W control will once again be a tier 1 deck. Enjoy!

Creatures-13

2x Isperia, Supreme Judge

4x Judge's Familiar

3x Snapcaster Mage

2x Lyev Skyknight

1x Restoration Angel

1x Drogskol Reaver

Instants/Sorcerys-13

1x Cyclonic Rift

4x Azorius Charm

1x Sphinx's Revelation

2x Supreme Verdict

1x Feeling of Dread

3x Think Twice

1x Terminus

Enchantments-3

3x Detention Sphere

Planeswalkers-6

3x Jace, Architect of Thought

3x Tamiyo, Moon Sage

Lands-25

4x Hallowed Fountain

4x Glacial Fortress

3x Ghost Quarter

1x Moorland Haunt

7x Island

6x Plains

Sideboard (Something like this, depends on the meta game)

x4 Knight of Glory

x1 Detention Sphere

x2 Jace, Memory Adept

x2 Cyclonic Rift

x3 Geist of Saint Traft

x1 Supreme Verdict

x1 Terminus

x1 Feeling of Dread

Post-Rotation Delver - Bruce Archey (9/13/2012)

So.. There's been alot of talk recently about if Delver will still be a deck or not, after rotation. I'm going to say yes. While Delver loses it's best cards (Ponder, Gitaxian Probe, Seachrome Coast, Timely Reinforcements, Celestial Purge, etc) It still gains alot of good cards, and the base of the deck is still there. Lets look at some deck list I brewed up.

American Delver.

Creatures - 17
4x Delver of Secrets
4x Snapcaster Mage
4x Geist of Saint Traft
3x Restoration Angel
2x Augur of Bolas

Spells - 22
4x Thought Scour
4x Pillar of Flame
3x Unsummon
3x Izzet Charm
2x Syncopate
2x Geistflame
2x Azorius Charm
2x Runechanter's Pike

Land - 21
4x Hallowed Fountain
4x Sulfur Falls
4x Glacial Fortress
3x Clifftop Retreat
3x Steam Vents
2x Moorland Haunt
1x Island

(Sideboard depending on Meta)

This list looks solid and playable. Since we're losing Timely Reinforcements, Celestial Purge, Hero of Bladehold, and Blade Splicer we need Pillar of Flame to fight against Zombies. Syncopate's probably going to be the best counterspell in standard, since it can exile stuff cheaper than Dissipate can.

U/R Delver.

Creatures - 13
4x Snapcaster Mage
4x Delver of Secrets
3x Augur of Bolas
2x Talrand, Sky Summoner

Spells - 26
4x Izzet Charm
4x Thought Scour
4x Pillar of Flame
3x Think Twice
3x Unsummon
2x Geistflame
2x Runechanter's Pike
2x Flames of the Firebrand
2x Syncopate

Land - 21
4x Steam Vents
4x Sulfur Falls
8x Island
5x Mountain

(Sideboard depending on Meta)

While missing Geist of Saint Traft, Knight of Glory, and Restoration Angel U/R Delver still seems like a strong choice. Having the perfect mana base, and the perfect amount of Instants and Sorcerys is always nice.

Esper Delver

Creatures - 10
4x Snapcaster Mage
4x Delver of Secrets
2x Talrand, Sky Summoner

Spells - 28
4x Thought Scour
4x Lingering Souls
4x Midnight Haunting
4x Azorius Charm
4x Intangible Virtue
3x Favorable Winds
3x Unsummon
2x Talrand's Invocation

Land - 22
4x Hallowed Fountain
4x Glacial Fortress
4x Drowned Catacomb
1x Evolving Wilds
1x Moorland Haunt
1x Vault of the Archangel
5x Island
1x Plains
1x Swamp

(Sideboard depending on Meta)

Esper Delver is going to be pretty good once RTR hits, with Ratchet Bomb and Day of Judgment leaving. Expect this to be a strong competitor.

Well, that's all I got for now.

Thanks for Reading."

Top 10 Cards in Standard and Prices - Bruce Archey (8/21/2012)

Top 10 cards in Standard and Prices.

10. Birthing Pod - Birthing Pod's a solid card and is played in some good decks ranging from Naya Pod, Bant Pod, Zombie pod, and many more. Current Price: $2.83. Predicted Price after Rotation: $1.00-$2.00

9. Runechanter's Pike - Runechanter's Pike is a very good card and can do alot of damage rather quickly and can win the game out of nowhere. It's play in a few Delver Variants, and it's going to see alot of play for the next year. Current Price: $1.04. Predicted price after rotation: $3.

8. Huntmaster of the Fells - When Huntmaster enter's the battlefield you gain 2 life and you get a 2/2 wolf, and it pretty much forces your opponent to cast a spell. When it flips, it deals 2 damage to a creature and a player. That's alot of value. Curent Price: $16.62. Predicted Price after Rotation: $12-$17.

7. Restoration Angel - Restoration Angel is a powerhouse. A 3/4 Flyer that cost 4 mana with Flash is already enough, but when it enter's the battlefield you can blink a creature you control such as Huntmaster of the Fell's, Snapcaster Mage, Geralf's messenger, etc. To get more value out of them. Current Price: $10.87. Predicted Price after Rotation: $13+

6. Geist of Saint Traft - Geist is probably one of the best creatures in standard. I mean, 6 power swinging on turn 4 is pretty good. And you can blink it out with Restoration Angel to keep it from dieing. Current Price: $17.22. Predicted Price after Rotation: $20+

5. Ponder - Ponder is just all around a great card. Dig's for answers, shuffles away bad cards, and sets up delver flips. Current Price: 71 Cents. Predicted Price after Rotation: 25-50 cents.

4. Rancor - A 1 drop enchantment that gives a creature +2/+0 AND Trample? I'm pretty sure the card explains itself.  Current Price: $2.03. Predicted Price after Rotation: $3-$4.

3. Talrand, Sky Summoner - Talrand's probably the best 4 drop in standard right now, and there's a reason why. Everytime you cast an Instant or Sorcery you get a 2/2 Drake with Flying. That creates massive tempo, and gives you a pretty big board. Current Price: $5.19. Predicted Price after Rotation: $7-$10

2. Delver of Secrets - The best one drop in Standard, and probably the best one drop ever printed. A 3/2 Flyer that cost 1 mana is insane. No wonder alot of people hate him. Current Price: 52 Crents. Predicted Price after Rotation: $1.00+

1. Snapcaster Mage - A 2/1 body with flash that gives a instant or sorcery card in your graveyard flashback untill end of turn for only 2 mana is just insane. Current Price: $19.30. Predicted Price after Rotation: $30+

Thanks for reading.