Getting Back into Paper Standard

With paper events having vanished for the last year and a half, there's not much of a reason to have an up-to-date paper collection. This is doubly true due to the unpopular nature of the Throne of Eldraine-dominated Standard format.

However, rotation is coming! With the promise of a fresh format in conjunction with a return of paper events, it's time to start thinking about which cards you need to pick up to be ready to play Standard. I've gone through the four expansions that will be legal in post-rotation Standard and highlighted the cards that I think will be most likely to see play, and in which archetype. If you've been away from Standard for a while, I hope this is helpful in getting you back into the format!

Hover over card names to check out the cards!

Zendikar Rising

                                

     

Cycle of Mythic Spell-lands – All of these have seen play and continue to see play. Sea Gate Restoration is typically a 2-of, the others vary more widely, sometimes hitting 4-of status. Expensive, but very powerful. Much worse in aggressive metagames because Bolting yourself is awful. Much better in slow metagames when you can turn lategame top-decked lands into spells. Turntimber Symbiosis, Emeria's Call, and Shatterskull Smashing are low-priced right now and worth picking up. Agadeem's Awakening and Sea Gate Restoration are more expensive, but also not likely to drop much lower. If anything, they'll go up as well.

 

Leyline Tyrant – Good card, relevant creature type, yet to find a home. If it does, it will spike hard, since it would likely be a 4-of and is a mythic rare.

 

Felidar Retreat – Has seen fringe play.

 

Squad Commander – If a Party deck is played, this one is likely to be included.

 

Shadows' Verdict – Best Black sweeper. Played in both midrange and controlling decks.

 

Kazandu Mammoth – A key piece of aggressive Green decks, and it will continue to be so.

 

Skyclave Shade – If there's an aggressive Black deck, this card is an auto-include. Also a decent sideboard card against control, particularly non-Black control without exile effects.

Inscription of Ruin – Likely to see at least fringe play. Very flexible.

Magmatic Channeler – Has seen fringe play. With Innistrad's graveyard focus, this might have a resurgence.

Inscription of Abundance – Powerful, flexible removal spell.

Kargan Intimidator – Likely inclusion for aggressive Red decks.

Legion Angel – Likely include in aggressive White decks and Angels decks.

Luminarch Aspirant – one of the best aggressive White cards in the format.

Hagra Mauling – Possible that this sees fringe play. Much better options for removal, but if the format is slower, this could be playable.

Lotus Cobra – Always has potential for hijinks.

Maul of the Skyclaves – Best equipment in Standard, likely 4-of in aggressive White decks.

Nighthawk Scavenger – Has seen fringe play, may continue to do so, possibly as a sideboard card.

Ondu Inversion – Likely ~2-of in White control decks.

Soul Shatter – 1- to 2-of in Black midrange/control decks. Particularly important in dealing with Koma, Cosmos Serpent.

Roiling Vortex – Fantastic sideboard card in aggressive Red decks. ~3-of

Swarm Shambler – Has typically been included in Monogreen Stompy, but also most likely to get pushed out by better options.

Skyclave Apparition – 4-of in White decks until it rotates, and then it will see 4-of play in Pioneer and Modern.

Valakut Awakening – Likely 2+-of in slow Red decks.

Jwari Disruption – Censor variants go in and out of playability.

Thundering Rebuke – Solid removal spell depending on format.

Bala Ged Recovery – 1- to 2-of in slow Green decks.

Kazuul's Fury – The best way to play Fling without having to use a spell slot for the card. Likely a 1- to 2-of in big Red decks.

Roiling Regrowth – Decent ramp spell.

Tangled Florahedron – One of the format's premier mana dorks.

Vastwood Surge – If there's a ramp deck, they will likely want this card.

Goma Fada Vanguard – If Innistrad gives us more Red warriors, this could be a fantastic two-drop in an aggressive Red deck.

Acquisitions Expert – Burglar Rat has occasionally seen play, particularly in decks that blink, and this is a Rat with upside.

Bloodchief's Thirst – Fantastic removal spell. 2- to 4-of in Black decks.

Roil Eruption – A disappointing Lighting Strike variant, but it's still one of the only half-decent burn spells we have in the format that can hit face.

Malakir Blood-Priest – If there's a party deck, this is likely in it as a 4-of.

Cleansing Wildfire – Keep this in mind for sideboards if Book/Haven combo picks up.

Into the Roil – This has occasionally seen play in the past, good to have some on-hand just in case.

Nissa of Shadowed Boughs – Might see fringe play as a 1- to 2-of in slow decks.

Zagras, Thief of Heartbeats – If there's a party deck, this is one of the most powerful cards in the archetype.

Brushfire Elemental – If RG aggro sticks around, so will this.

Crawling Barrens – Creaturelands are good. This may see a bit of play, but will likely downtick as controlling decks are able to play the on-color creature lands from AFR.

     

     

Pathways - Standard's best lands. Every 2+-color deck will max out on these and then play more if they're splashing.

Kaldheim

Valki, God of Lies – Possible 1- to 2-of in controlling/midrange decks. Loss of Ikoria Triomes does make it harder to splash, but Pathways should keep it largely free.

Halvar, God of Battle – Popular as a 3- to 4-of in White aggressive strategies. With Book of Exalted Deeds and Faceless Haven still in the format, along with some other pickups from AFR, White Weenies is likely to remain playable.

Starnheim Unleashed – BW Angels might be playable, and even outside that, Starnheim is just a really powerful effect. Likely a 2-of. Really good pickup right now – mythic, cheap, alt-art is only slightly more than regular.

Alrund's Epiphany – Staple. This has been a 4-of in most Blue decks since its printing. Not likely to drop below its current price range. As paper demand goes up, this will likely rise if it maintains its status as a 4-of mythic.

Goldspan Dragon – Staple. 4-of in most Red decks since printing. Will hold value or increase.

Doomskar – If you're interested in control, this is the premier White sweeper.

Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider – Likely to be a 0- to 2-of in Green Stompy, good chance of going in and out of playability in slower midrange decks depending on how good things using counters (Classes, Sagas, etc) are. Probably won't drop in value much, but also unlikely to rise much, as it is unlikely to be a 4-of as an expensive legendary creature.

Birgi, God of Storytelling – This is a combo piece. 4x in the new Bard Storm deck (plays all red/green legends and uses Bard Class to reduce their costs to zero or one, then play whole deck) Currently around $5, should pick up now in case Bard Storm becomes a real deck in Pioneer and/or Standard.

Egon, God of Death – Maybe. If there is a heavy graveyard deck, which is likely because of Innistrad, then this may have a place. On the other hand, Theros with all its escape and sacrifice synergies is rotating.

Ascendant Spirit – This will be a 4-of in any Monoblue Aggro/Tempo deck. Unclear that such a deck will actually exist, though.

Esika's Chariot – 3- to 4-of in Green Stompy and other Green decks.

Crippling Fear – Good card (sometimes sideboard) when the meta is fast.

Dragonkin Berserker – Likely include in new variant of Monored Aggro.

Righteous Valkyrie – Lynchpin of BW Angels deck. Likely to go up in value if Pioneer Angels continues putting up results as paper events return.

Old-Growth Troll – 4-of in Monogreen Stompy

Usher of the Fallen – 4-of in Monowhite Aggro

Toski, Bearer of Secrets – Good card, likely to see some play as a 2- to 3-of.

Clarion Spirit – Powerful card, current key card in Naya Adventures. Though Adventures rotates, not unlikely that this card finds a new home.

                               

     

Cycle of Colored Kaldheim Equipment – This is pretty speculative, but if there's a Teleportation Circle deck, these equipment are worded such that you can blink them end step, and pay their ETB cost when they come in to get another token. Giant's Amulet and Valkyrie's Sword are the most playable in this shell.

Saw It Coming – Best Cancel in the format.

Blizzard Brawl – MonoGreen Aggro

Disdainful Stroke – Solid counterspell. Typically played as 1- to 2-of in mainboard in some metagames or same in the sideboard.

Strategic Planning – History of being played in graveyard/reanimator decks. Could be used if Innistrad provides pieces for such a deck.

Snakeskin Veil – some play in Monogreen Stompy

Frost Bite – 4-of in most Red decks

Behold the Multiverse – Best 4 mana draw 2 in the format

Village Rites – Great in RB Sacrifice decks

Koma, Cosmos Serpent – The best creature in the format. Some decks may try to cheat it into play, others might ramp or just cast it as a top-end. At current value, this is a decent pickup.

Showdown of the Skalds – Incredible card advantage engine.

Firja's Retribution – WB Angels lynchpin.

Immersturm Predator – Powerful card with two relevant creature types.

Binding the Old Gods – Powerful removal spell, 4-of in BG decks, loses some equity with Yorion rotating, but still very good.

Koll, the Forgemaster – Speculative, but if there’s an aggressive RW Equipment deck (which I am skeptical of), this would be a 4-of

Cosmos Elixir – Maybe. Likely better engine cards, but I could see a metagame aligning properly such that this is playable.

Faceless Haven – 4-of in all monocolored aggressive decks.

The World Tree – Usually a 1- to 2-of in slow Green decks. With Triomes rotating, this card might go up in value.

Pathways – Standard’s best lands. Every 2+-color deck will max out on these and then play more if they’re splashing. These have gone down a bit price-wise, but are unlikely to drop much lower. As Standard paper events return, they may rise a bit, with those played by dominant archetypes absorbing most of the price increase.

Gnottvold Slumbermound – Particularly playable if Book/Haven combo becomes popular.

Port of Karfell – Solid card. Instant speed is nice, goes well with the UB Zombies tribe in Innistrad.

                               

     

Snow Basics/Duals – Good to have. Necessary at minimum for any aggressive monocolored deck to activate Faceless Haven.

 

Strixhaven

     

Galazeth Prismari – Powerful inclusion in UR Dragons. Reasonable pickup.

     

Magma Opus – Big flashy game-ender. Gets even better if Innistrad gives us the ability to cast this from the graveyard. Super cheap right now.

     

Blot Out the Sky – Flexible answer to troublesome permanents.

     

Harness Infinity – This either sees zero play or becomes the namesake card of a combo deck.

     

Blade Historian – Powerful top-end to replace Torbran, Thane of Red Fell, Embercleave, etc.

     

Dramatic Finale – Possible include as 2-of top-end for White or Black aggressive deck.

     

Prismari Command – Will continue to see play.

     

Shaile, Dean of Radiance – Possible inclusion in aggressive White decks.

     

Valentin, Dean of the Vein – Stock goes up as the value of exiling creatures goes up, which is likely to happen in Innistrad.

     

Vanishing Verse – Staple removal spell in WBx decks.

     

Quandrix Cultivator – Solid ramp spell, has seen fringe play.

     

Callous Bloodmage – Value as a flexible one-shot graveyard removal.

     

Sedgemoor Witch – Monastery Mentor lite. Likely to see sideboard play out of controlling decks.

     

Expressive Iteration – Absolute house in Modern/Pioneer/Standard. A better variant of Divination for two mana, this card will continue to be a staple.

     

Fracture – Solid sideboard card in WBx decks.

     

Rip Apart – If there’s a RW deck, this is a flexible removal spell for it.

     

Professor Onyx – Top-end for Black midrange/control. 1- to 2-of.

     

Mila, Crafty Companion – Powerful card with no home.

     

Baleful Mastery – At its best in very aggressive formats, fine otherwise.

     

Strict Proctor – Sideboard hatebear that is worth keeping in mind.

     

Conspiracy Theorist – Decent card in aggressive Red decks.

     

Test of Talents – Good if there is a spell-based combo deck.

     

Go Blank – Likely the best Mind Rot ever printed. The more exiling cards is relevant, the better this gets.

     

Hall Monitor – Decent in aggressive Red decks.

     

Lash of Malice – Good sideboard card against aggro for Black decks.

     

Extus, Oriq Overlord – Two very powerful effects. Likely 2-of in decks that want it.

     

Mascot Exhibition – If the format decides the Learn mechanic is constructed-playable, this will be the go-to bomb that people grab from the board.

     

The Biblioplex – Possible 1-of in controlling decks.

     

Hall of Oracles – Solid inclusion in most aggressively slanted midrange decks. 1- to 2-of.

 

Dungeons & Dragons: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms

*Most of these cards are currently valued a bit high. Wait until Innistrad spoilers begin to buy, unless you need them immediately.*

     

Mordenkainen – Top-end 2-of in slow Blue decks.

     

Zariel, Archduke of Avernus – The flexibility of this card to both kill people and grind with a competitively costed mana cost makes it likely to see at least some play as a 2-of.

     

Iymrith, Desert Doom – Ojutai-lite, but shines more in a tapout, empty-your-hand deck. 2- to 4-of.

     

Ebondeath, Dracolich – Already good, this is only more likely to see play with Innistrad’s graveyard focus.

     

The Book of Exalted Deeds – Besides being a nice engine in Angels decks, this combos with Faceless Haven to prevent your opponent from winning. 4-of in White-heavy decks. Already banned in Best of One on Arena; if Innistrad doesn’t print maindeckable land hate in the vein of Field of Ruin, this could be banned.

     

Demilich – Being able to cast from the graveyard makes this playable, particularly with Innistrad coming up. Would wait on this one – currently overpriced. But watch carefully; it should drop until Innistrad spoilers, where if it then appears to be playable, it will spike back up.

     

Loyal Warhound – Good in aggressively slanted White decks.

     

Long Rest – Fringe play as a top-end card advantage engine. 1- to 2-of.

     

Teleportation Circle – With enough ETB triggers, this could be the namesake card in a value-oriented, Panharmonicon-style deck. 4-of in that deck.

     

Mind Flayer – Very strong effect. Good card to have 2-of on-hand in case.

     

Forsworn Paladin – Fantastic card in aggressive Black deck. 4-of

     

Froghemoth – Balanced Questing Beast. 2- to 4-of in Green decks, both aggressive and midrange.

     

Wight – 4-of in aggressive Black deck.

     

Werewolf Pack Leader – 4-of in aggressive Green decks.

     

Minion of the Mighty – Possible 4-of in Monored.

     

Magic Missile – Niche, flexible removal spell. Have a couple on-hand for sideboards.

 

Color Hoser Cycle (Divine Smite, etc) – Have playsets on-hand for sideboards.

     

Death-Priest of Myrkul – This is a lord for two creature types that will be in Innistrad. Keep four on-hand in case.

     

Prosperous Innkeeper – One-shot ramp/color-fixing with a body is worth having a playset of.

     

Portable Hole – Good sideboard card against aggressive decks or decks with hard-to-interact with permanents.

     

Dungeon Crawler – 4-of in aggressive Black decks and aggressive Zombie decks.

     

Power-Word Kill – Staple removal spell.

     

Priest of Ancient Lore – Good blink target.

     

Unexpected Windfall – Card selection, discard, and ramp via treasure generation makes this promising.

     

Thieves’ Tools – Might be good enough for aggressive Black decks.

     

Monk Class – Could spawn a deck around it.

     

Bard Class – Legend Storm deck in development around this card in both Standard and Pioneer. Room to grow in price if the deck works out.

     

Paladin Class – Solid include for aggressive White decks.

     

Ranger Class – Staple 4-of in aggressive Green decks.

     

Orcus, Prince of Undeath – Very strong, flexible threat. 2- to 4-of.

     

Targ Nar, Demon-Fang Gnoll – 4-of in Bard Storm.

     

The Deck of Many Things – Possible 1- to 2-of in controlling midrange

                                

     

Creature Lands – These will be played, and they are all powerful. Green in particular is likely to be a 4-of in Green aggro.

Ryan Normandin is a grinder from Boston who has lost at the Pro Tour, in GP & SCG Top 8's, and to 7-year-olds at FNM. Despite being described as "not funny" by his best friend and "the worst Magic player ever" by Twitch chat, he cheerfully decided to blend his lack of talents together to write funny articles about Magic.