It’s now been over a month since the latest ban announcement that massively altered Standard, and it’s safe to say that the format has seen a big uptick in diversity. Every week, it feels like a new brew is popping up and putting up meaningful results.
Well, this clearly hasn’t stopped, as an unusual Azorius combo deck just boasted a 5-0 Magic Online League finish out of nowhere. Centered around a Lorwyn God and a Marvel Hero, this deck can pull off some extremely powerful draws.
Executing the Combo
At a baseline, what makes this deck piloted by Magic Online user SolarPotato so frightening is its combo potential. With the right setup, it’s possible to cement an insurmountable advantage as early as turn four. To get things started, you need to find a copy of
Eirdu, Carrier of Dawn
Eirdu, Carrier of Dawn
Flying, lifelink
Creature spells you cast have convoke. (Your creatures can help cast those spells. Each creature you tap while casting a creature spell pays for {1} or one mana of that creature's color.)
At the beginning of your first main phase, you may pay {B}. If you do, transform Eirdu.
and two copies of
Arachne, Psionic Weaver
Arachne, Psionic Weaver
Web-slinging {W} (You may cast this spell for {W} if you also return a tapped creature you control to its owner's hand.)
As Arachne enters, look at an opponent's hand, then choose a card type other than creature.
Spells of the chosen type cost {1} more to cast.
.
Once Eirdu and one copy of Arachne are in play, you’re able to tap Arachne to Convoke out the second copy, returning the first to your hand via Web-Slinging. This puts you back in the same spot, letting you repeat the process over and over.
While this line technically does nothing on its own, adding
Dour-Port Mage
Dour-Port Mage
Whenever one or more other creatures you control leave the battlefield without dying, draw a card.
{1}{U}, {T}: Return another target creature you control to its owner's hand.
lets you draw your entire deck. Alternatively, jamming
Aunt May
Aunt May
Whenever another creature you control enters, you gain 1 life. If it's a Spider, put a +1/+1 counter on it.
enables you to gain infinite life, which most Standard decks can’t beat.
Since this combo relies on a clunky five-drop to get going, some form of acceleration is essential to the deck’s success. Luckily, both
Springleaf Drum
Springleaf Drum
{T}, Tap an untapped creature you control: Add one mana of any color.
and
Momo, Friendly Flier
Momo, Friendly Flier
Flying
The first non-Lemur creature spell with flying you cast during each of your turns costs {1} less to cast.
Whenever another creature you control with flying enters, Momo gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
help you cast Eirdu a turn earlier than usual.
The only downside is that you won’t always draw your combo pieces in a timely manner, but this deck makes up for that issue by presenting a decent backup plan. Like more traditional Azorius Momo shells, this strategy leverages
Starfield Shepherd
Starfield Shepherd
Flying
When this creature enters, search your library for a basic Plains card or a creature card with mana value 1 or less, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle.
Warp {1}{W} (You may cast this card from your hand for its warp cost. Exile this creature at the beginning of the next end step, then you may cast it from exile on a later turn.)
, which can tutor up
Nurturing Pixie
Nurturing Pixie
Flying
When this creature enters, return up to one target non-Faerie, nonland permanent you control to its owner's hand. If a permanent was returned this way, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.
to keep the value train rolling.
With access to so many fliers, you even get to utilize
Steamcore Scholar
Steamcore Scholar
Flying, vigilance
When this creature enters, draw two cards. Then discard two cards unless you discard an instant or sorcery card or a creature card with flying.
as a card draw engine. Alongside Dour-Port Mage’s activated ability, you should have no problem grinding your opponent into dust, while simultaneously digging for your combo pieces to end the game.
A Mixed Bag
Overall, Azorius Combo has a number of advantages over Azorius Momo, but also presents some notable weaknesses. Naturally, your biggest edge comes in matchups where your combo excels, and you don’t otherwise have time to durdle. While Mono-Green Landfall can use
Mightform Harmonizer
Mightform Harmonizer
Landfall — Whenever a land you control enters, double the power of target creature you control until end of turn.
Warp {2}{G} (You may cast this card from your hand for its warp cost. Exile this creature at the beginning of the next end step, then you may cast it from exile on a later turn.)
to go over the top of your small fliers, infinite life serves as the ultimate trump card. Your combos also make it much easier to race
Sunderflock
Sunderflock
This spell costs {X} less to cast, where X is the greatest mana value among Elementals you control.
Flying
When this creature enters, if you cast it, return all non-Elemental creatures to their owners' hands.
out of Izzet Spellementals, especially since Eirdu is an Elemental.
Beyond the impact Arachne and Eirdu bring as combo pieces, they also shine individually in certain matchups. Against Azorius Control, for example, making your opponent’s disruptive suite cost more is hugely beneficial. On the other end of the spectrum, Eirdu dominates against red aggro as a massive body with Lifelink.
Unfortunately, though, using a bunch of slots for these tools does come at a cost. Against decks like Dimir Midrange that have access to lots of removal, you really notice the loss of elite grindy elements like
Quantum Riddler
Quantum Riddler
Flying
When this creature enters, draw a card.
As long as you have one or fewer cards in hand, if you would draw one or more cards, you draw that many cards plus one instead.
Warp {1}{U}
. There are also matchups like Dimir Excruciator where gaining infinite life or drawing a boatload of cards won’t guarantee a win, since you’re still at risk of getting Milled out.
With high variance from matchup to matchup, it’s a bit hard to predict how well this deck will continue to do in the future. Regardless, it’s nice to see such a unique strategy get put on the map, and we look forward to seeing if it breaks out in a meaningful way.
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