Reanimator strategies have made niche apperances in the Standard format from time to time. Now, the archetype has returned once again, and it theoretically has some strong matchups against the top decks. While Omniscience combo is the most explosive graveyard combo deck, this one might be a bit more consistent. If you want to resurrect creatures over and over again, this Standard deck might be for you.
Reanimator Returns
Standard’s newest take on the reanimator classic comes from a 5-0 league list. The deck consists of a few different types of cards: reanimator spells, cards to reanimate, and ways to get them into the grave. There are tons of different cards that can reanimate a threat in the current Standard format, but Zombify and Rakdos Joins Up are the cards of choice in this decklist. Zombify is simple, but Rakdos Joins up is the real finisher in this strategy. All of the cards you want to reanimate happen to be legendary. Even if players manage to get rid of them, Rakdos Joins Up can turn fallen allies into massive Fireballs. This gives the deck a ton of reach against controlling strategies.
Valgavoth, Terror Eater, Atraxa, Grand Unifier and Etali, Primal Conqueror are the three cards that this deck wants to resurrect. All three have game-ending potential as soon as they hit play, and can help invalidate strategies that would be problematic matchups. Atraxa goes over the top of Domain strategies that can get around Rakdos Joins Up by using Exile-based removal. Valgavoth is very difficult for aggressive strategies to deal with, and can invalidate opposing graveyard decks. Etali provides tons of pressure immediately, giving you gas past your first reanimation.
Versatile Discard Effects
The cards used to discard threats all have some additional functions. Fear of Missing Out is a massive roleplayer in older MTG formats. Not only will this card get your reanimation targets into the bin, but Delirium makes Fear of Missing Out a massive threat in itself. The card can also help in dire topdeck situations thanks to drawing a card for free if you’re hellbent.
Bitter Reunion is a strange discard spell that has appeared in all kinds of janky reanimator strategies. Because control decks are beginning to climb the ranks, granting your reanimated creature haste gives you better game against board wipes. It’s tough to tell if Bitter Reunion is the best card for this strategy, but it certainly seemed to work this time. This card also helps Fear of Missing Out hit Delirium.
The last discard effect is the trickiest of them all. The Infamous Cruelclaw is obviously powerful. The card will occasionally cast a creature for free, and can also find reanimation spells to cast. The cost of discarding a card helps get your creatures into the bin, even if you happen to whiff and find another discard outlet.
Strong Matchups Across the Board
This reanimator list should have a decent matchup against the top three decks in theory, but the sideboard will help further. Gruul Mice gets stopped by one reanimated fatty with Lifelink a majority of the time. This reanimator strategy can consistently go over the top of Domain Overlords, the Pro Tour winning deck.
Esper Pixie is the only questionable matchup. The deck can present powerful aggressive starts and can prevent an early reanimation with Spell Pierce. Few of these effects are commonly run in the maindeck, mind you, and Hopeless Nightmare can ironically accelerate the reanimator gameplan by discarding your bombs for you.
Fortunately, some good sideboard strategies can help even the odds. Monument of Endurance appears again as a way to fight against discard. Similar to its appearance in Pioneer, Monument of Endurance enriches some discard synergies in the reanimator deck, but can also trigger on opposing Duress that may break up your combo. The card can also trigger on Hopeless Nightmare if Pixie players decide to keep that in.
Leyline of the Void attempts to shore up what may be the hardest matchup for this deck: Omniscience Combo. Both of you are trying to reanimate permanents, but Omniscience combo ends the game on the spot – something you cannot always do. Ghost Vacuum also does this, which might suggest that this part of the sideboard can be tuned. I’m not sure that you really need seven cards that do the same thing.
The rest of the sideboard seems equipped to deal with common reanimation hate pieces. Skycrash and Brotherhood’s End can deal with Ghost Vacuum, a very common graveyard hate tool. Brotherhood’s End can also be used as a way to buy some time against aggressive strategies.
Otherwise, the Leyline Fling strategy is theoretically not a good matchup for this deck. That deck is way more aggressive than Gruul Mice, so unless you open a Torch the Tower, you’re probably going to die before your reanimated threat can do anything. Leylines can also help in this matchup by preventing creatures from hitting the grave and dishing out double damage.
What Do We Think?
It’s tough to tell if reanimator has a real future in the Standard format. In theory, the deck is in an ok spot, having decent matchups against the best decks. That said, thanks to Jeskai Oculus and Omniscience Combo making waves, graveyard hate is also increasing. Notably, Rest in Peace is getting popular, and this deck can’t do anything about it. The sideboard is going to need to adjust to deal with that card.
As long as this deck can consistently deal with a graveyard hate piece in post-board games without dying, it should do well. Omniscience combo isn’t a strategy that is too popular at the moment, and that seems like the only strictly bad matchup among the more popular decks. That said, if Gruul ends up being too fast consistently, then this deck isn’t worth the time. Ultimately, it’s up to the players to find out for themselves if this is worthwhile.
