As time goes on, the power level lines across Magic’s formats are blurring. Strategies that were once reserved for the likes of Modern are now possible in Standard. Selesnya Enchantments, a spicy new deck that’s been taking MTG Foundations Standard by storm over the past week, is a perfect example of this.
Despite being built mainly of bulk commons and uncommons, the overall strategy here bears a striking resemblance to the Modern Bogles decks of the past. That such a thing is possible is high praise indeed for current Standard. Based on early results, this list may even prove as powerful as its venerable ancestor in time.
Selesnya Enchantments In Standard
A player called AoFTW piloted Selesnya Enchantments to a 5-0 MTG Standard League finish last week. At the heart of the deck is its suite of excellent one-drops. The original Bogles lists relied on Slippery Bogle and Gladecover Scout, two 1/1s with Hexproof, in this slot. Standard doesn’t quite have equivalents of these classics, but what it does have works pretty well.
Both Toadstool Admirer and Armored Armadillo are one-mana creatures with Ward. In the early game, this is functionally identical to Hexproof. This gives you enough time to do what Bogles does best: stack Auras on your one drops for the win. As we’ll see later, many of the deck’s Auras stack additional Ward costs on your creatures, making them tough to remove even later on. Admirer and Armadillo also both come with mana outlets attached. If you run out of gas later, they can buff themselves in a pinch. I’d like to see a Slippery Bogle do that!
The last key one-drop in the deck is Optimistic Scavenger. Aside from being one of the best cards in Duskmourn Limited, this is also an all-star here. The deck is absolutely packed with cheap Auras, all of which grant an additional, permanent boost with Scavenger in play. This deck is great at snowballing out of control in general, but Scavenger really takes that to another level.
The only other creature in AoFTW’s list is a two-of Knight of Grace. While not as good as the trio above, largely on account of costing two mana, Knight is still very serviceable. Hexproof from black gives it immunity from a lot of highly-played removal right now. It also packs First Strike by default, which means it plays great with the many buffs in the deck.
Bringing Back Bogles
As any Bogles player knows, creatures are only half of the equation. The other half is the Auras you attach to said creatures to turn them into game-ending threats. Current Standard is actually packed with great options in this regard.
Ethereal Armor is probably the best of the bunch. On its own, it grants a creature +1/+1 and First Strike. This isn’t great, but that’s the absolute baseline as that buff scales up by +1/+1 for every other enchantment you have in play. Drop this and another one-mana Aura on your one-drop on turn two and you can be swinging for four-five damage easily. Naturally, it also plays great in multiples.
Sheltered by Ghosts is a close second here. +1/+0, Lifelink, and Ward two is a pretty good deal already for two mana. The fact that this card also serves as an Oblivion Ring effect is absolute lunacy. This can clear the way for your buffed creature to get in, and dance around problematic death triggers to boot. At the time of writing, this is one of the most expensive cards in the deck, and for good reason.
The rest of the Auras in the deck are more workmanlike in nature. Both Audacity and Feather of Flight can replace themselves, which give the deck a lot of momentum. Bogles decks are particualrly vulnerable to losing their stacked-up creatures, and cards like these help to insure against that. Shardmage’s Rescue is a nifty combat trick for when your opponent manages to pierce your Ward effects, and Unflinching Courage is an absolute classic that remains good even today.
The basic strategy for Selesnya Enchantments is simple, even for Standard. You play your cheap creatures, you suit them up with Auras, and you attack for the win. Very simple, and very effective.
New Player In Town?
Is this strategy effective enough for current Standard, though? That really remains to be seen. AoFTW’s 5-0 League performance is certainly encouraging, but most other results for the deck are middling at present. Turns out Standard is just full of very powerful decks right now.
Golgari Midrange, in particular, does very well against Selesnya Enchantments. Glissa, Sunslayer is a staple in that deck, and it’s pretty much a death sentence. Not only does it block and kill even your most suited-up creatures with ease, but it can also remove your Auras and counters when it swings in. Pair that with other Golgari staples like Tranquil Frillback and you have a nasty matchup all around.
Dimir Midrange isn’t much easier. It lacks answers to your Auras, but it can stonewall you with Deathtouch creatures like Preacher of the Schism or Sheoldred instead. It also has removal cheap enough to play through steep Ward costs, which isn’t ideal. On top of that, its plentiful evasive creatures like Spyglass Siren and Deep-Cavern Bat can wear you down quite easily, since you lack air support outside of Feather of Flight.
Midrange decks aside, the other big concern for Selesnya Enchantments in MTG Standard right now is Prowess decks. Both the Mono-Red and Gruul variants are incredibly deadly and capable of running you over if you get a slow start. Prowess decks can’t really answer your stacked-up creatures with their removal. For that reason, these matchups will mostly come down to whether you get access to Lifelink or not. Both Unflinching Courage and Sheltered by Ghosts can grant it, so just pray you hit one early when Prowess rolls into town.
