Metagame Update: Top 8
Top 8 Decks

Just like the top 16, Orzhov Midrange is the most popular archetype of the top 8. Throughout the last few weeks, we’ve seen it emerge as one of the most popular and successful decks in the format. One card that shows up in all five decks that hasn’t been popular until now is . Bankbuster does a great job of splitting the aggro and control builds of the deck, drawing you cards early while pressuring your opponent late. Even though the core of the deck remains the same, there is some variation between the five decks. Sarah England's build
is the most unique, being the only player who registered the sacrifice package of Deadly Dispute
Deadly Dispute
, Shambling Ghast
Shambling Ghast
, and Rite of Oblivion
Rite of Oblivion
. The Mighty Linguine
and Mythic Mikaela
are the only players playing Welcoming Vampire
Welcoming Vampire
and Spirited Companion
Spirited Companion
Linguine is playing Starnheim Unleashed
Starnheim Unleashed
as a great win condition in a long game against other Orzhov decks while Mikaela’s has Sorin the Mirthless
Sorin the Mirthless
and extra copies of Restoration of Eiganjo
The Restoration of Eiganjo
Architect of Restoration
for midgame card advantage. Ruuchu's deck
contains Elite Spellbinder
Elite Spellbinder
and Intrepid Adversary
Intrepid Adversary
for a more aggressive take on the deck. And Wyatt
has Reidane
Reidane, God of the Worthy
Valkmira, Protector's Shield
and Henrika Domnathi
Henrika Domnathi
Henrika, Infernal Seer
as good cards against Jeskai Storm or other Orzhov decks.
Samantha Murphy registered Mardu Midrange
. Her deck is similar to Mardu decks in the past, though it doesn’t contain any main deck copies of Showdown of the Skalds
Showdown of the Skalds
and is playing full playsets of Graveyard Trespasser
Graveyard Trespasser
Graveyard Glutton
, Luminarch Aspirant
Luminarch Aspirant
and The Wandering Emperor
The Wandering Emperor
, while most versions are only playing 2-3 copies of each.
Arya Karamchandani is back on Jeskai Storm
after playing Orzhov in the top 16. Her main deck is mostly stock, though the sideboard contains four copies of Behold the Multiverse
Behold the Multiverse
for card draw against Orzhov that can’t be disrupted by Duress
Duress
or .
Kansaki is playing Bant Midrange
like last week. Their deck hasn’t changed, except for two copies of Skyclave Apparition
Skyclave Apparition
being cut for an extra Welcoming Vampire
Welcoming Vampire
and Disdainful Stroke
Disdainful Stroke
.