Dudecore's "What is Winning Standard?" Vol. 1 - December

[Dudecore]

I spend an awful lot of time analyzing and studying the latest trends in Standard. At this point every single color has amazing cards, its really difficult (outside of the obvious mana fixing issue) not to play 5 color decks. Everywhere you look a better splashible card ({Thragtusk}, {Bonfire of the Damned}, {Restoration Angel}, {Syncopate}, {Unburial Rites}, {Ultimate Price}, ect.) is popping up. But which deck is winning the most games? A quick glance at TCGplayer.com shows {B}{R} Zombies is the most winning deck. Bant Control may Top 8 more (barely) but doesn't get 1st place as much. What makes Zombies so good? The answer is in the tech, and we're using the latest winner tourney, James Bush, to find out.

BR Zombies by James Bush Standard Platinum TCQ Niles, IL - 11/25/12 Finished: 1st Place 60 cards, 0 sideboard 4 {Diregraf Ghoul} 4 {Falkenrath Aristocrat} 4 {Geralf's Messenger} 4 {Gravecrawler} 3 {Hellrider} 4 {Knight of Infamy} 3 {Thundermaw Hellkite} Creatures  [26] 2 {Brimstone Volley} 4 {Searing Spear} 2 {Sign in Blood} 2 {Victim of Night} Spells [10] 4 {Blood Crypt} 4 {Cavern of Souls} 4 {Dragonskull Summit} 1 {Mountain} 4 {Rakdos Guildgate} 7 {Swamp} 24 lands

4 Diregraf Ghoul
Obvious pick without explanation. Enables your Gravecrawler (it is a Zombie), 2/2 that attacks on turn 2, starts your curve and at very least draws a 1 for 1. Probably not the greatest card later in the game, but does deal some damage or sits there nicely as a blocker/sac outlet for...

4 Falkenrath Aristocrat
Does a whole bunch of work in this deck. 4/1 flying body that can instantly make himself invincible? Love the flexibility. It can come out and cannibalize (well its already dead) a Gravecrawler and cast him again. Near instant response to any control measures. These decks used to have {Blood Artist}, but that card quickly turned into whats been referred to as "a 0/1 that sits there." While Blood Artist doesn't do nearly enough work to be included in this deck we move onto...

4 Geralf's Messenger
A 3/2 creature attached to {shock}, with Undying. Synergies with Gravecrawler, sac outlet for Falkenrath. Connects an awful lot with the theme of the deck, gets on the board and deals damage quickly. He flies under the radar really, as almost the 5th target to use a counterspell/removal on. His Zombie subtype enables...

4 Gravecrawler
What else needs to be said about this guy that isn't already apparent? A  2/1 that can be sacrificed to Falkenrath, can pop-up after a boardwipe or has to be dealt with mostly as a perpetual 1 for 1 (You cast him (1) and an opponent uses either (1) card to remove it, or (1) creature to remove it.) It's existence on the battlefield is for starting a race (going dmg for dmg until someone eventually loses) and setting the table for..

3 Hellrider
Efficient haste creature that scales as the game moves forward. You never truly realize how great this card is until you play against it. Hellrider is absolutely devastating in multiples, The damage is more consistent then most cards in Standard, It damages Planeswalkers and stays relevant no matter which point in the game it's played. The damage dealt by his ability is pre-combat, so if you attack with him and 2 other creatures...that's an instant 6/6 right there.

4 Knight of Infamy
A {1}{B} creature that laughs at the other relevant aggro deck ({W}{G}). Blocks {Silverblade Paladin}, gives exalted to Falkenrath/Hellrider, it provides a +1/+1 counter in a reactionary sac to Falkenrath, exalted is never a bad ability and can help every creature power scale as the game move forward. Also helps put you over the top for

3 Thundermaw Hellkite
The coup de grâce of this deck build. I can't recall a time this card hit the board and the game wasn't over. It also isn't even a winmore card, it is the definition of "Game Changer". This hits the field and you can swing for the fences, it's a flyer that hoses other flyers! Nearly any deck playing {R} should consider this card strictly based on its power level.

Why is it so good?
Speed. It plays so many threats its impossible to keep up with. Nearly every single conceivable hand is good. Control can't counter ALL of those creatures, and {Cavern of Souls} makes it a foregone conclusion. It gets lots of power on the board before {Thragtusk} and has potential wins against those decks.

What are its weaknesses?
Drawing cards. If you're not using your resources efficiently, you'll be top decking in a hurry. Mirror match is rough. Other aggro decks that can match you are a pain. Flying creatures can prove troublesome. Not being able to get out enough power before Thraggy hits is a problem also. What are considered "Control Decks", are mostly creature less planeswalkers. Building an army vs. control can result in a {Supreme Verdict} or {Terminus}. Also other aggro decks can play slightly better with a different type of Synergy (GW Humans).

What about the sideboard?
With this Deck Tech and ones in the future i'll refer the most I can to the "Standard Sideboard". It's updated monthly, metas change too quickly, and some are so vastly different that it is hard to even suggest what one should do. BR Zombie's is featured this month again, and a link it here: http://imtgapp.com/forum/index.php?topic=15648.0

Matchups
The matchup list designed to show the most favorable/unfavorable matchups this particular deck has. It no way suggests that it will always win/lose those matchups. The list is also designed how I SEE IT, and in no way suggests that I'm 100% right.
Azorius Aggro
Azorius Midrange
Junk Tokens
Naya Midrange
Red Deck Wins
American Midrange
Azorius Control
Bant Midrange
BG Zombies
BR Zombies
Esper Control
Jund Midrange
Jund Zombies
Rakdos Aggro
Selesnya Midrange
4C Rites
American Control
Bant Control
Junk Rites
Selesnya Aggro

The rest is self explanatory. If you've got any questions or comments, feel free to post them here. If you like the Article and want more, hit the "Like" button under my MLP avatar. Next month, my personal deck "Esper Midrange".

[CajunJynx]

No one listened when I was raving about a very similar build when RtR first came out. Now my local meta follows my aggro strategies. Funny part is once I step away from aggro I don't have a clue.

[smokin terry]

Like it alot. Can't wait for the next one.

[Dudecore]

Next months article is coming out tomorrow. It's finished and I need the extra time to craft February's article.

[Piotr]

No one listened when I was raving about a very similar build when RtR first came out.

If you wrapped it as nicely as Dudecore did, I'm sure we would noticed