There comes a time in every card’s Standard life where it must retire. Obviously, some cards were never made to shine while others were. For some special cards, the period between Core Set 2019 and Core Set 2020 allows for unique interactions that will only be playable for a few months. Let us take this time to salute some cards from M19 that will be leaving us and thank them for their duties before they move on from Standard on October 4, 2019.
[scryimg] Resplendent Angel [/scryimg]
Resplendent Angel. This low-cost flier was a late-game crusher and an early threat to planeswalkers, but the real loss here will be to Boros Angels. Combined with Bishop of Wings and Angel of Vitality, this deck has become a force to reckon with. Gaining you an extra Bishop trigger AND a 4/4 angel token, if left unchecked, can often lead to a turn 4/5 win. It’s been fairly competitive for me, losing only to bad draws and Esper Control, and I don’t see it remaining that way once rotated out.
[scryimg] Mentor of the Meek [/scryimg]
Mentor of the Meek. Finding a home in many decks, this little guy was a clutch way to get a cheap card advantage on your opponent. Although easily removed and more of a long-game strategy, it still provided plenty of value.
[scryimg] Sai, Master Thopterist [/scryimg]
Sai, Master Thopterist. With 4 toughness, Sai was often hard to remove, which left lots of time to get your thopter army assembled. Sure, we’ve still got Saheeli, but servos don’t fly. The option to block with your thopters (or servos), then sacrifice them, to draw was an excellent way to keep your artifact machine well oiled. Being able to sacrifice your exhausted Transmogrifying Wand, unnecessary Powerstone Shards, etc. was also great. Steel Overseer, Tezzeret, Master of the Bridge, and even Tezzeret, Artifice Master will all miss Sai on their team.
[scryimg] Psychic Corrosion [/scryimg]
Psychic Corrosion. Mill decks will take a massive hit with the loss of this card. Taking advantage of anything that makes you draw, I’m not sure how many mill decks will still be around after this goes away. Ashiok and others just won’t be quite enough to make it viable. The additional loss of Patient Rebuilding will also really take mill decks down a huge notch.
[scryimg] Supreme Phantom [/scryimg]
Supreme Phantom. I first used this creature in a janky mono-blue fliers deck that was a cross between tempo and the current Azorious Spirits deck. When M20 dropped with a few sweet spirits, I already knew this card would blow up. Getting your other fliers up to a 4 toughness and making your spirit tokens into an impressive spirit army made this card a key spell for Spirit decks.
[scryimg] Death Baron [/scryimg]
Death Baron. A major player in zombie and skeleton decks, this is another card that for me will make this tribal deck unplayable. Giving all your creatures deathtouch was just amazing and unless you were facing fliers, often scared your opponent into not swinging at all. It brought the counter down one closer to swinging for with Dreadhorde Invasion, made removal tougher by providing a bit more buff, and made all your zombie tokens that much more of a threat.
[scryimg] Graveyard Marshall [/scryimg]
Graveyard Marshall. Another key spell in zombie decks that took advantage of Death Baron’s buff by exiling unnecessary cards from your graveyard. Although the ability was a little expensive, it’s nothing a [land] couldn’t help with. Not to mention a 2/3 for 2 mana is pure value.
[scryimg] Reassembling Skeleton [/scryimg]
Reassembling Skeleton. Yet ANOTHER key spell in zombie decks, the ability to not only keep this out of your graveyard but straight to the battlefield (ideally at your opponent’s end step) gave you an infinite blocker, a consistent trigger for Midnight Reaper, Liliana, Open the Graves, or any other death-advantage cards.
[scryimg] Open the Graves [/scryimg]
Open the Graves. I just love this card so much. Whether combined with Teysa, Liliana, or zombies, getting free creatures for your creatures dying was a beautiful reimbursement package. Having two of these out was just brutal. Combine it with Divine Visitation and it’s even more deadly.
[scryimg] Scapeshift [/scryimg]
Scapeshift. This sorcery spell was originally garbage in my opinion, but with the addition of the new Field of the Dead, Scapeshift immediately found its way onto the professional tournament circuit with Bant decks using Wilderness Reclamation and Teferi making a massive zombie army on your end step for the win. I wish I had more time to mess with this card, but I think it’s probably best that this rotates out anyway.
[scryimg] Elvish Clancaller [/scryimg]
Elvish Clancaller. Pump all your little elves and for a small price, put another one out? Instant include in an elfball deck.
[scryimg] Thorn Lieutenant [/scryimg]
Thorn Lieutenant. Another instant include in elf decks and a key player in Selesnya Tokens. Love seeing opponents target this knowing they’ll be making a token for me. Left unblocked, pumping this guy takes a nice bite out of your opponent’s life.
[scryimg] Gigantosaurus [/scryimg]
Gigantosaurus. Serving as a gateway for an early Ghalta appearance, this exclusively mono-green card was undefeatable except for absolute removal. Combined with Aggressive Mammoth or anything giving it trample meant bad news.
[scryimg] Vivien Reid [/scryimg]
Vivien Reid. The -3 ability of this help make green decks more versatile and really helped out getting rid of pesky fliers. The ultimate ability was incredible for creature-based decks but I personally never got that to happen much.
[scryimg] Pelakka Wurm [/scryimg]
Pelakka Wurm. Value on value on value. This creepy crawler needs no introduction.
[scryimg] Aegis of the Heavens [/scryimg]
Aegis of the Heavens. This instant spell really only served one purpose: catching an off-guard opponent while swinging with a defender with Arcades, the Strategist or High Alert in play. Trust me when I tell you, this is ultimate jank at it’s finest. Surge Mare will also be missed in this deck.
[scryimg] Viashino Pyromancer [/scryimg]
Viashino Pyromancer. Good riddance. I mean, who plays burn anyway?! The staple potential 4-damage-for-2 was in every red deck imaginable. BYE FELICIA!
[scryimg] Banefire [/scryimg]
Banefire. Another arch-nemesis card of Esper Control, not being able to counter this card was often a game-winning move. How much life are you at? Cool, I’ll just hit you for… exactly that much. Thank you, next.
[scryimg] Poison-Tip Archer [/scryimg]
Poison-Tip Archer. A creature with reach and deathtouch is always a threat to any creature-based deck. Tack on a saproling army and you’re pretty screwed. What makes this card so great is that it triggers for ANY creature that dies, not just your own, like most Orzhov effects.
Image Link Broken 🙁
Nicol Bolas, the Ravager // Nico Bolas, the Arisen. Everyone loves Bolas, right? Not this guy, As an Esper Control player, it gave me such pain when unremoved. A 4/4 flier for 4 mana plus the ability to make it into a planeswalker with dirty, dirty abilities… Yes, it could be removed with the right cards, but the fact remains it was ALWAYS a huge threat, no matter the circumstances.
RIP to all these M19 gems. May you find a new life in Modern, Legacy, and EDH.
