The New STD Meta: What its like and how to beat it

[aaren]

After the first starcity games open in 2011 the top 16 looked something like this...
1 b/r vamps
1 U/B control
2 Valakut Ramp
4 Variation of Splinter Twin
8 Variation of Caw-Blade

Caw-Blade Summary:

I dont know about you guys but I thought there was a possibility that caw blade might not even exist after this format let alone be the continuing dominate deck. There were far less cawblades in the top 16 then there were before, but this deck still exists! When preparing your sideboard neglecting cawblade would be a serious mistake. I still largely reccommend the recently popular tumble magnet for it. If cawblade is your worst matchup then I highly suggest tumble magnet and another way to deal with the sword aspect of it. There is a great deal of speculation with Torpor orb too. I think it depends on the build, if you are on the play and playing a sun titan caw build I think it might be viable, but if you dont see it turn 2, it all of a sudden becomes a near dead card in your hand, also playing it turn 2 could force u to tap out and run right into a spell pierce. Either way caw blade is a real deck and must be dealt with accordingly.

Splinter Twin Combo:

This deck has become increasingly popular due to the fact it is similar to the extended pestermite deck and has put a $.35 splinter twin up to $10.00. This deck IS A VIABLE DECK, it matches up good against caw blade AND is versitile enough to compete with any deck in the standard meta. How to beat it? Well everyone has different opinions on it because once the combo resolves it wins. I suggest black spot removal beast within or bounce spells. My sideboard super secret tech consists of a once popular sideboard card luminarch anscension. They do not have the burn to damage you enough to keep up with the counters, and it can give u the edge of untapped mana while getting counters and putting in the angels at instant speed! Very good card. Torpor orb once again comes into speculation. Two other cards I think are interesting are fog, and unsummon. Both one costing spells will not be seen coming and the unsummon can make 8 bounce spells and fog can make thier combo useless for a turn and force splinter twin to resolve.

[justinhering]

I plan on adding 2 Hero of Oxid Ridge to my vampires build. I thought this deck would diminish with the new set, but only seems to be getting better.

Splinter Twin makes Vendetta a viable removal spell again, due to its low cost. Inquisition remains the best removal spell in the game right now since Deceiver Exarch is CMC 3. Duress also makes a comeback (I was playing this SB only) since it removes Pyromancer Ascension and Splinter Twin.

I think my new build will consist of a LOT of hand disruption/removal.

[chulak]

Caw blade is better now i think. With a sword just for the mirror and Batterskull, which gives u the oipotion of playing it like an aggro deck. We no longer care about alot of the smaller aggro decks and theres enough spot removal and the probe to deal with twin and valakut.

[justinhering]

What does Wizards do with Jace? That's the big question. Do you think the new Jace will be TMS or Little Jace?

Personally, I would like a chance to acquire JTMS in a new set, although I think a lot of players would scream at another year of dealing with that card.

The unfortunate thing is, CawBlade is the best deck and it costs about $700, minimum to build. That's an outrageous price tag on a standard deck (I think). Wizards screwed the pooch on the entire Worldwake set, seriously overpricing the two best cards in standard, Stoneforge Mystic and Jace TMS.

[aaren]

Its gonna be little jace, I guarentee it due to jace's erasure being reprinted