With the return of the Thirst for Knowledge, I have several weeks of data to catch us all up on.




I compiled the last 4 weeks of GP / SCG Open.

Winds of Change are blowing, both with the environment and the addition of Gatecrash at the end of the month.

If your test decks haven't changed, you might want to look into what has changed recently:

	Wk 9			Wk 10		Wk 11	Wk 12	4 Wk Total
	Baltimore	TCG 50K	Indy 5K	Vegas	GP Nagoya	LA	Columbus
Junk Tokens							1	1
Glory Rites					1			1	7
Reanimator		1			1			2
Frites		2		1		1		4
Jund Midrange	1		1	1		1	1	5
BG Aggro		1				2	1	4
UW Control	1							1
Bant Control	1	3	2	1	1	1		9
RDW							2	2	39
RB Aggro	10	3	5	4	11	2	2	37
GW Midrange							1	1
USA Midrange		3	2	3				8
GW Aggro			1					1
Jund Aggro				1			1	2
Bant Midrange						1		1
USA Control		1						1
WU Aggro			1					1
Naya Midrange	1		1	2	1	2	1	8
Izzet Peddler		2		1		1		4
Esper Control	1						1	2
Naya Aggro							1	1
5C Control	1		1					2
4C Control			1	2	1		1	5
4C Midrange						1		1
Dark America			1					1
Bant Aggro						1		1
USA Flash						1		1
USA Aggro						2		2
Naya Humans							2	2
4C Aggro							1	1

Who said you can't play aggressive R, Rb, or Br decks in a format with Sphinx's Revelation and Thragtusk.  The last four weeks have had a huge increase in Red and/or Black aggressive decks that thrived against the trend.  Just this weekend at SCG Standard Open in Columbus, Mono Red made return to the top with this list by Kevin Brimley:

4 Ash Zealot
4 Rakdos Cackler
2 Rakdos Shred-Freak
3 Searing Spear
1 Hellion Crucible
2 Stonewright
2 Zealous Conscripts
4 Lightning Mauler
2 Pillar of Flame
3 Pyreheart Wolf
4 Hellrider
4 Stromkirk Noble
4 Brimstone Volley
21 Mountain

Sideboard
2 Mizzium Mortars
1 Flames of the Firebrand
2 Pillar of Flame
1 Grafdigger's Cage
3 Traitorous Blood
4 Reckless Waif
2 Thunderbolt

Another deck that has shot up in playability in the last month is Naya based builds.  Take a look at this build by Ben Wienburg that he has been playing and tweaking for the last several events:

3 Selesnya Charm
4 Restoration Angel
4 Cavern of Souls
3 Silverblade Paladin
2 Zealous Conscripts
3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
3 Huntmaster of the Fells
2 Fiend Hunter
2 Garruk Relentless
4 Champion of the Parish
4 Mayor of Avabruck
4 Avacyn's Pilgrim
3 Gavony Township
2 Clifftop Retreat
3 Borderland Ranger
2 Rootbound Crag
4 Temple Garden
4 Forest
3 Plains
1 Mountain

Sideboard
1 Rootborn Defenses
3 Rest in Peace
2 Sigarda, Host of Herons
2 Bonfire of the Damned
1 Huntmaster of the Fells
1 Garruk Relentless
3 Nevermore
2 Oblivion Ring

Then you have decks that have completely fallen of the radar like GW Aggro (95% decrease), UW Flash (100% decrease), Jund Midrange (80% decrease) and Reanimator variants (50% decrease).

"Two magi could trade spells all day and never crown a victor. The real battle is not one of power but of will. If your confidence breaks, so too shall you." —Venser