MTG Standard: Store Championship w/ ‘I’m All Ears!’
This past weekend I attended a couple of Store Champions where the textless Urza’s Saga was up for grabs. I didn’t expect to win that but was hoping to Top 8 and get the promo Shark Typhoon. Meanwhile all participants received a promo Monastery Swiftspear. While I had been using my bats deck at Standard events, I recently updated it to more of a mid-range deck and for some reason I preferred to roll out with my Rabbits deck and just have some fun and see if it could compete.
I’m not sure if I had updated it since I played last, but the deck I used on Day 1 was a follows:
The plan is simple: go wide and pump the squad for maximum pain. I added a couple of Haywire Mites in the main as there are just way too many enchantments and artifacts running around Standard.
Match 1: W 2-0 vs Boros Talent
I was fortunate in Game 1 to get both of my Haywire Mites out to blow up an Urabrask’s Forge and a Caretaker’s Talent so the opponent couldn’t get any momentum. Game 2 the additional enchantment removal from my Sideboard was key and my Warren Warleaders were able to build the board quickly even after Sunfall and Temporary Lockdown. The opponent was clearly surprised to have lost to me considering they used multiple board wipes.
Match 2: W 2-0 vs Domain Ramp
Great draws in both matches allowed me to get out quick and enchantment removal helped me free my creatures from Lockdowns and knock aside his Up the Beanstalks to keep him off pace.
Match 3: L 0-2 vs Domain Ramp
This match was the complete opposite of the last one. Game 1 I got wrecked by a Lockdown and valued out by two Up the Beanstalks, unable to find any interaction. Game 2 I was able to keep things even for a while to the point of us both top-decking. Just when I saw a little light with a multi-creature advantage, he drew an Atraxa, Grand Unifier and that was that.
Match 4: W 2-0 vs Golgari Midrange
Game 1 I had to get through two Liliana of the Veils and a Vraska, Betrayal’s Sting, but was able to get wide enough and activate my Restless Prairies for the win. Game 2 I was all over him from the jump, creature after creature into a really wide board. His targeted removal wasn’t enough as my Innkeeper’s Talent ward forced him into inefficient mana use when interacting with my creatures.
Match 5: Draw (Intentional) vs Golgari Midrange
Both of us were in position for a Top 8 finish so we agreed to draw and ensure we stayed there. We did play one game for fun which I won, giving me even more confidence in the deck since he was 3-0-1 at the time.
Overall I finished 3-1-1 (6-2-0 in games played) and took 4th Place out of 22 people.
I was crazy happy that my deck did so well, especially considering such strong deck competition. I got the promos I was hoping for and had a blast (though it was stressful as usual haha). While my deck performed well, I think I need even more enchantment removal main deck. My Case of the Gateway Express really did nothing so that can take a cut. My Virtue of Loyalty was equally irrelevant so I’ll probably look to remove that as well.
The 2nd day did not go nearly as well, so no need for an extensive recap. I finished 1-3-0 and clearly outside the Top 8 in 15th Place.
I think with a few refinements, this can be a viable deck as shown by the Day 1 performance; it rebounds quickly and with enough enchantment/artifact removal can compete as long as you can get wide.














