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Three Standard Grand Prix; Three Decks on Top

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After a week off to explore Modern the Grand Prix circuit returned to Standard in Manila, Amsterdam, and Omaha. The question on everyone's mind was whether or not Aetherworks Marvel decks would continue to dominate. The card, capable of cheating Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger into play, has been everywhere and there have been calls to ban the Artifact.


Grand Prix Manila was first up and as Sunday wound down the Top 8 was graced with only a single Marvel deck. White based decks like Mardu and Esper Vehicles were abundant and in the end Pro Tour Battle for Zendikar finalist Ryoichi Tamada came out on top with White-Blue Flash.





Grand Prix Amsterdam was the second leg of the trifecta and once again the Top 8 only featured a second Aetherworks Marvel deck. For the second time, however, the deck faltered and Lukas Blohon took the trophy with his Black-Green Delirium deck. Even though Marvel did not win its presence was felt as Blohon ran four copies of Dissenter's Deliverance in his main deck.





The Magic world turned its eyes to Grand Prix Omaha to see if the Marvel could be contained. When the Top 8 was announced the answer was resounding: No. Six of the Top 8 decks were Marvel decks bringing the count on the weekend to 8 - fully one-third of elimination round builds. Sam Pardee made the finals with a Black-Green Winding Constrictor deck but Brad Nelson, who did not drop a match all weekend, won with his build of Temur Marvel.




So where does Standard go from here? The Banned list will be updated on June 14th (and goes into effect after Grand Prix Las Vegas). Given how potent the deck has been at Grand Prix it is possible that something from the archetype will be banned. We will know more next week but in the interim the community holds its collective breath.



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