Grand Prix Utrecht has given us an exciting new version of Mardu Vehicles that people are calling Mardu Ballista. The deck still has most of the aggressive potential that the previous iterations had, but with more Planeswalkers and Walking Ballista, the deck is very capable of playing a midrange strategy. Walking Ballista also does some notable work in adding to the artifact count (think Toolcraft Exemplar, Unlicensed Disintegration, and Spire of Industry), and reducing the mana requirements. This really helps with the consistency of the deck, which was a bit of a problem before. Ballista can also kill Saheeli Rai if your opponent tries to win with the Felidar Guardian combo. For even more punch, the deck has a 3 Oath of Chandras and 3 Oath of Lilianas in the sideboard so with the additional Planeswalkers, it can transform into a full control deck, so you can keep your opponent guessing!

Time Stamps for Matches

00:03:58 - Match 1: Mardu Midrange

00:25:56 - Match 2: U/R Deep-Fiend

00:41:22 - Match 3: Jeskai Control

01:03:03 - Match 4: Bant Control

01:26:05 - Match 5: Temur Tower

Mardu Ballista ? Aether Revolt Standard | Samuel Vuillot, 1st Place GP Utrecht

• Creatures (18)
• 2 Thalia, Heretic Cathar
• 4 Scrapheap Scrounger
• 4 Thraben Inspector
• 4 Toolcraft Exemplar
• 4 Walking Ballista

• Planeswalkers (6)
• 2 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
• 4 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar

• Instants (8)
• 4 Fatal Push
• 4 Unlicensed Disintegration

• Artifacts (4)
• 4 Heart of Kiran

• Lands (24)
• 2 Mountain
• 2 Plains
• 2 Swamp
• 1 Foreboding Ruins
• 1 Needle Spires
• 4 Aether Hub
• 4 Concealed Courtyard
• 4 Inspiring Vantage
• 4 Spire of Industry

• Sideboard (15)
• 1 Authority of the Consuls
• 2 Nahiri, the Harbinger
• 3 Oath of Chandra
• 3 Oath of Liliana
• 2 Ob Nixilis Reignited
• 4 Release the Gremlins

Buy This Deck

Even though we only went 3-2, this deck is great. I have Grand Prix New Jersey coming up and this is the deck I am most likely to play. I think Walking Ballista is 100% gas, but I am not in love with all the extra Planeswalkers or having double-Black and double-Red casting costs. I think for my next set of games, I am going to try and keep the deck lean, with some Pia Nalaars instead of Chandra. If I do need to go bigger, my first choice would be Archangel Avacyn, a pet favorite and all around great card. Avacyn is great at pressing an advantage, killing opposing Planeswalkers and she can even be good against B/G Midrange, which is traditionally the worst matchup. I like playing to this deck's strengths and with cards like Scrapheap Scrounger and Toolcraft Exemplar, efficient aggression is the clear strength.

Mardu Ballista ? Aether Revolt Standard | Andrew Boswell

• Creatures (20)
• 2 Pia Nalaar
• 2 Thalia, Heretic Cathar
• 4 Scrapheap Scrounger
• 4 Thraben Inspector
• 4 Toolcraft Exemplar
• 4 Walking Ballista

• Planeswalkers (4)
• 4 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar

• Instants (8)
• 4 Fatal Push
• 4 Unlicensed Disintegration

• Artifacts (4)
• 4 Heart of Kiran

• Lands (24)
• 2 Mountain
• 2 Plains
• 2 Swamp
• 1 Needle Spires
• 1 Shambling Vent
• 4 Aether Hub
• 4 Concealed Courtyard
• 4 Inspiring Vantage
• 4 Spire of Industry

• Sideboard (15)
• 3 Archangel Avacyn
• 1 Needle Spires
• 2 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
• 1 Authority of the Consuls
• 2 Nahiri, the Harbinger
• 4 Release the Gremlins
• 2 Skywhaler's Shot

Buy This Deck

Until next week, GLHF friends. May you smite thy enemies with a Golden Axe!

— Andrew Boswell