Must-Have Commons & Uncommons for Standard in 2025

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Discover the essential commons and uncommons for Magic: The Gathering's Standard format in 2025. Boost your deck's performance with top budget picks!

While tons of rares and mythics can lead you to win games, most of the time, the most humble cards, such as commons and uncommons, are the ones that prevent you from losing them or just straight up end up winning them as a last resort, and today, I will go over the best Commons and Uncommons cards you need to get your hands on towards this 2025 to have access to many deck options.

What are the best commons for Standard decks in 2025?

If you're looking for the best commons in Standard this year, here's the rundown. Burst Lightning and Lightning Strike are must-haves for Aggro decks—perfect for burning opponents or clearing blockers. Control players? You'll want Negate to stop key spells and Disfigure to handle early threats.

For tempo strategies, Unsummon is a lifesaver, bouncing big threats for just one mana. Need consistency? Opt and Sleight of Hand are amazing for digging through your deck. For ramp and creature-heavy decks, Llanowar Elves is an all-star, enabling faster access to powerful plays.

If you're into enchantments, Ethereal Armor is a powerhouse, turning even the smallest creature into a massive threat. Meanwhile, Duress and Shock offer cheap, effective ways to disrupt your opponent. And for removal, Scorching Dragonfire is great—it even exiles, which is super useful against graveyard decks.

Which uncommons are must-haves for competitive Standard decks in 2025?

When it comes to competitive Standard decks in 2025, a few uncommons should definitely be on your radar. Go for the Throat is an absolute staple for any black deck, clearing away pesky creatures. If you're running Aggro or Burn, Monastery Swiftspear is a must—it's quick, efficient, and puts pressure on your opponent early. Lightning Helix not only deals damage but also gains you life, which is huge in tight games.

Boros Charm is fantastic for both offense and defense, letting you deal damage or make your creatures indestructible. And for card advantage in blue decks, Chart a Course and Spectral Sailor both give you the ability to draw cards with some added upside, like having a flying creature to block or attack.

How do I build a budget Standard deck using only commons and uncommons?

Building a budget Standard deck using only commons and uncommons may be challenging, but it's not impossible at all, and the best part: is rewarding. 

Still, there are a couple of things you need to keep in mind, such as narrower competitive archetypes you get to access due to how the meta is shaped, mana limitations as the best mana fixers are rares, and last but not least, lack of solid finishers to win the game.

The first thing is to choose a specific archetype or strategy, such as Aggro, Control, or even Tribal decks like elves. These archetypes are often straightforward and can be built effectively with lower-rarity cards.

Next, research staple commons and uncommons from recent Standard sets. Look for high-impact cards that fit your strategy. Efficient removal spells like Cut Down or Go for the Throat and versatile utility cards like Tolarian Terror can add significant value to your deck.

Pay close attention to your mana curve to ensure a smooth balance of cards across different mana costs. Emphasize low-cost cards for early plays to establish a strong board presence or control the game tempo. Don't forget to include a mix of removal spells and utility cards to handle threats and maintain card advantage.

Finally, test your deck in practice games. Identify weaknesses or gaps and adjust your card choices accordingly. With careful playtesting and tweaks, your budget deck can be both competitive and fun in Standard.

Which Standard sets have the strongest commons and uncommons?

Several recent Standard sets feature some of the strongest commons and uncommons for building competitive decks.

Additionally, Commander sets often contain commons and uncommons that are playable in Standard, many of which were originally printed in past Standard sets already.

These sets offer a broad array of powerful commons and uncommons that fit a variety of strategies in the current Standard metagame.

What are the most played common and uncommon sideboard cards for Standard?

When it comes to sideboarding in Standard, there are several commons and uncommons that see a lot of play. Negate is a go-to for countering non-creature spells, especially in control or midrange decks. Duress is essential for stripping out key spells from your opponent's hand, while Disdainful Stroke is perfect for countering big threats.

For removal, Disfigure and Go for the Throat are reliable choices, handling creatures at an affordable cost. Scorching Dragonfire is great for taking out creatures while exiling them, which can be a game-changer against graveyard strategies.

If you're up against aggro or swarm decks, Pyroclasm is a fantastic board wipe, clearing out small creatures, while Glass Casket can lock down a creature with a low-cost, noncreature option, and Aetherize is key for slowing down aggressive attacks.

Finally, other cards are dedicated hate ones against specific decks. For example, Knight of Grace offers a solid creature option with a nice bonus against black, while Devout Decree is useful for dealing with white or black threats. Abrade provides flexibility with artifact removal or creature damage, and Reclamation Sage is your answer for pesky artifacts or enchantments in green-based decks or decks that rely on that color as a sideboard option, as is the case with Gruul Prowess.

How do I identify playable commons and uncommons for Standard decks?

Identifying playable commons and uncommons for Standard decks involves focusing on cards that provide consistent value across various situations. Start by looking for efficiency—cards that offer powerful effects for low mana costs. For example, removal spells like Go for the Throat or Disfigure are staples because they handle threats early in the game without costing too much.

Next, consider versatility. Cards like Sleight of Hand and Opt let you filter through your deck, improving consistency while synergizing with other cards that match your deck's strategy, such as Monastery Swiftspear for Aggro or Essence Scatter for Control.

Lastly, consider meta relevance. Playable commons and uncommons often address popular strategies in Standard. For example, Destroy Evil is great against both enchantments and big creatures, making it a versatile and useful card in many matchups.

The BEST common/uncommon ONLY deck in MTG Standard

Total Cards:

One of the best budget-friendly decks in Standard that rely entirely on commons and uncommons is a powerful Control deck centered around card advantage and disruption. This deck features Tolarian Terror and Eddymurk Crab, which serve as your main threats while you control the board. Spells like Sleight of Hand, Opt, and Flow of Knowledge ensure that you have consistent card draw and deck manipulation.

Key control elements such as Essence Scatter, Negate, and Refute give you counterspells to protect your game plan, while Unsummon, Into the Fathom Maw, and Aetherize keep opposing creatures in check.

Of course, if you are looking for an improved version, you can add rares such as Haughty Djinn or Archmage of Runes to provide better value and River's Rebuke as a pseudo board wipe option.

Wrap Up

I hope this article has helped you decide which cards are worth spending your money on for the upcoming 2025 season. Additionally, I trust the deck I provided will be useful in keeping your wallet safe while also staying competitive in the current meta. Thank you for reading, and until my next article, stay safe and let's start 2025 off on the right foot!

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Former PT Competitor for NEO and SNC. Limited Grinder and Pauper Brewer, but you might know me better as Saitama.

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