Standard's been anything but boring lately—and the 5-0 MTGO League data proves it.
Since the release of Tarkir: Dragonstorm, players have been testing, brewing, and locking in their favorite decks—and the results are starting to paint a clear picture of the current Standard metagame. We've gone through every undefeated (5-0) League finish on MTGO since the set dropped, and while the field remains diverse, two archetypes have been standing above the rest.
Let’s break down the biggest winners, the decks that won’t quit, and the strategies making a splash along the way.
Izzet Aggro: Burn, Tempo, and Relentless Pressure
It probably won't shock anyone to hear that Izzet Aggro has been leading the pack when it comes to undefeated runs. This deck doesn't waste time—it gets in your face fast with aggressive threats like Slickshot Show-Off and backs them up with cheap interaction like Burst Lightning and Torch the Tower to clear the way.
But the real game-changer here is Cori-Steel Cutter, one of the most exciting new additions to the archetype. This noncreature spell spits out a stream of 1/1 prowess tokens every time you trigger its flurry ability, turning even your smallest spells into a growing army. Pair that with Stormchaser's Talent, and suddenly you're flooding the board while buffing your entire squad, making it nearly impossible for slower decks to keep up. Between raw speed and explosive token generation, Izzet Aggro isn't just winning fast—it's winning wide.
Jeskai Oculus: Smooth Tempo with Card Advantage
Right on the heels of Izzet Aggro is Jeskai Oculus, a deck that's all about keeping the pressure on while never running out of gas. At the heart of the strategy is Abhorrent Oculus, a powerful value engine that rewards you for filling up your graveyard and casting it for cheap. This deck plays that sweet middle ground between aggro and control, mixing evasive threats like Spyglass Siren with efficient removal like Glacial Dragonhunt and Torch the Tower to keep the skies clear and the cards flowing. But what really makes this archetype stand out is its sneaky pseudo-loot plan—using discard-friendly cards like Marauding Mako, Fear of Missing Out, Tersa Lightshatter, and Steamcore Scholar to fuel your graveyard while gaining bonuses for pitching cards. Not only does this plan help you turbo out an early Oculus, but it pairs beautifully with payoffs like Profit's Eidetic Memory, letting you grow your board as you cycle through your hand. It's not the fastest aggro deck out there, but its ability to play offense and defense while constantly refueling makes Jeskai Oculus one of the most flexible and consistent choices in the format right now. Of course, the trick here is to discard Abhorrent Oculus early with a loot spell to return it to the battlefield with Helping Hand, making the strategy very solid.
Mono-Red Aggro: The Other Aggro Contender
Mono-Red Aggro sticks to what it does best—fast creatures, burn spells, and nonstop pressure. Core threats like Monastery Swiftspear, Heartfire Hero, and Emberheart Challenger hit the ground running, backed by burn like Burst Lightning and Lightning Strike to clear blockers or finish the job.
Tricks like Monstrous Rage add extra punch with trample and Role synergies, while Rockface Village and Witchstalker Frenzy help maintain pressure into the midgame. This version of Mono-Red shines by rewarding tight, aggressive play while stacking value through prowess triggers and clever sequencing.
Esper Self-Bounce: Blink Your Way to Victory
Esper Self-Bounce remains one of Standard's most reliable archetypes, built around looping enter-the-battlefield triggers for endless value. Bounce spells like This Town Ain't Big Enough pair with creatures like Fear of Isolation and Nurturing Pixie, while enchantments such as Hopeless Nightmare and Stormchaser's Talent provide perfect cheap targets.
Payoffs like Entity Tracker turn each enchantment into card draw, and Overlord of the Balemurk keeps the recursion flowing, making this deck tough to outgrind.
Jeskai Control: The Best Control Deck
Jeskai Control sticks to the classic game plan of answering everything and winning on your own terms, combining efficient removal like Get Lost, Abrade, and Torch the Tower with powerful life-gain and tempo plays like Lightning Helix and Jeskai Revelation.
The deck thrives on flexibility, using countermagic like Dispelling Exhale and big finishers such as Shiko, Paragon of the Way and Chandra, Hope's Beacon to close out games. With tools like Ill-Timed Explosion and Temporary Lockdown to stabilize the board, plus card selection from Stock Up and Rediscover the Way, this archetype ensures you always have the right answer while slowly turning the corner toward victory.
Gruul Aggro: Curve-Out Beats
Gruul Aggro brings the heat with fast, hard-hitting creatures and efficient burn, sticking to the tried-and-true plan of curving out aggressively and smashing face.
Core threats like Monastery Swiftspear, Heartfire Hero, and Emberheart Challenger get the damage rolling early, while pump spells like Monstrous Rage, Might of the Meek, and Burst Lightning help push through blockers or close the game outright. The deck also packs value with tools like Questing Druid for card advantage and Cori-Steel Cutter, turning your flurry triggers into a board full of prowess tokens. Lands like Rockface Village and Karplusan Forest round out the package, ensuring Gruul Aggro can keep the gas flowing while delivering quick, punishing games.
Dimir Midrange: Tempo Value Engine
Dimir Midrange brings a grindy, flexible game plan that mixes disruption, card advantage, and efficient removal.
Staples like Duress, Go for the Throat, and Cut Down keep opposing threats in check, while evasive threats like Faerie Mastermind, Spyglass Siren, and Preacher of the Schism chip away at life totals and generate value. The deck leans on powerful finishers like Sheoldred, the Apocalypse and Kaito, Bane of Nightmares, with backup from sweepers like Gix's Command and hand disruption from Deep-Cavern Bat. It's all about playing the long game, answering key threats while steadily pulling ahead with card draw and recursion.
Golgari Midrange: The Grind Machine
Golgari Midrange leans into grindy value and resilient threats, pairing efficient removal like Cut Down, Go for the Throat, and Maelstrom Pulse with sticky creatures like Mosswood Dreadknight, Obstinate Baloth, and Scavenging Ooze.
The deck punishes opponents trying to go wide with sweepers like Gix's Command while gaining life and board presence through cards like Tranquil Frillback and Preacher of the Schism. With recursion and graveyard interaction baked in, Golgari thrives in longer games, outlasting opponents by grinding down resources while refueling its hand.
Orzhov Self-Bounce: The Grindier Cousin
While it shares the same core strategy as its Esper sibling, Orzhov Self-Bounce goes without blue, favoring hand disruption like Liliana of the Veil and spot removal like Nowhere to Run.
It's a little leaner and takes a more controlling approach in some matchups, but still plays the long game by maximizing value from recursive creatures and blink effects.
Final Thoughts
Right now, Standard is walking a fine line between speed, value, and explosive combo finishes. With Izzet Aggro and Jeskai Oculus holding the most undefeated records, they've clearly positioned themselves as the decks to beat, but Self-Bounce strategies, combo brews, and control lists are keeping the format honest. If you're looking to dive into Standard Leagues, this data suggests there's no single best deck—but there are a few front-runners you'd be wise to prepare for.
Thanks for reading!
