The highly anticipated Pro Tour Lorwyn Eclipsed starts tomorrow, January 30, in Richmond, Virginia. This closed event gathers 306 of the best Magic: The Gathering players from around the world. They will battle for a total of $500,000 in prizes, along with invitations to the World Championship and the Pro Tour trophy.
The tournament kicks off with a Booster Draft, followed by five rounds of Standard play each afternoon. On Sunday, the top eight competitors will engage in a single-elimination showdown to determine the champion.
Fans can follow the action live on the Magic Twitch channel or the Play MTG YouTube channel. The live streams begin at 11 a.m. ET on Friday and Saturday, and at 10 a.m. ET on Sunday.
The Current Standard Landscape
The Standard format includes cards from Wilds of Eldraine onward. The recent Lorwyn Eclipsed expansion added exciting new cards, reshaping the metagame. Here’s a quick look at the most popular deck types based on the 306 submissions.
- Simic Rhythm – 48 players (15.7%)
- Bant Rhythm – 46 players (15.0%)
- Sultai Reanimator – 31 players (10.1%)
- Bant Airbending – 20 players (6.5%)
- Izzet Spellementals – 15 players (4.9%)
These decks utilize powerful new cards and strategies, creating a competitive atmosphere. Interestingly, the Izzet Lessons deck, which made waves at the recent World Championship, has seen a decline in popularity, giving way to newer strategies.
Key Cards and Trends
Quantitative Insights:
- Badgermole Cub and Llanowar Elves have become staples, with 137 players (44.8% of the field) including Badgermole Cub in their decks.
- The much-discussed Formidable Speaker, known for its versatility, has been included in 146 player decks, making it the standout card from the new set.
Expert Opinions:
Experts in the Magic community highlight how deck strategies have evolved rapidly. After Simon Nielsen’s success with a Simic list in Lyon, players are exploring creative variations, prompting a shift toward mana acceleration strategies. Similar to past shifts in competitive play, this may represent a turning point for deck-building in the Standard format.
Looking Forward
As the tournament unfolds, it remains to be seen which strategies will dominate. With new cards reshaping existing archetypes and introducing fresh ideas, the competition promises to be thrilling. Whether an established deck will hold its ground or a new strategy will rise to the occasion is anyone’s guess.
Catch all the action this weekend and see who will emerge victorious in this dynamic world of Magic: The Gathering.
