5 March of the Machine the Aftermath Decks to Spice Up Standard

Arena Standard Decklists

ChrisCee · May 19, 2023 · 4 min

5 March of the Machine the Aftermath Decks to Spice Up Standard

March of the Machine the Aftermath is, by default design, a supplemental deck, worsened by the lack of substance in essence and flavor. But, we've already heard enough of the same negative conclusions over the past few articles. And to be honest, if you're not on the pack purchasing side of things, there's quite a good amount to discover here.

The objective is simple: the deck needs to use a March of the Machine the Aftermath card or two, and allow the deck to revolve around them. Current Standard meta decks can be proper candidates, but the modification to the deck still has to be significant enough that it feels different.

So, which of these brews would you like to test?

Infinite King-Ping Combo

The Ob Nixilis, Captive Kingpin + All Will Be One combo has already been circulating around for a few days, and quite a good number of brews have been showcased. However, this very early build still retains its style and theme. For one thing, it is the most consistent when it comes to pulling off the combo with the cheapest interaction for both pieces, even if just one of them is in play. Well, Graveyard Trespasser // Graveyard Glutton doesn't exactly work on All Will Be One, but her life drain is never really considered a primary effect anyway, unlike something such as Oni-Cult Anvil.

If you want a version with even more independent responses, then this brew featuring Chandra, Dressed to Kill is perhaps your better pick.

Gameplay Video

Primary Combo Cards:

♾️👑 Infinite Kingpin Combo

Main 60 cards (18 distinct)

Lands - 25

Main 60 cards (18 distinct)

Lands - 25

Main 60 cards (18 distinct)

Creature (19)
4 Graveyard Trespasser // Graveyard Glutton			$1.20€1.803.65
4 Bloodtithe Harvester			$0.33
4 Voldaren Epicure			$0.300.03
4 Ob Nixilis, Captive Kingpin			$10.52
3 Sawblade Scamp			$0.15€0.060.01
Instant, Sorcery, Enchantment, Artifact (13)
4 Fable of the Mirror-Breaker // Reflection of Kiki-Jiki			$21.85€27.67
2 Cut Down
2 Go for the Throat			$0.48€0.180.02
1 Sheoldred's Edict			$1.99
4 All Will Be One			$16.24€6.083.70
Planeswalker (1)
1 Ob Nixilis, the Adversary			$5.99
Other (2)
2 Invasion of Azgol // Ashen Reaper			$0.23€0.130.01
Land (25)
1 Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance			$2.86€3.96
1 Takenuma, Abandoned Mire			$5.71€6.73
4 Sulfurous Springs			$5.20€5.500.30
8 Mountain			$0.28€0.120.02
7 Swamp			$1.28€0.330.03
4 Blackcleave Cliffs			$3.560.77

Export

MTG Arena Format MTG Online File download Text List Registration PDF

Free Equipment and Recurring Tokens

Nahiri, Forged in Fury is a pretty straightforward card that meshes really well with For Mirrodin! equipment, since her attack triggers allow instant casting of them already equipped, plus helping her drop down the board several turns earlier. But along with that, the deck also manages to exploit Nahiri's Resolve, by blinking those same For Mirrodin! equipment in order to generate another set of tokens as they are put back into play. So you swing everything to go all out, blink each equipment (not the tokens!), and then wait for their safe return during your next upkeep, as they bring another fresh set of Mirrans to the fight.

And if you're worried that the enchantment will be bombed before they come back, remember that the entire clause is just one effect. Meaning the ability resolves both the exiling and returning. Works pretty well with Ambitious Farmhand // Seasoned Cathar too!

Gameplay Video

Primary Combo Cards:

BOROS EQUIPMENT MIDRANGE(Nahiri)

Main 60 cards (16 distinct)

Lands - 24

Main 60 cards (16 distinct)

Lands - 24

Main 60 cards (16 distinct)

Instant, Sorcery, Enchantment, Artifact (25)
4 Nahiri's Resolve			$0.66
4 Bladehold War-Whip			$0.20€0.110.01
4 Rebel Salvo			$0.21€0.090.02
4 Barbed Batterfist			$0.15€0.090.02
2 Dragonwing Glider			$0.25€0.150.01
4 Hexgold Halberd			$0.20€0.090.01
3 Depopulate			$0.48€0.340.12
Creature (11)
4 Nahiri, Forged in Fury			$4.29
3 Rabbit Battery			$0.36
4 Ambitious Farmhand // Seasoned Cathar			$0.36€0.180.03
Land (24)
4 Sundown Pass			$6.33€5.930.88
4 Battlefield Forge			$1.25€1.090.14
1 Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire			$7.75
1 Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance			$2.86€3.96
8 Mountain			$0.250.01
6 Plains			$0.240.01

Export

MTG Arena Format MTG Online File download Text List Registration PDF

Narset Prowess Token Army

Indeed, there never was any actual need for Narset, Enlightened Exile to be focused solely on prowess. The idea is meta and all, but you can also tinker with her abilities using other arguably non-aggro builds as well. Take this build that focuses on tokens, cheap spells, and the creature supports provided by two general four-mana white planeswalkers, for example. The idea is to make quality tokens that benefit from Narset's global prowess, while combining the universal convoking of Invasion of Segovia // Caetus, Sea Tyrant of Segovia and the buffing protection of Invasion of Gobakhan // Lightshield Array. A clutch Invasion of Mercadia // Kyren Flamewright then surprises the opponent with even more tokens, threatening a hasty all-out swing in the least expected moment possible.

Don't forget that Narset only says non-creatures. So you can replay and recast all those battles and planeswalkers once again when she attacks (retriggering her field-wide Prowess mid-way).

Gameplay Video

Primary Combo Cards:

Jeskai Narset

Main 60 cards (23 distinct)

Lands - 24

Main 60 cards (23 distinct)

Lands - 24

Main 60 cards (23 distinct)

Creature (4)
4 Narset, Enlightened Exile			$11.25
Instant, Sorcery, Enchantment, Artifact (15)
4 Fading Hope			$1.80€1.200.03
4 Wedding Announcement // Wedding Festivity			$12.07
4 Fable of the Mirror-Breaker // Reflection of Kiki-Jiki			$21.85€27.67
3 Nahiri's Warcrafting			$0.500.36
Planeswalker (6)
2 The Wandering Emperor
2 Archangel Elspeth			$4.55€4.391.17
2 The Eternal Wanderer			$1.44€1.970.08
Other (11)
4 Invasion of Gobakhan // Lightshield Array			$10.00€4.637.21
4 Invasion of Mercadia // Kyren Flamewright			$0.21€0.090.02
3 Invasion of Segovia // Caetus, Sea Tyrant of Segovia			$2.27€2.360.08
Land (24)
1 Mountain			$0.28€0.120.02
1 Island			$0.31€0.190.02
1 Plains			$0.33€0.190.04
3 Seachrome Coast			$2.950.49
3 Deserted Beach			$7.50
3 Sundown Pass			$6.99
3 Battlefield Forge			$2.10
3 Stormcarved Coast			$13.91
3 Shivan Reef			$1.95
1 Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire			$7.75
1 Otawara, Soaring City			$13.85€17.26
1 Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance			$2.86€3.96

Export

MTG Arena Format MTG Online File download Text List Registration PDF

Infinite Leyline Legendary Mana

Rona, Herald of Invasion // Rona, Tolarian Obliterator + Leyline Immersion feels such a crazy combo that it doesn't seem like it belongs to Standard. But, that is only if you manage to pull it off without your opponent interrupting any of them. So the only other way for this to work, is to make a Jodah, the Unifier superfriends deck that can fight on its own without the combo. Thankfully, the basic shell of such a deck is already available; we only have to work around Rona and the Leyline much better.

Another hidden combo in this deck is Sigarda, Font of Blessings + Skrelv, Defector Mite. Both of them form this mutual protection bond, making your opponent unable to hit Sigarda's blind spot, and forcing them to rely on edict or board wipe effects to take them out.

Gameplay Video

Primary Combo Cards:

5 COLOR LEGENDS (Leyline Immersion)

Main 60 cards (24 distinct)

Lands - 25

Main 60 cards (24 distinct)

Lands - 25

Main 60 cards (24 distinct)

Instant, Sorcery, Enchantment, Artifact (4)
4 Leyline Immersion			$0.80
Creature (31)
3 Adeline, Resplendent Cathar			$5.466.83
3 Djeru and Hazoret			$0.38€0.260.02
1 Ertai Resurrected			$0.70€0.590.08
3 Gwenna, Eyes of Gaea			$3.47€1.810.36
3 Hajar, Loyal Bodyguard			$0.49€0.370.14
4 Jodah, the Unifier			$3.44€2.981.53
2 Lagrella, the Magpie			$0.18
3 Sigarda, Font of Blessings			$2.61
1 Jirina, Dauntless General			$0.89
4 Rona, Herald of Invasion // Rona, Tolarian Obliterator			$3.22€1.812.97
3 Skrelv, Defector Mite			$4.07€5.711.47
1 Halana and Alena, Partners			$0.99€0.460.02
Land (25)
4 Plaza of Heroes			$7.26€6.171.66
4 Secluded Courtyard			$1.72€1.35
2 Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire			$7.75
4 Razorverge Thicket			$1.88€2.330.29
2 Rockfall Vale			$1.21€0.730.10
1 Adarkar Wastes			$4.05€3.990.35
2 Yavimaya Coast			$1.00€0.910.01
1 Xander's Lounge			$7.60€8.462.52
2 Jetmir's Garden			$7.90€7.921.88
1 Ziatora's Proving Ground			$6.99
2 Spara's Headquarters			$7.75€8.223.81

Export

MTG Arena Format MTG Online File download Text List Registration PDF

Lore Accurate Ability Scavenging

Without looking much into it, this deck seems like your average optimized reanimator slapped with four copies of Urborg Scavengers. Until you realize that cards like Fleetfoot Dancer and even Combat Thresher are part of the main combo. Ideally, you want to get a Fleetfoot Dancer first, since with haste, you can put two +1/+1 counters immediately and get an extra set of effects from another creature in just a single turn (preferably hexproof).

But, if none of those work, you can just backtrack to regular reanimation shenanigans. Invasion of Tolvada // The Broken Sky offers easier mana and better extra abilities than typical Standard options such as Invoke Justice. Actually, Sheoldred's Restoration can even revive the Scavengers themselves without having to worry about paying its kicker cost. Plus, cards such as Boon-Bringer Valkyrie can be manually cast without even paying attention to the theme of the deck at all.