Top Standard Decks - May 2025

Well, that was quite the shake-up post-release of the latest Standard legal MTG set. Tarkir: Dragonstorm may not have the seasonal timing of Wilds of Eldraine and Duskmourn, but it sure made a name for itself quite quickly in the current meta. I mean, we do have brand new entries, but the very same cards that form the core of those new decks also created the foundation for boosting our top 8 regulars (and maybe even some more just a few steps outside the top 8 rankings).

Yes, including everyone's all-favorite aggro builds.

Standard Tournament Meta - Top 8 Decks

Red now dominates half the entire tournament meta list, which includes Mono Red, Double Jeskai, and Izzet builds. Nope, we didn't even get to see the typical Gruul and Boros builds here, being effectively kicked out of the top 8 for the time being. But, they still managed to eat up the entire list. The remaining entries go to control builds, namely Esper, Overlords, and Azorius (Omniscience). Oh, and I almost forgot that Dimir Aggro is still sitting snugly smack dab in the middle, regardless of all these recent changes. Yep.

Standard MTG Arena: Best of Three - Top 8 Decks

The new decks continue their domination through Bo3 MTG Standard, with Izzet and Double Jeskai taking the first to third slots as expected. Mono Black (albeit a much, much newer brew than a while back), still holds up at 5th place, with Golgari also holding on at 8th. Esper Pixie and 4C Control, the decks that held 1st and 2nd place respectively last month (a week prior TDM's release), now land at 4th and 7th place.

Standard MTG Arena: Best of One - Top 8 Decks

Oddly enough, Izzet's popularity wasn't nearly enough to break into the Bo1 MTG Standard meta as initially thought. Mono Red and Mono Black still sit in the top two places, followed only by Izzet at 3rd. Boros at least gets to keep its place at 4th, unlike Gruul, which has already disappeared in Bo1 since March. Interestingly enough, Simulacrum/Battlefront Azorius creeps back at 7th place, actually beating Orzhov, which is the control variety this time, and not the Lifegain type. Unfortunately, none of the Jeskai builds that dominated in Bo3 and tournament meta made their way to the Bo1 top eight this month.