STANDARD ROCK

Magic 2020 Edition

This standard list of the Rock functions as a control-oriented midrange build. We attempt to have answers for everything, and can play either aggressively or defensively utilizing the tools available to Green and/or Black.

Specifically, we want to ramp while also eliminating key opponent threats with our premium removal options.  Once we have a playable game-winner, we immmediate press our first available advantage and then switch to dropping super-powerful planeswalkers. 
 

...know your role
 

In order to understand the general playstyle and theory of this list, you should be familiar with the following terms and concepts relating to your role in the game:
  

Reactive- Playing cards in response to your opponents cards.
Your opponent presents threats to you.

Active- Plays cards to threaten opponent, and will win the game if unanswered.
Your opponent must react to you, otherwise they will lose (to illustrate further,
even a llanowar elf can be an active threat as you will deal 20 damage of health
in 20 turns if your opponent does nothing).

Advantage - At current game-state, you are most likely to win.
Can be difficult to determine who has the advantage early to mid game if both
players are active or if both players are reactice. 

Disadvantage- At current game state, you are most likely to loose. 
 

Often, with this deck, you will intentionally play the reactive role for the first half of the game. Most non-control decks don’t want to play reactively, and will typically only be in a reactive state if they are at a disadvantage and forced to do so (reactive-disadvantage). This GB Rock attempts to exploit the benefits of playing reactively which is rare for a midrange styled deck (reactive-advantage).
 

Accordingly, for those new to a deck that wants play at a reactive-advantage, it may feel like you are losing even though you are, in fact, winning. Its very important to know when you are at a reactive-advantage vs. when you are at a reactive-disadvantage, and being able to identify the difference between these two states is critical to success with lists like this one.
 

After playing at a reactive-advantage, we then switch gears to an active playstyle. The midpoint of the game is the moment you switch from a reactive-advantage to an active-advantage. YOU MUST PRESS THE ADVANTAGE AND THEN LOCK THE OPPONENT DOWN.
 

This means if you can reasonably keep your opponent on the reactive-disadvantage for the remainder of the game, then do so immediately. 
 

Some articles (not mine) on the history of the "Rock" archetype, with some MTG theory:

Rock (MTG Wiki Explanation)
Wizard's of the Coast Rock Deck Tech Article
MTG Salvation Forum Thread - Where did the Rock Archetype Get its Name
MTG Top8 - Recent Rock Tournament Lists in Modern