One of the big themes of Ixalan that we haven't really seen pay off in Standard are the various tribes. We haven't really seen Dinosaurs, Vampires, or Merfolk show up in any meaningful way. That said, we've still got another set to see the tribal themes really pay off, and as we head into preview season, some players have started exploring which tribes might be just a card or two off of being a real Standard competitor:

Blue-Black Pirates - Ixalan Standard | Giorno211, 5-0 Standard League

• Creatures (23)
• 1 Gonti, Lord of Luxury
• 2 Gifted Aetherborn
• 4 Fathom Fleet Captain
• 4 Hostage Taker
• 4 Kitesail Freebooter
• 4 Metallic Mimic
• 4 Siren Stormtamer

• Instants (11)
• 3 Siren's Ruse
• 4 Fatal Push
• 4 Lookout's Dispersal

• Sorceries (2)
• 2 Walk the Plank

• Lands (24)
• 6 Swamp
• 7 Island
• 3 Ifnir Deadlands
• 4 Drowned Catacomb
• 4 Fetid Pools

• Sideboard (15)
• 1 Aethersphere Harvester
• 2 Duress
• 1 Essence Extraction
• 1 Essence Scatter
• 2 Gifted Aetherborn
• 1 Gonti, Lord of Luxury
• 3 Negate
• 1 Ruin Raider
• 1 Scavenger Grounds
• 1 The Scarab God
• 1 Vraska's Contempt

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Walk the Plank and Fatal Push are the core of your removal suite. These are the two most efficient removal spells in the format for an aggressive deck with a low land count. Lookout's Dispersal is a better Mana Leak in this deck, and lets you stay ahead of opponents who are leaning on more expensive haymakers to swing the game in their favor. Siren's Ruse lets you rebuy Hostage Taker triggers or swap what card is under your Kitesail Freebooter, all while netting you a card.

If this deck is any indication, Pirates only need a little extra support from Rivals of Ixalan to become a competitive Standard archetype. If the first week or preview season has been any indication, Standard may turn into an incredible high seas adventure.