When everyone is mired in midrange value battles in Standard, what is one to do? How about play actual Counterspell?

Talia has been playing a very innovative take on Toxic lately to great success in the VML, mixing together elements from the more common Selesnya Toxic deck alongside Blue for counterspells and reach, which can help put an opponent off balance or even close things out burn spell style with proliferate.

Time Stamps:

02:53 - Match 1

16:36 - Match 2

33:51 - Match 3

Toxic Tempo | ONE Standard | Talia, Venus and Mercury League

• Creatures (11)
• 3 Skrelv, Defector Mite
• 4 Annex Sentry
• 4 Crawling Chorus

• Instants (18)
• 2 Reject Imperfection
• 4 Bring the Ending
• 4 Experimental Augury
• 4 Make Disappear
• 4 Serum Snare

• Sorceries (4)
• 4 Distorted Curiosity

• Enchantments (4)
• 4 Skrelv's Hive

• Lands (23)
• 1 Plains
• 5 Island
• 1 Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire
• 1 Otawara, Soaring City
• 3 The Seedcore
• 4 Adarkar Wastes
• 4 Mirrex
• 4 Seachrome Coast

• Sideboard (15)
• 4 Fading Hope
• 3 Spell Pierce
• 2 White Sun's Twilight
• 2 Disdainful Stroke
• 2 Memory Deluge
• 2 The Wandering Emperor

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The pair of 1-drops get things started, but the real prize here is Skrelv's Hive.

Playing a very similar role to Bitterblossom in a deck like old Faeries from back in the day, Skrelv's Hive allows you to tap out for a threat once and then leave mana up to interact over and over again while presenting threats. It also plays awesome with Make Disappear, giving you two excellent two-mana counterspells.

If you love tempo decks, this one should be right up your alley!