Sometimes a deck is close to being a serious contender in a format, but is just missing that one key piece to bring it all together and send it over the top. Many have tried to make the many Kaldheim angel cards like Firja's Retribution and Righteous Valkyrie work in Standard, but the deck has always come up short.

Well, my angel-loving friends, there's now hope!

One card can really make a difference!

Time Stamps:

04:52 - Match 1

32:38 - Match 2

53:13 - Match 3

Giada Angels | SNC Standard | Jim Davis

• Creatures (24)
• 1 Legion Angel
• 1 Sanctuary Warden
• 1 Tenacious Underdog
• 2 Liesa, Forgotten Archangel
• 3 Renegade Reaper
• 4 Giada, Font of Hope
• 4 Inspiring Overseer
• 4 Righteous Valkyrie
• 4 Youthful Valkyrie

• Planeswalkers (2)
• 2 Elspeth Resplendent

• Instants (6)
• 2 Hagra Mauling // Hagra Broodpit
• 2 Infernal Grasp
• 2 Vanishing Verse

• Enchantments (4)
• 4 Firja's Retribution

• Lands (24)
• 2 Swamp
• 8 Plains
• 1 Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire
• 1 Takenuma, Abandoned Mire
• 2 Hive of the Eye Tyrant
• 2 Shineshadow Snarl
• 4 Brightclimb Pathway // Grimclimb Pathway
• 4 Shattered Sanctum

• Sideboard (15)
• 4 Duress
• 3 Legion Angel
• 2 Crippling Fear
• 1 Power Word Kill
• 2 The Meathook Massacre
• 1 Liesa, Forgotten Archangel
• 2 Tenacious Underdog

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While Giada is an almost unbelievably good tribal 2-drop, there's a bit more to it than just one card.

With Divide By Zero and Alrund's Epiphany banned, the angel decks lose their natural predator. Fading Hope was the perfect counter to Firja's Retribution, and the combo finish that the Izzet decks operated on would usually end up going over the top of whatever battlefield presence the Angels deck could muster.

Add this to a number of recent printings like Elspeth Resplendent and Inspiring Overseer from Streets of New Capenna, as well as the sneakily powerful Liesa, Forgotten Archangel, and all the sudden everything just looks right for Angels to finally step up as a serious tribal deck in Standard. It's good removal, a good clock, great sideboard options, and now most importantly an excellent, snowballing curve out off the back of Giada.

The Ten New Brews Angel deck already looked good, but this list has been worked on and is even better!