When we think of Modern we usually think about synergy, linear decks playing niche cards to make their highly focused strategy work. Think Orinthopter, Pyretic Ritual, Stinkweed Imp, Lava Spike, Chromatic Star, etc.

When we think of Standard, the format is rarely big enough for decks to go that deep into synergy, so we end up with decks playing more cards that are singularly powerful. Think Teferi, Time Raveler, Hydroid Krasis, Siege Rhino, Goblin Chainwhirler, etc.

However, sometimes Standard gets to get in on the "high synergy" party as well...

Cards like Arclight Phoenix and Creeping Chill, both big time synergy-based cards, are usually the domain of Modern, but with a little help from some awkward mill cards like Drowned Secrets and the new Merfolk Secretkeeper, Piotr 'kanister' Glogowski was able to make a nice run at the Fandom Legends tournament last week with a very unique Mono-Blue Dredge deck in Standard.

Time Stamps:

Match 1 - 00:05:05

Match 2 - 00:26:32

Match 3 - 01:21:18

Match 4 - 01:41:27

Mono-Blue Dredge | Eldraine Standard | Piotr Glogowski, Fandom Legends

• Creatures (12)
• 4 Arclight Phoenix
• 4 Merfolk Secretkeeper
• 4 Narcomoeba

• Instants (15)
• 3 Mission Briefing
• 4 Opt
• 4 Radical Idea
• 4 Unsummon

• Sorceries (9)
• 1 Maximize Altitude
• 4 Creeping Chill
• 4 Discovery // Dispersal

• Enchantments (4)
• 4 Drowned Secrets

• Lands (20)
• 16 Island
• 4 Watery Grave

• Sideboard (15)
• 2 Aether Gust
• 3 Ashiok, Dream Render
• 3 Disdainful Stroke
• 3 Jace, Wielder of Mysteries
• 3 Mystical Dispute
• 1 Negate

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One of the great things about playing a high synergy deck is being able to surprise opponents who aren't ready for it. A central rule of Modern for years is just to play the most powerful deck that people aren't prepared for, and right now there's very little to get in the way of Arclight Phoenix in Standard. Furthermore, the card lines up very well against Golos Field of the Dead decks, currently the top dog in the format.

We did run afoul of Ashiok, Dream Render a few times and made a pretty big error against Temur Elementals, but overall the deck was surprisingly impressive. We came back from being behind in a number of games, showing the power and potential of the deck. Unfortunately the Jeskai Fires deck was quite annoying, as Narset, Parter of Veils puts a crimp in our style, but we were able to beat it once anyway.

Things aren't great right now in Standard with Field of the Dead mucking everything up, but if you're looking for a fun and exciting deck that is also competitive (Kanister made Top 8 of the Fandom Legends event as the #1 seed) Mono-Blue Dredge is great. Furthermore, it's cheap! While not intentionally a budget deck, the only expensive cards in the whole deck are Arclight Phoenix and Watery Grave, which are both great cards to have in your collection anyway.

Give it a whirl, and may all your Arclight Phoenix be in your Top 20 cards!