Hello everyone. Streets of New Capenna features a lot of new characters. Some of my favorites are the leaders of the gangs. This week, I'll be taking a look at a few decks that feature some of these gang leaders. Let's get started.

Ziatora, the Incinerator / Jund Midrange

We'll get started this week by taking a look at a deck featuring Ziatora, the Incinerator. While there's only a single copy of this Demon Dragon in the deck, you'll see that one copy is all you need. Let's take a look at the deck.

Ziatora, the Incinerator / Jund Midrange | SNC Standard | Sonio, aetherhub.com user

• Creatures (11)
• 1 Ziatora, the Incinerator
• 2 Graveyard Trespasser // Graveyard Glutton
• 4 Bloodtithe Harvester
• 4 Tenacious Underdog

• Planeswalkers (6)
• 2 Lolth, Spider Queen
• 4 Ob Nixilis, the Adversary

• Instants (2)
• 2 Infernal Grasp

• Sorceries (8)
• 2 Shatterskull Smashing // Shatterskull, the Hammer Pass
• 3 Strangle
• 3 Bloodchief's Thirst

• Enchantments (6)
• 2 The Meathook Massacre
• 4 Fable of the Mirror-Breaker // Reflection of Kiki-Jiki

• Artifacts (4)
• 4 Esika's Chariot

• Lands (23)
• 1 Swamp
• 1 Haunted Ridge
• 1 Rockfall Vale
• 1 Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance
• 3 Hive of the Eye Tyrant
• 4 Blightstep Pathway // Searstep Pathway
• 4 Cragcrown Pathway // Timbercrown Pathway
• 4 Darkbore Pathway // Slitherbore Pathway
• 4 Ziatora's Proving Ground

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One great creature to sacrifice to Ziatora is Tenacious Underdog. Thanks to its blitz ability, you'll be able to cast Tenacious Underdog from your graveyard. This offers you a target that you can repeatedly sacrifice turn after turn. While you can't do this indefinitely due to the life you need to pay to cast Tenacious Underdog with its blitz ability, dealing three damage to your opponent while only paying two life leaves you ahead in the race.

One way you have to offset some of that life you'll be paying is with the use of The Meathook Massacre. This enchantment is a Standard all-star, and for good reason. When you cast it, it can act as a selective board wipe, giving each creature -X/-X, where X is a variable amount of mana you spend when casting this spell. You can use this to wipe away smaller creatures while leaving your bigger creatures slightly weakened, but still alive. It can also help you by providing you a point of life whenever one of your opponent's creatures dies, helping you pay Tenacious Underdog's blitz cost. It will also deal a point of damage to your opponent when one of your creatures dies, hastening their defeat.

Jetmir, Nexus of Revels / Naya Aggro

Next, I have a deck featuring Jetmir, Nexus of Revels that can get out of control very quickly. Let's take a look at the deck.

Jetmir, Nexus of Revels / Naya Aggro | SNC Standard | HelloGoodGame, aetherhub.com user

• Creatures (24)
• 1 Kodama of the West Tree
• 1 Minsc, Beloved Ranger
• 1 Rocco, Cabaretti Caterer
• 2 Delina, Wild Mage
• 2 Goro-Goro, Disciple of Ryusei
• 2 Halana and Alena, Partners
• 2 Magda, Brazen Outlaw
• 3 Jetmir, Nexus of Revels
• 3 Jinnie Fay, Jetmir's Second
• 3 Ognis, the Dragon's Lash
• 4 Targ Nar, Demon-Fang Gnoll

• Sorceries (8)
• 4 Commune with Spirits
• 4 Strangle

• Enchantments (4)
• 4 Bard Class

• Lands (24)
• 3 Forest
• 1 Den of the Bugbear
• 1 Lair of the Hydra
• 2 Boseiju, Who Endures
• 2 Branchloft Pathway // Boulderloft Pathway
• 2 Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance
• 3 Overgrown Farmland
• 3 Rockfall Vale
• 3 Sundown Pass
• 4 Cragcrown Pathway // Timbercrown Pathway

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In order to fill up your battlefield with creatures, you'll be able to rely on Bard Class for help. By getting this enchantment to Level 2, legendary spells you cast will cost one Red and one Green mana less to cast. In order to take advantage of this ability, you'll see that every creature in this deck is legendary. That means that it is important to make sure you have access to Bard Class in your opening hand each and every game, so make sure to take a mulligan if Bard Class isn't in your opening hand.

There are a few other cards that will help you cast additional creatures easier. Magda, Brazen Outlaw will create Treasure tokens whenever a Dwarf you control is tapped. Similarly, Ognis, the Dragon's Lash creates a Treasure token whenever a creature you control with haste attacks. Those Treasure tokens provide you additional mana that you can use to cast additional creatures. Finally, Delina, Wild Mage will create token copies of creatures that you control. With a bit of luck, she'll be able to create multiple copies, helping you reach the threshold of nine creatures with ease.

Lord Xander, the Collector / Grixis Reanimator

The final deck I have for you this week features Lord Xander, the Collector working the Graveyard Shift. Let's take a look at the deck.

Lord Xander, the Collector / Grixis Reanimator | SNC Standard | MtgMalone, aetherhub.com user

• Creatures (7)
• 1 Jin-Gitaxias, Progress Tyrant
• 1 Olivia, Crimson Bride
• 1 Xanathar, Guild Kingpin
• 2 Lord Xander, the Collector
• 2 Toxrill, the Corrosive

• Planeswalkers (4)
• 2 Kaito Shizuki
• 2 Lolth, Spider Queen

• Instants (12)
• 3 Big Score
• 3 Infernal Grasp
• 3 Maestros Charm
• 3 Tainted Indulgence

• Sorceries (10)
• 2 Bloodchief's Thirst
• 2 Burn Down the House
• 2 Shadows' Verdict
• 4 Graveyard Shift

• Enchantments (3)
• 3 The Meathook Massacre

• Lands (24)
• 1 Mountain
• 1 Swamp
• 2 Island
• 2 Blightstep Pathway // Searstep Pathway
• 2 Clearwater Pathway // Murkwater Pathway
• 2 Haunted Ridge
• 2 Hive of the Eye Tyrant
• 2 Riverglide Pathway // Lavaglide Pathway
• 2 Shipwreck Marsh
• 2 Stormcarved Coast
• 2 Takenuma, Abandoned Mire
• 4 Xander's Lounge

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The answer to that question is no. Tainted Indulgence, Maestros Charm, and Big Score are all Instants that you can use to discard Lord Xander, the Collector from your hand into your graveyard. You can also use the +1 loyalty ability of Kaito Shizuki to discard Lord Xander, as long as you use this ability before you attack for the turn.

In addition to returning Lord Xander, the Collector to the battlefield, there are numerous other terrific targets you might choose instead. Jin-Gitaxias, Progress Tyrant can put a halt to any plans your opponent might have. Xanathar, Guild Kingpin offers you the chance to use your opponent's cards against them. Toxrill, the Corrosive can cause a slow and painful death to any creatures your opponent has in play. Finally, Olivia, Crimson Bride can return other creatures from your graveyard to the battlefield when she attacks, giving you access to multiple ways of making your opponent miserable.

Wrapping Up

The gangs of New Capenna are not to be trifled with, and their leaders are all very powerful when decks are built around their abilities. While I only had time to write about three of them this week, the other two will have to wait for a future article, but I can assure you that their decks will be just as much fun to play.

What do you think of these decks? Do you have any suggestions for improvements? Let me know by leaving a comment below. Also, feel free to share this article with your friends anywhere on social media. And be sure to join me here again next week as I continue my search for innovative decks in Standard. I'll see you then!

-Mike Likes