Hello everyone. Recently, I've been trying out lots of new decks on Magic Arena that are in all different colors, as a way of improving my ability as a Magic player. By playing decks that aren't necessarily in my comfort zone, I can learn how other deck types operate, what their strengths are, and what their weaknesses are. This week, I have for you a couple of decks that aren't in my usual choice of mana colors, and one that is. Let's get started with a mono-colored deck.

Mono-Black Zombies

Even though Mono-Black would probably be the last type of mono-colored deck I would gravitate toward, the Mono-Black deck I have for you this week features a bunch of Zombies, which does give it some appeal to me. Let's take a look at it.

Mono-Black Zombies | MAT Standard | SlothMtg, aetherhub.com user

• Creatures (28)
• 1 Death-Rattle Oni
• 1 Tenacious Underdog
• 2 Archfiend of the Dross
• 2 Archghoul of Thraben
• 2 Gix, Yawgmoth Praetor
• 2 Sheoldred, the Apocalypse
• 2 Tainted Adversary
• 4 Champion of the Perished
• 4 Headless Rider
• 4 Phyrexian Fleshgorger
• 4 Razorlash Transmogrant

• Instants (4)
• 4 Go for the Throat

• Enchantments (4)
• 4 Okiba Reckoner Raid // Nezumi Road Captain

• Lands (24)
• 20 Swamp
• 1 Takenuma, Abandoned Mire
• 3 Mishra's Foundry

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Much of the time, you'll simply want to send your Zombie creatures into battle. Whether they live or die, you're likely to get some sort of benefit. If they manage to attack unscathed, you'll be able to draw extra cards with the help of Gix, Yawgmoth Praetor. If they die in battle, you can often replace them with the help of Headless Rider. You'll also be able to utilize Archghoul of Thraben's ability to help you find replacements for the fallen.

Once you've taken a bite out of your opponent's life total, you might find the battlefield is too congested to be able to push through any extra damage. It's at that time that you can think about casting Archfiend of the Dross. This Phyrexian Demon is a massive flying threat that can help you win the game quickly. However, be sure to hold onto a copy of Go for the Throat to use against your own creature if you're not able to put your opponent out of their misery, or else you'll end up losing the game instead.

Izzet Wizards

Next, we come to the deck that I would be most likely to play. Let's see what these Red and Blue Wizards have to offer.

Izzet Wizards | MAT Standard | LunacyChemicals, aetherhub.com user

• Creatures (16)
• 1 Atmosphere Surgeon
• 1 Najal, the Storm Runner
• 2 Ghitu Amplifier
• 2 Lier, Disciple of the Drowned
• 3 Balmor, Battlemage Captain
• 3 Electrostatic Infantry
• 4 Delver of Secrets

• Instants (16)
• 2 Fading Hope
• 2 Scatter Ray
• 4 Consider
• 4 Lightning Strike
• 4 Play with Fire

• Sorceries (4)
• 4 Ancestral Anger

• Lands (24)
• 10 Mountain
• 7 Island
• 1 Otawara, Soaring City
• 1 Shivan Reef
• 1 Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance
• 1 Stormcarved Coast
• 3 Swiftwater Cliffs

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This deck includes a trio of creatures that get better with each instant or sorcery spell you cast. Electrostatic Infantry gets a permanent +1/+1 counter for each instant or sorcery spell you cast, plus it has trample to help push through damage. Ghitu Amplifier gets a +2/+0 bonus for the turn when you cast an instant or sorcery spell. Finally, Balmor, Battlemage Captain provides both a +1/+0 bonus plus trample to all of the creatures you control until the end of the turn when you cast an instant or sorcery spell.

By using the attacking power of these three creatures, plus the ability to cast instant and sorcery spells from your graveyard thanks to the flashback they are given by Lier, Disciple of the Drowned, you'll likely be able to overrun your opponent. In the event you can't, there are full playsets of both Lightning Strike and Play with Fire in this deck. Each of these spells can deal direct damage to any target, so you can finish off a weakened opponent with these spells when you can't push through damage on the battlefield.

Abzan Legends

The final deck I have for you this week is a three-color deck that features a ton of legendary creatures. Let's take a look at the deck.

Abzan Legends | MAT Standard | MtgMalone, aetherhub.com user

• Creatures (30)
• 2 Elesh Norn // The Argent Etchings
• 2 Glissa, Herald of Predation
• 2 Melira, the Living Cure
• 2 Sheoldred // The True Scriptures
• 2 Ao, the Dawn Sky
• 2 Ratadrabik of Urborg
• 3 Adeline, Resplendent Cathar
• 3 Glissa Sunslayer
• 3 Katilda, Dawnhart Prime
• 3 Skrelv, Defector Mite
• 3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
• 3 Thalia and The Gitrog Monster

• Instants (2)
• 2 Pile On

• Artifacts (2)
• 2 The Celestus

• Battles (2)
• 2 Invasion of Fiora // Marchesa, Resolute Monarch

• Lands (24)
• 1 Forest
• 2 Plains
• 2 Swamp
• 2 Boseiju, Who Endures
• 2 Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire
• 2 Takenuma, Abandoned Mire
• 3 Deathcap Glade
• 3 Overgrown Farmland
• 3 Shattered Sanctum
• 4 Plaza of Heroes

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I think my favorite creature in this deck is Thalia and The Gitrog Monster. This dynamic duo is a massive threat. It boasts nice stats, coming in at a 4/4, plus it has both first strike and deathtouch. This makes it a great creature to hold for defense, as there's not much that it can't kill while still remaining unscathed. As an added bonus, since your opponent's creatures and nonbasic lands will come into play tapped, your opponent will always feel one step behind during the game.

Helping you out on offense is Katilda, Dawnhart Prime. She can come into play as early as turn two, and with the help of other Human creatures, you'll be able to outpace your opponent by casting additional threats each turn. Once you have enough land on the battlefield, thanks to the help of Thalia and The Gitrog Monster, you'll be able to start putting +1/+1 counters on each of your creatures, which will make it more difficult for your opponent to challenge you on the battlefield.

Wrapping Up

By playing decks that aren't normally your preferred style, you can get a better understanding of what each color is capable of. I can honestly say that I've enjoyed playing each of these decks, even if they don't fall into the parameters of my usual decks.

What do you think of these decks? 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