Amonkhet block was part of the early days of Magic Arena, during the beta testing but was taken off when the game fully launched. Amonkhet Remastered is bringing back the powerhouses of its Standard past as well as injecting powerful cards into Historic that were not in the original set. Today we'll be looking at the cards that will be staples of Historic moving forward, cards that will bring new tribal decks to the forefront of the format, cards that we will need to keep an eye on as the format ages, and more.
Staples:
These are cards that have proven their power and are staples in the eternal formats that they are legal in.
The Scarab God and Hour of Promise are not staples in other formats like Pioneer and Modern, but I am positive that they will be in Historic. The raw power of The Scarab God will allow it to see serious play in Sulati midrange decks or other control shells. Hour of Promise was an important part of the Pioneer Field of the Dead decks and I think it will bring the deck to the top of the Historic Meta. Getting two Fields in the late game and making a bunch of zombies is absolutely backbreaking and will be a serious threat.
Thoughtseize has proven it's worth in every competitive format it has ever been legal in and will certainly be the best piece of interaction in Historic. Collected Company will give new life to creature-based decks like Spirits and Merfolk and be will be a staple in decks like them just like it is in Modern and Pioneer. It will even bring up tribes and other types of aggro decks like mono-green aggro that are on the cusp of playability . Soul-Scar Mage is a card that I initially left out of this category but I think it deserves to be called a staple. From burn decks to prowess decks this card has been seeing consistent eternal play in both Pioneer and Modern and will be in most, if not all red aggro decks moving forward.
Rest In Peace and Anger of the Gods are almost strictly sideboard cards but are staples nonetheless. We have seen a rise in quality of recursive creatures over the past year or so with Cat Oven style decks. Those and other sac style decks are what Anger of the Gods counters best. Rest in Peace is a great card to have around as a format expands and graveyard decks become more degenerate.
Second Tier
The second tier cards are ones that have proven their power in the past but aren't guaranteed to show up in the decks that typically run them in other formats.
I'd say the card at the top of this group is Gideon, of the Trials. It sees play in Pioneer and Modern when it needs to shut down creatures in control decks. Abrade was a great utility card during its time in standard and can see play in Modern sideboards.
Ramunap Excavator and Crucible of Worlds combination can be deadly in Modern with Field of Ruin and Ghost Quarter. That pair hasn't proven its worth in Pioneer yet with the absence of Ghost Quarter holding it back. Historic does have both these lands so hopefully, we have this deck pop up soon. Ramunap Excavator does go up in stock at times where green decks are more focused on land ramping rather than mana ramping. Sultai ramp decks can use it to play lands from the graveyard when it isn't playing them from the hand or library.
Glorybringer and Rhonas, the Indomitable will bolster gruul aggro decks, especially ones that build around Obosh, the Burrower. This deck is eagerly awaiting the arrival of Elvish Mystic to really pop off. Hazoret, the Fervent was an absolute powerhouse during its dominant time in Standard. It is a fantastic gain for red decks to put at the top of their curve as a resilient threat that can finish the game.
Claim//Fame has a lot of potential in Cat Oven type decks and pairs well with Young Pyromancer. Although the card has seen fringe Modern play and some amount of Pioneer play recently, I feel that it will see a decent amount of play in Historic.
Scavenger Grounds offers great flexibility by allowing decks to add graveyard hate to the land slot rather than a sideboard slot. Field of the Dead decks will love having access to it for sure.
I think Hieroglyphic Illumination is a serious sleeper. Illumination has been played over Serum Visions by Modern pros at times. Cycling it early as a cheap cantrip is powerful enough and casting it later at instant speed is amazing. It hasn't been true in Pioneer but I think this a serious win for control decks in Historic.
Control
Speaking of Control, Wizards injected cards specifically into the hands of control players. Wrath of God is the undisputed best wrath in the format. Sphinx's Revelation is a flexible tool for control decks that can help them stabilize and close out the game. Bontu's Last Reckoning is for those control decks not running white, such as Grixis, Dimir, and even mono-black control decks. The downside of not being able to untap your lands isn't big enough to stop this card from being fantastic. Wiping the board for three mana and being able to leave mana up is beyond good enough.
Cats
Cats in Pioneer have been somewhat legit, and the most powerful cards in that deck have been Regal Caracal and Pride Sovereign. Having Sacred Cat at the one mana slot with Leonin Vanguard, Bronzehide Lion and Ajani's Pridemate on two, and access to Collected Company if you want, or Leonin Warleader makes me certain that cats have a future in Historic.
Zombies
Gempalm Polluter and Gray Merchant of Asphodel are cards that I'm desperately hyped to play together. This pairing isn't available in any other format except for Historic or Pauper. Lord of the Accursed and Liliana's Mastery are great additions for the tribe and make me optimistic for the deck. Wayward Servant makes moving into White more lucrative. Ghoulraiser, Festering Mummy, and Shambling Goblin are strong considerations. Dread Wanderer is an aggressive option for the deck as well. Zombies is definitely the deck that I'll be brewing on Arena in the immediate future.
Niche
These cards aren't niche in the traditional sense, what I really mean is that they'll see a lot of play but in very specific decks.
Cartouche of Solidarity will be a staple in the Lurrus of the Dream Den and Kor Spiritdancer decks. Strategic Planning is an important piece for Arclight Phoenix decks and I'm always down for cards that make that deck better. Ramunap Ruins seems very likely to see play in burn heavy decks in Historic. Sunscorched Desert might see play as support but would cause problems if Goblin Chainwhirler is in the deck. Vizier of Tumbling Sands is a key piece in Underworld Breach combo decks. Hidden Strings is still missing but for now, we have a way to untap Lotus Field. Nimble Obstructionist has seen Modern sideboard play and seems attractive in a world where Flash is a relevant keyword. Trial of Ambition being blinked by Yorion, Sky Nomad has been a solid combination in Pioneer and I don't see why it wouldn't see play in an Orzhov control deck.
Back Burners
Back Burner cards are the cards that will get better slowly over time as the format expands its card pool but have no impact as of right now.
Aven Mindcensor is a card that punishes decks hard for searching. Historic has no fetchlands or other tutor effects at the moment but if the format is ever in need of a deck searching hoser then Aven Mindcensor will be ready. Solemnity is a nice card to have in the background in case counter decks get out of hand. By Force and Shatterstorm are in a similar spot but for artifacts. Artifact style decks aren't ultra explosive at the moment but if Kaladesh Remastered ever happens then we will be cashing in those wild cards for these. As Foretold has had its moments in Modern but they do it with cards that have Suspend. Historic doesn't have any suspend cards is probably never getting any. If a mechanic ever comes along that could be exploited by As Foretold to the same degree suspend cards do in Modern, then As Foretold could get popular every quickly. Pact of Negation is a staple in powerful combo decks on the turn they are going all-in on for the win, although powerful combo decks such as Storm in Modern don't exist in Historic yet. Demonic Pact is interesting with cards like Doom Foretold. These Orzhov Foretold decks are looking to take advantage of cards like Treacherous Blessing in Standard and could do the same with Demonic Pact. Blinking it with Yorion the turn before you lose the game is spicy as well. New Perspectives and Shadow of the Grave have very powerful effects but need more cards to help build around them. New Perspectives needs to be cheated into play or ramped into. Shadow of the Grave with a pay off like Drannith Stinger to Cycle a bunch of cards and burn out the opponent seems fun.
Amonkhet Remastered is bringing tons of exciting deck-building opportunities to Historic by offering tools for decks already established or bringing new tribes to the forefront. What cards are you excited to have on Arena? I'm interested in seeing a Gate to the After Life and God-Pharaoh's Gift come together, and if zombie decks can become a legitimate threat. As always thanks for reading, head over to our Youtube Channel, and check out our socials to stay in touch and join the fellowship.
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