Aura Madness

Only two more events remain in Season 30 of Monday Pauper Deck Challenge leading up to the capstone event, held on the same day that Battle for Zendikar is released online. In some ways it's a shame that this is one of our shorter seasons, since this is probably the largest card pool we'll see in the format for the foreseeable future.

But with all those cards still in play, it's no surprise that new archetypes can still make an impact in the format. Such is the case with the deck that Malum piloted to first place in yesterday's MPDC 30.07. Let's take a look at his list:

Aura Something Worse

1st place in MPDC 30.07 by Malum

Creatures 4 Auramancer 4 Elvish Mystic 4 Elvish Visionary 2 Fetid Imp 2 Grim Guardian 2 Gurmag Angler 2 Heliod's Pilgrim 2 Leafcrown Dryad 2 Nantuko Husk 2 Satyr Wayfinder 2 Student of Ojutai 28 cards Other Spells 3 Debilitating Injury 3 Pacifism 2 Commune with the Gods 2 Font of Return 10 cards

Lands 4 Blossoming Sands 4 Jungle Hollow 4 Evolving Wilds 4 Forest 2 Plains 2 Scoured Barrens 2 Swamp 22 cards Sideboard 3 Festergloom 3 Celestial Flare 3 Duress 2 Nylea's Disciple 2 Griffin Dreamfinder 2 Conifer Strider 15 cards

This decklist is clearly a Control archetype, utilizing recursion effects by way of Auramancer and Font of Return to constantly generate value by getting Enchantments in the graveyard and then returning them to play. Nantuko Husk, Satyr Wayfinder, and Commune with the Gods give you a fairly steady supply of cards into the graveyard, which can also be used to cast an early Gurmag Angler. Twelve enchantments also allow you to drain your opponent slowly via Grim Guardian, and half of these also serve as removal that can searched up by means of Heliod's Pilgrim.

There's lots of little combinations that make this deck tick, and while some have apparently accused it of being unfair, this looks like an interesting take on the format right now. While I haven't had a chance to try it out yet, I certainly intend to do so soon!

If you played with or against this deck, I'd enjoy hearing your thoughts in the comments below. Thanks for reading.