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Today, we bring to you a the start of a new series within the Raise the Standard playbill: Deck Spotlight! Pulling from the Standard metagame, we will break down popular and played decks and go over their playstyles, deck construction, strengths and weaknesses, sideboard, and more!

And we must, of course, start with the villain of the Standard format: Vivi Cauldron.

Izzet Cauldron (largely referred to as Vivi Cauldron for the eponymous Vivi Ornitier) is a dominant and oppressive force in the current Standard metagame. It attacks on axes no other deck can really interact with, it can play a variety of gameplay styles from aggro to control to midrange, and it is flexibly able to go both big and wide depending on the matchup.

Vivi decks are overwhelmingly represented in the Top 8 of most recent competitive events (with the occasional Azorius Control or Dimir Midrange straggler) and are largely considered the best in the format.

Kicking off our Deck Spotlight series, we'll discuss Cauldron's best matchups as well as its worst, its playstyles, flex slots, and most commonly played cards. Get in the soup!

| This episode of Raise the Standard was recorded at the State Library of Victoria. Raise the Standard and its hosts would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land we operate on. We acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong / Boon Wurrung peoples as the Traditional Owners of the land. We pay our respects to their elders past and present, and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

| Music from HitsLab via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Congratulations! You've qualified for a Regional Championship event--an RC, similar to the PTQ's of old--and now it's the night before the event. How can you best prepare? What should you be doing?

We've previously touched on your first competitive event, back in ⁠Episode 17⁠, and we're continuing to follow the thread of increasing competition, going from your RCQ (your qualifying event) to the RC itself. What is different? What is the same? You're going to be playing how many rounds of competitive Magic?!

So join us today as we discuss:

• The "Slip, Slop, Slap" of tournament preparedness
• Kira's "Three T's" during the tournament itself
• Celebrating your first RC event!

| This episode of Raise the Standard is sponsored by Wizards of the Coast. You can collect your Play Season Rewards by participating in eligible events through participating ANZ WPN stores. This Play Season lasts from July 25th to September 18th. Rewards are available on a first-come, first-serve basis while stock lasts. See the official Wizards of the Coast eligibility rules for ⁠⁠more information⁠⁠.

| This episode of Raise the Standard was recorded at the State Library of Victoria. Raise the Standard and its hosts would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land we operate on. We acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong / Boon Wurrung peoples as the Traditional Owners of the land. We pay our respects to their elders past and present, and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

| Music from HitsLab via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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It's a whole new Standard format! Or...is it? What's happening in Standard now that we've completed our first rotation since the 3-year extension? Which decks have risen in popularity? Which decks have we lost to rotation? Let's discuss!

| This episode of Raise the Standard is sponsored by Wizards of the Coast. You can collect your Play Season Rewards by participating in eligible events through participating ANZ WPN stores. This Play Season lasts from July 25th to September 18th. Rewards are available on a first-come, first-serve basis while stock lasts. See the official Wizards of the Coast eligibility rules for more information.

| This episode of Raise the Standard was recorded at the State Library of Victoria. Raise the Standard and its hosts would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land we operate on. We acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong / Boon Wurrung peoples as the Traditional Owners of the land. We pay our respects to their elders past and present, and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

| Music from HitsLab via ⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠.

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We went to space!...And it was awesome! While we did spend some time playing draft, we're here to talk about--to nobody's surprise--Standard! This was the first chance that we had to play in a post-rotation Standard universe, and WOW! The playing field for Standard is wide-open following rotation and a sweeping set of bans in Standard.

Today, we're talking about which decks we played, which decks we liked, which decks we want to play in paper, and which decks we played against that we thought were really cool. As RCQ season starts ramping up again, getting a first-look at the new Standard meta was an incredible opportunity to test out new brews and go head-to-head with some awesome creators.

A huge thank-you to Wizards of the Coast for inviting us to participate in Edge of Eternities Early Access. This episode would not be possible without their support, and we're incredibly grateful that we get to bring you first-look content like this!

| This episode of Raise the Standard is sponsored by Wizards of the Coast. You can collect your Play Season Rewards by participating in eligible events through participating ANZ WPN stores. This Play Season lasts from July 25th to September 18th. Rewards are available on a first-come, first-serve basis while stock lasts. See the official Wizards of the Coast eligibility rules for more information.

| This episode of Raise the Standard was recorded at the State Library of Victoria. Raise the Standard and its hosts would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land we operate on. We acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong / Boon Wurrung peoples as the Traditional Owners of the land. We pay our respects to their elders past and present, and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

| Music from HitsLab via ⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠.

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We've completed our Standard planetary rotation! Ahem--Standard has rotated, and we leave behind several more sets for the eternal formats to make room for the latest, shiniest Magic: the Gathering set: Edge of Eternities. With rotation, we've lost some key cards that were crucial to the Standard format as we knew it; so what cards are we going to replace them with?

Today, we're looking at cards that appear to be 1-for-1 replacements of Standard cards we've known and loved. From Temporary Lockdown to Sunfall, some classic effects are not leaving Standard, not really, anyway. Which cards have been reskinned? Which cards are recognisable as cards of even older Standard rotations? Thankfully, there has been no 1-to-1 Sheoldred, the Apocalypse reskin...(yet).

| This episode of Raise the Standard is sponsored by Wizards of the Coast. You can collect your Play Season Rewards by participating in eligible events through participating ANZ WPN stores. This Play Season lasts from July 25th to September 18th. Rewards are available on a first-come, first-serve basis while stock lasts. See the official Wizards of the Coast eligibility rules for more information.

| This episode of Raise the Standard was recorded at the State Library of Victoria. Raise the Standard and its hosts would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land we operate on. We acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong / Boon Wurrung peoples as the Traditional Owners of the land. We pay our respects to their elders past and present, and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

| Music from HitsLab via ⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠.

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Countdown has been initiated, and the launch sequence is activated. Edge of Eternities is rocketing to your LGS today for pre release! Today, we're chatting about new EOE cards that we think are going to find their way through the galaxy and make their way into the Standard Meta. [This is not a financial advice podcast!]

What cards do you have your eyes on? Which cards are going to be the best of the galactic best? You can find out from today onwards because Edge of Eternities pre release starts today! And with the arrival of the latest Magic: the Gathering set, Standard Play Season Rewards are BACK, and you can earn your first of four exclusive prizes by attending a pre release event near you! You can find more information through the official Wizards website here.

| Today's episode of Raise the Standard is sponsored by Wizards of the Coast. You can collect your Play Season Rewards by participating in eligible events through participating ANZ WPN stores. This Play Season lasts from July 25th to September 18th. Rewards are available on a first-come, first-serve basis while stock lasts. See the official Wizards of the Coast eligibility rules for more information.

| This episode of Raise the Standard was recorded at the State Library of Victoria. Raise the Standard and its hosts would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land we operate on. We acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong / Boon Wurrung peoples as the Traditional Owners of the land. We pay our respects to their elders past and present, and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

| Music from HitsLab via ⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠.

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Every three years, the Standard format goes through a spin cycle in the wash--it's rotation season! We're cleaning out our older Standard sets to usher in a new era of Standard play. Fare thee well to: Dominaria United, The Brothers' War, Phyrexia: All Will Be One, March of the Machine, and March of the Machine: Aftermath. You will be...missed?

Join us today as we talk about rotation, what it is and why it happens, as well as a discussion focused on the key cards we're losing in this rotation cycle.

| This episode of Raise the Standard was recorded at the State Library of Victoria. Raise the Standard and its hosts would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land we operate on. We acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong / Boon Wurrung peoples as the Traditional Owners of the land. We pay our respects to their elders past and present, and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

| Music from HitsLab via ⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠.

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We're picking right up where we left off on Monday and diving straight back in with Jennifer-Rose Holloway, winner of Regional Chapmionship 9 Melbourne! Join Meia and Jennifer-Rose as they continue to discuss prepping for the RC, the good matchups and the bad, and what it takes to go from playing your first RC to winning your first RC in just two days! (Results may vary.)

A huge thank you to Jennifer-Rose for taking the time to join us on the podcast and talk about her competitive play experiences and where she intends to go in the future. You can find her on social media @JegSpiserEnAvis on Twitter and on Bluesky @Jennifer-Rose, or at your LGS continuing to force Dimir in Standard.

| This episode of Raise the Standard was recorded at the State Library of Victoria. Raise the Standard and its hosts would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land we operate on. We acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong / Boon Wurrung peoples as the Traditional Owners of the land. We pay our respects to their elders past and present, and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

| Music from HitsLab via ⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠.

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This episode was recorded shortly after Jennifer-Rose Holloway took down the win at Regional Championship 9 - Melbourne! Shocking the then-current meta (pre-Final Fantasy) of Omniscience Combo, Izzet Prowess, and Orzhov Pixie, Jennifer-Rose won on Dimir Midrange.

Today, we bring you this conversation hosted by Meia as she and Jennifer-Rose discuss prepping for the RC, choosing to play Dimir against the then-current metagame, and Jennifer-Rose's plans for future competitive play!

A huge thank you to Jennifer-Rose for joining us! You can find her on social media @JegSpiserEnAvis on Twitter and on Bluesky @Jennifer-Rose, or at your LGS continuing to force Dimir in Standard.

[Part Two of our episode with Jennifer-Rose will be coming out soon--stay tuned!]

| This episode of Raise the Standard was recorded at the State Library of Victoria. Raise the Standard and its hosts would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land we operate on. We acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong / Boon Wurrung peoples as the Traditional Owners of the land. We pay our respects to their elders past and present, and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

| Music from HitsLab via ⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠.

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Cori-Steel Cutter? ❌ Monstrous Rage? ❌ Heartfire Hero? ❌ Up the Beanstalk? ❌ Hopeless Nightmare? ❌ This Town Ain't Big Enough? ❌ Abuelo's Awakening? ❌

It might feel like the right question to ask is: what didn't get banned?? Today, we're talking about last week's inevitable Standard bans. We're breaking down the ethos behind the bans, the benefit of "early rotation", and celebrating the inevitable departure of Sheoldred, the Apocalypse.

Almost all of the Tier 1 Standard metagame decks were affected in some way by June 30th's banlist announcement. Izzet prowess? Powerless. Omniscience Combo? Omniscience nombo. Mono-Red Aggro? Ag-no! So...what do we do now?

| This episode of Raise the Standard was recorded at the State Library of Victoria. Raise the Standard and its hosts would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land we operate on. We acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong / Boon Wurrung peoples as the Traditional Owners of the land. We pay our respects to their elders past and present, and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

| Music from HitsLab via ⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠.