Broken MTG combo deck takes over Ranked Standard after Bloomburrow launch

A powerful Golgari Magic: The Gathering Standard format combo is popping up on the MTG Arena ranked best-of-one ladder following the launch of Bloomburrow.

A new Magic: The Gathering deck created by content creator Ashlizzlle has risen in popularity on the MTG Arena best-of-one and best-of-three Ranked ladders over the first weekend of play since Ranked reset. Using a Golgari shell with new Bloomburrow cards, like the Enchantment Class Innkeeper’s Talent in conjunction with Vraska, Betrayal’s Sting has become an answer to Mono-Red Aggro and Izzet Aggro decks.

Playing this weekend on MTG Arena, I ran into the Golgari Vraska combo more times than I wanted to in Platinum rank while playing my version of Orzhov Midrange. And I didn’t fare well.

The Golgari Vraska combo deck uses creatures like Deep-Cavern Bat and Pawpatch Recruit to stall early-game Aggro builds along with non-rotated Standard cards like Liliana of the Veil Planeswalker and Legendary Glissa Sunslayer.

Also included for mid-game stability was Sheoldred, the Apocalypse, Preacher of the Schism, and Mosswood Dreadknight//Dread Whispers. But the main goal is to get the combo to go off.

Level Three of Innkeeper’s Talent doubles the number of counters placed on a permanent or player. With the Class on the battlefield, Vraska, Betrayal’s Sting enters with 12 Loyalty counters instead of six, allowing you to cast her ultimate right away. If the opponent has no Poison counters, Vraska applies 18, which is eight more than needed to end a game.

The busted combo can be included in any Golgari shell variation, according to Ashlizzlle, opening up flexibility depending on how the meta swings. With so many Aggro decks on the ladder, cheap removal like Cut Down and Go for the Throat is necessary.

Test out the new Golgari Vraska combo deck on either MTG Arena, MTGO, or at your local game store.