Standard: Aggressive strategies dominate competitive tier.

Standard is sitting at a Final Health Index of 68.1 this week, signaling a format that is structurally sound but facing massive pressure from the aggressive super-archetypes. Nearly 80% (79.8%) of the current metagame is Aggro, a significant swing compared to the historical average of 63.2%, forcing slower strategies to adapt or perish.

This aggression is reflected in our underlying metrics. While the Archetype Distribution Score looks healthy at 82.1, the Metagame Diversity Score is a concerning 54.5, showing that while many decks exist, the competitive tier is narrow and focused. On the participation front, Standard is showing strong Event Growth (94.5), growing events at 7.0% monthly, but struggling to convert that into sustainable Player Growth (44.6), which continues to decline across both Paper and MTGO platforms.

The power structure is unmistakable: the deck to beat is UR Aggro, holding a massive 31.4% share of the meta. Red Deck Wins follows at a strong 20%, with Dimir Aggro slotting in third at 13%. This core trio demonstrates the aggressive mandate of the format, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the total reported results. With Aggro so dominant, the rest of the Top 10 decks consist almost entirely of different aggressive color combinations.

The B&R Health Score is robust at 80.0, suggesting the extensive bans aimed at increasing diversity and reducing early-game pressure have landed positively. However, community discussions confirm that the tension between Domain Ramp and aggressive shells is the key feature of the meta. Slickshot Show-Off is the creature most frequently cited as the engine driving the speed of the current aggressive meta. On the flip side, Azorius Control pilots continue to serve as the format’s gatekeeper, heavily relying on Sunfall to reset boards, while Rakdos Midrange/Aggro has found new competitive life leveraging the Plot mechanic for unexpected burst damage. The general consensus is one of competitive optimism, focused on solving the current puzzle without requiring further intervention.