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Midrange decks are aggressive decks that flip the standard aggro-control deck archetype by attempting to control the early game, then closing the game with efficient creatures in the mid to late game. Midrange typically features few creatures in the 1-2 CMC range and instead tries to win with high-impact creatures or planeswalkers in the 3-6 mana range while casting strong interaction spells in the early game.[1][2] Midrange decks are best favored against aggro decks with powerful creatures and all its interaction active, and also tends to have the most impactful sideboards in any given format.

Midrange decks are commonly Green, for the most impactful creatures, and least commonly Blue, due to the lack of non-counterspell interaction, though examples of midrange in all color combinations have been played throughout history. {G}{B}{X} has been a common archetype in all eternal formats, with Abrupt Decay being the most emblematic of midrange as a whole - efficient, versatile, and with an uncounterable clause that punches through combo protective measures.

The introduction of Planeswalkers contributed greatly to the midrange plan, punishing creatureless control decks and rewarding proactive plans. The fact that they all were mythic gave rise to the trend of decks being upwards of 28 rares or mythic rare spells, something that has contributed to the increased cost of Standard over the 2010s.

Examples[ | ]

Brian Kibler won Pro-Tour Dark Ascension in 2012 with this midrange deck:

Ryan Leverone placed 6th at Grand Prix Atlantic City in 2013 with this deck:[3]

References[ | ]

  1. Ken Nagle (March 26, 2007). "The Midrange Archetype". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  2. Reid Duke (October 27, 2014). "Midrange Decks". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. Wizards of the Coast (January 13, 2013). "Coverage of Grand Prix Atlantic City". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
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