Castle Locthwain representative art for Mono-Black Midrange

Art: Titus Lunter © Wizards of the Coast

← Pioneer metagame

Mono-Black Midrange

4 decks from 4 events · 12 Aug – 8 Sep 2026

4Decks0.6% of published lists▾ 0.9 pp vs. the 30 days before
40.0%Win rate 16.8–68.7% · 4–6–0 · 10-match sample▾ 13.9 pp vs. the 30 days before
42 of 75 DebatedSlots settled11 cards, each in 80% of lists or more
33 slotsStill argued overspread over 41 cards, in both boards

Maindeck 60 slots

4 copies in every list 4 copies in 1 list out of 4 1 copy in every list always 1 copy, sometimes 2 Grey means 80% of lists or more. Violet means fewer.

Settled core

11 cards · 42 slots
Castle Locthwain 100% Castle Locthwain1st 100% · 2nd 100% · 3rd 100% · 4th 75%
Duress 100% Duress1st 100% · 2nd 100%
Fatal Push 100% Fatal Push1st 100% · 2nd 100% · 3rd 100% · 4th 75%
Go for the Throat 100% Go for the Throat1st 100% · 2nd 50%
Graveyard Trespasser // Graveyard Glutton 100% Graveyard Trespasser // Graveyard Glutton1st 100% · 2nd 100% · 3rd 100% · 4th 50%
Mutavault 100% Mutavault1st 100% · 2nd 100% · 3rd 100% · 4th 100%
Swamp 100% Swamp1st 100% · 2nd 100% · 3rd 100% · 4th 100% · 5th 100% · 6th 100% · 7th 100% · 8th 100% · 9th 100% · 10th 100% · 11th 100% · 12th 100% · 13th 100% · 14th 50%
Takenuma, Abandoned Mire 100% Takenuma, Abandoned Mire1st 100%
Thoughtseize 100% Thoughtseize1st 100% · 2nd 100% · 3rd 100% · 4th 100%
Unholy Annex // Ritual Chamber 100% Unholy Annex // Ritual Chamber1st 100% · 2nd 100% · 3rd 100% · 4th 100%
Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth 100% Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth1st 100%

Still argued over

20 cards · 18 slots
Cecil, Dark Knight // Cecil, Redeemed Paladin 75% Cecil, Dark Knight // Cecil, Redeemed Paladin1st 75% · 2nd 25%
Gifted Aetherborn 75% Gifted Aetherborn1st 75% · 2nd 75% · 3rd 75% · 4th 50%
Preacher of the Schism 75% Preacher of the Schism1st 75%
Sheoldred, the Apocalypse 75% Sheoldred, the Apocalypse1st 75% · 2nd 75% · 3rd 25%
Bitter Triumph 50% Bitter Triumph1st 50% · 2nd 50%
End of the Hunt 50% End of the Hunt1st 50% · 2nd 25%
Field of Ruin 50% Field of Ruin1st 50% · 2nd 50%
Invoke Despair 50% Invoke Despair1st 50% · 2nd 25%
Liliana of the Veil 50% Liliana of the Veil1st 50%
Morlun, Devourer of Spiders 50% Morlun, Devourer of Spiders1st 50%
Sunset Saboteur 50% Sunset Saboteur1st 50% · 2nd 50% · 3rd 50% · 4th 50%
The Meathook Massacre 50% The Meathook Massacre1st 50%
The Soul Stone 50% The Soul Stone1st 50%
Archenemy's Charm 25% Archenemy's Charm1st 25%
Bitterbloom Bearer 25% Bitterbloom Bearer1st 25% · 2nd 25%
Blade of the Oni 25% Blade of the Oni1st 25% · 2nd 25% · 3rd 25% · 4th 25%
Bloodletter of Aclazotz 25% Bloodletter of Aclazotz1st 25% · 2nd 25% · 3rd 25%
Gollum, Riddle Master 25% Gollum, Riddle Master1st 25% · 2nd 25%
Realm of Koh 25% Realm of Koh1st 25%
Unstoppable Slasher 25% Unstoppable Slasher1st 25% · 2nd 25% · 3rd 25% · 4th 25%

Point to a card to read its copies. Each percentage is the share of lists that play at least that many.

Sideboard 15 slots

Settled core

0 cards · 0 slots

Still argued over

21 cards · 15 slots
Duress 75% Duress1st 75% · 2nd 50%
Extinction Event 75% Extinction Event1st 75%
Invoke Despair 75% Invoke Despair1st 75% · 2nd 50% · 3rd 25%
The Meathook Massacre 75% The Meathook Massacre1st 75%
Unlicensed Hearse 75% Unlicensed Hearse1st 75% · 2nd 75% · 3rd 25%
Damping Sphere 50% Damping Sphere1st 50%
Go Blank 50% Go Blank1st 50% · 2nd 50%
Ray of Enfeeblement 50% Ray of Enfeeblement1st 50% · 2nd 50% · 3rd 25%
Strategic Betrayal 50% Strategic Betrayal1st 50%
Ashiok, Dream Render 25% Ashiok, Dream Render1st 25%
Decorum Dissertation 25% Decorum Dissertation1st 25%
End of the Hunt 25% End of the Hunt1st 25%
Gifted Aetherborn 25% Gifted Aetherborn1st 25%
Leyline of the Void 25% Leyline of the Void1st 25% · 2nd 25% · 3rd 25%
Liliana of the Veil 25% Liliana of the Veil1st 25%
Mai, Scornful Striker 25% Mai, Scornful Striker1st 25% · 2nd 25% · 3rd 25%
Necromentia 25% Necromentia1st 25%
Requiting Hex 25% Requiting Hex1st 25% · 2nd 25%
Stab 25% Stab1st 25% · 2nd 25% · 3rd 25%
Sunset Saboteur 25% Sunset Saboteur1st 25% · 2nd 25%
Timeline Culler 25% Timeline Culler1st 25% · 2nd 25% · 3rd 25% · 4th 25%

Point to a card to read its copies. Each percentage is the share of lists that play at least that many.

The lists people registered 4 published lists in this window. Pick one. The lists can reach past this window. The numbers above count only this window.

Every list

newest first
Show decklist for DskBayWolf
5–0 DskBayWolf Pioneer League · 2026-09-03 · 5-0-0 Representative

Maindeck (60)

Creatures (18)
  • 2 Cecil, Dark Knight // Cecil, Redeemed Paladin 75%
  • 4 Gifted Aetherborn 75%
  • 4 Sunset Saboteur 50%
  • 4 Graveyard Trespasser // Graveyard Glutton 100%
  • 1 Preacher of the Schism 75%
  • 3 Sheoldred, the Apocalypse 75%
Sorceries (6)
  • 2 Duress 100%
  • 4 Thoughtseize 100%
Instants (8)
  • 4 Fatal Push 100%
  • 2 Bitter Triumph 50%
  • 2 Go for the Throat 100%
Enchantments (4)
  • 4 Unholy Annex // Ritual Chamber 100%
Lands (24)
  • 4 Castle Locthwain 100%
  • 4 Mutavault 100%
  • 1 Realm of Koh 25%
  • 13 Swamp 100%
  • 1 Takenuma, Abandoned Mire 100%
  • 1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth 100%

Sideboard (15)

  • 2 Duress 75%
  • 2 Requiting Hex 25%
  • 1 The Meathook Massacre 75%
  • 3 Unlicensed Hearse 75%
  • 2 Go Blank 50%
  • 1 Extinction Event 75%
  • 1 Decorum Dissertation 25%
  • 3 Invoke Despair 75%
Cecil, Dark Knight // Cecil, Redeemed Paladin
Point to a card to read its copies. Bright names are in 80% of lists or more. Dim names are still argued over.
Show decklist for pokerswizard
#18 pokerswizard Pioneer Challenge 32 · 2026-09-05 · 3-3-0

Maindeck (60)

Creatures (14)
  • 1 Cecil, Dark Knight // Cecil, Redeemed Paladin 75%
  • 2 Bitterbloom Bearer 25%
  • 4 Gifted Aetherborn 75%
  • 1 Morlun, Devourer of Spiders 50%
  • 3 Graveyard Trespasser // Graveyard Glutton 100%
  • 1 Preacher of the Schism 75%
  • 2 Sheoldred, the Apocalypse 75%
Sorceries (8)
  • 2 Duress 100%
  • 4 Thoughtseize 100%
  • 1 End of the Hunt 50%
  • 1 Invoke Despair 50%
Instants (5)
  • 4 Fatal Push 100%
  • 1 Go for the Throat 100%
Planeswalkers (1)
  • 1 Liliana of the Veil 50%
Artifacts (1)
  • 1 The Soul Stone 50%
Enchantments (5)
  • 1 The Meathook Massacre 50%
  • 4 Unholy Annex // Ritual Chamber 100%
Lands (26)
  • 4 Castle Locthwain 100%
  • 2 Field of Ruin 50%
  • 4 Mutavault 100%
  • 14 Swamp 100%
  • 1 Takenuma, Abandoned Mire 100%
  • 1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth 100%

Sideboard (15)

  • 1 Duress 75%
  • 2 Ray of Enfeeblement 50%
  • 1 Damping Sphere 50%
  • 1 End of the Hunt 25%
  • 1 Strategic Betrayal 50%
  • 1 The Meathook Massacre 75%
  • 2 Unlicensed Hearse 75%
  • 2 Go Blank 50%
  • 1 Liliana of the Veil 25%
  • 1 Extinction Event 75%
  • 2 Invoke Despair 75%
Cecil, Dark Knight // Cecil, Redeemed Paladin
Point to a card to read its copies. Bright names are in 80% of lists or more. Dim names are still argued over.
Show decklist for AlexFiero
5–0 AlexFiero Pioneer League · 2026-08-21 · 5-0-0

Maindeck (60)

Creatures (19)
  • 4 Blade of the Oni 25%
  • 4 Sunset Saboteur 50%
  • 4 Graveyard Trespasser // Graveyard Glutton 100%
  • 4 Unstoppable Slasher 25%
  • 3 Bloodletter of Aclazotz 25%
Sorceries (6)
  • 2 Duress 100%
  • 4 Thoughtseize 100%
Instants (8)
  • 4 Fatal Push 100%
  • 2 Bitter Triumph 50%
  • 2 Go for the Throat 100%
Enchantments (4)
  • 4 Unholy Annex // Ritual Chamber 100%
Lands (23)
  • 4 Castle Locthwain 100%
  • 4 Mutavault 100%
  • 13 Swamp 100%
  • 1 Takenuma, Abandoned Mire 100%
  • 1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth 100%

Sideboard (15)

  • 2 Duress 75%
  • 3 Stab 25%
  • 3 Mai, Scornful Striker 25%
  • 4 Timeline Culler 25%
  • 3 Leyline of the Void 25%
Blade of the Oni
Point to a card to read its copies. Bright names are in 80% of lists or more. Dim names are still argued over.
Show decklist for Tinker_deck
#25 Tinker_deck Pioneer Challenge 32 · 2026-08-20 · 3-3-0

Maindeck (60)

Creatures (13)
  • 1 Cecil, Dark Knight // Cecil, Redeemed Paladin 75%
  • 3 Gifted Aetherborn 75%
  • 2 Gollum, Riddle Master 25%
  • 1 Morlun, Devourer of Spiders 50%
  • 3 Graveyard Trespasser // Graveyard Glutton 100%
  • 1 Preacher of the Schism 75%
  • 2 Sheoldred, the Apocalypse 75%
Sorceries (10)
  • 2 Duress 100%
  • 4 Thoughtseize 100%
  • 2 End of the Hunt 50%
  • 2 Invoke Despair 50%
Instants (5)
  • 3 Fatal Push 100%
  • 1 Go for the Throat 100%
  • 1 Archenemy's Charm 25%
Planeswalkers (1)
  • 1 Liliana of the Veil 50%
Artifacts (1)
  • 1 The Soul Stone 50%
Enchantments (5)
  • 1 The Meathook Massacre 50%
  • 4 Unholy Annex // Ritual Chamber 100%
Lands (25)
  • 3 Castle Locthwain 100%
  • 2 Field of Ruin 50%
  • 4 Mutavault 100%
  • 14 Swamp 100%
  • 1 Takenuma, Abandoned Mire 100%
  • 1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth 100%

Sideboard (15)

  • 3 Ray of Enfeeblement 50%
  • 1 Damping Sphere 50%
  • 1 Gifted Aetherborn 25%
  • 1 Strategic Betrayal 50%
  • 2 Sunset Saboteur 25%
  • 1 The Meathook Massacre 75%
  • 2 Unlicensed Hearse 75%
  • 1 Ashiok, Dream Render 25%
  • 1 Necromentia 25%
  • 1 Extinction Event 75%
  • 1 Invoke Despair 75%
Cecil, Dark Knight // Cecil, Redeemed Paladin
Point to a card to read its copies. Bright names are in 80% of lists or more. Dim names are still argued over.

Who plays it top pilots in this window

Method

A slot is one card in the average list. For each card, we count the lists that play at least one copy, then at least two, then at least three. We add those shares. Add every card and the boards total 60 and 15.

The settled bound is chosen at 80% of published lists. Settled slots are grey. Other slots are violet. Cards in fewer than 10% of lists still count in the argued-over total, but their rows are not shown.

The band bounds are chosen. Locked starts at 60 settled slots out of 75. Consolidated starts at 50. Debated starts at 40. Open is below 40. A locked deck is not a better deck.

Share is share of published decklists, not of the field. MTGO publishes exactly 32 decklists per Challenge, whatever the field size. A 448-player event gives the same 32 lists as a 32-player one. Those 32 lists lean heavily toward the top of the standings.

Leagues publish 5–0 decklists and no match data. They count in the deck total, in the share, in the card slots, and in the pilots, because a registered list is a registered list. They stay out of the win rate, because there is no match to count. So deck counts and shares cover all published decklists, and win rates cover paired events only.

Preliminaries contribute nothing. They publish match records but no decklists, so their matches have no archetype to attach to.

Win rates count only matches where both players published a decklist. The published 32 are the top finishers. Counting their matches against players who did not publish a list would push every archetype's rate up. With both sides counted, every win has a matching loss. So the pool always balances at exactly 50% wins.