The Mutate mechanic caused quite the stir when it was first spoiled, with players getting confused and angry about it before Ikoria, Lair of Behemoths even released. Since then a lot has happened and the metagame has had a chance to settle down and find its best decks. Did Mutate make an appearance in any of them, shaping the competitive environment like it does creatures in-game, or was all the hype for nothing?
Mutate was a revolutionary new mechanic and a somewhat risky move by Wizards of the Coast that had the potential to confuse both new and veteran players with its many interactions and exceptions. But is the mechanic really impactful? Answering this question is actually quite easy. Let’s examine the metagame, see what the current top decks are all about, and look for mutating beasties inside them!
Jeskai Lukka
Mainboard
1x Yorion, Sky Nomad (Companion)3x Agent of Treachery 4x Narset, Parter of Veils 4x Teferi, Time Raveler4x Lukka, Coppercoat Outcast1x Aether Gust3x Shatter the Sky1x Glass Casket4x Omen of the Sea4x The Birth of Meletis4x Omen of the Sun4x Fires of Invention4x Elspeth Conquers Death4x Shark Typhoon
3x Castle Ardenvale2x Castle Vantress3x Fabled Passage4x Hallowed Fountain4x Island 1x Mountain4x Plains4x Raugrin Triome4x Sacred Foundry4x Steam Vents3x Temple of Epiphany
Sideboard
1x Aether Gust3x Dovin's Veto1x Glass Casket2x Deafening Clarion3x Mystical Dispute2x The Wanderer2x Dream Trawler
As we can see here, Mutate isn’t part of the strategy. Let’s look elsewhere.
Jeskai Cycling
Mainboard
1x Lurrus of the Dream Den Companion4x Flourishing Fox4x Drannith Healer4x Drannith Stinger4x Valiant Rescuer4x Go for Blood4x Startling Development4x Memory Leak4x Zenith Flare4x Frostveil Ambush2x Boon of the Wish-Giver4x Footfall Crater5x Mountain9x Plains4x Sacred Foundry
Sideboard
1x Grafdigger's Cage2x Redcap Melee2x Soul-Guide Lantern2x Apostle of Purifying Light2x Devout Decree2x Embereth Shieldbreaker3x Fry
Cycling - yes. Mutate? No.
Temur Reclamation
Mainboard
1x Keruga, the Macrosage (Companion)
4x Bonecrusher4x Brazen Borrower2x Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath4x Frilled Mystic4x Nightpack Ambusher4x Mystical Dispute3x Expansion // Explosion4x Wilderness Reclamation4x Shark Typhoon
4x Breeding Pool2x Castle Vantress4x Fabled Passage3x Forest2x Island4x Ketria Triome1x Mountain4x Steam Vents3x Stomping Ground
Sideboard
3x Flame Sweep2x Klothys, God of Destiny4x Lovestruck Beast1x Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath3x Shifting Ceratops1x Commence the Endgame
And the list goes on. Mono Red and Bant Ramp are also in our top picks, and no Mutate creatures are included in a meaningful way, which confirms a suspicion some analyzers had - Mutate is very much a Limited mechanic. It provides great variety, depth of strategy, and fun factor, but not in a consistent manner making it Standard-worthy.
If a set that’s all bout huge monsters comes out and all it provides to Standard is a powerful Planeswalker and the Companion creatures, it’s rather telling of R&D’s priorities when it comes to Constructed.
If you had big plans for your Mutating monsters, you might as well give them up now. Keep them for Draft, where they are as fun as ever.
For more MTGA, stay tuned right here to EarlyGame!
