Picks for the next few months (keeps updating)

No articles for a long time, I 've caught a cold, a fever and a running nose this week.

1. Ajani, Steadfast

Doing playtests on MTGO, I can figure out the standard is not as slow as we expected before. Uncontrolled Burn, Red Aggro decks can chop opponent's life down to zero in 4-5 turns. I think seeking a better way of life gaining is a task of the first priority in this standard. That led me into browsing the whole standard card pool for life gaining cards and I found Ajani Steadfast as a card for Abzan, Naya and GW Decks. When Ajani targets Brimaz, Siege Rhino, Fleecemane Lion or Wingmate Roc, any of these creatures can boost you 4 or more life. That trades for an opponent's Stoke the Flames or Jeskai Charm. Besides, Ajani's 5 loyalty stands one attack from a Mantis Rider or 4 goblin tokens. As it's still low (4 -5 tix), it's a safe timing to collect it slowly.

2. Jace, the Living Gulidpact

The game designers tried to remove blue based controls from standard and they succeed, of course. But they can bring it back at anytime. At 4-5 tix price range, I recommend my readers to buy some Jace and hold for half a year.

3. Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker, Sorin, Solemn Visitor, Xenagos the Reveler, Nissa, Worldwaker, etc.

If Jeskai Temp dominates the meta for a longer period, MTG designers may reprint Leyline of Sanctity or do some stricter measures. If that happens, all higher cost Planeswalkers will turn active again. We can start collecting them from now til the day.

4. Dig Through Time

For one week, every time I lost to decks using this card. I believe blue based control will come back soon after rotation of THS. But it's not as popular as Thoughtseize or Snapcaster Mage, so 6 tix is quite high for it today. I will start to pile it up when its around 2-3, maybe it can down to 1 tix if lucky, then I 'll buy more.