| Coming back from #GPDC had me thinking that Standard and Sealed are actually a lot alike. Decks in both formats can be broken down into bombs, answers, and filler. The filler is mostly there to fill out your curve and take advantage of a poor draw from your opponent. The answers are there for your opponent's bombs, which are frequently what games come down to. Bombs typically can't be raced, have a huge impact on the game state, generate a lot of value, and are the reason to be playing a given archetype. They are the cards on which deck building begins and games end. Cards like Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger or Rally the Ancestors are perfect examples. Nothing that you do really matters until you cast one of those cards — and once you cast those cards, you usually win the game. For those of you preparing for #SCGINDY and looking to tune those last few sideboard slots, this is a Top 10 just for you. These are the bombs of Standard, and you've got to have a plan for them. #10 Languish  Languish and Radiant Flames are frequently thought of as answers, but they can have such a huge impact on the board that I consider them bombs. If your deck is vulnerable to these cards, diversify your threats by incorporating creatures with higher toughness, non-creature threats like Planeswalkers, value-based creatures like Hangarback Walker and creatures with Dash like Zurgo, Bellstriker. Sometimes you can also pace your threats one at a time or ignore the sweepers and try to rush your opponent down. #9 Soulfire Grand Master  This is a one card engine that can generate both a life total advantage and card advantage. You want to kill this creature fairly quickly and almost any removal spell will do — just make sure you have some. #8 Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet  Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet is like a bigger Soulfire Grand Master. You want to kill this one as soon as it hits the board with cards like Valorous Stance, Ultimate Price, and Roast. #7 Abzan Falconer  Along with Atarka's Command, Abzan Falconer can completely punk you out of a game. You need an instant-speed way to interact with this creature; otherwise, your best defenses will be completely ignored. You want to look to cards like Ultimate Price, Dromoka's Command, and Fiery Impulse, but the best solution is to simply kill all your opponent's creatures on sight. Make use of sweepers if you have access to them. #6 Reflector Mage  Even in a long game, tempo is still a big deal, and Reflector Mage is one of the best ways to swing it in your favor. It ensures that you can't get run over and helps you push an advantage any time you can find one. This is a card where you need a plan that isn't based on having a sideboard card, but based on a plan of action. If they have Reflector Mage, you want a solid defense and a way to win a longer game. #5 Siege Rhino  Siege Rhino is the big body that wins the battle of life totals. You should look to cards like Valorous Stance, Roast, and Self-Inflicted Wound to answer it, but the most important thing is to protect your life total and a have a way to win a longer game by going bigger or having more card advantage. #4 Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger  Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger, hits like Dragonlord Atarka, and the other Eldrazi are the biggest of the bombs. Abzan Charm, Crackling Doom, and Utter End are good, but Infinite Obliteration and Transgress the Mind are better. You don't want these to ever get cast. Rushing your opponent down with a Pitiless Horde is also a good way to go. #3 Chandra, Flamecaller & Nissa, Voice of Zendikar   One of the classic ways to run away with a game is to have an unanswered Planeswalker. Decks across standard are sprinkled with Jace, Vryn's Prodigy; Gideon, Ally of Zendikar; Chandra, Flamecaller; Ob Nixilis Reignited; Ugin, The Spirit Dragon; and Nissa, Voice of Zendikar. Having a few flyers in your deck or an overpowering ground force is honestly the best way to take them down. For Ugin, you specifically want a combination of Utter End, creature-lands, Hangarback Walker, and Bearer of Silence. #2 Rally the Ancestors  Along with Collected Company, this card can generate so much value at once that it will frequently win the game. The classic sideboard card is Hallowed Moonlight, but Anafenza, the Foremost; Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet; Transgress the Mind Duress; Negate; and Stubborn Denial are all good sideboard options. #1 Jace, Vryn's Prodigy  This is probably the best card in Standard. Jace can come down as early as the second turn, making it extremely efficient and he has all the perks of being a Planeswalker (our No. 3) and being extra copies of Rally the Ancestors (our No. 2). Redundancy is the key, and you want a lot of cheap answers. My favorites are Dromoka's Command, Silk Wrap, Ultimate Price, Grasp of Darkness, and Fiery Impulse. Against any deck that has Jace, I want at least seven ways to kill it if I am playing an aggro deck — and at least nine ways to kill it if I am a midrange/control deck. I hope this helps you finalize your deck list and pick your opponents apart! — Andrew Boswell @KaolinTiger | 
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