The Best MTG Standard Decks in July 2025: What to Play Post-Ban

Greg Montique
Jul 3
2 min read

There isn't much better than a fresh meta to shake up your favorite game and force you to dust off those decks and reconsider. With seven cards recently banned and the Final Fantasy set shaking up Standard, July 2025 is a golden moment for brewing, testing, and climbing the ladder. Whether you're grinding Arena or prepping for your next FNM, here are the best MTG standard decks in July 2025.

1. Dimir Midrange: The New Control King

Meta Share: 17.5%

Why It’s Good: Dimir Midrange has surged to the top thanks to its flexible answers and efficient threats. Cards like Cut Down and Deep-Cavern Bat give it strong game against both aggro and control. With Cori-Steel Cutter banned, Dimir now has room to breathe and dominate.

A horned creature stands on a twisted structure with a fiery background. Text: Sheoldred, Deathtouch abilities and quote. Dark, eerie mood.

Playstyle: Reactive and grindy. You win by out-valuing your opponent and controlling the board.

2. Jeskai Oculus: Tempo with Teeth

Meta Share: 13.4%

Why It’s Good: This deck blends tempo and card advantage with the Joshua, Phoenix's Dominant from the Final Fantasy set and the well-loved Abhorrent Oculus. It punishes slow starts and snowballs quickly with evasive threats and cheap interaction.

A character in a red cloak wields magical flames, set against a dark background. Text details abilities and a quote about kindling flames.

Playstyle: Aggressive tempo. You want to drop threats and protect them while disrupting your opponent.

3. Mono Black Aggro: Hit the ground running

Meta Share: 8.1%

Why It’s Good: This deck leverages powerful synergies and discard effects to pressure opponents early. Cards like Qarsi Revenant and Hopeless Nightmare (pre-ban) made it scary. Even post-ban, it remains a top-tier choice.

A vampire with long hair flies around a twisted column under a purple sky. Text: "Qarsi Revenant," traits, abilities, and warning text.

Playstyle: Aggro-midrange. You curve out aggressively but have staying power with recursion and hand disruption.

4. Jeskai Control: The Comeback Kid

Meta Share: 9.4%

Why It’s Good: With combo decks like Azorius Omniscience out of the picture, Jeskai Control is back. It uses sweepers, planeswalkers, and card draw to stabilize and win the long game.

Winged warrior in silver armor, surrounded by blue energy and lightning, holding a sword. Text: "Elspeth, Storm Slayer" and Planeswalker abilities.

Playstyle: Classic control. You answer everything and win with inevitability.

5. Golgari Roots: Graveyard Value Engine

Meta Share: 3.1%

Why It’s Good: This deck thrives on recursion and synergy. Haywire Mite and Molt Tender give it a grindy edge. It’s a sleeper pick that’s gaining traction.

A multi-headed, skeletal creature called "Overlord of the Balemurk" looms menacingly in dark, swirling shadows. Text describes its abilities.

Playstyle: Midrange combo. You want to fill your graveyard and extract value over time.

What to Watch Next

The meta is still evolving. Decks like Azorius Artifacts, Rakdos Midrange, and Mono White Tokens are bubbling just under the surface. With more players experimenting post-ban, we could see a new breakout archetype emerge at any time.

the best MTG standard decks in July: Thoughts?

If you’ve been waiting for a fresh Standard format, this is your moment. The bans cleared out stale strategies, and the Final Fantasy set brought in new tools and players. Whether you’re a control mage, aggro fan, or combo brewer, there’s something for everyone in July 2025.

What are your thoughts on the meta shakeup? Drop a comment below!