Las Vegas, Nevada – The stage was set once again in Las Vegas, a city deeply intertwined with Magic: The Gathering history, having hosted the game’s first World Championship in 2018. Now, over 300 competitors, including reigning World Champion Javier Dominguez and twelve esteemed Pro Tour Hall of Fame members, gathered under the bright desert sun for the highly anticipated Pro Tour Magic: The Gathering—FINAL FANTASY™.
Day One of the event delivered on its promise of intense competition. Players navigated through six rounds of the brand-new Magic: The Gathering—FINAL FANTASY Draft format followed by ten rounds of Standard Constructed, featuring the innovative cards from the FINAL FANTASY collaboration alongside the established metagame influenced by Tarkir: Dragonstorm. After eight grueling rounds total (three Draft, five Standard), only one player remained undefeated: Christian Baker.
Baker, who qualified for the Pro Tour via a Regional Championship in Charlotte, piloted the format’s most-discussed deck, Izzet Prowess, to a perfect 8-0 record. His path was anything but easy, requiring him to win all but one of his matches in a full three games, including a challenging Draft showdown against 2022–23 Player of the Year Simon Nielsen. Baker’s relentless winning streak culminated in an exciting Round 8 finish, solidifying his position as the sole undefeated player heading into Day Two.
Cracking the New Draft Format
The introduction of the Magic: The Gathering—FINAL FANTASY set brought a fresh Limited environment to the Pro Tour. Teams dedicated thousands of games and countless hours to dissecting the format in the weeks leading up to the event. A key insight that emerged for many, including Nathan Basser and his team Scryhard, was the importance of staying flexible early in the Draft.
As Basser explained, the optimal strategy often involved “taking the best card no matter the color” for the initial picks to “stay pretty open for as long as you can.” Only later would players identify their lane (color combination or archetype) and commit. This approach was viable due to internal testing suggesting similar win rates across various archetypes, indicating a remarkably balanced format.
Basser successfully implemented this strategy, building a powerful black-green deck anchored by strong removal like three copies of Sephiroth’s Intervention. His deck, which he described as lacking “crazy bombs” but featuring value engines like The Wandering Minstrel and Balamb Garden, SeeD Academy, earned him a perfect 3-0 record in the Draft portion, showcasing the power of preparation and execution.
This “stay open, then commit hard” philosophy was echoed by many players. The result was a diverse array of undefeated archetypes among the 3-0 drafters:
Orzhov (White-Black): 6
Dimir (Blue-Black): 4
Izzet (Blue-Red): 4
Rakdos (Black-Red): 3
Golgari (Black-Green): 3
Boros (Red-White): 2
Azorius (White-Blue): 2
Mardu (White-Black-Red): 2
Grixis (Blue-Black-Red): 2
Jund (Red-Green-Black): 2
Selesnya (Green-White): 1
Gruul (Red-Green): 1
Temur (Red-Green-Blue): 1
Esper (White-Blue-Black): 1
Abzan (White-Black-Green): 1
Sultai (Blue-Black-Green): 1
Naya (Red-Green-White): 1
Bant (Green-White-Blue): 1
Black’s potent removal suite (Sephiroth’s Intervention, Vayne’s Treachery, Cornered by Black Mages) made it a highly valued color. While the format generally avoided non-games, powerful “bomb” rares like Ultima and Summon: Knights of Round could swing matches decisively. Notable players achieving perfect 3-0 Draft records included Spotlight Series runner-up Jody Keith and Hall of Famers like Bob Maher, Shota Yasooka, Ben Stark, and Ken Yukuhiro. Bob Maher, “the great one,” managed his 3-0 Draft run (and an impressive 5-0 start overall) while also taking time to sign numerous copies of his iconic card, Dark Confidant.
The Izzet-Dominated Standard Metagame
The Standard portion of Day One presented a stark contrast to the diverse Draft landscape, defined by the overwhelming presence of one deck: Izzet Prowess. As detailed by Magic data expert Frank Karsten, Izzet Prowess accounted for a staggering 42.3% of the field, marking the highest share for any single deck since the Pro Tour’s return in 2023. This level of dominance surpassed even Esper Midrange’s showing at Pro Tour Thunder Junction and stands out compared to the more varied “big three” metagame seen at Pro Tour Aetherdrift where Matt Nass won with Domain Overlords.
Izzet’s success stems from a powerful combination of efficient card selection (Opt, Sleight of Hand, Stock Up), strong removal (Torch the Tower, Into the Flood Maw), and aggressive creature-spell synergies enabled by cards like Cori-Steel Cutter (a key addition from Tarkir: Dragonstorm) and the new, sometimes controversial, Vivi Ornitier. Cori-Steel Cutter specifically appeared in 43% of decklists combining Izzet Prowess, Izzet Proft, and Jund Midrange. Other format-defining cards included Monstrous Rage (56%) and Stock Up (61%). While not reaching the historical highs of cards like Oko or Omnath, these figures underscore their central role in the current Standard environment.
A major point of discussion surrounding Izzet Prowess was the inclusion of Vivi Ornitier. While many lists ran three copies, some, influenced by Magic Online deck builder Isaac Bullwinkle, pushed the boundaries by playing four. Mark Stanton, piloting an Izzet list to a 5-1 record on Day One, highlighted Vivi’s strength, particularly its immunity to cards like Temporary Lockdown and its positive impact on testing matchups. He credited Bullwinkle’s list as a breakthrough, enabling new lines of play. However, not all teams were convinced of Vivi’s necessity, with some opting against its inclusion after testing.
With nearly half the field playing Izzet Prowess, the other half was largely focused on finding ways to beat it. The most popular strategy perceived to have a favorable matchup was Omniscience Combo. Beyond dedicated Izzet counters, other innovative decks found success and advanced to Day Two. Jody Keith, for instance, piloted a Golgari Graveyard strategy nicknamed “Black Beans,” featuring the powerful Overlord of the Balemurk. Team Handshake, known for refining top-tier decks, debuted an experimental Golgari Roots list, also successfully navigating Day One. Simon Nielsen’s Golgari Roots deck, for example, is one that will continue into Day Two competition.
Legends and Community
The Pro Tour is not just about cutting-edge decks; it’s a celebration of Magic’s rich history and vibrant community. The presence of twelve Pro Tour Hall of Fame members added gravitas, allowing current players the chance to compete against legends like Bob Maher and Paulo Vitor Damo da Rosa. Both Maher and Damo da Rosa demonstrated their enduring skill, successfully advancing to Day Two. Damo da Rosa, a two-time Pro Tour winner and former World Champion, made a notable return to the Pro Tour circuit this weekend.
Amidst the high-stakes competition, moments showcasing the personal side of Magic were also present, like the heartwarming story shared on social media about a parent seeing their child, with whom they’ve played for 15 years starting at the kitchen table, now competing on the Pro Tour stage. These stories serve as a reminder that beyond the trophies and prize money, Magic is a powerful force for connection and personal growth.
Looking Ahead to Day Two
With Day One concluded, all eyes turn to Christian Baker and his sole 8-0 record. However, the chase is on, with ten players just one match behind at 7-1, including formidable competitors like Ken Yukuhiro, Jody Keith, Connor Mackenzie, and Eli Kassis. 209 players in total successfully made the cut for Day Two.
Competition resumes on Saturday with three more rounds of Magic: The Gathering—FINAL FANTASY Draft, followed by further rounds of Standard. The broadcast kicks off at 11 a.m. PST, promising more thrilling matches as players battle for a spot in Sunday’s Top 8 and a chance at the $500,000 prize pool.
