Midrange
A deck strategy that plays the most efficient threats and answers at each point in the mana curve, adapting its role between aggro and control depending on the matchup. Midrange decks win through raw card quality.
How Midrange Works
Midrange decks don’t commit to a single strategy — they play the best card available at every mana cost. Against aggro, midrange plays defense with removal and stabilizes with larger creatures. Against control, midrange becomes the aggressor with must-answer threats.
Key Characteristics
- Flexible game plan — can be the beatdown or the control deck
- High individual card quality — every card is powerful on its own
- Efficient removal — answers that trade favorably on mana
- Mid-curve threats — 3-5 mana creatures that dominate combat
The “Jund” Archetype
The most iconic midrange deck is Jund (Black-Red-Green), named after the Alara shard. Jund combines the best removal (black), the best threats (green), and the best reach (red). Thoughtseize-style discard + Lightning Bolt-style removal + Tarmogoyf-style threats is the classic formula.
Midrange in Commander
Commander midrange often becomes “goodstuff” — decks packed with individually powerful cards. The challenge is ensuring your goodstuff actually has synergy rather than being a pile of disconnected powerful cards.
See Also
- Removal — Any spell or ability that eliminates a threat from the battlefield. Removal comes in many forms: destroy effects (Murder), exile effects (Swords to Plowshares), damage-based removal (Lightning Bolt), and enchantment-based removal (Oblivion Ring). Having the right removal is critical in every format. Related Decks$20 Random EncounterStandard20 ShrinesStandardA Living End Deck is in StandardStandardAbzan ComboStandardAbzan GreasefangPioneerAirbending […]