In Pauper, downshifts are one of the main ways the format evolves. Since we only play with commons, new Standard sets rarely shake things up unless a card gets reprinted at a lower rarity. But when a powerful uncommon finally becomes common, it can have a huge impact. Black is a color full of removal, graveyard value, and efficient creatures, but many of its best tools are still stuck at higher rarities. In this article, we’re counting down ten black cards we’d love to see downshifted to common. Let’s dive into them!

Paupergeddon Summer Edition in Lucca just wrapped up, and what a tournament it was! Over 500 players showed up for one of the largest Pauper events of the year, bringing everything from well-oiled meta decks to rogue brews with something to prove. Now that the dust has settled, we’ve taken a deep dive into the numbers. Which decks were the most popular? Which ones performed the best? And how has the meta changed since then? Let’s break it all down.

On March 31st, the Pauper Format Panel surprised the whole Pauper community by unbanning one of the most  Broken cards that is a Legacy Staple, and today, we’re diving into a full deck tech to show how this classic combo spell is making waves in Pauper once again.

Since the end of March, the Pauper format on MTGO has been going through some big changes. Aggro decks are doing great, card draw isn't as strong as it used to be, and even though a few unbanned cards got people talking, are they really making an impact? In this post, we’re going to look at how things have shifted based on MTGO Pauper League data—and what that means if you’re aiming for your next 5-0 run.

The Final Fantasy set is a great addition to Pauper because it’s a large set packed with new ideas and powerful commons. Since it introduces brand-new card types like Summons and mixes in classic Final Fantasy characters and items, it brings fresh strategies that didn’t exist before or updates previously existing ones.

I've always felt like some decks—like Golgari Gardens—stick around mostly because the format doesn’t have a natural predator for them. But what happens when the meta shifts and those old predators come back? That’s exactly what’s going on with Flicker Tron. Thanks to some recent unbans, it just got a serious power boost—and today, we are going over each card of the list and talk about its overall game plan, and of course, its sideboard plan, so you can win against the diverse Pauper meta. Let’s dive into it!

If you’ve ever wanted to drop a giant threat on turn two without spending seven or eight mana, you’re going to love this. Pauper Living End is a graveyard-based deck focused on cheating threats into play as early as turn two. Instead of playing creatures the normal way, it fills the graveyard fast and brings them back even faster, completely flipping the script on how early-game turns usually play out in Pauper. It’s explosive, it’s tricky, and when it works, it feels downright unfair (in the best way possible). Let’s break down how the deck pulls it off and why it’s catching so many players off guard.

When it comes to budget tribal decks in Magic: The Gathering, few archetypes are as explosive and consistent as MTG Pauper Elves. This green-based strategy has long been a staple of the Pauper format, known for going wide with small creatures, generating absurd amounts of mana, and closing out games with one massive swing. Whether you're new to Pauper or looking for a streamlined, synergy-driven list to master, Pauper Elves is one of the best options out there. Built around cheap creatures and powerful engine pieces, this deck can easily go from zero to lethal in a single turn. If you've been asking yourself, “What’s the best Pauper tribal deck to start with?”, look no further.