Day One Highlights at Pro Tour Lorwyn Eclipsed

Welcome to snowy Richmond, Virginia, big mana Standard, Pro Tour Lorwyn Eclipsed, and the start of the 2026 competitive Magic season.

The weekend began with a solemn nod to Magic's past with a moment of silence for Kai Budde, followed by the presentation of the Kai Budde Player of the Year trophy to the 2025 Player of the Year, Ken Yukuhiro.

Despite the weather-related challenges, just over 300 players made it to Richmond for Pro Tour Lorwyn Eclipsed, and the familiar sounds of the Pro Tour soon filled the air as the 2026 season officially kicked off.

The draft format proved to be a unique challenge, with the five major Limited archetypes offering players plenty of opportunities to explore less "supported" strategies. Two-time World Champion Seth Manfield navigated a tricky draft, while others like Alexey Paulot found success in drafting a five-color vivid deck.

In Standard, the recently risen Badgermole Cub decks were a dominant force, but several other strategies emerged as contenders, including Izzet Spellementals, Dimir Control, and Reanimator decks featuring Formidable Speaker.

Marco Belacca

Ultimately, it was Marco Belacca who emerged as the Day One leader, going undefeated with a Jeskai Control deck that featured just a single creature card, The Unagi of Kyoshi Island.

Learning All About Lorwyn Eclipsed

The unique draft format of Lorwyn Eclipsed presented both challenges and opportunities for players. While the four most popular two-color archetypes (Elves, Kithkin, Merfolk, and Goblins) led the way, cards like Reaping Willow and Hovel Hurler encouraged exploration of other combinations, including the difficult-to-draft blue-red vivid deck.

Experienced players like Drew Debevoise of Team #LookingForTeam emphasized the importance of finding a clear open lane or turning to the vivid strategy if necessary. The depth of the format was on full display, with even players attending their first Pro Tour finding success in the draft.

The State of Standard

The Lorwyn Eclipsed Standard format has seen a significant shakeup, with the rise of Badgermole Cub decks and the emergence of new strategies to counter them. Team The Boulder's Izzet Spellementals deck, featuring Sunderflock, was a notable performer, while Dimir Control and Reanimator decks also made their mark.

The 2023 Magic World Champion, Jean-Emmanuel Depraz, was spotted casting Formidable Speaker and utilizing the evoke Elemental cycle, showcasing the impact of Lorwyn Eclipsed on the current Standard metagame.

In the end, it was Marco Belacca's undefeated run with a Jeskai Control deck that led the way, proving that the format remains far from solved.

Looking Ahead

As the 192 players qualified for Day Two return to the battlefield, another Draft and a final round of Standard await, with the Top 8 playoff on Sunday set to determine the champion of Pro Tour Lorwyn Eclipsed. Coverage for Day Two begins on Saturday, January 30, at 11:00 a.m. ET.