Quest for the Best Deck Ever: Vintage

Another quest to find the best deck ever has begun. This time our team dove deep into the history of Vintage, Magic's most powerful format. In the run-up to the Top 8 playoffs, find here the initial 27 candidates for the title and their Swiss results!

We asked followers of our Magic YouTube channel to vote for one deck from each year of Vintage, all the way from 2000 to 2025. One run-off poll gave us a second entry from 2015, meaning a total of 27 decks. We put them through a four-round Swiss-style tournament to determine a Top 8, and starting on April 2, you get to see the single-elimination playoffs in full!

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We're not just crowning a champion ourselves this time. For a week starting on May 14, our friends at Magic Online are making it possible for you to play a version of our Vintage Top 8 yourself! After all, with a selection of ~30,000 cards, the full history of Magic at your fingertips, Magic Online is exactly where you can access all the powerhouses of Vintage.

When you enter The Cardmarket Gauntlet League, you get to pick one out of three random Top 8 decks from our series and can play it for three rounds against other players across the globe. The best part: When you use the code CARDMARKET, limited to one use per Magic Online account, event entry is free (otherwise 5 Tix or 50 Play Points). The bestest part: Every participant receives a avatar; and if you win all three rounds, you get not just 90 Play Points and a Treasure Chest but also an upgraded avatar.



All Swiss Results

Here are all results ahead of the playoffs, sorted by each deck's year. Click on a deck to jump to its list.

Deck Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Match Wins
2000 Control 1-2 vs. 2018 Paradox… 1-2 vs. 2001 Pox 1-2 vs. 2004 Bazaar 0-2 vs. 2009 Dredge 0
2001 Pox 0-2 vs. 2020 Breach 2-1 vs. 2000 Control 0-2 vs. 2012 Dredge 0-2 vs. 2016 Shops 1
2002 Stax 0-2 vs. 2015 Mentor 0-2 vs. 2016 Shops 2-1 vs. 2017 Eldrazi 1-2 vs. 2010 Lands 1
2003 Storm 2-1 vs. 2014 Delver 1-2 vs. 2008 Stax 2-0 vs. 2011 Gush 1-2 vs. 2021 Doomsday 2
2004 Bazaar 1-2 vs. 2007 Flash 0-2 vs. 2011 Gush 2-1 vs. 2000 Control 0-2 vs. 2023 Initiative 1
2005 Oath 0-2 vs. 2015 Dredge --- bye --- 1-2 vs. 2009 Dredge 0-2 vs. 2011 Gush 1
2006 Stax 2-1 vs. 2017 Eldrazi 1-2 vs. 2021 Doomsday 2-1 vs. 2023 Initiative 1-2 vs. 2015 Dredge 2
2007 Flash 2-1 vs. 2004 Bazaar 1-2 vs. 2019 Shops 2-1 vs. 2016 Shops 2-1 vs. 2012 Dredge 3
2008 Stax 2-1 vs. 2010 Lands 2-1 vs. 2003 Storm 2-1 vs. 2015 Dredge 1-2 vs. 2025 Frog 3
2009 Dredge 1-2 vs. 2013 Grixis 1-2 vs. 2023 Initiative 2-1 vs. 2005 Oath 2-0 vs. 2000 Control 2
2010 Lands 1-2 vs. 2008 Stax 2-1 vs. 2014 Delver 1-2 vs. 2013 Grixis 2-1 vs. 2002 Stax 2
2011 Gush 0-2 vs. 2019 Shops 2-0 vs. 2004 Bazaar 0-2 vs. 2003 Storm 2-0 vs. 2005 Oath 2
2012 Dredge --- bye --- 1-2 vs. 2015 Dredge 2-0 vs. 2001 Pox 1-2 vs. 2007 Flash 2
2013 Grixis 2-1 vs. 2009 Dredge 1-2 vs. 2024 Frog 2-1 vs. 2010 Lands 1-2 vs. 2020 Breach 2
2014 Delver 1-2 vs. 2003 Storm 1-2 vs. 2010 Lands --- bye --- 1-2 vs. 2022 Bazaar 1
2015 Dredge 2-0 vs. 2005 Oath 2-1 vs. 2012 Dredge 1-2 vs. 2008 Stax 2-1 vs. 2006 Stax 3
2015 Mentor 2-0 vs. 2002 Stax 0-2 vs. 2025 Frog 2-0 vs. 2024 Frog 2-1 vs. 2018 Paradox… 3
2016 Shops 1-2 vs. 2025 Frog 2-0 vs. 2002 Stax 1-2 vs. 2007 Flash 2-0 vs. 2001 Pox 2
2017 Eldrazi 1-2 vs. 2006 Stax 1-2 vs. 2022 Bazaar 1-2 vs. 2002 Stax --- bye --- 1
2018 Paradox… 2-1 vs. 2000 Control 0-2 vs. 2020 Breach 2-1 vs. 2022 Bazaar 1-2 vs. 2015 Mentor 2
2019 Shops 2-0 vs. 2011 Gush 2-1 vs. 2007 Flash 2-1 vs. 2020 Breach 2-0 vs. 2024 Frog 4
2020 Breach 2-0 vs. 2001 Pox 2-0 vs. 2018 Paradox… 1-2 vs. 2019 Shops 2-1 vs. 2013 Grixis 3
2021 Doomsday 2-0 vs. 2022 Bazaar 2-1 vs. 2006 Stax 1-2 vs. 2025 Frog 2-1 vs. 2003 Storm 3
2022 Bazaar 0-2 vs. 2021 Doomsday 2-1 vs. 2017 Eldrazi 1-2 vs. 2018 Paradox… 2-1 vs. 2014 Delver 2
2023 Initiative 1-2 vs. 2024 Frog 2-1 vs. 2009 Dredge 1-2 vs. 2006 Stax 2-0 vs. 2004 Bazaar 2
2024 Frog 2-1 vs. 2023 Initiative 2-1 vs. 2013 Grixis 0-2 vs. 2015 Mentor 0-2 vs. 2019 Shops 2
2025 Frog 2-1 vs. 2016 Shops 2-0 vs. 2015 Mentor 2-1 vs. 2021 Doomsday 2-1 vs. 2008 Stax 4

And here are the final Swiss standings thus determined.

Rank Deck Match Wins Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4
1 2025 Frog 4 2-1 vs. 2016 Shops 2-0 vs. 2015 Mentor 2-1 vs. 2021 Doomsday 2-1 vs. 2008 Stax
2 2019 Shops 4 2-0 vs. 2011 Gush 2-1 vs. 2007 Flash 2-1 vs. 2020 Breach 2-0 vs. 2024 Frog
3 2008 Stax 3 2-1 vs. 2010 Lands 2-1 vs. 2003 Storm 2-1 vs. 2015 Dredge 1-2 vs. 2025 Frog
4 2021 Doomsday 3 2-0 vs. 2022 Bazaar 2-1 vs. 2006 Stax 1-2 vs. 2025 Frog 2-1 vs. 2003 Storm
5 2020 Breach 3 2-0 vs. 2001 Pox 2-0 vs. 2018 Paradox… 1-2 vs. 2019 Shops 2-1 vs. 2013 Grixis
6 2015 Mentor 3 2-0 vs. 2002 Stax 0-2 vs. 2025 Frog 2-0 vs. 2024 Frog 2-1 vs. 2018 Paradox…
7 2007 Flash 3 2-1 vs. 2004 Bazaar 1-2 vs. 2019 Shops 2-1 vs. 2016 Shops 2-1 vs. 2012 Dredge
8 2015 Dredge 3 2-0 vs. 2005 Oath 2-1 vs. 2012 Dredge 1-2 vs. 2008 Stax 2-1 vs. 2006 Stax
9 2024 Frog 2 2-1 vs. 2023 Initiative 2-1 vs. 2013 Grixis 0-2 vs. 2015 Mentor 0-2 vs. 2019 Shops
10 2012 Dredge 2 --- bye --- 1-2 vs. 2015 Dredge 2-0 vs. 2001 Pox 1-2 vs. 2007 Flash
11 2016 Shops 2 1-2 vs. 2025 Frog 2-0 vs. 2002 Stax 1-2 vs. 2007 Flash 2-0 vs. 2001 Pox
12 2003 Storm 2 2-1 vs. 2014 Delver 1-2 vs. 2008 Stax 2-0 vs. 2011 Gush 1-2 vs. 2021 Doomsday
13 2006 Stax 2 2-1 vs. 2017 Eldrazi 1-2 vs. 2021 Doomsday 2-1 vs. 2023 Initiative 1-2 vs. 2015 Dredge
14 2018 Paradox… 2 2-1 vs. 2000 Control 0-2 vs. 2020 Breach 2-1 vs. 2022 Bazaar 1-2 vs. 2015 Mentor
15 2013 Grixis 2 2-1 vs. 2009 Dredge 1-2 vs. 2024 Frog 2-1 vs. 2010 Lands 1-2 vs. 2020 Breach
16 2011 Gush 2 0-2 vs. 2019 Shops 2-0 vs. 2004 Bazaar 0-2 vs. 2003 Storm 2-0 vs. 2005 Oath
17 2010 Lands 2 1-2 vs. 2008 Stax 2-1 vs. 2014 Delver 1-2 vs. 2013 Grixis 2-1 vs. 2002 Stax
17 2022 Bazaar 2 0-2 vs. 2021 Doomsday 2-1 vs. 2017 Eldrazi 1-2 vs. 2018 Paradox… 2-1 vs. 2014 Delver
19 2023 Initiative 2 1-2 vs. 2024 Frog 2-1 vs. 2009 Dredge 1-2 vs. 2006 Stax 2-0 vs. 2004 Bazaar
20 2009 Dredge 2 1-2 vs. 2013 Grixis 1-2 vs. 2023 Initiative 2-1 vs. 2005 Oath 2-0 vs. 2000 Control
21 2005 Oath 1 0-2 vs. 2015 Dredge --- bye --- 1-2 vs. 2009 Dredge 0-2 vs. 2011 Gush
22 2001 Pox 1 0-2 vs. 2020 Breach 2-1 vs. 2000 Control 0-2 vs. 2012 Dredge 0-2 vs. 2016 Shops
22 2002 Stax 1 0-2 vs. 2015 Mentor 0-2 vs. 2016 Shops 2-1 vs. 2017 Eldrazi 1-2 vs. 2010 Lands
22 2004 Bazaar 1 1-2 vs. 2007 Flash 0-2 vs. 2011 Gush 2-1 vs. 2000 Control 0-2 vs. 2023 Initiative
25 2014 Delver 1 1-2 vs. 2003 Storm 1-2 vs. 2010 Lands --- bye --- 1-2 vs. 2022 Bazaar
26 2017 Eldrazi 1 1-2 vs. 2006 Stax 1-2 vs. 2022 Bazaar 1-2 vs. 2002 Stax --- bye ---
27 2000 Control 0 1-2 vs. 2018 Paradox… 1-2 vs. 2001 Pox 1-2 vs. 2004 Bazaar 0-2 vs. 2009 Dredge


All 27 Decklists

2000 Control
Main DeckSideboard
  • 1
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  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
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  • 4
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  • 4
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  • 2
  • 2
  • 2
  • 2
  • 1
  • 1
  • 3
  • 1
  • 2
  • 1
  • 2
  • 4
  • 1


2001 Pox
Main DeckSideboard
  • 4
  •  
  • 4
  • 1
  • 4
  • 4
  • 4
  • 4
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 1
  • 1
  •  
  • 4
  • 1
  • 16
  • 4
  • 2
  • 4
  • 1
  • 3
  • 1


2002 Stax
Main DeckSideboard
  • 4
  • 3
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  •  
  • 1
  • 2
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 2
  • 1
  • 4
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 4
  • 1
  • 4
  •  
  • 4
  • 1
  • 1
  • 4
  • 5
  • 4
  • 4
  • 2
  • 2
  • 3
  • 2
  • 2


2003 Storm
Main DeckSideboard
  • 3
  •  
  • 1
  • 2
  • 4
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
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  • 4
  • 1
  • 1
  •  
  • 4
  • 3
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 2
  • 2
  • 1
  • 2
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1


2008 Stax (Top 8)
Main DeckSideboard
  • 3
  • 1
  • 2
  • 4
  • 2
  • 1
  •  
  • 1
  • 2
  • 1
  • 1
  • 2
  • 2
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 2
  • 2
  • 1
  • 4
  • 3
  • 1
  •  
  • 1
  • 1
  • 4
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 4
  • 4
  • 4
  • 4
  • 2
  • 1
  • 3
  • 1


2009 Dredge
Main DeckSideboard
  • 4
  • 4
  • 4
  • 4
  • 4
  • 4
  • 2
  •  
  • 4
  • 4
  • 4
  • 4
  • 2
  • 4
  •  
  • 4
  • 4
  • 4
  • 1
  • 4
  • 3
  • 3
  • 2
  • 2


2010 Lands
Main DeckSideboard
  • 2
  • 2
  • 4
  • 4
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 3
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 2
  • 1
  • 1
  • 4
  • 2
  • 1
  • 4
  • 1
  • 2
  • 2
  • 3
  • 2
  • 4
  • 1
  • 1
  • 2
  • 4
  • 1
  • 4
  • 4


2011 Gush
Main DeckSideboard
  • 1
  •  
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 2
  • 2
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 4
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 2
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  •  
  • 1
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 3
  • 3
  • 4
  • 1
  • 3
  • 2
  • 2
  • 3
  • 2
  • 2


2012 Dredge
Main DeckSideboard
  • 4
  • 3
  • 4
  • 4
  • 2
  • 4
  • 4
  •  
  • 4
  • 4
  • 1
  • 4
  • 2
  • 4
  •  
  • 4
  • 4
  • 4
  • 4
  • 4
  • 3
  • 4
  • 4


2013 Grixis
Main DeckSideboard
  • 1
  • 4
  • 4
  • 2
  •  
  • 3
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 2
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  •  
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 2
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 4
  • 1
  • 2
  • 4
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 3
  • 1
  • 1


2014 Delver
Main DeckSideboard
  • 3
  • 4
  •  
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 2
  • 2
  • 3
  • 3
  • 4
  • 4
  • 4
  • 4
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  •  
  • 1
  • 1
  • 3
  • 3
  • 4
  • 2
  • 2
  • 1
  • 1
  • 4
  • 4
  • 2
  • 1


2015 Dredge (Top 8)
Main DeckSideboard
  • 4
  • 1
  • 1
  • 4
  • 3
  • 4
  • 4
  • 4
  •  
  • 4
  • 4
  • 4
  • 4
  • 2
  •  
  • 4
  • 4
  • 1
  • 4
  • 4
  • 4
  • 3
  • 4
  • 4


2015 Mentor (Top 8)
Main DeckSideboard
  • 3
  • 1
  •  
  • 1
  • 3
  • 1
  • 1
  • 3
  • 1
  • 2
  • 4
  • 3
  • 3
  • 3
  • 1
  • 1
  • 3
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
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  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  •  
  • 1
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  • 2
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  • 2
  • 2
  • 3
  • 3
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 1
  • 1
  • 2
  • 2
  • 2
  • 1


2016 Shops
Main DeckSideboard
  • 4
  • 3
  • 3
  • 1
  •  
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 4
  • 2
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 1
  • 4
  • 3
  • 1
  • 2
  •  
  • 1
  • 1
  • 3
  • 4
  • 1
  • 1
  • 2
  • 4
  • 3
  • 4
  • 4
  • 3
  • 1


2017 Eldrazi
Main DeckSideboard
  • 3
  • 4
  • 1
  • 4
  • 4
  • 4
  • 3
  • 4
  •  
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 4
  •  
  • 4
  • 4
  • 4
  • 2
  • 4
  • 4
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
  • 2
  • 1


2018 Paradoxical Outcome
Main DeckSideboard
  • 1
  • 1
  •  
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 4
  • 1
  • 2
  • 1
  • 1
  • 2
  • 4
  • 1
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 4
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 2
  • 1
  •  
  • 1
  • 2
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 2
  • 1
  • 1
  • 2
  • 2
  • 1
  • 1
  • 2
  • 1
  • 1
  • 3
  • 2
  • 2


2019 Shops (Top 8)
Main DeckSideboard
  • 1
  • 4
  • 3
  •  
  • 2
  • 4
  • 1
  • 2
  • 4
  • 1
  • 1
  • 3
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 4
  • 1
  • 1
  • 4
  • 1
  • 1
  •  
  • 4
  • 3
  • 4
  • 1
  • 1
  • 4
  • 1
  • 3
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 2
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1


2020 Breach (Top 8)
Main DeckSideboard
  • 1
  •  
  • 1
  • 2
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 4
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 4
  • 3
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  •  
  • 3
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  •  
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 3
  • 4
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 2
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3


2021 Doomsday (Top 8)
Main DeckSideboard
  • 4
  • 2
  •  
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 4
  • 2
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 4
  • 3
  • 1
  • 4
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 4
  • 1
  • 1
  •  
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 2
  • 2
  • 1
  • 1
  • 2
  • 4
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 4


2022 Bazaar
Main DeckSideboard
  • 4
  • 4
  • 4
  • 4
  • 3
  • 4
  • 2
  • 4
  •  
  • 1
  • 1
  • 4
  • 1
  • 1
  • 3
  • 4
  •  
  • 4
  • 3
  • 4
  • 1
  • 4
  • 4
  • 4
  • 2
  • 2
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1


2023 Initiative
Main DeckSideboard
  • 4
  • 4
  • 4
  • 3
  • 4
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  •  
  • 1
  • 4
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 3
  •  
  • 4
  • 4
  • 1
  • 1
  • 4
  • 2
  • 1
  • 3
  • 3
  • 3
  • 2
  • 3


2024 Frog
Main DeckSideboard
  • 2
  • 2
  • 4
  •  
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 2
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 4
  •  
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 3
  • 4
  • 4
  • 4
  • 1
  • 1
  • 2
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 2
  • 2
  • 1
  • 2
  • 1


2025 Frog (Top 8)
Main DeckSideboard
  • 4
  • 4
  • 1
  •  
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 3
  • 4
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 2
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  •  
  • 2
  • 1
  • 2
  • 2
  • 1
  • 1
  • 4
  • 1
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  • 2