Instants staples in Standard

49 cards played in at least 2% of the 3109 Standard decks of the last 120 days, in the main deck or in the sideboard. The most played in the main deck: Requiting Hex (28% of decks).

Official MTGO and magic.gg results and paper tournaments, data provided by TopDeck.gg, updated 28 Oct 2026. How we count

Main deck (31)

#	Card	Type	% of decks	Avg. copies
1	Requiting HexInstant	Instant	28.2%	2.9
2	Spell SnareInstant	Instant	20.8%	1.5
3	Bitter TriumphInstant	Instant	20.5%	2.3
4	ErodeInstant	Instant	20.1%	2.3
5	Burst LightningInstant	Instant	18.2%	3.5
6	Shoot the SheriffInstant	Instant	14.3%	2.1
7	Spell PierceInstant	Instant	12.5%	1.4
8	OptInstant	Instant	10.7%	3.9
9	We Say Thee Nay!Instant — Arcane	Instant — Arcane	10.3%	2.0
10	Prismari CharmInstant	Instant	9.2%	3.6
11	Traumatic CritiqueInstant	Instant	8.4%	3.0
12	Get OutInstant	Instant	7.9%	2.2
13	Consult the Star ChartsInstant	Instant	7.9%	3.3
14	Get LostInstant	Instant	7.0%	2.8
15	Three Steps AheadInstant	Instant	6.4%	2.2
16	Theorix CharmInstant	Instant	6.3%	1.9
17	Emeritus of Ideation // Ancestral RecallCreature — Human Wizard // Instant	Creature — Human Wizard // Instant	6.1%	2.0
18	No More LiesInstant	Instant	6.1%	3.1
19	Jeskai RevelationInstant	Instant	4.6%	3.6
20	SearInstant	Instant	4.6%	1.4
21	FlashbackInstant	Instant	4.4%	1.6
22	Inevitable DefeatInstant	Instant	4.1%	3.6
23	Firebending LessonInstant — Lesson	Instant — Lesson	3.8%	2.6
24	Torch the TowerInstant	Instant	3.2%	2.6
25	Snakeskin VeilInstant	Instant	2.8%	1.6
26	Lightning HelixInstant	Instant	2.4%	2.5
27	CountersculptInstant	Instant	2.4%	3.9
28	Vibrant OutburstInstant	Instant	2.3%	2.6
29	Secret IdentityInstant	Instant	2.3%	2.2
30	Witherbloom CharmInstant	Instant	2.1%	1.9
31	Royal TreatmentInstant	Instant	2.1%	1.2

% of decks: decks of the format that play it in this part
Avg. copies: among the decks that play it

Sideboard (28)

#	Card	Type	% of decks	Avg. copies
1	FlashfreezeInstant	Instant	31.4%	1.7
2	Disdainful StrokeInstant	Instant	25.7%	1.4
3	NegateInstant	Instant	15.3%	1.3
4	AnnulInstant	Instant	14.2%	1.5
5	Spell SnareInstant	Instant	13.7%	1.4
6	Requiting HexInstant	Instant	12.1%	1.5
7	Spell PierceInstant	Instant	11.5%	1.7
8	ErodeInstant	Instant	10.8%	1.8
9	Shoot the SheriffInstant	Instant	10.0%	1.7
10	Get LostInstant	Instant	8.2%	1.6
11	Emeritus of Ideation // Ancestral RecallCreature — Human Wizard // Instant	Creature — Human Wizard // Instant	7.3%	1.3
12	Warg TacticsInstant	Instant	7.1%	1.7
13	Broadside BarrageInstant	Instant	6.4%	1.3
14	Fire MagicInstant	Instant	6.4%	1.6
15	SearInstant	Instant	5.3%	1.6
16	Pyrrhic StrikeInstant	Instant	5.1%	1.7
17	Dawn's TruceInstant	Instant	4.2%	2.0
18	Origin of MetalbendingInstant — Lesson	Instant — Lesson	4.1%	1.7
19	Outrageous RobberyInstant	Instant	4.0%	1.1
20	AbradeInstant	Instant	3.8%	1.5
21	Spider-SenseInstant	Instant	3.8%	1.8
22	Heritage ReclamationInstant	Instant	2.8%	1.6
23	Bitter TriumphInstant	Instant	2.8%	1.5
24	Return the FavorInstant	Instant	2.5%	1.5
25	Into the Flood MawInstant	Instant	2.5%	1.7
26	Boros CharmInstant	Instant	2.4%	2.0
27	Terminal CriticismInstant	Instant	2.2%	1.8
28	Witherbloom CharmInstant	Instant	2.1%	1.7