Prediction Quest-It Begins (Standard) What comes next?

I have been examining all of the current abilities available in standard (after Sept 17 rotation).


-Deathtouch
-Flying
-First Strike
-Double Strike
-Vigilance
-Haste
-Trample
-Eternalize
-Embalm
-Menace
-Reach
-Prowess
-Afflict
-Cycling
-Energy


Soon to be out of rotation:
-Delirium
-Surge
-Madness
-Emerge
-Landfall
-Escalate


At the SCG Standard Classic Richmond this weekend, the following decks topped the winner's bracket: (https://www.mtggoldfish.com/tournament/scg-standard-classic-richmond-2017-08-13#paper)


1st Black-Green Constrictor Frank Skarren
2nd Temur Energy James O'Shaughnessy
3rd Mono-Black Zombies Zachary Plott
4th Temur Energy Brian Braun-Duin
5th W/R Midrange Raymond Tautic
6th Ramunap Red Abraham Stein
7th Mardu Vehicles Jeremiah Marchant
8th Mono-Black Eldrazi Yugo Sato
9th Temur Energy Dustin Elias
10th Mardu Vehicles Kristopher McCord
11th G/B Delirium Ruben Villao
12th Mono-Black Zombies Jacob Hagen
13th Blue-Red Control Jodey Burney
14th Mono-Black Zombies Brad Bonin
15th Blue-Red Control Robert Pleasanton
16th Mono-Black Zombies Jeremy Bowman


So, with rotation, we will lose G/B Delirium, Mono-Black Eldrazi, W/R Midrange (Tautic), some key parts to Mardu Vehicles (Thraben Inspector, Gideon Ally of Zendikar, Needle Spires, Shambling Vent) and practically all of Mono-Black Zombies (Kalitas, Relentless Dead, Diregraf Collossus, Dark Salvation, Cryptbreaker, Liliana the Last Hope). 


There will be much wailing and gnashing of teeth.


My question is....What combination of abilities is the best.  My personal opinion is 1)First/Double Strike + 2) Deathtouch + 3) Reach.


The reason I like this combination is obvious.  You can just chump block creatures to death.  It's great. 


Anyway, I'm starting my quest to predict what will come next.  Are zombies out?  Probably.  Is control making its way back?  Probably.  Can vehicles find a suitable replacement for its missing early game?  What comes next?

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