I'll analyze the current Legacy meta to explain the difference between Dimir Tempo and Midrange variants.
The key difference lies in their game plan and card selection. Dimir Tempo (252 recent entries, 51.2% winrate) is the dominant archetype, running efficient threats like Nethergoyf (99% presence), Murktide Regent (89%), and Tamiyo (99%) alongside tempo tools like Daze (2.85 average copies) and Fatal Push (4 copies). This deck aims to deploy early threats, protect them with cheap countermagic, and close games quickly with efficient creatures backed by disruption.
Dimir Midrange (9 recent entries in Legacy) represents a much smaller share of the meta and takes a grindier approach. The key differences: about half the Midrange builds skip traditional tempo staples like Orcish Bowmasters, Ponder, and Wasteland entirely. Some versions run Ancient Tomb (56% presence) for acceleration and Barrowgoyf (44%) instead of the Tempo package. This suggests a more controlling, resource-focused game plan rather than the aggressive disruption-plus-clock strategy of Tempo.
In practical terms, Dimir Tempo is the established archetype with clear core cards and consistent results, while Dimir Midrange appears to be experimental builds that sacrifice tempo elements for different angles like ramp or alternative threats. The sample size difference (252 vs 9 entries) indicates Tempo is the proven strategy in the current meta.
Sources
Data from 116 tournaments: 50.9% Melee, 49.1% MTGO.
https://melee.gg/Decklist/View/189abbe1-ae57-4167-8d38-b39700d8187d
https://www.mtgo.com/decklist/legacy-challenge-32-2025-11-1612824433
https://melee.gg/Decklist/View/4af50e5a-2153-4db3-83f8-b39600d51ffd