About the Deck
BW Tokens is a deck with a beautifully simple game plan that is easy to learn, and an exceptionally flexible sideboard allowing the deck to be tailored for whatever local meta its built in. By running a sizable collection of token generating spells, Tokens generates a load of card advantage by having single cards create two or more creatures rendering single-target removal effectively useless and nullifying the swarm advantage of decks that like to play as many creatures per turn as possible. The goal is to field a squadron of spirit tokens, bolster their power and toughness with various anthems, most notably Intangible Virtue, and then swing wide while going over the heads of our opponent's potential blockers. Planeswalkers and Vault of the Archangel are the strongest late-game plays available in the deck, the former able to take over the game if unanswered, the latter able to cause a massive swing in the board state by having a handful of tokens wipe the opponent's creatures via deathtouch. To maximize the chances having the time to draw into our generators and finishers, and the ability to play them without fearing counters or wraths, Tokens runs an efficient suite of hand attack and creature removal spells.
About my Build
I've been constantly retooling this deck since I originally bought the first 75 cards.
- Creatures: After experimentation based on a suggestion in a discussion thread for budget tokens lists, I've found Thraben Inspector to be a solid option if you prefer to increase the consistency of having a turn one play and gain a means of card draw. Other common options include Hero of Bladehold as a win condition, Auriok Champion as an antiburn/antiaggro tech choice, and Selfless Spirit to protect the board from sweepers.
- Combat Tricks: The lack of Zealous Persecution might seem odd. While I've had my share of solid use of it my local meta makes direct removal more important than a potential surprise cleanup of Elves or Scion tokens, or the added pump when I'm forced to line up chump blockers. My desire to include a bit more removal has seen persecution cut, and my play set of Path to Exile joined by two copies of Fatal Push.
- Token Generation: Another major difference from other lists is no
Bitterblossom
. While I do want to acquire and learn that style of this deck, I run
Raise the Alarm
in it's place. As my experience with the deck grows, and I'm getting more accustomed to my meta, it honestly feels like a more useful choice - play it in response to attackers to make emergency blockers, or at the opponents end step to have two fresh tokens to swing with if I so choose. It is a downside that these are soldiers and not spirits and thus lack evasion, but the flexibility of playing this at instant speed is very handy.
- Discard Suite: This is pretty typical from what I've seen online. Nothing too special.
- Mainboard Ghost Quarter: I really dislike Tron and Spreading Seas.
- Sideboard: My build is targeted at hitting most all of the popular tier one and two modern decks. I have a huge selection of cards that overlap on decks such as Dredge, Affinity, Tron, Burn, Aggro, Combo, and so on. It's also has Sundering Growth to target certain cards that can outright render the deck inoperable, actually or figuratively (those particularly nasty cards such as Blood Moon, Chalice of the Void, Ensnaring Bridge, Night of Souls' Betrayal, and so on). Extirpate over Surgical Extraction was both a budget decision, as well as I prefer split second to the ability to cast while tapped out.
Also refer to my maybeboard, as I have another smattering of cards I can substitute in both my main or side to more finely tune the flavor and hate I include.
Planned Changes
Edits & Notes:
- Removed one Wall of Omens to put back in a Zealous Persecution. While the former is not a bad draw under really any circumstances, the latter allows for swinging the game in our favor, or furthering a lead. Removed a second to add in a third Sorin. (26/04/2017)
- Added in the third Thoughtseize. (26/04/2017)
- Dropping Wall of Omens entirely for mainboard Blessed Alliance. Sideboard gains Hour of Reckoning. (28/04/2017)
- Acquired the final fetches necessary, dropping Caves of Koilos for Flooded Strand. Also replaced Hour of Reckoning with a pair of Selfless Spirit. Games played immediately after these changes made Auriok Champion and Bitterblossom seem exceptionally necessary for my local meta. (1/05/2017)
- Swapped a Raise the Alarm for a Secure the Wastes. (23/05/2017)
About Me
This is my most recent iteration of my Modern Tokens deck, which I've been playing since I learned MTG. This pet project of mine has started as the Modern Event Deck and been constantly edited and retooled as I've been learning both the game and the modern format. I'm constantly hunting for new cards to use in the deck, both as fun experiments or as new sideboard hate for my local meta.
I've gotten loads of help and suggestions over at the MTG Salvation forums, both at the main deck primer and at the budget primer where I got started. You can check those out at http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/modern/developing-competitive-modern/656590-bw-tokens
