Gideon, the overpowered Planeswalker

Modern tschiller

SCORE: 56 | 26 COMMENTS | 9823 VIEWS | IN 21 FOLDERS


Finished so far —June 1, 2017

I think..

Pheardemons says... #1

If you're going to go the token route Intangible Virtue should be there. The vigilance is EXTREMELY relevant so that you can attack and defend with your flyers.

Your land base could be fixed a little bit. I understand that you don't need that much black since it is only for Sorin, but if you play fetches (Marsh Flats and any other one that fetches for white) it'll thin your deck. You could then play two Godless Shrine, and Isolated Chapel enters untapped with the shockland. Granted, if you want to stay a little more budget, your land base will work.

May 3, 2017 1:17 p.m. Edited.

Pheardemons says... #2

Sorry about the Intangible Virtue comment. Didn't see it for whatever reason.

Also, have you considered Gideon Jura? Another Gideon, also his plus ability can save you for a turn. This also forces your opponent's creatures to attack so that maybe you can swing in for the win next turn.

Most token decks like this also use Sorin, Solemn Visitor. It buffs AND gives lifelink to make the game last longer, in which case you can hold out until you win with Gideons. Something to consider at least.

Lastly, have you considered making a sideboard? Stony Silence for affinity, Tempest of Light for boggles, Rest in Peace for graveyard decks, ect. You should look into that as well.

May 3, 2017 1:32 p.m.

_Delta_ says... #3

Collective Brutality might be useful here somewheres, you can discard things like Lingering Souls to it as well.

May 3, 2017 2:06 p.m.

tschiller says... #4

Hi Pheardemons & Delta-117, first of all ty for the inputs.

Regarding the manabase: sure it could be a bit more reliable, but after playtesting I decided to stick with the porsche and not going for the bugatti, didn't have mana issues so far ;)

At the Planeswalker-side I had a look at all Sorins and Gideons and decided to go with the ones who are in now for specific reasons: Sorin allows me to generate tokens which is the main target with this deck. On the downside I get less lifelink than with the one you proposed, but that's ok I guess. Similar thing with the Gideons, there I went with the 2 who are most beneficial regarding the Emblem topic. Maybe I'll switch them later, but therefore I need more data (playtests ;)).

Sideboard isn't much of a topic atm because I mainly play with friends and usually we switch decks every game. But if I'd build one, the cards you proposed sure would be in there ;)

Black spells: spent some time thinking about it, Inquisition of Kozilek, Fatal Push and all the other usual suspects. Whilst cutting to 60 cards, they all fell off the board because there too, I went full tard with the ones who'll help me fullfilling the gameplan: tokens!

May 3, 2017 2:49 p.m.

musicman3310 says... #5

You should look at MTGGoldfish on YouTube. He built a modern Gideon tribal and you could possibly get inspiration from it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDlZqoTlKc4 for the deck and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6I2jbl4dm0 for play testing. For suggestions, maybe The Chain Veil and Mirror Gallery.

May 3, 2017 6:23 p.m.

tschiller says... #6

Ty musicman3310 for the links, indeed an interesting path, even more tard on gideon and less tokens than mine. But this comes at some costs (moneywise) :o Think I'm gonna test my build a bit more before take action, but in case if, I'd for sure know in which direction now :)

May 4, 2017 3:15 a.m.

Guyonfire says... #7

Wouldn't Gideon, Ally of Zendikar be closer to what you're looking for in this token deck? Instead of Gideon, Champion of Justice?

May 4, 2017 8:16 p.m.

Hardhitta7 says... #8

Does OP stand for Over-sized Pecs? He is beefslab after all.

May 4, 2017 9:44 p.m.

tschiller says... #9

Hi Guyonfire, considered him, but went with the Justice for the described reason. Elspeth and Sorin are the token assistents :)

@hardhitta71194, nope, overpowered.

May 5, 2017 5:03 a.m.

I am not too familiar with the types of board wipes in modern, but I am pretty sure Brave the Elements won't protect your tokens from anything other than Anger of the Gods and targeted removal. I am not sure if that is worth it at that point.

May 5, 2017 11:13 a.m.

tschiller says... #11

Damn you're right.. Didn't know that, guess this will be the spot for Thoughtseize so. But then I'll have to adjust the manabase, this will be costly, maaaan :o

May 5, 2017 12:52 p.m.

Guyonfire says... #12

Instead of Thoughtseize you could consider Inquisition of Kozilek.

I'm still curious about the Gideon, Champion of Justice pick. Is it just because his + ability can be for more? If you're just going to sit on a Gideon wouldn't a more powerful Gideon be better? Maybe Gideon Jura?

May 5, 2017 1:05 p.m.

tschiller says... #13

Yeah it is because of his +1. Also if there are enough counters on it I can go with his 0 ability. Protect the emblem in this case.

May 5, 2017 1:27 p.m.

Secure the Wastes would be nice in this deck instead of Raise the Alarm! also Utter End may be decent or Anguished Unmaking would be somewhat decent, although they do cost 4 or 3.

May 5, 2017 1:34 p.m. Edited.

lagotripha says... #15

I'll quietly reccomend anguished unmaking sideboard for that generic 'I need removal' spot. something to fight flat burn and combo in there and ou'll be solid. Sanctimony and leyline perhaps.

May 7, 2017 10:39 a.m.

mack10k says... #16

Bitterblossoms should be in any modern BW token deck. I don't know much about modern, (I just started last month with 8 Whack), but BW tokens was a deck I was looking at. Honestly I think Soul Warden and Auriok Champion should be in here as well.

May 7, 2017 1:41 p.m.

I think you should add 1-2 Westvale Abbey  Flip, especially since you have that new double tokens card. replacing 1 Raise the Alarm with Secure the Wastes is also a suggestion, it's one mana worse first rounds, but can be a nice blowout if the game gets long, and again nice with the demon-man-land-thingie :)

As mentioned a above Bitterblossom is also nice but draws you a bit more towards black, so maybe that is not where u wanna go.

Hope it works out anyhow.

best regards and best of luck :)

May 7, 2017 1:55 p.m.

tschiller says... #18

Hi CinnaToastKrunch, lagotripha, mack10k and Silverpandaria! First of all, ty for your inputs. Here are my thoughts on them:

Secure the Wastes: Won't find it's way in. Raise the Alarm is a steady 2 drop which gives two tokens. With Wastes I'd block my mana which I need for the Planeswalkers and flying (!) tokens from drop 3 on. Nevertheless it would have been a great mana sink, but I'll adress this issue later on in my answer.

Utter End and Anguished Unmaking: to costly manawise. With Inquisition of Kozilek and Path to Exile I feel like there's enough control at my hand. If not I'd rather go for a supplementary set of Thoughtseize playable as 1 drop.

Sideboard: Isn't a topic at the moment, see one of my first answers in the comment section ;)

Bitterblossom: Nah.. Just to costly moneywise and I don't think I'd could swallow a constant lifeloss with this deck since it's rather a midranged one. Also the tokens are kind of a subtheme. Maybe in a distant future when I don't know anything else to do with my money :D

Soul Warden and Auriok Champion: Don't fit the theme of this deck in my opinion. It's not Soul Sisters after all. Also I rather have some control at my disposal with the 1 drops.

Westvale Abbey  Flip: It's an interesting card, but also not very beneficial for the deck. Sure I could sac the tokens, but I'd rather use them for a constant damage dealing. But maybe I put one in there just for the lulz after playtesting some more, we'll see :)

Changes: Your inputs, especially Westvale Abbey  Flip and Secure the Wastes made me think about mana sink possibilities. This was an issue which now I worked around with Vault of the Archangel. Also fiddled around with the manabase, welcome Marsh Flats. For these changes went down 2 Plains and 2 Isolated Chapel.

May 7, 2017 4:29 p.m.

zachi says... #19

Just to touch on what musicman3310 said about mirror gallery. It doesnt work with planeswalkers as they are not effected by the legendary rule.

I would also account for people running pithing needle in case they start to tech against walkers more.

May 7, 2017 7:28 p.m.

landofMordor says... #20

I'd consider Oath of Gideon or Oath of Liliana as an alternative to a token producer. The ETB abilities can really stack value.

May 8, 2017 10:12 a.m.

godzilla080 says... #21

Just an opinion. Westvale Abbey  Flip is a fun card indeed but unfortunately has no place in modern. In standard its amazing because there aren't so many efficient exile cards but even Declaration in Stone was enough to cut down decks copies of it or push it out of play entirely. Between Path to Exile, Anguished Unmaking, and Dispatch all at instant speed, it's just too much. Personally I play it in a kitchen table tokens deck that i have for fun but past that its rough to play in modern. As i said this is just my opinion.

May 11, 2017 2:10 a.m.

rcrimmins says... #22

I think Gideon Ally of Zendikar is far better in your list than champion of justice. I'd also run a 1 of Gideon Jura.

May 11, 2017 11:46 a.m.

tschiller says... #23

@landofMordor Though about them too, especially about Oath of Gideon, but committed to tokens with evasion on the 3 mana slot.

@rcrimmins As I stated somewhere in the first comments, I'll stick with Gideon, Champion of Justice because of his +1 ability. Protect the emblem, that's the main target. For generating tokens I got Elspeth, Sun's Champion and Sorin, Lord of Innistrad in there, which both are the better generators than Gideon, Ally of Zendikar. Also the body you get with the 0 ability after 1 or 2 turns using Gideon, Champion of Justice +1 ability is way better than Gideon, Ally of Zendikars imo.

May 11, 2017 8:16 p.m.

AndersRumpf says... #24

with the only creatures being tokens, the life gain that you could pull off with Anointer Priest is staggering

May 17, 2017 8:17 a.m.