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Shift to Black

Modern

DonaldF


Did you know that Painter's Servant isn't banned in Modern? Did you also know that there is a card very similar to Painter's Servant named Shifting Sky? It turns out, without Grindstone, Painter's Servant struggles to find a card that hates monocolored enough to see play. Hopefully, this deck can exploit the vast changes these cards can create.

The traditional favorite color exploitation is in Sunscreen decks, using protection from red and red board sweeps. While this is very effective against wide decks, I wanted more flexibility in my color hate. I found that in Devout Lightcaster. Perhaps the best color punisher out there in Modern, DL completely erases any black permanent on the battlefield while protected from black itself. DL was enough to lean this deck into an anti-black strategy over anti-red, especially because of its enter the battlefield effect.

Offense Package - Most creatures have protection from black, making them creatureproof once either Painter's Servant or Shifting Skies enter the battlefield. Painter's Servant even gives them shroud. White Knight and Hand of Honor seem to fare the best among other two drops, and Mirran Crusader delivers the most damage. Phantasmal Images allows for repeats of Devout Lightcaster, but can always become an extra PfB creature or even a back-up copy of Painter's Servant. Celestial Purge acts as further black exile. One value Eldrazi Displacer is included for its gnarly interaction with Devout Lightcaster, although its other synergies are too weak for further copies.

Combo Package - Max copies of Painter's Servant and Shifting Skies. Two Idyllic Tutors to fetch SS. PS is the better card against a goldfish, but its rather easy to remove.

Land Package - WU fast lands. Although we have a low converted mana cost, it is very important for us to hit three mana, so our land count reflects this. Devout Lightcaster's mana cost forces us to be as white as possible. Academy Ruins is risky, but its great for retrieving fallen Painter's Servants.

Would love any suggestions to improve this deck. Not meant to be tier, but to be unique and fun.

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Date added 6 years
Last updated 6 years
Legality

This deck is Modern legal.

Rarity (main - side)

4 - 0 Mythic Rares

36 - 0 Rares

12 - 0 Uncommons

Cards 60
Avg. CMC 2.43
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