I feel like MTG has turned upside down.
General forum
Posted on March 6, 2015, 9:16 a.m. by gnarlicide
With the last couple major modern events last week, (one in Japan, one in the US) I noticed that the last bans DID finally allow some new innovations into the format.
Primarily, BGx decks running Curse of Death's Hold... Who would have thought? In Japan, the event winner was what looked to be Esper Teachings, which is strange to me. Mana Leak is finally getting the respect it deserves in modern in control shells, to include that BUG control deck that won last week. I think it's a great card for modern to see.
And then we have the spoilers.
Dragons of Tarkir is shaping up to be a great set. The flavor, the power level... Everything. With that said, I think standard is about to get fucking rocked hard when it releases. Namely, in the control department. I am currently brewing a Bant Control deck for game day with my finisher being that WG dragon. It looks like it would fit nicely alongside Narset and a bunch of counters and white removal.
I am curious: what decks are you hoping to break out in standard? And does anyone think Esper Teaching could be insane in modern? Or is that a pipe dream? Give me your thoughts.
NOTE: I didn't mean to make this look like an article. It's appears my actual job is bleeding out of me. But, if there are enough responses, then I may start doing some more content.
gnarlicide says... #3
As far as spoilers, I was just talking about their impact on standard. But you raise some very good points. Although, with Narset, I don't see her getting too much play in modern. Maybe I am old school, but a four drop in modern control better be backbreaking.
But yeah, I was discussing both modern and standard.
March 6, 2015 9:35 a.m.
lemmingllama says... #4
I think that Putrefy is 100% correct, the new set is very exciting and has great options. I think that out of the spoiled cards, we might also see some play from Ojutai's Command and Anticipate.
As for the bannings, they were completely justified and I'm happy with the results. We got some decks shifting tiers, but the meta is healthy. Still a little sad that Dig Through Time was banned so quickly, and I hope it gets unbanned in a year or two.
Oh, also I really like people using Night of Souls' Betrayal rather than Curse of Death's Hold. You can land it before Twin can go off if you are on the play, and it doesn't target.
March 6, 2015 9:38 a.m.
gnarlicide says... #5
This is true. I felt like curse was too weird for modern. And at 5 CMC to boot. Yeah, the upside of only hosing the opponents dudes is nice, but if goyf is large enough, which it usually is, -1/-1 shouldn't matter.
March 6, 2015 10:02 a.m.
MangoPunch says... #6
"the command is a 6-dmg spell for 2 mana, which in return equals Lightning BoltMTG Card: Lightning Bolt-efficiency" - except in one card instead of two which is insane (granted there's some set-up cost). I am afraid of the beast that RG might be. I just hope WG command is powerful enough and aggressive enough that I don't have to scrap my go to standard abzan list.
"I really like people using Night of Souls' Betrayal rather than Curse of Death's Hold" - The decks that are running betrayal are running lingering souls (and sometimes other token generation like monastery mentor) which makes betrayal better. Also twin usually runs 2 pestermites and 4 deceive exarchs.
I am really excited for the new set (but my wallet isn't); I am going to try and jam Esper mid-range... something like this (rough draft of 60): 4x Soulfire Grand Master // 4x Monestary Mentor // 4x Ojutai Exemplars // 3x Narset Transcendant // 3x Ojutai's Command // 3x End Hostilities // 4x Treasure Cruise // 3x Thoughtseize // 3x Bile Blight // 3x Hero's Downfall // 1x Utter End // 25x land
March 6, 2015 10:08 a.m.
gnarlicide says... #7
If I were any of you guys, I would buy up all of the Stratus Dancers as you can. They are going to be insane in the next standard. And cheap at the moment.
March 6, 2015 10:27 a.m.
lemmingllama says... #8
Stratus Dancer is one of the ones I was excited about as soon as I saw it. I'm also gunning for Sunscorch Regent to be a thing, at least in EDH.
March 6, 2015 10:32 a.m.
gnarlicide says... #9
For real. Another card to speculate on is that white card that exiles multicolored creatures or enchantments. Cheap removal always gains value.
March 6, 2015 10:36 a.m.
Uh guys. I've been using Illness in the Ranks against Twin for a long, long time. It totally cuts off their combo.
March 6, 2015 10:49 a.m.
gnarlicide - By the way. It's not unusual UW/x control in modern to run Gideon, or Jace, or both. Narrates is pretty much better than either. Modern control decks do run slow 4 drops.
March 6, 2015 10:50 a.m.
It's interesting that no one can decide whether to use Dark Confidant or not haha.
March 6, 2015 11:02 a.m.
gnarlicide says... #13
Yeah they do run slow 4 drops. And maybe Narset is better than the ones already in use, but I don't personally believe that it will make as big of a splash as some are saying it will.
March 6, 2015 11:08 a.m.
Autocorrect is really irritating me. Narrates is Narset.
March 6, 2015 11:08 a.m.
VampireArmy says... #16
Lingering souls is a convincing reason to run curse.
Seems like no one is sure what to do about this meta haha
March 6, 2015 12:10 p.m.
gnarlicide says... #17
For real about this modern meta.
Now that the fetches would allow it, and some "new" cards are making waves recently, I am trying to build an Esper control/teachings deck. I think now modern is in the position for brewers and since there are many tier 1 decks out there with specific slots dedicated to other tier 1 hate, I think modern players both new and old can capitalize on the power gaps that the old (banned) decks left behind. I, for one, am pretty pumped. I just need to get some snapcasters and I will be all set.
March 6, 2015 12:30 p.m.
VampireArmy says... #19
Bell illness is horrible for the mirror. That's why people play curse.
Still brewin mardu myself and so far the meta hasn't been that bad
March 6, 2015 12:44 p.m.
It's a sideboard card. Why bring it in for the mirror?
March 6, 2015 12:52 p.m.
VampireArmy says... #21
Kills opposing souls apparently. They can wall your goyfs and tasigurs which gives them time for answers
March 6, 2015 1:12 p.m.
VampireArmy says... #23
It's all good. I'm not criticizing you. Just giving insight to the reasoning behind curse
March 6, 2015 1:17 p.m.
CanadianShinobi says... #24
I want Esper teachings to be a thing, but I'm skeptical it will be. Do you have a list for the winning deck from that Japan even gnarlicide?
March 6, 2015 5:41 p.m.
gnarlicide says... #25
I do, here is the link....
http://www.mtgtop8.com/event?e=9179&d=252730&f=MO
It's not teachings, but I feel like teachings would have been better. I also understand that the Japanese meta is wildly different than the rest of the world. But I feel like it could be a thing.
March 6, 2015 5:59 p.m.
CanadianShinobi says... #27
I like this deck. Why can't our meta game be that awesome where Esper exists? I now want to play this deck.
March 6, 2015 6:03 p.m.
gnarlicide says... #28
I do to. I am now bound to make that happen.
It may be a good thing to try. How much hate would THAT deck see at a tournament?
It's cool, I will wait.
And you would have access to meta hate for days! You and I should develop a list for teachings, homie.
March 6, 2015 6:07 p.m.
CanadianShinobi says... #29
gnarlicide I'll start brewing. I'll throw up a rough list and tag you in it. Maybe see if the other Modern players here have some insight into Esper.
March 6, 2015 6:16 p.m.
JexInfinite says... #30
A lot of cards which were good against Delver decks just so happen to be good against Twin. Sideboarding success.
March 6, 2015 7:05 p.m.
gnarlicide says... #31
Lol, good. At least the SB is built, now we can focus on the actual deck.
The fun part is that people will think it's gifts in the beginning. Lol.
Putrefy says... #2
Is this solely about Modern?
I think DTK so far offers some good options for UWR-control but also burn. Atarka's Command is hands down a better Skullcrack. Yeah damage can't be prevented yada yada. However you can dome for 3 and pump your creatures by 1. Which means if you have Goblin Guide and Monastery Swiftspear online suddenly the command is a 6-dmg spell for 2 mana, which in return equals Lightning Bolt-efficiency.
The impact of Narset Transcendent is yet to be seen. However she could do some heavy lifting for control, rebounding Removal/Cardraw/Lingering Souls seems insane. As many others have already stated she's basically only vulnerable to Maelstrom Pulse. Maybe B/G/x-decks have to shift to some Hero's Downfall in the sideboard to handle that b*tch or jund starts playing Dreadbore for that matter. You can't really kill her quickly with damage which is very important.
Outside of that I don't see other cards making a splash into modern quite yet. But there's only 47 cards spoiled so far...
March 6, 2015 9:26 a.m.