Budget Replacement for Cryptic Command in Scapeshift
Modern Deck Help forum
Posted on Feb. 3, 2016, 8:35 p.m. by magiceli
Pretty much exactly what the title says. Budget Scapeshift this is my deck. The counter mode on Cryptic Command is what I'm looking for the most. Obviously Cryptic is at the top of the charts but something along the lines of that would be great. Under 10 bucks please.
GlistenerAgent says... #5
It's not worth playing Scapeshift without the best card.
February 3, 2016 9:04 p.m.
yeah, I gotta agree with Agent on this one.. Scapeshift plays pretty poor without Cryptic Command..
February 3, 2016 9:14 p.m.
Cryptic helps the deck stall so hard. It really needs the time that Cryptic buys it, the card is integral. If you wanted to play Twin without cryptic, that would be kinda odd, but definitely doable. Ditto with Jeskai control or Grixis Delve. Scapeshift is a completely different animal. It literally needs the "tap entire team and draw a card" mode in order to win a good amount of its games.
February 3, 2016 9:33 p.m.
There was a 
Scapeshift list that top-8'd a GP a month or two back. You can find the list on this page. It's pretty different from the Temur build, but no Cryptic Commands, obviously.
February 3, 2016 9:36 p.m.
FAMOUSWATERMELON says... #10
Well, um... You could either play something like Evacuation or Contradict if you want the different effects, but nothing really comes close to Cryptic in terms of usefulness.
February 3, 2016 9:43 p.m. Edited.
Lame_Duck the difference between RUG scapeshift and RG scapeshift is the use of Primeval Titan. It turns it from a control deck to a midrange ramp deck with the exclusion of blue.
February 3, 2016 9:46 p.m.
To be frank, i've been loathing Cryptic in general in modern. It's always in my opening hand and I never get to play it when I want to. Probably my fault in most ways, but I just don't love the card. If there was just a plain "1UU: Counter Target Spell, Draw a card", i'd play that in a heart beat over cryptic.
February 3, 2016 9:46 p.m.
If you're trying to be budget why play a deck that runs 4 copies of a $50 card?...
February 3, 2016 10:39 p.m.
amazingdan says... #15
dooblydor It would be odd to play a deck without its namesake in it, not to say it hasn't been done(Podless Pod, Twinless Twin, etc.). However, there aren't a ton of Scapeshift-esque effects out there.
February 3, 2016 10:57 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #16
He's asking why you would choose this deck to play in the first place if you're on a budget.
February 3, 2016 11:03 p.m.
kyuuri117 There is. Dream Fracture. Sure, it lets your opponent draw a card, and that's a big drawback, but you can handle it.
February 4, 2016 5:10 a.m.
It might not exactly be budget but it's more budget than most scapeshift builds.
February 4, 2016 8:10 p.m.
What do you think of splashing white instead of black and playing Ojutai's Command?
February 4, 2016 8:10 p.m.
FAMOUSWATERMELON says... #20
I mean, that's already four colors, and you don't run that many weenies...
February 4, 2016 8:13 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #21
You do have Tribe-Elder.
I'd play a different deck. Jeskai Kiki is a fun deck that plays somewhat similarly.
February 4, 2016 8:16 p.m.
Other ideas i had are Counterflux and Into the Roil.
February 4, 2016 8:16 p.m.
It would honestly be better to invest into a different deck entirely instead of one that is expensive and doesn't have one of it's staples.
DrFunk27 says... #2
Cryptic is the lowest it's been in years...I would pick them up if you can manage too. There really is no replacement for it in Modern. The only cards that might work are Remand Negate Mana Leak etc.
February 3, 2016 8:45 p.m.