B/W token ideas
Modern Deck Help forum
Posted on Jan. 10, 2016, 10:04 a.m. by ninjaclevs13
So I've been brewing with b/w tokens, and I was thinking about splashing blue for Polymorph, as a 1-2 of, into Emrakul, the Aeons Torn. It wouldn't be a difficult thing for me to do, and it is a 15/15 for 4 mana. Let me know what you guys think. Or maybe splash green for Gavony TownshipHere is my current decklist:
I think tokens is better without creatures that are easy to remove anyway, so it wouldnt be a huge loss to get rid of Hero of Bladehold
January 10, 2016 10:12 a.m.
The problem with Polymorph is that its fragile. A single Lightning Bolt, Path to Exile, Forked Bolt, Electrolyze, Go for the Throat, Abrupt Decay etc. etc. will stop your combo (they remove the target and Polymorph fizzles).
The only way to prevent this, as far as i know, is to use Simic Keyrune because its a "non-creature creature" with hexproof. It makes the combo slower, but more reliable. Actually, because the keyrune taps for mana, and doesn't need to be untapped to Polymorph, you will only need one additional mana to combo. And you can use it to tap for green, so the splash is easier. And the green could be used towards Gavony Township..
And while we are talking slower but more reliable ways to combo, how about Proteus Staff? Its more mana investment, 6 in total, but its repeatable in case they remove your target.
Now, do you need Polymorph to win? Or is more tokens/anthems just a better strategy?
January 10, 2016 10:14 a.m.
ninjaclevs13 says... #5
That's the real question, tokens seems like too fair of a deck, but the Polymorph combo will add something new. I might make a new build with the Proteus Staff and see how it does.
January 10, 2016 10:18 a.m.
ninjaclevs13 says... #6
Also, how do you guys think my original build is?
January 10, 2016 10:19 a.m.
Honestly, i've experimented with this, and splashing for polymorph isn't worth it. Tokens excels in making spot removal worthless, so all your opponents Terminate Lightning Bolt and such are just sitting in the hand being useless all game because you don't really want to use spells like that on a token. But if you add a polymorph, then all of a sudden, boom that lightning bolt thats been in there hand since turn 1 suddenly becomes useful, and you've just been two for oned. Also adding polymorph makes the manabase more painful, which makes our worse matchups even worse game 1. Also, unlike a dedicated polymorph deck, we have no way of discarding emrakul in case we ever draw her.
But....if you have 3 colors...Painful Truths might be very useful.
Gavony Township is an interesting idea, and you could also go for Voice of Resurgence which some decks have a hard time dealing with, and its something that doesn't really care about spot removal. There are other green cards that would be interesting in an abzan tokens build.
January 10, 2016 11:10 a.m.
Simic Keyrune solves the removal problem. Emrakul for 5 mana is pretty nice. But also adding the keyrune does take up more spots, and weakens your token strategy, so maybe its better for a dedicated polymorph deck in a control shell with 4x Dispel as a backup against removal.
Something like:
4x Polymorph
4x Proteus Staff
4x Simic Keyrune
4x Dispel
2x Vines of Vastwood
4x Awakening Zone
2x Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
3x See Beyond
4x Mana Leak
4x Serum Visions
4x Mutavault
20 other lands (maybe 2-4 Blinkmoth Nexus for additional targets)
January 10, 2016 11:22 a.m.
whats the new green/blue creature land? It has hexproof right? That would be a decent target.
January 10, 2016 11:50 a.m.
It cost 4 to activate, so you need 8 mana to polymorph it.. Maybe as a 1 of for late game polymorphing
January 10, 2016 12:31 p.m.
And it would serve as an extra threat in case they have Containment Priest type effects.
January 10, 2016 12:35 p.m.
IMO White is already so strong for token builds, most other includes are preference. I like all the flying you've put in, it adds a nice surprise.
I favor a soldier themed token build with some surprise flyers for my own play group. It floods like nobody's business and pumps up pretty decently too. I'm sure you've considered most of the cards but a couple might work well with Hero.
January 10, 2016 12:36 p.m.
ninjaclevs13 says... #13
I'm seriously considering splashing green, but only for Gavony Township and Voice of Resurgence, both as a 1-of. Thoughts?
And thank you GearNoir, ojmandias, smackjack, and ChiefBell for your help.
ninjaclevs13 says... #2
If I do add Polymorph I will have to take out Hero of Bladehold
January 10, 2016 10:10 a.m.