How to protect skaab ruinator?

Modern Deck Help forum

Posted on Sept. 22, 2016, 4:35 p.m. by Xica

I have been toying around with the idea of building a self mill deck centered around Skaab Ruinator for quiet some time.
And with the addition of some nice new toys, like Glint-Nest Crane, Eternal Scourge & Contingency Plan, it seems more and more playable in modern.

But i still have a (probably well justified) fear of Snapcaster Mage + Path to Exile .
So i am seeking some advice on how to prevent the skaab from being nuked into oblivion, my two tips were Lightning Greaves, and Momentary Blink.
I am not sure if i am able to find the former reliably enough, and i am really unsure if splashing white for Momentary Blink is worth the effort.

The deck in question: No rest for da wicked!

WizardOfTheNorthernCoast says... #2

First off, you need Thought Scour. Blue, one mana, mills 2 and replaces itself. So good with Snapcaster Mage for reusing spells and makes Skaab Ruinator more likely to get in T3 :)

Then, IF YOU HAD TO SPLASH, I'd say :

• Black : you get Thoughtseize and co., Bloodghast, Gravecrawler (cuz Ruinator happens to be a zombie), Prized Amalgam (also a zombie), etc.
• Green : you get Vengevine mostly, Mulch, utility SB cards like Nature's Claim or Feed the Clan (easy 10 life with Ruinator and Vines, wrecks Burn, Affinity and Zoo and basically any aggro deck)

September 22, 2016 6 p.m.

GlistenerAgent says... #3

Dispel, Stubborn Denial are solid.

September 22, 2016 7:12 p.m.

kmavroulis says... #4

Faith's Shield, also has a nice Fateful hour ability

September 22, 2016 10:10 p.m.

mathimus55 says... #5

Agree with the suggestions of Dispel and Stubborn Denial. If you have your Skaab Ruinator out Stubborn Denial is one of the best spells you can have on hand.

September 23, 2016 12:19 a.m.

shadow63 says... #6

Mizzium Skin could be helpful

September 23, 2016 2:25 a.m.

Xica says... #7

Thought Scour - it mills 2 and draws one. Problem is that i would be nearly as good off with milling 3. And such spell exists, and it has flashback.
And in a self mill deck flashback worth more than cantripping.
I can't draw with it once its in the grave.

Problem with counterspells is twofold:
1 - they are not permanents, thus can only protect the creature one time.
2 - they don't have flashback, and i don't have many ways to find them, so they are probably in the grave doing nothing.

Bloodghast, Gravecrawler, Prized Amalgam, Vengevine are all awesome cards.
Problem is that they are not much use when exiled by Skaab Ruinator - while they don't help in milling in any way shape or from , so make the said beater more accessible.

September 23, 2016 2:12 p.m.