Maindeck-able Hate for Certain Matchups

Modern Deck Help forum

Posted on Feb. 21, 2017, 1:10 p.m. by THE_WTF_Brewer

I'm having trouble with affinity when using my R/W hatebears deck. The matchup feels like it's 30-70 them, and I want to have a chance at winning, maybe make it 40-60. I'm looking for some maindeck-able hate I can slot in against them. Robots is a really bad matchup because they don't have fetchlands, so my Tunnel Ignus's , Leonin Arbiters, and Aven Mindcensor do nothing but be Grizzly Bears and Goblin Pikers. They are also really, really, really fast, so I stand no chance at trading creatures and winning with a Goblin Rabblemaster. How can I beat affinity? I have Stony Silence in my sideboard alongside Eidolon of Rhetoric, but what about game one and when I don't draw hate? What cards are good against affinity among other decks? I would prefer creatures, but non creature spells are great too because i'm desperate. Any Thoughts? I would also prefer for any suggestions to be under 10 tix on MTGO.

Here is the Decklist:



Servo_Token says... #2

If you're really desperate, Kataki, War's Wage is basically the best anti-affinity creature there is.

Otherwise, you just need to know what to remove and when and hope your draws line up well for game one. There aren't too many creatures that just shut down the deck and also have utility in other matchups. You could play like Linvala, Keeper of Silence or Phyrexian Revoker I suppose.

Torch Fiend / Manic Vandal if you're really really desperate.

February 21, 2017 1:35 p.m.

THE_WTF_Brewer says... #3

Thanks! Linvala, Keeper of Silence looks like a good option. I can also get it out on turn 3 with Simian Spirit Guide, so that's a bonus. My only worry is it dying to Galvanic Blast. Thx!

February 21, 2017 1:43 p.m.

Servo_Token says... #4

One thing to watch out for with linvala, they can still activate Cranial Plating and animate Inkmoth Nexus. It doesn't nearly do the job as some of the other creatures, but shutting down ravager does help.

February 21, 2017 3:25 p.m.

Murpy says... #5

You're just gonna lose to affinity if you're playing some random hatebear deck that is focused on punishing fetchlands. If you don't want to lose to affinity, don't play all those cards. If you want to play those cards, don't expect to win against affinity. Maindecking hate cards to affinity is a terrible idea, because not only can affinity win though a kataki, you're just increasing the amount of goblin pikers in your deck overall when you play that card. Modern is too diverse for you to have a good matchup vs everything, and to expect to be able to maindeck in a hatebear strategy dedicated to punishing something many decks do not play is ridiculous.

February 21, 2017 3:51 p.m.

rothgar13 says... #6

I would say the way to actually beat Affinity is to either play a deck that's naturally good against it, or to load your sideboard up with hate. Kataki, War's Wage is a good option for your sideboard, but so are selective sweepers like Electrickery.

February 21, 2017 4:14 p.m.

CharonSquared says... #7

Lightning Bolts and more Lightning Helixes seem like the obvious choices to me.

February 21, 2017 5:11 p.m.

Rothon says... #8

I concur with more bolts and helixes being good. Its efficient removal and extra reach as well. Past that, kataki is still a really good way to slow them down. Yes they can often play through it, but unless they have a blast available before their upkeep, they'll lose a lot of tempo at the least, which can take a close game and make it a wining one, and at the best you'll win straight off of that. Plus it affects which hands they could keep which can also be a winning proposition.

February 21, 2017 10:27 p.m.

enpc says... #9

With the deck having 21 lands and curving out at 3, I would like to also advocate for more Lightning Bolts / Lightning Helixes as opposed to Simian Spirit Guides.

February 21, 2017 11:38 p.m.

Dhominus says... #10

Hatebears is pointless if you use creatures that doesn't help you in most match-ups. Kataki main deck would be only acceptable if your meta has tons and tons of Affinity. Otherwise you'd better try something that isn't useless in every other match-up.

Linvala is good but too slow. On turn 3~4, Ravager and Overseer may have taken the game already. Even if they don't, she doesn't really shut them down so much. They can still use Etched Champion, Master of Etherium, Cranial Plating and such.

The best options in my oppinion are Phyrexian Revoker and removal. Revoker can be useful in a lot of match-ups. He shuts down walkers, a lot of artifacts, some lands... along with that, you could try some removals. Kataki is a very good tech for the sideboard, but isn't a good option on main deck unless your field is dominated with Affinity/Lantern.

February 22, 2017 8:27 a.m.

Yeah, I've started playing two maindeck Phyrexian Revokers and play some hate in my sideboard.

February 22, 2017 6:01 p.m.

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