Abzan removal
Modern forum
Posted on Dec. 22, 2014, 1:36 a.m. by goinbowlin22
I have two slots open in my current Abzan Midrange build that will be abrupt decays when I find them, but I am wondering what is the best option to substitute for them mainboard in the current meta. I tried dismembers yesterday and literally sided them out every round. What's my best option? ( keep the price under that of abrupt decay)
I don't know why people aren't running them, but if you aren't doing anything else with your graveyard, Murderous Cut is fucking boss.
December 22, 2014 3:45 a.m.
Murderous cut is too slow. Geths verdict gives too many options to opponent.
Disfigure, smother, victim of night, doom blade are decent.
December 22, 2014 5:39 a.m.
MangoPunch says... #6
I don't understand Darkblast in modern, what does it hit? Maybe -2/-2 to a creature if you want to skip your draw step and cast it during your upkeep?
December 22, 2014 7:43 a.m.
APPLE01DOJ says... #8
Just use Smother you loose the ability to to hit non-creature artifacts and enchantments but u gain the ability to hit manlands like Inkmoth Nexus and Celestial Colonnade but for the most part it hits the exact same targets as Abrupt Decay
Maelstrom Pulse & Putrefy are things too even if a bit slower.
December 22, 2014 9:02 a.m.
@MangoPunch Darkblast is good because it hits unflipped Delver of Secrets Flip, Young Pyromancer and his tokens. Snapcaster Mage among other things. It also has recursion, because you can dredge it back to your hand whenever you need it.
December 22, 2014 9:57 a.m.
MangoPunch If it only hit unflipped Delver of Secrets Flip and Young Pyromancer you could probably call it a day considering how much UR Delver is in the format right now, but Snapcaster Mage, Vendilion Clique, Dark Confidant, all the mana dorks, most of the threats in affinity, Pestermite, Glistener Elf, etc are also targets you can hit. And many of these are from decks where you'd gladly like to "draw" a removal spell for a few turns.
December 22, 2014 10:04 a.m.
goinbowlin22 says... #11
Already playing 4 path to exile. Might do go for the throat, disfigure or smother. Should have those somewhere.
December 22, 2014 10:51 a.m.
goinbowlin22 - Path to Exile is really bad in the current meta. Every land you give an opponent is 3 damage to your face
December 22, 2014 12:59 p.m.
goinbowlin22 says... #14
I've been pondering moving path to sideboard. Other forms of removal do seem better. possibly slaughter pact and disfigure mainboard
December 22, 2014 2:07 p.m.
goinbowlin22 says... #15
I don't feel comfortable playing without path until I have liliana of the veil though or another good replacement.
December 22, 2014 2:08 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #16
Murderous Cut seems completely fine, and I actually wonder why people don't play more of it.
December 22, 2014 2:58 p.m.
GlistenerAgent The issue with Murderous Cut is that it's not really reliable. It's fine in Standard where you are basically guaranteed to have a nice tempo turn where you play something else and Murderous Cut, but for Modern you really want to be able to for example - stop T2 Birthing Pod by killing their mana dork, have a cheap removal spell up to fight over Splinter Twin without slowing you down too much and dying to their tempo, or killing a Young Pyromancer before it's gotten a tone of value already.
December 22, 2014 3:20 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #18
I certainly understand that logic. However, having more cards to reliably take down a Siege Rhino or 5/6+ Tarmogoyf is very important in my mind, as is the surprise factor similar to that of Slaughter Pact. As it's only a one-of, I think it's well worth the risk of having it stuck in your hand for the first 2-3 turns.
December 22, 2014 3:27 p.m.
APPLE01DOJ says... #19
Slaughter Pact has won me tons of games. It really is the "Oh Shit" Panic Button. That will save you in an emergency, most of the time also taking out the troublesome threat.
December 22, 2014 5:19 p.m.
Nothing wrong with Path in the current meta - it's still the most efficient removal spell in modern, and it's a great way to deal with Siege Rhinos, Tarmogoyf and the other pesky heavyweights.
December 23, 2014 10:55 a.m.
Path is a really poor option against decks that play few lands. Typically against delver and burn, for example, the tempo gain you give them by letting them have an extra land is absolutely huge. Essentially - the more the deck can do with a single land the worse path becomes. Given that both burn and delver can comfortably kill you when on two lands giving them extra is risky.
Slycne says... #2
If your mana base is good, Victim of Night is the least restrictive 2 mana kill spell. Otherwise you can pick your poison of Doom Blade, Smother, Go for the Throat, etc. Additional options are Darkblast or Disfigure depending on what kind of targets you're looking to kill.
December 22, 2014 2:07 a.m.