Modern Noob. Help?
Modern forum
Posted on July 20, 2014, 2:09 a.m. by Scytec
So, I would really like to get into modern. I have been playing for a year or two now and I really like this game...I play exclusively standard currently and I am looking to break that habit. If at all possible, if you know any great articles explaining the state, rules, and how to get started in modern, I would love to see them. I would also love to see some tier one and tier two deck lists and staples if at all possible. Thank you!
aeonstoremyliver says... #3
Modern Meta for all modern playtesters Playtest
Modern*
SCORE: 72 | 25 COMMENTS | 5127 VIEWSQuite the comprehensive list there. Do take a look.
July 20, 2014 2:19 a.m.
Conqueror_of_Thrones says... #4
I can tell you from personal experience that solid black decks are the bane of my existence, expecially ones that revolve around controlling the amount of cards in your hand, so that may be an option. I typically play my burn deck (red deck wins or RDW) and I often do pretty well. A lot of people (at least some in my local shops) play Merfolk, and their synergy is great, so that may be an option as well
July 20, 2014 2:48 a.m.
Modern is a great format, I'm sure you'll love it. One thing I've found out about the modern format is that it's actually pretty diverse. It's a brewers dream come true if you will. Lots great cards from all colors and has a great mana base so you can pretty much make any color deck you want. That being said there is a very established metagame were things like Stony Silence and Sowing Salt are format staples because of the abundance of Affinity and Tron respectively. Learning the ins and outs of your deck is also very important when becoming a modern player. Most eternal formats rewards deck loyalty and modern is no different.
July 20, 2014 5:41 a.m.
aeonstoremyliver says... #6
I suppose format staples vary from deck to deck somewhat. Most decks that run white have Path to Exile , red Lightning Bolt , black Thoughtseize . Green and blue vary in staples due to archetypes.
As previously mentioned, sideboarding against top decks in the meta is a necessity. Local as well, of course. Obviously siding for your deck's poor matchups is key. Stuff like Torpor Orb hoses Twin and Pod. Spellskite works for Twin as well as Boggles/Hexproof Auras and Infect. Blood Moon , Tectonic Edge , and Sowing Salt for Tron. Ancient Grudge , Nature's Claim , Pyroclasm , Hurkyl's Recall , and Stony Silence for Affinity.
The format is quite diverse and varying. Tribal decks can be strong, boogeyman home brews can win a FNM, and top tier decks are definitley present on the local and national level.
Lastly, Modern has a significant price tag assosociated with it initially, with things like the fetch lands, Vendilion Clique , Snapcaster Mage , Cryptic Command , Eldrazi, Karn Liberated , Liliana of the Veil , Tarmogoyf , and Dark Confidant being the most expensive. Regardless of this though, Modern is a rewarding format that doesn't rotate.
@ChiefBell and others have a great understanding of the Modern meta and may have better insight than I.
July 20, 2014 7:25 a.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #7
Modern is literally the best format ever. You don't have to endure losing to consistent turn 1-3 combo decks, you don't have to suffer against myriad free counterspells and Wasteland s, and you don't have to suffer the limitations of a small card pool.
The most recent Modern metagame article I've read is LSV's piece here. It details the more prominent decks, which you should get to know really well so that you can play well against them and what cards they generally have access to.
I recommend that you test a variety of decks that seem appealing to you, of a variety of different gameplans (combo, control, etc.), and find a deck that suits your playstyle best. If you want to win frequently, make sure that deck is a tier 1 deck like those LSV talks about, and learn to play it as best you can through practice. Like was said above, deck familiarity is a key to success in Modern more than any other format, as its extremely diverse.
Building a competitive deck usually will be expensive, as Modern is hot right now and format staples like Cranial Plating , fetchlands, Dark Confidant and others are through the roof. However, once you commit to a deck you really don't ever have to put that much more in unless you change entirely.
I'd love to go into more detail about the metagame, but I can't at the moment. Maybe I should write an article about it...
July 20, 2014 8:09 a.m.
You can build good modern decks for under $200. Hell, you can build good modern decks for about $100 but you have to spend time learning the meta. Look at mtgtop8 - learn every top modern deck off by heart and then start testing.
July 20, 2014 11:55 a.m.
fluffybunnypants says... #9
Prettysure Mono Red burn is about $200 (you'll burn most of your cash on Blood Moon ). That'll get you pretty far. I'm a fan of Mono Red.
July 20, 2014 12:16 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #10
@fluffybunnypants I see what you did there.
I wouldn't memorize the first deck you see for anyy given archetype, because those are always going to be tweaked. Find a decklist that you think is representative of the archetype or one that a respected source provides.
July 20, 2014 12:43 p.m.
Yeh I mean look at 3 or 4 for each archetype and then learn the general ideas.
July 20, 2014 12:44 p.m.
For Wicked Akuba , can you spam his ability multiple times per turn just by paying more mana.
July 20, 2014 1:35 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #13
@Scytec That should probably have been posted in Q&A, but yes, you can.
July 20, 2014 1:37 p.m.
I didn't want to start a new thread for a simple question. Haha. Thanks
July 20, 2014 1:38 p.m.
aeonstoremyliver says... #15
@fluffybunnypants indeed sir! Your SN has always made me giggle...
I played Legacy RDW and had most of the cards already, only shelling out like $20-30 to make it Modern legal. The difference in the two formats is rather astounding and took some getting used to. Lots more Lifegain for one. All in all, I've found Red Deck Wins to be extremely fun, competitive, and rewarding. To play on what Chief said, it's all about the pilot.
July 20, 2014 1:48 p.m.
I'm almost certain black will be my color. It's my favorite in standard, and looking back, I'm seeing a lot of more powerful versions of my favorites. Haha. I took some time and made a modern deck I think may work...it is based around Geralf's Messenger . I think it will work...but it will definitely take work. But I really need sideboard work. I am definitely going to have to study the different tier one and two decks to figure out how to combat them.
July 20, 2014 2:28 p.m.
APPLE01DOJ says... #17
Zombiepox is a somewhat established deck that runs Geralf's Messenger .
In modern u need to run another color with black to make it competitive. I like green for Abrupt Decay and Maelstrom Pulse but other colors could work as well. Something that allows u to deal with artifacts and enchantments.
Zombiepox includes playsets of Lotleth Troll Gravecrawler and Bloodghast with Vengevine as your finisher. Smallpox is the utility and combined with Liliana of the Veil as the engine of your deck u could do some nice damage.
July 20, 2014 6:18 p.m.
aeonstoremyliver says... #18
That sounds very close to a Dredgevine deck... I may have to scope that list.
July 20, 2014 6:36 p.m.
APPLE01DOJ says... #19
It is essentially a Dredgevine deck without the red. Smallpox and Lilly is your main discard engine rather than Golgari Thug Stinkweed Imp and Faithless looting.
July 20, 2014 6:56 p.m.
I used him in conjunction with things like Retraction Helix . I like it. It is interesting. :)
July 20, 2014 7:07 p.m.
I'll post the list on my profile tonight. But I won't link it here because that isn't what this is for. Haha. I'll say when it's up though. If y'all could take a look at it I would really appreciate it.
July 20, 2014 7:08 p.m.
APPLE01DOJ says... #22
Mono Black SB: Ratchet Bomb /Engineered Explosives Oblivion Stone Damnation Fulminator Mage Torpor Orb Spellskite Grafdigger's Cage Sword of Light and Shadow Sword of ETC. Infest /Drown in Sorrow Batterskull Lashwrithe Shadow of Doubt
This is where a color splash helps u out tremendously.
Creeping Corrosion Choke Gaea's Cradle Obstinate Baloth Thrun, the Last Troll
U could splash red for Shatterstorm Blood Moon Boil Flashfires
Or white for Stony Silence Erase Story Circle Karma Kataki, War's Wage Angel of Jubilation Leyline of Sanctity Patrician's Scorn Rest in Peace Ethersworn Canonist
Unfair usually isn't splashed all that often.
July 20, 2014 8:08 p.m.
APPLE01DOJ says... #23
oh yea Witchbane Orb can be useful for mono black but usually comes out a little late. Chalice of the Void kicks though!
July 20, 2014 8:11 p.m.
Wow...that actually helps a lot! The only thing I had in my sideboard was Hex Parasite for planeswalker hate.
July 20, 2014 8:11 p.m.
aeonstoremyliver says... #25
Pithing Needle is great Walker hate and shuts down other stuff as well.
July 20, 2014 8:13 p.m.
APPLE01DOJ says... #26
Theres not that many planeswalkers in modern. I wouldn't waste the space. Besides if u splash green Abrupt Decay and Maelstrom Pulse hit planeswalkers so u'll have some MB answers and not need to waste the space.
In modern the big decks are Twin/Pod/Affinity followed by Tron/Rock/Control. so tech your deck against those until u know what ur local meta is like.
July 20, 2014 8:15 p.m.
APPLE01DOJ says... #27
....and if u keep it mono black it doesn't hurt to pack some Bojuka Bog Ghost Quarter or Tectonic Edge MB. ...Tech edge doesn't really help with tron like people think because tron can go off T3 without a 4th land.
July 20, 2014 8:16 p.m.
VampireArmy says... #29
The best advice i can give you is something i was passed myself. "Play what you know. Play what you love" if you're an aggro guy, play aggro. If control is your thing pkay it. Midrange/tempo? Play it. Knowing your playstyle goes a long way and playing a deck that is satisfying to you is more important for the most part when it comes to taking wins. Good luck!
aeonstoremyliver says... #2
The best Tier one Modern decks are Affinity, Melira Pod, and Splinter Twin. Storm, Red Deck Wins, G/R Tron, Mono U Tron, American Control, Living End, G/B/x (Rock, Junk, and Jund) are also very good.
You can find some lists on a site called MTGTop 8, I think it's called. SCG also has decklists from their events.
July 20, 2014 2:16 a.m.