Throne of the God-pharaoh in Affinity
Modern forum
Posted on July 17, 2017, 9:21 a.m. by InnerFlame
This past weekend wasn't the SCG Classic in Cincinnati, and being from Ohio, I took special interest in this event. Unfortunately, I was able to attend, but I made sure to check in on all the results. Two list struck my interest in the top 8; the first being a fellow Affinity play from my LGS and the second being Maddie Russel's affinity list. Particularly a certain card from her list--Throne of the God-Pharaoh.
Being away from Magic for the past year and a half I missed the release of this card so it's flown under my radar. My question is why has it flown under other radars and are we going to see more of it?
At first glance, the card seems good and hand made for affinity. First off, it's an artifact so it pumps plating, ravaged, and the master. The card that it seems to replace, Galvanic Blast, could do less damage. It makes cards such as 0/2 Ornithopter, signal pest, creatures tapped with Springleaf Drum, and Steel Overseer trappings relavvent to damage; all which makes me think it could possibly be a better grid have you, that statement is with a grain of salt as the damage doesn't hit creatures and Ensnaring Bridge can still be a problem. But this card is main board runnable, cost less, does not require colored mana, and does more damage as two artifacts must be tapped for grid. Even further, the meta is really shifting away from grid and there's other cards that handle the threats grid deals with and more. I get that it can be slow, and he deck was slow, but she had other cards that made her deck slow. It also takes away from key removal, but can be sided out game 2(having it in the main also frees up a sideboard spot). A top deck in mid game could be slow, especially compared to Glavanic Blast, but the possibility of its explosiveness I think are important to note.
I will definitely be playtesting it. What about you?
InnerFlame says... #3
Yeah I'm quickly finding that out, Bulldawg1310.
In my playtesting I'm finding out that it does actually have good mid and late game value when it comes down as you can drop it and have it deal 6 damage that turn. I also found another positive of it, that being that activating a Blinkmoth Nexus or Inkmoth Nexus on their own also deals damage through the throne.
July 17, 2017 3:02 p.m.
Bulldawg1310 says... #4
Ive had a hard on for the throne since it was printed. Problem is, im a no body. All it will take is a pro playin it and ittl catch on like wildfire.
July 17, 2017 3:06 p.m.
InnerFlame says... #5
Haha nice, Bulldawg1310. Now that it topped 8 I think it will catch a on a little bit more now as a 1 of in Affinity at the very least. It's a wide strategy, affinity taps creatures that aren't attacking, and it's an artifact to pump affinity cards.
I can't speak for other decks, though. I am trying to get it out with this thread too!
July 17, 2017 3:22 p.m.
I think it's a 2 mana do nothing too often to actually be good. Look at the 2 drops in affinity all of them are miles better than it.
January 9, 2018 7:33 a.m.
DarkMagician says... #7
GunBallad How often does Affinity not have tapped creatures? Seems it would rarely ever be a do nothing card.
Bulldawg1310 says... #2
I think it should be used in pretty much any go wide aggro build. I put it in my elves deck a while back and absolutely love it. Especially the work it does with the convoke mechanic.
July 17, 2017 11:13 a.m.