Titan Bloom as a first modern deck?
Modern forum
Posted on Dec. 15, 2014, 9:40 a.m. by asasinater13
I'm trying to get into modern, and I wanted to play something G/U, without interest in infect or buying into tarmagoyfs. Titan Bloom looks like it's a fun combo, affordable enough, and around my play-style.
for anyone unaware, titan bloom uses karoo lands like Simic Growth Chamber with Amulet of Vigor and Summer Bloom to cheat a Primeval Titan into play (preferably turn 2)
the deck runs backup support with pacts, Summoner's Pact and Pact of Negation specifically, and a Hive Mind or two as an alternate win through the pacts.
I was wondering how difficult the deck is to run in practice, and how important experience with the deck is to success with it. I know experience with a deck is always important, but some combos are easier to grasp than others, and if this deck is particularly difficult with more minute things going on than it seems I don't want to be discouraged by any initial awkwardness playing it.
Also, how viable the deck is in its ability to win, I'm just looking to play in a club at my college and possibly an LGS, is the deck going to be worth playing, or does it just lose every game?
JexInfinite says... #3
Amulet of Vigor combo is a really solid deck, so I wouldn't be afraid to buy into it. Make sure to not skimp out on important, but expensive cards.
December 15, 2014 9:48 a.m.
JexInfinite says... #4
As Boza has said, it's not as good as Scapeshift, but the combo is pretty strong, and definitely viable for FNM. I wouldn't take it to a GP, but that's not what you want to achieve.
December 15, 2014 9:49 a.m.
It's extremely complex for a first deck, and you have better options. I would try something else.
December 15, 2014 9:53 a.m.
I was wondering how difficult the deck is to run in practice, and how important experience with the deck is to success with it. I know experience with a deck is always important, but some combos are easier to grasp than others, and if this deck is particularly difficult with more minute things going on than it seems I don't want to be discouraged by any initial awkwardness playing it.
As with most combo deck it's all about seeing the lines of play and knowing what to play around and when, and that ultimately comes from getting lots of reps in with it. This can however lead to initial frustration - especially if new to modern - since you'll often see yourself losing to them having a single card.
Also, how viable the deck is in its ability to win, I'm just looking to play in a club at my college and possibly an LGS, is the deck going to be worth playing, or does it just lose every game?
Just over the weekend it Top 8ed a ~1800 person GP, so there's certainly play and resilience to the deck. The deck is also capable of a lot of "oops, I win" because most opponents won't know what their playing against or how to interact with it.
One additional thing to note, Bloom Titan has a lot of unique cards. Personally I think you'd be better off getting into Modern with a deck that let's you try a bunch of different things rather than getting locked into one list.
December 15, 2014 10:13 a.m.
"Personally I think you'd be better off getting into Modern with a deck that let's you try a bunch of different things rather than getting locked into one list."
That's a perfect point. Try starting with a Sultai midrange deck, that has many staples you can apply elsewhere later.
December 15, 2014 10:15 a.m.
asasinater13 says... #8
It's only first as into modern, I've played casual 60-card and commander since alara.
I understand scapeshift is just better, I'll enjoy playing this deck more though, so as long as this is viable enough for some FNMs I'm fine with knowing there's better deck types.
just glanced at eternal command and it seems both more expensive and less fun for how I like to play, I'll look at it before I buy any cards but I'm looking for something for FNMs that I'll enjoy, I don't need the best thing for the colors
To the people saying it's complex, is it a complicated strategy, or is it complicated in how it interacts with other decks/how to play around other things? I can accept and learn to use a deck that's complicated to run alone, but getting into a new format where I'm both at a complicated deck with very specific ways of playing against each deck in the meta would probably be too much to expect success with at the start of play.
December 15, 2014 10:16 a.m.
asasinater13 says... #9
Initial frustration is fine with me as long as I know I can build to playing around the difficult situations, I think that's fine with me.
missing staples was kind of intentional to keep the price lower, I don't really want to buy into goyfs and bobs, I'm fine with taking the weird combo pieces and turning them into a casual jank build if I decide to stop going to competitive with it.
Thank you for warning me about those things, I appreciate knowing what I'm getting into with this.
December 15, 2014 10:20 a.m.
asasinater13 says... #10
I'll definitely think about getting into a more staplee deck before buying anything, I won't be doing that until after christmas either way, so plenty of time to consider my options
December 15, 2014 10:21 a.m.
Stygian333 says... #11
I have a friend who plays the Amulet of Vigor / Primeval Titan deck and he says its a real pain to keep up with announcing all the triggers in a competitive setting. He is by no means a bad player, but there is lots of micromanagement you have to prefect and announce or rule sharks can screw you out of games by calling a judge and complaining about your triggers. (apparently a problem he has encountered for something like assuming that after he had explained the combo, that turns later when he untapped a enter-the-battlefield-tapped land his opponent called a judge etc...)
So if you're going to play it, you're going to want to learn it very very well. Both so you don't mess up, and so you can clearly guide opponents through your complicated rules interactions.
On another note, you could try my favorite way of casting Titans! I did a similar thing. Buy into a deck idea I like and will enjoy playing regardless. (also because its my one Modern deck) Either way, best of luck to you in building a modern deck.
Hawaiian Rollercoaster Playtest
Modern
SCORE: 4 | 5 COMMENTS | 1783 VIEWSDecember 15, 2014 10:41 a.m.
asasinater13 says... #12
I'm not super worried about rules sharks, the main place I want to play it is a school club that meets and plays pretty casually, though that's good to know if I end up going to any tournaments, thanks.
I think your deck looks fun but I like the more combo feel to Bloom Titan and the better abiilty to protect the titan with the pacts.
December 15, 2014 10:48 a.m.
It's not a very good deck. When it has the nut draw you win without being contested fairly often. When you don't have the nut draw you don't win.
December 15, 2014 11:07 a.m.
selesvyaloverer8 says... #14
@xlaleclxIt may seem that way but that is not the case. If you watch tobias hunt play it at PT Born of the Gods you will see him win often with the long grindy games that do not involve the t1 attack for 8
December 15, 2014 5:34 p.m.
It's behind only Pod, Twin, Scapeshift, and Jeskai Ascendancy in Combo decks, so it definitely isn't weak
December 15, 2014 7:04 p.m.
asasinater13 says... #16
selesvyaloverer8 are there videos of that I could find somewhere? It would be nice to see the deck run by someone who knows what they're doing with it, either a link or just telling me where I can find them
December 16, 2014 11:13 a.m.
selesvyaloverer8 says... #17
mattias hunt Titan Bloom the name of he video is a lie its mattias hunt not michael hetrick
December 16, 2014 3:55 p.m.
Not sure if I'm too late.Don't listen to people saying scapeshift is better they do completely different things for a start.One note don't think of it as cheating titan in to play like reanimator or through the breach, you are raising your mana not cheating him in to play you are casting him for his mana cost.This deck is great in the current meta if your play group is like the general meta, bolt and path are the main removal spells how ever you can use titans etb effect to find t west to transmute for pact and find another. This deck is very hard to play knowing how to sequence but also what to search and how to stack triggers in certain match ups.Knowing when to mulligan and how to do it effectively is very important as well as with all combo decks.Only issue with this is as states above the cards don't cross over ie titan Azusa vesuva etc.Give it a go and enjoy!
January 13, 2015 10:22 a.m.
forestlore44 says... #21
I'd suggest you take a look at RG Breach/Trap/Titan/Valakut. I also involves ramping mana and cheating a Primeval Titan into play. It's a very strong deck in the current meta and it's playstyle is more straightforward.
Boza says... #2
The deck is incredibly weak to everything that can sneeze at it and outclassed by far the vastly superior RUG Scapeshift. If you want something UG, go for scapeshift or UG non-goyf Eternal command.
December 15, 2014 9:47 a.m.