Modern Clerics

Modern Budget Combo Control Lifegain WB (Orzhov)

Oiler01

Creature (23)

• 3x Arashin Cleric
• 4x Archfiend's Vessel
• 4x Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim
• 4x Lone Missionary
• 4x Speaker of the Heavens
• 4x Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose

Land (22)

• 2x Caves of Koilos
• 4x Godless Shrine
• 4x Isolated Chapel
• 7x Plains
• 5x Swamp

Sorcery (8)

• 4x Return to the Ranks
• 4x Slaughter the Strong

Instant (3)

• 3x Rest for the Weary

Enchantment (4)

• 4x Phyrexian Arena

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Sideboard

Creature (7)

• 2x Ethersworn Canonist
• 2x Grand Abolisher
• 3x Kambal, Consul of Allocation

Instant (3)

• 3x Anguished Unmaking

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So I wanted to see if I could create a competitive Cleric deck in Modern. This was probably one of the harder jank decks I've made and Im pretty happy with the results. It can become lethal early but also has the staying power should the going get rough. It relies on a lot of lazy clerics sitting around gaining life.

Most of the work is done via Speaker of the Heavens, Vito Thorn of the Dusk Rose and Ayli. The rest of the support is in the form of life gaining clerics(and one monk!) that act as chump blockers. The chump blockers are at or under 2 CMC and since their usefullness is up after entering the board they just sit around after that. So we enlist their help to convoke dead clerics back onto the battlefield via Return to the Ranks (Note the Archfiend's Vessel is a nasty cleric when returning to the battlfield). With all this life gain Ayli, Vito and and the Speaker of Heavens start kicking into gear. There is a sneaky Rest for the Weary a turn 2 Angel pumping engine.

For creature kill the lazy clerics sit back and wait for the opposing side to beef up before Slaughter the Strong kneecaps them. You really have to be patient with this card. You typically have plenty of life and blockers so can afford to let the enemy invest in their creatures. Wait as long as possible before releasing this. Once life is sufficient enough Ayli can start exiling problem permanents.

Phryexian Arena pushes this deck over the finish line as the life gain starts to overwhelm.

Now I know this isnt a pure cleric deck due to the Lone Missionary but if you have to be a purist sub in soul sisters, nearheath pilgrim or inquisitor exarch.

Against control decks you can sub in Grand Abolisher, Ethersworn Canonist or Kambal (again if you're not a purist)

Date added	3 years
Last updated	3 years
Legality	This deck is Modern legal.
Rarity (main - side)	0 - 5 Mythic Rares 30 - 5 Rares 8 - 0 Uncommons 10 - 0 Commons
Cards	60
Avg. CMC	2.11
Tokens	Angel 4/4 W, Demon 5/5 B