A slight variant on the Defender combo, using a singleton
Staff of Domination
in lieu of
High Alert
...or possibly alongside it?
In my current defender build(https://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/modern-better-be-on-high-alert/), I have opted to use
Chord of Calling
for my fair
Arcades, the Strategist
plan, in concert with a combo backup plan that uses
High Alert
and
Axebane Guardian
to achieve infinite mana, and then kill via typical
Devoted Druid
means, usually with
Walking Ballista
.
This iteration uses
Eladamri's Call
instead of
Chord of Calling
, which I hope provides several upgrades to previous builds: Firstly,
Axebane Guardian
may be cut, or reduced to a single copy, which is a nice upside as it is, in my experience, the worst defender in the deck; it is very vulnerable with 3 toughness, and as a 3 drop, quite clunky. Secondly, using the call to put cards in my hand rather that into play means that I have 2 advantages in assembling my combo: I can fetch
Walking Ballista
directly as desired, rather than being forced to go through the intermediary of
Duskwatch Recruiter
, and I can tutor for my
Staff of Domination
via tutoring for and then transmuting
Drift of Phantasms
. This also lets me have a fetchable
Ensnaring Bridge
via the same process. Thirdly,
Gaddock Teeg
is more friendly to call vs chord, opening up an exciting new sideboard slot. Fourthly, I am allowed to move off
High Alert
and onto
Assault Formation
, which is certainly not a strict upgrade, but allows me to a) have access to the pump effect and b) diversify my wincons. It may be worthwhile to still run 1 high alert, as it can be tutored by drift and has several situational advantages over formation.
If I was on
Assault Formation
, it restores the viability of the token backup plan that I have run in previous builds, using the likes
Elspeth, Sun's Champion
,
March of the Multitudes
, and
Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
. Certainly food for thought if I have the slots!
