12.12.2022
It’s funny because these changes occurred to attempt to support Kodama of the West Tree. Through my adjustments, I ended up cutting Kodama. Why? For the exact reasons I stated before when Kawigama:Neon Dynasty release and I clearly forgot. Thank God for keeping a log. Don’t get it twisted; Kodama is very good. However, the deck already does the things that Kodama offers. It was true before and it is even more true now. Though sometimes it does seem like it, this deck has plenty of forms of ramp. As well, Kodama gets outclassed hard by Meria, Scholar of Antiquity. The additional provide plenty of mana and card draw when Meria gets played. Through playtesting, I always played Meria over Kodama, in general. As for Kodama’s trample, it isn’t needed. All of my creatures don’t need trample. The heavy hitters, like Triplicate Titan, Cityscape Leveler, and all golem with Maul Splicer on the battlefield already have trample. As for any other creature, like Hangarback Walker, that have a tendency to get huge can just use Shadowspear. Kodama just isn’t needed. As for Golem Foundry, there are better golems now so Foundry isn’t needed. Power Depot is in over Hall of Tagsin because the modular is more valuable to me.
11.29.2022 - More Brother’s War Updates
Branching Evolution and Hardened Scales will continuously hold the same spot, depending on counter distribution. Without Verdurous Gearhulk, most of the +1/+1 counters are being generated one at a time. With this in mind, I would rather have a counter doubler at than to get started earlier. Blaster, Combat DJ
is in because I learned how to read and saw the shattered art version. Blaster makes all of the artifact creatures into Arcbound Worker and can provide double modular triggers for those that already have the ability. Haywire Mite because it does everything that Nature's Claim did for . However, it is stapled to a body that is recurrable and it exiles. As well, the noncreature cause doesn’t matter because that’s all I was target with Claim anyways. Scrapyard Recombiner is another modular creature and grabs most of the powerhouse cards, like Walking Ballista are constructs. Sun Titan, though it is , is the recursion that I’ve been actually wanting.
11.13.22: The Brother’s War Update
Yotian Dissident isn’t an artifact, but it plays the same role as Patchwork Automaton; generate +1/+1 counters. As a matter of fact, Yotian does it much better because it is an enter the battlefield trigger, not a cast trigger. Patchwork Automaton shines in a 1 vs 1 format where it is more profitable to play spot removal over boardwipes. Though the ward 2 is nice, I rather have the overwhelming amount of +1/+1 counters Yotian Dissident provides. Ideally, Treasure Vault is an infinite mana outlet to make infinite treasures. Since I’ve added Treasure Vault, this has happened once. It isn’t that Treasure Vault is bad. It's just replaceable. Now, this deck has Hall of Tagsin, a powerstone producer and outlet . Rootwire Amalgam seems perfect for Ich-T. First, it's a golem that makes a golem for , so it synergizes with a major element of the deck. Second, the size of the golem token depends on Rootwire Amalgam’s power. With all of the +1/+1 counters being created, both Rootwire and the golem token will be huge. Cradle Clearcutter is a golem Marwyn, the Nurturer that scales with its power. Teshar, Ancestor's Apostle was best used to reanimate Dockside Extornist. However, the sacrifice piece was removed so it just became a secondary recursion piece. That’s fine, but cuttable. Cityscape Leveler is Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger at home and Stonecoil Serpent is the weakest of the scalable +1/+1 counter creatures. I still think that Minsc & Boo, Timeless Heroes is one the the strongest planeswalkers available. However, there just wasn’t enough reason to keep it over the newer cards, especially with artifacts sets being released. Slagstone Refinery seems like a free reward for cracking and recycling artifacts. With the release of more golems, Metallic Mimic felt cuttable. As well, Yotian Dissident just does it better.
8.30.2022: Dominaria United Update
There is only one new addition from this set and it is Merla, Scholar of Antiquity. I think this card is very good, especially Uzra, Lord High Artificer in . I’m brewing Merla Tron at this point, with more cards from the modern prototype. Everyone, I just can’t quit Verdurous Gearhulk. Though Halana and Alena, Partners is great for +1/+1 counter strategies, Verdurous Gearkhulk fills the same role and is more abusable. Mindless Automaton is in over Greater Good. With modular and the multiple ways to shuffle around +1/+1 counters, Mindless Automaton has a greater draw potential than Greater Good. As well, Automaton can drop cards in the graveyard in a more controlled fashion than Greater Good and is an artifact.
6.6.2022
I am trying to wait for the news sets to come out, but Minsc & Boo, Timeless Heroes is too silly not to add immediately. Bootleggers' Stash is significantly better in the Jinnie Fae list so out it goes.
6.6.2022
Beast Within is in place over Dromoka's Command. Besides the +1/+1 counter mode, Beast Within does everything that Dromoka's Command does for instead of . Normally, I prefer lower mana cost but Beast Within is a catch all removal piece. Branching Evolution is in the deck over Hardened Scales because this is EDH and I’m greedy. If I feel like Branching Evolution is too slow, I’ll put Hardened Scales back in. It is the same slot and they play the same role. Stonecoil Serpent replaced Chromatic Sphere because I wanted another cheap artifact creature that used +1/+1 counters. Chromatic Star is better than Chromatic Sphere, anyways. The Great Henge replaces Ancient Stirrings. Eventhough Stirrings is , The Great Henge acts as a mana rock, puts +1/+1 counter for non-token creatures that enter the battlefield, and draws a card. It is the repeatability of Great Henge that is the selling point. I have enough ways to go infinite so I’m cutting the Basalt Monolith and Staff of Domination. Instead, I’m adding Halana and Alena, Partners and Crystalline Crawler.
4.18.2022 - Streets of New Capenna Update. We Caberetti Tron Now?
Jetmir's Garden is a tapped land that I don’t mind playing. Due to its typing, it is the perfect fetchable land on turns where I don’t need the mana right away. I’m testing Ornithopter of Paradise over Fellwar Stone. It is slower, but it can become a flying threat over time. This deck actually doesn’t need Sunbaked Canyon or Horizon Canopy. Though it draws a card, it is more hurtful than helpful. This slot can be filled with any land, but I’m choosing to put a Plains in. This is to accommodate for Bootleggers' Stash and cycling Solemn Simulacrum. Speaking of Bootleggers' Stash, Cryptolith Rite is moved out for this busted artifact. Cryptolith Rite is still really good. However, Bootlegger’s Stash is easier to tutor, is cheatable, and produces treasures tokens, which ramps and synergizes with all the artifact shenanigans. Greater Good and Golem Foundry are in because I think it molds with the deck better. Like Patchwork Automaton, Golem Foundry gets counters everytime an artifact is cast. As well, Golem Foundry works well with profilierate. Now with thicker tokens, Greater Good seems like the better draw engine and newly added sacrifice piece. Though i did enjoy making plenty of myr token, at no point do I want to sacrifice 1/1 tokens to Greater Good. Yes, they will most likely have counters on them, but I evaluate based on the baseline. Even so, I would rather have big 3/3s over big 1/1s. As well, I prefer the draw effect of Greater Good over Quicksmith Genius’s rummaging effects.
3.29.2022
The list is tight, but I'm always looking for adjustments. Shout out to Profet93 for spurring these changes because I planned on waiting for the new set to drop, but here we are! I’m willing to test more removal and this update will reflect that. The easiest swap was Swiftfoot Boots from Lightning Greaves due to targeting problems. Second, Nature's Claim is in the deck over Rip Apart because Nature’s Claim is just a good card. Rip Apart is good, due to flexibility, but it isn’t great. Swiftfoot Boots comes back in over Lightning Greaves due to targeting issues. Look, Patchwork Automaton is a busted card. At first, I was very excited for Lizard Blades once I saw it. It has everything this deck would want. However, there is a reason why Modern Hardened Scales and other artifact decks are playing. Automaton grows with artifacts played, but really the selling point is the ward 2. This makes Automaton a sticky threat. Automaton plays into the game plan better than Lizard Blades. Finally, I add Dromoka's Command over Parallel Lives. I can only have so many support enchantments that do nothing immediately once played. Hardened Scales, Parallel Lives, amd Double Season are quite strong, but I don’t think I need all three. Hardened Scales is only and Doubling Season enhances both tokens and counters for one more mana. Meanwhile, DCommand is an interactive piece that can either pump, fight, or remove an enchantment. Through playtesting, I’ve found that I’m not filling the graveyard as quickly as previous iterations. I wasn’t breaking open Goblin Welder and Scrap Trawler as much as I liked. Thus, Quicksmith Genius is in over Soul-Guide Lantern. Lantern is great, but is more of a meta call.
3.16.2022
There is a reason why the Modern Hardened Scales deck is named after Hardened Scales. This card adds explosiveness to the deck for only . It didn’t feel the best, but I cut Daretti, Scrap Savant. Goblin Engineer essentially covers everything that I would want from Daretti. The ultimate is nince, but unlikely. I really want to find room for Patchwork Automaton. Patchwork Automaton is a card I’ve been going back and forth with. However, Patchwork is really strong in this archetype. I do think it works better in Modern Hardened Scales because you can have multiple copies. It is still strong in EDH for similar reasons for why it is strong in Modern. First, it grows when you play an artifact and it has ward . Basically, Patchwork will only die via combat damage or boardwipe. It is doubtful that someone is going to pay extra for a Swords to Plowshare.
2.19.2022
I always take a hard look at my deck lists when a new set comes out. I’ve spent some much time looking for an aggressive drop that works with an artifact deck. I was complating between Patchwork Automaton and Nettlecyst until I realized that my commander Akiri, Line-Slinger is the card that I needed. How disrespectful! I wanted to show Akiri some love, like I did with Ick-Tekik, and added Shadowspear to the deck. Because of how aggressive this deck is, I want more ways to push damage through blockers, especially with Akiri. Because Shadow is only , it is easy to tutor with Urza's Saga or Fiddlebender. It kinda hurts to remove Hour of Promise, because it is one of the ways to cheat Tron into play. However, I find looping Expedition Map is more consistent. Throne of Geth is another aggressive piece to this artifact aggro deck. Throne of Geth can sacrifice an artifact to pump all the creatures with +1/+1 counters and the planeswalkers. Throne is great because it can sacrifice itself. Because of that, Throne is a powerful target for cards like Goblin Welder to get more activations. There is a reason why most Hardened Scales Modern Decks play this card. I’m not sure about this, but I think that Ingenious Smith is the cut. I think this card is great, but it seems to be the weakest in my slot. It is the least likely target for Teshar loops, I’m not using my Feldar activation for it, and Ichor Wellspring is the best/most target draw card in this slot. I might add Smith back in, but the aggression of Throne is too good to pass up.
2.12.2022
My word! Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty was certainly a pleasant surprise. I expected Ninjustu, Samurai, and spirits in this set. However, I did not think that this set was going to be so artifact heavy, let alone create a defining playstyle of “Modify.” Speaking of “Modify”, most of these new cards work perfectly with this deck because of the +1/+1 counter theme. Because of the card quality of this set, I’m going to list some of the standout cards at first glance below.
Ao, the Dawn Sky: I like everything that Ao is doing. Ao is a 5/4 with vigilance on a flying body. When Ao dies, it can either replace itself with worth of nonland permanents or pump the team. However, Ao has the similar problem that I had with Goldspan Dragon. This deck doesn’t support creatures that aren’t the following:
Enter the Battlefield Trigger
In order for Ao to be used at its fullest, it needs to be sacrificed. My deck can’t do that. The only way I can truly use Ao is by getting it into the graveyard and reanimating it with Feldon then sacrificing the token. This is too many hoops to jump through. Sad story because I think Ao is great for aggressive decks as a mid to top end card.
Kodama of the West Tree: This is a great support card for any modified deck, or in this case, +1/+1 counter deck. During the early game, Kodama functions as a ramp piece, putting a basic land into play tapped when a modified creature does combat damage to a player. At this point, the deck only has five basic lands, but this may be enough to justify this addition. If not, I’ll adjust the deck and add two or three more basic lands. However, ramping a maximum of five lands is still very strong. During the late game, Kodama provides trample to all modified creatures. Trample is a great keyword for pushing through damage in an aggressive build, especially when Ich-Tekik gets swole. As of this for , making Kodama an early play and recurrable by Tehsar.
However, the question remains; do I want the ramp? I find that Cryptolith Rite and Krark-Clan Ironworks are great for fixing mana. Do I want the trample? Honestly, I don't know because of Maul Splicer. Maul Splicer makes 6 power worth of artifact creatures and gives trample to all of my golems. I find that most of my threats are golems so Maul Splicer is a great utility piece for them. So, do I need another trample enabler? This list is tight as it is already. Do I really need this card?. For me, the answer is maybe at this point.
Cloudsteel Kirin: I think I’m like one of three people that look at this card and is excited for everything else except the Platinum Angel effect. Yes, the effect is cool. However, equip cost is too much and is an easy way to get blown out. On the other hand, Cloudsteel Kirin is a 3/2 evasive body and is an artifact.
Iron Apprentice: As I reviewed the deck during Kawigama’s spoiler season, I realized that I might want another cheap modular creature. Then, I came across Iron Apprentice. This card is similar to Arcbound Worker but I think this card appealed to me more because it can transfer counters to any creature, not just artifact creatures. This way, I can pump up Akiri and double pump Ich-Tekik on the fly. Also, I prefer the art on Iron Apprentice. Arcbound Worker works better with Zabaz, the Glimmerwasp though. For me, these two cards are interchangeable.
Experimental Synthesizer: Over the years, has been getting this aggressive form of card advantage that has to be used immediately. This bauble is no different. I enjoy that it triggers when it enters and leaves the battlefield. The samurai token is ok, but I would probably never crack this with its ability.
Lion Sash: Lion Sash is artifact Scavenging Ooze. As well, it can reconfigure onto a creature a give +1/+1 equal to the amount of counters on Lion Sash. All this is great, but Soul-Guide Lantern is prefer as it hits all opponents graveyards at once.
Invigorating Hot Spring: Modified creatures gain haste and this card grants a +1/+1 counter each turn.
Rabbit Battery: I think this card is great. It is an early artifact creature then, as the game goes on, it becomes a haste enabler for . However, I think Lightning Greaves is better because of the increased protection of shroud.
Patchwork Automaton: This is a construct with Ward that gains a +1/+1 counter everytime you cast an artifact. This could be a solid addition to the deck.
Towashi Guide-Bot: Once again, this is a construct with an ETB trigger that places a +1/+1 counter on a creature. That’s nice, but we are here for the second ability. TGuide-Bot can be tapped for to draw a card. However, this ability becomes cheaper with every modified creature you control. Basically, this will be tap to draw a card for free within this deck.
Circuit Mender: Just a better Filigree Familiar because of the additional toughness and the “leave the battlefield” effect.
However, the following cards will be added to the deck immediately:
Lizard Blades: For symbolr, Lizard Blades is a 1/1 artifact creature with double strike. Most decks don’t want a Fencing Ace, especially in EDH. However, Lizard Blades can become a massive threat with the many ways of distributing +1/+1 counters. LB is an artifact which makes it easy to tutor and recur. Finally, LB can reconfigure onto another creature bestowing double strike for a low cost. This aggressive card was an immediate addition to this deck.
Boseiju, Who Endures: This is an uncounterable artifact, enchantment, and nonbasic land removal for ….on a land. Boseiju, at its worst, is a fancy forest. This is a new staple for EDH.
Now, what was cut? Eldrazi Displacer is a great combo piece. It may have more applications for other players, but I only used Displacer if I was comboing. Yes, Displacer can flicker Blade Splicer for more golems, Goblin Engineer can tutor again, and etc. However, Feldon of the Third Path basically does the same thing and I am way more likely to search and/or have Feldon on the battlefield. Also, the Oswald Chain is my preferred method to go infinite anyways and there is no need for multiple infinite combos. Next Nature's Claim is out for Boseiju, Who Endures. I was deciding between this and Rip Apart for what was cut. I decided to keep Rip Apart because it functions as creature removal as well. Gavony Township is selected over the extra Forest because a utility land that puts +1/+1 counters on all of my creatures sounds great. There are plenty of times where I have extra mana and this is a great mana sink.
11.19.2021
With this deck, I am constantly trying to balance between going wide and going tall. At this point, I am favoring going tall while having the go wide as a supplemental game plan. I also decided to move away from Academy Manufactor. I think that Jund supports treasure much better than Naya. Though the stax element of Karn is good, I rather just knock out my opponents rather than stall.
10.30.2021
Inkmoth Nexus is in because it is a fetchable artifact flier with infect. Blast Zone underperformed most of the time.
10.6.2021
I’ve wanted to add Ingenious Smith since it was spoiled in the Dungeons and Dragons set. It has a ETB card draw and grows when artifacts enter the battlefield, all for . Elemental Bond does work for this deck, with a guarantee draw off of golem tokens. However, I’ve noticed my creatures enter small then grow, thus missing the trigger from Elemental Bond. Ok, let’s talk about Goldspan Dragon. I’m not cutting Goldspan because it is bad. On the contrary, it is a great card, thus why it is $40 to $50 currently. Goldspan is a that refunds two mana after it attacks. I look at Goldspan as a symbol5 ramp card. It is also a good option to reanimate with Feldon of the Third Path. However besides Hour of Promise, I’ve come to the conclusion that I don’t want an expensive ramp spell. Honestly, Hour of Promise only has a spot because I have a pretty good land package. On the other hand, I’ve been mentally reviewing the games I’ve played with his shell in all of it’s variations. There are two cards that completely busted open this Naya shell: Cryptolith Rite and Xenagos, the Reveler. Because the deck is going wide (again), Cryptolith Rite seems like a must for an early ramp plan.. Speaking on expensive ramp that doesn’t get Tron Lands, Ugin, the Ineffable. The cost reduction and removal is nice, but is rough. Instead of cost reduction, I want The Ozolith because it is wild in this shell. Osgir, the Reconstructor has been on and off the cutting board for the last month or so. Here’s the thing in my mind. If Osgir isn’t the commander, he is essential like a Panharmonicon. Panharmonicon is great sometimes, but is a win more card with less investment than Osgir. Osgir can be crazy, but I find myself wanting more consistency for the +1/+1 game plan. Arcbound Ravager does this much better. It is a free sacrifice outlet for , an artifact creature, and easy to tutor.
9.18.2021
Search for Glory is slow and became worse as I removed legendary cards. Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider needs to be the commander and not in the 99. Ornithopter of Paradise is outclassed by Hangarback in the slot.
8.27.2021
I think the more I play/theorycraft the deck, the more I want to lean into using Ick-Tekik, Salvage Splicer. I’ve come to the conclusion that Ick-T wants an affinity/counters type of deck. Thus, I added more artifact creatures and +1/+1 synergizes to really make use of Ich-T. It feels odd to cut, but my creatures are too thick for Skullclamp. Terrarion is the weakest of the baubles. Ugh, Bloodforged Battle-Axe and Akiri is a good synergy. However, this deck isn’t focused on maximizing Akiri. Akiri is an early game blocker and sometimes pressures life totals. Though, BFBA makes artifact tokens, there are better things I can be doing. Coveted Jewel is better with Osgir as the commander or even Oswald with their sacrifice ability. Without it readily available, Jewel is too risky. Grinding Station, though good, isn’t functioning in the way I like. Elemental Bond is a reliable card draw in exchange for another way to fill up the graveyard.. Ornithopter of Paradise fits better with the new +1/+1 theme. I’m not sure if Nissa, Who Shakes the World is the best cut, but I want Bronze Guardian as pseudo-protection for artifacts and a golem beater.
8.6.2021
The dual artifact lands, though useful and abusable, are too slow. Why do they have to come in tapped? Thus, they were replaced with the corresponding horizon lands, Sunbaked Canyon and Horizon Canopy. I rather have immediate draw over looting, thus why Smuggler's Copter was cut. Portable Hole is great removal, especially with an artifact focus. Lotus Bloom is good, but triple colored mana isn’t always necessary.
7.20.2021
With Mr. Fiddlebender in the deck, I decided to add an artifact based combo line for infinite mana. Old Gnawbone, though seems great with this deck, never worked out that well. Garruk Wildspeaker is too slow. Fiddle ender is an upgrade to Forgemaster.
7.10.2021 - Dungeons and Dragons: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Update
I felt like this deck was missing some of the mentality I had when playing Tron. What I liked about Tron was utilizing cantrips to filter and fix my board state then start dropping bombs. Thus, I added more utility to the early game and cut cool, but unnecessary cards. Second, I was playing a graveyard artifact deck with minimal ways to fill the graveyard. Grinding Station fixes this problem. Ashnod's Altar was only there to sacrifice non-artifact creatures. However, Skullclamp does the same job for those creatures anyways. I’m not sure if this is correct, but Chandra, Torch of Defiance is switched out for Rip Apart. It is cheaper and is flexible. Yes, Chandra’s ultimate is a wincon. However, Chandra was mainly used to kill creatures then dies afterwards. Oswald Fiddlebender is silly and adds a toolbox element to the deck. Old Gnawbone makes treasures and the Timmy-est card in the set. Ancient Stirrings, like in normal Tron, hits most of the deck. Treasure Vault is an artifact land and makes treasure tokens.
6.28.2021
I miss the removal that Cavalier of Dawn provided. I definitely wanted a creature based removal that could be recurred. Lodestone Golem is good for slowing down the field. However, I value the removal provided by Meteor Golem even more.
6.21.2021
Sigh, I’m not super happy about cutting Cavalier of Dawn. However, Goldspan Dragon is a better creature at the drop slot. It is an evasive and hasty attacker, makes Treasure tokens, and makes Treasures crap for two mana instead of one. Urza's Saga a land that creates Construct tokens and tutors for an artifact. This card was going into the deck; I just didn’t know what to cut. .
Modern Horizons 2 Update