Here's my take on mill in modern.
May not always win, but damn, does it feel so good to see people's face drop a little when you mill them.
Having done some extensive testing and playing, mill in modern is a fun deck that does require a bit of skill and knowledge of the meta to play efficiently. The choice to go Esper over Dimir is rather simple, white gives you a ton of defense.
Continuing to fine tune the deck and finding the right balance between milling and defense is the goal here!
Milling
Hedron Crab - Staple.
Glimpse the Unthinkable - Staple.
breaking/entering
- Staple.
Archive Trap - Staple.
Mind Funeral - Only running 3 as variable and need room for other spells.
Mesmeric Orb - Running 3 as it takes some time investment for the payoff.
Fraying Sanity - The newest addition to the deck. Only a 2 of as works only in conjunction with other mill! Its fantastic.
Defense
Darkness - Tried running 3, needs the 4th. Sometimes all you need is that extra turn to close off the game.
Crypt Incursion - See it as getting extra turns vs creature decks. Stabilizes your life total so you can continue your game plan.
Damnation - Essential board wipe. And with Fraying Sanity coming, this will do wonders with it in play.
Surgical Extraction - Main board combo removal, also if you happen to be so unlucky and up against an Emrakul, the Aeons Torn, then you have some way to deal with it.
Utility
Visions of Beyond - Essential card draw, gotta refuel the hand if we want to survive.
Special Lands
Oboro, Palace in the Clouds - A cute handy 1 of if you happen to be drawing dead, have crabs out, can mill your opponent.
Shelldock Isle
- Having 3 tapped lands is acceptable if it means you can cast your spells cheaply later on in the game and helps with some card filtering. Can be activated at instant speed. An instant speed Damnation is a beautiful sight to see. Also, if you hideaway
breaking/entering
, you can cast the entering option and grab an opponents instant wincons, e.g. an Emrakul, the Aeons Torn or really any big fatty should you absolutely require it. Normally though, the best way to win is just to mill your opponent out.
Polluted Delta + Flooded Strand + Marsh Flats - 8 Fetchlands in total to get your colours/basics if you're up against Blood Moon. But more importantly, triggers Hedron Crab. Be careful however as your life total takes a hit.
Would love feedback and any suggestions!
