Elder Deep-Fiend in Modern.
Modern Deck Help forum
Posted on March 27, 2017, 9:52 p.m. by Pieguy396
So I've been trying to brew a deck around Elder Deep-Fiend in Modern, and I've come up with three main ideas. Which do you think would be the best / most fun?
I'm not looking for or expecting a competitive deck, and yes, I know that Bant Eldrazi is a thing in Modern, but for some reason, it's just not a deck I want to build. In any case, here goes!
Option 1
Eldrazi Affinity. Turn 2 Frogmite into turn 3 Elder Deep-Fiend seems strong. The main issue of this version is that running the Fiend would take away from the "main" strategy of a typical Affinity deck.
Option 2
Graveyard. Tasigur, the Golden Fang and Hooting Mandrills both allow you to cast Elder Deep-Fiend for just . The main problem with this deck is that T3 Elder Deep-Fiend is significantly less likely.
Option 3
U/W Control. Just playing Elder Deep-Fiend on curve T4 can be good, sacrificing something like Blade Splicer. The main drawback of this version is that the deck already has great 4-CMC cards in Restoration Angel and Cryptic Command.
So, that's what I've got. Any suggestions or other ideas for decks?
Wizard_of_the_Broke says... #3
4X Cathodion (not actually sure if I'm joking)
March 28, 2017 1:36 a.m.
I play eldrazi tribal anyways and I find a way fit 2-3 of the eldrazi Mistbind Clique. I have fit it into my budget UB Processors along with Matter Reshaper (wow, I have not updated that decklist in ages!)
March 28, 2017 7:04 a.m.
I think you overestimate Elder Deep-Fiend. Playing a 5/6 creature rarely ends a game in modern. I mean... Primeval Titan is in the format. And so many other, strong creatures. And they can be played early, through various means, without that being particularly broken. So your turn 4 Elder Deep-Fiend is nice, but not something outstanding, and if a deck has a plan (whether sideboard or mainboard) against big creatures, it can be used against Elder Deep-Fiend.
Problem: deep-fiend is card disadvantage. You have to give up another creature to play it. You gain a tempo-advantage in return. Sometimes it's mostly like a timewalk (that could be good against various tron-decks; turn 4, their upkeep, tap 3 lands). But you could also look to creatures with abilities, that trigger when they leave the battlefield, like Solemn Simulacrum, to get over the card-disadvantage.
GlistenerAgent says... #2
You could try to fit it into a Bant Eldrazi deck. Matter Reshaper is the dream to emerge from, and Eldrazi Skyspawner or even Thought-Knot Seer (respond to the ETB trigger with emerge) can be fine as well. You'd have to rework the mana to fit Deep-Fiend in, most likely.
March 28, 2017 12:35 a.m.