Royal Assassin Out of Retirement
Modern Deck Help forum
Posted on Feb. 10, 2019, 4:10 a.m. by Botanicum81
I primarily play Modern with a splash of Pauper. My preferred formats aside; I love Royal Assassin . I am very aware Royal Assassin is not a relevant in Modern, but still would love to build a deck around my all-time favorite card. I know such a deck would never reach the level of major tournament play, but I was thinking something Modern Casual or even something that might have some success at FNM. I know a lot of blue cards synergize well with Royal Assassin ’s ability (cards that allow you to tap a target creature), so the deck is definitely going to be U/B Control deck, or maybe if it is doable; a Grixis Control deck.
Any suggestions would be awesome or any links to existing decks would help. I am aware of blue tap down cards, and would like card suggestions that are “outside-the-box”.
Botanicum81 says... #3
RoarMaster Hidden Strings is a card I do plan to include. I am also looking for black, and possibly red cards that synergize or provide hard protection to Royal Assassin . Thank you for you reply.
February 10, 2019 4:28 a.m.
Is there better verions if Icy Manipulator ?
Also blue taps permanents, if you arent abusing that maybe white might be a splash to consider
Gideon's Lawkeeper comes to mind. I know theres a whole bunch of similar things
February 10, 2019 4:55 a.m.
RoarMaster says... #6
Im not sure how much benefit you would be getting out of adding red, usually Red is splashed for the removal, but you are sort of planning on having Assassin as your main form of removal I figured.
That, and the cost of assassin means you are going to have a fairly demanding color requirements. So unless there is some important tech in red, I might just leave it out.
February 10, 2019 4:56 a.m.
RoarMaster says... #7
Vedalken Certarch But you probs wont have the craft for it.
Rimewind Taskmage But 4 snow may be late to get.
Stonybrook Angler But paying 2 to tap a critter isnt really playable.
February 10, 2019 5:21 a.m. Edited.
Botanicum81 says... #8
RoarMaster Vedalken Certarch is a possibilty because I am looking into using Investigate mechanic and using several artifacts in the deck.
February 10, 2019 6:19 a.m.
Some possible inclusions include Spell Pierce , Dive Down , and as suggested before Thornbite Staff . The Staff turns your Royal Assassin into a boardwiper as long as the creature is tapped, which shouldn’t be a problem if you run many single cost tap spells. The one problem I see for a future deck like this is control. You will need a win con that is resilient, hard-hitting, and synergistic. I can’t think of anything but Scryfall might be able to help you
February 10, 2019 8:33 a.m.
SynergyBuild says... #11
This could be a slick Mono-Black list. Probably a mono-black devotion deck. Gray Merchant of Asphodel , Geralf's Messenger , and Relentless Dead as a mini-zombie theme, Gatekeeper of Malakir , Bloodghast , and Kitesail Freebooter s to finish up the creature-base, with seriously high-value creatures, all of which add to devotion, and the rest of the mainboard can be removal like Fatal Push , Disfigure , Echoing Decay , Go for the Throat , etc. as well as discard in the forms of Thoughtseize and Inquisition of Kozilek .
For a price, Liliana of the Veil / Liliana, the Last Hope / Phyrexian Obliterator are all fine inclusions.
A sideboard filled with Duress against control (as though they could surive your onslaught of discard and recursive threats in the mainboard), Leyline of the Void against dredge and phoenix, Fulminator Mage against tron, Whip of Erebos for needed midrangy lifegain and recursion shenanigans, and whatever suits your meta, be it Ratchet Bomb against artifacts, tokens, or enchantments you find troublesome, Night of Souls' Betrayal for anti-swarm, Phyrexian Arena / Dark Confidant if you need some more grind, etc.
February 10, 2019 10:11 a.m.
APPLE01DOJ says... #12
Spellskite comes to mind, Lightning Greaves too.
I know you said you have them already but in case you don't Gigadrowse & Exhaustion .
The issue I see though, is what will your main wincon be? I think Royal Assassin on a clear board is still a bit too slow.
February 10, 2019 2:25 p.m.
Well in my humble opinion
Royal Assassin
is a worse version of
Viridian Longbow
, for the following reasons:
- Its much easyer to be played around
- Its also a multi card combo, but its support cards (tap spells & effects) tend to be worse than the deatttouch creatures going along the bow which, even in the worst case present some damage.
- It sorely lacks a second playset, i mean you can play 4x
Pathway Arrows
as
Viridian Longbow
4-8 to make the deck more consistent, you don't have that with
Royal Assassin
.
February 10, 2019 3:16 p.m.
Botanicum81 says... #14
Xica I am aware of Viridian Longbow being a superior like card, but I just like the flavor of Royal Assassin and want it in a deck.
February 10, 2019 4:40 p.m.
I’ve been juggling a ponza on steroids deck that sentrilizes on putting enchantments on lands and then untaping said land. You can then use cards that take extra turns and shuffle to win the game. Assassin would be valuable to keep you alive as the enemy would swing you play Assassin then take another turn and open fire on the creatures.
RoarMaster says... #2
Hidden Strings Could be good.
February 10, 2019 4:21 a.m.