Two routes for Mono-Red Land Destruction

Modern Deck Help forum

Posted on July 12, 2017, 12:11 p.m. by StoryArcher

Alright, so I was recently inspired by a couple of new deck ideas and one very, very old one and it has me looking at Land Destruction and wondering if its viable for Modern. The baseline of the deck isn't anything revolutionary and currently looks like this:

Creatures:

Spells:

Lands:

Collectively, that leaves me with nine slots, and therein lies the question. I've come up with two different ways to go - add in a little more direct land/resource destruction and then try to lock up my opponent with Trinisphere...

Version 1: (Land Destruction I)

...or use a very, very old trick that worked well for me back in the halcyon days of Ice Age where I used Orcish Spy and Millstone to selectively filter the mana sources out of my opponent's deck before he could draw it...

Version 2: (Land Destruction II)

I'd welcome any thoughts on this, because I'd really like to run a Mono-Red competitive land destruction deck in Modern if I can and I'm not too sure which route to go.

As far as my sideboard goes, I know I'll definitely be using Surgical Extraction as it was an agonizing decision not to simply include it in the main deck, but beyond that I'm not too sure. I figure Pyroclasm will have my mana-producing creatures covered and Shattering Spree will handle artifacts, so I suppose it would all depend on the Meta. The different iterations of Chandra have also started to have their appeal of late, but I'm not too experienced with Planeswalkers, particularly in a competitive setting.

StoryArcher says... #2

In case it wasn't clear, the intent behind including Simian Spirit Guide in the deck is primarily to allow the possibility of that crucial first land destruction a turn earlier, possibly even on turn one (Darksteel Citadel + Simian Spirit Guide + Boom/Bust).

July 12, 2017 12:31 p.m.

Triton says... #3

There is a sort of deck that does a similar thing called Lantern Control, where you use Lantern of Insight and cards like Codex Shredder to filter your opponent's draws. Hope this helps!

July 12, 2017 12:55 p.m.

aholder7 says... #4

Personal suggestions from someone who loves LD.

I prefer wumpus Sideboard for two reasons. First: your opponent probably has removal and since you haven't played any other creatures they'll let it resolve and then immediately kill it. That card was useless otherwise for them so they didn't really have to waste a card. And since you spent 4 mana to do that and I doubt you're always waiting till you get 7 mana to play him they probably get to keep their land this turn. Second, if they see no creatures in your deck game 1 theyll side out their useless removal who h is when you side wumpus back in.

Another personal preference Ghost Quarter. It doesn't put them down a land unless they're out of basics. But it does have the ability to mess up their colors and it makes it so there is one less land in their deck for them to draw into.

If you're looking for a planeswalker id go for Chandra, Torch of Defiance since she gives card advantage has the ability to be played and get a Boom in on the same turn. And you're not the quickest deck so the inevitablilty of the ultimate is great. Not to mention she can shoot down things that don't die to bolt.

July 12, 2017 2:03 p.m.

StoryArcher says... #5

aholder7,

I appreciate those insights. Is there really that much removal out there that would be able to take down the Wumpus? What would your victory condition be without the Wumpuses (Wumpi?)? Roiling Terrain? Just having them draw out? Maybe include a Red Sun's Zenith?

Do you have any insights on which version of the deck might be more effective (Mill vs. Trinisphere)? Is this a legitimate deck to try and go creatureless with, not counting the Spirit Guides? What do you think about including Crack the Earth as removal?

July 12, 2017 2:24 p.m.

StoryArcher says... #6

This would be a 'creatureless' version I might consider...

I'm starting to think that looks pretty interesting. Crack the Earth could be potentially devastating, especially against those white creatures with ProtRed. Red Sun's Zenith gives me a potentially recurring finisher and if it comes down to it would at least theoretically keep me from decking myself.

July 12, 2017 2:43 p.m.

aholder7 says... #7

Finishers can be the planeswalkers as they are much harder to remove. Chandra's plus can get you more spells a turn or at least ping for 2 a turn. If you get the ult off then it's just a matter of time. Koth the Hammer is sometimes used in mono red decks. He's not as good at killing opposing creatures but he does have the potential to close games faster.

As for removal that can kill wumpus. Path to Exile comes to mind as one of the most played cards in white. Fatal Push is probably the best and most played black removal spell and I don't think it would be hard for them to trigger revolt against you. Murderous Cut not as popular but something to consider. Blue decks like Merfolk might go for a Vapor Snag which while not a kill spell will at least cost you the turn for not casting a LD spell.

The mill option is amusing but you'd be better off going with lantern control in that case.

I like a third trinisphere in here

As for crack the earth i personally don't like it enough for a 4 of but I think that's more personal preference as opposed to it actually being bad.

July 12, 2017 10:13 p.m.

StoryArcher says... #8

aholder7

Thanks again for your thoughts. I'm starting to lean more and more towards a 'creatureless' version of this deck. If I can make all the removal that they draw a waste, so much the better, eh?

One of the reasons that Crack the Earth appeals to me is because it opens additional doors to first turn land destruction. That and its a very inexpensive way to keep their board clear in case something manages to sneak out.

July 13, 2017 8:43 a.m.

StoryArcher says... #9

Honestly, the biggest concern I have are fetch lands being able to 'dodge' my land destruction... but I guess that's what Blood Moon is there for, right?

July 13, 2017 2:29 p.m.

aholder7 says... #10

True. But besides blood moon and trinisphere there's not much you can do. (Unless you splash colors but that's a bit risky in a moon deck)

July 13, 2017 11:16 p.m.

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