Slow Fetches

Modern forum

Posted on Aug. 21, 2020, 10:44 p.m. by Icbrgr

I think many people can agree that the cost of an optimized mana base is a huge deterrent from playing in the modern format with the price of fetch lands like Scalding Tarn/Misty Rainforest and others just being a bit too pricey for most.

My question to you guys is that if WOTC continues to delay printing/reprinting Zendikar fetch lands do you think that the Mirage Cycle of Slow Fetches (Flood Plain, Bad River ect.) Would be viable alternatives for the Modern format?

I have been playtesting Grasslands in my Treefolk deck as a means to fetch Murmuring Bosk just for fun and it just got me thinking about other decks in general.

shadow63 says... #2

No you might as well play Evolving Wilds

August 21, 2020 11:14 p.m.

SynergyBuild says... #3

I mean, they aren't legal.

August 21, 2020 11:46 p.m.

shadow63: well as SynergyBuild says, they aren't legal. but if they were, i'd use them over Evolving Wilds. both result in not getting the mana until next turn anyway, but at least old fetches aren't limited to basics.

as for other alternatives, pretty sure the checklands are the only ones that would even come close.

August 21, 2020 11:59 p.m.

Caerwyn says... #5

If these were legal, I’d still rather run pain lands or check lands over these. In a “turn four format” you can’t really afford to be playing a turn behind.

August 22, 2020 12:07 a.m.

Icbrgr says... #6

well I guess to clarify in this hypothetical if they were reprinted it would be in a new set/making them legal hahaha my bad.

yeah the tapped clause certainly blows and by no means an equivalent; but being able to fetch a shock land like Stomping Ground/Temple Garden does have some appeal for things like Kird Ape/Loam Lion/Wild Nacatl zoo.

August 22, 2020 12:14 a.m.

i doubt wotc would reprint old fetchlands. all it would do is upset players because they reprinted the bad fetches instead of the good ones. they wouldn't even be good in standard. shock lands rotate out this fall, and the only fetchable lands left capable of producing multiple colors would be the triomes, which also enter tapped.

August 22, 2020 12:20 a.m.

also, Kird Ape, Loam Lion, and Wild Nacatl already don't see any play as far as i know.

August 22, 2020 12:22 a.m.

Rzepkanut says... #9

I hope they finally finish the "slow fetch" cycle too. Before it was all revealed I thought it might be in Modern Horizons even. I don't know if they will finish them ever anyways since they kinda suck, but if they do it won't likely be in a standard format with triomes.

August 22, 2020 12:36 a.m. Edited.

Rzepkanut: there wouldn't really be any danger to printing the slow fetches in standard with triomes, as i already mentioned. that line of play delays your mana for 2 whole turns. at that point i'd rather be playing basics.

August 22, 2020 12:45 a.m.

Zendikar fetches will be reprinted this fall. WOTC has confirmed this.

August 22, 2020 12:57 a.m.

ToolmasterOfBrainerd: can you provide a link?

August 22, 2020 1:08 a.m.

ToolmasterOfBrainerd: ah. i was hopin for reprints that might actually lower the prices.

August 22, 2020 1:17 a.m.

I think there's every reason to believe it will lower the prices a fair bit. It should be in the Commander masters set or whatever it's called.

August 22, 2020 2:16 a.m.

ToolmasterOfBrainerd: i think the secret lair and double masters will be too expensive to lower the prices much.

August 22, 2020 2:38 a.m.

SynergyBuild says... #17

Commander Legends I believe is the name of the set. It has been described to contain "Lots of Reprints", like 70 new legends, etc. could help with modern prices, but obviously is for Commander, and I think the cards only go to legacy era formats.

August 22, 2020 2:55 a.m.

DragonSliver9001 there's another upcoming printing that should lower the prices a bunch more. Double masters doesn't have fetches in it. But in the announcement for double masters they mentioned the upcoming printing.

Commander legends sounds right. And it should have no problem lowering the prices. I'm expecting to be able to get 1 of each for about $150 total.

August 22, 2020 3:10 a.m.

I think if slow fetches became legal you would see Amulet of Vigor being played more.

August 22, 2020 8:24 a.m.

ToolmasterOfBrainerd: what do you mean by 1 of each? 1 of each fetchland? for $150 total?

August 22, 2020 8:37 a.m.

psionictemplar: nah. if slow fetches were legal, they wouldn't be played at all. Amulet of Vigor doesn't save them.

August 22, 2020 8:38 a.m.

DragonSliver9001 I think I'll be able to get one copy each of Arid Mesa, Marsh Flats, Verdant Catacombs, Scalding Tarn, and Misty Rainforest for $150 total. Still expensive, but a big improvement on their current prices.

August 22, 2020 11:18 a.m.

TriusMalarky says... #23

I would love to see them, for two reasons:

  • EDH wants all of them. I can afford a couple shocks if I save up, but not fetches -- these would make my mana extremely good for my budget purposes.

  • They would be amazing in Pioneer Landfall, a pet deck that haven't played in a while. I would much rather crack Grasslands than Evolving Wilds.

They are strictly better than Evolving Wilds, specifically because they are dual lands. They can be 2-3 colors really easily. I would actually only run 2-3 Ewilds in a Landfall strategy in Standard/Pioneer if it's a 3+ color deck. Guildgates are better for all purposes, because they are better for fixing your mana.

What I would love to see in Zendikar Rising is the full 10 of the slow fetches and the full 10 Krosan Verge lands as uncommons. This would be awesome in a Landfall-themed land-heavy set, especially as they really aren't that great in the first place. I would love for them to do those and the enemy Tangos, solely because EDH.

That said, these are far too slow for modern, unfortunately. Checklands are the absolute slowest you can run without getting crushed.

August 22, 2020 11:42 a.m.

SynergyBuild says... #24

I mean, I'm not sure what decks you are running, but I don't see any deck outside of 2 colors running slow fetches in casual decks or mid tier decks.

August 22, 2020 11:50 a.m.

Please login to comment