Unexpected Results + cascade effects
Modern forum
Posted on Dec. 26, 2013, 4:33 p.m. by harrydemon117
Has anyone tampered with using this combo? Jund used the cascade from Bloodbraid Elf to good effect before it was banned, but what about using UR to get a HIGHER casting card that cascades into another?
It would be better if you didn't have to shuffle before revealing. If you didn't have to shuffle you could easily set it up with a scry effect and consistently get what you wanted with it.
December 26, 2013 9:46 p.m.
harrydemon117 says... #4
@acbooster: But then it is just broken.
@Epochalyptik: Why is it bad? Ramp turn 2, turn 3 Unexpected Results into something (even Emrakul, the Aeons Torn ). Seems like it would be a gamble, but the payoff would be huge.
Obviously you'd have to run some kind of support cards/removal so you would be playing a "control/combo" deck I guess, but then again look at ad nauseum / Phyrexian Unlife combo decks
December 27, 2013 8:15 a.m.
Epochalyptik says... #5
I explained why. It gives you nothing but the top card, and it doesn't allow you to capitalize on topdeck manipulation. There isn't a single deck I can think of that would be better with Unexpected Results than it would be with something it currently has.
December 27, 2013 11:06 a.m.
Tradeylouish says... #7
I actually saw someone running this card in a Modern deck. It was pretty funny, and they actually managed to win a game (though not with much help from this card)! I think they played Rampant Growth effects into Possibility Storm into another Possibility Storm which went into Omniscience . He then proceeded to get a bunch of massive creatures and I scooped despite being at over 100 life (Didn't want to go to time as I expected to win game 2 and 3, which I did).
Funny story aside, this is indeed a bad card.
December 27, 2013 2:25 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #8
It should also be noted that Unexpected Results is in GU, whereas Bloodbraid Elf is in RG. That actually does matter.
If you're playing Unexpected Results , you have two options.
- Splash blue with fetches/shocks just to pay for Unexpected Results .
- Play Unexpected Results in a GU/X deck
Option one is bad because splashing blue just for a weak card is a weak decision. There are so many other blue cards that could be included instead, and you'll end up further taxing your land base for probably worse results.
Option two is bad because GU/X will be running counterspells and other cards that probably aren't best if you're forced to cast them at a certain time. Cryptic Command gets away with being modal, but Remand and the other counterspells are dead. GU also doesn't want to tap four at sorcery speed if it can help it.
The suggestion of ramping into Unexpected Results in a fatty deck is also not optimal. You'd have to have ramp and fatties, but the "best" bombs (e.g. Eldrazi, Iona, Griselbrand) are all very expensive. The logical choice would be to include few of those cards because they're dead draws until you hit a very large amount of mana. Unfortunately, this also greatly reduces Unexpected Results 's effectiveness because the chances of you revealing one of those bombs decreases.
December 27, 2013 2:51 p.m.
harrydemon117 says... #9
You don't have to cast the card that's revealed. It's a MAY ability
December 27, 2013 3:52 p.m.
harrydemon117 says... #10
Once you reveal the card after shuffling, you choose whether or not to cast it. If you reveal a board wipe like Supreme Verdict you simply choose not to cast if it you don't want to and it goes to your hand.
If it's another land card, you get to play the land and cast Unexpected Results next turn. Pair this in a deck with thinks like Omniscience , Emrakul, the Aeons Torn , Griselbrand , Karn Liberated , or something else that's hard to deal with and you've got yourself a nice "ramp" deck...not necessarily a control deck
December 27, 2013 3:55 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #11
Yes, you don't have to cast the card. But you're missing the point. If you hit a card that you don't want to cast, then Unexpected Results has simply become "2GU: Discard a card and reveal the top card of your library." That's pretty awful. And you only put a card into your hand if you reveal a land, and the returned card is Unexpected Results itself. You have to waste a draw to grab the revealed card if you don't cast it, and you lose Unexpected Results and the mana you spent on it.
The "ramp" idea I addressed in post #7. You are stuck choosing between including a lot of bombs for better chances with Unexpected Results , or including a few bombs for better playability and worse chances with Unexpected Results . Because Unexpected Results is already bad, it's best to just cut it altogether.
Epochalyptik says... #2
Unexpected Results is bad.
Bloodbraid Elf was good because you got a 3/2 with haste and whatever you cast with cascade. Unexpected Results gives you nothing, and it can hit lands.
December 26, 2013 5:06 p.m.