why doesn't melira pod run Blood Artist?
Modern forum
Posted on Sept. 14, 2014, 5:33 p.m. by tyforthevenom
i don't get it
tyforthevenom says... #3
so blood artist cannot benefit from the exalted triggers in the deck? it doesn't sustain the deck as you pod things off?
September 14, 2014 5:39 p.m.
because you can't sacrifice Kitchen Finks to get Blood Artist . you can get Murderous Redcap however..
September 14, 2014 5:40 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #5
The deck will combo in certain matchups, and midrange in others. You need to combo Affinity as fast as you can, while you will out-value Twin.
Blood Artist is only good when you actually have Birthing Pod or Viscera Seer in play, and even then it's a pretty marginal advantage that it provides. When you combo-kill, it does nothing because the combo already is infinite damage/life.
September 14, 2014 5:40 p.m.
VampireArmy says... #6
Like i said, you have to spend more mana just to make him ok at attacking while only plus one counters are going to help him block. That's mana invested just to do something you didn't need to do in the first place
September 14, 2014 5:43 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #7
Also, two is a generally awkward spot on the curve because you would have to Pod Birds or Hierarch or Seer to get there, something which you generally don't want to do. It's part of the reason people started replacing Ethersworn Canonist with Eidolon of Rhetoric , resiliency being the other reason.
September 14, 2014 5:50 p.m.
VampireArmy says... #8
I've seen a few even replace pridemage for reclamation sage because 3 is easier to achieve
September 14, 2014 5:56 p.m.
vampirelazarus says... #9
What?! I love pridemage! He does work!.
Basically, the way I see the artist: he's a win more card. The only time he's going to be effective, is when you're already winning.
September 14, 2014 7:40 p.m.
vampirelazarus says... #10
Also, aside from the combo, the deck is a toolbox full of utility. He just doesn't pull enough weight to justify a card slot.
September 14, 2014 7:41 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #11
Pridemage is gas. Reclamation Sage is less so. Some people do maindeck it, though.
September 14, 2014 9:02 p.m.
vampirelazarus says... #12
Ive been told to replace my Harmonic Sliver with sage. Which makes a lot of sense. I just don't have any promo sages.
September 14, 2014 9:06 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #13
Well, it's sometimes OK to replace Harmonic Sliver with it. If you're playing Phyrexian Metamorph , play Harmonic Sliver because sometimes the Metamorph lets you kill two artifacts if Sliver is already in play. If you are running Restoration Angel instead of Metamorph (which you should be), then Sage is the better option.
The advantages of Metamorph are mostly the versatility, that interaction with Sliver, and the fact that you can copy an opposing Birthing Pod , as the mirror revolves around that card. Otherwise, you should be playing Restoration Angel , which is by far the less embarrassing card. When you think about it, Pod is full of embarrassing creatures. Don't embarrass yourself too much.
September 14, 2014 9:11 p.m.
vampirelazarus says... #14
I already am playing Resto over metamorph.
i ain't new to the deck :P
September 14, 2014 9:41 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #15
That was more for the OP than you. Not everything's about you. Get over yourself. :)
September 14, 2014 9:48 p.m.
tyforthevenom says... #16
My lgs told me " not everything in pod needs to be podded" which is why i thought artist could work especially blvs burn and aggro strats where 1/2 health can reheally screw the opponent over (remember artist gains you life)
September 14, 2014 10:58 p.m.
vampirelazarus says... #17
@GlistenerAgent: YES IT IS.
@tyforthevenom: Against those two decks, I would rather have something else besides a 0/1 that they could just get rid very very easily.
Like a Kitchen Finks . See, burn and aggro deal just enough damage to win. Any longer, and they can start to stumble. And stumble fast. You just have to outlast their gas, which isn't too hard. You shouldn't be committing cards like Blood Artist any deck space, for a matchup that can easily get rid of them, without them ever being a problem.
Seriously, what's one Lightning Bolt to a deck with 4 ofs of the best burn spells in the format?
September 15, 2014 12:31 a.m.
tyforthevenom says... #18
Answer to your question 4 damage, if they Lightning Bolt Blood Artist they lose 3 damage from the bolt 1 health and you gain 1 health
September 15, 2014 1:03 a.m.
vampirelazarus says... #19
Ok, so they still have around 39 cards to kill me with, assuming a 20 land mana base.
The question was rhetorical.
September 15, 2014 1:18 a.m.
tyforthevenom says... #21
Your rhetorical question had a genuine answer, burn lacks a way to get cards for itself which is why it "has just enough damage to win"
September 15, 2014 1:28 a.m.
vampirelazarus says... #22
And Blood Artist isn't going to stop them. If I play it turn two, they kill it. And we are basically exactly where we started.
Trust me, he's not worth a card slot.
(Btw, many rhetorical questions have answers, but that doesn't mean they need answered)
September 15, 2014 10:35 a.m.
tyforthevenom says... #23
the point is they are slowed down at instant speed (get it?) which isn't something a speed strategy wants to do
September 15, 2014 10:38 a.m.
vampirelazarus says... #24
The point is that they aren't losing much to get rid of it.
September 15, 2014 10:51 a.m.
vampirelazarus says... #25
It becomes a problem when they start burning all the other creatures, like Kitchen Finks .
September 15, 2014 10:52 a.m.
tyforthevenom says... #26
i lost count of the times 1 health has been the deciding factor on a modern matchup vs burn for me
VampireArmy says... #2
The combo doesn't need it. Infinite pinging gets you dead just as fast. Not to mention the deck normally doesn't even try to combo anymore. It just plays like a midrange that gets surprise combos. Oh and adding a third card in there for the combo makes it really hard to pull off and bloid artist can't attack or block without mana investment
September 14, 2014 5:36 p.m.