1. Daze This is a card that represents how contextual and dynamic metagaming is. Wherein Force Spike is considered nigh unplayable, this card is a brutal, oppressive, and format warping legacy staple.
2. Noble Hierarch I remember seeing this card after returning to the game from a hiatus and thinking "THEY MADE A BETTER BIRDS OF PARADISE?" Turns out this wasn't the ceiling, as Deathrite Shaman has now usurped it's throne.
3. Polluted Delta I would argue that fetchlands, as a group, are the most powerful cards in any format they are available in. This is the one I find myself sitting behind most often.
Just wanted to brag about opening the most insane sealed pool for the prerelease. Opened both Phenax, God of Deception and Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver. Rather than going UB and all in on mill, I decided to play BGu control.
I think playing this deck without Show and Tell is just asking to lose. I run 4 copies in the sideboard because if they don't see it game 1, it is a great anti-graveyard-hate card.
For reference, I run the UBr list with 2 Izzet Charm main.
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Legacy Reanimator
- - - Modern Living End
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Member of Team X9 Member of Team Worlds Apart
I just played in my first ever sanctioned Modern event with Living End. It was a Grand Prix Washington DC Trial and I ended up going 7-1 and coming in second place, winning $100.
Round 1 vs Jund (2-1)
He is running 2 Scavening Ooze maindeck, and eats my yard game 1. He doesn't have any sideboard slots devoted to grave hate, so I steal games 2&3. I board in Domri Rade, Faerie Macabre, and Obstinate Baloth.
Round 2 vs Twin (2-1)
At the end of the first game she has no permanents in play and I have about 12 monsters. Game 2 I misplay and fire off my Violent Outburst when she has both combo pieces in hand and she wins the next turn. Game 3 I blow up most of her lands again. I sided in 2 Ricochet Traps because I saw Dispel game 1.
Round 3 vs Soul Sisters (2-0)
Really one sided match. I Living End early both games to wipe his board and he has no means of card advantage.
Round 4 vs Affinity (2-1)
Playing against my friend Justin. This match is unfavorable game 1, but literally unloseable postboard because I run 4 Ingot Chewer and 2 Faerie Macabre in the side.
Round 5 vs UWR Control (2-0)
He has 3 Path to Exile and 2 Snapcaster Mage game 1, but 5 Paths allow me to get mana advantage (I run 6 basics) and I play two cascade spells in one turn to force through his countermagic. I bring in 3 Ricochet Trap and 1 Faerie Macabre. I blow up all his lands game.
At this point I am the only undefeated player in the Swiss.
Quarterfinals vs UWR Control (2-0)
Same player as last round. This time he plays Gideon Jura the turn after I Demonic Dread, but I have a timely Beast Within.
Finals vs UWR Control (0-2)
This version of the deck is much heavier on countermagic and I fold to 3 Mana Leaks game 1. He is also very aggressive Bolting and Helixing me to the face. Game 2 I get stuck on 2 land and he lands Ajani Vengeant preventing me from untapping one.
I am dumbfounded that folks are writing off Swan Song. It is the real deal. Saying it is worse than Spell Pierce / Flusterstorm / Envelop in a void is insignificant. It is not unthinkable that a metagame could exist where this effect, as a hard counter, is preferable. It seems very good in combo mirrors, and against control decks it won't lose value as the game progresses. It has potential to see play similarly to a Pact of Negation used defensively, but does not insist you win the game immediately, which could be critical in a deck like Reanimator.
I also think it's interaction with Abrupt Decay would not be irrelevant in a Team America list. After opponent declares attackers, Abrupt Decay something and Swan Song your own Abrupt Decay to get a Bird at instant speed.
I feel like Thassa, God of the Sea is a Legacy playable card. Merfolk would likely sideboard it in where islandwalk is not applicable as a way to push damage though. Scrying, and an indestructible 5/5 are just gravy (not to imply it would be playable without those things, however).
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Legacy Reanimator
- - - Modern Living End
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As someone who has been playing Bant Hexproof for about 8 months, to reasonable success (PTQ top 8 and multiple FNM X-0s), I feel passionate about this issue.
In short, Bant Hexproof is dead.
However I believe a similar Naya deck will be viable post-rotation.
This leaves us with 6 slots for creatures, depending on what is spoiled in Theros, and 10 slots for land, assuming some sort of duals are coming. Scavenging Ooze, Fiendslayer Paladin, and Elvish Mystic are all in contention as potential reasonable choices.
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Legacy Reanimator
- - - Modern Living End
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I have been playing this as my sole Modern deck for many months. I can say I am not scared of Scavenging Ooze entering the format. One important detail players are overlooking is that it is simply not good in multiples; even when you are playing a deck with Oozes, you typically do not want to run more than 2, and quite often it won't merit maindeck inclusion. Also, we should not be too quick to dismiss our own deck as one that is all-in on graveyard interaction.
On the topic of cyclers, I am somewhat firmly in the Jungle Weaver camp. Perhaps it is my meta, but I want something reasonable against Tarmogoyf and Geist of Saint Traft.
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- - - Modern Living End
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I distinctly remember having a dream where I got in an argument with my boss at work and tried to get myself out of the situation by casting Force of Will.
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- - - Modern Living End
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The pick is Dreamspoiler Witches for me, because it's both evasive and turns your instants/ flash guys into removal spells. However as the only person voting for it as of yet, I assume I'm in the wrong here.
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Legacy Reanimator
- - - Modern Living End
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2. Noble Hierarch I remember seeing this card after returning to the game from a hiatus and thinking "THEY MADE A BETTER BIRDS OF PARADISE?" Turns out this wasn't the ceiling, as Deathrite Shaman has now usurped it's throne.
3. Polluted Delta I would argue that fetchlands, as a group, are the most powerful cards in any format they are available in. This is the one I find myself sitting behind most often.
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Modern Living End
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Member of Team X9 Member of Team Worlds Apart
1 Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver
1 Courser of Kruphix
1 Arbiter of the Ideal
1 Kiora's Follower
1 Weight of the Underworld
1 Siren of the Silent Song
1 Shipwreck Singer
1 Nyxborn Eidolon
1 Raised by Wolves
1 Sedge Scorpion
1 Sphinx's Disciple
1 Opaline Unicorn
1 Aerie Worshippers
1 Lash of the Whip
1 Satyr Wayfinder
1 Ordeal of Erebos
1 Spiteful Returned
1 Voyaging Satyr
1 Nylea's Presence
1 Nylea's Disciple
1 Servent of Tymaret
7 Forest
6 Swamp
5 Island
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Modern Living End
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Member of Team X9 Member of Team Worlds Apart
For reference, I run the UBr list with 2 Izzet Charm main.
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Modern Living End
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Member of Team X9 Member of Team Worlds Apart
Raging Ravine was terrible all day. It might become another Avalanche Riders, Simian Spirit Guide or Living End.
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Modern Living End
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Member of Team X9 Member of Team Worlds Apart
Round 1 vs Jund (2-1)
He is running 2 Scavening Ooze maindeck, and eats my yard game 1. He doesn't have any sideboard slots devoted to grave hate, so I steal games 2&3. I board in Domri Rade, Faerie Macabre, and Obstinate Baloth.
Round 2 vs Twin (2-1)
At the end of the first game she has no permanents in play and I have about 12 monsters. Game 2 I misplay and fire off my Violent Outburst when she has both combo pieces in hand and she wins the next turn. Game 3 I blow up most of her lands again. I sided in 2 Ricochet Traps because I saw Dispel game 1.
Round 3 vs Soul Sisters (2-0)
Really one sided match. I Living End early both games to wipe his board and he has no means of card advantage.
Round 4 vs Affinity (2-1)
Playing against my friend Justin. This match is unfavorable game 1, but literally unloseable postboard because I run 4 Ingot Chewer and 2 Faerie Macabre in the side.
Round 5 vs UWR Control (2-0)
He has 3 Path to Exile and 2 Snapcaster Mage game 1, but 5 Paths allow me to get mana advantage (I run 6 basics) and I play two cascade spells in one turn to force through his countermagic. I bring in 3 Ricochet Trap and 1 Faerie Macabre. I blow up all his lands game.
At this point I am the only undefeated player in the Swiss.
Quarterfinals vs UWR Control (2-0)
Same player as last round. This time he plays Gideon Jura the turn after I Demonic Dread, but I have a timely Beast Within.
Semifinals vs Pod (2-1)
I lose game 1 to Pestermite/Restoration Angel that I have no means of stopping. I bring in 3 Ingot Chewer for the Pod and Ethersworn Canonist. Game 2 Fulminator Mage + Avalanche Riders get there. Game 3 he keeps a one lander with Relic of Progenitus but I topdeck Ingot Chewer and he doesn't draw land.
Finals vs UWR Control (0-2)
This version of the deck is much heavier on countermagic and I fold to 3 Mana Leaks game 1. He is also very aggressive Bolting and Helixing me to the face. Game 2 I get stuck on 2 land and he lands Ajani Vengeant preventing me from untapping one.
I'll post my list soon.
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Modern Living End
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Member of Team X9 Member of Team Worlds Apart
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Modern Living End
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Member of Team X9 Member of Team Worlds Apart
I also think it's interaction with Abrupt Decay would not be irrelevant in a Team America list. After opponent declares attackers, Abrupt Decay something and Swan Song your own Abrupt Decay to get a Bird at instant speed.
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Modern Living End
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Member of Team X9 Member of Team Worlds Apart
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Modern Living End
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Member of Team X9 Member of Team Worlds Apart
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Modern Living End
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Member of Team X9 Member of Team Worlds Apart
In short, Bant Hexproof is dead.
However I believe a similar Naya deck will be viable post-rotation.
Since we lose Geist of Saint Traft, Invisible Stalker, and Spectral Flight we have virtually no incentive to play blue.
I imagine a post rotation list would look something like this...
4 Madcap Skills
4 Ethereal Armor
4 Gladecover Scout
4 Witchstalker
4 Voice of Resurgence
4 Boros Charm
4 Chained to the Rocks
4 Unflinching Courage
4 Temple Garden
4 Sacred Foundry
4 Stomping Ground
This leaves us with 6 slots for creatures, depending on what is spoiled in Theros, and 10 slots for land, assuming some sort of duals are coming.
Scavenging Ooze, Fiendslayer Paladin, and Elvish Mystic are all in contention as potential reasonable choices.
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Modern Living End
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Member of Team X9 Member of Team Worlds Apart
On the topic of cyclers, I am somewhat firmly in the Jungle Weaver camp. Perhaps it is my meta, but I want something reasonable against Tarmogoyf and Geist of Saint Traft.
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Modern Living End
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Member of Team X9 Member of Team Worlds Apart
1 Contract from Below
2 Ancestral Recall
3 Brainstorm
4 Gitaxian Probe
5 Ponder
Black Discard
1 Cabal Therapy
2 Thoughtseize
3 Hymn to Tourach
4 Duress
5 Liliana of the Veil
Counterspell
1 Force of Will
2 Mental Misstep
3 Daze
4 Spell Pierce
5 Mana Leak
Burn Spell
1 Lightning Bolt, easily but other than that, I don't play enough mono red to contribute to this category.
2 Drop Creature
1 Dark Confidant
2 Snapcaster Mage
3 Stoneforge Mystic
4 Tarmogoyf
5 Gaddock Teeg
3 Drop Creature
1 Vendilion Clique
2 Geist of Saint Traft
3 Knight of the Reliquary
4 Eternal Witness
5 Trygon Predator
Artifact
1 Black Lotus
2 Mox Sapphire
3 Time Vault
4 Lodestone Golem
5 Sol Ring
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Modern Living End
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Member of Team X9 Member of Team Worlds Apart
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Modern Living End
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Member of Team X9 Member of Team Worlds Apart
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Modern Living End
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Member of Team X9 Member of Team Worlds Apart
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Modern Living End
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Member of Team X9 Member of Team Worlds Apart