My guess is Bushido getting reused with a new name. It seems like a usable mechanic for M15, but it needs to not be associated with the Samurai creature type.
Just finished up a Daily with All-In Twin and went 2-2. I lost to Gruul Zoo and BG Rock. Gruul Zoo is very fast, and Ghor-Clan Rampagers can lead to some blowouts before you know it. Rock has Abrupt Decay, and some of the BGx decks are playing them as a 3 or 4-of, now. I think I might try another Daily soon with a UWR build. I think it might have a better time against these matchups.
Spell Snares have been most useful in matchups against Fae. Spellstutter Sprite can be really hard to deal with, and Swan Song doesn't really help me as much as I'd like. I like being able to hit Spellstutter Sprite and Bitterblossom.
I have liked the second Pact so far. I've only had two Pacts in hand once, but ended up winning without using either...
I think I might give Anger of the Gods another shot. Maybe try +2 Anger of the Gods, +1 Ancient Grudge, -2 Steel Sabotage, -1 (Dispel or Blood Moon). Not sure, yet.
The Dispel/Blood Moon/1x Steel Sabotage have in some combination been rotated in and out for 2 Anger of the Gods. I have been liking the deck, but I'm still trying to fine-tune the list. It seems close, but not quite there, yet.
@Bane_Bane: I have also been playing around with an All-In Twin. I have a question about Anger of the Gods - do you think that it is necessary in the sideboard? I've been going back and forth on it, and haven't been entirely sold on it. It deals with a board full of dudes, but I've been a fan of just trying to win as quick as possible, instead. I've just been feeling that Anger of the Gods slows me down from what I want to be doing, or that it only works out if the opponent overextends, but I could be wrong on these.
They're probably used to get turn 4 Kiki when there's no splinter twin, and to have a swansong backup when resolving with twin.
I see an Izzet staticaster on the Sb. I like it.
Yes, their primary function is to help with either Turn 4 Kiki or counter backup. Speaking of counters, I think I'm going to add another Pact of Negation to the list, maybe take out a Swan Song or a Simian Spirit Guide. I just like the idea of being able to protect the combo when I'm tapped out. I also like a previous suggestion of using Gitaxian Probe over Peek. I think I'll try that out, too.
I've been working on different variants of the deck to get ready for the new meta (UR,UWR,Grixis). Now, I've thrown together an All-In list based on one I found that went 3-1 in a recent Daily:
Now that Deathrite Shaman is gone, I've updated my Burn list. I tried dropping white, but it was really difficult to find something better than Boros Charm. I ended up adding Dark Confidant to the list as a way to refuel.
I feel like if anything is getting unbanned, Wild Nacatl has the best chance. I think it won't alter the format in any significant way, minus a surge in people wanting to play Zoo. I think without BBE, Punishing Fire, and GSZ, Zoo won't necessarily be the #1 Aggro deck choice that it was at the time it was first banned.
Some people have been saying that Bitterblossom might be ready for the format. While I believe this is possible, I think a good number of players might be a bit reluctant for this to return. I think the format has a number of ways to deal with Bitterblossom, but I'm not sure if players are ready for a meta where Fae is a popular deck.
As far as bannings go, I think Deathrite Shaman is the only one that really has a chance to go. It is a very powerful card that allows for some very powerful turn 2 plays (Liliana, for instance), and is still very powerful later in the game. This card is seen in a lot of decks, and doesn't allow graveyard-based decks to be very viable, especially with the printing of Scavenging Ooze. While I don't think of DRS as being a huge threat that should be banned forever in Modern, I could handle a Wild Nacatl-like break from him. It might even allow a deck other than Jund or Melira Pod to see Tier 1 status for a while, which I am perfectly content with.
Chub Toad reprint in M15?
I have liked the second Pact so far. I've only had two Pacts in hand once, but ended up winning without using either...
I think I might give Anger of the Gods another shot. Maybe try +2 Anger of the Gods, +1 Ancient Grudge, -2 Steel Sabotage, -1 (Dispel or Blood Moon). Not sure, yet.
4x Scalding Tarn
4x Misty Rainforest
4x Island
3x Steam Vents
2x Sulfur Falls
2x Cascade Bluffs
2x Mountain
1x Desolate Lighthouse
1x Stomping Ground
Combo: 18
4x Splinter Twin
4x Deceiver Exarch
4x Pestermite
4x Simian Spirit Guide
2x Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
4x Serum Visions
3x Sleight of Hand
2x Gitaxian Probe
Protection: 10
1x Spell Snare
1x Remand
2x Swan Song
2x Spellskite
2x Blood Moon
2x Pact of Negation
1x Dispel
2x Relic of Progenitus
2x Ancient Grudge
2x Spell Snare
2x Mizzium Skin
2x Steel Sabotage
2x Combust
1x Swan Song
1x Blood Moon
The Dispel/Blood Moon/1x Steel Sabotage have in some combination been rotated in and out for 2 Anger of the Gods. I have been liking the deck, but I'm still trying to fine-tune the list. It seems close, but not quite there, yet.
Yes, their primary function is to help with either Turn 4 Kiki or counter backup. Speaking of counters, I think I'm going to add another Pact of Negation to the list, maybe take out a Swan Song or a Simian Spirit Guide. I just like the idea of being able to protect the combo when I'm tapped out. I also like a previous suggestion of using Gitaxian Probe over Peek. I think I'll try that out, too.
4x Scalding Tarn
4x Misty Rainforest
4x Island
3x Steam Vents
2x Sulfur Falls
2x Cascade Bluffs
2x Mountain
1x Desolate Lighthouse
1x Stomping Ground
Combo: 18
4x Splinter Twin
4x Deceiver Exarch
4x Pestermite
4x Simian Spirit Guide
2x Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
4x Serum Visions
4x Sleight of Hand
2x Telling Time
2x Peek
Protection: 7
4x Swan Song
2x Spellskite
1x Pact of Negation
4x Dispel
4x Relic of Progenitus
2x Ancient Grudge
2x Anger of the Gods
1x Negate
1x Izzet Staticaster
1x Echoing Truth
4x Arid Mesa
4x Scalding Tarn
4x Celestial Colonnade
2x Steam Vents
1x Sacred Foundry
1x Hallowed Fountain
2x Cascade Bluffs
1x Sulfur Falls
2x Island
2x Mountain
1x Plains
Creatures (17)
3x Wall of Omens
3x Snapcaster Mage
4x Deceiver Exarch
2x Pestermite
3x Restoration Angel
2x Kik-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
3x Lightning Bolt
2x Path to Exile
2x Peek
1x Dispel
4x Remand
2x Lightning Helix
1x Electrolyze
4x Splinter Twin
1x Lightning Helix
2x Spellskite
1x Electrolyze
2x Supreme Verdict
2x Wear/Tear
1x Dispel
2x Rest in Peace
2x Spell Snare
2x Sowing Salt
4x Scalding Tarn
4x Arid Mesa
1x Marsh Flats
4x Blackcleave Cliffs
2x Blood Crypt
2x Sacred Foundry
2x Mountain
Creatures (14)
4x Goblin Guide
4x Vexing Devil
3x Grim Lavamancer
3x Dark Confidant
4x Lightning Bolt
4x Lava Spike
4x Bump in the Night
4x Skullcrack
4x Boros Charm
3x Searing Blaze
4x Rift Bolt
4x Smash to Smithereens
2x Rakdos Charm
3x Ensnaring Bridge
2x Molten Rain
2x Volcanic Fallout
2x Flames of the Blood Hand
Some people have been saying that Bitterblossom might be ready for the format. While I believe this is possible, I think a good number of players might be a bit reluctant for this to return. I think the format has a number of ways to deal with Bitterblossom, but I'm not sure if players are ready for a meta where Fae is a popular deck.
As far as bannings go, I think Deathrite Shaman is the only one that really has a chance to go. It is a very powerful card that allows for some very powerful turn 2 plays (Liliana, for instance), and is still very powerful later in the game. This card is seen in a lot of decks, and doesn't allow graveyard-based decks to be very viable, especially with the printing of Scavenging Ooze. While I don't think of DRS as being a huge threat that should be banned forever in Modern, I could handle a Wild Nacatl-like break from him. It might even allow a deck other than Jund or Melira Pod to see Tier 1 status for a while, which I am perfectly content with.