Thats a point, and a relevant one right now.
But regarding UR: But still if they chose to just outswarm you with Pyromancer thats really bad. If your opponent sees a condemn (e.g. Via Gitaxian Probe, which almost all lists seem to be playing right now), he just won't attack with Pyromancer. And i think this is the only matchup where them not having another card in their grave matters. Also, you can still just eat it with Scooze, which i kinda like more than exiling it.
I often found it to be somewhat of a "downside" (yea i know it sounds strange at first) that Path exiles the creature - just for the fact that it leaves no flesh for the ooze...
I don't think you can "hard lock" people without the Arbiter package. Furthermore, I think the dream of hard locking people is just that...a dream. All the lock pieces either cost too much or die to removal...which is okay if you're getting ahead on board anyways, because even though you'll never hard lock them, you're disrupting their gameplan while attacking their life total.
I also think Path is pretty irreplaceable. Sure, Dismember "costs 1", but paying 4 life (on top of the fetches that you're running to run black) seems dicey, particularly if you were to run 4x Dismember.
Dismember is by far worse than Path to Exile.
Hatebears by no means is a hardlock deck, it does multiple softlocks/hindering plans. Anyhow Quartering with arbiter in play, and then your opponent just has/sees fetches CAN be gamebreaking and feel like a hardlock (though it isnt).
It seems okay, but the three cmc spot can be really cramped and this deck actually has plenty of card advantage even if it is not in the form of card draw. I'd encourage you to try it and see how it fares though.
On the topic of unconventional cards how do we feel about Saffi Eriksdotter? She helps protect key cards, and because of the wording you still get death triggers from VoR. I play against a lot of control, so I've been playing her as a two-of Eternal Witness as a two-of, and Reveillark as a one-of. I've been really happy with this recursion package, because it allows me to maintain pressure in long grindy games.
On the topic of unconventional cards how do we feel about Saffi Eriksdotter? She helps protect key cards, and because of the wording you still get death triggers from VoR. I play against a lot of control, so I've been playing her as a two-of Eternal Witness as a two-of, and Reveillark as a one-of. I've been really happy with this recursion package, because it allows me to maintain pressure in long grindy games.
She seems interesting. Ever since I played some games with Legacy Death and Taxes, I've always wished that Mother of Runes was Modern-legal. She's the perfect one-drop, since she protects/takes the hit for the hatebears that we want to hang around. Saffi does the same thing, albeit not as well and at a higher CMC. I might have to try her out.
He does seems pretty solid. If Scapeshift continues to get big (and I suspect it will...it's really an excellent deck with the addition of Dig Through Time), I'll be in the market for more hate.
For those of you looking at some Azban colors, I am thinking that it might be best to drop Hierarch, and instead run Birds of Paradise and Sylvan Caryatid. Also, Horizon Canopy could just be Mana Confluence/City of Brass, and fitting in a few other lands could probably do the trick. 4x Birds, 3x Cryatid, 3x Confluence and 3x Overgrown Tomb/Godless Shrine/Murmuring Bosk would give us 13 black sources, which should be enough to support Abrupt Decay, Siege Rhino and Orzhov Pontiff. I'm going to toy around a bit with this idea over the next couple of days and see if I can find something that works.
For those of you looking at some Azban colors, I am thinking that it might be best to drop Hierarch, and instead run Birds of Paradise and Sylvan Caryatid. Also, Horizon Canopy could just be Mana Confluence/City of Brass, and fitting in a few other lands could probably do the trick. 4x Birds, 3x Cryatid, 3x Confluence and 3x Overgrown Tomb/Godless Shrine/Murmuring Bosk would give us 13 black sources, which should be enough to support Abrupt Decay, Siege Rhino and Orzhov Pontiff. I'm going to toy around a bit with this idea over the next couple of days and see if I can find something that works.
I tried this too, but came to the conclusion that Pod is just better.
I think the mana base is fine. I haven't had an issue with Murmuring Bosk coming into play tapped. Siege Rhino and Abrupt Decay seem good too. I just don't know if it's better than the straight GW version though. I really need to play more games with the build, and then make some adjustments. Here is what I've been testing:
Again =>
why not just play Sandsteppe Citadel over Murmuring Bosk ? Does not cost life, and since you wont fetch or have a treefolk, Bosk wont ever have an upside.
In general i think the list looks good, but then again its manabase is very life-heavy...
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Just wanted to note that Matthew Beuchler placed 10th at the SCG Modern IQ this weekend with a non-vial G/W hatebears. Not sure if he's in this thread but maybe we can get a match report if he is Here is his decklist (http://sales.starcitygames.com//deckdatabase/displaydeck.php?DeckID=76785)
Notable inclusions are the top-end of baneslayer/sigarda/elspeth and a creature-heavy sideboard. Just very threat dense overall and less hate cards (no graveyard hate outside of 3 ooze). I'm surprised at the high number of basics and lack of horizon canopy. Fewer than 4 Qasali Pridemage is probably the right call in the current meta.
Again =>
why not just play Sandsteppe Citadel over Murmuring Bosk ? Does not cost life, and since you wont fetch or have a treefolk, Bosk wont ever have an upside.
In general i think the list looks good, but then again its manabase is very life-heavy...
Yeah, that is a good point on Citadel. Sometimes I totally derp.
Just wanted to note that Matthew Beuchler placed 10th at the SCG Modern IQ this weekend with a non-vial G/W hatebears. Not sure if he's in this thread but maybe we can get a match report if he is Here is his decklist (http://sales.starcitygames.com//deckdatabase/displaydeck.php?DeckID=76785)
Notable inclusions are the top-end of baneslayer/sigarda/elspeth and a creature-heavy sideboard. Just very threat dense overall and less hate cards (no graveyard hate outside of 3 ooze). I'm surprised at the high number of basics and lack of horizon canopy. Fewer than 4 Qasali Pridemage is probably the right call in the current meta.
This looks pretty close to the stock list I was playing a while back. I might have to give swords another go.
R1 vs Blue Moon 2-1
G1: I die to my own Aven Mindcensor that he Vedalken Shackled and his Vendillion Clique.
-2 Path to Exile +2 Choke
G2: I have turn 2 choke followed by turn 3 Thrun. They carry me to victory.
G3: I have turn 2 choke again, and play some other creatures and win.
R2 vs RG Tron 2-1
G1: He has tron, and I have no LD. Karn and Ulamog beat me.
-1 BoP +1 Pridemage
G2: I get turn 2 Leonin Arbiter and Ghost Quarter to keep him off Tron, as I swing in with creatures and a sword.
G3: Was a long game. He wipes my board twice with Pyroclasm and O-Stone. Thankfully I destroyed his Tower early on, and he can't find another. I finally draw Baneslayer and Sigarda, and win from there.
R3 vs RDW 2-0
G1: He plays Guides and Swiftspears, which I dispatch with Smiters.
-2 Scavenging Ooze +2 Kor Firewalker
G2: He kept a 1 land hand which gets GQ'd on turn 3. He never sees another land as my creatures beat face.
R4 vs GW(with fetches) 2-1
G1: We trade creatures. I believe I play Elspeth, and win from there.
-1 Arbiter + Liege
G2: We trade creatures. I stop drawing gas, and he keeps playing creatures FTW.
G3: He mulls to 5. I hit turn 2 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben turn 3 Thrun, the Last Troll trun 4 Baneslayer Angel. I win.
R5 vs UR Delver 0-2
G1: 2 Swiftspears, burn and remand kill me.
-1 Mindcensor -2 Arbiter +1 Voice +2 Kor Firewalker
G2: My Firewalker can't stop 3 Swiftspears + burn + cantrips which kill me.
R6 vs RDW 2-1
G1: He swarms me with Swiftspears and Guides.
-1 Pridemage -1 Arbiter +2 Kor Firewalker
G2: Kept a 1 land hand, and I destroy that land on turn 2. He can't find another land as I beat hi down.
G3: He plays an Eidolon of the Great Revel which gets me low, but a topdecked Elspeth lets me fly over for victory.
R7 vs Affinity 1-2
G1: He swarms, and I run out of blockers and die to DMG.
-1 Thrun -2 Arbiter +1 Pridemage +2 Kataki
G2: Pridmage and GQ keep Inkmoth and Plating off the table. I swing in with big beats in the air.
G3: He swarms again like G1. I run out of blockers and die to DMG.
I liked everything about the deck, except my sideboard which I half-assed. R7 I was looking at my SB wishing the Liege and Voice were Fracturing Gust. Other than that I didn't play Horizon Canopy because I didn't have them or else I would have. The swords were great they helped protect my creatures from burn, and helped to cushion my life total. I feel the deck does have a lot of hate in it. I decided against Torpor Orb and Rest in Peace because I had creatures that could fill those rolls. Choke was awesome in the 1 control match up had. The problem I saw with the deck is its hard to keep up with UR Delver and Affinity which just flood the board with creatures early. There is Fracturing Gust for Affinity, but what do you all do for UR Delver? BTW this was my first tournament report, and I just can't remember specific details about each match. I hope this helps though
Nice report and congratulations on your success. With regard to your sideboard, I'd recommend at least getting rid of the 3 Leyline of Sanctity. As you've shown, the burn deck isn't necessarilly all that difficult for the deck. I find that instead of devoting 3 spots to a fairly narrow card (I suppose its decent against discard - which we're already decent against, Gifts Ungiven, other random things) I'd rather have 3 other cards in its spot that could help in more applications.
The swords were great they helped protect my creatures from burn, and helped to cushion my life total.
Just food for thought, my 0.02, < insert cliche of your choice here > - I tested both a lot and always found Sword of Light and Shadow better than Sword of War and Peace in almost every way.
by their nature, the + to p/t on every sword makes most creatures essentially have protection from red as they now pass the all important Lightning Bolt test.
combined with the above, the protection from white and black on Light and Shadow basically makes your creature immune to spot removal of any kind that you're likely to come across
constant 3 lifegain always seemed better to me; many games I ended up with 0-3 cards in hand anyway.
most times I would rather get a creature back from the yard to keep pressure or help stabilize than hitting the opponent with a Storm Seeker
Thanks for the report. I've found lately that I've really been liking Batterskull in the slot that used to be Sigarda in my list. I strongly suggest giving it a shot if you haven't played it already.
So, whats the thoughts so far on adding in black? Worth it or just go pod?
I think if we add black we still lose to pod for free like we always do. Is a shame that birthing pod is the only thing keeping this from being a tier 1 deck. The deck has just too many angles.
Regarding the War and Peace VS Light and Shadow discussion
==>
Which protection do you guys think is more relevant to get your creature to be "kinda" unblockable for your enemy? What color are most creatures regarding the Tier1+1,5 Decks?
I find it to be VERY relevant to provide hatebears evasion, because this is something the deck lacks. It can be swarmed easily...
Taking a list of somewhat the most popular decks:
UR Aggro => red/blue
Red Deck Wins => red
Affinity => wont matter
Aura Hexproof => green/blue
Hatebear => white(/green )
Zoo => green/red, few white
Tokens => white (some black in it)
Birthing Pod => Mostly green or white
Scapeshift => wont matter much, partially green
Twin Exarch => wont matter much, mostly red
So actually, regarding the evasive ability by providing protection from the colors the creatures are, the list descending is:
4-5 white
4-5 green
3-4 red
3 blue
1-2 black
So Green/White/Red are the most relevant ones. Regarding the decks that will most likely swarm you (UR Delver and Tokens), i think evasive-wise War and Peace seems to be the choice.
Also, vs UR Delver, a Sword of War and Peace will FEAST on them using treasure cruises and refilling their hand. They cant afford to hold cards and since you are playing Thalia, they will somewhat not have the easiest time to just cast everything right down.
Im just pointing out right now, that not only the +2/+2 and triggered ability matter, but also the protection as a form of evasion itself.
Whats your opinion?
1) Situation: It's a grindy game and you need a threat but instead you draw this. Hatebears generally sideboards creatures out for high impact enchantments and artifacts decreasing your threat count main board makes the deck function much worse imo.
2) Removal: Either the sword is instantly naturalize/decayed or the creature your equipping it to gets removed or the sword is just the wrong colors for the situation. Either way in a close race that loses you the game.
3) General notes: I have found that the sword more often than not is a win more card rather than the deciding factor in the match. If I am ahead I equip the sword and proceed to lock the game. If I am behind I play it and likely get blown out. In a close race as mentioned in #2 I don't even want to see it in my hand most likely. I agree that the stat boost and abilities are very powerful, but I just cant see myself playing it and being happy to draw it.
1) Situation: It's a grindy game and you need a threat but instead you draw this. Hatebears generally sideboards creatures out for high impact enchantments and artifacts decreasing your threat count main board makes the deck function much worse imo.
2) Removal: Either the sword is instantly naturalize/decayed or the creature your equipping it to gets removed or the sword is just the wrong colors for the situation. Either way in a close race that loses you the game.
3) General notes: I have found that the sword more often than not is a win more card rather than the deciding factor in the match. If I am ahead I equip the sword and proceed to lock the game. If I am behind I play it and likely get blown out. In a close race as mentioned in #2 I don't even want to see it in my hand most likely. I agree that the stat boost and abilities are very powerful, but I just cant see myself playing it and being happy to draw it.
This is what I came to realize, too, as I experimented with various swords. Batterskull just ended up taking their spot in the sideboard as its the same mana investment for - in most cases - a much better outcome.
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But regarding UR: But still if they chose to just outswarm you with Pyromancer thats really bad. If your opponent sees a condemn (e.g. Via Gitaxian Probe, which almost all lists seem to be playing right now), he just won't attack with Pyromancer. And i think this is the only matchup where them not having another card in their grave matters. Also, you can still just eat it with Scooze, which i kinda like more than exiling it.
I often found it to be somewhat of a "downside" (yea i know it sounds strange at first) that Path exiles the creature - just for the fact that it leaves no flesh for the ooze...
I also think Path is pretty irreplaceable. Sure, Dismember "costs 1", but paying 4 life (on top of the fetches that you're running to run black) seems dicey, particularly if you were to run 4x Dismember.
Modern: GW Hatebears/midrange, WGU Knightfall/evolution midrange stuff
Standard: nope
Legacy: W Death & Taxes
EDH (not Commander!): W Avacyn, Angel of Hope, GR Ruric Thar, the Unbowed, WGB Anafenza, the Foremost, WU Hanna, Ship's Navigator
Hatebears by no means is a hardlock deck, it does multiple softlocks/hindering plans. Anyhow Quartering with arbiter in play, and then your opponent just has/sees fetches CAN be gamebreaking and feel like a hardlock (though it isnt).
It seems okay, but the three cmc spot can be really cramped and this deck actually has plenty of card advantage even if it is not in the form of card draw. I'd encourage you to try it and see how it fares though.
On the topic of unconventional cards how do we feel about Saffi Eriksdotter? She helps protect key cards, and because of the wording you still get death triggers from VoR. I play against a lot of control, so I've been playing her as a two-of Eternal Witness as a two-of, and Reveillark as a one-of. I've been really happy with this recursion package, because it allows me to maintain pressure in long grindy games.
Also, in the current meta Gaddock Teeg should be seeing more play shouldn't he? He stops Treasure Cruise as his main selling point and he also stops Splinter Twin, Batterskull, Chalice of the Void, Engineered Explosives, Supreme Verdict, Birthing Pod, Chord of Calling, Cryptic Command, Scapeshift, and I think my point is clear. He is worthy of at least one spot if not two.
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She seems interesting. Ever since I played some games with Legacy Death and Taxes, I've always wished that Mother of Runes was Modern-legal. She's the perfect one-drop, since she protects/takes the hit for the hatebears that we want to hang around. Saffi does the same thing, albeit not as well and at a higher CMC. I might have to try her out.
He does seems pretty solid. If Scapeshift continues to get big (and I suspect it will...it's really an excellent deck with the addition of Dig Through Time), I'll be in the market for more hate.
Modern: GW Hatebears/midrange, WGU Knightfall/evolution midrange stuff
Standard: nope
Legacy: W Death & Taxes
EDH (not Commander!): W Avacyn, Angel of Hope, GR Ruric Thar, the Unbowed, WGB Anafenza, the Foremost, WU Hanna, Ship's Navigator
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I tried this too, but came to the conclusion that Pod is just better.
3 Murmuring Bosk
3 Mana Confluence
3 Overgrown Tomb
4 Temple Garden
2 Godless Shrine
4 Ghost Quarter
1 Tectonic Edge
2 Forest
1 Plains
1 Swamp
Critters: 30
4 Birds of Paradise
4 Leonin Arbiter
3 Sylvan Caryatid
3 Voice of Resurgence
3 Scavenging Ooze
2 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
4 Loxodon Smiter
3 Aven Mindcensor
2 Siege Rhino
2 Restoration Angel
2 Abrupt Decay
4 Path to Exile
1 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
3 Qasali Pridemage
2 Orzhov Pontiff
2 Abrupt Decay
2 Kitchen Finks
2 Engineered Explosives
2 Thrun, the Last Troll
1 Batterskull
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why not just play Sandsteppe Citadel over Murmuring Bosk ? Does not cost life, and since you wont fetch or have a treefolk, Bosk wont ever have an upside.
In general i think the list looks good, but then again its manabase is very life-heavy...
3 Aven Mindcensor
1 Baneslayer Angel
1 Birds of Paradise
4 Leonin Arbiter
4 Loxodon Smiter
4 Noble Hierarch
2 Qasali Pridemage
3 Scavenging Ooze
2 Voice of Resurgence
1 Sigarda, Host of Herons
3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
2 Thrun, the Last Troll
1 Elspeth, Knight-Errant
Lands (23)
4 Forest
4 Plains
4 Ghost Quarter
4 Razorverge Thicket
1 Stirring Wildwood
2 Tectonic Edge
4 Temple Garden
Spells (6)
2 Sword of War and Peace
4 Path to Exile
2 Hushwing Gryff
2 Kor Firewalker
1 Qasali Pridemage
1 Voice of Resurgence
1 Wilt-Leaf Liege
2 Choke
3 Leyline of Sanctity
2 Kataki, War's Wage
1 Linvala, Keeper of Silence
Notable inclusions are the top-end of baneslayer/sigarda/elspeth and a creature-heavy sideboard. Just very threat dense overall and less hate cards (no graveyard hate outside of 3 ooze). I'm surprised at the high number of basics and lack of horizon canopy. Fewer than 4 Qasali Pridemage is probably the right call in the current meta.
Yeah, that is a good point on Citadel. Sometimes I totally derp.
This looks pretty close to the stock list I was playing a while back. I might have to give swords another go.
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3 Aven Mindcensor
1 Baneslayer Angel
1 Birds of Paradise
4 Leonin Arbiter
4 Loxodon Smiter
4 Noble Hierarch
2 Qasali Pridemage
3 Scavenging Ooze
2 Voice of Resurgence
1 Sigarda, Host of Herons
3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
2 Thrun, the Last Troll
1 Elspeth, Knight-Errant
Lands (23)
4 Forest
4 Plains
4 Ghost Quarter
4 Razorverge Thicket
1 Stirring Wildwood
2 Tectonic Edge
4 Temple Garden
Spells (6)
2 Sword of War and Peace
4 Path to Exile
2 Hushwing Gryff
2 Kor Firewalker
1 Qasali Pridemage
1 Voice of Resurgence
1 Wilt-Leaf Liege
2 Choke
3 Leyline of Sanctity
2 Kataki, War's Wage
1 Linvala, Keeper of Silence
R1 vs Blue Moon 2-1
G1: I die to my own Aven Mindcensor that he Vedalken Shackled and his Vendillion Clique.
-2 Path to Exile +2 Choke
G2: I have turn 2 choke followed by turn 3 Thrun. They carry me to victory.
G3: I have turn 2 choke again, and play some other creatures and win.
R2 vs RG Tron 2-1
G1: He has tron, and I have no LD. Karn and Ulamog beat me.
-1 BoP +1 Pridemage
G2: I get turn 2 Leonin Arbiter and Ghost Quarter to keep him off Tron, as I swing in with creatures and a sword.
G3: Was a long game. He wipes my board twice with Pyroclasm and O-Stone. Thankfully I destroyed his Tower early on, and he can't find another. I finally draw Baneslayer and Sigarda, and win from there.
R3 vs RDW 2-0
G1: He plays Guides and Swiftspears, which I dispatch with Smiters.
-2 Scavenging Ooze +2 Kor Firewalker
G2: He kept a 1 land hand which gets GQ'd on turn 3. He never sees another land as my creatures beat face.
R4 vs GW(with fetches) 2-1
G1: We trade creatures. I believe I play Elspeth, and win from there.
-1 Arbiter + Liege
G2: We trade creatures. I stop drawing gas, and he keeps playing creatures FTW.
G3: He mulls to 5. I hit turn 2 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben turn 3 Thrun, the Last Troll trun 4 Baneslayer Angel. I win.
R5 vs UR Delver 0-2
G1: 2 Swiftspears, burn and remand kill me.
-1 Mindcensor -2 Arbiter +1 Voice +2 Kor Firewalker
G2: My Firewalker can't stop 3 Swiftspears + burn + cantrips which kill me.
R6 vs RDW 2-1
G1: He swarms me with Swiftspears and Guides.
-1 Pridemage -1 Arbiter +2 Kor Firewalker
G2: Kept a 1 land hand, and I destroy that land on turn 2. He can't find another land as I beat hi down.
G3: He plays an Eidolon of the Great Revel which gets me low, but a topdecked Elspeth lets me fly over for victory.
R7 vs Affinity 1-2
G1: He swarms, and I run out of blockers and die to DMG.
-1 Thrun -2 Arbiter +1 Pridemage +2 Kataki
G2: Pridmage and GQ keep Inkmoth and Plating off the table. I swing in with big beats in the air.
G3: He swarms again like G1. I run out of blockers and die to DMG.
I liked everything about the deck, except my sideboard which I half-assed. R7 I was looking at my SB wishing the Liege and Voice were Fracturing Gust. Other than that I didn't play Horizon Canopy because I didn't have them or else I would have. The swords were great they helped protect my creatures from burn, and helped to cushion my life total. I feel the deck does have a lot of hate in it. I decided against Torpor Orb and Rest in Peace because I had creatures that could fill those rolls. Choke was awesome in the 1 control match up had. The problem I saw with the deck is its hard to keep up with UR Delver and Affinity which just flood the board with creatures early. There is Fracturing Gust for Affinity, but what do you all do for UR Delver? BTW this was my first tournament report, and I just can't remember specific details about each match. I hope this helps though
Just food for thought, my 0.02, < insert cliche of your choice here > - I tested both a lot and always found Sword of Light and Shadow better than Sword of War and Peace in almost every way.
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I think if we add black we still lose to pod for free like we always do. Is a shame that birthing pod is the only thing keeping this from being a tier 1 deck. The deck has just too many angles.
==>
Which protection do you guys think is more relevant to get your creature to be "kinda" unblockable for your enemy? What color are most creatures regarding the Tier1+1,5 Decks?
I find it to be VERY relevant to provide hatebears evasion, because this is something the deck lacks. It can be swarmed easily...
Taking a list of somewhat the most popular decks:
UR Aggro => red/blue
Red Deck Wins => red
Affinity => wont matter
Aura Hexproof => green/blue
Hatebear => white(/green )
Zoo => green/red, few white
Tokens => white (some black in it)
Jund => green/black (some red)
UWx Midrange => mostly white/blue
UrzaTron => wont matter
Birthing Pod => Mostly green or white
Scapeshift => wont matter much, partially green
Twin Exarch => wont matter much, mostly red
So actually, regarding the evasive ability by providing protection from the colors the creatures are, the list descending is:
4-5 white
4-5 green
3-4 red
3 blue
1-2 black
So Green/White/Red are the most relevant ones. Regarding the decks that will most likely swarm you (UR Delver and Tokens), i think evasive-wise War and Peace seems to be the choice.
Also, vs UR Delver, a Sword of War and Peace will FEAST on them using treasure cruises and refilling their hand. They cant afford to hold cards and since you are playing Thalia, they will somewhat not have the easiest time to just cast everything right down.
Im just pointing out right now, that not only the +2/+2 and triggered ability matter, but also the protection as a form of evasion itself.
Whats your opinion?
1) Situation: It's a grindy game and you need a threat but instead you draw this. Hatebears generally sideboards creatures out for high impact enchantments and artifacts decreasing your threat count main board makes the deck function much worse imo.
2) Removal: Either the sword is instantly naturalize/decayed or the creature your equipping it to gets removed or the sword is just the wrong colors for the situation. Either way in a close race that loses you the game.
3) General notes: I have found that the sword more often than not is a win more card rather than the deciding factor in the match. If I am ahead I equip the sword and proceed to lock the game. If I am behind I play it and likely get blown out. In a close race as mentioned in #2 I don't even want to see it in my hand most likely. I agree that the stat boost and abilities are very powerful, but I just cant see myself playing it and being happy to draw it.
GUGEdric, Spymaster of Trest - Elfball
WUBOloro, Ageless Ascetic- Doomsday!
RWUEphara, God of the Polis - Blink + Control
GBGGlissa, the Traitor - Stax & Lands
URGMaelstrom Wanderer - Goodstuff RUG
RGWMayael the Anima - Timmy
BRGProssh, Skyraider of Kher - The One Hit Wonder
RGWMarath, Will of the Wild - Old-school Enchantress Hate
RWRAurelia, the Warleader - Equipment Aggro
GGGReki, the History of Kamigawa - Legends + Banding
UBRSedris, the Traitor King - Creatures with : Ability
BUBPhenax, God of Deception - Mill
*Sidenote, I specifically excluded infinite combos from all these decks with the exception of Marath and the squirrel nest + Earthcraft combo.
Looking for something Aggressive in modern? Try - BR Aggro
This is what I came to realize, too, as I experimented with various swords. Batterskull just ended up taking their spot in the sideboard as its the same mana investment for - in most cases - a much better outcome.