I disagree. I prefer Engineered Explosives. At 1 it destroys Bogles and doesn't effect us. At 2 it smacks gruul and rock and only hits our snapcasters, which have done their job by the time they hit the battlefield. At 0 it stops twin, warrens storm (affinity on 0,1 or 2).
2 thoughts:
1. I don't see an issue with running both if the meta calls for it.
2. From what I understand, the twin aspect of this is something that is commonly misunderstood. Those copies of the original creature in a twin deck actually have a converted mana cost of the original creature. It can still 'stop' twin, but it would be set at a cmc of 3 to do so.
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Modern
Modern Warp / UR Control / UR Storm / Naya Breachshift / ElectroBalance
Legacy
Solidarity / Lands / Sneak and Show / Grixis Delver / Reanimator / Belcher / Storm / Dredge
You're right. CMC 3. Still relevant for storm and lingering souls. It's also nice to sit at 3 vs twin regardless. It's also a rare answer for Liliana of the Veil. It's nice to drop vs the traditional R/B burn at one (gob guide, DRS, vexing devil), good at 2 vs Merfolk. It quite often just acts as a one sided board wipe, but so much more versatile. Not to mention it solves the bogle problem that was brought up earlier.
Even though bonfire won't hit springleaf drum, etched champion, and mox opal...you can't hit any of those three at the same time as each other...
Against affinity, even with master of etherium out or steel overseer, a miracle bonfire will wipe the board practically...
And in your opening hand, X=1 wipes out the skirges and signal pests...
Against boggle, engineered explosives and bonfire both lose to totem armor...but at least bonfire helps to race...also, bonfire will wipe out the bogles/gladecover scouts in addition to the kor spiritdancers...yes if there are 4 or 5 enchants you won't kill that creature, but I'm sure one of those enchants would be totem armor anyways...
Even though bonfire won't hit springleaf drum, etched champion, and mox opal...you can't hit any of those three at the same time as each other...
Against affinity, even with master of etherium out or steel overseer, a miracle bonfire will wipe the board practically...
And in your opening hand, X=1 wipes out the skirges and signal pests...
Against boggle, engineered explosives and bonfire both lose to totem armor...but at least bonfire helps to race...also, bonfire will wipe out the bogles/gladecover scouts in addition to the kor spiritdancers...yes if there are 4 or 5 enchants you won't kill that creature, but I'm sure one of those enchants would be totem armor anyways...
Just a thought...
Engineered Explosives is still better than Bonfire because it can hit Cranial Plating. Plating + manland = Hope I didn't already bust my Bolt on a threat.
Finally assembled the deck and I'm psyched to play it soon. One thing I am having trouble with though is Jund. It's only been playtesting, but it seems they're a pretty tough matchup. I'm pretty new to Modern, so there's probably some cards that I don't know about that can help this deck in the Jund Matchup. Here's what I run.
That would be against GW auras, that match is a nightmare.
BTW Crni, how do you handle affinity and the mirror without spell snare?
And what about cryptics? i have been thinking about cutting them for some time now, but im not sure, i want to go a bit more tempo, maybe add elspeth main.
Is there a reason we don't play Cavern of Souls? I want to try it out as URW control becomes more popular and landing a Geist becomes more important. There is clearly a reason why no one is running it. Is it simply because our mana base is shaky as it is?
Three colors and including another colorless land (essentially since a lot of our deck is spells... it would only work on a few of the critters) would be quite difficult. Also the fact that our creatures are all different makes it very narrow.
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Modern Warp / UR Control / UR Storm / Naya Breachshift / ElectroBalance
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Solidarity / Lands / Sneak and Show / Grixis Delver / Reanimator / Belcher / Storm / Dredge
The Pyroclasms are maindeck as the meta is infested with affinity and jund, pyroclasm game one should catch them off guard and turn what is often a game one loss into a win.
My current thinking is to drop the cryptics and a land (sulfur falls) to put in 1 Ajani, 1 Elspeth and 1 Spell Snare. I'm going to run it with cryptics tomorrow but for future might try dropping them.
In my experience, you can't drop to 24 lands and still play 4 4-drops, you'll need to cut something other than Sulfur Falls. As for the cryptics, I don't think your build needs them, and I've had a lot of success playing both Ajani and Elspeth mainboard. Definitely give it a shot.
Just won my first Modern Monday tournament! I'm so stoked! 43 people attended, 6 round swiss. First place was a Foil MM Dark Confidant! I'll post my decklist in a little. I consider my build a hybrid collaboration.
Yea congrats Express! Feels nice to finally win an event How did Young Pyromancer work for you? Was he a big removal magnet? Did you actually make some elementals?
Yea congrats Express! Feels nice to finally win an event How did Young Pyromancer work for you? Was he a big removal magnet? Did you actually make some elementals?
Young Pyromancer was somewhat underwhelming but he did have a target on his head. I only made one token the whole night with him. Thanks man!
I'll post matchups later but i'l give a summary now.
Round 1- The Rock. Rest in Peace nerfed his goyfs,DRS, and Scooze's. 2-1
Round 2- Janky Mono white Lifegain 2-0
Round 3- Mono Red burn with goblin guides..Very tough MU until i boarded in Spellskite 2-1
Round 4- UWR Control. Delver and colannade eventually got him. 2-0 (at one point i had 3 Delvers unflipped!)
Round 5- 5 color zoo. Very good MU, came down to a top deck Lightning Bolt 2-1
Round 6- Melira Pod..Ugh, thank god for Path. 2-1
How did mana tithe work for you during the tournie? Seems like a way to mislead your opponent on their turn 3 keeping a white source open for path to exile, and BOOM countering their Liliana of the Veil.
Sideboard changes from event to event (obviously). This was my list that went 4-0 a couple months ago at a Modern FNM.
I suppose the flex spots are the walkers and the Cryptics, but I love Cryptics and the walkers have been invaluable. They'd have to print something better than Elspeth and Clique (would be my first choice to replace Elspeth in the main if I had any).
^ Your list is much more controlling than mine. Thus, I imagine Stormbreath Dragon didn't blow your mind quite as hard as it blew mine. I'm running a pretty classic tempo list.
Stormbreath Dragon looks like he can do some sexy, sexy work. If UWR Control doesn't have the Cryptic, it's likely GG. I suppose Verdict works too, but those lists run 1-2 and they're more likely to drop them on Geist anyways.
At any rate, I'm always confused by lists like yours when I compare them to Control. It just feels like the one difference between your deck and Control is Geist. Are you just trying to drop Geist and protect him with Ajani/Colonnade as backup? Do you ever feel behind against Control in the late game when you don't draw Geist/Geist dies?
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2 thoughts:
1. I don't see an issue with running both if the meta calls for it.
2. From what I understand, the twin aspect of this is something that is commonly misunderstood. Those copies of the original creature in a twin deck actually have a converted mana cost of the original creature. It can still 'stop' twin, but it would be set at a cmc of 3 to do so.
Modern Warp / UR Control / UR Storm / Naya Breachshift / ElectroBalance
Solidarity / Lands / Sneak and Show / Grixis Delver / Reanimator / Belcher / Storm / Dredge
I know this deck is running cantrips and such, and that might make this seem questionable...but...
Against affinity especially, and even against bogle, wouldn't Engineered Explosives be almost strictly worse than Bonfire of the Damned?
Even though bonfire won't hit springleaf drum, etched champion, and mox opal...you can't hit any of those three at the same time as each other...
Against affinity, even with master of etherium out or steel overseer, a miracle bonfire will wipe the board practically...
And in your opening hand, X=1 wipes out the skirges and signal pests...
Against boggle, engineered explosives and bonfire both lose to totem armor...but at least bonfire helps to race...also, bonfire will wipe out the bogles/gladecover scouts in addition to the kor spiritdancers...yes if there are 4 or 5 enchants you won't kill that creature, but I'm sure one of those enchants would be totem armor anyways...
Just a thought...
Engineered Explosives is still better than Bonfire because it can hit Cranial Plating. Plating + manland = Hope I didn't already bust my Bolt on a threat.
Finally assembled the deck and I'm psyched to play it soon. One thing I am having trouble with though is Jund. It's only been playtesting, but it seems they're a pretty tough matchup. I'm pretty new to Modern, so there's probably some cards that I don't know about that can help this deck in the Jund Matchup. Here's what I run.
Creatures (14)
4 Geist of Saint Traft
4 Snapcaster Mage
3 Vendilion Clique
2 Restoration Angel
1 Thundermaw Hellkite
Spells (21)
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Cryptic Command
3 Electrolyze
3 Remand
3 Lightning Helix
2 Path to Exile
2 Mana Leak
4 Scalding Tarn
4 Arid Mesa
4 Celestial Colonnade
2 Steam Vents
2 Hallowed Fountain
1 Sacred Foundry
1 Glacial Fortress
1 Sulfur Falls
2 Island
1 Mountain
1 Plains
2 Tectonic Edge
2 Shadow of Doubt
1 Aven Mindcensor
2 Rest in Peace
1 Sword of Feast and Famine
2 Engineered Explosives
1 Lightning Helix
2 Stony Silence
1 Path to Exile
1 Counterflux
1 Supreme Verdict
1 Wrath of God
RIP Eggs
My Trade Thread
BTW Crni, how do you handle affinity and the mirror without spell snare?
And what about cryptics? i have been thinking about cutting them for some time now, but im not sure, i want to go a bit more tempo, maybe add elspeth main.
Three colors and including another colorless land (essentially since a lot of our deck is spells... it would only work on a few of the critters) would be quite difficult. Also the fact that our creatures are all different makes it very narrow.
Modern Warp / UR Control / UR Storm / Naya Breachshift / ElectroBalance
Solidarity / Lands / Sneak and Show / Grixis Delver / Reanimator / Belcher / Storm / Dredge
In my experience, you can't drop to 24 lands and still play 4 4-drops, you'll need to cut something other than Sulfur Falls. As for the cryptics, I don't think your build needs them, and I've had a lot of success playing both Ajani and Elspeth mainboard. Definitely give it a shot.
UWRUWR Midrange/GeistRWU
Retired
GWBMelira PodBWG
For quick reference, here is where I'm at ATM.
3 Geist of Saint Traft
3 Vendilion Clique
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Lightning Helix
3 Electrolyze
3 Path to Exile
2 Spell Snare
3 Mana Leak
4 Cryptic Command
1 Sphinx's Revelation
1 Engineered Explosives
4 Scalding Tarn
3 Steam Vents
2 Hallowed Fountain
4 Celestial Collonade
1 Eiganjo Castle
3 Tectonic Edge
1 Plains
3 Island
1 Mountain
2 Stony Silence
1 Wrath of God
1 Geist of Saint Traft
2 Aven Mindcensor
2 Counterflux
1 Spellskite
1 Path to Exile
2 Engineered Explosives
2 Sphix's Revelation
1 Tectonic Edge
Thanks a lot man! Here's the decklist!
4 Delver of Secrets
3 Snapcaster Mage
2 Young Pyromancer
1 Vendilion Clique
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Path To Exile
4 Remand
3 Serum Visions
3 Mana Leak
2 Lightning Helix
1 Spell Snare
1 Cryptic Command
1 Mana Tithe
4 Scalding Tarn
2 Arid Mesa
1 Marsh Flats
1 Eijango Castle
1 Steam Vents
1 Sacred Foundry
2 Island
1 Mountain
1 Plains
2 Hallowed Fountain
1 Sulfur Falls
2 Seachrome Coast
1 Tectonic Edge
1 Clifftop Retreat
2 Celestial Colannade
1 Pillar of Flame
1 Disenchant
1 Negate
1 Combust
1 Sowing Salt
1 Aven Mindcensor
1 Surgical Extraction
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Rule of Law
1 Ghostly Prison
1 Baneslayer Angel
1 Spellskite
1 Spell Pierce
1 Supreme Verdict
Nice list, but this is more of a WUR Delver list like the old ones and not Geist of Saint Win heheh... anyways gratz on your win and keep going!
UWRUWR Midrange/GeistRWU
Retired
GWBMelira PodBWG
Young Pyromancer was somewhat underwhelming but he did have a target on his head. I only made one token the whole night with him. Thanks man!
I'll post matchups later but i'l give a summary now.
Round 1- The Rock. Rest in Peace nerfed his goyfs,DRS, and Scooze's. 2-1
Round 2- Janky Mono white Lifegain 2-0
Round 3- Mono Red burn with goblin guides..Very tough MU until i boarded in Spellskite 2-1
Round 4- UWR Control. Delver and colannade eventually got him. 2-0 (at one point i had 3 Delvers unflipped!)
Round 5- 5 color zoo. Very good MU, came down to a top deck Lightning Bolt 2-1
Round 6- Melira Pod..Ugh, thank god for Path. 2-1
UWRUWR Midrange/GeistRWU
Retired
GWBMelira PodBWG
What does this list look like?
4 Geist of Saint Traft
4 Snapcaster Mage
Spells:
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Lightning Helix
4 Remand
3 Electrolyze
3 Cryptic Command
3 Path to Exile
2 Mana Leak
Walkers:
2 Ajani Vengeant
2 Elspeth, Knight-Errant
4 Arid Mesa
4 Scalding Tarn
3 Celestial Colonnade
2 Steam Vents
2 Hallowed Fountain
2 Sacred Foundry
2 Tectonic Edge
2 Island
1 Mountain
1 Plains
1 Sulfur Falls
1 Eiganjo Castle
3 Spell Pierce
2 Supreme Verdict
2 Rest in Peace
2 Stony Silence
2 Counterflux
2 Wear//Tear
1 Path to Exile
1 Day of Judgement
Sideboard changes from event to event (obviously). This was my list that went 4-0 a couple months ago at a Modern FNM.
I suppose the flex spots are the walkers and the Cryptics, but I love Cryptics and the walkers have been invaluable. They'd have to print something better than Elspeth and Clique (would be my first choice to replace Elspeth in the main if I had any).
UWRUWR Midrange/GeistRWU
Retired
GWBMelira PodBWG
3 Tectonic Edge
4 Scalding Tarn
4 Arid Mesa
4 Celestial Colonnade
2 Hallowed Fountain
2 Steam Vents
1 Sacred Foundry
1 Sulfur Falls
1 Eiganjo Castle
2 Island
1 Mountain
1 Plains
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Geist of Saint Traft
3 Vendilion Clique
2 Aven Mindcensor
1 Stormbreath Dragon (used to be TMaw)
Instants and Sorceries
4 Remand
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Lightning Helix
4 Path to Exile
2 Electrolyze
2 Mana Leak/Spell Snare (depends)
2 Rest in Peace
2 Counterflux
1 Spell Pierce
1 Celestial Purge
2 Engineered Explosives
2 Sowing Salt
2 Pyroclasm
2 Stony Silence
Stormbreath Dragon looks like he can do some sexy, sexy work. If UWR Control doesn't have the Cryptic, it's likely GG. I suppose Verdict works too, but those lists run 1-2 and they're more likely to drop them on Geist anyways.
At any rate, I'm always confused by lists like yours when I compare them to Control. It just feels like the one difference between your deck and Control is Geist. Are you just trying to drop Geist and protect him with Ajani/Colonnade as backup? Do you ever feel behind against Control in the late game when you don't draw Geist/Geist dies?