Honorable mention to both IoK and Thoughtseize - neither scrapes in because you never really want to draw two of either of them, so you end up splitting them 2/3 or 3/3 and so neither one is as defining as it would otherwise be.
This is, of course, assuming that we aren't considering the colored manabase.
1. Fetchlands/Shocklands (defines the format, most competitive decks are 3 colors)
2. Lightning Bolt/Thoughtseize/Path to Exile (Having one mana answers to threats determines the speed of the format)
3. Tarmogoyf/Snapcaster Mage/Dark Confidant (pretty much every competitive deck in those colors plays those cards, extreme power for 2 mana)
4. Splinter Twin (every deck in the format MUST be able to compete against the Exarch+Twin hand or else it is just not viable)
5. Deathrite Shaman/Scavenging Ooze (greatly reduces the effectiveness of graveyard strategies while still being great cards in a vacuum)
Bolt - It's simply the best spell in the format. 3 damage any way you want for R is just insane. It's good every time it's printed, you simply can't go wrong. Basically every red deck wants to play it, unless your goal is Storm for the win, and even then I've seen some iterations play it.
Shaman - It warped the format so hard it's not even funny. I seriously consider this card a design flaw and a lack of testing on WotC's side. This card is insanely powerful and is in a lot of the top decks. It's a huge powerhouse.
Goyf - It's the best creature in the game, period. 2 mana for this thing that keeps getting bigger and harder to deal with is insane. The fact that half of the removal for it (Abrupt Decay) is in the same combination that typically plays Goyf is huge. It's one of those cards where, if you're playing Green and not combo, he's in the deck, period. Anyone not playing him can't afford him.
Kiki - I picked Kiki instead of Twin and Pod, and that's because I think instant speed combo needs recognition, but Kiki sees play in more decks than Twin. You need to be aware of a "win from nowhere" type deck in this format, and Kiki is certain in those decks. It's one of the things that separates this format from Standard, but also from Legacy as well, since Kiki is slow for Legacy.
Tron Lands - I think Tron has had an impact on this format no matter how you slice it. I have to hand it to the deck, it knows it will get countered and still keeps coming for more. It's just a solid deck that puts out some serious power early on.
I'm surprised no one thought of Gitaxian Probe. It's marginal but it's really a reliable option to get a glimpse at your opponent's plans. That and it actually nets you a semi-pleasant card advantage is sufficient for me to want it in this list. Sure there is IoK and Thoughtseize which actually does a better job but the functional advantage of casting it for basically free makes it worthy in my books.
1)Bolt (duh)
2) Tron Lands
3)Scavenging ooze- better than goyf for me because it can grow with no real cap in the right deck and just filling a graveyard is easier than filling with certain types
4)doom blade- dies to doom blade, unconditional against most decks
5) the mythic swords- Cawblade, pick the one that gives the ability you want
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I would actually put path above bolt. If red didn't have bolt it would suck, but red would just turn to another burn spell. There is really nothing for white in modern that could replace path.
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- Modern WBB/W TokensWB WUBAd NauseamWUB
- Commander WG Captain Sisay's LegendsWG
I would actually put path above bolt. If red didn't have bolt it would suck, but red would just turn to another burn spell. There is really nothing for white in modern that could replace path.
Bolt is just so much better than alternatives. 1 mana 3 damage is just really far ahead of the curve. It's efficient, it hits creatures, players, and Planeswalkers. It doesn't give them any upside at all either.
Maybe Shock is better than Condemn as a Bolt alternative compared to a Path alternative? I'd almost argue Condemn is better simply because Path decks generally don't care about an opponent's life or board so long as creature dies. Especially in Condemn's case when the average toughness of a creature is like 2.5 it's not too bad of a life hit to care about.
Bolt is just so good because it has no drawback. Every red deck wanting removal will play it. Some white decks tend to disagree because a land might actually seriously aid someone. Bolt just has the sheer numbers, it's the most played card.
In no particular order :
Lightning Bolt - there's no red deck that doesn't play it
Snapcaster Mage - there's no blue deck that doesn't play it (even merfolk sometimes plays it)
ThoughtSeize - there's no black deck that doesn't play it
Path to Exile - there's no white deck that doesn't play it
Tarmogoyf - there's no green deck that doesn't play it (except scapeshift, which is not a creature deck)
Coincidentally I picked 1 of each color.
Honorary mention : Cryptic Command, Liliana of the Veil, Bob (some black deck doesn't play it)
You played JESUS?!?! I heard none of his guys stay in the graveyard, and once you think you have him beat he ALWAYS comes back to win within three turns. I like...WORSHIP him.
Number one is lightning bolt, 1 mana can be used to kill creatures, planeswalkers, or players.
For the next best card I'm having a hard time deciding between Snapcaster Mage, Goyf, Bob, Path to Exile, Lily, abrupt decay, and lightning helix.
I'm surprised no one else has mentioned lightning helix. It's not as good as bolt, but no card is. It only cost 1 more and it gains you life to offset the life lost from sac lands, shock lands, thoughtseize, Bob, bitterblossom, and your opponent. It's the best lifegain card in modern, and is a good removal card. I actually visited this forum for the first time today to start a thread asking if lightning helix or abrupt decay is a better card, but I guess I can ask that question here. It looks like all of you would say abrupt decay, but I'm on the fence.
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Modern
JundBGR
RW Blood MoonRW
Pauper
Delver U
Elves G
Control B
Commander
Edgar Markov BRW
Captain Sisay GW
Niv-Mizzet, Parun UR
Tymna and Ravos WB
1) Snapcaster Mage - More card advantage than Bob, plus flash, in blue. Nuff said. Also, a bit of a reusable 2-for-1 with Kolaghan's Command.
2) Fetchlands - The one and only reason Modern can be so greedy with stuff like 4c Gifts.
3) Dark Confidant - Consecrated Sphinx at 2 mana? Yes please.
4) Deathrite Shaman - A toolbox of Goyf hate and other advantage. It's a scooze plus a Lavamancer plus Birds. All while hating out graveyard strategies.
5) Lightning Bolt - Just pure value. The biggest staple in modern, it's the most aggressively priced burn without a caveat. Would be higher, but even though it defines the format, it doesn't provide much beyond cheap removal. Probably shares this spot with Path.
Honorable mentions:
1) Birthing Pod - Once the most powerful card advantage in Modern, now just playsets gathering dust. RIP Pod.
2) Vendilion Clique - wears swords nicely, is just a 3/1 with evasion, can either cycle your card or take their combo piece. Good stuff, but not quite strong enough to make the list.
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1) Snapcaster Mage - More card advantage than Bob, plus flash, in blue. Nuff said. Also, a bit of a reusable 2-for-1 with Kolaghan's Command.
2) Fetchlands - The one and only reason Modern can be so greedy with stuff like 4c Gifts.
3) Dark Confidant - Consecrated Sphinx at 2 mana? Yes please.
4) Deathrite Shaman - A toolbox of Goyf hate and other advantage. It's a scooze plus a Lavamancer plus Birds. All while hating out graveyard strategies.
5) Lightning Bolt - Just pure value. The biggest staple in modern, it's the most aggressively priced burn without a caveat. Would be higher, but even though it defines the format, it doesn't provide much beyond cheap removal. Probably shares this spot with Path.
Honorable mentions:
1) Birthing Pod - Once the most powerful card advantage in Modern, now just playsets gathering dust. RIP Pod.
2) Vendilion Clique - wears swords nicely, is just a 3/1 with evasion, can either cycle your card or take their combo piece. Good stuff, but not quite strong enough to make the list.
You have noticed that Deathrite Shaman is banned for quite a while now, right?
1) Snapcaster Mage - More card advantage than Bob, plus flash, in blue. Nuff said. Also, a bit of a reusable 2-for-1 with Kolaghan's Command.
2) Fetchlands - The one and only reason Modern can be so greedy with stuff like 4c Gifts.
3) Dark Confidant - Consecrated Sphinx at 2 mana? Yes please.
4) Deathrite Shaman - A toolbox of Goyf hate and other advantage. It's a scooze plus a Lavamancer plus Birds. All while hating out graveyard strategies.
5) Lightning Bolt - Just pure value. The biggest staple in modern, it's the most aggressively priced burn without a caveat. Would be higher, but even though it defines the format, it doesn't provide much beyond cheap removal. Probably shares this spot with Path.
Honorable mentions:
1) Birthing Pod - Once the most powerful card advantage in Modern, now just playsets gathering dust. RIP Pod.
2) Vendilion Clique - wears swords nicely, is just a 3/1 with evasion, can either cycle your card or take their combo piece. Good stuff, but not quite strong enough to make the list.
You have noticed that Deathrite Shaman is banned for quite a while now, right?
In that case, replace it with Cryptic Command. (#bluemages4ever)
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In no particular order :
Lightning Bolt - there's no red deck that doesn't play it
Snapcaster Mage - there's no blue deck that doesn't play it (even merfolk sometimes plays it)
ThoughtSeize - there's no black deck that doesn't play it
Path to Exile - there's no white deck that doesn't play it
Tarmogoyf - there's no green deck that doesn't play it (except scapeshift, which is not a creature deck)
Coincidentally I picked 1 of each color.
Honorary mention : Cryptic Command, Liliana of the Veil, Bob (some black deck doesn't play it)
In no particular order :
Lightning Bolt - there's no red deck that doesn't play it
Snapcaster Mage - there's no blue deck that doesn't play it (even merfolk sometimes plays it)
ThoughtSeize - there's no black deck that doesn't play it
Path to Exile - there's no white deck that doesn't play it
Tarmogoyf - there's no green deck that doesn't play it (except scapeshift, which is not a creature deck)
Coincidentally I picked 1 of each color.
Honorary mention : Cryptic Command, Liliana of the Veil, Bob (some black deck doesn't play it)
I don't think Stompy plays Goyf.
with all respect, i did not actually considering lesser tier decks. otherwise you can said similar statement to even lightning bolt.
You played JESUS?!?! I heard none of his guys stay in the graveyard, and once you think you have him beat he ALWAYS comes back to win within three turns. I like...WORSHIP him.
Tough choices to be made for sure, I think I'm going to list what I consider the best value vs CMC for the format.
In no particular order:
1. Lightning Bolt. Indiscriminate 3 damage to a player, planeswalker, or target-able creature at instant speed for one R. Has great synergy with other cards in the format like Snapcaster Mage.
2. Snapcaster Mage. For 1U any instant/sorcery in the graveyard now have flashback for their CMC at instant speed (including many 1 mana spells), with a 2/1 body to boot. Single mana symbol makes Snappy easily fit into any deck with blue mana.
3. Tarmogoyf. Easily the best vanilla creature in the format. Practically every deck runs fetches and at least has 3 different types of permanents, this helps fuel goyf. Usually goyf hits the battlefield at at least 3/4 or greater for 1G. Combat tricks all day by boosting from cracking a fetch, casting an instant, or bloodrush-ing a creature to the graveyard (I'm looking at your Ghor-clan Rampager). Even if a Rest in Peace hits the board he still survives as an 0/1. Single man symbol allows him to easily fit into most decks running green.
4. Spellskite Obviously this is more of a SB card, but I've started to see it run in mainboards more and more recently. Colourless creature that fits into any deck, even those without blue, with an incredibly powerful ability. Survives bolts, takes one for the team with a path, completely disrupts Bogle and Twin decks.
5. Blood Moon. Similar to spellskite, mostly a SB card that has begun to see more MB play. Completely oppressive to most decks when it hits, not much else to say other than it's even more devastating when dropped on T2 (with help from something like Desperate Ritual), or even T1 if someone feels ballsy (Simian spirit guide.). Again the single mana symbol makes it fit into decks that have red.
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Honorable mention to both IoK and Thoughtseize - neither scrapes in because you never really want to draw two of either of them, so you end up splitting them 2/3 or 3/3 and so neither one is as defining as it would otherwise be.
This is, of course, assuming that we aren't considering the colored manabase.
Bolt
Snapcaster
Goyf
Thoughtseize
Deathrite Shaman
Bob belongs in like one deck, while the top 5 I chose belong in multiples.
Modern: Jund Legacy: RUG Delver EDH: Captain Sisay
2. Lightning Bolt/Thoughtseize/Path to Exile (Having one mana answers to threats determines the speed of the format)
3. Tarmogoyf/Snapcaster Mage/Dark Confidant (pretty much every competitive deck in those colors plays those cards, extreme power for 2 mana)
4. Splinter Twin (every deck in the format MUST be able to compete against the Exarch+Twin hand or else it is just not viable)
5. Deathrite Shaman/Scavenging Ooze (greatly reduces the effectiveness of graveyard strategies while still being great cards in a vacuum)
RG Tron
UR Delver/Twin
Grand Architect
Standard:
Junk Tokens
Bolt, Shaman, Goyf, Kiki, Tron lands.
Bolt - It's simply the best spell in the format. 3 damage any way you want for R is just insane. It's good every time it's printed, you simply can't go wrong. Basically every red deck wants to play it, unless your goal is Storm for the win, and even then I've seen some iterations play it.
Shaman - It warped the format so hard it's not even funny. I seriously consider this card a design flaw and a lack of testing on WotC's side. This card is insanely powerful and is in a lot of the top decks. It's a huge powerhouse.
Goyf - It's the best creature in the game, period. 2 mana for this thing that keeps getting bigger and harder to deal with is insane. The fact that half of the removal for it (Abrupt Decay) is in the same combination that typically plays Goyf is huge. It's one of those cards where, if you're playing Green and not combo, he's in the deck, period. Anyone not playing him can't afford him.
Kiki - I picked Kiki instead of Twin and Pod, and that's because I think instant speed combo needs recognition, but Kiki sees play in more decks than Twin. You need to be aware of a "win from nowhere" type deck in this format, and Kiki is certain in those decks. It's one of the things that separates this format from Standard, but also from Legacy as well, since Kiki is slow for Legacy.
Tron Lands - I think Tron has had an impact on this format no matter how you slice it. I have to hand it to the deck, it knows it will get countered and still keeps coming for more. It's just a solid deck that puts out some serious power early on.
Grixis Death's Shadow, Jund, UW Tron, Jeskai Control, Storm, Counters Company, Eldrazi Tron, Affinity, Living End, Infect, Merfolk, Dredge, Ad Nauseam, Amulet, Bogles, Eldrazi Tron, Mono U Tron, Lantern, Mardu Pyromancer
2. Bob
3. DRS
4. Snapcaster
5. Bolt
1. Bolt
2. Fetchlands
3. Path
4. Gitaxian Probe
5. Snapcaster
I'm surprised no one thought of Gitaxian Probe. It's marginal but it's really a reliable option to get a glimpse at your opponent's plans. That and it actually nets you a semi-pleasant card advantage is sufficient for me to want it in this list. Sure there is IoK and Thoughtseize which actually does a better job but the functional advantage of casting it for basically free makes it worthy in my books.
pretty much this
2) Tron Lands
3)Scavenging ooze- better than goyf for me because it can grow with no real cap in the right deck and just filling a graveyard is easier than filling with certain types
4)doom blade- dies to doom blade, unconditional against most decks
5) the mythic swords- Cawblade, pick the one that gives the ability you want
WBB/W TokensWB
WUBAd NauseamWUB
- Commander
WG Captain Sisay's LegendsWG
Bolt is just so much better than alternatives. 1 mana 3 damage is just really far ahead of the curve. It's efficient, it hits creatures, players, and Planeswalkers. It doesn't give them any upside at all either.
Maybe Shock is better than Condemn as a Bolt alternative compared to a Path alternative? I'd almost argue Condemn is better simply because Path decks generally don't care about an opponent's life or board so long as creature dies. Especially in Condemn's case when the average toughness of a creature is like 2.5 it's not too bad of a life hit to care about.
Bolt is just so good because it has no drawback. Every red deck wanting removal will play it. Some white decks tend to disagree because a land might actually seriously aid someone. Bolt just has the sheer numbers, it's the most played card.
Grixis Death's Shadow, Jund, UW Tron, Jeskai Control, Storm, Counters Company, Eldrazi Tron, Affinity, Living End, Infect, Merfolk, Dredge, Ad Nauseam, Amulet, Bogles, Eldrazi Tron, Mono U Tron, Lantern, Mardu Pyromancer
Bolt
BOB
Tarmo
Taigo
Path
Lightning Bolt - there's no red deck that doesn't play it
Snapcaster Mage - there's no blue deck that doesn't play it (even merfolk sometimes plays it)
ThoughtSeize - there's no black deck that doesn't play it
Path to Exile - there's no white deck that doesn't play it
Tarmogoyf - there's no green deck that doesn't play it (except scapeshift, which is not a creature deck)
Coincidentally I picked 1 of each color.
Honorary mention : Cryptic Command, Liliana of the Veil, Bob (some black deck doesn't play it)
My 180 Modern Bordered Only Cube
For the next best card I'm having a hard time deciding between Snapcaster Mage, Goyf, Bob, Path to Exile, Lily, abrupt decay, and lightning helix.
I'm surprised no one else has mentioned lightning helix. It's not as good as bolt, but no card is. It only cost 1 more and it gains you life to offset the life lost from sac lands, shock lands, thoughtseize, Bob, bitterblossom, and your opponent. It's the best lifegain card in modern, and is a good removal card. I actually visited this forum for the first time today to start a thread asking if lightning helix or abrupt decay is a better card, but I guess I can ask that question here. It looks like all of you would say abrupt decay, but I'm on the fence.
JundBGR
RW Blood MoonRW
Pauper
Delver U
Elves G
Control B
Commander
Edgar Markov BRW
Captain Sisay GW
Niv-Mizzet, Parun UR
Tymna and Ravos WB
Bolt,
Bob,
Goyf,
Path,
thought
2. Thoughtseize
3. Lightning Bolt
4. Path to Exile
5. Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
1. Lightning Bolt
2. Snapcaster Mage
3. Tarmogoyf
4. Fetches
5. Bob
G Green Stompy
RG Shamans
UB Mill
UG Infect
WUBRG Slivers!
2) Fetchlands - The one and only reason Modern can be so greedy with stuff like 4c Gifts.
3) Dark Confidant - Consecrated Sphinx at 2 mana? Yes please.
4) Deathrite Shaman - A toolbox of Goyf hate and other advantage. It's a scooze plus a Lavamancer plus Birds. All while hating out graveyard strategies.
5) Lightning Bolt - Just pure value. The biggest staple in modern, it's the most aggressively priced burn without a caveat. Would be higher, but even though it defines the format, it doesn't provide much beyond cheap removal. Probably shares this spot with Path.
Honorable mentions:
1) Birthing Pod - Once the most powerful card advantage in Modern, now just playsets gathering dust. RIP Pod.
2) Vendilion Clique - wears swords nicely, is just a 3/1 with evasion, can either cycle your card or take their combo piece. Good stuff, but not quite strong enough to make the list.
You have noticed that Deathrite Shaman is banned for quite a while now, right?
In that case, replace it with Cryptic Command. (#bluemages4ever)
I don't think Stompy plays Goyf.
with all respect, i did not actually considering lesser tier decks. otherwise you can said similar statement to even lightning bolt.
My 180 Modern Bordered Only Cube
Neither does Bogles.
Tough choices to be made for sure, I think I'm going to list what I consider the best value vs CMC for the format.
In no particular order:
1. Lightning Bolt. Indiscriminate 3 damage to a player, planeswalker, or target-able creature at instant speed for one R. Has great synergy with other cards in the format like Snapcaster Mage.
2. Snapcaster Mage. For 1U any instant/sorcery in the graveyard now have flashback for their CMC at instant speed (including many 1 mana spells), with a 2/1 body to boot. Single mana symbol makes Snappy easily fit into any deck with blue mana.
3. Tarmogoyf. Easily the best vanilla creature in the format. Practically every deck runs fetches and at least has 3 different types of permanents, this helps fuel goyf. Usually goyf hits the battlefield at at least 3/4 or greater for 1G. Combat tricks all day by boosting from cracking a fetch, casting an instant, or bloodrush-ing a creature to the graveyard (I'm looking at your Ghor-clan Rampager). Even if a Rest in Peace hits the board he still survives as an 0/1. Single man symbol allows him to easily fit into most decks running green.
4. Spellskite Obviously this is more of a SB card, but I've started to see it run in mainboards more and more recently. Colourless creature that fits into any deck, even those without blue, with an incredibly powerful ability. Survives bolts, takes one for the team with a path, completely disrupts Bogle and Twin decks.
5. Blood Moon. Similar to spellskite, mostly a SB card that has begun to see more MB play. Completely oppressive to most decks when it hits, not much else to say other than it's even more devastating when dropped on T2 (with help from something like Desperate Ritual), or even T1 if someone feels ballsy (Simian spirit guide.). Again the single mana symbol makes it fit into decks that have red.