Vexing Shusher: This card is not completely out of the question and is worth keeping in mind, but this seems like the completely wrong time for it. Looking at the modern metagame at https://www.mtggoldfish.com/metagame/modern#paper there are no real counter heavy decks, only counterspells among top 12 decks are the Stubborn Denials in Death's Shadow. A more general problem is that decks with counters like UWx Control and 4c Scapeshift tend to also run a fair bit of creature removal making the Shushers ineffective. I suppose Shusher would be a cute answer to Chalice of the Void but that's still quite slow and you're better off just running Seal of Primordium. I've played Guttoral Response in the past against counter decks like UR Delver, Jeskai Control and 4c Scapeshift and I think that may still be better if the meta turns that way.
Maindeck Leyline of Sanctity: The problem in general with this is that while it's good in some matchups it's completely dead in others. Also, I feel like they make mulligan decisions a bit awkward when you don't know what you're playing against. Still, they may be good enough in the meta that running 2 or so maindeck is worth it. The 3rd and 4th copies come with some diminishing returns since drawing multiples is useless, so I doubt you'd want to go higher than that. An added upside is that there are some decks like Storm and Ad Nauseam where they're actually great pre-SB (and pretty bad post-SB).
Ghostly Prison: Not sure why people seem to like this card. It's bad against Death's Shadow as they can usually afford to pay for the one creature once they want to start attacking. It's bad against Elves as they get so much mana anyway. It's bad against Burn since after turn 3 they don't really need to attack much. In almost any case you will slow yourself down with at least as much as you slow your opponent, even if you manage to cast it which is far from a given with 20 lands. In the cases where the card is actually good, such as against token decks or some affinity draws, the matchup is already so great that devoting sideboard space for it is questionable.
Mana base without Horizon Canopy: Canopy definitely helps a lot but the deck works without it. Lands that come into play tapped are really weak in the deck, you're better off adding as many fetches as you have or even Brushland instead of Canopy Vista. So for example 1 Dryad Arbor/2 Basics/4 Razorverge Thicket/4 Temple Garden/4 Windswept Heath/4 Wooded Foothills/1 Flooded Strand would be my non-Canopy mana base.
The "TCGPlayer list" is actually my list from the Modern Challenge premiere: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/652726#online, so that's pretty much the list I would recommend. At GP Copenhagen I ended up swapping a Cartouche for a Spirit Mantle as the card has been very good against Death's Shadow and is just generally very decent right now. I'm also not entirely sure about the Natural States, maybe Nature's Claim/Seal of Primordium is better or you could run a mix. Sometimes I also feel like I'd like to fit a 3rd Rest in Peace and a 3rd Gaddock Teeg, this is something you could do if you decide to run 2 Leylines maindeck maybe.
Finally, anything less that 4 Path to Exile maindeck is a huge mistake. I'm not even sure what the argument is for running less, I cannot imagine a local metagame where it would be correct.
I tried 2 in the main. It makes my mulligans on the play game one that much more confusing. My meta has a lot of hand hate, so it's worth it, but I never drew into it. Still, I think for the current meta it could really help the deck.
I tried 2 in the main. It makes my mulligans on the play game one that much more confusing. My meta has a lot of hand hate, so it's worth it, but I never drew into it. Still, I think for the current meta it could really help the deck.
It's absolutely worth it. The game 1s where you get a leyline out and a bogle and they have kept a hand with pretty much anything that targets creatures or players automatically puts you in a real term and psychological advantage. We start getting into prime "tilt" territory. There is nothing worse than an opponent discarding your bogle turn 1 apart from... Although, having a hand with 2 copies of everything in (2x bogle, 2x 1cmc enchantment, 2x daybreak coronet) fine if you don't have the leyline!
I like having two in the MB. Drawing into multiples post-board is god awful, but having two in the main makes a real difference in the current meta for easy game one wins. Even if we don't have it in our opening hand, it can still potentially provide a ton of value when hard casted so I've found them to be a worthwhile inclusion. Especially since the odds of drawing both are very small.
I have been playing a ton with the new cards and figured I'd throw in my two cents for people who haven't had time to test.
cartouche of solidarity has been a bit of a disappointment for me. Admittedly, I had pretty high hopes for it so you can factor that in. I like the card. I think it is absolutely playable. Most times for me it has felt like a bit of a win more card. Not every time but alot of games. I felt like I only got real value out of it against jund and burn in a handful of games. Where it really underwhelmed for me was against sweepers. Felt like a situation that was already bad got way worse. Other times it had a bit of a Spiritdancer feel when opponents fired a kill spell at it that normally would have just rotted in their hand. Having said all that, it definitely competes for a spot(s) in the deck. I do love how it adds two power to the board. I think it's right in that flex aura spot (Keen sense, unflinching courage, spirit link, spirit mantle, griff's boon). It can absolutely not replace any copies of hyena umbra unless the meta becomes totally scewed from sweepers. And personally out of the flex auras, I'm always always always picking cards that push damage through (Masntle, Boon, Courage) or Keen sense.
Dissenter's Deliverance. I've been waiting years for a card like this. I have loved it. The two mana cost gets around chalice and the ability to cycle when the opponent doesn't draw any hate makes it the best available option, for me. I played nature's claim in the past. Again, to try and get some value when the opponent didn't draw hate. Even if it does involve two for zeroing yourself, haha. Modern is a format where you have to pick your spots. Most decks are going to have things that they just straight up lose to. I realize there are plenty of dangerous enchantments out there. I can usually fetch around moon and worship has become pretty rare. I think this card is the best choice for it's slot (nature's claim, seal, naturalize, fragmentize, natural state).
I do think you've got to be careful tinkering around with the hexproof list. Something does well online and everyone goes crazy for it. If the deck has 4 rancor, coronet, and ethereal then there is a decent chance the person just drew gas and ran opponents over. I guess what I'm saying is there are some weekends on mtgo that I could play 10 copies of Emrakul in hexproof and still just win off the core engine that the deck has. I'd be real careful getting too cute with some of the flex cards and costing yourself wins. I think over sideboarding is another huge problem people have. It happens almost every time I watch hexproof on camera at a gp. Cards brought in from the board that don't give you a massive advantage or defend your strategy, should stay right in the box. It's so easy to water the deck down and cost yourself wins. I would love to see hexproof sneak in a gp top 8. Sometimes I feel like it hasn't happened because people dick around with the lists too much and don't play it for what it is.
Solid report; thanks for going into detail on those two. I've added DD to my SB already, but haven't had the chance to get out to an FNM yet and see how it plays. Same goes for Cartouche, I've tinkered with my list to fit in two copies main board and haven't had an opportunity to play with it. About how many games did you get to play with Cartouche? It looks fantastic on paper and I too had high hopes for a functional new toy. At any rate, I 100% agree with your take on replacing our Umbras; totem armor is such an underrated effect. I haven't ran Unflinching Courage in quite some time, so my list usually has 2-3 flex spots which are always fluid; before I replaced them with Cartouche, I had 2 Gryff's Boon in those spots. If you decide to continue running Cartouche, I'd be interested to hear about any updates or if it continues to underwhelm.
I've been playing Bogles for a few months, in particular for Modern FMN tournaments once a month. My list is pretty classical, with a mix of Hyena/Spider/Cartouche
I chose to play 2 Cartouche MD because my meta is pretty heavy on Liliana and Blessed Alliance MD, and these two allows easier game 1 against Jund/Esper /Jeskai Control. Works pretty well so far.
My main concern is the Sideboard. My meta is composed of Merfolk/Dredge/Esper Control/Jund/Eldrazi Tron/CoCo/Storm/Egg combo, and unfortunately Infect and some aggro R/G with cheap boosts and prowess creatures.
These last three are the issue, and I really struggle to beat them. R/G aggro are a bit too fast for me, Infect is Infect, and Egg Combo gas a dedicated SB to counter the common answers (Leave no trace to counter RiP and Stony Silence)
Thus, I tried to design a SB answering all these decks, but I struggle to reduce it to 15 :
I'm liking that new HoD card 'Solemnity' for sideboard in Bogles... messes up infect and abzan company decks
Infect creatures can't deal damage if it's out... You don't lose life and you don't gain counters... Another way to hose affinity (inkmoths and modular creatures), devoted Druid CANNOT get counters so can't activate... Whoop woop!
Bogles always had a hard time with those. Everything else it's pretty good with.
Apart from living end but we just side in RiP
Oh also, solemnity knocks out pyromancer ascension in storm too... Another bad match up for Bogles!
Thoughts?
While Solemnity negates the Devoted Druid combo, it actually helps the Viscera Seer/Kitchen Finks combo, as it acts as a Melira in that situation. Also, Storm hasn't used Pyromancer Ascension since Baral came out, so no real effect there. Everything else, looks pretty good. Other popular cards it stops are Walking Ballista, Raging Ravine, and Aether Vial.
I'm liking that new HoD card 'Solemnity' for sideboard in Bogles... messes up infect and abzan company decks
Infect creatures can't deal damage if it's out... You don't lose life and you don't gain counters... Another way to hose affinity (inkmoths and modular creatures), devoted Druid CANNOT get counters so can't activate... Whoop woop!
Bogles always had a hard time with those. Everything else it's pretty good with.
Apart from living end but we just side in RiP
Oh also, solemnity knocks out pyromancer ascension in storm too... Another bad match up for Bogles!
Thoughts?
While Solemnity negates the Devoted Druid combo, it actually helps the Viscera Seer/Kitchen Finks combo, as it acts as a Melira in that situation. Also, Storm hasn't used Pyromancer Ascension since Baral came out, so no real effect there. Everything else, looks pretty good. Other popular cards it stops are Walking Ballista, Raging Ravine, Engineered Explosives, and Aether Vial.
I'm liking that new HoD card 'Solemnity' for sideboard in Bogles... messes up infect and abzan company decks
Infect creatures can't deal damage if it's out... You don't lose life and you don't gain counters... Another way to hose affinity (inkmoths and modular creatures), devoted Druid CANNOT get counters so can't activate... Whoop woop!
Bogles always had a hard time with those. Everything else it's pretty good with.
Apart from living end but we just side in RiP
Oh also, solemnity knocks out pyromancer ascension in storm too... Another bad match up for Bogles!
Thoughts?
I think it would've been a no-brainer SB inclusion had it been printed 1-2 years ago when Infect was regularly pushing our ***** in. However, Infect has all but died along with the Probe ban; it's still one of our worst matchups, but unless it's a meta call, I wouldn't dedicate a SB slot to deal with it. Also as someone already mentioned, Storm no longer needs Pyromancer Ascension. Modern Elves players are really digging on the Devoted Druid combo as of late, so it would definitely be relevant for that matchup. I really like the card, but unfortunately if feels like it was printed two years too late; I wouldn't be surprised however to see it become a powerful answer as the Modern meta evolves.
Solid report; thanks for going into detail on those two. I've added DD to my SB already, but haven't had the chance to get out to an FNM yet and see how it plays. Same goes for Cartouche, I've tinkered with my list to fit in two copies main board and haven't had an opportunity to play with it. About how many games did you get to play with Cartouche? It looks fantastic on paper and I too had high hopes for a functional new toy. At any rate, I 100% agree with your take on replacing our Umbras; totem armor is such an underrated effect. I haven't ran Unflinching Courage in quite some time, so my list usually has 2-3 flex spots which are always fluid; before I replaced them with Cartouche, I had 2 Gryff's Boon in those spots. If you decide to continue running Cartouche, I'd be interested to hear about any updates or if it continues to underwhelm.
I played in 15 leagues or so. Maybe 75 matches. I wish I had time to play more but work is just too much this time of year. I had two copies of cartouche in the list I tested. Everything else was stock. Testing sucks, haha. You play 150 games, only see the card your trying to test probably 30% of the time. And of that 30%, 40% of those are non blow out, actual instances of how the card performs. I'd say there were probably 30 individual games where I got a feel for what it could do. I noticed the following:
-It was fantastic again burn. Having a chump blocker and adding power to the hex creature was boss. Getting their Guide chumped and getting hammered on the backswing is not where burn wants to be.
-It didn't help at all against Tron/Eldrazi Tron. This is where I was most disappointed. This matchup has always frustrated me. I hate Tron. All variations of it. The sweepers hit me just as hard. The 1/1 soldier just got run over. Occasionally hopping in front of a Thoughtknot and saving a few damage. I always felt inclined to try and save the cartouche to rebuild with but you need a creature to even get it going so I always had to just roll it out there.
-I try to make a habit to save a fetch land whenever I can to rebuild with Arbor if I have no creatures in hand. In two of the games I was able to fetch the arber and cartouche it on the following turn. It put an enormous amount of pressure out there after a sweep. This is where it really shined. Both times I drew into a decent aura as well and rebuilt instantly. It definitely has value there.
-Never was I in a scenario where I could fight through blessed alliance with it. I'm sure it happens here and there but it's a stretch.
-It does add a lot of power quickly in the early turns. The any combination of Cartouche and Rancor/Ethereal in my opening hand usually tilted things pretty hard in my favor. As I mentioned before, the token is a bit of a lightning rod. Giving a lot of opponents something to fire a removal spell at that normally would have just gone to waste.
-Was dying to test it against a Jund variant but I never saw it. I pounded Death's Shadow twice and when 1-1 against Abzan but didn't see Cartouche in any of the games. When you actually WANT to play Jund, it's no where to be found. Go figure.
I guess my overall review is positive. I was a little disappointed until I thought about the cards in was competing for a spot with. I think it outclasses most of the other flex aura slots depending on the meta. As for DD.. Man, I've got nothing bad to say. You can really get a feel for why living end is so powerful when you cycle that baby a few times. Especially at instant speed. It feels like you're cheating. At least it did for me.
I think Solemnity is totally unplayable. Stick with Cage and Stony Silence. Like you said, maybe 2 years ago. I'm all set with giving my abzan opponent a loop of never ending kitchen finks and a combo piece. At 3 mana, whatever you are bringing in better be a game changer because it's coming down late. I always like to keep in mind that a card as powerful as Blood Moon is usually too slow at 3 mana.
Oh absolutely, man. It's definitely a grind; actually one of the reasons I've considered playing MTGO, but I'm on Mac, so they made the decision not to for me haha. I appreciate the breakdown; I'm looking forward to trying out Cartouche for myself. One positive to playing Open the Armory is that it gives you the freedom to be a little more pliable with the flex spots, albeit at the cost of slight card disadvantage. It's nice being able to have a tool box of sorts; I've actually found that control or any opponent playing counters will typically use them on OtA, trying to prevent tutoring for Daybreak Coronet I suppose? Either way, it's great casting OtA, getting in countered, and following up with Daybreak we've been holding in our hand. Anyway, I think you did well putting it into perspective when comparing it to our other options.
In regards to solemnity, I've actually been thinking about it lately and I'm curious if it could have some merit against decks who run Chalice on 1. As you mentioned, a cmc of 3 is a hefty price for us unless it makes a significant impact and I still don't think this has that kind of impact, but I'm interested in seeing where/if it lands in Modern. On another note, the interaction between solemnity and phyrexian unlife is hilarious.
Yeah, access to mtgo is really handy. I prefer paper magic but you can play so many games in such a small amount of time online.
I play with OTA on occasion. It's a fun card for sure. If I had to play a game for a million dollars it probably wouldn't be in my 75 but it's definitely useful. I think modern has actually slowed down a little since I tested it last. I can remember thinking that is was a touch slow in some of the matches. I did like it though. I'm not sure slight card disadvantage is the right way to think about it. I think it's a little more like Streetwraith, Bauble, or Ancient Stirrings. Just increasing your odds of getting your best cards into your hand asap.
I hadn't even thought of the combo with unlife, haha. Ugh. I'm sure the pro's will streamline that combo and fit it into a deck somewhere. Hopefully it won't lead to people chalking their boards with enchantment removal.
Yeah, access to mtgo is really handy. I prefer paper magic but you can play so many games in such a small amount of time online.
I play with OTA on occasion. It's a fun card for sure. If I had to play a game for a million dollars it probably wouldn't be in my 75 but it's definitely useful. I think modern has actually slowed down a little since I tested it last. I can remember thinking that is was a touch slow in some of the matches. I did like it though. I'm not sure slight card disadvantage is the right way to think about it. I think it's a little more like Streetwraith, Bauble, or Ancient Stirrings. Just increasing your odds of getting your best cards into your hand asap.
I hadn't even thought of the combo with unlife, haha. Ugh. I'm sure the pro's will streamline that combo and fit it into a deck somewhere. Hopefully it won't lead to people chalking their boards with enchantment removal.
Well, I tried the 4 mainboard Leyline of Sanctity on Friday night and I didn't like it.
Round 1 vs. Grixis Death's Shadow. He does turn 1 discard, turn 2 discard. He doesn't find a threat and my anemic beats gets there. In the next game, he does turn 1 discard, turn 2 discard. But he gets 2 Death's Shadow after that and my Bogle and Kor Spiritdancer end up chumping. I had 3 turns to draw an Aura to get some cards via Spiritdancer, but I drew Leyline of Sanctity, Leyline of Sanctity, and Rest in Peace. In the final game, he does turns 1 and 2 discard again and just gets his 3rd threat after I killed a Death's Shadow and Gurmag Angler with Path to Exile and Dismember. His Death's Shadow gets there while I watch my Bogle stay a 1/1 for 3 turns in a row. An Aura would have been nice. 1-2.
Round 2 vs. Grixis Death's Shadow. I have Leyline of Sanctity and it makes the game very tough for him. He doesn't have pressure, so I assume he kept on disruption. My Bogle gets some Auras this time and gets there. In the next game, it is similar, but his Death's Shadow is big. However, I am swinging with a large Bogle and gaining life to stay out of lethal range. He keeps chumping with Snapcaster Mages to stay off lethal. He goes for an attack with an 11/11 Shadow. I am at 21, so I guess an odd Temur Battle Rage would get there, so I block since I still have an Umbra to save my dude. He doesn't and scoops. 2-0.
Round 3 vs. Merfolk. I get a solid Bogle going and he just gets some Silvergill Adepts. I slap on Daybreak Coronet after drawing a 2nd one for the turn. He scoops. In the next game, his pressure is too quick and I took a turn off to cast Kor Spiritdancer and Aura to hope to draw a 4th land. I never did and his pressure came out quickly, taxing my Path to Exile and Dismember, which I couldn't use in the end. He barely gets lethal since I'm at 1 and can't cast another Bogle to prevent 1. In the final game, I Bogle into double Aura. He kept a 1 lander and he scooped after not finding one on turn 2. He felt like the game was pretty much over at that point. 2-1.
Round 4 vs. UW Control. In the first game, I had reasonable pressure, but Detention Sphere slowed me down, then Cryptic Command my Umbra into Supreme Verdict. I rebuild with Bogle and the Rancor that was on the now dead one. But he plays another Supreme Verdict and then has a bunch of Cryptic Command, Mana Leak, and Disallow. I made a mistake of playing a Kor Spiritdancer that I drew into Mana Leak with only 2 mana up. That was a big mistake because I had time and I had 7 lands in play. In the next game, he just plays Spell Snare on turn 2 into Detention Sphere into Supreme Verdict into Cryptic Command into Elspeth, Sun's Champion. I have Spiritdancer in hand, but not enough mana to get Daybreak Coronet on it. Probably didn't matter with the Elspeth out anyway. Probably had 2 more Cryptic and 2 Snapcaster Mage in hand. He closed this one out quickly. 0-2.
I finish 2-2. I didn't like the Leyline because I felt it gave even more variance to a deck that already has a lot. I didn't draw it in 3 games in Round 1 and lost. I did in Round 2 and stomped him. I considered mulliganing to it in the first round, but I hoped to dodge the same play 3 games in a row, to draw well, or hope he didn't draw all of that discard into Shadows. Those hedges didn't work out so well for me, lol.
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Legacy - Sneak Show, BR Reanimator, Miracles, UW Stoneblade
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/ Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander - Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build) (dead format for me)
Kor Spiritdancer is better. If you absolutely want a 5th of the same effect you could use a Sram, but I wouldn't recommend it. You don't really need any more creatures after 8 Bogles and 4 Spiritdancers, and even if you did Silthana Ledgewalkers might be better than a 5th Spiritdancer.
So I'm a combined 1-9 with Bogles over the last couple of months.. I love this deck but until Deaths Shadow is less of a factor Bogles is hot garbage... Having to run main deck leylines to beat Shadow isn't the problem... it hurts but not that much... the real problem is that most sideboard cards that are good against Shadow are good against us... So many Deflecting Palms and blessed alliances and chalice of the Void out there... hell yesterday I got wrecked by Golgari Charm... I love Bogles and will anxiously wait for a meta game shift...
So, long have I insisted that Storm was a great matchup for us. I used to play against it pre-Baral, and it gets absolutely hosed by Leylines and RiP. Now that Baral is out, my opinion is starting to shift.
Game 1 against Storm, I get the turn two Rancor Ethereal Armor nut draw. He's fetched rather aggressively, fetch/shocking himself twice. Now at nine, he plays Baral. On my turn three, I Cartouche of Strength him and swing for the proverbial win.
Game 2, and on the play: he looks at my turn one, and plays a ritual into Blood Moon. I detest not being able to play magic because Wizards refuses to ban a card that wins games on its own.
Game 3, I fetch for a basic forest turn one, worrying about my hand of Hyena Umbra and Ethereal Armor. Thankfully, I DID get a Leyline. Drawing into a RiP, I feel like the game is pretty much locked in. While I have yet to get an aura on the Bogle, I DO have a Path to hit Electromancer with. After he casts a Wear/Tear on the RiP, I path my second Bogle in order to start throwing auras. This turns out to be a mistake as the next turn, he storms off and flashes back Wear/Tear for the win.
In retrospect, I don't think either of us remembered that Gifts blanks on a hexproof opponent. I should have also pathed his Electroman, but it was certainly a learning experience.
I didn't expect Cartouche of Strength to be good even against Storm. It constantly surprises me. Storm also seems to be in a good place right now. While Baral and Shock Man are the epitome of "fast mana" when put in the perspective of generating colorless mana per spellcast, the deck doesn't seem overly strong. What lost me the match was Blood Moon, plain and simple. Stupid card.
Almost finished with my Bogles deck finally. Just missing 1 Coronet, 2 Spiritdancer, 1 hyena umbra, and 1 spirit mantle. Looking for suggestions on what to slip into their places. I'm planning 1 open the armory in the place of the coronet, basically a coronet tutor, and 2 Sram in place of the Spiritdancers. Just not sure what to put in for the other 2 cards. I'm trying to trade for them this week so I have them for friday. I don't plan on making these substitutions permanent, just enough to make the deck playable friday before I go on vacation. Once I get back my funds will be clear enough I can just order what I need.
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Standard: GR Pummeler
Modern: Mono-Red Control, Lantern Control, Eldrazi Taxes, Skred Infect
Pauper: Affinity
EDH: Gaddock Teeg Kithkin Tribal, Meren
Legacy: 8 Rack, Omnitell (Both in progress)
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Maindeck Leyline of Sanctity: The problem in general with this is that while it's good in some matchups it's completely dead in others. Also, I feel like they make mulligan decisions a bit awkward when you don't know what you're playing against. Still, they may be good enough in the meta that running 2 or so maindeck is worth it. The 3rd and 4th copies come with some diminishing returns since drawing multiples is useless, so I doubt you'd want to go higher than that. An added upside is that there are some decks like Storm and Ad Nauseam where they're actually great pre-SB (and pretty bad post-SB).
Ghostly Prison: Not sure why people seem to like this card. It's bad against Death's Shadow as they can usually afford to pay for the one creature once they want to start attacking. It's bad against Elves as they get so much mana anyway. It's bad against Burn since after turn 3 they don't really need to attack much. In almost any case you will slow yourself down with at least as much as you slow your opponent, even if you manage to cast it which is far from a given with 20 lands. In the cases where the card is actually good, such as against token decks or some affinity draws, the matchup is already so great that devoting sideboard space for it is questionable.
Mana base without Horizon Canopy: Canopy definitely helps a lot but the deck works without it. Lands that come into play tapped are really weak in the deck, you're better off adding as many fetches as you have or even Brushland instead of Canopy Vista. So for example 1 Dryad Arbor/2 Basics/4 Razorverge Thicket/4 Temple Garden/4 Windswept Heath/4 Wooded Foothills/1 Flooded Strand would be my non-Canopy mana base.
The "TCGPlayer list" is actually my list from the Modern Challenge premiere: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/652726#online, so that's pretty much the list I would recommend. At GP Copenhagen I ended up swapping a Cartouche for a Spirit Mantle as the card has been very good against Death's Shadow and is just generally very decent right now. I'm also not entirely sure about the Natural States, maybe Nature's Claim/Seal of Primordium is better or you could run a mix. Sometimes I also feel like I'd like to fit a 3rd Rest in Peace and a 3rd Gaddock Teeg, this is something you could do if you decide to run 2 Leylines maindeck maybe.
Finally, anything less that 4 Path to Exile maindeck is a huge mistake. I'm not even sure what the argument is for running less, I cannot imagine a local metagame where it would be correct.
RUBDa ShadowBUR
I like having two in the MB. Drawing into multiples post-board is god awful, but having two in the main makes a real difference in the current meta for easy game one wins. Even if we don't have it in our opening hand, it can still potentially provide a ton of value when hard casted so I've found them to be a worthwhile inclusion. Especially since the odds of drawing both are very small.
Link to Discord server where anybody from MTGS can keep up with thread topics while everything is being sorted out with the new site.
cartouche of solidarity has been a bit of a disappointment for me. Admittedly, I had pretty high hopes for it so you can factor that in. I like the card. I think it is absolutely playable. Most times for me it has felt like a bit of a win more card. Not every time but alot of games. I felt like I only got real value out of it against jund and burn in a handful of games. Where it really underwhelmed for me was against sweepers. Felt like a situation that was already bad got way worse. Other times it had a bit of a Spiritdancer feel when opponents fired a kill spell at it that normally would have just rotted in their hand. Having said all that, it definitely competes for a spot(s) in the deck. I do love how it adds two power to the board. I think it's right in that flex aura spot (Keen sense, unflinching courage, spirit link, spirit mantle, griff's boon). It can absolutely not replace any copies of hyena umbra unless the meta becomes totally scewed from sweepers. And personally out of the flex auras, I'm always always always picking cards that push damage through (Masntle, Boon, Courage) or Keen sense.
Dissenter's Deliverance. I've been waiting years for a card like this. I have loved it. The two mana cost gets around chalice and the ability to cycle when the opponent doesn't draw any hate makes it the best available option, for me. I played nature's claim in the past. Again, to try and get some value when the opponent didn't draw hate. Even if it does involve two for zeroing yourself, haha. Modern is a format where you have to pick your spots. Most decks are going to have things that they just straight up lose to. I realize there are plenty of dangerous enchantments out there. I can usually fetch around moon and worship has become pretty rare. I think this card is the best choice for it's slot (nature's claim, seal, naturalize, fragmentize, natural state).
I do think you've got to be careful tinkering around with the hexproof list. Something does well online and everyone goes crazy for it. If the deck has 4 rancor, coronet, and ethereal then there is a decent chance the person just drew gas and ran opponents over. I guess what I'm saying is there are some weekends on mtgo that I could play 10 copies of Emrakul in hexproof and still just win off the core engine that the deck has. I'd be real careful getting too cute with some of the flex cards and costing yourself wins. I think over sideboarding is another huge problem people have. It happens almost every time I watch hexproof on camera at a gp. Cards brought in from the board that don't give you a massive advantage or defend your strategy, should stay right in the box. It's so easy to water the deck down and cost yourself wins. I would love to see hexproof sneak in a gp top 8. Sometimes I feel like it hasn't happened because people dick around with the lists too much and don't play it for what it is.
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I've been playing Bogles for a few months, in particular for Modern FMN tournaments once a month. My list is pretty classical, with a mix of Hyena/Spider/Cartouche
I chose to play 2 Cartouche MD because my meta is pretty heavy on Liliana and Blessed Alliance MD, and these two allows easier game 1 against Jund/Esper /Jeskai Control. Works pretty well so far.
My main concern is the Sideboard. My meta is composed of Merfolk/Dredge/Esper Control/Jund/Eldrazi Tron/CoCo/Storm/Egg combo, and unfortunately Infect and some aggro R/G with cheap boosts and prowess creatures.
These last three are the issue, and I really struggle to beat them. R/G aggro are a bit too fast for me, Infect is Infect, and Egg Combo gas a dedicated SB to counter the common answers (Leave no trace to counter RiP and Stony Silence)
Thus, I tried to design a SB answering all these decks, but I struggle to reduce it to 15 :
3 Grafdigger's Cage
2 Eidolon of Rhetoric
2 Gaddock Teeg
2 Relic of Progenitus
2 Seal of Primordium
2 Spellskite
2 Stony Silence
This SB currently contains 19 cards, but I just don't know what to cut ...
2 Brushland
1 Forest
2 Plains
4 Razorverge Thicket
4 Temple Garden
4 Windswept Heath
2 Wooded Foothills
2 Cartouche of Solidarity
4 Daybreak Coronet
4 Ethereal Armor
2 Gryff's Boon
3 Hyena Umbra
4 Rancor
3 Spider Umbra
1 Spirit Link
2 Spirit Mantle
3 Path to Exile
//Sorceries
1 Open the Armory
//Creatures
4 Gladecover Scout
3 Kor Spiritdancer
1 Silhana Ledgewalker
4 Slippery Bogle
While Solemnity negates the Devoted Druid combo, it actually helps the Viscera Seer/Kitchen Finks combo, as it acts as a Melira in that situation. Also, Storm hasn't used Pyromancer Ascension since Baral came out, so no real effect there. Everything else, looks pretty good. Other popular cards it stops are Walking Ballista, Raging Ravine, and Aether Vial.
While Solemnity negates the Devoted Druid combo, it actually helps the Viscera Seer/Kitchen Finks combo, as it acts as a Melira in that situation. Also, Storm hasn't used Pyromancer Ascension since Baral came out, so no real effect there. Everything else, looks pretty good. Other popular cards it stops are Walking Ballista, Raging Ravine, Engineered Explosives, and Aether Vial.
I think it would've been a no-brainer SB inclusion had it been printed 1-2 years ago when Infect was regularly pushing our ***** in. However, Infect has all but died along with the Probe ban; it's still one of our worst matchups, but unless it's a meta call, I wouldn't dedicate a SB slot to deal with it. Also as someone already mentioned, Storm no longer needs Pyromancer Ascension. Modern Elves players are really digging on the Devoted Druid combo as of late, so it would definitely be relevant for that matchup. I really like the card, but unfortunately if feels like it was printed two years too late; I wouldn't be surprised however to see it become a powerful answer as the Modern meta evolves.
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I played in 15 leagues or so. Maybe 75 matches. I wish I had time to play more but work is just too much this time of year. I had two copies of cartouche in the list I tested. Everything else was stock. Testing sucks, haha. You play 150 games, only see the card your trying to test probably 30% of the time. And of that 30%, 40% of those are non blow out, actual instances of how the card performs. I'd say there were probably 30 individual games where I got a feel for what it could do. I noticed the following:
-It was fantastic again burn. Having a chump blocker and adding power to the hex creature was boss. Getting their Guide chumped and getting hammered on the backswing is not where burn wants to be.
-It didn't help at all against Tron/Eldrazi Tron. This is where I was most disappointed. This matchup has always frustrated me. I hate Tron. All variations of it. The sweepers hit me just as hard. The 1/1 soldier just got run over. Occasionally hopping in front of a Thoughtknot and saving a few damage. I always felt inclined to try and save the cartouche to rebuild with but you need a creature to even get it going so I always had to just roll it out there.
-I try to make a habit to save a fetch land whenever I can to rebuild with Arbor if I have no creatures in hand. In two of the games I was able to fetch the arber and cartouche it on the following turn. It put an enormous amount of pressure out there after a sweep. This is where it really shined. Both times I drew into a decent aura as well and rebuilt instantly. It definitely has value there.
-Never was I in a scenario where I could fight through blessed alliance with it. I'm sure it happens here and there but it's a stretch.
-It does add a lot of power quickly in the early turns. The any combination of Cartouche and Rancor/Ethereal in my opening hand usually tilted things pretty hard in my favor. As I mentioned before, the token is a bit of a lightning rod. Giving a lot of opponents something to fire a removal spell at that normally would have just gone to waste.
-Was dying to test it against a Jund variant but I never saw it. I pounded Death's Shadow twice and when 1-1 against Abzan but didn't see Cartouche in any of the games. When you actually WANT to play Jund, it's no where to be found. Go figure.
I guess my overall review is positive. I was a little disappointed until I thought about the cards in was competing for a spot with. I think it outclasses most of the other flex aura slots depending on the meta. As for DD.. Man, I've got nothing bad to say. You can really get a feel for why living end is so powerful when you cycle that baby a few times. Especially at instant speed. It feels like you're cheating. At least it did for me.
I think Solemnity is totally unplayable. Stick with Cage and Stony Silence. Like you said, maybe 2 years ago. I'm all set with giving my abzan opponent a loop of never ending kitchen finks and a combo piece. At 3 mana, whatever you are bringing in better be a game changer because it's coming down late. I always like to keep in mind that a card as powerful as Blood Moon is usually too slow at 3 mana.
In regards to solemnity, I've actually been thinking about it lately and I'm curious if it could have some merit against decks who run Chalice on 1. As you mentioned, a cmc of 3 is a hefty price for us unless it makes a significant impact and I still don't think this has that kind of impact, but I'm interested in seeing where/if it lands in Modern. On another note, the interaction between solemnity and phyrexian unlife is hilarious.
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I play with OTA on occasion. It's a fun card for sure. If I had to play a game for a million dollars it probably wouldn't be in my 75 but it's definitely useful. I think modern has actually slowed down a little since I tested it last. I can remember thinking that is was a touch slow in some of the matches. I did like it though. I'm not sure slight card disadvantage is the right way to think about it. I think it's a little more like Streetwraith, Bauble, or Ancient Stirrings. Just increasing your odds of getting your best cards into your hand asap.
I hadn't even thought of the combo with unlife, haha. Ugh. I'm sure the pro's will streamline that combo and fit it into a deck somewhere. Hopefully it won't lead to people chalking their boards with enchantment removal.
Egads, that would be a pain in the ass.... main deck privileged position?
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Round 1 vs. Grixis Death's Shadow. He does turn 1 discard, turn 2 discard. He doesn't find a threat and my anemic beats gets there. In the next game, he does turn 1 discard, turn 2 discard. But he gets 2 Death's Shadow after that and my Bogle and Kor Spiritdancer end up chumping. I had 3 turns to draw an Aura to get some cards via Spiritdancer, but I drew Leyline of Sanctity, Leyline of Sanctity, and Rest in Peace. In the final game, he does turns 1 and 2 discard again and just gets his 3rd threat after I killed a Death's Shadow and Gurmag Angler with Path to Exile and Dismember. His Death's Shadow gets there while I watch my Bogle stay a 1/1 for 3 turns in a row. An Aura would have been nice. 1-2.
Round 2 vs. Grixis Death's Shadow. I have Leyline of Sanctity and it makes the game very tough for him. He doesn't have pressure, so I assume he kept on disruption. My Bogle gets some Auras this time and gets there. In the next game, it is similar, but his Death's Shadow is big. However, I am swinging with a large Bogle and gaining life to stay out of lethal range. He keeps chumping with Snapcaster Mages to stay off lethal. He goes for an attack with an 11/11 Shadow. I am at 21, so I guess an odd Temur Battle Rage would get there, so I block since I still have an Umbra to save my dude. He doesn't and scoops. 2-0.
Round 3 vs. Merfolk. I get a solid Bogle going and he just gets some Silvergill Adepts. I slap on Daybreak Coronet after drawing a 2nd one for the turn. He scoops. In the next game, his pressure is too quick and I took a turn off to cast Kor Spiritdancer and Aura to hope to draw a 4th land. I never did and his pressure came out quickly, taxing my Path to Exile and Dismember, which I couldn't use in the end. He barely gets lethal since I'm at 1 and can't cast another Bogle to prevent 1. In the final game, I Bogle into double Aura. He kept a 1 lander and he scooped after not finding one on turn 2. He felt like the game was pretty much over at that point. 2-1.
Round 4 vs. UW Control. In the first game, I had reasonable pressure, but Detention Sphere slowed me down, then Cryptic Command my Umbra into Supreme Verdict. I rebuild with Bogle and the Rancor that was on the now dead one. But he plays another Supreme Verdict and then has a bunch of Cryptic Command, Mana Leak, and Disallow. I made a mistake of playing a Kor Spiritdancer that I drew into Mana Leak with only 2 mana up. That was a big mistake because I had time and I had 7 lands in play. In the next game, he just plays Spell Snare on turn 2 into Detention Sphere into Supreme Verdict into Cryptic Command into Elspeth, Sun's Champion. I have Spiritdancer in hand, but not enough mana to get Daybreak Coronet on it. Probably didn't matter with the Elspeth out anyway. Probably had 2 more Cryptic and 2 Snapcaster Mage in hand. He closed this one out quickly. 0-2.
I finish 2-2. I didn't like the Leyline because I felt it gave even more variance to a deck that already has a lot. I didn't draw it in 3 games in Round 1 and lost. I did in Round 2 and stomped him. I considered mulliganing to it in the first round, but I hoped to dodge the same play 3 games in a row, to draw well, or hope he didn't draw all of that discard into Shadows. Those hedges didn't work out so well for me, lol.
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/
Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander -
Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build)(dead format for me)Kor Spiritdancer is better. If you absolutely want a 5th of the same effect you could use a Sram, but I wouldn't recommend it. You don't really need any more creatures after 8 Bogles and 4 Spiritdancers, and even if you did Silthana Ledgewalkers might be better than a 5th Spiritdancer.
Game 1 against Storm, I get the turn two Rancor Ethereal Armor nut draw. He's fetched rather aggressively, fetch/shocking himself twice. Now at nine, he plays Baral. On my turn three, I Cartouche of Strength him and swing for the proverbial win.
Game 2, and on the play: he looks at my turn one, and plays a ritual into Blood Moon. I detest not being able to play magic because Wizards refuses to ban a card that wins games on its own.
Game 3, I fetch for a basic forest turn one, worrying about my hand of Hyena Umbra and Ethereal Armor. Thankfully, I DID get a Leyline. Drawing into a RiP, I feel like the game is pretty much locked in. While I have yet to get an aura on the Bogle, I DO have a Path to hit Electromancer with. After he casts a Wear/Tear on the RiP, I path my second Bogle in order to start throwing auras. This turns out to be a mistake as the next turn, he storms off and flashes back Wear/Tear for the win.
In retrospect, I don't think either of us remembered that Gifts blanks on a hexproof opponent. I should have also pathed his Electroman, but it was certainly a learning experience.
I didn't expect Cartouche of Strength to be good even against Storm. It constantly surprises me. Storm also seems to be in a good place right now. While Baral and Shock Man are the epitome of "fast mana" when put in the perspective of generating colorless mana per spellcast, the deck doesn't seem overly strong. What lost me the match was Blood Moon, plain and simple. Stupid card.
Modern: Mono-Red Control, Lantern Control, Eldrazi Taxes, Skred Infect
Pauper: Affinity
EDH: Gaddock Teeg Kithkin Tribal, Meren
Legacy: 8 Rack, Omnitell (Both in progress)