Honestly I want a return to tempo efficiency in the blue guilds of ravnica this time around. Original ravnica had a solid aggro-control/tempo slant for it's blue designs, and I think a return to those sort of creatures would be a beautiful spot to find new modern playables. Also I saw the new dimir promotional banner and it had a faerie on it, so I'm hoping super hard that it's actually a good card
On the topic of finishers, I've been running white sun's zenith because of instant speed capabilities while also shuffling itself back in, to be searched out again by the engine of azcanta jace and teferi. It has often been vital in closing games for me, in part due to the fact that the tokens are 2/2s instead of 1/1s. I dont think anyone here will test it; but Im saying dont be opposed, because I have used zenith defensively at one stage of the game and then offensively when my mana reserves were extensive.
I think there could alternatively be a set that comes out right before the scheduled rotation of standard with cards of the modern power level. I say this because the powerlevel of modern came from standards of old, so I think it would make standard a bit more interesting to multi-format players. You give players a chance to get that old standard card excitement again, as well as give brewers a bit of efficiency, with a small enough timeframe that it doesnt ruin the standard format. It would be like a "core set" that was for advanced players and rotates with the next coming ""block"" set. Or how they did the coldsnap set and added it to standard for a short period of time. This also keeps design in check with cards that are too powerful, because it would have to spike the power level in standard only slightly
Though if that cant work I'm all for a modern supplemental set.
I think blue and black together should be able to handle problem nonland permanents tbh. I mean the concept of recoil is ingenious where blue and black representation in the card is that they work together in their on-brand methods to get past obstacles-blue bounces the threat and black pressures the hand to potentially remove the threat. So we have this card Consign//oblivion However the mana cost of that card is very clunky and unlikely to resolve actual problems in modern (or standard, as I havent seen it in successful lists). My point is, I think these other colors SHOULD be able to deal with almost everything, its just that you have to play through the limitations of the color identity from a design standpoint.
Creeping tar pit can handle planeswalkers, and the package of infernal reckonings plus steel sabotages can truly help. I have damping sphere swapping places with flaying tendrils sometimes though, so it depends on the vibe of the competitive atmosphere
This deck doesnt flood very often. We have access to 7-8 manlands to pressure the opponent with. Serum Visions is what I was using to dig for some time now, but it can be just as big a strategic speedbump as azcanta, so I just forego the card draw or cantrips since they arent on bodies on the board or useful to stay alive like cryptic. My philosophy has been that drawpower in modern is too slow to really keep up with the format (ponder or preordain would be nice imo), but some of the discord faeries players use opt.
People have tried azcanta and honestly even from a theory perspective azcanta is going to slow the deck down further as well as impulse you past important creatures after it transforms. If you are going for control faeries thats a different story, but faeries is a strategy that is dependant upon applying pressure, and inconsistent creature presence is not where we want to be
I actually agree. But my focus is more centralized to dimir than grixis, you guys (non GDS grixis) probably need another efficient earlygame value threat to race with honestly, but I do think baleful strix would help so many decks in modern (i have an academy ruins just waiting).
How I have always approached every spoiler season.
can we NOT please?
Though if that cant work I'm all for a modern supplemental set.
3x Creeping Tar Pit
3x Darkslick Shores
5x Island
4x Mutavault
4x Polluted Delta
1x Scalding Tarn
1x Secluded Glen
1x Sunken Ruins
1x Swamp
1x Watery Grave
4x Cryptic Command
1x Doom Blade
4x Fatal Push
1x Go for the Throat
1x Mana Leak
1x Logic Knot
4x Snapcaster Mage
4x Spellstutter Sprite
2x Vendilion Clique
4x Bitterblossom
2x Collective Brutality
4x Inquisition of Kozilek
2x Thoughtseize
2x Damnation
1x Disdainful Stroke
2x Engineered Explosives
2x Flaying Tendrils
1x Echoing truth
1x Hurkyl's Recall
2x Negate
2x Infernal Reckoning
2x Steel Sabotage
I actually agree. But my focus is more centralized to dimir than grixis, you guys (non GDS grixis) probably need another efficient earlygame value threat to race with honestly, but I do think baleful strix would help so many decks in modern (i have an academy ruins just waiting).