Prognostic Sphinx is a great defensive creature, but im skeptical to call it a true finisher. Your opponent will try to get wide as soon as you play this card and it is a fairly slow clock on its own. Pearl Lake Ancient ,while expensive, is much better in control mirrors and more along the lines of Aetherling. Empty the pits is great but can get pretty solidly hosed by bile blightanger of the gods and the like.
High Sentinels of Arashin is probably better than heliod in my opinion. As even though it dies to removal it can be a restoration angel type body in a pinch against aggro.
necropolis fiend is the hardest to evaluate without playing with the card. But definitely seems great.
I definitely think a few different styles of Mono-white with a bestow base being viable (mostly due to the huge tempo swing a well timed gods willing can grant). Although i'm not sold on soldier of the pantheon as he just dosent seem to fight what other decks are doing in the early game very well (such as goblin rabblemastersylvan caryatidor even raise the alarm although if you want to go low to the ground (anger of the gods be damned!) with something along the lines of Phalanx Leader. Something like:
anyone else thinking scapeshift may be the deck that they are looking at here? They wouldnt be touching non-land staples and a influx of a remand reprint would be a blessing (as its sitting about $15 right now). Its a very powerful and straight forward deck to play for players new to the format, and would allow them to spend alot of the rare slots on lands. (noteably Scalding tarn, Misty Rainforest the 2 most sought after fetchs).
Other possibilites is robots, boggle or twin? I dont think they will be trying to emulate jund, pod, tron or control given the nessesity for mythics/Rares slots in those decks. But we can always hope for a bob/goyf/clique reprint AGAIN right?
I have been tinkering with a mono-white devotion-etheral deck since rotation and have had alot of success with a pretty aggressive enchament based early game into a swarm/hard to deal with threat package.
While the deck can have some pretty insane openings (eidelon into 2 etheral armors is turn 2 14 point life swing followed by a possible turn 3 ajani kill) you normally want to save your etherals and bestows and not over commit to the board into something like a anger of the god's or Supreme Verdict. The board needs better cards (any suggestions?) but Renounce the guilds has been an all star, and is a card that I would recommend anyone tinkering with mono-white to try. It shuts down alot of the triple devotion cards and can even kill an early domri rade or Detention Sphere.
Ajani's Chosen is absoultely incredible with Heliod, And I would like to figure out how to sqeeze another in. Gideon is another powerhouse in board stalls and racing situations, as well as being very tough to spot remove. Overall I think mono-white is just as powerful as mono-blue however it has less powerful sideboard/splash options and can be very draw dependant.
This card is absolutely incredible, He is hardly ever a dead top-deck, can be flashed in as early as turn 2, or can do a "boon rush" to force through the final points of damage in the mid-game. Another thing to take into consideration for this card is the enchantment type. So it can do things like +1/+1 the pump from an Ethereal armor or trigger a hero (if that becomes relevant) all at instant speed, which may make the difference in a close game or can just create a total blowout. I was a skeptical at first but this card has impressed me with almost all the builds I've tried.
I would pick a type of deck you love to play, and acquire the cards you need for that type of deck across multiple builds. If you want to play something gimmicky or rogue you have a ton of entire decks that you would be able to afford at that price level, but dont pigeon hole yourself into a deck that you wont enjoy playing long term (as Ikumo suggested).
As long as you understand the deck your playing from the inside out (mulls, matchups, board options, etc.) than you will have success. Aggro and combo decks tend to be cheaper than the "grindy" decks (pod,jund,junk,american) of the format that are "efficiency over synergy".
what this guy did it obviously unacceptable behavior. He got what he deserved. I hope he gets a temp suspension by the DCI as well. Malicious behavior has no place in this game we all enjoy and a suspension would send a clear message.
Being both a Legacy and a Modern player (and enjoying both formats), I have some concerns with this article.
Another pebble in the shoe of Legacy players was the creation of the Modern format. ...... Instead of abolishing that relic of times gone by - the reserved list - and supporting Legacy, WotC decided to create Modern.
I don't see the relation here. Why would the creation of a new format have anything to do at all with the reserved list policy? Modern was not proposed a replacement/substitute for legacy as much as it was supposed to be just something new, and recently became the replacement of extended. If I remember correctly it was proposed (in different forms) as "over-extended" before its introduction. Modern by design does not include reserved list cards. Are you saying this was a planned course of action to avoid abolishing the reserve list? Because I would argue that they are not directly related.
I, for one, have no respect for a format in which Wild Nacatl is banned.
Its not like legacy hasn't had some controversial bannings during its lifetime. Many of the cards that are major players today were once banned for YEARS in the format. Would legacy be such a great format if cards didn't come off the ban list after YEARS of being on it? I for one would love to be able to play with mystical tutor and Survival of the fittest again, but we know where that boat sails. It not any different in my eyes than modern.
You also failed to mention ANYTHING about the biggest game changer to legacy that the set introduced, which is the new Legandary and Planeswalker rules. From the few legacy games I've played since their introduction I don't think I've had a match where it didn't have a impact on gameplay in some form or fashion, and legacy is IMO the format it impacts most deeply.
While modern has its flaws (as does legacy), I would like to see more to legacy articles/posts than just the obvious "abolish the reserved list" and "Modern is not as (insert) as Legacy because..." the reserved list has been an ongoing problem and if nothing has been done about it thus far, why would you expect that to change? or here is the question I really want to know, why point the finger at modern?
I would have to disagree, he actually "nets" card advantage against a Lightning Bolt or Snapcaster Mage/Izzet Charm but he dosen't kill anything that a Domri Rade wouldn't kill more efficiently unfortunately. He's best in a "rock" deck or jund and cube. I don't think any pod decks would ever want this card in the main.
The only reason I would ever run this over Vesuva would be If I want to copy karoo's such as Dimir aqueduct, as we wouldnt have to bounce a land on it entering the battlefield as it becomes a copy while its on the battlefield already right?
I decided to convert a budget standard deck Ive been working on based on Seance and give it a go in modern. Modern allows you to include Sundial of the infinite so that you get to keep the monsters you bring out on your turn, as well as bringing some pretty serious ETB's into the deck for alternate kills (the main being self mill with mirror-mad combo-which is an instant win sans removal)
If my math is correct it come to 15.00 board and all. Its untested and the manabase/card choices can probably be improved immediately. Counterflux , Magus of the Bazaar, and more removal/disruption would probably be best along with more ways to take advantage of sundial of the infinite. Annul is in the board to deal if you think rest in peace is coming in, or affinity/auras.
Comes out to around 30$ I love playing this deck at FNM. I can actually be really really beast. The idea is you insta win once you have seance out in most situations. You can seance the mirror mad during their turn pop it to mill yourself and then seance the lab maniac on your upkeep to win. Or you can just board attrition them out and get millions of guys back out with angel of glory's rise.
(Ideal land base)
4 Steam vents
4 Sulfer Falls
4 Sacred Foundry
4 Hallowed Fountain
4 Glacial Fortress
1 Island
1 Mountain
1 Plains
1 Slayers Stronghold
I think its relevant to talk about how resilient this guy is to spot removal. Abrupt decay, Lightning bolt, and Smother all miss this guy. I understand he still dies to Terminate, Path to Exile, and Dismember, but it is still pretty hard to shoot. Its body also blocks just about anything that's going to be attacking you at that point in the game.
If this guys lives to see your upkeep he's going to allow you to gain theoretical card advantage, all while putting your opponent on a decent clock on his own. Great card for modern IMO.
High Sentinels of Arashin is probably better than heliod in my opinion. As even though it dies to removal it can be a restoration angel type body in a pinch against aggro.
necropolis fiend is the hardest to evaluate without playing with the card. But definitely seems great.
"Wide" Heroic:
4 Soldier of the pantheon
4 Hopeful Eidolon
4 Favored Hoplite
4 Phalanx Leader
2 Eidolon of Countless Battles
1 Abzan Falconer
2 Brimaz, King of Oreskos
4 Gods willing
4 Raise the Alarm
3 Ajani's Presence
3 Launch the Fleets
3 Spear of heliod
2 Ajani Steadfast
17 Plains
"Go Big" Bestow:
3 Nyxborn Shieldmate
4 Hopeful Eidolon
4 Hero of Iroas
4 Seeker of the Way
4 Wingmate Roc
4 Brimaz, King of Oreskos
3 Sightless Brawler
2 Ajani, Steadfast
2 Heliod, God of the sun
4 Gods willing
2 Spectra ward
2 Ajani's Presence
3 Temple Of Silence
3 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
16 Plains
I Like Ashk'rya's list as well, but yes brimaz is a must. He is THE best card we have access to.
Other possibilites is robots, boggle or twin? I dont think they will be trying to emulate jund, pod, tron or control given the nessesity for mythics/Rares slots in those decks. But we can always hope for a bob/goyf/clique reprint AGAIN right?
2 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
2 Gideon, Champion of justice
1 Ajani, Caller of the pride
Enchantments: 16
4 Etheral Armor
4 Hopeful Eidelon
2 Spear of heliod
3 Heliod, God of the sun
2 Celestial Archon
1 Path of Bravery
4 Precinct Captain
3 Banisher Priest
4 Soldier of the pantheon
2 Phalanx Leader
2 Fiendslayer Paladin
1 Ajani's Chosen
Lands:23
19 plains
2 mutavault
2 nykthos, shrine to nyx
3 Renounce the guilds
2 Pithing needle
2 Brave the elements
2 Glare of heresy
2 Fiendslayer paladin
2 Rootborn Defences
2 Celestial Flare
While the deck can have some pretty insane openings (eidelon into 2 etheral armors is turn 2 14 point life swing followed by a possible turn 3 ajani kill) you normally want to save your etherals and bestows and not over commit to the board into something like a anger of the god's or Supreme Verdict. The board needs better cards (any suggestions?) but Renounce the guilds has been an all star, and is a card that I would recommend anyone tinkering with mono-white to try. It shuts down alot of the triple devotion cards and can even kill an early domri rade or Detention Sphere.
Ajani's Chosen is absoultely incredible with Heliod, And I would like to figure out how to sqeeze another in. Gideon is another powerhouse in board stalls and racing situations, as well as being very tough to spot remove. Overall I think mono-white is just as powerful as mono-blue however it has less powerful sideboard/splash options and can be very draw dependant.
Some other cards I have considered are Archangel of thune,Gift of Immortality,and Holy Mantle.
As long as you understand the deck your playing from the inside out (mulls, matchups, board options, etc.) than you will have success. Aggro and combo decks tend to be cheaper than the "grindy" decks (pod,jund,junk,american) of the format that are "efficiency over synergy".
Its not like legacy hasn't had some controversial bannings during its lifetime. Many of the cards that are major players today were once banned for YEARS in the format. Would legacy be such a great format if cards didn't come off the ban list after YEARS of being on it? I for one would love to be able to play with mystical tutor and Survival of the fittest again, but we know where that boat sails. It not any different in my eyes than modern.
You also failed to mention ANYTHING about the biggest game changer to legacy that the set introduced, which is the new Legandary and Planeswalker rules. From the few legacy games I've played since their introduction I don't think I've had a match where it didn't have a impact on gameplay in some form or fashion, and legacy is IMO the format it impacts most deeply.
While modern has its flaws (as does legacy), I would like to see more to legacy articles/posts than just the obvious "abolish the reserved list" and "Modern is not as (insert) as Legacy because..." the reserved list has been an ongoing problem and if nothing has been done about it thus far, why would you expect that to change? or here is the question I really want to know, why point the finger at modern?
I would have to disagree, he actually "nets" card advantage against a Lightning Bolt or Snapcaster Mage/Izzet Charm but he dosen't kill anything that a Domri Rade wouldn't kill more efficiently unfortunately. He's best in a "rock" deck or jund and cube. I don't think any pod decks would ever want this card in the main.
Budget Modern Seance: TIME:1/31/13
must have rares:
4 Seance - 2$
1 Mirror-Mad Phantasm - .50
1 Labratory Maniac - .50
1 Sphinx of Uthuun - .30
1 Slayers Stronghold - .49
1 Furystoke Giant - .50
1 Tyrant of Discord - .10
1 sphinx of lost truths - .15
Spells:
4 faithless looting - .75
4 Izzet Charm - 3
2 Sundial of the Infinite - .30
3 Izzet Signets - .24
2 Boros Signets - .15
4 mulldrifter - 1.6
4 Cathedral Santifier - .5
4 Seller of songbirds - .5
2 Riftwing Cloudskate - .50
lands:
4 Sejiri Refuge - 1
4 evolving wilds - .8!
4 Azorius Guildgate - .8!
4 Boros Guildgates - .8!
2 Islands
2 Plains
3 Mountains
24 (counting the slayers)
4 Annul - .50
4 essence scatter - .10
3 Journey to nowhere - .75
1 negate - .15
2 Kor firewalker - .20
1 Sudden Disapperance - .10
If my math is correct it come to 15.00 board and all. Its untested and the manabase/card choices can probably be improved immediately. Counterflux , Magus of the Bazaar, and more removal/disruption would probably be best along with more ways to take advantage of sundial of the infinite. Annul is in the board to deal if you think rest in peace is coming in, or affinity/auras.
1 Mirror mad-phantasam
2 Sphinx of Uthuun
4 Cathedral Santifiers
2 Angel of Glorys Rise
4 Alchemist Apprentice
2 Laboratory Maniac
1 Geist Honored monk
4 Izzet Charms
4 Faithless Looting
4 Thought Scour
4 Supreme Verdict (Expensive I know)
Lands (budget):
3 evolving wilds
3 Boros guildgate
3 Azourius guildgate
3 Izzet Guildgate
1 Slayers Stronghold
4 Mountain
4 Island
4 Plains
Comes out to around 30$ I love playing this deck at FNM. I can actually be really really beast. The idea is you insta win once you have seance out in most situations. You can seance the mirror mad during their turn pop it to mill yourself and then seance the lab maniac on your upkeep to win. Or you can just board attrition them out and get millions of guys back out with angel of glory's rise.
(Ideal land base)
4 Steam vents
4 Sulfer Falls
4 Sacred Foundry
4 Hallowed Fountain
4 Glacial Fortress
1 Island
1 Mountain
1 Plains
1 Slayers Stronghold
If this guys lives to see your upkeep he's going to allow you to gain theoretical card advantage, all while putting your opponent on a decent clock on his own. Great card for modern IMO.