So, wizards is really going all the way with (re)printing grave hate in Core2020.
With that, we potentially get an on-tribe scooze like effect in Apostle of Purifying Light.
I'd like to break this one down with you all, since it's a human with relevant protection and an activated ability we can actually use with our existing manabase, albeit a little steep in cost.
Maindeckable as a one off perhaps, or not even worth considering as a sideboard piece?
Let's hear what your feeling is on this one!
There’s a new Jeskai Humans deck that is posting good scores on MTGO.
Frankly, I don’t like the manabase, but the deck has main deck Lightning Bolt for some reach and interaction. What do you guys think?
I don't think this is the way to go. Lightning bolt does provide reach, but you could very well be playing Zoo by that time.
Also like said before. The disruptive cards that are added to the human tribe have been very very good and made humans what it is today.
I guess we have to accept that with the rise of the Human archetype in the last few years we got a little less support. But we can certainly tune to the current meta and we absolutely should include some form of strong grave hate to take care of Phoenix and carious dredge decks.
Apart from that, Unsettled Mariner is the very best card to support our strategy from recent printings.
Unsettled Mariner also taxes spells that targets you. So, in Storm that means Gifts costing 1 more to play, Grapeshot needing 1 mana for each copy, discard spells from random decks costing 1 more, Liiana's -2 costing 1 mana to use, Grim Lavamancer activations, Settle the Wreckage and Cryptic to tap the team, Valakut triggers from Scapeshift, Tron can't land a T3 Karn to take out a creature nor a card from our hand with this on the table...
The fact that it taxes spells and abilities targeted on our creatures AND on ourselves is what makes it good. I think we can go down to 3 Thalias and use the 2 flex slots to have at least 3 copies of it in the main. Maybe go down 1 Phantasmal Image to have the 4th one?
That's along the lines i was thinking. Great summary.
The only major removalspell that's not affected is Abrupt Decay, true. As an Abzan player (too) i can say that most copies have been replaced with Assassin's Trophy. So chances you'll face those a lot are slim.
Wat does everybody think of Unsettled Mariner as another Thalia. This looks like it's a sweet addition for a similar effect and could maybe let us trim the Legendary Human, which is awkward in multiples, whereas this one is great in multiples.
Copying this with Phantasmal Image is also sweet vs removal heavy decks. It's a shame the copy can't protect itself.
I've Always felt Jeskai control to be the worst. Their removal just lines up with what we try to do, and once in the late game they go 2 for 1 against us.
Currently, Thing in the Ice decks tend to be difficult if we don't manage to bounce it in time.
Timely sweepers are another way of handling Humans; they don't seem to do well when they are Hellbent with an empty board-state. Languish can be a back-breaker - especially if one has a 4/5 or bigger Tarmogoyf in play.
To be fair, Any deck would struggle against GBx midrange under these circumstances.
I see people often advice to race tron and while i do admit a clock is important, i feel the disruptive part of the deck get's you further ahead.
Game 1: Naming Karn blind with Meddling Mage is actually always right. This stops their best T3 play to which we are almost certain to loose. Kitesail Freebooter can be used to strip their best pieces against us and i would advise not to cut Reflector Mage since it's our best way to deal with Wurmcoil Engine. Another big card we loose to.
An ideal curve for me would be T1 Champion of the Parish, T2 Meddling Mage naming Karn, T3 Mantis Rider and follow this up with more disruption if possible. Don't drop anything other than more disruptive pieces or Thalia's Lieutenant for the T4 kill. Keep the big beats in your hand for when they do get to clear the board with either All is Dust or Ugin, The Spirit Dragon. After T4 Oblivion Stone can become tough, so it's important not to overextend.
I always bring Graddigger's Cage back in, as it's my go to answer vs graveyard decks. It doesn't stop everything, but it sure hoses dredge and phoenix and forces an answer from them.
On the other hand, Thing in the Ice is an absolute pain and it's usually best to not let it enter by either naming it with Meddling Mage which, admiddetly isn't strpng VSbolt heavy decks, or bounce it on sight with Reflector Mage.
Make sure you vial it in on your own turn amd not EOT,
Ravnica Allegiance will bring some real tools for the current Humans strategy, i.e. Lavinia, Azorius Renegade. But i think lady Judith, the Scourge Diva lends herself more to an all-in aggro strategy.
If one would cut Kitesail Freebooter and Meddling Mage and replace those with Mayor of Avabruck and Judith, the Scourge Diva, the deck would have a plethora of aggressive lords and provide reach and semi-protection vs board wipes. The decks only weakness would be (mass)exile removal which is a weakness in it's current form too, but it would gain points versus "destroy" effects and blockers in combat.
I don't think she will replace Militia Bugler in the current strategy, since digging for answers, while sometimes slow, can be very important.
I named Primeval Titan as it's usually the finisher / combo card of that deck and all things considered, I think it's the most correct choice playing a blind meddling mage. Game 2 there was no hornet queen but the deck was simply too fast to drop a monstrous creature that mine cannot deal with.
This is unfortunate, the other guy must have been deckbuilding for a very aggressive meta, which is probably right.
I'll bite and say, you have to get better in that particular matchup.
A friend of mine runs a big mana ramp deck (tooth and nail) and there are two cards i fold to. The namesake card of the deck fetching the Emrakul/Xenagos combo and Hornet Queen.
I'll go as far and say that every creature deck folds to Hornet Queen. That card buys just sooo much time for the ramp player.
In your particular case, what did you name with Meddling Mage? Because you should have probably named Hornet Queen if you were expecting it.
On the other hand, the all out aggressive approach might not be the right strategy VS amulet. More disruption might have been better.
I said it before, and will say it again. Being good at playing Humans means you need knowledge of what you are playing against. Either by information of the opponent's hand, or by experience.
Spectacle is an alternative casting cost for which we have 12 out of 19 sources of mana we can use to pay it. It's a grindy card.
On another note. Lavinia, Azorius Renegade takes care of a lot of problem cards like: Karn, Ugin, all is Dust, Ostone, Conflagrate. Chord of Calling and more.
When i think of it, it's everything i use Gaddock Teeg for, on a human
With that, we potentially get an on-tribe scooze like effect in Apostle of Purifying Light.
I'd like to break this one down with you all, since it's a human with relevant protection and an activated ability we can actually use with our existing manabase, albeit a little steep in cost.
Maindeckable as a one off perhaps, or not even worth considering as a sideboard piece?
Let's hear what your feeling is on this one!
Modern: WUBRG Humans - GBW Traverse - GWU Knightfall - GRW
I don't think this is the way to go. Lightning bolt does provide reach, but you could very well be playing Zoo by that time.
Also like said before. The disruptive cards that are added to the human tribe have been very very good and made humans what it is today.
I guess we have to accept that with the rise of the Human archetype in the last few years we got a little less support. But we can certainly tune to the current meta and we absolutely should include some form of strong grave hate to take care of Phoenix and carious dredge decks.
Apart from that, Unsettled Mariner is the very best card to support our strategy from recent printings.
Modern: WUBRG Humans - GBW Traverse - GWU Knightfall - GRW
That's along the lines i was thinking. Great summary.
The only major removalspell that's not affected is Abrupt Decay, true. As an Abzan player (too) i can say that most copies have been replaced with Assassin's Trophy. So chances you'll face those a lot are slim.
Modern: WUBRG Humans - GBW Traverse - GWU Knightfall - GRW
Copying this with Phantasmal Image is also sweet vs removal heavy decks. It's a shame the copy can't protect itself.
Modern: WUBRG Humans - GBW Traverse - GWU Knightfall - GRW
Modern: WUBRG Humans - GBW Traverse - GWU Knightfall - GRW
It would involve somewhat costly Aether Vial but after that, you get Path to Exile for removal, Thraben Inspector and Militia Bugler for some card draw, Tithe Taker and both Thalia's for tax effects and Mirran Crusader alongside Champion of the Parish and Thalia's Lieutenant as your primary beatsticks. Dare i say, this deck could even run some copies of Rest in Peace maindeck.
Splashing blue gains Reflector Mage, Meddling Mage and Lavinia, Azorius Renegade.
Splashing Green gains Noble Hierarch or Avacyn's Pilgrim, Mayor of Avabruck and some sideboard flexibility
Splashing Black gains Kitesail Freebooter and some extra disruptive sideboard pieces
Splashing Red only makes you more aggressive.
Modern: WUBRG Humans - GBW Traverse - GWU Knightfall - GRW
Modern: WUBRG Humans - GBW Traverse - GWU Knightfall - GRW
Currently, Thing in the Ice decks tend to be difficult if we don't manage to bounce it in time.
To be fair, Any deck would struggle against GBx midrange under these circumstances.
Modern: WUBRG Humans - GBW Traverse - GWU Knightfall - GRW
Game 1: Naming Karn blind with Meddling Mage is actually always right. This stops their best T3 play to which we are almost certain to loose.
Kitesail Freebooter can be used to strip their best pieces against us and i would advise not to cut Reflector Mage since it's our best way to deal with Wurmcoil Engine. Another big card we loose to.
An ideal curve for me would be T1 Champion of the Parish, T2 Meddling Mage naming Karn, T3 Mantis Rider and follow this up with more disruption if possible. Don't drop anything other than more disruptive pieces or Thalia's Lieutenant for the T4 kill. Keep the big beats in your hand for when they do get to clear the board with either All is Dust or Ugin, The Spirit Dragon. After T4 Oblivion Stone can become tough, so it's important not to overextend.
The best sideboard options are Gaddock Teeg and the new Lavinia, Azorius Renegade and when it's possible, Stony Silence. I would cut Aether Vial and always open with Noble/Champion to put some preassure on them.
Modern: WUBRG Humans - GBW Traverse - GWU Knightfall - GRW
On the other hand, Thing in the Ice is an absolute pain and it's usually best to not let it enter by either naming it with Meddling Mage which, admiddetly isn't strpng VSbolt heavy decks, or bounce it on sight with Reflector Mage.
Make sure you vial it in on your own turn amd not EOT,
Modern: WUBRG Humans - GBW Traverse - GWU Knightfall - GRW
Ravnica Allegiance will bring some real tools for the current Humans strategy, i.e. Lavinia, Azorius Renegade. But i think lady Judith, the Scourge Diva lends herself more to an all-in aggro strategy.
If one would cut Kitesail Freebooter and Meddling Mage and replace those with Mayor of Avabruck and Judith, the Scourge Diva, the deck would have a plethora of aggressive lords and provide reach and semi-protection vs board wipes. The decks only weakness would be (mass)exile removal which is a weakness in it's current form too, but it would gain points versus "destroy" effects and blockers in combat.
I don't think she will replace Militia Bugler in the current strategy, since digging for answers, while sometimes slow, can be very important.
Modern: WUBRG Humans - GBW Traverse - GWU Knightfall - GRW
This is unfortunate, the other guy must have been deckbuilding for a very aggressive meta, which is probably right.
Modern: WUBRG Humans - GBW Traverse - GWU Knightfall - GRW
A friend of mine runs a big mana ramp deck (tooth and nail) and there are two cards i fold to. The namesake card of the deck fetching the Emrakul/Xenagos combo and Hornet Queen.
I'll go as far and say that every creature deck folds to Hornet Queen. That card buys just sooo much time for the ramp player.
In your particular case, what did you name with Meddling Mage? Because you should have probably named Hornet Queen if you were expecting it.
On the other hand, the all out aggressive approach might not be the right strategy VS amulet. More disruption might have been better.
I said it before, and will say it again. Being good at playing Humans means you need knowledge of what you are playing against. Either by information of the opponent's hand, or by experience.
Modern: WUBRG Humans - GBW Traverse - GWU Knightfall - GRW
I was under the assumption it was 5cmc.
Modern: WUBRG Humans - GBW Traverse - GWU Knightfall - GRW
On another note. Lavinia, Azorius Renegade takes care of a lot of problem cards like: Karn, Ugin, all is Dust, Ostone, Conflagrate. Chord of Calling and more.
When i think of it, it's everything i use Gaddock Teeg for, on a human
Modern: WUBRG Humans - GBW Traverse - GWU Knightfall - GRW