Doesn't look like there is a huge amount for us here outside of Fastlands, Madcap and Chandra. That isn't hugely surprising as vehicles were never going to make it in modern, energy is only as strong as it is going to be in standard and fabricate is "meh". I am sure that a couple of cards will trickle into modern but nothing really leaps out at me. Regardless I am just so happy they finished off the fastland cycle.
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In play: Jund Death Shadow, Grixis Control, Eldrazi Stompy, Ponza
In the yard: RUG Delver, Kiki-Chord, Grixis Twin, Mardu Control, Smallpox, Jeskai Control, Jeskai Delver, Assault Loam, Elves, Deathcloud, Eggs, Storm
Doesn't look like there is a huge amount for us here outside of Fastlands, Madcap and Chandra. That isn't hugely surprising as vehicles were never going to make it in modern, energy is only as strong as it is going to be in standard and fabricate is "meh". I am sure that a couple of cards will trickle into modern but nothing really leaps out at me. Regardless I am just so happy they finished off the fastland cycle.
Smuggler's copter might make it into modern. It doesn't take much for it to get going.
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On mtgsalvation people don't want to discuss ideas, so I give people something else to discuss: my controversial opinions.
-Chandra, Torch of Defiance: THE most talked about card in the set and for good reason. Decks that can take adv of her super powerful abilities will be able to get insane value for 4 mana. Competes unfavorably with Nahiri, the harbinger because Nahiri ends games faster, has more versatile removal options, and her Rummaging Goblin ability is very good at finding options. Nahiri and Chandra DON'T play well together since Chandra can exile Emrakul, the Aeons Torn which destroys Nahiri's wincon. This card also doesn't have many homes in modern though. I expect her to show up in Jund sideboards, GR Ponza decks, Mardu decks, Grixis Midrange decks, Blue Moon decks and Skred decks. Out of those listed only Jund sees tons of play. She will get better in modern as midrange decks that don't play Nahiri get better.
--Madcap Experiment: The third most talked about thing for modern. Combos with Platinum Emperion super well. Also combos with Blightsteel Colossus if you have a Soulfire Grand Master out. This combo has the potential to change the format because many decks don't have great answers to a resolved emperion. Madcap Experiment also plays SUPER well with Blood Moon since it curves into it, Emperion shuts off your fetchlands anyhow, and the blood moon protects your emperion from Path to exile snipes. Can slot in great as mainboard package to decks like Blue moon/Boros Lockdown that already play 4 copies of blood moon. Or madcap combo can be a nice sideboard piece to decks like Jeskai Nahiri against decks that don't have great answers to it (Dredge, Elves, Merfolk, Suicide Zoo, Affinity, Kiki, Ad naus, etc)
-Cataclysmic Gearhulk: A creature that casts Tragic Arrogance and leaves behind a 4/5 vigilance should be talked about. Fits very well into Kiki-Chord decks that struggle against go wide strats. Also slots into UW(x) midrange decks such as resto blink decks, geist decks, etc. Super underrated right now and I think it may give these strats the push they need.
-Cathartic Reunion: BECAUSE DREDGE NEEDED MORE CARDS? This card flat out replaces Tormenting Voice in dredge decks because of the ability to potentially dredge 18 cards turn 2. Even if it's countered they still get two cards in the graveyard. Super powerful card for Dredge to say the least and I expect it to make the deck a lot more consistent.
-Inventors' Fair/Aether Hub: Both go into Lantern Control. Aether Hub replaces Tendo Ice Bridge since it's a strictly better version. (If they ghost quarter the Bridge you lose the counter where if they destroy/seas the hub you keep the energy counter to use on another Hub. Inventors' fair allows them to find their strong pieces later in the game.
-Torrential Gearhulk Goes in Blue Tron since Blue Tron can reliably get casts Fatcaster mage often.
-Ceremonious Rejection: A nice sideboard option for blue decks like Merfolk. Stronger in older formats.
Have decent potential but might not make it:
-Glint-nest Crane: It almost casts Ancient Stirrings while leaving behind a 1/3 flying body which is nothing to snuff at. This card has no home sadly.
-Authority of the Consuls: At one mana this card does a lot to help control decks deal with go wide strats. Super dead in multiples and as a top deck.
-Saheeli Rai: Goes into a Flicker deck or a new brew of Kiki Chord. The issue with Saheeli is her colors don't favor flicker decks sadly.
-Nissa, Vital Force: Turning useless lands into 5/5 beatsticks is brutal. Turning a Darksteel Citadel into a 5/5 is even worse; ask Tezzeret decks. The fact that Nissa threatens a great ult the turn after she comes down is great. Her minus ability can also buy back powerful cards like eternal Witness to get some MAX value after you ult the Nissa. Unfortunately, this card is 5 mana and you have to do a lot to see play at 5 mana. However she is in green which has no issues getting mana out fast so we shall see.
-Toolcraft Exemplar: Has the power and toughness of a delver of Secrets on offense when you have an artifact and trades delver's flying for First strike if you have metalcraft. May be too hard to get this card going.
-Inventor's Apprentice: Does a Kird Ape impression but it needs to be be played around affinity cards. At this point why not just play affinity?
-Refurbish: It gave people brewing with Trash for Treasure another reanimation spell but this might not get there. It also hurts that the best artifact to reanimate has to be reanimated at instant speed (Blightsteel Colossus)
-Smuggler's Copter: Getting a 3/3 flyer for 2 mana doesn't happen often and usually comes with restrictions. (Serra Avenger comes to mind) This card trades Avenger's Vilence with a looting ability that happens on offense or defense which is very powerful. While this asks for a 1/1 or greater creature, hitting for 3 a turn with evasion is pretty powerful. Unfortunately bolt is very prevalent so if you are riding in the copter you need to be sure you aren't driving in a storm full of bolts. The storm might be too tough to pilot this interesting vehicle
-Skysovereign, Consul Flagship: Powerful ability and it has a great ETB ability. Sadly 5 is A LOT for modern and if you are a 5 drop you either have to win the game (Reality Smasher) or make sure that your opponent doesn't win the game. (Gideon Jura) This card doesn't do enough imho.
-Pia Nalaar: 3 power split among 2 bodies is always a good thing and she has two abilities that are just gravy to that. Might not be a good enough creature to see play in modern but the potential is there.
-Gonti, Lord of Luxury: Paying 4 mana for a 2/3 deathtouch is horrible in modern but the ability that Gonti cast is interesting because we have never had an effect like this in modern. Gonti may be good enough to boost midrange decks but his body leaves a lot to be desired. Worth noting that you can cast the card even if Gonti dies.
4
Cathartic Reunion: Dredge. For comparison, I rate Faithless Looting = 5.
Chandra, Torch of Defiance
Madcap Experiment: with Platinum Emperion. May be used in both fair decks and unfair decks, though I think it's better in fair decks.
2
Fragmentize
Ninth Bridge Patrol: Norin Sisters, it triggers off Norin and expendable Myr tokens. Ajani's Pridemate = 3
Toolcraft Exemplar: some WW deck, not Affinity
Dramatic Reversal: has combo potential, but I can't think of a deck yet. To Arms! exists.
Glint-Nest Crane: some artifact heavy Thopter Sword deck
Lost Legacy
Lathnu Hellion: Ball Lightning Collected Company LOL
Attune with Aether: 7-land Belcher
Nature's Way: Some kind of Kiln Fiend deck. Lets you kill something without putting Kiln Fiend's 2 toughness body on the line.
Dovin Baan
Kambal, Consul of Allocation
Saheeli Rai
Filigree Familiar: SB card for decks that can't play Kitchen Finks
Scrapheap Scrounger: Dredge, maybe. Haunted Dead = 3
Aether Hub
Inventors' Fair: Eggs or Lantern
All Gearhulks: the blue one is slightly better than the rest, maybe a 3
1
The rest
Energy
It seems balanced based on what they've released so far. A lot of effects that require energy can only be done once per turn, and most of them do pretty fair things (other than Aetherworks Marvel, which is a 4-drop, takes 6 energy, and relies on luck/setup).
Vehicles
They seem better for Standard, where creature combat and board wipes are more common, and you don't need to race turn 4 combo decks. Some of them have above-curve stats for their cost, but you need to play other creatures to crew them.
Overall this set feels passable. I like both Madcap Experiment and Chandra, but the 1-drops are pretty boring. There isn't anything like a Delver or Hardened Scales that could be fun to build around. All there is is Authority of the Consuls, Toolcraft Exemplar and Inventor's Apprentice, and for the last two, the answer is obvious: just throw them in a deck with Memnites and Ornithopters.
Card: number of results found on mtgtop8 (both main & side)
Distended Mindbender: 2
Elder Deep-Fiend: 14
Emrakul, the Promised End: 10
Eternal Scourge: 0 Blessed Alliance: 31 (large number in Bant Eldrazi for some reason)
Lone Rider: 0
Providence: 0 Selfless Spirit: 27 (mostly Company/Chord decks)
Sigarda's Aid: 0 Thalia, Heretic Cathar: 18
Coax from the Blind Eternities: 0
Curious Homunculus: 0
Docent of Perfection: 0
Fortune's Favor: 0
Imprisoned in the Moon: 0
Mausoleum Wanderer: 3
Summary Dismissal: 3
Take Inventory: 0
Unsubstantiate: 5 Collective Brutality: 36
Cryptbreaker: 0 Liliana, the Last Hope: 24
Haunted Dead: 13
Tree of Perdition: 0
Whispers of Emrakul: 0
Bedlam Reveler: 11
Hanweir Garrison: 0
Harmless Offering: 0
Mirrorwing Dragon: 0
Eldritch Evolution: 13
Gnarlwood Dryad: 16 (15/16 Suicide Zoo)
Kessig Prowler: 0
Noose Constrictor: 0
Splendid Reclamation: 0
Bloodhall Priest: 0 Grim Flayer: 33
Spell Queller: 13
Tamiyo, Field Researcher: 3
Lupine Prototype: 0
Geier Reach Sanitarium: 2
Nephalia Academy: 4 (all Ad Nauseam)
The breakout card of EMN was Grim Flayer (which I missed), but it had three very good SB cards as well: Blessed Alliance, Selfless Spirit and Collective Brutality.
Emrakul did a lot more in Standard than Modern. I wouldn't chalk that up to Tron being underplayed - out of the 29 RG Tron decks recorded on mtgtop8 (search parameters: Mine, Stirrings, Scrying, Map) after EMN's release, only 6 played Emrakul, the Promised End.
Surprisingly, Madness failed to make an impact, with 0 Noose Constrictor decks. Spirits fared slightly better, but not by much, with 3 Mausoleum Wanderer decks. Werewolves and Zombies did nothing (as tribes), but Haunted Dead showed up as a 1-of in 13 Dredge decks.
There weren't any dedicated Delirium decks either, although Grim Flayer and Gnarlwood Dryad saw some play. The last posted Gnarlwood Dryad deck was on 27/8, so I'd take that with a grain of salt. Whispers of Emrakul saw 0 play.
Eldritch Evolution was not the second coming of Pod.
Splendid Reclamation didn't break anything. Neither did Harmless Offering.
Nephalia Academy didn't do much for combo decks. If you want to beat discard, the best plan is still Leyline.
Brooding Saurian + Dubious Challenge. . . cast Challenge choose Saurian and Emrakul for example. . . then even if opponent chooses Emrakul you get it back at the end step. With the lizard in your deck, it seems to be the cheapest way to get Emrakul into play in modern, and looks to me better than summoning trap.
Imagine deck with Noble Hierarch, some looting and Maybe using Congregation at Dawn to set it up?
Problem is, that while it can be a 1 card combo. . . the chances of it working at the chances of getting Brooding Saurian in your top 10 cards . . . assuming you drew 1 . . . are around 42%. . . but with Congregation it turns out to be a 2 card combo (one of which is instant speed) for a combined total of 7 mana. .
Brooding Saurian + Dubious Challenge. . . cast Challenge choose Saurian and Emrakul for example. . . then even if opponent chooses Emrakul you get it back at the end step. With the lizard in your deck, it seems to be the cheapest way to get Emrakul into play in modern, and looks to me better than summoning trap.
Imagine deck with Noble Hierarch, some looting and Maybe using Congregation at Dawn to set it up?
Problem is, that while it can be a 1 card combo. . . the chances of it working at the chances of getting Brooding Saurian in your top 10 cards . . . assuming you drew 1 . . . are around 42%. . . but with Congregation it turns out to be a 2 card combo (one of which is instant speed) for a combined total of 7 mana. .
Potential?
I did some brewing with gruul charm/stylus and the problem I ran into was actually hitting two valuable creatures. Charm is fine to hit one, but it's 6 mana so it's starting to push it. Stylus requires you hit two high value targets (since you're burying the one they choose), which proved difficult. Didn't try Congregation but it felt like a lot of set up cards and a lot of dying to burn.
Really interesting power creep and retreat in this set. Gives you a lot of insight into R&D.
Proactive cards get better, reactive cards get worse unless they're protecting creatures, because magic is all about creatures derping into the red zone and superfriends superfriending.
Not entirely true. Glimmer of Genius is clearly made for reactive decks, although it's also clear Wizards isn't designing most cards with Modern in mind.
Really interesting power creep and retreat in this set. Gives you a lot of insight into R&D.
Proactive cards get better, reactive cards get worse unless they're protecting creatures, because magic is all about creatures derping into the red zone and superfriends superfriending.
Not entirely true. Glimmer of Genius is clearly made for reactive decks, although it's also clear Wizards isn't designing most cards with Modern in mind.
Digging to your payoff cards and adding EE to fuel it doesn't feel like a "reactive card" to me. It may be best in a reactive deck but it's not a reactive card in the way Mana Leak is.
Brooding Saurian + Dubious Challenge. . . cast Challenge choose Saurian and Emrakul for example. . . then even if opponent chooses Emrakul you get it back at the end step. With the lizard in your deck, it seems to be the cheapest way to get Emrakul into play in modern, and looks to me better than summoning trap.
Imagine deck with Noble Hierarch, some looting and Maybe using Congregation at Dawn to set it up?
Problem is, that while it can be a 1 card combo. . . the chances of it working at the chances of getting Brooding Saurian in your top 10 cards . . . assuming you drew 1 . . . are around 42%. . . but with Congregation it turns out to be a 2 card combo (one of which is instant speed) for a combined total of 7 mana. .
Potential?
I did some brewing with gruul charm/stylus and the problem I ran into was actually hitting two valuable creatures. Charm is fine to hit one, but it's 6 mana so it's starting to push it. Stylus requires you hit two high value targets (since you're burying the one they choose), which proved difficult. Didn't try Congregation but it felt like a lot of set up cards and a lot of dying to burn.
I don't know if that's been pointed out already but the creature other than Emmy you are looking for is Flickerwisp which actually is a decent card on its own (Opponent takes Emmy, we flicker it because that's a trigger not a spell, get it back at EOT). Seems actually like something with some potencial if you ask me. We can do good old Twin Style T3 EOT cast Congregation at Dawn into T4 cast Dubious Challenge. And nothing of that can be interacted with via removal spells. It does not win on the spot though (If they make the right decision and choose Flickerwisp they actually even get another Blocker for Emrakul). That said against MUs where the Emrakul Win might not be fast enough (think Infect/Affinity for example) you can board in hate cards (Melira, Kataki). Seems actually solid enough to give it some brewing time!
What are peoples thoughts on Dovin Baan? His first ability can basically shut down annoying creatures like spellskite, which is kind of nice. His ultimate doesn't win games, but by the gods are people going to hate it when he ults. I don't think anyone ever liked playing against static orb.
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1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
What are peoples thoughts on Dovin Baan? His first ability can basically shut down annoying creatures like spellskite, which is kind of nice. His ultimate doesn't win games, but by the gods are people going to hate it when he ults. I don't think anyone ever liked playing against static orb.
As I stated a few pages ago. Why would a UW deck cares about Spellskite so much that they feel that they need to run Dovin Baan? He's a worse Jace, Artiect of thought in almost everyway. Jace's plus can blank souls tokens while dovin can only stop one creature, his minus only nets you one card while jace does a mini fact or fiction, and jace ult literally wins a game while Dovin's doesn't. Playable 4 drop planeswalkers have game ending ults and his doesn't end a game really. Not impressed whatsoever with it.
I don't know if that's been pointed out already but the creature other than Emmy you are looking for is Flickerwisp which actually is a decent card on its own (Opponent takes Emmy, we flicker it because that's a trigger not a spell, get it back at EOT). Seems actually like something with some potencial if you ask me. We can do good old Twin Style T3 EOT cast Congregation at Dawn into T4 cast Dubious Challenge.
What about using Force of Nature or Lord of the Pit style cards? Sure your opponent can take the 8/8 trample, but they'll be taking 8 each turn. Perhaps some Fogs and watch their life total slip?
Sadly Dubious Challenge reads 'Target Opponent MAY choose one of the exiled cards and put it onto the battlefield under his or her control. Put the rest onto the battlefield under your control.' So Phage would actually end up killing us not them.
Sadly Dubious Challenge reads 'Target Opponent MAY choose one of the exiled cards and put it onto the battlefield under his or her control. Put the rest onto the battlefield under your control.' So Phage would actually end up killing us not them.
That's a relief. For a second I thought that WotC had dropped the ball again.
Sadly Dubious Challenge reads 'Target Opponent MAY choose one of the exiled cards and put it onto the battlefield under his or her control. Put the rest onto the battlefield under your control.' So Phage would actually end up killing us not them.
That's a relief. For a second I thought that WotC had dropped the ball again.
Drop the ball? That combo wouldnt even be playable even if it said that the opponent should take a creature. This is Modern man, not kitchen table
What are peoples thoughts on Dovin Baan? His first ability can basically shut down annoying creatures like spellskite, which is kind of nice. His ultimate doesn't win games, but by the gods are people going to hate it when he ults. I don't think anyone ever liked playing against static orb.
I think he's pretty good in those colors, but not so good that he eclipses other 4cc walker options. He defends himself decently well while gaining counters, and his -1 is pretty great. I could give it a good home.
Sadly Dubious Challenge reads 'Target Opponent MAY choose one of the exiled cards and put it onto the battlefield under his or her control. Put the rest onto the battlefield under your control.' So Phage would actually end up killing us not them.
That's a relief. For a second I thought that WotC had dropped the ball again.
Drop the ball? That combo wouldnt even be playable even if it said that the opponent should take a creature. This is Modern man, not kitchen table
Wait what? The last time I checked a two card combo that goes end of opponents turn 3 instant speed play one combo piece, untap, play the other, win (aka Twin) was pretty good in modern. And in this case you wouldn't even be able to interact with it with creature removal...
Anyway, the combo Badabingbum described doesn't even work, so no reason to start a discussion over it.
I actually got a rules question for Dubious Challenge: Does my opponent's creature enter before mine does? Or do they enter at the same time?
BRGMy Deck(Modern): Bolts'n'Burns WMy other, WIP casual deck: Zero to Hero
Protection from Will-O'-the-Wisps, Ali-from-Cairos, and Uncle-Istvans
Legendary snow landwalk
---------------------------------------
On the reserved list: Wizards won't remove it. Only we can. In other words: Play Modern, Pauper, or No-RL Eternal.
Same time, both creatures place their ETB triggers on the stack and you may resolve yours first.
There is no choice in who gets to place their triggers on the stack first. Only ordering within a player's own triggers. For how to resolve multiple triggers from two players: the active player will place all their triggers on the stack first, then the nonactive player. This means the nonactive player's triggers will resolve first.
It's not a common scenario where order would matter, so is messed up a few times when it happens. The first time I saw it was at a draft where both players had Huntmaster on the battlefield. Then the order of triggers was extremely important.
603.3b If multiple abilities have triggered since the last time a player received priority, each player, in APNAP order, puts triggered abilities he or she controls on the stack in any order he or she chooses
In the yard: RUG Delver, Kiki-Chord, Grixis Twin, Mardu Control, Smallpox, Jeskai Control, Jeskai Delver, Assault Loam, Elves, Deathcloud, Eggs, Storm
Smuggler's copter might make it into modern. It doesn't take much for it to get going.
Decks I'm playing in Modern right now:
URB Grixis Reveler (http://www.mtgvault.com/supast4r7/decks/modern-grixis-reveler/)
UB Faeries (http://www.mtgvault.com/supast4r7/decks/ub-fae-2/)
UW Azorious Control (http://www.mtgvault.com/supast4r7/decks/modern-ojutai-control-2/)
Monoblue energy draft
4 Aether Theorist
4 Minister of Inquiries
4 Thriving Turtle
2 Glassblower's puzzleknot
2 Woodweaver's puzzleknot
4 Aetherhub
4 Aetherwork's marvel
4 Monastery Siege
8 Big Guys . . .
4 Sea Gate wreckage
16 Islands
Modern Shoe-ins:
-Fast land cycle (Spirebluff Canal, Blooming Marsh, Inspiring Vantage, Botanical Sanctum): Probably the second most talked about card(s) from Kaladesh. Will make waves for obvious reasons.
-Chandra, Torch of Defiance: THE most talked about card in the set and for good reason. Decks that can take adv of her super powerful abilities will be able to get insane value for 4 mana. Competes unfavorably with Nahiri, the harbinger because Nahiri ends games faster, has more versatile removal options, and her Rummaging Goblin ability is very good at finding options. Nahiri and Chandra DON'T play well together since Chandra can exile Emrakul, the Aeons Torn which destroys Nahiri's wincon. This card also doesn't have many homes in modern though. I expect her to show up in Jund sideboards, GR Ponza decks, Mardu decks, Grixis Midrange decks, Blue Moon decks and Skred decks. Out of those listed only Jund sees tons of play. She will get better in modern as midrange decks that don't play Nahiri get better.
--Madcap Experiment: The third most talked about thing for modern. Combos with Platinum Emperion super well. Also combos with Blightsteel Colossus if you have a Soulfire Grand Master out. This combo has the potential to change the format because many decks don't have great answers to a resolved emperion. Madcap Experiment also plays SUPER well with Blood Moon since it curves into it, Emperion shuts off your fetchlands anyhow, and the blood moon protects your emperion from Path to exile snipes. Can slot in great as mainboard package to decks like Blue moon/Boros Lockdown that already play 4 copies of blood moon. Or madcap combo can be a nice sideboard piece to decks like Jeskai Nahiri against decks that don't have great answers to it (Dredge, Elves, Merfolk, Suicide Zoo, Affinity, Kiki, Ad naus, etc)
-Cataclysmic Gearhulk: A creature that casts Tragic Arrogance and leaves behind a 4/5 vigilance should be talked about. Fits very well into Kiki-Chord decks that struggle against go wide strats. Also slots into UW(x) midrange decks such as resto blink decks, geist decks, etc. Super underrated right now and I think it may give these strats the push they need.
-Cathartic Reunion: BECAUSE DREDGE NEEDED MORE CARDS? This card flat out replaces Tormenting Voice in dredge decks because of the ability to potentially dredge 18 cards turn 2. Even if it's countered they still get two cards in the graveyard. Super powerful card for Dredge to say the least and I expect it to make the deck a lot more consistent.
Potentially good cards:
-Blossoming Defense: Giving infect a mainboardable out to spellskite is SUPER nice for them.
-Inventors' Fair/Aether Hub: Both go into Lantern Control. Aether Hub replaces Tendo Ice Bridge since it's a strictly better version. (If they ghost quarter the Bridge you lose the counter where if they destroy/seas the hub you keep the energy counter to use on another Hub. Inventors' fair allows them to find their strong pieces later in the game.
-Verdurous Gearhulk: Seems like an interesting Chord of Calling/Eldritch Evolution target to pump the team to victory of to have a big creature in play. Competes with Thragtusk and Reveillark for max value plays in these decks.
-Torrential Gearhulk Goes in Blue Tron since Blue Tron can reliably get casts Fatcaster mage often.
-Ceremonious Rejection: A nice sideboard option for blue decks like Merfolk. Stronger in older formats.
Have decent potential but might not make it:
-Glint-nest Crane: It almost casts Ancient Stirrings while leaving behind a 1/3 flying body which is nothing to snuff at. This card has no home sadly.
-Authority of the Consuls: At one mana this card does a lot to help control decks deal with go wide strats. Super dead in multiples and as a top deck.
-Saheeli Rai: Goes into a Flicker deck or a new brew of Kiki Chord. The issue with Saheeli is her colors don't favor flicker decks sadly.
-Nissa, Vital Force: Turning useless lands into 5/5 beatsticks is brutal. Turning a Darksteel Citadel into a 5/5 is even worse; ask Tezzeret decks. The fact that Nissa threatens a great ult the turn after she comes down is great. Her minus ability can also buy back powerful cards like eternal Witness to get some MAX value after you ult the Nissa. Unfortunately, this card is 5 mana and you have to do a lot to see play at 5 mana. However she is in green which has no issues getting mana out fast so we shall see.
-Toolcraft Exemplar: Has the power and toughness of a delver of Secrets on offense when you have an artifact and trades delver's flying for First strike if you have metalcraft. May be too hard to get this card going.
-Inventor's Apprentice: Does a Kird Ape impression but it needs to be be played around affinity cards. At this point why not just play affinity?
-Refurbish: It gave people brewing with Trash for Treasure another reanimation spell but this might not get there. It also hurts that the best artifact to reanimate has to be reanimated at instant speed (Blightsteel Colossus)
-Smuggler's Copter: Getting a 3/3 flyer for 2 mana doesn't happen often and usually comes with restrictions. (Serra Avenger comes to mind) This card trades Avenger's Vilence with a looting ability that happens on offense or defense which is very powerful. While this asks for a 1/1 or greater creature, hitting for 3 a turn with evasion is pretty powerful. Unfortunately bolt is very prevalent so if you are riding in the copter you need to be sure you aren't driving in a storm full of bolts. The storm might be too tough to pilot this interesting vehicle
-Skysovereign, Consul Flagship: Powerful ability and it has a great ETB ability. Sadly 5 is A LOT for modern and if you are a 5 drop you either have to win the game (Reality Smasher) or make sure that your opponent doesn't win the game. (Gideon Jura) This card doesn't do enough imho.
-Pia Nalaar: 3 power split among 2 bodies is always a good thing and she has two abilities that are just gravy to that. Might not be a good enough creature to see play in modern but the potential is there.
-Gonti, Lord of Luxury: Paying 4 mana for a 2/3 deathtouch is horrible in modern but the ability that Gonti cast is interesting because we have never had an effect like this in modern. Gonti may be good enough to boost midrange decks but his body leaves a lot to be desired. Worth noting that you can cast the card even if Gonti dies.
Decks I'm playing in Modern right now:
URB Grixis Reveler (http://www.mtgvault.com/supast4r7/decks/modern-grixis-reveler/)
UB Faeries (http://www.mtgvault.com/supast4r7/decks/ub-fae-2/)
UW Azorious Control (http://www.mtgvault.com/supast4r7/decks/modern-ojutai-control-2/)
Fastlands
4
Cathartic Reunion: Dredge. For comparison, I rate Faithless Looting = 5.
Chandra, Torch of Defiance
Madcap Experiment: with Platinum Emperion. May be used in both fair decks and unfair decks, though I think it's better in fair decks.
3
Ceremonious Rejection: mainly against Tron
Blossoming Defense: Infect. Apostle's Blessing = 4
Voltaic Brawler: Bushwhacker Zoo. Flinthoof Boar = 3
2
Fragmentize
Ninth Bridge Patrol: Norin Sisters, it triggers off Norin and expendable Myr tokens. Ajani's Pridemate = 3
Toolcraft Exemplar: some WW deck, not Affinity
Dramatic Reversal: has combo potential, but I can't think of a deck yet. To Arms! exists.
Glint-Nest Crane: some artifact heavy Thopter Sword deck
Lost Legacy
Lathnu Hellion: Ball Lightning Collected Company LOL
Attune with Aether: 7-land Belcher
Nature's Way: Some kind of Kiln Fiend deck. Lets you kill something without putting Kiln Fiend's 2 toughness body on the line.
Dovin Baan
Kambal, Consul of Allocation
Saheeli Rai
Filigree Familiar: SB card for decks that can't play Kitchen Finks
Scrapheap Scrounger: Dredge, maybe. Haunted Dead = 3
Aether Hub
Inventors' Fair: Eggs or Lantern
All Gearhulks: the blue one is slightly better than the rest, maybe a 3
1
The rest
Energy
It seems balanced based on what they've released so far. A lot of effects that require energy can only be done once per turn, and most of them do pretty fair things (other than Aetherworks Marvel, which is a 4-drop, takes 6 energy, and relies on luck/setup).
Vehicles
They seem better for Standard, where creature combat and board wipes are more common, and you don't need to race turn 4 combo decks. Some of them have above-curve stats for their cost, but you need to play other creatures to crew them.
Overall this set feels passable. I like both Madcap Experiment and Chandra, but the 1-drops are pretty boring. There isn't anything like a Delver or Hardened Scales that could be fun to build around. All there is is Authority of the Consuls, Toolcraft Exemplar and Inventor's Apprentice, and for the last two, the answer is obvious: just throw them in a deck with Memnites and Ornithopters.
Card: number of results found on mtgtop8 (both main & side)
Distended Mindbender: 2
Elder Deep-Fiend: 14
Emrakul, the Promised End: 10
Eternal Scourge: 0
Blessed Alliance: 31 (large number in Bant Eldrazi for some reason)
Lone Rider: 0
Providence: 0
Selfless Spirit: 27 (mostly Company/Chord decks)
Sigarda's Aid: 0
Thalia, Heretic Cathar: 18
Coax from the Blind Eternities: 0
Curious Homunculus: 0
Docent of Perfection: 0
Fortune's Favor: 0
Imprisoned in the Moon: 0
Mausoleum Wanderer: 3
Summary Dismissal: 3
Take Inventory: 0
Unsubstantiate: 5
Collective Brutality: 36
Cryptbreaker: 0
Liliana, the Last Hope: 24
Haunted Dead: 13
Tree of Perdition: 0
Whispers of Emrakul: 0
Bedlam Reveler: 11
Hanweir Garrison: 0
Harmless Offering: 0
Mirrorwing Dragon: 0
Eldritch Evolution: 13
Gnarlwood Dryad: 16 (15/16 Suicide Zoo)
Kessig Prowler: 0
Noose Constrictor: 0
Splendid Reclamation: 0
Bloodhall Priest: 0
Grim Flayer: 33
Spell Queller: 13
Tamiyo, Field Researcher: 3
Lupine Prototype: 0
Geier Reach Sanitarium: 2
Nephalia Academy: 4 (all Ad Nauseam)
The breakout card of EMN was Grim Flayer (which I missed), but it had three very good SB cards as well: Blessed Alliance, Selfless Spirit and Collective Brutality.
Emrakul did a lot more in Standard than Modern. I wouldn't chalk that up to Tron being underplayed - out of the 29 RG Tron decks recorded on mtgtop8 (search parameters: Mine, Stirrings, Scrying, Map) after EMN's release, only 6 played Emrakul, the Promised End.
Surprisingly, Madness failed to make an impact, with 0 Noose Constrictor decks. Spirits fared slightly better, but not by much, with 3 Mausoleum Wanderer decks. Werewolves and Zombies did nothing (as tribes), but Haunted Dead showed up as a 1-of in 13 Dredge decks.
There weren't any dedicated Delirium decks either, although Grim Flayer and Gnarlwood Dryad saw some play. The last posted Gnarlwood Dryad deck was on 27/8, so I'd take that with a grain of salt. Whispers of Emrakul saw 0 play.
Eldritch Evolution was not the second coming of Pod.
Splendid Reclamation didn't break anything. Neither did Harmless Offering.
Nephalia Academy didn't do much for combo decks. If you want to beat discard, the best plan is still Leyline.
| Ad Nauseam
| Infect
Big Johnny.
Brooding Saurian + Dubious Challenge. . . cast Challenge choose Saurian and Emrakul for example. . . then even if opponent chooses Emrakul you get it back at the end step. With the lizard in your deck, it seems to be the cheapest way to get Emrakul into play in modern, and looks to me better than summoning trap.
Imagine deck with Noble Hierarch, some looting and Maybe using Congregation at Dawn to set it up?
Problem is, that while it can be a 1 card combo. . . the chances of it working at the chances of getting Brooding Saurian in your top 10 cards . . . assuming you drew 1 . . . are around 42%. . . but with Congregation it turns out to be a 2 card combo (one of which is instant speed) for a combined total of 7 mana. .
Potential?
I did some brewing with gruul charm/stylus and the problem I ran into was actually hitting two valuable creatures. Charm is fine to hit one, but it's 6 mana so it's starting to push it. Stylus requires you hit two high value targets (since you're burying the one they choose), which proved difficult. Didn't try Congregation but it felt like a lot of set up cards and a lot of dying to burn.
Not entirely true. Glimmer of Genius is clearly made for reactive decks, although it's also clear Wizards isn't designing most cards with Modern in mind.
Digging to your payoff cards and adding EE to fuel it doesn't feel like a "reactive card" to me. It may be best in a reactive deck but it's not a reactive card in the way Mana Leak is.
(Speaking of which, why isn't Scepter a thing in this format?)
Modern - Cheeri0s (building), Belcher (building), Lantern (building), UW Control (building)
RIP Magic Duels. Wizards will regret what they did to you.
Cause of decay and K-Command paired with the rather slow value it generates.
Greetings,
Kathal
Modern/Legacy
either funpolice (Delver, Deathcloud, UW Control) or the fun decks (especially those ft. Griselbrand)
Modern - Cheeri0s (building), Belcher (building), Lantern (building), UW Control (building)
RIP Magic Duels. Wizards will regret what they did to you.
I don't know if that's been pointed out already but the creature other than Emmy you are looking for is Flickerwisp which actually is a decent card on its own (Opponent takes Emmy, we flicker it because that's a trigger not a spell, get it back at EOT). Seems actually like something with some potencial if you ask me. We can do good old Twin Style T3 EOT cast Congregation at Dawn into T4 cast Dubious Challenge. And nothing of that can be interacted with via removal spells. It does not win on the spot though (If they make the right decision and choose Flickerwisp they actually even get another Blocker for Emrakul). That said against MUs where the Emrakul Win might not be fast enough (think Infect/Affinity for example) you can board in hate cards (Melira, Kataki). Seems actually solid enough to give it some brewing time!
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
As I stated a few pages ago. Why would a UW deck cares about Spellskite so much that they feel that they need to run Dovin Baan? He's a worse Jace, Artiect of thought in almost everyway. Jace's plus can blank souls tokens while dovin can only stop one creature, his minus only nets you one card while jace does a mini fact or fiction, and jace ult literally wins a game while Dovin's doesn't. Playable 4 drop planeswalkers have game ending ults and his doesn't end a game really. Not impressed whatsoever with it.
Decks I'm playing in Modern right now:
URB Grixis Reveler (http://www.mtgvault.com/supast4r7/decks/modern-grixis-reveler/)
UB Faeries (http://www.mtgvault.com/supast4r7/decks/ub-fae-2/)
UW Azorious Control (http://www.mtgvault.com/supast4r7/decks/modern-ojutai-control-2/)
4 Lord of the Pit
4 Gaea's Liege
4 Brooding Saurian
4 Crovax, Ascendant Hero
4 Dubious Challenge
4 Fog
4 Holy Day
4 Path to Exile
Sadly Dubious Challenge reads 'Target Opponent MAY choose one of the exiled cards and put it onto the battlefield under his or her control. Put the rest onto the battlefield under your control.' So Phage would actually end up killing us not them.
That's a relief. For a second I thought that WotC had dropped the ball again.
Drop the ball? That combo wouldnt even be playable even if it said that the opponent should take a creature. This is Modern man, not kitchen table
I think he's pretty good in those colors, but not so good that he eclipses other 4cc walker options. He defends himself decently well while gaining counters, and his -1 is pretty great. I could give it a good home.
Wait what? The last time I checked a two card combo that goes end of opponents turn 3 instant speed play one combo piece, untap, play the other, win (aka Twin) was pretty good in modern. And in this case you wouldn't even be able to interact with it with creature removal...
Anyway, the combo Badabingbum described doesn't even work, so no reason to start a discussion over it.
I actually got a rules question for Dubious Challenge: Does my opponent's creature enter before mine does? Or do they enter at the same time?
Fragmentize could almost see play as sideboard artifact hate, but we have Stony Silence already.
WMy other, WIP casual deck: Zero to Hero
Protection from Will-O'-the-Wisps, Ali-from-Cairos, and Uncle-Istvans
Legendary snow landwalk
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On the reserved list: Wizards won't remove it. Only we can. In other words: Play Modern, Pauper, or No-RL Eternal.
It's not a common scenario where order would matter, so is messed up a few times when it happens. The first time I saw it was at a draft where both players had Huntmaster on the battlefield. Then the order of triggers was extremely important.