MTG Salvation

First, thanks for all the work that went into this primer and the non-budget one. I've been thinking about getting into Modern and this looks like a fun deck to pilot.

I will probably end up with something between the budget and full bore version of this deck and I am curious on which parts to upgrade first. Basically, does it make more sense to get utility lands and the Urborg's, or get some Liliana's, or Bitterblossoms?

I would think the Liliana's, as those help more with the win condition.

Check the 'upgrading' section in the primer.

Ah, missed that part of the upgrading. Thanks!

How would Haakon, Stromgald Scourge be? Its a recurrable creature.

Could be good in a Smallpox build, with more land.

Wondering if Zombie Infestation might be decent as a Bitterblossom replacement, probably in a build with 2x Dakmor. Perhaps the requirement is too much, making it unreliable, but thought I'd bring it up.

I recommend just using the primer list or something more similar...but at the least, you need to keep the Mists, even with Waste Not. Waste Not should replace Scrivener or Smallpox.

First off, thank you for all the work you have done building this very nice primer.

I did have a question, as I am on a tight budget for this deck. I dont have the cash to spring for Liliana, Bob, or the ensnaring bridges.

What about norn's annex? Whether you splash white or not, it could have some useful matchups making your opponent pay life in order to attack. It obviously isn't as strong as Ensnaring Bridge but in a budget version can it take its place?

If not, I'll probably wait for the release of Waste Not.

Thanks!

Seems pretty bad to me. Try Zombie Infestation or Pack Rat, maybe.

Hum, I'm just so fearful of discarding so much for Zombie Infestation when I'll already be running 2x Necrogen Mists.

If I'm lacking the Ensnaring Bridges, maybe I can consider boardwipes? I've been looking at the following:

Bile Blight

Drown in Sorrow

Killing Wave

Mutilate note, running 18x swamps in my list, which is here:

• 4x blackmail
  
• 2x Bojuka Bog
  
• 2x Dakmor Salvage
  
• 2x Delirium Skeins
  
• 2x Despise
  
• 2x Dismember
  
• 3x Funeral Charm
  
• 4x Inquisition of Kozilek
  
• 1x mutilate
  
• 2x Necrogen Mists
  
• 4x Raven's Crime
  
• 4x Shrieking Affliction
  
• 2x smallpox
  
• 18x Swamp
  
• 4x The Rack
  
• 4x Wrench Mind

Side:

• 3x Bile Blight
  
• 2x Geth's Verdict
  
• 2x Grafdigger's Cage
  
• 2x killing wave
  
• 2x Nihil Spellbomb
  
• 1x pithing needle
  
• 3x Ratchet Bomb

(I'm new to MTGS so excuse my poor formatting)

Killing Wave is terrible; don't give your opponent options. Don't use Smallpox if you're running Mutilate. I don't like the sideboard at all.

Increasing the land count to 23-24 and running Mutilate might be good. I'll test it and if it's great I'll probably change the primer. Something like this...



(Just use the 'deck' button on the far right to format it like this)

That looks pretty tight to me but it's hard to say without actual testing.

I may change Bile Blight to Extirpate in the primer as well; I don't like Blight much and Extirpate is a cheaper alternate to Extraction, and occasionally better. That said, it still costs a bit, and Cage has gone up recently as well (and likely will continue to), so I may just overhaul the whole thing soon.

Edit: Mutilate conflicts with Raven's Crime so I'm going to drop the land count and try Drown in Sorrow instead. Scry, 3cmc, and ability to run more nonlands is nice.

Edit: Drown misses too many things, and even more post-sideboard. Conclusion: you need Bridge if you want to be serious about the deck, but Drown is okay as a temporary measure.

Well, seeing as Urborg is getting reprinted in M15 (which looks to be a really exciting set that'll get opened a ton), the price is going to plummet and itll probably be able to be added to the budget lists!

Possibly.

I'm running budget 8rack (well, no Liliana or Bitterblossom anyway). What do people think about adding something like Augur of Skulls? Yes, creature removal is king, but a 1/1 that regenerates and gives you can option to make them discard is pretty good utility.

Edited to add decklist
8 Rack

Spells (40)
4 Necrogen Mists
3 Funeral Charm
4 Raven’s Crime
3 Wrench Mind
4 Thoughtsieze
4 Inquisition of Kozilek
3 Smallpox
3 Ensnaring Bridge
4 Shrieking Affliction
4 The Rack
2 Delirium Skeins
2 Liliana’s Caress

Lands (20)
2 Dakmor Salvage
12 Swamp
4 Urborg
2 Buried Ruin

Sideboard (15)
3 Night of Souls’ Betrayal
4 Torpor Orb
4 Relic of Progenitus
4 Extirpate

I tested Augur when I first built the deck and he was almost always awkward and too slow. It's also horrible to play him on curve.

That makes sense. I think it's easy to reach too far looking for answers when you're trying not spend too much. The deck is cheap but for a few pieces, but those pieces...liliana...just so good.

Yeah, Lily is amazing; she does both of the things we want, and repeatedly. But Waste Not will for sure help the budget version a lot and compensate well for the lack of her, and Bridge too.

I'm interested to play with Waste Not. It seems like it should be terrific in the deck, but then I thought Liliana's Caress would be also and they rely on the same mechanic. How have you been playing it? Are you trying to get it out early and take advantage of your cheap discard or waiting and letting it nickel and dime them later? The additional mana generated from Waste Not certainly helps you keep after them if they ditch a land. If you're retracing Crime you could empty their hand and get something else in play like rack, torpor orb, or whatever. It also seems that you can use the tokens as a replacement for the "beat with Mutavault" strategy, added pressure and cheaper.

On a side note, are you simply playing around various enchantments? Have you considered adding something like Feast of Dreams to deal with things like Leyline? Or is that perhaps too specific for a sideboard spot?

Waste Not does way more than Caress does. I've been arguing with people about how to play it over on the non-budget thread. I wait; they all think you shouldn't but I think they're bad.

The only enchantment we care about is Leyline. Feast doesn't deal with Leyline; black doesn't destroy enchantments.

Yep, I'm wrong on Feast. Read it too fast.