In my opinion Angelic Destiny is too slow and just asks for 2 for 1 blowouts when the creature you are targeting with it gets removed in response, causing it to go to the GY (and not back to hand).
I think Gideon, Ally of Zendikar is good for its second ability to generate Knight tokens only. I'm not sure what the removal suite is in competitive Modern, but I think his +1 would just make him vulnerable to Dismember or Path to Exile. Also, Gideon can't attack the turn he comes into the battlefield. (If your Knights deck has Honor the Pure or other buffs, then Gideon improves.)
Elspeth, Knight-Errant works better in more match-ups. One +1 ability generates a token (although not a knight). The other +1 gives flying, an evasive ability that most Knights lack. Her ultimate ability is also relevant.
I tried Gideon, Ally of Zendikar a while ago. The card is sweet, but it's SO slow. I think the only build it'd work in is a green build with dorks so you can cast him on turn 3, and even then I prefer Elspeth for the turn 2 double striker->turn 3 10-12 damage.
As for your list, I'd probably do it something like this:
Given no immediate budget, the first change I'd make to this deck would be adding Æther Vials, but they are not required. Other decent cards include Silverblade Paladin, Knight of the Holy Nimbus, other swords (2 is fine) or Thalia, Guardian of Thraben (Not a knight, but depending on your meta she can put in A LOT of work).
They left out the part where Yawgmoth is resurrected,but has been cleansed as Yawgmoth the Redeemed,and now must awaken Chromium so that Karn can fuse with him and create what can only be known as : the ultimate taco.
With 21 lands and no Vial, the deck will struggle casting more than one spell a turn, or any 4 drop. This is why Vial is vital. Since you don't have them, you can either buy them or lower the curve (which would be good anyway). You're stacked at 3 cmc, so Nikeyeia's suggestions are welcome.
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Pioneer - A bunch of stuff Modern - Humans Legacy - Grixis Phoenix / Death & Taxes
Silverblade Paladin is vulnerable, but he kills uninteractive opponents really, really fast. As for the swords, it probably depends on how relevant the different protections are in your meta. I like Feast and Famine the best out of the new ones, but the protections overlap with Crusader. War and Peace can be decent.
The main problem with mono white without vials is you only have four onedrops. You can consider trying out Champion of the Parish or perhaps even Kytheon. Other options would be either getting yourself some vials or splashing green for mana dorks. This also gives access to KotR and/or CoCo (I have personally found KotR to consistently be the best creature in the deck).
I'm playing the green splash full time, but I swap around which green cards I play from time to time. Currently I'm playing a non-vial list with CoCo and 6 dorks. Sometimes I play no dorks and four vials, sometimes I splash blue for the knightfall combo, etc. If you have access to the cards, I recommend experimenting.
They left out the part where Yawgmoth is resurrected,but has been cleansed as Yawgmoth the Redeemed,and now must awaken Chromium so that Karn can fuse with him and create what can only be known as : the ultimate taco.
The only remotely competitive Knight decks are mono-white Equipment Knights (with Puresteel Paladin), Vial Knights (with Aether Vial), CoCo Knights (with Collected Company), and possibly Haakon Knights. In all of these decks, it's recommended to have Cavern of Souls.
If your deck doesn't have any of these cards, it's going to be underpowered.
I have actually found Cavern of Souls to be sort of detrimental when running Student of Warfare because you can't pay the level up cost. The card is obviously still extremely strong when counter clause is actually relevant, which is why I'm still attempting to jam in as many as possible. Just something to bear in mind, I guess.
They left out the part where Yawgmoth is resurrected,but has been cleansed as Yawgmoth the Redeemed,and now must awaken Chromium so that Karn can fuse with him and create what can only be known as : the ultimate taco.
I have actually found Cavern of Souls to be sort of detrimental when running Student of Warfare because you can't pay the level up cost. The card is obviously still extremely strong when counter clause is actually relevant, which is why I'm still attempting to jam in as many as possible. Just something to bear in mind, I guess.
Yes, that is a factor that has been discussed in the past. In most cases, you probably don't need a full playset. Modern doesn't have a strong control deck (yet), but that does not mean that counter spells aren't played. So, Cavern of Souls is generally good to have.
The only remotely competitive Knight decks are mono-white Equipment Knights (with Puresteel Paladin), Vial Knights (with Aether Vial), CoCo Knights (with Collected Company), and possibly Haakon Knights. In all of these decks, it's recommended to have Cavern of Souls.
If your deck doesn't have any of these cards, it's going to be underpowered.
I have 4 puresteel. What equipments are generally run in such a deck?
I have actually found Cavern of Souls to be sort of detrimental when running Student of Warfare because you can't pay the level up cost. The card is obviously still extremely strong when counter clause is actually relevant, which is why I'm still attempting to jam in as many as possible. Just something to bear in mind, I guess.
Yes, that is a factor that has been discussed in the past. In most cases, you probably don't need a full playset. Modern doesn't have a strong control deck (yet), but that does not mean that counter spells aren't played. So, Cavern of Souls is generally good to have.
I would recommend against a full set of Caverns, especially if one is running Vials. I've always played three and that may well be one too many.
The only remotely competitive Knight decks are mono-white Equipment Knights (with Puresteel Paladin), Vial Knights (with Aether Vial), CoCo Knights (with Collected Company), and possibly Haakon Knights. In all of these decks, it's recommended to have Cavern of Souls.
If your deck doesn't have any of these cards, it's going to be underpowered.
I have 4 puresteel. What equipments are generally run in such a deck?
It's likely not up-to-date, but the primer has a section on Puresteel Knights including a discussion of equipment. It's a place to start.
The only remotely competitive Knight decks are mono-white Equipment Knights (with Puresteel Paladin), Vial Knights (with Aether Vial), CoCo Knights (with Collected Company), and possibly Haakon Knights. In all of these decks, it's recommended to have Cavern of Souls.
If your deck doesn't have any of these cards, it's going to be underpowered.
I have 4 puresteel. What equipments are generally run in such a deck?
Equipment with low casting costs and low equip activation costs to trigger Puresteel Paladin's ability. I've seen these all talked about at least once (no particular order). Bonesplitter and Trusty Machete, however, were considered the most efficient in terms of total cost to cast and equip at the time when this thread was more active (2013-2014)
But the lovely part about Mutavault is that Knight Exemplar buffs it. If you do not play Exemplar, due to playing black, sure. I am just not sure how Shambling Vent is any better than mutavault for this deck.
Mana fixing and lifelink are Vents benefits. I doubt I would play any W knights, certainly not any WW knights.
Round 1 vs. Sultai Midrangeish (2-0)
Game 1 I keep a hand with triple-Mirran Crusader, which made his green dudes very sad. Game 2 I had the dream start of Hierarch, Crusader and Elspeth, but he chumps with a Clique and has the Maelstrom Pulse for my planeswalker. He casts Damnation, but I win off the back of a Mutavault and a few beaters.
Round 2 vs. Jeskai Control (2-0)
Game 1 he has a poor hand and only plays a cryptic command before the game is over. Game 2 he has a Verdict, but I quickly fill the board again and end up attacking for exact lethal, thanks to Battlecry and Spellskite not having defender.
Round 3 vs. Ad Nauseam (2-1)
Game 1 I have the Hierarch, Crusader, Elspeth, but he kills me on his turn 4 (got him to 3). Game 2 he seems to draw poorly and I get a ton of power before he can combo off. Game 3 I end up having Stony Silence, Thalia and Gaddock Teeg against his board of 3 Lotus Blooms and four lands. Yeah.
Round 4 vs. Suicide Zoo (1-2)
Uh-oh, this matchup is really tough. Game 1 he gets double Death's Shadow, goes down to 2 and hits me for a million. Game 2 he floods out and I stabilize on 7 health, before buying enough time with a large Knight of the Reliquary to finish him. Game 3 I keep a sketchy hand and he has a sick draw.
Round 5 vs. EldraziTron (2-1)
Game 1 he has a turn 3 Reality Smasher, but my Student hits for 5 thanks to Exalted triggers, and I have a path for his dude. I remove his Endbringer with a charm, and he doesn't get a sweeper. Game 2 he has oblivion stone, ratchet bomb and Ugin. I get him sorta low, but can't recover from the Ugin. Game 3 I get the nuts draw and kill him on turn 4.
Thoughts and observations:
The deck played really well. I had three games to Hierarch->Crusader->Elspeth, hit you for 12. Since I opened an Avacyn, I decided to try her out, although I never actually got to cast her - One time I was short the mana, and one time the game was over before I was able to. She seems sweet, but my gut feeling is CoCo is better, although flying is very relevant.
I decided to stick a pair of Selesnya Charms in there. They worked alright, one time being a beater on turn 2, one time removing a Endbringer. I'd say it's probably the most versatile 2-drop, but it does lack the synergy with CoCo and Vial, which is why it should only be run in lists that run neither. I did kind of miss the Knight of Meadowgrains a bit.
Elspeth was awesome all around. Being able to cast her on turn 3 makes a huge difference. Bladehold was kinda iffy - Most of the time I'd rather have a CoCo.
I never actually got to cast a sword today; I pretty much never drew them.
I feel like I'm lacking a removal, so I might give the red splash a try. Lightning bolt plus helix in the sideboard seems strong. This would also give access to Kessig Wolf Run, which is amazing with first/double strike, and can be fetched with KotR.
They left out the part where Yawgmoth is resurrected,but has been cleansed as Yawgmoth the Redeemed,and now must awaken Chromium so that Karn can fuse with him and create what can only be known as : the ultimate taco.
The only remotely competitive Knight decks are mono-white Equipment Knights (with Puresteel Paladin), Vial Knights (with Aether Vial), CoCo Knights (with Collected Company), and possibly Haakon Knights. In all of these decks, it's recommended to have Cavern of Souls.
If your deck doesn't have any of these cards, it's going to be underpowered.
I have 4 puresteel. What equipments are generally run in such a deck?
Agree with DHCell, the Puresteel Paladin build is most competitive in my opinion. I built a monowhite vial version went 8-8 in the Mtgo Modern Constructed leagues and 2-man queues. The Puresteel version is currently 10-5 so I'm sticking with that one for now on Mtgo. Instead of steelshapers gift and Worship, I opted for 4 vials instead. Lands at 4 Caverns, 1 Mutavault, 2 Tectonic Edges. Threw in an infiltration lens instead of bladed bracers also but otherwise same build. Pleasantly surprised with how the deck is working and recommend people give it a shot.
It's a shame Ancient Den is banned in Modern, just a shame. There should be an exception to the bans on artifact lands for every deck that isn't Affinity (Robots). Or maybe Lantern Control, Or . . .
You can replace it with Basilisk Collar/Stoneforge Masterwork or an anthem like Light from Within/Honor of the Pure/Always Watching or another PW like Gideon, Ally of Zendikar which is very good.
And the +1 is pretty good as well.
Elspeth, Knight-Errant works better in more match-ups. One +1 ability generates a token (although not a knight). The other +1 gives flying, an evasive ability that most Knights lack. Her ultimate ability is also relevant.
As for your list, I'd probably do it something like this:
3 Brave the Elements
4 Path to Exile
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
3 Paladin en-Vec
4 Knight Exemplar
4 Student of Warfare
4 Mirran Crusader
4 Knight of Meadowgrain
4 Knight of the White Orchid
2 Hero of Bladehold
4 Mutavault
Given no immediate budget, the first change I'd make to this deck would be adding Æther Vials, but they are not required. Other decent cards include Silverblade Paladin, Knight of the Holy Nimbus, other swords (2 is fine) or Thalia, Guardian of Thraben (Not a knight, but depending on your meta she can put in A LOT of work).
Also, I don't have the original two swords, nor vials, out of the most recent three which do you recomend?
The main problem with mono white without vials is you only have four onedrops. You can consider trying out Champion of the Parish or perhaps even Kytheon. Other options would be either getting yourself some vials or splashing green for mana dorks. This also gives access to KotR and/or CoCo (I have personally found KotR to consistently be the best creature in the deck).
I'm playing the green splash full time, but I swap around which green cards I play from time to time. Currently I'm playing a non-vial list with CoCo and 6 dorks. Sometimes I play no dorks and four vials, sometimes I splash blue for the knightfall combo, etc. If you have access to the cards, I recommend experimenting.
Frenzy-Affinity-Ghost Quarter-Rock-Tokens- RGWPhyrexian Zoo- WVial KnightsStandard:
BW Knights(Rotated)Pioneer: RW Knights - BW Rally Zombies - UW Heroes
Commander:WUG
Jenara, Asura of War- WGSigarda, Host of HeronsCasualties of economicsLegacy: Good-night, sweet prince. Mono-R Burn
What about it? It's certainly not Modern-playable.
All views expressed herein are solely those of the poster unless expressly stated otherwise.
Frenzy-Affinity-Ghost Quarter-Rock-Tokens- RGWPhyrexian Zoo- WVial KnightsStandard:
BW Knights(Rotated)Pioneer: RW Knights - BW Rally Zombies - UW Heroes
Commander:WUG
Jenara, Asura of War- WGSigarda, Host of HeronsCasualties of economicsLegacy: Good-night, sweet prince. Mono-R Burn
If your deck doesn't have any of these cards, it's going to be underpowered.
Yes, that is a factor that has been discussed in the past. In most cases, you probably don't need a full playset. Modern doesn't have a strong control deck (yet), but that does not mean that counter spells aren't played. So, Cavern of Souls is generally good to have.
I have 4 puresteel. What equipments are generally run in such a deck?
I would recommend against a full set of Caverns, especially if one is running Vials. I've always played three and that may well be one too many.
Frenzy-Affinity-Ghost Quarter-Rock-Tokens- RGWPhyrexian Zoo- WVial KnightsStandard:
BW Knights(Rotated)Pioneer: RW Knights - BW Rally Zombies - UW Heroes
Commander:WUG
Jenara, Asura of War- WGSigarda, Host of HeronsCasualties of economicsLegacy: Good-night, sweet prince. Mono-R Burn
It's likely not up-to-date, but the primer has a section on Puresteel Knights including a discussion of equipment. It's a place to start.
Frenzy-Affinity-Ghost Quarter-Rock-Tokens- RGWPhyrexian Zoo- WVial KnightsStandard:
BW Knights(Rotated)Pioneer: RW Knights - BW Rally Zombies - UW Heroes
Commander:WUG
Jenara, Asura of War- WGSigarda, Host of HeronsCasualties of economicsLegacy: Good-night, sweet prince. Mono-R Burn
Equipment with low casting costs and low equip activation costs to trigger Puresteel Paladin's ability. I've seen these all talked about at least once (no particular order). Bonesplitter and Trusty Machete, however, were considered the most efficient in terms of total cost to cast and equip at the time when this thread was more active (2013-2014)
Frenzy-Affinity-Ghost Quarter-Rock-Tokens- RGWPhyrexian Zoo- WVial KnightsStandard:
BW Knights(Rotated)Pioneer: RW Knights - BW Rally Zombies - UW Heroes
Commander:WUG
Jenara, Asura of War- WGSigarda, Host of HeronsCasualties of economicsLegacy: Good-night, sweet prince. Mono-R Burn
Mana fixing and lifelink are Vents benefits. I doubt I would play any W knights, certainly not any WW knights.
Frenzy-Affinity-Ghost Quarter-Rock-Tokens- RGWPhyrexian Zoo- WVial KnightsStandard:
BW Knights(Rotated)Pioneer: RW Knights - BW Rally Zombies - UW Heroes
Commander:WUG
Jenara, Asura of War- WGSigarda, Host of HeronsCasualties of economicsLegacy: Good-night, sweet prince. Mono-R Burn
4 Noble Hierarch
4 Student of Warfare
3 Knight of the White Orchid
2 Knight of Meadowgrain
4 Mirran Crusader
4 Knight of the Reliquary
4 Knight Exemplar
2 Hero of Bladehold
1 Archangel Avacyn
Noncreatures
4 Path to Exile
2 Selesnya Charm
1 Sword of Light and Shadow
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
2 Elspeth, Knight-Errant
4 Arid Mesa
4 Windswept Heath
3 Flooded Strand
2 Temple Garden
2 Horizon Canopy
1 Mutavault
1 Cavern of Souls
4 Plains
1 Forest
3 Stony Silence
3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
3 Leyline of Sanctity
2 Gaddock Teeg
1 Sword of War and Peace
1 Spellskite
1 Wilt-Leaf Liege
1 Nature's Claim
Round 1 vs. Sultai Midrangeish (2-0)
Game 1 I keep a hand with triple-Mirran Crusader, which made his green dudes very sad. Game 2 I had the dream start of Hierarch, Crusader and Elspeth, but he chumps with a Clique and has the Maelstrom Pulse for my planeswalker. He casts Damnation, but I win off the back of a Mutavault and a few beaters.
Round 2 vs. Jeskai Control (2-0)
Game 1 he has a poor hand and only plays a cryptic command before the game is over. Game 2 he has a Verdict, but I quickly fill the board again and end up attacking for exact lethal, thanks to Battlecry and Spellskite not having defender.
Round 3 vs. Ad Nauseam (2-1)
Game 1 I have the Hierarch, Crusader, Elspeth, but he kills me on his turn 4 (got him to 3). Game 2 he seems to draw poorly and I get a ton of power before he can combo off. Game 3 I end up having Stony Silence, Thalia and Gaddock Teeg against his board of 3 Lotus Blooms and four lands. Yeah.
Round 4 vs. Suicide Zoo (1-2)
Uh-oh, this matchup is really tough. Game 1 he gets double Death's Shadow, goes down to 2 and hits me for a million. Game 2 he floods out and I stabilize on 7 health, before buying enough time with a large Knight of the Reliquary to finish him. Game 3 I keep a sketchy hand and he has a sick draw.
Round 5 vs. EldraziTron (2-1)
Game 1 he has a turn 3 Reality Smasher, but my Student hits for 5 thanks to Exalted triggers, and I have a path for his dude. I remove his Endbringer with a charm, and he doesn't get a sweeper. Game 2 he has oblivion stone, ratchet bomb and Ugin. I get him sorta low, but can't recover from the Ugin. Game 3 I get the nuts draw and kill him on turn 4.
Thoughts and observations:
The deck played really well. I had three games to Hierarch->Crusader->Elspeth, hit you for 12. Since I opened an Avacyn, I decided to try her out, although I never actually got to cast her - One time I was short the mana, and one time the game was over before I was able to. She seems sweet, but my gut feeling is CoCo is better, although flying is very relevant.
I decided to stick a pair of Selesnya Charms in there. They worked alright, one time being a beater on turn 2, one time removing a Endbringer. I'd say it's probably the most versatile 2-drop, but it does lack the synergy with CoCo and Vial, which is why it should only be run in lists that run neither. I did kind of miss the Knight of Meadowgrains a bit.
Elspeth was awesome all around. Being able to cast her on turn 3 makes a huge difference. Bladehold was kinda iffy - Most of the time I'd rather have a CoCo.
I never actually got to cast a sword today; I pretty much never drew them.
I feel like I'm lacking a removal, so I might give the red splash a try. Lightning bolt plus helix in the sideboard seems strong. This would also give access to Kessig Wolf Run, which is amazing with first/double strike, and can be fetched with KotR.
Try somtething like this one
1x Basilisk Collar
1x Bladed Bracers
3x Bonesplitter
2x O-Naginata
1x Swiftfoot Boots
1x Sword of Fire and Ice
1x Sword of War and Peace
Instant (4)
4x Path to Exile
Sorcery (3)
3x Steelshaper's Gift
2x Fiendslayer Paladin
4x Knight Exemplar
4x Knight of Meadowgrain
4x Mirran Crusader
4x Puresteel Paladin
4x Student of Warfare
Land (20)
2x Cavern of Souls
18x Plains
Enchantment (1)
1x Worship
1x Aven Mindcensor
2x Celestial Purge
2x Disenchant
4x Kor Firewalker
1x Linvala, Keeper of Silence
2x Rest in Peace
1x Spellskite
1x Sword of Feast and Famine
1x Sword of Light and Shadow
Never mind.
Frenzy-Affinity-Ghost Quarter-Rock-Tokens- RGWPhyrexian Zoo- WVial KnightsStandard:
BW Knights(Rotated)Pioneer: RW Knights - BW Rally Zombies - UW Heroes
Commander:WUG
Jenara, Asura of War- WGSigarda, Host of HeronsCasualties of economicsLegacy: Good-night, sweet prince. Mono-R Burn