I do. I've felt Search was better than Jace in Modern since day 1 of the unban. Without Search, I'm probably not even playing this deck. We have the answers, the important part is getting to them.
Considering the meta, is there a reason folks are avoiding Anger of the Gods? I've got 2 in my 75 now, and its been amazing.
Anger of the Gods is a fantastic sweeper. It sees less play in Jeskai because generally we want our sweepers to mop up anything that our 3 damage spot removal doesn't handle. Hence verdict, settle and *** are usually first picked.
If the exile clause is relevant enough (see dredge, hollow one) then anger is a great choice. And I wouldn't blame you for running it given humans, affinity and Hollow One are the top dogs at the moment.
I simply feel like settle is better at the moment. Humans tend to get to 4 toughness quickly, and although you hit Bloodghast and Flamewake Phoenix with anger it completely misses hollow one and Gurmag Angler. Settle hits Etched champion and man-lands from affinity, hollow One, Angler, and mantis riders off the top.
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Modern Decks
------------ URW Jeskai Control GUWRB Amulet Titan GR Ponza
I'm at two Angers in the side for my nahiri list right now. I think Anger is excellent at the moment, the only problem I have with it is that double red turn three on top of getting triple blue and double white turn four is often awkward.
As for Azcanta, it has just always overperformed for me, and it's just excellent in any phase of the game. I could definitely see running 3 with the Teferi synergy
I will start trying out Teferi in two weeks once MKM Hamburg is done, for now I want to focus on my Nahiri list
I think this list looks pretty stock and should do reasonably well as long as your matchups aren't bad! I don't think Wizard's retort is probably worth a slot though. It's only Counterspell when you have Snap or Clique out, and Logic Knot already fulfills that roll pretty well. You could swap it for the SB verdict and free up a slot or you could try out a Spell Snare or a 4th Lightning Bolt or Cryptic Command. If you're just trying things out though, then that's fine as I'd be interested in how it performs.
On an unrelated note, the Nikolich list that keeps popping up has a Baneslayer Angel in the SB, but I can't really figure out what that's for. I mean it will really beat up on people if they take removal out of their decks, but most of the aggro decks are so fast that a turn 5 tapout doesn't seem worth it. It doesn't strike me as particularly great against Jund either. I'm considering using Timely Reinforcements in that slot instead (also I don't have a Baneslayer). I DID crack a Lyra Dawnbringer last night which is almost the same thing, so I could sub that in if you guys think Baneslayer is actually worth it.
well a lot of decks just dont run removal that can answer a baneslayer cleanly. a 5/5 first striking lifelinker just stone walls most aggression and is very hard to outrace. its good against decks like humans, hollow one, and eldrazi. its a tad slow, but still serviceable against burn.
you still have to get to the point in the game where you can cast it, but that is what the majority of our deck is doing. once you do though, turning the corner is trivial.
it isnt good in every meta, but i think its worth a slot right now considering the top decks.
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Modern: UWGSnow-Bant Control BURGrixis Death's Shadow GWBCoCo Elves WCDeath and Taxes (sold)
I could see how it's good against Hollow One, and coincidentally that's the deck I'm most annoyed with right now. I'll give Lyra a shot. I don't really think there are any Demons or Dragons being played right now that matter. Stormbreath is pro-white anyway. I guess I could get blown out by a block of a pumped up Mutavault though!
Eh it cost 5 CMC and Jeskai doesn't ramp. I would not use it as Hollow One Protection.
5 Power is simply the amount of power that will kill any threat not coming from something like Ponza or Breach. First strike means no single creature is likely to even trade favorably with it.
well for hollow one it doesnt really do much against their nuttiest draws, but in all other cases baneslayer is a house. one of the most common ways to lose to hollow one is getting punked out by bloodghasts, phoenixes, and bolts after stabilizing at a low life total. baneslayer shores up that weakness nicely.
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Modern: UWGSnow-Bant Control BURGrixis Death's Shadow GWBCoCo Elves WCDeath and Taxes (sold)
well for hollow one it doesnt really do much against their nuttiest draws, but in all other cases baneslayer is a house. one of the most common ways to lose to hollow one is getting punked out by bloodghasts, phoenixes, and bolts after stabilizing at a low life total. baneslayer shores up that weakness nicely.
I'm pretty high on Anger right now too, as well as Settle.
This is what I'm working with at the moment as I prepare for SCG Louisville next week. Not a fan of the Negate in the main, so I'm trying out a Remand, and I'm trying to fit and Abrade somewhere in the 75. I might take the Remand slot, I'm not sure. It's great against both Hollow One and Humans, which is a huge sell for me. Also considering cutting the 4th Cryptic for something like a Clique or Gideon 4.
Karn seems to be becoming a mainstay in affinity, which is very bad news for us. It might be correct to leave in more countermagic postboard against affinity now. I also might just start running a pithing needles in the side
I thought the same, but I think I was wrong. The 'ramp' aspect of what is going on was something I was not evaluating correctly (much like many missed on Search?).
Its not TOO MUCH magical christmas land as I had this sequence yesterday and today.
You have 4 Mana open with 2 punishing walkers in play, I'm also up to 4 Cryptic now. Thats game right there. Power up a Collonade and swing? At 7 mana you again will untap and have Cryptic Mana.
This is a Jeskai Kiki-Jiki list. It's win con is an infinite combo between Restoration Angel and Kiki-Jiki. Due to possessing a combo-kill, it naturally has a better match-up against combo decks.
The Avens in the Board are for Storm and Valakut, presumably, but also synergies with path to exile I guess. I don't think they're the strongest option personally but they fit the backup beat down plan.
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Modern Decks
------------ URW Jeskai Control GUWRB Amulet Titan GR Ponza
i dunno if id say its better. resto-kiki lists pop up from time to time, but it never really catches on. mostly it depends on how good wall of omens and resto angel are at any given point in time. kiki is kinda a crappy card that can get jammed up in your hand, and looks comically bad when its the only thing you have going on. cascade bluffs is a common inclusion as a concession to the RRR casting cost, which is actually quite hard to assemble in a deck playing cryptics and verdicts.
not sure what teferi brings to the table that would make resto-kiki any better than it has been, which is kind of mediocre. nahiri makes more sense since you can fetch up kiki with the ultimate.
aven mindcensor is decent disruption against tron, storm, valakut, amulet titan, whir of invention, and chord of calling decks. a 2/1 beater isnt anything to write home about, but you gotta apply pressure somehow.
edit: the other 5-0 jeskai list that got posted dropped azcanta all together and is playing 3 teferi/1 jace. not sure what the rationale behind that is since teferi untapping azcanta is one of the draws to the card in the first place. the list in particular cuts down on GY reliance and has 3 relics in the side. i guess thats something.
Spirits
------------
URW Jeskai Control
GUWRB Amulet Titan
GR Ponza
Spirits
I've been jamming 2 in every red sideboard for years; don't see any reason to stop now.
WUBRG Humans
BRW Mardu Pyromancer
UW UW "Control"
UR Blue Moon
Anger of the Gods is a fantastic sweeper. It sees less play in Jeskai because generally we want our sweepers to mop up anything that our 3 damage spot removal doesn't handle. Hence verdict, settle and *** are usually first picked.
If the exile clause is relevant enough (see dredge, hollow one) then anger is a great choice. And I wouldn't blame you for running it given humans, affinity and Hollow One are the top dogs at the moment.
I simply feel like settle is better at the moment. Humans tend to get to 4 toughness quickly, and although you hit Bloodghast and Flamewake Phoenix with anger it completely misses hollow one and Gurmag Angler. Settle hits Etched champion and man-lands from affinity, hollow One, Angler, and mantis riders off the top.
------------
URW Jeskai Control
GUWRB Amulet Titan
GR Ponza
As for Azcanta, it has just always overperformed for me, and it's just excellent in any phase of the game. I could definitely see running 3 with the Teferi synergy
I will start trying out Teferi in two weeks once MKM Hamburg is done, for now I want to focus on my Nahiri list
I think this list looks pretty stock and should do reasonably well as long as your matchups aren't bad! I don't think Wizard's retort is probably worth a slot though. It's only Counterspell when you have Snap or Clique out, and Logic Knot already fulfills that roll pretty well. You could swap it for the SB verdict and free up a slot or you could try out a Spell Snare or a 4th Lightning Bolt or Cryptic Command. If you're just trying things out though, then that's fine as I'd be interested in how it performs.
On an unrelated note, the Nikolich list that keeps popping up has a Baneslayer Angel in the SB, but I can't really figure out what that's for. I mean it will really beat up on people if they take removal out of their decks, but most of the aggro decks are so fast that a turn 5 tapout doesn't seem worth it. It doesn't strike me as particularly great against Jund either. I'm considering using Timely Reinforcements in that slot instead (also I don't have a Baneslayer). I DID crack a Lyra Dawnbringer last night which is almost the same thing, so I could sub that in if you guys think Baneslayer is actually worth it.
you still have to get to the point in the game where you can cast it, but that is what the majority of our deck is doing. once you do though, turning the corner is trivial.
it isnt good in every meta, but i think its worth a slot right now considering the top decks.
UWGSnow-Bant Control
BURGrixis Death's Shadow
GWBCoCo Elves
WCDeath and Taxes(sold)5 Power is simply the amount of power that will kill any threat not coming from something like Ponza or Breach. First strike means no single creature is likely to even trade favorably with it.
UWGSnow-Bant Control
BURGrixis Death's Shadow
GWBCoCo Elves
WCDeath and Taxes(sold)Exactly why I have Anger in right now. :]
Spirits
This is what I'm working with at the moment as I prepare for SCG Louisville next week. Not a fan of the Negate in the main, so I'm trying out a Remand, and I'm trying to fit and Abrade somewhere in the 75. I might take the Remand slot, I'm not sure. It's great against both Hollow One and Humans, which is a huge sell for me. Also considering cutting the 4th Cryptic for something like a Clique or Gideon 4.
UW Control
UWR Geist
UWR Control
So what are you cutting in order to add Jace? Mind if I see your decklist?
What is Aven Mindcensor in the SB used for?
This is a Jeskai Kiki-Jiki list. It's win con is an infinite combo between Restoration Angel and Kiki-Jiki. Due to possessing a combo-kill, it naturally has a better match-up against combo decks.
The Avens in the Board are for Storm and Valakut, presumably, but also synergies with path to exile I guess. I don't think they're the strongest option personally but they fit the backup beat down plan.
------------
URW Jeskai Control
GUWRB Amulet Titan
GR Ponza
i dunno if id say its better. resto-kiki lists pop up from time to time, but it never really catches on. mostly it depends on how good wall of omens and resto angel are at any given point in time. kiki is kinda a crappy card that can get jammed up in your hand, and looks comically bad when its the only thing you have going on. cascade bluffs is a common inclusion as a concession to the RRR casting cost, which is actually quite hard to assemble in a deck playing cryptics and verdicts.
not sure what teferi brings to the table that would make resto-kiki any better than it has been, which is kind of mediocre. nahiri makes more sense since you can fetch up kiki with the ultimate.
aven mindcensor is decent disruption against tron, storm, valakut, amulet titan, whir of invention, and chord of calling decks. a 2/1 beater isnt anything to write home about, but you gotta apply pressure somehow.
edit: the other 5-0 jeskai list that got posted dropped azcanta all together and is playing 3 teferi/1 jace. not sure what the rationale behind that is since teferi untapping azcanta is one of the draws to the card in the first place. the list in particular cuts down on GY reliance and has 3 relics in the side. i guess thats something.
UWGSnow-Bant Control
BURGrixis Death's Shadow
GWBCoCo Elves
WCDeath and Taxes(sold)