As far as addressing the flickerwisp/blade splicer build: I think GW death n taxes is a better spot for those cards, and I'm not sold on them either. I feel like they are just not strong enough on their own - I'd rather have smiters to force into play past twin/grixis and geist is better solo than slicer. Geist can't fight with Angler or tasigur, but the threat of the counterswing turns it in to a starring contest as Geist wins races. We have exalted and some flying to force the damage through when it comes down to it.
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Modern Decks
KnightfallGWUR
Azorius Control UW
Burn RBG
I currently have 2 Hushwing Gryff in the SB. Are they worth running against decks whose only card it stops is Snapcaster Mage? Such as the new various grixis decks.
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Modern: Bant Company GWU Dredgevine GBR Affinity 0 Grixis Control UBR
I don't think I would, as bolt will answer it quite nicely and then snappy can flash it back without issue. Scavenging ooze does tons of work for me against grixis.
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Modern Decks
KnightfallGWUR
Azorius Control UW
Burn RBG
The rise of Grixis has me really trying to push Scavenging Ooze into my sideboard again, I'm honestly a little torn because I'd like to move my single Vendilion Clique into the main and getting rid of one Unified Will to make room a pair of the oozes and I think the only thing I can cut without sacrificing the consistency of my turn 1 mana dorks is one of my two dromoka's command. I love the card but I think going down to one may be fine now that I'm running 3 eternal witness to recur it as well as path to exile and collected company when necessary. Also, Clique is awesome with exalted, part of what makes the deck so powerful is each creatures interaction with exalted. Loxodon Smiter suddenly need to be chumped by Siege Rhino, the first striking Thalia, Guardian of Thraben almost never has to trade in combat and Aven Mindcensor and Vendilion Clique fly overtop to do more work than they have any right doing. Here's my current decklist.
I currently have the deck in paper (finally) and will be able to go out to my LGS to take on some Modern tournaments. Up until now I've been testing online and I'm excited to finally get some face to face competition in. Also the only reason I'm not running Misty Rainforest is that I don't currently own any, please substitute the two Wooded Foothills and two Flooded Strand for a playset of Misty Rainforest for the optimal build.
Thalia and CoCo being in the same deck is pretty meh. If you're going for a full on value deck, like I've seen some people in this thread doing, with 4x Restoration angels, you should consider running 1-2 Venser, the Sojourner
He's card advantage with Wall of Omens, you can run a 1-of Stonehorn Dignitary to chord for which will completely shut off the no-removal creature decks that have been becoming more and more popular (outside of Melira combo), gain more life off Finks, extreme value off Thragtusk. And to top it off, especially if you're running Gavony Township, his -1 can end games (though his ult is pretty game ending in most cases as well)
I like unified will against control decks and combo, as after seeing game one they always play right into it. That said, it's a bit of a personal preference right now and might not be the best choice.
I've been testing this deck out and I like it a lot. I'm running in my 3 cmc slot:
3x loxodon smiter
3x rhox war monk
2x flickerwisp
2x eternal witness
2x geist
...and I have to say, War Monk has been the MVP of so many games. Collected Companying for 2 against a lethal attack swung the game around on the spot in several matches. I'm much preferring the big-threat build over the value/resilience build. On top of that, Drom Command + War Monk is equally brutal and can swing games too
Going to drop the witnesses, make them a 4th smiter and monk then make the two flickerwisps v clicks unless I can find a beefier 3 cmc flier threat for bant
I like the ideas of adding Venser and cutting some Company, but I think that makes it a different deck. That other version may be more competitive, but it's different.
With that said, I am still confused about which way this Company deck wants to take itself, whether in more of a hate bears direction or more of a beatdown mode. If you're looking more at hatebears, then I see very little reason to keep blue in the deck, but if you're going beatdown-tempo, I'd cut the Thalia and friends for more efficient beaters like Brimaz. Also, that frees you up to run more of both Flickerwisp and Clique.
I agree that swords really don't have a place in this decklist, but it does still seem to have a slight identity crisis.
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Generation 15: The first time you see this, add it to your sig, but add 1 to the number. Call it a social experiment.
I've tested a more value list with restoration angels and etb triggers as well as a more aggressive list. The more aggressive one has yielded significantly better results across the board. I'll try Brimaz out tonight but it'd have to replace the geist as a 2 of. Possibly move the geists to the board since they're better than Brimaz vs control and Brim is better in the creature matchups. But Rhox also already does that so may be better for him to be in the sideboard
I'm not sure why there is this idea that if you include any hatebears, that you have to commit to that direction. One of the strengths of the deck is that it plays ahead of the curve by playing 7-9 mana dorks, and cards like Thalia and Aven Mindcensor work on this advantage by putting you farther ahead. I don't know how many times I've played a turn 2 Thalia only to have it removed just in time to cast company ahead of the curve. Thalia only really slows down casting company when you are allowed to keep her in play, which is normally a very good position to be in. Another great line of play is turn 1 dork into turn 2 aven mindcensor. Often opponents wait until your Eot to fetch, so as long as you get to your mainphase before they fetch, you'll get a 2/1 flying stone rain which is enough of an advantage to convert to a win in short order. Granted, once opponents know you are on mindcensor they can play around it, but playing around it has a cost as well.
Meanwhile, the main thrust of the the deck is the put as much power on the field as quickly as possible. The large threats like Geist and Smiter control the board quite well. If Geist is staring down a 4/5 goyf, the goyf can't attack because he'll take more damage on the swing back than he can push through and lose the race.
I've recently played 2 matches against G/W death n taxes featuring company, and won both in grindy games. Geist is simply faster than anything G/W can do, and against unfair decks Geist is the all-star until meddling mage and V.Clique can come in from the board - along with any other key cards like Spellskite, scooze and qasali. Meddling mage straight up wins games: name Primeval Titan, and Bloom titan can't do much with all it's mana for example
Part of the strength here is that we have great tools against unfair and fair decks alike. Whenever I try straight G/W builds, I notice this difference immediately.
Venser is just bad in modern imo. I've never seen a board state where Venser would win but otherreasonable 5-drops wouldn't. Too gimmicky imo.
The more I brew with Company, the less I like Thalia in the list, and the more I am liking Ethersworn Canonist. Doesn't tax our Company while slowing down the opponent. Maybe it's just me?
I like the ideas of adding Venser and cutting some Company, but I think that makes it a different deck. That other version may be more competitive, but it's different.
With that said, I am still confused about which way this Company deck wants to take itself, whether in more of a hate bears direction or more of a beatdown mode. If you're looking more at hatebears, then I see very little reason to keep blue in the deck, but if you're going beatdown-tempo, I'd cut the Thalia and friends for more efficient beaters like Brimaz. Also, that frees you up to run more of both Flickerwisp and Clique.
I agree that swords really don't have a place in this decklist, but it does still seem to have a slight identity crisis.
I somewhat agree with the identity crisis this deck has. Bant is very difficult to get right because it's always been "good" but never "great". After having play tested a few lists, I find that straight GW hatebears/taxes usually works better without CoCo at all. I think the current lists are trying to have the best of both worlds (hatebears & beatdown) and it makes it run amazing if it works correctly, but I sometimes prefer playing the overwhelming efficient beatdown lists because it runs more consistently. All the cards strive towards the same goal whereas Thalia and Mindcensor progress a side-quest game plan. That hate-bear plan either fruitions into a win or they just do their job haphazardly where another beater would have been more reliable. Plus, the hate bears can still be run in the sideboard for when they are needed.
I can't say anything for sure yet because I'm still in both camps. I think both angles of the deck can work well if done properly. I'm still not sure which one would have better matchups overall.
I'm trying to decide between this deck, Burn or UW control for a PPTQ this weekend. I'm leaning towards this deck, and if I end up playing it you'll see a report later on sunday.
I realize that I have strong opinions on the deck, but I like having my opinion challenged as well. Play what you feel comfortable with, and I look forward to reading other's event reports on how it performs !
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Modern Decks
KnightfallGWUR
Azorius Control UW
Burn RBG
Both cards are extremely good if left unanswered, Jenara growing herself to huge p/t and Mimeomancer making dorks into semi psuedo-delvers.
t1 dork, t2 mimeo, t3 swing for 6 has been brutal though he is weak to the grixis/rug decks that run Electrolyze main. Tested a 1/2 split between Jenara and Mimeo.
Considering Trygon Predator in the sideboard for Boggles and Affinity (as well as the random artifact/enchantment deck)
UW tron
Tarmo twin
5C company
Same list as above? I saw mirror entity and it was a beating every time it hit play, gotta find room in my list for that card.
KnightfallGWUR
Azorius Control UW
Burn RBG
KnightfallGWUR
Azorius Control UW
Burn RBG
KnightfallGWUR
Azorius Control UW
Burn RBG
4 Noble Hierarch
4 Birds of Paradise
2 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
2 Qasali Pridemage
3 Voice of Resurgence
3 Geist of Saint Traft
3 Aven Mindcensor
3 Loxodon Smiter
3 Eternal Witness
1 Mirror Entity
1 Vendilion Clique
Noncreatures
1 Dromoka's Command
4 Path to Exile
4 Collected Company
2 Flooded Strand
4 Windswept Heath
1 Breeding Pool
2 Temple Garden
1 Hallowed Fountain
2 Forest
1 Plains
1 Island
1 Gavony Township
2 Ghost Quarter
2 Razorverge Thicket
2 Wooded Foothills
1 Stomping Ground
2 Kataki, War's Wage
2 Ghost Quarter
2 Kor Firewalker
2 Magus of the Moon
2 Unified Will
2 Meddling Mage
1 Burrenton Forge-Tender
2 Scavenging Ooze
I currently have the deck in paper (finally) and will be able to go out to my LGS to take on some Modern tournaments. Up until now I've been testing online and I'm excited to finally get some face to face competition in. Also the only reason I'm not running Misty Rainforest is that I don't currently own any, please substitute the two Wooded Foothills and two Flooded Strand for a playset of Misty Rainforest for the optimal build.
~Modern~
BGURWhiteless Death's ShadowRUGB
GWRUSaheeli BlinkURWG
RGBUGood Ole' DredgeUBGR
~Commander~
URWNarset, Enlightened Time-TravelerWRU
UBRWBreya, Etherium ArchitectWRBU
A Prolific Loser To Blood Moon
KnightfallGWUR
Azorius Control UW
Burn RBG
He's card advantage with Wall of Omens, you can run a 1-of Stonehorn Dignitary to chord for which will completely shut off the no-removal creature decks that have been becoming more and more popular (outside of Melira combo), gain more life off Finks, extreme value off Thragtusk. And to top it off, especially if you're running Gavony Township, his -1 can end games (though his ult is pretty game ending in most cases as well)
~Modern~
BGURWhiteless Death's ShadowRUGB
GWRUSaheeli BlinkURWG
RGBUGood Ole' DredgeUBGR
~Commander~
URWNarset, Enlightened Time-TravelerWRU
UBRWBreya, Etherium ArchitectWRBU
A Prolific Loser To Blood Moon
KnightfallGWUR
Azorius Control UW
Burn RBG
http://www.mtggoldfish.com/metagame/breakdown/modern
that's a reason to play blue
3x loxodon smiter
3x rhox war monk
2x flickerwisp
2x eternal witness
2x geist
...and I have to say, War Monk has been the MVP of so many games. Collected Companying for 2 against a lethal attack swung the game around on the spot in several matches. I'm much preferring the big-threat build over the value/resilience build. On top of that, Drom Command + War Monk is equally brutal and can swing games too
Going to drop the witnesses, make them a 4th smiter and monk then make the two flickerwisps v clicks unless I can find a beefier 3 cmc flier threat for bant
Aven Mimeomancer can turn dorks into threats
Skaab Ruinator beefy flier that's fun to Coco into
With that said, I am still confused about which way this Company deck wants to take itself, whether in more of a hate bears direction or more of a beatdown mode. If you're looking more at hatebears, then I see very little reason to keep blue in the deck, but if you're going beatdown-tempo, I'd cut the Thalia and friends for more efficient beaters like Brimaz. Also, that frees you up to run more of both Flickerwisp and Clique.
I agree that swords really don't have a place in this decklist, but it does still seem to have a slight identity crisis.
Meanwhile, the main thrust of the the deck is the put as much power on the field as quickly as possible. The large threats like Geist and Smiter control the board quite well. If Geist is staring down a 4/5 goyf, the goyf can't attack because he'll take more damage on the swing back than he can push through and lose the race.
I've recently played 2 matches against G/W death n taxes featuring company, and won both in grindy games. Geist is simply faster than anything G/W can do, and against unfair decks Geist is the all-star until meddling mage and V.Clique can come in from the board - along with any other key cards like Spellskite, scooze and qasali. Meddling mage straight up wins games: name Primeval Titan, and Bloom titan can't do much with all it's mana for example
Part of the strength here is that we have great tools against unfair and fair decks alike. Whenever I try straight G/W builds, I notice this difference immediately.
Venser is just bad in modern imo. I've never seen a board state where Venser would win but other reasonable 5-drops wouldn't. Too gimmicky imo.
KnightfallGWUR
Azorius Control UW
Burn RBG
Cheeri0sXWU
Reid Duke's Level One
Who's the Beatdown
Alt+0198=Æ
KnightfallGWUR
Azorius Control UW
Burn RBG
I can't say anything for sure yet because I'm still in both camps. I think both angles of the deck can work well if done properly. I'm still not sure which one would have better matchups overall.
I realize that I have strong opinions on the deck, but I like having my opinion challenged as well. Play what you feel comfortable with, and I look forward to reading other's event reports on how it performs !
KnightfallGWUR
Azorius Control UW
Burn RBG
Both cards are extremely good if left unanswered, Jenara growing herself to huge p/t and Mimeomancer making dorks into semi psuedo-delvers.
t1 dork, t2 mimeo, t3 swing for 6 has been brutal though he is weak to the grixis/rug decks that run Electrolyze main. Tested a 1/2 split between Jenara and Mimeo.
Considering Trygon Predator in the sideboard for Boggles and Affinity (as well as the random artifact/enchantment deck)
Current decklist:
1 Breeding Pool
1 Flooded Strand
4 Forest
2 Gavony Township
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Island
4 Misty Rainforest
3 Plains
2 Temple Garden
4 Windswept Heath
// Creatures
2 Aven Mimeomancer
4 Birds of Paradise
2 Brimaz, King of Oreskos
2 Geist of Saint Traft
1 Jenara, Asura of War
4 Loxodon Smiter
4 Noble Hierarch
2 Qasali Pridemage
3 Rhox War Monk
3 Voice of Resurgence
4 Collected Company
2 Dromoka's Command
4 Path to Exile
3 Meddling Mage
2 Rest in Peace
2 Spellskite
3 Stony Silence
3 Unified Will
2 Vendilion Clique