Why? There are many cards with cmc less than 3 in RUG Delver & RUG Twin. In my opinion, there is no reason not to use BBE if available.
Perhaps it is not that good if you consider Twin as a combo deck. But if you consider Twin as Midrange + combo deck, then BBE is fine.
Counterspells are horrible cascade targets. Just look at Shardless BUG in legacy, where the only maindeck counterspell is Force of Will.
With URx decks being so prevalent in the metagame right now, I think this the one of the best times ever to be playing Sword of Fire and Ice in Modern. As mentioned before it is quite good against UR delver, being able to kill just any creature the deck plays with the trigger. The protection from blue is relevant as well, stopping Vapor Snag and Deceiver Exarch/Pestermite triggers. Even against combo decks the card draw can help draw into additional countermagic.
The swords were hated out of the format for the most part due to the prevalence of Abrupt Decay, but now that it is played less, I can see any number of the swords making a resurgence.
Honestly, while Relic is better since it is at worse a cantrip, I think Tormod's Crypt will see more play due to mucking with OTHER people's Graveyards but leaving yours alone.
well augur of bolas is playable as he is a role player that did at least half of his work when entering the battlefield. i wish the dimir cutpurse were 2 mana though. that would make him playable even in a bolt meta.
I totally think Augur of Bolas is playable. If it dies to a bolt I gladly take the 2-for-1.
There's Lightning Axe, but unless you see card disadvantage as a "this fuels Treasure Cruise" argument then I doubt that'd fly any better...
I have been thinking of Lightning Axe recently and actually like the idea of it. If you are going to 2-for-1 yourself anyway to kill a threat with 4+ toughness (Path to Exile), you might as not lose tempo while at it by giving your opponent a free Rampant Growth. It also punishes the use of Path to Exile (which I always like to do), both by allowing you to discard land cards you don't need and also hardcasting Lightning Axe once you are flooded out from all the free lands your opponent has given you by pathing your creatures.
I just recently remembered Pillar of Light. It compliments Lightning Bolt quite well, dealing with creatures that Lightning Bolt can't.
Yes, I know all the arguments for Path to Exile, but I still don't like it as a matter of personal preference. I just really hate giving my opponents lands and I really do think the land matters a lot. If I were to play Jeskai control again one day, I will consider running some number of copies of Pillar of Light instead of Path to Exile.
Here's the list I'm thinking of trying out at my LGS next week after some disappointing finishes with Esper Teachings. I intend to replace Mystical Teachings with Dig Through Time completely and free myself from the constraints of a Mystical Teachings based deck, playing more sorcery speed answers.
Murderous Cut has been great. Definitely a good inclusion provided the rest of your deck isn't too dependent on the graveyard.
Utter End was versatile but the 4 mana cost was quite an issue in a deck with so many expensive spells already, so after playing with it for a bit I would not recommend it in either the maindeck or the sideboard. To handle troublesome artifacts, planeswalkers, and gods in the maindeck, I think it is fine to just rely on Cryptic Command. Postboard Utter End makes little sense since you can board in narrower but more efficient answers.
I'm thinking about using Dig Through Time to replace Mystical Teachings completely. There are just too many problems that instants can't effectively solve.
On another note, what does everyone think about unbanning the artifact lands? It would probably make affinity stronger but would also open up possibilities with artifact based control decks with Thirst for Knowledge. I also like the idea of playing Tempered Steel or Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas in affinity and threatening a lethal ultimate a turn after it comes into play due to the high artifact count that the artifact lands would facilitate (as is common in legacy affinity).
It is hilarious against Emrakul. Yes Annihilator still triggers, but assuming you have bolted the Tron player a couple times that would be game. Also, from what I can tell, this covers all of the Valakut triggers on Scapeshift, does it not?
'The next time a source of your choice would deal damage to you this turn'. So it isn't just one trigger, it would be each trigger, since it is all done during one turn. So if you play it in response to the first trigger, the Scapeshift player has to stop the triggers basically right?
I could be mistaken on that one.
But it is also good against Grapeshot...hmm...
Deflecting Palm will only stop one Valakut trigger or one Grapeshot copy. If it stopped them all then it would probably see a lot more play than it does now. As for Emrakul, there is the surprise factor but the Tron player could play around it by leaving up Oblivion Stone. Parallectric Feedback or Essence Backlash on the other hand, is much harder to interact with if you are looking for that kind of effect.
There are threads for UW control and Azorius Midrange in the Established and Modern Deck Creation subforums, respectively. I'd start with the UW Control thread. The deck has put up some good results this year, although the metagame might shift dramatically in the coming weeks with the release of Khans.
If this change causes Tarmogoyf and Dark Confidant to drop in price, I'm all for it. I own a playset of both and am sad to see so many of my friends unable to play with those cards because they are too expensive.
Counterspells are horrible cascade targets. Just look at Shardless BUG in legacy, where the only maindeck counterspell is Force of Will.
Worlds 2013 and Pro Tour Born of the Gods would like to have a word with you.
The swords were hated out of the format for the most part due to the prevalence of Abrupt Decay, but now that it is played less, I can see any number of the swords making a resurgence.
I prefer Nihil Spellbomb to Tormod's Crypt whenever I play black and need graveyard hate.
I totally think Augur of Bolas is playable. If it dies to a bolt I gladly take the 2-for-1.
I have been thinking of Lightning Axe recently and actually like the idea of it. If you are going to 2-for-1 yourself anyway to kill a threat with 4+ toughness (Path to Exile), you might as not lose tempo while at it by giving your opponent a free Rampant Growth. It also punishes the use of Path to Exile (which I always like to do), both by allowing you to discard land cards you don't need and also hardcasting Lightning Axe once you are flooded out from all the free lands your opponent has given you by pathing your creatures.
Yes, I know all the arguments for Path to Exile, but I still don't like it as a matter of personal preference. I just really hate giving my opponents lands and I really do think the land matters a lot. If I were to play Jeskai control again one day, I will consider running some number of copies of Pillar of Light instead of Path to Exile.
As you can see, I really respect Blood Moon and really dislike Path to Exile.
2 Snapcaster Mage
Instants - 29
2 Sphinx's Revelation
2 Dig Through Time
4 Esper Charm
4 Cryptic Command
4 Mana Leak
4 Spell Snare
1 Shadow of Doubt
1 Dimir Charm
1 Azorius Charm
1 Doom Blade
1 Go for the Throat
1 Murderous Cut
1 Smother
1 Disfigure
Sorceries - 3
2 Supreme Verdict
1 Wrath of God
Lands - 26
4 Polluted Delta
3 Flooded Strand
2 Celestial Colonnade
2 Creeping Tar Pit
1 Watery Grave
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Godless Shrine
1 Mystic Gate
4 Island
4 Plains
3 Swamp
2 Vendilion Clique
2 Thoughtseize
2 Timely Reinforcements
2 Nihil Spellbomb
1 Disenchant
1 Baneslayer Angel
1 Celestial Purge
1 Zealous Persecution
1 Wrath of God
1 Shattering Blow
1 Dispel
Murderous Cut has been great. Definitely a good inclusion provided the rest of your deck isn't too dependent on the graveyard.
Utter End was versatile but the 4 mana cost was quite an issue in a deck with so many expensive spells already, so after playing with it for a bit I would not recommend it in either the maindeck or the sideboard. To handle troublesome artifacts, planeswalkers, and gods in the maindeck, I think it is fine to just rely on Cryptic Command. Postboard Utter End makes little sense since you can board in narrower but more efficient answers.
I'm thinking about using Dig Through Time to replace Mystical Teachings completely. There are just too many problems that instants can't effectively solve.
Deflecting Palm will only stop one Valakut trigger or one Grapeshot copy. If it stopped them all then it would probably see a lot more play than it does now. As for Emrakul, there is the surprise factor but the Tron player could play around it by leaving up Oblivion Stone. Parallectric Feedback or Essence Backlash on the other hand, is much harder to interact with if you are looking for that kind of effect.
I wonder run more than 1 or 2. Another option is Soldier of the Pantheon.