Maro mentioned during the weekly stream about an exalted sliver. Now I'd have to rewatch what he exactly said, but I do believe he implied that the exalted sliver, along with the cascade and the unearth sliver are all in the set. The context was a story he told about how design tried to one up each other on Sliver cards, and he mentioned unearth, then exalted, then cascade, and I think he said they all made it to print, though I might've misheard him or he might've misspoke. An exalted sliver, while interesting, wouldn't be anywhere near as good as a battle cry sliver, and I do think this set would've been perfect, especially since slivers are RW. 1WW for a 2/2 Sliver that gives all slivers battle cry would be extremely helpful for Modern Slivers me thinks. But exalted wouldn't be terrible, though it would obviously help you more to attack with all your slivers rather than only attack with one, which is why I feel battle cry is better suited for the tribe.
At this point, all I care about are the slivers and the snow stuff left. Maro also mentioned that Snow is not off the table for Standard, so we may see further expansion in Kaldheim. But I feel like a set like this would be perfect for Slivers with all the mechanics you wouldn't find in Standard. Maro mentioned the issue with designing slivers and why slivers are in this set is Slivers for Standard would most likely be stuck with evergreen keywords. However, with regards to Modern Slivers and the newer Sliver templating, there's no Hexproof Sliver, no Flash sliver, no Uncounterable sliver, etc. Heck, the Boros Sliver could easily have been in Standard, as both keywords are evergreen. I really do hope we see Slivers in Standard again and get the last 2 or 3 Slivers needed for Modern Slivers to become actually competitive.
Hmmm...this might top Diffusion Sliver for a slot in a Modern Sliver build. It seems close either direction.
Doubt it. Diffusion Sliver counters unless the controller pays 2. Not sure if the bigger body and the fact it gives you the player psuedo evasion is worth it, but not sure. Regardless, this is not the Sliver Modern Slivers needs.
Three of the four multi color cards remaining are fairly easy to predict color wise:
1 WU Rare
1 WU Uncommon
1 BG Uncommon
The final slot will likely be a RG Rare, unless they determine that Wrenn & Six count there and give BR a second rare to make up for the mythic imbalance (this has been known to happen)
Praying for a Hexproof Crystaline Sliver with one of those WU cards.
I’m shocked how incredibly weak the Snow showing has been. There’s been nothing remotely competitive from Snow.
You don't think the 3-mana snow-scaling Mutilate (Dead of Winter) is at least remotely competitive?
Yes and no. It's not competitive because we don't have enough competitive snow permanents for it to be worthwhile. That'll be great once we have more real snow stuff.
What this set desperately needs is an Ice Moon type of card that turns all lands into snow lands. It also needs just some competitively cost snow creatures. Or a kind of mana dork that could add mana of any color, but only for snow lands. There just isn't enough snow stuff for it to be worthwhile. The snow wrath is the closest thing, but it's just not good enough because it requires other snow stuff. I really hope that the next snow set brings some legit snow stuff for Modern.
I’m shocked how incredibly weak the Snow showing has been. There’s been nothing remotely competitive from Snow.
More of a concern is the Slivers. Maro said in his article that there were a “few” really powerful/interesting slivers, yet the only competitive Slivers are First Sliver, Boros sliver, and arguably the red 3 drop. Everything else has been limited fodder. And the only truly wow Sliver is the First Sliver. Boros Sliver is just really efficient and gives two very important keywords.
I feel like there are way too many draft archetypes for the set. Where has creaturefall been? That’s one of the most interesting ones to me. Wizards tried to cram way too much in the set, and it feels like some of the archetype/themes haven’t been given their chance to shine.
The problem with the Flashback mode is it hurts graveyard decks. However, it’s really good for pure value. I think this slots right into the Narset prison deck. Looting this early shouldn’t be that tough.
What would Slivers need to be actually competitive in Modern? Is a “Mystic Snake” Sliver and a Hexproof Sliver that costs G and U for a 2/2 enough to make waves?
Slivers needs a Spellstutter Sprite variant or a Cursecatcher variant. Something to counter spells. Something to counter a Wrath or preventing a PW from going ham.
i mean the issue for slivers is that humans, and to a lesser extent spirits, sets a really high bar for utility, disruption, and speed for any tribal deck; especially a 5-color one.
i see allies in the same boat, it explodes onto the board but does little else. im sure they would also like a curse catcher/mausoleum wanderer, thalia, freebooter, meddling mage, etc. because its those sorts of things that let you compete in a field as diverse and powerful as modern.
goblins, even with the help from mh1, is in a similar situation. patrick sullivan/cedric phillips covered it pretty well on stream last weekend: without port and wasteland to really push that mana advantage you are looking at cards like goblin grenade and bushwacker to go all in. matron and that BR flash goblin are great inclusions, but there still doesnt seem to be enough to prompt you to go bigger and try to play that midrange/control plan like legacy goblins does. the tribe, being mostly mono-red, is pigeonholed into all in aggro because there just isnt enough disruptive tools available to support anything else.
Slivers needs a way to deal with spells. It has the lands necessary for 5C, and its creatures can be really explosive, but it desperately needs a way to disrupt control. I think First Sliver and rummaging sliver are solid includes for Modern, not to mention the boros flying/haste sliver which is incredibly good, but it needs more. I feel like its destiny may just be in EDH. I really hope we have a few more uncommon slivers left. Maro did say there were some really great slivers in the set, some he thought might be too powerful but play design okayed them, but if it’s really just First Sliver and boros sliver, that’s kind of a letdown
Slivers needs two cards: It needs some kind of general counterspell ability a la Spellstutter Sprite but sliver related. The second thing it really needs is some kind of effective opponent discard a la Kitesail Freebooter. The problem is both those cards are too powerful if made for all slivers that ETB, but without them the deck gets shredded if you aren’t quick enough. Not sure what Wizards can do tbh.
At this point, all I care about are the slivers and the snow stuff left. Maro also mentioned that Snow is not off the table for Standard, so we may see further expansion in Kaldheim. But I feel like a set like this would be perfect for Slivers with all the mechanics you wouldn't find in Standard. Maro mentioned the issue with designing slivers and why slivers are in this set is Slivers for Standard would most likely be stuck with evergreen keywords. However, with regards to Modern Slivers and the newer Sliver templating, there's no Hexproof Sliver, no Flash sliver, no Uncounterable sliver, etc. Heck, the Boros Sliver could easily have been in Standard, as both keywords are evergreen. I really do hope we see Slivers in Standard again and get the last 2 or 3 Slivers needed for Modern Slivers to become actually competitive.
Doubt it. Diffusion Sliver counters unless the controller pays 2. Not sure if the bigger body and the fact it gives you the player psuedo evasion is worth it, but not sure. Regardless, this is not the Sliver Modern Slivers needs.
Yeah, ironically I’d be thrilled with Rhystic Study in the set even if it sees zero Modern play. They really need to reprint it at some point.
Praying for a Hexproof Crystaline Sliver with one of those WU cards.
Yes and no. It's not competitive because we don't have enough competitive snow permanents for it to be worthwhile. That'll be great once we have more real snow stuff.
What this set desperately needs is an Ice Moon type of card that turns all lands into snow lands. It also needs just some competitively cost snow creatures. Or a kind of mana dork that could add mana of any color, but only for snow lands. There just isn't enough snow stuff for it to be worthwhile. The snow wrath is the closest thing, but it's just not good enough because it requires other snow stuff. I really hope that the next snow set brings some legit snow stuff for Modern.
More of a concern is the Slivers. Maro said in his article that there were a “few” really powerful/interesting slivers, yet the only competitive Slivers are First Sliver, Boros sliver, and arguably the red 3 drop. Everything else has been limited fodder. And the only truly wow Sliver is the First Sliver. Boros Sliver is just really efficient and gives two very important keywords.
I feel like there are way too many draft archetypes for the set. Where has creaturefall been? That’s one of the most interesting ones to me. Wizards tried to cram way too much in the set, and it feels like some of the archetype/themes haven’t been given their chance to shine.
What we really need is an ice moon effect, turning all lands into snow lands or something like that to really enable snow.
Slivers needs a Spellstutter Sprite variant or a Cursecatcher variant. Something to counter spells. Something to counter a Wrath or preventing a PW from going ham.
Slivers needs a way to deal with spells. It has the lands necessary for 5C, and its creatures can be really explosive, but it desperately needs a way to disrupt control. I think First Sliver and rummaging sliver are solid includes for Modern, not to mention the boros flying/haste sliver which is incredibly good, but it needs more. I feel like its destiny may just be in EDH. I really hope we have a few more uncommon slivers left. Maro did say there were some really great slivers in the set, some he thought might be too powerful but play design okayed them, but if it’s really just First Sliver and boros sliver, that’s kind of a letdown