For Modern, I voted for Chandra 4.0. Kalonian Hydra came close, but it's like a green Thundermaw Hellkite or Baneslayer Angel--5 cmc, big, evasive, dumb, and dies to removal. Thundermaw and Baneslayer see slight Modern play, though, which is hope for the Hydra.
But I've tested Chandra 4.0 in Modern Jund, and although she's significantly better with flying protection like Lingering Souls, she's still one of the most lethal draw engines in the game. She kills a surprisingly high amount of the format (even planeswalkers), she's hard to take down, her +0 draws a card almost 100% of the time if I only do it with 2+ mana up, and her ult is decent enough in Jund and its default 4 Lightning Bolt. It's a pretty nice feeling when your draw engine can off opposing Souls and contain Elspeth 1.0 (as long as she's alone).
I think Shadowborn Demon will turn out to be a junk mythic. 5-mana Murder is very inefficient, and I'm having a very hard time getting 6 creatures in my graveyard, even when I play the self-sac-happy, 28+-creature Melira Pod. The blocker won't be relevant for long enough, and losing creatures to this guy will be its downfall, just like with Demonlord of Ashmouth.
I agree with a lot of your assessments, however I think you are underrating the Demonlord's potential to be abused if a certain deck arises. A 5/6 flyer for 5 is pretty strong for starters. If you have a way to abuse the sac outlet then this card is going to be a focal point of a deck.
Also, with the decent amount of efficient removal in the format right now, I cant see where Kalonia Hydra is going to be effective. Even with how big it is, it still even dies to premium red removal like Mizzium Mortars the turn it comes down.
Yeah, Enlarge on a Deadly Recluse is usually a terrible play if you've got any other creature. Enlarge the guy with more than 1 power and leave the 1/2 with reach and deathtouch back to hold off their counterattack.
The Deadly Recluse just might be able to kill the opponent, though. Trample and Deathtouch is a spicy combo, allowing you to deal just 1 damage to the creature to kill it, and trample everything else over. Thats 7 damage and a dead oppositional critter. If youre attacking with anything else thats likely GG.
That's fair. I just hope you don't waste your own time playing with a comparable pool come this weekend, because you'd just get wrecked every round while you wait to draw into that dragon.
Black > red with this pool, it's as simple as that. I've already explained why, acknowledging your arguments would only be an exercise in redundancy at this point.
Shivan Dragon > Doom Blade
Mindsparker and Shivs Embrace > all the other black cards
Double Trained Condor with a firecat is pretty decent
The 5/3 sliver with the double trained condor is nice too.
This pool is incredibly hard to build. You have lots of options at first glance, however the lack of removal across the board necessitates blue being one of the colors. It offers the best tempo play which is how this build is going to win, with time ebb, and essence scatter complimenting claustrophobia. The fliers are pretty good too.
The white is the most powerful color, but it oddly doesn't mesh well with the blue here.
I'd pair the blue with the black (three evasive guys and a removal spell) or red (ogre battledriver and a removal spell). I lean towards red because of personal preference but black just might be the answer.
You are acting as if every card in red is mediocre at best. Mindsparker is a pretty good creature. Shiv's Embrace compliments the blue plan. The double Wild Guess and Academy Raider will help you find your removal and bombs.
I cant take you seriously when you keep mentioning Dragon Hatchling as a reason to be in red. The red players dont mention it.
Yeah. Everyone is crazy for red here, and I just don't see the draw. One bomb, no burn/removal, and way, way too much firebreathing. I don't think people understand that you have to choose between doing extra damage with firebreathing and actually being able to cast things.
Youre not playing more than like 1 Dragon Hatchling ideally. Hopefully zero.
Shiv's Embrace and Shivan Dragon dont need firebreathing, and if youre doing it, youre probably ending the game with it.
Blue/Red seems really strong. I would possibly think about adding the Doom Blade in later rounds of a large sealed tournament to handle to more powerful decks though. Early on your deck has enough evasion and removal to probably win. Shivan Dragon is still a pretty sweet limited dude.
Pyromancer is undervalued here, I feel. Repeatable CA is damn good in a slow environment. To me, it's a toss up between the zombie and the pyromancer. I'd probably take the pyromancer P1P1, although zombie is going to be great against a stalled board state, it's easier to kill later on. Decisions, decisions...
Pyromancer is overvalued here.
It is possible to land a sweet Pyromancer deck, but that deck wants lots of spells. If you end up drafting a deck with lots of good playable spells (that dont need Pyromancer to be worth playing) then you did well.
However, you may not end up with that. Theres a better than 50% chance that you wont see another Pyromancer either, meaning that you might be building around a card that will be a one of, that you will need to draw early, and that dies to everything.
Pyromancer will be better in decks that take it after their deck has taken shape. It will do far worse when you take it early and hope to just get there.
Enlarge on the other hand, will be good if you are playing green and playing creatures. Its good on turn 5 and 10. It will typically end the game in your favor, barring instant speed removal, which this set is lacking at the common level, meaning that most of the time Enlarge is just going to win the game.
Lifebane Zombie is the only other consideration, but I feel it is less powerful, and youre more likely to have to split black with the person next to you (that takes Liturgy).
Enlarge may not end up being the bomb I think it is, but Im pretty sure its the better first pick.
I agree with a lot of your assessments, however I think you are underrating the Demonlord's potential to be abused if a certain deck arises. A 5/6 flyer for 5 is pretty strong for starters. If you have a way to abuse the sac outlet then this card is going to be a focal point of a deck.
Also, with the decent amount of efficient removal in the format right now, I cant see where Kalonia Hydra is going to be effective. Even with how big it is, it still even dies to premium red removal like Mizzium Mortars the turn it comes down.
Archangel and the Hydra are both uninspiring and underpowered. Neither will see serious play, unless the angel is played in some weird combo.
Chandra will. Shadowborn Demon will have an outisde shot depending on other cards. Its certainly powerful enough on its own.
The Deadly Recluse just might be able to kill the opponent, though. Trample and Deathtouch is a spicy combo, allowing you to deal just 1 damage to the creature to kill it, and trample everything else over. Thats 7 damage and a dead oppositional critter. If youre attacking with anything else thats likely GG.
Shivan Dragon > Doom Blade
Mindsparker and Shivs Embrace > all the other black cards
Double Trained Condor with a firecat is pretty decent
The 5/3 sliver with the double trained condor is nice too.
Plus....shivan dragon.
Shivan.
Dragon.
The white is the most powerful color, but it oddly doesn't mesh well with the blue here.
I'd pair the blue with the black (three evasive guys and a removal spell) or red (ogre battledriver and a removal spell). I lean towards red because of personal preference but black just might be the answer.
I cant take you seriously when you keep mentioning Dragon Hatchling as a reason to be in red. The red players dont mention it.
The red slivers are good enough fodder, Young Pyromancer is pretty decent, the Academy Raider is nice....red isnt just crap.
Its definitely good enough to support Shivan Dragon which is the best card in your pool.
Youre not playing more than like 1 Dragon Hatchling ideally. Hopefully zero.
Shiv's Embrace and Shivan Dragon dont need firebreathing, and if youre doing it, youre probably ending the game with it.
I'm saving this post for later. I need to update my sig.
Pyromancer is overvalued here.
It is possible to land a sweet Pyromancer deck, but that deck wants lots of spells. If you end up drafting a deck with lots of good playable spells (that dont need Pyromancer to be worth playing) then you did well.
However, you may not end up with that. Theres a better than 50% chance that you wont see another Pyromancer either, meaning that you might be building around a card that will be a one of, that you will need to draw early, and that dies to everything.
Pyromancer will be better in decks that take it after their deck has taken shape. It will do far worse when you take it early and hope to just get there.
Enlarge on the other hand, will be good if you are playing green and playing creatures. Its good on turn 5 and 10. It will typically end the game in your favor, barring instant speed removal, which this set is lacking at the common level, meaning that most of the time Enlarge is just going to win the game.
Lifebane Zombie is the only other consideration, but I feel it is less powerful, and youre more likely to have to split black with the person next to you (that takes Liturgy).
Enlarge may not end up being the bomb I think it is, but Im pretty sure its the better first pick.
If Enlarge is a bomb, then Bomb > Evasion.
He most certainly feels RUG to me, and I wish they would print him (and Im not even a PW fanboy.)
People that think he's Rakdos are clueless. They shouldn't comment on color pie threads anymore.