Does Fires of Undeath merit consideration as insurance against incidental life gain like the Khans lands? Replace a Git Probe with Fires post-board and shoot them for the extra 2 they gained with two Khans lands with leftover mana from a Songs of the Damned? Under such circumstances it would be important to have a red source available so the mana that would be spent on the Morgue Theft targeting Simian Spirit Guide could be spent on the flashback cost for Fires of Undeath instead.
Completely agreed on Blood Moon. Pretty sure that's the card that's best positioned to help us out against Titan Breach and other big mana decks.
Did you guys see the Bloody Mess deck on SCG a couple weeks back? Going all in the Moon plan like that guy might be a little much (although depending on his meta, I can totally get it), but one Magus of the Moon and even just a playset of Eldritch Evolution makes for 5 Moon effects that can be dropped as early as turn 2; plus, Moon's strength varies from matchup to matchup, and multiple moons is usually bad, so if we move the playset of moons to the board, we can bring them in for those extra crispy matchups like anything involving Primeval Titan.
I think the Bloody Mess guy has it right with the 3x Arid Mesa to make for 11 fetches; is that too many? I was thinking about going up to 3x forest and 2x plains if I can find a second Mesa.
The other thing I've been thinking about after lurking on this thread for a while is how to improve the consistency; of course, the only way to make room for more 4-ofs is to cut some tutor targets. But what if we just keep the tutor targets that are really swingy, like Magus, P&K (Voice into Evo Voice into P&K is a plan that works), and of course, Kiki? I've been able to get to 8 4-ofs, and I'm really liking the feel so far; the singleton Hierarch is just for a 5th BoP effect, and I prefer Huntmaster of the Fells over Obstinate Baloth because I feel like there's more value with Huntmaster when you blink it, and the deck runs 4x Resto.
Because as it turns out, if we lean on some of the formats best cards (bolt, path, fetches, e-wit, voice), and just let our deck go to value town with an easy to execute instant win combo, we might not need to be as much of a toolbox; I've been really overwhelmed trying to pack the right pieces of hate for the diverse Modern metagame, and I think the 4-of plan has legs.
Evolve two-drops (Zulaport Cutthroat, Primal Druid) into TKS. Evolve Matter Reshaper into Gearhulks/Reality Smasher. Early hand disruption (Harsh Scrutiny, Collective Brutality) to hedge against Spell Queller/blue. One Refurbish is in there to synergize with escalating Brutality and give the deck a chance for a turn 4 gear hulk. Backup win con is the Zulaport Cutthroat/Eldrazi Displace/Brood Monitor combo. Board might have some number of Filagree Familiars. Really rough version right now. Thoughts?
That was a good run-down of most of the titans, but how about Primeval Titan as the sole six drop to search up Gavony Township and thin the deck while beating face?
Good point on the Dread; that's another point in favor of Ardent Plea. Even though we usually have creatures to target when we go off, I think I will try running this blue version this week:
Long-time lurker on this site, but have not posted until now. I've been on this archetype only since Ryan Cubit won that event in Australia early last month with his postless list, so my experience is limited, but I do have a slightly different build that eschews blue in order to be as mana efficient as possible. The list:
I tried the blue version Cubit used, but I didn't like the mana, so I replaced Ardent Plea with Demonic Dread and Riftwing Cloudskate with Nihilith to stabilize the mana. Blood Moon is a ***** for our four-colorness, but search for tomorrow fixes that, and it replaces the subpar Baloth. Nihilith(it should be noted that Nihilith was part of the OP decklist on this thread) is an evasive beater that resolves from suspend way sooner than opponents expect given that so many of their cards hit the yard when we go off; plus the "may" ability makes sure we never lose a Nihilith to our own sweepers. It makes a fast enough clock that I have outraced a Tarmogoyf with just one Nihilith for the win against Jund. Speaking of Jund, this list is very strong against Jund and Infect; the jund players in my meta sincerely belief RB is one of their most difficult matchups. Unfortunately, we really struggle against super-fast aggro like Burn and Zoo, especially spell-based RDW-style decks. These sorts of matchups are where I lose the most, hence the Finks (the newest addition; I figure it can also provide a body or two to sac to Gargadon). The control matchup seems pretty even; Outburst EOT into Dread during your turn wrecks them, and Ricochet Trap and GDD from the board are just awesome. Six cards for burn in the board, plus Chewers for Chalice of the Void on 0 and/or Affinity, and Ravenous Trap for Dredge.
Going forward, there are still 8 slots that remain up for debate: 4x Search, the 2x Finks, and the 2x Beast Within, although a strong case would have to be made to remove Search as it fixes mana, enables turn 3 nahiri more often, and provides another land to sac to Gargs. Mardu Charm, Maelstrom Pulse and most recently Vendillion Clique was mentioned for these slots (although my list isn't blue ATM I am really down with the outside the box nature of that choice); what do you think would be optimal for those slots here?
Did you guys see the Bloody Mess deck on SCG a couple weeks back? Going all in the Moon plan like that guy might be a little much (although depending on his meta, I can totally get it), but one Magus of the Moon and even just a playset of Eldritch Evolution makes for 5 Moon effects that can be dropped as early as turn 2; plus, Moon's strength varies from matchup to matchup, and multiple moons is usually bad, so if we move the playset of moons to the board, we can bring them in for those extra crispy matchups like anything involving Primeval Titan.
I think the Bloody Mess guy has it right with the 3x Arid Mesa to make for 11 fetches; is that too many? I was thinking about going up to 3x forest and 2x plains if I can find a second Mesa.
The other thing I've been thinking about after lurking on this thread for a while is how to improve the consistency; of course, the only way to make room for more 4-ofs is to cut some tutor targets. But what if we just keep the tutor targets that are really swingy, like Magus, P&K (Voice into Evo Voice into P&K is a plan that works), and of course, Kiki? I've been able to get to 8 4-ofs, and I'm really liking the feel so far; the singleton Hierarch is just for a 5th BoP effect, and I prefer Huntmaster of the Fells over Obstinate Baloth because I feel like there's more value with Huntmaster when you blink it, and the deck runs 4x Resto.
Because as it turns out, if we lean on some of the formats best cards (bolt, path, fetches, e-wit, voice), and just let our deck go to value town with an easy to execute instant win combo, we might not need to be as much of a toolbox; I've been really overwhelmed trying to pack the right pieces of hate for the diverse Modern metagame, and I think the 4-of plan has legs.
Anyway, deck, comments/criticism welcome!
1 Horizon Canopy
2 Forest
1 Mountain
1 Plains
2 Razorverge Thicket
1 Fire-Lit Thicket
1 Sacred Foundry
2 Stomping Ground
1 Temple Garden
4 Wooded Foothills
4 Windswept Heath
1 Arid Mesa
1 Raging Ravine
4 Birds of Paradise
1 Noble Hierarch
4 Wall of Omens
4 Voice of Resurgence
4 Eternal Witness
1 Magus of the Moon
1 Huntmaster of the Fells
1 Reveillark
1 Pia and Kiran Nalaar
1 Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
4 Restoration Angel
//INSTANTS and SORC.
4 Path to Exile
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Eldritch Evolution
Link on Deckstats: https://deckstats.net/decks/477/573389-abzan-evolution-standard
//LANDS
4 Aether Hub
4 Evolving Wilds
1 Wastes
1 Plains
1 Swamp
4 Blooming Marsh
3 Concealed Courtyard
2 Hissing Quagmire
3 Forest
//CREATURES
4 Primal Druid
3 Zulaport Cutthroat
4 Matter Reshaper
2 Eldrazi Displacer
4 Thought-Knot Seer
4 Reality Smasher
1 Skysovereign, Consul Flagship
1 Noxious Gearhulk
1 Cataclysmic Gearhulk
1 Brood Monitor
//INSTANTS and SORC.
4 Harsh Scrutiny
3 Collective Brutality
1 Refurbish
4 Eldritch Evolution
http://mtgtop8.com/event?e=13107&d=276685&f=MO
Jund Restore Balance by Reveillarkable
Suspend Beats/Combo finishers
4 greater gargadon
4 nihilith
Ramp
4 simian spirit guide
4 search for tomorrow
Three-drop utility
2 beast within
2 kitchen finks
Cascade stuff
4 demonic dread
4 violent outburst
3 restore balance
Nahiri package
4 nahiri, the harbinger
1 emrakul, the aeons torn
Land
4 gemstone mine
1 gemstone caverns
1 copperline gorge
1 razorverge thicket
1 blackcleave cliffs
1 forest
1 mountain
1 plains
1 swamp
1 overgrown tomb
1 sacred foundry
1 temple garden
1 blood crypt
1 stomping ground
4 wooded foothills
3 Bloodstained Mire
Sideboard
3 leyline of sanctity
3 timely reinforcements
3 ravenous trap
2 goblin dark-dwellers
2 ricochet trap
2 ingot chewer
I tried the blue version Cubit used, but I didn't like the mana, so I replaced Ardent Plea with Demonic Dread and Riftwing Cloudskate with Nihilith to stabilize the mana. Blood Moon is a ***** for our four-colorness, but search for tomorrow fixes that, and it replaces the subpar Baloth. Nihilith(it should be noted that Nihilith was part of the OP decklist on this thread) is an evasive beater that resolves from suspend way sooner than opponents expect given that so many of their cards hit the yard when we go off; plus the "may" ability makes sure we never lose a Nihilith to our own sweepers. It makes a fast enough clock that I have outraced a Tarmogoyf with just one Nihilith for the win against Jund. Speaking of Jund, this list is very strong against Jund and Infect; the jund players in my meta sincerely belief RB is one of their most difficult matchups. Unfortunately, we really struggle against super-fast aggro like Burn and Zoo, especially spell-based RDW-style decks. These sorts of matchups are where I lose the most, hence the Finks (the newest addition; I figure it can also provide a body or two to sac to Gargadon). The control matchup seems pretty even; Outburst EOT into Dread during your turn wrecks them, and Ricochet Trap and GDD from the board are just awesome. Six cards for burn in the board, plus Chewers for Chalice of the Void on 0 and/or Affinity, and Ravenous Trap for Dredge.
Going forward, there are still 8 slots that remain up for debate: 4x Search, the 2x Finks, and the 2x Beast Within, although a strong case would have to be made to remove Search as it fixes mana, enables turn 3 nahiri more often, and provides another land to sac to Gargs. Mardu Charm, Maelstrom Pulse and most recently Vendillion Clique was mentioned for these slots (although my list isn't blue ATM I am really down with the outside the box nature of that choice); what do you think would be optimal for those slots here?