Brewer's Note:
This deck is not supposed to be an incredibly serious list capable of winning a Grand Prix (although I actually do think it is capable of that under the right hands). This deck is supposed to save me and my friends the cost of building two $1600 decks by condensing Jund, Abzan, and Death's Shadow into one, while still being highly competitive at a casual table or FNM. For whatever reason, it's easier for me to justify spending $1900 on one deck than $1600 on each of three separate decks.
How does this plot work?
If your opponent thinks you're playing Abzan and they sideboard to deal with it, but you switch to Jund, they'll likely find that their matchup was quite a bit different than expected. Jund and Abzan have different enough matchups that they are somewhat capable of functioning as the sideboard for one-another. Similarly, switching from Jund to Death's Shadow makes the deck have a much more explosive turn 1 and can also lead to bigger goyfs quicker. Understanding when to use which mode of the deck is something that will come with playing the deck, and yes, I know that I'm only allowed one 15 card sideboard at a time. That choice too, is dependent on the event you're taking this to. Personally, at a casual table with no stakes, I like to allow the Jabzund player to switch between all three modes between games just to spice it up a bit :).
Jundboard Choices:
Khalni Garden
- This is better with a Creakwood Liege and may be sided out. Still, I kinda like it.
Thoughtseize - This unfortunately has to be a 4-of because of the deck's Death's Shadow mode. Sorry Abzan.
Tarfire
- This synergizes well with Tarmogoyf. I'll gladly trade slightly stronger removal for slightly stronger goyfs, especially since we have Fatal Push, Abrupt Decay, and Terminate.
Inquisition of Kozilek - We had to cut one of these for a Traverse the Ulvenwald Jundboard because sideboards only have 15 slots, not 16. :( Again, sorry Abzan.
Fatal Push - Best removal in the format. It's unfortunate we can't run 4, but with all the other removal diversity in our deck, we'd be holding too much of it and not enough threats if we slotted in any more pushes.
Traverse the Ulvenwald - one of these has to be mainboard because sideboards can only contain 15 cards, and and the Shadowboard sideboard is full already. Neither Abzan nor Jund really mind, but they can't utilize it quite as well as Death's Shadow can.
Grim Flayer - a less (monetarily) expensive Tarmogoyf that dies to Lightning Bolt on turn 2. But it has some perks. It's really good at filling up the yard, and it naturally has trample.
Liliana of the Veil and Liliana, the Last Hope - I split these 2 and 2 because Abzan decks seem to like veil more because she lets them pitch Lingering Souls and Jund decks seem to like last hope more because she acts as more removal, which is a central point of Jund decks. Neither deck minds having the 'wrong' lili, nor is there really a wrong lili, but because of this deck's intended flexibility, I split their desires.
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - I play her mostly because she has a heartwarming story and isn't bad. She longs to see play in Modern, and a Jund deck is a place she sorta fits.
Temur Battle Rage - We don't mind having these for goyfs and scoozes, but really these are for Death's Shadow.
Abzanboard: (Sideboard out everything in the Jundboard with red in it except the Wooded Foothills and put in this whole sideboard to transform the deck into Abzan.)
Anguished Unmaking - It's not super popular among pro players and in high level modern, but this is one of my favorite removal spells in abzan colors.
Lingering Souls - This is the best part about playing Abzan instead of Jund. It's really really good into midrange matchups, and it really annoys people playing Inkmoth Nexus or trying to kill with fliers.
Siege Rhino - I like playing the full four of these because it's a high impact card that feels really good to pull off. Additionally, since we ditch the Temur Battle Rages to go Abzan, it's nice to have the additional trample.
Shadowboard - What you sideboard out for this deck mode is mostly up to you, but I'd recommend that the
Khalni Garden
comes out because the average CMC of the deck comes down, the Grim Flayers should come out for Street Wraiths, and the Scavenging Oozes (unless you need them) and Chandra, Torch of Defiance, I would sub for the Traverse the Ulvenwalds. Other spells should be replaced with Mishra's Bauble and Death's Shadow, but keep in mind, every card in this sideboard needs to come in for Death's Shadow to function properly, and the Thoughtseizes need to remain in the mainboard as well for the extra loss of life.
