Land (23)
Creature (16)
Instant (6)
Artifact (2)
Sorcery (9)
- 1x Collective Brutality
- 3x Inquisition of Kozilek
- 1x Maelstrom Pulse
- 3x Thoughtseize
- 1x Traverse the Ulvenwald
Planeswalker (4)
Sideboard
Creature (5)
Artifact (2)
Instant (5)
Sorcery (3)
This list is the base for a broader reflection on the BGx archetype.
The combination is very powerful in Modern:
provides with powerful, low-costed creatures to apply pressure on the opponent while backs it up with hand disruption, removal and planeswalkers.
However, this core oftens splash a third color to fix its weaknesses and gain additional value. That's what we are trying to analyze here: what do these splashes have to offer?
The Core
- Creatures
offers powerful cheap creatures, the best being the infamous Tarmogoyf . The second is arguably the new kid on the block: Grim Flayer . Those 2 drops are exceptionaly good and can put the opponent under huge pressure early on and win the game fast if unanswered.
Alongside those 2 stars, other contenders are Scavenging Ooze , Tireless Tracker and Sylvan Advocate , with a small preference for the Scooze because of its built-in graveyard hate and lifegain.
If the curve of deck is low enough, Dark Confidant is a great option for the deck but shifts it to a slower, more grindy approach, which we will not cover here as we focus on the midrange version. Also, Bob doesn't play very well with Murderous Cut and other delve spells.
- Planeswalkers
Liliana of the Veil is the Queen, but her lil' sister Liliana, the Last Hope also plays very well in this archetype. Any combination of 3 or 4 of those is good, depending on your personal preferences but more is too much, due to the Legend rule.
- Hand Disruption
Inquisition of Kozilek is the probably best option, given that it hits most cards in Modern. The upside of Thoughtseize is only relevant against a few decks, while the lifeloss is more of a concern against Aggro. Collective Brutality is a 2 mana newcomer but its versatility is very appreciated. Again, balance between these is personal choice, but 5 to 7 maindeck is the norm. More can be added to the sideboard in a more Combo/Control meta.
- Removals
The removal package offered by was made of a combination of Abrupt Decay , Murderous Cut and Maelstrom Pulse or Go for the Throat . However, it lacked a good 1 mana removal and this was the main reason the archetype splashed or for Path to Exile and Lightning Bolt respectively.
This has just changed with the printing of Fatal Push , which offers to the long awaited good 1 mana removal and therefore lessens the need for a splash or at least make a viable option as well.
- Sideboard
can add more hand disruption against Combo or Control or provide land destruction (Fulminator Mage) against Tron or Gavony Township . It can also provide mass creature destruction in Damnation , Drown in Sorrow or Languish and limited graveyard hate/lifegain with Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet .
offers much lifegain ( Feed the Clan , Thragtusk , Kitchen Finks ) and limited artifact/enchantment hate ( Nature's Claim ). It also provides Thrun, the Last Troll against Control.
The pair also offers Golgari Charm to deal with tokens or enchantments.
Strengths and Weaknesses
The archetype is typically a midrange deck. It's not blazing fast as Burn, Zoo or Death's Shadow and need a few more turns to get going. It uses hand disruption, removal, big blockers and lifegain to reach midgame where it shines. Its creatures are among the most powerful of the meta and the removal package helps keep a clean board for them to close out the game.
For sideboards, and are not the best colors but their combination cover a good chunck of the required hate: hand disruption, creature removal, artifact removal, enchantment removal, lifegain. The pair turns to artifacts for targeted graveyard hate, as it has to keep its own.
The main weakness of this archetype is that it relies heavily on the graveyard. Grim Flayer , Liliana, the Last Hope , Murderous Cut and other delve spells ( Tasigur, the Golden Fang , Gurmag Angler ) are much less impressive when facing a Rest in Peace or a Relic of Progenitus.
All 3 splashes are also graveyard dependant with Lingering Souls, Snapcaster Mage or Kolaghan's Command .
However, the recent re-banning of Golgari Grave-Troll will probably lower the amount of graveyard hate in the sideboards, which is very good for a Rock comeback!
Discussion
The list presented here is one possibility amongst many. As explained, the BGx archetype is very customizable and can range from aggressive to very grindy.
Constructive discussions and feedbacks on approaches and preferences are most welcome, as well as upvotes.
Do not hesitate to read the 3 splash variants:
Rock + W = Abzan
Modern
SCORE: 1 | 381 VIEWS | IN 1 FOLDER
Rock + U = Sultai
Modern
SCORE: 4 | 4 COMMENTS | 563 VIEWS | IN 1 FOLDER
Rock + R = Jund
Modern
SCORE: 1 | 111 VIEWS | IN 1 FOLDER
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| Date added | 7 years |
| Last updated | 7 years |
| Legality | This deck is Modern legal. |
| Rarity (main - side) | 14 - 1 Mythic Rares 32 - 3 Rares 11 - 6 Uncommons 0 - 5 Commons |
| Cards | 60 |
| Avg. CMC | 2.03 |
| Tokens | Clue, Emblem Liliana, the Last Hope, Zombie 2/2 B |
| Folders | Modern, Modern Cool Stuff |
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