Elspeth and the Token Gang (Overhaul)

Modern Control Midrange RBW (Mardu) Tokens

sorfronaan

Creature (11)

• 4x Goblin Dark-Dwellers
• 3x Hero of Bladehold
• 4x Young Pyromancer

Planeswalker (2)

• 2x Elspeth Tirel

Land (23)

• 1x Blood Crypt
• 2x Bloodstained Mire
• 1x Ghost Quarter
• 3x Godless Shrine
• 2x Isolated Chapel
• 1x Lavaclaw Reaches
• 4x Marsh Flats
• 1x Mountain
• 2x Plains
• 3x Sacred Foundry
• 1x Shambling Vent
• 1x Swamp
• 1x Vault of the Archangel

Instant (17)

• 3x Kolaghan's Command
• 4x Lightning Bolt
• 3x Lightning Helix
• 4x Path to Exile
• 3x Terminate

Sorcery (7)

• 3x Lingering Souls
• 1x Read the Bones
• 3x Thoughtseize

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Sideboard

Enchantment (3)

• 3x Rest in Peace

Instant (5)

• 2x Geth's Verdict
• 2x Wear / Tear
• 1x Zealous Persecution

Sorcery (7)

• 3x Anger of the Gods
• 2x Dreadbore
• 2x Slaughter Games

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Maybeboard

Enchantment (1)

• 1x Intangible Virtue

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[This deck looks to pick apart removal and preemptively remove threats using Thoughtseize and Duress. Rather than drop single creatures that swing hard on their own, we make use of only ones that are capable of generating their own tokens. This constantly advances my board state while I handle threats with one-for-one removal. As the creatures lack in beefy power and toughness, it is important to continue to draw into removal and threats, as such Phyrexian Arena is a two of. We use Elspeth, Sun's Champion to wipe the opponent's larger beaters while our own creatures remain unaffected.

Why no Inquisition of Kozilek? No Liliana of the Veil? What about Bob?

My playgroup consists of quite a bit of discard hate. The former two cards mentioned are simply too risky a lot of the time. The included discard tech I have is far less likely to force a free Loxodon Smiter or Wilt-Leaf Liege onto the field. I've been scarred with flashbacks.

Generally, this deck is far more concerned about snapping away removal and board wipes. This makes Duress an excellent, budget addition.

As for Dark Confidant, he would likely be better than Phyrexian Arena in most cases. However with the 4x Young Pyromancer turn two will usually have a good play. Then it curves out into the Arena. It tends to stick around longer as often people do not run mainboard enchantment hate. Also Bob is expensive. Ahem

There can definitely be some trimming done.

I'd love to hear what you think!]

Took a break, came back, and made a lot of changes! I've dropped some walkers and threw in a playset of a card I hold dear to me: Goblin Dark-Dwellers. With this new set up, it's possible to not only recur removal as well as burn, but this snapcaster-esque recursion comes with a beefy evasive 4/4! There's so much value in dropping a solid body with a Path to Exile or Lightning Helix attached to it. And those are, of course, not the only targets.

Top Ranked	Achieved #10 position overall 8 years ago
Date added	9 years
Last updated	7 years
Legality	This deck is Modern legal.
Rarity (main - side)	8 - 3 Mythic Rares 25 - 7 Rares 19 - 3 Uncommons 4 - 2 Commons
Cards	60
Avg. CMC	2.54
Tokens	Elemental 1/1 R, Soldier 1/1 W, Spirit 1/1 W
Folders	Cool Decks, modern, Token, Mardu (Modern/Standard), Modern <3