Narset/Geist Prowess /Rebound Tempo ("Jeskai Way")
Modern* Aggro Competitive Delver Humans RUW (Jeskai, America) Tempo
Creature (16)
- 4x Delver of Secrets Flip
- 2x Geist of Saint Traft
- 1x Grim Lavamancer
- 2x Kiln Fiend
- 3x Monastery Swiftspear
- 1x Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest
- 2x Snapcaster Mage
- 1x Surrakar Spellblade
Planeswalker (1)
Land (20)
- 2x Arid Mesa
- 1x Eiganjo Castle
- 1x Faerie Conclave
- 2x Flooded Strand
- 1x Glacial Fortress
-
1x
Hallowed Fountain
- 1x Island
- 1x Mountain
- 1x Plains
-
1x
Sacred Foundry
- 4x Scalding Tarn
- 1x Slayers' Stronghold
-
2x
Steam Vents
- 1x Sulfur Falls
Instant (15)
Sorcery (9)
Sideboard
Creature (4)
Artifact (2)
Maybeboard
Creature (1)
Enchantment (2)
The Jeskai use speed, cunning, and precision to overcome their opponents. This deck is built to focus on the Jeskai way. While the opponent may attempt to go "over the top"....this deck goes "under and around"; needing only a few precise but powerful strikes to destroy the opponent....
Now to the actual description :). I have been playing Jeskai for quite a while now, and I really wanted to explore "Tempo" as an archetype. Tempo decks hit hard, early, and often. The goal is to kill quickly; but have some malleability (i.e. not like RDW where you go straight to the face at all times). Delver decks, prior to Treasure Cruise, tended to play a little more "tempo" oriented as they didn't have the luxury of refilling their hand. Tempo is just been where I feel my play-style fits best; and some of the newer cards fit great in a Tempo-style deck.
It took me some time, but with the printing of some great Prowess creatures and my finding of two Rebound cards...I've found a deck I love that is also competitive.
The purpose of the deck is simple...get early, efficient threats out and utilize the synergy among them and the spells in the deck to quickly reach lethal damage.
Creatures
Many of these creatures are not new to Jeskai Delver (with the exception of Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest), but there is a few things all of these creatures have in common:
First and foremost, all of the creatures become effectively "larger" or "better" with the casting or revealing non-creature spells. This is hardly a new idea, but worth pointing out.
All are between 1-3 mana. This is important as the deck wishes to put out early threats that can deal large "chunks" of damage.
Not surprisingly, Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest has been the best performer in the deck. With a built-in spell and prowess to boot; it is very rare that he does any less than 8-10 damage each time he attacks. All of the creatures, however, are better because of the spells in the deck (and in turn, the spells have more value because of the creatures that exploit them).
Spells
The only "atypical" item (and part of what makes it work so well) are the non-permanent spells. The most "innovative" spells in the deck utilize a mechanic that is spectacular when paired with Prowess:
Both Emerge Unscathed and Distortion Strike allow us to trigger our prowess creatures for two turns in a row! In this deck, however, they provide even more utility:
Emerge Unscathed can work as both protection and/or a means to making our creatures unblockable to certain colors. My favorite cards in the game are instants that give me choices; and this is a great example.
Distortion Strike is a little less versatile; but it is a powerhouse. With Shun Yun, the Silent Tempest it gives any prowess creature +2/+1 (due to it's "pump" and the prowess trigger) AND makes them unblockable for two turns!
But Distortion Strike is not only great with prowess creatures. I have found that having the ability to make Geist of Saint Traft 3/2 hexproof, unblockable will pretty much end most games :)
The remainder of the spell suite have simply proven themselves to be the best of the best in terms of versatile and powerful instant and sorcery spells in Jeskai Colors. It's important to me that decks be both innovative as well as competitive in Modern; and cards like Lightning Bolt, Path to Exile, Remand, Spell Snare, Spell Pierce, and Gitaxian Probe simply can't be passed up.
And the best part...they all trigger Prowess (and Kiln Fiend) anyways!
Top End
I have gone back and forth between which of the below cards (as to which are best in the main board); but I've found the following cards to be the best "top end" cards of the deck.
The "Top End" cards allow us to develop more power and/or card advantage if we haven't won by turn 4-5; and make sure to deal lethal damage even if the opponent has "turned the corner". They pretty much all follow the same philosophy...they draw us more cards and/or act as additional spells (activated abilities, triggers, etc.) if need be...It is extremely important that we keep pressure on; and the only way to do so is through card advantage once we've reached turns 4+.
I've found that Planeswalkers are the best form of continued card advantage (and fortunately Jeskai now has two perfect choices):
Chandra, Pyromaster
In my opinion, one of the best planeswalker cards ever for a tempo build such as this (especially one with a small set of counterspells). Chandra provides many advantages; but the biggest among them are:
a. Her "ping" ability automatically takes out a blocker. I have had many games where the opponent had two blockers and 3 life. One Path to Exile, one "ping" to their other creature, and all of the sudden Monastery Swiftspear is attacking for lethal!
b. Her "exile" ability allows us to essentially draw another card every turn she is in play. This is HUGE for a tempo deck. Our average CMC is extremely low; and nearly every spell can be cast for an advantage. This is especially strong if we haven't won in turns 3-5 (as it gives us the "gas" we need to win before the opponent has a chance to build a board).
The fact that Chandra, Pyromaster doesn't reduce her own loyalty is another positive that should not go unnoticed. The opponent has no choice but to deal with her or let her continue to build up advantage. Chandra is truly the best "top end" at 4-CMC this deck could want.
Narset Transcendent
Speaking of Loyalty, Narset starts at 6 and in most cases moves to 7 Loyalty for only 4-mana! Beyond this, however, her abilities are PERFECT for this deck.
a. Her "draw" +1 ability is pure card advantage...with fetches you can often see your top card and shuffle it away if you don't need it; and with Serum Visions you also often know what's coming. Also, for a deck heavy with non-creatures spells (and with low land count); this ability basically says "draw 3/4 a card'.
b. Narset's second ability, however, is where things get crazy. Being able to Rebound a Serum Visions or Gitaxian Probe is even more powerful card advantage; and being able to rebound Lightning Bolt, Lightning Helix , or Boros Charm quickly burns the opponent out for that last 6-8 damage.
Redbound is an essential peice to this deck, and it was made BEFORE Rebound was announced in Dragons...Narset is a perfect fit in this deck if the deck gets to the later turns.
Sword of Fire and Ice
This is another great option for the "top end" of the deck as it provides both card advantage and direct damage.
The nice thing about swords is that when the creature dies; the sword stays :) That, and they both help make creatures unblockable (as the rest of the deck does) AND trigger BECAUSE the creature is unblocakable. It just fits perfectly with the synergy of this deck.
I actually prefer to run this in the main and an additional sword (generally Sword of Feast and Famine because they are that good in the deck.
With these two cards at the "top end" of the deck, the natural evasion the creatures have, the several burn spells available, and the spells that make creatures unblockable; this deck does what many tempo decks struggle with most...getting that last 4-6 damage through after the opponent has 'turned the corner". By ensuring you don't run out of cards and you always find the answer you need; they act as the perfect "top end" to a tempo build.
Synergy and Tempo
I've said it a couple times; but I wanted to quickly reiterate the importance of the ability of a tempo deck to deal lethal damage despite the opponent "turning the corner". One of the toughest parts in brewing a tempo deck is that generally you are not as purely fast as a zoo deck, but not as controlling as a control deck. In most tempo decks, you can get the opponent to 4-6 life, but if they start playing their kitchen finks, siege rhino, chump blockers, etc.
I can't claim to take full credit for the fact that cards have been printed to allow Tempo decks to finally deal enough damage (mainly thanks to the Prowess mechanic). This deck covers multiple lines to ensure damage gets though. These include:
- Evasion
- Unblockability
- Burn
- Double-Strike
There is always a way to get that last bit of damage in with this deck; and huge chunks of damage due to the synergy among the cards.
Another smaller synergy in the deck is the resiliency of the creatures. Geist of Saint Traft is naturally resilient (and does huge chunks of damage); however at 2/2 sometimes needs some help to get through attacking. Many of the other creatures are also "boltable".
Cards like Distortion Strike and Emerge Unscathed ensure that (a) the creatures can't be blocked, (b) they have instant speed protection from any colored removal. Further, however, Boros Charm's "indestructible" ability protects creatures from most removal AND most board wipes. This has been extremely useful in many scenarios (as in most cases you really only need to protect the creature for a single turn to deal lethal damage).
And having an unblockable Geist for two turns (for a total of 6 damage each time is a LOT of damage.
Also, Prowess alone is a great mechanic for protection. You can cast instants to put Prowess creatures out of range of things like Forked Bolt , Gut Shot , Electrolyze, and even Lightning Bolt!
Needless to say, we have a lot of "playability" for a pretty aggressive deck...
Sample "Gold Fish" with Turn 3 Win
I have had many people ask if it was possible to win with this deck by turn three.
Turn One
- Play Steam Vents
- Cast Delver of Secrets
Turn Two
- (Flip Delver revealing a Serum Visions)
- Play Glacial Fortress
- Cast Monastery Swiftspear
- Cast Serum Visions triggering Prowess (draw card, scry 2)
Attack with Delver and Swiftspear for total of 5 damage.
Turn Three
- Play Scalding Tarn, fetching Mountain
- Cast second Monastery Swiftspear
- Cast Distortion Strike (trigger Prowess and +1/+0)
- Cast Lightning Bolt
- Cast Gitaxian Probe for 2-life triggering Prowess (draw a card)
Total Damage: 15 this turn for a total of 20 damage.
- Attack with Delver for 3 damage,
- Lightning Bold deals 3 damage,
- First Monastery Swiftspear deals 5 damage (3 Prowess triggers and +1/+0 from Distortion Strike
- Second Monastery Swifspear deals 4 damage (3 Prowess triggers).
While this of course requires all of your cards and is a "God Hand"; you can see how this deck can consistently deal lethal, unblockable/evasive damage consistently by turns 4-5. With the "top end" (including Chandra, Pyromaster and Sword of Fire and Ice; the deck even can play into turns 6 or more and still deal lethal damage.
Example Two - Turn 3 Win due to Kiln Fiend
Turn One
- Play Steam Vents
- Cast Monastery Swiftspear
Attack for 1 damage with Swiftspear
Turn Two
- Play Hallowed Fountain
- Cast Kiln Fiend
Attack for 1 damage with Swiftspear
Turn Three
- Play Glacial Fortress
- Cast Serum Visions (Trigger both creatures)
- Cast Distortion Strike on Kiln Fiend (Trigger both creatures)
- Cast Lightning Bolt (Trigger both creatures)
Attack for 11 damage with Kiln Fiend and 4 damage with Monastery Swiftspear for 15 total damage. Bolt deals 3 damage for total of 18 this turn (20 total).
Again, here you would only have 2 cards left (3 next turn); but the ability to win by turn 3 with unblocakable/protected creatures can be beneficial in Modern.
These examples are meant to (a) depict the "atypical" cards in the deck (rebound cards, Haze of Rage, etc.) and their synergy/power in the deck as well as to show the reach and speed of the deck. If you would prefer to see any other examples; please let me know. We are trying to find a way to get video examples of some of our best decks...when we do we will make sure to post them!
Other Options
There are some other cards I looked into and am continuing to test; however at this point haven't found them to be as good as the current cards in the deck. These include both the green and black one-mana Rebound spells (the green in particular is strong) as well as the obvious Monastery Mentor...but they just don't have the same "evasive" effect as the other cards (I've actually found Geist to be better then Mentor at the 3-drop slot). I will update if I find anything else great for the deck.
Summary
If you like playing Jeskai colors and/or Tempo builds; you will love this deck! It's my favorite deck I've brewed yet; and it is actually extremely competitive (I don't mean to sound surprised, it's just rare that a brew is as competitive as this one in my testing when I first brew it...)
I hope you enjoy it too! As always, I'd love to hear any thoughts, comments, and/or critiques! The community has a way of making decks better; and I can't wait to hear what you think.
Further discussion about this and other similar decks can be found at: http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/modern/modern-deck-creation/592647-jeskai-prowess-unblockable-the-jeskai-way
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Revision 24 See all
(9 years ago)
| +1 | Electrolyze | main |
| -1 | Perilous Research | main |
| -1 | Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest | main |
| +1 | Surrakar Spellblade | main |
| Top Ranked |
|
| Date added | 9 years |
| Last updated | 9 years |
| Legality | This deck is not Modern legal. |
| Rarity (main - side) | 5 - 0 Mythic Rares 19 - 7 Rares 26 - 6 Uncommons 8 - 2 Commons |
| Cards | 61 |
| Avg. CMC | 1.54 |
| Tokens | Angel 4/4 W |
| Folders | modern competitive ideas, amazing decks, Good Modern Decks, Giest, Delver Den, Decks, bra modern decks, Mutha'Frikkin'Modern..... bitch, Fun Times, Standard/Modern/Legacy |
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