Lightning Bolt and Some Lookalikes

Modern* Bigbadbear88

SCORE: 18 | 56 COMMENTS | 7213 VIEWS | IN 7 FOLDERS


Metagaming —Dec. 20, 2014

-1x Grim Lavamancer -2x Volcanic Fallout (side)

+1x Searing Blaze +2x Forked Bolt (side)

With a faster, more creature heavy metagame I have opted to cut a Grim for another Searing Blaze. In the side I have taken out the Fallouts for two Forked Bolt. Unfortunately Fallout is a 3 drop, and while it's amazingly powerful, it's better to simply kill their delver or YP with interest on turn 1 or 2.

JakeHarlow says... #1

No Lightning Helix ? Maybe you don't need it, but it is pretty good.

November 1, 2014 10:39 p.m.

Bigbadbear88 says... #2

It's good, but I find it clogs up my hand. Possibly with so much other burn and burn/delver floating around it will be worth it, but as of now I find it's a little too slow as a Searing Spear with lifegain.

November 1, 2014 10:42 p.m.

teotherlegoguy says... #3

You might consider Monastery Swiftspear instead of Goblin Guide. This card is basically a goblin guide that doesn't give your opponents an advantage and gets bigger just for playing the things you were going to play anyways. Other than that, looks great!

November 8, 2014 2:32 p.m.

Bigbadbear88 says... #4

teotherlegoguy I've considered it, but Guide is just a better creature in modern. Swiftspear limits you to playing pre-combat burn spells, which can be less than ideal, especially against counters or creatures you want to remove. Also, if you drop a turn 2 Eidolon, than Swiftspear is swinging in for 2 damage total by the end of turn 2 against Guide's 4. That means that you have to drop triple 1-drop precombat burn spells to match Guide's damage output of 6 by turn 3.
Guide's "downside" isn't even that harmful, while they can draw a land or two off of him, he gives information about counters and removal in their hand, and can give a turn 1 insight into what they're playing.
Guide is also a better topdeck, as he doesn't need other cards to make him strong.

November 8, 2014 2:51 p.m.

GlistenerAgent says... #5

Monastery Swiftspear is proven to be at least as good. You should certainly be playing it over Vexing Devil.

November 8, 2014 3:03 p.m.

Bigbadbear88 says... #6

I'd argue that he's not nearly as good, for the reasons I said above. A cheap, pretty efficient substitute yes, but not as good.

As for Vexing Devil, he's in because I personally love the card and a great many opponents simply make the wrong play when deciding on him. He's really in because my local store isn't extremely skilled, and because it's so gratifying to hit them for 4 damage turn one. In a competitive setting I would most likely bring in Swiftspear in his place as Guide's little cousin.

November 8, 2014 3:13 p.m.

WizBiz142 says... #7

nice work maybe add a Chandras Phoenix

November 9, 2014 6:18 p.m.

APPLE01DOJ says... #8

Deck needs 4x Monastery Swiftspear

T1 Rift Bolt T2 Monastery Swiftspear + Lightning Bolt = 9 damage. T3 3x Boltalikes for 9 more damage and 4 from Swifty for 13 total = 22

Means Swifty can get u lethal with 22 damage by turn 3. For comparison sake, the most damage Goblin Guide can get u by T3 is 21.

I'd also consider dropping 1x Grim Lavamancer for 1x Forked Bolt. Both are good but just for variance.

November 9, 2014 6:20 p.m.

APPLE01DOJ says... #9

4x Arid Mesa would work better with Searing Blaze and Grim Lavamancer in place of Mana Confluence

November 9, 2014 6:22 p.m.

There's no reason to play a card just to try and take advantage of people, because they will get better. Just play the card that will deal more damage over the course of the game. More Goblin Guides is always good.

November 9, 2014 6:39 p.m.

Bigbadbear88 says... #11

APPLE01DOJ actually, if the Swiftspear is dropped turn one than it will be 23 damage, as the Rift Bolt will be able to trigger prowess on turn 3. However, I like to include an Eidolon into my curve on turn 2, as that is a more realistic game. Monastery Swiftspear makes wins bigger, however it's not quite as consistent, and I personally love playing my instants in response to things or on their end step. I very much would like to put in 4x Arid Mesa, or even 4x Wooded Foothills, however at the moment I only have Confluence. When I get more I'll definitely replace them. Thanks for your advice!

GlistenerAgent I'm very much considering it, however it requires some major playtesting and a bit of a change in my play style. I love playing instants around counters, so being stonewalled into predictable pre-combat use isn't something I really look forward to. Also, Vexing Devil will deal comparable amounts of damage. With Swiftspear, it'll either be removed immediately or get in some damage until removal is found or a big blocker is made. Devil will either land and be Bolt'd or deal 4, unblockable damage. For now I'll stick with Devil, but you've convinced me to try playtesting with Swiftspear. Thanks for your suggestions!

November 9, 2014 6:59 p.m.

Bigbadbear88 says... #12

WizBiz142 Thanks! Don't forget to +1 :)

I loved using phoenix during it's time in standard, however in Modern a 3CMC creature is too slow for burn. For comparison, Goblin Guide, while it does lack flying and has a possibly harmful ability, is a 2/2 haste that costs only 1. Monastery Swiftspear, which isn't included in the deck, can also very easily deal 2 or more damage per attack, for a cost of only 1.

November 9, 2014 7:03 p.m.

APPLE01DOJ says... #13

Bigbadbear88 Eidolon of the Great Revel kicks ass too. I love the card, especially with all the naysayers about it :).

Here is my build, RDW maybe u could also give me some advice in return? I know it needs Goblin Guides but it's not my main deck so I'm gonna wait til the price sinks back down a bit.

And the only unrealistic thing about either of those games was the fairy tale T3 assuming u hit a land drop or two and had enough Lava Spikes/Lightning Bolts in hand to make it happen. Seriously though, since I added Monastery Swiftspear my wins are more frequent and faster.

November 9, 2014 7:28 p.m.