This sure is a different take on Esper Gifts. I like it! I can't help but feel the sideboard needs a Surgical Extraction to aid with the Thoughtseize . +1

Thanks! It's really fun to play! Extractions have been sideboarded.

+1

Thanks! I just commented on your deck too. That looks so fun!

damn im really liking the use of Solar Flare and Gifts Reanimator together in one deck. You even have a Life from the Loam in there. This list is nuts.

Why no Cryptic Command ? Really strong card, only reason not to use it if you're in blue is colors (triple blue). If it's too hard on the casting cost I'd say no, but if not it is the control card of choice in modern. Also I noticed a Wrath of God on the maybeboard, I'd change that to a Supreme Verdict .

Not really sure about the crab strategy to be honest, I know it's a key part of the deck but still. Not really sure what the value is besides trying to yard an Unburial Rites and an Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite , but while you're doing that your opponent could just be hitting you with Lightning Bolt and leaving mana up to counterspell. I haven't seen it in action but that's just my first thought when looking over the decklist, not really sure what I would change it to anyways. Overall though I like this strategy and this hybrid variant. +1

Tbh I've never used Cryptic Command . Not because I don't want to or like it, but because I don't own one. I'll have to try it out, what would you run it over?

As far as the crabs go, youre right; they're both central to my strategy and potentially the weak point. I'm looking at my Deathrite Shaman s instead. They can at least block and kill x/1s beyond providing a lot of utility.

With all my fetches I get a pretty good dredge going though, especially if I copy one with a Phantasmal Image or two. Then I can either KotR turn 3, sit on removal or Lingering Souls . Turn four is often either Gifts or Snapcaster into removal, or Unburial Rites into a Titan or Norn.

You're right though, aggro has me if they kill my crabs before I get any value out of them. I'm looking at the rock/paper/scissorsness of it and hoping I can play midrange/control.

What would you suggest rather than running the crab?

I think the shaman would be a good choice. I've been using him lately and like the results. If you have double shaman down you can end of turn nail them for 4 then untap and do 4 again, thats 8 damage out of nowhere. Even one is a decent clock but when you get 2 down you can just blast the crap out of them. And then of course he can be a birds of paradise and eat your opponent's fetches so they cant get it with their own deathrite shamans, and then he can eat any random combo deck that uses the graveyard (like unburial rites).

Thanks for the praise and the vote. This decks been my baby lately.

Ok, I'll test the shamans. My deck Gifts of the Sun (Titan) was what I was working towards and I believe there's a 4 pack there. This became the IRL version because I didn't have all four but I've got them now.

only problem is thinking of a new deck name, I always hate that part -_-

Ok, so I've been running a lot of tests and I'm thinking without crabs the deck doesn't do what I need it to as well as it should...I could probably resolve this by cutting a Sun Titan and replacing it with an Iona, Shield of Emeria . Then I'm relying on Gifts a lot. Hmmm...

I think a singleton Iona is needed if youre doing gifts, Elesh Norn won't hose everyone.

Also now that I think about it I can see Hedron crab working with deathrite in a weird way. It puts stuff in the yard for deathrite to eat. But then the problem now is we have all these cards we like but not enough room in the deck. Just keep testing. Sometimes you have to make big changes to a brew which can be really rough. And then sometimes you realize you're over-thinking it and jamming 4x Lightning Bolt is the answer. That's magic.

I think you could safely cut Snapcaster Mage since you're only at 15 instants and sorceries, and some of them already have flashback anyways. I know it's Snappy, but at this point when you're trying to get scrounge up spell slots you have to sacrifice somewhere.

You know I've been looking at Snapcaster as the cut. It was a tossup between Deathrite Shaman and my Lotus Cobra s for that slot. I could see both being good but like you say, it's pretty easy to drain a lot of life away with a Shaman. Basically I'd be abusing the fact I can get extra mana of any color at instant speed with the cobra.

This deck would look a lot nicer without the red. Other than that, it looks pretty good.

What makes you say that?

No Raven's Crime ? It has great synergy with Life from the Loam

I used to run a Raven's Crime . I just found that 90% of the time it's underwhelming, it does have great synergy with Life from the Loam but I usually use Loam for guaranteeing landfall triggers for my Crabs. I could probably slot it in over the Mana Leak though.

Each additional color obviously takes a lot from a decks consistency, so it is better to run less colors. Also, red is only contributing two cards, one of which is nigh uncastable due to the double red, plus, this deck really does not need haste enablers.

A five color mana base does stretch my mana kind of thin, especially since Hedron Crab tosses a good number of my lands into the graveyard. I try to make up for it by running 12 fetchlands and the Lotus Cobra s. Life from the Loam allows me to reuse fetches and pick up shocks that have been binned for whatever color I may need.

It's the scenario where I don't get an early Hedron Crab or they kill it that may cause me problems. For this exact reason I've been contemplating adding more red in the form of Faithless Looting and/or some damage based sweepers. What do you think?

The haste enablers make it so I can attack for up to 30 on turn 4.

@ Blakkhand I'm not even really saying I disagree. I just put the red in for a final Sun Titan trigger target thinking it would give me a little more control of when I deal that killing blow.

I've been taking a long hard look at Lightning Bolt and Lightning Helix to give me something to do with my mana in the midgame. Abrupt Decay is good but I want to make sure I have enough and it doesn't feel like it right now.

You could try Disfigure for the Lightning Bolt and something like Go for the Throat instead of Terminate to possibly drop red and help with any consistency issues. That also fills in the Sun Titan trigger targets that would be lost.

Which Sun Titan trigger targets are you speaking of? The Hammer and the Emblem?

After this playtest, you have qualified for the Modern Tournament Quarter Finals, congratz. And after I've seen what this baby can do, I'd like to personally +1 and tell you how wonderful the interaction is - well done.

If you want a simpler haste enabler Fervor works well. Easier on the mana.

Thanks AlphaAuthority.

@ RedSoxFanKy

I'd considered Fervor . I'll consider it further. My main thought is that I've had games where being able to sac a land for the final punch actually was relevant surprisingly. Stupid Detention Sphere ...