Tokens-Clearly the Best Deck in Modern (Guide)

Modern ZackBinks

SCORE: 126 | 145 COMMENTS | 29220 VIEWS | IN 50 FOLDERS


ZackBinks says... #1

Bob is a very powerful card, but if he reveals Spectral Procession, we lose 6 life. He is very powerful and not too dangerous in decks like Jund and Abzan, but is really dangerous in our deck. Thanks though!

February 19, 2017 10:13 p.m.

Brodster123 says... #2

How do you feel about Elspeth, Sun's Champion?

February 24, 2017 12:11 a.m.

ZackBinks says... #3

I talk about it in the "Cards I Advise Against Using" part of my primer. Don't get me wrong, she is a really powerful threat, and would be a great addition to the deck if she didn't cost 6 mana to cast. The deck just can't consistently produce that much mana and it doesn't have many ways to slow down the game long enough to get her out. If she cost just one fewer mana I'd probably run a single one, and if she cost 2 fewer I'd run 2-3 copies. But alas, she'll always be the one that got away.

Thank you for the suggestion, though!

February 24, 2017 7:34 a.m.

zephyr_chang says... #4

I feel like you have enough colour fixing in your lands that you can fit in another Vault of the Archangel. I wonder how often you see it, having just one in the deck.

February 24, 2017 7:56 a.m.

ZackBinks says... #5

I really don't need it enough to warrant 2 copies. And though I have ample color fixing, running more than 1 Vault increases the chance of having a lack of colored mana sources in hand.

February 25, 2017 6:50 p.m.

Brodster123 says... #6

This deck is definitely tier one. How do you deal with burn?

February 25, 2017 6:57 p.m.

ZackBinks says... #7

I appreciate it! Auriok Champion does wonders against burn, as does Sorin, Solemn Visitor. In the sideboard, there's also Leyline of Sanctity and Blessed Alliance.

February 25, 2017 9:10 p.m.

tlhunter07 says... #8

Do you think that Jeskai, Esper, or Grixis is the better color scheme?

February 26, 2017 4:54 p.m.

ZackBinks says... #9

In regards to a token strategy?

February 26, 2017 4:55 p.m.

tlhunter07 says... #10

No in regards to the color scheme in general. Probably should have asked on your wall rather than token deck :)

February 26, 2017 4:56 p.m.

ZackBinks says... #11

No worries. That kind of depends on a lot of things. Esper has the most "controlling" playstyle, whereas Jeskai and Grixis are the more aggressive control decks. If you are looking at a more Delver style deck, I would say that Esper is probably the worst of the 3. Jeskai gives you more numeral threats and burn spells, whereas Grixis gives you more spot removal and bigger threats like Tasigur, the Golden Fang and Gurmag Angler.

February 26, 2017 5:02 p.m.

tlhunter07 says... #12

Thanks!

February 26, 2017 5:06 p.m.

Username says... #13

Looks solid:) sorry I don't know much about the deck but it looks good

February 26, 2017 5:54 p.m.

TheRedeemed says... #14

Love the name

March 1, 2017 11:28 a.m.

ZackBinks says... #15

Thank you!

March 1, 2017 11:46 a.m.

rattulator says... #16

Do you have any advice for the Storm or Ad Nauseum matchups?

My list here

March 6, 2017 7:58 a.m.

ZackBinks says... #17

Against Storm Game 1 we have to race them while also prioritizing getting rid of their cost reducers: Goblin Electromancer and most recently Baral, Chief of Compliance. Afterwards, we side in Leyline of Sanctity and Runed Halo, if you have it, naming Grapeshot for Games 2 and 3 if you lost Game 1.

Against Ad Nauseam, we just have to race them and hope we get there Game 1. The gameplan for Games 2 and on are similar to the Storm matchup in that we side in Leyline and Halo, this time naming Lightning Storm. Stony Silence would also be a good thing to side in to stop them from using Lotus Bloom to accelerate the combo. They also have the alternate win condition of Laboratory Maniac, so be mindful of that.

Hope this helped!

March 6, 2017 9:27 a.m.

ZackBinks says... #18

Rest in Peace is also very powerful against Storm.

March 6, 2017 9:43 a.m.

rattulator says... #19

thanks for the advice!

March 6, 2017 11:33 a.m.

ZackBinks says... #20

Of course!

March 6, 2017 11:35 a.m.

love the deck. i am trying to find a deck right now to play with gideon and this deck maybe it. is it possible that i can also splash blue in there for some snapcaster shennigans?

March 7, 2017 9:12 a.m.

ZackBinks says... #22

Thank you, glad I could help!

You certainly could splash blue for Snapcaster Mage shenanigans. However, I would not recommend it. Doing so would require you to have a more painful and inconsistent mana base for a payoff that isn't quite worth it by comparison. Doing so would mean you would also most likely have to take out some token producers in order to make room for Snapcaster, and now that you would theoretically have blue mana available to you, it would be very tempting to include card draw spells, something the core version of Tokens lacks. However, once you do this, it more or less stops being Tokens and becomes more along the lines of Esper Midrange/Control.

You're more than welcome to try it, of course. I have tested it and this is my personal findings. Thank you for the upvote!

March 7, 2017 11:51 a.m.

ZackBinks no problem! I'm just trying to find a deck that uses Gideon,Ally of Zendikar and Blue. Do you know any of the top of your head?

March 7, 2017 1:36 p.m.

ZackBinks says... #24

Blue-White control may have a place for him, if not mainboard then definitely sideboard.

March 7, 2017 1:49 p.m.

What are your opinions on cutting Zealous Persecution in the sideboard for one Leyline of Sanctity? Is the consistency you gain from 4 Leylines (since they're so much better in your opening hand) better than the benefit you get from Persecution? Or can you reliably hardcast Leylines soon enough to save you?

Also, does Rest in Peace from the SB hurt your Lingering Souls too much? Tormod's Crypt is an option that only hits your opponent even if it is not as powerful.

March 7, 2017 1:58 p.m.

Please login to comment