Modern Thoughts
Deck Help forum
Posted on Aug. 22, 2012, 1:35 p.m. by kingboo3000
I'm planning on attending my first Grand Prix this November, and the format is modern. I haven't really played that format very much, as I only got into magic around two years ago. I would like my deck to be competitive and rogue-ish. (In other words, a deck that works that most people don't expect.) I have a few thoughts on possible decks, but I'd like some input as to which decks would get slaughtered by modern. Here are my big thoughts:
Mono-black Vamps... With Vampire Nocturnus and such, although I'd probably splash a bit of red for Stromkirk Captain .
Tempered Steel/Affinity... I'd like to build a white-red version of this archetype, preferably working in Jor Kadeen, the Prevailer somehow, but not necessarily.
Tribal Soldiers...? The idea amuses me, espescially with Thalia, Guardian of Thraben and Odric, Master Tactician out there, but I suspect it wouldn't quite work.
Some kind of damage doubling card:Sorin's Vengeance control/ramp deck.
And lastly, a Molten-Tail Masticore deck would be awesome if someone could pull it off. My best attempt is located here: Chandra's Masticore of Recursive Win. Although Grand Architect would definitely be fun.
A last note, I am somewhat on a budget, which means no Tarmogoyf s or crazy expensive lands, but I will absolutely cough up some cash for cards and/or illiteration. Comments and thoughts on these decks or suggestions for other rogue decks are much appreciated!
DawnsRayofLight says... #3
you can play a budget list like RDW that usually does well, the deck is a pain in the rear end. I have 2 modern lists: a UG Tron list and a Jund Aggro list, both of which have proven to more than handle other modern lists. My best advice to you would be to find a deck that few people play and go with it, pick a sort of archetype and alter it to fit your style. The further away from the norm, the better, it means less side board hate. I think you might like a sort of b/w or mono white life gain list. 1 that I really like on here (i might consider tweaking it to speed it up) is a deck called Get a life? I have plenty!, or a quicker version would include a lot of 1 and 2 drops, see a mono white Martyr of Sands /Serra Ascendant list. Ramp nad control are my 2 favorite types, there are Jund and Jund "dredge" lists which are quite fun. Tron features the best ramp of any list (depending on the build) and usually is UW so plays control as well. Just research a bit and come up with your own idea.
My 2 modern decks: The MCP (Simic Tron) and Modern Jund Aggro.
pick an archetype and I can try to suggest cards for it, it might be best to browse lists and see what sparks your interest.
August 22, 2012 4:49 p.m.
If you want an honest chance at winning, you should consider the top decks in the format: Affinity, Birthing Pod (Melira or Restoration), Jund, RDW, Tron (RG, UW is soft), Storm, UW Tempo, Wx Tokens, and Soul Sisters. Then, you have your up and comers like Geist Bant, Boros, Merfolk, Infect, Reanimators, and Faeries. Then there's rogue, like Hive Mind, Living End, Ad Nauseam, and Pyromancer Ascension.
I have two Modern decks myself: Izzet Merfolk & URW Ascension
If you plan on going to a Grand Prix with a homebrew, I hope you don't plan on winning. But, more power to you, because you might have more fun anyways.
August 22, 2012 8:37 p.m.
i played faeries in standard and they were INSANE :-) is Bitterblossom banned in modern? it should be lol, my build was 4 Bitterblossom , 4 Cancel , 4 card:Oona's Blackguard, 4 Scion of Oona , 4 Glen Elendra Liege , 4 Damnation , 4 Faerie Harbinger , 2 Mistbind Clique , 2 Spellstutter Sprite , 2 Sower of Temptation , 2 Extirpate then 24 lands of various standard duals and basics. something like that anyway, it was AWESOME they were just so damn quick. in modern you could have a coupla Miren, the Moaning Well to gain some life with and act as a mana sink at end of turns if your counters were not needed. or you could add Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir for added control and flash is NEVER bad lol :-)
August 23, 2012 3:57 a.m.
DawnsRayofLight says... #6
The resto pod lists look fun, I might try that list. R/G tron is fun as well, but hates to see a Jund list. Pyromancer's ascension lists are also crazy fun and can change the deck up and side into kiki-mite exarch twin (or however it is arranged). I still might say a homebrew list might be best if you can come up with a really good one. But what can I say, I am just getting into modern, I only play standard. Based on my experience in standard, if you can come up with a sick homebrew list, run it; but do test it heavily first.
August 23, 2012 6:25 a.m.
kingboo3000 says... #7
Wow, thanks for all the feedback! I'm not AGAINST playing the good decks, but I'd really like to play something weird/rogue/fun.
I do like Pod decks, so I may end up playing one of those variants. I've also been a fan of artifact decks since Tempered Steel blew my mind back when I was first starting. Why don't more Affinity decks play that card, seriously?
I also have a RDW homebrew that I'm fond of... But it's not perfect by any means, and it's currently standard, so it'd need some serious changes. RDW... With Vampires?
MR H3AT says... #2
If you touch at all into white I would definitely say baneslayer angel is a fantastic card that is highly underrated in modern. My suggestion personally is similar to tribal soldiers but I think it is better for modern. Tribal knights I think are highly competitive and would do you well. It isn't super expensive and it normally does pretty well. Mono white, white/green, white/red and even white/blue or white/black knight decks are all plausible. With cards like Knight Exemplar , Knight of the Reliquary and Knight of the White Orchid you can do some good stuff. There are also really good exalted decks if you are into that.
If you wanted to run a combo deck using card:Sorin's Vengeance then you would most likely be using Sanguine Bond and/or Exquisite Blood It is possible to run that combo successfully with mono black vampire decks but I haven't looked into their success rate all that much.
With building a modern deck you literally can have the mana base for basically any deck style and color combination that you want. It is really all just what exactly you want to do. Since you have experience in magic and you are not new to the game then you know that there isn't really a single deck that beats every other deck out there every time (excluding of course the turn 1 win combos that depend on constantly having perfect opening hands). If you are looking to try to win then you will just have to do a good amount of research into what deck you think will out play the most common modern metas out there. If you want to make one of these decks the best that they can be and go in with them and have fun with it, then that also works very well. It really all depends on what you want out of the deck.
August 22, 2012 4:29 p.m.