Does midrange exist in modern?
Modern Deck Help forum
Posted on June 5, 2015, 9:33 p.m. by Serra_Sentinel
Does midrange still exist as a viable archetype in modern? By midrange I mean a deck that plays a defensive early game and then lays the beats down in the mid game, trying to end it before the late.
If it does, what would be some staples or good cards for Esper, Grixis, or Temur?
Note: I don't want to make a Delver deck.
Thanks in advance. :D
Serra_Sentinel says... #3
Interesting, but, most of these cards eat the word budget for an appetizer. I was trying to run Esper or non-Delver Temur for budget reasons to still be a good deck with underrated, underplayed cards. (Having some "non-budget" playsets or utility cards is fine IMO) IRL, I have the start of a Tron deck that I'm slowly assembling pieces for, and I want to have another one to have a project build. Esper is my pet shard for reasons I'm not aware of. I just love it. Thanks for the feedback though :D
June 5, 2015 9:57 p.m.
mathimus55 says... #4
You didn't mention that you were looking for a budget option though, so of course you're going to get the tier 1 midrange selections. Midrange is pretty much dominated by all the b/g/x decks because it has natural access to those cards mentioned above.
Black is probably the best all around color for your non aggro decks, the hand disruption and removal are pretty hard to beat if you're trying to extend the game.
Any midrange deck is going to be hard to keep on a budget of you have green since goyf is so solid and there's few subs that won't significantly be a downgrade. Essentially the rug tempo/midrange decks are delver variants anyways because it's a great power to investment ratio. Kird Ape plays well into the strategy too. If you're real ballsy you could try to make Savage Knuckleblade work in modern. He's inherently super powerful but is crazy mana intensive.
For a non-delver budget minded deck jeskai colors wouldn't be too bad. Monastery Mentor decks are super fun and you could slot him in either u/w/x and Esper control build with some Tasigur, the Golden Fang and whatnot. Plus after Dragonlord Ojutai drops a bit more in price you could play him and Minamo, School at Water's Edge for all the hard to remove-ness.
June 5, 2015 11:26 p.m.
Serra_Sentinel says... #5
Umm, I kinda wanna play Jund now that we're on the subject. I like Huntmaster of the Fells Flip and I'd like to try rakdos return as a two of. And when I say "budget" I really mean, "the cards will be cheap until I can afford to buy the real things." Sorry for not clearing that up. Like Inquisition of Kozilek + Thoughtseize for Despise + Duress until I can get my hands on the others.
June 6, 2015 12:40 a.m.
Lightning Bolts, Atarka's Commands, Huntmaster of the Fells Flip, Boartusk Liege, and whatever else thats below 4 cmc that you think would help the deck. It might not be a tier 1 deck but dropping that Boartusk Liege with two red/green creatures already on the board can really hit hard. If your deck packs enough two cmc creatures, you can use Burning-Tree Emissary to basically allow you to drop more creatures per turn with ease. Burning-Tree Shaman could also single handedly bring down any Splinter Twin or Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker decks.
June 6, 2015 1 a.m.
Serra_Sentinel says... #8
I have the bolts, yay. I need, well, everything but 4x Wooded Foothills because I had a field day at my LGS opening packs of Khans. Hmm, I'm gonna need a budget deck list. Then the real deck list so I can know what I'm shooting for and what I'm replacing as time goes on. Thanks for the help you guys. I really appreciate it.
June 6, 2015 1:33 a.m.
Serra_Sentinel says... #10
Would Damnation (and the budget option Anger of the Gods) be a part of a midrange deck?
June 6, 2015 8:53 a.m.
Serra_Sentinel says... #12
I know it is, and I really like it, but I wanted a still competitive (slightly anyway) more budget version until I can afford the big money cards.
JexInfinite says... #2
BGx has been performing with really strong results.
Good cards: Thoughtseize, Tarmogoyf, Liliana of the Veil, Siege Rhino, Dark Confidant, Tasigur, the Golden Fang], Abrupt Decay, Lightning Bolt
Jund (BGR) is faster and more streamlined, but Abzan (BGW) has stronger late game, but lacks the options for the first few turns that Jund offers.
June 5, 2015 9:42 p.m.