Blue Moon Viability
Modern forum
Posted on Feb. 11, 2016, 6:20 p.m. by ducttapedeckbox
This was mentioned in the Modern Chat forum, but I wanted to start a focused discussion: does Blue Moon have potential right now?
How could the typical list be improved to fight the current meta? Based on what you currently play, how would you feel about going up against this deck? Is it worth playing / testing?
The list that did pretty well at PTOGW ran a trio of Pia and Kiran Nalaar. Why was that included? No Vedalken Shackles?
Any thoughts on the deck and its position would be greatly appreciated.
UpperDeckerTaco says... #3
I feel like Pia and Kiran Nalaar are just better than the shackles. It give you 3 threats. And Pia can shoot the hell out of the opponent with the thopters. Shackles just works on the opponents best thing, but that one thing might not win you the game. Where as Pia and Kiran have the ability to do some reasonable work. Now for viability, yes it definitely does. Blood Moon hurts a lot of decks in the current meta. Enough said. Now, as for changes, I'm not a very big fan of Burst Lightning, but I'm not entirely sure what would be better. Potentially just some number of mixed cards, I find Vapor Snag to be very good with Blood Moon strategies. They can their threat, you play Blood Moon, and then Vapor Snag their threat and more than Likley, if they didn't see the Moon coming, they can't recast that threat. I think I like Hurkyl's Recall a little better than Vandalblast...that's just an opinion though. Because when they go for the big swing, you can Recall at instant speed.
February 11, 2016 6:33 p.m.
Pia and Kiran Nalaar are definitely good, better than Shackles because it's slow. As a whole though, Blood Moon doesn't do much against an Eldrazi Mimic or four, and Thought-Knot Seer or Reality Smasher coming down before Blood Moon can even hit the field. The deck is too fast and too consistent, like Jeskai Ascendancy was before Treasure Cruise was banned. Personally, I think the format needs fixing either in the form of Eye of Ugin being banned or Splinter Twin (and perhaps Bloodbraid Elf) getting unbanned.
Against the rest of the meta, Blue Moon is always good, because so few decks plan for maindeck Blood Moon, and if you manage to land one on T3, well GG.
February 11, 2016 6:47 p.m. Edited.
ducttapedeckbox says... #5
It is true that Blood Moon alone does not stop the early acceleration from the Eldrazi decks. Most of the lists run at least a pair of Spell Snare and 6-8 2-mana counters which should help.
The problematic matches seem like they will be Eldrazi, Affinity, and Burn, but as we've mentioned, the hate is there. I like the addition of Vapor Snag, UpperDeckerTaco, and think that it would be a good replacement for Burst Lightning.
February 11, 2016 7:23 p.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #6
Looking back at my rather cookie-cutter list from about a year ago, the finisher selection has changed. Why is that?
Batterskull was less popular to the resurgence of artifact hate and Kolaghan's Command. Has that changed?
I also used a pair of Stormbreath Dragons and a Keranos, God of Storms. How are those position right now?
February 11, 2016 7:27 p.m.
KillDatBUG says... #7
It's mostly because it was the only deck in the field that wasn't just completely awful against Eldrazi. Sure it was still bad, but at least it had a better chance because of Blood Moon shutting off the Eldrazi lands. However, even that usually wasn't fast enough to beat the deck, and on top of that, it even played some number of Wastes to keep playing through Blood Moon.
Right now, the closest I've found to a legitimately good deck against Eldrazi is this.
February 11, 2016 7:32 p.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #8
Interesting deck, KillDatBUG. I've seen Blue Moon lists run the four Spreading Seas in addition to Moons - what are your thoughts there? Is it necessary? Is it a sideboard consideration?
February 11, 2016 7:35 p.m.
KillDatBUG says... #9
I don't know- Spreading Seas might be good, or it might be worthless. I mean, it's a legitimate sideboard card...
February 11, 2016 7:44 p.m.
KillDatBUG Merfolk is putting up good numbers against Eldrazi. My reasoning is Spreading Seas. I'm actually a huge fan of it right now.
February 11, 2016 8:07 p.m.
omnipotato says... #11
Merfolk 8 seas version Spreading Seas Sea's Claim all in!
February 11, 2016 8:56 p.m.
bijschjdbcd says... #12
Burst Lighting is there as additional Bolts against the aggressive decks like Burn or Affinity yet has potential late game to kill a bigger creature.
As for how good it is. I think its very well placed. I feel like an early Thought Knot is the best game against the deck.
Grixis and in extension are relatively underrepresented so Bskull is a legitimate win con now.
February 11, 2016 10:11 p.m.
Blue Moon won the modern regionals on the east coast, here's the decklist.
I'm also on blue moon, and I don't think shackles are great, but they aren't bad. They should be run as a one of, imo.
I also am considering just dropping serum visions for 4 Simian Spirit Guide, as well as running 4 Spell Snare main board. If you're on the play, you can't really waste time serum visioning turn 1 in case they drop an eldrazi mimic turn 1. And if you're not playing against them, Spell Snare is great vs. burn and affinity.
February 11, 2016 11:03 p.m. Edited.
APPLE01DOJ says... #15
Just st plugging my own variant which puts up good results.
Nightmare Moon
Modern*
SCORE: 4 | 6 COMMENTS | 299 VIEWS
February 11, 2016 11:12 p.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #16
Oh damn, missed that kyuuri117. I've been looking at the full set of Spell Snare, it's amazingly good right now.
Unfortunately I won't be playing it for a while as I'm missing the Moons and Snappys. I have the fodder for Moons (possibly) but not for Snappys too. At least they're two staples that won't become obsolete anytime soon.
It looks good, APPLE01DOJ, but I don't see my blue D:
Arvail says... #2
Edit: I'm an idiot!
Shackles is far too slow to go against the fast starts that the eldrazi can put out.
As for the rest of the meta, it's really difficult to tell because the recent showing that the eldrazi list put in will indubitably shake up the format. If decks end up going for incredibly greedy mana bases then yeah, moon's gonna wreck. Until then, I have no fucking clue.
February 11, 2016 6:33 p.m. Edited.