Dromoka's Command in Abzan
Modern forum
Posted on April 5, 2015, 6:52 p.m. by tooTimid
Hello all,
Let me begin with an apology if this has been brought up before.
I'm curious if the new Dromoka's Command has a role to play in Abzan Midrange decks in modern?
Obviously that deck is quite streamlined, and the slots are pretty tight, but I wonder if there is room for a copy or two. All of the abilitys have applications and can easily generate 2-1's.
Let's look at it mode by mode:
Prevent all damage target instant or sorcery spell would deal this turn.
Lightning Bolt is one of the most played cards in the entire modern format. It really defines the format. Obviously Lightning Bolt is not at its best against Abzan (less so if it's the little kid junk version), but it can play an important role, especially coming from a burn deck. I can stopping a burn spell and fighting a Goblin Guide being absolutely devastating against burn.
Target player sacrifices an enchantment.
This is less relevant than it is in standard, but it has its uses. Pyromancer Ascension, Splinter Twin, Wild Defiance, Ensoul Artifact and Hive Mind see at least minimal play.
Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature.
While this may seem like the simplest mode, I think it one of the more powerful. Tarmogoyf and Tasigur, the Golden Fang are 2 of the most powerful threats in the entire format. Generally they just bounce off each other, but Dromoka's Command changes this. It allows your own Tasigur's and Goyfs to eat opposing Tasigur's and Goyfs in combat, or with the next mode. This is a mode I'm very happy is on the card. It's basically it's a fail safe. No matter what the board state this mode will always be applicable.
Target creature you control fights target creature you don't control.
This is the main draw to this card. It's a fine removal spell. Abzan plays some of the biggest creatures in the entire format. Siege Rhino and Tasigur are bigger than almost anything burn, infect, affinity, or twin can muster. As such, this often reads "Destroy Target Creature." That, in conjunction with any of the other modes, is great value.
What are your thoughts? I'm not suggesting that Dromoka's Command is the one true god, or even that it HAS to be played in Abzan, but I do think it should be tested. It seems to have powerful applications.
Thanks.
I think it will take some testing but it may see play, it doesn't seem too bad but the thing becomes what do you remove for it?
April 5, 2015 7:14 p.m.
Those are all totally fair points.
I agree that you would never play a card that simply said, "counter target burn spell." That's not powerful enough to be worth a card, but as Dromoka's Command also has another effect, it can be an easy 2-1. That said, that's not a guarantee. Consistency is definitely an issue.
The sacrifice mode is also inconsistent.
The only befit Dromoka's Command has over Gavony Township (other than costing 2 mana) is that your opponent will not see it coming. Once again it's situational, but powerful. No opponent is going to block a Goyf with a Goyf when you have a township out, but this is less true if all you have is two mana.
I haven't played Abzan Midrange, so I'm less sure about your point about the fight mode. I wonder how much better it gets in the Little Kid Junk version (Like what Jacob Wilson played in the PT)?
It's true that INDIVIDUALLY the modes aren't very consistent, but I wonder if that fact that they are pretty different from each other, and are flexible, is enough to over look that fact.
I think not. Just trying to start a discussion. You guys know better than me.
April 5, 2015 7:15 p.m.
2austin5: As I said, I have no idea. I'm by no means a modern expert and even less so when it comes to Abzan. I'll leave that up to those who actually know what they're talking about. :P
April 5, 2015 7:17 p.m.
Vs Splinter Twin: "Sac your Splinter Twin, I'll fight your Deceiver Exarch."
Vs Blue Moon: "Sac your Blood Moon, I'll fight your Master of Waves."
Vs Midrange/Mirror: "Make my Tarmogoyf larger than yours, it'll fight your Tarmogoyf."
Vs Storm: "Prevent your Grapeshot, fight your Goblin Electromancer."
...Sideboard at least?
April 5, 2015 7:19 p.m.
Worth nothing I think it only prevents one of the Grapeshot's against storm, but it also can deal with Pyromancer Ascension in that matchup.
Good point on Blood Moon. I hadn't thought about that. Abrupt Decay already plays a similar role, but nothing wrong with multiple answers.
April 5, 2015 7:23 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #8
Doesn't do what you think it does against Grapeshot. Blue Moon isn't really playing Master of Waves anymore. Seems worth a try though.
April 5, 2015 7:24 p.m.
Lol, totally forgot it made copies, not an "X." And I didn't know that Blue Moon shied away from Master of Waves; it seemed good in that shell, with all the Spreading Seas, etc.
April 5, 2015 7:26 p.m.
Ok cool. What would you take it for it?
That's the real question - what's it better than? (The answer is nothing)
April 5, 2015 8:29 p.m.
bijschjdbcd says... #11
I dont hate it in Zoo, Loxodon eating Rhinos. Nacatl evading bolts.
Could be worth testing.
April 5, 2015 8:36 p.m.
ChiefBell, I thought that was likely. Looking at your list in particular it seems like the only possible flex spot is the 1 Dismember. I know they play pretty different roles, so that's probably not a good one to cut for it.
It seems like the verdict is "Good, but not good enough?"
April 5, 2015 8:38 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #13
April 5, 2015 8:42 p.m.
TheLitchKing says... #16
I have been playing a little kid junk deck similar to Jacob Wilson's and I have been testing 2 Dromoka's Command in place of 2 mainboard Thoughtseizes. Usually the command is pretty powerful and in some matchups it is much better than Thoughtseize, namely burn and long matches when you want your cards to all be 2 for 1s. I like having them in the mianboard because they are never dead, whereas Thoughtseize can just be a dead card sometimes. The main modes on the command are often the +1/+1 counter and fight, generally on different creatures to avoid getting blown out by a removal spell, but the other modes are very valuable when the situation presents itself. Getting rid of a Blood Moon end of turn to activate your Gavony Townships and pump your creature is a pretty powerful surprise play, as is preventing a Boros Charm to the face and killing a Goblin Guide. By no means am I saying that Dromoka's Command is here to stay in modern, but in certain decks it has been pretty effective in testing. I wouldn't expect to see this in more midrangy decks but it seems solid as a 1-2 of in more aggressive decks where creatures are consistently on the board and mana cost is crucial.
April 5, 2015 9:45 p.m.
OtakulordAndrew says... #17
I've enjoyed doing some sideboard testing with Dromoka's Command in modern naya midrange as well as abzan midrange recently and find it fairly stable to bring in against burn where preventing damage from a burn spell or a Deflecting Palm is useful while either destroying a Blood Moon buffing a creature or removing a small threat, splinter twin match ups as extra hate for Splinter Twin and providing a pump, and sometimes against other midrange deck matchups, where it can provide some buffing while acting as removal against a mirror creature it is not a card I would recommend for mainboarding but as a sideboard option it works nicely as a 2-3 of depending on what your local meta game is.
GlistenerAgent says... #2
I'm personally not a fan. The fight mode requires you to have a threat in play (which is not the case more frequently than you'd think). The sacrifice mode is great sometimes but a bit too situational to rely on. The +1/+1 counter mode is something Gavony Township can already do. The prevention mode is a bit lackluster for the mana cost and card investment.
Basically, I don't think it does enough consistently.
April 5, 2015 6:56 p.m.