Eldrazi
Modern forum
Posted on Feb. 10, 2016, 9:35 a.m. by lotusofblackness
So I'm back into Magic after a little break for a few months, and I am completely overwhelmed with all of the new cards and abilities that have been added to the game. I'm looking to get into Modern, but I've noticed that the two main decks people are playing are Affinity and Eldrazi Aggro, which are both VERY expensive. I do not want to get in a format right now where there are only two decks. How long is it anticipated that Eldrazi aggro will be a very popular deck in the format?
AndWelcomeToTheJam says... #3
I would say Eldrazi Temple would get banned over Eye of Ugin. You might see the Eye in Tron or Eldrazi Green, neither of those decks need the Temple.
February 10, 2016 10:43 a.m.
AndWelcomeToTheJam says... #4
Plus Wizards just made that cool full art Eye; it would suck to see it killed off so quickly.
February 10, 2016 10:43 a.m.
AndWelcomeToTheJam Wizards also just reprinted Splinter Twin less than 6 months ago. lol I agree though, I think Temple gets banned, because Eye of Ugin is a Legendary, and they can't have multiple on the field.
February 10, 2016 10:51 a.m.
KillDatBUG says... #6
Don't play Modern. Just... don't. Wait until WOTC bans Eye of Ugin and Eldrazi Temple.
I'm not even kidding, these Eldrazi decks are as busted as Caw Blade. CAW BLADE.
February 10, 2016 11:44 a.m.
@KillDatBUG - I agree that Eldrazi decks may be a little busted... but just how bad they are for the meta is still to be seen.
The ProTour did have 6 Eldrazi decks in the top 8, but since then there have been a number of tournaments with none in the top 8... and quite a variety of unique decks.
I think there will need to be something done about the deck, but I'm not sure what at this point.
If they do ban one of the mentioned lands, I can't say which I would prefer to see go.
Eye of Ugin is Legendary, but it makes for a more explosive start as it effects each spell. - It can make for multiple Eldrazi Mimic on T1, and multiple other spells each subsequent turn. - Banning Eye also has the unintended effect of hurting (slightly) Tron decks that use it more appropriately.
Eldrazi Temple however, is not Legendary. - Getting multiple out makes for strong starts, but still powerful mid games and more longevity by ramping up to 2 additional mana each turn.
February 10, 2016 12:02 p.m.
KillDatBUG says... #8
It's only been 3 days since the Pro Tour ended, Rayenous. I understand that you're talking about PPTQ's and such, but I don't consider those results to be a major indicator of what the format is. Until I see the results of the next GP, the next MaxPoint, the next few MTGO events, or hell, the next few Starcitygames tournaments, I'm going to assume that the Pro Tour represents Modern, which is an Eldrazi dominated menace.
Also, if they ban just one card from the deck, it's Eye of Ugin. It's more busted than Eldrazi Temple because it allows you to play multiple Eldrazi spells in one turn, since it reduces the cost of all Eldrazi spells by 2. This menas that you could just play two 3 drops in one turn with an Eye. It also produces 3 mana with Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth, allowing a turn 3 Reality Smasher or something similarly busted.
February 10, 2016 12:16 p.m. Edited.
Eye of Ugin does nothing for non-colorless and/or non-Eldrazi spells, limiting it's usefulness and forcing the deck's options for supporting cards to also be colorless. - Currently, it appears 'more busted', but it has flaws.
Eldrazi Temple can still be tapped for 
regardless of the spell bing cast. - If the deck is going to have long-term viability (after the meta compensates and finds ways to combat it), Temple will become the over-all stronger card, allowing a better balance of aggression and support, while the Eye is just pure aggression.
February 10, 2016 12:31 p.m. Edited.
KillDatBUG says... #10
No one's gonna play Eldrazi Temple in a non-Eldrazi deck anyway- At least Eye of Ugin was playable in Tron because it found colorless creatures. Prior to the new Eldrazi deck, no one played with Eldrazi Temple in Modern. I don't understand what "long-term viability" or "better balance of aggression and support" have to do with that.
February 10, 2016 12:36 p.m.
I would buy into infect. It can be outraced by eldrazi midrange (witch is absurdly horrifying, as CAWBLADE couldn't outrace infect), but it can still pull of some wins, and will be fairly well placed when Eye of Ugin or Eldrazi Temple gets banned. However, I'm fairly new, so I would love to be proved wrong by someone more expirianced than me before I buy into it myself. Also, Viridian Corrupter seems pretty good.
February 10, 2016 12:37 p.m.
KillDatBUG I have to completely disagree with you. The Pro Tour does not at all represent Modern as a format. The only thing the Pro Tour represents, is that the Pros found Eldrazi Aggro to be the best deck for the tournament, and played it. They have access to any card they want. Most Modern players do not. Most modern players are not going to buy into Eldrazi based on the hype of Pro Tour. There have been countless MTGO events, and other tournaments that have shown Modern to still be a diverse format.
Yes, Eldrazi Aggro is super busted. LSV was quoted as saying it's the most "degenerate deck he's played since Caw Blade" but that doesn't mean shit for the format. The potential for a ban is going to keep most players from going out and dropping $1,000 on a new Eldrazi deck.
I stand by what I said in the article I wrote. The Eldrazi archetype is here to stay, but Modern is just as diverse as it was before the Pro Tour and it will continue to be so.
Stop being part of the problem with, "OMG Eldrazi is ruining Modern ZOMG It's the end of the world." ;)
February 10, 2016 12:48 p.m.
KillDatBUG says... #13
....
You for real, DrFunk27? The potential for a ban... What? Modern diverse... huh? Players don't have access... really? The Pro Tour doesn't represent Modern... excuse me?
What the fuck are you talking about, dude?
February 10, 2016 12:58 p.m.
DrFunk27, I have to respectfully disagree with you, because when you talk about the modern format's power level, money doesn't matter. If a deck is too powerful, to the point it is objectively better than everything else, than people will play it and the format will be ruined. It happened with cawblade, and it almost killed the game with affinity in urza's saga. Everyone knew Jace, the Mind Sculptor and Stoneforge Mystic would be banned, but people still invested in that, and it was standard! Modern doesn't rotate out, so an investment in eldrazi seems perfectly reasonable. Although again, that is just my opinion, and I would like nothing more than to be proven wrong both for the learning expiriance, and for the good of the format.
February 10, 2016 1:27 p.m.
PepsiAddicted says... #15
Pro tour doesnt represent the modern meta. It just shows what the pros think is the best deck at the time (and meta) of the pro tour. Then ppl react to that and the meta shifts.
I personally dont think eye or temple need to be banned (no i dont play eldrazi in modern)!
Wanna see a deck that gives ppl headaches? Look at free win red.. we are lucky its a little inconsistant
February 10, 2016 2:45 p.m. Edited.
Ohthenoises says... #16
You guys want to know why there were 6/8 eldrazi decks?
Two stores teamed up to build and play something ball busting and unexpected. Every other variant of eldrazi being brewed was heartless or processor. It caught the meta off guard and since there wasn't anyone prepared for it, and the number of them were so high, it placed well.
It's a great deck but it's not backbreakingly OP.
Can we all stop with the "zomg ban plox!" Talk? It's more unhealthy than the deck existing.
February 10, 2016 3 p.m.
I've been pondering lately if there's a way to hamper te deck without banning lands and honestly wouldn't banning Eldrazi Mimic make the most sense? The Turn 2 and 3 win potential lies in the mimics and endless ones almost as much as it relies on eye of Ugin. Without the mimics the worst turn 1 is 4 endless ones which while it sucks isn't nearly as consistent as some combination of endless ones and mimics the latter easily becoming 4/4s or greater on turn 2.
February 10, 2016 3:13 p.m.
Disclaimer I like the deck too much to want anything banned so maybe this is my way of trying to save it while appeasing both sides.
February 10, 2016 3:16 p.m.
Ohthenoises says... #19
I'm more in the mindset that people need to learn to deal.
I've had this mindset since before TC got banned.
February 10, 2016 4:04 p.m.
N3XT It's powerful but what I'm trying to explain is that it's not going to overwhelm the format like Cawblade. Cawblade had extremely limited answers to it. We have a format that has 12,000+ cards in it and there are many answers to the deck. The mentality that a deck that is so strong needs immediate bans is asinine. This is why we lose cards to Modern in the first place. Until Eldrazi Aggro makes up 25%+ of the meta, all arguments for it being format warping are null and void.
dan8080 I actually think Mimic would be a fine card to ban, if it ever needed to happen, because you are correct. That is the engine that allows it to T3 deal 20 damage. However, if WotC bans something, I would assume in their mind it would be Eye of Ugin that puts it over the top. I'd hate to see that get banned, but whatever.
Ohthenoises I'm also of the same mindset and everyone getting butthurt about powerful cards and immediately clamoring for bans really pisses me off. Why not let the format evolve and adapt?
February 10, 2016 4:30 p.m.
CanadianShinobi says... #21
DrFunk27 "Until Eldrazi Aggro makes up 25%+ of the meta, all arguments for it being format warping are null and void. "
This is the part where I remind you that Twin only made up 10% of the meta when it was banned a few short weeks ago. So that 25% number isn't accurate anymore :).And with that out of the way I shall proceed to a rant.
The state Modern is in right now is not exactly healthy. And I'm not talking about the potential of the Eldrazi deck. I'm referring to the community. Over the past few days the number of knee jerk reactions I have seen to the results of the Pro Tour have been staggering. Not only in scope, but the mounting stupidity.
When I saw the results, my first thought was, "Well that looks busted, but I was right to a certain extent". 6 of the top 8 decks being Eldrazi was a surprise. However, with the banning of Twin the Pro Tour turned out nearly precisely as I thought it would, a bunch of aggro and midrange, turn-everything-sideways-decks; seeing who could turn things sideways the fastest.
So, because the format was left open to be dominated by an unknown quantity due to an arbitrary ban, people have now been calling for another ban. At some point, the legions of idiots who see a result and call for bans need to shut the fuck up. Bans are what got the community here. This ban happy attitude is poisonous and it needs to stop because, it hurt Modern before and it will continue to hurt Modern.
Who remembers the Dig and TC bans? Yeah. Well, to me this outcry with regard to the Eldrazi decks is no different. Instead of playing the fucking game people are acting as if the sky is on fire because of one event. Now, granted the Pro Tour does have a tendency to shape the format, however, if something is banned 3 months from now because of people who bitch and moan then fuck Modern. Hell, Modern is already in a sorry state but, the community isn't making it any better.
I try to be constructive whenever possible, but god fucking dammit this has been eating at me forever. Everyone suggests banning things instead of either working through the problem or suggesting that (gasp) we could unban things.
February 10, 2016 6:16 p.m.
KillDatBUG says... #22
February 10, 2016 6:26 p.m.
CanadianShinobi APPLAUSE
Ok, so when Eldrazi Aggro makes 15% of the format, then we can talk. lol For real though, that was spot on. 100%. Maybe if the community made a public outcry about unbanning cards, then we would see a real change. Seriously, how many cards on the banned list were carried over from Extended? I know 2 for sure, but I'm sure there are more. Modern is night and day different than Extended ever was.
February 10, 2016 6:27 p.m. Edited.
canterlotguardian says... #24
It's not even Monday anymore. Why is everyone so god damn salty?
February 10, 2016 6:37 p.m.
anooshapalooza says... #27
At first I thought Eye of Ugin was safe from banning because it's Legendary plus the incidental splash damage for Tron but now I realize that Eldrazi Temple taps only once while Eye can dump multiple Eldrazi T1.
On another note, wouldn't it be a good time to buy into a deck you always wanted to play in Modern since the only popular decks are basically Affinity, Infect and Eldrazi? All the archetypes that are unfavorable at the moment should be seeing a decline in demand once the next GP comes around and solidifies that Eldrazi and Affinity are the real deal, ultimately warping the meta around themselves and pushing the remaining decks out.
February 10, 2016 7:20 p.m. Edited.
CanadianShinobi says... #28
canterlotguardian I bottle resentment the same way Coke and Pepsi bottle carbonated beverages.
February 10, 2016 8 p.m.
canterlotguardian says... #29
Speaking from personal experience, dude, that shit ain't good for you.
February 10, 2016 8:06 p.m.
Ohthenoises says... #30
KillDatBUG People are entitled to your opinions. The "community" links you posted AND CanadianShinobi. Even you.
Chill. The. Fuck. Out.
February 10, 2016 8:44 p.m.
THE ELDRAZI ARE PLAYING MIND GAMES WITH US AND CONTROLLING US LIKE LITTLE PAWNS. THEY ARE OUR OVERLORDS AND WE ARE LETTING THEM USE US. WHY IS THERE SO MUCH DRAMA OVER STUPID LITTLE CREATURES?!?!?!?! OMG, PLEASE EVERYONE JUST CHILL OUT! I FOR ONE, WELCOME OUR NEW ELDRAZI OVERLORDS. THEY ONLY WANT TO HELP US. OK!?
Seriously though. This week has been incredibly entertaining at T/O.
DrFunk27 says... #2
Most likely until Eye of Ugin or Eldrazi Temple get banned. Earliest potential ban is April with Shadows Over Innistrad. Even then, I think the deck will still be heavily played, just won't have such insane explosive starts.
February 10, 2016 9:53 a.m.