Is Dash hopes viable in modern meta?
Modern forum
Posted on July 30, 2015, 9:11 p.m. by Xica
Is it viable to have Dash Hopes in main or sideboard in a deck that has no access to other forms of counterspell, given that in competitive modern enviroment, a lot of decks use spell that damage the caster like Thoughtseize; Dark Confidant; fetchlands ... etc.
Can most modern players afford to pay an additional cost of 5 life, or would they have their spell countered instead (outside infinite combos)?
It might be viable in a B/x Aggro deck, but I'm not sure it would really slot in anywhere else.
July 30, 2015 9:16 p.m.
Yeah, 90% of the time I'll pay the 5 life. I'd only play Dash Hopes if I needed a spell that said "
, target player loses 5 life."
July 30, 2015 9:18 p.m.
Servo_Token says... #5
If i'm at 5, or I'm at 10 and you have lethal on board, feel free to counter my Lightning Bolt.
July 30, 2015 9:37 p.m.
This card has high variance, gives your opponent the choice, and has a saturated cost. I mean, maybe if I was building something on a budget and I decided to go with a 
or 
aggro build... Maybe...
July 30, 2015 10:03 p.m.
I mean it's not terrible, however giving your opponent a choice is never a good idea. If I play a spell that's game changing, I'm always going to pay the five life. Five life will generally be insignificant in modern because there are so many combos, not even infinite ones, that can go off turn 5 and end games. Unless they're at 5 life, the counter spell won't be that game changing. I would say no. It's not that good of a card, even in the case outside of infinite combos.
July 30, 2015 10:08 p.m.
Serendipitous_Hummingbird says... #10
I've got a lot more tolerance for "punishing" effects than most people, but I really don't like Dash Hopes. That's because the two choices are completely different.
Look at a card like Browbeat. In a burn deck, both choices will push you towards your goal of kill the opponent ASAP. Either refill your hand or hit your opponent for 5. Those choices both work to the plan of throw fire at face.
Same story with Vexing Devil. Sure, it will never be what you want, but either option will get the job done.
Not the same for Dash Hopes. The counterspell option works best for a control deck. The five life works best in a suicide deck. Those two decks aren't the same. In a control deck, this card will say : Target player loses 5 life. That's a waste of a slot that could go to a Wrench Mind or a Victim of Night, both of which are more useful to mbc. The reverse is true in black suicide. Countering a spell isn't that important. It's much better for you to use that mana to cast a Bloodghast or Dauthi Slayer.
The best split cards are where both options work towards the same goal, but the options for Dash Hopes are opposites. The card will not only never do what you want it to (okay if option B is still useful) but will always do exactly what you DON'T need.
July 30, 2015 10:17 p.m.
bijschjdbcd says... #11
Possibly in a tempo shell where both are bad options...
Like T1 Delver etc or Goblin Guide...
But still just no.
July 30, 2015 10:18 p.m.
As many others have said, nope. Giving your opponent the choice makes it too unreliable.
July 30, 2015 11:27 p.m.
I agree with the first comment, and then the Hobbit gif i saw. However, it is still good. Honestly, test it out against meta decks, see if a player gets caught up on it. If it hurts you, well then, problem solved. If it works in your favor more than not, then hey, I guess it is decent. Weird cards against good players makes the player THINK, which most times does not happen. Hope this helps at all. :)
July 31, 2015 12:08 a.m.
APPLE01DOJ says... #14
Try it in 8Rack...
Wouldn't recommend it in any other build... Killing Wave also doesn't hit the mark most of the time...
July 31, 2015 12:39 a.m.
gnarlicide says... #15
Well, here is a story...
It was March 2014. I am on Jund, and had a flex spot in the main for experimenting. I chose Dash hopes. Sleeved it and played at a local open trial.
Round three, game two against Tron, I am on the play and keep a three land hand with Some discard, dash hopes and fulminator. It was everything I had hoped to be. My draws were perfect, got two Goyfs out, and they're really fuckin big. The dude is at 9 life, and casts Wurmcoil. I cast Dash hopes. He reads it like three times. And pays the five life. And lands his wurmcoil. On my upkeep, I bolt him. Then draw a Chandra Pyromaster. FTW.
I had another run in with the card against Fish later that day. I cast it on a lord, and it got countered. Totally worth it.
I ran the card as a two of for a few months. It was more of the surprise factor. But in a pinch, it's really a decent card. Against GBx decks, most people are going to be extremely cautious because they respect the beat downs that they will receive, when they think that they can get away with landing a blocker or something they need (emphasis on NEED) to survive, the only decision is a bad one.
Take it with a grain of salt, the card has its moments. But you have to wait for the right moment to deploy it.
I actually forgot about that card until recently... Lol.
July 31, 2015 1:23 a.m.
quesobueno123 says... #16
Browbeat and Vexing Devil are awful in burn. Dash hopes is really bad as you give your opponent a choice.
July 31, 2015 7:30 a.m.
Serendipitous_Hummingbird says... #17
Far be it from me to disagree with the highest rated burn deck on tappedout :)
While I'm fangirling, I might as well add that I love your pauper decks quesobueno123. Playtest against them all the time
July 31, 2015 12:08 p.m.
quesobueno123 says... #18
Haha! Thanks Serendipitous_Hummingbird! Boza helped on the control list, and made it much better than it was. Unfortunately I only own 3 of them irl currently. (Familiar, Tortured Existence, and the u/b control lists)
July 31, 2015 12:26 p.m.
TheLivingCME says... #19
Let's see what this card does in every possible situation.
1) You cast Dash Hopes on an opponent's "test spell". The opponent happily has it countered.
2) You cast Dash Hopes on an opponent's generic spell. The opponent gets to choose the option that hurts him less.
3) You cast Dash Hopes on a piece of the combo of the opponent's deck, or a decisive spell anyway. Unless he's at 5 or less life, the opponent still gets his card (and proceeds to win).
So, at its best, Dash Hopes decides the outcome of a very close match in which both players are nearly dead. In every other scenario, it is pretty useless.
Oh, and Ad Nauseam decks laughs at it. :P
bijschjdbcd says... #2
Giving your opponent a choice is almost never a good idea. This example is no exception.
July 30, 2015 9:15 p.m.