Monastery Mentor in Delver
Modern forum
Posted on Jan. 21, 2015, 4:18 a.m. by CookieJedi
This is a discussion I've been having since the FRF release around my LGS and was wondering ya'lls take on it. Personally, I think Monastery Mentor is going to be huge in the near-future in Jeskai Delver decks, or even Delver decks as a whole. It's got several immediate advantages, with only one real disadvantage to speak of.
First off, the token generation. This card is way better for the deck than Young Pyromancer with the token generation alone. On top of all the tokens being Prowess tokens instead of 1/1 vanillas, they are made off of ANY non-creature spell as opposed to Instants and Sorceries specifically. Mentor can make tokens off things like Blood Moon and Chalice of the Void, Young Pyromancer doesn't have this advantage.
Continuing the Young Pyromancer comparison, Monastery Mentor himself has prowess and an additional point of toughness. He can slam in for way more if he survives than Pyromancer could ever hope to alone.
Now, there's only one drawback to Monastery Mentor, and that's his CMC. He costs 1 more than Young Pyromancer, but realistically I don't think that's a problem at all. Dies to removal is one of the worst arguments in the history of magic, and it has no influence on this going in a deck. Tarmagoyf dies to removal too and he's still got a $200 price tag.
It's going to be in a heavy Blue deck. Hang on to this guy for an extra turn and drop him on Turn 4 instead of 3 so that you have a counter spell up. It's a Delver deck, odds are Delver of Secrets Flip is already going to be on the field dishing out punishment anyway. In a deck that runs a minimum of 6 counter spells plus bounce, Snapcaster Mages and burn, keeping your Monastery Mentor on the field shouldn't be a problem. Additionally, it's certainly a 4-of, so even if one bites the dust you still have more to work with.
DISCUSS
bijschjdbcd says... #3
Tarmogoyf is $200 because it is ridiculously effiecient for 2 mana, The pressure it can apply for 2 mana and its resiliency to most damage based removal. Not even to mention that you don't have to build your deck necessarily around it like the Mentor.
I feel as though this card requires its own shell rather than slotting it into an existing strategy.
January 21, 2015 4:39 a.m.
CookieJedi says... #4
Well it's own shell already is an existing strategy. Plop it into delver that's already instant and sorc heavy and it's a recipe for awesome.
@pleasiodmakerblooloo - I mean, it's certainly possible, but with the banning of Treasure Cruise and Dig Through Time I think that having creatures where vital card draw like Think Twice could go is losing a lot of efficiency.
January 21, 2015 4:44 a.m.
bijschjdbcd says... #5
True it fits in the deck, But it could potentially be even more absurd if someone built it from the ground up.
January 21, 2015 4:50 a.m.
The cmc3 vs cmc2 of YP is huge. Playing the Mentor on 3 is just really rough since you'll have no protection and no way outside of a probe to trigger him. While playing a YP on 3 gives you room to hold up counters or something to trigger him with. In the end your losing tempo and/or tapping out on turn 3-4.
I prefere 2-3 Soulfire Grand Master if I was going for a Jeskai Delver shell. I think it gives the deck more options and helps against the racing that will come up in some MU's.
January 21, 2015 6:23 a.m.
fluffybunnypants says... #7
Mentor is going to be a vintage staple as it can be triggered by things other than instants and sorceries. I've been testing it in Modern, but that was pre delve banning.
January 21, 2015 7:43 a.m.
bijschjdbcd says... #8
Can you share me that deck I saw you talking about somewhere?
January 21, 2015 7:49 a.m.
i dont like it at 3 CMC. turn 3 in delver I want to be pumping my Monastery Swiftspear, not tapping out for a guy that eats Lightning Bolt, Abrupt Decay, ect. Dont get me wrong, I like the card, seems pretty good, but I would build around it instead of throwing it into delver.
like Jojja said, Id rather be using Soulfire Grand Master
January 21, 2015 11:07 a.m.
For Modern Delver, I think it's just too much mana. Not to menion it forces you into a 3rd color. By turn 3 you should already have your devler/swiftspear out and swinging and you're playinig defensive spells and such while they attack, investing in him weakens your offense in the short-term despite long-term payout; the issue is Delver doesn't want to go into the long-term.
I don't doubt that it's a great card that could very well see competitive Modern play, I just don't think plugging him into Delver is the way to go.
January 21, 2015 11:40 a.m.
Hjaltrohir says... #11
I don't think delver will see too much play at all after the recent bannings, its best fuel is gone.
January 21, 2015 11:42 a.m.
It well definitely still exist, albeit in lower numbers. They'll be leaning pretty hard on Serum Visions now, though.
January 21, 2015 11:44 a.m.
actiontech says... #13
Delver was a deck before TC and will be after. Pod's banning is the only one that completely wrecked an archetype; the others can adapt and overcome.
On topic: I don't think you'll see too many people splashing for either mentor or grand master. The deck doesn't run many lands as it is and adding a 3rd color will really screw up the manabase. If you see these two in modern it will likely be in a different shell entirely built around them.
January 21, 2015 11:47 a.m.
I see Monastery Mentor in more of a 
/
Tokens build... not sure if there is room for it though, as is may compete with Hero of Bladehold for available slots.
Perhaps it can find play in a 
/ Tokens build that uses counters instead of Black's hand disruption... as this will net you Prowess tokens every time you counter something. - Not sure if that's any good, as you wouldn't want to rely on having to counter something to get the prowess trigger... but the idea is there.
pleasiodmakerblooloo says... #2
I totally agree, the card us just absurd, but what's wrong with running both this and the pyromancer?
January 21, 2015 4:34 a.m.