New to Modern
Modern forum
Posted on May 26, 2013, 9:42 p.m. by capriom85
I have basically been playing since RtR block was launched. I have a bunch of stuff from Innistradblock, however, nothing any older. Without being willing to shell out lots of cash for older cards (I have no intention of buying Modern Masters sets) is it even viable for me to try and be competitive in modern? My other option is to stock up on standard by trading away my Innistard block stuff.
TorrentFreak says... #3
I am new to the modern format as well. I think you can build a pretty competitive infect deck for under $50.
May 26, 2013 10:01 p.m.
Ohthenoises says... #4
What kinds of decks do you like to play? I have quite a list stored in my head of what's good right now. Let me know and I can help you out.
May 26, 2013 10:03 p.m.
Well, if you have a playset of both snappy and Geist of Saint Traft , you're already a long ways towards getting a good r/w/u tempo build. Given, you will probably have to spend money on staples like Lightning Helix and Path to Exile to get there, but those aren't too expensive. Ideally you eventually get some zendikar fetches for your mana base, but shocks + pain or filter lands (both of which are under $10.00 last I checked) will get you a long ways.
May 26, 2013 10:07 p.m.
I have the Snaps and Geists(3). I really have no budget at all now, so I would basically be playing standard in a modern format for now. I like control and I like Bant...a lot.
May 26, 2013 10:24 p.m.
Ohthenoises says... #7
Bant enchantments is a thing: http://magic.tcgplayer.com/db/deck.asp?deck_id=1059959 (too lazy to HTML link that.)
Control is kinda rare usually centering around Tron decks like my fiancee's I Fight For the Users! or R/G tron.
For a good resource try http://www.mtgtop8.com and more specifically http://www.mtgtop8.com/format?f=MO for odern decks.
May 26, 2013 10:46 p.m.
What is really popular in modern right now? I know the popular standard builds don't always transfer over to modern. Is Bant enchantments really viable in modern? Also...what zendikar fetches would I need for Bant? I'm not familiar with the set much
May 26, 2013 10:53 p.m.
Ohthenoises says... #9
Jund aggro makes for a huge percentage of the meta. Bant enchantments is pretty viable as there is a whole section devoted to "aura hexproof" that makes up 3% of the Aggro meta.
Misty Rainforest and Verdant Catacombs would be the primary fetch lands you would want, though I don't always find them necessary.
May 26, 2013 10:58 p.m.
Yea...those a bit off budget right now. I'm thinking since I have the Geists already I can get myself a playset of Kor Spiritdancer and trade for some Daybreak Coronet . Use the tap lands from SoM with my M13 and Inn taps and I might actually be better off than I thought.
May 26, 2013 11:22 p.m.
best cheap build decks boggles or soul sister.both clock in under 150, on the cheaper side red deck wins. infect
i could even see bant auras being played in modern with some upgrades,
as to modern masters, see if you can get in on a few draft, this will be a way to snag some cards see what the format has to offer and see what the staple cards are.
May 27, 2013 3:33 p.m.
I will most likely go for Bant Auras. What looks like the best choices are Geist, Kor Spiritdancer, and maybe Invisible Stalker or something like Blade Splicer. What do you all think?
May 27, 2013 3:57 p.m.
build your deck list, even if you do not have the cards on hand, so we can see what you are thinking,
yes the Kor Spiritdancer is a nice choice, the lack of hexproof does hurt it a little but its other abilities more than make up for it, toss in some Lightning Greaves and you will be laughing, Swiftfoot Boots is a lesser choice but the same effect, the 1 equip cost being the red flag.
Blade Splicer , im not sold on in this sort of deck, but as i said lets see the list, i think you would get more value out of Doomed Traveler early game
you need to remember with modern your 3 drops are your work horses and your 4 drops really should be bomb territory, value of Blade Splicer vs Geist of Saint Traft , if you were going mass tokens sure,
big thing is to get your hands on a play set of Path to Exile and likely a play set of Daybreak Coronet as soon as possible, other cards to look for, Spirit Mantle ,Rancor , Spirit Link , Ethereal Armor
higher cost spells, Holy Mantle , Unflinching Courage , other cards to look at Sigarda, Host of Herons , Angel of Serenity
May 27, 2013 4:21 p.m.
yea...I have a lot of those. The coronet will be the hardest find I think.
May 27, 2013 4:30 p.m.
Ohthenoises says... #15
I'd run Steel of the Godhead and/or Shield of the Oversoul over Unflinching Courage .
May 27, 2013 4:33 p.m.
I like the idea of a 4/4 unblockable Geist with lifelink.
May 27, 2013 5:10 p.m.
If I were you, I'd just do a quick search on mtgs to see what's winning and what's not.
May 27, 2013 5:27 p.m.
I did and I don't recognize most of the cards in the decks and they are quite expensive. Unless I can win with what I have I can't really take this step because my budget is non-existent right now. I'm really wondering that if Bant Auras is not a viable choice for Modern, then should I trade my Innistrad stuff away to keep up with Standard or what?
May 27, 2013 5:50 p.m.
Infect for competitive play can be done for like 20 bucks. no joke. Bu for "real" competitive Modern play you WILL have to shell out money of you dont already have the cards on hand. the mana base itself for a tri color can be upwards of 250+ depending on the colors.
June 18, 2013 5:46 a.m.
Are ANY mono decks. I able for Modern? I would be most interested in Black as a mono deck. That its the land base down to $0, which I like a lot and I can focus on the cards that I need to actually win me the game. I have a playset of Liliana of the Veil . I know she sees a lot of play in Modern. But I also know that 1 card does not make a deck, but I have a budget now, may be shallow, but I am willing to slowly build something. The only other cards I have that I know see modern play a lot are Geist of Saint Traft and Snapcaster Mage . Playset of each and they go well in te same deck. But back to the question at hand...mono black viable?
June 18, 2013 4:02 p.m.
Ohthenoises says... #21
Mono B is rarely seen as far as I know. The reason Liliana of the Veil sees play is because of Jund, it's the most popular deck as of right now and she is ran in that frame.
Mono U however....There is a ton of mono U decks but the one I find the most fun is Quest for the Spinning Temple . Mulligan until you have a Quest for Ula's Temple and then go from there.
As far as other Modern decks that are on a budget I Wash My Hands Of This Weirdness and I Fight For the Users! are other good options. (A R/U deck and a Mono U deck respectively.)
June 18, 2013 4:43 p.m.
Sadly, the only viable geist build right now is UWR. However, the manabase may not be as expensive as you'd think. Basics, shocks from rtr, maybe a small number of buddy lands from isd/core sets, Celestial Colonnade s and a Eiganjo Castle (both at about 5$ apiece), and your manabase should be ready to go. Assuming you already have the recently printed shocks and buddies, you'd only have to spend about $30 for it. The only nonland cards in the build that really have a big price tag on them are Vendilion Clique and Remand .
June 19, 2013 1:28 p.m.
Clique speaks for himself. Why is demand so good? The spells goes back to their hand. You use a counter to give their card back...
June 19, 2013 1:42 p.m.
Remand is great because the decks that use it are tempo decks. It's a Time Walk in most early-turn situations with it, and it replaces itself with a card. It's basically the ultimate tempo card, though it's difficult to see just how good it is without using it.
On the OT, Modern is actually a good format to get into on a budget, because at least you only really have to spend money once, if that's what you feel like.
If you're looking for decently playable decks to build on a budget, look at Goblins or Merfolk. No, they're not top-tier decks, but if you want a top-tier deck it's pretty much good to accept that you'll have to spend for it. You will, however, see decks like that occasionally on the MTGO daily pages. They're not the best available, but they're not worthless...and they're cheap (I mean, once you get past the Mutavault set in Merfolk...if you really want to stay low-cost, Goblins is cheaper).
Another alternative is a burn deck. These are typically dual-color (RB) and will therefore require some dual lands, but Blood Crypt is about the least expensive shockland out right now.
June 19, 2013 1:50 p.m.
Remand - why is it good.... first it is a two drop counter, second it replaces itself, with card draw gaining a little card advantage. third it gives you information about what they have in hand, and possibly their game plan, limited true but you know it is there, finally it is a tempo card, hopefully killing an entire turn of board advancement. either allowing you to gain advantage or giving you additional breathing room.
June 19, 2013 1:52 p.m.
Remand is basicaly the epitome of tempo, as Barandis and toysm1th explained very well. The proof can be found on mtgtop8.com. The deck I'm describing is the UWr midrange deck.
DancesWithGoblins says... #2
Depends on your meta like most places. For example, mine is a university society, so funds are limited and decks in both Standard and Modern contain reasonable cards, and aren't overcharged, netdecked monsters.
Visit a couple of Modern Constructed sessions, see what you'd be up against, compare that against your preferred deck type. Then you may have an answer to your question.
May 26, 2013 10:01 p.m.