Secure the Wastes in Modern
Modern forum
Posted on March 18, 2015, 8:28 p.m. by Twanicus
Secure the Wastes. So, it SEEMS powerful, and there are a few existing archetypes it could fit. BW tokens, UWr Control/Midrange, perhaps others. Does anyone else find potential in this? Or is it poo...
Part of me wants to believe that it can serve as a 1-of in some Jeskai control lists as a separate win condition; save for Affinity and Zoo, there aren't really much decks trying to go wide with creatures.
Main thing here that gives Secure the Wastes a definitive edge is that it's at Instant speed rather Sorcery.
A part of me believes it might have a place in 
Tokens, but the power level of Lingering Souls, Bitterblossom, and Spectral Possession seems unrivaled at the moment.
March 18, 2015 9:48 p.m.
Programmer_112 says... #4
I think that instant speed will be very relevant, so probably yes. Idk much about BW tokens (it seems really good, but Monastery Mentor did too), but Soul Sisters will probably like it too.
March 18, 2015 9:49 p.m.
Pardon me, the card is Spectral Procession, not what is mentioned above.
March 18, 2015 9:49 p.m.
vampirelazarus says... #7
Of the two, Dalektable, I'd actually say that Secure the Wastes is better. One less mana, and instant speed. To get the clause on Martial Coup, you have to invest 7 mana into it (5 for x, two for the double white.), at sorcery speed. So, itll get Remanded or Mana Leaked by that point :P
However, to get the same number of tokens out of Secure the Wastes, you need to invest six mana into it. And that's still a whole lotta mana.
At best, its two tokens for three mana at instant speed. But then you run into the fact that the tokens from Lingering Souls are better (they can fly, yo), why invest the same mana for inferior creatures?
March 18, 2015 11:31 p.m.
As someone who runs tokens, I really like this card. The deck is particularly vulnerable to wraths and the such, you're not trying to over extend too much, so come turn 4/5 (when the wrath's come down) you generally aren't tapping out and have set up some sort of presence. This card let's you come back from a wrath at the end of their turn, getting you back on speed faster.
I can see it as a 2/3 off in the deck. Not sure what you are replacing. But I would run it, just to give the deck more late game stability. One of it's biggest flaws in my opinion is it's issue's in recovering come late game.
March 19, 2015 5:55 a.m.
selesvyaloverer8 says... #10
in BW tokens the way you play is you only commit 1-2 token cards to the board and the rest is wrapped up in anthems. It is not that hard to come back from a wrath if you dont overcommit to the board. If you really want an instant speed threat you should play Midnight Haunting
March 19, 2015 3:29 p.m.
I've been looking at this card since it was first spoiled.
In tokens it can easily be a 2-3 of, replacing 1x Raise the Alarm and 1x Spectral Procession (and possibly 1x 'something else', possibly Tidehollow Sculler, depending on your Meta and other hand disruption cards)
Compared to Raise the Alarm, this is only 1 token on T2, but has greater potential for T4-5, while still leaving mana open for responses (or at least the threat of) on your opponents turn if needed.
For Spectral Procession you often have Swamp/Ghost Quarter as one of your first 3 land drops... this pushes Procession to a T4 play. - On T4, this creates the same number (more on T5+) of token (though not flying), and once again can be done on your opponents turn, making it less likely they will be removed before they can attack (very important for Windbrisk Heights).
March 19, 2015 4:05 p.m.
I suppose you COULD argue that Windbrisk Heights doesn't synergise well with it.
But then you just don't choose it out of the 4 cards you saw.
March 19, 2015 4:13 p.m.
Midnight Haunting may be instant speed, but it's 2 tokens for 3CMC... for that cost, you have Spectral Procession creating 3 and Lingering Souls creating (essentially, due to flashback) 2.5.
For 3CMC this gives the same number, at instant speed, but is capable of giving many more. - You don't want another 3CMC spell competing with better token to CMC ratio cards. - This does not directly compete for that spot. It can be cast at 2 if needed, 3 if you have no other 3CMC in hand and 4+ for better/optimal tokens.
March 19, 2015 4:22 p.m.
Another thing to note... with the proliferation of Abzan decks in Modern, Tokens has to be concerned with Maelstrom Pulse now more than ever.
This makes Secure the Wastes even more relevant. Making Warrior tokens instead of the Soldier tokens made by Raise the Alarm, Timely Reinforcements and Hero of Bladehold provides a little extra resilience.
March 23, 2015 9:28 a.m.
OutspokenFerret says... #15
I've been running 1 in UW Control and the deck loves this card. It is a blocker early, and you get to Snap it back for the win in the late-game. Most of the time, you win dealing 17 damage after they shock themselves a bit. And playing this with an X of 13 is not uncommon. Then you swing back with 13 1/1's and a Collonade is gg ez.
March 24, 2015 1:03 p.m.
rapha_seraph says... #16
In a format where your early creatures can take a Path to Exile, comparing Secure the Wastes with Raise the Alarm for the mana efficiency alone is just dumb. Modern is a format overwhelmed by tempo cards like Snapcaster Mage and many, many others.
Dalektable says... #2
Well, a very similar, better card exists in Martial Coup...so I'm going with no.
March 18, 2015 9:26 p.m.