Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger in Tron
Modern forum
Posted on Aug. 30, 2015, 12:43 a.m. by NoPantsParade
With more Eldrazi being released, Tron, specifically R/G, might be getting some new toys. With Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger being spoiled recently, what do you think of his potential in R/G Tron? Does he seem too cute? Some lists play Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre, who costs one more mana. I believe at 8/10 mana (using Eye of Ugin), exiling two permanents and getting a 10/10 indestructible is pretty good. I don't think he'll replace Ugin, the Spirit Dragon, but perhaps as a one of, replacing one of the flex spots with creatures.
Thoughts?
SoggyGecko says... #3
Actually, EmblemMan, your information is a little off. Only some lists run Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre. Still, however, the new Ulamog could see some play. While not having Annihilator, it still does some solid work. I think it may be one that a lot of those decks try out(keep in mind, I am no expert on G/R Tron).
August 30, 2015 12:53 a.m.
I mean I play RG tron and i based my list off many original lists and I have yet to see someone not play Ulamog. I am sure some people dont but I would definitely consider it a staple.
August 30, 2015 12:56 a.m.
I never played the old Ulamog, and I've been playing the deck since 2012. Emrakul is superior.
August 30, 2015 1:19 a.m. Edited.
electromancer says... #6
If I read that card correctly, it doesn't even need to resolve to basically hand you the game + he furthers Karn Liberated's wincon.
To save some people time:
Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger 
When you cast Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger, exile two target permanents.
Indestructible
Whenever Ulamog attacks, defending player exiles the top twenty cards of his or her library.
10/10
The card design is pretty annoying given control doesn't have a place in modern as it is. That said it's a huge relief that 3 tron lands + Eye of Ugin is just short the need resources to play it. I don't know anything about legacy but I'm guessing it might make a bigger splash there. (sorry if that's way too off topic)
August 30, 2015 1:38 a.m.
really? all the lists ive seen run both and i personally do as well thats interesting well i stand corrected lol
August 30, 2015 1:43 a.m.
SoggyGecko says... #8
electromancer, what wincon are you talking about with Karn Liberated? If you are talking about the ultimate, it only works for non-Aura permanents exiled by Karn, not by other cards. Just so you know.
August 30, 2015 2:19 a.m.
The win condition of your opponent having 3+ permanents exiled and still have to deal with a 10/10 and a planeswalker...
As far as the new Ulamog goes, not having Annihilator is kind of a downside. If I want to get rid of permanents, I'm going to use Oblivion Stone for that already. On the other hand, being able to exile two permanents right off the bat is a major plus.
Right now, I play Kozilek, Butcher of Truth since I can cast him a turn sooner than Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre. Not sure the new Ulamog would be an adequate replacement (drawing four cards is insane).
August 30, 2015 4:12 a.m.
electromancer says... #10
@GabeCubed What sylvannos said. I'm thinking that having 3 exiled will easily be the final nail in the coffin.
@sylvannos I would say new Ulamog is an automatic 3 for 1, but you make a valid argument for card advantage. However, I do think that new Ulamog will play more consistently than Kozilek, Butcher of Truth and addresses threats faster.
August 30, 2015 4:35 a.m.
@electromancer: Yeah for sure. Exiling multiple permanents is far more powerful than drawing cards (example: Ashes to Ashes vs. Braingeyser). What I'm thinking, though, isn't that it's a replacement for win conditions already in the deck. Rather, it's Oblivion Stone copy #5.
I definitely like him more in R/G than Ugin, the Spirit Dragon because (ironically) you can fetch up Ulamog with Eye of Ugin, but can't do the same for the planeswalker. I think if replacements are made, that's where it should be.
August 30, 2015 5:23 a.m.
FinchFalcon says... #12
I'd also argue that exiling 20 cards from a library is more devastating than forcing a sacrifice of four permanents. I can see an argument for both sides, but given that he's a late game bomb already, he's putting your opponent on a VERY fast clock, while also stripping them of potential answers.
August 30, 2015 5:30 a.m.
JexInfinite says... #13
Emrakul just wins the game, except for very few circumstances. Ulamog cannot. Also dies to Path, even with the double exile. Can also be countered. Definitely not going to replace Emrakul.
August 30, 2015 7:23 a.m.
Rabid_Wombat says... #14
Nothing is faster than your opponent seeing the ability "Annihilator X" and scooping ;)
August 30, 2015 7:24 a.m.
NoPantsParade says... #15
I doubt he'll replace Emrakul. Since most lists tend to vary in the creatures and the amount played, except for Emrakul, he could replace one Wurmcoil Engine, assuming you're playing 4. However, in an aggro-heavy meta, that might not be the best option. I used to run 3 Wurms, 1 Ulamog, and 1 Emrakul, but now I'm running 4 Wurms and Emrakul.
The issue with replacing Ugin, I think, is that Ugin is always a one sided wrath. Ulamog can only hit two permanents. Ugin resets your opponent's board, barring lands. I'll probably pick up a copy to test him out and see what happens nonetheless.
August 30, 2015 11:19 a.m.
Unknown1999 says... #16
What about 3 tron lands and Urza's Tower play Ulamog the Ceaseless Hunger. Then next turn attack with him and play Oblivion Sower. You could play anything and everything after that.
August 30, 2015 9:03 p.m.
electromancer says... #17
@FinchFalcon Mill generally doesn't create any advantage unless it's your win condition. You're just as likely to mill away an answer as you are to mill into an answer. That said, 3 swings is game (that's 4 turns since you played it), but any less than 3 swings and it's mostly irrelevant.
August 30, 2015 9:20 p.m.
See what people are also forgetting is that he is a very good card and for gifts tron players, he is another powerhouse because he doesn't shuffle back in, meaning if you wanted to you can play gifts, get Unburial rites and him, then cast him with Unburial rites, oh the fun!!
October 1, 2015 1:36 p.m.
I can see Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger in Tron, but not-so-much Gifts Ungiven. When you Gifts for Unburial Rites and a creature, you really want that creature to have an immediate effect on the game. Ulamog just doesn't do that. If his cast trigger was an ETB, then we'd be talking. But as is, I'm not sold on him in a Gifts-type strategy.
October 1, 2015 1:39 p.m.
ComradeJim270 says... #20
If you're spending on something in Modern it needs to win the game pretty much right away. Emrakul does this. Ugin often does this. Ulamog, not so much. He has to swing two or three times, which is a lot. Annihilator is far, far more potent than getting rid of cards your opponent isn't using right now anyway. Hitting two things on the way in is nice, but old Ulamog hits one thing on the way in, then four more with each swing. It's very hard to bounce back from that.
October 1, 2015 2:33 p.m.
Darkspawn0226 says... #21
You'll more than likely see ulamog the ceaseless Hunger in mill decks as for r/g from true it don't have annihilator but I see it combined with eldrazi conscription giving it 20/20 with annihilator 2 plus exile top 20 cards so it might see that
October 9, 2015 11:55 a.m.
ComradeJim270 says... #22
I doubt it. Much too inconsistent, and vulnerable to a two-for-one.
October 9, 2015 3:29 p.m.
I've already played against Newlamog in a 
Tron deck...
Didn't seem that good. He got one out 3 times in 2 games... One game, he got it out, I killed it, opponent died 2 turns later.
Second, he played it, killed my only mana source... I killed it.
He cast another and killed my remaining 
mana source... he swung twice, milling for 40 total, and was chump blocked both swings.
He managed to kill with mill (scooped before he swung the 3rd time), but there are so many things out there that are cheaper, more resilient to removal, and that kill faster. - Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre is just better than Newlamog... harder to kill, more relevant swing trigger, and (because of the Annihilator) he will usually kill quicker.
I don't see Mill using this... if you're playing a -drop win condition, what's the point in playing mill? - May as well play something more consistent to win with.
October 9, 2015 4:26 p.m.
How is the old Ulamog harder to kill?? They're both 10/10's with indestructible, am I missing something?
October 9, 2015 4:43 p.m.
I suppose it is easier to take out of the graveyard... I see where you could say the old one is harder to permanently remove.
October 9, 2015 4:44 p.m.
electromancer says... #26
All these people with there multiple Path to Exiles in hand i guess. I really don't understand how Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre stands up to path better than "Newlamog" (I love that name, I'm calling him that from now on).
October 9, 2015 4:54 p.m.
ComradeJim270 says... #27
He doesn't. But unless you can Path him before he swings he'll have a much larger impact on the game than the new one will.
October 9, 2015 6:16 p.m.
Well also in my gifts tron list i am also running body double, so you dont need to waste your unburial rites on Ulamog, you can use the body double on it
EmblemMan says... #2
First off your information was a bit off almost every Rg tron list plays ulamog and hes a 10/10. Regardless yes every list will add or replace the old ulamog its just worae than this one
August 30, 2015 12:48 a.m.