I like the card too, but I think pithing needle might just edge it out. I understand the allure of giving the effect legs to possibly block or even get some damage in, this could be (and very likely is) the problem with it. That Kiki chord deck that gets stifled now really only has to hang on to path or bolt. Don't get me wrong, I think it's a strong bit of sideboard tech., But I'd rather just run the needle and have it holding off the combo.
Coincidentally, needle in my board just got me a win against abzan aristocrats last night. Yay for killing of activated abilities.
P.S. If you're in white suppression field is a card to consider as well, unless you're looking to use activated abilities yourself.
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Am I supposed to be impressed with a long list of cards? Anyone can read a card and tell you that it has an activated ability. What's more important is whether that ability is worth playing Phyrexian Revoker to stop. I sure as hell am not bringing it in against Affinity to stop their Mox Opal. Also, why would I bring in Revoker against Burrenton Forge-Tender? If they bring in Forge-Tenders in the first place, that means I'm playing Pyroclasm or Anger of the Gods. Why would I play a card that dies to my own sweeper?
There is no reason to play Phyrexian Revoker over Pithing Needle unless you're playing Collected Company or Chord of Calling. Needle costs less and is harder to kill. The other great thing about Company/Chord is that you can do it at instant speed, so you can blank their spell while it's still on the stack - you do not need to name it in advance, or play Revoker after they've played the target and have already gotten a use out of it.
I remember having it as a target for my Traverse the Ulvenwald deck, which in theory seemed awesome. I would fetch it for Nahiri Jeskai, it would inmediately get killed for no value. I would fetch it against Jund, it would get Kolaghan Kommanded for negative value. Against hatebears, I would never bring it since I want to sweep the board with Anger. Against Affinity and Elves, the same. Against Lantern, it only stops mill effects which they have a ton of different and redundant ones, but does nothing against Lantern of Insight or Bridge. Against Tron, it can be good sometimes, it's the only deck, but they can still Pyroclasm it or kill it with Karn/Ugin if you don't name the correct one.
I once thought it would be a cool mainboard addition as 3-of in my UR eldrazi, to slow down mana producing elves. However, I found out the hard way while playing a practice game that my own Kozilek's Return also killed the revokers. And against decks that use artifacts with activated ability, it's better to just use cards that get rid of the arifact like Smash to Smithereens. Well, those are my experiences anyway.. other people might have found better use for revoker..
Modern decks, on average, have a lot more removal than decks in pretty much all other formats. This is just the nature of the format. This is why you see creatures, like this, see play in a format like legacy, but not modern.
Revoker also has some specific targets in legacy, like lotus petal and lion's eye diamond. In vintage it can hit all of the mox artifacts.
Being able to name Lands and by that shut down manlands, utility lands like Ghost Quarter or Township or even the opponent's fetches are further points that make Needle more versatile than Revoker, in Modern.
Revoker's ability to shut off mana abilities is hardly relevant here, without an Eggs deck being good.
And "Revoking the Bird" is not really a great play... :b
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Revoker has a more broad role in a deck than pithing needle. It can pause a threat, and attack for 2, or chump block. Basically you want revoker over needle when you want the effect in your deck, but also need 4 creatues in that slot.
I've seen it pop up in the side of some hatebears lists and Abzan Company too. Being fetchable or vialable is a big asset but outside of fringe play in those decks Pithing Needle is going to be better as it's harder to remove.
Yeh unless I'm chording for it in elves with my intended target on the stack I can't see him popping up in many other places. You could probably argue him in the 75 of Abzan coco as well but you're effectively running 5 copies at that point. Pithing needle is just stronger against a field of varied creature answers.
Revoker is much better than Needle in Abzan Company because he is tutorable and Company-able. He is also better with Thalia because he gets around Thalia's taxes.
Note that he can also stop mana abilities for mana dorks and Lotus Blooms
Saying "the problem with Revoker" is flawed because there are no problems with Revoker that stop him from being played. He's just better than Needle in those decks and worse in every other deck because he can be bolted and Pathed.
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Cards revoker turns off that are relevant:
(Non creature)
Engineered Explosives
Codex Shredder
Lantern of Insight
Ghoulcaller's Bell
relic of progenitus
Pyxis of Pandemonium
Liliana of the veil
Nahiri, Harbinger
Ugin, the Spirit Dragon
Karn Liberated (and every other planeswalker)
Æther Vial
Mox Opal
Springleaf Drum
Welding Jar
Cranial Plating
Batterskull
Evolutionary Leap
(creature)
Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
birds of paradise
Noble Hierarch (and every other mana dork)
Arcbound Ravager
Steel Overseer
Spellskite
Leonin Arbiter
Fulminator Mage
Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
Scavenging Ooze
Ezuri, Renegade Leader
Burrenton Forge-Tender
Heritage Druid
Qasali Pridemage
Viscera Seer
Spike Feeder
Eldrazi Displacer
I probably missed something but that's a rather impressive list of things that this card turns off that are very good right now.
Decks I'm playing in Modern right now:
URB Grixis Reveler (http://www.mtgvault.com/supast4r7/decks/modern-grixis-reveler/)
UB Faeries (http://www.mtgvault.com/supast4r7/decks/ub-fae-2/)
UW Azorious Control (http://www.mtgvault.com/supast4r7/decks/modern-ojutai-control-2/)
Coincidentally, needle in my board just got me a win against abzan aristocrats last night. Yay for killing of activated abilities.
P.S. If you're in white suppression field is a card to consider as well, unless you're looking to use activated abilities yourself.
There is no reason to play Phyrexian Revoker over Pithing Needle unless you're playing Collected Company or Chord of Calling. Needle costs less and is harder to kill. The other great thing about Company/Chord is that you can do it at instant speed, so you can blank their spell while it's still on the stack - you do not need to name it in advance, or play Revoker after they've played the target and have already gotten a use out of it.
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Big Johnny.
I remember having it as a target for my Traverse the Ulvenwald deck, which in theory seemed awesome. I would fetch it for Nahiri Jeskai, it would inmediately get killed for no value. I would fetch it against Jund, it would get Kolaghan Kommanded for negative value. Against hatebears, I would never bring it since I want to sweep the board with Anger. Against Affinity and Elves, the same. Against Lantern, it only stops mill effects which they have a ton of different and redundant ones, but does nothing against Lantern of Insight or Bridge. Against Tron, it can be good sometimes, it's the only deck, but they can still Pyroclasm it or kill it with Karn/Ugin if you don't name the correct one.
Also, Thalia has no abilities that I know of
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Revoker also has some specific targets in legacy, like lotus petal and lion's eye diamond. In vintage it can hit all of the mox artifacts.
Revoker's ability to shut off mana abilities is hardly relevant here, without an Eggs deck being good.
And "Revoking the Bird" is not really a great play... :b
Standard infinite combos giving you a headache and the opponent always has Force of Will?
No matter the issue, there is one simple trick to solve all of your Magic problems!!
~~~To get in on the secret to eternal luck, skill and victory, just follow this link!!~~~
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My Primers ~ GWx Vizier Company ~ Knightfall ~ RG Eldrazi ~ Green's Sun's Zenith
More Brews ~ Modern Four Horsemen ~ Gitrog Dredge
Note that he can also stop mana abilities for mana dorks and Lotus Blooms
Saying "the problem with Revoker" is flawed because there are no problems with Revoker that stop him from being played. He's just better than Needle in those decks and worse in every other deck because he can be bolted and Pathed.
MTG finance guy- follow me on Twitter@RichArschmann or RichardArschmann on Reddit
UW Ephara Hatebears [Primer], GB Gitrog Lands, BRU Inalla Combo-Control, URG Maelstrom Wanderer Landfall
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I hate to be that pernickety technical guy, but not ALL creature removal kills him...