I've found that what Runechanter's Pike really likes is Gitaxian Probe. If you can't stick 3+ of that card in your deck (or Thought Scour, I guess) and have an instants/sorceries to cards ratio like RUG Tempo Thresh's, Swords provide the more reliable boost.
I tried Pike in UBR Tempo and hated how unreliable the boost was, especially with Tiago flashing back instants and sorceries.
Swords are good where the individual effects work in synergy with the overall strategy of the deck. Duh, right? All of the Swords are decent to swap out against decks with removal and creatures that you can get protection from. (Duh again, right?) I try to have at least a singleton sword of various colors if I have room in my sideboard for it and I think the synergy is worth it. Generally the Swords are pretty slow. I know there are a billion decks that all the Swords work in, so here are my experiences in Modern with them:
Sword of War and Peace - Decent Zoo hoser since it shuts down most of their removal unless they side in Beast Within, and even then it just gives you a 3/3 to re-equip or a 3/3 in place of the Sword... Good in the main or sideboard for MartyrProc right now. Lifegain is cool, and it shares a slot for me with...
Sword of Light and Shadow - ...for similar reasons in MartyrProc. Recursion and lifegain work great with everything in the deck.
The Pike I am very interested in and could see in an instant heavy tempo-oriented Esper or RUW Delver aggro deck? Definitely seeing the synergy between it and Delver of Secrets, and there are plenty of other powerful spells to fuel a quicker, bigger Delver wielding a big stick...
Edit: Obviously this isn't a tested list or anything, and I'm sure the manabase is poo, but I was inspired, so why not.
Couldn't think of better one drops in U/R... Maybe Figure of Destiny? ...or Slippery Boggle? Thought about Snapcaster Mage as a Sword/Pike wielder and a versatility helper, but he kind of flies in the face of the deck's full-graveyard idea.
UUU Talrand, Sky Summoner // (W/U)(W/U)(W/U) Grand Arbiter Augustin IV // RRR Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker // (R/G)(R/G)(R/G) Wort, the Raidmother // URG Riku of Two Reflections // RWU Ruhan of the Fomori
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The Pike really just isn't worth it in modern. There are few enough aggro/control lists in the format, and neither carries or RUG delver want to be running Pike or even swords over shackles or explosives.
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Which would you use in what decks? Is Pike worth anything in modern with cards like SoFI in the format?
I tried Pike in UBR Tempo and hated how unreliable the boost was, especially with Tiago flashing back instants and sorceries.
Sword of War and Peace - Decent Zoo hoser since it shuts down most of their removal unless they side in Beast Within, and even then it just gives you a 3/3 to re-equip or a 3/3 in place of the Sword... Good in the main or sideboard for MartyrProc right now. Lifegain is cool, and it shares a slot for me with...
Sword of Light and Shadow - ...for similar reasons in MartyrProc. Recursion and lifegain work great with everything in the deck.
The Pike I am very interested in and could see in an instant heavy tempo-oriented Esper or RUW Delver aggro deck? Definitely seeing the synergy between it and Delver of Secrets, and there are plenty of other powerful spells to fuel a quicker, bigger Delver wielding a big stick...
Edit: Obviously this isn't a tested list or anything, and I'm sure the manabase is poo, but I was inspired, so why not.
4 Delver of Secrets
4 Goblin Guide
Instants
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Mystical Teachings
3 Desperate Ravings
1 Pact of Negation
4 Rune Snag
1 Dismember
1 Surgical Extraction
3 Vapor Snag
4 Path to Exile
3 Runechanter’s Pike
2 Sword of Fire and Ice
Support
4 Steelshaper's Gift
Land
3 Steam Vents
4 Scalding Tarn
2 Mountain
4 Island
2 Hallowed Fountain
4 Arid Mesa
1 Plains
Couldn't think of better one drops in U/R... Maybe Figure of Destiny? ...or Slippery Boggle? Thought about Snapcaster Mage as a Sword/Pike wielder and a versatility helper, but he kind of flies in the face of the deck's full-graveyard idea.