Things WotC cares about:
-making certain Standard cards can be played in Modern, therefore increasing their value and increasing WotC's profit margin
Things WotC does not care about:
-keeping the ban list as short as possible
-taking chances with an entire format for the benefit of a single card
-catering to play styles that newer players generally don't like and will lose them more players than it will gain
-keeping the meta balanced between archetypes/colors/whatever
-keeping cards on the secondary market cheap (available yes, but not cheap)
-keeping the meta diverse (as long as a single deck doesn't threaten the popularity of the format)
Bloodghast, altar's reap, and Dark Prophecy from m14 could be fun. Instant speed, draw 3 cards for 1B and 1 life? Sounds filthy, especially when you get can crack a fetch to get your ghast back at the end of your opponent's turn. Splash blue for snapcaster, maybe forbidden alchemy. Could also stick a loam-retrace engine in there, along with liliana, which would work well with recurring your fetches to keep your bloodghasts coming out of the graveyard on command. Alternatively, could probably go the Pod route, using eternal witness to recur snapcaster mage.
Feels too dependant on the synergies. I'd rather play Night's Whisper for the draw2 at that cost.
However I think that you could probably run it with Viscera Seer and some other goodies like STE and the Viridian Emissary
I've been liking underworld connections in my UWB control list. Gives me something to do, life loss is no big deal, and I get to choose when I draw the card and how much life I lose to it. And imo if my opponent wants to destroy the basic I stick it on... at least they didn't take out a good land.
Feels too dependant on the synergies. I'd rather play Night's Whisper for the draw2 at that cost.
However I think that you could probably run it with Viscera Seer and some other goodies like STE and the Viridian Emissary
How so? Each component is still good on its own, it's just that the synergy pushes it over the edge. Secondly, this format is built on synergy; just look at the number of midrange combo hybrids that are currently seeing play. Also, I think that altar's reap is criminally underplayed, especially given that it's instant, and the sac is part of the cost of the spell, and (to my knowledge) cannot be responded to.
I mean, bloodghast is good on its own in conjunction with fetch lands, and with an engine like Liliana that lets you discard it whilst controlling the board, you can do some pretty sick things.
How so? Each component is still good on its own, it's just that the synergy pushes it over the edge. Secondly, this format is built on synergy; just look at the number of midrange combo hybrids that are currently seeing play. Also, I think that altar's reap is criminally underplayed, especially given that it's instant, and the sac is part of the cost of the spell, and (to my knowledge) cannot be responded to.
I mean, bloodghast is good on its own in conjunction with fetch lands, and with an engine like Liliana that lets you discard it whilst controlling the board, you can do some pretty sick things.
I think he's saying that of Altar's Reap, which is kind of correct.
If you're not gaining value off the sac or if you're not saccing something that recurs itself you're only cantripping in terms of CA.
I think he's saying that of Altar's Reap, which is kind of correct.
If you're not gaining value off the sac or if you're not saccing something that recurs itself you're only cantripping in terms of CA.
True, but it's not like there's a lack of recursion in the format, especially in black and green. Not to mention, it gets around path, which is one of the primary weaknesses of recurring creatures.
True, but it's not like there's a lack of recursion in the format, especially in black and green. Not to mention, it gets around path, which is one of the primary weaknesses of recurring creatures.
I just saw the card for the first time, and I am inclined to agree that there will be a deck that loves this. Not sure it is a universally good draw spell, but being an instant is huge.
I've been liking underworld connections in my UWB control list. Gives me something to do, life loss is no big deal, and I get to choose when I draw the card and how much life I lose to it. And imo if my opponent wants to destroy the basic I stick it on... at least they didn't take out a good land.
I kinda doubt it's as good as phyrexian arena because it's not vulnerable to land destruction but more importantly it doesn't tie your mana every turn. If you're a control deck you probably are reasonably mana intensive or at least capable of using a lot of mana each turn at some points, and underworld connections bottle-necks you a bit. Especially if as you say, life loss is no big deal, then arena is probably better.
I use Greater Gargadon as my sac engine because it's untargetable before it drops and can be a hasted finisher in some matchups. I've been trying a variety of token generators and recursive guys, but haven't found exactly what I like. I do love turning a Sprouting Thrinax into four kill spells, and Young Pyromancer shows a lot of promise, but that really feels like the hitch here.
None of this helps if you're looking for a blue draw engine, of course, but Modern doesn't seem to be too friendly with blue. : p
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
*Insert giant block of annoying garbage that no one cares about but you have to scroll past anyway here*
I honestly don't know why control decks play think twice. I suppose it's alright in reactive control, but honestly, it's pretty bad. 5 mana to draw two cards is just yuck! I much prefer sorcery speed if the quality is much better, such as concentrate or tidings,though I know they are generally too slow for modern. An engine? Well, in green you have enchantment/creature based such as fecundity and/or greater good. For more proactive decks in blue/black packing stuff like retrace (mostly raven's crime), you could try secrets of the dead or river kelpie. In essence, modern can't be about the raw power or efficiency formats like legacy or vintage have and still remain a turn 4 format. You have to rely more on the engines such as are demonstrated here and go more for synergies. Most of these are worth exploring, though.
But it /doesn't/ cost 5 mana to draw two cards. It costs 2 mana to draw one, and 3 mana to draw another. And a vast majority of the time, it's almost free because you wouldn't have been using tthat mana anyway since you just left it up for your counter.
I kinda doubt it's as good as phyrexian arena because it's not vulnerable to land destruction but more importantly it doesn't tie your mana every turn. If you're a control deck you probably are reasonably mana intensive or at least capable of using a lot of mana each turn at some points, and underworld connections bottle-necks you a bit. Especially if as you say, life loss is no big deal, then arena is probably better.
I don't know how you play your control decks but I usually have 11 or 12 lands in play by the end of the game, I have never felt bottle necked by underworld connections. If I don't get to draw a card that turn because I needed to do something else, it's not a big deal in the long run. Also if I am obviously holding mana for a counter, it at least gives me something to do with my unused mana ever turn, which is like the whole reason for playing think twice so it's good enough for underworld connections too.
Also phyrexian arena will often never draw you a card, and underworld connections almost always draws a card the turn you play it.
Maybe a engine using Cerulean Wisps and a card like Merfolk Looter could work... not really an engine but a Rube Goldberg mechanism. Or a deck with lots of discard effects running Dream Salvage. Loam+Trade Routes is probably the closest thing to an engine you can get without having to spend rediculous amounts of mana.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"I am disillusioned enough to know that no man's opinion on any subject is worth a damn unless backed up with enough genuine information to make him really know what he's talking about."
-H. P. Lovecraft
Maybe a engine using Cerulean Wisps and a card like Merfolk Looter could work... not really an engine but a Rube Goldberg mechanism. Or a deck with lots of discard effects running Dream Salvage. Loam+Trade Routes is probably the closest thing to an engine you can get without having to spend rediculous amounts of mana.
I remember seeing a BR Storm deck that chained Reforge the Soul into Dream Salvage into another Reforge the Soul or Dream Salvage until it had a lethal storm count.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Double-T isn't so much an engine as it is a filter card for combos.
Now, Telling Time + The Stick...
5x SCG Legacy Open T8
16th place GP Indianapolis 2012
Check out my Legacy stream
...Pristine Talisman
...Ajani's Mantra
...Pulse of the Fields (you can mill yourself with this one)
...Soul Warden (and similar)
-making certain Standard cards can be played in Modern, therefore increasing their value and increasing WotC's profit margin
Things WotC does not care about:
-keeping the ban list as short as possible
-taking chances with an entire format for the benefit of a single card
-catering to play styles that newer players generally don't like and will lose them more players than it will gain
-keeping the meta balanced between archetypes/colors/whatever
-keeping cards on the secondary market cheap (available yes, but not cheap)
-keeping the meta diverse (as long as a single deck doesn't threaten the popularity of the format)
Feels too dependant on the synergies. I'd rather play Night's Whisper for the draw2 at that cost.
However I think that you could probably run it with Viscera Seer and some other goodies like STE and the Viridian Emissary
Someone please tell me I'm not the only one who literally laughed at loud at this. I don't really even have a dirty mind, but come on...:Psyduck:
Modern Junk Primer
Legacy ANT Primer
L1 Judge
"Deep Anal, Sis" is how we say it during Cube Draft.
Sig courtesy of DOLZero
[82/360] Custom Cube
Blog about the Custom Cube
How so? Each component is still good on its own, it's just that the synergy pushes it over the edge. Secondly, this format is built on synergy; just look at the number of midrange combo hybrids that are currently seeing play. Also, I think that altar's reap is criminally underplayed, especially given that it's instant, and the sac is part of the cost of the spell, and (to my knowledge) cannot be responded to.
I mean, bloodghast is good on its own in conjunction with fetch lands, and with an engine like Liliana that lets you discard it whilst controlling the board, you can do some pretty sick things.
I think he's saying that of Altar's Reap, which is kind of correct.
If you're not gaining value off the sac or if you're not saccing something that recurs itself you're only cantripping in terms of CA.
Sig courtesy of DOLZero
[82/360] Custom Cube
Blog about the Custom Cube
True, but it's not like there's a lack of recursion in the format, especially in black and green. Not to mention, it gets around path, which is one of the primary weaknesses of recurring creatures.
Reprint Opt for Modern!!
FREE DIG THOROUGH TIME!
PLAY MORE ROUGE DECKS!
I kinda doubt it's as good as phyrexian arena because it's not vulnerable to land destruction but more importantly it doesn't tie your mana every turn. If you're a control deck you probably are reasonably mana intensive or at least capable of using a lot of mana each turn at some points, and underworld connections bottle-necks you a bit. Especially if as you say, life loss is no big deal, then arena is probably better.
My decks:
-Modern UWR gifts control
-Modern Mono-G aggro elves
-Azami, Lady of Scrolls EDH
-Glissa the Traitor EDH
-Modern UWR Counterbalance Control
-Modern UW enchantment control: primer, on tapped out
-Modern regular UWR control
The specimen seems to be broken.
I use Greater Gargadon as my sac engine because it's untargetable before it drops and can be a hasted finisher in some matchups. I've been trying a variety of token generators and recursive guys, but haven't found exactly what I like. I do love turning a Sprouting Thrinax into four kill spells, and Young Pyromancer shows a lot of promise, but that really feels like the hitch here.
None of this helps if you're looking for a blue draw engine, of course, but Modern doesn't seem to be too friendly with blue. : p
But it /doesn't/ cost 5 mana to draw two cards. It costs 2 mana to draw one, and 3 mana to draw another. And a vast majority of the time, it's almost free because you wouldn't have been using tthat mana anyway since you just left it up for your counter.
I don't know how you play your control decks but I usually have 11 or 12 lands in play by the end of the game, I have never felt bottle necked by underworld connections. If I don't get to draw a card that turn because I needed to do something else, it's not a big deal in the long run. Also if I am obviously holding mana for a counter, it at least gives me something to do with my unused mana ever turn, which is like the whole reason for playing think twice so it's good enough for underworld connections too.
Also phyrexian arena will often never draw you a card, and underworld connections almost always draws a card the turn you play it.
"I am disillusioned enough to know that no man's opinion on any subject is worth a damn unless backed up with enough genuine information to make him really know what he's talking about."
-H. P. Lovecraft
I remember seeing a BR Storm deck that chained Reforge the Soul into Dream Salvage into another Reforge the Soul or Dream Salvage until it had a lethal storm count.