Heart of Kiran is a card that has been rampaging through standard since it's printing. While it's great there, I figured that we can start brewing with the card. A Serra Angel body for 2 seems appealing. It also has the most synergy with 3 drop planeswalkers as they let you drop kiran turn 2 and attack for 4/4 in the air while protecting the planeswalker. The following have good synergy with HoK. Overall I believe that BW midrange lists (see gideon tribal), Boros Sun and Moon control, geist decks, traditional UW midrange can play Heart of Kiran well. The following planeswalkers have great synergy with HoK.
Two Drop Walkers:
-Jace, Vryn's Prodigy/Jace, Telepath Unbound: Jace VP has really good synergy with HoK because Jace has a lot of loyalty. As soon as he comes down, if you plus jace he is at a whopping 6 loyalty which is a lot for the HoK to play with. Add in Jace's shrink ability that makes combat favorable for the HoK and the minus ability which can protect the HoK, and you have a recipe for success. The main issue here is the difficulty in setting up Jace to flip and HoK to be on the field.
3 drop Walkers:
-Gideon of the Trials: He has already been talked about in the "Gideon Tribal" decks (see my flair for deck details). The ability to have kiran with the card is great since it gives you more flexibility in either dropping the emblem or getting aggressive with Gideon's plus ability and attacking with HoK.
-Liliana of the Veil: The obvious card that plays the best with HoK outside or Chandra ToD/Gideon ally. Liliana naturally protects the HoK with her plus ability which will get rid of pesky Kolaghan's commands and abrupt decays. Being able to protect the liliana on top of liliana protecting HoK seems really good.
4 drop Walkers:
-Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas: Tezz plays very well with HoK as he is able to find him off of his ult and make HoK slightly bigger as a 5/5 creature so you don't have to crew it.
-Gideon, Ally of Zendikar: The most famous of the tag team duo. Gideon's tokens allow him to give you enough juice to crew the HoK even if he dies himself. Being able to attack with Gideon, a token and the HoK can be very devastating for the opponent and end games quickly.
-Chandra, Torch of Defiance: The daughter of the famous inventor. Chandra has built in synergy with HoK as her +1 allows you to cast the HoK from your hand and protect Chandra in combat on your opponents next turn. Obviously nice paring to say the least.
-Nahiri, the Harbinger: Nahiri has natural good synergy with HoK because of Nahiri's: high loyalty, ability to rummage into better protection/more planeswalkers for HoK, and the ability to protect herself/get HoK through the skies.
5 drop Walkers:
-Gideon Jura: Another card from the new hotness known as gideon tribal. Jura gives HoK a lot of loyalty to play with and his plus makes everything attack him which leave the HoK with a window to attack whenever you plus gideon.
spectral procession: It curves with the Heart of Kiran and allows the tokens to almost have a psuedo haste by crewing the HoK immediately.
lingering souls: While they do not crew the HoK by themselves without flashing it back, they set up small creatures to crew the HoK that aren't doing anything else. Cards like Snapcaster mage/mutavault/treetop village/shambling vents that wouldn't do anything on a clogged up board state becomes a lot more useful.
Man lands:
-Treetop Village: Similar to mutavault but this one actually crews the HoK and the activation is really cheap. All star with HoK and an underplayed card in general.
-Mutavault: While it does not immediately activate the heart of kiran, mutavault is easy to activate and it only needs a 1/1 to help it out with crewing a HoK.
-Stirring Wildwood: The activation cost on this one can be steep but Wildwood doesn't have many ways of getting dmg through otherwise.
What about Restore Balance (or other) decks that play Narset Transcendent? She has a ridiculously high starting loyalty so she can use it over and over. She isn't great on her own so it'd make her a bit more useful.
Also great OP for a SDC, really gets the discussion going. I like it!
Relying on a 3-5 mana Planeswalker for the payoff of a flying 4/4 seems really bad when that 4/4 is practically unplayable on its own (and Legendary). I would expect Copter to see play in any deck before this, because crewing with a token or some small utility creature seems so much easier than having a 3/3 not attacking or relying on having a Planeswalker.
Remember, these decks would need to give up their turn 2 play to play this. What are they giving up to tap out for an artifact that does nothing and leaves them vulnerable for a turn?
What about Restore Balance (or other) decks that play Narset Transcendent? She has a ridiculously high starting loyalty so she can use it over and over. She isn't great on her own so it'd make her a bit more useful.
Also great OP for a SDC, really gets the discussion going. I like it!
I could see in in restore balance decks but they normally don't play enough planeswalkers/tokens to capitalize on HoK's activation requirements. You need atleast 10 planeswalkers, token makers (lingering souls), and man lands to make this mini serra angel work.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
On mtgsalvation people don't want to discuss ideas, so I give people something else to discuss: my controversial opinions.
Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas for obvious synergy, and in this shell you not only get Lili access to enable HoK, but also Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver who brings cheap and fat Loyalty meat to the table.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
MODERN Blue Lantern, UBx Tezzerator. OLD SCHOOL 93/94 «The Pain Train» Black Sligh, Esper «Machine Gun» Artifacts, Jund «Psycho» Ponza-Disko.
Im not shutting this down, but just asking a queation. From what I know on standard, Isnt heart so good due to the lack of ways to answer it and walkers in the format?
As in because the walkers there are so higher power level than the rest of the pool its a natural winner in that pool? Ita not quite that here, in fact most of the times walkers are bad with very few exceptions.
Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas for obvious synergy, and in this shell you not only get Lili access to enable HoK, but also Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver who brings cheap and fat Loyalty meat to the table.
True I forgot about Tezz. He can even find him.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
On mtgsalvation people don't want to discuss ideas, so I give people something else to discuss: my controversial opinions.
Im not shutting this down, but just asking a queation. From what I know on standard, Isnt heart so good due to the lack of ways to answer it and walkers in the format?
As in because the walkers there are so higher power level than the rest of the pool its a natural winner in that pool? Ita not quite that here, in fact most of the times walkers are bad with very few exceptions.
No. Heart is good because it's stats are overloaded for only two mana and because it has great synergy with Gideon Ally. I don't see how planeswalkers are bad in a worlds where Liliana, Gideon, Tron walkers, Nahiri and Chandra exists which see tons of play.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
On mtgsalvation people don't want to discuss ideas, so I give people something else to discuss: my controversial opinions.
Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas for obvious synergy, and in this shell you not only get Lili access to enable HoK, but also Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver who brings cheap and fat Loyalty meat to the table.
True I forgot about Tezz. He can even find him.
Yeah, turning him into a permanent (autonomous) 5/5 vigilance flyer as well!
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
MODERN Blue Lantern, UBx Tezzerator. OLD SCHOOL 93/94 «The Pain Train» Black Sligh, Esper «Machine Gun» Artifacts, Jund «Psycho» Ponza-Disko.
i would have to ask why not just play smugglers copter?
They are different cards. Smuggs wants to be in a creature/token heavy deck and is more of a utility creature. HoK is tailor made for a planeswalker midrange deck.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
On mtgsalvation people don't want to discuss ideas, so I give people something else to discuss: my controversial opinions.
Two Drop Walkers:
-Jace, Vryn's Prodigy/Jace, Telepath Unbound: Jace VP has really good synergy with HoK because Jace has a lot of loyalty. As soon as he comes down, if you plus jace he is at a whopping 6 loyalty which is a lot for the HoK to play with. Add in Jace's shrink ability that makes combat favorable for the HoK and the minus ability which can protect the HoK, and you have a recipe for success. The main issue here is the difficulty in setting up Jace to flip and HoK to be on the field.
3 drop Walkers:
-Gideon of the Trials: He has already been talked about in the "Gideon Tribal" decks (see my flair for deck details). The ability to have kiran with the card is great since it gives you more flexibility in either dropping the emblem or getting aggressive with Gideon's plus ability and attacking with HoK.
-Liliana of the Veil: The obvious card that plays the best with HoK outside or Chandra ToD/Gideon ally. Liliana naturally protects the HoK with her plus ability which will get rid of pesky Kolaghan's commands and abrupt decays. Being able to protect the liliana on top of liliana protecting HoK seems really good.
4 drop Walkers:
-Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas: Tezz plays very well with HoK as he is able to find him off of his ult and make HoK slightly bigger as a 5/5 creature so you don't have to crew it.
-Gideon, Ally of Zendikar: The most famous of the tag team duo. Gideon's tokens allow him to give you enough juice to crew the HoK even if he dies himself. Being able to attack with Gideon, a token and the HoK can be very devastating for the opponent and end games quickly.
-Chandra, Torch of Defiance: The daughter of the famous inventor. Chandra has built in synergy with HoK as her +1 allows you to cast the HoK from your hand and protect Chandra in combat on your opponents next turn. Obviously nice paring to say the least.
-Nahiri, the Harbinger: Nahiri has natural good synergy with HoK because of Nahiri's: high loyalty, ability to rummage into better protection/more planeswalkers for HoK, and the ability to protect herself/get HoK through the skies.
5 drop Walkers:
-Gideon Jura: Another card from the new hotness known as gideon tribal. Jura gives HoK a lot of loyalty to play with and his plus makes everything attack him which leave the HoK with a window to attack whenever you plus gideon.
Other things that help Heart of Kiran include:
Token Producers:
spectral procession: It curves with the Heart of Kiran and allows the tokens to almost have a psuedo haste by crewing the HoK immediately.
lingering souls: While they do not crew the HoK by themselves without flashing it back, they set up small creatures to crew the HoK that aren't doing anything else. Cards like Snapcaster mage/mutavault/treetop village/shambling vents that wouldn't do anything on a clogged up board state becomes a lot more useful.
Man lands:
-Treetop Village: Similar to mutavault but this one actually crews the HoK and the activation is really cheap. All star with HoK and an underplayed card in general.
-Mutavault: While it does not immediately activate the heart of kiran, mutavault is easy to activate and it only needs a 1/1 to help it out with crewing a HoK.
-Stirring Wildwood: The activation cost on this one can be steep but Wildwood doesn't have many ways of getting dmg through otherwise.
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/)
-
View User Profile
-
View Posts
-
Send Message
StaffAlso great OP for a SDC, really gets the discussion going. I like it!
MTGO/MTGA: Tyclone
My Primers ~ GWx Vizier Company ~ Knightfall ~ RG Eldrazi ~ Green's Sun's Zenith
More Brews ~ Modern Four Horsemen ~ Gitrog Dredge
Remember, these decks would need to give up their turn 2 play to play this. What are they giving up to tap out for an artifact that does nothing and leaves them vulnerable for a turn?
UR ....... WUBR ........... WB ............. RGW ........ UBR ....... WUB .... BGU
Spells / Blink & Combo / Token Grind / Dino Tribal / Draw Cards / Zombies / Reanimate
I could see in in restore balance decks but they normally don't play enough planeswalkers/tokens to capitalize on HoK's activation requirements. You need atleast 10 planeswalkers, token makers (lingering souls), and man lands to make this mini serra angel work.
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/)
Tooth & Nail........Grishoalbrand....Living Dominance....Tezzerator.........Vannifar Pod
My Decks that have been BANNED
DRS Jund | Kiki-Pod | Bloom Titan | Splinter Twin | KCI
OLD SCHOOL 93/94 «The Pain Train» Black Sligh, Esper «Machine Gun» Artifacts, Jund «Psycho» Ponza-Disko.
As in because the walkers there are so higher power level than the rest of the pool its a natural winner in that pool? Ita not quite that here, in fact most of the times walkers are bad with very few exceptions.
True I forgot about Tezz. He can even find him.
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/)
No. Heart is good because it's stats are overloaded for only two mana and because it has great synergy with Gideon Ally. I don't see how planeswalkers are bad in a worlds where Liliana, Gideon, Tron walkers, Nahiri and Chandra exists which see tons of play.
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/)
OLD SCHOOL 93/94 «The Pain Train» Black Sligh, Esper «Machine Gun» Artifacts, Jund «Psycho» Ponza-Disko.
They are different cards. Smuggs wants to be in a creature/token heavy deck and is more of a utility creature. HoK is tailor made for a planeswalker midrange deck.
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/)
It is a pretty good starting point.