If the latest MTGO Modern results are any indication, turns out that we've been underestimating Oko, Thief of Crowns. Not only has Whirza picked him up as a sideboard option (he's uniquely positioned as both anti-hate and a threat walker), but Bant Stoneblade has also picked him up, and rogue Arcum's Astrolabe midrange/control builds have also tended to use him. Inspired by the last case, I tested Oko in No White Snow Wrenn Control, which theoretically doesn't support Oko all that well (few creatures to buff right off the bat, only artifacts he can immediately turn into creatures are 4 Arcum's Astrolabes, deck is mainly stuck protecting Oko with removal instead of blockers). Turns out that he was quite good in that deck, too--he makes a 3/3 every other turn, he puts creatures into Bolt or small Dead of Winter range, he removes evasion and powerful abilities from opposing creatures, he intimidates some opponents away from playing small creatures lest he exchange his Food token for the next guy, and he therefore rightfully attracts aggro harder than Wrenn and Six does (and possibly as hard as Jace TMS does). He's been disruptive enough even when dealt with early, and he manhandles the battlefield if not dealt with.
In the meantime, Wishclaw Talisman has performed the best by far in Whirza variants--it gives my slower builds a lot of their speed back. It's performed significantly more poorly in Paradoxical Urza, where it often only ends up being used when I already have Paradoxical Outcome in hand.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
In the meantime, Wishclaw Talisman has performed the best by far in Whirza variants--it gives my slower builds a lot of their speed back. It's performed significantly more poorly in Paradoxical Urza, where it often only ends up being used when I already have Paradoxical Outcome in hand.