Feature of the Month: December- Treefolk Next Feature Month: January Applications due: 12/30/2014
One of the biggest strengths of the MTGS Modern Forums is our strong deckbuilding and brewing community. Although some players prefer to stick with the defined tier 1 and 2 decks of the format, there are many of us who also like to strike out into new uncharted territory, experiment with new cards and ideas, and generally try and create something innovative. Given how many threads get created in the Deck Creation subforum, not all of these awesome brews get the views they probably deserve. This is especially true of some very well-written and well-researched primers and ideas that reflect a lot of time on the part of the author. True, Deck Creation has a lot of stickied threads, but those are often reserved for very popular discussions, not necessarily the most interesting or innovative decks in the forum.
In an effort to recognize these brewers, innovators, mavericks, and general deckbuilders, the MTGS Modern staff has decided to start the Featured Thread system! This decision was based on discussion amongst staff and with posters across the site. The new Featured Thread system will give anyone on the site a chance to showcase their decks and ideas on a monthly basis.
Here is everything you need to new about the new system and how it will work:
"SO WHAT ARE FEATURED THREADS?"
A Featured Thread is a stickied thread that showcases a unique, powerful, creative, fun, or generally interesting deck idea, primer, or discussion on the Deck Creation subforum.
Any thread is eligible to be a Featured Thread, but special consideration is given to ones with well-written primers/OPs, innovative interactions, overall creativity, and general novelty. It doesn't matter if the thread was made yesterday or if it is 2 years old.
To get your thread featured under the "Featured Thread" tag, you need to APPLY IN THIS THREAD with a quick paragraph about why your thread deserves Featured status. More on that below.
Featured Threads will stay up for a month before rotating out.
There will never be more than 1-2 Featured Threads in any given month.
Any thread, old or new, can be a Featured Thread! Just make sure it is generally up to quality and presentable before messaging staff.
Post your applications to this thread AT LEAST 5 DAYS BEFORE THE END OF THE MONTH so we have time to review them.
Once your thread is ready, reply to this thread with the following header: "Application for featured thread - *NAME OF THREAD*". This helps us keep track of the applicants.
Include a link to your thread in the application and a quick paragraph (3-5 sentences is good) about why you feel it deserves to be featured for the month.
Moderators will review the submissions and then select 1-2 for Featured status. This will be an internal conversation amongst staff and our goal is always to showcase a wide variety of decks and discussions on the site. All decisions for the month are final.
Accepted threads will just be promoted on the 1st of the next month, given the Featured tag, and stickied on the first page.
Didn't get accepted? Don't worry! Apply again! You can always apply again if you feel your thread was overlooked the first time, and feel free to include some additional information about why your thread should be featured this time around.
"SOUNDS GOOD, BUT I STILL HAVE SOME LINGERING QUESTIONS:
"Can I nominate another poster's thread?"
Absolutely! Feel free to nominate a thread that isn't your own. In fact, we will probably view it favorably if multiple users nominate the same sleeper threads (don't try and game that system, however, because we are wise to those kinds of shenanigans).
"I have a great deck idea but don't have the time/energy/writing skills to make a primer. Can I still apply?"
Yes, yes, yes. We want to emphasize the concepts and interactions behind the decks as much as the writing of the thread. Although we also want to feature well-thought-out primers, it's just as important to showcase the raw ideas themselves.
"Don't we already have stickies for this? Why a new tag?"
Stickied threads are designed to showcase our most popular and oldest Creation threads. But a lot of decks, although innovative and interesting, do not always have a high volume of responses. Featured Threads gives discussions a chance to take off for the month they are stickied, building a following that will keep with the deck even after it is unstickied. It also showcases our brewers to the wider MTG community.
"Why are you tyrannical mods deciding who gets featured? It should be a poll!"
We don't want Featured Threads to be a popularity contest. That's what stickied threads are for; the most popular and competitive threads get stickied. Featured Threads are for decks that don't necessarily have a lot of traffic but still have great content that we want to share with others. By asking users to vote, we are making it into a popularity contest and we just want it to be about the ideas.
"I'm mad/confused as hell and still have question!"
Shoot me a PM and I will be happy to address any and all questions. I'll even post the common ones to this thread here.
So get out there and get those decks and threads together for some featuring! I will keep this thread around as an explanation of the system and to archive previous Featured Thread discussions. And remember that if you have any questions, please message me and I will get back to you.
Thought Belcher was just for Legacy and Vintage? THINK AGAIN! This combo deck uses the redundant 1 CMC land search spells with free mana sources and a low land count to power out a lethal Belcher. It's pretty fast, very resilient, and super fun; LSV himself called it "one of the most unique Modern decks I have ever seen". This is a great thread to feature because it's an exciting combo deck that uses a widely beloved/feared card.
Most lock or combo decks have the issue of needing a combination of two factors: Assembly and Timing. If you cannot put all the pieces together, or do so at a less-than-opportune time, it might not work and prevent you from winning at all. But the catch of the Assembly means that you need to spend valuable time and resources collecting the pieces.
But what if there was only one piece you needed to collect?
Fate Seal is a deck that I've been inspired to build from an earlier discussion of the key card: Shared Fate. The premise is to pilot a deck that has zero ways to win on its own, and use a well-timed Shared Fate to hand it to your opponent. Then proceed to kill him with his own deck, assuming he plans on winning the game with cards from his deck.
The exciting part of the deck is that because there is only ONE card that's absolutely required - unlike other combo, lock, or synergy-based decks. Because of this, of the three people active in the thread with lists, all three of our lists are rather different and play completely differently. I can almost guarantee that you will likely never see this piloted on MODO or Cockatrice, so for some this might be the only chance to see the one-mancard combo/lock.
Also because I think it's rather creative and out of nowhere.
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Twitch: MTGJankmaster; lurking>streaming (but maybe one day when I get good at magic)
xMage: Jankmaster Commander - Now Playing WUBSen Triplets - "If you shake my hand, better count your fingersBUWRHomura, Human AscendantRRGBorborygmos EnragedGRURMelek, Izzet ParagonRU
Commander - Still Brewing BRGGyrus, Waker of CorpsesGRBURSaheeli, the GiftedRUWRJor Kadeen, the PrevailerRW
Mono-Green? This is a competitive forum get that Timmy nonsense outta here.
While I am not gonna deny this deck has Timmy moments, lots of them actually but this thread has been going for weeks with hundreds of different ideas poured into it as well as a nice primer written by Badd Business.
This is a deck with fairly solid matchups as long as a lot of people pouring there ideas into it.
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Storm and Burn all formats
MODERN
GRIXIS FAERIES
FISH
NAYA BURN STANDARD
RABBLE RED E D H
OCEAN MASTER LORTHOS
Daretti's House of Artifacts AND LAND DESTRUCTION
SIDISI VALUE
This four color midrange deck is a new mix of the same old stuff, playing cards such as Lingering Souls along with Geist of Saint Traft and Abrupt Decay. The thing that makes this deck stand out is that it has an extremely stable mana base, despite playing four colors. Combine that stability with consistently solid plays throughout the midgame, and that gives you a deck with solid match ups against most of the field.
I've put quite a bit of information into the Primer, and have uploaded several videos throughout the deck's evolution. It's definitely worth checking out.
Eternal Ruse is a deck that almost can't be categorized neatly like some Modern decks. It can play many roles in a game depending on the matchup: Tempo, Control, Midrange, even Lockdown/Combo.
The deck plays similarly to the tier 2 Eternal Command deck that Shouta Yasooka piloted to second place at Worlds 2012. Like eternal command, the deck is fairly customizable, with RUG, BUG, Bant, and even 4c variants possible. Eternal Ruse (at least the RUG version) has an amazing match-up against both UWR variants, and an even-to-favorable Jund/BGx match-up. And, as the deck is so variable, one can customize the deck to beat any metagame.
Nearly every card in the deck provides value or advantage in some way, which is what makes the deck so strong against the fair decks, and the deck plays counterspells and other disruption in order to beat the unfair decks. One final consideration is that the deck doesn't play Tarmogoyf (unless you want to for some reason...) and as a result is over $500 cheaper than its Eternal Command counterpart.
EDIT: Additionally, I just won the Lantern IQ with a version of this deck, so that may be something to consider.
Interesting, the featured thread will be useful for people like me who likes to try out new things
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712.5b The controller of another player can't make choices or decisions for that player that aren't called for by the rules or by any objects. The controller also can't make any choices or decisions for the player that would be called for by the tournament rules.
Example: The player who's being controlled still chooses whether he or she leaves to visit the restroom, trades a card to someone else, agrees to an intentional draw, or calls a judge about an error or infraction.
One deck got withdrawn from the application. Nykthos Green is technically stickied, but it's still eligible for Featured Status for a month (the green tag is not only eye-catching; it's also totally appropriate for that deck!). 1 week left for applications everyone! Let me know if you have questions. Hope to see more cool brews!
I vote for Eternal Ruse. Its different enough from Eternal Command in the way it plays, if not so much the cards it uses, to warrant special attention.
I vote for Eternal Ruse. I really like the deck and would love to see it worked on more. Nykthos Green doesn't need it, since it is already stickied. As much as I love Big Trouble in Little China, there is enough attention on midrange in Modern. And while Fate Seal is innovative, I would prefer the featured thread being something more competitive.
Applications are due by the end of today! We have a few great threads submitted and will decide on the "winners" over this week, to be posted on 2/1 (Saturday).
I absolutely love this, and consequently wish i had read it sooner than a day late. For example, MBC is my pet deck, but it's got the same set of eyes on it and thus hasn't really grown very much, but if enough competitive and creative people look at it and put their own spin on it (with explanations behind the thought process) I can only imagine it would see a lot of innovation in a short time span.
A very innovative and interesting deck that is also very competitive (as shown in its Lantern IQ finishes). In a format that lacks a lot of decent, blue-based permission decks, Eternal Ruse is a deck to watch out for.
Thanks to all the others who applied for this round of thread features. Just because you weren't selected, doesn't mean you won't be selected in the future or that we don't like your deck. We'll pick our next feature thread at the beginning of the next month, so keep the applications coming!
The deck revolves the usage of life as a replenish-able resource, and features many cards that would not otherwise see the light of day. Never have I seen another deck that so readily manipulates its own life total, disadvantaging the opponent in the process. The deck also features one of the more interesting and rogue kill conditions I've seen, draining your opponent out with Sanguine Bond-like effects. The deck thread has seen little traffic, and I believe it has a lot of room to grow.
What G/W Pod lacks in innovation, it makes up for in power and resiliency. A synthesis of the Tier 1 Melira Pod deck and the Tier 1.5 G/W Hatebears deck, Hatebear Pod has elements of both decks while bringing something new to the table. Playing 2 colors gives the deck the ability to play powerful land-destruction cards that punish greedy mana bases while avoiding getting blown out by Blood Moon effects and fetchland hate. Featuring powerful anti-meta hate creatures such as Thalia, Spellskite and Voice of Resurgence to disrupt combo decks, resiliency via Kitchen Finks and Reveillark, and a combo finish with Archangel of Thune + Spike Feeder, this deck has all the tools to fight the top tier of competitive Modern decks, thus far posting favored matchups against top-tier decks such as Splinter Twin, Faeries, Scapeshift, and UW/r decks.
While I don't underestimate the power of the metagame to adapt to this deck, I would advise against underestimating this deck's potential to adapt back. It is my sincere belief that this deck is an undiscovered gem with the potential to be a contender among the top decks in the format.
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Former Level 2 Judge (Retired / Renounced)
Went to a new shop from a friend's recommendation, DQ'ed for willful violation of CR 100.6b.
I've been playing this deck a lot, it's very consistent, very powerful, and has very few bad match ups. Creative versatile control combo deck that can be played with almost any colors. I feel the meta needs more control combo. I feel that with more ideas, the deck could become even better.
For what it's worth, my second choice would be Modern Belcher, just because it's such a unique deck (mono green 4 turn combo deck) but I feel the deck doesn't need to be featured as much because it has nearly 50,000 views already.
Feature of the Month: December- Treefolk
Next Feature Month: January
Applications due: 12/30/2014
One of the biggest strengths of the MTGS Modern Forums is our strong deckbuilding and brewing community. Although some players prefer to stick with the defined tier 1 and 2 decks of the format, there are many of us who also like to strike out into new uncharted territory, experiment with new cards and ideas, and generally try and create something innovative. Given how many threads get created in the Deck Creation subforum, not all of these awesome brews get the views they probably deserve. This is especially true of some very well-written and well-researched primers and ideas that reflect a lot of time on the part of the author. True, Deck Creation has a lot of stickied threads, but those are often reserved for very popular discussions, not necessarily the most interesting or innovative decks in the forum.
In an effort to recognize these brewers, innovators, mavericks, and general deckbuilders, the MTGS Modern staff has decided to start the Featured Thread system! This decision was based on discussion amongst staff and with posters across the site. The new Featured Thread system will give anyone on the site a chance to showcase their decks and ideas on a monthly basis.
Here is everything you need to new about the new system and how it will work:
"SO WHAT ARE FEATURED THREADS?"
January, 2015: Martyr Proc
December, 2014: Treefolk
November, 2014: RG Generator
Application for Featured Thread - Forest Belcher
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=549449
Thought Belcher was just for Legacy and Vintage? THINK AGAIN! This combo deck uses the redundant 1 CMC land search spells with free mana sources and a low land count to power out a lethal Belcher. It's pretty fast, very resilient, and super fun; LSV himself called it "one of the most unique Modern decks I have ever seen". This is a great thread to feature because it's an exciting combo deck that uses a widely beloved/feared card.
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=574358
Most lock or combo decks have the issue of needing a combination of two factors: Assembly and Timing. If you cannot put all the pieces together, or do so at a less-than-opportune time, it might not work and prevent you from winning at all. But the catch of the Assembly means that you need to spend valuable time and resources collecting the pieces.
But what if there was only one piece you needed to collect?
Fate Seal is a deck that I've been inspired to build from an earlier discussion of the key card: Shared Fate. The premise is to pilot a deck that has zero ways to win on its own, and use a well-timed Shared Fate to hand it to your opponent. Then proceed to kill him with his own deck, assuming he plans on winning the game with cards from his deck.
The exciting part of the deck is that because there is only ONE card that's absolutely required - unlike other combo, lock, or synergy-based decks. Because of this, of the three people active in the thread with lists, all three of our lists are rather different and play completely differently. I can almost guarantee that you will likely never see this piloted on MODO or Cockatrice, so for some this might be the only chance to see the one-
mancard combo/lock.Also because I think it's rather creative and out of nowhere.
xMage: Jankmaster
Commander - Now Playing
WUBSen Triplets - "If you shake my hand, better count your fingersBUW RHomura, Human AscendantR RGBorborygmos EnragedGR URMelek, Izzet ParagonRU
Commander - Still Brewing
BRGGyrus, Waker of CorpsesGRB URSaheeli, the GiftedRU WRJor Kadeen, the PrevailerRW
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=558546
Mono-Green? This is a competitive forum get that Timmy nonsense outta here.
While I am not gonna deny this deck has Timmy moments, lots of them actually but this thread has been going for weeks with hundreds of different ideas poured into it as well as a nice primer written by Badd Business.
This is a deck with fairly solid matchups as long as a lot of people pouring there ideas into it.
MODERN
GRIXIS FAERIES
FISH
NAYA BURN
STANDARD
RABBLE RED
E D H
OCEAN MASTER LORTHOS
Daretti's House of Artifacts AND LAND DESTRUCTION
SIDISI VALUE
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=566587
This four color midrange deck is a new mix of the same old stuff, playing cards such as Lingering Souls along with Geist of Saint Traft and Abrupt Decay. The thing that makes this deck stand out is that it has an extremely stable mana base, despite playing four colors. Combine that stability with consistently solid plays throughout the midgame, and that gives you a deck with solid match ups against most of the field.
I've put quite a bit of information into the Primer, and have uploaded several videos throughout the deck's evolution. It's definitely worth checking out.
FREE BLOODBRAID ELF
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=528334
Eternal Ruse is a deck that almost can't be categorized neatly like some Modern decks. It can play many roles in a game depending on the matchup: Tempo, Control, Midrange, even Lockdown/Combo.
The deck plays similarly to the tier 2 Eternal Command deck that Shouta Yasooka piloted to second place at Worlds 2012. Like eternal command, the deck is fairly customizable, with RUG, BUG, Bant, and even 4c variants possible. Eternal Ruse (at least the RUG version) has an amazing match-up against both UWR variants, and an even-to-favorable Jund/BGx match-up. And, as the deck is so variable, one can customize the deck to beat any metagame.
Nearly every card in the deck provides value or advantage in some way, which is what makes the deck so strong against the fair decks, and the deck plays counterspells and other disruption in order to beat the unfair decks. One final consideration is that the deck doesn't play Tarmogoyf (unless you want to for some reason...) and as a result is over $500 cheaper than its Eternal Command counterpart.
EDIT: Additionally, I just won the Lantern IQ with a version of this deck, so that may be something to consider.
Thanks to Rivenor for the signature and XenoNinja for the Avi!
Quotes:
Example: The player who's being controlled still chooses whether he or she leaves to visit the restroom, trades a card to someone else, agrees to an intentional draw, or calls a judge about an error or infraction.
How about this?
Fate Seal (http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=574358)
BWGU Midrange (http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=566587)
Eternal Ruse (http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=528334)
Nykthos Green (http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=558546)
One deck got withdrawn from the application. Nykthos Green is technically stickied, but it's still eligible for Featured Status for a month (the green tag is not only eye-catching; it's also totally appropriate for that deck!). 1 week left for applications everyone! Let me know if you have questions. Hope to see more cool brews!
Storm Crow is strictly worse than Seacoast Drake.
Thanks to Rivenor for the signature and XenoNinja for the Avi!
Quotes:
Thanks to Rivenor for the signature and XenoNinja for the Avi!
Quotes:
ETERNAL RUSE!
A very innovative and interesting deck that is also very competitive (as shown in its Lantern IQ finishes). In a format that lacks a lot of decent, blue-based permission decks, Eternal Ruse is a deck to watch out for.
Thanks to all the others who applied for this round of thread features. Just because you weren't selected, doesn't mean you won't be selected in the future or that we don't like your deck. We'll pick our next feature thread at the beginning of the next month, so keep the applications coming!
(it could use a better name if it's going to be featured)
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/modern/modern-deck-creation/539968-plunge-into-children-of-korlis
The deck revolves the usage of life as a replenish-able resource, and features many cards that would not otherwise see the light of day. Never have I seen another deck that so readily manipulates its own life total, disadvantaging the opponent in the process. The deck also features one of the more interesting and rogue kill conditions I've seen, draining your opponent out with Sanguine Bond-like effects. The deck thread has seen little traffic, and I believe it has a lot of room to grow.
What G/W Pod lacks in innovation, it makes up for in power and resiliency. A synthesis of the Tier 1 Melira Pod deck and the Tier 1.5 G/W Hatebears deck, Hatebear Pod has elements of both decks while bringing something new to the table. Playing 2 colors gives the deck the ability to play powerful land-destruction cards that punish greedy mana bases while avoiding getting blown out by Blood Moon effects and fetchland hate. Featuring powerful anti-meta hate creatures such as Thalia, Spellskite and Voice of Resurgence to disrupt combo decks, resiliency via Kitchen Finks and Reveillark, and a combo finish with Archangel of Thune + Spike Feeder, this deck has all the tools to fight the top tier of competitive Modern decks, thus far posting favored matchups against top-tier decks such as Splinter Twin, Faeries, Scapeshift, and UW/r decks.
While I don't underestimate the power of the metagame to adapt to this deck, I would advise against underestimating this deck's potential to adapt back. It is my sincere belief that this deck is an undiscovered gem with the potential to be a contender among the top decks in the format.
Went to a new shop from a friend's recommendation, DQ'ed for willful violation of CR 100.6b.
Have played duals? I have PucaPoints for them!
(Credit to DarkNightCavalier)
$tandard: Too poor.
Modern:
- GW Birthing Pod(?)
Legacy:
- UWR Delver
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=574358
I've been playing this deck a lot, it's very consistent, very powerful, and has very few bad match ups. Creative versatile control combo deck that can be played with almost any colors. I feel the meta needs more control combo. I feel that with more ideas, the deck could become even better.
For what it's worth, my second choice would be Modern Belcher, just because it's such a unique deck (mono green 4 turn combo deck) but I feel the deck doesn't need to be featured as much because it has nearly 50,000 views already.
UBRKess, Dissident MageUBR - Controlling Dissidents
GRhonas the IndomitableG - Indomitable Four Drops
WUBOloro, Ageless AsceticWUB - Loot & Renanimate