I would love to tell you guys that Mardu Charm is the nutter butters, but I can't.
I would love to tell you guys that Mardu Charm is the definition of a wasted slot, but I can't.
I never drew it and I didn't play the MUs where I'd want a second copy.
In total, I went 3-0-1, playing against Infect (2-1), Affinity(2-0), Jund(2-1) and Melira Pod(ID).
The list performed well, the Boars are fine and I didn't miss Fulminator Mage too much. Sided it in against Infect and Jund. Gnaw to the Bone in the 60 might be a bit too much, but I don't know what I'd run instead.
I'm actually considering to MD 2 copies of Gnaw to the Bone in addition to my 4 Bacon Piggies. I like to play Living End more like a control deck, setting up for a huge Living End that will end the game with 1 swing of our guys.
I mean, we have inevitability in a lot of matchups, it's more about living long enough to make it there for me.
I used to run Sin Collector a while ago, but I was never impressed by it. Mardu Charm being an instant is the biggest draw in my opinion. Also, it's probably not much harder than casting Sin Collector. I'll try it - maybe I'll even go with 1 in the main and 1-2 in the SB.
I'll report how this works out.
Folks, what's your take on Fulminator Mage in post KTK Modern? Is it still worth it?
I'll be taking Living End to a tournament tomorrow and I'm not sure whether Fulminator Mage is still worth it.
The Meta mainly consists of UR Delver, then some other stuff like Scapeshift, Melira Pod, Affinity, Jeskai Ascendancy and Burn.
Avalanche Riders seem out of the question, the Meta is way too aggressive.
Then, there's something that came to my mind: Splashing W gives us a discard spell in the form of Mardu Charm. Bonus points for it killing dudes and enabling Demonic Dread in MUs where they rarely have creatures. Of course, I'm not looking at it as a MD card and I'm aware that all 3 modes being live in the same MU is a pipe dream. Might still warrant some thought.
Edit: A card that seems to be overshadowed by Dig Through Time and Treasure Cruise that i am really impressed with is Tiagam's Scheming, scry 5 with the ability to dump them into the graveyard for 1U. That is some dig right there.
It's carddisadvantage and costs 2 Mana. I doubt it'd be playable at 1.
treasure cruise is getting ridiculously overrated. its a total win more card. its early game conditional card draw. why not just play thirst? for each time this is a draw three for one on like turn 6 theres 3 times it rots in your hand and you lose because it does nothing. its just bad for modern due to inconsistency. half your lands arent fetches. if you draw none can you ever cast this? etc
It's as much a win more card as any other draw spell.
Trade ressources early and late you draw 3 for 1-2 mana. What's the big deal?
Would Cathedral Sanctifier be fine in this deck? Possibly for a super-budget version of this deck.
If you have to play a budget version of one of the cheapest decks in the format, then this format might not be for you.
Not to step on your toes, but pick up a small job, work for a month or so and this deck will be very easy to build for you.
I don't even know what you'd want to swap out for the Sanctifier. Soul Warden, Soul's Attendant and Martyr of the Sands are already more than enough dorks that gain life.
To anyone worrying why none of the big names (save for a few troopers) is running Fae at the Pro Tour, remember this: The only lists they had to work with were incredibly outdated and this archetype is hard to build. They probably didn't have the time to come up with a build that beats everything.
That did not stop people from playing Zoo. I do not think you are giving people enough credit. If a strategy was working, you would be seeing it here at the GP. I am not trying to ruffle any feathers here. I cetainly know how personally attached people can get to their decks. But it's time to face the music. UB Fae is not solid enough to take on Zoo, and it does not have enough "in the bag" match ups.
I'm sorry but there it is. I predicted that UB would be at least Tier 1.5 prior to the BB unban. Many other people whose opinions I respect made similar predictions. We were all wrong. Let me tell you I am not happy about this either. I am trying to develop 8Rack which basically has a bye against UB Fae. I wanted UB Fae to be everywhere, but its not being played.
I tested UB Fae and found it lackluster. In my opinion, going Grixis is much better, but apparently people are able to make UB work for them - which is great. It's just not for me. I like having "big" cards like Firespout and Vedalken Shackles in my deck that can win the game even when my synergies get disrupted and I can't piece together a squad of Fae. That has nothing to do with the deck being bad or anything. Fae is putting up some decent results on MODO, which seems to indicate that it's a fine choice. However, I doubt these lists are refined enough to take them to a high stakes event like a PT.
The core is still strong, but you have to play incredibly tight and can't make too many mistakes. If you do it right, I think this deck is a force to be reckoned with.
You should stop writing bold lines, especially like "UB build is not for me, but people made it work for them" "I doubt..." when you are talking about playing grixis for firespout instead considering what is the meta answer to zoo, pod, aggros like anger of the gods. Of course it was a risky choice for the simple fact it was inexistent a month ago for years, and this is not the kind of deck where you tap out for a card winning on itself
If you think that you can play Anger of the Gods in a deck like this, you are not living in reality.
Strangely enough, I've won every single game where I tapped out for one of these cards. Maybe playing these trump cards is worth it after all. If you can make the deck work without them, good for you. If the Aggro MUs are a problem, there are answers that are easily playable.
I have had an eye on the tone in this thread and I must say that, much to my dismay, it's become really hostile. I don't know why, but it's sad and I have better things to do than read pages of people barking at each other. I'll keep playing the deck, but my desire to discuss it with other people has decreased with every page I've read in here - not because I'm like "lolz guys, u all so bad", but rather because there's a lot of hostility.
So, farewell my fellow Fae players, good luck on brewing!
To anyone worrying why none of the big names (save for a few troopers) is running Fae at the Pro Tour, remember this: The only lists they had to work with were incredibly outdated and this archetype is hard to build. They probably didn't have the time to come up with a build that beats everything.
That did not stop people from playing Zoo. I do not think you are giving people enough credit. If a strategy was working, you would be seeing it here at the GP. I am not trying to ruffle any feathers here. I cetainly know how personally attached people can get to their decks. But it's time to face the music. UB Fae is not solid enough to take on Zoo, and it does not have enough "in the bag" match ups.
I'm sorry but there it is. I predicted that UB would be at least Tier 1.5 prior to the BB unban. Many other people whose opinions I respect made similar predictions. We were all wrong. Let me tell you I am not happy about this either. I am trying to develop 8Rack which basically has a bye against UB Fae. I wanted UB Fae to be everywhere, but its not being played.
I tested UB Fae and found it lackluster. In my opinion, going Grixis is much better, but apparently people are able to make UB work for them - which is great. It's just not for me. I like having "big" cards like Firespout and Vedalken Shackles in my deck that can win the game even when my synergies get disrupted and I can't piece together a squad of Fae. That has nothing to do with the deck being bad or anything. Fae is putting up some decent results on MODO, which seems to indicate that it's a fine choice. However, I doubt these lists are refined enough to take them to a high stakes event like a PT.
The core is still strong, but you have to play incredibly tight and can't make too many mistakes. If you do it right, I think this deck is a force to be reckoned with.
To anyone worrying why none of the big names (save for a few troopers) is running Fae at the Pro Tour, remember this: The only lists they had to work with were incredibly outdated and this archetype is hard to build. They probably didn't have the time to come up with a build that beats everything.
Went 2-1-1 with my Grixis list this Tuesday.
As there is no Merfolk at my store anymore, I will take out the 2 Merfolk Assassins from my SB, though I'd probably play them at a PTQ or GP. Merfolk has historically been a horrible MU and they got many new toys compared to us.
As for my MUs, I played the following:
R1: Junk (2-1)
Close, highly interactive games. Voice of Resurgence is a beating, but Batterskull made it a-okay.
R2: GW Hatebears (2-1)
Smiter and Voice are really annoying cards, but Shackles wins if you can manage to keep fetching for Islands. Batterskull also shone in this MU.
R3: Melira Pod (0-2)
MU feels unwinnable. Need to find some sweet tech against this deck, or we just get buried under Voice + Finks value. Definitely want a Needle for Pod.
R4: UW Control (1-1)
Stick Bitterblossom Turn 2 G1, ride it to victory. He wraths a bunch and plays Revelation, but Bolts and tokens take it home. Game 2 he wins in the 4th extra turn due to my Bitterblossom draining me dry after he sticks a Jace, Architect of Thought. Bummer.
EDIT: @ razormane masticore
Does anybody have any experience with this card? I've never actually seen it in play aside from an odd cube draft. It definitely looks like a house against aggro when you're stable it should pretty much lock it up, but against control/combo it doesn't seem too hot. Worth exploring for a few games at least.
I've played Masticore in Jund Pod to have a creature that blocks Etched Champion, in the end I ditched it.
Now, with Affinity not being a factor anymore, I didn't think about this card, but it still costs you a card each turn.
I would love to tell you guys that Mardu Charm is the definition of a wasted slot, but I can't.
I never drew it and I didn't play the MUs where I'd want a second copy.
In total, I went 3-0-1, playing against Infect (2-1), Affinity(2-0), Jund(2-1) and Melira Pod(ID).
The list performed well, the Boars are fine and I didn't miss Fulminator Mage too much. Sided it in against Infect and Jund. Gnaw to the Bone in the 60 might be a bit too much, but I don't know what I'd run instead.
Here's the list:
4 Street Wraith
4 Monstrous Carabid
4 Deadshot Minotaur
3 Pale Recluse
1 Jungle Weaver
Interaction
3 Beast Within
2 Shriekmaw
2 Dismember
1 Mardu Charm
Stalling
4 Brindle Boar
1 Gnaw to the Bone
The win
4 Violent Outburst
3 Demonic Dread
2 Living End
4 Simian Spirit Guide
4 Verdant Catacombs
2 Overgrown Tomb
1 Stomping Ground
1 Blood Crypt
1 Godless Shrine
1 Temple Garden
1 Forest
1 Swamp
3 Blackcleave Cliffs
3 Copperline Gorge
2 Gnaw to the Bone
1 Mardu Charm
1 Dismember
2 Ricochet Trap
3 Ingot Chewer
4 Fulminator Mage
2 Anger of the Gods
I mean, we have inevitability in a lot of matchups, it's more about living long enough to make it there for me.
I'll report how this works out.
I'll be taking Living End to a tournament tomorrow and I'm not sure whether Fulminator Mage is still worth it.
The Meta mainly consists of UR Delver, then some other stuff like Scapeshift, Melira Pod, Affinity, Jeskai Ascendancy and Burn.
Avalanche Riders seem out of the question, the Meta is way too aggressive.
Then, there's something that came to my mind: Splashing W gives us a discard spell in the form of Mardu Charm. Bonus points for it killing dudes and enabling Demonic Dread in MUs where they rarely have creatures. Of course, I'm not looking at it as a MD card and I'm aware that all 3 modes being live in the same MU is a pipe dream. Might still warrant some thought.
It's carddisadvantage and costs 2 Mana. I doubt it'd be playable at 1.
It's as much a win more card as any other draw spell.
Trade ressources early and late you draw 3 for 1-2 mana. What's the big deal?
If you have to play a budget version of one of the cheapest decks in the format, then this format might not be for you.
Not to step on your toes, but pick up a small job, work for a month or so and this deck will be very easy to build for you.
I don't even know what you'd want to swap out for the Sanctifier. Soul Warden, Soul's Attendant and Martyr of the Sands are already more than enough dorks that gain life.
I want to cast this badboy, but that CMC...
If you think that you can play Anger of the Gods in a deck like this, you are not living in reality.
Strangely enough, I've won every single game where I tapped out for one of these cards. Maybe playing these trump cards is worth it after all. If you can make the deck work without them, good for you. If the Aggro MUs are a problem, there are answers that are easily playable.
I have had an eye on the tone in this thread and I must say that, much to my dismay, it's become really hostile. I don't know why, but it's sad and I have better things to do than read pages of people barking at each other. I'll keep playing the deck, but my desire to discuss it with other people has decreased with every page I've read in here - not because I'm like "lolz guys, u all so bad", but rather because there's a lot of hostility.
So, farewell my fellow Fae players, good luck on brewing!
4 Creeping Tar Pit
4 Darkslick Shores
2 Island
4 Mutavault
4 River of Tears
4 Secluded Glen
1 Sunken Ruins
2 Tectonic Edge
1 Watery Grave
Creatures
4 Mistbind Clique
3 Snapcaster Mage
4 Spellstutter Sprite
2 Vendilion Clique
4 Bitterblossom
3 Cryptic Command
1 Doom Blade
1 Go for the Throat
2 Inquisition of Kozilek
3 Mana Leak
1 Peppersmoke
1 Shadow of Doubt
1 Smother
2 Spell Snare
2 Thoughtseize
3 Deathmark
1 Dispel
1 Drown in Sorrow
1 Engineered Explosives
2 Grafdigger's Cage
2 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Inquisition of Kozilek
2 Spellskite
1 Surgical Extraction
1 Vendilion Clique
I tested UB Fae and found it lackluster. In my opinion, going Grixis is much better, but apparently people are able to make UB work for them - which is great. It's just not for me. I like having "big" cards like Firespout and Vedalken Shackles in my deck that can win the game even when my synergies get disrupted and I can't piece together a squad of Fae. That has nothing to do with the deck being bad or anything. Fae is putting up some decent results on MODO, which seems to indicate that it's a fine choice. However, I doubt these lists are refined enough to take them to a high stakes event like a PT.
The core is still strong, but you have to play incredibly tight and can't make too many mistakes. If you do it right, I think this deck is a force to be reckoned with.
Scions are tricks.
That's the difference.
As there is no Merfolk at my store anymore, I will take out the 2 Merfolk Assassins from my SB, though I'd probably play them at a PTQ or GP. Merfolk has historically been a horrible MU and they got many new toys compared to us.
As for my MUs, I played the following:
R1: Junk (2-1)
Close, highly interactive games. Voice of Resurgence is a beating, but Batterskull made it a-okay.
R2: GW Hatebears (2-1)
Smiter and Voice are really annoying cards, but Shackles wins if you can manage to keep fetching for Islands. Batterskull also shone in this MU.
R3: Melira Pod (0-2)
MU feels unwinnable. Need to find some sweet tech against this deck, or we just get buried under Voice + Finks value. Definitely want a Needle for Pod.
R4: UW Control (1-1)
Stick Bitterblossom Turn 2 G1, ride it to victory. He wraths a bunch and plays Revelation, but Bolts and tokens take it home. Game 2 he wins in the 4th extra turn due to my Bitterblossom draining me dry after he sticks a Jace, Architect of Thought. Bummer.
I've played Masticore in Jund Pod to have a creature that blocks Etched Champion, in the end I ditched it.
Now, with Affinity not being a factor anymore, I didn't think about this card, but it still costs you a card each turn.
1 Batterskull
1 Chalice of the Void
1 Damnation
1 Combust
1 Electrolyze
1 Glen-Elendra Archmage
1 Negate
1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Dismember
2 Deathmark
2 Merfolk Assassin
2 Tormod's Crypt
Sadly, I did not encounter Merfolk.