Hi, I'm looking to get into legacy on around an 800ish budget. I already own a Force of Will and the Khans fetches, but not too much else. Mostly just edh cards here and there.
Which decks should I be looking at? I plan to use this deck as mostly a stepping stone to slowly building a more expensive deck, but I also want something playable as is. Merfolk was my first guess, but I worry about matchups; my local meta has elves as a prominent deck, although the other two main decks (show and tell + miracles) seem to be a solid matchup for merfolk.
I typically enjoy playing control and tempo, but aggro with control elements is fine too. Dredge doesn't seem to be my cup of tea, too.
What's funny to me is that I already started this process right before eternal masters got announced, heh. So that's obviously a factor; wastelands will be cheaper for sure when the set drops.
Duals are a solid buy right now. U/W (miracles or stoneblade) would be a solid way to go if you have forces and khans fetches, a few tundra's will do you for a while. In particular, do you have tops? The are pretty edh staple-like. Edit: also, is tier-one controlly like.
If JtMS gets reprinted it will be even easier.
I actually wanted to ask, what is the need for the U/W duals in you play Miracles? How many times does a Miracles player grab their non-basics before 3-4 basics? I'd replace Tundra's with the new BFZ dual land for a budget if making Miracles.
for example you can attack with Kira and untap her to have one more blocker
um... no you can't
How not? You attack, deal some damage and then in the second main phase you untap her unless she is killed during combat phase. Minamo allows you to untap target legendary permanent and Kira is legendary permanent.
I'm new to abzan company but seems like a powerful and fun deck.
A recent article on modern nexus mentioned that fiend hunter can interact well with reality smasher. I did not really understand it. Can someone explain and also explains other beneficial interactions with fiend hunter or any of the other cards in the deck?
Reality Smasher says when it is 'targeted by a spell and opponent controls, counter it unless the opponent discards a card'. Fiend Hunter exiles a creature card when it enters the battlefield, hence not a spell, so no downside. Also, Fiend Hunter has the 'old' exile text rules. In response to targeting a creature with the trigger, you can sacrifice it in this deck so it's second ability of returning the exiled card is never triggered, hence the creature is permanently exiled.
Thanks for the explanation. Creatures are not spells?
Do you or anyone have an updated list that is most effective against eldrazi?
Just thought of it but do these rules apply to tide hollow sculler as well?
I believe what you mean is TideHollow Sculler's upon leaving the battlefield. And you are right, you can do the same trick, respond to the trigger and kill it off, and you permanently exile a card from their hand.
I'm new to abzan company but seems like a powerful and fun deck.
A recent article on modern nexus mentioned that fiend hunter can interact well with reality smasher. I did not really understand it. Can someone explain and also explains other beneficial interactions with fiend hunter or any of the other cards in the deck?
Reality Smasher says when it is 'targeted by a spell and opponent controls, counter it unless the opponent discards a card'. Fiend Hunter exiles a creature card when it enters the battlefield, hence not a spell, so no downside. Also, Fiend Hunter has the 'old' exile text rules. In response to targeting a creature with the trigger, you can sacrifice it in this deck so it's second ability of returning the exiled card is never triggered, hence the creature is permanently exiled.
Hi guys, you may have seen me around, I do a lot of brewing and nonsense around MTGSalvation and have always liked the Abzan CoCo list. I am currently playing BW Eldrazi and while it's been fun (and in my opinion fair enough), I am concerned over the panicked state of people over the landbase for that deck. I very much enjoy playing it and if it were to be killed (ie both lands get axed), I really don't feel like dropping the dough on Goyf and Liliana to buy into Junk just yet. I do already have Verdant Catacombs and can pick up most of the landbase and other cards for this deck to get in rather cheaply. My main questions that regard yall revolve around 2 cards. Noble Hierarch and Horizon Canopy. Both of these cards are a little more on the ridiculous side for price (Canopy far more than Hierarch). Are they absolutely necessary (not that they aren't the best options in their slots because they are)?
For mana dorks, would you suggest Avacyn's Pilgrim or more Birds of Paradise as a temporary replacement until I can acquire hierarchs? What would you all suggest about Canopy? There isn't anything that fills it's spot (which is why it's so good) but without them is there more other CA type of cards that should be looked at?
Anyway, if everything falls apart for my other deck over the next couple months (and I may even contribute anyway), I hope to bring more diligent and thoughtful tournament reports, opinions and ideas to the forefront with yall.
Birds are more important that Hierarchs. Instead, you should replace that of heiraches with Avacyn's Pilgrim. A platset of birds is what helps the deck.
Hello fellow followers of the Shield. I recently stopped playing Modern Elves as I found them to clunky and linear to the Legacy version and still wanted to use Chords and Companies, so I thought I'd give this deck a go for a laugh (as I've never actually played against it as no one has it in my area). I put together a budget version, and played against my mate thinking I would die to Bogles and Restore Balance being it a budget version and first time playing the deck to his completed version. I now have new found respect for the deck as it is just to fun! A deck full of value cards, multiple lines of play, and even with 3-4 different combos built into the deck. The deck being budget only hurt me a couple of times with using mana dorks for other colours of mana other than green, but still didn't slow me down.
If I may ask, Do I need Noble Heirarch to complete the deck? I love mana dorks, but is drawing a late game mana dork a problem for the deck?
Been lurking for over a year now. Speaking up to give props to Nikachu, Fanattic and a few others for some solid advice.
Just won the 1k Modern 'season opener' at my LGS (in Seattle). Went up against Eldrazi 3 times and won so I think there's some hope?! Or else the pilots of those decks are still learning (they certainly hadn't played against Merfolk much). Last round of swiss felt like everyone around me was playing Eldrazi or Abzan -luckily dodged the few Affinity today Nikachu, I've been playing your latest main (though my SB's a bit crazy to test Chalice and Disdainful Stroke) save for 2 Echoing Truth maindeck over Spell Pierce, 3 Images at the expense of 1 Reejerey, and then 2 maindeck GQ. Each Eldrazi match felt formulaic -they smash my face down to 8 or so, fish stabilize, and then they play like an attrition match with poor removal. Image and Echoing Truth were all stars. Image wasn't as fragile as I feared and often vialed in to trade for Reality Smasher or Matter Reshaper; a few times they burned a dismember on my Image only for Echo to bounce it and their creature(s) -so sweet to then vial the Image back on Harbinger or the Master!
Your Image would die when you cast Truth on it though.
I think it just goes back to your hand if you targeted the opponent's creature.. As far as I know, it would go:
>Dismember on Image(copy of opponent's creature)
>Image Sacrifice Trigger goes on stack
>Cast Echoing Truth (Targeting opponent's Creature that Image Copied)
>Resolve Echoing Truth, creatures both go to owner's hands
Echoing truth targets the first copy, and bounces all other names without targeting. Doing this on a Phantasmal Image will kill it before the spell resolves, so you cannot bounce the other names as the spell gets fizzled. Although, if targeting your opponent's creatures, the spell will safely return your Image.
...unless there's some unexpected turn of events Eye of Ugin will not be legal by april
regards,Bill
I always wondered this. Why Eye of Ugin? Why not Eldrazi Temple? I know Eye causes them to not have to tap mana on multiple threats, but it allows for Tron to stay the same, but it is Legendary and gives people the search ability. I know I'd be disappointed if Eye was banned (my Tron deck would cry). Eldrazi Temple however, I'd be find with it being banned as it would still allow Eldrazi to be a deck, accept not as easy to mulligan to the land you need.
Thank god twin got banned, now modern FINALLY has some real diversity. 6 eldrazi and 2 affinity. So much better than 4 to 8 different decks in a PT top 8. Much better now guys, amirite!?1 Disgusting.
So we can all agree to fix Modern they will have to either unban Twin or ban Eldrazi?
So I just came across Mirror Entity, and I'm wondering if I'm crazy for wondering if anyone has ever tried it in W/U Merfolk? Seems like a potential uber lord but I'm not sure how best case scenario I'm being.
It's been tried, but to get enough value with it rather than replacing with another lord, you have to invest 3+ mana each attack / defend to even get your creatures to have it be worth it or not. With this deck using our lands to attack with, this is not wanted.
I hope not. WOTC clearly doesn't like Tier 1 decks. I hope this stays right where it is. Let Affinity and Burn and Infect get the glory.
Swimming in our pond, minding our own business...
If WOTC ever ban anything out of Merfolk, I'll most likely quit Modern, as there is nothing currently in our deck which is broken. That being said, we are fine to go Tier 1. We don't threaten by turn 4 most games.
What decks can I build from my BW Tokens manabase and staples (PtE, IoK, Thougtseize, etc.)?
Build Deadguy Ale. It's an old Legacy archetype that ports over to Modern well. It's a bunch of hand disruption, creature destruction, and removal in the form of creatures. Key cards that represent the strategy include Tidehollow Sculler, Gatekeeper of Malakir and Dark Confidant.
I've gotten to the point of Magic that I want to go the extra step as just playing the game is not enough. I want to go in one of three directions.
1. A Magic Judge
2. A Professional Tournament Magic player, or
3. A Magic Provider (similar to The Mana Source, Tolarian Community College, etc.)
I know extensive knowledge of the rules that my friends and store owner who have played longer than me are forever looking to me for rulings. I'm the stores substitute-Judge, not official. I'm always judging the tournaments there. Kind of makes me want to become a Judge. Downside is I'd have to find some Judges as I hear you have to befriend some before you can take the test.
I've tried to teach my girl how to play Magic but she can't get her head around it and she reckons it's only for smart people. A few players at my LGS also mention they prefer to play games against me to get better as they think I'm the best player in the area. It's flattering, but it kind of makes me want to become a pro. Downside is I'm usually a chill-layback kind of player, making jokes as I'm playing and striking conversations with my opponents. I don't know if that is a good thing in professional tournaments.
I'm a professional web developer / programmer in real life. I've thought as a project I could make a website, as well as social media content, for Magic as a way to add to my portfolio. I could learn more with creating video content to which I've been interested in. Also, with my user interface and user testing training, the site would have a bunch of extra features and such. This idea kind of makes me want to become a Magic provider. Downside I could see would basic costs towards the web hosting and it wouldn't be a paying project.
I'm fine with the deck flying under the radar, I just find it hilarious, especially with comments like this:
"That deck is *** and slow. You can't start profitably attacking til turn 3 assuming a lord didn't die."
"Merfolf is hot ****, loses to anithing basically. I think maybe it is good against tron but that is Just because of spreading seas. Bad against spot removal and combo"
It is funny, as we act like Jund and Abzan, but more slippery. Also, with the bannings, we are pretty much the best blue deck in Modern.
If I may ask, what is so hard about versusing Burn? I haven't lost a match against them with Merfolk. Cursecatchers are usually the lifesaver. The only type of burn I've lost to is Goblins with 2 Grenades in almost every game....so much pain...
I actually wanted to ask, what is the need for the U/W duals in you play Miracles? How many times does a Miracles player grab their non-basics before 3-4 basics? I'd replace Tundra's with the new BFZ dual land for a budget if making Miracles.
Kira's own ability counter's the effect....
I believe what you mean is TideHollow Sculler's upon leaving the battlefield. And you are right, you can do the same trick, respond to the trigger and kill it off, and you permanently exile a card from their hand.
Reality Smasher says when it is 'targeted by a spell and opponent controls, counter it unless the opponent discards a card'. Fiend Hunter exiles a creature card when it enters the battlefield, hence not a spell, so no downside. Also, Fiend Hunter has the 'old' exile text rules. In response to targeting a creature with the trigger, you can sacrifice it in this deck so it's second ability of returning the exiled card is never triggered, hence the creature is permanently exiled.
Birds are more important that Hierarchs. Instead, you should replace that of heiraches with Avacyn's Pilgrim. A platset of birds is what helps the deck.
If I may ask, Do I need Noble Heirarch to complete the deck? I love mana dorks, but is drawing a late game mana dork a problem for the deck?
Echoing truth targets the first copy, and bounces all other names without targeting. Doing this on a Phantasmal Image will kill it before the spell resolves, so you cannot bounce the other names as the spell gets fizzled. Although, if targeting your opponent's creatures, the spell will safely return your Image.
I always wondered this. Why Eye of Ugin? Why not Eldrazi Temple? I know Eye causes them to not have to tap mana on multiple threats, but it allows for Tron to stay the same, but it is Legendary and gives people the search ability. I know I'd be disappointed if Eye was banned (my Tron deck would cry). Eldrazi Temple however, I'd be find with it being banned as it would still allow Eldrazi to be a deck, accept not as easy to mulligan to the land you need.
So we can all agree to fix Modern they will have to either unban Twin or ban Eldrazi?
It's been tried, but to get enough value with it rather than replacing with another lord, you have to invest 3+ mana each attack / defend to even get your creatures to have it be worth it or not. With this deck using our lands to attack with, this is not wanted.
If WOTC ever ban anything out of Merfolk, I'll most likely quit Modern, as there is nothing currently in our deck which is broken. That being said, we are fine to go Tier 1. We don't threaten by turn 4 most games.
Build Deadguy Ale. It's an old Legacy archetype that ports over to Modern well. It's a bunch of hand disruption, creature destruction, and removal in the form of creatures. Key cards that represent the strategy include Tidehollow Sculler, Gatekeeper of Malakir and Dark Confidant.
1. A Magic Judge
2. A Professional Tournament Magic player, or
3. A Magic Provider (similar to The Mana Source, Tolarian Community College, etc.)
I know extensive knowledge of the rules that my friends and store owner who have played longer than me are forever looking to me for rulings. I'm the stores substitute-Judge, not official. I'm always judging the tournaments there. Kind of makes me want to become a Judge. Downside is I'd have to find some Judges as I hear you have to befriend some before you can take the test.
I've tried to teach my girl how to play Magic but she can't get her head around it and she reckons it's only for smart people. A few players at my LGS also mention they prefer to play games against me to get better as they think I'm the best player in the area. It's flattering, but it kind of makes me want to become a pro. Downside is I'm usually a chill-layback kind of player, making jokes as I'm playing and striking conversations with my opponents. I don't know if that is a good thing in professional tournaments.
I'm a professional web developer / programmer in real life. I've thought as a project I could make a website, as well as social media content, for Magic as a way to add to my portfolio. I could learn more with creating video content to which I've been interested in. Also, with my user interface and user testing training, the site would have a bunch of extra features and such. This idea kind of makes me want to become a Magic provider. Downside I could see would basic costs towards the web hosting and it wouldn't be a paying project.
It is funny, as we act like Jund and Abzan, but more slippery. Also, with the bannings, we are pretty much the best blue deck in Modern.