I don't think UWR control is all that strong; the only reason it got so popular was because Delver was everywhere. There were more things to hit with your Lightning Helixes and Bolts. I feel B is the superior color to splash with UW due to harder removal, hand disruption with Thoughtseize and Esper Charm, and a secondary wincon with Creeping Tar Pit.
How has ember swallower been? Jund is a ridiculously greedy mana base so I wonder if you're not hurting yourself more than your opponent by playing it.
I'm playing Ember Swallower because there's not a whole lot of creatures I have in the 4 cmc slot. I'll be replacing him with Polukranos, World Eater, since he's plummeted in price recently (haven't bought him on Modo since he's still around $9+ on there).
I like it. How do you feel about Whisperwood? to me he is a All-star early late game ya know?
Reaper I have missed. I think it is in a good place having the ability to block and kill rhino and Sassigur. Scry is suppper relevant.
I'm not sure I want Whisperwood Elemental since it seems like a waste to spend $10+ on a card that won't ever see Modern play after it rotates out. Even then, I'm not a fan of the Morph mechanic; it seems counterproductive to potentially remove a land or removal spell I might need for a 2/2 that will rarely do more than block.
As for Reaper, yeah I love it to death. Part of the reason I avoided playing Abzan was because I had an excuse to use it over Siege Rhino.
I built this deck today on Modo and it's been doing fairly well. I have Courser of Kruphix in real life and will be using over the Yasova Dragonclaws and Lightning Strikes when I build it for my FNM. Otherwise, this deck is mostly complete. I want to avoid spending a lot of money on this deck, at least on cards that won't transition into Modern. Let me know of any improvements I can make.
Being partially inspired by the Sagu Mauler thread, what cards do you guys feel are underutilized in Modern, whether as main deck or sideboard options? Here are some of my favorites:
Annul in the sideboard for your Affinity/Bogles/Twin/Amulet Titan match-ups. Has a lot of targets in a variety of different decks, so it's rarely dead.
Gideon Jura. Though he's lost a few steps since the Modern format is so fast nowadays, Gideon's still a strong finisher for the slower decks like UW Control.
Noxious Revival. Did you finisher not quite have enough to finish your opponent off the first time? Need to save a key component of your combo from exile? Worry not! Just apply Noxious Revival to the afflicted area and watch your opponent's game plan crumble to dust on your next turn!
It's the same reason cards like Hunted Horror don't see play: they provide far too big an advantage to your opponent than to you. I fought a guy once that used cards like Virulent Plague alongside the Horror and Curse of the Swine to try to eliminate my creatures for free. It was too janky to work for long, especially when I boarded in my enchant removal.
This is actually something I'm wondering as well. With most decks centered around having cards with sub-4 cmc, you'd think this would see play in more aggressive minded decks that don't mind the card disadvantage as much, or at least in something like Splinter Twin where they need certain spells to go through no matter what.
While I agree with you, I have to bring up the point that many others have and say: "Why would I play this instead of Wurmcoil Engine/Vigor/Primeval Titan?" The 6 CMC slot is just so full of cards that have more immediate value than the Mauler, it's hard for him to find a foothold in Modern.
Glad I got my playset when I did then Anticipate has been great in my Esper Teachings and Cruel Control decks. Being able to dig 3 cards deep without having to discard anything is a fantastic luxury.
Dragons of Tarkir finally released on MTGO, so I can finally update my deck. Anticipate is an obvious auto-include, but what do you guys think of Silumgar's Command as a 1-of silver bullet? Is it strong enough in the deck?
As for creatures, Phyrexian Obliterator, Abyssal Persecutor, Korlash, Heir to Blackblade, and Lashwrithe are all good choices.
I'm playing Ember Swallower because there's not a whole lot of creatures I have in the 4 cmc slot. I'll be replacing him with Polukranos, World Eater, since he's plummeted in price recently (haven't bought him on Modo since he's still around $9+ on there).
I'm not sure I want Whisperwood Elemental since it seems like a waste to spend $10+ on a card that won't ever see Modern play after it rotates out. Even then, I'm not a fan of the Morph mechanic; it seems counterproductive to potentially remove a land or removal spell I might need for a 2/2 that will rarely do more than block.
As for Reaper, yeah I love it to death. Part of the reason I avoided playing Abzan was because I had an excuse to use it over Siege Rhino.
3 Wooded Foothills
4 Jungle Hollow
3 Bloodfell Caves
3 Rugged Highlands
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
3 Swamp
3 Forest
2 Mountain
3 Sylvan Caryatid
4 Heir of the Wilds
2 Yasova Dragonclaw
2 Ember Swallower
4 Reaper of the Wilds
3 Tasigur, the Golden Fang
2 Dragonlord Kolaghan
3 Ultimate Price
2 Lightning Strike
2 Roast
2 Hero's Downfall
3 Kolaghan's Command
2 Murderous Cut
4 Duress
3 Rending Volley
2 Feed the Clan
2 Drown in Sorrow
I built this deck today on Modo and it's been doing fairly well. I have Courser of Kruphix in real life and will be using over the Yasova Dragonclaws and Lightning Strikes when I build it for my FNM. Otherwise, this deck is mostly complete. I want to avoid spending a lot of money on this deck, at least on cards that won't transition into Modern. Let me know of any improvements I can make.
Annul in the sideboard for your Affinity/Bogles/Twin/Amulet Titan match-ups. Has a lot of targets in a variety of different decks, so it's rarely dead.
Gideon Jura. Though he's lost a few steps since the Modern format is so fast nowadays, Gideon's still a strong finisher for the slower decks like UW Control.
Noxious Revival. Did you finisher not quite have enough to finish your opponent off the first time? Need to save a key component of your combo from exile? Worry not! Just apply Noxious Revival to the afflicted area and watch your opponent's game plan crumble to dust on your next turn!
Instant
Return target creature to its owner's hand. Put a token that's a copy of the chosen creature onto the battlefield.
Though your body fades, your spirit will continue to serve me for eternity.
Bearscape, because who doesn't like bears?
Catalyst Stone, to hose Snapcaster Mage and Lingering Souls while making other Flashback cards like Increasing Vengeance viable.
Bottle Gnomes, a nice anti-aggro/anti-burn tech card that can fit into any deck, being an artifact.
Dismiss, 1/2 of a Cryptic Command is better than nothing, especially at the same CMC.