A Paradox Engine might work well with this shell. Check out the Dice Factory thread for some ideas. Your shell is different, but I feel there might be some ideas you could mine.
4 Leyline of Sanctity - Essential to the deck, especially now with Death's Shadow being 16% of the meta.
I've noticed that people are still mostly running leyline in the side. There is so much main deck discard that to me it makes sense to run it mainboard, which is what I have been doing.
It's not quite a normal card for these type decks, as it doesn't inherently grind out advantage. It's instead a purely defensive card to help protect us/our stuff. I haven't done any testing with it, I was wondering if others have. Obviously protection effects are still pretty weak to skullcrack and the like, but still seems like it might have merit. Mother of Runes type effect in modern has me thinking.
This is continuing from the previous thread, but one card from the new set i am going to test that i haven't seen mentioned is Aviary Mechanic.
I'm running mono W combo heavy, so different priorities. I'm low on 2 drops, thought this bear might have enough value in that shell. (Better drops in U, I get that.)
So i tested a bit with the list i mentioned above and the 3 cards really blew me away:
blasting station
Kitchen Finks
Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit
Keep in mind that Fiend Hunter, Sun Titan, Blasting Station is also a combo. (I also run both in my mono-white version.)
Cast/fetch fiend hunter, target your own Sun Titan. Once resolved, sac the Fiend Hunter with blasting station, returning Sun Titan to the battlefield. Trigger pulling back Fiend Hunter, repeat as necessary.
I was trying to build a double-combo version of this deck around blasting station. I decided to be very combo heavy main deck with the full 4 blasting stations, but after side boarding I frequently took out some of the combo pieces to be more grindy and resilient. Here is my brief tournament report:
Round 1: vs. Sean on Jeskai Nahiri Control (1-1, Tie)
Creature light combo deck, I suspect the only creatures were 4 Snapcaster Mage and 1 Emrakul, The Aeons Torn. Some timely reinforcements for some token options.
Game 1 he resolved a Nahiri and kept my board clear of creatures. I was able to delay the tick ups with a couple of flickerwisps, but I didn't draw a permanent answer such as O-ring. He as able to ultimate in Emrakul.
Game 2 was a grind fest that ended up going to turns. My opponent started with a Leyline of Sanctity in play, which closed off all of the instant win options while it was in play. I was able to celestial purge his first Nahiri, which gave me time to find a Pithing Needle to shut her down. We played some early top deck wars, my first 2 Sun Titans getting pathed. I was pinging him down alternatively with fiend hunters or pilgrim's eyes, actually getting him down to 3 life. Every time I dropped a lethal threat, he was able to answer it (bolts, snap into bolt, etc.) until he eventually found a Timely Reinforcements. Snapping that gave him 15 life and 6 tokens total, but I was able to ping away many of them with blasting station when he removed my creatures. (Also stalled behind my Wall of Omens).
My 3rd Sun Titan was countered, my 4th died to a wrath from my opponent. I was able to get some value from the cards, got to cycle my ghost quarter a few times to limit him to his 5 basics, so not much happened for a long time. He was able to answer my Pithing Needle with a wear/tear. By then I had an answer in the form of O-ring.
A little more like this, I finally found my first Emeria as time was called, on turn 0. On turn 2 I was able to bring back my Sun titan plus a combo piece. On turn 4 I was able to O-ring away the Leyline and combo finish for the win. Keep in mind this is the first time I've ever played Modern, or this deck. Quite the intro.
Round 2: vs. Michael on BGu CoCo Combo. (1-2 loss)
This was a unique build that I don't think I played optimally against, but I don't think it much mattered. His combo was based on a sac outlet (Viscera Seer), Persist/Undying creatures (Kitchen Finks, Geralf's Messenger) and Phantasmal Image to copy various creatures. He also had other value creatures such as Bob and Blood Artist type effects. (Zulaport Cutthroat). I also saw a Liliana, Heretical Healer in game 1.
He won the die roll. Not much happened other than playing lands for the first few turns. On turn 4 he cast a Liliana, Heretical Healer. On my turn I cast fiend hunter targeted Lili, but in response he CoCoed. He found a Seer and a Messenger, saced the messenger flipping Lili for a complete blow out. I lasted a turn or 2 more and even resolved a Sun Titan, but he was able to clone the titan and bring back his messanger and finish me off. I was one turn away from a combo kill of my own, but no love.
I sideboarded poorly, never drew any relevant cards.
The second game went the other way. On the play I was able to cast a turn 4 blasting station and a turn 5 Anafensa & Kitchen Finks while he was tapped out to win. Michael said he had a combo kill the next turn himself as well.
Third game I was on a mull to 5. I lasted a little while, but died to the full combo of his deck. Seer in play, with both Kitchen Finks and Messenger on the battlefield. He cast a Phantasmal Image copying Messenger, sacced it, brought it back to copy Finks with a +1/+1. Sacing it again triggered persist, came back as Messenger with a -1/-1. Rinse and repeat.
Round 3: Vs. Jordan on Merfolk (2-0)
These games played out the same way both way. Turn 1 vial, start building a board, reduce me to single digits of life, followed by me cast wrath. Game 1 he was hellbent with a board consisting of 11 Master of Wave tokens, 2 Masters and a bunch of merfolk. Game 2 wasn't as extreme, but very similar - 8 life on turn 4, wrath. (I sideboarded in all my wraths) I resolved a Sun Titan and the game quickly ended.
Round 4 my opponent withdrew, so I got the win but didn't get to play. I finished 2-1-1, not bad for my first Modern experience. Even better, I played at a store I hadn't been to before and am happy to report that everyone there was absolutely great. I had long conversations with all of my opponents and generally had a fantastic time.
I'm sure there are tweaks I can (and should) make. I may try a Restoration Angel if I can find one, something to fight against path on my Sun Titans.
I was aware of Resto, but didn't look too closely at it due to the 4 CMC. Obviously a very powerful card, I'll take a closer look at. It's not so expensive that it's out of the question.
Thanks for the reply, you seem to be onboard with most of my ideas. Also thanks for the sample, it includes some things I wasn't strongly considering. (For example, I looked at mind stone and rejected it.)
I had also read that many aren't that sold on Flickerwisp; I'm not sure I am either, so may be using Pilgrim's eyes or possibly even aven's mindcensor (sideboard?) as my flyer base. Still, this gave me some thoughts and ideas and confirmed I'm not completely crazy.
I was thinking of building a mono-W version of this deck as a budget entry into Modern. I saw the Titan/Hunter/Station combo on my own and did some googling to see if anyone else worked on it, which led me here.
One thing I am strongly considering that I don't being discussed is also having a Kitchen Finks/Anafenza/Station combo in the deck as well. I saw early on some Lone Missionary vs. Finks discussion in favor of missionary, but I think that an infinite combo option might swing that door the other way. When we aren't comboing, it seems like Anafenza may also provide some value on it's own with all the creature recursion.
Thoughts? Am I way off base? Is there enough value in Missionary to consider both?
Thanks for any advice you can give. Be gentle, I've never played a single game of modern.
I've noticed that people are still mostly running leyline in the side. There is so much main deck discard that to me it makes sense to run it mainboard, which is what I have been doing.
Thoughts?
It's not quite a normal card for these type decks, as it doesn't inherently grind out advantage. It's instead a purely defensive card to help protect us/our stuff. I haven't done any testing with it, I was wondering if others have. Obviously protection effects are still pretty weak to skullcrack and the like, but still seems like it might have merit. Mother of Runes type effect in modern has me thinking.
I'm running mono W combo heavy, so different priorities. I'm low on 2 drops, thought this bear might have enough value in that shell. (Better drops in U, I get that.)
Thoughts?
Keep in mind that Fiend Hunter, Sun Titan, Blasting Station is also a combo. (I also run both in my mono-white version.)
Cast/fetch fiend hunter, target your own Sun Titan. Once resolved, sac the Fiend Hunter with blasting station, returning Sun Titan to the battlefield. Trigger pulling back Fiend Hunter, repeat as necessary.
(Apologies in advance for formatting errors, first time trying to post a decklist.)
3 Emeria, the Sky Ruin
3 Ghost Quarter
2 Evolving Wilds
15 Plains
Creatures
4 Fiend Hunter
4 Kitchen Finks
4 Sun Titan
2 Pilgrim's Eye
4 Wall of Omens
4 Flickerwisp
2 Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit
4 Blasting Station
Spells
4 Path to Exile
1 Day of Judgment
2 Wrath of God
2 Oblivion Ring
1 Nevermore
4 Disenchant
2 Tormod's Crypt
2 Day of Judgment
1 Oblivion Ring
2 Pithing Needle
2 Celestial Purge
1 Ratchet Bomb
I was trying to build a double-combo version of this deck around blasting station. I decided to be very combo heavy main deck with the full 4 blasting stations, but after side boarding I frequently took out some of the combo pieces to be more grindy and resilient. Here is my brief tournament report:
Round 1: vs. Sean on Jeskai Nahiri Control (1-1, Tie)
Creature light combo deck, I suspect the only creatures were 4 Snapcaster Mage and 1 Emrakul, The Aeons Torn. Some timely reinforcements for some token options.
Game 1 he resolved a Nahiri and kept my board clear of creatures. I was able to delay the tick ups with a couple of flickerwisps, but I didn't draw a permanent answer such as O-ring. He as able to ultimate in Emrakul.
-1 Wrath of God, -1 Day of Judgement, -1 Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit, -1 Blasting Station, +2 Celestial Purge, +2 Pithing Needle
Game 2 was a grind fest that ended up going to turns. My opponent started with a Leyline of Sanctity in play, which closed off all of the instant win options while it was in play. I was able to celestial purge his first Nahiri, which gave me time to find a Pithing Needle to shut her down. We played some early top deck wars, my first 2 Sun Titans getting pathed. I was pinging him down alternatively with fiend hunters or pilgrim's eyes, actually getting him down to 3 life. Every time I dropped a lethal threat, he was able to answer it (bolts, snap into bolt, etc.) until he eventually found a Timely Reinforcements. Snapping that gave him 15 life and 6 tokens total, but I was able to ping away many of them with blasting station when he removed my creatures. (Also stalled behind my Wall of Omens).
My 3rd Sun Titan was countered, my 4th died to a wrath from my opponent. I was able to get some value from the cards, got to cycle my ghost quarter a few times to limit him to his 5 basics, so not much happened for a long time. He was able to answer my Pithing Needle with a wear/tear. By then I had an answer in the form of O-ring.
A little more like this, I finally found my first Emeria as time was called, on turn 0. On turn 2 I was able to bring back my Sun titan plus a combo piece. On turn 4 I was able to O-ring away the Leyline and combo finish for the win. Keep in mind this is the first time I've ever played Modern, or this deck. Quite the intro.
Round 2: vs. Michael on BGu CoCo Combo. (1-2 loss)
This was a unique build that I don't think I played optimally against, but I don't think it much mattered. His combo was based on a sac outlet (Viscera Seer), Persist/Undying creatures (Kitchen Finks, Geralf's Messenger) and Phantasmal Image to copy various creatures. He also had other value creatures such as Bob and Blood Artist type effects. (Zulaport Cutthroat). I also saw a Liliana, Heretical Healer in game 1.
He won the die roll. Not much happened other than playing lands for the first few turns. On turn 4 he cast a Liliana, Heretical Healer. On my turn I cast fiend hunter targeted Lili, but in response he CoCoed. He found a Seer and a Messenger, saced the messenger flipping Lili for a complete blow out. I lasted a turn or 2 more and even resolved a Sun Titan, but he was able to clone the titan and bring back his messanger and finish me off. I was one turn away from a combo kill of my own, but no love.
I sideboarded poorly, never drew any relevant cards.
The second game went the other way. On the play I was able to cast a turn 4 blasting station and a turn 5 Anafensa & Kitchen Finks while he was tapped out to win. Michael said he had a combo kill the next turn himself as well.
Third game I was on a mull to 5. I lasted a little while, but died to the full combo of his deck. Seer in play, with both Kitchen Finks and Messenger on the battlefield. He cast a Phantasmal Image copying Messenger, sacced it, brought it back to copy Finks with a +1/+1. Sacing it again triggered persist, came back as Messenger with a -1/-1. Rinse and repeat.
Round 3: Vs. Jordan on Merfolk (2-0)
These games played out the same way both way. Turn 1 vial, start building a board, reduce me to single digits of life, followed by me cast wrath. Game 1 he was hellbent with a board consisting of 11 Master of Wave tokens, 2 Masters and a bunch of merfolk. Game 2 wasn't as extreme, but very similar - 8 life on turn 4, wrath. (I sideboarded in all my wraths) I resolved a Sun Titan and the game quickly ended.
Round 4 my opponent withdrew, so I got the win but didn't get to play. I finished 2-1-1, not bad for my first Modern experience. Even better, I played at a store I hadn't been to before and am happy to report that everyone there was absolutely great. I had long conversations with all of my opponents and generally had a fantastic time.
I'm sure there are tweaks I can (and should) make. I may try a Restoration Angel if I can find one, something to fight against path on my Sun Titans.
At any rate, thanks for reading.
http://media.wizards.com/2016/ouhtebrpjwxcnw5_EMN/en_Naj6vrdh7d.png
I was aware of Resto, but didn't look too closely at it due to the 4 CMC. Obviously a very powerful card, I'll take a closer look at. It's not so expensive that it's out of the question.
I had also read that many aren't that sold on Flickerwisp; I'm not sure I am either, so may be using Pilgrim's eyes or possibly even aven's mindcensor (sideboard?) as my flyer base. Still, this gave me some thoughts and ideas and confirmed I'm not completely crazy.
I was thinking of building a mono-W version of this deck as a budget entry into Modern. I saw the Titan/Hunter/Station combo on my own and did some googling to see if anyone else worked on it, which led me here.
One thing I am strongly considering that I don't being discussed is also having a Kitchen Finks/Anafenza/Station combo in the deck as well. I saw early on some Lone Missionary vs. Finks discussion in favor of missionary, but I think that an infinite combo option might swing that door the other way. When we aren't comboing, it seems like Anafenza may also provide some value on it's own with all the creature recursion.
Thoughts? Am I way off base? Is there enough value in Missionary to consider both?
Thanks for any advice you can give. Be gentle, I've never played a single game of modern.