e) I casted Hexdrinker twice in the whole tournament, against Scapeshift and Dredge. It went both times into Progenitus mode, and won me a game vs Dredge that I had no business winning, while sealing the deal vs Scapeshift in two turns. Reflections about its role incoming. It may be worth it as a 1-2x instead of a full set? But I keep liking it a lot.
I had expectations for Hexdrinker, but oh boy! 2 times Progenitus mode is what I call a good start. I can't wait to cast my first one.
c) Pteramander and Nimble Mongoose were better than I expected. I had both of them on the board twice (against Jund and Dredge) and they don't conflict with each other. It's a synergy I didn't think about before.
Nice to know Nimble Mongoose also did well, it looks like Tarmogoyf might be our worst threat right now.
One thing to note is that it might be hard to make it to level 3, but once it does get to level 3 it is actually very likely to get to level 8. If you untap this with pro instant you need to have 5 mana(which might be parceled and protect by counterspells) and it is game over.
Even if you don't curve out doing these things, the threat of doing these things forces your opponent to play in other ways, they will have to keep one eye on this guy. Take a look at the tension this simple 1 drop generates on the board, your opponent won't be able to tap out for a Liliana of the veil(or pretty much anything) because one counterspell might severely punishes them, and if you untap while they are tapped out, this might be game over for them. Also tapping out for a creature of their own might be punished by this. I dare my opponent to tap out for anything while I have a Hexdrinker on board from turn 3 on, they will have to at least represent fatal push, lightning bolt or path to exile all the time.
And on top of it all, in many games a 2/1 turn 1 can get us there actually, or if it ends up trading for removal it is only one mana spent anyway.
We will need a lot of testing to sort out the best deck configuration after this set, but I will for sure test both nimble mongoose and this guy. My first idea is something like 4 Delver of secrets, 4 nimble mongoose, [2-4] hexdrinker, [0-4] Tarmogoyf(12-14 total).
Yeah it makes perfect sense to play scour, but I always felt scour was the worst card in hand. It just fills the graveyard and draws a random card, the way the deck is designed it will eventually get threshold and all the while all cards give benefits and options apart from only filling the grave.
But yeah it might make all the difference hitting threshold a turn earlier, it will take some testing to figure out the best rug list after the new cards come.
I disagree, this card is much more consistent than shoal even if your deck can support shoal. Allowing you to pitch anything and not having to match the CMC to counter is a huge upside.
Sure force cannot counter creatures, but it is mostly to stop combo and removal that we would want a free counterspell.
Only for decks that cannot support Stubborn Denial
I intend to play both cards, Force of Negation offers lines of play that denial doesn't, they are different cards. Force allows you to tap out being aggressive and keep the combo under control.
I am excited about this, and I think it might be the missing part that makes modern rug delver a good deck in the right hands. Sure we would love a better cantrip and still miss nimble mongoose a lot, but for modern right now this is a better designed force of will in my opinion.
I had expectations for Hexdrinker, but oh boy! 2 times Progenitus mode is what I call a good start. I can't wait to cast my first one.
Nice to know Nimble Mongoose also did well, it looks like Tarmogoyf might be our worst threat right now.
One thing to note is that it might be hard to make it to level 3, but once it does get to level 3 it is actually very likely to get to level 8. If you untap this with pro instant you need to have 5 mana(which might be parceled and protect by counterspells) and it is game over.
Even if you don't curve out doing these things, the threat of doing these things forces your opponent to play in other ways, they will have to keep one eye on this guy. Take a look at the tension this simple 1 drop generates on the board, your opponent won't be able to tap out for a Liliana of the veil(or pretty much anything) because one counterspell might severely punishes them, and if you untap while they are tapped out, this might be game over for them. Also tapping out for a creature of their own might be punished by this. I dare my opponent to tap out for anything while I have a Hexdrinker on board from turn 3 on, they will have to at least represent fatal push, lightning bolt or path to exile all the time.
And on top of it all, in many games a 2/1 turn 1 can get us there actually, or if it ends up trading for removal it is only one mana spent anyway.
We will need a lot of testing to sort out the best deck configuration after this set, but I will for sure test both nimble mongoose and this guy. My first idea is something like 4 Delver of secrets, 4 nimble mongoose, [2-4] hexdrinker, [0-4] Tarmogoyf(12-14 total).
But yeah it might make all the difference hitting threshold a turn earlier, it will take some testing to figure out the best rug list after the new cards come.
Hope we get either another red removal and/or a good cantrip.
I don't like playing 4 shoals and 4 force. My main 60 would look like this so far with the spoilers:
4x misty rainforest
4x wooded foothills
1x scalding tarn
2x island
1x forest
1x mountain
2x breeding pool
2x steam vents
1x stomping ground
4x nimble mongoose
4x delver of secrets
4x tarmogoyf
1x snapcaster mage
Non-creatures(29)
4x serum visions
3x traverse the ulvenwald
3x mishra's bauble
4x mana leak
4x force of negation
2x spell snare
3x spell pierce
4x lightning bolt
2x tarfire
I disagree, this card is much more consistent than shoal even if your deck can support shoal. Allowing you to pitch anything and not having to match the CMC to counter is a huge upside.
Sure force cannot counter creatures, but it is mostly to stop combo and removal that we would want a free counterspell.
I intend to play both cards, Force of Negation offers lines of play that denial doesn't, they are different cards. Force allows you to tap out being aggressive and keep the combo under control.
I am excited about this, and I think it might be the missing part that makes modern rug delver a good deck in the right hands. Sure we would love a better cantrip and still miss nimble mongoose a lot, but for modern right now this is a better designed force of will in my opinion.