OK so apparently the goal of modern horizons was "not change the format much except we delete artifact decks forever". OK.
Like wtf wizards, the free ancient grudge was already good, why does green get searchable stony silence. Why do they think this is fun. What does this add.
True true. Also, we have very few odd mana drops anyway, so a lot of the time we would have cast a 2 drop with 3 mana anyway. I like that it can even sac itself, somewhat guaranteeing value. It's really too bad arcbound ravager is a beast
The new goblin engineer looks pretty promising, though we'd have to go into red. The ability to constantly trigger modular or walker seems somewhat enticing, though I'm not sure it's good enough to actually get included.
@Stille_Nacht: Are you aware your entry is a barely modified Esper Charm?
Yeah. Esper Charm is my friend's favorite spell to a strange degree haha. I once mentioned the card I submitted to him as a joke and he was salivating.
As far as I can tell, flusterstorm does almost nothing in modern at the moment. It's worse than Spell Pierce in almost every situation except against storm, which already sucks right now.
Astral Drive seems interesting but I'm honestly not super blown away. Bouncing creatures for end of turn value doesn't seem like a winning plan in the current modern unless Mangara of Corondor or something is way more broken then I imagine.
I actually despise new Karn. I don't even care if it's broken, it just violates almost every principle of card design:
1. One sided "you can't play the game" isn't fun. Even Chalice of the Void or Ensnaring Bridge are more fun than this because they impose deckbuilding constraints. Making cards that counter themselves is not fun. Colorless decks will run more Karns, not less, the more popular Karn colorless becomes. It's like if hydroblast hit blue spells, it's just boring design.
2. Why does it get things from exile. This doesn't make sense and is wholly unecessary for a toolbox card. It probably won't be relevant, but it irritates me to no end. Wizards has repeatedly said they don't want exile to become graveyard 2.0. Why.
3. Look man, tron is already really good, and also one of the most unpopular decks in the format. This is like when they printed creeping chill. I don't understand what R&D was thinking when they designed this card. "Oh my god everyone is complaining about how good Hardened Scales is and how they really miss and love tron/prison"?
I understand I'm personally biased in that regard, but whenever you print a big hoser that's also an alternate wincon, you have to consider the people already invested in the game. Sure, when I was still on twin, if they printed a torpor orb/ win-con then fair enough. But this seems like anti-KCI tech for a meta where KCI is banned.
Judging is based on two things:
Quality of Genre Subversion
Quality of Card Design
Unfortunately my own view of fiction will inevitably bias me, but here it goes:
Corpsefriend
Subversion - I really like the idea, mostly because it's kind of funny. I imagine a zombie just standing in the background giving a thumbs up all the time. It would be an ideal eccentric figure for a comedy game like West of Loathing. Also the name is a nice play on words. 4/5
Card Design - I like how corpsefriend is a pacifist, and that the mechanics fit very well with the idea of being an "undying friend". 4/5
Archdemon of Kindness -
Subversion - This is also a interesting idea, similar to corpsefriend. In this case less comic relief and more the "enlightened monster" trope, which I actually find more interesting, especially if its like a Lucifer level demon. 4.5/5
Card Design - I like the ETB, but the undying and die effects don't really seem to fit very well. You basically have to sacrifice him immediately to get an effect and then he zombie rises from the grave. Basically the second half of the card doesn't seem to fit well with the general idea of a Generous Demon. 2.5/5
Arboreal Mechsuit
Subversion - A nice idea; a mech made of trees. Maybe cyberpunk elves or something use it. 3.5/5
Card Design - Not much to say here, it's a normal vehicle, but it draws its bulk from the forest, fits the idea well. 4/5
Nalyn, the Stone-Cold
Subversion - Rulers who don't care to rule are actually pretty common in fiction. I suppose they're in the minority, but it happens often enough that I can't give this a high subversion score. 2.5/5
Card Design - Actually a really cool design for a ruler. Not only does the ruler enhance those around it, but also there's a reason that the resources themselves go to the ruler. 5/5
Steel Sheriff
Subversion - Personal bias, but I like this a lot. I like the idea of an almost statue figure just droning "Dooo youurrr wooorssst" at random people. 4/5
Card Design - Excellent. Vigilance fits the flavor, you introduce a small sub-story with the outlaw mechanic, and the outlaw mechanic itself seems fun and flavorful (most importantly, after explaining it once, its very intuitive). I can imagine joking with friends while playing outlaw cards 5/5
Sword of Prophecy
Subversion - Interesting subversion, but its name really doesn't give you any impression that it is arbitrary. Additionally, somewhat arbitrary recipients of Mcguffin weapons are also not that uncommon. However, the core idea of a goat getting the weapon of prophecy is pretty cool. 3/5
Card Design - It's very funny that it can go on a fish or bird, but in mtg terms, it actually shares this trait with every other equipment. The random bouncing does add to the flavor, but honestly if this is played in a normal deck, it gets equipped to things like Kor, Humans, etc. anyway. I'd like it better if it could only equip to goats or something. 3/5
Infernal Chaperone
Subversion - This is quite interesting, given that its an actual nice infernal chaperone (of course not so nice chaperones are quite common). The flavor text really sells it, and I'd like to see this type of character in a video game. 4/5
Card Design - The card design doesn't really seem like a Chaperone though. The flash, haste, save the creature seems more like an hidden Guard or similar. A Chaperone in my head is annoying and sticks around on the battlefield with its attended creature. 2.5/5
Winner:
Subject16
Next Prompt: Bounty Counters
Outlaw target creature an opponent controls. (Put a bounty counter on that creature. For as long as that creature has a bounty counter on it, it has "When this creature dies, each opponent draws a card and gains 2 life.")
Them8
Creature - Horror (M)
Emerge, Shadow
Whenever another creature dies, Them deals damage, or a spell targets Them, put a copy of Them onto the battlefield
Do not look for Them. Do think about Them. Ignorance is your best defense. They cannot see you now. If you look, you will be seen.
Prison
Well if you want to frustrate your opponents, and prefer to ignore your opponent while building a fort, then this is the deck most likely to cause your opponent to rage.
The goal of these decks is to simply shut down whatever your opponents can possibly do. The first deck goes full in on the shutdown plan (get 3 of Ensnaring Bridge + Witchbane Orb + Chalice of the Void + Sorcerous Spyglass and their entire deck doesn't do anything in many cases); so much so that its win-condition in game 1 is literally Ipnu Rivulet which causes your opponent to naturally draw out before you. The second deck is still shutdown focused, but includes more proactive winning plans, especially Sword of the Meek +Thopter Foundry
UW Control
If you also value winning, and prefer being able to say no to everything, then this is the best current control deck:
The goal of this deck is to control and clear the board consistently using removal like Path to Exile, sweepers like Terminus, and counters like Mana Leak and Cryptic Command. The other primary goal is to maintain card advantage so that you always have more answers than they have threats. This is accomplished both by card selection like Serum Visions, efficiency (EX: both Cryptic and Terminus usually trade 2+ threats for 1 card) and value engines like Teferi, Hero of Dominaria and Jace, the Mind Sculptor.
You win in the endgame by beating your opponent to death with a Celestial Collonade or even slowly working to a Jace, the Mind Sculptor ult. (Though opponent usually concedes when both Jace and Teferi are active)
Probably just personal bias, but it seems on the surface that certain decks get targeted printings for viability and some don't. I have a small theory that, whether because of mental bias, or because of natural design bias, wizards tends to support some decks more.
I'm working on a list of cards, but I'd really like others to chime in on decks I'm not as familiar with.
Tron
Ugin, Spirit Dragon -> New Primary Win Con
Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger -> New Primary Win Con
Thought Knot Seer -> New Sideboard / New Deck type
Walking Ballista -> New Primary Win Con / Flexible Removal
Gx Midrange
Assassin's Trophy -> New Removal
Fatal Push -> New Removal
Tireless Tracker -> New Value Creature
Ux Control
Search for Azcanta -> New Value Engine
Teferi -> New Value Engine / Primary Win-con
Affinity
Hardened Scales / Walking Ballista / Hangarback Walker -> New Deck Type
Experimental Frenzy -> New Primary Win-con/Value Engine
Ghirapur AetherGrid -> New Sideboard
I actually don't think Modern is less beginner friendly than standard in the sense that it's just as easy/difficult to start winning in Modern as it is in Standard. Additionally, there's a lot more variety in modern and you can learn a lot quicker.
However, modern is much more expensive than standard; and you're very limited in what you can play unless you have a lot of money to drop immediately.
Recommendations:
- No matter what, I'd recommend starting at a bigger store. Honestly, you tend to make more friends that way, not less. Smaller stores have a smaller chance of containing people you gel with well in my experience.
- I think modern is a better place to start building a collection than standard; the cards actually hold value (EX: a standard card like Wingmate Roc was 25 dollars at one point, whereas a Modern Card like Noble Hierarch is still more valuable than it was 5 years ago even after several reprints)
- If you do get into modern, I'd recommend trying to build up to a deck like Burn. It's been competitive for years now with relatively few changes, and importantly it has cheap substitute cards that you can play before you want to splash out for Goblin Guides (Look up Budget Burn for cheaper versions).
Whenever you cast a spell, you may counter it. If you do, you may choose one of the following:
Put X 1/1 bird tokens with flying onto the battlefield
Put 1 X/X beast token with trample onto the battlefield
Gain X life
Where X is the spell's converted mana cost.
It turns out all energy can be converted into life
Less Complicated
Idol of the Squirrel3
Artifact (M)
Whenever you cast a spell, you may counter it. If you do, put X 1/1 Squirrel tokens onto the battlefield, where X is the spell's converted mana cost.
ALL THAT WAS, SHALL BE THE SQUIRREL. ALL THAT WILL BE, SHALL BE THE SQUIRREL. - the Mad Hermit
IIW: Genre Subversion
AN: This would have been a lot more elegant with only one ability, but I like cool things haha. Also, for the previous thing, I may have stopped reading before the "Uncommon" part; kinda thought I was making a Mythic Rare lol.
Like wtf wizards, the free ancient grudge was already good, why does green get searchable stony silence. Why do they think this is fun. What does this add.
Yeah. Esper Charm is my friend's favorite spell to a strange degree haha. I once mentioned the card I submitted to him as a joke and he was salivating.
Instant (MR)
Choose one of the following:
Target player discards 2 cards
Target player draws 2 cards
Exile target creature with power 4 or less
IIW: Underused Keywords
Astral Drive seems interesting but I'm honestly not super blown away. Bouncing creatures for end of turn value doesn't seem like a winning plan in the current modern unless Mangara of Corondor or something is way more broken then I imagine.
I actually despise new Karn. I don't even care if it's broken, it just violates almost every principle of card design:
1. One sided "you can't play the game" isn't fun. Even Chalice of the Void or Ensnaring Bridge are more fun than this because they impose deckbuilding constraints. Making cards that counter themselves is not fun. Colorless decks will run more Karns, not less, the more popular Karn colorless becomes. It's like if hydroblast hit blue spells, it's just boring design.
2. Why does it get things from exile. This doesn't make sense and is wholly unecessary for a toolbox card. It probably won't be relevant, but it irritates me to no end. Wizards has repeatedly said they don't want exile to become graveyard 2.0. Why.
3. Look man, tron is already really good, and also one of the most unpopular decks in the format. This is like when they printed creeping chill. I don't understand what R&D was thinking when they designed this card. "Oh my god everyone is complaining about how good Hardened Scales is and how they really miss and love tron/prison"?
I understand I'm personally biased in that regard, but whenever you print a big hoser that's also an alternate wincon, you have to consider the people already invested in the game. Sure, when I was still on twin, if they printed a torpor orb/ win-con then fair enough. But this seems like anti-KCI tech for a meta where KCI is banned.
Judging is based on two things:
Quality of Genre Subversion
Quality of Card Design
Unfortunately my own view of fiction will inevitably bias me, but here it goes:
Corpsefriend
Subversion - I really like the idea, mostly because it's kind of funny. I imagine a zombie just standing in the background giving a thumbs up all the time. It would be an ideal eccentric figure for a comedy game like West of Loathing. Also the name is a nice play on words. 4/5
Card Design - I like how corpsefriend is a pacifist, and that the mechanics fit very well with the idea of being an "undying friend". 4/5
Archdemon of Kindness -
Subversion - This is also a interesting idea, similar to corpsefriend. In this case less comic relief and more the "enlightened monster" trope, which I actually find more interesting, especially if its like a Lucifer level demon. 4.5/5
Card Design - I like the ETB, but the undying and die effects don't really seem to fit very well. You basically have to sacrifice him immediately to get an effect and then he zombie rises from the grave. Basically the second half of the card doesn't seem to fit well with the general idea of a Generous Demon. 2.5/5
Arboreal Mechsuit
Subversion - A nice idea; a mech made of trees. Maybe cyberpunk elves or something use it. 3.5/5
Card Design - Not much to say here, it's a normal vehicle, but it draws its bulk from the forest, fits the idea well. 4/5
Nalyn, the Stone-Cold
Subversion - Rulers who don't care to rule are actually pretty common in fiction. I suppose they're in the minority, but it happens often enough that I can't give this a high subversion score. 2.5/5
Card Design - Actually a really cool design for a ruler. Not only does the ruler enhance those around it, but also there's a reason that the resources themselves go to the ruler. 5/5
Steel Sheriff
Subversion - Personal bias, but I like this a lot. I like the idea of an almost statue figure just droning "Dooo youurrr wooorssst" at random people. 4/5
Card Design - Excellent. Vigilance fits the flavor, you introduce a small sub-story with the outlaw mechanic, and the outlaw mechanic itself seems fun and flavorful (most importantly, after explaining it once, its very intuitive). I can imagine joking with friends while playing outlaw cards 5/5
Sword of Prophecy
Subversion - Interesting subversion, but its name really doesn't give you any impression that it is arbitrary. Additionally, somewhat arbitrary recipients of Mcguffin weapons are also not that uncommon. However, the core idea of a goat getting the weapon of prophecy is pretty cool. 3/5
Card Design - It's very funny that it can go on a fish or bird, but in mtg terms, it actually shares this trait with every other equipment. The random bouncing does add to the flavor, but honestly if this is played in a normal deck, it gets equipped to things like Kor, Humans, etc. anyway. I'd like it better if it could only equip to goats or something. 3/5
Infernal Chaperone
Subversion - This is quite interesting, given that its an actual nice infernal chaperone (of course not so nice chaperones are quite common). The flavor text really sells it, and I'd like to see this type of character in a video game. 4/5
Card Design - The card design doesn't really seem like a Chaperone though. The flash, haste, save the creature seems more like an hidden Guard or similar. A Chaperone in my head is annoying and sticks around on the battlefield with its attended creature. 2.5/5
Winner:
Subject16
Next Prompt:
Bounty Counters
Outlaw target creature an opponent controls. (Put a bounty counter on that creature. For as long as that creature has a bounty counter on it, it has "When this creature dies, each opponent draws a card and gains 2 life.")
For example: A vampire cowboy, a dwarven dandy, a benevolent hydra
Creature - Horror (M)
Emerge, Shadow
Whenever another creature dies, Them deals damage, or a spell targets Them, put a copy of Them onto the battlefield
Do not look for Them. Do think about Them. Ignorance is your best defense. They cannot see you now. If you look, you will be seen.
2/2
IIW: Genre breaks
Well if you want to frustrate your opponents, and prefer to ignore your opponent while building a fort, then this is the deck most likely to cause your opponent to rage.
Classic - https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1594192#paper
Thopter/Sword Combo Variant - https://www.mtggoldfish.com/archetype/modern-whir-prison#paper
The goal of these decks is to simply shut down whatever your opponents can possibly do. The first deck goes full in on the shutdown plan (get 3 of Ensnaring Bridge + Witchbane Orb + Chalice of the Void + Sorcerous Spyglass and their entire deck doesn't do anything in many cases); so much so that its win-condition in game 1 is literally Ipnu Rivulet which causes your opponent to naturally draw out before you. The second deck is still shutdown focused, but includes more proactive winning plans, especially Sword of the Meek +Thopter Foundry
UW Control
If you also value winning, and prefer being able to say no to everything, then this is the best current control deck:
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/archetype/modern-w-u-control-53624#paper
The goal of this deck is to control and clear the board consistently using removal like Path to Exile, sweepers like Terminus, and counters like Mana Leak and Cryptic Command. The other primary goal is to maintain card advantage so that you always have more answers than they have threats. This is accomplished both by card selection like Serum Visions, efficiency (EX: both Cryptic and Terminus usually trade 2+ threats for 1 card) and value engines like Teferi, Hero of Dominaria and Jace, the Mind Sculptor.
You win in the endgame by beating your opponent to death with a Celestial Collonade or even slowly working to a Jace, the Mind Sculptor ult. (Though opponent usually concedes when both Jace and Teferi are active)
I'm working on a list of cards, but I'd really like others to chime in on decks I'm not as familiar with.
Tron
Ugin, Spirit Dragon -> New Primary Win Con
Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger -> New Primary Win Con
Thought Knot Seer -> New Sideboard / New Deck type
Walking Ballista -> New Primary Win Con / Flexible Removal
Assassin's Trophy -> New Removal
Fatal Push -> New Removal
Tireless Tracker -> New Value Creature
Ux Control
Search for Azcanta -> New Value Engine
Teferi -> New Value Engine / Primary Win-con
Affinity
Hardened Scales / Walking Ballista / Hangarback Walker -> New Deck Type
Experimental Frenzy -> New Primary Win-con/Value Engine
Ghirapur AetherGrid -> New Sideboard
However, modern is much more expensive than standard; and you're very limited in what you can play unless you have a lot of money to drop immediately.
Recommendations:
- No matter what, I'd recommend starting at a bigger store. Honestly, you tend to make more friends that way, not less. Smaller stores have a smaller chance of containing people you gel with well in my experience.
- I think modern is a better place to start building a collection than standard; the cards actually hold value (EX: a standard card like Wingmate Roc was 25 dollars at one point, whereas a Modern Card like Noble Hierarch is still more valuable than it was 5 years ago even after several reprints)
- If you do get into modern, I'd recommend trying to build up to a deck like Burn. It's been competitive for years now with relatively few changes, and importantly it has cheap substitute cards that you can play before you want to splash out for Goblin Guides (Look up Budget Burn for cheaper versions).
Artifact (M)
Whenever you cast a spell, you may counter it. If you do, you may choose one of the following:
Put X 1/1 bird tokens with flying onto the battlefield
Put 1 X/X beast token with trample onto the battlefield
Gain X life
Where X is the spell's converted mana cost.
It turns out all energy can be converted into life
Less Complicated
Idol of the Squirrel 3
Artifact (M)
Whenever you cast a spell, you may counter it. If you do, put X 1/1 Squirrel tokens onto the battlefield, where X is the spell's converted mana cost.
ALL THAT WAS, SHALL BE THE SQUIRREL. ALL THAT WILL BE, SHALL BE THE SQUIRREL. - the Mad Hermit
IIW: Genre Subversion
AN: This would have been a lot more elegant with only one ability, but I like cool things haha. Also, for the previous thing, I may have stopped reading before the "Uncommon" part; kinda thought I was making a Mythic Rare lol.