I want to build a deck on mtgo to start practicing for modern ptq season. My favorite deck archetypes are midrange and combo. I also enjoy aggro as well. The decks I have been looking at are melira pod and team italia but looking for some more suggestions.
It sounds like the deck you're looking for is Jund Pod. There's a thread in deck creation devoted to it and I think a really good starting point is Christian Schnedier's original list from winning a GPT for GP Antwerp. Listed here for convenience.
Hello, I'm trying to get into Modern. I may need some advice as to what to get into XD.
Favorite Playstyle: I prefer Aggro and control, although I lean more towards control. I don't mind combo as long as it's not an "oops, insta win" combo.
How Competitive :Mostly for fun, but I still want it to have enough strength to do well just in case I want to go to a Modern PTQ/GP
Favorite Cards/Colors: I really like coretapper But for a more competitive card, I like them all XD. Maybe life from the loam? I hate blue in general(make it easy, but the reason I hate it is because I started playing standard during the Caw-blade era. I did try and counter it with a burn deck. It worked till spellskite and mental misstep came around).
Budget: I can make anything, I have the patience to make anything *beam of pride*. But I would rather take a deck that can stay strong for a long time without tweaking it too much due to meta changes, as my budget is pretty tight. I'll say $100-200 for the sake of it.
Staples Owned: scar lands(all of them:cool:), smother, duress, death cloud, bolts, squadron hawk, Thalia, paths, beast within, sowing salt, stone rain, blood moon, magus of the moon, all is dust, vial, blightning and maybe some others. I have 1-2 copies of each
If you're on a tight-ish budget and want to play Life From the Loam, there is always Assault Loam and you could try to play it with Burning Vengeance paired with Raven's Crime/Flame Jab.
As for Coretapper, I think something like the old Standard deck "Dice Factory" would be up your alley. People have played him in modern decks like this one. I also think there will end up being a lot of overlap between what and Tezzerator, especially if you intend to put more money into it over time, so if that's the case I'd recommend checking out the stickied Tezzerator thread in deck creation
So I think the sideboard would probably benefit from some number of Dismember, but my guess is that Spike Jester comes in against the kind of decks where Skirsdag High Priest is less than ideal and stays in to give you late game-gas. Speaking of which, the inclusion that stood out the most was Skirsdag High Priest. It seems like he can steal back games from a board stall, but seems soft to heavy removal strategies than the usual deck because he costs 2 and only swings in for 1 on his own, is buffed/hasted by nothing, and effectively requires you untap with him and have three other creatures that turn to get his value out. Obviously though this deck runs well and SHP was an interesting direction.
So, thoughts on the High Priest or any other noteworthy non-goblins in this archetype?
Did pretty well in testing yesterday. Chambers is a little slow, and often would end up in stalemates because they chumped until they drew in to removal for my big dudes and then we just stalled. It also straight up won games with Norin. I'd still consider it the flex slot and will keep a close eye on it to see how it plays.
Ran in to some trouble with Scapeshift. With MD moons you can just autowin games sometimes but they play enough maindecked sweepers and they combo before you have a chance to win too often. I don't really know what we can do here other than side in moons and possibly thoughtseizes? Might have to just accept it as a bad matchup.
Boros Charm seems like it could help you out against sweepers even though it's tough to really find room and it's hard to leave mana up. I'm looking to find space in the sideboard for it to help against UWR. Proclamation is also a workaround to sweepers but I'm not too big a fan of it.
EDIT: I don't feel like double posting even though it's been two days, but here's what I've been playing.
With two-colors we can afford a land that doesn't tap for colored mana like Kher Keep and play Blood Moon safely, which is the biggest appeal to me. Kher Keep of course helping us grind out games with blockers and lifegain triggers and Blood Moon shutting down a lot of popular decks.
Chandra, Pyromaster is probably the only other thing that sticks out here. Our deck would love to have some sort of card advantage engine and she does the trick. She also can help push through a big Pridemate or Champion in a pinch, although Elspeth tends to do that better. Still, being able to kill X/1's is not to be underestimated.
Legion Loyalist and Hero of Bladehold are also under consideration, but I'm confident in the current list
After playing it a little bit I have to say it feels pretty powerful and fun.
I'm afraid I won't be able to get on cockatrice and have a truly informed opinion but the Grim Lavamancers and Proclamation of Rebirth seem on the anti-synergetic side and the latter looks on the weaker side. I'm pretty sure Martyr-Proc fell out of favor because of maindeckable grave hate like
On the other hand, I really liked having 3 Blood Moons in the mainboard of the other list so I'm probably making that switch when I play it.
Oh man, Wizards. And here I was so proud of you for making an Esper-colored general that wasn't randomly an artifact or that cared about artifacts. You were so close. Oh well.
That blue spirit is lolgasmically bad. I hope it's not part of a cycle.
I think it might actually be pretty okay. It's a diplomacy card. As long as there's a few players, an opponent should be gracious to take the two if it means drawing and you get the draw too. The spirit gives you an ally.
Goblin DemolitionistR
Creature - Goblin
Goblin Demolitionist enters the battlefield, it does 1 damage to target creature or player.
Sacrifice Goblin Demolitionist: If a source named Goblin Demolitionist would deal damage this turn, it deals that much plus 1.
1/1
I think the versatility here goes a long way in helping sligh-style decks, not to mention the Goblins deck could really use a 1-drop of this power level.
Now why dont you lump Goblins into RDW? Just curious.
Also, I play mono black vamps as well, and I can say I've taken down a couple of the tier 1 and 2 decks, especially soul sister. I have also raced out combo with Gobbies, like splinter twin Kiki
That's anecdotal though. There's still the issue of goblins only placing in one major paper event as far as I know (and it wasn't even one of the all-in aggro builds this thread mostly discusses). I personally don't think it's right to tier it highly when it isn't showing up despite me myself having positive results against high tiered decks.
I didn't put it with RDW because we are a synergistic aggro deck and they just try to play the most efficient damage dealers. While we both shoot to win by turn 4, we aren't as hurt by Leyline of Sanctity and we don't get to play sweepers such as Volcanic Fallout like they get to. For the same reason we aren't lumped with them in how the forums are sorted really.
Also Beusapu, Murio, thinking back you're right about my Gifts and 5c Zoo placement.
Just to clarify my position since no two people tier the same way, this is how I think of Modern at this current moment. I imagine you have wider tiers than I do. The ordering within tiers has a little relevance, but isn't as thought out as tier placement.
Tier 1
Melira Pod
Splinter Twin
UWR Control
Jund
Ajundi
Kiki-Pod
Affinity
RG Tron
UWR Midrange
Scapeshift
Soul Sisters
Tier 2
GB Midrange
Living End
Goryo's Vengeance Reanimator
UR Tempo
Burn / RDW
Bogles
UR Storm
4C Gifts
Naya/Gruul Zoo
Merfolk
Hatebears
BW Tokens
Tier 3
Assault Loam
Goblins
UW Tron
Infect
Death and Taxes
Mono Blue Tron
DredgeVine
Faeries
Bant Midrange
Eternal Command
Combo Elves
Domain Zoo
The question is whether it's sufficiently reduced in power compared to brainstorm to the point where it's reasonable to assume that Wizards would print it.
Brainstorm: cast card, draw 3, stash 2. Net difference: 0
Mine: cast card, draw 2, stash 1. Net difference: 0
I still think it would be too strong for modern, but it's possible.
It's also stash-draw instead of draw-stash. I don't know a blue deck in the format that wants to be hellbent, but at 0 cards this would be a free draw
If these kinds of players are at your LGS, then hopefully you and your fellow players coach them on a little at a time. As somebody who owes almost all of his Magic skill to an arms race with his best friend, I can assure you that most of these kids would love to crush that Myr + Extort deck. Then they'd want to beat their friends improved Tempered Steel Myr deck. Hopefully he's eventually trying to beat an affinity variant and take the better players down as well as his friend.
I got my little brother into Magic about a year ago and this, to some small extent, is happening to my LGS with four of his friends who have been playing for a few months and have came to Modern tournaments for 1.5-2 months. I can't speak for the other players and I don't doubt that I'm biased because I like these kids, but I'm just fine with them being here. They'd show up every week, lose in the first few rounds pretty harshly, and play amongst themselves for the last two rounds.
And now all but one of them has gone 3-2. I know it isn't the most incredible accomplishment, but in a store that has multiple Jund decks, multiple UWR control decks, Bant Midrange, Pyromancer Ascension Storm, GR Tron, UW Gifts Tron, Soul Sisters, Affinity, Infect, Goryo's Vengeance Reanimator, Melira Pod, Kiki-Pod, Splinter Twin, GW Hatebears, UWR Geist, Tezzerator, Primeval Titan Scapeshift, and Living End (among other things) it isn't easy either. Most players I know who go to tournaments, even FNM level ones, are willing to get better. If that's the case then I don't doubt that they will
what tier would u say Goblins fall into? I consistently score 3-1 and really only have trouble with life gain decks and affinity.
I'd say it's one of the best tier 3 decks in the format. My own aggregate record at my LGS's Modern events is 40-10, but LGS level events aren't the best measure of a deck's actual positioning and Goblins has been a deck that does well on MTGO but hasn't shown up in any big paper events.
I think Tuktuk might be a huge boon against the midrange style decks. Takes two removal spells, dodges Lightning Bolt in his second form, and can fight a 4/5 Tarmogoyf well
Yes it hurt us, but it hurt our opponents much much more. Pod and Twin can't use combo and Finks. Sadly I don't see any better card against them (at least in red or green).
Also, I think Goblin bushwhacker becomes disable if we use it, so yea it hurts.
To be honest, I'm not 100% sure about it. I know for sure that Martyr can be stopped with Sudden shock.
You know what, I'll ask judge next time I'll be in my LGS.
It sounds like the deck you're looking for is Jund Pod. There's a thread in deck creation devoted to it and I think a really good starting point is Christian Schnedier's original list from winning a GPT for GP Antwerp. Listed here for convenience.
3 Copperline Gorge
2 Forest
2 Kessig Wolf Run
3 Marsh Flats
1 Misty Rainforest
2 Overgrown Tomb
2 Stomping Ground
2 Swamp
4 Verdant Catacombs
1 Woodland Cemetery
23 lands
1 Anathemancer
4 Birds of Paradise
1 Cunning Sparkmage
3 Deathrite Shaman
1 Eternal Witness
3 Falkenrath Aristocrat
1 Fauna Shaman
1 Huntmaster of the Fells
1 Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
1 Murderous Redcap
2 Scavenging Ooze
3 Sprouting Thrinax
1 Stormbreath Dragon
3 Strangleroot Geist
1 Tarmogoyf
1 Thragtusk
1 Wall of Roots
1 Zealous Conscripts
30 creatures
4 Birthing Pod
6 other spells
1 Domri Rade
1 planeswalker
EDIT: I'll do another while I'm here.
If you're on a tight-ish budget and want to play Life From the Loam, there is always Assault Loam and you could try to play it with Burning Vengeance paired with Raven's Crime/Flame Jab.
As for Coretapper, I think something like the old Standard deck "Dice Factory" would be up your alley. People have played him in modern decks like this one. I also think there will end up being a lot of overlap between what and Tezzerator, especially if you intend to put more money into it over time, so if that's the case I'd recommend checking out the stickied Tezzerator thread in deck creation
4 Blackcleave Cliffs
4 Blood Crypt
2 Contested War Zone
4 Marsh Flats
3 Mountain
20 lands
4 Foundry Street Denizen
4 Goblin Bushwhacker
4 Goblin Chieftain
4 Legion Loyalist
4 Mogg Fanatic
4 Mogg War Marshal
4 Skirsdag High Priest
28 creatures
4 Krenko's Command
4 Lightning Bolt
12 other spells
So I think the sideboard would probably benefit from some number of Dismember, but my guess is that Spike Jester comes in against the kind of decks where Skirsdag High Priest is less than ideal and stays in to give you late game-gas. Speaking of which, the inclusion that stood out the most was Skirsdag High Priest. It seems like he can steal back games from a board stall, but seems soft to heavy removal strategies than the usual deck because he costs 2 and only swings in for 1 on his own, is buffed/hasted by nothing, and effectively requires you untap with him and have three other creatures that turn to get his value out. Obviously though this deck runs well and SHP was an interesting direction.
So, thoughts on the High Priest or any other noteworthy non-goblins in this archetype?
Boros Charm seems like it could help you out against sweepers even though it's tough to really find room and it's hard to leave mana up. I'm looking to find space in the sideboard for it to help against UWR. Proclamation is also a workaround to sweepers but I'm not too big a fan of it.
EDIT: I don't feel like double posting even though it's been two days, but here's what I've been playing.
4 Ajani's Pridemate
4 Champion of the Parish
4 Soul Warden
4 Soul's Attendant
3 Ranger of Eos
3 Norin the Wary
1 Grim Lavamancer
Spells: 6
4 Lightning Bolt
2 Pillar of Flame
Enchantments: 3
3 Blood Moon
2 Genesis Chamber
Planeswalkers: 3
2 Elspeth, Knight-Errant
1 Chandra, Pyromaster
Lands: 23
6 Plains
3 Cavern of Souls
4 Arid Mesa
4 Sacred Foundry
3 Marsh Flats
1 Kher Keep
2 Mountain
With two-colors we can afford a land that doesn't tap for colored mana like Kher Keep and play Blood Moon safely, which is the biggest appeal to me. Kher Keep of course helping us grind out games with blockers and lifegain triggers and Blood Moon shutting down a lot of popular decks.
Chandra, Pyromaster is probably the only other thing that sticks out here. Our deck would love to have some sort of card advantage engine and she does the trick. She also can help push through a big Pridemate or Champion in a pinch, although Elspeth tends to do that better. Still, being able to kill X/1's is not to be underestimated.
Legion Loyalist and Hero of Bladehold are also under consideration, but I'm confident in the current list
I'm afraid I won't be able to get on cockatrice and have a truly informed opinion but the Grim Lavamancers and Proclamation of Rebirth seem on the anti-synergetic side and the latter looks on the weaker side. I'm pretty sure Martyr-Proc fell out of favor because of maindeckable grave hate like
On the other hand, I really liked having 3 Blood Moons in the mainboard of the other list so I'm probably making that switch when I play it.
Nope. This year they're only doing decks for the Alara shards
I think it might actually be pretty okay. It's a diplomacy card. As long as there's a few players, an opponent should be gracious to take the two if it means drawing and you get the draw too. The spirit gives you an ally.
Creature - Goblin
Goblin Demolitionist enters the battlefield, it does 1 damage to target creature or player.
Sacrifice Goblin Demolitionist: If a source named Goblin Demolitionist would deal damage this turn, it deals that much plus 1.
1/1
I think the versatility here goes a long way in helping sligh-style decks, not to mention the Goblins deck could really use a 1-drop of this power level.
For that matter, why does a curse kill the hexproof guy?
That's anecdotal though. There's still the issue of goblins only placing in one major paper event as far as I know (and it wasn't even one of the all-in aggro builds this thread mostly discusses). I personally don't think it's right to tier it highly when it isn't showing up despite me myself having positive results against high tiered decks.
I didn't put it with RDW because we are a synergistic aggro deck and they just try to play the most efficient damage dealers. While we both shoot to win by turn 4, we aren't as hurt by Leyline of Sanctity and we don't get to play sweepers such as Volcanic Fallout like they get to. For the same reason we aren't lumped with them in how the forums are sorted really.
Also Beusapu, Murio, thinking back you're right about my Gifts and 5c Zoo placement.
Just to clarify my position since no two people tier the same way, this is how I think of Modern at this current moment. I imagine you have wider tiers than I do. The ordering within tiers has a little relevance, but isn't as thought out as tier placement.
Tier 1
Melira Pod
Splinter Twin
UWR Control
Jund
Ajundi
Kiki-Pod
Affinity
RG Tron
UWR Midrange
Scapeshift
Soul Sisters
Tier 2
GB Midrange
Living End
Goryo's Vengeance Reanimator
UR Tempo
Burn / RDW
Bogles
UR Storm
4C Gifts
Naya/Gruul Zoo
Merfolk
Hatebears
BW Tokens
Tier 3
Assault Loam
Goblins
UW Tron
Infect
Death and Taxes
Mono Blue Tron
DredgeVine
Faeries
Bant Midrange
Eternal Command
Combo Elves
Domain Zoo
Tier 4-5
Most other decks
It's also stash-draw instead of draw-stash. I don't know a blue deck in the format that wants to be hellbent, but at 0 cards this would be a free draw
I got my little brother into Magic about a year ago and this, to some small extent, is happening to my LGS with four of his friends who have been playing for a few months and have came to Modern tournaments for 1.5-2 months. I can't speak for the other players and I don't doubt that I'm biased because I like these kids, but I'm just fine with them being here. They'd show up every week, lose in the first few rounds pretty harshly, and play amongst themselves for the last two rounds.
And now all but one of them has gone 3-2. I know it isn't the most incredible accomplishment, but in a store that has multiple Jund decks, multiple UWR control decks, Bant Midrange, Pyromancer Ascension Storm, GR Tron, UW Gifts Tron, Soul Sisters, Affinity, Infect, Goryo's Vengeance Reanimator, Melira Pod, Kiki-Pod, Splinter Twin, GW Hatebears, UWR Geist, Tezzerator, Primeval Titan Scapeshift, and Living End (among other things) it isn't easy either. Most players I know who go to tournaments, even FNM level ones, are willing to get better. If that's the case then I don't doubt that they will
I'd say it's one of the best tier 3 decks in the format. My own aggregate record at my LGS's Modern events is 40-10, but LGS level events aren't the best measure of a deck's actual positioning and Goblins has been a deck that does well on MTGO but hasn't shown up in any big paper events.
Those decks have been two of the matchups I'd put near even. In your sideboard are you packing Shattering Spree and one of Everlasting Torment, Stigma Lasher, Rain of Gore, or Sulfur Elemental?
Magma Spray, Combust, and Dismember all work to interrupt those combos.
With Skullcrack, you just wait until they pop her and then Skullcrack in response. No need to kill her yourself like with Sudden Shock