PDA

View Full Version : Getting into Modern



Anarky87
10-09-2011, 01:10 AM
I've played Legacy almost exclusively for most of my Magic career. But it seems most of our local tournaments will be switching over to the Modern format, so it seems I'll have to grind out a deck for the switch. My only question is, without dropping an arm and a leg, what deck can I sort of build on the cheap (not dirt cheap) that performs decently? I think right now the only really known deck that is being played is 12post with Urza land, and the rest are just homebrew.

I initially thought of playing the elf combo with summoner's pact instead of Glimpse, but one of my play partners said not to. Tl;dr: If I'm jumping into Modern, what can I build on the cheap that will still perform decently?

Thank you.

Phoenix Ignition
10-09-2011, 01:24 AM
If you played legacy before do you have any of the staples from it to help you with the switch? Goyf, fetchlands, vendilion cliques, etc?

Can answer better with that info.

4eak
10-09-2011, 01:30 AM
Sligh/Burn is the pound for pound (dollar for dollar) best deck in the format. It's very fast and very cheap for the format. I think it is an underestimated deck, but it shouldn't be. Honestly, WoTC appears to push for the deck to be a viable contender, and I think it is.

Try this out:

// Land - 20
4 Teetering Peaks
16 Mountain

// Dudes - 16
4 Goblin Guide
4 Hellspark Elemental
4 Keldon Marauders
4 Mogg Fanatic

// Burn - 24
4 Flames of the Blood Hand
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Magma Jet
4 Shard Volley
4 Lava Spike
4 Rift Bolt

There are other cards to consider for the deck. With mo' money, Grim Lavamancer + Fetchlands is arguably even better.


peace,
4eak

264505
10-09-2011, 02:33 AM
Brimstone Volley should be added to the Burn list. It is really that good. Searing Blaze is worth a spot too.

If you have parts for affinity, its a viable deck. Pyromancers Ascension might still be playable even after losing Ponder and Preordain.

Mr. Safety
10-09-2011, 09:01 AM
Shrine of Burning Rage is also a good card, one that has been seeing fringe play in legacy.

I agree with 264505: Pyro Ascension got a huge boost with Forbidden Alchemy from Innistrad. The best versions I've played against use the Time Warp win with Bolts.

If you want to build a decent elves deck, I think it would be better to play a creature heavy set-up and go for the aggro/tribal route with Mirror Entity. In that setup, Lead the Stampede is insane. I'm testing a G/w version now with the only white in the deck as Mirror Entity x4 and Path to Exile x4 in the maindeck, and Dauntless Escort in the sideboard alongside Oblivion Ring.

Lotus Bloom combo decks are still fairly affordable, especially Enduring Ideal.dec and Second Sunrise.dec.

Good luck!

Anarky87
10-09-2011, 11:21 AM
If you played legacy before do you have any of the staples from it to help you with the switch? Goyf, fetchlands, vendilion cliques, etc?

Can answer better with that info.

I have the goyfs, cliques, but I only have some of the new fetches (verdant catacombs, misty rainforest).

I was actually thinking of something that was rather quick and just goes all in, which I imagine the burn deck would. I looked at a few Affinity lists as well. I guess I should've prefaced all of this by saying I'll probably have up to $200 to toss at the project.

4eak
10-09-2011, 02:48 PM
Build zoo. If you have goyf and some fetches, the rest is cheap enough. You really don't need a budget deck at this point.


peace,
4eak

DragoFireheart
10-09-2011, 02:51 PM
Sligh/Burn is the pound for pound (dollar for dollar) best deck in the format. It's very fast and very cheap for the format. I think it is an underestimated deck, but it shouldn't be. Honestly, WoTC appears to push for the deck to be a viable contender, and I think it is.

Try this out:

// Land - 20
4 Teetering Peaks
16 Mountain

// Dudes - 16
4 Goblin Guide
4 Hellspark Elemental
4 Keldon Marauders
4 Mogg Fanatic

// Burn - 24
4 Flames of the Blood Hand
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Magma Jet
4 Shard Volley
4 Lava Spike
4 Rift Bolt

There are other cards to consider for the deck. With mo' money, Grim Lavamancer + Fetchlands is arguably even better.


peace,
4eak

- Pretty much this. Why dump a few hundred dollars when you can dump a couple dozen or so into a mono-red RDW deck that is highly competitive? Here is the thing about RDW that makes it good:

= Many of the good anti-RDW cards like Chill are not legal in Modern. Counterbalance is another card that can't be used very well since Sensei's Divining Top is banned.

= None of the cards are ever dead. Burn can be aimed at either players, creatures, or planeswalkers. Your dudes can easily smash face regardless of the current stage of the game. Sure, later game they get worse when big dudes come out, but there is a fair chance you can burn their dudes away.

= Since old duals are not legal, many people will turn to shocklands. The extra damage people takes helps make RDW decks reach that goal of 20 damage much sooner.

= It's also arguable that RDW decks can race combo decks. If they can't, then that would mean the combo deck can kill before turn 4, which means WotC is going to ban any cards that helps them like Ponder.

http://www.thecouncil.es/tcdecks/metagame.php?format=Modern

Right behind Zoo, RDW is the best deck in the format. I have always thought that modern would be one of the best formats for RDW and this evidence is only the first to show that. RDW is going to become a pillar for Modern.

Anarky87
10-09-2011, 04:31 PM
Alright, sounds good to me. I'll go ahead and channel the some moolah into that. The first and only Modern tournament I played in I just played a Merfolk deck someone gave me and made 2nd. I played, Mono B poison stuff, B/r Bushido guys, aggro elves, Zoo, Urzatron, and then Zoo again in the finals, so there's really only like 1-2 polished decks there.

But thank you very much to everyone for giving me some much needed insight into the format.

hi-val
10-09-2011, 05:25 PM
Another nice thing I'm finding is that you rarely need full sets of shocklands. I've been picking up pairs here and there and I suggest it to you, too.

Mr. Safety
10-10-2011, 07:51 AM
Another nice thing I'm finding is that you rarely need full sets of shocklands. I've been picking up pairs here and there and I suggest it to you, too.

+1

Without Wasteland, you can use a lot of normally 'unplayable' dual lands, too. Filter lands like Sunken Ruins and M10 duals like Sunpetal Grove are both great at working alongside the shocks (and even basics) for a stable mana-base.