Here are some things I noticed
Bears are bad
Monday, March 20, 2017
Modern Masters Workshop
Okay, so I survived (and summarized) my first Modern Masters experience and I miiiiiight be kind of hooked. High synergy set!
Here are some things I noticed
Here are some things I noticed
Modern Masters Draft: V-card punched
Survived my first ever modern masters draft at the Gamma Ray. They were gentle to me in my first time, though Margo couldn't contain herself with several exclamations of "Really?!" and "Thank YOU". I definitely had no idea what, if anything I was or was not passing. I just bunkered down and tried to find cards I could cast.
I crack open a dragon and very arbitrarily try to stay in those colors. I can't really read signals so I just try to fight for some playable cards in those colors. Blue seemed kinda open but I mostly just sat there and didn't like my cards
Pack 2 had a lot more red flowing my way, so I fill out some removal and generally feel a lot better about life. Pack 3 I made a hilarious mistake
I opened that card. It was in my colors! But I hadn't done a lot of thinking and it didn't seem THAT good. Now, looking back on it, completely crushing graveyard decks (definitely relevant), finding a great creature, blanking them on a draw step, and/or just gaining life is probably better than a two drop. Good to know!
I put together a deck that basically has zero synergies whatsoever.
Don't get me wrong, it's modern masters, there are some delicious cards
Despite being a relative pile, I go a *thoroughly* undeserved 2-1. I eke out a pair of 2-1 victories over some very good decks, where my two wins were by a hair's breadth and my loss was a pounding. I face off against Margo in the finals where she absolutely pummels me with a slick UB graveyard recursion.
So let's talk Modern Masters. It's pretty clearly an allied synergy deck with lots of splash potential to go into a shard. Each color has a base mechanic that pairs differently on either side. For example, green is king of the token creatures of all shapes and sizes. Except with white it's a populate deck with the big tokens while with red it does more of the conspire action with wee little tokens. So here's what I saw:
Draw cards
Graveyard
Tokens
Aggro & removal
ETBs
So each two-color pairing has mechanics like as follows:
Flicker ETB
Self-mill to graveyard
Aristocrats value sacrifice
Aggro hand-dump, go-wide
Populate tokens
With so much fixing, you can easily grab splash and really flesh it out. Golgari has some sweet sacrifice synergies, full Esper (WUB) goes a lot heavier on the control aspect with the WB options.
More on this later. I think I might be addicted to this format though. So many synergies!
 |
| Reversed again, Mogg was first |
I opened that card. It was in my colors! But I hadn't done a lot of thinking and it didn't seem THAT good. Now, looking back on it, completely crushing graveyard decks (definitely relevant), finding a great creature, blanking them on a draw step, and/or just gaining life is probably better than a two drop. Good to know!
I put together a deck that basically has zero synergies whatsoever.
Despite being a relative pile, I go a *thoroughly* undeserved 2-1. I eke out a pair of 2-1 victories over some very good decks, where my two wins were by a hair's breadth and my loss was a pounding. I face off against Margo in the finals where she absolutely pummels me with a slick UB graveyard recursion.
So let's talk Modern Masters. It's pretty clearly an allied synergy deck with lots of splash potential to go into a shard. Each color has a base mechanic that pairs differently on either side. For example, green is king of the token creatures of all shapes and sizes. Except with white it's a populate deck with the big tokens while with red it does more of the conspire action with wee little tokens. So here's what I saw:
Draw cardsGraveyardTokensAggro & removalETBsSo each two-color pairing has mechanics like as follows:
Flicker ETBSelf-mill to graveyardAristocrats value sacrificeAggro hand-dump, go-widePopulate tokensWith so much fixing, you can easily grab splash and really flesh it out. Golgari has some sweet sacrifice synergies, full Esper (WUB) goes a lot heavier on the control aspect with the WB options.
More on this later. I think I might be addicted to this format though. So many synergies!
Saturday, March 18, 2017
Basic Land Update
After much pondering, calculating, meditation and focus, I settled on my suite of basic lands.
Overall, it felt... fine. Not great, but the swamp choice was so terrible, it really dragged the whole team under. So I reassessed with some heads-up action.
Overall, it felt... fine. Not great, but the swamp choice was so terrible, it really dragged the whole team under. So I reassessed with some heads-up action.
Modern Masters 2017 Tokens
After a relatively laid-back approach to tokens (Gremlins and Servos... and that's about it!) Modern masters is here to inject the color of fun into our day! Especially with G/W rocking a populate theme, oh you better BELIEVE there will be tokens! We'll go through what you need and what you should want.
Using the chain-metal-bikini angel from Avacyn Restored which is a solid, if uninspired choice. If you're going to dig into your collection, allow me to recommend the Shadows over Innistrad token. Strict upgrade in all ways.
I like the classic beast token (from 2010-2014 core sets and Lorwyn before that) Good solid beast, doesn't try too hard. We also have a 4/4 beast from Zendikar, fine whatever. No other real alternatives.
The RTR bird token does perfectly serviceable work. You can choose to make it either friendlier (Zendikar, so fluffy!) or angrier (Khans)
Pretty much the only option.
Interesting! They brought back the Shards of Alara dragon token, which makes sense given the amount they drew from Shards in general. And they need a 4/4 dragon not a classic 5/5. About the only other alternate would be a Dragons of Tarkir dragon, which also went undersized. Not really sure why his fire is green though.
It's for a mythic so whatever. Straight reprint from Dragon's Maze for the stupid Voice of Resurgence.
The classic elephant from Worldwake is back. There is a sweet Conspiracy elephant option as well. Otherwise that's pretty much it.
Interestingly there is a 5/5 *white* giant warrior token from Morningtide. Huh.
Reprising the token from Shards (again, a theme). Personally I greatly prefer the Yeti from DtK. Many of the goblin makers do make multiples, so be sure to rock a few copies.
They reprinted New Phyrexia as that's the home of the splicers. Fair enough. Definitely sticking to the Phyrexian theme of metal spikes and tormented flesh. For alternates, you have both a Scars golem (posing dramatically in front of the lava) as well as a Theros token (which works if you gloss over the enchantment part, which I do) I like Theros the most but I'm always a sucker for the classics.
A number of fun options here. Reprinted the RtR ooze, but I personally prefer original Innistrad sweeping through the dockyard. Rise of the Eldrazi and Shards are meh.
Much like soldiers & goblins, lots of choices for Saprolings. They went with the core-set classic. It's between that and the weird snake-plant of 10th edition. I think my saprolings need mushrooms.
Soldier token is obviously a staple of the set and they choose to reward us with brand new art! That's actually... really cool! I like when they use the reprints as an excuse to get some fresh art. First, great art. Second, uh, great art? Not much more to add
The R/W token is a rehash of the Boros solider from Gatecrash. Sure.
I do appreciate the classic "2/4 Spider", bringing back memories of yore. Feel free to dig out the classic Giant Spider from the core sets. All your other official tokens are 1/2 and other deviants.
Strong choice, pulling from the Avacyn Restored token. I think that's the strongest overall choice by a comfortable margin.
God, I can't even look at that without thinking of Advent of the Wurm and then groaning.
After several strong choices, I felt like they sort of punted the zombie. It's one of their go-to arts, I get it, but I think they have stronger options on the bench (Nyx, Khans, Eldritch Moon)
Angel
Using the chain-metal-bikini angel from Avacyn Restored which is a solid, if uninspired choice. If you're going to dig into your collection, allow me to recommend the Shadows over Innistrad token. Strict upgrade in all ways.
Beast (3/3 & 4/4)
I like the classic beast token (from 2010-2014 core sets and Lorwyn before that) Good solid beast, doesn't try too hard. We also have a 4/4 beast from Zendikar, fine whatever. No other real alternatives.
Bird
The RTR bird token does perfectly serviceable work. You can choose to make it either friendlier (Zendikar, so fluffy!) or angrier (Khans)
Centaur
Pretty much the only option.
Dragon
Interesting! They brought back the Shards of Alara dragon token, which makes sense given the amount they drew from Shards in general. And they need a 4/4 dragon not a classic 5/5. About the only other alternate would be a Dragons of Tarkir dragon, which also went undersized. Not really sure why his fire is green though.
Elemental (Voice)
It's for a mythic so whatever. Straight reprint from Dragon's Maze for the stupid Voice of Resurgence.
Elephant
The classic elephant from Worldwake is back. There is a sweet Conspiracy elephant option as well. Otherwise that's pretty much it.
Giant Warrior
Interestingly there is a 5/5 *white* giant warrior token from Morningtide. Huh.
Goblin
Reprising the token from Shards (again, a theme). Personally I greatly prefer the Yeti from DtK. Many of the goblin makers do make multiples, so be sure to rock a few copies.
Goblin Warrior
Golem
They reprinted New Phyrexia as that's the home of the splicers. Fair enough. Definitely sticking to the Phyrexian theme of metal spikes and tormented flesh. For alternates, you have both a Scars golem (posing dramatically in front of the lava) as well as a Theros token (which works if you gloss over the enchantment part, which I do) I like Theros the most but I'm always a sucker for the classics.
Ooze (x/x)
A number of fun options here. Reprinted the RtR ooze, but I personally prefer original Innistrad sweeping through the dockyard. Rise of the Eldrazi and Shards are meh.
Saproling
Much like soldiers & goblins, lots of choices for Saprolings. They went with the core-set classic. It's between that and the weird snake-plant of 10th edition. I think my saprolings need mushrooms.
Soldier (W & RW)
Soldier token is obviously a staple of the set and they choose to reward us with brand new art! That's actually... really cool! I like when they use the reprints as an excuse to get some fresh art. First, great art. Second, uh, great art? Not much more to add
The R/W token is a rehash of the Boros solider from Gatecrash. Sure.
Spider (2/4)
I do appreciate the classic "2/4 Spider", bringing back memories of yore. Feel free to dig out the classic Giant Spider from the core sets. All your other official tokens are 1/2 and other deviants.
Spirit
Strong choice, pulling from the Avacyn Restored token. I think that's the strongest overall choice by a comfortable margin.
Wurm
God, I can't even look at that without thinking of Advent of the Wurm and then groaning.
Zombie
After several strong choices, I felt like they sort of punted the zombie. It's one of their go-to arts, I get it, but I think they have stronger options on the bench (Nyx, Khans, Eldritch Moon)
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