The Dreadhorde Arcanist Dilemma

War of the Spark, Episode 5: Dreadhorde Arcanist

Modern Horizons previews are burning up the internet, but the crew still has unfinished business with War of the Spark. Dreadhorde Arcanist is a powerful two-drop that has proven itself in Legacy, but hasn’t yet made a splash in Modern. Is the Arcanist best used for grinding value, or should we be smashing face? Dave has a decklist for each strategy, so let’s discuss!

Flashback: Karn, the Great Creator and Teferi, Time Raveler

It was a shorter than normal week of testing, but we still played enough to learn that we hated the Liquimetal Jund list. Play Karn, but don’t play Karn here. Teferi Scepter seemed more promising, but there is plenty of work still to be done.

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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com

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Liquimetal Jund: tried and rejected

Teferi Scepter Lock: more testing needed

Brew Session: Dreadhorde Arcanist

Grixis Value Arcanist

Temur Phoenix Arcanist

Bonus Content: Modern Horizons Quick Hits

Dan has some early takes on cards he is excited about. Find his article here on the Modern subreddit!

The Planeswalker Fun Police: Karn, Prison Warden and Teferi, Time Cop

War of the Spark, Episode 4: Karn, the Great Creator and Teferi, Time Raveler

You don’t have to look far these days to find Karn, Teferi, and Narset locking down battlefields across all formats. We don’t have to like it, but we owe it to ourselves to at least try them out in some brews. David is intrigued by Liquimetal Coating and Isochron Scepter, while Dan has his eye on Lavinia, Azorius Renegade.

Flashback: Kiora, Behemoth Beckoner

Another week, another Faithless 5-0! We recap our week of testing with Kiora, which led us to create a sleek new Glorybringer list that would make the Mother of Dragons proud (is it too soon?). But we didn’t stop there; the crew also tried numerous other builds featuring a wild menagerie of 4-power creatures: Vexing Devil, Rampaging Baloths, Thought-Knot Seer, God-Eternal Oketra. Which ones are tournament ready and which ones are best discarded?

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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com

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Vexing Zoo: tried and rejected
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/decks/new#online

Abzan Little Kid: needs tuning
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1919346#paper

Dragon Ramp: tournament ready (5-0 league, 16-4 overall)
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1929876#online

Proposed but not tested: Green Devotion, Temur Ascendancy, Bant Eldrazi

Brew Session: Karn, the Great Creator and Teferi, Time Raveler

Liquimetal Jund:
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1928177#online

Teferi, Isochron Silencer:
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1928110#online

Teferi-Lavinia Lock:
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1928144#online

Mix and Match Walker Combo:
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1928204#online

Reference lists mentioned on cast:

Mono-Red Karn Prison:
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1895722#online

Teferi-Knowledge Pool Lock:
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/archetype/modern-azorius-control-85955#online

Copycat PW Extravaganza:
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/archetype/modern-four-colors-copycat-86068#online

Narset Pitch Blue:
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/archetype/modern-pitch-blue#paper

Kiora Beckons! How to Make Your Mana and Draw Cards Too

War of the Spark, Episode 3: Kiora, Behemoth Beckoner

War of the Spark is chock full of spicy planeswalkers, so it’s no surprise that Dan wants to go deep on… Kiora? Yes, Kiora! The Behemoth Expert ramps you like a big Arbor Elf (or a mini-Garruk, or a bootleg Amulet) and also keeps the cards flowing. This puts her in a class of her own. But can this intriguing engine find a home in Modern? David has some ideas, so let’s discuss!

Flashback: Niv-Mizzet Reborn

It was a promising week of Niv-Mizzet testing. Many dragon avatars were brought to light, and many, many cards were drawn. The control shell proved 5-0 worthy and is a solid concept, but the mana base needs more basic lands and the best ramp option has yet to be determined (Birds of Paradise? Sakura-Tribe Elder? Sarkhan Fireblood?). David also had good results with a turbo-ramp midrange shell, so there’s a lot here still to explore.

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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com

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Niv to Light: 5-0 League
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1885348#online

Turbo-Niv Midrange: 4-1 League
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1910829#online

Brew Session: Kiora, Behemoth Beckoner

Sketch 1.0: Little Kid Abzan
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1910904#online

Sketch 1.1: Little Kid GW
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1910921#online

Sketch 2.0: Temur Ferocious
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1910934#online

Sketch 2.1: Gruul Ramp
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1910948#online

Sketch 3: Vexing Zoo
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1911962#online

Bonus ideas mentioned on cast:

Kiora + Nykthos (Green devotion shell)

Kiora + Eldrazi Temple (Bant Eldrazi shell)

Kiora + Sakura-Tribe Scout + karoos (Rampaging Baloths ramp)

The Dragon Reborn: Unlocking Rainbow Niv-Mizzet

War of the Spark Season, Episode 2: Niv-Mizzet Reborn

Dan has a chip on his shoulder and is eager to prove the haters wrong about Niv-Mizzet Reborn, his pick for War of the Spark sleeper hit in Modern. But how to make use of a 5 mana engine? How to build the rainbow mana base? And what two-color cards are we even trying to cast? We discuss several possible sketches, including Turbo-Ramp, Golden Hatebears, Niv to Light Control, and GBx Rainbow Rock. Let the Dragon ride again on the winds of time!

Flashback: Neoform

We discuss our results after a week of testing Bant Monkeyform, including a 5-0 competitive league and top 8 at an SCG IQ. Not too shabby! The deck is sweet and appears to have legs, and tails, and fins (or whatever frog-lizards have).

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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com

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Bant Monkeyform: 5-0 League
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1871220#online

Bant Monkeyform: SCG IQ Top 8
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1885401#online

Brew Session: Niv-Mizzet Reborn

Sketch 1: Golden Hatebears
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1903261#online

Sketch 2: Niv-Mizzet Ramp
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1903327#online

Sketch 3: Niv to Light Control
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1885348#online

Sketch 4: Rainbow Rock
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1903415#online

My Monkey Style Defeats Your Dino Style: Neoform in Aggro and Combo

War of the Spark Season, Episode 1: Neoform

Eldritch Evolution hit the gym and got a little leaner, a little meaner, and potentially a lot more powerful. The crew dives deep into Neoform, an exciting new tutor from War of the Spark. What can we do with this card? Is it just another creature toolbox option, or are there more powerful synergies to be unlocked? 

Brew session: Neoform

Sketch 1: Allosaurus Combo

https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1903165#online

Sketch 2: Neo-Eldrazi

https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1903156#online

Sketch 3: Bant Monkeyform

https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1903148#online

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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com

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Like our content? Support us on Patreon and join our brewing community!

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