How to Train Your Ninja: Faerie Seer, Ice-Fang Coatl, and Other Clever Disguises

Modern Horizons, Episode 2: Ninja Faerie Tempo Snake
 
Is that a winged snake with deadly fangs of poison ice... or an ingenious ninja in disguise? Dreams of ninja glory become real this week as the crew explores David's favorite archetype of all time: sneaky blue tempo decks. Ice-Fang Coatl, Faerie Seer, Ingenious Infiltrator, and Fallen Shinobi offer a host of new tools for players looking to chip away for value while fighting battles on the stack. The ninjas are sweet and the faeries are classy, but are they just too fair for today's Modern?
 
Roundup: The Rise of Creature Combo
 
Hogaak Bridgevine continues to dominate online and in paper, but players are punching back with linear combo decks of their own, looking to exploit Hogaak's lack of interaction. Both Devoted Vizier and Saheeli combo are putting up strong results, and the crew has some builds that we like. Plus: Core 2020 previews and a tournament report with Niv-Mizzet Reborn.
 
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GW Vizier Combo: 5-0 league, very strong in current meta
Jeskai Supercats: 7-3 leagues, Watcher for Tomorrow is promising
 
Flashback: Ranger-Captain of Eos
 
It turns out that if you take an underpowered strategy and add Ranger-Captain of Eos, the result is an underpowered deck with Ranger-Captain of Eos. Martyr Proc does not line up well against today's modern. The Kirin combo seemed to get there on power level, but finding a build that can assemble the combo quickly while not falling prey to the inherent weaknesses of GW midrange proved challenging.
 
Martyr Proc: 4-6 leagues, Ranger-Captain didn't change the outlook for this strategy
 
GW Kirin (Vivien): 4-6 leagues, hard to assemble combo and the GW shell felt underpowered
 
GW Kirin (Eladamri's Call): 4-1 league, more successful at combo but surrounding GW cards are still mediocre
 
Boros Geddon: 3-2 league, needs better value engines to snowball an advantage
 
Brew Session: Ninja Tempo
 
Sultai Ninja Faeries
 
UG Curious Obsession
 
UB Ninja Faeries
 
Temur Sea Stompy
 
 
 

Winter Is Coming: Ranger-Captain of Eos in a Hogaak Meta

Modern Horizons, Episode 1: Ranger-Captain of Eos
 
It's a tale as old as Winterfell: our plains and forests are covered in snow, the army of the dead is coming, and all that shields the realms of men are a few brave Rangers. Hogaak Vine has swept through the Magic Online metagame, but for now the crew wants to fight for the side of the living. Ranger-Captain of Eos offers considerable talents at an attractive mana cost, but can fair creature decks stand up to the zombie hordes? Damon and David have some ideas, so let's discuss!
 
Flashback: Bolas's Citadel
 
They say that great wisdom grows from defeat. If so, Dan might be the wisest person alive after a week of getting stomped while exploring Bolas's Citadel. The engine was powerful, but glass-cannon strategies quickly proved too fragile in this hostile meta. Three directions remain promising: Lantern-style control with mill rocks, creature-based strategies using the Viscera Seer-Blood Artist engine, and lifegain control with a generous helping of Smiting Helix.
 
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Lantern Engines
BUG Lantern: 0-5, lantern is hard, meta is hostile
RB Trashy Engineer: 1-4, slightly too slow and still fragile
RB Engineer Control: 2-3, can compete but needs tuning
 
Aristocrats Engines
Abzan Aristocrats: 2-3, creatures were too weak
Esper Shape Anew: 3-2, decent despite the unplayables
4c Shape Anew: not yet tested
 
Lifegain Control
Mardu Helix: 4-1, clunky but promising
Madcap Mardu: 1-4, awful, do not try at home
 
Brew Session: Ranger-Captain of Eos
 
Sketch 1: Mono-W Martyr Control
Sketch 2: GW Kirin Armageddon
 

Enter the Citadel: Yawgmoth's Bargain Meets Channel

War of the Spark, Episode 6: Bolas's Citadel
 
Dreadhorde Arcanist proved challenging to work with, but the crew was eventually able to convert its versatility into another Faithless 5-0. But Dan is tired of chipping away for 1 damage plus a cantrip: this week, he just wants to break Modern in half. Bolas's Citadel can potentially do just that, offering an insane card draw engine stapled to an insane mana engine. But what about all those deckbuilding restrictions? And how are you going to get this pricey artifact into play? The crew breaks down a host of different directions, including some spicy additions from Modern Horizons.
 
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Flashback: Dreadhorde Arcanist
 
Temur Atarka's: 3-2 league, weak to control
 
Grixis Value: 4-1 league, takes too long to win
 
Grixis Shadow: 2-3 league, needs better SB
 
Jund Atarka's: 5-0 league, versatility was promising
 
Brew Session: Bolas's Citadel
 
Sketch 1: Trash for Treasure
 
Sketch 2: Goblin Engineer
 
Sketch 3: Lotus Bloom
 
Sketch 4: Shape Anew
 
Sketch 5: Grand Architect