2019 August

Stoneforge Mistake? A Brewer’s Guide to the New Queen of Modern

August 30, 2019

Faithless Brewing, Episode 18: The Ultimate Guide to Stoneforge Mystic

It was a difficult week for the Faithless Family, as we had to say goodbye to one of our own. Faithless Looting, the best card in Modern, breaker of formats and giver of value, was struck down in the prime of its life, taken from us by a cruel stroke of research and development. Dear Looting, you shall be missed.

There is no rest for the weary, however, as a new powerhouse has been unleashed upon the Modern format. Stoneforge Mystic has arrived to thunderous applause and is already dominating the MTGO leagues, with no fewer than 27(!) distinct Stoneforge decks appearing in the first 5-0 deck dump. It is a time of wild experimentation, and we are here to guide you through all the different ways to make Batterskull and friends. You won't want to miss this one!

*****

Flashback: Elementals

Bant Vesperlark: 5-5 leagues, an acceptable combo deck with a good ability to grind thanks to Risen Reef. Lack of interaction makes it difficult to keep up with aggressive strategies.

RB Thunder Forger: 5-5 leagues, Thunderkin is massively defanged by the loss of Faithless Looting, and this deck can never defeat a Batterskull. The Shaman core remains surprisingly powerful though.

*****

Brew Session: Stoneforge Mystic

Stoneforge lists from around the web, all from within the first two days of the card's legality. For the full Friday 5-0 deck dump, complete with 27 distinct Stoneforge lists, click here.

UWx StoneBlade

UW Stoneblade (Todd Anderson)

UW Stoneblade (Emma Handy)

UW Stoneblade (Ben Friedman)

Jeskai Stoneblade (Todd Anderson)

Esper Stoneblade (Todd Anderson)

UrzaBlade

Esper UrzaBlade (Samuel Graebner, 16-4 leagues)

UW UrzaBlade (kanister)

4c Urza (Ross Merriam)

UW Urza (Bryan Gottlieb)

BW Midrange

BW SewerBlade (CalebD, 5-0 league)

BW Ale-Drazi (xjcloud, 5-0 league)

Existing Combo w/ Stoneforge Support

Jeskai Saheeli Elementals (Jan Huang, 5-0 league)

4c Snowheeli Blade (Ross Merriam)

Bant Devoted Blade (Ross Merriam)

Bant Midrange

Bant Snowblade (aspiringspike, 5-0 league)

Bant Snowblade (SaffronOlive, 5-0 league)

Bant SpiritBlade (Emma Handy)

White Aggro

Mono-W CawBlade (aspiringspike, 5-0 league)

Mono-W Cawblade (kponce, 5-0 league)

Miscellaneous Midrange

Abzan Midrange (Reid Duke)

Naya ZooBlade (Wyatt Darby)

GW EldraziBlade (Ryan Overturf)

Equipment Combo

RW Hammertime (CalebD, 3-1 league)

*****

Contact Us

Twitter: @FaithlessMTG

Email: faithless.brewing@gmail.com

Homepage: faithlessbrewing.podbean.com

Don't forget to subscribe and leave us an iTunes review. We want to hear from you!

Thunderkin Awakening

August 22, 2019

Faithless Brewing, Episode 17: Risen Reef / Elemental Tribal

The Elemental tribe is rising from the reef with a host of new printings from Modern Horizons and Core 2020. Thunderkin Awakener has already established itself as a player alongside Lightning Skelemental, but Risen Reef has brewers experimenting with all five colors of the rainbow. The decks are already sweet, and we've barely begun to scratch the surface of what this tribe can do. Will Vesperlark give Altar of Dementia a second chance at breaking Modern? Does Master of Waves push Risen Reef over the top? Can Thunderkin Awakener breathe new life into Rage Forger aggro? Join us this week for a journey to the Primal Beyond, as we discuss all things Elementals with some slick new brews.

Timestamps

02:30 Lame Duck Modern + the post-Hogaak Metagame

17:40 Elemental Tribal: What We've Seen So Far

26:10 Brewing Elementals with the Scryfall Method

45:41 4c Vesperlark Value-Combo (Brew #1)

57:00 Bant Vesperlark Combo (Brew #1b)

1:02:45 RB Thunder Forger (Brew #2)

1:09:30 Temur Thunder Vine (Brew #2b)

Other lists referenced:

• Rakdos Skelemental (LordoftheLobsters, 6-1 Modern Challenge)

Skelemental, Thunderkin, Unearth, and Ball Lightning, plus Seasoned Pyro/Faithless Looting + standard B/R spell package, a couple Arcanists thrown in.

• Mardu Pyromancers (Kensuke Kato, 6-4 MC Barcelona)

Basically the same, but trimming Thunderkins and dropping Ball Lightning to make room for copies of Young Pyromancer, Lingering Souls, Smiting Helix.

• Jund 8-Ball (Victor Falcone, SCG IQ top 8)

8-Balls + Collected Company + Pelt Collector, the worst creature in Modern.

• 5c Skelementals (Elfkid, 5-0 league)

Risen Reef and a random assortment of creatures. Aether Vial + the tribal lands (Cavern, Unclaimed Territory, Primal Beyond) + Smokebraider enable all 5 colors.

• 5c Risen Reef (perseel, 5-0 league x2)

There are 2 more 5-0 "5c Elemental" lists that do not run Skelemental.

• Bant Risen Company (milikin, 5-0 league)

Reef as a value creature in Bant Company, with light Elemental package (mainly Voice of Resurgence).

• Jund Shamans (Caleb Durward, 5-0 league x2)

Rage Forger + a bunch of terrible creatures that happen to be Shamans.

• All-in Vesperlark Combo (Liam Cahalan)

Turbo mill to assemble Vesperlark + sac outlet + Image/Body Double.

• 5c Master of the Reef (Caleb Durward)

Miscellaneous 5c elementals, including Shorecrasher Elemental for increased devotion.

• Amulet Reef Combo (u/Jrax)

Play your whole deck with Amulet of Vigor + Risen Reef (explanation here).

*****

Contact Us

Twitter: @FaithlessMTG

Email: faithless.brewing@gmail.com

Homepage: faithlessbrewing.podbean.com

Don't forget to subscribe and leave us an iTunes review. We want to hear from you!

Cashing GP Minneapolis with Rainbow Niv-Mizzet

August 16, 2019

Faithless Brewing, Episode 16: Niv-Mizzet Deep Dive

It's a Hogaak summer, it is what it is, but Niv's a 5-star dragon and we know he's got it lit. Dan and Damon spread their wings over Minneapolis last weekend with a new build of Rainbow Niv-Mizzet. The deck is sweet, but can you really cash a Grand Prix with a Faithless Brew? Yes, yes you can! Damon notched a 9-4-2 finish in the main event, and the deck is poised to get even better in the post-Hogaak metagame.

This week the crew breaks down everything Niv-Mizzet: our testing process, manabase considerations, sideboarding and matchup analysis, and recommendations for the build going forward. You won't want to miss this one!

Niv-Mizzet GP Deck Tech (Damon)

Friday MCQ Decklist (Damon + Dan)

Saturday GP Decklist (Damon + Dan)

Sunday MCQ Decklist (Dan)

Hogaak without Leylines (Andrew Wolbers, Sunday MCQ Winner)

Unexpected Tron deck tech (Nathan Graves, Saturday round 6 feature match)

Contact Us

Twitter: @FaithlessMTG

Email: faithless.brewing@gmail.com

Homepage: faithlessbrewing.podbean.com

The Fundamentals of Brewing, Part 1

August 9, 2019

Faithless Brewing, Episode 15

It's a homecoming week for the Faithless Brewing crew, as we descend on the Twin Cities for Grand Prix Minneapolis. In this episode, we discuss the fundamentals of brewing competitive rogue decks: how do you go from spark of an idea to finished decklist? What are some guidelines for constructing successful brews, and what are the common pitfalls? We are joined by special guest and master brewer Rhett Wilfahrt.

Flashback: Watcher for Tomorrow

Watcher Blink: 3-2 league, Ephemerate is very powerful

Contact Us

Twitter: @FaithlessMTG

Email: faithless.brewing@gmail.com

Homepage: faithlessbrewing.podbean.com

Tomorrow Never Dies: Watcher for Tomorrow and How to Kill It

August 2, 2019

Faithless Brewing, Episode 14: Watcher for Tomorrow

Look at your top 4 cards and choose the best one. Then, do it again. And again. As many times are you can blink! Watcher for Tomorrow offers selection and value reminiscent of Narset or even Dig Through Time, all stapled onto an efficient creature. The only catch? You have to make him die. The crew thinks they are up to the task, with a few different possible shells. Which ones will have what it takes?

Spice Roundup

Snowy Niv-Mizzet: 5-1-1, SCG IQ Newington. Promising results with this snow manabase featuring Arcum's Astrolabe, Pillar of the Paruns, Search for Tomorrow and Wrenn and Six.

Brewers' Mailbag

What is the most competitive Faithless Brewing deck? This question is like an onion: many layered and with lots of tears. The crew peels it back as we ponder deck options for GP Minneapolis.

Flashback: Yawgmoth, Thran Physician

The Yawgfather has many talents, from card draw, to board control, to infinite combos with undying creatures. But how much should we lean on this card? Is the undying combo viable as a primary plan, or should that be a secondary angle in a creature based aggro deck?

Monoblack Zombies: 2-3 league, was using its recursive creatures too fairly

4c Undying Evolution: 6-4 leagues, Neoform + undying allows for a strong aggro plan, but the list can definitely be streamlined

Reference lists:

Jund Superfriends (lucky_dragon, 5-0 league): an intriguing take on Yawgmoth + tokens for value

Brew Session: Watcher for Tomorrow

Jeskai Saheeli

Bant Blink (Sketch)

UW Hatebear Blink (Sketch)

Reference lists:

Bant Blink (TscheggschDePoegg, 5-0 league)

Bant Blink (Gabriel Nassif, Fandom Legends)

Eternal Command (Shota Yasooka, Players' Championship 2012)