How to Brew Successfully in a New Format

Throne of Eldraine, Episode 5: A Brewer's Guide to Pioneer
 
Well that was unexpected.  The birth of a new format is a strange and wonderful thing. “Brewer’s paradise” is a phrase that gets thrown around often, and if that doesn’t apply to times like these, when does it ever apply? For a brewing podcast like ours, a completely unexplored format must be a dream come true.
 
The truth is that successful brewing is actually quite difficult when a metagame is completely undefined. We cannot attack a meta from unexpected angles if we ourselves have no idea what to expect.
 
So what should we expect from Pioneer? How do we build decks in this exciting new format? Fear not, you Faithless Brewers, we have you covered!
 
In this special bonus episode, we take a deep dive into the Pioneer card pool. We unpack the mana bases, removal options, the most powerful cards and strategies, and the decks you will need to be prepared for on Day 1 -- everything you need to get brewing and start battling in the queues!
 
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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
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Timestamps
 
2:38 What is Pioneer?
 
5:18 Initial reactions + unpacking the B&R philosophy
 
11:15 Getting to know the card pool: Pioneer and Modern, compared
 
17:00 Understanding Pioneer mana bases: lands and ramp options
 
32:11 Cards that used to be banned in Standard and Modern
 
45:42 Understanding interactive tools in Pioneer: removal, sweepers, counterspells, and hand disruption
 
1:02:16 Understanding the Day 1 metagame: the most powerful strategies in the format
 
1:22 Summary: The Rules of Engagement for Day 1 of Pioneer
 
 

The Great Henge and Beyond

Throne of Eldraine, Episode 4: The Great Henge
 
Some weeks, when we pick a card to feature, we know it will be a hit. Charming Prince is a versatile role player. Emry is insanely efficient. Oko is simply Broko, and might prove too strong even for eternal formats. Brewing around these cards is a great way to get acquainted with future format staples, and maybe rack up some trophies in the process.
 
Other times, however, it is helpful to brew from the other end of the spectrum: pick a card that might prove totally unplayable, explore it to its fullest, and see where that leads. The Great Henge is one such card. Like the rest of Eldraine's mythic artifact cycle, The Great Henge demands an impossible mana investment, but offers a quest that might let you summon it on the cheap. Meeting this condition is already a giant puzzle, to say nothing of crafting a game plan that can exploit the Henge's abilities while also keeping pace with the brutal Modern format.
 
This week, our goal is to stretch our deckbuilding muscles. This means brewing in Hard Mode. Forget about 5-0s, or tuning a sideboard for the meta; these decks might not even survive the goldfishing stage. But the farther there is to climb, the more we stand to learn from the attempt. Join us as we venture to the Great Henge and beyond!
 
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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
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Roundup: Latest Developments in Modern
 
Utopia Niv-Mizzet (Dan): Top 4, SCG IQ Danbury, Sprawls are quite good at landing a planeswalker on turn 2, which may prove more important going forward
 
Sultai Into the Story (Raphael Mark): Top 2, SCG IQ Danbury, a strong take on the Mystic Sultai hard control archetype
 
Flashback: Charming Prince
 
Naya Dubious Defector: 13-7 leagues, hilarious and powerful, struggles to play defense
 
GW Charming Challenge: 2-3 league, Iona is stronger than Woodfall Primus/Worldspine Wurm, but requires giving up Through the Breach
 
Boros Blink: 2-3 league, grinds well, but struggles to disrupt unfair decks
 
Charming Taxes: 2-3 league, relies heavily on Aether Vial and Stoneforge Mystic to present anything powerful
 
UW Charming Soulherder: 3-2 league, very strong but requires a lot of clicks and triggers to win
 
Brew Session: The Great Henge
 
Sketch #1: Golgari Hengevine
 
Sketch #2: Yolo Yorvo Combo Henge
 
Sketch #3: Basic Henge Stompy
 
Sketch #4: Arcanist Hengehammer Beats
 
Elfball Combo Henge (Meryn MTG): 5-2 in 1v1 queues
 
 

Searching for Prince Charming

Throne of Eldraine, Episode 3: Charming Prince
 
Oko, Thief of Crowns crushed it last week. We tested five homes the new Simic walker, and the trophies just started stacking up. Sultai Faeries, Bant Okoblade, Bonecrusher Kiora, even Faeburrow Niv-Mizzet got in on the 5-0 action. 38-7 is not a normal record for our testing sessions. Was it just good luck, good decklists, or is Oko simply brok-o? What is clear at least is that the card has many hidden modes, functioning more like a six- or seven- ability walker. "Five-Oh-ko" (too much?) looks to be a multi-format staple going forward, so pick up your copies now.
 
Four trophies will be a tough act to follow, so this week the crew takes a crack at a more humble offering from Eldraine: the Charming Prince! Like Oko, Prince Charming offers three modes, but contextually they can feel like four or five. Versatility like that on a 2 drop is great, but the blink mode in particular has Dave's gears turning as potentially enabling broken plays. Can the young prince rescue our permanents from the enemy’s clutches, and stake his claim as a future Modern staple?
 
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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
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Timestamps and Decklists
 
Flashback: Oko, Thief of Crowns
 
03:45 Bant StoneBlade: 5-0 league
12:29 Shape Anew: 2-3 league
21:14 Sultai Faeries: 9-1 leagues
30:04 Bonecrusher Kiora: 17-3 leagues
39:10 Faeburrow Niv: 5-0 league
 
Roundup: Eldraine Week Two
 
 
51:03 SCG Team Open results
52:48 Once Upon a Time, Castle Garenbrig
54:06 Emry, Lurker of the Loch
54:56 Witching Well
55:34 Mystic Sanctuary
58:35 Gingerbrute, All that Glitters
59:24 Merchant of the Vale
59:43 Fires of Invention + Fae of Wishes
1:01:15 Fires of Invention + Savor the Moment + Mystic Sanctuary
1:04:55 Glass Casket
1:05:16 The Royal Scions
1:06:18 Drown in the Loch
 
Brew Session: Charming Prince
 
 
1:09:24 Charming Prince Overview
1:11:53 Sketch 1: Wr Humble Blink
1:26:37 Sketch 2: Naya Challenge
 
Reference lists:
 
Mono-W Taxes (kaosofmind): 5-0
Mono-W Emeria (Fincown): 5-0
GW Dubious Prince (k_f_chicken): 5-0
 
 

Mr. Steal Your Crown: Six New Brews with Oko

Throne of Eldraine, Episode 2: Oko, Thief of Crowns
 
Oko, Thief of Crowns, is a mischievous trickster. He’s so devious that he tricked Wizards into printing him with three powerful abilities and a giant pile of loyalty, all for the low, low price of three mana. Already poised to dominate Standard, the crew thinks Oko will be flaunting his skills in Modern in the very near future, and Dave has six new decklists to prove it.
 
Also, Dan has a new article up on Arenadecklists.gg: a comprehensive Brewer’s Guide to Throne of Eldraine! Expanding on our discussions in the podcast and analyzing 65 cards across four different Top 10 lists (math checks out, right?) this article has everything you need to start brewing with one of the most exciting new releases that Modern has ever seen. You won’t want to miss it!
 
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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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Dan’s Article: A Brewer's Guide to Throne of Eldraine
https://arenadecklists.gg/2019/10/02/a-brewers-guide-to-mtgeld-in-modern/
 
Damon’s Tournament Results
 
Rainbow Niv-Mizzet (Damon): 6-2 Modern challenge, 5-0 league
Brazen Cutthroat Kiki (Damon, based on kahluah777’s 5-0 list): 5-0 league
 
Roundup: Throne of Eldraine Week 1
 
Paradoxical Emry (Kevslinger): 7-1 Modern Challenge
Emry Ascendancy (Rav104): 5-0 League
Wishclaw EmrySword (haubidtran): 5-0 league
Grixis Into the Story (aspiringspike): 5-0 league
Charming Emeria (Fincown): 5-0 league
 
Dubious Prince (k_f_chicken): 5-0 league
 
Gilded Skies (internetsurfer09): 5-0 league
Questing Stompy (fluffywolf2): 5-0 league
Once Upon a Bogle (__matsugan): 5-0 league
Glitterbrute Affinity (sandahl123): 5-0 league
SnowKo Niv-Mizzet (rodebo): 5-0 league, 4-1 league
 
Brew Session: Oko, Thief of Crowns
 
Sketch #1: Sultai Faeries
Sketch #2: Oko Shape Anew
Sketch #3: 4c Saheeli
Sketch #4: Bant OkoBlade
Sketch #5: Arcades Herder
Sketch #6: Faeburrow Niv-Mizzet (update: Damon notched a 5-0 with this updated list!)
 
Reference lists:
 
Bant OkoBlade (UBERMIKEYB): 3rd place, Modern Challenge
4c SnowKo Saheeli (Gab Nassif): 6-2, Modern Challenge