Storm Herald's a-Brewin'

Theros Beyond Death, Episode 6: Storm Herald
 
The last time we brewed around a flashy Simic mythic from the latest set release, the 5-0 finishes just piled up like candy. Our testing with Uro yielded similar results: no trophies this time, but a giant pile of 4-1s across multiple decks and multiple formats (Pioneer, Modern, and even Standard), from established meta decks to off-the-wall wild brews. Uro is here to stay, even making appearances in Legacy, so pick up your playset now and get ready to start drawing cards, gaining life, and exiling your graveyard in neat stacks of five cards.
 
This week, we pivot to a Theros card with a much less impressive pedigree: the curious rare Storm Herald. The effect on this hasty Shaman is so unique in Magic that the closest comparisons are... Retether? Iridescent Drake? Boonweaver Giant?? When our first pass at the card has us debating the merits of Shape of the Wiitigo, you know you are in for some deep cuts. Whether imitating Goryo's Vengenace by bringing back an Eldrazi Conscription, or playing the role of the pied piper calling a host of tiny auras all at once, Storm Herald is playing by its own rules in the strange and bizarre world of creature-boosting enchantments. Can this exciting new tool breathe life into the historically underpowered Aura subtype? And will the juice be worth the squeeze? There's only one way to find out!
 
****
Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
****
Like our content? Support us on Patreon and join our brewing community!
****
 
Flashback: Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath
 
Standard
 
Bant Uro Ramp (by Danny Salvatore): 6-2, SCG Philadelphia
 
Pioneer
 
Swedish Delirium (Dan): 6-2, SCG Philadelphia
 
 
4c Uro Reanimator (David/Damon): 8-2 leagues
 
Modern
 
Uro's Weirding (by Nephtyz, 5-0 league)
 
Temur Uro and Six (by MrRaeb, 5-0 league x2)
 
Turbo Lazav (by lannynyny, 5-0 league)
 
Turbo Lazav 1.1 (Dan): 4-1 league
 
Turbo Lazav 1.2 (Dan): 4-1 league
 
5c Niv Uro (Dan): 4-1 league
 
 
Brew Session: Storm Herald
 
 
Modern
 
Reference list: Jund Storm Conscription (Caleb Durward)
 
Sketch 1: Jund Storm Conscription
 
 
Pioneer
 
Reference list: BW Auras (Ken Yukuhiro)
 
Sketch 1: Mardu Sram Herald
 
Sketch 2: Boros Sram Herald
 
Sketch 3: Jeskai Curious Herald
  
 
 

Uro vs. Kroxa: Clash of the Titans

Theros Beyond Death, Episode 5: Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath
 
Kroxa made his case last week for early release from the underworld of Theros, taking a bite out of the competition in both Modern and Pioneer. The hungry fellow has been making inroads into 5-0 lists, but has yet to enjoy the success of his greener, bluer, more wrathful sibling. This week, the clash of the titans comes to a head, as we pit our results with Kroxa against new lists featuring Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath.
 
Already boasting a Players Tour championship, Uro seems to have all the makings of a multi-format star. Simic colors? Check. Useful in many strategies? Check. Mythic rare, costs 1UG, rapidly increasing in price? Check, check, and check. Three letter name, two of which are vowels, followed by a title description? Welcome to my decklist, Oko left the seat warm for you.
 
There's no denying that Uro is a powerful and wildly successful card. Unlike Kroxa, Uro's draw and lifegain abilities create both time and resources to play a longer game, while also giving you land drops to go nuts with all of your extra material. Uro has so many abilities that even now players have only begun to scratch the surface of what it can do. A repeatable Growth Spiral is great. A repeatable Reviving Dose is also great. A giant creature that comes out of the graveyard without costing you a card, and generates value turn after turn, is starting to get a little crazy. This is a card that we are going to be seeing a lot of for the foreseeable future, so let's see what else Uro can do!
 
****
Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
****
Like our content? Support us on Patreon and join our brewing community!
****
 
Roundup: Pioneer Between the PTs
 
Czech House Niv-Mizzet (Paulo Vitor Damo da Rosa)
 
BW Auras (Ken Yukuhiro)
 
Sultai Delirium (Joel Larsson)
 
Lotus Breach (Brent Vos)
 
Dimir Inverter (kanister)
 
Flashback: Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger
 
Pioneer
 
Grixis Kroxa Midrange (Damon): 7-8 leagues
 
Grixis Kroxa Midrange (David): 2-3 league
 
Rakdos Kroxa Cat (David): 3-2 league
 
Modern
 
Jund Hungry Zoo (Dan): 3-2 league
 
Grixis Renegade Kroxa (Dan): 2-3 league
 
T-Rex on the Titanic (test deck): not recommended for league play
 
 
Brew Session: Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath
 
Pioneer
 
Blood for Bones Reanimator: 8-2 leagues
 
Simic Ramp (Sketch)
 
Sultai Uro Oven (Sketch)
 
Modern
 
Wrenn and Uro (by MrRaeb, 5-0 league)
 
Uro's Weirding (by Nephtyz, 5-0 league)
 
 
 

Still Hungry: Kroxa in Modern and Pioneer

Theros Beyond Death, Episode 4: Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger
 
Freshly escaped from the underworld of Theros, Kroxa is at the peak of his powers. 6/6 is nearly as big as it gets. Two mana is nearly as lean as it gets. A true titan of the game, Kroxa packs a punch and delivers value coming and going, but he's not resting on his laurels. No, King Kroxa is still hungry, and he's coming for that 5-0 in Modern and Pioneer. 
 
Mechanically speaking, Theros's titans are fairly complicated under the hood. As pseudo spell effects, they are somewhat reminiscent of the Evoke and Adventure mechanics, but the similarities only go so far. The upshot is that the turn you spend two mana for a Raven's Crime is a very bad turn. The turn you spend four mana for a 6/6 with a positive ETB and attack trigger is a very good turn, and you can have that turn multiple times in a game. Kroxa's power level seems to lie somewhere in the middle, if we are just taking the card at face value. But what if we break the mold and cheat on Kroxa's hidden costs? Can we skip the Raven's Crime turn by putting Kroxa directly into the graveyard? Or how about the two mana 6/6 body that is briefly on the battlefield, what if we make extra use of that? The possibilities are as endless as Kroxa's appetite, so let's start brewing!
 
****
Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
****
Like our content? Support us on Patreon and join our brewing community!
****
 
Roundup: Modern Brews + Pioneer PTs
 
Modern
 
Turbo Elesh Norn: 4-0* league. Move 4th Leyline to main deck, cut green splash, add SB Burrenton Forge-Tender.
 
 
RG Kiora Ox: 5-0 league. New card grades: Ox of Agonas (B), Phoenix of Ash (B-), Klothys, God of Destiny (C)
 
 
Flashback: Enigmatic Incarnation
 
Pioneer
 
Rhino Incarnation 1.1: 4-6 leagues
 
 
 
Rhino Incarnation 1.2: proposed update
 
 
Enigmatic Uro: 0-5 league. Needed more removal. Rebuild as Chronic Flooding delve/self-mill Oracle deck.
 
Modern
 
Enigmatic Doom: 2-3 league. Add Leylines to the main deck, increase land count, clean up 2-3 mana plays.
 
Brew Session: Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger
 
Sketch 1: Grixis Kroxa
 
Sketch 2: Rakdos Sacrifice
 
Reference lists:
 
"Mardu Yacht Club" (by @shakegently)
 
 
Jund Traverse Kroxa (5-1-1, by kaberb)