Faithless Brewing MTG: Modern and Pioneer for the Spike Rogue

Combat Thresher: Double Your Pleasure, Double Your Fun

Season 16, Episode 11: Brew Session (Combat Thresher) + Flashback (Third Path Iconoclast)
All things are possible when you can draw a card on ETB. Combat Thresher looks unassuming, but it has the right skills for a host of different archetypes. For starters, it replaces itself immediately, and even encourages you to blink it or cheat it into play. The potential synergies are tremendous and the floor is always going to be a cantrip. That’s a good base line for playability in both Pioneer and Modern.
Today and Faithless Brewing David and Dan review six possible deck lists for Combat Thresher. From blinking it, to boosting it’s power, to bringing it back from the graveyard, there are many angles for this happy little war machine.
On the Flashback, the crew reviews their findings with Third Path Iconoclast. The card has a bright future in both Modern and Pioneer, but how far can we push the artifact token synergies? Tune in to find out!
 
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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
 
Timestamps
[3:20] Houskeeping
[7:01] The future popularity of Pioneer
Brew Session: Combat Thresher
[15:37] Key questions
[22:52] Bant Teleportation Circle
[31:06] UW Tezzerator
[41:31] Orzhov Refurbish
[47:35] UW Charming Hatebears
[54:47] Mardu Transmogrant’s Crown
[1:03:25] Mono White Blink
Flashback: Third Path Iconoclast
[1:06:58] Izzet Third Path Galazeth
[1:18:27] Izzet Paradoxical Iconoclast
[1:21:43] Izzet Iconoclast by arbitraryarmor
 

Diamonds in the Rough: 14 Delicious Cards to Brew in December

Season 16, Episode 10: Faithless Brewing x Serum Visions #5
It’s that time again! After a brief hiatus for the changing season, the Monthly Project returns to dive into the latest, greatest spice. We asked our patrons to nominate their most intriguing, preposterous cards, and as usual they delivered in spades. 14 cards are on the ballot for this month’s project. Some are quite crazy, some are quite good, and some may just be diamonds in the rough waiting for an enterprising brewer to unlock their potential.
We also share our findings with Jodah the Unifier, last month’s winning card. While 5c Jodah Humans had a brief flash of greatness (narrowly missing Top 8 in a Pioneer Challenge), finding additional homes for the rainbow legend proved challenging. The card did not excel when cheated into play, nor when used as a control finisher. But new legends are printed on a daily basis these days, so it’s only a matter of time before Jodah has his day.
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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
Timestamps
Flashback: Jodah, the Unifier
[4:51] 5c Jodah Humans by KelMasterP
[8:41] Dan’s 5c Jodah to Light
[11:31] Emi’s Win-Jodah
[12:40] Concluding thoughts
Monthly Project Nominees
[18:01] Titania, Voice of Gaea
[23:55] Rivaz of the Claw
[30:19] Kaito Shizuki
[34:59] Chaotic Transformation
[41:33] One with the Multiverse
[47:27] Touch the Spirit Realm
[51:44] Tainted Adversary
[55:24] Sephara, Sky’s Blade
[1:01:10] Gix, Yawgmoth Praetor
[1:05:04] Surge Engine
[1:08:30] Blood Funnel
[1:14:32] Deathrite Shaman
[1:17:10] Urza, Lord Protector
[1:23:21] Mechanized Warfare
 

Third Path Iconoclast: New Tricks for Old Pyromancers

Season 16, Episode 9: Brew Session (Third Path Iconoclast) + Flashback (Diabolic Intent)
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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
Timestamps
Brew Session: Third Path Iconoclast
Flashback: Diabolic Intent
Picks of the Week

Diabolic Intentions: Searching for the Next Great Combo Deck

Season 16, Episode 8: Brew Session (Diabolic Intent) + Flashback (Arcane Proxy)
Is there any card in The Brothers’ War more polarizing than Diabolic Intent? To some, this is the second coming of Demonic Tutor, a card so powerful and sought-after that it would be unthinkable to print in today’s formats. To others, sorcery speed tutors are relics of a bygone era, better suited to Commander tables than they are to the harsh tempo wars of Modern and Pioneer.
This week, the crew vows to get to the bottom of the issue. We take a look at 10 new decks for Diabolic Intent in Modern and Pioneer. Is the card more at home in midrange, aggro-combo, pure combo, or something else entirely? Our mission this week is to find out.
We also report on our testing results with Arcane Proxy in three different Pioneer decks.
 
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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
 
Timestamps
 
Brew Session: Diabolic Intent
[3:16] Theorycrafting
[10:00] David’s Mardu Greasefang
[15:52] David’s Diabolic Sacdos
[20:34] David’s Dimir Ashnod Ramp
[27:25] BG Diabolic Citadel by Sam Rolph
[30:59] Diabolic Hammer by LCnightrider
[32:43] Rakdos Zombardment by NAMELESSYU
[35:46] Mono-Black ReSCAMinator by aspiringspike
[39:52] Rakdos Trash for Treasure by PieGonti
[44:38] Zach’s Esper Urza ThopterSword
[50:26] Zach’s Grixis Gyoza
Flashback: Arcane Proxy
[55:07] Dan’s Dimir Arcane Truth
[1:01:18] Zach’s Izzet Crackling Proxy
[1:07:20] Zachs’ Sultai Perennial Neoform
[1:12:16] Final thoughts on Arcane Proxy

The Spice Must Flow: 10 New Decks That Impressed in Week 1

Season 16, Episode 7: Weekly Roundup
Week 1 delivered some delightful surprises in both Modern and Pioneer. David, Cavedan, and Manacymbal take a look at the impact of The Brothers’ War so far, digging into 10 of the spiciest new deck lists.
Also, check out these new articles from Cavedan and David, free to read at FaithlessBrewing.com:
The Most Important Cards from The Brothers’ War: Modern & Pioneer Week 1 Predictions
First Drafts: 12 Pioneer Brews to Get the Juices Flowing
Like our content? Support us on Patreon and join our brewing community!
Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
Timestamps
[2:59] New articles at FaithlessBrewing.com
[4:26] Cards impacting the Pioneer meta
[15:23] Cards impacting the Modern meta
[20:45] UW Token Soldiers by johnsmith3373
[27:20] 5c Human Soldiers by Hollhis
[32:58] Fallaji Ascendancy by MrRaeb
[37:20] Mono White Kayla’s Reconstruction by cigarettesaftershrek
[42:26] Gruul Rootwire Fires by OnionResponsible
[47:04] Jund Mishra Meld by Takahashi Tarou
[51:55] Insect Tribal by CrusherBotBG
[58:07] Bitter Reunion Creativity by musasabi
[1:02:53] Izzet Iconoclast by aspiringspike
[1:06:46] Naya Awaken the Woods Ramp by Nitreglyze
[1:10:49] Closing thoughts

Arcane Proxy: Let’s See the Truth about Pioneer’s Snapcaster Mage

Season 16, Episode 6: Brew Session (Arcane Proxy) + Flashback (Vesuvan Duplimancy)
We kick off our Brothers’ War brewing season with a look at Arcane Proxy, Pioneer’s first playable Snapcaster-like effect. Arcane Proxy, like the rest of the Prototype creatures, is surprisingly resistant to shenanigans. The only outstanding synergy is casting See the Truth from the graveyard. In that scenario, you get a full three cards, reminiscent of Shardless Agent into Ancestral Vision for Legacy aficionados.
What about the rest of the time? Is a three mana 2/1 useful enough if it’s just recasting a 1 mana cantrip or removal spell? Should we be looking at more impressive 2 mana instants and sorceries? Or perhaps can we get really crazy and use Arcane Proxy to support aggressive self-mill strategies, such as unearthing a Perennial Behemoth and then flashing back a Neoform from the graveyard? David has brewed four decks to put these various theories to the test.
On the Flashback, Zach and David got some reps in with “Dark-Dweller Duplimancy,” a slick Izzet midrange list that uses Vesuvan Duplimancy to summon a massive army of Goblin Dark-Dwellers. David had great results; was Manacymbal able to duplimancy them?
 
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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
 
Timestamps
 
Brew Session: Arcane Proxy
[4:46] Rules notes
[8:06] Key interactions
[13:41] Deck 1: Dimir Arcane Truth
[21:46] Deck 2: Izzet Arcane Drakes
[26:30] Deck 3: Sultai Neoform Unearth
[34:45] Deck 4: Bant Neoform Toolbox
Flashback: Vesuvan Duplimancy
[41:04] Zach’s Dark-Dweller Duplimancy
 

Brothers’ War Top 5s: Modern, Pioneer, Overrated, and Most Fun

Season 16, Episode 5: The Brothers' War Top 5s
 
Now that the dust of preview season has settled, the crew is ready to sort the wheat from the chaff and zero in on the Brothers’ War cards that actually matter. We make predictions for the Top 5 most impactful cards in Modern in Pioneer, as well as the Top 5 most overrated, and the Top 5 most exciting cards to brew with.
We also hear from Zach “Manacymbal” Ryl about this adventures in Las Vegas at the Magic 30 celebration.
 
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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
 
 
 
Timestamps
[3:10] Zach’s Magic 30 Las Vegas Report
[21:14] Top 5 Most Impactful: Modern
[36:42] Top 5 Most Impactful: Pioneer
[51:57] Top 5 Most Fun to Brew
[1:07:05] Top 5 Overrated

Full Set Review: The Brothers’ War in Modern & Pioneer, Part 2 - The Big Stuff

Season 16, Episode 4: Brewer’s Guide to #MTGBRO, Vol. 2
 
 
[2:47] Loran of the Third Path
[4:39] Brotherhood’s End
[6:09] Mechanized Warfare
[7:58] Gix, Yawgmoth’s Praetor
[9:23] Siege Veteran
[10:58] Skystrike Officer
[12:25] Tocasia’s Welcome
[14:32] Forging the Anchor
[16:25] Meticulous Excavation
[17:21] Airlift Chaplain
[19:41] Myrel, Shield of Argive
[21:35] Fateful Handoff
[22:53] Obstinate Baloth
[24:13] Saheeli, Filigree Master
[26:34] Woodcaller Automaton
[28:57] Repair and Recharge
[30:08] Platoon Dispenser
[32:01] Steel Seraph
[34:11] Cityscape Leveler
[36:43] Bladecoil Serpent
[38:18] Clay Champion
[39:53] Arcane Proxy
[43:18] Skitterbeam Battalion
[45:01] Combat Thresher
[45:48] Phyrexian Fleshgorger
[47:27] Perennial Behemoth
[52:20] Portal to Phyrexia
[56:45] Hostile Negotiation