Faithless Brewing MTG: Modern and Pioneer for the Spike Rogue

A Magic: the Gathering podcast for the spike rogue. Each week, we brew new decks in Modern and Pioneer. We put our creations to the test and share our findings on the air: what worked, what didn’t, and what can be improved for next time. Are you sick of going 0-5? We can help you go 3-2, in style! Created by Dan Schriever (@CavedanMTG), David Robertson (resident brew master), and Damon Alexander (brewer emeritus), and featuring Zach Ryl (@Manacymbal) & Emi Sagasti (@MordeToLight). Whether you’re a jank brewer, Day 2 warrior, FNM hero, or kitchen table end boss, our goal is to inspire your next great Magic deck. Take the Oath of Brewers and join our Discord community at patreon.com/faithlessbrewing, and visit our homepage FaithlessBrewing.com for all of our latest decklists.
Episodes
Episodes



Friday Dec 02, 2022
Diamonds in the Rough: 14 Delicious Cards to Brew in December
Friday Dec 02, 2022
Friday Dec 02, 2022
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.
Like our content? Support us on Patreon and join our brewing community!
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



Tuesday Nov 29, 2022
Third Path Iconoclast: New Tricks for Old Pyromancers
Tuesday Nov 29, 2022
Tuesday Nov 29, 2022
Season 16, Episode 9: Brew Session (Third Path Iconoclast) + Flashback (Diabolic Intent)
Like our content? Support us on Patreon and join our brewing community!
Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
Timestamps
Brew Session: Third Path Iconoclast
Flashback: Diabolic Intent
Picks of the Week



Friday Nov 25, 2022
Diabolic Intentions: Searching for the Next Great Combo Deck
Friday Nov 25, 2022
Friday Nov 25, 2022
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.
Like our content? Support us on Patreon and join our brewing community!
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



Monday Nov 21, 2022
The Spice Must Flow: 10 New Decks That Impressed in Week 1
Monday Nov 21, 2022
Monday Nov 21, 2022
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



Friday Nov 18, 2022
Arcane Proxy: Let’s See the Truth about Pioneer’s Snapcaster Mage
Friday Nov 18, 2022
Friday Nov 18, 2022
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?
Like our content? Support us on Patreon and join our brewing community!
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



Monday Nov 14, 2022
Brothers’ War Top 5s: Modern, Pioneer, Overrated, and Most Fun
Monday Nov 14, 2022
Monday Nov 14, 2022
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.
Like our content? Support us on Patreon and join our brewing community!
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



Friday Nov 11, 2022
Friday Nov 11, 2022
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



Monday Nov 07, 2022
Set Review: The Best of The Brothers’ War in Modern and Pioneer, Part 1
Monday Nov 07, 2022
Monday Nov 07, 2022
Season 16, Episode 3: Brewers' Guide to #MTGBRO, Part 1
Tuesday November 8 is election day in the United States. If you’re in the US, this is your friendly reminder to get out there and cast your vote.
Maybe you already voted, or already made plans to? If that’s the case, congratulations, you are awesome. Why not check on your people today?Check on your parents, check on your friends. A gentle reminder can go a long way, and voting in these midterms is one of the most important things you can do.
So go take care of that, and then come back here because we’ve got a great show for you coming up.
[3:11] Housekeeping
[5:44] Fortified Beachhead
[8:54] Haywire Mite
[11:58] Teething Wurmlet
[15:12] Lay Down Arms
[16:58] Audacity
[18:21] Bushwhack
[20:32] Ashnod, Flesh Mechanist
[25:47] Goblin Blastrunner
[27:02] Combat Courier
[28:17] Mishra’s Command
[30:29] Fallaji Archaeologist
[34:47] Go for the Throat
[35:55] Thopter Mechanic
[38:10] Zephyr Sentinel
[40:16] Feldon, Ronom Excavator
[43:35] Sarinth Steelseeker
[47:14] Soul Partition
[50:01] Diabolic Intent
[53:17] Drafna, Founder of Lat-Nam
[56:20] Awaken the Woods
[58:13] Bitter Reunion
[1:00:42] Scrapwork Mutt
[1:03:18] Harbin, Vanguard Aviator
[1:05:01] Third Path Iconoclast
[1:09:29] Evangel of Synthesis
[1:11:44] Bladewhip Transmogrant
[1:14:05] Transmogrant’s Crown
[1:17:12] The Stone Brain
[1:18:15] Hajar, Loyal Bodyguard
[1:19:37] Levitating Statue
[1:20:40] Recommission
[1:22:22] Yotian Dissident
[1:23:34] Obliterating Bolt
[1:24:38] Final thoughts
