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 Apr 08, 2022
Last Call Neon Dynasty: Kaito Shizuki, Invoke Despair & Tezzeret Remastered
Friday Apr 08, 2022
Friday Apr 08, 2022
Season 13, Episode 20: Weekly Roundup + Brew Session (Kaito Shizuki, Tezzeret, Betrayer of Flesh, Invoke Despair, Fable of the Mirror-Breaker)
In the last few years the Modern format has experienced more severe changes than at any point in the past. For the constant player, this has been progressive in nature and exciting to follow (even if expensive and a tad overwhelming), however not so much for casual enjoyers of the format or people taking a break. In today’s episode we try to extend a helping hand to those people.
Today on Faithless Brewing we are responding to one of the most common questions we got during our last mailbag episode: “How can I get started in Modern?” or “How can I get back into Modern after a break?"
This episode is intended to be a resource not only for new and returning Modern players, but also for anyone seeking a broader understanding of the best decks after the ban of Lurrus of the Dream-Den.
Our goal is to provide a clear idea of the strategies the most popular decks are employing, the key cards they utilize, and (more importantly for our beloved spike rogues) how to play around them. We cover a dozen tier 1 Modern decks and give our best matchup and sideboarding advice for tackling the meta in 2022.
So, is it possible to get back into the loop after being away from it? Absolutely yes! We hope this format guide is a stepping stone for anyone that needs it.
Happy brewing!
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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
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S13E20 Decklists and Timestamps
Roundup: Tournament Reports
[2:00] Housekeeping
[4:44] Damon's UW Standstill (1st place, Legacy 1k)
[14:12] Damon's 4c Kaheera Pile (Top 8, Modern 1k)
[21:09] Cavedan's Sultai Crabvine
[24:24] When is a deck a serious contender?
New Capenna Previews
[32:43] Brokers Charm
[37:59] Riveteers Charm
Brew Session: Tezzeret, Kaito Shizuki, Invoke Despair
[41:34] UW Wandering Tezzerator (Pioneer)
[48:34] Bant Tezzerator Clues (Pioneer)
[55:34] Naya Fable Enchantress (Pioneer)
[58:33] Sultai Kaito Draw Two (Pioneer)
[1:03:58] Grixis Invoke Despair Fires (Pioneer)



Monday Apr 04, 2022
Regional Championships Are the Future of Competitive Magic
Monday Apr 04, 2022
Monday Apr 04, 2022
Season 13, Episode 19: Weekly Roundup + Flashback (Fable of the Mirror-Breaker)
We have seen the future of competitive Magic, and it is Regional Championships. The Pro Tour is back in a big way, and with it comes a surprising Pioneer renaissance. The lynchpin of the new system is an event that has not existed before: the Regional Championships, which will feed each Pro Tour three times per year. Part Nationals, part regional PTQ, part Magic Fest, Regional Championships are by far the most exciting component of the new organized play system.
In this episode of Faithless Brewing, Cavedan and Morde analyze the new structure and explain why Regional Championships are a very good thing. We also take a look at six early previews from Streets of New Capenna, and report on our testing results with Fable of the Mirror-Breaker in Modern and Pioneer.
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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
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S13E19 Decklists and Timestamps
Roundup: Return of the Pro Tour[4:19] The new system explained[8:17] Pioneer is back[13:17] What are Regional Championships?[18:50] What's missing from the new system[25:28] The verdictNew Capenna Previews[31:56] Maestros Charm[37:18] Obscura Charm[42:24] Cabaretti Charm[43:07] Jetmir, Nexus of Revels[44:10] Raffine, Scheming Seer[46:14] Lord Xander, the CollectorFlashback: Fable of the Mirror-Breaker[52:20] Mardu Reanimator Blink[1:00:41] David's Mardu Fable Showdown v2



Friday Apr 01, 2022
Everything You Need to Know to Get Back into Modern
Friday Apr 01, 2022
Friday Apr 01, 2022
Season 13, Episode 18: Modern State of the Format (March-April 2022)
In the last few years the Modern format has experienced more severe changes than at any point in the past. For the constant player, this has been progressive in nature and exciting to follow (even if expensive and a tad overwhelming). However, the brisk pace of change is more challenging for casual Modern fans or people coming back after a break.Today on Faithless Brewing we are responding to the most common questions we got during our last mailbag episode: “How can I get started in Modern?” and “How do I get back into the format after a break?"This episode is intended to be a resource not only for new and returning Modern players, but also for anyone seeking a broader understanding of the top tier meta and the best decks after the Lurrus ban.Our goal is to provide a clear idea of the strategies the most popular decks are employing, the key cards they utilize, and (more importantly for our beloved spike rogues) how to play around them. We cover a dozen top decks and give our best gameplay and sideboarding advice for tackling the meta.So, is it possible to get back into the loop after being away from it? Absolutely yes! We hope this format guide is a stepping stone for anyone that needs it and can help kickstart your journey (back) into Modern.Happy brewing!
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Like our content? Support us on Patreon and join our brewing community!
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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
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S13E18 Decklists and Timestamps
Tier 1[7:48] 4c Omnath, 4c Yorion, Money Pile[17:58] Living End, "Grieving End"[25:27] Izzet Murktide[37:19] Hammer Time[46:06] Grixis Death's Shadow, Grixis Shadow, "GDS"Tier 1.5[50:14] UW Control, Azorius Control[58:32] Boros Burn[1:02:03] Mono Green Tron[1:05:58] Temur Rhinos, Footfalls, "Crashcade"[1:13:52] Amulet TitanTier 2[1:22:14] Esper Reanimator[1:28:07] Indomitable Creativity, 4c Creativity[1:32:56] Golgari Yawgmoth



Sunday Mar 27, 2022
What We’d Like to See from Organized Play
Sunday Mar 27, 2022
Sunday Mar 27, 2022
Season 13, Episode 17: Weekly Roundup + Flashback (Transmogrify, Séance, Commune with Spirits)
Last week's Arena economy stream turned out to be a big nothing burger. But they did confirm that a true-to-tabletop non-rotating format is in the works. Will "Pioneer lite" be enough to pull holdouts onto the platform? That all depends on the next announcement in the pipeline, regarding the future of organized play. Dan and David lay out their hopes and fears for what we'd like to see.
On the Flashback, we review our testing results with four different decks in Modern and Pioneer: Temur Transmogrify with Careful Cultivation and Jin-Gitaxias, Progress Tyrant; Grixis Reanimator Transmogrify with The Modern Age and Fable of the Mirror-Breaker; 80-card Boros Seance; and Selesnya Enchantress with Mana Bloom.
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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
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S13E17 Decklists and Timestamps
Weekly Roundup[3:20] Follow up thoughts on the Arena economy stream[10:41] Our hopes for the future of organized playFlashback: Transmogrify, Seance, Commune with Spirits[21:33] David's Temur Jin-Gitaxias Transmogrify[30:40] David's Grixis Transmogrify Reanimator 1.2[37:35] Dan's Boros Séance[45:41] Dan's GW Mana Bloom



Friday Mar 25, 2022
Why Is Everyone Suddenly Playing Fable of the Mirror-Breaker?
Friday Mar 25, 2022
Friday Mar 25, 2022
Season 13, Episode 16: Brew Session (Fable of the Mirror-Breaker)
Fable of the Mirror-Breaker has exploded from nothing to multi-format all star in just two weeks. Fable is dominating Pioneer and has even notched a handful of Modern trophies, in about a dozen different styles of deck. What are the best ways to build aggro, control, and combo decks with the new Kiki-Jiki Saga?
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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
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S13E16 Decklists and Timestamps
[4:14] Why is Kiki so hot right now?[9:13] Rules notes[16:39] Key synergies[23:19] Assessing the power level of FableBrewing with Fable: Pioneer Decklists[27:07] Rakdos Midrange / Rakdos Blood[30:02] 4c Transmogrify Fires [31:59] Naya Winota[35:44] Enigmatic Incarnation[39:20] Mardu Greasefang[41:53] Storm Herald Combo[44:38] Gruul Kiki Combat Celebrant ComboBrewing with Fable: Modern Decklists[51:30] Fable of the Mirror-Breaker vs. Seasoned Pyromancer[54:01] Boros Blink[54:28] Rakdos Undying[55:09] Mardu Evoke Reanimator[56:07] Gruul Ponza[59:07] Mono Red[1:00:43] Closing thoughts: the future of Fable



Monday Mar 21, 2022
Transmogrify This! Jin-Gitaxias, Progress Tyrant and Careful Cultivation
Monday Mar 21, 2022
Monday Mar 21, 2022
Season 13, Episode 15: Brew Session (Transmogrify) + Flashback (Commune with Spirits)
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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
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S13E15 Timestamps
[2:42] Tameshi Bloom Combo by daviusminimus[9:16] Fable of the Mirror-BreakerBrew Session: Transmogrify[12:52] Temur Jin-Gitaxias Transmogrify[20:30] Grixis Reanimator Transmogrify[26:39] A rant about The Wandering EmperorFlashback: Commune with Spirits[33:34] Dan's GW Mana Bloom[39:59] GW Kami of Transience Aggro by LurkingEvil[42:17] David's 5c Call Your Sister[44:24] David's Sultai In Search of Greatness[46:21] Damon's GB Heartless Titan[51:38] The best build of 4c Yorion Pile



Friday Mar 18, 2022
Séance: The $3.5 Million Dollar Modern Deck That Never Was
Friday Mar 18, 2022
Friday Mar 18, 2022
Season 13, Episode 14: Brew Session (Seance)
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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
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S13E14 Timestamps
Weekly Roundup[2:31] Legacy Stoneblade [5:53] Housekeeping[8:44] Set Championships, Arena economy, etc.The Bizarre History of "Seance Guy"[13:49] Bounties for destroying copies of Séance[18:08] 90 Bitcoin for making top 8 with Séance[21:08] A secret think tank of MTG prosBrewing with Séance in 2022[24:02] Rules notes[25:49] Key synergies[32:26] Abzan Séance Rhino by IPlayBadDecks[34:00] Emi's 4c Wandering Mind Séance Reanimator[43:58] Emi's Abzan Yorion Séance [46:31] Mardu Blink by Rhianne[48:32] Closing thoughts: is Séance finally good now?



Sunday Mar 13, 2022
Super Ponder for Enchantments? Brewing Commune with Spirits
Sunday Mar 13, 2022
Sunday Mar 13, 2022
Season 13, Episode 13: Brew Session (Commune with Spirits) + Flashback (Hinata, Dawn-Crowned + Spirit-Sister's Call)
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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
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