Faithless Brewing MTG: Modern and Pioneer for the Spike Rogue

Death by Snoopy

Core Set 2021, Episode 1: Conspicuous Snoop
 
"Umm... Is that a goblin with his face pressed up against our window?" "Yeah" "Is he... spying on us?" "Yeah, it's exactly what it looks like."
 
Today's episode is exactly what it looks like. During preview week, it took approximately 7 minutes for the Modern community to latch onto the hot new combo involving Conspicuous Snoop. Play Snoop, play Boggart Harbinger, put Kiki-Jiki on top, easy as you please. As far as combos go, this one is pretty conspicuous.
 
So should we as Faithless Brewers even bother exploring this card, or should we trust in the collective efforts of the hive mind to Figure It Out? Everyone else is also working on this deck and the concept is very powerful, seeming to slot into an already solid Goblins strategy. That said, we don't often get chances to do a Goblin Week, and when you dig deeper into the tribe, it turns out there are many branching paths that can take a Goblins deck into unexpected places. This is especially true in Pioneer where the infinite combo is not available. As clear-cut as the combo is, there are many questions to be answered, not least of which is: How good is Conspicuous Snoop, really? We've got our first round of M21 deck sketches ready, so let's head to the queues to find out!
 
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Roundup: Top Picks for M21
 
6:45  Kinnan Urza (Jiggywiggy, 7-1 Modern Challenge)
Kinnan Urza Deck Guide (by ManaCymbal)
 
Core Set 2021 Preview Roundup
15:30  Most Overrated
20:48  Most Underrated
33:15  Best fits for Existing decks
36:00  Best for spawning new archetypes
39:00  Most Fun / Most Excited to Brew With
44:50  Top 5 Overall
 
Flashback: Sprite Dragon
 
47:55  Izzet Prowess (Modern): 5-5 leagues
55:30  Grixis Lurrus (Modern): 2-3 league
1:04:48  One Mind Prowess (Pioneer): 2-3 league
1:10:45  Dragon Tempo (Pioneer): 6-4 leagues
1:18:30  Sprite Phoenix (Pioneer): 7-3 leagues
 
 
Brew Session: Conspicuous Snoop
 
1:30:12  A History of Goblins
1:33:20  Bushwhacker Aggro
1:37:13  Post-MH1 Midrange Goblins
1:40:40  Grumgully Combo Goblins
 
1:47:06  Sketch 1: "Classic" Snoop Combo (Modern)
1:52:35  Sketch 2: Snoopy Double Combo (Modern)
1:58:33  Sketch 3: Snoopwhacker Aggro (Pioneer)
 
 

The Littlest Dragon with the Biggest Heart

Ikoria, Episode 11: Sprite Dragon
 
The brewers have spoken! Two weeks ago, we unveiled the ten nominees for our Brewers' Choice episode. Now, the ballots have been cast, the votes have been tallied, and the winning card is... Sprite Dragon!
 
Narrowly edging out Sundial of the Infinite, Sprite Dragon could not be more different from the goofy artifacts we have busied ourselves with in past editions of Brewers' Choice. Sprite Dragon is, by many accounts, a "good card," even a format staple in certain metas. And yet, if it's true that a card is only as good as the decks it engenders, we must also admit that there is not currently an established "Sprite Dragon deck." The reign of Lurrus Grixis Delver in Modern was short-lived. Izzet Prowess in Pioneer has seen some recent success in the 5-0s, but beyond that it seems that the adorable hellkite is still searching for its forever home.
 
In other Magic news, we have the full set reveal for Core Set 2021, which means it is time for Part 2 of our Brewers' Guide to M21! The set looks stacked with intriguing build-around options. It also seems much more balanced than previous sets, with a noticeable lack of outlier cards likely to upend Magic's tournament formats. In short, it is a true brewer's paradise. We talk through the cards we are most excited to start building decks with, as well as our testing results with Sea-Dasher Octopus from last week.
 
Finally, if you haven't done so already, be sure to check out our sixth and final episode of Rogue Refinery! We gave the series a proper send-off with some truly awesome decks with Rielle, the Everwise (and multiple 5-win events to show for it). WotC is eager for feedback on this pilot series, so if you liked this style of content and would like to see more of it in the future, be sure to leave a comment on the video and show some love! Watch the series finale of Rogue Refinery here: https://youtu.be/e_74lZDfYps
 
Roundup: M21 Previews, Week 2
 
Timestamps
 
10:42  Speaker of the Heavens -- 14:21  Thieves' Guild Enforcer -- 18:03  Miscast -- 20:00  Conspicuous Snoop -- 25:34  Heartfire Immolator -- 28:45  Conclave Mentor -- 30:58  Track Down -- 32:56  Ghostly Pilferer -- 35:33  Shacklegeist -- 37:57  Lofty Denial -- 39:00  Frantic Inventory -- 41:59  Barrin, Tolarian Archmage -- 44:30  Demonic Embrace -- 47:44  Silversmote Ghoul -- 50:58  Nine Lives -- 52:54  Radha, Heart of Keld -- 55:11  Sporeweb Weaver -- 56:30  Garruk's Uprising -- 58:03  Garruk, Unleashed -- 1:00:23  Transmogrify -- 1:02:55  Terror of the Peaks -- 1:05:46  Discontinuity -- 1:07:48  Sublime Epiphany
 
Flashback: Sea-Dasher Octopus
 
 
Pioneer
 
1:14:10  Mono-Blue Octopus Flash: 4-1 league
 
1:22:14  Emry Octopus: 3-2 league, 3-2 league
 
Modern
 
1:29:33  Bant Octoform: 0-2 league, 0-3 league
 
Brew Session: Sprite Dragon
 
1:36:49  Theorycraft: Finding a Home for Sprite Dragon
 
Modern
 
1:42:48  Sketch 1: Stormwing Prowess
1:46:35  Sketch 2: Jeskai Dragons
 
Reference lists (pre-Companion nerf)
Lurrus Grixis Delver (Zonast, MTGO SuperQ, 1st place)
Lurrus Grixis Shadow (WhiteHatMan, 5-0 league)
Lurrus Jeskai Control (Nilsfit, 5-0 league)
 
 
Pioneer
 
1:51:17  Sketch 3: Dragon Tempo
1:55:53  Izzet One-Mind Prowess (doshimo1110, 5-0 league)
 
Reference lists:
Izzet Wizard Prowess (MangoPunch, 5-0 league)
Lurrus Jeskai Heroic (pre-nerf) (PigNorton, 6-2 Pioneer Challenge)
 
 
 

Ninja of the Deep Waters: Brewing Sea-Dasher Octopus

Ikoria, Episode 10: Sea-Dasher Octopus
 
Is there anyone who doesn't love Sea-Dasher Octopus? When Ikoria was revealed, what feels like years ago, the Octopus was warmly embraced by players near and far. Part Curious Obsession, part Ninja of the Deep Waters, with a fail-safe mode of Ophidian with flash, it certainly seemed like the Octopus could do it all. And that's not even accounting for all of the nifty synergies with the Mutate mechanic, or even something as pedestrian as Flash tribal.
 
And yet, a few months later, here we are. Sea-Dasher has not a single 5-0 to its name in Modern, and only two half-hearted 5-0 results in Pioneer. It doesn't even see play in Standard, not even in the Flash decks. Was the Octopus simply a casualty of the Companion apocalypse? Or are there larger structural problems that we just didn't see?
 
Core Set 2021 previews are coming fast and furious, but we've got unfinished business with Ikoria and a certain eight-legged bandit. What mysteries will the deep waters reveal?
 
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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
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Roundup: M21 Previews, Week 1
 
Timestamps
 
14:55  Archfiend's Vessel
17:45  Village Rites
20:17  Selfless Savior
22:38  Chandra's Incinerator
25:00  Seasoned Hallowblade
26:59  Angelic Ascension
29:42  Eliminate
31:56  See the Truth
34:30  Stormwing Entity
37:45  Waker of Waves
40:37  Mazemind Tome
44:11  Volcanic Salvo
44:26  Pack Leader
46:22  Alpine Houndmaster
48:49  Sparkhunter Masticore
51:59  Gadrak, the Crown-Scourge
54:01  Bolt Hound
54:51  Basri Ket
56:31  Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose
57:47  Idol of Endurance
59:18  Teferi's Tutelage
1:01:18  Teferi, Master of Time
1:08:32  Liliana, Waker of the Dead
1:11:52  Carrion Grub
1:13:07  Basri's Lieutanant
1:14:58 Teferi's Ageless Insight
1:16:57  Chandra, Heart of Fire
1:20:02  Elder Gargaroth
1:22:46  Containment Priest
1:26:50  Fierce Empath
1:29:07  Massacre Wurm
1:29:13  Baneslayer Angel
1:29:22  Cultivate, Solemn Simulacrum
1:29:31  Azusa, Lost but Seeking
1:29:35  Runed Halo
1:29:56  Faith's Fetters
 
Brew Session: Sea-Dasher Octopus
 
Theorycraft: The Modes of Sea-Dasher Octopus
1:34:48  Octopus vs. Curious Obsession
1:36:10  Octopus vs. Ninja of the Deep Hours
1:39:08  Octopus vs. Ophidian
 
Pioneer
 
1:45:42  Sketch 1: Mono-Blue Tempo
1:54:50  Sketch 2: Bant Flash Company
1:59:02  Sketch 3: Bant "Metalcraft"
 
Modern
 
2:05:17  Bant OctoForm: 4-1 league
 
 
 

Brewers' Choice: And the Nominees Are...

Ikoria, Episode 9: Brewers' Choice Nominees
 
The Magic content in this episode begins at 16:00.
 
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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
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Timestamps
 
The View from Minneapolis: George Floyd, Black Lives Matter, and Police Brutality
 
01:08 Updates from Minneapolis
02:14 Updates from Seattle
11:40 How to Stay Informed
 
16:00 Housekeeping
 
Roundup: Companion Change + B&R Update
 
 
18:14  The New Companion Mechanic
29:00  Lessons from the Standard B&R
45:07  The Dangers of Functional Errata
 
 
Brewers' Choice: Meet the Nominees
 
The winning card will be determined via patron poll, which will be posted in our Discord and on our Patreon feed.
For non-patrons, a public poll will also be posted on our Twitter feed (@FaithlessMTG).
Listen to our analysis and then cast your votes!
 
58:10  Abandoned Sarcophagus
1:00:36  Aggressive Mining
1:05:35  Athreos, God of Passage
1:10:15  Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy
1:15:01  All the Nicol Bolases
1:21:11  Song of Creation
1:25:22  Sprite Dragon
1:29:57  Sundial of the Infinite
1:33:08  Umori, the Collector
1:36:51  Winota, Joiner of Forces
 
 

The Last Days of Companion

Ikoria, Episode 8: Days of Thunder
 
"On Monday 6/1 there will be an update to the Banned & Restricted list impacting the Standard and Historic formats that will also address the Companion mechanic." Thus spake WotC's official Twitter account on Tuesday, and just this morning Blake Rasmussen confirmed that there will indeed be a functional change to Ikoria's flagship mechanic. Let the speculation commence!
 
While few would contend that nothing needs to be changed, there is broad disagreement about what fix, if any, would satisfy the goals of Wizards and the player base at large. Can the Companion mechanic be saved? Or is it safer, in the sage words of David Robertson, to "nuke it from space"? And what lessons can be drawn from the changes to Standard and Historic that are also on the horizon?
 
Add this episode to your time capsules, as it will surely be fun to look back and laugh at our wild predictions when the truth is finally revealed to all in just a few short days.
 
Modern Metagame Analysis (via MTGModernMetrics)
 
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Flashback: Vadrok, Apex of Thunder
 
Tempo Strategies
Tribal Zoo by beestjes (6-2, Modern Challenge)
Jeskai Tempo (Standard)
Mardu Vehicle Vadrok (Pioneer)
 
Token Strategies
Vadrok Boros Tokens (Pioneer)
Jeskai Tokens Vadrok (Pioneer)
 
Combo Strategies
Chance for Glory combo (Modern)
Infinite Manamorphose Combo (Modern)
 
 

Beyond Brewing on a Budget (ft. Emma Partlow)

Ikoria, Episode 7: Brewer's Mailbag with Emma Partlow
 
 
There's more to Magic than winning and losing. There's more to budget than dollars and cents. This week we are joined by the one and only Emma Partlow from TCGPlayer. We open up the Brewer's Mailbag to ask Emma about everything under the sun: the B&R update, the future of companions, the 5 slipperiest bogles, and much more!
 
Where to find Emma:
 
Social Media
Articles
 
 
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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
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From the Refinery
 
As luck would have it, we have also been working on some Hexproof stratgies ourselves in the latest episodes of Rogue Refinery. Do these pass the Bogles test?
 
Rogue Refinery #2: Colossification
 
Rogue Refinery #3: Vadrok, Apex of Thunder. NB: This week's episode is divided into three videos!
Part 1 (Standard)
Part 2 (Pioneer)
Part 3 (Modern)
 
Decklists
 
Aura Swap Bogles (Modern)
 
Jeskai Slippery Vadrok (Modern)
 
Temur Hexproof Vadrok (Pioneer)
 
 
 

The Top 8 Modern Innovations Since Ikoria

Ikoria, Episode 6: Eight Modern Innovations
 
Look, let's be honest. For many fans of Magic's eternal formats, morale is currently low. The sudden shift to a Companion metagame, paired with the loss of in-person play and the small joys of connecting with our fellow Magic enthusiasts, has left some players feeling adrift in an unfamiliar and rapidly shifting landscape. These are indeed strange times. But let us say it plainly: You Are Not Alone. The beautiful thing about The Gathering is that, even listening to a brewing podcast during spare moments in your home quarantine, you will never be alone.
 
One thing that is certainly NOT true is the notion that "Magic is dead" and "It's all Lurrus, there's no innovation." Building decks with companions, and playing matches with and against them, is disorienting but also exhilarating. You may have heard "Lurrus is everywhere" but when you look closely you will find that there is tons of innovation happening in Modern, day after day, tournament after tournament. This week we take a look at eight of our favorite new decks to emerge since the release of Ikoria. With drastic changes come new spaces for creativity and discovery, so come take a look and get inspired for your next Modern brew!
 
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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
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Flashback, Part I: Lutri, the Spellchaser
 
Jeskai Otter by ManaCymbal (Modern): 4-1 league
 
 
Naru Meha Combo (Pioneer): 4-6 leagues
 
 
Flashback, Part II: Song of Creation
 
If you missed it, be sure to check out Episode 1 of our new video series, Rogue Refinery! We take a close look at Song of Creation in Standard, Pioneer, and Modern, complete with gameplay highlights and expert analysis from AliasV and Paul Cheon. Watch Episode 1 here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWhrYQLOFt0
 
Decklists
 
Kinnan Storm by AronGomu (Modern)
 
Amulet of Creation (Modern)
 
Song Ascendancy (Pioneer)
 
Ascendancy Combo by Paul Cheon (Pioneer)
 
Song of Nissa (Standard/Pioneer)
 
Rhythm of Creation (Standard/Pioneer)
 
 
The Top 8 Modern Innovations Since Ikoria
 
HM: Curious Bogles
 
#8: Zombie Copter (Ross Merriam)
 
#7: BW ZirdaBlade
 
#6: Slithery Dimir (Damon)
 
#5: Hammer Time (Tom Ross)
 
#4: Umori Titan
 
#3: Counterbalance Miracles (aspiringspike)
 
#2: Umbral Zirda
 
#1: Auratouched Winota (Lawson Zandi)
 
 

Take the Otter Challenge (ft. Zach Ryl)

Ikoria, Episode 5: Lutri, the Spellchaser
 
It's our one-year anniversary at the Faithless Brewing Podcast, and we're celebrating in a big way. Special guest brewer? Absolutely. Wild 5-0 lists in Modern? Yes indeed. Gorgeous new banner? Very much so. New video series with Wizards of the Coast?!?! Why, yes!
 
This week, we sit down with Zach Ryl, aka ManaCymbal, to master the Way of the Otter. Lutri, the Spellchaser has a marginal ability and a seemingly punishing companion requirement. Can you really succeed with a singleton deck? Even if you manage to win, what did you learn from your pile of mismatched one-ofs? It turns out that the answer is, Yes, and A Whole Lot! Building decks around "buckets" rather than single-card synergies is a skill set all its own, and an invaluable tool in the brewer's arsenal. Zach talks us through the ins and outs of brewing successfully with Lutri, and has some spicy takes of his own on Lukka Legend as well. Come splash around with us and take the #OtterChallenge yourself!
 
New Banner: The Faithless Café by Ev Davis aka Whistler
A place for your daily brewing inspiration. There are 11 Magic cards referenced in the Café; can you spot them all?
 
Where to find the art of Whistler:
Homepage: https://evanleigh-davis.format.com/
Twitter: @artofwhistler
Tumblr: https://kettlehead-comics.tumblr.com/
Patreon: www.patreon.com/artofwhistler
 
New Video Show! Rogue Refinery (ft. Paul Cheon, Eilidh Lonie, and Faithless Brewing)
 
New episodes every Wednesday at 9am PT on the Magic: the Gathering YouTube channel. Watch Episode 1 (Song of Creation) here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWhrYQLOFt0
 
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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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Roundup: Interview with Zach Ryl aka ManaCymbal
 
Where to find Zach:
 
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/manacymbal/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqRdjisnv8bhjdsa27UU9qg?view_as=subscriber
Twitter: @ManaCymbal
 
Flashback: Lukka, Coppercoat Outcast
 
Pioneer
 
RG Lukka Obosh (David): 1-4 league
 
RG Lukka Creativity (David): 2-3 league
 
Modern
 
RG Lukka Obosh by Signblindman (Zach): 3-2 league
 
Maximum Lukka Drive (Zach): 4-1 league
 
Rampless Lukka Cat (David): 1-4 league
 
Rampy Lukka Cat (Damon): 3-2 league
 
80-card Lukka Cat (Dan): 4-1 league
 
 
Brew Session: Lutri, the Spellchaser
 
Izzet Otter Nonsense (Zach): 5-0 league by thepensword
 
Blue Otter Moon (Damon): 5-0 league
 
Grixis Otter Ultimatum (Zach)
 
Temur Otterwalks (Zach)
 
Jeskai Sl'Otter (Zach)
 
Jeskai Temp (Zach)
 
Sultai Sea Dog (Zach)
 
Pioneer
 
Lutri Evolution Combo (David)