Faithless Brewing MTG: Modern and Pioneer for the Spike Rogue

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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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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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)
 
 
 

Lukka Legend, Tiger King

Ikoria, Episode 4: Lukka, Coppercoat Outcast
 
Somewhere in the Multiverse, there are grizzled veterans who played Polymorph before it was cool. Those players are bankrupt now, their tickets squandered, their play points long depleted. Finding Polymorph fodder when Emrakul can be your only creature will take you down strange and lonely deckbuilding paths (yes, we see you Dwarven Mine).
 
Enter Lukka, the newest addition to the roster of red planeswalkers. Lukka's -2 is a Polymorph with a twist: it only finds creatures of higher converted mana cost. Small change, massive upside. What if we could have our mana dorks, and eat our spaghetti monster too? What if we could graft a Polymorph  endgame onto an already functional ramp curve? Things just got very interesting.
 
This week we spin the wheel with Lukka, Coppercoat Outcast, in Modern, Pioneer, and even a touch of Standard. The best part about Lukka? He's not a Companion. The worst part about Lukka? Yeah, he's probably friends with Companions. But we're willing to forgive him if his critter pals deliver the goods. Happy brewing!
 
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Flashback: Yorion, Sky Nomad
 
Pioneer
Niv Fires 1.0 (Dan): 4-1 league
Niv Fires 1.1 (Dan): 3-2 league
Doom Foretold 1.0 (Damon): 2-3 league
Doom Foretold 1.1 (Damon): 5-0 league
GW Enchantress (Dan): 2-3 league
 
Modern
4c Yorion Blink (David): 5-5 leagues
 
 
Brew Session: Lukka, Coppercoat Outcast
 
 
Sketch 1: 4c Lukka Cat Combo (Modern)
 
Sketch 2: Gruul Lukka Ramp (Pioneer)
 
Sketch 3: Lukka Creativity (Pioneer)
 
Sketch 4: Treacherous Winota (Standard)
 
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Eighty Is the New Sixty

Ikoria, Episode 3: Yorion, Sky Nomad
 
It's Friday night at the game shop, and you are starting to get nervous. Your opponent just sat down across from you, and they're the best player in the store. You've seen that swagger, that easy confidence, that friendly-but-never-cocky vibe. They flash a smile and greet you warmly. Despite yourself, you smile back. There's no mistaking that aura. They reach into their backpack and you already know what's coming: a well endowed deck box, the envy of any Commander player, holding a thick stack that must be at least 90 cards high. They shuffle it smoothly and offer you a cut. No need, you reply. You know they would never cheat you. "High roll to see who starts?"
 
Ikoria has crash landed into Magic's competitive formats, and left players everywhere scrambling to sift through the wreckage of the Companion Apocalypse. In every deck, in every format, it's Lurrus all the way down for every archetype that can support it. And for everyone else, there's Yorion, with giant decks suddenly en vogue everywhere you look. "Life begins at forty"? More like "Eighty is the new sixty"!
 
This week we tackle Yorion, the friendly bird that asks just one simple question: does your brew have that Big Deck Energy, that no-effs-given swagger to scale up effortlessly to 80 cards? We explore possibilities for maximizing Yorion's trigger, and break down the nuts and bolts of crafting the perfect 95. After that, we open up the Brewer's Mailbag and field questions from listeners on the deckbuilder's craft, our picks from Ikoria, and much more.
 
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Brew Session: Yorion, Sky Nomad
 
Modern
 
Sketch 1: 4c Kiki-Chord
 
Sketch 2: Bant Blink
 
Pioneer
 
Sketch 3: Yorion's Monument
 
Sketch 4: Esper Doom Foretold
 
Sketch 5: Niv-Yorion Fires
 
 

Brewer's Guide to Ikoria, Part 2: The Best of the Rest

Ikoria, Episode 2: Brewer's Guide to Ikoria, Part 2
 
Well, that escalated quickly. Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths has been online for just three days and already the Companion mechanic is running rampant across all formats.
 
Luckily, we were able to record our second installment of our Brewer's Guide to Ikoria before the advent of our new cat overlords, when the world was still bright with possibility. And since we already covered the Companions in Part 1, this installment may provide some welcome reprieve from our new furry friends. There are miles of exciting designs from top to bottom in Ikoria: from powerful enchantment engines, to tricky cycling options, efficient legendary creatures, and some slick removal to boot. Let's go exploring!
 
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Timestamps
 
02:35 Triome Lands Enchantment Cycle08:56 Song of Creation16:49 Whirlwind of Thought19:11 Offspring's Revenge22:15 Death's Oasis25:28 Titan's Nest Ultimatum Cycle28:20 Eerie Ultimatum30:48 Emergent Ultimatum32:54 Ruinous Ultimatum34:28 Inspired Ultimatum36:48 Genesis Ultimatum Mythos Cycle38:44 Mythos of Nethroi42:07 Mythos of Vadrok46:15 Mythos of Brokkos47:45 Mythos of Snapdax49:20 Mythos of Illuna Cycling Matters53:41 Unpredictable Cyclone56:53 Escape Protocol58:55 Zenith Flare1:00:47 Valiant Rescuer, Flourishing Fox1:03:05 Yidaro, Wandering Monster1:07:32 Shark Typhoon1:09:54 Ominous Seas Useful Effects w/ Cycling1:13:51 Neutralize1:14:58 Wilt1:15:11 Boon of the Wish-Giver1:15:57 Migration Path1:17:39 Easy Prey1:19:00 Footfall Crater1:23:10 Reconnaissance Mission1:26:13 Barrier Breach1:28:29 Titanoth Rex1:30:26 Void Beckoner The Best of the Rest1:32:28 The Ozolith1:37:30 Luminous Broodmoth1:40:23 Labyrinth Raptor1:43:16 Call of the Death Dweller1:45:36 Colossification1:48:28 Sprite Dragon1:51:36 Rielle, the Everwise1:54:54 General Kudro of Drannith1:56:49 Lavabrink Venturer1:59:02 Winota, Joiner of Forces2:02:20 Fire Prophecy2:05:33 Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy2:09:32 Fiend Artisan2:15:29 Stormwild Capridor
 
 

Brewer's Guide to Ikoria, Part 1: Mutant Companions

Ikoria, Episode 1: Brewers' Guide to Ikoria, Part 1
 
Several months ago, an article from WotC R&D issued a cryptic warning. Standard set releases, they said, were going to be intentionally powered up. Throne of Eldraine was at "approximately the desired power level" — ominous words for a set whose headliners, Oko and Once Upon a Time, have since received the Gitaxian Probe treatment and are now banned in nearly all formats. Even beyond those outliers, efficient powerhouses like Mystic Sanctuary, Brazen Borrower, and Mystical Dispute have become format-defining cards, with additional cross-format staples up and down the spoiler.
 
Theros: Beyond Death had giant footsteps to fill, yet it broke loose even more forcefully. The top tier Pioneer metagame is almost entirely defined by Theros-powered decks, while Uro and Kroxa are running rampant in Modern, and the Legacy ban list gained a fine new addition in Underworld Breach.
 
So it is with great trepidation that we greet the arrival of Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths. Can a battlecruiser set full of casual Godzilla monsters really make an impact on Magic's eternal formats?
 
Yes, yes it can.
 
In this special double-header edition, we present our comprehensive Brewer's Guide to Ikoria, analyzing every card that we expect to have an impact on Modern and Pioneer. The set is so stuffed with power top to bottom that we couldn't even fit it all into one recording. Instead we are dividing this weeks' show into two parts, clocking in at more than four hours of content. Check back for Part 2 of our Brewer's Guide very soon!
 
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Part 1: Companions, Mutants, and Planeswalkers
 
 
Outline + Timestamps
 
The Companions
12:32 Kaheera, the Orphanguard17:24 Yorion, Sky Nomad22:15 Lurrus of the Dream-Den28:11 Obosh, the Preypiercer34:02 Jegantha, the Wellspring39:22 Zidri, the Dawnwaker44:03 Umori, the Collector47:57 Lutri, the Spellchaser55:02 Keruga, the Macrosage59:53 Gyruda, Doom of Depths The Planeswalkers
1:05:12 Lukka, Coppercoat Outcast1:09:54 Vivien, Monsters' Advocate1:15:16 Narset of the Ancient Way The Mutants
1:23:18 Snapdax, Apex Predator1:26:42 Brokkos, Apex of Forever1:30:31 Necroi, Apex of Death1:33:55 Vadrok, Apex of Thunder1:38:35 Illuna, Apex of Wishes1:41:41 Sea-Dasher Octopus1:45:37 Lore Drakkis1:48:25 Gemrazer1:51:25 Migratory Greathorn1:53:42 Everquill Phoenix1:56:16 Dirge Bat1:59:08 Parcelbeast2:03:06 Pollywog Symbiote2:06:22 Mysterious Egg
 
In Part 2, we will cover the wedge cycles, cycling, and the best of the rest. Stay tuned!
 
 
Contact Us
 
If you like our show, be sure to join our Patreon and leave us an Apple Podcasts review. Thank you for your support!
 
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/faithlessbrewing
 
Twitter: @FaithlessMTG
 
Email: faithless.brewing@gmail.com
 
Homepage: faithlessbrewing.podbean.com
 
 
 
 

The Wild Side of Modern (ft. Lawson Zandi)

Theros Beyond Death, Episode 13: Modern Brewing with Lawson Zandi
 
On April 16, Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths is poised to lay waste to Magic's eternal formats. The set is chock full of giant monsters, insane enchantment engines, and "if you dare" build-arounds. There has never been a better time to be a brewer. What better time, then, to pick the brain of one of Modern's most prolific brewers and streamers: the youngest old soul in Magic and certified mad scientist Lawson Zandi.
 
Our full Ikoria set review will be out next week, but in the meantime, we've got six eye-popping decks from Lawson that are among the wildest Modern brews you will see. Perhaps the craziest this about them is that Lawson has been winning with them, a lot. Also, on the Flashback: our testing results with Aristocrats strategies in Pioneer. Many of these proved to be Woeful, but we're taking it all in Stride. Come join us for a walk on the wild side!
 
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Where to find Lawson
 
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/zanman1414
Twitter: @LawsonZandi
StreamDecker: https://www.streamdecker.com/decks/zanman1414
The Hunter Burton Memorial Open
 
 
Brew Session: Lawson's Picks
 
 
Modern
 
#1: Bazaar TradeVine
 
#2: Soulherder-less Soulherder
 
#3: Walk This Way (Planeswalker Prison)
 
#4: Cat Combos with Everything
 
#5: Jeskai Possibility Storm
 
#6: Mad Science Niv
 
 
Flashback: Woe Strider
 
 
Pioneer
 
BW Angel Visitation (Damon): 2-3 league
 
Abzan Heliod Rally (David): 1-4 league
 
Rakdos Sacrifice (David): 4-1 league
 
Karn Aristocrats (Dan): 3-2 league
 
BG Aristocrats (Damon): 2-3 league
 
Modern
 
Jund Food by Kortero (Damon): 1-3 league
 
Pioneer
 
Jund Food (Dan): 2-3 league
 
 
 

The New Aristocrats: Brewing with Woe Strider

Theros Beyond Death, Episode 12: Woe Strider
 
Few things in Magic are more powerful than the ability to sacrifice your own permanents. Look no further than Krark-Clan Ironworks or the more recent Grinding Station Breach decks in Modern: if it doesn't cost mana, and you can do it repeatedly, the sky is the limit for sacrifice combo. On the creature side of things, sacrifice outlets have an equally distinguished pedigree. From the Standard Mardu Aristocrats deck that won Pro Tour Gatecrash, to Four-Color Rally the Ancestors, to Hogaak Bridgevine or Yawgmoth Undying combo, even stretching back as far as Zombie Bombardment in Legacy, it seems that every kind of sacrifice deck has found some competitive success.
 
Aristocrats as a strategy has been on a temporary hiatus, with contemporary design philosophy dictating that sacrifice should cost mana, or only happen at fixed moments in the turn. But Theros: Beyond Death has flipped the script, with the printing of Woe Strider putting sacrifice decks back on the menu in Pioneer and even Standard. Combined with the 2019 additions to the Modern card pool of Carrion Feeder, Altar of Dementia, and Yawgmoth, Thran Physician, there has never been a better time to start eating your own permanents for fun and profit. Let's get sacrificing!
 
 
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Flashback: Brew Review Testing
 
 
Modern
 
Dimir Trap Control (Dan): 1-4 league
Original List: Dimir Trap Control by Soren W
 
 
Soul Sisters (Damon): 3-2 league
Original list: Soul Sisters by Paimon
 
 
Pioneer
 
Grixis Kroxa (David): 3-2 league
Rakdos Kroxa (David): 4-1 league
Original list: Rakdos Kroxa by illsicknasty
 
 
Spaghetti Flash (Damon): 3-2 league
Original list: Spaghetti Flash by nonstripedzebra
 
Imminent Doom Control (Dan): 3-2 league
Original list: Here Comes the Doom by KilgoreTrout503
"DOOM!... DOOM!" by James Earl Jones
 
Brew Session: Woe Strider
 
 
Pioneer
 
Sketch 1: Golgari Company
Sketch 2: 4c Rally Strider
Sketch 3: Abzan Double Combo
Sketch 4: Bishop of Wings Combo
Sketch 5: Rakdos Sacrifice
 
 
Reference lists:
 
 
Pioneer
BG Gruesome Company (Baymax, 5-0 league)
4c Vannifar Combo (Kurusu, 5-0 league)
4c Rally (Jhang Jhengyu, PT Nagoya, record unknown)
Rakdos Sacrifice (Troels Munk, PT Brussels, 2-3)
Mono-B Devotion (gloomy5200, 5-0 league)
Abzan Rallistocrats (Uniq, 5-0 league x2)
 
 
Modern
Jund Aristocrats (kortero, 5-0 league)
 
 
Standard
Rakdos Aristocrats (Theros Beyond Death era)
Mardu Aristocrats (Tom Martell, ISD/RTR era)
 
Legacy
Zombie Bombardment (Legacy, Sam Black)