Faithless Brewing MTG: Modern and Pioneer for the Spike Rogue

The Sun God Rises

Theros Beyond Death, Episode 2: Heliod, Sun-Crowned
 
All things must come to an end, and for Mox Opal, that end proved to be a rather unceremonious bludgeoning with the ban hammer in Modern. Also banned are Oko, Thief of Crowns (yet again) and Mycosynth Lattice (thank you, next), the largest shakeup in Modern since... the printing of Throne of Eldraine. The crew pours one out for the fallen victims of last week's B&R, and takes another look ahead at promising new printings from Theros: Beyond Death.
But while the sun sets on an entire era, another sun rises, in both Modern and Pioneer -- specifically Heliod, the Sun-Crowned, who is perhaps the most hotly anticipated printing from Theros: Beyond Death. Heliod's infinite damage combo with Walking Ballista has echoes of Saheeli Felidar, or even (some say) Splinter Twin. Can the new God possibly live up to the hype? In truth, Heliod Ballista is an enormously mana intensive combo, but there are sneaky tools available to shave on mana costs and arrive at a leaner, meaner 1-2 combo punch. In Modern, this can also mean eschewing Ballista altogether, and instead pursuing infinite life with Spike Feeder or Kitchen Finks. And if that fails? Well, nothing says we can't turn our 5/5 indestructible beater sideways. Will any of these decks rise to glory? Let's find out!
 
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Roundup: Modern B&R + Theros Previews
 
 
Modern B&R Announcement
 
• Oko: total days legal, by format
 
• Mox Opal: end of era
 
Flashback: Ghirapur Orrery
 
 
Sultai Dredge (David): 2-3 league
 
Simic Lands (David): 2-3 league
 
Simic Midrange (Damon): 3-2 league
 
 
Brew Session: Heliod, Sun-Crowned
 
 
Modern
 
Sketch 1: Soul Sisters Company
 
 
Pioneer
 
Sketch 2: Azorius Owl Midrange
 
Sketch 3: Selesnya Enchantments Ramp
 
Sketch 4: Orzhov Heliod Walkers
 
Bonus Sketch: Boros Reckoner Midrange
 
Bonus Sketch: Bant Vannifar Heliod
 
Bonus Sketch: Bant Heliod Flash
 
Bonus Sketch: Basic Mono-W Heliod
 
 
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Theros Previews & Brew Review #1

Theros Beyond Death, Episode 1: The Brew Review
 
Theros: Beyond Death is upon us! The newest set looks poised to continue the recent trend of Standard-legal expansions massively impacting eternal formats, with a slew of exciting previews to unpack. At the same time, Modern as we know it continues to evolve and change, with results from major tournaments in paper and online giving a final snapshot of the Oko era before the latest round of massive bannings. (Note: this episode was recorded before Monday's B&R, so you can enjoy one last analysis of the Oko metagame as a fun little capsule in time.)
 
For our last episode before taking the plunge into the underworld of Theros, we are debuting a new segment on the show: the Brew Review! Instead of picking a single card to focus on this week, we instead solicited our listeners to share with us some of their spiciest brews in Modern and Pioneer: whether polished lists they've been testing extensively, or wild ideas that came to them in a rapturous fever dream of brewing energy. From End-Raze Forerunners combo, to Fires of Invention Angels, to a comprehensive brewer's guide to Myth Realized, this edition of the Brew Review has something for everyone!
 
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Roundup: Modern Championships + SCG Columbus
 
 
Explore Titan (Matthew Dilks/Will Pulliam)
 
Galvanic Urza (Corey Baumeister / Pete Ingram)
 
Once Upon Eldrazi Tron (xfile, Modern Challenge)
 
Veil of Titanshift (i_b_true, Modern Champs)
 
Soul-Scar Burn (sandydogmtg, Modern Champs)
 
Glittering Niv-Mizzet (Lanny Huang, 7-0 Modern Challenge)
Naya Stonecleave (Ihavethefire, Modern Champs)
 
Liquimetal Urza (Phil England, 6th in Modern Classic)
 
KotR Titan Ramp (Kazuga, 5-2 Modern Challenge)
 
The Brew Review, Part 1
 
 
Mono-red Blitz (by Jiggywiggy) [Modern]
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1825800#online
 
Cryptolith Pod (by Matt Baker) [Pioneer]
https://scryfall.com/@mattybakes/decks/90974e1f-cb95-4206-8456-ea486d20e6b6
 
GW Mentor (by Shane B.) [Pioneer]
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2587692#paper
 
Speed Pigs (by KilgoreTrout503) [Pioneer]
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/speed-bacon/
 
Narset for Days (by unpronounceable) [Pioneer]
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2630393#paper
 
Angel Fires (by Paimon) [Pioneer]
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2565674#paper
 
Esper Mythseize (by Spotred) [Modern]
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/mythseize/
 
 
Bonus Brews:
 
 
GW Gideons (by allfordelilah) [Pioneer]
https://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/gideons-support-group/
 
MonoGreen Ponza (by EnderXenocide) [Modern]
https://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/mono-green-oko/
 
Blue Bird Arclight Dredge (by Jonathan Walsh) [Pioneer]
https://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/blue-bird-arclight-dredge-pioneer/?cb=1578109142
 
Agent of Duplication (by unpronounceable) [Pioneer]
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2630329#paper
 
Mighty Morophon Sliver Tron (by unpronounceable) [Modern]
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2630298#paper
 
 
 

You Pick the Card: Ghirapur Orrery

Throne of Eldraine, Episode 15: Ghirapur Orrery
 
The results are in! In the final days before Theros: Beyond Death, we let our listeners choose the card that we would brew around for the week. Many outstanding cards from Magic's past and present were nominated, but in the end, only one could emerge victorious in the patron poll: Ghirapur Orrery! This forgotten gem from Kaladesh hearkens back to the days when we were small children with a poor understanding of Magic's rules: we were convinced, for example, that if you played your last card from hand you immediately got to draw a fresh seven, or that if you declared "fast mana" you could play multiple land drops at once. Well guess what, children: with Ghirapur Orrery in play, now you can do both, and it's not even against the rules! The dream of going nuts with an Orrery is certainly enticing, but to make this card competitive, a lot has to go right. David has some ideas for getting the ball rolling, so let's dive into the lists!
 
Also in this episode: a GP Portland tournament report, 2019 in Review, Theros: Beyond Death Previews, Regisaur testing results, and more!
 
You Pick the Card Poll Results: Summary
 
 
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Roundup: GP Portland + 2019 in review + Theros Previews
 
 
Izzet Flash (Damon): 4-4, GP Portland (Standard)
 
 
Flashback: Rotting Regisaur
 
 
Modern
 
GB Heartless Summoning (Dan): 2-3
 
Reference:
 
"Amulet-less Titan" (bolov0): runner-up, Modern MOCS
 
Urza Charm (VTCLA): winner, Modern MOCS
 
 
Pioneer
 
Golgari Great Hengisaur (David): 5-5 leagues
 
Monoblack Picker (Dan): 7-3 leagues
 
Abzan Evolve (David): 4-1 league
 
Rakdos Vamp Madness (David): 4-1 league
 
 
Follow-ups from previous weeks:
 
Seasons Past / Fires of Invention (Dan): 3-2
 
Scarab God Reclamation (aspiringspike)
 
Blood Moon Niv-Mizzet (Lawson Zandi): 5-3 Modern challenge, 5-0 league, 4-1 league
 
RB Regicleave by Paimon ("Pioneer Death's Shadow)
 
Legacy Kiora Prison by Johan Bang
 
 
Brew Session: Ghirapur Orrery
 
 
Pioneer
 
Sketch 1: Simic Ghirapur Lands
 
 
Sketch 2: Sultai Dredge
 
 
 
 

Now, That's a Zombie!

Throne of Eldraine, Episode 14: Rotting Regisaur
 
Fires of Invention was a real firecracker of a card. Last week's builds saw spectacular successes and spectacular failures across a wide range of strategies, and yet we've barely even scratched the surface of the card. It should be no surprise that Niv-Mizzet Fires is the build that seemed closest to breaking Pioneer, notching another Faithless 5-0 after the banning of Oko and Nexus of Fate. Sometimes all Niv does is win (including delivering Damon a 1st place trophy in his Modern 1K over the weekend). But there's so much more to explore that it's hard to call the book closed on Fires of Invention. I suspect we'll be seeing this card again sooner than later.
 
As for this week's brew-around, what is there to say? It seems almost unfair to theorycraft Rotting Regisaur; thinking too hard feels against the spirit of the card. Spend three mana, get a giant zombie. Discard a card or two. Turn sideways and try not to get turned into an Elk. It's a 7/6 monster that asks very few questions beyond, How would you like to use it? We've got a few ideas in both Modern and Pioneer, let's see which one roars the strongest!
 
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Roundup: Pioneer Bans, Theros Previews
 
Oko + Nexus of Fate ban (Announcement)
 
Change to B&R schedule (Announcement)
 
Theros previews (official)
 
 
Flashback: Fires of Invention
 
Modern
 
Gruul Escape 1.0: 2-3 league
 
Gruul Escape 2.0: 3-2 league
 
Gruul Escape 2.1: recommended for testing
 
 
Reference lists:
 
Temur Turns (Daniel Wong): 5-0 league
 
Urza Charm (Urchin Colley): 5-0 league
 
 
Pioneer
 
Niv Fires, pre-ban (David): 7-3 leagues
 
Niv Fires, post-ban (Damon): 5-0 league
 
Temur Elemental Fires (David): recommended for testing
 
 
Bonus list:
 
Abzan Horse (Zyrnak): 5-0 league
 
Brew Session: Rotting Regisaur
 
Modern
 
Sketch 1: Heartless Regisaur (by Ryan from Maine)
 
Sketch 1.1: Heartless Regisaur (David)
 
 
Pioneer
 
Sketch 1: Golgari Hengisaur
 
Sketch 2: Vampire Madness
 
Sketch 3: Abzan Beefy Evolve
 
Bonus Sketch: Varolz Counters
 
Bonus Sketch: Rotten Company
 
 
Reference lists:
 
Rotting Crabvine (Episode 26): 4-1 league
 
Zombies (Kotva): 5-0 league
 
Red-Black Pyromancer (Ivan_Catanduva_Br): 5-0 league
 
Rakdos Regisaur Midrange (Zxrogue): 5-0 league
 
Regisaur 8-Rack (destricted): 5-0 league
 
Melira Rotten Company (Sinisstar619): 5-0 league
 
Sultai Dino Delver (ocelot823): 5-0 league
 
Golgari Adventure (Chris Kvartek): Mythic Championship VII (Standard)
 
 
 
 

We Have the Fires

Throne of Eldraine, Episode 13: Fires of Invention
 
"If it's free, it's me." The timeless words of Bryan Gottlieb teach us to pay close attention to anything that can be cast for free, one of the most powerful and potentially broken effects in all of Magic. Fires of Invention grants that text to any spell in your deck, allowing you to cast it without tapping lands. And then, it does it again. Two free spells every turn, and you still have all your mana available to spend on other effects? Yeah, that's me. Sign us up for a playset!
 
Fires of Invention is Throne of Eldraine's entrant into the "broken four-mana enchantment engine" category, and it has already proven its chops in Standard as well as Pioneer and Modern. More similar to a Wilderness Reclamation than an Experimental Frenzy, Fires offers an insane mana advantage, provided that you can successfully navigate its numerous constraints. This week the crew has some explosive builds designed to do just that. You want decklists? "Just tell us how many you want and get out of the way!"
 
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Roundup: Weekend Results
 
 
Simic Food Ramp (Gerry Thompson)
 
Gruul Kiora (Dan): 3-3, SCG IQ Newington
 
Azorius Approach (Tyler Surovy): 3rd place, SCG IQ Newington
 
 
Flashback: Crested Sunmare
 
 
Modern
 
GW Eldritch Horse: 1-4 league
 
 
Pioneer
 
Orzhov Horse: 3-2 league
 
Abzan Horse: 7-3 leagues
 
 
Brew Session: Fires of Invention
 
Modern
 
Sketch: Gruul Fires Escape
 
 
Pioneer
 
Sketch 1: Temur Elemental Fires
 
Sketch 2: Niv-Mizzet Fires
 
 
Reference lists:
 
Standard
Jeskai Fires (Paulo Vitor Damo da Rosa)
5c Niv Fires (Ken Yukuhiro)
5c Golos Fires (Shota Yasooka)
 
 
Modern
Izzet Turns (lsv, 5-0 league)
Izzet Turns (Gfrpaac, 5-0 league)
4c As Firetold (PetyrBaelish, 7-2 PTQ)
4c As Firetold (Runeskjold, 5-0 league)
 
Pioneer
Jeskai Fires Superfriends
 
Lawson Zandi (Niv-Mizzet streams): https://www.twitch.tv/zanman1414
 
 
 

Maximum Horse Power

Throne of Eldraine, Episode 12: Crested Sunmare
 
Giddy-up, brewers! It's Horse week at Faithless Brewing, the theme episode you never knew you needed, but now can't recall how you ever lived without. David has been champing at the bit to get Crested Sunmare on the docket, a truly majestic steed that nevertheless failed to cross the finish line during its time in Standard. But don't believe the neighsayers! Despite this rather equestrian Standard pedigree, Sunmare has already galloped to a Grand Prix Day 2 finish in Modern of all places. Was it simply a lack of enablers that made the Standard builds come up lame? Or will the Modern shell prove to be a one-trick pony? In the greener pastures of Pioneer, David thinks he has a thoroughbred, but will his unbridled enthusiasm land him on the whinnying side? There's only one way to find out! This week we've got the horses in the back, horse decklists attached, sleeves are matte black, got the tokens black to match. Saddle up!
 
ALSO: This week, we have a very special bonus episode! We joined forces with our friends at The Dive Down for our first-ever podcast crossover, a deep dive into Niv-Mizzet Reborn in Modern! You can find that episode (The Dive Down, Ep. 51: "ROY G. NIV: 5c Niv-Mizzet, ft. Faithless Brewing") over at www.thedivedown.com, or subscribe to The Dive Down on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, or YouTube to catch all of their outstanding content. Don't miss it!
 
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Roundup: Modern Playoffs + Pioneer B&R
 
Pioneer
Pioneer B&R Announcement (Smuggler's Copter, Field of the Dead, Once Upon a Time)
Reference: 2017 Smuggler's Copter Ban Announcement (Standard)
GW Knights (Phill_hellmuth): PTQ Winner
Ari Lax B&R analysis (thread)
 
Modern
Format Playoffs Top 16
 
Flashback: New Perspectives + Witch's Oven
 
 
New Perspectives
 
Blood Sun Perspectives (Dan): 3-2 league, 0-5 league
 
Growth Spiral Perspectives (Danny + David): 4-1 league, 0-3 league
 
 
Twiddle Field (Runeskjold): PTQ Top 8 (x3)
 
 
Witch's Oven
 
Sultai Cat Dredge: strong, but likely does not survive bannings
 
Orzhov Cat Oven: 4-1 league, can be re-tooled without Copter and Lookout, see below
 
 
Temur Emerge Oven: 4-1, but played like a weaker version of Ryan Overturf's non-Oven Temur Emerge. No need for green without OUAT.
 
 
Bonus lists:
 
Kiora Dragons (Pedro Almeida): 8-0, LATAM qualifier series
 
Sketch: Bant Teshar Combo
 
Sketch: Orzhov Teshar Aristocrats
 
 
Brew Session: Crested Sunmare
 
 
Modern
 
GW Eldritch Horse (Martin Colding, Fluffywolf2): GP Birmingham Day 2, 5-0 league
 
 
Pioneer
 
Sketch: Selesnya Horse Evolution
 
Sketch: Orzhov Horse Control
 
Bonus sketch: Abzan Life Rider
 
Bonus sketch: Ghost Dad Kiora
 
Bonus sketch: Orzhov Infinite Archangel
 
 
 
 

New Perspectives on Combo (ft. Danny Salvatore)

Throne of Eldraine, Episode 11: Scrap Trawler, New Perspectives, Astral Drift
 
It was a golden weekend for Niv-Mizzet at Grand Prix Columbus, with Dan and Damon both posting 10-4-1 finishes with our favorite Faithless Brew. Is Niv the last control deck in Modern? What we do know is that, at the last Grand Prix of 2019, Niv quietly had one of the best performances of any archetype in the field.
 
This week, however, we depart from the realm of flashy five-color control, and turn our attention instead to some truly bizarre combos. Scraps from the Oven? New Perspectives? Astral Drift Turbo-Land? Oh yes, these are going to be spicy ones.
 
We are joined this week by special guest brewer Danny Salvatore, fresh off a Top 4 finish at the SCG Invitational. We talk about his preparations in Modern and Pioneer leading up to the Invi and the GP, before we collectively dive headfirst into assembling the combo machine.
 
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Flashback: SCG Invitational + Grand Prix Columbus
 
SCG Invitational (Pioneer / Modern)
 
Green Devotion (Danny Salvatore, 3rd place)
Grixis Shadow (Danny Salvatore, 3rd place)
 
GP Columbus (Modern)
 
Utopia Niv-Mizzet (Dan + Damon, 10-4-1, 40th & 42nd place)
 
Rakdos Bone Picker: 2-3 league, needed more creatures to crew with
 
Brew Session: Comboing Off
 
Sketch #1: Scraps from the Oven
 
Sketch #2: New Perspectives (Growth Spiral version)
 
Sketch #3: New Perspectives (Blood Sun version)
 
Brainstorm Session: Astral Drift Turbo-Land
 
 

What's Cooking? Firing Up the Witch's Oven

Throne of Eldraine, Episode 10: Witch's Oven
 
Let's face it, Vantress Gargoyle is probably not going to make the leap to eternal playable anytime soon. It struggles to attack in Pioneer, although our Modern explorations did yield some very interesting builds using powerful tools like Archive Trap and Into the Story. That being said, when a card can't even hack it in Standard, we shouldn't ask too much of it off the bat.
 
On the other hand, when a card is dominating Standard and meets the benchmark metrics for eternal playability (best in class effect, highly efficient, useful card type) it is certainly worth a closer look. Witch's Oven fits that bill. The "Kentucky Fried Kitten" / "Meow Mix" combo with Cauldron Familiar was a breakout star at the most recent Mythic Championships, and those two have started to make some inroads into Pioneer as well. But how good is this combo really? And is there more to the Oven than just cat food? While Damon and Dan are busy prepping Niv-Mizzet in Modern for GP Columbus, David has been cooking up some spicy Oven lists that he thinks just might hit the sweet spot.
 
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Flashback: Vantress Gargoyle
 
Modern
 
Simic Flying Goyfs: 3-2 league. Extremely effective at finding big flyers and attacking with them, but struggles against creature decks and high density of removal.
 
Sultai Flying Goyfs: 2-3 league, noticeably clunkier than the Simic version because Glimpse and Hedron Crab fight for mana, but some additions like Drown in the Loch are well worth the price of admission.
 
Gargoyles, Please!: 2-3 league. Yes, this is a Modern list with four copies of Didn't Say Please. The concept here is not bad, but the execution could use refinement.
 
Turbo Trap Control: 4-1 league. This strategy might be secretly excellent. Needs a more diverse set of spells in the main deck, but Mystic Sanctuary + Into the Story is incredible and the sideboard juke plan can steal games.
 
Pioneer
 
Emry Ascendancy: achieved numerous turn 3 kills, but this deck relies super heavily on Emry surviving, and probably shouldn't run any Gargoyles as they can never attack
 
Gargoyle Gift: 3-2 league, Gargoyle is actually a decent blocker here and synergizes with both Kiora and Gift
 
Bonus list: Retraction Helix Ascendancy by MrRaeb
 
Brew Session: Witch's Oven
 
Pioneer
 
Sketch 1: Sultai Cat Dredge
 
Sketch 2: Rakdos Bone Picker
 
Sketch 3: Grixis Emerge Oven
 
Sketch 4: Orzhov Life Gain
 
Modern
 
Utopia Niv-Mizzet (GP Columbus build)