Faithless Brewing MTG: Modern and Pioneer for the Spike Rogue

MINDSPLICE APPARATUS: How to Break Wilderness Rec 2.0

Season 17, Episode 9: Brew Session (Mindsplice Apparatus) + Flashback (Atraxa, Grand Unifier)
David and Dan brew decks with Mindsplice Apparatus, the biggest cost reducer we have ever seen. We also track the rise of Atraxa, Grand Unifier and test two new Pioneer builds.
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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
Timestamps
[2:05] Housekeeping
[3:21] Brew Session: Mindsplice Apparatus
[4:50] Key Questions
[7:33] Card draw payoffs
[14:41] Big spell payoffs
[16:38] Synergistic pieces
[19:37] Deck 1: Temur Growth Spiral
[24:00] Deck 2: UW Approach of the Second Sun
[30:40] Deck 3: Izzet Galvanic Turns
[32:57] Izzet Mindsplice by Chris Botehlo
[36:14] Magma Opus + Gearhulk
[40:09] Flashback: Atraxa, Grand Unifier
[42:35] Atraxa Goryo’s Reanimator by FunkiMunki
[45:33] 5c Elesh-mentals by Batuhtunha
[46:04] Tyvar Devoted Druid Combo by galatriste
[48:49] Dan’s Sultai Neoform Atraxa
[59:43] Dan’s 4c Omnath to Light Atraxa
[1:06:29] Obosh Creativity Atraxa by MrRaeb
[1:06:40] Keruga Transmogri-Fires Atraxa by bcs8995
[1:07:06] Vat of Rebirth Reanimator by NJAMTG
 

The Pros Tried to Break Pioneer. Here’s What Happened.

Season 17, Episode 8: Weekly Roundup (Pro Tour Phyrexia) + Monthly Project Nominees
At long last, the paper Pro Tour has returned! Pioneer was the format of choice as 200+ pros did battle in Philadelphia. But what did they discover as they each attempted to break the format? Cavedan and David break down the latest decks and technologies from PIoneer, from small innovations in stock lists to speculative brews invented whole cloth.
After that, it’s time for you the listeners to pick our next monthly project! Twelve cards have been nominated by our patreon community and there is no shortage of spice. Which card will we brew next? That’s up to you.
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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
Timestamps
[5:39] Housekeeping
[8:15] Pro Tour Phyrexia Recap
[10:47] Radkos Midrange by Shota Yasooka
[18:22] Selesnya Auras by Benton Madsen
[23:56] 5c Omnath to Light by Nick Schirillo
[28:05] Azorius Powerstones by Jeff LIn
[35:24] Monthly Project Nominees
[36:16] Ratadrabik of Urborg
[39:11] All Will Be One
[42:17] Malcator, Purity Overseer
[46:34] Gix, Yawgmoth Praetor
[48:18] Devastating Summons
[50:20] Teething Wurmlet
[52:57] Voidwing Hybrid
[54:41] Michiko’s Reign of Truth
[57:08] Riveteers Ascendancy
[1:01:27] Urza, Lord Protector
[1:02:53] Aetherworks Marvel
[1:06:31] Flux Channeler

Atraxa Is Everything. Brewing with Magic’s Greatest Creature

Season 17, Episode 7: Brew Session (Atraxa, Grand Unifier) + Flashback (Tyvar, Jubilant Brawler)
Atraxa, Grand Unifier is a tremendous creature. No one would dispute that. But is it really possible that Atraxa is the strongest creature in all of Magic?
Recent tournament results from Standard, Legacy, Modern, and even Vintage have seen Atraxa decks soaring to the top of the standings. This is a heavyweight creature, much more likely to be cheated into play than cast fairly. But once on the battlefield, Atraxa does things other creatures can only dream of. Her trigger looks at a massive 10 cards (1/6th of a typical library), making this less of a “draw 4 cards” and more of a “draw 10, discard 6.” And unlike Niv-Mizzet Reborn, Atraxa grants access to these cards with almost no deckbuilding concessions. Want to use Atraxa to grab a Mox Amber and an Ephemerate? You are welcome to, and you even keep a few other cards for your trouble.
What truly sets Atraxa apart is how she helps you even before entering the battlefield. For better or worse, we live in the era of free pitch cards, and Atraxa pitches to everything from Solitude and Grief (more Ephemerate targets) to Force of Vigor and Force of Negation. That means your Atraxa turn doesn’t have to end when you tap out for Atraxa, as you can follow up with a Grief or even a free protection spell like Not Of This World.
The sky is the limit for Atraxa, and her price has been skyrocketing accordingly. We’ll do our part this week to drive that price even higher, as we attempt to find new homes for Atraxa in both Modern and Pioneer. Whatever happens, one thing is clear: never bet against a Niv-Mizzet trigger!
 
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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
 
Timestamps
[3:35] Housekeeping
[6:43] Brew Session: Atraxa, Grand Unifier
[10:57] Rules notes
[14:52] The competition at 7+ CMC
[22:21] Getting Atraxa into play
[29:06] Atraxa Reanimator (Legacy)
[31:02] Emi’s Neoform Atraxa (Modern)
[33:40] Esper Goryo’s (Modern)
[35:04] Obosh Creativity (Pioneer)
[39:56] David’s Neoform Atraxa (Pioneer)
[42:13] Atraxa Invoke Justice (Standard)
[44:46] Phyrexian Pyre of Heroes (Pioneer)
[48:46] Flashback: Tyvar, Jubilant Brawler
[50:11] Sultai Soul Diviner
[54:10] 4c Vannifar Pod
[1:01:48] Paradox Engine Combo
[1:08:50] Tyvar Devoted Druid Combo
 

The New Modern Staples of New Phyrexia: Lessons from Week 1

Season 17, Episode 6: Weekly Roundup (Modern + Pioneer)
A full week of online tournaments with Phyrexia: All Will Be One are now in the books, and new format staples are emerging in both Modern and Pioneer.
It starts with The Mycosynth Gardens, a card that Amulet Titan players have given rave reviews. The only question seems to be: where does Valakut+Dryad fit into the newly colorless manabase?
Meanwhile, Dimir Mill players have been feasting upon the Amulet Hopeful sporting playsets of a new toy of their own: Jace, the Perfected Mind. An on-plan threat that plays to the board and has huge upside and versatility seems to be exactly what Dr. Mill ordered.
Finally, Atraxa, Grand Unifier is a card in the midst of a meteoric rise. In just days the card has quadrupled in value following tournament wins in every format. The card is loaded with potential in both Modern and Pioneer, and is a worthy target for our next brewing adventure.
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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
Timestamps
[5:05] Housekeeping
[8:28] Amulet Titan ft. The Mycosynth Gardens
[13:50] Dimir Mill ft. Jace, the Perfected Mind
[20:35] Grinding Breach ft. Skrelv, Defector Mite
[21:41] 5c Creativity ft. Atraxa, Grand Unifier
[25:43] Hammer ft. Kemba, Kha Enduring
[26:24] Rakdos Scam ft. Sheoldred’s Edict
[29:38] Mardu ReScaminator ft. Nahiri, the Unyielding
[35:03] Izzet Murktide ft. Minor Misstep
[37:01] Boros Stoneblade ft. Skrelv, Defector Mite + Malcator, Purity Overseer
[42:13] Mono White Devotion ft. Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines, Ossification & The Eternal Wanderer
[43:26] GW Yorion Blink ft. Elesh Norn
[49:26] Rakdos Sac ft. Annihilating Glare
[51:45] Venerated Rotpriest brews
[54:03] Rakdos Sac ft. Gleeful Demolition + Vraan, Executioner Thane
[58:17] Hammer Cats ft. Kemba
[1:00:02] Moritte of the Frost Combo
[1:07:34] Boros Hammer ft. Kemba & Cacophony Scamp & Skrelv
 

All Will Be Brews: Impossible Deck Ideas for Pioneer

Season 17, Episode 5: Brew Session (Elesh Norn, Mindsplice Apparatus, Filigree Sylex, Unctus, Grand Metatect)
No nonsense, no bluster, no chit-chat. All Will Be Brews. There’s so much to explore now that Phyrexia: ONE is available, so let’s dive right into the decklists!
David shares five of his favorite brew-around cards for Pioneer, with a fresh decklist for each one. All Will Be One offers a red interpretation of Doubling Season. The Filigree Sylex is a 1-shot kill when paired with Solphim, Mayhem Dominus. Mindsplice Apparatus is a mana engine unlike anything we have ever seen. And big momma herself, Elesh Norn, may be the cure for the Pioneer meta.
You can read David’s full article with even more deck ideas at FaithlessBrewing.com:
The Faithless 15: First Draft Pioneer Brews for Phyrexia All Will Be One " Faithless Brewing MTG
Like our content? Support us on Patreon and join our brewing community!
Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
Timestamps
[5:05] Housekeeping
[5:34] Deck 1: Izzet All Will Be One
[15:36] Deck 2: Gruul Filigree Sylex
[27:27] Deck 3: Temur Mindsplice Apparatus
[38:56] Deck 4: GW Elesh Norn Kiora
[46:38] Deck 5: Emry Unctus Combo

TYVAR’S JUBILEE BRAWL: Modern Mayhem! Turn 3 Kills! Pioneer Pandemonium!

Season 17, Episode 4: Brew Session (Tyvar, Jubilant Brawler)
Attention faithless brewers, tawdry tappers, and spike rogues! Tyvar Kell invites you to the JUBILEE BRAWL, starting today at the New Phyrexia Fairgrounds. There will be creature combos! Graveyard shenanigans! Turn 3 kills! Join us for a week of Modern Mayhem, Pioneer Pandemonium, and Phyrexian Physticuffs!
 
Featuring the following creatures:
Devoted Druid, for infinite mana three different ways, or a mini-ritual with Tyvar’s -2.
Prime Speaker Vannifar, now with a turn 3 Tap to Win!
Goblins galore with Conspicuous Snoopy!
Build-a-sword workshops with Stoneforge Mystic
Overgrown Battlement and the Wombo Combo Walls
Jewel hunting with Diamond Lion & Echo of Eons
Mana dorks, elves, and so much more!
 
There’s decks for everyone at the JUBILEE BRAWL, with combo kills and value plays in any format you please. Bring the whole family and happy brewing!
 
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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
 
Timestamps
[2:38] Predictions
[5:46] Housekeeping
[6:37] Brew Session: Tyvar, Jubilant Brawler
[9:21] Rules notes
[13:38] Combo kills with Tyvar
[38:36] Synergy creatures with Tyvar
[51:33] Sketch 1: Sultai Sidisi
[58:40] Sketch 2: Abzan Priest of Forgotten Gods
[1:05:19] Sketch 3: Prime Speaker Vannifar Combo
[1:13:57] Sketch 4: Dimir Soul Diviner

Top 5 Most Exciting Cards to Brew: Phyrexia Edition (Modern)

Season 17, Episode 3: Weekly Roundup
With previews finished and our Set Review episodes in the books, Cavedan and Morde sit down to rank their top cards from Phyrexia: All Will Be One. This time around, they broadly agree on the cards that excite them most in Modern. Build-around planeswalkers and unique creatures top the list, but there’s still room for a little gleeful destruction of artifacts for fun and profit.
In the Picks of the Week, Morde shares the secrets to his recent success with Goblins, which has netted him three 5-0 trophies in his last four tries. This leaner build emphasizes cost reduction from Frogtosser Banneret and Goblin Warchief to set up spectacular turns with Rundvelt Hordemaster and Skirk Prospector. Is this the future of the Goblins archetype?
Dan’s pick is a truly astonishing Combo Walls deck that racked up multiple 5-0 finishes in the last week. If you have copies of Walking Bulwark in your draft chaff, fish them out now! He also shares his travails with Rivaz of the Claw, our current Monthly Project. With 1-4 and 2-3 results pouring in (and the occasional painful 0-4), can we finally assemble a Rivaz build that gets into the winning column?
 
Looking for more brewing inspiration? Check out this new article from David & Dan, outlining 15 new Phyrexia brews for Pioneer. Free to read at FaithlessBrewing.com!
The Faithless 15: First Draft Pioneer Brews for Phyrexia All Will Be One " Faithless Brewing MTG
 
Like our content? Support us on Patreon and join our brewing community!
 
Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
 
Timestamps
[3:19] Housekeeping
Weekly roundup
[4:19] RCQ changes
[7:56] An FNM ethics question
Phyrexia Top 5 Most Exciting to Brew
[19:41] Tyvar, Jubilant Brawler
[22:04] Venerated Rotpriest
[24:40] Capricious Hellraiser
[27:59] Atraxa, Grand Unifier
[30:41] Nahiri, the Unforgiving
[31:48] Gleeful Demolition
Picks of the Week
[35:13] Morde’s pick: Frogtosser Goblins
[46:51] Dan’s pick: Bant Walls Combo
Monthly Project Update
[54:02] Zach’s Dragon Ramp
[57:22] Dan’s Jund Kiora Dragons

Pioneer Set Review: A Brewer’s Guide to Phyrexia All Will Be One, Part 2

Season 17, Episode 2: Brewer’s Guide to Phyrexia, Part 2 (Pioneer)
The Great Work continues. With Phyrexia: All Will Be One fully previewed, we turned loose our resident brew master to analyze the best new offerings for Pioneer. (This time around, we are diving our set review by format — if you’d like to hear our analysis of the Modern cards, check out the previous episode of Faithless Brewing).
In the brewer’s paradise that is Pioneer, the powerful new offerings from Phyrexia are glistening with oil-slick possibilities. More than 60 cards made the cut in this massive episode, which still only scratches the surface of what All Will Be One has to offer. There’s something for everyone in this set, and we can’t wait to grease the wheels of the brewing machine and get to work.
Happy brewing,
— cavedan
 
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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
 
Timestamps
[1:56] Housekeeping
[3:19] Allied Fastlands
[7:47] The Seedcore
[10:50] Mirrex
[13:11] The Mycosynth Gardens
[14:58] Vindictive Flamestoker
[17:45] Venerated Rotpriest
[21:13] Skrelv, Defector Mite
[24:51] Black Sun’s Twilight
[27:35] Tyvar’s Stand
[30:27] Evolving Adaptive
[32:12] Green Sun’s Twilight
[35:17] Rebel Salvo
[37:59] Gleeful Demolition
[39:48] Cacophony Scamp
[43:04] Annihilating Glare
[44:07] Vat of Rebirth
[45:38] Crawling Chorus
[46:38] Swooping Lookout
[49:23] Experimental Augury
[51:42] Voidwing Hybrid
[52:35] Venser, Corpse Puppet
[55:20] Hexgold Halberd
[57:37] Cankerbloom
[58:54] Soulless Jailer
[1:00:36] Skrelv’s Hive
[1:02:35] Melira, the Living Cure
[1:05:08] The Filigree Sylex
[1:07:23] Armored Scrapgorger
[1:09:42] Kemba, Kha Enduring
[1:12:54] Ossification
[1:15:16] Sheoldred’s Edict
[1:17:01] Anoint with Affliction
[1:19:20] Tablet of Compleation
[1:22:11] Vraan, Execution Thane
[1:24:13] Tyvar, Jubilant Brawler
[1:26:34] Tamiyo’s Logbook
[1:27:37] Bloated Contaminator
[1:31:29] Blade of Shared Souls
[1:33:09] Glissa Sunslayer
[1:36:04] Urabrask’s Forge
[1:38:01] Mirran Safehouse
[1:39:50] Malcator, Purity Overseer
[1:42:23] Sword of Forge and Frontier
[1:45:10] Migloz, Maze-crusher
[1:46:36] Unctus, Grand Metatect
[1:48:19] Lukka, Bound to Ruin
[1:53:18] Solphim, Mayhem Dominus
[1:54:34] Mondrak, Glory Dominus
[1:55:35] Evolved Spinoderm
[1:57:09] Archfiend of the Dross
[1:59:07] Mindsplice Apparatus
[2:02:25] Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines
[2:04:44] Argentum Masticore
[2:06:48] Thrun, Breaker of Silence
[2:08:40] The Eterrnal Wanderer
[2:10:21] Capricious Hellraiser
[2:14:31] Nissa, Ascended Animist
[2:16:39] Atraxa, Grand Unifier
[2:19:51] Kaya, Intanigible Slayer
[2:21:44] Tyrannax Rex
[2:24:24] Concluding thoughts