As many of you are likely aware, the DCI recently updated the Banned and Restricted list, removing two cards from the Modern format. Punishing Fire and Wild Nacatl have gone the way of Ponder and Preordain. With those out of the way, I have a few ideas for the upcoming Modern PTQ season that won't break the bank, allowing you to keep some of your Christmas cash in your pocket.
I have been working on an Aggro/Loam list designed to put enough pressure to give combo a problem and still have a solid match up against the multiple Zoo decks floating around. Initially this list was Red and Green but the thought of putting a little Black into the mix was creeping in to the thought process. I still believe that this list has great potential in a post Nacatl Modern, perhaps even more so than it did before.
Let's talk core pieces. Countryside Crusher, Seismic Assult, and Life from the Loam are where we want to start. You can already see where this is headed. It is a cute combo and can absolutely destroy a lesser aggro deck if the combo comes online. The fact that Crusher ensures that your draws are live for the rest of the game is also a pretty large factor in beating other decks. Any two of these pieces can actually run away with a board state and getting all three together is very powerful.
Now you are expecting me to say Swans of Bryn Argoll next. Well more likely you are expecting me just to say Swans, because no one actually knows the full name of that card. But we aren't playing it. As cute as it is, I think that this deck is strong enough without playing it. Additionally, the extra lands that Seismic-Swans wants to play coupled with the lack of Ponder and Preordain to filter to the combo make that particular take on the deck feel weaker.
What do the colours Red and Green make you think of in the entire aggro spectrum of Magic? The first thing that pops into my head is the glory days of Bloodbraid Elf! The trill of cascading into some sweet free spells gives this deck some serious card advantage in addition to Loam. You may think that Bloodbraid into Loam may be a bit of a non-bo but in reality, you have likely cracked 2-3 fetch lands before getting to the needed mana base to actually cast our Christmas coloured elf. This allows you to get the rest of your engine started, as a worst case scenario.
What else might we want to cascade into? Well first off, we are already on the beat down plan and getting in some early damage won't be the worst. Goblin Guide makes a sweet 1 drop and also isn't the worst thing to cascade in to for added pressure. Along the same line both Keldon Marauders and Hellspark Elemental serve the same purposes in this Modern list as they would in a Legacy burn list.
The final addition, excluding Bolt (a clear must for this list), is Boggart Ram-Gang. Not something I would typically suggest, in a format where Tarmogyf exists along with Knight of the Reliquary, having what equates to an unblockable man that can double as a deterrent to the aggressiveness packed into those two powerhouses can be a powerful aid. The fact that you can cascade into this fellow or cast it with ease isn't the worst thing ever.
You will note, I squeezed two Teetering Peaks into this deck's mana base. As Modern denies us access to Barbarian Ring, we have to make due with this slightly lesser land based aggression. Slapping 2 more damage on a Ram Gang or an Elemental demands a Path to Exile in response and frankly our opponent can't afford to spend resources there with a Crusher continually getting bigger. Diversifying threats will ensure that any deck that gets a little greedy with their list will most assuredly be punished with losses.
Mans: 24
4 Countryside Crusher
4 Bloodbraid Elf
4 Goblin Guide
4 Keldon Marauders
4 Hellspark Elemental
4 Boggart Ram-Gang
Enchantments: 4
4 Seismic Assult
Sorcerys: 4
4 Life from the Loam
Instants: 4
4 Lightning Bolt
Lands: 24
4 Scalding Tarn
4 Arid Mesa
2 Stomping Ground
11 Mountain
1 Forest
2 Teetering Peaks
As far as not breaking the bank, if you don't mind supplying your own basic lands, Star City Games can provide this entire list (shopping frugally, of course) for $196.72 plus S&H. Getting in to Modern for under $200 is fairly doable and you end up with 8 fetch lands that are playable in both Modern and Legacy, which is a sound investment if you intend to continue playing Magic on a reasonably competitive level.
At the very least, I hope this has given you something to think about for the upcoming season. If you want to hear what I have to say about the current Magic culture and developments, you can find Planeswalker Asylum over on Couch Pirate Radio. You can also find me saying largely irrelevant things on Twitter @samdavisboyhero. Any feedback you have is appreciated and thanks for reading!
Until next time, keep your sleeves clean and your cascades full of value.
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