Dies to Removal

Is anybody else still on this deck? It's currently one of my two sleeved Modern decks - the other being 8Rack haha. I ported Legacy Merfolk into Modern but have since ported it back to Legacy so I can have an always-sleeved Legacy deck on me for side events.

I took my list to a few tournaments recently, one being a GPT for Richmond. I'm a pure 50% record with this deck right now, but I count that as being decent since I'm brand spanking new to the Modern format and am just learning how other decks plan and play.

Platypus, you mentioned going up to 20 lands. I'm actually in the opposite boat. I had original had 20 and am going down to 19. I'm main decking a 3rd Spell Snare in its place because I can barely think of a matchup where I don't want that on my opponent's second turn and I feel the deck is weak to Zoo. Snare can hit 'Goyf but also Tribal Flames
which can hit hard.

I've also been thinking about the 2x Spell Pierce in the main deck. What are people's thoughts on this card? I may like it more now that I'm running a 3rd Snare, but Pierce has seemed subpar for me so far. I know it's a powerful card, but Modern plays a LOT of creatures. Thoughts?

I'm still on it and will likely play it this Friday if I can get down to the LGS for Modern FNM. I expect a lot of Nacatls and Kird Apes so I'm probably going to make some adjustments to the deck based on what I have in my collection.

I think if you expect to see a lot of Zoo, the Spell Snare is better than the Spell Pierce.

Goyfless Zoo, so not quite as necessary, but yes. Unfortunately I don't have any handy.

I'm still on the deck. It's a bit on the backburner right now though, because I'm looking into Storm. But it's one of my candidates for the big local Modern tournament we have in a month.

I'm undecided on 19 vs 20 lands, I have to try it out with 20 to see what I like more. 18 is right out though, that I'm sure of. Spell Snare I definitely want 2-3 of in the maindeck. There's so much powerful spells at 2cc being cast in Modern that it has relevant targets in almost every matchup. I like Spell Pierce, but wouldn't go above 2 of it. But the restriction on it made me want to have a few Mana Leaks in the maindeck as well. If facing lots of Zoo decks then I'd definitely consider a few Flashfreezes in the sideboard, since they can target almost everything Zoo casts. And they aren't completely dead against other decks as well, there's lots of red and green spells being cast in Modern. I honestly don't understand why
it isn't more common in sideboards?

[deck]
4 delver of secrets
4 snapcaster mage
4 young pyromancer

4 gitaxian probe
4 lightning bolt
3 vapor snag
4 magma jet
3 searing spear
4 remand
3 mana leak
2 runechanter's pike
2 electrolyze

19 land
[/deck]

Because I hate casting Serum Visions and Zoo can go suck eggs.

Flame Slash instead of Searing Spear? But maybe just two in that case.

Flame Slash is in my board. I'll post the whole 75 later when I'm not on my phone.

[deck]
Creatures (12)
4 Delver of Secrets
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Young Pyromancer

Spells (29)
4 Gitaxian Probe
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Vapor Snag
2 Spell Pierce
3 Magma Jet
2 Searing Spear
4 Remand
3 Mana Leak
2 Runechanter's Pike
2 Electrolyze

Land (19)
4 Misty Rainforest
2 Scalding Tarn
4 Steam Vents
3 Sulfur Falls
1 Breeding Pool
2 Mountain
3 Island

Sideboard (15)
2 Flame Slash
2 Pillar of Flame
2 Dispel
2 Ancient Grudge
2 Flashfreeze
2 Combust
2 Hibernation
1 Counterflux
[/deck]

vs Storm: -3 Vapor Snag, -2 Runechanter's Pike, +2 Dispel, +2 Flashfreeze, +1 Counterflux

vs Zoo: -2 Electrolyze, -2 Spell Pierce, +2 Flashfreeze, +2 Flame Slash

vs Soul Sisters: -1 Searing Spear, -3 Vapor Snag, +2 Pillar of Flame, +2 Combust

vs Affinity: -4 Remand, -2 Vapor Snag, +2 Pillar of Flame, +2 Ancient Grudge, +2 Flame Slash

vs Bogles: -3 Vapor Snag, -1 Electrolyze, +2 Flashfreeze, +2
Hibernation

vs UWR control: -2 Electrolyze, -2 Searing Spear, -1 Magma Jet, +2 Dispel, +2 Combust, +1 Counterflux

vs mono blue Tron: -2 Electrolyze, -2 Searing Spear, -1 Spell Pierce, +2 Dispel, +2 Ancient Grudge, +1 Counterflux

vs GR Tron: -2 Electrolyze, +2 Ancient Grudge

vs Jund: -2 Runechanter's Pike, -2 Electrolyze, +2 Flame Slash, +2 Flashfreeze

Looks like a good plan. Do you have any opportunities to try it out, like at FNM? Also, since you have a Breeding Pool in the deck, have you considered Firespout in the sideboard?

I'm hoping to go to FNM this Friday for Modern (first Friday of every month). It will be the last time I can go before my daughter is born so I'm trying to convince my wife to let me go (she was already cool enough to let me go to the PTQ!).

The deck and sideboard plans are pretty similar to what I played last time so I feel comfortable that it's good. Firespout would be nice for Zoo and Soul Sisters. If I were on that plan I'd probably side out Delver and go full control hoping to ride a Pike'd elemental token to victory.

I noticed I'm siding out Electrolyze in a lot of my matchups, but my meta is very heavy in Affinity and Soul Sisters so that's basically me making a concession to those matchups preboard.

Any thoughts on a 1x Breeding Pool replacing one Island? It would allow SB cards like Ancient Grudge, Back to Nature, Nature's Claim, Krosan Grip, etc. I think Grudge and Claim are the most likely, although I could see myself putting a 1x Back to Nature in my SB for Auras and Twin.

You missed my last decklist, didn't you?

I won't be going to FNM tonight but I'll have this sleeved up for next time.

You don't need enchantment destruction for Twin. You just use Combust. It's better because it cant be countered and you also bring it in for UWR control and Soul Sisters. Use Hibernation for GW Hexproof.

Val, do you really have 2 Searing Spear in your list?

If so, I recommend Incinerate over that since Affinity with Welding Jar is a thing right now.

Any thoughts to adding white for access to Path, Helix, etc? This is a more burn-oriented list that I have been working on just in case my actual burn deck starts falling apart again.

[deck]
4 Arid Mesa
4 Scalding Tarn
2 Steam Vents
2 Sacred Foundry
2 Hallowed Fountain
2 Sulfur Falls
2 Clifftop Retreat
1 Island
1 Plains

4 Delver of Secrets
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Young Pyromancer
3 Geist of Saint Traft

4 Lightning Bolt
4 Lightning Helix
4 Boros Charm

4 Serum Visions
4 Path to Exile
3 Mana Leak
2 Remand

Sideboard
2 Anger of the Gods
2 Revoke Existence
3 Searing Blaze
3 Mindbreak Trap
2 Ral Zarek
3 Shattering Spree[/deck]

If I had the cards, I'd definitely try it. I've thought of a black splash as well, mostly to have access to Thoughtseize and other discard (Inq. of Kozilek, Raven's Crime) . But that's another one I don't have the cards for.

Khaos, yeah, just going off what I have. Incinerate is obviously better.

I'm curious to try the 19-20 land version with T-Maw. Greedy, I know, but my current list has almost 15 cantrips, so seeing 5 lands shouldn't be that tough.

I'm curious to try the 19-20 land version with T-Maw. Greedy, I know, but my current list has almost 15 cantrips, so seeing 5 lands shouldn't be that tough.

I think if you go to 20 you should be able to do it. I dropped from 20 to 19 specifically because with all the cantrips I found myself flooding out far too often. So if you're actively looking to hit 5, go to 20 and see how it plays out.

EDIT: Dropping to 19 let me put in a 3rd Spell Snare main, which is incredibly well positioned in the Modern meta.

Any thoughts to adding white for access to Path, Helix, etc? This is a more burn-oriented list that I have been working on just in case my actual burn deck starts falling apart again.

[deck]
4 Arid Mesa
4 Scalding Tarn
2 Steam Vents
2 Sacred Foundry
2 Hallowed Fountain
2 Sulfur Falls
2 Clifftop Retreat
1 Island
1 Plains

4 Delver of Secrets
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Young Pyromancer
3 Geist of Saint Traft

4 Lightning Bolt
4 Lightning Helix
4 Boros Charm

4 Serum Visions
4 Path to Exile
3 Mana Leak
2 Remand

Sideboard
2 Anger of the Gods
2 Revoke Existence
3 Searing Blaze
3 Mindbreak Trap
2 Ral Zarek
3 Shattering Spree[/deck]

I think that's very interesting, but without all the cantrips I wonder if you'll have the
same consistency that more traditional U/R lists have. I'd also make sure you hit all 4 Remand, and put in at least 2 Spell Snare. If you can find room for any, Gitaxian Probe is great with YP along with its other benefits. I'd start with -3 Mana Leak, -1 Path, +2 Remand, +2 Spell Snare, and work it from there. But maybe those are just playstyle preferences.

I will give that a try. I look at the deck as more of a burn deck with a few counters to keep them honest as opposed to a more tempo/midrange style deck but you may very well be right.

I think I'd try:

-4x Boros Charm, 3x Mana Leak
+2x Remand, 3x Gitaxian Probe, 2x Spell Snare

And is that Ral Zarek doing enough to warrant a sideboard spot? What am I missing? I think I'd rather have Ajani Vengeant.

Agree on Ajani over Ral.

Ajani might be better. I don't have any so I went with my old standby from last season's standard. It is primarily for control matchups and has served me well so far.

Fair enough. Their abilities are quite similar, but Ral can fire off two bolts without +1ing so that's a plus.

Not to mention tapping down the Colonnade that they were counting on to block is so rage inducing

Edit - Geist has proven mediocre in matches where they have a board presence. Might need to consider putting them in the sideboard.

Path + Leak is a nonbo.

I don't really like a white splash. Boros Charm does very little for you. The deck doesn't really need Path. Life gain from Helix is okay but the damage you take from fetching and shocking more due to your bad mana makes the life gain a wash. Geist is the only real reason for the splash. Verdict: stick with UR.

White would certainly open the deck up to some great SB cards, though I'm not sure how necessary that is.

Can I get a current deck list? Thanks.

Take your pick from here: http://www.mtggoldfish.com/archetype/9712. It's not a very popular deck right now, so it's hard to find any definitive lists. LSV just tried a version in an 8-man and posted the videos (http://www.channelfireball.com/videos/c ... -delver-2/) but he didn't post the decklist.

This decklist finished in the top 4 of our recent local Modern event. 70 participants, very varied meta (list below).

[deck]
4 Scalding Tarn
4 Misty Rainforest
4 Steam Vents
5 Island
3 Mountain

4 Delver of Secrets
1 Grim Lavamancer
4 Snapcaster Mage
2 Young Pyromancer
2 Vendillion Clique
2 Wand of the Elements

3 Gitaxian Probe
4 Serum Visions
2 Spell Snare
2 Vapor Snag
4 Lightning Bolt
1 Burst Lightning
2 Mana Leak
4 Remand
1 Izzet Charm
1 Electrolyze
1 Psionic Blast

Sideboard:
1 Cavern of Souls
3 Relic of Progenitus
1 Vedalken Shackles
1 Combust
1 Blood Moon
1 Vandalblast
1 Smash to Smithereens
1 Spell Snare
1 Spell Pierce
1 Hibernation
2 Izzet Staticaster
1 Thoughts of Ruin
[/deck]

Decks used (top 8 were all different):

9x UWR
6x Robots
6x Birthing Pod
4x Delver
3x Splinter Twin
3x Gifts Ungiven
2x Merfolk
2x Domain Zoo
2x Naya Zoo
2x Infect
2x Hexproof
2x Junk
n2x Burn
1x All lot of different ones (one Amulet of Vigor and one Finkel's Storm)

Thank you.

LSV has some vids up and you can see most of his list, though I haven't taken the time to jot it down. I do know that between his first vid set and second he's cut Izzet Charm.

Probably because it is terrible. I like Runechanter's Pike more than Sword of Fire and Ice anyway ~ I don't want grindy value, I just want to kill them.

Yeah, very few have actually tried the Pike yet and just use Lavamancer instead. I love Lavamancer but the big issue I have with him is that he's underwhelming against Zoo with all their 3 toughness creatures and also against UWR control since it's so slow. My plan against both of those decks is simply to stay even until I can draw a Pike and end the game.

I'd run the Pike all day every day. Playing and equipping on turn 4 is a huge advantage.

Having not played this yet, I have a question for those of you that have. Is the 1 mana that problematic vs Bogles that Hibernation is better than Aetherize? I understand that Bogles puts you on a very fast clock, but the ability to remove all of their enchantments with an Aetherize while still returning their dude(s) just seems way too good. Thanks!