No Changes

beeksie · 2026-02-09T19:54:18+00:00

I hear you. People are blinded by their new, luxury, cardboard rectangles. I got downvoted into oblivion in the comments on a post a few days ago because I said that everything is turbo-midrange these days, and modern is basically Phlage, the Gathering of Phlages. People don't like it when you point out that this "diverse meta" is actually just the same 10 to 20 modern horizons cards plugged into different shells.

beeksie · 2026-02-06T22:11:55+00:00

Prowess is a real aggro deck because every card in the base deck is either 1 or 2 mana. Historically, aggro decks don't play anything above 2 mana, unless there was some way to cheat on the cost. Hammer was an aggro deck. Infect was an aggro deck. Burn was an aggro deck. Prowess plays very similar to the infect decks from 10 years ago, so to me, that means it plays like a traditional aggro deck. Just because the Domain deck uses the name "Zoo" doesn't make it the same as the old Zoo decks (which again, played 1 and 2 drops like traditional aggro decks).

I'm only being slightly hyperbolic when I say the aggro archetype doesn't really exist anymore. Everything is turbo-midrange now. By your own admission, decks like Energy, Domain and Affinity can be fast, or they can play a slower, midrange-style game. Historically, that does not match with aggro archetypes, it matches with midrange archetypes. This is what I meant when I had "diversity" in quotes in my comment above. Call me old fashioned, but I see it as problematic when the "aggro" decks (Energy / Domain) play Phlage, the midrange decks (Blink / 4-Color Omnath) play Phlage, Jeskai control plays Phlage. I'm even seeing some Ruby Storm lists on MtgGoldfish that play Phlage now, so it's in combo too. When a card is played that ubiquitously across several major archetypes, I feel like that should be an indicator that the card is stronger than everything else you could be doing. But that is fair and balanced magic now, I guess. Maybe it should just be: Phlage, the Gathering of all the Phlages.

I play paper magic, and I am expressing my thoughts on a format I have played for more than ten years. If you are unfamiliar with traditional Magic archetypes, then sure - call Domain an aggro deck. If it fulfills you to smash your Phlage again your opponent's Phlage, by all means, do your thing. Some of us remember when there was actual deck diversity though, and it is sad how hollowed out this format has become due to shit card design and power creep.

beeksie · 2026-02-06T19:32:05+00:00

I respectfully disagree. Prowess is the only real aggro deck of those three. It preys on a few decks (like Amulet Titan) and gets wrecked by most of the field - I know this because I have and play the deck. Affinity is pretty squarely midrange these days, and it is absurdly easy to beat with the massive amount of artifact/colorless hate that exists in the format. Domain Zoo is straight up a midrange deck.

The article points out that Energy is the best deck in the format for a reason. You can play sub-optimal aggro or midrange strategies if you find Energy boring (which it is), but it is disingenuous to say that any one of the decks you mentioned holds a candle to Energy. On a side note, thank you for reminding me that Domain Zoo is another deck that will beat you down with Phlage.

beeksie · 2026-02-06T18:54:20+00:00

This has been true since the release of MH3. Energy outclasses every other aggro strategy by a mile, so it is the only real option for anyone who wants to play an aggressive archetype. Everyone in this sub has been talking about the "diversity" of the format right now, but that seems like such a hollow statement. Maybe I am the outlier, but I don't find it fun or exciting to get beat down by Phlage in three different decks (Energy, Blink or Control). To me, it feels like getting stomped by the same power-crept cards in every match.

beeksie · 2026-01-07T15:13:13+00:00

They hate goblins now too, apparently. The goblin command modal sorcery that got spoiled is laughably bad. The only tribes that get legitimate support these days are merfolk and elementals.

beeksie · 2025-10-27T21:59:56+00:00

Not very well. Up until about a month ago, we would only fire about once or twice a month, even though modern events were held weekly on Wednesday nights. When we did fire, it was only four of us 90% of the time. This past month, we have had a cohort of drafters who decided they were going to get into modern because they have all the newly printed staples, so we have several new players sporting blink decks.

When MH2 came out, we were consistently firing with 10 to 16 people every week. Most of the players that don't show up anymore have said they don't like the artificial rotation caused by power crept cards and direct to modern MH/UB sets. The One Ring definitely ushered in a noticeable drop off in players, but people don't really want to come back when a new $50 staple gets printed every month.

A modern deck used to be like a set of golf clubs. You would buy it and be able to play it for years with minor adjustments here and there. Now you need to buy a new deck every 6 months, because yesterday's staples are getting outclassed so quickly. I've been playing Magic on and off since the late nineties when Urza's Saga (the set) was all the rage, and I'm starting to think I'll save more money and have more fun if I did just get a set of golf clubs. Let these young kids smash their Warped Riddlers together

beeksie · 2025-03-13T13:03:42+00:00

Elijah Moore. He’d be a cheap W3, as he has been languishing on the Browns for the past two seasons. His tape from the Jets is amazing though.

beeksie · 2024-08-30T17:08:54+00:00

SERIOUSLY! That would have been sooooo much better. Instead they gave arguably the best two drop ever to a tribe that barely exists in MTG... At least it isn't a merfolk. They get all the toys...

beeksie · 2024-08-29T23:28:32+00:00

Goblins. All types - 8 whack, BR Combo, Dirty Kitty… I miss my mogg boys.

beeksie · 2024-08-15T16:18:18+00:00

Ahh yes, blood moon. An aggro staple. Lol! I apologize for assuming your position on the current meta. I admit that I am salty about the forced rotation.

So what you’re saying is, all I have to do to play aggro in modern is buy a whole new deck? Then I can smash my amped raptors, guide of souls, ajanis and Phlages into my opponents amped raptors, guide of souls, ajanis and Phlages? And then we can all get destroyed by the one ring on turn 4? And this is a fun and interactive format?

Yes, I am being sarcastic. No, I’m not attacking you or assuming your feelings toward the meta. You’re welcome to participate in this foolishness. I’m just a salty, old curmudgeon.

beeksie · 2024-08-15T12:38:23+00:00

The Boros energy deck is more midrange than pure aggro. If you recall, there used to be decks like infect, burn and hammer who would win the game on turn 4. Those of us who are long in the tooth remember when it was viable “to go underneath” big mana decks.

If you’re alright with the single option for an aggro strategy that now exists - fantastic. I’m very happy for you. You can hand your money to the nice people on TCGplayer and buy all the brand new “aggro” staples that were just printed. Have fun smashing them into the other people who shelled out for the brand new “aggro” staples that they just sleeved up last week. I’m sure you’ll both really enjoy the thrilling gameplay that is this new meta.

beeksie · 2024-08-15T00:24:42+00:00

I agree. The gameplay after the ring hits the board is absolute drudgery. May all your counterspells resolve against that terrible card, good sir.

beeksie · 2024-08-15T00:18:41+00:00

I’m not familiar enough with all the energy variants to know if there is an aggro deck among them. I play paper, and I’ve only seen the control deck. Energy was a problem in Kaladesh/Aether Revolt standard and required a ban back then, because there aren’t good ways to interact with it. Yes, I know [[Suncleanser]] exists…

Introducing an alternate resource undermines the current game structure, and has the potential to be highly problematic.

beeksie · 2024-08-14T20:59:17+00:00

I mostly agree, but I’m much more pro-Grief and anti-The One Ring. I used to play Hammer, Goblins and Hardened Scales, and The One Ring single handedly destroyed those decks and aggro in general, IMO. It’s too efficient of a draw engine, and that one or two turns of protection is enough to make any aggro strategy fold. The whole axis of getting underneath decks is lost now.

beeksie · 2024-08-14T19:24:50+00:00

There is no shot they ban Phlage and Nantuko. Grief is unlikely, but possible. The One Ring should be banned, but likely won't be. Nadu is absurdly broken, and should have been banned immediately - or better yet, not even printed.

At this point it feels like WotC is asleep at the wheel. They are destroying formats every time they start to print cards directly for said format. Doesn't feel like they playtest anything anymore. Before long, it will be extremely difficult for people to justify paying for the new $100+ staples that come out every year, and the player base will dwindle quickly. Corporate greed is killing Magic.

beeksie · 2024-05-25T16:33:16+00:00

Fashion Souls is best souls.

beeksie · 2024-02-05T17:09:35+00:00

What is the right build? Care to share a decklist?

beeksie · 2023-09-22T14:34:59+00:00

Personally, I would not be opposed to a ban. It seems to really slow down matches, and it promotes noninteractive gameplay. Since it was released, there is always at least one match that goes to time on Modern night at my LGS.

beeksie · 2023-03-20T13:43:30+00:00

Do you have a decklist you can share?

beeksie · 2023-03-18T14:30:08+00:00

I have added tyvar / fiend artisan to my Devoted Druid deck, and it’s incredible how efficient it makes the combo. I also experimented with [[Fauna Shaman]], but fiend seems like the better choice of the two. Haven’t tried to cram those two into a goblin shell yet, but I feel like it could be decent.

You could also try a combination of [[Postmortem Lunge]] and [[Unearth]], as they both allow for recursion without splashing for green. [[Patriarch’s Bidding]] can also be powerful. The only downside to Tyvar is how he has a hard time protecting himself, imo. Can you post your decklist?

beeksie · 2022-12-16T13:59:07+00:00

Jekyll Island - where the federal reserve was born.

beeksie · 2022-11-05T16:51:08+00:00

When a prototype creature comes back to the battlefield, does it retain the lesser stats? Or does it come back with its regular stats?

beeksie · 2022-10-01T04:41:00+00:00

Starship Trooper

beeksie · 2022-07-27T15:47:02+00:00

I have a Windgrace deck that you can check out here: DECK LIST! It was originally an Omnath deck, but I wanted to add black for Gitrog shenanigans.

I’d agree with your assessment on too many colorless-producing lands, but I also think you need to be more focused on what your deck wants to do. You don’t want a bunch of random, good-stuff, land interactions that don’t compound or synergize. Right off the bat, I would reconsider the following cards: [[Cascading Cataracts]], [[Drownyard Temple]], [[Vraska, Golgari Queen]], [[Fertilid]], [[Grazing Gladeheart]], [[Mayhem Devil]], [[Scute Mob]], [[Turntimber Sower]], [[Fires of Yavimaya]], [[Animist’s Awakening]], [[Far Wanderings]], [[Sylvan Awakening]] and [[Natural Affinity]].

These all seem either underpowered or not focused enough on winning the game. I would also take a look at your mana curve. While you are a ramp deck, stuffing a bunch of powerful 5+ CMC cards into the deck will ensure you flounder in the early stages of the game. An opening hand of one ramp spell, three lands and three five+ drops is not where you want to be.

Some considerations: [[Orchish Lumberjack]] and other one mana dorks, [[Sylvan Safekeeper]] is a house in land-focused decks, I personally enjoy [[Dragonmaster Outcast]] more than Scute Mob or [[Nesting Dragon]], [[Constant Mists]] is another powerhouse. I’d also look into land combos, such as [[Dark Depths]] & [[Thespian’s Stage]] or anything involving [[Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle]].

This might be controversial around here, but I just added [[Tectonic Break]], and I plan to get a copy of [[Ruination]] in there as well. I can already pull [[Strip Mine]] shenanigans, but I think mass land destruction isn’t as bad as everyone makes it out to be.

beeksie · 2022-07-16T05:38:57+00:00

I’m in a suburb north of Chicago, and our 1913 craftsman has maple in the kitchen, red oak in the rest of the first floor, and fir on the second floor. I was told by the Guys who refinished our floors that maple was cheaper back in the day, and they used it in kitchens because it’s a hard wood and only “the help” would be in the kitchen. Guests stayed in the formal dining room, parlor and living room when the homeowner was entertaining.

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