I want to apologize to my fans for the lack of an article this past week.
What cards from Standard have moved into Modern?
There certainly has been a few.
Eldritch Evolution
Let’s start with the card that has seen the most play in Modern from Eldritch Moon, Eldritch Evolution. There have been many decks that have been using this card as a tutor in a tool box style deck. Others have just used the card as a tutor for consistency. Just this past weekend watching the SCG tour, I saw builds of Retreat to Coralhelm, Elves, the old Kiki Chord deck, and Abzan decks all with Evolution in their deck.
Bant Retreat by Eli Kassis
Bant Retreat has been a deck for a few sets but this build uses the pieces of the toolbox style that Pod use to do along with the Retreat and Knight combo as a backup to finish.
Kiki Evolution by Jeff Hoogland
Jeff has been playing Kiki Chord for quite some time in Modern and he seems to have found something really strong in the new Kiki Evolution deck. Being able to evolve a Voice of Resurgence into a Pia and Kiran Nalaar is super strong (since it leaves you with a 4/4, 2 1/1 flying tokens, and a 2/2).
Prized Amalgam, Insolent Neonate and Collective Brutality
Well, dredge has certainly made a comeback in Modern and these 3 cards have been part of the reason why. There are 2 versions of this deck, one with a Life from the Loam and Conflagrate package while the other uses a package closer to the Legacy version with Bridge from Below and Greater Gargadon. Both versions have show a lot of power and promise. You better start packing for this explosive deck or get run over.
Dredge Gargadon Bridge by Todd Anderson
| Main Desk | Sideboard | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Bloodghast 4 Golgari Grave-Troll 1 Golgari Thug 4 Greater Gargadon 1 Haunted Dead 4 Insolent Neonate 4 Narcomoeba 4 Prized Amalgam 3 Stinkweed Imp | 3 Shriekhorn 4 Bridge from Below 1 Conflagrate 4 Faithless Looting 2 Mountain 4 Arid Mesa 2 Blood Crypt 3 Bloodstained Mire 1 Copperline Gorge 2 Dakmor Salvage 2 Mana Confluence 1 Steam Vents 2 Stomping Ground | 4 Leyline of the Void 2 Abrupt Decay 3 Ancient Grudge 1 Darkblast 1 Gnaw to the Bone 2 Nature's Claim 2 Collective Brutality |
Dredge Conflagrate Life by Davis Merced
| Main Deck | Sideboard | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Bloodghast 4 Golgari Grave-Troll 1 Haunted Dead 4 Insolent Neonate 4 Narcomoeba 4 Prized Amalgam 4 Stinkweed Imp 3 Conflagrate 4 Faithless Looting 3 Life from the Loam 4 Tormenting Voice | 2 Blood Crypt 4 Bloodstained Mire 3 Copperline Gorge 2 Dakmor Salvage 1 Mana Confluence 3 Mountain 2 Stomping Ground 4 Wooded Foothills | 3 Ancient Grudge 1 Darkblast 1 Engineered Explosives 2 Gnaw to the Bone 2 Lightning Axe 1 Ratchet Bomb 3 Thoughtseize 2 Vengeful Pharaoh |
Thing in the Ice
Thing Ascension by keenjoe007
| Main Deck | Sideboard | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Faithless Looting 4 Gitaxian Probe 4 Lightning Bolt 4 Lightning Helix 4 Manamorphose 4 Pyromancer Ascension 3 Remand 4 Serum Visions 4 Sleight of Hand 4 Thought Scour | 4 Thing in the Ice 1 Arid Mesa 4 Flooded Strand 1 Hallowed Fountain 3 Island 1 Mountain 2 Sacred Foundry 4 Scalding Tarn 1 Steam Vents 1 Sulfur Falls | 2 Anger of the Gods 3 Blood Moon 1 Dispel 2 Path to Exile 3 Rest for the Weary 1 Spell Pierce 3 Young Pyromancer |
Pyromancer Ascension has been played in Modern Storm before but I don’t think it has been played in any deck like this. This deck surprisingly very interesting and Thing does a lot of board resets for you.
Grim Flayer and Bedlam Reveler
Jund Delirium by Austin Hoth
I expected to see Bedlam Reveler in Modern but seeing Grim Flayer is a surprise. I can see why this was being tested though, as it gets you to massive Tarmagoyf faster as well as a 4/4 trample AND a way to fix your draws.
The Ripple Effect
With all these cards entering the Modern Metagame, several staples have not done so well lately. Be prepared to play against some either older strategies (Jund) or some newer ones in your next Modern event.