Hello everyone! Today I might stir up some controversy. But I want to talk about popular decks that might be a bit overrated. Yes, they are played a lot and with right pilot they can win. But if unproven player picks up one of these decks without play testing, the chances are that he will be disappointed. Keep in mind that I will also think this with financial stand point. I don’t want players to go and buy a thousand dollar Modern deck without testing it and seeing if it really works for you. I am not saying these decks are bad. Heck, as you see the decks you might think I am out of my mind. Maybe. But in my mind, these decks might be overrated, as far as my play test is to be believed!
5-Color Humans
Now I have something for next week with 5-Color Humans. The list is different but I need to play it to be able to make a nice deck tech out of it. Humans is seeing huge amount of play thanks to Unclaimed Territory and Kitesail Freebooter in Ixalan. Okay, the deck has put up decent results but my Online testing says, it is not a deck to think that is going to stick around too long.
Mainboard (60)
19 land
1 Hallowed Fountain
2 Horizon Canopy
1 Plains
1 Temple Garden
4 Unclaimed Territory
2 Windswept Heath
37 creature
4 Champion of the Parish
1 Dark Confidant
4 Kitesail Freebooter
4 Mantis Rider
3 Mayor of Avabruck // Howlpack Alpha
4 Meddling Mage
4 Noble Hierarch
4 Reflector Mage
4 Thalia’s Lieutenant
4 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
1 Thalia, Heretic Cathar
4 other spells
Sideboard (15)
2 Anafenza, the Foremost
2 Dismember
1 Ethersworn Canonist
1 Dark Confidant
2 Fiend Hunter
2 Izzet Staticaster
1 Riders of Gavony
1 Sin Collector
2 Vithian Renegades
1 Xathrid Necromancer
15 cards
The main flaw of the deck is that its creatures are a bit situation based. Reflector Mage might be awesome against creature decks but against Combo or Lantern Control the card is basicly dead three mana 2/3. Kitesail Freebooter and Thalia, Guardian of Thraben can be good against spell-heavy decks but they are not really influential against Affinity or Hatebears. Issue of Humans deck is also how weak its sideboard is compared to many other decks in Modern. 5-color Humans can mainly only support the creatures.
Affinity
Sure, Affinity is Tier 1 deck. It is extremely popular deck that usually wins Game 1 and tries to steal another one for the win. The biggest issue with Affinity is that the decks upgrades in recent years is basicly Spire of Industry over Glimmervoid. Other big decks in Modern have gained more than this. Affinity will always be around but with incoming artifact hate because of Lantern Control, the decks effectiveness takes a hit!
Mainboard (60)
17 land
4 Blinkmoth Nexus
4 Darksteel Citadel
4 Inkmoth Nexus
1 Mountain
4 Spire of Industry
27 creature
4 Arcbound Ravager
3 Etched Champion
2 Master of Etherium
2 Memnite
4 Ornithopter
4 Signal Pest
4 Steel Overseer
4 Vault Skirge
16 other spells
4 Cranial Plating
3 Galvanic Blast
4 Mox Opal
4 Springleaf Drum
1 Welding Jar
Sideboard (15)
3 Ancient Grudge
3 Blood Moon
1 Etched Champion
2 Ghirapur Aether Grid
1 Grafdigger’s Cage
1 Rest in Peace
2 Thoughtseize
2 Whipflare
15 cards
In the past Affinity was much more powerful than other decks in the format. So naturally everyone packed artifact hate to sideboard to beat this deck. However other decks have shrinked the gap between power levels, but artifact hate tends to be popular in many sideboards. Lantern is being played a lot in this time of metagame and people will ante up on artifact hate. I see Affinity and Lanter taking a big hit in the near future.
Dredge
Ah, the good old glass cannon. Same thing with Affinity, wins the Game 1 and tries to steal another one. The deck has resurrected with MTGO PTQ and some nice scores in MTGO RPTQ. But in my mind, Dredge is going to take a beating with graveyard hate.
Mainboard (60)
21 land
2 Arid Mesa
2 Blackcleave Cliffs
1 Blood Crypt
2 Bloodstained Mire
3 Copperline Gorge
2 Dakmor Salvage
2 Gemstone Mine
2 Mountain
2 Scalding Tarn
2 Stomping Ground
1 Wooded Foothills
24 creature
4 Bloodghast
3 Golgari Thug
1 Haunted Dead
4 Insolent Neonate
4 Narcomoeba
4 Prized Amalgam
4 Stinkweed Imp
15 other spells
4 Cathartic Reunion
3 Conflagrate
1 Darkblast
4 Faithless Looting
3 Life from the Loam
Sideboard (15)
2 Abrupt Decay
2 Ancient Grudge
3 Collective Brutality
1 Darkblast
2 Lightning Axe
2 Ravenous Trap
3 Thoughtseize
15 cards
Burn
Very similar to Affinity, the deck is very popular even with lack of not many powerful add-ons to the list for years. Recent adding of Collective Brutality to Modern is deadly for Burn decks. It just turns the matchup around. In the past Burn was a terrible matchup for Tron but with Fatal Push and Collective Brutality the match up is closer than ever.
Mainboard (60)
20 land
3 Arid Mesa
4 Bloodstained Mire
3 Inspiring Vantage
3 Mountain
2 Sacred Foundry
1 Stomping Ground
4 Wooded Foothills
14 creature
4 Eidolon of the Great Revel
4 Goblin Guide
2 Grim Lavamancer
4 Monastery Swiftspear
26 other spells
4 Boros Charm
4 Lava Spike
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Lightning Helix
4 Rift Bolt
4 Searing Blaze
2 Skullcrack
Sideboard (15)
1 Deflecting Palm
2 Destructive Revelry
3 Path to Exile
2 Rest in Peace
4 Searing Blood
1 Shattering Spree
2 Skullcrack
15 cards
