Faithless Brewing MTG: Modern and Pioneer for the Spike Rogue

Season 14, Episode 36: Week in Review

The party of the year is happening in Las Vegas, and the tickets are already gone. The four Modern Qualifiers feeding the Beta draft sold out in mere hours (and the VIP badges went even faster than that). Is this insane demand or artificial scarcity? A genius marketing move or another Wizards blunder?

As for tournaments you can actually play: Cavedan took his trusty Crabvine deck to a local Regional Championship Qualifier, with the express goal of mastering the art of the mulligan and collecting some hard data on the variance of a graveyard deck.

After that, we continue our exploration of Resurgent Belief. Morde brewed up a spicy little number with Bring to Light and Seals. The deck showed promise, but can it be powered up further? Meanwhile David took the enchantment reanimation concept to Pioneer, where related effects like Starfield of Nyx and Brilliant Restoration might hold the key to victory.

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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com

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S14E36 Decklists and Timestamps

[2:49] Housekeeping

[5:00] Magic 30 Las Vegas

[17:05] Dominaria United

[20:33] Dan’s Sultai Crabvine (Modern RCQ Report)

[35:08] Emi’s BTL Resurgent Seals

[44:54] Bloodbraid Marauder Cascade by TheGreenSpeed

[47:25] David’s Bant Starfield of Nyx

[57:00] Mardu Brilliant Restoration by LurkingEvil

Season 14, Episode 35: Brew Session (Resurgent Belief)

Our third monthly project kicks off with a look at Resurgent Belief, the surprise winner after an intense round of voting. Belief promises to restore the glory of Replenish decks of old. But do the tools exist to compete in today’s Modern? Our task this month is to find out.

At first glance, Belief resembles Living End and follows simple steps. 1. Put enchantments in the graveyard. 2. Find and cast Resurgent Belief. 3. Win with whatever you got back. But each stage is rife with challenges.

For starters, most enchantments don’t put themselves into the graveyard. Beyond a handful of cards with cycling or channel (Colossal Skyturtle, Shark Typhoon, Lay Claim, Cast Out), we need to choose either Sagas or use non-enchantment effects to loot cards away. As always, if we lean too far into the graveyard angle, we risk getting devastated by graveyard hate.

Finding and casting the namesake card is also tricky. Cascade is the most effective method, but most support cards for cascade have little to do with putting enchantments into the graveyard. Weaker options like As Foretold and Fires of Invention could support an enchantments-matter theme. There is even the possibility that Bring to Light is a viable option: Replenish was busted at 4 mana, so is Belief really so far-fetched at 5 mana?

The last step, winning the game, ought to be the simplest. Yet even here, we find that few enchantments are truly game winning by themselves. Unlike Living End, Resurgent Belief does nothing to wipe the board or disrupt the opponent, so we need enchantments that will catch us up and pull way ahead in one fell swoop, which is a tall order.

All of this combines to make Resurgent Belief a powerful, challenging card that is well worth the effort to crack open. We discuss a few possible directions today on Faithless Brewing, including some intriguing builds proposed by our Discord community. Can we solve the puzzle of Modern Replenish? What directions should we explore next?

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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com

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S14E35 Decklists and Timestamps

[3:06] Brew Session: Resurgent Belief [4:38] The original Replenish deck [12:24] Rules notes [13:31] Key questions [19:53] Game-winning enchantments [26:21] Cycling, channel, and self-sacrificing enchantments [36:29] Prison enchantments [38:16] Combo enchantments [40:25] Utility enchantments [43:58] Graveyard related enchantments [45:04] UW Belief by Gionax (5-0 league) [49:00] UW Ancestral Belief by Jim Davis [51:26] 4c As Foretold Electro by IPlayBadDecks [55:54] 4c BTL Resurgent Reanimator by 1stTurnNegator [1:01:01] 4c BTL Seals by Epochally [1:04:48] Closing thoughts

Season 14, Episode 34: Modern 5-0s with Anthony Mannino

Few Modern players these days are willing to embrace “bad” cards. With the format powered up heavily by MH2 and years of aggressive designs, the older tier 2-3 strategies have simply faded away. They were fringe to begin with, the thinking goes, and so they certainly can’t compete in this day and age.

Enter Anthony Mannino (IPlayBadDecks on Twitch and MTGO). Anthony is the last brewer of Modern’s golden age, a player not afraid to sleeve up the discarded tools of bygone eras and put them to the test in new configurations. He has been rewarded with a string of truly spectacular 5-0 finishes, starring such hits as Ulamog’s Nullifier, Braids, Cabal Minion, Kethis, the Hidden Hand, Michiko’s Reign of Truth, and Voice of Resurgence, to name just a few.

Today on Faithless Brewing, Anthony joins Cavedan and Morde to discuss the art of brewing (and winning) with bad decks. He shares his latest creations, from an unholy mashup of Winota and Yawgmoth, to a hybrid Dimir Inverter and Eldrazi Processors brew, to the latest tech in Sultai Crabvine. These decks exemplify Modern at its very best, when all things are possible for those who believe in the heart of the cards.

 

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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com

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S14E34 Decklists and Timestamps

[3:07] Housekeeping

[13:41] 4c Yawgnota

[32:10] UB Valki Processors

[47:44] BW Braids Smallpox

[1:02:16] UW Michiko’s Affinity

[1:04:23] Kethis Grinding Breach

[1:11:52] Sultai Crabvine

Season 14, Episode 33: Brewer’s Mailbag

Today on Faithless Brewing we open up the mailbag and field listener questions about everything under the Modern and Pioneer sun. Who is the most impactful brewer of all time? What if Innistrad block were legal in Pioneer? Which cards could be tweaked or updated for Modern? What if Prismatic Vista was the only legal fetchland?

These conundrums and many more will be answered as David, Morde, and Dan weigh in on the questions of the day. Happy brewing!

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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com

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[2:29] Housekeeping

[3:49] What card would you tweak to make it Modern playable?

[8:37] What if Prismatic Vista was the only legal fetchland?

[12:21] Who is the most impactful brewer of all time?

[18:57] Which 4 decks would you play for the rest of your life?

[23:31] How many cards different does a deck need to be considered a brew?

[28:55] What is your favorite pet card?

[33:20] Which Faithless Brew are you most proud of?

[38:31] Which classic card should be updated for MH3?

[43:56] Why do many people like either Modern or Pioneer, but not both?

[48:45] Do you see yourself playing Magic when you’re 60?

[50:02] What is the most elegantly designed card of the last few years?

[53:08] What are the signs that a deck is warping a format without dominating it?

[55:45] During preview season, what traits indicate playability? Why did many players miss on Ledger Shredder, Hearse, Graveyard Trespasser, Fable?

[1:03:18] Which cards from Innistrad block would be good or bad for Pioneer?

[1:07:52] What card would you like to see get a promo treatment?

[1:08:25] Aetherflux Reservoir + Bolas’s Citadel: why isn’t this a thing?

[1:10:53] Why is durdling so good in 4c Omnath, but bad in other shells?

[1:19:11] David’s top 3 movie recommendations

Season 14, Episode 32: Weekly Roundup

David, Cavedan, and Morde reunite this week to take on a grab bag of topics. With the sneak preview of Dominaria United we have five new cards to dissect plus a host of Legends lost and found to puzzle over. Morde falls in love with chonky Omnath, Cavedan airs grievances against an MTGO grinder, and David backs an unexpected horse in a grudge match against Post Malone.

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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com

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S14E32 Decklists and Timestamps

[3:01] Housekeeping

[9:04] A cheating scandal

[15:00] Dominaria United first look

[18:57] Evolved Sleeper

[26:13] Llanowar Loamspeaker

[32:43] Temporal FIrestorm

[34:47] Shivan Devastator

[37:55] Jaya, Fiery Negotiator

[42:55] Legends Retold

[46:28] Textless Omnath

[50:10] Explorer Anthology 1

[55:45] A $100k Grudge Match

Season 14, Episode 31: Nominees for Monthly Project #3

Another vote approaches! The mad brewers in our Discord community have put their heads together to put sixteen cards on the ballot for Monthly Project #3. These are the creme de la creme, the spiciest of the spice, the cards that should probably never see the light of day but we can’t resist trying to combo with them so we brew them anyway. Many brews are sure to be forged and many tickets are sure to be lost. Which card will we feature next? That’s up to you!

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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com

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S14E31 Decklists and Timestamps

[4:13] Housekeeping

[6:25] Sedgemoor Witch

[9:45] Marionette Master

[13:38] Monastery Mentor

[17:32] Weaver of Harmony

[22:49] Painter’s Servant

[27:43] Animation Module

[32:10] Fight Rigging

[37:03] Resurgent Belief

[40:55] Unexpected Results

[44:22] Damon’s 5c Niv vs. Unexpected Tron (GP Minneapolis 2019)

[51:28] Fevered Visions

[53:48] Moderation

[57:15] Necrotic Ooze

[1:01:30] Death Cloud

[1:03:51] Vivien’s Arkbow

[1:07:23] Pyre of Heroes

[1:10:29] Big Score

Season 14, Episode 30: Monthly Project Wrap-Up (Jinnie Fay, Jetmir’s Second)

Token decks are one of the most beloved themes in Magic, appearing in set after set. Yet we rarely see token decks make inroads into constructed. Is there a fundamental flaw with the basic premise of token strategies? Are we lacking specific tools to make tokens competitive? Or have the metagames in Modern and Pioneer just gotten too tough?

Today on Faithless Brewing, the crew regroups with the Serum Visions gang to share their findings with token decks and wrap up Project Jinnie Fay. Five decks were put through the ringer, from proven classics like GW Tokens with Venerated Loxodon and Game Objects with Academy Manufactor, to more off the wall brews like Glimmer Bairn Aggro, GW Yorion Blink, and 5c Galazeth BTL Shape Anew. After a month of testing, did anyone crack the code and learn how to make it rain cats and dogs?

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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com

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S14E30 Decklists and Timestamps

[1:19] Catching up with Serum Visions[6:50] Housekeeping[8:10] Brian’s RG Glimmer Bairn Tokens[27:17] Arun’s WG Token Blink by Tombocatcher[40:47] Dan’s 5c Galazeth BTL Shape Anew[50:28] Emi’s GW Loxodon Tokens by MerynMoon[54:27] Emi’s 4c Academy Manufactor Game Objects[57:22] Final thoughts

Season 14, Episode 29: Brew Session (Maestros / Grixis Week)

 

Season 14, Episode 29: Brew Session (Maestros / Grixis Week)

Today on Faithless Brewing we return to Pioneer to brew up new lists in the Grixis colors. Corpse Appraiser has been the standout card thus far, appearing in both midrange shells and a new style of Vampires. But David has his eye on spicier interactions. His first build turns to Maestros Ascendancy as a resilient engine to complement the Young Pyromancer / Sedgemoor Witch package. Then he dusts off Heart of Kiran as a way to navigate the changing removal suite in Pioneer and the shift to aerial combat.

After that, we turn to some oldies but goodies. The 1-2 punch of Charming Prince and Extraction Specialist has potential, and David thinks Humble Defector could complete the three-way synergy. Rielle, the Everwise has new toys thanks to Ledger Shredder, Collective Defiance and the channel lands. Shigeki, Jukai Visionary is a powerful mana sink to complement Fires of Invention, and for the Sultai stans there’s even a midrange brew with Sidisi, Brood Tyrant.

Which of these decks has the right skills to compete in today’s metagame? There’s only one way to find out.

 

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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com

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S14E29 Decklists and Timestamps

[5:52] David’s Maestros Ascendancy Pyromancer

[11:17] Grixis Pyromancer by DemonicTutors

[17:37] David’s Grixis Heart of Kiran

[24:41] Corpse Appraiser Midrange by DJeffWx

[30:05] Grixis Evelyn Vampires by kyon2014

[34:36] David’s Boros Charming Defector 1.1

[41:26] David’s Mardu Charming Defector

[45:28] Naya Dubious Challenge (Modern)

[49:03] Boros Death & Taxes (Modern)

[51:52] David’s Izzet Rielle Looting

[56:55] David’s Sultai Sidisi Midrange

[1:03:12] David’s Jund Shigeki Fires

Season 14, Episode 28: Weekly Roundup

Every deck tells a story, and every piece of tech holds a lesson. Today on Faithless Brewing, Cavedan and David look at ten intriguing decklists that have found success recently in Modern and Pioneer. What lessons can we learn from the choices made by these decklists, and how can we apply them to our own deckbuilding process?

 

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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com

 

S14E28 Decklists and Timestamps

[4:10] Housekeeping

[10:48] Bloodtithe Niv-Mizzet by cftsoc3

[17:57] Mana Confluence Gruul Midrange by Sinisstar61

[23:13] Esper Goryobrand by Titasun

[29:11] Song of Creation Combo by Xenowan

[33:35] Izzet Bedlam Pyromancer by N1klas

[40:00] Jeskai Can’t Lose by Zaphod_Beeblebrox

[43:48] Vesperlark Urza by UsaZ

[49:13] Boros Kirin Conjurant by aspiringspike

[53:50] Kethis Combo by IPlayBadDecks

[1:00:10] Boros Virtue Hammer by CuteChandra19

Season 14, Episode 27: Brew Session (Mausoleum Secrets) ft. Soren Wellman

How far would you go for an instant speed Demonic Tutor? Compared to the slowness of Profane Tutor, a two mana instant is way above rate. But Mausoleum Secrets offers precisely this bargain. It can only fetch black cards, with mana value tied to your graveyard. But the power of Secrets has already yielded some spectacular 5-0s in black-based toolbox strategies.

 

Today on Faithless Brewing, Soren Wellman aka 1stTurnNegator joins Morde to unlock the secrets of the mausoleum and share his passion for brewing toolbox style control and tempo decks. Soren has a long history of success at the intersection of control decks and combo finishes: from Izzet Through the Breach, to Blue Moon, to Izzet Murktide, Reanimator and more. He also isn’t afraid to go deep into the tank and hone some truly impressive brews. Soren has been eyeing Mauseoleum Secrets for a while now, and is likely foremost expert on the card. What are the constraints of Mauseleum Secrets, and what new strategies can it unlock in Modern? We’re heading deep into the undergrowth today to find out.

 

Read more articles from Soren : https://faithlessbrewing.com/author/grixisism/

 

View the full show notes from today’s episode, with many additional brews: https://brass-grain-edd.notion.site/S14E27-Mausoleum-Secrets-ft-Soren-Wellman-1stTurnNegator-3a419d655c6f406ea50cb8e9fd7f6f63

 

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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com

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S14E27 Decklists and Timestamps

 

[1:20] Q&A with Soren Wellman (1stTurnNegator)

 

[8:39] Why do you brew?

 

[14:49] Brewing toolbox strategies

 

[18:36] When to play a meta deck vs. when to play a brew

 

[21:55] Housekeeping

 

Brew Session: Mausoleum Secrets

 

[23:47] Rules notes

 

[29:03] Why play tutors?

 

[35:30] Toolbox decks in the age of Yorion

 

[40:44] Limiting factors of Mausoleum Secrets

 

[48:07] The best black cards to tutor for

 

[58:33] Setting up undergrowth efficiently

 

[1:04:16] Dimir Shadow

 

[1:06:35] Grixis Mausoleum Reanimator

 

[1:09:27] Mardu Reanimator

 

[1:16:02] Tin Fins Reanimator by WalkedAir

 

[1:17:30] Grixis Rielle the Everwise

 

[ 1:18:34] Time Sieve Asmo Food

 

[1:24:00] RB Mausoleum Midrange

 

[1:26:21] 5c Death Denied Elementals

 

[1:30:03] Closing thoughts

 

Bonus decklists from 1stTurnNegator

 

Grixis Shredder (Mausoleum Toolbox Sideboard)

 

GB Hardened Scales

 

BW Maus Rack

 

Esper Maus Foretold