Find out how the UK’s Modern metagame looks extremely healthy without Nadu and Grief in the picture.
With thanks to author Andrew Quinn Sheffield MEGA Modern Metagame Analysis
Going into the large UK event, The Gathering Sheffield, the question everyone must have been asking is how the Modern metagame would evolve without Nadu and Grief in the picture. While Modern Horizons 3 is bound to remain a big influence, what will this format look like without Pro Tour Amsterdam’s winning deck in the mix? This weekend, 149 players visited Sheffield’s Patriot Games to answer that very question.
The Most Common Decks
I think a lot of people would have assumed that Boros Energy would end up as the most played deck in the post-ban Modern metagame, but that ended up not being the case. 24 players (16.1%) opted to play Dimir Murktide, making it the most played deck in the field, though just a single copy made it to the Top 8 in the hands of Yat-ka Leung.
Murktide Regent has been a Modern mainstay since it was first printed. This new build swaps out the more traditional Ragavan and burn spells in favour of Orcish Bowmasters, Psychic Frog and a suite of removal spells. While variants of this deck existed before the recent bans, a bad matchup into Nadu decks is likely what kept it at bay. With the bird gone, it’s the perfect time for Murktide to shine again.
17 players (11.4% of the field) did choose Boros Energy with another 4 opting to splash black. Even in a world where Nadu exists, this incredibly fast and synergistic aggro deck was still a major player and it looks like it still is. 3 players made the Top 8 with it, including the overall winner, Stanislau Zubovich.
Thanks to the printing of Ugin’s Labyrinth, Eldrazi decks have been picking up in popularity lately. 7 players (4.7%) opted for a gruul build focused on Through the Breach with Emrakul, the Aeons Torn and Ulamog the Defiler, while 6 players (4.0%) brought a more ramp-focused build splashing blue for Consign to Memory. Alex Hillier came second with his build of the latter.
While this build doesn’t have the swingy combo finish of Through the Breach, it is capable of casting Emrakul, the Promised End very quickly, allowing you to take control of the game in very short order.
There were also strong showings from format staples such as Jeskai Control (11 decks, 7.4%), Domain Zoo (10 decks, 6.7%), Esper Goryo’s (7 decks, 4.7%), and Ruby Storm (7 decks, 4.7%).
The Spiciest Decks
By far the most interesting deck on display came from the mind of Arch Dota. This deck harkens back to the days of StifleNought in Legacy, instead pairing Consign to Memory and Dress Down (the Stifles) with Phlage, Titan of Fire’s Fury and Nulldrifter (the Phyrexian Dreadnoughts).
Not only does this allow you to “cheat” out these huge titans, but getting to main deck 4 copies of Consign to Memory gives you an incredibly good matchup against the Eldrazi decks. 4 players brought this list to the event, and they all ended with pretty solid records, with Arch themselves making the Top 8.
Meanwhile, back in 2020, Modern’s best deck was a green/white combo deck that combined Heliod, the Sun-Crowned and Walking Ballista for an infinite damage combo. Sadly, the deck doesn’t see play these days, but no one told Phillip Railing, who was the only player in the event playing this deck and took it all the way to the Top 4.
This deck is packed full of different infinite combos. There’s Heliod + Ballista, but also Heliod + Spike Feeder, Heliod + Auriok Champion + Basking Broodscale, Spike Feeder + Agatha’s Soul Cauldron + Basking Broodscale, and probably some that I’m not even seeing. If you like your awesome combo kills, this is definitely a deck to keep an eye on.
2 players, Evan Hughes and Sam Doran came with an incredibly spicy take on Boros Energy. They both made Top 16 with a build that took the standard package of powerful creatures and combined them with… Saffi Eriksdotter?
Here’s how it works. First, use Extraction Specialist or Renegade Rallier to bring back Saffi Eriksdotter from the graveyard. Then, use Saffi’s ability, targeting the creature that got it back. Finally, by sacrificing that creature to Goblin Bombardment, Saffi’s ability will bring it back, which in turn brings Saffi back again. And then you just rinse and repeat for infinite damage. The key here is that this package slots so well into the already existing package of Guide of Souls, Ocelot Pride and Ajani, Nacatl Pariah, plus Amped Raptor and Birthing Ritual let you turn energy into ways of finding your combo pieces. Sometimes you’ll combo kill, but often you’ll just curve a one-drop into a two-drop and dominate that way.
In Conclusion
Overall, the Modern metagame looks extremely healthy. There was a total of 35 different archetypes on display at this event. While there are some very valid concerns regarding the strength of Boros Energy and The One Ring, most of the format looks diverse and balanced. There are great options for players of any persuasion, whether you enjoy aggro, control, combo, midrange, ramp, or whatever else.
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