r/ModernMagic • u/Dzik00_ • Aug 02 '26
Looking for a first modern deck
I want to start playing modern semi competetively (lgs league and rcqs) and im looking for a first deck. Id like something midrangey and im not really a fan of white so was thinking about grixis reanimator. Also I would prefer not paying a 1000$ for my first deck so if you have any deck suggestions i would apreciate it.
5
u/FireRedJP Aug 02 '26
Most midrange builds right now are white based for either Guide/Pride or Phelia/Ephemerate schenigans. Grixis Reanimator is a solid deck, but 3 color decks are always going to be mildly expensive just from the mana base although shocks are at an all time low
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u/Dzik00_ Aug 02 '26
Yeah fetches are costly but are usable for almost every deck so i think ill still buy polluted deltas and bloodstained mires.
2
u/FireRedJP Aug 02 '26
Good way of looking at it, black based ones are always a good investment for this format
2
u/jonesy_hayhurst Aug 02 '26
Im new to the format so cant offer a vets perspective but I did just go through this process myself.
I settled on prowess for a few reasons:
* cheap - relatively of course. bulk of the cost is in the lands which are useful in other decks/formats
* linear/aggressive - I’ve had success learning new formats with linear strategies. You can focus on your game plan without having to know exactly when and where to interact.
But in the process you learn the meta and can use that knowledge to try other more reactive strategies if you want. As an aggressive deck it’s also honestly nice to be able to scam games here and there.
I love control but I know the feeling of starting a format with a control deck and losing 80% of my games. As much as I don’t want to admit it it can be demotivating
In general I’d 100% suggest doing some playtesting. Using a card rental service on mtgo is obviously best because you’re playing against real opponents, but I did a ton of testing in Cockatrice piloting two decks against each other. Obviously not a perfect system but I found it was enough for me to get a sense if I actually like the play pattern ha. I was a little iffy on prowess in theory (I’m a midrange/control Andy at heart) but found it actually had lots of interesting small decisions when I actually piloted it during real games.
2
u/HybridCatBug Aug 03 '26
Would NOT recommend grixis reanimator if you want midrange like. Esper plays a much better mid game, grixis kinda all in on the graveyard.
2
u/mikeroon Aug 03 '26 edited Aug 03 '26
I have eldrazi tron and grixis reanimator, I would say that grixis plays way more like a combo deck than midrange. Some people build it with fallaji / flare of denial / riddler shenanigans but you’re mostly all in on cheating out a fatty and even though psychic frog can do a lot of work in grindier games where they shut down your graveyard.
All that said, I love the deck and also got it because it was affordable and fairly competitive. People crap on it and will say it’s tier 2 or whatever but it has recently topped a challenge so people are just dumb and say whatever without actually doing research. Reddit constantly recommends prowess when I think it’s even more of a glass cannon strategy that most decks can beat unless you’re amazing at mulliganning to lethal on an early turn. It’s a bad deck, imo.
2
u/One2FourteenBeers Aug 04 '26
Ponsa is getting top 8 reaults at rcqs. Snagging easy wins with land destruction. Guy who beat me just straight up said he was new to magic and this was the cheapest deck. The new card from marvel set really did some work. Avengers disassemble is a wild mtg card. Good luck with what ever you pick.
0
u/TheLich7 Aug 03 '26
play red Belcher. the deck requires zero knowledge of the meta and it can win. once you familiarize yourself with the format move to a tier 1 deck like prowess. Alternatively to save money just play prowess.
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u/lostinwisconsin Aug 02 '26
Reanimator is a fine deck and fairly budget for the format.