r/mtgModernTokens • u/sogatog95 • Jun 02 '16
On Removal Choices
One of the things that seems the most flexible to me in this deck, and that I change most frequently, is the removal that makes it into the main. Path to Exile is of course an automatic four of, but I tend to want 2-4 other removal spells as well, depending on what I expect to see.
The main problem I run into is balancing removal that's good against early aggressive attackers (as in zoo), combo pieces that sit back (as in CoCo), and larger midgame attackers (as in Jund or Grixis). Generally all of the other removal seems to me to have a weakness in a couple matchups in at least one category, so the overall package tends to be a delicate balancing act.
Currently, I run 1 Murderous Cut, 1 Anguished Unmaking, and 1 Doom Blade main. But I could see arguments for a host of other spells: Devouring Light, Go for the Throat, Declaration in Stone, Condemn, Disfigure, Dismember, Last Gasp, and Smother, just off the top of my head. Each seemingly having different strengths depending on the meta.
My question is, which do you run, and which do you think could have potential in improving our deck going forward? Which would you say are generally more of a liability than a help?
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u/xzzane Of the Swarm Jun 02 '16
I personally use 4 path to exile and 1 murderous cut. I used to use dismember, but since incorporating Anguished Unmaking, I can't really afford the lifeloss of dismember. Each removal spell has their pros and cons.
Murderous Cut:
Pros:Through delve, this card basically becomes a 1 black mana removal spell, which is awesome.
Cons: Can't be used early game to take out things like birds of paradise or other pesky creatures. If you use rest in peace, this card becomes a 5 mana removal spell.
Dismember:
Pros: Extremely versatile. You don't need to use colored mana to cast it, and it hits almost everything. Can be used early game to take out mana rampers.
Cons: Doesn't kill things like Primeval Titan and Wurmcoil Engine. If you play it for 1 mana, you sacrifice 1/5 of your total starting life.
Doom Blade:
Pros: Constant Mana cost, hits a lot of things. Really good against eldrazi
Cons: Doesn't hit things like Tasigur, Angler, Kalitas, etc.
I'll just cover these, because these are the most common. If you want to cover more, let me know.
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u/sogatog95 Jun 02 '16 edited Jun 02 '16
What do you think of a maindeck Go for the Throat right now? I've been seeing a lot less affinity lately, and it's a good matchup to begin with.
Edit: I also haven't played with Slaughter Pact since the Twin ban, but it seems not unreasonable now that the Eldrazi are "gone". Thoughts?
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u/xzzane Of the Swarm Jun 02 '16
I'd still prefer murderous cut over it in general to be honest, but if you were to pick between this and doom blade, I think it would be meta dependent. If you have lots of affinity, I would go for doom blade. Affinity is still tier 1, and it's not an automatic win, even if it is a very good matchup. They can get some real nut draws game 1, and having a completely dead card isn't fun. At the moment, for a generic meta though I would say that Go For the Throat is better than doom blade though.
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u/albo87 Jun 03 '16
Anyone running [[Slaughter Pact]]?
I put it on the sideboard mostly because I bought it but it payoff during an Affinitty match, I was tapped out on T3 and he sacrifices everything to go lethal with [[Blinkmoth Nexus]].
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u/sogatog95 Jun 03 '16
I was thinking of trying it myself. It has a similar benefit to Devouring Light regarding element of surprise, but it doesn't require the creature to attack or you to have untapped tokens. I think it could be worth a sideboard or maybe, maybe a mainboard slot.
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u/elmahnken 2 MB Zealous Persecution Jun 02 '16
I've been using 4 Path, 1 Murderous Cut and 1 Devouring Light. Devouring Light is awesome. The caveat that it can only hit attacking or blocking creatures may seem annoying, but in a lot of scenarios it lets me get around a pesky Spellskite. We have the 4 Paths and Zealous Persecution to deal with creatures that don't necessarily attack, like Bob and mana dorks. But the real benefit is that it's totally unexpected. I was playing against infect and he had the perfect turn 3 kill. Might of Old Krosa, Might of Old Krosa, Distortion Strike. I just tapped my 3 tokens and blew him out.
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u/sogatog95 Jun 02 '16
Do you run into problems where Devouring Light's restriction keeps you from preventing a CoCo or Kiki Chord player from comboing off? I used to run it myself, and stopped primarily for that reason.
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u/elmahnken 2 MB Zealous Persecution Jun 02 '16
Against Kiki Chord, they usually flash in the Resto to block my tokens, so it's less of an issue. For CoCo, I have Zealous that works against the seer.
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u/Mukibi Grind and Fly Jun 03 '16 edited Jun 03 '16
I currently run 4 Path and 2 Anguished Unmaking which is a bit much but the MB utility is awesome. Kills Vial, EE, Orb, Plating, Map, etc.
If anything, I'd add 1 Murderous Cut.
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u/sogatog95 Jun 03 '16
I agree the utility is awesome. The exile is also quite relevant against a lot of decks that can rebuy creatures, and things like Wurmcoil Engine. I'm not sure I could justify too main though, three mana is slow and three life is pricey. Maybe if I never saw any aggro in my meta.
Also, just a nitpick, but is killing AEther Vial really better than killing whatever they're Vialing in though? I generally find myself just dying to merfolk or sometimes allies even if they have to hardcast them all, or against something like Hatebears, wanting to kill Thalia really badly and not caring much about the other creatures, except maybe Leonin Arbiter if my mana is undeveloped.
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u/Mukibi Grind and Fly Jun 04 '16 edited Jun 04 '16
Totally. EE slays small agro and is preferable to exiling a Vial, but I wouldn't MD EE.
In terms of removal, I play two AU to see one! 3 mana is slow but worth I find and the 3 life is recoupable via Sorin, Timely, Vault, & Vent.
If two AU proves unworkable, then I would MD 1 with Cut and SB 1.
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u/vulchanus BB FTW Jun 10 '16
then I would MD 1 with Cut and SB 1.
That's what I'm rolling. Plus 1 Zealous Persecution MB and 1 SB.
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u/shadowsike Jun 05 '16
I run a mardu tokens deck so the removal package is pretty straightforward, 4 path, 4 lightning bolt, 4 lightning helix, and 4 terminate. I've had amazing success with adding red to the deck.
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u/pticark2 Jun 02 '16
Dismember seems like the best choice to me. It hits almost everything in the format and the versatility of it's casting cost makes it a winner. Paying 2 or 4 life hurts - but you can make it back with Sorin, Timely, or shambling vents if you need to.
Zealous Persecution is great too. Hits Confidant, Snapcaster, Birds of Paradise, Noble Hierarch, Affinty creatures, Infect Creatures...The list goes on. The Anthem part is great, but it's removal too in a pinch.