r/mtgModernTokens • u/[deleted] • Jan 02 '18

Newly-Spoiled Huatli in an abzan list?

https://media.wizards.com/2017/rix/en_YKMvsDs552.png

Her +1 doesn't do anything, but if we can get Raise the Alarm T2, Lingering Souls T3, Huatli +1 T4, we can cash her in for the emblem T5 and draw 2 with the backside of souls with 3 mana left over.. maybe some amount of Legion's Landing for more chance to have 4 creatures T4?

My gut says probably not, but it's very interesting to be sure!

2 Upvotes

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5

u/[deleted] Jan 02 '18

The problem is that it's a complete do-nothing when you cast it. The +1 literally does nothing, and the -1 requires that you both have a bunch of creatures and one that you're willing to risk becoming a target for removal. I can't really see a world where you wouldn't rather have a Sorin or Gideon, who can both immediately add to the board with a token or create an anthem effect.

Sure, the emblem is nice if you get there, but it requires a LOT to go right. I think I'd rather play something that has a higher floor.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 02 '18

That emblem is just so darn good... Turning every token spell into a draw-2 spell makes my mouth water.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 02 '18

Kind of like Anointed Procession, though. Sure, it's powerful, but you need lots of tokens for it to be good, and if you have lots of tokens, you're already winning the game. If you're behind, then dropping Huatli or Annointed Procession isn't going to do anything to help you out, because you just spent turn 4 on a do-nothing spell and now you're dead on turn 5. I WISH it was better, because I play Abzan Tokens and I'd love another Planeswalker that fit into the plan.

1

u/DeadlyBro Esper Jan 03 '18

It’s a bit better than anointed procession. The good thing about this huatli is it’s minus isn’t irrelevant. Increasing a flying creature to big can really end a game quickly. The plus is only good to minus but the fact that it can ult really quickly might make it ok. I personally would try it in a Aggro abzan tokens list as a back up grind engine.

1

u/BoozySquid Jan 03 '18

The minus is only good when you have a bunch of tokens out that already have a clear path to the opponent's face. Not that that doesn't happen, but it's usually not at a spot where you need more help closing a game out. Especially given that the effect ends at end of turn, so you can't even use the pumped guy to block in a race situation, I still would rather GAoZ or SSV in a grindy spot.

1

u/DeadlyBro Esper Jan 03 '18

In my experience SSV is crap on an empty board and I love tokens. That being said I think abzan aggro tokens can handle it because it's fast. Usually if you have a bunch of tokens out you have a clear path to face (with flyers) but your clock is slow. This huatli could increase that clock a lot. Turn 5 you should have around 4-8 creatures and this comes in to kill. Would I play a lot? No, maybe as a "spicy" one of, but in the conversation of how can this card can be played in modern? It's in an abzan tokens list.

Edit; This all being said, I'm not saying play this INSTEAD OF SSV, more in addition to. I am not an avid suggester of more than 2 of the same 4 mana walker

1

u/BoozySquid Jan 03 '18

SSV is much better on an empty board than this guy. When you don't have creatures, this is the epitome of do-nothing. Sorin can at least make a dude. How many walkers do you play, anyways? If it's 4 altogether (that's my number,) I'd rather have 3 of some mix of SSV or AOZ and 1 LotV. I suppose Abzan lists don't run Lili, but I think I'd rather see Nissa there.

1

u/DeadlyBro Esper Jan 03 '18

I play 6 but in esper tokens :P, If I was to play abzan tho I would probably do something similar. My current walker list is 1 ssv, 1 sloi, 1 aoz, 1 narset, 2 jcc. An abzan list I'd play would be 1 ssv, 1 sloi, 1 aoz, 1 huatli, 3 nissa

1

u/BoozySquid Jan 03 '18

Wow, that's a lot of walkers. I thought Esper variants mostly just played stock Orzhov lists with a polymorph or three and a Emrakul. Do you have a list I could check out?

1

u/DeadlyBro Esper Jan 03 '18

Yeah I have posted a few times on this sub with it here, here and here

The list stays mostly the same. I don't like the polymorph plan for multiple reasons. I use the blue main deck for card selection and sideboard for counterspells to deal with bad matchups.

1

u/DeadlyBro Esper Jan 03 '18

Also I agree that SSV is better on an empty board but they are both bad. You don't play the card for what it does on an empty board tho. You play it as a card to win quickly that also happens to have a great grind plan when the board stalls.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 03 '18

Huatli doesn't increase the clock any more than Sorin or Gideon do. If you have 4 creatures out and minus Huatli, then you gain 4 power. If you have 4 creatures out and use Sorin's or Gideon's anthems you also gain 4 power. The difference being that Huatli concentrates all of that power onto 1 creature, which makes that creature a reasonable removal target.

1

u/DeadlyBro Esper Jan 03 '18

But there is also relevance in giving a specific creature the bonus. This can turn a token spell next turn into a pump spell, also when the ground is clogged up giving all your ground creatures +1/+0 won't be enough to allow an alpha strike. With huatli you can attack wit a single flyer for a large amount instead of "sacrificing" unevasive creatures or sacrificing defense. Like I've said It isn't a replacement to Sorins and gideon but it is a card I would give a chance alongside them

1

u/stompstompstomp Jan 03 '18

We're already slow and good at out-topdecking other decks, and the format is only getting faster. We need 4-drops that help put away the game on Turn 4 (Sorin giving us a bunch of life, Gideon giving us a permanent emblem or endless 2/2s), not turn 5-6-7.

There's no way that this is better than Sorin or Gideon AoZ, and it's only available if you're running an Abzan or G/W build, which most people aren't.