Another modern combo deck

Modern is the youngest Magic format by far, it was previewed only about a month ago. When they banned every card that was previously good, no one new what’s the best deck, what should people play. Situation is still the same, we still don’t know what is the deck to play. Tomorrow that will change. Tomorrow first ever Modern pro tour starts – pro tour Philadelphia. Three days from today top8 will be announced and played out, and then, finally, the truth will be known, and net decking will commence.

Pro Tour Philadelphia is around the corner.

Until then I will show you another Modern deck. I’m not sure how good it is but there’s a solid chance it will be present tomorrow in Philly. Coincidentally it is another combo deck. But unlike last combo deck we previewed here on TCGHell.com which was soooo wacky and strange this one is more straightforward, faster, and – already known. It is our old, old friend from Pauper format – Goblin Storm combo deck. Well established in pauper, it is not strange it was able to jump right into competitive modern with success.

Here is the list:

6 Island
2 Mountain
4 Scalding Tarn
4 Shivan Reef
4 Goblin Bushwhacker
4 Desperate Ritual
4 Empty the Warrens
4 Gitaxian Probe
4 Manamorphose
4 Ponder
4 Preordain
4 Pyretic Ritual
4 Rite of Flame
4 Seething Song
4 Serum Visions

Pauper is, of course, built exclusively from commons, which is not the case in Modern which is the reason this deck is certainly better than his pauper counterpart. But, surprisingly, not THAT good. Only difference is in the mana base and sideboard, complete main deck (not counting lands) is exactly the same. They are all commons. But as you know, mana base is very important part of deck building so it would be unfair to say that this deck is no different than in pauper.

Scalding Tarn and Shivan Reef  are the big difference providing you with both blue and red mana, whichever you need in any given situation.

As for the deck itself, it works the same: play all your rituals, transform red mana into blue one via Manamorphose, dig for some more cards with Ponder, Preordain and Serum Visions, then play Empty the Warrens for a bunch of Goblins, give them haste with Goblin Bushwhacker and then proceed onto easily killing your unfortunate opponent. Just like that. With this deck, winning on turn two or three is a common thing. With multiple Rite of Flames you can even win on turn one!

As the sideboard plan goes, this is the suggested list I play:

4 Ensnaring Bridge
2 Leyline of Punishment
2 Marrow Shards
4 Snapback
3 Tormod’s Crypt

When you combo out, you usually have 0 cards in hand and that is the moment when Ensnaring Bridge becomes a very powerful tool. Leyline of Punishment prevents all the life gain and damage prevention shenanigans and when you start the game with it on the battlefield you can be sure there’s very little they can do.

Marrow Shards is fantastic in mirror matches. You can play it even when you’re completely tapped out, and it kills all of their guys. Snapback is another card you can play for free in your advantage, and Tormod’s Crypt stops all graveyard based decks like dredge, Punishing Fire combo etc.

That’s it for now, see you in couple of days when I review first ever major Modern tournament!

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