By Javier Álvarez & Christian Busquiel

The Modern Format● Constructed format● Includes sets from 8th Edition (modern frame)● Very popular

GP Prague

1,396 players

GP Richmond

4,300 playersGP Minneapolis

1,600 players

GP Boston-Worcester

2,394 playersGP Kobe

2,270 players

GP Madrid

?

Jeskai Combo (1/3)

● Combo deck based on Jeskai Ascendacy● Mana creatures● Cheap cantrip spells● It kills with Giant Birds!

Jeskai Combo (2/3)

Potential Problems

● A lot of card drawing● Many invisible effects (color changing, P/T bonuses)● Multiple triggers at the same time● Tracking of mana in pool

Jeskai Combo (3/3)

Split cards with monocolored sides are considered multicolor cards and can be

fetched with Glittering Wish

Both abilities trigger at the same Time, and can be placed on any order on the stack

Active Player must point out the orderCopying a spell does not trigger the Ascendancy

Affinity / Robots (1/5)● Artifact based aggro deck● Cheap creatures with high sinergy● A lot of acceleration● Manlands● Fast!

Affinity / Robots (2/5)

Potential Problems

● Sometimes it’s difficult to calculate the total combat damage

Affinity / Robots (3/5)

Affinity / Robots (4/5)

MetalcraftChecked on resolution !

Layers

1.- P/T Defining

2.- Setting P/T

3.- +X/+X or -X/-X

4.- Counters

5.- Switch P/T

Affinity / Robots (5/5)

Dodges Summoning Sickness !If Sacrificed for itself,

Modular does not put an additional+1/+1 counter due to the ability !

Twin Exarch (1/4)● Usually presented as UR Tempo Deck, but there are

other flavors (Tarmo-twin, Temur-twin, etc.)● Burn spells, cheap counters and cantrips● Infinite tokens combo

Twin Exarch (2/4)

= “ ”

Twin Exarch (3/4)

Potential Problems

● Infinite Loops● Priority Tricks (Vendilion Clique, combo in response)

Twin Exarch (4/4)

Targets must be legalon resolution

to draw the card!

Tokens put into Battlefieldat end of turn, stay until

the Beginning of End Stepof next turn !

Scapeshift (1/4)● UG Ramp control/combo deck● Kills by resolving Scapeshift and searching for Valakut

and many Mountains.

Scapeshift (2/4)

Potential Problems

● Many players do not know how Valakut works● Suspend spells (Search for Tomorrow)

Scapeshift (3/4)

Destroying Valakut in response to the trigger does not counter the triggerIntervening IF:

Trigger is checked both in triggering and in resolution.

Scapeshift (4/4)

Player casts ScapeshiftSacrificing 7 Lands.

How many triggers when

Scapeshift Resolves? 6How many if 1 Mountain is destroyed

with triggers on stack ? 1

Melira Pod (1/4)

● Green based midrange deck● Utility creatures with ETB abilities● Birthing Pod engine● Combo with Melira and creatures

with Persist

Melira Pod (2/4)

+ =

Life

Damage

“ ”

Melira Pod (3/4)

+ =

Life

“ ”

Melira Pod (4/4)

Potential Problems

● Infinite Combos● Many triggers● Persist and graveyard interaction

Burn (1/3)● Classic mono-red aggro deck● Straight plan: dealing maximum damage to opponent● Direct damage spells and creatures with Haste

Burn (2/3)

Potential Problems

● Each life point matters. Life discrepancy between players can be dramatic and lead to uncomfortable situations.

Burn (3/3)

Needs 2 Targets: Creature & PlayerCannot target a player with no creatures.

Removing targeted creature does not counter this spell

Active Player is responsible for trigger.

This may incur in several Warnings and maybe a Game Loss

Unearth is an activated abilityCannot be countered by normal

spellsIf the creature would leave the Battlefield, it is exiled instead

UWr Control (1/2)

● The Modern Control Deck● Fast responses to early threats (Path to Exile,

Lightning Bolt, Mana Leak...)● Card advantage spells in late game (Supreme Verdict,

Snapcaster Mage, Sphinx’s Revelation…)

UWr Control (2/2)

1.- If all targets are not legal when the spell resolves,it does nothing.(Counter target Spell + Draw, Bounce + Draw, Tap + Draw)

2.-AP: AttackNAP: I Tap your creatures & DrawAP: Activate Man Land and I attack

3.-

AP: Attack

NAP: OK

AP: Then, I activate Man Land and I attack

Zoo (1/2)

● Creature based Naya aggro deck● Perfect mana curve

Zoo (2/2)

The ClassicAP’s Graveyard

Battlefield

2/3 3

NAP’s Graveyard

3/4

Infect (1/2)

● Infect creatures + pump spells● Can kill in one strike or slowly adding poison counters

Infect (2/2)

It’s not Hexproof !It works in a different way on

creatures of opponent

Only on creatures that are actually 1/1If the creature is not a 1/1 on resolution,

ability will be countered

Tron / Eldrazi Green (1/4)

● Urza’s Lands to produce big amounts of mana

● Big colorless spells ● Green version for acceleration● U/W version for artifact tutors and

counterspells

Tron / Eldrazi Green (2/4)

Land - Urza’s Mine Land - Urza’s Tower Land - Urza’s Power Plant

ORACLE RULES !!!

Tron / Eldrazi Green (3/4)

Stops Urzatron !Changes Subtype from

Urza’s X to Island

How to restart the Game ?Creatures do not haveSummoning Sickness !

Gaining Life is part of the ability, not a

triggered ability

Tron / Eldrazi Green (4/4)

Chromatic Sphere lets you draw when you activate the ability

Chromatic Star lets you draw even if it is destroyed, but if

there is a Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void, you will not

draw

Which lands can I choose?Exactly one of each basic typeDual lands can be chosen twice

Cards of Conflict (1/6)

1.- Lands that enter the Battlefield tapped still enter the Battlefield tapped (Replacement effect)

2.- Does not remove Super Types (Artifact, Legendary, Snow)

3.- Latest Timestamp has

priority with Spreading Seas

5.- Manlands / Mutavault: Activating

the land in response to a Blood

Moon being cast, makes the land

become a Creature with no abilities

that it is still a land

4.- Urborg loses its effect because

it becomes a Mountain

Cards of Conflict (2/6)

1.- Any spell or ability can be targeted, even if it has no targets

2.- Only changes the target if Spellskite is a legal target

3.- If a spell has several targets, it only changes one of them

4.- If a spell with

“two or more targets”

targets Spellskite with

one of those “targets”,

no other “target” can be

redirected to Spellskite

Cards of Conflict (3/6)

1.- If it targets a spell that cannot be countered, you still get to draw a card

2.- If it counters a spell with Flashback, that spell is exiled, it is not put in owner’s hand.

Cards of Conflict (4/6)

Affects also activated abilities in Hand and in

Graveyard (Cycling, Unearth, but not

Flashback)

Trigger must be responded to before looking the top card.After revealing, the creature transforms

(Complete ability)

Another Tectonic Edge can be activated in response to

the first to destroy two landsIt only checks during

activation

Ability cannot be responded to exiling a card that is going to be

exiled to counter the ability

Cards of Conflict (5/6)

Destroy/Exile/Bouncer effects VS Damage and -X/-X effectsBoth situations may incur in a double Game Play Error - Game Rule Violation !

Cards of Conflict (6/6)

It is not an alternative cost,

it is a way to pay the cost

Delve can be used to pay

alternative costs

such as Flashback

Delve can be used also to

pay additional costs

Thank you for your attention !

Any questions and further informationmay be asked…

During the Informal Judge Dinner !

Enjoy Madrid !