Modern players are far more critical of each new set in Magic: The Gathering due to the power level of the format. But it looks like War of the Spark could surprise even the most experienced Modern players.
Blue cards are overwhelmingly strong in War of the Spark, but there are a few choices for other colors as well. It just seems that Wizards of the Coast decided to change the gameplan for many blue control decks, which are practically dominating the format.
This list of the best War of the Spark cards for Modern reflects this trend, and if you're wondering what cards will become staple in the future, then check them out right here.
Dovin's Veto
The power of Magic: The Gathering cards is growing steadily from one set to another, and this time we get to play counterspells that can't be countered.
This makes Veto an instant replacement for Negate, a staple counterspell of all blue-white control decks in Modern.
Not being able to counter counterspells will definitely shake up the meta, which will prompt every control player to put in a full playset of Dovin's Veto into their maindecks.
It will also reduce interaction in mirror match-ups, which will make the games less exciting, but more stable.
Liliana's Triumph
Diabolic Edict is back in Modern!
Liliana's Triumph is even better than Diabolic Edict, as it can also force an opponent to discard a card if you control a Liliana planeswalker. Since a vast number of black decks already play Liliana of the Veil and Liliana, Last Hope in Modern, it won't take long before Liliana's Triumph becomes another staple card in the format.
Besides black midrange decks this card may also find its way into 8-Rack decks that are always on the lookout for effective discard spells. It completely ignores Hexproof and Leyline of Sanctity, which makes it incredibly powerful against any kind of targeted protection.
Ashiok, Dream Render
New planeswalkers will definitely have a huge impact on Modern format, and Ashiok is one of the best War of the Spark can offer.
It completely disarms fetchlands and Titanshift decks, and its minus ability also kills graveyards. The manabase also allows it to be played in either blue or black decks, which is a very smart design decision.
This means that Ashiok will be a great sideboard card, which can be deployed in case of need. The only scenario where it can be maindecked is in some sort of mill deck.
Lastly, note that Ashiok's minus ability allows to mill yourself, and exile opponent's graveyard, which is an elegant solution for Dredge mirrors.
Finale of Promise
This spell definitely promises a finale for your opponent on turn three in case you're playing it in Burn.
Here's a simple combo you can achieve with Finale of Promise:
- Play Monastery Swiftspear on turn one and hit.
- Play Lightning Bolt and Lava Spike on turn two, then hit with Swiftspear again.
- Play Finale of Promise on turn three targeting Lightning Bolt in your graveyard and another copy of Lava Spike in your library.
- Lastly, hit with Swiftspear for a total of 20 damage.
Of course, you need to have these four cards in your opening hand to be able to execute the combo, but if you do, it is probably the fastest win a Burn deck can get right now.
Gideon Blackblade
Gideon tribal decks in Modern have just got a new toy to play with, and it has quite a punch.
On your turn Gideon is indestructible both as a creature and as a planeswalker, which makes him really sticky. He can also give Vigilance to other creatures to protect him on opponent's turns, and if you need life, then Lifelink is another great choice.
The minus ability may be tough to reach, but it's mainly intended for control purposes, and Blackblade isn't really meant to be played in control decks. But it's not entirely impossible either.
Kiora, Behemoth Beckoner
Kiora's main weapon is her minus ability, which can trigger some very strong combos in Modern.
The most obvious one is the Utopia Sprawl synergy, which could be triggered twice a turn, if you also run Arbor Elf. That's a lot of ramp on turn three!
A deck that maindecks Kiora would also want to run creatures like Tarmogoyf, Grim Flayer, Knight of the Reliquary, and Thragtusk. All of them could enter the battlefield with four points of power triggering Kiora's passive ability, which would draw you cards for free.
All this can guarantee a pretty solid run for Kiora in such well established archetypes like Ponza, Titanshift, and Elves.
Saheeli, Sublime Artificer
Decks that run Young Pyromancer would love to have extra copies for an even greater number of tokens. Saheeli with her passive ability fills that role perfectly, although she is one mana more expensive to cast.
You could also summon a copy of another Young Pyromancer using her minus ability, and effectively have three token generators on the battlefield.
Control decks would be glad to generate tokens as well, since they run a lot of non-creature spells and not enough creatures of their own. In this regard Saheeli may become a great alternative for Lingering Souls in blue-red decks.
Teferi, Time Raveler
This and Dovin's Veto will make all blue-white control players change their typical strategies in mirror match-ups.
Teferi will also be good against Ad Nauseam and Storm decks that rely heavily on instant spells, which will be useful only as sorceries.
His plus ability will let you cast board clears like Damnation and Wrath of God at instant speed.
On top of that you can use discard spells like Thoughtsieze and Inquisition of Kozilek in Esper Control for disrupting an opponent's hand at their draw step.
The minus ability removes anything that prevents you from doing your job, or it could return to your hand something you would want to replay.
All this makes Teferi, Time Raveler one of the best new planeswalkers for Modern format.
God-Eternal Kefnet
Miracles decks have been super strong in Modern, and the new Kefnet god practically turns all your spells into miracles. That's a huge power swing!
Besides that it can be used in Taking Turns decks and it has a very solid body, which is very hard to remove permanently.
The best part about Kefnet is that his ability doesn't use your spells, but casts copies of spells instead, which practically doubles the number of all your spells.
This card could definitely be broken in the right type of deck in Modern.
Jace, Wielder of Mysteries
A planeswalker and a win condition in one card!
Mill decks are so well attuned these days that you don't even need to use Jace's utimate ability to win, as his passive ability already guarantees that.
Here are the cards you can use in your deck to win on turn four:
- Serum Powder
- Hedron Crab (with fetchlands)
- Glimpse the Unthinkable
- Fraying Sanity
With this package you will insta-mill all your deck and Jace will finish it off with his plus ability.
God-Eternal Rhonas
This in combination with Ilharg, the Boar God could finish the game in one turn. Such a combo instantly puts Gruul Stompy in one row with some of the most broken decks in Modern.
The other possibility for Rhonas is Modern Elves, where he would fit in just perfectly, especially taking into account his Vigilance ability.
Opponents won't even try to remove it, since it would be more dangerous to let you replay it for that power doubling effect and just let it stay on board as is.
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For more War of the Spark guides in MtG check out the list below:
Published: Apr 26, 2019 10:08 am