On March 31st Wizards of the Coast released one of the most predictable bans of all time. Underworld Breach was banned from the modern format. This time no other cards were unbanned, some content creators prophesied the unbanning of Deathrite Shaman, but their wishes went unfulfilled.
The Underworld Breach ban occurred due to the unbanning of Mox Opal putting the deck into overdrive with an absurd win rate among skilled pilots and a concerning win rate in the hands of average players.
With the metagame’s clear best deck removed, new archetypes have been battling for the top spot or contending for tier 1 viability. To further spice up the evolving situation, Tarkir: Dragonstorm is releasing this week with at least 1 incredibly modern playable card.
What Top Decks Exist?
Boros Energy
Boros Energy unsurprisingly has remained at the top of the metagame. Previously, weighed down by unstoppable force of Underworld Breach the previous metagame titan has returned to its prominence. The package of Modern Horizons 3 threats, Guide of Souls, Ocelot Pride, and Ajani, remains strong despite the deck being hit with multiple bannings.
Dimir Murktide
Psychic Frog, the legacy banned, go-to tempo threat, when protected with counterspells and removal will always be a strong way to win a game. Murktide Regent provides support in closing out games and now even the Standard all-star Kaito, Bane of Monsters has begun to show up in high-placing challenge lists.
Eldrazi Ramp
Eldrazi Ramp remains unchanged. Modern Horizon 3 boosts have given the deck incredible ability to grind opponents to dust in the long game. 3 for 1 and legacy banworthy Sowing Mycospawn and Kozilek’s Command are incredible cards. The deck may make room for one incredible new Tarki: Dragonstorm 7-drop.
Amulet Titan
While I could easily insert the classic Amulet Titan copypasta, Amulet is yet again at the top of the metagame. Winning 1 regional championship Underworld Breach banning and still winning in challenges after it has left.
Orzhov Midrange
Orzhov Midrange has lost one of its best matchups but the pile of good Orzhov cards still wins games. Having 4 Relic of Progenitus after Breach’s departure is less appetizing but its synergy as a 1 mana Phyrexian Arena with Ketramose is incredible. Some decks have trimmed to 3 copies.
What Decks Have Popped Up?
UW Control is back. UW Control has been consistently top 8ing. Some even have miracle packages of Brainsurge, Jace the Mindsculptor, and Terminus.
Jund Saga top 8d a challenge with 2 copies of Lilianna of the Veil. While I do not recommend registering a card in modern that is barely playable in standard, at least 1 person has found success.
Goryo’s Vengeance has been able to sneak back into the metagame now that the tier 0 graveyard deck has been removed. With Underworld Breach at the top of the metagame a graveyard plan that is worse than breaching your opponent was hard to justify.
With new cards coming and a metagame in flux, now is a great time to play modern and jam pet decks.
Tarkir: Dragonstorm
While there are many cards that are questionably playable, 1 card is clearly above the rest. While I would love it if using Urza’s Saga to retrieve Universal Automaton and Mox Jasper was a real gameplan, another colorless mana generation engine is far superior.
Ugin, Eye of Storms
This 7-mana planeswalker does everything someone could possibly want. First, what is invisible on this card is something the planeswalker does not mention. This 7-mana colorless card imprints to Ugin’s Labyrinth. Second, the +2 to draw a card and gain 3 life brings the planewalker to 9 loyalty the turn it comes down. This is essentially unkillable without a Bitter Triumph or similar card. Third, if you already have a surplus of cards and are restricted on cards the 0 ability supplies 3 colorless mana. Fourth, the ultimate ability, which can be reached and activated in only 3 turns, wins the game on the spot by casting any number of colorless spells from the library. Fifth, this planeswalker has both a passive ability and a cast trigger. On cast removing a permanent is incredible but a repeated removal spell that triggers on every spell cast is bonkers.
Ugin will be an insane card and one that can be cast far ahead of curve due to Sowing Mycospawn and Kozilek’s Command.
I do not think this card will be enough to bring back Tron or similar decks. While Eldrazi Temple doesn’t help cast Ugin he will be an amazing card to go in the Modern Eldrazi decks.
