Modern Tier List, September 2023

Modern Tier List September 2023 Update

Michael Rapp Modern, Strategy

Welcome back for yet another Modern tier list update, this time for the beginning of the Modern RCQ season. Whether you’re joining us as a new player jumping into Modern, or a returning player who just wants to brush up on how the metagame may have changed since the last time you played Modern, hopefully you’ll take something away from …

Wilds of Eldraine Modern Highlights

Wilds of Eldraine Modern Highlights

Michael Rapp Modern

Wilds of Eldraine is approaching quickly, and the set will be out in Modern before we know it. But before that happens, I’m on the lookout for cards with the potential to impact the format. Here are the five most likely candidates, without further ado! Not Dead After All So…remember when Rakdos Scam won Pro Tour Barcelona and has been …

What to Expect from Modern Horizons 3

What to Expect from Modern Horizons 3

Michael Rapp Modern

Wizards of the Coast announced Modern Horizons 3 at Gen Con, which is set to release in the summer of 2024.  Like its predecessors, it will inject some power into Modern, bypassing Standard completely. And having gone through this a couple times before, the questions we have include: “What will this do to Modern?” and “What have we seen so far?”  …

Innovation in Modern

Michael Rapp Modern

Last week I spoke about how desperation breeds creativity, and as Modern adapts to the changes brought on by The Lord of the Rings, this has proven to be true. Over the last few weeks I’ve noticed some interesting new innovation in existing Modern decks, and even new decks all together put up strong tournament results.  So much of competitive …

Is Tempted by the Ring the New Initiative?

Is the Ring Tempts You the New Initiative?

Michael Rapp Legacy, Modern

The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth brings us the newest Magic mechanic “The Ring Tempts You.” Naturally, once players saw the ring tempts you in stages on a track that exists outside the game, comparisons to the Initiative mechanic started flowing.  Is being tempted by the ring going to be as format defining in Modern as taking the …

Sultai Battle Shadow in Modern

Sultai Battle Shadow in Modern

Michael Rapp Modern

Death’s Shadow decks haven’t had a meaningful addition in some time, which contributes to a decline in both play rate and success, as of late. However, I’m not here today to bemoan the performance of Shadow — I actually have good news! Not only did Death’s Shadow win an MTGO challenge last week, piloted by xfile, but it is a …