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All eyes are on the Modern metagame heading in to the Mythic Championship IV Barcelona this weekend as it’s the first high-profile Modern event since the banning of Bridge from Below. Bridge from Below enabled explosive starts from the Hogaak Bridgevine deck in combination with Altar of Dementia and Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis from Modern Horizons—a potent combo that warped Modern metagame around itself leading to the to the banning of Bridge from Below.
Just like at Mythic Championship II London, decklists will be made public for all Modern rounds and the London Mulligan is now in full effect. We saw Eli Loveman take down the last Modern Mythic Championship with Humans—will the archetype run it back?
Here are the 10 established archetypes to watch at Mythic Championship IV Barcelona.
10. Mono-Red Phoenix
Although the Izzet variant is regarded as the better version, don’t overlook the power level Mono-Red Phoenix offers. Mono-Red Phoenix is blisteringly quick and can capitalize on a fairer metagame, which is a trend we are beginning to see with the resurgence of Jund and Eldrazi Tron.
At it’s core, Mono-Red Phoenix is an elaborate take on the Burn archetype, which preys on strategies that are slow out of the gates, like Azorius Control. As a result, it’s safe to predict we will see a strong showing of Burn archetypes at the event this weekend.
Modern Mono-Red Phoenix
| Creatures (14) 4 Monastery Swiftspear 4 Soul-Scar Mage 4 Arclight Phoenix 2 Bedlam Reveler Spells (28) 4 Faithless Looting 4 Gut Shot 3 Lava Dart 4 Lava Spike 4 Lightning Bolt 1 Finale of Promise 4 Manamorphose 4 Light Up the Stage | Lands (18) 15 Mountain 3 Sunbaked Canyon Sideboard (15) 2 Rending Volley 2 Surgical Extraction 2 Abrade 2 Dragon’s Claw 2 Blood Moon 2 Kozilek’s Return 2 Saheeli, Sublime Artificer 1 Shatterstorm |
9. Azorius Control
As the metagame begins to stabilize after the banning of Bridge from Below, Azorious Control has begun to rise in popularity. We are starting to get a more precise picture of which decks are at the top of the format, which puts Azorius Control in a promising position to better leverage its powerful hate cards, especially with public decklists at the Mythic Championships.
Azorius Control has received powerful tools in Teferi, Time Raveler, Narset, Parter of Veils, and Force of Negation, which are great answers to the biggest threats in Modern. Force of Negation is one of the best counterspells in Modern at present and I expect to see a modest representation of this card over the weekend as it answers many of the powerful enablers in the format.
Modern Azorious Control
| Creatures (6) 3 Snapcaster Mage 3 Monastery Mentor Planeswalkers (7) 3 Narset, Parter of Veils 2 Teferi, Time Raveler 2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor Spells (23) 4 Opt 2 Oust 4 Path to Exile 4 Serum Visions 2 Logic Knot 3 Force of Negation 2 Cryptic Command 2 Supreme Verdict Enchantments (1) 1 Detention Sphere | Lands (23) 2 Celestial Colonnade 4 Field of Ruin 4 Flooded Strand 2 Glacial Fortress 2 Hallowed Fountain 6 Island 1 Misty Rainforest 2 Plains Sideboard (15) 2 Engineered Explosives 2 Surgical Extraction 2 Celestial Purge 1 Disdainful Stroke 2 Dovin’s Veto 2 Rest in Peace 1 Detention Sphere 2 Timely Reinforcements 1 Vendilion Clique |
8. Titanshift
Valakut strategies are still a powerful archetype, despite often being scrutinized for their narrow and uninteractive game plan. Titanshift in particular is an excellent choice at these big events as it’s primary game plan is extremely consistent, which we saw at last Mythic Championship II London when Thien Nguyen made Top 8 with the deck. Titanshift always is a mainstay of Modern Grand Prix Top 8s, which suggests it is a strategy that should not be ignored. The addition of Wrenn and Six provides an additional value engine and re-casting Scapeshifts is an excellent line to take.
Modern Titanshift
| Creatures (8) 4 Sakura-Tribe Elder 4 Primeval Titan Spells (22) 2 Summoner’s Pact 2 Flame Slash 2 Lightning Bolt 4 Farseek 1 Anger of the Gods 4 Search for Tomorrow 1 Sweltering Suns 2 Mwonvuli Acid-Moss 4 Scapeshift Artifacts (3) 3 Relic of Progenitus | Lands (27) 1 Bloodstained Mire 4 Cinder Glade 2 Forest 6 Mountain 1 Sheltered Thicket 4 Stomping Ground 4 Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle 1 Windswept Heath 4 Wooded Foothills Sideboard (12) 1 Relic of Progenitus 2 Damping Sphere 1 Anger of the Gods 1 Reclamation Sage 1 Tireless Tracker 1 Force of Vigor 3 Obstinate Baloth 1 Shatterstorm 1 Carnage Tyrant |
7. Hogaak Vine
Despite losing Bridge from Below to the banhammer, Hogaak (Bridgeless) Vine remains a viable strategy in Modern and should not be overlooked going into the Mythic Championships. Piotr Głogowski reminded us how powerful the archetype is by going undefeated in last weeks Modern Challenge.
Piotr Glogowski's Modern Hogaak Vine
| Creatures (33) 4 Bloodghast 3 Carrion Feeder 3 Golgari Thug 4 Gravecrawler 4 Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis 3 Insolent Neonate 4 Satyr Wayfinder 4 Stitcher’s Supplier 4 Vengevine Spells (9) 1 Claim // Fame 4 Faithless Looting 1 Darkblast 3 Lightning Axe | Lands (18) 3 Blackcleave Cliffs 2 Blood Crypt 2 Bloodstained Mire 2 Gemstone Mine 2 Marsh Flats 2 Overgrown Tomb 2 Polluted Delta 1 Swamp 2 Verdant Catacombs Sideboard (15) 2 Assassin’s Trophy 1 Fatal Push 1 Force of Vigor 4 Leyline of the Void 1 Nature’s Claim 1 Plague Engineer 1 Shenanigans 4 Thoughtseize |
Instead of using Bridge From Below, the list has been tweaked to accommodate Satyr Wayfinder to fill the graveyard for Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis. Admittedly, the strategy is not on the same power level as its predecessor, but it remains to be strong and I expect to see the revised take achieve success at the event. It could even take advantage of the fact that players might pack less graveyard hate due to the downtick in Hogaak strategies post-Bridge ban.
6. Jund
To the surprise of many, Modern is starting to become a fairer format and that is where Jund shines.
Jund was gifted upgrades from Modern Horizons in Seasoned Pyromancer, Hexdrinker, and more notably, Wrenn and Six. Wrenn and Six provides an incredible value engine as it helps improve the deck’s mana and removes one toughness creatures, which are everywhere in Modern. With the resurgence of Eldrazi Tron, Jund looks to prey on fairer strategies through sheer attrition, which Jund offers in abundance.
Modern Jund
| Creatures (16) 2 Hexdrinker 3 Dark Confidant 2 Scavenging Ooze 4 Tarmogoyf 1 Plague Engineer 2 Seasoned Pyromancer 2 Bloodbraid Elf Planeswalkers (6) 3 Wrenn and Six 3 Liliana of the Veil Spells (14) 2 Fatal Push 3 Inquisition of Kozilek 3 Lightning Bolt 3 Thoughtseize 1 Abrupt Decay 2 Assassin’s Trophy Artifacts (1) 1 Nihil Spellbomb | Lands (23) 3 Blackcleave Cliffs 1 Blood Crypt 3 Bloodstained Mire 1 Blooming Marsh 1 Forest 1 Ghost Quarter 1 Mountain 1 Nurturing Peatland 2 Overgrown Tomb 1 Raging Ravine 1 Stomping Ground 2 Swamp 4 Verdant Catacombs 1 Wooded Foothills Sideboard (15) 1 Surgical Extraction 1 Ancient Grudge 2 Collector Ouphe 1 Weather the Storm 1 Anger of the Gods 1 Ashiok, Dream Render 2 Fulminator Mage 1 Plague Engineer 1 Chandra, Torch of Defiance 1 Damnation 3 Leyline of the Void |
5. Humans
With the continuation of public decklists at the Mythic Championship, Five-Color Humans looks to be in a favorable position as it can optimize its disruption in Meddling Mage and Kitesail Freebooter. Humans remains one of the preferred aggressive strategies, as shown in recent Modern Challenges and Grand Prix. Although Humans received little support from Modern Horizons, the strategy still incorporates the best disruption in the format in Meddling Mage and Thalia, Guardian of Thraben. However, because the deck relies on accumulating a significant board presence, it can be weak to the board wipes or bounce spells such as Thing In the Ice.
Modern Humans
| Creatures (37) 4 Champion of the Parish 4 Noble Hierarch 3 Kitesail Freebooter 4 Meddling Mage 4 Phantasmal Image 4 Thalia’s Lieutenant 3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben 2 Unsettled Mariner 1 Deputy of Detention 4 Mantis Rider 4 Reflector Mage Artifacts (4) 4 Aether Vial | Lands (19) 3 Ancient Ziggurat 4 Cavern of Souls 4 Horizon Canopy 1 Island 1 Plains 1 Seachrome Coast 1 Silent Clearing 4 Unclaimed Territory Sideboard (15) 2 Grafdigger’s Cage 3 Auriok Champion 2 Collector Ouphe 2 Damping Sphere 2 Gaddock Teeg 2 Deputy of Detention 2 Dismember |
4. Dredge
Dredge had fallen off the map due to the rise of Hogaak Bridgevine, but now with the banning of Bridge from Below, Dredge is primed to make a comeback.
Dredge boasts excellent matchups against Izzet Phoenix and even Humans thanks to the printing of Blast Zone in War of the Spark. Dredge also received additional options in Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis and Shenanigans from Modern Horizons, which provides Dredge plenty of answers going forward. There’s even an outside chance of graveyard hate being cut after the Bridge from Below ban, which Dredge will look to capitalize on.
It may look like Dredge became bad with Hogaak Bridgevine taking over as the premier graveyard strategy. But that was never the case and Dredge remains to be an excellent option going into the Mythic Championship.
Modern Dredge
| Creatures (19) 4 Bloodghast 3 Golgari Thug 4 Narcomoeba 3 Prized Amalgam 4 Stinkweed Imp 1 Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis Spells (18) 2 Conflagrate 4 Faithless Looting 4 Cathartic Reunion 4 Life from the Loam 4 Creeping Chill Artifacts (4) 4 Shriekhorn | Lands (19) 2 Arid Mesa 1 Blast Zone 2 Blood Crypt 2 Bloodstained Mire 3 Copperline Gorge 1 Forgotten Cave 1 Gemstone Mine 2 Mountain 1 Scalding Tarn 2 Stomping Ground 2 Wooded Foothills Sideboard (15) 1 Ghost Quarter 1 Darkblast 1 Lightning Axe 3 Nature’s Claim 2 Thoughtseize 2 Ancient Grudge 1 Fry 1 Shenanigans 2 Gnaw to the Bone 1 Leyline of Sanctity |
3. Grixis Urza
Grixis Urza has been gaining traction over the last month due to its resource denial strategy and the low-key overperformance of Chalice of the Void in Modern.
The addition of Urza, Lord High Artificer and Goblin Engineer has created a strategy that combines an infinite combo in Sword of the Meek and Thopter Foundry with the traditional artifact pieces to lock opponents out of the game—all of which are tutorable by Goblin Engineer.
I expect Grixis Urza to succeed at the Mythic Championships as decklists are public, and disruption strategies flourish when you have access to the best information possible. Despite this, Grixis Urza remains to be a tricky strategy to play optimally so I don’t expect it to be the most popular strategy, but the few who play it will be very successful.
Modern Grixis Urza
2. Izzet Phoenix
Since the banning of Bridge from Below, Izzet Phoenix has regained the title as the de facto best deck in Modern.
Izzet Phoenix has received incremental upgrades from Modern Horizons in Aria of Flame, Magmatic Sinkhole, and Lava Dart providing additional explosiveness coupled with more consistency. Aria of Flame is the most exciting addition for the tempo strategy, as it’s tough to remove, similar to Thing in the Ice, and can snowball incredibly quickly.
I expect to see Izzet Phoenix be the most played deck at the Mythic Championship as it has various lines of attack with decent matchups across the field now with Hogaak strategies are falling in popularity.
Modern Izzet Phoenix
| Creatures (8) 4 Thing in the Ice 4 Arclight Phoenix Spells (32) 4 Faithless Looting 2 Flame Slash 1 Lava Dart 4 Lightning Bolt 4 Serum Visions 4 Sleight of Hand 2 Surgical Extraction 4 Thought Scour 2 Finale of Promise 4 Manamorphose 1 Magmatic Sinkhole Enchantments (2) 2 Aria of Flame | Lands (18) 1 Fiery Islet 1 Flooded Strand 3 Island 2 Mountain 1 Polluted Delta 4 Scalding Tarn 4 Spirebluff Canal 2 Steam Vents Sideboard (15) 2 Grim Lavamancer 2 Spell Pierce 1 Surgical Extraction 1 Abrade 1 Shenanigans 2 Blood Moon 2 Force of Negation 1 Narset, Parter of Veils 2 Saheeli, Sublime Artificer 1 Ravenous Trap |
1. Eldrazi Tron
Eldrazi Tron has seen an incredible resurgence in the last month and has been successful across paper and digital tournaments.
Eldrazi Tron can establish an early board presence following up with haymakers in Thought-Knot Seer and Reality Smasher. But Eldrazi Tron’s primary reason for success is due to Karn, the Great Creator in combination with Mycosynth Lattice, which locks opponents out of the game.
The relevance of Chalice of the Void in the current Modern landscape has also made Eldrazi Tron stronger. With Modern becoming defined by cheap, powerful spells once again, Chalice of the Void has begun to shine.
Eldrazi Tron dominated Modern back in 2017 when Grixis Death’s Shadow was a prominent feature of the format, but fell out of favor because it was too fair in what became an unfair metagame. Now, Modern has realigned to become fair once again, and Eldrazi Tron looks primed to offer success. I forecast the strategy to achieve excellent success in Barcelona.
Modern Eldrazi Tron
| Creatures (15) 3 Walking Ballista 4 Matter Reshaper 4 Thought-Knot Seer 4 Reality Smasher Planeswalkers (6) 4 Karn, the Great Creator 2 Ugin, the Ineffable Spells (5) 3 Dismember 2 All Is Dust Artifacts (10) 4 Chalice of the Void 4 Expedition Map 2 Mind Stone | Lands (24) 1 Blast Zone 1 Cavern of Souls 4 Eldrazi Temple 3 Ghost Quarter 1 Sea Gate Wreckage 4 Urza’s Mine 4 Urza’s Power Plant 4 Urza’s Tower 2 Wastes Sideboard (15) 1 Walking Ballista 1 Basilisk Collar 1 Grafdigger’s Cage 1 Pithing Needle 1 Liquimetal Coating 2 Spatial Contortion 1 Torpor Orb 1 Crucible of Worlds 1 Ensnaring Bridge 4 Leyline of the Void 1 Mycosynth Lattice |
One of the best qualities of Modern is that any strategy can achieve success and the current Modern metagame is looking to be the healthiest it has been in a long time. The banning Bridge from Below has given Modern Horizons room to breathe, allowing exciting archetypes to come to fruition. The key element going into Mythic Championship IV Barcelona is identifying a strategy that can take advantage of the fairer Modern metagame and it will be interesting to see what players bring to the table.