Now that the dust has settled post-ban, it's crystal clear: Titan reigns supreme in the Modern format. For the uninitiated, the essence of this deck lies in its relentless pursuit of Primeval Titan via the synergy between Amulet of Vigor and bounce lands. Once the Titan graces the battlefield, victory is within grasp.
Decklist Dissection:
This iteration of Titan boasts distinctive modifications:
Enhanced Consistency: Embracing 3 Mycosynth Gardens ensures a stable setup with two Amulets in play—a pivotal advantage over another bounce land.
Strategic Exclusions: Bid farewell to Sunhome Fortress of Legion/Slayer Stronghold. While lethal, their setup demands outweigh their lethal potential.
Optimized Kill Potential: Hanweir Battlements/Kessig Wolf Run step in, offering superior slots without the need for additional color support, extending kill potential to Arboreal Grazers/Golems.
Innovative Tech: Enter Mirror Pool, granting access to upkeep wins alongside The One Ring effects, alleviating deck strain during Titan pursuits. Additionally, Otawara emerges as a cornerstone utility land, indispensable in its versatility.
Unveiling the Strategy:
At its core, Modern Titan orchestrates powerful land combinations, catapulting into colossal threats. Amulet of Vigor serves as the linchpin, untapping lands upon entry, including the formidable bounce lands like Simic Growth Chamber, paving the way for explosive Primeval Titan plays as early as turns two or three.
Dryad of the Ilysian Grove amplifies land plays, facilitating Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle activations. With Primeval Titan in tow, the search for utility lands like Tolaria West or Valakut becomes paramount, turning the tide in your favor.
Urza's Saga injects utility, furnishing a stream of 4/4 Golem tokens, swarming opponents in short order.
Mastering Gameplay:
In the early game, prioritize Amulet of Vigor and land ramp creatures like Arboreal Grazer, exploiting untap triggers to expedite Primeval Titan's arrival. Establish board presence with Primeval Titan, leveraging Valakut's landfall triggers to pressure opponents. Exploit utility lands to disrupt adversaries' strategies or bolster your own.
Mulligan Mindset:
Focus on two key elements:
Amulet of Vigor Potential: A single Amulet on hand suffices, though two are optimal. Alternatively, a turn-one Saga play is viable. Treat Arboreal Grazers as ramp rather than creatures.
Land Drops: Two land drops suffice; avoid doubling up on bounce lands. Utility lands are permissible but must align with Amulet potential.
Don't fixate on the payoff; your deck guarantees one by turn three. Establish your foundation instead.
Sideboard Strategy:
Streamline your approach by sidelining mainboard essentials. Notable choices include:
Defence Grid: Outpaces Cavern of Souls, offering versatile protection against non-counterspell threats and even Force of Vigor.
Storm's Wrath: Supersedes Engineered Explosives against Rhino decks, compensating for lost range with enhanced flexibility against planeswalkers.
Generous Ent: A jack-of-all-trades against Blood Moon and Living End decks, buying crucial setup time.
Spelunking: An additional ramp/amulet spell, countering opponent boarding against Amulets.
Bonecrusher Giant: The bane of tap-out 'The One Ring' strategies, providing flexibility against Magus of the Moon and emerging as a resilient threat.
In a diverse Modern landscape, multi-utility sideboard choices reign supreme, augmenting the stability of a robust core strategy. Embrace versatility to triumph in the ever-evolving metagame.
