Valakut

Scapeshift

Andrew Calderon

13th Place at Grand Prix on 3/9/2014

As is the case with many decks in Modern the basis for the original design was found in Standard which was adapted and improved upon by the cards available in the expanded pool. This one is no different and comes from a very powerful deck which was known as Valakut. The basic premise of the deck revolves simply around the land Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle and its interaction with Mountains which can turn a Mountain entering the battlefield into an uncounterable Lightning Bolt. The original design of the deck in Standard used Khalni Heart Expedition and Primeval Titan as was to get Mountains into play faster but Modern had a very different way to combo for the kill…Scapeshift. Once you have achieved a critical mass of lands in play you are able to use Scapeshift to sacrifice all your lands to search for either one or two Valakut and usually six or seven Mountain in order to kill your opponent on the spot.
Lands (24)• 3 Forest• 3 Island• 1 Breeding Pool• 2 Mountain• 2 Flooded Grove• 2 Misty Rainforest• 1 Halimar Depths• 4 Stomping Ground• 4 Steam Vents• 2 Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle
Creatures (7)• 4 Sakura-Tribe Elder• 3 Snapcaster Mage
Spells (29)• 4 Cryptic Command• 1 Electrolyze• 3 Izzet Charm• 2 Lightning Bolt• 4 Peer Through Depths• 4 Remand• 1 Anger of the Gods• 2 Explore• 4 Scapeshift• 4 Search for Tomorrow
Sideboard• 2 Relic of Progenitus• 1 Wurmcoil Engine• 4 Obstinate Baloth• 1 Ancient Grudge• 2 Back to Nature• 1 Electrolyze• 2 Volcanic Fallout• 1 Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir• 1 Boseiju, Who Shelters All
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There are a few pieces to the puzzle to help get lands into play ahead of schedule in the form of Sakura-Tribe Elder, Search for Tomorrow and two Explore. Since you need the lands in play for Scapeshift to do its magic these cards are critical and opening turns will often go turn 1 Suspend Search into turn 2 Elder which basically advances your combo by two turns. With Blue in the deck and a combo finish that needs protection we find a permission suite that consists of Remand and Cryptic Command, the latter usually the reason the deck will float four mana when going for the kill. There is also the utility player Izzet Charm which can act either as additional counter, dig to draw into answers or combo pieces, or even a way to burn small pesky creatures especially hate bears. There’s also a pair of Lightning Bolt, an Electrolyze and an Anger of the Gods to help as removal or a small amount of reach if needed to finish them off. And that Electrolyze pairs up with Peer Through Depths as the draw power of the deck with Cryptic and Explore as well. And finally what has quietly become a format all-star Snapcaster Mage is able to rebuy any of the already cast instants or sorceries and even do a little beatdown himself to work your way towards victory.

Eric J Seltzer
@ejseltzer on Twitter