So, I’ve been looking into playing B/W tokens in Modern. It takes the best of the Lorwyn/Alara B/W tokens and adds in the power of the B/W tokens from Innistrad. I don’t know if there is a deck and the only pro that appear to play it is Melissa Del Toro, and her articles on it aren’t impressive. I’m going to discuss a twist on the deck that hasn’t been fully explored and go with more of G/B rock style of play using Thoughtseize/Smallpox/Liliana of the Veil to do resource denial.
The two primary token creating spells are Spectral Procession and Lingering Souls. Lingering Souls is nice due to it’s flashback ability, and for 5 mana it creates 4 tokens. Additionally, Lingering Souls has some ability to get discarded to Smallpox/Liliana of the Veil and still be valuable. Spectral Procession is a one shot 3 token card, but at 3 mana it’s efficiency is unmatched. They are supported by Gather the Townsfolk and Raise the Alarm. Gather the Townsfolk is typically weaker than Raise the Alarm because it’s sorcery speed, but we don’t have too many instants to play on the opponents turn (at the moment) and the 5 tokens if we have Fateful Hour can be game ending. I’m unsure of which direction to take the deck.
For disruption, there are several options. You have Thoughtseize, Inquisition of Kozilek, Duress, Tidehollow Sculler, SmallPox, Sin Collector, and Liliana of the Veil. I like Thoughtseize and Liliana of the Veil as obvious includes. Typically, Tidehollow Sculler is a card the deck plays. I think this is the correct, but it may not be because it gives the card back if it dies. There is great removal and a 2/2 creature is going to eat all of it. Plus it gives a target for their spot removal which without Sculler, is nearly dead in hand. Duress, Inquisition of Kozilek, and Sin Collector are all conditional disruption. Duress is likely the best go-to because it hits many of the combo and control matchups. Inquisition of Kozilek is also nice, the only downside is it doesn’t hit much vs tron and misses Birthing Pod. Sin Collector is slow, does less than Duress, and has many of the downsides of Sculler, but it exiles the card permanently so when it dies you’ve still removed the card. I’m growing on SmallPox the more I think about it. It’s very non-traditional but works in many ways. We don’t care about losing a creature or life. The land shouldn’t be vital because our curve is very low and likely stops at 3. The only part about it that hurts is the discard, and even then Lingering Souls is useful even in our graveyard. We could even play Increasing Devotion (unlikely – but we do like tokens!) or Gaze of Justice and get useful flashback value. In the unlikely event the deck plays any useful creatures, you could also play Unburial Rites for some flashback value.
As to creatures, I really don’t know if Auriok Champion is all that great. It gains you life and has protection from removal. In an aggro matchup, it’s valuable. Versus combo or control, I don’t see it as valuable. I would rather Burrenton Forge-Tender to stop red based removal (pyroclasm type effects). I don’t see black as being insane in Modern (at least with sweepers or spot removal that they would use on Auriok Champion). The most promising creatures in a token deck like this is Hero of Bladehold and Precinct Captain. They both give you tokens and Hero of Bladehold also pumps your attackers (and doesn’t have to connect for you to get tokens). To prevent sweepers, I would think that Blood Artist is the way to go.
I haven’t seen token creating enchantments discussed as of yet. Luminarch Ascension, Mobilization, Promise of Bunrei, and Heliod, God of the Sun. I think Promise of Bunrei is an interesting addition. You’ll have a token die, and receive 4 more tokens for a measly 3 CC. It also sweeper proofs your army. Luminarch Ascension could punish less aggro decks and destroy a controling deck. Mobilization or Heliod are interesting, but likely too mana intensive to be played.
The last part of the core deck that needs discussion is the pumps. Honor of the Pure and Intangible Virtue are obvious includes. I really don’t know how many of each at this point. Another one that is typically included is Zealous Persecution due to it’s ability to wipe out enemy x/1’s at instant speed. I think the new Spear of Heliod is likely a singleton due to it’s ability to destroy enemy creatures after they attack. I will say that Whip of Erebos may be playable vs aggro in that it radically extends your lifegain. Additionally, if we are playing Hero of Bladehold, Precinct Captain, and/or Blood Artist, having the ability to get them back for one last round could be vital.
At Planeswalkers, there are several options. The obvious include is Liliana of the Veil for the disruption effects (see above). Sorin, Lord of Innistrad and Ajani Goldmane both give pumps to your team. Sorin is the better option due to his +1 ability being a token generating effect and his +1/+0 is a static ability to creatures out after your current team dies. I don’t see the +1 to the life of a creature as being as relevant late game. Finally, Sorin’s ultimate is game ending. For Elspeth, all of them are good for you. The problem is the stronger they get for you, the more expensive they cost. Elspeth, Sun’s Champion costs 6 which IMHO is unplayable. Elspeth, Tirel has a hot -2 ability for us, but even at 5CC is very expensive to get her out (especially if we play SmallPox). Elspeth, Knight-Errant has the weakest +1 token generating ability, but the ability to jump a member of your team shouldn’t be underestimated and if you are playing Hero of Bladehold or Precinct Captain, it’s going to be pure value!
Before I get to a recommended decklist, my last thoughts are on the random stuff. PtE is great spot removal. We may be able to play Gaze of Justice instead of PtE, but instant speed removal is amazing. The last creature I think could be playable is Knight of the White Orchid. You can find a Godless Shrine if necessary and have something to attack with. This is not a primary go-to creature, but it’s a possibility and I’m throwing it out and may test it a little. 2-for-1 is good when you are playing a resource denial deck.
So, here’s the (very alpha) decklist:
Creatures (4):
Blood Artist x4
Planeswalkers (5):
Liliana Vess x3
Sorin, Lord of Innistrad x2
Instants (4):
Raise the Alarm x4
Sorceries (15):
Lingering Souls x4
Spectral Procession x4
Thoughtseize x4
Gaze of Justice x3
Enchantments (10):
Honor of the Pure x2
Intangible Virtue x4
Promise of Bunrei x4
Land (23):
Arid Mesa x2
Fetid Heath x2
Godless Shrine x4
Isolated Chapel x2
Marsh Flats x4
Plains x4
Swamp x1
Windbrisk Heights x4
The decklist is very rough. I’m planning on playing it in an upcoming modern tournament (some weekly tournament at some local store – unsure where yet) and see how it does.