One of the most intriguing aspects of Modern Horizons 3 is the set’s emphasis on reprints. As more and more spoilers have been revealed, we’ve seen a ton of cards finally get introduced to the Modern format. Many of these reprints, like
Kappa Cannoneer
Kappa Cannoneer
Improvise (Your artifacts can help cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you're done activating mana abilities pays for {1}.)
Ward {4}
Whenever this creature or another artifact you control enters, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature. It can't be blocked this turn.
, should have an immediate impact on Modern.
Over the past couple days, a few more extremely powerful reprints have come out of the woodworks. A Land capable of producing multiple colored mana at once, an extremely efficient and flexible board wipe, as well as a strong toolbox Creature are all making their way to Modern. Each of these cards have immense potential in the format, so let’s take a closer look at what they bring to the table.
Phyrexian Tower
First up, we have Phyrexian Tower. Phyrexian Tower is certainly the card in this group that has the most broken applications. If you have ample Creatures to sacrifice, Phyrexian Tower can repeatedly tap for two mana each turn cycle. Obviously, many decks won’t be able to utilize this Land, since sacrificing board presence isn’t always ideal for a mana boost. However, there are a number of decks where sacrificing Creatures isn’t a large downside.
Take Golgari Yawgmoth, for example. Between recursive Undying Creatures like
Young Wolf
Young Wolf
Undying (When this creature dies, if it had no +1/+1 counters on it, return it to the battlefield under its owner's control with a +1/+1 counter on it.)
and Creature tokens from Grist, the Hunger Tide, enabling Phyexian Tower is not hard and doesn’t come at a huge cost. At the same time, being able to cast
Yawgmoth, Thran Physician
Yawgmoth, Thran Physician
Protection from Humans
Pay 1 life, Sacrifice another creature: Put a -1/-1 counter on up to one target creature and draw a card.
{B}{B}, Discard a card: Proliferate. (Choose any number of permanents and/or players, then give each another counter of each kind already there.)
a turn early or cast turn two Grist following turn one Young Wolf is quite valuable.
Going further, graveyard-based decks, including Sultai
Vengevine
Vengevine
Haste
Whenever you cast a spell, if it's the second creature spell you cast this turn, you may return this card from your graveyard to the battlefield.
shells, can even get some extra mileage from utilizing Phyexian Tower as a free sacrifice outlet. In some games, simply getting to sacrifice
Stitcher’s Supplier
Stitcher’s Supplier
When this creature enters or dies, mill three cards. (Put the top three cards of your library into your graveyard.)
to mill more cards can be powerful.
Bloodghast
Bloodghast
This creature can't block.
This creature has haste as long as an opponent has 10 or less life.
Landfall — Whenever a land you control enters, you may return this card from your graveyard to the battlefield.
and
Gravecrawler
Gravecrawler
This creature can't block.
You may cast this card from your graveyard as long as you control a Zombie.
are easy cards to recur over and over if you need the mana, and with Satoru, the Infiltrator in the mix, sacrificing and returning them can net you a bunch of extra cards. Phyrexian Tower is easier to abuse than you might think.
Read More: New Broken MTG MH3 Land has Limitless Potential!
Toxic Deluge
Next, we have Toxic Deluge. Toxic Deluge should become an instant staple for a number of different archetypes. At minimum, Toxic Deluge can be used as a cheap board wipe. Decks like mono-black Coffers may be in the market for Deluge given its efficiency. March of Wretched Sorrow can help counteract the life loss from Deluge, which is a nice bonus. At only three-mana, you have the luxury of cleaning up opposing small Creatures the turn before slamming
Sheoldred, the Apocalypse
Sheoldred, the Apocalypse
Deathtouch
Whenever you draw a card, you gain 2 life.
Whenever an opponent draws a card, they lose 2 life.
or
Karn, the Great Creator
Karn, the Great Creator
Activated abilities of artifacts your opponents control can't be activated.
+1: Until your next turn, up to one target noncreature artifact becomes an artifact creature with power and toughness each equal to its mana value.
−2: You may reveal an artifact card you own from outside the game or choose a face-up artifact card you own in exile. Put that card into your hand.
.
Where Deluge starts to become much more threatening than Damnation and the like, though, is when you can kill your opponent’s Creatures with it while simultaneously keeping yours alive. Part of the benefit of Deluge in the Coffers deck is that once you play Sheoldred, you can cast Deluge paying four or less life and your Sheoldred will survive. If you’re lucky, Deluge can function more like Plague Wind than Damnation.
With this in mind, the ultimate home for Deluge in Modern is the Death’s Shadow archetype. Death’s Shadow decks are naturally filled with big Creatures. Whether you’re playing blue as a support color for
Murktide Regent
Murktide Regent
Delve (Each card you exile from your graveyard while casting this spell pays for {1}.)
Flying
This creature enters with a +1/+1 counter on it for each instant and sorcery card exiled with it.
Whenever an instant or sorcery card leaves your graveyard, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.
or green for
Tarmogoyf
Tarmogoyf
Tarmogoyf's power is equal to the number of card types among cards in all graveyards and its toughness is equal to that number plus 1.
, you’ve got plenty of beefy Creatures to play to the board.
One of the weaknesses of Death’s Shadow decks in the past has been the inability to close games against lots of blockers. These decks don’t typically have an abundance of threats, so sometimes, players have gone as far as to play Temur Battle Rage as a finisher. Deluge is much less narrow and can clean up opposing blockers while leaving your Creatures intact. Notably, your Death’s Shadows will survive your Deluge no matter how much life you pay, since paying life grows your Shadows for you!
Beyond Modern, Toxic Deluge will most definitely be a strong addition to Arena, too. Historic and Timeless shells alike should make great use of Deluge. It’s just too powerful to ignore.
Read More: Crucial MH3 Reprint Could Resurrect Forgotten Typal Deck!
Recruiter of the Guard
Lastly, we have a Legacy staple that’s finally making its way into Modern.
Imperial Recruiter
Imperial Recruiter
When this creature enters, search your library for a creature card with power 2 or less, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle.
was reprinted in Modern Horizons 2, so seeing Recruiter of the Guard join its red counterpart isn’t too surprising. Instead of being able to find Creatures with power two or less, Recruiter of the Guard finds Creatures with toughness two or less. In most instances, this distinction isn’t that important. That being said, the existence of one card in particular makes Recruiter a really interesting reprint: Solitude.
Being able to tutor up a removal spell at will is an incredible option to have. Both cards pair well with Ephemerate, and Recruiter is a great card to put into play off of
Aether Vial
Aether Vial
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may put a charge counter on this artifact.
{T}: You may put a creature card with mana value equal to the number of charge counters on this artifact from your hand onto the battlefield.
. As of right now, one of the better performing archetypes in Modern that Recruiter could slot into is mono-white midrange.
Just like Ranger-Captain of Eos, Recruiter fetches up all of your potent one-drops like Martyr of Sands and Kami of False Hope that you can recur with Abiding Grace. Recruiter’s ability to grab Solitude or Skyclave Apparition, though, makes it an appealing consideration.
When Modern Horizons 3 leaks and spoilers started coming out a few weeks ago, we had mentioned our hopes for some specific reprints, including Recruiter, to appear in the set. Recruiter isn’t overly powerful, but if it can help Aether Vial strategies finally garner some attention once more, we’re all here for it. All three of these reprints could have a major influence on Modern, so be prepared for some interesting shakeups when MH3 releases.
Read More: New Modern Horizons 3 Card Is the Most Blatant Power Creep Yet