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Video Series with Ryland: 4-Color Saheeli Evolution

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Greetings, everyone! I'm back for more action here at Modern Nexus, this time with the debut of my video series. I tend to cast a pretty wide net in Modern, which means I have experience playing a large range of different archetypes. In my videos I'll be exploring these decks and trying to shed some light on how I see individual matchups and archetypes across the Modern metagame.

Today's featured deck is a four-color combo deck built around the Saheeli Rai/Felidar Guardian combo that was recently banned in Standard. The deck has much in common with Kiki-Chord, relying on mana dorks and Eldritch Evolution and employing a midrange value strategy for its Plan B. But instead of Kiki as our top-end combo finish, we have Saheeli and Felidar, both of which combo with much of the deck's other pieces. The full decklist can be found below the videos.

I intend to develop the video series further as the weeks go on, so let me know your thoughts on the formatting, presentation, or any other concerns in the comments. Also be sure to check out my Twitch channel for more live content.

Deck Tech

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeUqsHH-oNA&w=560&h=315]

Round 1 vs. Affinity

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUn9upPFHE0&w=560&h=315]

Round 2 vs. Knightfall

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi3wGTcAqaU&w=560&h=315]

Round 3 vs. Knightfall

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQ37FekodRo&w=560&h=315]

Round 4 vs. Dredge

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcJh8CPmi7s&w=560&h=315]

Round 5 vs. Elves

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BACCPlSMI6Q&w=560&h=315]

4-Color Saheeli Evolution, by Ryland Taliaferro

Creatures

3 Birds of Paradise
3 Noble Hierarch
2 Wall of Omens
2 Scavenging Ooze
4 Voice of Resurgence
2 Renegade Rallier
1 Kitchen Finks
1 Eternal Witness
4 Felidar Guardian
1 Thragtusk
1 Sun Titan

Enchantments

4 Oath of Nissa

Instants

3 Path to Exile

Planeswalkers

4 Saheeli Rai

Sorceries

3 Eldritch Evolution

Lands

4 Wooded Foothills
4 Windswept Heath
1 Misty Rainforest
1 Temple Garden
1 Stomping Ground
1 Breeding Pool
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Sacred Foundry
2 Razorverge Thicket
1 Scattered Groves
1 Gavony Township
3 Forest
1 Plains

Sideboard

1 Path to Exile
1 Gaddock Teeg
2 Unified Will
1 Negate
2 Rest in Peace
1 Kataki, War's Wage
1 Izzet Staticaster
1 Reclamation Sage
1 Magus of the Moon
1 Eidolon of Rhetoric
1 Obstinate Baloth
1 Linvala, Keeper of Silence
1 Eldritch Evolution

6 thoughts on “Video Series with Ryland: 4-Color Saheeli Evolution

  1. I know there is a deck tech at the beginning, but would it be possible to do an “after games” analysis? It’s great being able to watch matches and your thoughts beforehand, but I’d like to know about afterwards.

    1. Hey Micah,

      Thanks for the feedback and I will definitely include that next time! Keep in mind that in this particular instance I had already played a fair amount with this list, so my deck tech thoughts, and thoughts throughout the video, are largely unchanged. However, I do want to say that I felt as though the Ooze’s and the Rest in Peace did their job here, and while I don’t want to be entirely results-oriented, I feel like they earned their spot.

      I still think the deck is better than I expected it to be, but it doesn’t necessarily feel like a top contender. It is very close, and it is incredibly likely that my list could continue to use some work, so it is definitely a deck I will keep my eye on. Toolbox decks are always a blast to play in my opinion, so here’s to hoping something/someone eventually breaks it!

      Thanks again for watching!

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