I was goldfish testing a mono red storm deck with Reforge the Soul, and it was having ridiculous results. Between Reforge the Soul, Manamorphose, Gitexian Probe, Past in Flames and all the ramp, I was able to draw through my entire deck on turn 2. Admittedly, the results have been mixed but this was with an unrefined list that I just happened to throw together.
I was playing mono red to test things out, but have moved to more of a R/u build. Regardless, the card is disgusting when it works. Granted, there is some luck involved with running Reforge, but as long as you have 7-8 mana when you cast, you can usually keep the spells rolling. I would say it's like having a 5th-7th Past in Flames.
Turn 2 usually works the same way every other storm deck would work. You hope to get 2 rituals, a Seething Song, a couple of manamorphose/gitaxian probe and Past in Flames. Once you get rolling, you may find yourself with a ton of mana, and still trying to dig for that Grapeshot. Reforge is your ticket to continued opportunity.
Like you said, it is dependent on your draws, but so long as you have 2-3 mana left open, you can usually continue to cast away. Once in a while you won't draw any rituals or anything else to keep going, but most often it will keep you going when you need it. Here is a modified version of the list that I started with. One game I drew through and played every card in my deck on turn 4.
I tried Past in Flames and Reforge the Soul together in one build and Reforge the Soul was so, so inconsistent. Seriously, I probably got hands that couldn't continue the spell chain 30% of the time, and that was with me floating 2 mana post-Reforge. That is unacceptable, and significantly higher than the chance Past in Flames fizzles.
I then tried the list that was successful in the Dailies (it runs 8 Storm engines as opposed to my previous 6, and 4 Simian Spirit Guides over my previous 2), and it did seem somewhat better. Then again, getting a brick hand 20-25% of the time still blows.
Overall, while I'm not sure how much less consistent it is than Pyromancer's Swath or Pyromancer Ascension, Reforge the Soul is significantly less consistent than Past in Flames. If I could combo off with either spell and my tournament prowess was on the line, I would pick Past in Flames every time.
I completely agree that Past in Flames is always the go to spell for this deck. It's always first on my list because it can recast all of the ramp and draw spells that you have played, regardless of whether it was this turn or a botched attempt on the previous turn. Drawing up more cards off of probe and manamorphose is always good, and then recasting all of your ramp to storm out is killer. It also really only needs 6 mana for a guaranteed spell chain.
While Reforge isn't as reliable, it can be amazing. True, one in four to five castings will result in a hand that is unplayable, and it also takes 1-2 more mana to sink in than Past in Flames. There are times when I am still trying to dig for more cards or a kill condition and have a ton of mana, and Reforge seems the best fit. I don't know of anything else that can net you a full hand in Modern. With that said, 3 of might be too many and I think I am gonna drop it down to 2.
Initially I was using Wild Cantor as a way to survive 1 land hands and fix for blue, but now that my mana base is not all mountains I think I should give Simian Spirit Guide a go.
I tried Past in Flames and Reforge the Soul together in one build and Reforge the Soul was so, so inconsistent. Seriously, I probably got hands that couldn't continue the spell chain 30% of the time, and that was with me floating 2 mana post-Reforge. That is unacceptable, and significantly higher than the chance Past in Flames fizzles.
I then tried the list that was successful in the Dailies (it runs 8 Storm engines as opposed to my previous 6, and 4 Simian Spirit Guides over my previous 2), and it did seem somewhat better. Then again, getting a brick hand 20-25% of the time still blows.
Overall, while I'm not sure how much less consistent it is than Pyromancer's Swath or Pyromancer Ascension, Reforge the Soul is significantly less consistent than Past in Flames. If I could combo off with either spell and my tournament prowess was on the line, I would pick Past in Flames every time.
Much less consistent than Ascension. Honestly Ascension is much more consistent than even PiF.
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Modern (I collect the format):
WURDelver
[/MANA]MANA]R[/MANA]GTron WDeath and Taxes WSoul Sisters RWG Pod Combo URSplinter Twin URStorm RBurn
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I was goldfish testing a mono red storm deck with Reforge the Soul, and it was having ridiculous results. Between Reforge the Soul, Manamorphose, Gitexian Probe, Past in Flames and all the ramp, I was able to draw through my entire deck on turn 2. Admittedly, the results have been mixed but this was with an unrefined list that I just happened to throw together.
FREE BLOODBRAID ELF
Also... Reforge is too dependent on your draws. And why are you playing mono-red?
WURDelver
[/MANA]MANA]R[/MANA]GTron
WDeath and Taxes
WSoul Sisters
RWG Pod Combo
URSplinter Twin
URStorm
RBurn
Turn 2 usually works the same way every other storm deck would work. You hope to get 2 rituals, a Seething Song, a couple of manamorphose/gitaxian probe and Past in Flames. Once you get rolling, you may find yourself with a ton of mana, and still trying to dig for that Grapeshot. Reforge is your ticket to continued opportunity.
Like you said, it is dependent on your draws, but so long as you have 2-3 mana left open, you can usually continue to cast away. Once in a while you won't draw any rituals or anything else to keep going, but most often it will keep you going when you need it. Here is a modified version of the list that I started with. One game I drew through and played every card in my deck on turn 4.
3x Wild Cantor
Sorcery: 24
4x Gitaxian Probe
4x Grapeshot
4x Past in Flames
3x Serum Visions
3x Sleight of Hand
3x Faithless Looting
3x Reforge the Soul
4x Manamorphose
4x Seething Song
4x Desperate Ritual
4x Pyretic Ritual
Enchantments: 2
2x Pyromancer's Swath
4x Scalding Tarn
3x Steam Vents
7x Mountain
1x Island
FREE BLOODBRAID ELF
I then tried the list that was successful in the Dailies (it runs 8 Storm engines as opposed to my previous 6, and 4 Simian Spirit Guides over my previous 2), and it did seem somewhat better. Then again, getting a brick hand 20-25% of the time still blows.
Overall, while I'm not sure how much less consistent it is than Pyromancer's Swath or Pyromancer Ascension, Reforge the Soul is significantly less consistent than Past in Flames. If I could combo off with either spell and my tournament prowess was on the line, I would pick Past in Flames every time.
I completely agree that Past in Flames is always the go to spell for this deck. It's always first on my list because it can recast all of the ramp and draw spells that you have played, regardless of whether it was this turn or a botched attempt on the previous turn. Drawing up more cards off of probe and manamorphose is always good, and then recasting all of your ramp to storm out is killer. It also really only needs 6 mana for a guaranteed spell chain.
While Reforge isn't as reliable, it can be amazing. True, one in four to five castings will result in a hand that is unplayable, and it also takes 1-2 more mana to sink in than Past in Flames. There are times when I am still trying to dig for more cards or a kill condition and have a ton of mana, and Reforge seems the best fit. I don't know of anything else that can net you a full hand in Modern. With that said, 3 of might be too many and I think I am gonna drop it down to 2.
Initially I was using Wild Cantor as a way to survive 1 land hands and fix for blue, but now that my mana base is not all mountains I think I should give Simian Spirit Guide a go.
FREE BLOODBRAID ELF
Much less consistent than Ascension. Honestly Ascension is much more consistent than even PiF.
WURDelver
[/MANA]MANA]R[/MANA]GTron
WDeath and Taxes
WSoul Sisters
RWG Pod Combo
URSplinter Twin
URStorm
RBurn