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We're all used to seeing Lantern Control as the artifact control deck of Modern. That said, there are plenty of situations where Lantern Control starts to lose some of its ability to execute its gameplan. Cards like Search for Azcanta or instant-speed card drawing can really throw a wrench in the works, and you can have a little trouble getting off the ground and finding both an Ensnaring Bridge and Witchbane Orb against aggressive decks with the ability to burn you out. This week, ItIsUnfair has a new take on artifact control that tries to address some of these concerns and attack from a slightly different angle:
The Antiquity War - Modern | ItIsUnfair, 5-0 Modern League
- Instants (4)
- 4 Whir of Invention
- Sorceries (5)
- 2 Supreme Verdict
- 3 Thoughtcast
- Enchantments (2)
- 2 The Antiquities War
- Artifacts (30)
- 1 Grafdigger's Cage
- 1 Pithing Needle
- 1 Vedalken Shackles
- 1 Witchbane Orb
- 2 Engineered Explosives
- 2 Ensnaring Bridge
- 2 Terrarion
- 2 Welding Jar
- 3 Sword of the Meek
- 3 Thopter Foundry
- 4 Chromatic Star
- 4 Mishra's Bauble
- 4 Mox Opal
- Lands (19)
- 1 Plains
- 6 Island
- 1 Academy Ruins
- 1 Misty Rainforest
- 2 Hallowed Fountain
- 4 Darksteel Citadel
- 4 Flooded Strand
There's a lot of flexibility to this deck, and the combination of Whir of Invention, Thoughtcast, and The Antiquities War means that you're going to be able to find your singletons with a high degree of consistency. All of your small choices - how many Welding Jars to play, which silver bullets you need to beat up on fringe strategies - are going to matter quite a bit, since you have the ability to find the cards that can swing those matchups in Game 1.
If you want to play a Mox Opal control deck, but aren't interesting in doing Lantern of Insight things, this seems like fun and powerful choice for your next Modern event.
