Welcome to the Modern Mardu Tokens Primer!
Mardu Tokens was originally designed by Adria Romero, aka MTGO grinder Dead_Style. He placed in the Top 4 at the Catalionan Modern Open with the list below. From there, MTGO grinder aytor_92 made some slight changes to the list and finished 15th in the Magic Online Championship Series Finals with a record of 6-2 (list also provided below). Flank Lepore wrote an article about the deck on TCGplayer.com (found here, with videos from a daily: http://magic.tcgplayer.com/db/article.asp?ID=12227). The deck seems reasonably well positioned in the meta and is a welcome innovation for those wanting to represent the horde in Modern.
Example Decklists:
Mardu Control by Adria Romero; Top 4 at the Catalionan Modern Open
Mardu Tokens by aytor_92; 15th at the Magic Online Championship Series Finals
Mardu Tokens by Lightning_Dolt (Test Deck)
Card Choices:
The finisher in the deck. The originals played Batterskull as a hard to deal with, vigilant, lifegaining fatty. I tested Blood Baron of Vitzkopa at Frank Lepore's suggestion and found it to be very, very good. None of the removal that is widely played in modern hits it and unless they have Flameslash, red has to 2 for 1 themselves to remove it.
Probably the worst card in the deck, but it does seem much better in Modern than in Standard, since many of the format's defining creatures are one or four toughness. The instant speed duress acts like a quasi-Vendillion Clique in a pinch too.
One of the main reasons to play red, period.
With Delver being the consensus best deck, gaining three life is often the difference between winning and losing.
Efficient removal with no drawbacks.
One of the ways to generate card advantage in this deck. If it weren't for the five drop in the deck, we could possibly get away with Dark Confidant, but with all the Forked Bolts and Electrolyses floating around thanks to Delver, he seems poorly positioned.
One of, if not the best cards in the deck. 4 bodies from one card gives you lots of fodder to either chump with, or lay the beatdown.
Ways to pull your opponent's hand apart and control the game. Inquisition is slightly better in the current meta.
Because chances are they care about their creatures more than we do. Anger in particular is very important in the Pod Matchup.
A way to gain life and a way to deny lands, particularly useful post board when Molten Rain comes in. If he ultimates it's GG.
Card advantage engine / way to kill X/1's. If she ultimates, it's generally for 9 damage.
These are both good in different ways. I prefer Visitor, as his tokens are more effective and his anthem ability gives lifelink. I've won games on stalled board states off 8/2 lifelink Lavaclaw Reaches more times than I should have thanks to Visitor.
I feel strongly that having access to a man land and a mana dump is worth cipt.
Consistently over-performs in matches where your opponent relies on lands.
Ruins single card strategies by grabbing Scapeshift or Fatestitcher or Emrakul, the Aeons Torn.
Possible 2 for 1, good efficient disenchant effect.
The best sideboard card we have. This card is stupid good right now.
Look forward to developing this deck in the future. All contributions welcome and appreciated!
It's just not fair. Despite Bolt being such a common piece of removal, I was able to play around it enough to make this guy do a lot of work. I do think four is too many and would like to go down to three in place of a second Brimaz.