In this latest video of helping Reid Duke prepare for the Modern format, we chose to do R/U/G Delver versus B/U/G and Splinter Twin from the Top 8 of Grand Prix: Lyon.

The B/U/G list is as follows:

"B/U/G"

• Creatures (18)
• 3 Snapcaster Mage
• 4 Dark Confidant
• 4 Deathrite Shaman
• 4 Tarmogoyf
• 3 Vendilion Clique

• Planeswalkers (2)
• 2 Liliana of the Veil

• Spells (18)
• 2 Doom Blade
• 3 Abrupt Decay
• 3 Disfigure
• 3 Mana Leak
• 1 Duress
• 1 Thoughtseize
• 4 Inquisition of Kozilek
• 1 Threads of Disloyalty

• Lands (22)
• 1 Forest
• 1 Island
• 1 Breeding Pool
• 1 Overgrown Tomb
• 1 Scalding Tarn
• 1 Watery Grave
• 2 Tectonic Edge
• 3 Creeping Tar Pit
• 3 Darkslick Shores
• 4 Misty Rainforest
• 4 Verdant Catacombs

• Sideboard (15)
• 1 Creeping Corrosion
• 1 Damping Matrix
• 2 Deprive
• 2 Grafdigger's Cage
• 2 Hurkyl's Recall
• 3 Spreading Seas
• 2 Tectonic Edge
• 2 Threads of Disloyalty

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To make up for the lack of Lightning Bolt, the list plays Disfigures and Doom Blades to supplement Abrupt Decay.

His sideboard contains the usual contingent of hate cards (that you tend to see in black decks such as this) for specific matchups.

While playing against Reid’s R/U/G deck, I believe I sideboarded in two Threads of Disloyalty and two Tectonic Edge and tried taking out different cards every time—I was not exactly sure what the plan was. Blood Moon is a huge problem, and it’s probably the biggest threat for this deck since the only basic lands are a Forest and an Island.

Overall, I think the matchup is quite good for B/U/G against R/U/G since the deck can answer all of the opponent’s threats with Abrupt Decay (and that includes Vedalken Shackles).

"Splinter Twin"

• Creatures (14)
• 4 Deceiver Exarch
• 4 Grim Lavamancer
• 4 Pestermite
• 2 Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker

• Spells (21)
• 3 Dispel
• 3 Spell Pierce
• 3 Inquisition of Kozilek
• 4 Serum Visions
• 4 Sleight of Hand
• 4 Splinter Twin

• Lands (25)
• 1 Mountain
• 3 Island
• 1 Arid Mesa
• 1 Stomping Ground
• 1 Watery Grave
• 2 Cascade Bluffs
• 2 Sulfur Falls
• 3 Halimar Depths
• 3 Steam Vents
• 4 Misty Rainforest
• 4 Scalding Tarn

• Sideboard (15)
• 3 Ancient Grudge
• 3 Blood Moon
• 2 Cyclonic Rift
• 1 Dispel
• 2 Duress
• 1 Mizzium Skin
• 3 Spellskite

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This Splinter Twin list is quite different than the usual lists I’ve seen on Magic Online. Choosing to splash a third color for discard makes a lot of sense since it gives you information on when it is safe to slam down Splinter Twin or Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker.

I don’t particularly like the matchup against R/U/G since the deck has a lot of cheap removal and interaction. However, Grim Lavamancer is quite good against the deck, and it is difficult for R/U/G to kill a Deceiver Exarch. It seems difficult to sideboard correctly against R/U/G since you potentially want access to Duress, Dispel, Mizzium Skin, and Spellskite, and you don’t have a lot of time to find all of these cards, so maybe siding out your weaker cantrips in addition to some number of Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker is correct.

Overall, the results ended up as follows: B/U/G beat Reid’s R/U/G in two matches, and Splinter Twin split the matches against Reid’s R/U/G.

I think that feels about right, but I would rather be on the R/U/G side of the Splinter Twin matchup, and I would definitely rather be on the B/U/G side of R/U/G-versus-B/U/G.

I thank everyone for watching, and I will respond to any comments here or on Twitter @jkyu06.