I’m delighted to be back with another Dimir Frogtide update. Oculus briefly supplanted the traditional build of Dimir, but we’re back with the classic version. Today I’m going to discuss my list as well as the metagame that brought us back to almost square one.
Temur Breach is the deck to beat. A deck that utilizes artifacts, the graveyard, and casting many spells on the same turn has plenty of interaction points, but the versatility and power is enough to overcome the hate. This is not typically the case and when it is then a ban will follow.
Underworld Breach will be banned on March 31st in the upcoming B&R announcement.
It’s difficult to pull off a significantly favorable matchup against Temur Breach as the resilience is backed by a quick combo kill. I’m advocating for Frogtide because it’s easier to pilot and I don’t have to face nearly as many difficult decisions. Breach is super powerful, but you can lose games by making a wrong decision.
Orzhov Ketramos has quickly ascended the ranks as the best way to generate value. The powerful black/white god has proven successful in Modern because it’s able to generate card advantage while attacking opposing graveyards.
While Ketramos can interact with Temur Breach in meaningful ways in game one and even more in the sideboard, it’s not fast enough to boast a true favorable matchup against the broken combo deck.
Previous versions of Orzhov Midrange with Aether Vial leaned heavily on creatures with abilities that trigger when entering, but Ketramos has shifted away from this theme making Torpor Orb effects less impactful.
I like Orzhov Ketramos because there are points in the game where your decisions no longer matter as the value generated is too much. Each incremental play both disrupts the opponent and draws even more cards. A truly great feeling.
Eldrazi Ramp is able to go over the top of the white midrange decks at the top of the metagame while Karn is able to interact with Temur Breach. I’m thankful the delta in power level between Kozilek’s Command and the rest of the deck is so high, otherwise this deck would be even higher on the list.
Karn isn’t very powerful in the Modern metagame outside of the Breach matchup so there’s a cost to putting it in your deck. The deck will look different in April, but the Eldrazi shell is still strong.
Boros Energy took a beating from the last B&R announcement with the loss of Jegantha and Amped Raptor, but is still here thanks to the powerful sideboard options in white. It’s still one of the stronger ways in the format to apply pressure backed by disruption.
Here’s the Frogtide list we’ll be discussing:
Dimir Frogtide is looking to quickly establish a clock and ride it to victory on the back of nimble interaction. A true tempo deck.
Andrea Mengucci also gave my list a spin on his Youtube channel recently; you can find his league playthrough here:
The metagame has moved beyond Dimir Oculus because Orzhov Ketramos plays maindeck Relic of Progenitus. The graveyard must be respected in Modern because of the most broken red card in the format- Underworld Breach.
Who’d have thought I wouldn’t be saying Faithless Looting after the last B&R announcement?
I favor Murktide Regent to Abhorrent Oculus because it’s easier to leave up Counterspell mana after casting. I can use more mana to cast the dragon if there are fewer cards in the graveyard against Orzhov Ketramos. Fatal Push is also played in high numbers against Orzhov decks which matters in game one.
Kaito, Bane of Nightmares is the new haymaker in Modern and I’ve been quite impressed. Four loyalty insulates it against Lightning Bolt and hexproof on my turn protects against creature removal.
Ninjutsu means Kaito is not typically cast, but beware the activated ability can be countered with Tishana’s Tidebinder. The biggest reason to play Kaito is he doesn’t die against Orzhov Ketramos outside of attacking and Vindicate in the sideboard.
Orcish Bowmasters has fallen out of favor recently, but shines in this build of Dimir Frogtide. A flash threat ensures there are more opportunities to hold up Counterspell, but it’s most importantly a great creature to enable Ninjutsu. The Orc Army token and the Bowmaster have merit in returning to put Kaito onto the battlefield.
Mishra’s Bauble, Tamiyo, and Ketramos are popular ways to draw cards in the Modern metagame to provide Bowmasters plenty of ways to trigger. Ketramos must draw cards and lose life when cards are exiled on their turn meaning you can create a combo of giving Psychic Frog flying to trigger Bowmasters multiple times to kill the opponent.
Subtlety is another great creature to enable Ninjutsu as it provides insulation against threats on the following turn after tapping low to put Kaito onto the battlefield. Amulet Titan is a deck to respect as it’s still a powerful option in the hands of capable pilots.
The third Subtlety in the sideboard is primarily for the white midrange decks and Amulet Titan. I can realistically board out the three Murktide Regents against Orzhov Ketramos and still have enough haymakers alongside Sauron’s Ransom. Not only is Murktide hard to resolve against Ketramos decks, but it also juices up the number of cards in exile. Sticking Kaito on an empty board is the name of the game.
Tamiyo wasn’t in my previous Frogtide lists because clues are mana-intensive. Again, having more creatures to enable Ninjutusu is important. Boros Energy is also less prevalent in the metagame meaning fewer Phlages.
Shoot the Sheriff was the previous removal spell played alongside four Fatal Push, but Dismember importantly kills Ketramos.
Archmage’s Charm is a versatile card that has always impressed me as a singleton. I can steal Tamiyo or counter a Ketramos. While Charm typically counters a spell I prefer it to a fifth Counterspell. There are times you want to counter an Underworld Breach with the Charm to play around Spell Snare.
Two Preordain may have been the right number all along as sorcery-speed cantrips mess with the ability to cast Spell Snare and Counterspell, but does enable more one-land hand keeps.
Cling to Dust is the fourth card enabled by the graveyard alongside the Murktide Regents. The card impresses me in drawn out games and I don’t want a fourth Consider as there are many cases where it’s better to simply fetch an Undercity Sewers. I could see cutting the third Consider for a Thought Scour as each cantrip has different strengths and weaknesses.
Sauron’s Ransom comes in against most decks as Frogtide becomes more efficient at dealing with specific threats and needs fewer haymakers to close out a game. I played Memory Deluge in this slot in the past, but Ransom is less mana to find two cards. This is the same logic as boarding in Stock Up, but I don’t want to put the shields down to cast a sorcery. Brainsurge is another option I’m looking to try, but is weak to Orcish Bowmaster.
Anoint with Affliction, like Dismember, can remove Ketramos. It also shines as another removal spell against Boros Energy as dealing with Phlage permanently is a boon. This slot can also be a Dress Down to fight construct tokens.
Consign to Memory is for Eldrazi Ramp and combo decks such as Blue Belcher and Cascade strategies. Orzhov Ketramos doesn’t play Aether Vial anymore meaning you don’t have to cut as many counters so I would advise against boarding in Consign in the matchup.
Stern Scolding helps against Boros Energy as well as Orzhov Ketramos. Since Dimir Frogtide becomes efficient at countering and destroying early creatures I don’t like to play a sweeper as the battlefield will be clearer than game one.
Engineered Explosives is for Construct tokens and moxen against Temur Breach. It’s defensible to board in against Boros Energy, but not required. I also have Nihil Spellbomb to weaken Underworld Breach making the greater threat in post board games the Construct tokens.
Temur Breach is the deck to beat, but Dimir Frogtide has what it takes to hang with the top decks. The March 31 B&R announcement will likely remove Temur Breach from the format providing us with a shakeup. I’ll be favoring Psychic Frog in April; same as always.
