I’ve been exploring Jeskai Blink in Modern because the strategy is both fun and provides plenty of deckbuilding options. Today I return with a different take on Jeskai Blink that combines the aspects I’ve liked so far: being competitive on the draw and blue interaction. In addition, I’ll post a sideboard guide!
WHY CHANGE THE STOCK LIST WITH RAGAVAN?
I’m glad you asked! Here’s the matchup matrix from the last RC weekend that features Jeskai Blink at an overall win rate of 49% with the most matches logged at 3,940.
Leaning hard on Fable of the Mirror-Breaker and Ragavan makes games on offense much better, but at a cost. A coin flip deck with ~50% win rate almost across the board; I want more agency in the decks I register.
I’m still bullish on the strategy because the most played decks means pilots jumping on the bandwagon pulls down the win rate. Quantum Riddler took some getting used to, but competitors have their specialized answers such as Path to Exile, Unholy Heat, and Strix Serenade. Fatal Push’s stock waxes and wanes with the popularity of Quantum Riddler.
We see an uptick in the Boros Energy win rate so I expect to face more decks where Ragavan doesn’t shine in the near future. I suspect Boros Energy will face more hateful sideboards in the coming weeks and the metagame has more chances to evolve. Players were skimping on Pyroclasm effects, but they are once again at a premium.
Strategies that post above-average win rates can also indicate the state of the metagame. Boros Energy thrives in fair, creature-heavy formats where you are less likely to face combo. Boros loves when Phlage trades with a threat. Consign to Memory in the maindeck of Jeskai Blink has created a hostile environment for combo strategies.
Given that combo may make a resurgence with a reduction in Jeskai Blink I want more free interaction and fewer Fables in the near future. Fable is significantly better in Jeskai against Boros Energy so there is a cost to this swap.
Note that last month’s boogieman, Amulet Titan, has been knocked back down to a 50% win rate. Ashioks taking the place of Obsidian Charmaws can go a long way to shoring up a weak matchup.
Simic Birthing Ritual was in a great position as it preys on Jeskai Blink and Amulet Titan at the expense of being weak to aggressive decks. A good deck to create checks and balances in the format. Note the weak matchup against Boros Energy.
Overall, Modern is in a healthy state with the top decks cycling as opponents come more prepared. It’s valuable to follow metagame trends, but don’t go overboard in switching strategies. The most dangerous pilots are ones with high deck familiarity.
Here’s the list that has been treating me well:
I like having access to more pitch interaction in the form of Force of Negation and Subtlety. There are small deckbuilding constraints to consider to add more blue cards to pitch.
Three Teferi, Time Raveler and a single Fable of the Mirror-Breaker are my three-drops of choice to juice up Phelia, Exuberant Shepard. Azorius cards work better on the draw when they can be pitched to all seven free spells whereas Fable doesn’t do much when on defense.
Teferi is also potent when there are more early points of interaction. Between a single piece of interaction in the first two turns and the -3 ability he’s more likely to survive a full turn cycle. Teferi can also provide a shield for Phelia flashed in at the end of turn and get at least one trigger before it’s hit by removal. Arena of Glory giving haste to one or two creatures is also much scarier for the opponent when they can’t interact.
No More Lies plays well with Phelia because playing around a counter means there’s time to flash in the dog at end of turn. It’s important to balance the total number of two-mana interaction with the sideboard; I’m playing a Celestial Purge and Aether Gust. I also cap No More Lies at two because it doesn’t play well with the second Arena of Glory.
Strix Serenade lines up well against most top end threats and falls short against Boros Energy. Phelia and Teferi removing the bird is a key interaction. I’m currently playing one because I expect fewer Jeskai Blink and Amulet Titan decks with declining win rates. No More Lies also reduces the need for two Serenades as it deals with Quantum Riddler.
If Jeskai Blink and Amulet Titan aren’t popular in your area, it’s reasonable to swap Strix Serenade for the Spell Snare in the sideboard.
The stock Jeskai Blink deck with Ragavan can’t play a Lorien Revealed as the 24th mana source because it must maximise red mana for the first turn. The three Teferi allow me to flash in a draw three more often and another blue card to pitch for Force of Negation and Subtlety. I want more utility lands with fewer Fables to cycle excess mana. It’s also Blood Moon insulation to find an Island without cracking a fetch.
Galvanic Discharge becomes better compared to Lightning Bolt with additional copies to bank energy. I also have three Wrath of the Skies in the 75 that are less clunky when it can be ramped out with Discharge.
A maindeck Wrath of the Skies is more appealing without Ragavan and can be cast at instant-speed with an extra Teferi.
I’m bullish on a resurgence of Jeskai Blink because it doesn’t need to focus as much attention on the mirror in a more diverse format. Blink has the tools to fight many decks simultaneously given white’s versatile removal and blue’s generic counters.
There are two Mystical Disputes alongside Strix Serenade and two No More Lies in the maindeck; I don’t want to overload on any one type of counter.
Two Obsidian Charmaw because I want to respect Cavern of Souls out of Broodscale Combo and Eldrazi decks. Emrakul is threatening out of Broodscale and fighting the graveyard specifically is a losing battle. I’m also happy to board two Charmaws against Amulet Titan.
A single Ashiok to round out the big mana hate that shines specifically against Amulet Titan. It can be a good hate card against Simic Neoform and provide another way to attack the graveyard alongside Soul-Guide Lantern if needed.
Soul-Guide Lantern is paired with Aether Gust, Celestial Purge, and the two maindeck No More Lies to fight Phlage out of Boros Energy.
Two High Noon is primarily for Izzet Prowess, but can also shine against Simic Neoform and Ruby Storm. Deafening Silence costs less mana, but Prowess can sneak through two spells with the noncreature restriction to enable Cori-Steel Cutter.
Two more Wrath of the Skies in the 75 are for non-Zoo creature decks. It ensures you aren’t overrun against Boros, Affinity, and Prowess.
Spell Snare is another counter that doesn’t step on the toes of Mystical Dispute, No More Lies, and Consign to Memory. It’s primed to make a resurgence given the prevalence of Boros Energy and helps in your bad matchup, Simic Ritual. There are also plenty of other combo decks that are thinly played where it will shine: Neoform, Storm, and Esper Goryo’s to name a few.
-1 March of Otherworldly Light
-2 Phlage, Titan of Nature’s Fury
-1 Fable of the Mirror-Breaker
-1 Phelia, Exuberant Shepherd
-1 Fable of the Mirror-Breaker
-3 Phelia, Exuberant Shepherd
-1 March of Otherworldly Light
+1 Wear/Tear +1 Aether Gust +1 Spell Snare
-2 Ephemerate -1 Strix Serenade -2 Force of Negation
-1 Fable of the Mirror-Breaker
-1 Fable of the Mirror-Breaker
I’ve been happy with Jeskai Blink in Modern and would suggest it for upcoming events. There are plenty of places to optimize the strategy as the metagame evolves. Modern continues to show why it’s one of the most popular formats.
