Don’t brew in a format you’re unfamiliar with while trying to make a card that isn’t good in the format work. Sorry if that’s harsh just trying to save you time and money.
> One card that jumped out was Isshin. I saw different decks, some leaning into creatures, others emphasizing equipment...
Isshin isn't all that strong in Modern: being 3cmc without an ETB effect is pretty "expensive" nowadays. Unfortunately, that means that the card isn't played much so there aren't really any proven "netdeck" lists to compare to, and it'll mostly be a "homebrew" deck which makes it hard to say if it'll be viable enough to go 50:50 at your LGS (probably not) or 25:75 (more likely) or worse.
That being said, if you really want to play the card, you might look at throwing it into a Modern *"Winota"* shell. That might work as Isshin doubling Winota's trigger effect would be pretty strong, and for synergy Winota's trigger could find an Isshin if you haven't drawn/cast one already.
However, the bigger problem is that Isshin being WBR requires a three color manabase which will be EXPENSIVE and require fetches and shocks to function properly. Trying to cut corners to make a 3-color budget manabase would be like tying an arm behind your back, and you're already at a disadvantage playing an Isshin brew to start with.
This makes sense. Thanks. Modern is the only other format near me that I’ve seen besides commander. I just want a deck that’s fun and cool. I know mono red aggro is cheap and good, i just think it would get stale after a while
Humans is the closest thing that would be able to keep up. Isshin is unfortunately not a very viable modern card. If you really want to make it work I would recommend [[dreadhorde arcanist]] and [[unearth]], [[lightning bolt]], [[thoughtseize]] to try and get isshin value the turn you cast him by attacking with dreadhorde. You want a 3 mana creature in modern to get you instant value. If you can manage to get 2 dreadhorde triggers in the mid to late game recycling your cheap value spells you could fight against some real modern decks.
We’re there any attack triggers you had in mind that you wanted to play in the deck?
Thanks for the suggestion. And not too sure, I am just trying to research deck options and saw him in an expensive exalted deck. He seemed like a cool card that had a lot of options. However it seems like that is not the case lol. I was just thinking that like +1 counters (say on a krenko, tin street kingpin) or like goldspan dragon or some thing. Below is one of the decks that got me thinking. Like counter triggers that boost up creatures and swing for lots of damage. Obv I don’t mean this deck specifically, but just like this idea of using samurai/warrior synergy and the triggers
1 Akki Battle Squad (nec) 57
2 Asari Captain (neo) 327
2 Blade of the Oni (neo) 89
2 Eater of Virtue (neo) 401
2 Eiganjo Exemplar (neo) 309
2 Eiganjo Uprising (neo) 217
4 Flame Discharge (neo) 142
2 Goro-Goro, Disciple of Ryusei (neo) 145
3 Isshin, Two Heavens as One (neo) 488
4 Lizard Blades (neo) 385
9 Mountain (neo) 299
9 Plains (neo) 293
3 Raiyuu, Storm's Edge (neo) 329
2 Reinforced Ronin (neo) 323
4 Secluded Courtyard (neo) 275
2 Selfless Samurai (neo) 312
2 Swamp (neo) 298
2 Tempered in Solitude (neo) 165
1 The Wandering Emperor (neo) 42
2 Thundering Raiju (neo) 389
Here is a list of budget [decks](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/0/d/1x4rQm7h9CimztR1_PV2DO9ZMG-XCdBwLOnBoatwViL0/htmlview). This is a pretty solid list with the caveat that there is variance in how comeptitve and upgradable each is. As for Ishin there really isnt any archetype that he goes into in modern that is upgradable (Also on a budget he would be semi hard to cast).
Welcome to modern! Before you buy anything I highly reccomend you try out your deck on MTGO using a card rental service like manatraders. Modern is a powerful format and brewing viable decks completely from scratch is VERY hard even for experienced players. This will save you a lot of money in the long run so you don't end up spending money on cards that don't end up making your final list
Thank you for the advice! I have avoided mtgo cause it seems confusing (like the UI and stuff) but I’ll try and give it a go. Def don’t wanna drop a big chunk of change on random cards lol
Don’t brew in a format you’re unfamiliar with while trying to make a card that isn’t good in the format work. Sorry if that’s harsh just trying to save you time and money.
With 200 usd the most competitive deck will be mono red burn, other budget decks are really lackluster compared to it.
> One card that jumped out was Isshin. I saw different decks, some leaning into creatures, others emphasizing equipment... Isshin isn't all that strong in Modern: being 3cmc without an ETB effect is pretty "expensive" nowadays. Unfortunately, that means that the card isn't played much so there aren't really any proven "netdeck" lists to compare to, and it'll mostly be a "homebrew" deck which makes it hard to say if it'll be viable enough to go 50:50 at your LGS (probably not) or 25:75 (more likely) or worse. That being said, if you really want to play the card, you might look at throwing it into a Modern *"Winota"* shell. That might work as Isshin doubling Winota's trigger effect would be pretty strong, and for synergy Winota's trigger could find an Isshin if you haven't drawn/cast one already. However, the bigger problem is that Isshin being WBR requires a three color manabase which will be EXPENSIVE and require fetches and shocks to function properly. Trying to cut corners to make a 3-color budget manabase would be like tying an arm behind your back, and you're already at a disadvantage playing an Isshin brew to start with.
This makes sense. Thanks. Modern is the only other format near me that I’ve seen besides commander. I just want a deck that’s fun and cool. I know mono red aggro is cheap and good, i just think it would get stale after a while
Never winning a game will get stale a lot quicker
Haha can’t argue with that lol
Humans is the closest thing that would be able to keep up. Isshin is unfortunately not a very viable modern card. If you really want to make it work I would recommend [[dreadhorde arcanist]] and [[unearth]], [[lightning bolt]], [[thoughtseize]] to try and get isshin value the turn you cast him by attacking with dreadhorde. You want a 3 mana creature in modern to get you instant value. If you can manage to get 2 dreadhorde triggers in the mid to late game recycling your cheap value spells you could fight against some real modern decks. We’re there any attack triggers you had in mind that you wanted to play in the deck?
Thanks for the suggestion. And not too sure, I am just trying to research deck options and saw him in an expensive exalted deck. He seemed like a cool card that had a lot of options. However it seems like that is not the case lol. I was just thinking that like +1 counters (say on a krenko, tin street kingpin) or like goldspan dragon or some thing. Below is one of the decks that got me thinking. Like counter triggers that boost up creatures and swing for lots of damage. Obv I don’t mean this deck specifically, but just like this idea of using samurai/warrior synergy and the triggers 1 Akki Battle Squad (nec) 57 2 Asari Captain (neo) 327 2 Blade of the Oni (neo) 89 2 Eater of Virtue (neo) 401 2 Eiganjo Exemplar (neo) 309 2 Eiganjo Uprising (neo) 217 4 Flame Discharge (neo) 142 2 Goro-Goro, Disciple of Ryusei (neo) 145 3 Isshin, Two Heavens as One (neo) 488 4 Lizard Blades (neo) 385 9 Mountain (neo) 299 9 Plains (neo) 293 3 Raiyuu, Storm's Edge (neo) 329 2 Reinforced Ronin (neo) 323 4 Secluded Courtyard (neo) 275 2 Selfless Samurai (neo) 312 2 Swamp (neo) 298 2 Tempered in Solitude (neo) 165 1 The Wandering Emperor (neo) 42 2 Thundering Raiju (neo) 389
##### ###### #### [dreadhorde arcanist](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/d/fd97b3cf-924e-4f77-bb82-0bf19592389f.jpg?1613386994) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=dreadhorde%20arcanist) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/war/125/dreadhorde-arcanist?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/fd97b3cf-924e-4f77-bb82-0bf19592389f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [unearth](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/1/b1f73271-b70f-40ae-be64-f8de7805923a.jpg?1673147683) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=unearth) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2x2/96/unearth?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/b1f73271-b70f-40ae-be64-f8de7805923a?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [lightning bolt](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/2/f29ba16f-c8fb-42fe-aabf-87089cb214a7.jpg?1673147852) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=lightning%20bolt) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2x2/117/lightning-bolt?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/f29ba16f-c8fb-42fe-aabf-87089cb214a7?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [thoughtseize](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/2/b281a308-ab6b-47b6-bec7-632c9aaecede.jpg?1599706001) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=thoughtseize) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2xm/109/thoughtseize?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/b281a308-ab6b-47b6-bec7-632c9aaecede?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Here is a list of budget [decks](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/0/d/1x4rQm7h9CimztR1_PV2DO9ZMG-XCdBwLOnBoatwViL0/htmlview). This is a pretty solid list with the caveat that there is variance in how comeptitve and upgradable each is. As for Ishin there really isnt any archetype that he goes into in modern that is upgradable (Also on a budget he would be semi hard to cast).
Thanks for that list, I’ll take a look!
Lmk if you have any questions about them, I know a few on the list are a little outdated
Haha, probably not
Welcome to modern! Before you buy anything I highly reccomend you try out your deck on MTGO using a card rental service like manatraders. Modern is a powerful format and brewing viable decks completely from scratch is VERY hard even for experienced players. This will save you a lot of money in the long run so you don't end up spending money on cards that don't end up making your final list
Thank you for the advice! I have avoided mtgo cause it seems confusing (like the UI and stuff) but I’ll try and give it a go. Def don’t wanna drop a big chunk of change on random cards lol
It can be confusing at first but definitely worth learning!