MTG - Advanced Modern Studies: Affinity / Robots, A Tier 1 Deck Tech for Magic: The Gathering

Modern Angel Pod: • MTG - Advanced Modern ...
Modern Mono Blue Tron: • MTG - Love control? Br...
Modern 8 Rack: • MTG - Modern Mono Blac...
Modern Soul Sisters: • Get a Modern life, wit...
Gabe's Ensoul Robots DECKLIST
archidekt.com/decks/2754038#E...)
Alternative Suggestions:
Spellskite
Frogmite
Chalice of the Void
Affinity is an artifact-based combo deck known for the difficulty and multiple lines of play. It is often misinterpreted as an aggro deck, but dumping your hand and swinging with all the little creatures is actually rarely the best strategy. It is called affinity after the mechanic, but actually only contains one affinity card these days. It contains many more metalcraft cards, so many people call it robots. I'm showing off the ensoul variant, which is a bit more vulnerable to removal but has a lot of potential for explosive wins.
The main business cards in this deck are Ensoul Artifact, Arcbound Ravager and Cranial Plating. If you can resolve one of these three cards, you are usually pretty well off. This deck also relies heavily upon manlands like Inkmoth Nexus and the Etched Champion.
Music Courtesy Of:
"Vintage Education" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
"The Machine Thinks" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
"Lightless Dawn" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

[@RhysticStudies]

"it's impossible for me to learn new things! I'm a professor!" I lost it.

[@DCAMM720]

"Affinity is an artifact based combo deck, it is often misinterpreted as an aggro deck but dumping your hand and swinging with all the little creatures is rarely the best strategy." -This guy "Affinity is the best aggro deck in the format. You need to just dump your entire hand, because that's what affinity does." -Frank Karsten, Pro Tour Hall of Fame member and affinity aficionado.

[@k1n6n07h1n6]

I love when they show prices to these decks. It's so funny to see how much the prices jump

[@jonasc5097]

Right!?!? Arch bound ravager is almost 50$ a piece!

[@k1n6n07h1n6]

+Budget MTG Lol I just got into Magic back in December, so I'm going off a lot of these deck templates to get into different formats, so it's like "Oh! I can put together a U-Tron deck for only $150?! Yes please!!!" Then $350 later...

[@asbquez6494]

I picked up a playset for $140 total lmao

[@jonasc5097]

+ASBQuez lucky....

[@asbquez6494]

Not really. I've never seen themover 40 bucks, and they're going for under 35 right now at tcgplayer (even for nm and lp)

[@dm4life579]

"It's impossible for me to learn new things! I am a professor!" That line is Gold!

[@carrotslayer79]

I would just like to say, as a post secondary student your imitation of a professor is excellent. Of course my professor would never admit they can't learn anything new, but when you challenge them and prove them wrong, you see that same face of despair and panic you see in this video!

[@Imnospy]

I'm an affinity player and seeing this video filled me with joy. I can safely say it's one of the most skilled-based deck when it comes down to modern that there is. Well, in the competitive tiers that is.

[@dogmd7]

I'd say this has been your best deck tech video to date. Really excellent work from both of you, from the so-bad-it's-good level of acting to the solid advice itself.

[@evanstoddard6396]

These "Advanced Modern Studies" have really caught my curiosity. I went to MTG Top 8 like your net decking video suggested, and the Aura Hexproof, or "Bogles", deck caught gained my full attention.

[@noahdaglio9362]

Thumbs up if you wanna go to Tolarian Community College

[@TolarianCommunityCollege]

Noah Daglio Why, you're already enrolled!

[@ivanrutkowski-ansell6142]

Tolarian Community College can i join?

[@TolarianCommunityCollege]

Ivan Rutkowski-Ansell Enrollment for all! Seriously, we're a community college. If you show up to class, then you're enrolled.

[@ivanrutkowski-ansell6142]

Tolarian Community College thx

[@ivanrutkowski-ansell6142]

Tolarian Community College i found a combo in Modern masters draft turn one draft paradise mantel second pack draft court homoclus then draft arc bound ravonger you win lol!

[@sainthitch]

This is probably one of my favorite videos you've done, especially deck techs. Well done!

[@cthomas992]

I think one thing you could add to this series is talk about what you want to be playing against when piloting the said deck, and which ones you don't want to, probably right before the sideboard segment. I think it's also a good idea to talk about the deck's weaknesses as well, as in what the deck doesn't do well. For example, Birthing Pod: it does a great job getting creatures out, but lacks any real draw power and it could actually be bad if you don't have a Birthing Pod out (this is just me talking from personal experience, and thankfully me falling behind without Pod doesn't happen all that often, you can win without a Pod). This way, someone that constructs the deck will go into modern prepared for the worst that could happen to them.

[@jacklilly4670]

I like how you reply to people, without rushing through and just replying the bare minimum.

[@TolarianCommunityCollege]

UnpluggedGamez I really, really do read every comment. With replies, I want very much to reply to everyone, but there are getting to be SOO many comments that I can't quite reply to all. But I do read them all! I really do! :)

[@harryroszell4386]

Man, I had a weird dream that tolarian community college was shooting a video in my childhood home as I stood off to the side and watched. I don't remember much too it besides him announcing prize winners of Fate Reforged and Return to Ravnica Booster boxes

[@noahdaglio9362]

It's not Affinity It's Tin Man All Star Band.

[@Awesomeslayer3]

Lol

[@travis_approved]

Noah Daglio AHHHHHHHHHHHHH Friday nights

[@willkucera1001]

Noah Daglio hahahaha. LRR is the bomb

[@SamuelKioEDH]

+Noah Daglio Of course.

[@PowerhouseSceptile]

Is it your own brew?

[@theVoidyTv]

Mox Opal must go down to make affinity something people can pickup.

[@TolarianCommunityCollege]

the Void Hopefully MM2 will help with this, but I am not optimistic.

[@PaladinOfHope]

Tolarian Community College Unfortunately i fear that a Mox Opal reprint would have the same effect the reprints of Goyf and Dark Confident; it will increase the already high demand and thus increase the price of the card although it has just been freshly reprinted. The increased interest in Modern as a "cheaper" alternative to Legacy; especially after the first Modern Masters; might have been a good thing to get people to actually give the format a try but as i said it also had the effect of an increased demand for an already low quantity of available key cards. Sure, MM2015 will have a higher print run according to Wizards of the Coast (and it is in my eyes a bad idea and also a good subject for a more polished and elaborated discussion) but if the increase isn't significant enough it will backfire on the chase cards.

[@MrAzrealDragon]

Tolarian Community College Thanks Professor, I asked for an Artifact deck and you showed an artifact deck and one I have most the cards for already as well. Well except for the $200 set of 4 Mox Opel. Any work around for that card?

[@TolarianCommunityCollege]

Azreal Dragoon Sadly, no. Keep in mind this is considered one of the best/strongest decks in Modern, so it is not going to come cheap.

[@theVoidyTv]

Tolarian Community College well i would not call it "one of the strongest" but for sure strong maybe Tier 1.5 with delver / cruise you can't really do much now. This deck could also benefit from Cruise in case of a board wipe. But back to $50 Mox Opal, well this deck doesn't work without them and they make up about 60% of deck price... so from one of the most affordable deck it spikes to one of the most expensive. That is bad :( Still you can replace mox opal with Myr Enforcer and have a decent Tier 2 deck.

[@colvinatchison344]

You're portrayal of"know it all' pompous academia types is spot on... you must have to work with a few of those types. Great video... more please. thank you.

[@schwartzpedro]

Im starting to connect with this show on a totally academic level..Oh my MD!

[@nafnaf505]

Affinity is one of those decks that I absolutely love conceptually, but have never actually played

[@Fer_Silfore]

Damn I remember when this was a brand new video. But let’s have a moment of silence for Mox Opal

[@glowlog]

Entertaining, great acting, funny, informative and just hilarious. I wish we had more mtg youtubers like you hehe.

[@Gojarino]

Yes! An artifact deck! I LOVE this channel! Best! Video! Ever!!! :D

[@skyrider9102]

Oh wow, WOTC bans my deck since 2010 and now youtube suggests this 2014 video, well done algoritithm. I really needed this.

[@venturous1v]

"It's impossible for me to learn new things! I'm a professor!" Not only is this line great, but I feel it's a nod to Spaceballs' line of "I can't make decisions. I'm a president!"

[@JohnDoe-wg9zw]

these advanced modern studies are my favorite. when are you going to make more of them?

[@evileyeball]

I miss the affinity I used to play... I played a very budget affinity when Mirrodin block was new. Artifact lands, ornithopter, frogmite, myr enforcer, shrapnal blast, thought cast, thirst for knowledge, cranial plating, scale of chis-ghoria etc etc.

[@davidherrera7232]

I'm an ensoul man! Very nice video on affinity. GreatNate also has an amazing guide to affinity if you haven't seen it yet.

[@gordonhewitt7766]

I feel like the typos were on purpose to keep the "Why won't you students just leave me alone!" joke going. Nice one, Prof.

[@obake6290]

"I'm a professor, I don't know ANYTHING!"

[@TolarianCommunityCollege]

Obake Uh...intentional meta humor. Yep. Very high-brow humor over here.

[@angeladriandgm]

Make a vídeo about one of the worst and more expensive decks in modern: Faeries, i love them

[@KJRiotGaming]

It's nice to see these deck video's, but maybe a Video to go over more specific cards, or the formats in general, however, every video is truly a gift ^^

[@cthomas992]

I've waited a looong time for this :)

[@ComradeVenus]

6:58 lol it says mox opal instead of thoughtsieze.

[@matttheman3923]

If only mox opal was that cheap xD

[@ComradeVenus]

I totally with is was that inexpensive! lol!

[@3gnomes1bigcoat39]

I just got into merfolk, I know it's not tier 1 but I would love to see a video like this for merfolk

[@TolarianCommunityCollege]

Aaron Kelly Ask and ye shall recieve: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eISteIqKadijrpo

[@LevyMaster98]

Awesome video! I would recommend using dispatch on the sideboard since you almost always have metalcraft on the table. I would also recommend Wear//Tear since it can also kill enchantments. I believe Blood moon is a good option against 3 coloured decks although it shuts down your lands. I usually play without master of etherium and with 4 galvanic blast. The enemy will not see that burn to the face coming. In order not to spend that much i would play 3 mox opal and 4 drums.

[@amrcnerrorist7]

Professor I love these!

[@angelV1]

this videos intro segment was fantastic

[@jadedflames]

Even though it isn't a super popular (or affordable) choice, i would love seeing my pet deck, Faeries, get a video.

[@peterwillems2422]

This is my latest robots "fun" list. The idea is to get out an early Hardened Scales. Often T1 is Land, Springleaf Drum, Ornithopter/Memnite, Tap it for green and play Hardened Scales. At this point, Ravager comes in at 3 and devours for +2, Chrono and overseer both add 2 counters per activation as well. Realize that the 2 Nexus lands can be artifacts to be gobbled up and that many times the kill condition is by infect. 1 Triskelion 4 Chronomaton 3 Ornithopter 4 Steel Overseer 3 Memnite 4 Etched Champion 4 Arcbound Ravager 3 Chromatic Star 4 Springleaf Drum 4 Thoughtcast 4 Galvanic Blast 4 Hardened Scales 4 Inkmoth Nexus 4 Blinkmoth Nexus 4 Glimmervoid 3 Darksteel Citadel 1 Wooded Foothills 1 Forest 1 Mountain Sideboard 1 Dismember 3 Path to Exile 2 Torpor Orb 4 Whipflare 1 Steel Hellkite 4 Ancient Grudge

[@charlieminshaw3053]

Great video! Will have to try this deck out soon, but some of the cards are too expensive...hopefully they'll be in MMA 2015

[@k1n6n07h1n6]

I love how the Professor says "Well" alongside the student.

[@duo317]

God I miss these skits. They were hilarious.

[@RagingDagger]

Haha, that intro was so cheesy it was really good. Great job as always TCC!

[@whitesmith5985]

This still has to be one of my favourite videos haha

[@hachnslay]

7:50 - "...Excelent gainst Birthing pod"[Awkward Pause]

[@TerrorOfThePeaks]

Can we get more vids like this. The one you made about tron was what got me into playing U tron

[@ericriggs1863]

Thoughtseize is listed as Mox Opal in the video when going over costs. not sure if this was brought up already but wanted to let you know. Keep making great videos!

[@charlesdicus6451]

we know read the comments

[@ShmingsThings]

7:43 Right in the feels

[@ExtremeMusicPromotion]

I always liked Executioners Hood to make my creatures get through on most decks.

[@27shark11]

Awesome! Keep going!

[@rabidwallaby84]

Prof! You should revisit this deck, now that Kaladesh block has been through!

[@halfe8128]

You made a typo professor! You put "Signal Pest" when you were showing off Vault Skirge.

[@TolarianCommunityCollege]

Jayfeather Fulgore Oh, no! Not ANOTHER typo! Uhhh....it was intentional? /flees

[@halfe8128]

Maybe you're part of the conspiracy! imgur.com/r/magicTCG/mFTk9uY

[@roguedeath98]

Tolarian Community College You also have Thoughtseize listed as Mox Opal when showing the values, and one of the other values is listed as 4 when I think you meant to use $

[@TolarianCommunityCollege]

Wow, looks like this somehow published an earlier draft. Frustrating.

[@Kenthis15]

Tolarian Community College Also had Mox Opal when you were showing Thoughtseize

[@Xeroxorex]

I'd love to see an advanced hatebears list. I run a mono white version with flickerwisp, restoration angel, blade splicer, and akroma, angel of wrath, in addition to the path/ghost quarter leonin arbiter/aven mindcensor combo. Before every tournament I tune the mainboard (final numbers on cards, whether to main deck spellskite, eidolon of rhetoric, or phyrexian revoker) and completely build a sideboard. I have a stack of white cards from rest in peace and disenchant, to eidolon of rhetoric and hushwing gryff (yes, I run flickerwisp and restoration angel, yes I play around my own hate) and build my sideboard based on what I think people are playing. I love the ability to tune on the fly like that, it allows for a high level of customization and rewards skilled players.

[@benzhang5897]

Aww man, so I gotta pick up 41 ornithopters? Good thing it's a dollar for all of them.

[@CrimsonFox36]

"Miller Time!" Mill, nowadays, is considered a joke deck. it's slow, and relies on your opponent drawing dead cards most of the time. this is a deck i made that a casual build, and is fun to play. the main combo is Mind Crank, and Duskmantle Guildmage. let me know if there are any alterations you recommend. x4 Duskmantle Guildmage x3 Dimir Infiltrator x2 Spell Skite x4 Mindcrank x2 muddle the mixture x3 Deprive x4 go for the throat x4 gut shot x2 spell snare x2 serum visions x4 thought scour x4 gitaxian probe x1 teramorphic expanse/ x1 evolving wilds x4 Polluted delta x4 Watery Grave x5 swamp x7 island

[@thelordofdarkcheese]

Take out the one terramorphic expanse and put another evolving wilds in there

[@keagancantrell3756]

No consuming aberration? For shame!

[@CrimsonFox36]

not needed when you can kill them with one spell.

[@IvanRodriguez-wz2fi]

Same music the Dark 5 channel uses... AWESOME

[@thomasalden6263]

Awesome deck! I think some good fine tuning that I would do would be: Replace the island with Seat of the Synod, and possibly throw in a Mycosynth Golem (for late game)

[@thomasalden6263]

Thomas Alden Not sure if seat of the synod is legal, but Mycosynth golem would be a throw in for me

[@stevotorres7848]

Please do more Modern studies!!

[@lapisrabbitcomics]

@ 4:50 - I didn't know you play 41 Ornithopters in an affinity deck XD

[@hydra66]

for future vids could you also include a few lines about what the deck's weak against

[@SomChefen]

Oh boy the horrible acting is awesome xD

[@ryanhruskajr]

Arcbound Ravager is at about $52 now, up from the $17.99 in the video, would cost around $200 for a playset now.

[@admiralcasperr]

For sideboard on mirror a Wear//Tear is a good option and becouse it can destroy enchantments it can be used against 8rack

[@nuzzy6795]

I think you mean Tin-Man Allstar Band

[@musicmode2217]

Good vid 👍

[@alexzahak9135]

If you ever do another card sleeve review I would appreciate if you would include the star city games sleeves. Thank you.

[@willjones3151]

Affinity is an aggro deck. To your wallet at least.

[@willemboele2079]

JUND

[@true_nebulaayylmao2306]

TRON

[@cinderstar6634]

True_NeBuLa ayy lmao certainly now but way back then it wasn’t nearly as expensive to build a good tron deck.

[@theosnyder3461]

I'm a huge fan of the channel, and ur basically why I want to get into modern. I just had a question. Is tolarian academy banned? I had some trouble finding an answer, and it would be awesome if you could help. Keep up the good work!

[@TiMMaH090]

Hey Professor! Are you going to go see the Keane documentary, "Big Eyes", in theaters? I saw the trailer and knew I've seen paintings like that somewhere... but couldn't quite put my finger on it until now.

[@scottcampbell9515]

I am sad that this is no longer a deck.

[@austinp8192]

41 ornithopters!! That's nuts!

[@ethanfordford6621]

I was thinking of making blue red affinity burn.... Any thoughts for what should be put in it??

[@joshuanewcombe8454]

Wow, saw this video for the first time 3 years later and the deck has nearly doubled in price lol

[@charlesdicus6451]

also do a video on spoilers saying how they might effect the standard tournaments after this

[@suizidschlumpf2]

does someone know where i can buy artifact decks or at least single magic cards? i wanna get/ build one my own. love them

[@nikatanyx5241]

00:40 the professer is right about affinity. It is barf out my hand i win!

[@nikatanyx5241]

***** Nope. Played against it though

[@unstopablerob214]

no -_-

[@DaddyGato_Palavering]

Why didnt you say anyhting about Vault Skirge? Card can be good in alot of match ups.

[@thebirdwizard5947]

I took out the masters and replaced them with 2 more galvanic blast, I also took out 1 champion (which is now in the board) and replaced it with a final springleaf drum

[@kepeboi]

Just want to know how to deal with Stony Silence? Any good sideboard option?

[@Oddip]

OMG how much I would love to study magic! I would do so much homework my teacher would get annoyed :D

[@Oddip]

+Odd Arne B Although I sort of already am a part-time student as I spend a lot of my spare time watching strategy videos, gameplay, pro tours or reading articles about magic :)

[@aappaapp6627]

3:28 Yay, Slang! (I play too many non-bos in commander but also they make everyone else angry like possibility storm, forced fruition, and that red card that randomly changes the target of a spell. What's it called when everyone is affected negatively including you?)

[@alanyuan8565]

Torpor orb is great in a Post dig through time is splinter twin and is also good against birthing pod. Isn't birthing pod banned with dig through time?

[@b_olson542]

Where can I get this copy of the Modern Burn study guide?

[@marcelsf23br]

Great video! Instant subscribe. And hey, how powerful would this deck be if the artifact lands were legal? Could they substitute Mox Opal?

[@TolarianCommunityCollege]

marcelsf23br If the artifact lands were legal? This deck would break the format! Heh. That's why they are banned. It would be overpowered, to say the least.

[@marcelsf23br]

Thanks so much for the reply. Your channel is awesome, and yeah, I can see it being completely broken as the player would have more artifacts per card, right?

[@baxter740]

I actually disagree with the professor. In this meta, affinity has a bad matchup against the abzan and jund decks. Artifact lands do not solve this issue. Although the consistency of opal would increase, the only reason the deck would put up results would be for the sheer amount of people playing with the newly unbanned cards.

[@residentzombie]

marcelsf23br Go research a card called Vandalblast and then read the Overload ability. This 1 card is why people shy away from Affinity decks. 1 card can wipe your entire board.

[@camodude51]

can you do more advanced modern studies please?

[@AlphaXLord]

Hey TCC, are you able to do more budget standard decks soon or after the spoilers come up? I would love to see some more, and I have this decent idea of an U/R Spellslinger Prowess deck.

[@TolarianCommunityCollege]

AlphaXLord That's the plan. Keep in mind that after a set hits, everything is chaos. Getting out ANY deck tech, let alone a viable budget build using cards that are only 2 weeks old is very tough. Even last time, I felt I only succeeded in half the videos, and only one of them turned out to be a powerhouse (and that's because, as you'll note in the bibliography, it was based on an actual PRO's non-budget build). I'm gonna try, but I may need to do fewer than last set. We'll see.

[@asiankobe]

cool- I learned a lot more about affinity- I need to sideboard against it though- suggestions please Im in rakdos colors

[@Nanofuture87]

Shatterstorm, Shattering Spree, Vandalblast, Night of Souls' Betrayal, By Force. There's plenty of options in red.

[@austinschaller3075]

Is anyone doing a dissertation on GR Tron, professor. I could use a study guide for it.

[@HeldrikBoldhart]

what about Chronomancer? the artifact that gets +1/+1 for 1 mana and tapping.

[@lovemakesmehappy1]

Yup definitely going to need 41 copies of Ornithopter! Kidding aside nice video!

[@Jessandherbooks]

"Its impossible for me to learn new things!! I'm a professor!!!" God I died XD hahahaha! So true with every teacher I've ever had XD

[@Spaceboy34]

I have a question, Professor. I'm planning on getting into Modern with my income tax refund next month when I'll have the free cash to splash on a complete deck and after watching this video I'm pretty settled on this being the one I'd like to go for. But do you think the cost of this deck will be significantly altered by the release of MM2 just a few months down the road? If it'll only be a $100 or less difference I won't mind it for the months of play rather than waiting but I'd hate to see the price dip too much when I could have waited a few months and seen a significant savings. Thanks!

[@VictorReyes-rc9xp]

Dude, I totally need to run 41 Ornithopters in my deck omg

[@mauro77077]

With the Mox Opal out of the format, what would you say is its best replacement for this deck?

[@TheSimon642]

i think there's a typo at 4:50, it says 41 = $1 which doesn't seem right at all

[@comedyorsomthing]

3 drums? drum so good!!!

[@micahcole9534]

would you ever consider covering shamanism? its tier two yeah but vry few people i know have heard of it let alone played it i think it deserves more recognition it having one of the most powerful lords in modern (3 mana hellrider with an added upside? heck yes!)

[@rxNova]

hey so i am building a affinity deck but my budget is $265 what are so mandatory affinity cards or if you have a t3 or t2 affinity deck under $300 i have some stretching room

[@Mrtfarrugia]

4:49 I think that may be overkill with the Ornathopters.

[@thatonekidtrex]

Mrtfarrugia 41 for a dollar is a steal

[@willemboele2079]

imagine if you have 7 ornithopters in hand...... you will lose but it will be so beautiful.....

[@jonahk1593]

perfectMustache is so fabulas Yess

[@Welank]

Pretty good substitute teacher!

[@David-dj8rr]

I wonder how an affinity deck with a transformative sideboard like pauper affinity?