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My first discussion post on a series of cards I believe to be undervalued in Modern.In a way, abbot is snapcaster's little brother. It's my contention that it should see play in modern nearly constantly.Why I think this card deserves recognition:-it generates advantage in almost every circumstance. Unlike snap, the only condition necessary is the available mana to possibly play the exiled card (so the 2 you need to cast it plus whatever your curve demands (probably 3 or 4). It also plays an exiled land, meaning that no matter what you exile you at least get a shot of gaining the +1 on the exchange.-it can stand as a decent 2 drop on its own if you have to play it turn 2 before getting the chance to take advantage of its exile abil. 2/1 prowess for 2 is a good enough card on its own in a deck that maximizes instant/sorc control. -it realistically is a card that has the status of "I want to top deck this if I have to topdeck a card" just like snap, gearhulk, etc. because it improves field presence as well as generates a +1 under minimally constrictive conditions.-it's splashable in pretty much any decktype that doesn't rely on a specific win condition as the card you exile and play has no conditions, unlike snap which primarily gains its advantage in control builds.-when combined with scry mechanics (opt, serum visions, etc) it generates calculable advantage.-wonderfully blinkableAdvantages over snap:-doesn't pull from the grave so grave hate has no effect-splashable in more decktypes due to fewer conditions-only conditions necessary is available mana (a condition on nearly every card)-costs about a quarterDisadvantages to snap:-no calculated play on advantage generated unless running heavy scry mechanics or the like, unlike snap which is 100% calculated-has the chance to miss due to mana cost of exiled card-no flash ability, (which, in my opinion, would make this card every bit as good as snap)Conclusions:1- due to necessity of available mana, running 4 copies is a bad idea as you don't want to drop it before you have mana available to play the exiled card. Thus, you don't want it in opening hand as it removes the tempo of being a 2 drop that you don't want to play turn 2. I feel comfortable running 2 with the knowledge that topdecking it will generate enough advantage to justify the decision. (it's worth noting that I have similar feelings about snap, which I recognize aren't shared by the MTG community)3- obviously not as good as snap because of lack of calculation and no flash abil, but a respectable little brother.
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NOTE: Set by owner when deck was made.
I see what you mean, but I think the flash and the "100% calculated" aspect of snapcaster just puts it over the edge, pushing Abbot out from being a contender. And the fact that it can just as easily miss makes it too unreliable.
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yh, because its guaranteed random its not that good, kinda like how u'd much rather play preordain than serum vision, other gives u guaranteed card u want whilst other is 100% random, bad example maybe because preordain banned in modern but u get mi point
This is exactly why I play sleight of hand over serum vision all day every day. And I totally agree, the unpredictability and lack of flash drops the old girl down a peg. But in my mind running 1 copy (or 2 if you're feelin frisky) that you will almost certainly topdeck removes most of the danger of a missed exile and is almost guaranteed to give you some advantage for the cost. But that's me
The randomness and extra mana reliability is the main problem. Cards with similar effects, while costing more initially, mitigate the mana liability by giving other bonuses and / or delay the exile effect. Like Chandra, Torch of Defiance which gives you other options the turn she hits play and Shocks the opponent if the card isn't played. Or Outpost Siege (calling Khan) delays the exile to the next turn, allowing you to use the mana used to play the card giving the effect on the new "extra" card. Abbot isn't bad, it just has too many cons for it to be viable in the fast pased meta of modern.
All true, I'm just trying to glimpse some advantage in splashing in 1 copy to topdeck, improve field presence, and net you a +1. Maybe I'm too optimistic, but I at least see the potential
I have played him a lot. I feel he can only be good in fast aggro or burn style of decks. He just isn't a good card in midrange or control builds. Because he is not reactive at all like snap caster mage. You mentioned the mana problem. But it's also a timing problem. What happens if you reveal a counterspell? It doesn't feel good. Prowess is also very weak in reactive decks. Usually prowess can only be utilized in burn, bounce, and/or cantrip style decks. But is very weak otherwise. These limitations make him playable in only a few decks. And even in those perfect abbot decks. Better options exist most of the time. Your really putting a lot of stock into that extra card if you want him to be playable.