Restoring the Balance

By Luis Scott-Vargas

Luis Scott-Vargas plays, writes, and makes videos about Magic. He has played on the Pro Tour for almost a decade, and between that and producing content for ChannelFireball, often has his hands full (of cards).

I haven't seen a Restore Balance cast since the last time I was in Amsterdam, at the Pro Tour in 2010. It's not the most common spell to cascade into (it is rare, after all), but the effect it has is undeniably powerful.

What this deck is trying to do is use Demonic Dread or Violent Outburst to cast the aforementioned Restore Balance, and respond to it by sacrificing some or all of its lands to Greater Gargadon. That wipes the board of all creatures and lands, with some amount of hand disruption depending on the game. After the dust settles, Gargadon or Nihilith come off suspend to finish the job, aided by a Keyrune from time to time.

The deck is operating under some interesting restrictions, because in order to hit Restore Balance it cannot play any card that costs less than three. Search for Tomorrow cheats that by being a one-drop that costs three, and all of the cycling creatures do the same. All this deck does is Balance the scales, and every card in the deck is aimed toward achieving that goal.

That casting cost restriction applies to the sideboard as well, where Ingot Chewers and Leylines have a similar Cheatyface feel. Slaughter Games is the only sideboard card that costs what it costs, and helps fight against other combo decks like Scapeshift.

If you want a deck that feels (and plays) dramatically different from everything else that's going on, this can certainly restore your interest in Modern. All it's trying to do is Armageddon, Wrath of God, and Mind Twist both players, and who doesn't want to cast that trio of powerhouses?

Spanky_kc's Restore Balance

Decklist Stats Sample Hand

Creature (20)

4 Deadshot Minotaur 4 Greater Gargadon 4 Monstrous Carabid 4 Nihilith 4 Simian Spirit Guide

Sorcery (11)

4 Demonic Dread 3 Restore Balance 4 Search for Tomorrow

Instant (4)

4 Violent Outburst

Artifact (3)

1 Golgari Keyrune 2 Rakdos Keyrune

Land (22)

3 Blackcleave Cliffs 1 Blood Crypt 3 Copperline Gorge 1 Forbidden Orchard 2 Forest 2 Mountain 1 Overgrown Tomb 1 Stomping Ground 2 Swamp 2 Treetop Village 4 Verdant Catacombs

60 Cards