Since the most recent ban announcement, the Modern metagame has experienced some big evolutions. Living End has become significantly more popular, and Boros Energy players have been forced to adjust. Interestingly, with Phlage out of the picture, some players have found top-eight success pivoting to Selesnya.
The Flexible Approach of Selesnya Energy
By splashing green, this deck gets access to multiple elite grindy tools that give Selesnya Energy a different feel. The strongest of the bunch is Birthing Ritual, which is the ultimate value-generating machine.
Thanks to creatures like Ranger-Captain of Eos and Solitude with strong enters triggers, it’s easy to pull ahead while upgrading your board. You can even Warp Haliya, Guided by Light before converting it into a four-drop prior to its exile trigger.
Of all the four-mana options out there, none grind quite like Brightglass Gearhulk. Picking up Guide of Souls and Ocelot Pride is already an incredible baseline. Additionally, it can also tutor specific one-ofs like Static Prison and Haywire Mite as needed.
The only downside to Brightglass Gearhulk is that it’s a bit on the expensive side when drawn naturally. Fortunately, this deck has the capability of ramping the beefy play out a turn early thanks to Flagstones of Trokair. All you have to do is target Flagstones with your own copy of White Orchid Phantom on turn two, and you’ll get to search for multiple lands in the exchange.
Once you get your engine rolling, it’s easy to get multiple bites at the value apple with Ephemerate. If you ever get to save one of your threats from a removal spell in the process, it’ll feel like a complete blowout. Of course, the upside of casting Solitude for free and blinking it with the Evoke trigger on the stack is also a great way to help stabilize the board.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Given this deck’s ability to keep applying pressure without ever running out of gas, it’s easy to see why Selesnya Energy has plenty of appeal. Going bigger than Boros Energy gives you a decent edge in the pseudo-mirror, while its grindy elements excel versus Azorius Blink.
Plus, beyond just helping you grind, Birthing Ritual makes it more likely to find specific hate cards. Landing Drannith Magistrate versus Living End or Clarion Conqueror against Affinity can be backbreaking. Even digging for Solitude gives you a much better shot at containing big threats like Psychic Frog and Abhorrent Oculus.
Despite these benefits, there are still reasons to favor Boros Energy over this Selesnya build. While Selesnya Energy has the better grindy cards, Boros has more explosive potential with Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer. As a result, racing combo decks and Eldrazi Ramp is much harder as Selesnya.
Overall, this mix of positives and negatives makes Selesnya Energy’s position a bit metagame dependent. Nonetheless, there’s certainly a reward for going against the grain and playing this archetype if the matchups align in your favor. So, don’t be shocked if this deck continues to pop up more and more in the future.
Stick with us here at mtgrocks.com: the best site for Magic: The Gathering coverage. Be sure to check out our deckbuilder for your next big brew, and our brand new MTG Rocks Podcast!