By now, pretty much everyone is acquainted with Boros Energy in Modern. The deck has been the best in the format since it arrived, almost fully-formed, in Modern Horizons 3 last year. Underworld Breach decks took over for a spell, but a recent banning has reset the status quo. It’s a very well-established, powerful archetype, in other words. That’s not to say there’s no more ground for the deck to explore, of course. This past weekend, an enterprising MTG player took down a Modern RCQ with Esper Energy, of all things.
Swapping out the deck’s aggressive red elements for more disruptive cards, this new list is certainly innovative. It also makes great use of some established Modern powerhouses, like Psychic Frog and Ketramose. It almost feels like three different decks rolled into one, but somehow consistent enough to top an RCQ. If you share the common feeling that Modern is getting a bit stale these days, perhaps thios deck will reignite your interest.
Esper Energy In MTG Modern
The Esper Energy deck in question comes to us via Alp Buğra, who piloted it to a first-place finish at a German RCQ this past weekend. Despite the name, this is a bit of a wild mish-mash of a list. It incorporates elements of traditional Energy decks, sure, but it adds a ton of cards from other archetypes too, from Orzhov Midrange to Ketramose.
To start with the Energy cards first, the deck runs full playsets of both Guide of Souls and Ocelot Pride. Pride isn’t technically an Energy card, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a Boros Energy list that doesn’t run it. These are two of the most pushed one mana creatures, in white or otherwise, that Magic: The Gathering has ever seen. Both get the deck off to a stellar aggressive start, and both can carry games by themselves if the wind blows right.
Pride doesn’t really offer much synergy to the deck, given the absence of tokens elsewhere. It is a cheap creature for Guide of Souls, however, and a white card you can pitch to March of Otherworldly Light. This is another Energy staple in the deck, and a fantastic removal spell for any problem you come up against.
These three cards, surprisingly, mark the end of the ‘Energy’ part of this decks. That doesn’t diminish their importance, mind you. The ability to get on-board quickly and generate value is huge in Modern right now, and a big part of why traditional Energy decks are still thriving. As it moves into a value-based mid game, this speedy start will serve Buğra’s deck well.
A Tale Of Two Archetypes
From here, Esper Energy starts to branch out, drawing from several of the best MTG decks in Modern right now. For starters, a full-on Ketramose package, starring the God itself, Psychic Frog, and Phelia, dominates the deck’s mid-game plans.
Ketramose has proven itself as an efficient card advantage engine in the format, and these two are some of the best cards to leverage that. Attacking with Phelia and using Frog’s last ability will both draw you an extra card with Ketramose out. Frog also allows for a pseudo-combo with Ketramose where you pitch your hand then exile it, cycling through your deck and growing Frog into an evasive finisher.
Complementing the Ketramose engine, Buğra runs a couple of classics from the Orzhov Blink decks that were everywhere in Modern for a while. Both Solitude and Overlord of the Balemurk make fantastic Phelia targets, and great hits for Emperor of Bones, too. Solitude is a fantastic way to draw cards while dealing with problems with Ketramose out. Overlord is also great, giving you fuel for Psychic Frog and card advantage in one fell swoop.
A full playset of Relic of Progenitus adds even more power to your draw engine, letting you draw a card a turn or easily animate Ketramose if need be. It also does a ton of work against Dimir Murktide, one of the best decks in the format right now. Throw in a playset of Thoughtseize for early disruption, and that’s pretty much the deck.
While there’s a lot going on here, it all makes sense when you toss it together. The deck’s Energy elements let it compete in the early game, then Ketramose propels it to victory through sheer card advantage.
A Flash In The Pan?
With Esper Energy, as with any spicy new MTG brew that finds its way to success in Modern, the question of longevity is always close at hand. Sure the deck won an RCQ this past weekend, but is it good enough to find a permanent place in the format?
The main obstacle Buğra’s deck needs to overcome to do so is Boros Energy. While not quite as dominant as it once was, it’s back to being the best deck in the format again. This matchup falls into the classic Aggro vs. Midrange paradigm, so Esper should be favored here. Boros can do more early game, but once Ketramose comes online it’s easy for Esper to grind them out. The Energy cards in Esper should help it weather the early assault, too. Notably, Pest Control out of the sideboard is game-changing against Boros.
The other big decks in the format right now pose bigger problems. Dimir Murktide doesn’t come out of the gate quite so fast, but it has so much removal and disruption that Esper Energy will likely struggle to find its footing. After game one, you’ll find it difficult to stick a Ketramose, which will leave you hurting for resources in a resource-dependent matchup.
As for Eldrazi Ramp, there’s always the chance that it just completely runs you over with value. Tarkir: Dragonstorm brought Ugin, Eye of the Storms into play, which is an absurd value engine for the deck to leverage. This card can come down early, exile your Ketramose, draw a card and pad your opponent’s life total. If you can really get off to a fast start you have a chance, but because Esper Energy straddles the Aggro/Midrange divide that may not be a consistent plan.