Once again, Splinter Twin is officially legal in the modern format. It took eight years, but the two-card combo is back in Modern. Obviously, a lot of the landscape has changed since the card’s unbanning. As many expected, while Splinter Twin was a menace to deal with years ago, the card doesn’t appear to be standing up to the times. Many have tried to relive the glory days, but Splinter Twin isn’t one of the better archetypes according to recent Modern results. Don’t get us wrong, the deck is performing ok, but there are other archetypes that are consistently outperforming it.
The Splinter Twin archetypes that are doing the best have adapted some new-age technology. As long as you have Delirium, Fear of Missing Out may be the best thing to equip Splinter Twin with. While you need to jump a few hoops to make Fear of Missing Out work with Splinter Twin, the creature can hold its own without the enchantment. This puts the card worlds apart from traditional targets.
Fear of Missing Out
Fear of Missing Out and Splinter Twin do go infinite, but in order for it to work, Fear of Missing Out needs to have its Delirium ability active. When it does, here’s how you go infinite.
- Make a copy of Fear of Missing Out.
- Move to combat. Attack with your copy. The copy should trigger, untapping the original copy.
- Tap the original copy to create another Fear of Missing Out.
- Rinse and repeat.
Basically, each new Fear of Missing Out will give you an extra combat step, creating infinite combat steps. You’re only attacking for two damage each combat, but because Fear of Missing Out can untap the original creature enchanted with Splinter Twin, you can create an additional Fear of Missing Out, resetting the Delirium trigger.
While this is yet another way to go infinite with Splinter Twin, Fear of Missing Out is a much stronger creature without the enchantment. The card selection that turns into hard card draw if you’re Hellbent (your hand is empty) puts Fear of Missing Out leagues ahead of Pestermite and Deceiver Exarch. Fear of Missing Out can also still do some massive damage with its Delirium ability outside of Splinter Twin shenanigans, as well.
Deceiver Exarch does have some plusses over Fear of Missing Out, but the card ends up becoming a glorified blocker if you don’t have Splinter Twin. Exarch can tap opposing mana on entry, making it harder to counteract the infinite. It also comes down at instant speed, and survives a Lightning Bolt. While the Exarch is better at making the combo happen, it doesn’t provide much value alone, unlike Fear of Missing Out.
The Spike
Fear of Missing Out had seen lots of play before Splinter Twin was unbanned. The card was a fan-favorite in Pioneer, and made common appearances in Modern and Standard. Despite this, considering that the massive spike this card experienced was right after the unban of Splinter Twin, that appears to be the cause.
Thanks to Splinter Twin’s unbanning, Fear of Missing Out’s market average jumped from $3 to $7 over the past week. The base copy of the card is selling for a wide range of prices, but $8 seems to be the average price for a Fear of Missing Out according to recent sales. That said, finding one for $5 is doable, but will likely take some persistence.
If you want to save some money, consider the Showcase version of Fear of Missing Out. That card seems to have a slightly lower market average, and is possible to find for $4. There are a decent amount of current sales available for the cheaper price, but finding a Showcase copy of Fear of Missing Out for about $6.50 seems realistic.
A Temporary Surge of Demand?
If Fear of Missing Out’s newfound spike is a result of Splinter Twin, it may start to drop in price soon. While Splinter Twin had an impressive breakout performance, the archetype’s recent results are far from desirable. This could mean that Fear of Missing Out’s demand ceases, and the card lowers back in price as a result.
That would be our expectation, but it’s impossible to tell what exactly will happen. If someone manages to find a winning combination in the Modern format with Splinter Twin, Fear of Missing Out could truly take on its namesake, winning games with a new take on nostalgic Magic.
