Bloomburrow cards are out in full force, and this popular set is making a bigger impact on Constructed than we originally thought. Standard has seen major metagame shifts this week, with new archetypes such as Boros tokens making their presences felt. Meanwhile, powerhouses like Beza, the Bounding Spring are seeing some Pioneer play as well, in this case as a potent sideboard card for Azorius control.
From a Modern standpoint, though, Bloomburrow hasn’t made much noise. This makes sense in a format with such a vast card pool, especially since the release of MH3. That being said, it appears that one particular uncommon has showcased that it has what it takes to shine in a harsh environment.
The card in question is none other than Pawpatch Formation. Pawpatch Formation’s flexibility makes it stronger than it looks. In a deck like Modern Indomitable Creativity, the card simply does everything you want. Let’s start by taking a closer look at the card’s role in this archetype.
A Perfect Enabler
- Mana Value: 1G
- Rarity: Uncommon
- Text: Choose one- Destroy target creature with flying, destroy target enchantment, or draw a card and create a Food token. (It’s an artifact with “2, Tap, Sacrifice this artifact: Yiu gain 3 life.”)
Pawpatch Formation is a rather unassuming uncommon. After all, none of the three modes is all that impressive. However, just like many other modal cards in the past, versatility plays a big part in the card’s appeal.
In the Indomitable Creativity shell, the final mode is a great way to provide a target for the namesake card at little cost. We’ve seen players try to splash for Deduce in the past to fill a similar slot, but Pawpatch Formation is much easier on the mana. For a deck that wants to reliably cast Wrenn and Six on turn two and also maximize Dwarven Mine, getting to play a green combo enabler instead of a blue one is a big deal.
Of course, Pawpatch Formation does more than just draw a card and make a Food for combo purposes. Both of the other modes are incredibly useful in the current metagame. Given how popular Bant Nadu is, having a one-card answer to the elite flier is nice. On top of that, Pawpatch Formation can destroy Urza’s Saga, which is a key card in Bant Nadu and beyond. Being able to essentially free roll Enchantment and flier removal on a card that helps you execute your combo quickly is a huge boon.
Read More: MTG Twiddlestorm Combo Deck Guide
Pawpatch Formation in Standard
- Mana Value: 5W
- Rarity: Rare
- Text: Flash. Domain- This spell costs 1 less to cast for each basic land type among lands you control. When Leyline Binding enters the battlefield, exile target nonland permanent an opponent controls until Leyline Binding leaves the battlefield.
Even in decks without a combo aspect, though, Pawpatch Formation can still be a reasonable inclusion. A strong Abzan ramp deck that has been overperforming in Standard lately often utilizes Pawpatch Formation as a solid answer to otherwise problematic permanents.
In Standard especially, there are ample Enchantments and fliers to kill. From Leyline Binding to Zoraline, Cosmos Caller, there are enough targets to where Pawpatch Formation pulls its weight. Getting to nab Caretaker’s Talent which could otherwise run away with the game is essential, too.
Once again, if the opponent doesn’t have fliers or Enchantments you need to remove, you can just “cycle” Pawpatch Formation and move on. This really goes to show just how powerful optionality can be in the world of MTG.
Read More: $0.25 Bloomburrow Bat Makes Surprise Appearance In Top Meta Deck
