IntroductionModern is still a really interesting format to keep up with, particularly because of the many approaches each deck can take on without necessarily reinventing themselves completely.In today's article, we'll see a Blink list, a pretty balanced version that can adapt well to each match if you use its triggers and effects well. Today, we'll discuss Azorius Blink and how it creates a lot of value from its creatures.Phelia, A Very Happy PupPhelia, Exuberant Shepherd is probably the card that best represents what this deck is all about, as it lets you blink cards when it attacks. Its ability lets you exile another non-land permanent until the beginning of the next end step, which opens many possibilities.Phelia lets you reuse creatures like Solitude, White Orchid Phantom, Witch Enchanter, and Recruiter of the Guard. So, cards that were already good by themselves will give you value another time. Exiling your permanents will also grow Phelia with +1/+1 counters. Finally, Phelia can take out a blocker from play for a turn, delay an important permanent, or temporarily deal with any pebble in your shoe.The most important detail is that this deck doesn't rely exclusively on Phelia to work. Ephemerate also blinks cards, Teferi, Time Raveler disrupts the opponent, and your cheap creatures are great attackers even when your Corgi isn't in play. Still, when your engine starts working, the match tends to become very uncomfortable for the opponent, either because you'll get lots of resources out of it or because you'll be able to stop their board, even if momentarily.The DeckIn today's article, we'll explore Azorius Blink in Modern. Namely, we'll take a closer look at a list that got 4th place at an RCQ in Oroville, California, in the hands of a player called Sisuonthestack. Phelia, Exuberant Shepherd is the main engine, but this list also plays strong ETBs in white and a few pretty relevant blue tools.This deck uses blinks to reuse ETB effects, but it can also prevent Quantum Riddler from being exiled through Warp, for instance, and set up other interactions.Here it is:Early GameGuide of Souls and Ocelot Pride are this deck's cheap core. They have been great at their job ever since they were released in MH3. They're important because they make this list more than just a bunch of ETB cards and blinks. With these creatures, Azorius Blink has another game plan, one that can stand on its own two legs. Namely, they both force the opponent to spend removals on them before they become a real problem.Guide of Souls interacts really well with the idea of putting creatures in play and getting small resources throughout the match, whereas Ocelot Pride can turn life gain into a board presence with tokens. In many matches, these creatures don't need to win the game by themselves. All they need to do is force the opponent to spend their removals early on so that Phelia, Exuberant Shepherd, Quantum Riddler, or Solitude can enter play freely later.Obviously, the idea is to put Phelia, Exuberant Shepherd in play as early as possible so that you can kickstart your main strategy as early as possible. You can do this as early as turn 2, but you should play it carefully and at the best time possible so that you can take advantage of its effects.Blink Engines and The Main TargetsEphemerate is still one of the best cards for any deck that wants to reuse ETB abilities. It's protection, an extra removal, and a value engine. Alongside Solitude, for instance, you can turn a free answer into a sequence that can exile more than a creature and also keep the creature in play.Speaking of blink targets, Witch Enchanter fits this list really well. Firstly, it interacts with artifacts and enchantments. Besides everything, it is a pretty important modal card in Modern right now. Because of it, this deck doesn't give you that many bricked hands, and you can still play the same useful spells in it as you would normally.Recruiter of the Guard can find you specific creatures for each situation, and it is even better when you can reuse it with Phelia, Exuberant Shepherd or Ephemerate. In this deck, a single search can get you the perfect silver bullet for the opponent's deck, the one that will dismantle their strategy.Interaction and PacingTeferi, Time Raveler is a natural choice when you want to resolve spells but not break a sweat with instant-speed spells. It protects your turns and also disrupts the opponent at the right moments. It can also return permanents to the hand and draw a card in the process.Consign to Memory is in the main deck and the sideboard. It's a way to counter colorless spells and triggered abilities. It is quite flexible because of Replicate, letting you cover more than one strategy when you have more mana available. Furthermore, it deals with effects that make your cards worse, like Quantum Riddler's Warp and Solitude's Evoke.Thraben Charm can deal with creatures, graveyards, or enchantments, which is quite useful in a format as wide as Modern. It's not always the most efficient answer for each isolated situation, but it occupies a single card slot and covers different problems, which is exactly the type of thing interactive decks want.White Orchid Phantom is one of the most interesting cards in this list, particularly because it interacts with Blink effects and Flagstones of Trokair. You can use it to get rid of problematic lands and reuse this effect on one of your lands, one that can give you one more mana. Against a few opponents, particularly decks that lean on specific utility lands, messing with their mana base is often as impactful as removing a creature.BeatersQuantum Riddler is this list's main beater. Because of it, you don't need to rely solely on small creatures. This Sphynx creates tons of value, particularly in decks full of small creatures like this one. It also benefits from the fact that the opponent will have to spend their removals early and will often run out of answers for the next threats.There are 2 copies of Starfield Shepherd in this list. They'll help you filter through your deck by tutoring lands and small creatures, so you'll be able to keep playing after the first few trades. This type of card is important because it stretches the match far enough that reusing ETBs starts making a difference. Because of it, you'll always have mana and a decent board presence. Furthermore, both its Flying and Quantum Riddler's Flying are quite helpful.Mockingbird does something really interesting in this deck. Because it is quite flexible, you'll often use it in different ways throughout the game. At certain points, it is an extra threat, a copy of the best creature available. At others, it can become a value piece. However, as its effect will always check the total mana spent to cast it, it's a terrible blink target. It will always come back as a 1/1.SideboardThe extra copies of Consign to Memory are more answers for colorless spells and problematic abilities, whereas Mystical Dispute is helpful against blue decks.Deafening Silence and Damping Sphere buy time against strategies that need to play many spells in a certain sequence or a lot of mana. They're not part of the main blink game plan, but they still allow you to delay your opponent, develop your board, and create an advantage with Phelia and Ephemerate eventually.Boromir, Warden of the Tower and Ranger-Captain of Eos will protect you and make enemy interactions worse. Boromir is relevant against spells cast for no mana at all and can also protect your board in some situations. Meanwhile, Ranger-Captain can find small creatures and stop non-creature spells in a decisive turn.Wrath of the Skies is an answer for boards that grow too fast or boards with too many low-cost permanents. As this deck can rebuild the board with cheap creatures, it makes sense to play a flexible board removal in the sideboard. Erode and Clarion Conqueror are more specific and play different roles in different matchups.How To Play ItTo play Azorius Blink, you need to be really careful about how you set up each play. The difference between a beginner and a veteran playing this list is quite striking. In terms of opening hands, you usually want a combination of cheap bodies, functional mana, and some piece that progresses the main game plan. Guide of Souls and Ocelot Pride are excellent openers, but your opening hand is better if you also have Phelia, Exuberant Shepherd, Ephemerate, or an interaction.In the first few turns, you must understand whether you need to put pressure or be more defensive. Against slow decks, you can develop the main game plan early on and force the opponent to use their answers. Against creature decks, Solitude, Thraben Charm, and Blink effects are more important because stabilizing is often the first step to make sure Phelia can attack safely.You also must be patient with Ephemerate. This card is a lot better when it protects an important creature or when it creates real value with Solitude, Witch Enchanter, or Recruiter of the Guard. Using it early on just to gain a little value might be costly when each interaction needs to count.Final WordSRecently, we went over a Modern Orzhov Blink list, and it's interesting to see how, even though both of these lists play the same white core (which is what makes Blink work), the different colors change a lot. It makes me think about what an Esper Blink list or a Boros Blink list would look like.What do you think? Tell us your thoughts in our comment section below.Thank you for reading, and see you next time!
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