Defining Archetypes In Modern – Midrange

Midrange decks usually have a plan centred around packing enough removal spells to survive the early game and enough threats to play in later turns to pressure the opponent. This means having quality removal that can hit multiple types of permanent, resilient creatures that are hard to remove by conventional methods, and the ability to either draw cards or find other ways of obtaining a long term advantage over the opponent. The general style of this deck is one that attempts to find a balance between answering your opponents plays and forcing them to answer your own, like a mixture between control and aggression. Playing a deck like this usually means knowing when to hold creatures back and play removal instead, or vice versa. You do not want to fall behind because you tried to play too many creatures at once, or equally because you did not manage to secure a board presence at a crucial moment. Common examples of this deck, for reference, include BG/x (The Rock, Jund, Abzan) and UrzaTron. Included in the wide range of midrange cards are Tarmogoyf, Dark Confidant, Liliana of the Veil, Abrupt Decay, Wurmcoil Engine, Lingering Souls, and Snapcaster Mage.