What Are The Top Decks In Modern – Hatebears

The name for this deck is derived from the types of creatures that it typically includes. They all feature some sort of hate utility, and they all have stats similar to 2/2, (2/2s are typically referred to as bears; named after Grizzly Bears ). The bread and butter of a Hatebears deck is: Leonin Arbiter, Thalia, Guardian of Thraben, Aven Mindcensor, Qasali Pridemage, Scavenging Ooze and Voice of Resurgence. These are all cards that can simultaneously threaten the opponent and hinder their progress. Hatebears decks can be sorted into those that run Aether Vial and those that dont. Aether Vial was originally put in the deck so you can cheat your hatebears into play, and it also helps a great deal with any mana problems caused by Ghost Quarter and Tectonic Edge. The Hatebears deck without Vial tends to be a more midrange/aggro hybrid deck which can end games a lot faster, whereas the Vial version is slower and more controlling, but can still win pretty quickly, and sometimes out of nowhere – with the Vial being able to quickly get things into play. When playing with this deck, remember that it is a control / midrange hybrid, not an overly aggressive and fast deck. Failure to acknowledge this can often lead to you overextending and getting blown out.

Sideboarding Against This Deck

To win against Hatebears, you either need to outrace, or utilise superior attrition. Outracing is pretty simple: you kill them before they kill you. This can easily be done by decks like RDW, Affinity and various other fast strategies, that are able to finish the game before the Hatebears deck has really started. Alternatively, utilising attrition involves taking advantage of superior card draw and control options to beat the Hatebears player in the long-game. This can be difficult because Hatebears runs cards like Thalia, Guardian of Thraben that heavily punish control cards. However spells that quickly clear out many creatures remain effective. Engineered Explosives can kill almost all of the creatures in the deck, as most of the creatures are 2 mana. As always against creature decks, sweepers are very good. Its pretty safe to use Anger of the Gods and the exile clause is relevant if they run Kitchen Finks. Drown in Sorrow is also a good choice. However, bear in mind that Hatebears can run creatures with higher toughness like Loxodon Smiter, Linvala, Keeper of Silence, and Wilt-Leaf Liege. Finally, Suppression Field weakens Aether Vial, Scavenging Ooze, Qasali Pridemage, and Stirring Wildwoods manland ability, land destruction and Thrun, the Last Troll.