Splinter Twin decks are a mainstay of the Modern format. Despite the meta being split across multiple archetypes, and players seemingly willing to play just about any deck, Twin still manages to represent a significant portion of both the field and top 8 decks. However, Twin is not just one deck any more.

Whilst there has always been innovation within the archetype, notably Patrick Dickmann’s Tarmo-Twin, Dragons of Tarkir has led to a wider variety of builds showing up at the business end of tournaments. Kolaghan’s Command has been the stand out card driving the emergence of Grixis Twin decks, allowing for the inclusion of targeted hand destruction and alternative win conditions such as Tasigur, the Golden Fang.

However, the command is not the only new card that has potential application in Twin. Dragonlord Ojutai is a powerful win condition that can be incredibly difficult to remove from the battlefield. With 5 power it represents a 4, or often 3 turn clock that also generates card advantage. Anticipate is a powerful card in modern, and getting the same effect for free every turn can quickly bury the opponent under the weight of card advantage. Whilst tapping it causes it to lose Hexproof, key twin pieces such as Deceiver Exarch and Pestermite allow you to untap it at instant speed in response to targeted removal. In combination with Slayers Stronghold it becomes a hexproof vigilant flying 7/4 card advantage engine that will quickly close out any game. They can also help it survive through Lilliana of the Veil. Adding white also gives the deck access to superior removal and a wide range of side board options.

Unidentical Twins – Ceejay Russet.

Main Board                                                                                                   Sideboard

Creatures

1 Dragonlord Ojutai                                                                              1 Dragonlord Ojutai

4 Deceiver Exarch                                                                                  2 Ajani Vengeant

3 Snapcaster Mage                                                                                1 Jace, Architect of Thought

2 Vendillion Clique                                                                                 2 Anger of the Gods

2 Pestermite                                                                                           1 Supreme Verdict

.                                                                                                                1 Wrath of God

Spells                                                                                                      1 Engineered Explosives

4 Splinter Twin                                                                                        2 Dispel

4 Remand                                                                                                1 Flashfreeze

2 Cryptic Command                                                                              1 Glen Elendra Archmage

4 Lightning Bolt                                                                                     2 Spell Snare

4 Path to Exile

2 Electrolyze

4 Serum Visions

1 Sphinx’s Revelation

Lands

3 Scalding Tarn

3 Flooded Strand

1 Arid Mesa

2 Steam Vents

2 Hallowed Fountain

1 Sacred Foundry

2 Sulfur Falls

2 Celestial Colonnade

1 Desolate Lighthouse

1 Slayers Stronghold

3 Island

1 Plains

1 Mountain

Other than the Dragonlord himself the biggest addition to the mainboard is the full set of Path to Exile. The addition of cheap targeted removal improves both the mirror and match ups against the BGx decks that have so often been Twin’s downfall. The deck is looking to play a longer and far more controlling game in comparison to traditional builds, and cards like Sphinx’s Revelation and Desolate Lighthouse enable us to stay ahead in the late game. The deck has several redundant win cons in addition to the combo itself.

The land base supports 2 copies of Celestial Colonnade, which is both hard to remove and provides an element of inevitability. Ojutai is a quick clock on his own, and can be untapped at instant speed with either Exarch or Pestermite, making him very hard to remove.

The inclusion of 1 Slayer’s Stronghold turns Ojutai into a very serious threat as well as allowing us to pump any other creature we happen to have on the battlefield. A 5/1 Vendillion Clique is a serious threat to pretty much any deck. As with most twin decks there is also the option to simply burn the opponent out whilst controlling the tempo of the game.

The sideboard is primarily geared towards the control side of the game, allowing for the removal of the combo and the addition of alternative win conditions such as Ajani Vengeant, Jace and the second copy of Ojutai. Being in three colours also improves the quality of board wipes we can play, and improves the utility of Engineered Explosives. The biggest downside is the lack of Blood Moon, however, the demands of the mana base make the card as painful for us as for our opponents.

Engineered Explosives does provide potential removal for any opposing Blood Moons, but if you are particularly worried about this card a copy or two of Wear//Tear could be a decent addition.

With the current unpredictable meta, having a good match up against a wide variety of decks is incredibly important. Ojutai Twin has very good match ups against most of the aggressive decks, such as Affinity, Zoo or Merfolk. The mirror is also very kind, particularly against the Grixis versions of Twin. Whilst Abzan games can be tough, post board games feel relatively good. Jund is a very difficult match up, particularly mainboard. Burn can also be a challenge, although Ajani Vengeant can be very powerful in games two and three.

If you like the look of the deck give it a try and let me know what you like and what you don’t on twitter @TTMalfico