Nadu, Winged Wisdom decks completely dominated Pro Tour Modern Horizons 3. Despite this, the namesake card is actually falling in value as players expect the deck to be hit by the ban hammer.
The deck was so powerful that Simon Nielsen, the player who won the tournament with it, had this to say:
Yeah, I don’t know. I mean… this deck is just crazy stupid and I’m glad I got to play it before it’s gone because it’s gonna be gone. Don’t invest.
Simon Nielsen after accepting the MH3 Trophy
When the player who won the Pro Tour with it says it’s going to be banned, there are pretty good odds it will be banned in some capacity. The question is whether Nadu, Winged Wisdom will be banned or if support cards such as Shuko will be.
For all those Nadu, Winged Wisdom players out there, we’ve compiled a list of the best options for a world where Nadu remains legal but Shuko is banned in Modern.
Before you go out investing in a brand new Bant Nadu or Four-Color Nadu deck, keep in mind that Nadu, Winged Wisdom could be banned outright. In the words of Simon Nielsen, “don’t invest.”
Here’s our list of the 10 Best Shuko Alternatives For Nadu Decks If It’s Banned:
#1 Outrider En-Kor
Outrider En-Kor is already in Bant Nadu decks, typically as a one-of. You don’t want Karn, the Great Creator shutting down your entire combo, and En-Kor is a non-artifact way to get the combo going.
The best part about Outrider En-Kor is that you can use the endless amount of creature tutors in Bant Nadu to grab it and complete the combo.
#2 Lightning Greaves
That’s right, Lightning Greaves isn’t just for Commander players. After Shuko, it’s the next most mana-efficient way to keep the combo going.
The biggest downside Lightning Greaves has compared to Shuko is that you can’t tutor it with Urza’s Saga.
Lightning Greaves also creates a bit of a nuisance for the game state, as you’ll have to re-equip it to a different creature before re-equipping the same creature twice. This is because it grants shroud, and Greaves can’t target the same creature while it’s still attached to that creature.
#3 Bristly Bill, Spine Sower
Bristly Bill, Spine Sower keeps the combo going. Every time you flip over a land with Nadu, Winged Wisdom, you can continue targeting creatures with Bristly Bill.
This card is already being played in Bant Nadu lists, but you could run additional copies.
#4 Slyvan Safekeeper
Also played as a one- or two-of in Bant Nadu is Sylvan Safekeeper. It protects Nadu, Winged Wisdom and will give you at least one trigger per use. Sacrificing lands isn’t a big deal when you’ll keep flipping them with the bird anyway.
This card grants shroud, so you can only use it once per creature. After that, it becomes untargetable.
#5 Paradise Mantle
Paradise Mantle is free to play and only costs 1 to equip, keeping the triggers coming. If you equip it to creatures that aren’t summoning sick, you’ll also net the equip mana back.
For creatures that entered on the current turn, they’ll all have summoning sickness. You can equip Paradise Mantle, but you won’t be able to net mana unless you follow up by equipping Lightning Greaves to give them haste.
#6 Hex Parasite
If you have life to spare, Hex Parasite will keep the triggers coming. For 2 life, you can target a creature with its ability. Theoretically, this can earn you up to 9 triggers and draws until you run out of life.
Hex Parasite is also useful in niche situations, such as removing counters to kill planeswalkers or counters from your opponent’s Urza’s Saga.
#7 Unctus, Grand Metatect
Much like Hex Parasite, Unctus also gives you the option of paying 2 life to gain a trigger. As an added bonus, if you are able to tap or attack with those creatures, you’ll get an additional draw and discard.
#8 Reconnaissance
In terms of mana invested, Reconnaissance is tied with Shuko at 1 mana. Unfortunately, you can’t tutor it with Urza’s Saga, and it isn’t useful for creatures you cast this turn.
If you’re looking for a low mana value card, this is a mediocre option, but you should really consider running Lightning Greaves instead.
#9 Umbral Mantle
You’re not going to choose this over Lightning Greaves, but if you need more combo pieces, here it is. It also enables some infinite combos, allowing you to double up on combos in your Nadu deck.
#10 Grafted Wargear
Finally, we have Grafted Wargear, the least playable of the zero-mana equip combo options for Nadu, Winged Wisdom. You’ll have to sacrifice the equipped creature once you want to move on to another one. I’d suggest not running it, but it does exist.
Those are the 10 most playable replacement options for Shuko if it’s banned from Modern.
Of course, it’s entirely possible that WOTC straight up bans Nadu, Winged Wisdom itself rather than the support cards, so be careful before investing in this deck until we hear more from the WOTC Banned & Restricted team.
READ MORE: Nethergoyf Cheat Caught on Camera at Pro Tour MH3
