The deck is a basic One-Drop Zoo package, but with some key additions. The most important of which is Proclamation of Rebirth. In the short term, it allows you to practically rebuild a force for three mana, be it after a dramatic showdown against another Zoo deck or after a simple Firespout. In the late game, it regenerates a creature each turn, allowing you to continue the fight.
The second addition is Survival Cache. It may seem out of place, but it fits right in, and allows you to out CA many decks in the format. It helps you keep the steam rolling, and helps you stay out of Scapeshift range, buying you needed time or extending your onslaught.
This matches and excels at numerous points over the normal Zoo builds:
1) It shares 24 damage worth of burn spells
2) It can get past a Chalice without having to even think (cast your One-Drops into it, and return them with Proclamation of Rebirth).
3) It has a soft-recursion engine in the form of Proclamation of Rebirth. It has been so good for me, that I would never consider going below 3.
4) It has 28 points of life gain. In the Main Deck. This literally makes the Burn match a bye, and gives you a lot of extra time against everyone else.
"I Survival Cache, survive the Marit Lage, then PtE it. Now for Tea."
*The name came from the original addition of Hyena Umbra, which produced extraordinarily hard to kill creatures that also excelled in combat. Although Hyena Umbra was removed in favor of better cards, the name just stuck.
**Sorry if this should be somewhere else, but I couldn't find a One-Drop Zoo thread, and wasn't sure if this fit in any of the existing Zoo threads.
Everyone knows that good luck and good game are such insincere terms that any man who does not connect his right hook with the offender's jaw on the very utterance of such a phrase is no man I would consider as such.
Looks nice enough. My only suggestion would be to play maybe more Bushwacker. Only 20 creatures for a deck packing Proc seems a bit light. I know Bushwacker doesn't work all that great with Proc but something else seems to be needed. Also it's not like it would be a high priority target for Proc. Humm. Maybe Goblin Arsonist?
since you are running all 1 drops i would recommend ranger of eos instead of the survival cashe thing. With zoo you will never have more life than your opp early enough for the card to even be useful. and you said you wanted card advantage the ranger is the way to go. Also since you are just running balls out aggro you might lose to any deck that has md hate for zoo. A chalice for 1 or any artifact combo will hurt. Thats why zoo lists run gaddok teeg and pridemage md so they can deal with said decks.
i think figure should go in over the students. yes it becomes a 3/3 FS for 3 mana, but it only becvomes a 4/4 double strike. it has no evesion to help it and its ability is sorcery speed. i think FoD who becomes a 2/2 quicker, still gives you a mana sink since most things cost 1 mana. the benifit is it becomes an 8/8 flying, better most times then a 4/4 double strike, and you can leave mana open for burn/removal and still "level up" FoD eot.
also elspeth makes dudes. and makes other things fly. and +3/+3. and is just awsome with one drop dudes who would get blocked.
maybe
-4 student of warfare
-4 goblin guide
-2 survival cache
+4 FoD
+2 ranger of eos
+1 elspeth knight errant
+3 Quasali Pridemage
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I really like Survival Cache, because it is pure card advantage. If you are substantially lower than your opponent on life, then you are losing. This changes a one point difference in life totals into two cards, four extra life, and it comes down a turn earlier than Ranger. Sure, Ranger is great and all, but sometimes I want more than just creatures. Another land to activate Proc, another burn spell or removal to help in the red zone, etc. It has been nothing less than stellar.
Thanks for pointing out Steppe Lynx, it completely slipped my mind. I will definitely replace Goblin Guide with it.
Figure of Destiny is a good creature, but it will usually be a Grizzly Bear in this build. Student of Warfare is just a bit easier to use in a tight situation, and it is great to have a First Strike creature out as early as turn two.
I would like to put Pridemage MD, but it doesn't seem to fit. It is a good Aggro creature, but for the most part I would end up treating it like a Grizzly Bear. I might put it in the MD, but I am going to wait until the Extended meta cools down from the release of RoE.
*When they set a Chalice to one, I just throw my creatures at it and return them with Proc. They never see it coming.
**Believe it or not, I played this against some other Aggro decks and played it like a control deck, using Cache and Rebirth to simply out CA them. Didn't matter that their creature were bigger or faster, I just burned them to death while stalling.
Everyone knows that good luck and good game are such insincere terms that any man who does not connect his right hook with the offender's jaw on the very utterance of such a phrase is no man I would consider as such.
I would recomend this build. It offers protection from Jitte or other annoying artifacts. Still offers a bit of life gain. The SB has changed quite abit to offer protection from elves. a 1 pt quake can ruin them early game and leave your board intact. The best addition is Dragonmaster Outcast. This guy shines against control and zoo. Every turn they must kill him or be overrun with 5/5 fliers. Only good late game since you have so few lands, but if you can Proc him with forcast then his ability will work.
I just copied and pasted this from another thread. This is from our last EXT PTQ.
************************************
This is my 1st Tourny Report so bare with me.
Came up with the deck about a week before the PTQ and did not have much time testing it. I did like the fact it has a great matchup against most agro decks.
Not posting SB cuz it sucked. Did include some Blue though
Round 1 Jody(UR Grapeshot??)
Awsome Opponent. Super nice.
Game one. Nothing special I smash face before she gets to do anything
Game two. She combos off on turn 4 after I mull into a slow hand.
Game three. She gets mana hosed and its not close.
Round 2 Berto(elves)
I have never beat him in the 10 years I can remember playing in ALB.
Game 1. I get an ok hand with *** but before I can play it he draws tons of cards with Regal and recovers from the wrath faster then I hope.
Game 2. Solid hand and I have him dead before turn 5.
Game 3. He combos off on turn 4 at one life.
Round 3 Matthew(Teachings)
Very good player I have seen around ALB
Game 1. Doesnt really play much and I run him over.
Game 2. I spit out tons of guys and he wraths. I untap cast Proc into Bushwacker Kicked before he can recover.(I love people who play wrath against this deck)
Round 4 Nathan (Zoo with main deck Blood Moons)
Colorado State champ also a really nice guy.
Game 1. I get happy to see him playing zoo but my deck just gives me lands and I get rolled
Game 2. Turn 3 blood moon with a mountain as my only basic. Comes to find out he played them main(Took him to the Top 8)
Round 5 Joseph(DDT)
Game 1. I get out early beats and turn 3 and 4 he drops Thopter/Foundry and I cant deal enough to get past his tokens.
Game 2. I start out ok and get him down to 8. He gets turn 4 T/F combo out and turn 5 blows my team with EE. I untap and knock on my Library preying for Bushwacker. Flip over and see Bushwacker. He asks if I get there and I go yup. Drop land, cast Proclamation and then realize I just punted the match. I go ahead and Kick the Bushwacker and swing with the team. He asks how big the Lynx was and with a sad look on my face I tell him 1. He sacs his Chrome Mox blocks my Nacatle and takes 8 putting him at one. I know I would of never won if I did not topdeck that bushwacker but I really really hate punting a game that I should of won.
So I go 2-3 Drop.
I am very happy with the deck and would play it again with a better SB.
If anyone cares. The top 8 looked like this
4 Zoo
1 Dredge
1 DDT
1 Rock Depths
1 Jund scapeshift thing.
****************
I know for sure I would still play the basic deck with a few changes. Havnt though much about the deck since it was the last EXT PTQ of the season for me.
I had used your build as a base for my design, but I had removed the Wrath's and the Bushwhackers, since they weren't doing much on their own. So far, Survival Cache has been awesome, and Student of Warfare is still doing so much better than Figure of Destiny.
Suppression Field is a hidden gem for the format, since it can really slow down some decks. Against DD/Thopter it slows down the game enough for me to really dominate, even if they get out Sword and Foundry. Against some decks, I even get a lock out if they use to many Fetches. I don't get too banged up by it, since by the time I cast it, I have the two untapped lands I need to keep cracking Fetches.
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"If you don't wear your seatbelt, the police will shoot you in the head."
- To my youngest sister when she was 6.
Everyone knows that good luck and good game are such insincere terms that any man who does not connect his right hook with the offender's jaw on the very utterance of such a phrase is no man I would consider as such.
Considering you have a total of 12 fetches, is there a specific reason why Steppe Lynx or Plated Geopede isn't run? I understand Geopede doesn't interact with Proclamation, but Lynx seems good enough to vie for a slot. You just run so many fetches...I guess I don't know what you would cut. My gut says Goblin Guide, but Guide may be necessary. I dunno, I just have a hard time evaluating him, especially since you value the long game somewhat with Proclamations and all. Then again, maybe that is why you don't use the Lynx: you need to constantly draw land in order for it to be useful.
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"I don't know why people say a double-edged sword is bad. It's a sword. With two edges." - Kamahl, Pit Fighter
He knows. TBH, I don't think it does enough as a SB card. Yeah, it screws with nearly every deck, but MUs is it better in? DDT is affected and basically is one of the only ways to slow them down, but considering how we are slowed down too, I don't know if it buys enough time.
As a side note, I would consider adding 1 more Sacred Foundry instead of a Mountain. Having all of the fetches be able to get double W is important for Student, as there were at least one game I played where I had a Scalding Tarn in hand with the Sacred Foundry out on T2 when I could have played and gotten Student to 3/3 level on T3 (with a T1 Guide) along with the other Student in my hand.
Just testing against this obnoxious Urzatron Eldrazi deck that ran sweepers through and through...G1 goes like this:
T3
Me: bash with double Loam Lion
Him: Firespout
T4
Me: Proclamation of Rebirth
Him: Earthquake
T6ish
Me: Nacatl bashes and summon Student
Him: All is Dust
T8:
Me: Sit on my butt with Path and Lightning Helix in hand
Him: Emrakul, gg
G2 he goldfishes Urzatron on T3 to cast All is Dust that I revealed with Guide. I concede next turn when he casts Ulamog. /facepalm
Everyone knows that good luck and good game are such insincere terms that any man who does not connect his right hook with the offender's jaw on the very utterance of such a phrase is no man I would consider as such.
I really like Survival Cache, because it is pure card advantage. If you are substantially lower than your opponent on life, then you are losing. This changes a one point difference in life totals into two cards, four extra life, and it comes down a turn earlier than Ranger. Sure, Ranger is great and all, but sometimes I want more than just creatures. Another land to activate Proc, another burn spell or removal to help in the red zone, etc. It has been nothing less than stellar.
This makes zero sense. Zoo essentially starts at a lower life total than the opponent. A zoo player needs to be shocked with lands to get a quick start because the of requirements of Kird Ape, Loam Lion, and Wild Nacatl. If Zoo has a lower life total, it's actually doing something right: getting a fast start. The idea is to out-creature Evil, not cling to the superficial value of life points.
What does it matter if Survival Chache isn't a creature spell and comes down earlier than Ranger of Eos? Ranger is pure card advantage, a 3-for-1, and this deck is the ideal place for him. You should run 3 or 4, and remove the Caches.
Figure of Destiny is a good creature, but it will usually be a Grizzly Bear in this build. Student of Warfare is just a bit easier to use in a tight situation, and it is great to have a First Strike creature out as early as turn two.
I don't understand your point here either. Figure of Destiny is much easier to use than Student of Warfare. The level cost is less strenuous, and Figure can be leveled at instant speed. Getting a 3/3 first striker on turn 2 is nice, but not the best Zoo can do. It uses all your mana and presumes that you open with two Plains, basic or non-basic. Wild Nacatl can swing for 3 on turn 2, and you'll have all your lands untapped too. All you've given me is circumstantial evidence.
Let me tell you: I'm skeptical about a 1-drop Proclamation of Rebirth Zoo deck to begin with. Zoo needs every card to matter. Proclamation seems too situational, even with only 1-drops, to be a fit.
Anyway, those are my thoughts. They're mostly negative, but I've suggested a lot of new cards for you to try out. Test them, but use logic to support statistical data. I really don't like circumstantial evidence.
My results are from testing. The SB is still being worked out. I just picked the answers that had multiple uses, since I don't have a defined meta (MWS).
- Even if you suicide yourself in Zoo, you still deal more damage than you take. I have dropped down to 13 and still had higher life to fit the condition of Survival Cache. I use it over Ranger mainly because of the cost. I know that I would have to add more lands to accommodate Ranger, and doing that and all the logical choices that follow would leave me with Naya Zoo.
- I never said my SB was good, it just fits the current flux in Extended. Lots of players are removing Mirrodin from their decks because they know it is rotating, so they are removing tons of Artifacts; no Chalice, no Explosives. There isn't much Dredge either, so Graveyard removal hasn't been much of an issue.
- I used Ethersworn Canonist because it stopped Cascade. It was becoming too annoying, so I just added the blatant hate. I will switch it to Meddling Mage, because it really is too narrow (at this point).
- Celestial Purge is a favorite of mine. It takes out both Blood Moon and Thopter Foundry, and Marit. Celestial Purge isn't that narrow when you consider Thepths. Suppression Field slows down the latter as well, but it might as well be Pithing Needle. I just liked the fact that is hosed all activated abilities, while still being effective against the popular ones. That said, it slowed down Student of Warfare, so I will replace it with Pithing.
- Figure of Destiny doesn't have as high a damage to cost as some of the other creatures. If I pump mana into it, I will have done 6 damage by turn three, and have one other creature. Every other creature in the deck can do four or more, for less than four extra mana. I am still considering spots for it though, because it has a lot of potential damage, but I don't want to see more than one.
- Volcanic Fallout regularly kills Goblin Guide, which isn't a big loss. It does have some synergy with Proc though (swing in, Fallout, a rebirth the losses), but it really is just a placeholder until I define the SB more.
*How does everyone play out the first three turns? Some people were talking about Leveling Student on turn two when it is not a turn one drop. Same thing with Figure; they do not do sufficient enough damage to prioritize them over other creatures on turn one, and only in certain cases for turn two. I only cast them turn one when it is my only option. If that is the case, then I should have mulliganed.
**I find that they do the most when i cast them turn two, and leave them as 1/1's, then level them up on turn three, when I don't (usually) need mana to cast creatures.
Everyone knows that good luck and good game are such insincere terms that any man who does not connect his right hook with the offender's jaw on the very utterance of such a phrase is no man I would consider as such.
Even if you suicide yourself in Zoo, you still deal more damage than you take. I have dropped down to 13 and still had higher life to fit the condition of Survival Cache. I use it over Ranger mainly because of the cost. I know that I would have to add more lands to accommodate Ranger, and doing that and all the logical choices that follow would leave me with Naya Zoo.
Listen: even if the Zoo player is guaranteed a higher life total than Evil, Survival Cache would still be a poor choice. All it does is gain a couple life and draw two cards. Over two turns. It's too slow and too inconsistent. Every card in Zoo needs board presence or needs to immediately affect the game. Drawing 1 card on the blind doesn't do that. Gaining life definitely doesn't do that.
Zoo hates mulligans. The fewer cards, the fewer creatures, and the slower the kill. Why would you put a card in that could possibly be a blank? Why not play Ranger of Eos, which draws you two cards, two cards that you know you want, in one turn, and has a board presence?
You really wouldn't need to change your mana base to support Ranger.
Celestial Purge is a favorite of mine. It takes out both Blood Moon and Thopter Foundry, and Marit. Celestial Purge isn't that narrow when you consider Thepths. Suppression Field slows down the latter as well, but it might as well be Pithing Needle. I just liked the fact that is hosed all activated abilities, while still being effective against the popular ones. That said, it slowed down Student of Warfare, so I will replace it with Pithing.
Saying that a sideboard card isn't that narrow when one considers a particular deck is sort of a contradiction.
Figure of Destiny doesn't have as high a damage to cost as some of the other creatures. If I pump mana into it, I will have done 6 damage by turn three, and have one other creature. Every other creature in the deck can do four or more, for less than four extra mana. I am still considering spots for it though, because it has a lot of potential damage, but I don't want to see more than one.
You've explained pretty well why playing Figure on turn one isn't great. It's not a 4-of. But Student of Warfare is so much worse. It hurts your already weak mana base and can only be leveled at sorcery speed. Figure of Destiny provides you with a much better late game, just in case. It can also be fetched by Ranger of Eos in match-ups where it really shines.
I do agree with Yamikiri on Celestial Purge, the card itself is "situational" in the fact that you have to be facing against a Marit Lage token or a Blood Moon or a Demigod of Revenge a Tombstalker or a Doran (along with any of the vampire threats...because I see R/B vampires being really good soon). However, in the thopter foundry situation they usually sacrifice it in response but if youre smart it becomes a key play that works when they dont have response mana
But yeah Yamikiri Im going to have to agree that Figure of Destiny is situationally necessary, almost better than Student of Warfare in some situations. So I do not see why you dont run it, even WITH the student of Warfare in 2/2
Decks I have in my bag of tricks- Needless to say, someone who wants to play will probably have a deck UB/x Faeries UR Storm XURWB Affinity G Elves UW control
Saying that a sideboard card isn't that narrow when one considers a particular deck is sort of a contradiction.
I was referring to the popularity of Thepths, and it's combos. Most players are trying to add it to everything; it isn't for a specific deck, it is for specific (and particularly popular) Combos*. I like it because it can get rid of any random/annoying Red or Black permanents without narrowing it down to types.
Figure is being tested, and will probably replace Goblin Guide. Student is a very good creature though, because it becomes relevant quicker/earlier, costing half the mana that you need to make Figure relevant. I like returning it with Proc, because I always have the mana to Level it up.
*I mean everything. Zoo, Combo, Control, etc. Doesn't matter that it doesn't "fit", some players will add it just for kicks.
Everyone knows that good luck and good game are such insincere terms that any man who does not connect his right hook with the offender's jaw on the very utterance of such a phrase is no man I would consider as such.
Everyone knows that good luck and good game are such insincere terms that any man who does not connect his right hook with the offender's jaw on the very utterance of such a phrase is no man I would consider as such.
It's understandable blue control players would be shocked and in denial at the notion of this card, since their decks have been dominating multiple formats for an eternity yet they've curiously never once had to deal with any counter-hosers that weren't ineffectual, narrow CRAP.
3x Pithing Needle
2x Damping Matrix = Dead Thopters/Depths
except thepths plays Hurkyl's Recall EOT and precedes to make tokens or 20/20. Celestial purge is one of the best cards we have against are worst matchups trust me
It isn't used (main deck) because of the existence of Qasali Pridemage. It might find some slots in the SB though.
What?
Are you serious?
Looking at your list (which is basically a weaker version of extended 1-drop/fast zoo), I could see why you might not want Jittes maindeck (after all they are a 4 drop). But to say that you don't use them because of pridemage... That's ridiculous.
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4 Scalding Tarn
4 Marsh Flats
4 Arid Mesa
1 Stomping Ground
1 Sacred Foundry
1 Temple Garden
2 Mountain
2 Plains
1 Forest
4 Wild Nacatl
4 Kird Ape
4 Loam Lion
4 Goblin Guide
4 Student of Warfare
Spell
4 Proclamation of Rebirth
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Lightning Helix
4 Path to Exile
4 Survival Cache
4 Oust
4 Qasali Pridemage
4 Flame Slash
3 Relic of Progenitus
The second addition is Survival Cache. It may seem out of place, but it fits right in, and allows you to out CA many decks in the format. It helps you keep the steam rolling, and helps you stay out of Scapeshift range, buying you needed time or extending your onslaught.
This matches and excels at numerous points over the normal Zoo builds:
1) It shares 24 damage worth of burn spells
2) It can get past a Chalice without having to even think (cast your One-Drops into it, and return them with Proclamation of Rebirth).
3) It has a soft-recursion engine in the form of Proclamation of Rebirth. It has been so good for me, that I would never consider going below 3.
4) It has 28 points of life gain. In the Main Deck. This literally makes the Burn match a bye, and gives you a lot of extra time against everyone else.
"I Survival Cache, survive the Marit Lage, then PtE it. Now for Tea."
*The name came from the original addition of Hyena Umbra, which produced extraordinarily hard to kill creatures that also excelled in combat. Although Hyena Umbra was removed in favor of better cards, the name just stuck.
**Sorry if this should be somewhere else, but I couldn't find a One-Drop Zoo thread, and wasn't sure if this fit in any of the existing Zoo threads.
- To my youngest sister when she was 6.
also elspeth makes dudes. and makes other things fly. and +3/+3. and is just awsome with one drop dudes who would get blocked.
maybe
-4 student of warfare
-4 goblin guide
-2 survival cache
+4 FoD
+2 ranger of eos
+1 elspeth knight errant
+3 Quasali Pridemage
just an idea.
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Thanks for pointing out Steppe Lynx, it completely slipped my mind. I will definitely replace Goblin Guide with it.
Figure of Destiny is a good creature, but it will usually be a Grizzly Bear in this build. Student of Warfare is just a bit easier to use in a tight situation, and it is great to have a First Strike creature out as early as turn two.
I would like to put Pridemage MD, but it doesn't seem to fit. It is a good Aggro creature, but for the most part I would end up treating it like a Grizzly Bear. I might put it in the MD, but I am going to wait until the Extended meta cools down from the release of RoE.
*When they set a Chalice to one, I just throw my creatures at it and return them with Proc. They never see it coming.
**Believe it or not, I played this against some other Aggro decks and played it like a control deck, using Cache and Rebirth to simply out CA them. Didn't matter that their creature were bigger or faster, I just burned them to death while stalling.
- To my youngest sister when she was 6.
4 Marsh Flats
4 Arid Mesa
1 Stomping Ground
1 Sacred Foundry
1 Temple Garden
2 Mountain
2 Plains
1 Forest
4 Wild Nacatl
4 Kird Ape
4 Loam Lion
2 Steppe Lynx
4 Student of Warfare
4 Figure of Destiny
4 Qasali Pridemage
3 Lightning helix
4 Path to Exile
3 Survival Cache
2 Oust
2 Dragonmaster Outcast
4 EarthQuake
4 Burrenton Forge-Tender
3 Relic of Progenitus
I would recomend this build. It offers protection from Jitte or other annoying artifacts. Still offers a bit of life gain. The SB has changed quite abit to offer protection from elves. a 1 pt quake can ruin them early game and leave your board intact. The best addition is Dragonmaster Outcast. This guy shines against control and zoo. Every turn they must kill him or be overrun with 5/5 fliers. Only good late game since you have so few lands, but if you can Proc him with forcast then his ability will work.
************************************
This is my 1st Tourny Report so bare with me.
Came up with the deck about a week before the PTQ and did not have much time testing it. I did like the fact it has a great matchup against most agro decks.
4 Wild Nacatle
4 Steppe Lynx
4 Loam Lion
4 Kirt Ape
3 Goblin Bushwacker
1 DOJ
4 Path to Exile
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Proclamation of Rebirth2 Plains
1 Forest
2 Mountains
3 Temple Garden
2 Stomping Ground
3 Sacred Foundries
3 Scalding Tarns
4 Arid Mesa
2 Misty Rainforest
1 Steam Vent
Not posting SB cuz it sucked. Did include some Blue though
Round 1 Jody(UR Grapeshot??)
Awsome Opponent. Super nice.
Game one. Nothing special I smash face before she gets to do anything
Game two. She combos off on turn 4 after I mull into a slow hand.
Game three. She gets mana hosed and its not close.
Round 2 Berto(elves)
I have never beat him in the 10 years I can remember playing in ALB.
Game 1. I get an ok hand with *** but before I can play it he draws tons of cards with Regal and recovers from the wrath faster then I hope.
Game 2. Solid hand and I have him dead before turn 5.
Game 3. He combos off on turn 4 at one life.
Round 3 Matthew(Teachings)
Very good player I have seen around ALB
Game 1. Doesnt really play much and I run him over.
Game 2. I spit out tons of guys and he wraths. I untap cast Proc into Bushwacker Kicked before he can recover.(I love people who play wrath against this deck)
Round 4 Nathan (Zoo with main deck Blood Moons)
Colorado State champ also a really nice guy.
Game 1. I get happy to see him playing zoo but my deck just gives me lands and I get rolled
Game 2. Turn 3 blood moon with a mountain as my only basic. Comes to find out he played them main(Took him to the Top 8)
Round 5 Joseph(DDT)
Game 1. I get out early beats and turn 3 and 4 he drops Thopter/Foundry and I cant deal enough to get past his tokens.
Game 2. I start out ok and get him down to 8. He gets turn 4 T/F combo out and turn 5 blows my team with EE. I untap and knock on my Library preying for Bushwacker. Flip over and see Bushwacker. He asks if I get there and I go yup. Drop land, cast Proclamation and then realize I just punted the match. I go ahead and Kick the Bushwacker and swing with the team. He asks how big the Lynx was and with a sad look on my face I tell him 1. He sacs his Chrome Mox blocks my Nacatle and takes 8 putting him at one. I know I would of never won if I did not topdeck that bushwacker but I really really hate punting a game that I should of won.
So I go 2-3 Drop.
I am very happy with the deck and would play it again with a better SB.
If anyone cares. The top 8 looked like this
4 Zoo
1 Dredge
1 DDT
1 Rock Depths
1 Jund scapeshift thing.
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I know for sure I would still play the basic deck with a few changes. Havnt though much about the deck since it was the last EXT PTQ of the season for me.
Here is the current list:
4 Arid Mesa
4 Scalding Tarn
4 Marsh Flats
1 Sacred Foundry
1 Temple Garden
1 Stomping Grounds
2 Plains
2 Mountain
1 Forest
4 Student of Warfare
4 Goblin Guide
4 Wild Nacatl
4 Kird Ape
4 Loam Lion
Spells
4 Survival Cache
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Lightning Helix
4 Proclamation of Rebirth
4 Path to Exile
4 Ethersworn Canonist
4 Celestial Purge
4 Suppression Field
3 Volcanic Fallout
Suppression Field is a hidden gem for the format, since it can really slow down some decks. Against DD/Thopter it slows down the game enough for me to really dominate, even if they get out Sword and Foundry. Against some decks, I even get a lock out if they use to many Fetches. I don't get too banged up by it, since by the time I cast it, I have the two untapped lands I need to keep cracking Fetches.
- To my youngest sister when she was 6.
Edit. Did not read your whole post. Sorry.
He knows. TBH, I don't think it does enough as a SB card. Yeah, it screws with nearly every deck, but MUs is it better in? DDT is affected and basically is one of the only ways to slow them down, but considering how we are slowed down too, I don't know if it buys enough time.
As a side note, I would consider adding 1 more Sacred Foundry instead of a Mountain. Having all of the fetches be able to get double W is important for Student, as there were at least one game I played where I had a Scalding Tarn in hand with the Sacred Foundry out on T2 when I could have played and gotten Student to 3/3 level on T3 (with a T1 Guide) along with the other Student in my hand.
Just testing against this obnoxious Urzatron Eldrazi deck that ran sweepers through and through...G1 goes like this:
T3
Me: bash with double Loam Lion
Him: Firespout
T4
Me: Proclamation of Rebirth
Him: Earthquake
T6ish
Me: Nacatl bashes and summon Student
Him: All is Dust
T8:
Me: Sit on my butt with Path and Lightning Helix in hand
Him: Emrakul, gg
G2 he goldfishes Urzatron on T3 to cast All is Dust that I revealed with Guide. I concede next turn when he casts Ulamog. /facepalm
*On Emrakul. I will post the log where I survived three of them later.
- To my youngest sister when she was 6.
This makes zero sense. Zoo essentially starts at a lower life total than the opponent. A zoo player needs to be shocked with lands to get a quick start because the of requirements of Kird Ape, Loam Lion, and Wild Nacatl. If Zoo has a lower life total, it's actually doing something right: getting a fast start. The idea is to out-creature Evil, not cling to the superficial value of life points.
What does it matter if Survival Chache isn't a creature spell and comes down earlier than Ranger of Eos? Ranger is pure card advantage, a 3-for-1, and this deck is the ideal place for him. You should run 3 or 4, and remove the Caches.
I don't understand your point here either. Figure of Destiny is much easier to use than Student of Warfare. The level cost is less strenuous, and Figure can be leveled at instant speed. Getting a 3/3 first striker on turn 2 is nice, but not the best Zoo can do. It uses all your mana and presumes that you open with two Plains, basic or non-basic. Wild Nacatl can swing for 3 on turn 2, and you'll have all your lands untapped too. All you've given me is circumstantial evidence.
I don't like your sideboard much. Ethersworn Canonist isn't good in Extended. Celestial Purge is too narrow. Volcanic Fallout kills small creatures: you run only small creatures. I'd look at Gaddock Teeg, Kitchen Finks, Soul Warden (cool tech in this deck v. burn decks, and perhaps the mirror); graveyard hate along the lines of Ravenous Trap, Relic of Progenitus and Tormod's Crypt; removal like Temporal Isolation; activated ability hate along the lines of Damping Matrix (not Suppression Field: Zoo needs all its mana early, and fetchlands are vital to that strategy, especially with Steppe Lynx); and artifact hate, like Ancient Grudge, Qasali Pridemage, and Kataki, War's Wage. Sideboards are metagame dependent, but you can't possibly play in such a warped meta that your sideboard is good.
Let me tell you: I'm skeptical about a 1-drop Proclamation of Rebirth Zoo deck to begin with. Zoo needs every card to matter. Proclamation seems too situational, even with only 1-drops, to be a fit.
Anyway, those are my thoughts. They're mostly negative, but I've suggested a lot of new cards for you to try out. Test them, but use logic to support statistical data. I really don't like circumstantial evidence.
- Even if you suicide yourself in Zoo, you still deal more damage than you take. I have dropped down to 13 and still had higher life to fit the condition of Survival Cache. I use it over Ranger mainly because of the cost. I know that I would have to add more lands to accommodate Ranger, and doing that and all the logical choices that follow would leave me with Naya Zoo.
- I never said my SB was good, it just fits the current flux in Extended. Lots of players are removing Mirrodin from their decks because they know it is rotating, so they are removing tons of Artifacts; no Chalice, no Explosives. There isn't much Dredge either, so Graveyard removal hasn't been much of an issue.
- I used Ethersworn Canonist because it stopped Cascade. It was becoming too annoying, so I just added the blatant hate. I will switch it to Meddling Mage, because it really is too narrow (at this point).
- Celestial Purge is a favorite of mine. It takes out both Blood Moon and Thopter Foundry, and Marit. Celestial Purge isn't that narrow when you consider Thepths. Suppression Field slows down the latter as well, but it might as well be Pithing Needle. I just liked the fact that is hosed all activated abilities, while still being effective against the popular ones. That said, it slowed down Student of Warfare, so I will replace it with Pithing.
- Figure of Destiny doesn't have as high a damage to cost as some of the other creatures. If I pump mana into it, I will have done 6 damage by turn three, and have one other creature. Every other creature in the deck can do four or more, for less than four extra mana. I am still considering spots for it though, because it has a lot of potential damage, but I don't want to see more than one.
- Volcanic Fallout regularly kills Goblin Guide, which isn't a big loss. It does have some synergy with Proc though (swing in, Fallout, a rebirth the losses), but it really is just a placeholder until I define the SB more.
*How does everyone play out the first three turns? Some people were talking about Leveling Student on turn two when it is not a turn one drop. Same thing with Figure; they do not do sufficient enough damage to prioritize them over other creatures on turn one, and only in certain cases for turn two. I only cast them turn one when it is my only option. If that is the case, then I should have mulliganed.
**I find that they do the most when i cast them turn two, and leave them as 1/1's, then level them up on turn three, when I don't (usually) need mana to cast creatures.
- To my youngest sister when she was 6.
Listen: even if the Zoo player is guaranteed a higher life total than Evil, Survival Cache would still be a poor choice. All it does is gain a couple life and draw two cards. Over two turns. It's too slow and too inconsistent. Every card in Zoo needs board presence or needs to immediately affect the game. Drawing 1 card on the blind doesn't do that. Gaining life definitely doesn't do that.
Zoo hates mulligans. The fewer cards, the fewer creatures, and the slower the kill. Why would you put a card in that could possibly be a blank? Why not play Ranger of Eos, which draws you two cards, two cards that you know you want, in one turn, and has a board presence?
You really wouldn't need to change your mana base to support Ranger.
Saying that a sideboard card isn't that narrow when one considers a particular deck is sort of a contradiction.
You've explained pretty well why playing Figure on turn one isn't great. It's not a 4-of. But Student of Warfare is so much worse. It hurts your already weak mana base and can only be leveled at sorcery speed. Figure of Destiny provides you with a much better late game, just in case. It can also be fetched by Ranger of Eos in match-ups where it really shines.
But yeah Yamikiri Im going to have to agree that Figure of Destiny is situationally necessary, almost better than Student of Warfare in some situations. So I do not see why you dont run it, even WITH the student of Warfare in 2/2
UB/x Faeries
UR Storm
XURWB Affinity
G Elves
UW control
I was referring to the popularity of Thepths, and it's combos. Most players are trying to add it to everything; it isn't for a specific deck, it is for specific (and particularly popular) Combos*. I like it because it can get rid of any random/annoying Red or Black permanents without narrowing it down to types.
Figure is being tested, and will probably replace Goblin Guide. Student is a very good creature though, because it becomes relevant quicker/earlier, costing half the mana that you need to make Figure relevant. I like returning it with Proc, because I always have the mana to Level it up.
*I mean everything. Zoo, Combo, Control, etc. Doesn't matter that it doesn't "fit", some players will add it just for kicks.
- To my youngest sister when she was 6.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsjKsaxbnds <- Me.
Trades! Alters! Oh My!
Legacy: WUBRGDredgeGRBUW
EDH:BG Nath of the Guilty GearGB (defunct)
BUGDamia, Toolbox of Stone GUB
-Guild Wars 2-
Server: Fort Aspenwood
Character: Anarchy Stockingu - Lvl 80 Asura Engineer
It isn't used (main deck) because of the existence of Qasali Pridemage. It might find some slots in the SB though.
- To my youngest sister when she was 6.
2x Damping Matrix = Dead Thopters/Depths
except thepths plays Hurkyl's Recall EOT and precedes to make tokens or 20/20. Celestial purge is one of the best cards we have against are worst matchups trust me
http://quazen.com/games/card-games/how-i-followed-my-guts-and-got-an-invite-to-worlds-bolivian-nationals-report-2nd/
also featured at the Starkinton Post
http://www.thestarkingtonpost.com/articles/-/Bolivia_Nationals_2nd
What?
Are you serious?
Looking at your list (which is basically a weaker version of extended 1-drop/fast zoo), I could see why you might not want Jittes maindeck (after all they are a 4 drop). But to say that you don't use them because of pridemage... That's ridiculous.