The main idea is to build up Lotleth with Varolz's scavenge ability. Using Lotleth's regen as a way to protect him or sideboarding ranger's guile against [/c]Azorius Charm or Dention Sphere type spells. Gravecrawler is a free pump for lot outta hand, as well as the best Sac to regen for Varolz. Corpsejack just has synergy with the gameplan, and ooze for the utility it provides. Desecration Demon to assist with clearing the board or damage over the top. Jarad as an alt win strat, preferably only casting him when you can activate his ability the same turn he's cast, as you can fling a big troll or demon that's been tapped a few times.
Grisly Salvage is to get pieces you need, while also adding scavenge targets, but four is probably too many. Underworld for card draw, of course.
Vraska as her -3 ability helps deal with a lot of problems, and her ultimate has won games.
After some playtesting Lifebane is preferred over Dreg Mangler. I'm trying to determine if diregraf ghoul is worth running. It's a good 1cmc for 2 counters off Varolz's ability, and is a low mana zombie to keep in hand to bring Gravecrawlers back after a board wipe, but other than that it isn't doing much. Possibly a mana dork for that slot instead?
Here is what I was running it was pretty sick. Only changes I made was gravecrawler instead of young wolf, and Ratchet Bomb in the sb. Maybe you can get a few ideas or give me some lol:D
Corpsejack seems underwhelming but makes your lol trolls crazy real fast. He's done well for me in play testing.
The double green creatures seem like they could be a problem to cast.
Corpsejack Menace in my opinion, is one of those cards that comes in and you really don't need it, or you do need it but you're already so far behind its too late and you lose anyway. I would rather take them out and have more consistency with my spells, 3-4of's. And depending on your setup and land, 2 green activation isn't really that hard. I personally only use strangleroot, everything else was just suggestions, but you're probably right most of them (not the root) would be better in a mono.
(Edit)
And the same thing can be said about Ash Zealot, but that doesn't stop people from playing it in a 2+ color deck. If a card gives you advantages/hard to deal with, I personally try to make them work. Deathrite Shaman is a good way to have ramp, and fix your mana. And that's my 2¢ for the day.
Corpsejack Menace in my opinion, is one of those cards that comes in and you really don't need it, or you do need it but you're already so far behind its too late and you lose anyway. I would rather take them out and have more consistency with my spells, 3-4of's. And depending on your setup and land, 2 green activation isn't really that hard. I personally only use strangleroot, everything else was just suggestions, but you're probably right most of them (not the root) would be better in a mono.
(Edit)
And the same thing can be said about Ash Zealot, but that doesn't stop people from playing it in a 2+ color deck. If a card gives you advantages/hard to deal with, I personally try to make them work. Deathrite Shaman is a good way to have ramp, and fix your mana. And that's my 2¢ for the day.
Deathrite would probably work pretty well in tandem with the grisly salvages. Diregraf ghoul doesn't really feel needed in this deck. Could probably make room there for the shaman.
Here is what I was running it was pretty sick. Only changes I made was gravecrawler instead of young wolf, and Ratchet Bomb in the sb. Maybe you can get a few ideas or give me some lol:D
Looking at your list, what makes Deadbridge Goliath the better 4cmc choice over corpsejack? When do you find yourself sideboarding in Gaze of Granite?
Looking at your list, what makes Deadbridge Goliath the better 4cmc choice over corpsejack? When do you find yourself sideboarding in Gaze of Granite?
Gaze was replaced with the bomb, but it's mostly for token hate. The Goliath is mostly to scavenge/discard. I never said it was better though lol. By the time corpsejack enters the battlefield you should already be close to winning, I just think he's over kill, and at 2of he's probably not going to be coming out on turn 4.
Gaze was replaced with the bomb, but it's mostly for token hate. The Goliath is mostly to scavenge/discard. I never said it was better though lol. By the time corpsejack enters the battlefield you should already be close to winning, I just think he's over kill, and at 2of he's probably not going to be coming out on turn 4.
I'm hoping Theros will bring a better 4cmc drop option, but for right now Corpsejack just has more utility than Goliath does.
Lol the Goliath is a 5/5 for 4 and can be scavenged with or without Varolz. I much rather be pumping up my creatures as fast as possible, then tapping out for jack and hoping he survives.
In my playtesting, Goliath has served me very well. He's pretty big and beats up Loxodon Smiter. I like him better than Corpsejack Menace.
Also not saying he's the best or anything, but Slitherhead has been pretty nice in my experience. Discard for Loleth troll + then scavenge all of 0 mana and two +1/+1 counters is very good. Also he makes regenerating Varolz a breeze.
Lastly - Deathrite Shaman? Seems really good with Grisly Salvage + Evolving Wilds.
In my playtesting, Goliath has served me very well. He's pretty big and beats up Loxodon Smiter. I like him better than Corpsejack Menace.
Also not saying he's the best or anything, but Slitherhead has been pretty nice in my experience. Discard for Loleth troll + then scavenge all of 0 mana and two +1/+1 counters is very good. Also he makes regenerating Varolz a breeze.
Lastly - Deathrite Shaman? Seems really good with Grisly Salvage + Evolving Wilds.
Slither will probably come in once Gravecrawler rotates out.
Lol the Goliath is a 5/5 for 4 and can be scavenged with or without Varolz. I much rather be pumping up my creatures as fast as possible, then tapping out for jack and hoping he survives.
So you wouldn't be tapping out for the Goliath and hoping he survives? Yes, the goliath has scavenge already built in.....but for 6 mana. I get that you prefer it, no need for the condescending "lol".
So you wouldn't be tapping out for the Goliath and hoping he survives? Yes, the goliath has scavenge already built in.....but for 6 mana. I get that you prefer it, no need for the condescending "lol".
I don't play the creature, I discard/scavenge. Everyone has a strategy, and to each their own. But to say jack is better I just disagree, and your list I never said to add Goliath, but rather take out the jack for more consistency with your other creatures.
(Edit)
And I was answering why it was better in my list not yours, that was your question, and the lol because I've already explained that, and there's an explanation in my op list, not trying to be condescending. I just think he's a waste of space, one trick pony
1. Fast and cheap defense against aggro that's faster than you, eg., G/R
2. Great for getting damage through on a (hopefully pumped up) trampler like Lotleth Troll. Deathtouch means all the damage gets through.
3. Great for letting scavenging ooze be aggressive. Attack with an empty graveyard against something like a Loxodon Smiter, suddenly the ooze is a 4/5 deathtouch.
1. Fast and cheap defense against aggro that's faster than you, eg., G/R
2. Great for getting damage through on a (hopefully pumped up) trampler like Lotleth Troll. Deathtouch means all the damage gets through.
3. Great for letting scavenging ooze be aggressive. Attack with an empty graveyard against something like a Loxodon Smiter, suddenly the ooze is a 4/5 deathtouch.
That would be: Wasteland Viper.
I'll give it a shot and see how it works out. Thanks.
So the viper seems to be helping, any other early game suggestions?
Not sure if you're still using the Grisly Salvage, but I never got good use out of it. Rancor, on the other hand ... (Also, with Jarad's fling you can rancor gravecrawler, fling, rinse, repeat). Rancor also plays nicely with the Viper. See trample/deathtouch discussion above.
The other card I play is Gloom Surgeon which just doesn't die in combat. Great target for Viper, Rancor, Varolz.
And then Theros comes out in a few weeks and it's a whole new ball game.
Not sure if you're still using the Grisly Salvage, but I never got good use out of it. Rancor, on the other hand ... (Also, with Jarad's fling you can rancor gravecrawler, fling, rinse, repeat). Rancor also plays nicely with the Viper. See trample/deathtouch discussion above.
The other card I play is Gloom Surgeon which just doesn't die in combat. Great target for Viper, Rancor, Varolz.
And then Theros comes out in a few weeks and it's a whole new ball game.
*
I used to run Rancor, but am trying to move away anything that will rotate in a month. I think gravecrawler is the only thing in there that rotates out, but only because i don't know what would take its spot at 1cmc. Slitherhead of course would be an option, but it's not all that great.
I'm trying to focus on Lotleth/Varolz as the main point of the deck.
So the viper seems to be helping, any other early game suggestions?
You fall behind in the early game often? My only thought is your mana curve appears to be 8-8-3-5 (1cmc, 2cmc, etc...), which is almost an inverted curve, potentially making you draw out too quickly? I dont know if the tapping lands to lose life and draw cards smooths that out, however.
I'd look at some 3CMC cards and maybe swap out some 1cmc for them? Nightveil Specter? (BBB drop though, so risky w/o blue in your deck). Perhaps renegade krasis? Or you could put in gift of orzhova to give your troll flying and lifelink
The other thought would be to build in mana ramp, since you are using green.
EDIT: reviewing your lands, the specter at BBB might be less risky than the krasis at GG1...
4 Overgrown Tomb
4 Woodland Cemetery
3 Golgari Guildgate
7 Swamp
3 Forest
1 Rogue's Passage
Creature
4 Diregraf Ghoul
4 Gravecrawler
4 Lotleth Troll
2 Scavenging Ooze
2 Varolz, the Scar-Striped
3 Dreg Mangler
2 Corpsejack Menace
2 Desecration Demon
1 Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord
3 Underworl Connections
2 Abrupt Decay
2 Doom Blade
2 Putrefy
4 Grisly Salvage
1 Vraska the Unseen
I don't have a sideboard set up yet, but it would include a few Devour Flesh, Golgari Charm, Ranger's Guilde, and Duress.
The main idea is to build up Lotleth with Varolz's scavenge ability. Using Lotleth's regen as a way to protect him or sideboarding ranger's guile against [/c]Azorius Charm or Dention Sphere type spells. Gravecrawler is a free pump for lot outta hand, as well as the best Sac to regen for Varolz. Corpsejack just has synergy with the gameplan, and ooze for the utility it provides. Desecration Demon to assist with clearing the board or damage over the top. Jarad as an alt win strat, preferably only casting him when you can activate his ability the same turn he's cast, as you can fling a big troll or demon that's been tapped a few times.
Grisly Salvage is to get pieces you need, while also adding scavenge targets, but four is probably too many. Underworld for card draw, of course.
Vraska as her -3 ability helps deal with a lot of problems, and her ultimate has won games.
The double green creatures seem like they could be a problem to cast.
Corpsejack Menace in my opinion, is one of those cards that comes in and you really don't need it, or you do need it but you're already so far behind its too late and you lose anyway. I would rather take them out and have more consistency with my spells, 3-4of's. And depending on your setup and land, 2 green activation isn't really that hard. I personally only use strangleroot, everything else was just suggestions, but you're probably right most of them (not the root) would be better in a mono.
(Edit)
And the same thing can be said about Ash Zealot, but that doesn't stop people from playing it in a 2+ color deck. If a card gives you advantages/hard to deal with, I personally try to make them work. Deathrite Shaman is a good way to have ramp, and fix your mana. And that's my 2¢ for the day.
Deathrite would probably work pretty well in tandem with the grisly salvages. Diregraf ghoul doesn't really feel needed in this deck. Could probably make room there for the shaman.
Looking at your list, what makes Deadbridge Goliath the better 4cmc choice over corpsejack? When do you find yourself sideboarding in Gaze of Granite?
Gaze was replaced with the bomb, but it's mostly for token hate. The Goliath is mostly to scavenge/discard. I never said it was better though lol. By the time corpsejack enters the battlefield you should already be close to winning, I just think he's over kill, and at 2of he's probably not going to be coming out on turn 4.
I'm hoping Theros will bring a better 4cmc drop option, but for right now Corpsejack just has more utility than Goliath does.
Also not saying he's the best or anything, but Slitherhead has been pretty nice in my experience. Discard for Loleth troll + then scavenge all of 0 mana and two +1/+1 counters is very good. Also he makes regenerating Varolz a breeze.
Lastly - Deathrite Shaman? Seems really good with Grisly Salvage + Evolving Wilds.
Slither will probably come in once Gravecrawler rotates out.
So you wouldn't be tapping out for the Goliath and hoping he survives? Yes, the goliath has scavenge already built in.....but for 6 mana. I get that you prefer it, no need for the condescending "lol".
I don't play the creature, I discard/scavenge. Everyone has a strategy, and to each their own. But to say jack is better I just disagree, and your list I never said to add Goliath, but rather take out the jack for more consistency with your other creatures.
(Edit)
And I was answering why it was better in my list not yours, that was your question, and the lol because I've already explained that, and there's an explanation in my op list, not trying to be condescending. I just think he's a waste of space, one trick pony
Turn 2: farseek
Turn 3: Corpsejack
Turn 4: Hydra (8/8)
Turn 5: swing with Hydra (24/24 trample)
Also, when Theros comes out, Polukranos > Deadbridge.
Finally, you should look into Wasteland Viper.
*
Why wasteland viper?
1. Fast and cheap defense against aggro that's faster than you, eg., G/R
2. Great for getting damage through on a (hopefully pumped up) trampler like Lotleth Troll. Deathtouch means all the damage gets through.
3. Great for letting scavenging ooze be aggressive. Attack with an empty graveyard against something like a Loxodon Smiter, suddenly the ooze is a 4/5 deathtouch.
That would be: Wasteland Viper.
I'll give it a shot and see how it works out. Thanks.
Not sure if you're still using the Grisly Salvage, but I never got good use out of it. Rancor, on the other hand ... (Also, with Jarad's fling you can rancor gravecrawler, fling, rinse, repeat). Rancor also plays nicely with the Viper. See trample/deathtouch discussion above.
The other card I play is Gloom Surgeon which just doesn't die in combat. Great target for Viper, Rancor, Varolz.
And then Theros comes out in a few weeks and it's a whole new ball game.
*
I used to run Rancor, but am trying to move away anything that will rotate in a month. I think gravecrawler is the only thing in there that rotates out, but only because i don't know what would take its spot at 1cmc. Slitherhead of course would be an option, but it's not all that great.
I'm trying to focus on Lotleth/Varolz as the main point of the deck.
You fall behind in the early game often? My only thought is your mana curve appears to be 8-8-3-5 (1cmc, 2cmc, etc...), which is almost an inverted curve, potentially making you draw out too quickly? I dont know if the tapping lands to lose life and draw cards smooths that out, however.
I'd look at some 3CMC cards and maybe swap out some 1cmc for them? Nightveil Specter? (BBB drop though, so risky w/o blue in your deck). Perhaps renegade krasis? Or you could put in gift of orzhova to give your troll flying and lifelink
The other thought would be to build in mana ramp, since you are using green.
EDIT: reviewing your lands, the specter at BBB might be less risky than the krasis at GG1...