So I saw Ezuri, Claw of Progress and kind of instantly fell in love. He's Simic, he makes small dudes grow, and unlike Vorel of the Hull Clade he lends himself to more of a ETB/aggro rather than a combo/Aggro, which is more my style.
By playing creatures that have ETB abilities, I am always going to get value out of them, without Ezuri on the board. With him, however, my two mana 2/1's, 2/2's, and 1/1's start becoming 8/7's, 8/8's, and 7/7's respectively, which really start threatening life totals in a free for all game. Add to that the low-to-the-ground curve and the fact I am playing Blue, not to mention that Experience Counters are permanent, means that even after a board wipe I can pump out giant creatures for cheap.
Now, a few things to note;
A) My good counterspells are in Zur the Enchanter, and I'm not going to pull him apart. Due to that, I have to make due with what I have, as I don't have the means to drop $200 on good counterspells at the moment.
B) This is meant to be a more casual deck; Zur the Enchanter is too powerful for my Meta, and for the longest time I haven't even wanted to play at the FLGS because, while I could borrow a deck, I really don't like handling other people's cards (Cubes are an exception, though COME ON!). Having said that, however, this deck is meant to be played Casual but still needs to be able to switch to "Now We Get Serious Mode". That's why I include cards like Skullclamp, Umezawa's Jitte, Worldly Tutor, and Sage of Hours.
C) Sagu Mauler is probably not the best choice, but it's a Trampler/Hexproof, can trigger Ezuri, and goes well with Willbender and Hooded Hydra. It is the weakest one by far, but would prefer to keep it in so as to leave the opponent guessing (Unless there's a better Morph card).
Some changes that need to happen: Skullwinder -> Snapcaster Mage (When I get one)
Current Counterspells -> Better Counterspells. Voidslime needs to be worked in somewhere. Hangarback Walker -> when it's not $14.
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Oath of the Gatewatch; the set that caused the competitive community to freak out over Basic Lands.
By playing creatures that have ETB abilities, I am always going to get value out of them, without Ezuri on the board. With him, however, my two mana 2/1's, 2/2's, and 1/1's start becoming 8/7's, 8/8's, and 7/7's respectively, which really start threatening life totals in a free for all game. Add to that the low-to-the-ground curve and the fact I am playing Blue, not to mention that Experience Counters are permanent, means that even after a board wipe I can pump out giant creatures for cheap.
Now, a few things to note;
A) My good counterspells are in Zur the Enchanter, and I'm not going to pull him apart. Due to that, I have to make due with what I have, as I don't have the means to drop $200 on good counterspells at the moment.
B) This is meant to be a more casual deck; Zur the Enchanter is too powerful for my Meta, and for the longest time I haven't even wanted to play at the FLGS because, while I could borrow a deck, I really don't like handling other people's cards (Cubes are an exception, though COME ON!). Having said that, however, this deck is meant to be played Casual but still needs to be able to switch to "Now We Get Serious Mode". That's why I include cards like Skullclamp, Umezawa's Jitte, Worldly Tutor, and Sage of Hours.
C) Sagu Mauler is probably not the best choice, but it's a Trampler/Hexproof, can trigger Ezuri, and goes well with Willbender and Hooded Hydra. It is the weakest one by far, but would prefer to keep it in so as to leave the opponent guessing (Unless there's a better Morph card).
D) Very much open to suggestions.
4 Ezuri, Claw of Progress
Creatures: 34
1 Dryad Arbor
1 Llanowar Elves
1 Elvish Mystic
1 Ulvenwald Tracker
2 Phantasmal Image
2 Scavenging Ooze
2 Priest of Titania
2 Willbender
2 Zameck Guildmage
2 Blighted Agent
2 Elvish Visionary
2 Kiora's Follower
2 Devoted Druid
2 Genesis Hydra
2 Gyre Sage
2 Coiling Oracle
2 Sage of Hours
2 Hooded Hydra
2 Plaxmanta
3 Simic Manipulator
3 Skullwinder
3 Eternal Witness
3 Wild Beastmaster
3 Chasm Skulker
3 Reclamation Sage
3 Caller of the Claw
4 Crowned Ceratok
4 Mystic Snake
4 Fathom Mage
5 Mycoloth
5 Prophet of Kruphix
5 Acidic Slime
5 Kalonian Hydra
6 Sagu Mauler
1 Skullclamp
1 Sol Ring
2 Swiftfoot Boots
2 Umezawa's Jitte
3 Simic Keyrune
4 Bident of Thassa
Spells: 22
1 Brainstorm
1 Ponder
1 Swan Song
1 Worldly Tutor
1 Pongify
1 Rapid Hybridization
1 Green Sun's Zenith
2 Impulse
2 Gainsay
2 Muddle the Mixture
2 Arcane Denial
2 Mana Leak
2 Cyclonic Rift
2 Counterspell
3 Song of the Dryad's
3 Snakeform
3 Krosan Grip
3 Beast Within
4 Greater Good
4 Plasm Capture
7 Tooth and Nail
8 Treasure Cruise
1 Novijen, Heart of Progress
1 Zoetic Cavern
1 Flooded Strand
1 Windswept Heath
1 Wooded Foothills
1 Polluted Delta
1 Reliquary Tower
1 Opal Palace
1 Command Tower
1 Temple of Mystery
1 Lumbering Falls
1 Hinterland Harbor
1 Simic Growth Chamber
1 Breeding Pool
1 Treetop Village
1 Oran-Rief, the Vastwood
1 Khalni Garden
1 Mosswort Bridge
9 Island
9 Forest
Some changes that need to happen:
Skullwinder -> Snapcaster Mage (When I get one)
Current Counterspells -> Better Counterspells. Voidslime needs to be worked in somewhere.
Hangarback Walker -> when it's not $14.