MTG Salvation

Hey guys,

My son (9) loves playing MtG and I enjoy building decks for him. He has started pilfering my binders for cards (asks permission first) and he *really* likes SPIKES!!

He's having a birthday soon and I want to create a good mono-G Spike deck.

I do want his decks to actually win some games so I build them reasonably competitive for him (for an 8-yr old, anyway). For example, I already picked up a playset of Hardened Scales for it. I'll probably toss in an Obelisk of Urd too b/c he would like that sort of thing. I also considered Forgotten Ancient/Chlorophant/Managorger Hydra or something like that but then it's starting to go in a non-tribal direction. He's REALLY into the Spikes. I don't want to stray TOO far, but yeah, you get the idea.

Anyone every tried this and do you have some technology to suggest? I'm hoping to spend no more than about $10-15 on it if possible and I do want to keep it monogreen, for simplicity but if you have some insanely sweet tech to share in another color, or maybe working in something like GRAFT or PERSIST, I would certainly like to hear about it. (I dont' want any INFINITE combos though--that's probably a bit too much for him me, haha.)

Thanks in advance.

http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?action=advanced&subtype= [%22Spike%22]

Since you're very established around here I assume you've tried a Gatherer search for Spikes but JIC I linked it

Adding B for Spike Cannibal would let you play *every* spike, but I don;t think it's good for the deck. Archangel of Thune goes infinite with Spike Feeder but costs WW and is the whole budget per copy :/ If there's an equivalent effect you could look into that

Forced Adaptation is a personal pet card of mine, having run it heavily in a casual Evolve deck. Seems like a perfect fit here - cheap, fun and deals with +1/+1 counters Sick tech with Scales too

These are awesome ideas...

Found a few more:



Tiller is a bit on the pricey side, sure, but it is a way to maybe squeeze a bit more value out of the already-suggested ramp effects. It seems like A LOT hinges on getting Hardened Scales to stick, so I really LOVE the idea of 4x Forced Adaptation. That is some welcome redundancy--thanks for pointing it out!

I'll start brewing and post list later this week if I can.

All other ideas still welcome...keep em coming, folks.

I think some way to make those spikes reenter the battlefield to reset their counters if they are running low would be good. Could use something like Stampeding Wildebeests perhaps, but Conjurer's Closet may be the better tool.

As for making more +1/+1 counters, Cytoplast Root-kin just has to be considered (nice synergy with that closet, too).

And of course, with a theme of +1/+1 counters, Longshot Squad and Aquastrand Spider will close the skies, while Tuskguard Captain opens the ground.

My mind went to things that let you pull counters for profit. My favorite two are off color (Ion Storm & Sage of Fables), but Triskelion, Triskelavus or Suncrusher could provide direct damage and/or spot removal.

I guess that Oracle with Sunburst is a colorless option for counter based card draw too. (Anybody remember the name of it offhand?)

Quote from Wiesel »

Vigor plus some effects like Mutant's Prey seem like a nice combo for the deck.

Agreed! Heck, even without Mutant's Prey in the mix, Vigor's ability in this deck will completely BLOW HIS MIND. Bahaha..can't wait to see him react. I 'casually tossed' another one into the BUG Ingest deck I built him for Xmas. You should've seen his face--it was SO great.

Found a $6 one just now...sweet. Thanks man!!!