-I'm looking to stay within the $60-70 range. I'm splitting the cost with my brother and I am going to proxy the more expensive cards (Garruk, Eldrazi Monument, etc.)
My table Metagame:
-2 Green/Black Decks that are Aggro/Midrange-y
-Monored Burn
-U/W Control
-Monowhite Lifegain Combo
1. Rattlesnake Cards/Defense: I played my cousin's EDH deck, and that was my inspiration for this deck. However, I found myself regularly getting ganged up on. What cards can I include in my deck so people don't go after me as much?
2. Life Buffer: My metagame has a plethora of Burn/Aggro. What cards can I include that won't interfere with my token strategy that will help me stabilize my life total when I need it? I feel this is a weakness in my current deck as is.
3. Mana Curve:I'm indecisive on what creatures I should include. I feel like I don't have enough populate to help me reinforce my army when I get hit by a sweeper (and there are plenty of those around at my table). At the same time, I need better creatures that aren't so 2/3 CMC heavy as I do right now and won't break my budget.
4. Draw Engine: As of right now, I feel like I don't have an adequate draw engine. Garruk is nice but I'm sure it will get removed instantaneously. What other options do I have?
5. Sweepers: Is Rootborn Defenses enough? Or am I too worried about all the what-ifs and not concerned enough about my actual strategy?
1. Rattlesnake Cards/Defense: I played my cousin's EDH deck, and that was my inspiration for this deck. However, I found myself regularly getting ganged up on. What cards can I include in my deck so people don't go after me as much?
Simply put this isn't a archetype that wants to run defensive cards such as Aurification because it doesn't support your overall strategy. As such there aren't many good "anti-gang" options out there for you. Still, I mean, I'm not exactly sure what your expectations are. If 3-4 people are ganging up on you does it really matter what you're playing or what they're playing? Realistically you can't win.
2. Life Buffer: My metagame has a plethora of Burn/Aggro. What cards can I include that won't interfere with my token strategy that will help me stabilize my life total when I need it? I feel this is a weakness in my current deck as is.
4. Draw Engine: As of right now, I feel like I don't have an adequate draw engine. Garruk is nice but I'm sure it will get removed instantaneously. What other options do I have?
No great options. Token swam decks don' usually play much in the way of draw because their card advantage is derived from the multiple bodies that their card produce. You don't need to Harmonize when Battle Screech/Increasing Devotion/Geist-Honored Monk/etc. is putting a whack of 2/2-3/3s into play.
5. Sweepers: Is Rootborn Defenses enough? Or am I too worried about all the what-ifs and not concerned enough about my actual strategy?
It's your meta; you know more than we do. R.Defenses is very good against mass removal and you'd always run 2+ copies of the card if Wraths are a serious concern.
I would change up at least one of the Parallel lives for Growing Ranks. Maybe it's a personal thing but I feel that whenever I have Parallel lives in hand I feel the need to wait with spawning tokens until I have it out.
Whereas Growing ranks works the other way around and usually feels a little less intimidating to your opponents rather than doubling everything you summon.
I'm also a fan of Midnight Haunting, especially since it's instant cast.
I would add some enchant/artifact hate and perhaps an oblivion ring or 2 though. They are always useful and if someone has some enchant that counters your strategy (aggro and/or tokens) then at least you have a chance to get rid of it rather than not being able to do a thing.
Requirements:
-I'm looking to stay within the $60-70 range. I'm splitting the cost with my brother and I am going to proxy the more expensive cards (Garruk, Eldrazi Monument, etc.)
My table Metagame:
-2 Green/Black Decks that are Aggro/Midrange-y
-Monored Burn
-U/W Control
-Monowhite Lifegain Combo
Here are some cards I'm considering:
5x Forest
4x Gavony Township
2x Grove of the Guardian
6x Plains
4x Selesnya Guildgate
4x Sunpetal Grove
3x Garruk, Primal Hunter
Enchantment (11)
4x Intangible Virtue
4x Luminarch Ascension
2x Parallel Lives
1x Spear of Heliod
2x Eldrazi Monument
4x Advent of the Wurm
4x Rootborn Defenses
Creature (10)
2x Ant Queen
2x Armada Wurm
4x Blade Splicer
2x Trostani, Selesnya's Voice
4x Call of the Conclave
2x Hour of Reckoning
I just have a few questions:
1. Rattlesnake Cards/Defense: I played my cousin's EDH deck, and that was my inspiration for this deck. However, I found myself regularly getting ganged up on. What cards can I include in my deck so people don't go after me as much?
2. Life Buffer: My metagame has a plethora of Burn/Aggro. What cards can I include that won't interfere with my token strategy that will help me stabilize my life total when I need it? I feel this is a weakness in my current deck as is.
3. Mana Curve:I'm indecisive on what creatures I should include. I feel like I don't have enough populate to help me reinforce my army when I get hit by a sweeper (and there are plenty of those around at my table). At the same time, I need better creatures that aren't so 2/3 CMC heavy as I do right now and won't break my budget.
4. Draw Engine: As of right now, I feel like I don't have an adequate draw engine. Garruk is nice but I'm sure it will get removed instantaneously. What other options do I have?
5. Sweepers: Is Rootborn Defenses enough? Or am I too worried about all the what-ifs and not concerned enough about my actual strategy?
Thanks.
Simply put this isn't a archetype that wants to run defensive cards such as Aurification because it doesn't support your overall strategy. As such there aren't many good "anti-gang" options out there for you. Still, I mean, I'm not exactly sure what your expectations are. If 3-4 people are ganging up on you does it really matter what you're playing or what they're playing? Realistically you can't win.
Voice of Resurgence, Blind Obedience (you can just run 1-2), Trostani (which you already run), Thragtusk
No great options. Token swam decks don' usually play much in the way of draw because their card advantage is derived from the multiple bodies that their card produce. You don't need to Harmonize when Battle Screech/Increasing Devotion/Geist-Honored Monk/etc. is putting a whack of 2/2-3/3s into play.
It's your meta; you know more than we do. R.Defenses is very good against mass removal and you'd always run 2+ copies of the card if Wraths are a serious concern.
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Whereas Growing ranks works the other way around and usually feels a little less intimidating to your opponents rather than doubling everything you summon.
I'm also a fan of Midnight Haunting, especially since it's instant cast.
I would add some enchant/artifact hate and perhaps an oblivion ring or 2 though. They are always useful and if someone has some enchant that counters your strategy (aggro and/or tokens) then at least you have a chance to get rid of it rather than not being able to do a thing.