Atraxa is ... everywhere. There are many players at my local shop that play her. With the popularity of Atraxa and flying in the format in general, I was wondering if any of you dedicate some cards to this issue in your mono green decks.
Is Stingerfling Spider better? I do run Birthing Pod and blocking is less likely due to Ataxa being so good in combat. So the extra toughness on Silklash isn't as relevant. But Silklash can stay on board and protect you over a couple of turns if you have the mana.
I would say that Silklash Spider is better than Stingerfling Spider in most cases.
If you've got excess mana Storm Front can keep them out of your hair, or Downdraft can bring them into range of your dudes.
Trophy Hunter can tear through flyers if you have the mana.
Arashi, the Sky Asunder fills a similar space to Silklash Spider, with the bonus option of channelling it as a hard-to-counter Windstorm in an emergency.
Predator, Flagship can deal with your flying problems, and some of you not flying problems, especially if you have a lot of mana on hand
Otherwise there are a plethora of small green spells that destroy or damage flyers, the pinnacle would be Whirlwind, but Plummet and the like still work.
Hornet Queen can deal with a lot of flyers, is strong against removal, can help get to those PW's, poses a minor threat in itself, and is good on the Birthing Pod chain as well.
And if you're playing Birthing Pod, then you're probably alright sac'ing creatures, so Elvish Skysweeper is ok repeatable removal.
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Card advantage is not the same thing as card draw. Something for 2B cannot be strictly worse than something for BBB or 3BB. If you're taking out Swords to Plowshares for Plummet, you're a fool. Stop doing these things!
I do run Beast Within and I have used it for this very purpose. With mono green in particular though I like having the answer on a creature, its easier to tutor for and protect via Temur Sabertooth or Wrap in Vigor. Then I can save my Beast Within for other stuff which is nice.
A lot of the options mentioned above are, in addition to being creatures, repeatable abilities. They can protect me over the course of multiple turns. This is nice versus my Atraxa heavy metagame.
I still say the trick is versatility. Beast Within and Song of the Dryads are more versatile. Another one on this list is fight cards.
Cloudthresher does have its value, mostly in monogreen devotion. Beyond that, it's mostly a beater that can take down a few bird/spirit/faerie tokens (provided your opponent hasn't anthemed his way up to a global +X/+2 boost) and block Atraxa. (This assumes Atraxa attacks, but one of Atraxa's strategies is to just keep adding counters to Shrine of Loyal Legions/Forgotten Ancient/Sphinx-Bone Wand/Hangarback Walker/planeswalkers/_pick your favorite counter-based wincon_, or she can just proliferate one poison counter incessantly.)
Tornado Elementaldoes take down Atraxa, and can swing for six with super trample.
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Card advantage is not the same thing as card draw. Something for 2B cannot be strictly worse than something for BBB or 3BB. If you're taking out Swords to Plowshares for Plummet, you're a fool. Stop doing these things!
"It is better for all the world if, instead of waiting to execute degenerate offspring for crime or to let them starve for their imbecility, society can prevent those who are manifestly unfit from continuing their kind. The principle that sustains compulsory vaccination is broad enough to cover cutting the Fallopian tubes... Three generations of imbeciles are enough."
--Buck v Bell, 1927. This case, regarding the compulsory sterilization of inmates at mental institutions, has -- somehow -- never been overturned. Just a wee PSA for ya.
Skylasher. Flash and protection at least guarantee it hits the field at a reasonable time to intercept. I run Ascetism so it basically rounds out to the best Anti-Atraxa tech I have.
Long time no see, Xeroxed! I like Silklash Spider despite the mana investment. I might actually suggest running at least 3 slots if you're running into flier issues a lot, though. Silklash, Hornet Queen, and Tornado Elemental all seem like decent suggestions.
Obligatory mention of her synergy with Keen Sense. If you really want to push it, you can also toss on some equipment to give her lifelink.
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Card advantage is not the same thing as card draw. Something for 2B cannot be strictly worse than something for BBB or 3BB. If you're taking out Swords to Plowshares for Plummet, you're a fool. Stop doing these things!
I'm a huge fan of the fight mechanic, or things like it. In particular, since your general is selvala, you're probably making all sorts of big fatties, so why not ulvenwald tracker? He'll kill more than just atraxa and other fliers. Storm front at least removes fliers from combat so you can alpha strike...something big green is pretty good at.
Creature based removal is good, but why aren't you running the old standby, duplicant? he's repeatable with sabertooth and easily tutorable since he's a creature.
Scryb ranger has protection from blue and untaps your general for extra mana. He can block atraxa all day every day.
Hurricane all day, because getting in an extra 10 points of damage closes out games, and nobody is expecting to get burned out in green. Most of the time I cast Exsanguinate the life gain is irrelevant, because I'm killing my opponents with it. You just have to make sure it won't kill you too.
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I currently run Selvala, Heart of the Wilds as my commander and Silklash Spider as my removal for
Atraxafliers.Is Stingerfling Spider better? I do run Birthing Pod and blocking is less likely due to Ataxa being so good in combat. So the extra toughness on Silklash isn't as relevant. But Silklash can stay on board and protect you over a couple of turns if you have the mana.
Any suggestions are fun and welcome.
GWUBAtraxa, Praetor's Voice PrimerGWUB
GWURoon Bant Blink WhateverGWU
BRGLord Windgrace LandsBRG
If you've got excess mana Storm Front can keep them out of your hair, or Downdraft can bring them into range of your dudes.
Trophy Hunter can tear through flyers if you have the mana.
Arashi, the Sky Asunder fills a similar space to Silklash Spider, with the bonus option of channelling it as a hard-to-counter Windstorm in an emergency.
Predator, Flagship can deal with your flying problems, and some of you not flying problems, especially if you have a lot of mana on hand
Venomspout Brackus can shoot down problem flyers.
Otherwise there are a plethora of small green spells that destroy or damage flyers, the pinnacle would be Whirlwind, but Plummet and the like still work.
And if you're playing Birthing Pod, then you're probably alright sac'ing creatures, so Elvish Skysweeper is ok repeatable removal.
—Karn, silver golem
WUBRGProgenitus
URGMaelstrom Wanderer
WUBOloro, Ageless Ascetic
WURZedruu, the Greathearted
BRGProssh, Skyraider of Kher ($100)
GWUDerevi, Empyrial Tactician ($100)
UGKruphix, God of Horizons ($100)(retired)UTalrand, Sky Summoner (French 1v1, $100)
Cheers!
Krichaiushii on PucaTrade.
GWUBAtraxa, Praetor's Voice PrimerGWUB
GWURoon Bant Blink WhateverGWU
BRGLord Windgrace LandsBRG
On phasing:
I do run Beast Within and I have used it for this very purpose. With mono green in particular though I like having the answer on a creature, its easier to tutor for and protect via Temur Sabertooth or Wrap in Vigor. Then I can save my Beast Within for other stuff which is nice.
A lot of the options mentioned above are, in addition to being creatures, repeatable abilities. They can protect me over the course of multiple turns. This is nice versus my Atraxa heavy metagame.
GWUBAtraxa, Praetor's Voice PrimerGWUB
GWURoon Bant Blink WhateverGWU
BRGLord Windgrace LandsBRG
old thread
old thread
old thread
R Zada Arcane Storm
RBU Marchesa
GWU Estrid
GWR Samut?
URB Kess
(R/W)(U/B) Akiri & Silas
BWR Alesha
R Neheb Dragons
G Nylea Wurms
W Darien
U Tetsuko
8.RG Green Devotion Ramp/Combo 9.UR Draw Triggers 10.WUR Group stalling 11.WUR Voltron Spellslinger 12.WB Sacrificial Shenanigans
13.BR Creatureless Panharmonicon 14.BR Pingers and Eldrazi 15.URG Untapped Cascading
16.Reyhan, last of the Abzan's WUBG +1/+1 Counter Craziness 17.WUBRG Dragons aka Why did I make this?
Building: The Gitrog Monster lands, Glissa the Traitor stax, Muldrotha, the Gravetide Planeswalker Combo, Kydele, Chosen of Kruphix + Sidar Kondo of Jamuraa Clues, and Tribal Scarecrow Planeswalkers
Cloudthresher does have its value, mostly in monogreen devotion. Beyond that, it's mostly a beater that can take down a few bird/spirit/faerie tokens (provided your opponent hasn't anthemed his way up to a global +X/+2 boost) and block Atraxa. (This assumes Atraxa attacks, but one of Atraxa's strategies is to just keep adding counters to Shrine of Loyal Legions/Forgotten Ancient/Sphinx-Bone Wand/Hangarback Walker/planeswalkers/_pick your favorite counter-based wincon_, or she can just proliferate one poison counter incessantly.)
Tornado Elemental does take down Atraxa, and can swing for six with super trample.
On phasing:
--Buck v Bell, 1927. This case, regarding the compulsory sterilization of inmates at mental institutions, has -- somehow -- never been overturned. Just a wee PSA for ya.
Oran-Rief Recluse low impact, but could be a good option
BGGRock
Modern
BRGJund
BBGRock
Cheers!
Krichaiushii on PucaTrade.
Obligatory mention of her synergy with Keen Sense. If you really want to push it, you can also toss on some equipment to give her lifelink.
On phasing:
Creature based removal is good, but why aren't you running the old standby, duplicant? he's repeatable with sabertooth and easily tutorable since he's a creature.
Scryb ranger has protection from blue and untaps your general for extra mana. He can block atraxa all day every day.
If there are a ton of elves, then jagged-scar archers is just mean.
Credit to DolZero for this awesome sig!
Onering's 4 simple steps that let you solve any problem with Magic's gameplay
Step 1: Identify the problem. What aspect of Magic don't you like? Step 2: Find out how others deal with the problem. How do players deal with this aspect of the game when they run into it? Step 3: Do what those players do. Step 4: No more problem. Bonus: You are now better at Magic. Enjoy those extra wins!