It has been a while, but I feel like the deck needs slightly more mana. Haven't tested it a whole lot (been working on Gitrog Monster), but like Gitrog Monster, I feel like opening starts without ramp are just plain terrible.
I picked up a Carpet of Flowers, and I think this is dependable enough to run.
Knollspine has been... alright. I haven't had to use him without using the trigger yet (as my only threat on board).
He's most certainly not better than a lot of my other draw options, but like you said, the deck is pretty tight as is, and freeing up a slot is pretty neat.
I tried Carpet of Flowers over GPH, and so far don't regret the change one bit. Even without it, I've been eating a surprising number of blue players in one on ones anyway.
I gotta say, this is one of the toughest decks I have faced using my Nicol Bolas deck. I've been importing random decks on the forum to play against, to improve my deck. Turn 2 Xenagos + turn 3 malignus just straight up owns. Nice work!
I gotta say, this is one of the toughest decks I have faced using my Nicol Bolas deck. I've been importing random decks on the forum to play against, to improve my deck. Turn 2 Xenagos + turn 3 malignus just straight up owns. Nice work!
Literally the only way you can get a turn 2 Xenagos in this deck is off of a Turn 1 Sol Ring start? What..
Also, with respect to your list, it's probably just a bad matchup on your end. Your list is built for value over time while being wrath heavy and comparatively light on the instant responses. This deck tends to smash decks built in that manner.
Yeah, Xenagos is incredible at melting single foes in no time at all, but this gets balanced out in a multiplayer environment to some extent.
I might get around to posting my list at some point. I'm toying with it on a very on and off basis, and I know it will eventually happen. It just makes my Timmy so happy.
I believe it was turn 1 sol ring, and then sol ring into another mana generator. Turn 2 drop a land and then xenagos says hi. It was not fun for me haha.
Survival, I actually don't know. Keep in mind that survival really isn't that busted in the list (because we don't abuse the graveyard) and you need to have a creature in hand to use it. I can't help you with what I'd cut for this one, but the only sure thing I can say is avoid cutting lands. I'm cutting it close with the landbase as it is. Cutting Garruk, Primal Hunter is fine because I'm pretty confident that it's one of the worse cards in the list as it is. Knollspine Dragon may look a little worse on the surface but being creature tutorable and just a threatening beatstick on the failsafe case makes me feel better about it.
Mana Crypt, I'd cut one of the weaker ramp spells or Carpet of Flowers (which in this case is currently subbed in for Garruk, Primal Hunter) if you don't see much blue. I would not cut a land.
Cavern you can cut a basic without a problem. This card is seriously helpful for keeping you from eating tempo loss.
Gamble... this one is the hardest to evaluate for the deck. I'd generally always Gamble for fast mana on turn 1. It loses a metric ton of value if you don't end up drawing cards. Thought Vessel perhaps? It gets better if you end up refilling your hand, as you can get some really nasty stuff in order to one-shot players or do crazy plays next turn. Biggest risk with gamble is trying to hit fast mana on turn 1 and either discarding it or discarding the lone fatty in your hand.
Actually, with Gamble being more affordable now, if I could somehow acquire a Mana Crypt, I like that idea...
If they don't immediately do it, you might expect them to change their playstyle slightly when facing this deck.
Simply put, as an opponent you really do not want to try and tap out against this deck. You want flat-out removal (which is why Dense Foliage is a fun card!). Trying to stuff the board with critters or playing wraths is ineffective at stopping it. A good Cavern can at least stifle attempts to counter your god or your threats.
I brought this in on a pick-up game yesterday against a different playgroup. The table full of blue players was tapping out and trying to set up combos on each other. I stopped the faster ones and wiped everyone in just two turns.
One in my regular play group has blue in most decks, another plays mostly beatdown(mayael). If I take it right my focus will be to go for the control/combo decks right ?
Definitely. Eating counter-beatdown is a thing, but you're more worried about losing to tempo loss than anything else. Plus, even if you are going to a low life total, sometimes your draws happen in a way where your counterattack kills the opponent from full life in one turn.
Lastly, I've been thinking of using the political tactic of "if you attack me, I'll hit back three times as hard".
Boseiju may not be needed. I find that most people who want to control me out want to simply target either the god or the creature threat, simply cause they aren't thrilled with the idea of taking 14 just to hold out to try and counter my drawspell. I have almost never had draw spells that aren't called Greater Good countered.
Lastly, if your games are 5+ players, don't expect to win. It's just a given fact that decks like these get worse the more players are around.. which is unfortunate for me because my games are almost always 5 player games. When I'm the one carrying the better decks, it means I eat focus fire.
I win a higher percentage games with my decks against small groups of the more competitive players in my area than my local meta simply because of the nature of big multiplayer games.
I would always advise running Mana Crypt in a land slot. Consider how it looks in your opening hand and it also plays out like a land (a really broken one). If you feel uncomfortable cutting a land for it that probably means you need to squeeze in more land.
Also the Gamble for Mana Crypt plan is a good one.
I would always advise running Mana Crypt in a land slot. Consider how it looks in your opening hand and it also plays out like a land (a really broken one). If you feel uncomfortable cutting a land for it that probably means you need to squeeze in more land.
Also the Gamble for Mana Crypt plan is a good one.
I keep forgetting that crypt is the Mox of EDH. But yeah, as it stands, 36 lands is just enough to get there.. I personally always play one more land than I need to for most of my decks (except this one). 35 + crypt seems fine from the amount of ramp and tutors (that act as pseudo-ramp) we have.
The concern to me isn't failing to hit land drops, but not accelerating fast enough to put pressure on the players who really deserve it.
I keep forgetting that crypt is the Mox of EDH. But yeah, as it stands, 36 lands is just enough to get there.. I personally always play one more land than I need to for most of my decks (except this one). 35 + crypt seems fine from the amount of ramp that tutors that act as pseudo-ramp we have.
The concern to me isn't failing to hit land drops, but not accelerating fast enough to put pressure on the players who really deserve it.
I'm at 32 actual lands but I play a lot of ramp and rituals. It's a dangerous game (for everyone involved ).
I'll cut Carpet of Flowers for now but I'm definitely finding room for it again soon since it passed testing. Probably gonna be Thought Vessel getting the cut when I make the final decision. When I get Gamble, Thought Vessel is DEFINITELY the cut.
Oh yeah. One more new record for fun. This is also technically my fastest kill, but I'm not going to count it because there is no room for such a record to grow. NEW RECORD
Most times I lost the flip off of Mana Crypt - 5 out of 6
God bless Eternal Masters, eh? Go get that Gamble too.
Also god bless Eldritch Moon! There's one spoiled card that I'm absolutely willing to throw in because it offers so much as a threat while giving me an extra angle of attack that is unheard of in red/green decks.
Heh, I'm not feeling the Newmrakul at all. The fact that the meta's hug player is the most excited about it should raise some eyebrows I guess it will be decent in your shell, as it has very solid evasion and some level of protection.
Heh, I'm not feeling the Newmrakul at all. The fact that the meta's hug player is the most excited about it should raise some eyebrows I guess it will be decent in your shell, as it has very solid evasion and some level of protection.
In group hug it is probably the ultimate kingmaker card. And I also know someone who is doing this..
I'll be testing it this week and seeing how it goes. Probably cutting a 7-drop for it to test. Also will probably cut a land for carpet of flowers.
I think the evasion on the Promised End is crucial, I'll probably be swapping it for Ceaseless Hunger as that guy gets chumped for days. And I can target the Sen Triplets player with the cast trigger, see how he likes it hehehe.
I've been throwing around a Blood Moon-Natural Order variant of Xenagod in some cEDH games, and it's been doing ok. Not great, but doing ok against those decks is enough. I basically am taking out stuff like Dense Foliage and City of Solitude (terrible card in cEDH) for some one-sided Land Destruction. Also, a lot more early, creature-based ramp.
I've been throwing around a Blood Moon-Natural Order variant of Xenagod in some cEDH games, and it's been doing ok. Not great, but doing ok against those decks is enough. I basically am taking out stuff like Dense Foliage and City of Solitude (terrible card in cEDH) for some one-sided Land Destruction. Also, a lot more early, creature-based ramp.
Very fun deck to play.
All sound decisions. Blood Moon is definitely the way to go against players who can handle it! As for me, even the supposedly "more competitive" other playgroups around here won't match up to your standards.
Also, land destruction seems good. Mwonvuli Acid-moss being one of them?
But yeah, if I wanted to make something competitive enough, I'd start with a deck idea that has enough tools to be good at it. Not this one.
Yeah, agreed there. It sort of ruins some of the point for me also to take a deck like this, whose main draw is how fun it is, and then tweak it for Competitive. But, I was giving it a whirl lately based off of a Ruric Thar meta deck that did well recently in cEDH. The results were actually ok.
A few of these hate cards do a lot of work, in addition to the Blood Moons - Hall of Gemstone (great w G producing mana dorks), Titania's Song, Seeds of Innocence, Null Rod, Ritual of Subdual. They really work well in concert, as well as individually. Just a thought for someone who might be interested in a more Stax approach.
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The Unidentified Fantastic Flying Girl.
EDH
Xenagos, the God of Stompy
The Gitrog Monster: Oppressive Value.
Marchesa, Marionette Master - Undying Robots
Yuriko, the Hydra Omnivore
I make dolls as a hobby.
I picked up a Carpet of Flowers, and I think this is dependable enough to run.
Weakest card to me feels like Garruk, Primal Hunter, although I could be wrong.
Also, if I can get one, Mana Crypt for this deck. It needs all the help it can get. The question is what second card would I cut?
The Unidentified Fantastic Flying Girl.
EDH
Xenagos, the God of Stompy
The Gitrog Monster: Oppressive Value.
Marchesa, Marionette Master - Undying Robots
Yuriko, the Hydra Omnivore
I make dolls as a hobby.
He's most certainly not better than a lot of my other draw options, but like you said, the deck is pretty tight as is, and freeing up a slot is pretty neat.
I tried Carpet of Flowers over GPH, and so far don't regret the change one bit. Even without it, I've been eating a surprising number of blue players in one on ones anyway.
The Unidentified Fantastic Flying Girl.
EDH
Xenagos, the God of Stompy
The Gitrog Monster: Oppressive Value.
Marchesa, Marionette Master - Undying Robots
Yuriko, the Hydra Omnivore
I make dolls as a hobby.
Literally the only way you can get a turn 2 Xenagos in this deck is off of a Turn 1 Sol Ring start? What..
Also, with respect to your list, it's probably just a bad matchup on your end. Your list is built for value over time while being wrath heavy and comparatively light on the instant responses. This deck tends to smash decks built in that manner.
The Unidentified Fantastic Flying Girl.
EDH
Xenagos, the God of Stompy
The Gitrog Monster: Oppressive Value.
Marchesa, Marionette Master - Undying Robots
Yuriko, the Hydra Omnivore
I make dolls as a hobby.
I might get around to posting my list at some point. I'm toying with it on a very on and off basis, and I know it will eventually happen. It just makes my Timmy so happy.
Anyway, I like your deck!
G Azusa, Wherever I May Roam
UG Rashmi Simic Power
WB Kambal Life Gain Kills
URG Maelstrom Wanderer Howdy
Mana Crypt, I'd cut one of the weaker ramp spells or Carpet of Flowers (which in this case is currently subbed in for Garruk, Primal Hunter) if you don't see much blue. I would not cut a land.
Cavern you can cut a basic without a problem. This card is seriously helpful for keeping you from eating tempo loss.
Gamble... this one is the hardest to evaluate for the deck. I'd generally always Gamble for fast mana on turn 1. It loses a metric ton of value if you don't end up drawing cards. Thought Vessel perhaps? It gets better if you end up refilling your hand, as you can get some really nasty stuff in order to one-shot players or do crazy plays next turn. Biggest risk with gamble is trying to hit fast mana on turn 1 and either discarding it or discarding the lone fatty in your hand.
Actually, with Gamble being more affordable now, if I could somehow acquire a Mana Crypt, I like that idea...
The Unidentified Fantastic Flying Girl.
EDH
Xenagos, the God of Stompy
The Gitrog Monster: Oppressive Value.
Marchesa, Marionette Master - Undying Robots
Yuriko, the Hydra Omnivore
I make dolls as a hobby.
Simply put, as an opponent you really do not want to try and tap out against this deck. You want flat-out removal (which is why Dense Foliage is a fun card!). Trying to stuff the board with critters or playing wraths is ineffective at stopping it. A good Cavern can at least stifle attempts to counter your god or your threats.
I brought this in on a pick-up game yesterday against a different playgroup. The table full of blue players was tapping out and trying to set up combos on each other. I stopped the faster ones and wiped everyone in just two turns.
The Unidentified Fantastic Flying Girl.
EDH
Xenagos, the God of Stompy
The Gitrog Monster: Oppressive Value.
Marchesa, Marionette Master - Undying Robots
Yuriko, the Hydra Omnivore
I make dolls as a hobby.
Definitely. Eating counter-beatdown is a thing, but you're more worried about losing to tempo loss than anything else. Plus, even if you are going to a low life total, sometimes your draws happen in a way where your counterattack kills the opponent from full life in one turn.
Lastly, I've been thinking of using the political tactic of "if you attack me, I'll hit back three times as hard".
Boseiju may not be needed. I find that most people who want to control me out want to simply target either the god or the creature threat, simply cause they aren't thrilled with the idea of taking 14 just to hold out to try and counter my drawspell. I have almost never had draw spells that aren't called Greater Good countered.
Lastly, if your games are 5+ players, don't expect to win. It's just a given fact that decks like these get worse the more players are around.. which is unfortunate for me because my games are almost always 5 player games. When I'm the one carrying the better decks, it means I eat focus fire.
I win a higher percentage games with my decks against small groups of the more competitive players in my area than my local meta simply because of the nature of big multiplayer games.
The Unidentified Fantastic Flying Girl.
EDH
Xenagos, the God of Stompy
The Gitrog Monster: Oppressive Value.
Marchesa, Marionette Master - Undying Robots
Yuriko, the Hydra Omnivore
I make dolls as a hobby.
Also the Gamble for Mana Crypt plan is a good one.
I keep forgetting that crypt is the Mox of EDH. But yeah, as it stands, 36 lands is just enough to get there.. I personally always play one more land than I need to for most of my decks (except this one). 35 + crypt seems fine from the amount of ramp and tutors (that act as pseudo-ramp) we have.
The concern to me isn't failing to hit land drops, but not accelerating fast enough to put pressure on the players who really deserve it.
The Unidentified Fantastic Flying Girl.
EDH
Xenagos, the God of Stompy
The Gitrog Monster: Oppressive Value.
Marchesa, Marionette Master - Undying Robots
Yuriko, the Hydra Omnivore
I make dolls as a hobby.
I still need to get a Gamble, but the turn 3 kill made me feel like pure cancer for pulling it off.
Turn 1: land, Mana Crypt, Somberwald Sage
Turn 2: Spinerock Knoll hiding Seize the Day, Xenagod
Turn 3: Pathbreaker Ibex hits for 12. Cast the hideaway card. Hit again for 48.
I'll cut Carpet of Flowers for now but I'm definitely finding room for it again soon since it passed testing. Probably gonna be Thought Vessel getting the cut when I make the final decision. When I get Gamble, Thought Vessel is DEFINITELY the cut.
- Garruk, Primal Hunter (Don't miss you.. at all)
+ Mana Crypt - Broken garbage.
Oh yeah. One more new record for fun. This is also technically my fastest kill, but I'm not going to count it because there is no room for such a record to grow.
NEW RECORD
Most times I lost the flip off of Mana Crypt - 5 out of 6
The Unidentified Fantastic Flying Girl.
EDH
Xenagos, the God of Stompy
The Gitrog Monster: Oppressive Value.
Marchesa, Marionette Master - Undying Robots
Yuriko, the Hydra Omnivore
I make dolls as a hobby.
Also god bless Eldritch Moon! There's one spoiled card that I'm absolutely willing to throw in because it offers so much as a threat while giving me an extra angle of attack that is unheard of in red/green decks.
I predict that I will on average pay 9 for it.
The Unidentified Fantastic Flying Girl.
EDH
Xenagos, the God of Stompy
The Gitrog Monster: Oppressive Value.
Marchesa, Marionette Master - Undying Robots
Yuriko, the Hydra Omnivore
I make dolls as a hobby.
In group hug it is probably the ultimate kingmaker card. And I also know someone who is doing this..
I'll be testing it this week and seeing how it goes. Probably cutting a 7-drop for it to test. Also will probably cut a land for carpet of flowers.
The Unidentified Fantastic Flying Girl.
EDH
Xenagos, the God of Stompy
The Gitrog Monster: Oppressive Value.
Marchesa, Marionette Master - Undying Robots
Yuriko, the Hydra Omnivore
I make dolls as a hobby.
CubeTutor
Forum
Very fun deck to play.
All sound decisions. Blood Moon is definitely the way to go against players who can handle it! As for me, even the supposedly "more competitive" other playgroups around here won't match up to your standards.
Also, land destruction seems good. Mwonvuli Acid-moss being one of them?
But yeah, if I wanted to make something competitive enough, I'd start with a deck idea that has enough tools to be good at it. Not this one.
The Unidentified Fantastic Flying Girl.
EDH
Xenagos, the God of Stompy
The Gitrog Monster: Oppressive Value.
Marchesa, Marionette Master - Undying Robots
Yuriko, the Hydra Omnivore
I make dolls as a hobby.
A few of these hate cards do a lot of work, in addition to the Blood Moons - Hall of Gemstone (great w G producing mana dorks), Titania's Song, Seeds of Innocence, Null Rod, Ritual of Subdual. They really work well in concert, as well as individually. Just a thought for someone who might be interested in a more Stax approach.