city of solitude...can be a double edged sword but there are alot of decks that get pale in the face if it resolves. if u get to untap with it in play and you have a board state, it pretty much reads defeat target player/s
But I also run Winding Canyons. It's definitely got value, but I don't see this as the deck for it - I'm not aiming for a lockout. It also doesn't help with creature spells that have resolved, so for the specific problem this deck is having, it's not the right tool.
I debated for a little while before removing Rhonas. He comes down early and when he's online is a viable rattlesnake. What did it for me is that he relies on the rest of the deck functioning well to do anything. He can't pump himself, and if a sweeper blows out my board, he does absolutely nothing. By contrast, Bow of Nylea forces a tough choice when I attack, and gives me options for removal, recursion, growth and, in a pinch, some life gain. It's a swiss army knife.
Predator, Flagship is expensive removal even if a creature is already flying. But mono green has to take what it can get, and this is have in a folder right now. This'll likely be replaced at some point by Polukranos, World Eater when I can grab a copy (simply because the hydra is more versatile, tutorable with Wild Pair, blinkable and hits more targets at once), but for now it's not redundant like Creeping Renaissance is.
Mass draw is always great, and the life gain is almost guaranteed here. Which is good, because my meta has a couple of bleeder decks that have been problematic in the past.
Have also considered a couple of other mono green staples sitting in my folder - Chord of Calling and Garruk, Caller of Beasts. Both are strong in the right deck, and I could see Chord here - Summoning Trap doesn't see a lot of use in my meta. Garruk not so much, as it's not necessarily an advantage to be vomiting my deck onto the board. Food for thought though.
Swapped out Summoning Trap for Chord of Calling - strict upgrade really. I'll never have problems casting it, and it searches for the answer I need, not whatever comes up.
I have been meaning to ask, how is this deck doing? It has been doing well, I hope? Also, the new mono green version of reparations looks like an interesting possibility here.
Thanks for asking! It's been very solid. With Abundance having been reprinted, I definitely want to pick up a copy. I'm also still looking to add Polukranos, World Eater, as problem creature removal has been an issue. Otherwise, it's been good. We're sort of at the stage now where I'm not sure what to remove/add. There are still staples I'd consider - I really want Nacatl War-Pride and I'd like Fierce Empath but just can't track them down.
Shapers' Sanctuary? I hadn't seen it yet, but it looks like a solid add for G. Could be really good.
Have never found myself using the Symbiote. That being said I can see how it fills a niche in the deck, and I'm not sure if Em is a welcome addition or not. Very strong card either way, will try it out and see how it goes; part of that is whether it's well received by my meta or not. If there's a grump about it, I won't worry about removing it as the deck is pretty strong these days anyway.
Seems a shame to bring Asceticism out, but it was always a bit redundant here. Kresh will make better use of it. Stoked to get the war-pride, that thing is going to be super sick.
There's a bit of ramp and protection coming in here, safekeeper is one of the most infuriating creatures ever. Which should be great. Removing TT makes me wonder if I maybe need to look at whether Ramunap Excavator could squeeze in. That being said he really would be only here to mitigate land loss, as he is vanilla otherwise. Seasons Past is sort of placeholding until I can grab a copy of Nissa, Vital Force. The other two big adds are Genesis Hydra which is here to tutor Terastodon which doesn't have a Wild Pair. The beauty of the card is that it's on CAST not ETB, so whether it's countered or not I still get the creature or permanent I'm looking for. Steel Hellkite is here for token/creature destruction as needed, and also as a Wild Pair to Regal Force, which was missing one. Fairly happy with these changes for now. Still looking to add Abundance sometime soon, and from Ixalan VERY interested in Growing Rites of Itlimoc, with a question mark over Shapers' Sanctuary.
I've talked about adding these for a while. The elder is not an ETB effect, despite the value. Abundance sort of takes it's place in draw fixing. Predator is expensive creature removal and doesn't Wild Pair, so I'm giving Polukranos a go for spot removal, as it'll be easy enough to find, can still swing afterwards; more potential utility basically.
How is the deck playing since the additions? I have been updating my yeva build with lots of new goodies (almost a complete rebuild at this point) but cards like nacatl war pride will likely never come out..the card is obnoxiously good if you play it correctly.
I'll be honest, life has been very busy. I've not had a chance to playtest since the recent round of additions. As it is I'd very much like to track down a copy of Growing Rites of Itlimoc to add as well - unless the deck drastically misfires, there's a very good chance it flips the turn I play it.
I should get a chance to play some this weekend all going well, so I'll have some progress to report very soon.
So there's this mono green infinite combo I thought up myself that, since Mirage Mirror is actually doable in commander (you need blue before that). Since each of the cards involved would also play nicely in this deck on it's own, it might be something cool to include as a "nuclear" option:
Have all three in play and at least 5 lands. Copy Baru with Mirage Mirror, sacrifice Baru to the legend rule. Play any creature to trigger Paleoloth's ability, return Baru to your hand. Discard Baru to the mirror's grandeur ability, create a token. Token triggers, Paleoloth, returning Baru etc. Infinite creatures.
Baru is good in this deck, providing all your creatures boosts and trample, especially in concert with your commander nearly guaranteeing at least 1 land drop every turn.
Mirage Mirror is just a generally good card, whenever I see someone play it they are always able to put it to good use.
Paleoloth is a good source of repeatable recursion which, unlike Hua Tuo, Honored Physician, doesn't cost you a card. And refills your hand when your commander ultimates.
This package in general gives your deck a lot more recursion options while effectively only costing you one, maybe two slots in the form of the excavator and/or the crucible. If you do run this, I would recommend finding room for Green Sun's Zenith (Why are not running this already?). Plus alongside Baru, having a Blighted Woodlands activation on hand is like having a repeatable source of overruns.
Finally, if you'd run all these suggestions, then Titania, Protector of Argoth is also good as she synergizes with both these packages (Is/creates 5+power creatures, works with lands).
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So there's this mono green infinite combo I thought up myself that, since Mirage Mirror is actually doable in commander (you need blue before that). Since each of the cards involved would also play nicely in this deck on it's own, it might be something cool to include as a "nuclear" option:
Baru, Fist of Krosa + Paleoloth + Mirage Mirror
Have all three in play and at least 5 lands. Copy Baru with Mirage Mirror, sacrifice Baru to the legend rule. Play any creature to trigger Paleoloth's ability, return Baru to your hand. Discard Baru to the mirror's grandeur ability, create a token. Token triggers, Paleoloth, returning Baru etc. Infinite creatures.
Baru is good in this deck, providing all your creatures boosts and trample, especially in concert with your commander nearly guaranteeing at least 1 land drop every turn.
Mirage Mirror is just a generally good card, whenever I see someone play it they are always able to put it to good use.
Paleoloth is a good source of repeatable recursion which, unlike Hua Tuo, Honored Physician, doesn't cost you a card. And refills your hand when your commander ultimates.
I like this. That's a clever combo. Which I like. It's janky enough to not garner too much salt and not be super easy to assemble, which is what I look for in combos, if I look at all. I'd definitely have to dig some of these up at the local LGS though, I don't own any of the appropriate cards. I can see a place for all of them though. There are ample options for Mirage Mirror to copy here Nacatl War-Pride or Karametra's Acolyte for obscene mana, Wild Pair to pair off twice, Panharmonicon. It's a good add. Baru and Paleo seem like a good duo - I can't guarantee I'll land a >5 creature each turn, but he will help.
Another "package" you can add for more flexibility is:
Ramunap Excavator + Buried Ruin + Haunted Fengraf + Blighted Woodland + (if budget is not a problem) Crucible of Worlds.
I've been considering whether to add RE or not, but as I don't own a copy that's been a moot point. It is cheap enough to consider though. Crucible, forget it. I don't have that sort of money. Besides, it does nothing else for the deck. At least being a creature is relevant for RE - it can wild pair bare minimum.
I would recommend finding room for Green Sun's Zenith (Why are not running this already?)
In essence, I don't have a copy. I have a Chord of Calling in here though. I do see the benefit of GSZ as repeatable search though.
There's lots of reasons to add the land from graveyard package, and I think it'll work just fine. Titania is a token machine and has an ETB herself. I'll also be looking to add Mirage Mirror, Growing Rites of Itlimoc, Baru, Fist of Krosa and possibly Paleoloth. That combo was a really good suggestion. I try to stay away from them where I can, but all of the cards involved could see a spot. Mirage mirror will be verifiably insane here too. The more I think about it, the more uses I can see for it here.
Additionally, it might be worth to find room for Hour of Promise as land ramp (maybe instead of Explosive Vegetation?). It will allow you to find non-basics, more specifically those utility lands you just added to the deck.
I just see that you also run Boundless Realms. That is nuts with Baru, Fist of Krosa on the field Which got me thinking about landfall. You're not running Rampaging Baloths in this deck but I feel like it would do way more in this deck than Aetherwind Basker does unless I'm missing something obvious?
Also, since you're going big mana ramp, Ursapine is a creature that can easily give your opponent headaches: it turns every creature into a threat and really messes up combat math. Can even enable Nissa in creature form to go for that commander damage kill! Not really sure what to cut for it though..
Really liking the monoG control aspect. Why no Song of the Dryads, though? That's monoG control all the way; it hoses any problematic or annoying general. With Archetype of Endurance in play it can even hose commanders like Uril and Saint Traft.
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Priority card to get for your deck in it's current state would be Green Sun's Zenith imo, to more reliably find that Ramunap Excavator.
It's on order at my LGS, will likely be picking up tomorrow. I do have a couple options for picking it up at present - Woodland Bellower and Wild Pair.
Additionally, it might be worth to find room for Hour of Promise as land ramp (maybe instead of Explosive Vegetation?). It will allow you to find non-basics, more specifically those utility lands you just added to the deck.
Yeah it's a possibility. I do run Crop Rotation which is cheaper, land enters untapped and also plays into the land reanimation thing. Redundancy is nice I guess, but CMC has made me hold back the purse strings to date. It probably could replace exploding veges though. The ability to find Nykthos at the drop of a hat can't be oversold.
I just see that you also run Boundless Realms. That is nuts with Baru, Fist of Krosa on the field Grin Which got me thinking about landfall. You're not running Rampaging Baloths in this deck but I feel like it would do way more in this deck than Aetherwind Basker does unless I'm missing something obvious?
Yeah the energy theme isn't quite as strong as landfall could be - there's more support for it at present. Rampaging Baloths could be great. It could replace either Aetherwind Basker or Architect of the Untamed. Probably the latter. The only synergy you're missing with Basker is Pathbreaker Ibex; declare attack with all creatures, abilities trigger for Ibex and Basker - stack Ibex first, choosing Basker, in response tap all energy out to pump Basker to obscene levels, win. Bonus overkill points if you have Triumph of the Hordes in hand. The only thing I don't like about Basker is it doesn't have a Wild Pair target.
Also, since you're going big mana ramp, Ursapine is a creature that can easily give your opponent headaches: it turns every creature into a threat and really messes up combat math. Can even enable Nissa in creature form to go for that commander damage kill! Not really sure what to cut for it though..
That's really the issue now. More or less everything here is earning its place well. The only creatures I can think of I'd cut or haven't had a chance to try out are Invasive Species and Emrakul, the Promised End. IS is good for ETB shenanigans, but it's no Temur Sabertooth. Emrakul I just haven't pulled yet to play. I get the feeling it'll be a game ender though.
Really liking the monoG control aspect. Why no Song of the Dryads, though? That's monoG control all the way; it hoses any problematic or annoying general. With Archetype of Endurance in play it can even hose commanders like Uril and Saint Traft.
Thanks a lot! I've had a lot of help making this deck strong, and it's really come into its own as a force. Essentially, I don't own a copy of Song of the Dryads. The closest I've got at hand is Lignify - which in all fairness isn't the worst choice in the world, but it isn't perfect. I didn't quite see it as strong enough to add at present.
It took a little while to decide what needed removing and what would stay for the moment. ZR was always a bit subpar: the mana is X+1, not X+X so it doesn't pair well with Itlimoc or Acolyte, the draw is not a choice, and it's expensive. Architect is expensive, and I have no way of increasing the energy I receive, so the Baloths are a strict upgrade really. Greenwarden is more or less strictly upgraded by Vital Nissa, as she can mana pump, Eternal witness and her emblem is nuts in this deck. Hua Tuo is too slow to be super advantageous, and is a little redundant with the amount of recursion to hand already available in the deck. Explosive Vege is the one thing I deliberated most about removing, but I have pseudo-ramp on my commander and a lot of other options, so it's a little superfluous.
Sadly, my LGS could not find me a copy of Baru, Fist of Krosa - but he's good enough here to justify chasing for him, so he will likely be in the list eventually.
There are still a couple of slots I'm questioning the value of but otherwise pretty happy as it stands. Things are crazily busy at the moment, so I haven't had a chance to playtest in a while but I am looking forward to it.
As an aside, I counted the number of things Mirage Mirror can replicate to good effect here - I can see at least 20 viable targets that can give me advantage in various ways. Nuts.
So I really am at the point now where more or less everything in the deck has a purpose, or is hard to cut. These ones were the last of it. Chord is fantastic, but tapping creatures to use it leaves me wary and I have other permanent creature tutors. Sylvan is a sorcery, forces a reveal and only tutors to hand, Deadwood is out simply for CMC and only recurring creatures. The additions, well Realms is instant, any lands that an opponent forces me to discard I can recur, and it tutors multiple targets to battlefield. Baru is a house, SR is an absolute slaying with Baru. Crystal Vein is an early game boost and could net me a general or a ramp elf turn 2 if needed.
Really not sure where to go from here. It seems strong at present, but I'm far too busy to playtest. I can't wait though, I'm pretty happy with the list at the moment. The only thing I'm considering is land recursion options; Crucible of Worlds is obscenely out of my price range. Tilling Treefolk I have, but I think at present playtesting before any further changes is definitely a must.
Finally managed to get a few games under my belt this last week - and the deck really hit a few slumps. I admit to being slightly disappointed. All games were 1v1 against my wife. I held my own against Atraxa superfriends until my wife hit Jace, Unraveler of Secrets' emblem, and then swept. I got outpaced by Gishath Sun's Avatar. Finally managed a strong win against Progenitus, but it took Terastodon blowing a few mana sources up, followed by a Pathbreaker Ibex overrun. I was not popular.
At any rate, I've made a few bigger changes, partially in the light of that crippling emblem, partially to pick up the pace, and partially just to try some things out.
Sol Ring didn't achieve what it normally does. Even a T1 Sol Ring was not a major advantage. Manglehorn is sort of outclassed by Reclamation Sage and Terastodon, as is Krosan Grip (non-recurrable). Garruk's Packleader I thought twice about, but is far more conditional than Soul of the Harvest. Genesis Hydra is on cast so doesn't give me ETB synergy, and Nissa's Pilgrimage is replaced by Harrow for synergy with Titania, Baru, Baloths. Conjurer's Closet is a weak ETB - I'm still loath to remove - but hopefully Wirewood will help with repeatable wood elves, farhaven elves and such.
The adds are totally experimental at this point - Tamiyo's Journal could be great or awful, but it does tempt me to add Tireless Tracker back in. Essentially it's an answer search - there's nothing about it that doesn't work - the clues I won't turn down, nor the tutor, but it is large, slow and fragile. So it may not do what I want. I'm also in two minds as to whether Nostalgic Dreams will do anything for me. It's a desperation button really, but it could do some work. Time will tell.
These all feel like upgrades to me - Dryads answers any permanent not just creatures, Tracker has the potential to get enormous and provides a mana sink for draw, and Chasm enables a game-ending Squall Line. I was on the edge regarding removing Satyr, but I have plenty of ways to get big mana, and shouldn't have too many problems getting early drops, so it shouldn't be a crucial loss.
Fierce Empath comes in for Explorer's Scope. Finally tracked a copy down. This should be awesome in the list, don't see any reason why it wouldn't be. I'm also looking to track down a copy of Uncage the Menagerie. I'd like to try it out, I'm not entirely sold on it, but it could be pretty good here.
In:
Bow of Nylea
Predator, Flagship
Out:
Creeping Renaissance
Rhonas the Indomitable
I debated for a little while before removing Rhonas. He comes down early and when he's online is a viable rattlesnake. What did it for me is that he relies on the rest of the deck functioning well to do anything. He can't pump himself, and if a sweeper blows out my board, he does absolutely nothing. By contrast, Bow of Nylea forces a tough choice when I attack, and gives me options for removal, recursion, growth and, in a pinch, some life gain. It's a swiss army knife.
Predator, Flagship is expensive removal even if a creature is already flying. But mono green has to take what it can get, and this is have in a folder right now. This'll likely be replaced at some point by Polukranos, World Eater when I can grab a copy (simply because the hydra is more versatile, tutorable with Wild Pair, blinkable and hits more targets at once), but for now it's not redundant like Creeping Renaissance is.
In:
Shamanic Revelation
Out:
Wall of Blossoms
Mass draw is always great, and the life gain is almost guaranteed here. Which is good, because my meta has a couple of bleeder decks that have been problematic in the past.
Have also considered a couple of other mono green staples sitting in my folder - Chord of Calling and Garruk, Caller of Beasts. Both are strong in the right deck, and I could see Chord here - Summoning Trap doesn't see a lot of use in my meta. Garruk not so much, as it's not necessarily an advantage to be vomiting my deck onto the board. Food for thought though.
Swapped out Summoning Trap for Chord of Calling - strict upgrade really. I'll never have problems casting it, and it searches for the answer I need, not whatever comes up.
Credit to DolZero for this awesome sig!
Shapers' Sanctuary? I hadn't seen it yet, but it looks like a solid add for G. Could be really good.
In:
Emrakul, the Promised End
Out:
Wirewood Symbiote
Have never found myself using the Symbiote. That being said I can see how it fills a niche in the deck, and I'm not sure if Em is a welcome addition or not. Very strong card either way, will try it out and see how it goes; part of that is whether it's well received by my meta or not. If there's a grump about it, I won't worry about removing it as the deck is pretty strong these days anyway.
6 Nacatl War-Pride
1 Jungle Basin
5 Asceticism
1 Forest
Seems a shame to bring Asceticism out, but it was always a bit redundant here. Kresh will make better use of it. Stoked to get the war-pride, that thing is going to be super sick.
2 Genesis Hydra
6 Seasons Past
1 Reliquary Tower
4 Explosive Vegetation
6 Steel Hellkite
1 Sol Ring
1 Sylvan Safekeeper
3 Tilling Treefolk
4 Nylea, God of the Hunt
1 Forest
2 Thought Vessel
3 Tireless Tracker
3 Rhonas' Monument
3 Bow of Nylea
There's a bit of ramp and protection coming in here, safekeeper is one of the most infuriating creatures ever. Which should be great. Removing TT makes me wonder if I maybe need to look at whether Ramunap Excavator could squeeze in. That being said he really would be only here to mitigate land loss, as he is vanilla otherwise. Seasons Past is sort of placeholding until I can grab a copy of Nissa, Vital Force. The other two big adds are Genesis Hydra which is here to tutor Terastodon which doesn't have a Wild Pair. The beauty of the card is that it's on CAST not ETB, so whether it's countered or not I still get the creature or permanent I'm looking for. Steel Hellkite is here for token/creature destruction as needed, and also as a Wild Pair to Regal Force, which was missing one. Fairly happy with these changes for now. Still looking to add Abundance sometime soon, and from Ixalan VERY interested in Growing Rites of Itlimoc, with a question mark over Shapers' Sanctuary.
4 Polukranos, World Eater
4 Abundance
3 Yavimaya Elder
5 Predator, Flagship
I've talked about adding these for a while. The elder is not an ETB effect, despite the value. Abundance sort of takes it's place in draw fixing. Predator is expensive creature removal and doesn't Wild Pair, so I'm giving Polukranos a go for spot removal, as it'll be easy enough to find, can still swing afterwards; more potential utility basically.
Credit to DolZero for this awesome sig!
I should get a chance to play some this weekend all going well, so I'll have some progress to report very soon.
Baru, Fist of Krosa + Paleoloth + Mirage Mirror
Have all three in play and at least 5 lands. Copy Baru with Mirage Mirror, sacrifice Baru to the legend rule. Play any creature to trigger Paleoloth's ability, return Baru to your hand. Discard Baru to the mirror's grandeur ability, create a token. Token triggers, Paleoloth, returning Baru etc. Infinite creatures.
Baru is good in this deck, providing all your creatures boosts and trample, especially in concert with your commander nearly guaranteeing at least 1 land drop every turn.
Mirage Mirror is just a generally good card, whenever I see someone play it they are always able to put it to good use.
Paleoloth is a good source of repeatable recursion which, unlike Hua Tuo, Honored Physician, doesn't cost you a card. And refills your hand when your commander ultimates.
Another "package" you can add for more flexibility is:
Ramunap Excavator + Buried Ruin + Haunted Fengraf + Blighted Woodland + (if budget is not a problem) Crucible of Worlds.
This package in general gives your deck a lot more recursion options while effectively only costing you one, maybe two slots in the form of the excavator and/or the crucible. If you do run this, I would recommend finding room for Green Sun's Zenith (Why are not running this already?). Plus alongside Baru, having a Blighted Woodlands activation on hand is like having a repeatable source of overruns.
Finally, if you'd run all these suggestions, then Titania, Protector of Argoth is also good as she synergizes with both these packages (Is/creates 5+power creatures, works with lands).
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I like this. That's a clever combo. Which I like. It's janky enough to not garner too much salt and not be super easy to assemble, which is what I look for in combos, if I look at all. I'd definitely have to dig some of these up at the local LGS though, I don't own any of the appropriate cards. I can see a place for all of them though. There are ample options for Mirage Mirror to copy here Nacatl War-Pride or Karametra's Acolyte for obscene mana, Wild Pair to pair off twice, Panharmonicon. It's a good add. Baru and Paleo seem like a good duo - I can't guarantee I'll land a >5 creature each turn, but he will help.
I've been considering whether to add RE or not, but as I don't own a copy that's been a moot point. It is cheap enough to consider though. Crucible, forget it. I don't have that sort of money. Besides, it does nothing else for the deck. At least being a creature is relevant for RE - it can wild pair bare minimum.
In essence, I don't have a copy. I have a Chord of Calling in here though. I do see the benefit of GSZ as repeatable search though.
Titania, Protector of Argoth I can see being a strong add too.
Thanks for the suggestions, these are all really strong.
In:
Ramunap Excavator
Titania, Protector of Argoth
Buried Ruin
Haunted Fengraf
Myriad Landscape
Out:
3 Forest
Mwonvuli Beast Tracker
Praetor's Counsel
There's lots of reasons to add the land from graveyard package, and I think it'll work just fine. Titania is a token machine and has an ETB herself. I'll also be looking to add Mirage Mirror, Growing Rites of Itlimoc, Baru, Fist of Krosa and possibly Paleoloth. That combo was a really good suggestion. I try to stay away from them where I can, but all of the cards involved could see a spot. Mirage mirror will be verifiably insane here too. The more I think about it, the more uses I can see for it here.
Priority card to get for your deck in it's current state would be Green Sun's Zenith imo, to more reliably find that Ramunap Excavator.
Additionally, it might be worth to find room for Hour of Promise as land ramp (maybe instead of Explosive Vegetation?). It will allow you to find non-basics, more specifically those utility lands you just added to the deck.
I just see that you also run Boundless Realms. That is nuts with Baru, Fist of Krosa on the field
Also, since you're going big mana ramp, Ursapine is a creature that can easily give your opponent headaches: it turns every creature into a threat and really messes up combat math. Can even enable Nissa in creature form to go for that commander damage kill! Not really sure what to cut for it though..
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BGU [Primer] Sidisi, Brood Tyrant BGU | BG [Primer] Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest BG | G [Primer] Polukranos, World Eater G
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Yeah it's a possibility. I do run Crop Rotation which is cheaper, land enters untapped and also plays into the land reanimation thing. Redundancy is nice I guess, but CMC has made me hold back the purse strings to date. It probably could replace exploding veges though. The ability to find Nykthos at the drop of a hat can't be oversold.
Yeah the energy theme isn't quite as strong as landfall could be - there's more support for it at present. Rampaging Baloths could be great. It could replace either Aetherwind Basker or Architect of the Untamed. Probably the latter. The only synergy you're missing with Basker is Pathbreaker Ibex; declare attack with all creatures, abilities trigger for Ibex and Basker - stack Ibex first, choosing Basker, in response tap all energy out to pump Basker to obscene levels, win. Bonus overkill points if you have Triumph of the Hordes in hand. The only thing I don't like about Basker is it doesn't have a Wild Pair target.
That's really the issue now. More or less everything here is earning its place well. The only creatures I can think of I'd cut or haven't had a chance to try out are Invasive Species and Emrakul, the Promised End. IS is good for ETB shenanigans, but it's no Temur Sabertooth. Emrakul I just haven't pulled yet to play. I get the feeling it'll be a game ender though.
Thanks a lot! I've had a lot of help making this deck strong, and it's really come into its own as a force. Essentially, I don't own a copy of Song of the Dryads. The closest I've got at hand is Lignify - which in all fairness isn't the worst choice in the world, but it isn't perfect. I didn't quite see it as strong enough to add at present.
1 Green Sun's Zenith
6 Rampaging Baloths
5 Nissa, Vital Force
3 Mirage Mirror
3 Growing Rites of Itlimoc
3 Krosan Grip
7 Zendikar Resurgent
3 Architect of the Untamed
6 Greenwarden of Murasa
3 Hua Tuo, Honored Physician
4 Explosive Vegetation
1 Forest
It took a little while to decide what needed removing and what would stay for the moment. ZR was always a bit subpar: the mana is X+1, not X+X so it doesn't pair well with Itlimoc or Acolyte, the draw is not a choice, and it's expensive. Architect is expensive, and I have no way of increasing the energy I receive, so the Baloths are a strict upgrade really. Greenwarden is more or less strictly upgraded by Vital Nissa, as she can mana pump, Eternal witness and her emblem is nuts in this deck. Hua Tuo is too slow to be super advantageous, and is a little redundant with the amount of recursion to hand already available in the deck. Explosive Vege is the one thing I deliberated most about removing, but I have pseudo-ramp on my commander and a lot of other options, so it's a little superfluous.
Sadly, my LGS could not find me a copy of Baru, Fist of Krosa - but he's good enough here to justify chasing for him, so he will likely be in the list eventually.
There are still a couple of slots I'm questioning the value of but otherwise pretty happy as it stands. Things are crazily busy at the moment, so I haven't had a chance to playtest in a while but I am looking forward to it.
As an aside, I counted the number of things Mirage Mirror can replicate to good effect here - I can see at least 20 viable targets that can give me advantage in various ways. Nuts.
5 Baru, Fist of Krosa
3 Realms Uncharted
4 Splendid Reclamation
1 Crystal Vein
6 Deadwood Treefolk
2 Sylvan Scrying
3 Chord of Calling
1 Forest
So I really am at the point now where more or less everything in the deck has a purpose, or is hard to cut. These ones were the last of it. Chord is fantastic, but tapping creatures to use it leaves me wary and I have other permanent creature tutors. Sylvan is a sorcery, forces a reveal and only tutors to hand, Deadwood is out simply for CMC and only recurring creatures. The additions, well Realms is instant, any lands that an opponent forces me to discard I can recur, and it tutors multiple targets to battlefield. Baru is a house, SR is an absolute slaying with Baru. Crystal Vein is an early game boost and could net me a general or a ramp elf turn 2 if needed.
Really not sure where to go from here. It seems strong at present, but I'm far too busy to playtest. I can't wait though, I'm pretty happy with the list at the moment. The only thing I'm considering is land recursion options; Crucible of Worlds is obscenely out of my price range. Tilling Treefolk I have, but I think at present playtesting before any further changes is definitely a must.
At any rate, I've made a few bigger changes, partially in the light of that crippling emblem, partially to pick up the pace, and partially just to try some things out.
5 Tamiyo's Journal
2 Voyaging Satyr
2 Lignify
3 Harrow
1 Treetop Village
1 Havenwood Battleground
1 Wirewood Symbiote
1 Explorer's Scope
2 Nostalgic Dreams
1 Sol Ring
3 Manglehorn
5 Garruk's Packleader
2 Forest
5 Conjurer's Closet
3 Nissa's Pilgrimage
2 Genesis Hydra
3 Krosan Grip
Sol Ring didn't achieve what it normally does. Even a T1 Sol Ring was not a major advantage. Manglehorn is sort of outclassed by Reclamation Sage and Terastodon, as is Krosan Grip (non-recurrable). Garruk's Packleader I thought twice about, but is far more conditional than Soul of the Harvest. Genesis Hydra is on cast so doesn't give me ETB synergy, and Nissa's Pilgrimage is replaced by Harrow for synergy with Titania, Baru, Baloths. Conjurer's Closet is a weak ETB - I'm still loath to remove - but hopefully Wirewood will help with repeatable wood elves, farhaven elves and such.
The adds are totally experimental at this point - Tamiyo's Journal could be great or awful, but it does tempt me to add Tireless Tracker back in. Essentially it's an answer search - there's nothing about it that doesn't work - the clues I won't turn down, nor the tutor, but it is large, slow and fragile. So it may not do what I want. I'm also in two minds as to whether Nostalgic Dreams will do anything for me. It's a desperation button really, but it could do some work. Time will tell.
In:
Glacial Chasm
Song of the Dryads
Tireless Tracker
Out:
Lignify
Forest
Voyaging Satyr
These all feel like upgrades to me - Dryads answers any permanent not just creatures, Tracker has the potential to get enormous and provides a mana sink for draw, and Chasm enables a game-ending Squall Line. I was on the edge regarding removing Satyr, but I have plenty of ways to get big mana, and shouldn't have too many problems getting early drops, so it shouldn't be a crucial loss.
Fierce Empath comes in for Explorer's Scope. Finally tracked a copy down. This should be awesome in the list, don't see any reason why it wouldn't be. I'm also looking to track down a copy of Uncage the Menagerie. I'd like to try it out, I'm not entirely sold on it, but it could be pretty good here.