Came up with this deck list a few days ago as a budget fun deck using Molten-Tail Masticore but decided to replace the cheap cards with more competitive ones (eg. Llanowar Elves with Noble Heirarch). Essentially a ramp deck which uses spells to tax the opponent and other creatures like Molten_Tail Masticore with high mana requirements to control the board. The result on my first try in FNM with the deck gives me hope the design can be improved.
IRON CORE GREEN Recent result in local FNM (2-2) Modern
Let me discuss more about the deck here. The idea was built around one card Molten-Tail Masticore. If compared to the original Masticore you can say the latter is better (unfortunately not legal in Modern). So to use and reap the most benefit of Molten-Tail huge pool of mana must consistently be available, hence my choice of green as the primary color for ramping and mana generation. What the deck tries to do is tax your opponent with Thorn of Amethyst and Lodestone Golem and use the Golem and Molten-Tail Masticore to rip through for the win!
Molten-Tail Masticore purpose in the deck is creature removal and also direct damage, which the old Masticore is not capable of. Turning a discarded creature during upkeep or one already in the graveyard into Lightning Blast's can easily swing the game in your favor. Not to mention it can regenerate to save itself and swing next turn.
Field of Ruin with first turn mana critters allows you to put a Forest untapped into play while taking out threats on the second turn such as Inkmoth Nexus, Eldrazi Temple, Celestial Colonnade, Tron lands etc... Losing a land with Ghost Quarter is not much of an option due to the low land count we run and waiting for an opponent to have four lands in play to activate Tectonic Edge is too late. You want to be quick in removing land threats and disrupting your opponents mana base while having the advantage of building yours up.
Lodestone Golem is a house in this deck. Sometimes I feel it does more than Molten-Tail with its static ability combined with Thorn of Amethyst. With the mana creatures coming down usually before LG does you never feel much pressure in casting your colored spells unlike your opponent may be having trouble with.
Sylvan Ranger is preferred over Sakura-Tribe Elder as it puts you in superior position when keeping one Forest hands with a 1cc mana dork. On second turn you can cast SR and then put the Forest card you searched for into play untapped and put another 1cc mana dork in play which Sakura can't do. On top of this you get to keep a vanilla blocker in play who can also attack if needed.
The rest of the cards are mostly support cards such as Walking Ballista for added creature removal/direct damage. Acidic Slime to get rid of pesky enchantments, artifacts or lands. Lead the Stampede is pure magic when running 36 creatures.
Don't have the time right now to do a complete write up on the cards and interactions but will do so in the coming days. Need some suggestions from those willing to give the deck a spin and see what they think needs tweaking.
IRON CORE GREEN
Recent result in local FNM (2-2)
Modern
4 Noble Hierarch
4 Elvish Mystic
4 Wall of Roots
4 Walking Ballista
4 Sylvan Ranger
4 Prowling Serpopard
4 Molten-Tail Masticore
4 Lodestone Golem
4 Acidic Slime
4 Thorn of Amethyst
4 Lead the Stampede
Lands:
12 Forest
4 Field of Ruin
3 Scavening Ooze
2 Tormod's Crypt
2 Kitchen Finks
2 Heroic Intervention
2 Reclamation Sage
2 Beast Within
2 Dismember
**** UPDATE ****
Let me discuss more about the deck here. The idea was built around one card Molten-Tail Masticore. If compared to the original Masticore you can say the latter is better (unfortunately not legal in Modern). So to use and reap the most benefit of Molten-Tail huge pool of mana must consistently be available, hence my choice of green as the primary color for ramping and mana generation. What the deck tries to do is tax your opponent with Thorn of Amethyst and Lodestone Golem and use the Golem and Molten-Tail Masticore to rip through for the win!
Molten-Tail Masticore purpose in the deck is creature removal and also direct damage, which the old Masticore is not capable of. Turning a discarded creature during upkeep or one already in the graveyard into Lightning Blast's can easily swing the game in your favor. Not to mention it can regenerate to save itself and swing next turn.
Field of Ruin with first turn mana critters allows you to put a Forest untapped into play while taking out threats on the second turn such as Inkmoth Nexus, Eldrazi Temple, Celestial Colonnade, Tron lands etc... Losing a land with Ghost Quarter is not much of an option due to the low land count we run and waiting for an opponent to have four lands in play to activate Tectonic Edge is too late. You want to be quick in removing land threats and disrupting your opponents mana base while having the advantage of building yours up.
Lodestone Golem is a house in this deck. Sometimes I feel it does more than Molten-Tail with its static ability combined with Thorn of Amethyst. With the mana creatures coming down usually before LG does you never feel much pressure in casting your colored spells unlike your opponent may be having trouble with.
Sylvan Ranger is preferred over Sakura-Tribe Elder as it puts you in superior position when keeping one Forest hands with a 1cc mana dork. On second turn you can cast SR and then put the Forest card you searched for into play untapped and put another 1cc mana dork in play which Sakura can't do. On top of this you get to keep a vanilla blocker in play who can also attack if needed.
The rest of the cards are mostly support cards such as Walking Ballista for added creature removal/direct damage. Acidic Slime to get rid of pesky enchantments, artifacts or lands. Lead the Stampede is pure magic when running 36 creatures.
Prowling Serpopard right now consider to be a flex spot in the deck.
Don't have the time right now to do a complete write up on the cards and interactions but will do so in the coming days. Need some suggestions from those willing to give the deck a spin and see what they think needs tweaking.
Below is the budget version I made.
4 Llanowar Elves
4 Elvish Mystic
4 Wall of Roots
4 Sylvan Ranger
4 Leatherback Baloth
4 Molten-Tail Masticore
4 Lodestone Golem
4 Acidic Slime
4 Destructor Dragon
4 Mortarpod
4 Lead the Stampede
Lands:
12 Forest
4 Field of Ruin
Thanks for any input!!
Also, why not Tectonic Edge over Field of Ruin ?
It doesn't let the opponent get a replacement and your deck cares less about losing a land.
What exactly is the purpose of Masticore here ?
The deck isn't exactly built to support it by having enough discard fodder and if you want a big beater there are other options.
At 4-mana you have: Polukranos, Chameleon Colossus, Thrun, the Last Troll and Surrak, the Hunt Caller.
At 5-mana there is Deus of Calamity which can destroy lands.
I'm also not sure about Lodestone Golem here as it will tax you as well since you have more non-artifact spells than artifacts.
Something like Mwonvuli Acid-Moss/Bramblecrush (or Plow Under) seems like a better option but they'd clash with Thorn.
Trinisphere can also be an option though it doesn't really work with Thorn.
Another cheaper option can be Root Maze as a deck with mana dorks can play through it better.