Eidolon is basically the stone nuts vs everything isn't RDW, Zoo Mirror, Affinity and Pod. On the play it can always be good though, regardless. It's the best aggro 2drop we have in modern besides Tarmogoyf, for Zoo. It's also maindeck hate/disruption for any kind of combo decks.
I like him a lot,feels like what the deck was missing. I was convinced on running Mutagenics just to keep him alive from Bolt/Helix/Anger of the Gods type effects. He's quite the nuisance for most everyone.
Also, like Zoo back in the day would tech tarfire or seal of fire..Eidolon also helps Goyf fatten up since he's an enchantment too.
Eidolon is basically the stone nuts vs everything isn't RDW, Zoo Mirror, Affinity and Pod. On the play it can always be good though, regardless. It's the best aggro 2drop we have in modern besides Tarmogoyf, for Zoo. It's also maindeck hate/disruption for any kind of combo decks.
I like him a lot,feels like what the deck was missing. I was convinced on running Mutagenics just to keep him alive from Bolt/Helix/Anger of the Gods type effects. He's quite the nuisance for most everyone.
Also, like Zoo back in the day would tech tarfire or seal of fire..Eidolon also helps Goyf fatten up since he's an enchantment too.
I am getting a playset of wooded foothills so I am very happy with that but it brings up the question on what to take out of my deck.
Now I play:
4 Copperline Gorge
4 Routbound Crag
4 Stomping Ground
4 Forest
4 Mountain
My mate tells me to take out the Copperline Gorge but to be sure I decided to ask around here.
All advice is welcome.
Take out the playset of Rootbound Crag. From the available G/R duals, the best are Stomping Ground and Wooded Foothills, both of which can come into play untapped and can buff up Kird Ape and Flinthoof Boar. The third best dual is Copperline Gorge, which comes into play untapped provided it's played on turns 1-3. Rootbound Crag is very bad in my opinion. It does not buff Kird Ape or Flinthoof Boar, and there is the risk it comes into play tapped.
Yeah I was also thinking Rootbound Crag but my mate was making me doubt. Started with two Rootbound openings a couples times and it ended up badly for me.
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Legacy - Reanimator
Modern - Burn
EDH - Neheb the Eternal
How does everyone see Wooded foothills and Windswept Heath affecting Zoo? I recently entertained the idea of building a zoo deck; however,'goyfs are just too pricey for me. I've recently decidied to proxy it off, and plaaytest it. It's going alright, and I've typically only played Jund or my own UW Tron deck. it fairs alright, but it isn't very fond of Liliana or Elesh Norn...
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Standard: Mono-Black Devotion (Yes, Erebos's Titan is good enough for Gary to return!)
Modern: G CoCo Elves
Legacy: None, at the moment, but looking at Elves or Omni-Tell.
The best article you'll ever read in your competitive life: http://www.sirlin.net/ptw-book/introducingthe-scrub
How does everyone see Wooded foothills and Windswept Heath affecting Zoo? I recently entertained the idea of building a zoo deck; however,'goyfs are just too pricey for me. I've recently decidied to proxy it off, and plaaytest it. It's going alright, and I've typically only played Jund or my own UW Tron deck. it fairs alright, but it isn't very fond of Liliana or Elesh Norn...
Did you read before posting? They help our consistency a lot. I've never really had problems with tron, what's your zoo list?
Eidolon of the Great Revel got me 2 Rounds in a Row.
1st i was against Junk, Match 3 i dropped 3 Eidolons and he couldn't keep up with 2 (real fat) Goyfs in play.
2nd Round was UR Storm, Auto Win.
3rd Round was a crazy (Rg) Scapeshift Build with 4x Huntmaster, Breach, Emrakul and Titan. 0-2
I simply replaced BTE (such a crappy Card IMO) with Eidolon and it got me a ton of value instead of a 2/2 Critter
Don't you think 4 Scavenging Ooze is a lot? 3 is a hefty number in decks.that cater to him much more than your deck even does. I'd play 0-2 Maindeck in your list. I'd say test the Eidolon but even if you don't, still try adding another Experiment One, try cutting 2 Ooze and 2 Domri also. I think Searing Blaze is a really strong option for GR if you tried tinkering with the landbase a little more.
For what its worth, I consoladated it for a reason. The reason being that every deck running "gruul" colors on the mtgo dailies and up, have been with the same core. Nacatl ape, guide or loam, tarmo, bolt, helix, path. Again, dailies or higher. With that in mind, yes, zoo is zoo, just different support cArds. If your not running that core, your not playing zoo. Youre playing gruul aggro.
There has been 1 nacatl-less list that posted dailies results since the unban, so while you can run "gruul zoo" completely sans white, it would be considered "sub optimial."
From a mod stant point, gruul zoo was its own thread... And it could be but it would in deck creation. Even in established, people posted here more than gruul aggro and wed be lucky to get one post a week in the thread.
Hi sir Lantern, I'm planning to build your 1-drop zoo list since I don't have goyfs. Regarding the Steppe Lynx, 20 lands including 12 fetches enough to utilize landfall? I'm afraid Lynx will be a sitting duck/chump blocker after 2 turns.. in case i'd be having doubts on Lynx, what other options do I have for a 1 drop critter? Thanks!
Hi all - I've been wanting to jump in here and post my Zoo build, but have been caught up in some things. This was the list I was running before M15 was released and some minor changes to the manabase need to be made and tested with the release of the Onslaught reprints. Those changes will likely start with increasing the fetches to eight (2 Arid Mesa, 2 Wooded Foothills, 3 Windswept Heath) and reduce the shocks/overall land count to 17 - adding an extra Path to Exile and Goblin Guide. I think this may be good timing too with the previous questions regarding one-drop Zoo but I'm open to any suggestions:
Hi sir Lantern, I'm planning to build your 1-drop zoo list since I don't have goyfs. Regarding the Steppe Lynx, 20 lands including 12 fetches enough to utilize landfall? I'm afraid Lynx will be a sitting duck/chump blocker after 2 turns.. in case i'd be having doubts on Lynx, what other options do I have for a 1 drop critter? Thanks!
WEll, 12 fetches is the amount necessary to run lynx. I wouldn't run the cat with 11 or less. With 12 fetches, your getting a 4/5 beater til at least turn 3, which is generally you're opening on "free" attacks anyways. If I had to rate 1 drops Id go:
Thats a top 10. Basicly until 5 your getting dudes who are just always good. Guide and loam switch places at times based on meta swings, but for now 2 damage haste is better than 3 butt. Ape is always number 2 over lion because blood moon is a thing, and red is generally easier to cast.
5 and under is more niche, grim is because grims the best 1 drop utility we have access to, unless mom gets reprinted. 6/7 is where we get beaters, but they require more build around and make some "good cards" worse. 8 is the best mana ramp in an aggro deck, and then we get the losers who claim the last couple spots.
Now, if you decide you want to reallllyyyy make lynx good, you need 4 knight. That lets lynx turn into a freakin powerhouse. Were talkin' 8/9 trample beats. Highest Ive gotten a lynx was 16/11 vigilance, haste, trample, pro black.
Maybe its a strange question, but is Vexing Devil not worth playing in this deck? I mean if you are Gruul, and not naya
Vexing devil is generally considered the "least Best" creature. Thats not bad mind you, but it just means its not core to the deck. Depending on what your meta is, or if you want more burn, its just first on the chopping block to make more slots open.
4 damage for 1 mana is not bad at all for a blitz deck.
Hi all - I've been wanting to jump in here and post my Zoo build, but have been caught up in some things. This was the list I was running before M15 was released and some minor changes to the manabase need to be made and tested with the release of the Onslaught reprints. Those changes will likely start with increasing the fetches to eight (2 Arid Mesa, 2 Wooded Foothills, 3 Windswept Heath) and reduce the shocks/overall land count to 17 - adding an extra Path to Exile and Goblin Guide. I think this may be good timing too with the previous questions regarding one-drop Zoo but I'm open to any suggestions:
WEll you want the 4th guide, thats for sure, but you also want 4 wooded foot hills. the next most important fetch would be windswept, because it allows you to get the basic forest or plains and avoid getting mooned out. Id still stay at 18 lands if I were you. Ive seen people dip as low as 16, but it just screws more than not.
Why would running four Foothills be better than running four Windswept Heath? Both can fetch anything in the deck that I need minus the Canopy or off color basic and being able to go find my forest and/or plains is more important than finding a mountain in response to a moon being cast.
Because your deck needs red mana as well. You can fetch a basic mountain with the foot hills if your life is under durress. Your Gruul zoo, basicly lives off red and green mana, while the white is a splash. There will be cases you need to get red. It just makes since to have access to all the mana you use the most... which is wooded foothills.
So I've finished my main deck for Domain Zoo and it's been working out pretty awesome. The biggest issue I'm having is with the sideboard as I'm not too sure what deck the match up loses to in games 2 and 3.
So, are there things in my sideboard that seem like I shouldn't run over other sideboard options? What walls Domain Zoo other than big creatures ie Courser and Tarmogoyf? Because right now, the only solution I have to that is Scavenging Ooze getting bigger and Elspeth to jump my creatures.
So, I know this deck is afraid of Burn decks so if I lose game 1, my G2 and G3 get better when I board in 3 Leyline of Sanctity and Scavenging Ooze. For Robots, I bring in Wear//Tear, Ancient Grudge, and Stony Silence. Maybe Scavenging Ooze as well. For Jund, I bring in Ooze and Elspeth to prevent me from being walled. For Scapeshift, I bring in Mindcensors and maybe Leyline of Sanctity to not die from Valakuts. For Storm, I don't expect them to go with the Grapeshot plan so I'd board in Wear//Tear and Scavenging Ooze. For UWR, I'd board in Wear//Tear and Combust. For Twin, I'd board in Wear//Tear and Combust. For Tron, I'm boarding in Stony Silence, Ancient Grudge, Wear//Tear, and maybe Elspeth assuming they're able to wall me fast enough (which shouldn't happen often).
I'm sure there are more decks I haven't mentioned, but I think my sideboard plan seems decent enough for a general sideboard assuming I'm going into a random meta.
Also, I didn't mention this, but I'm boarding in Wear//Tear against all decks in G2/G3 that run red to get rid of Blood Moon since I'm expecting that as well.
I like him a lot,feels like what the deck was missing. I was convinced on running Mutagenics just to keep him alive from Bolt/Helix/Anger of the Gods type effects. He's quite the nuisance for most everyone.
Also, like Zoo back in the day would tech tarfire or seal of fire..Eidolon also helps Goyf fatten up since he's an enchantment too.
I'm super tempted to try it out
Now I play:
4 Copperline Gorge
4 Routbound Crag
4 Stomping Ground
4 Forest
4 Mountain
My mate tells me to take out the Copperline Gorge but to be sure I decided to ask around here.
All advice is welcome.
Modern - Burn
EDH - Neheb the Eternal
Throw Routbound Crag as far out of your deck as possible.
Modern - Burn
EDH - Neheb the Eternal
Exalted is way better than birds tapping for Red bc chandra isnt that good right now honestly
Standard: Mono-Black Devotion (Yes, Erebos's Titan is good enough for Gary to return!)
Modern: G CoCo Elves
Legacy: None, at the moment, but looking at Elves or Omni-Tell.
The best article you'll ever read in your competitive life:
http://www.sirlin.net/ptw-book/introducingthe-scrub
Follow the link for nice cheap clothing.
Playing:
Death's Shadow Jund
Played:
Kiki Chord, Zoo variants, Goblins, Burn
1st i was against Junk, Match 3 i dropped 3 Eidolons and he couldn't keep up with 2 (real fat) Goyfs in play.
2nd Round was UR Storm, Auto Win.
3rd Round was a crazy (Rg) Scapeshift Build with 4x Huntmaster, Breach, Emrakul and Titan. 0-2
I simply replaced BTE (such a crappy Card IMO) with Eidolon and it got me a ton of value instead of a 2/2 Critter
Green @ it's best
Don't you think 4 Scavenging Ooze is a lot? 3 is a hefty number in decks.that cater to him much more than your deck even does. I'd play 0-2 Maindeck in your list. I'd say test the Eidolon but even if you don't, still try adding another Experiment One, try cutting 2 Ooze and 2 Domri also. I think Searing Blaze is a really strong option for GR if you tried tinkering with the landbase a little more.
Splash White For Wild Nacatl and Path to Exile.
2 Domri's are great. If you're on a budget you should post in the budget Zoo Primer Forum, not here.
Green @ it's best
There has been 1 nacatl-less list that posted dailies results since the unban, so while you can run "gruul zoo" completely sans white, it would be considered "sub optimial."
4 Experiment One
4 Wild Nacatl
4 Kird Ape
4 Vexing Devil
3 Goblin Guide
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
4 Ghor-Clan Rampager
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Lightning Helix
4 Boros Charm
2 Path to Exile
Lands: 19
4 Stomping Ground
4 Sacred Foundry
3 Temple Garden
1 Horizon Canopy
4 Arid Mesa
1 Forest
1 Plains
1 Mountain
WEll, 12 fetches is the amount necessary to run lynx. I wouldn't run the cat with 11 or less. With 12 fetches, your getting a 4/5 beater til at least turn 3, which is generally you're opening on "free" attacks anyways. If I had to rate 1 drops Id go:
1. Nacatl
2. Kird ape
3. Goblin guide
4. Loam lion
5. Grim Lavamancer
6. Experiment one
7. Steepe Lynx
8. Noble Hierch
9. Dryad Militant
10. Sythe Tiger
Thats a top 10. Basicly until 5 your getting dudes who are just always good. Guide and loam switch places at times based on meta swings, but for now 2 damage haste is better than 3 butt. Ape is always number 2 over lion because blood moon is a thing, and red is generally easier to cast.
5 and under is more niche, grim is because grims the best 1 drop utility we have access to, unless mom gets reprinted. 6/7 is where we get beaters, but they require more build around and make some "good cards" worse. 8 is the best mana ramp in an aggro deck, and then we get the losers who claim the last couple spots.
Now, if you decide you want to reallllyyyy make lynx good, you need 4 knight. That lets lynx turn into a freakin powerhouse. Were talkin' 8/9 trample beats. Highest Ive gotten a lynx was 16/11 vigilance, haste, trample, pro black.
Now THAT was a good day.
Vexing devil is generally considered the "least Best" creature. Thats not bad mind you, but it just means its not core to the deck. Depending on what your meta is, or if you want more burn, its just first on the chopping block to make more slots open.
4 damage for 1 mana is not bad at all for a blitz deck.
WEll you want the 4th guide, thats for sure, but you also want 4 wooded foot hills. the next most important fetch would be windswept, because it allows you to get the basic forest or plains and avoid getting mooned out. Id still stay at 18 lands if I were you. Ive seen people dip as low as 16, but it just screws more than not.
So I've finished my main deck for Domain Zoo and it's been working out pretty awesome. The biggest issue I'm having is with the sideboard as I'm not too sure what deck the match up loses to in games 2 and 3.
This is what the deck looks like so far.
4 Wild Nacatl
4 Kird Ape
4 Loam Lion
4 Tarmogoyf
4 Geist of Saint Traft
2 Snapcaster Mage
Instants/Sorceries
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Path to Exile
4 Tribal Flames
3 Mutagenic Growth
2 Lightning Helix
4 Windswept Heath
4 Wooded Foothills
4 Arid Mesa
1 Misty Rainforest
1 Temple Garden
1 Steam Vents
1 Blood Crypt
1 Sacred Foundry
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Stomping Grounds
1 Forest
1 Plains
3 Leyline of Sanctity
2 Stony Silence
1 Ancient Grudge
2 Wear//Tear
2 Aven Mindcensor
1 Elspeth, Knight-Errant
2 Scavenging Ooze
2 Combust
So, are there things in my sideboard that seem like I shouldn't run over other sideboard options? What walls Domain Zoo other than big creatures ie Courser and Tarmogoyf? Because right now, the only solution I have to that is Scavenging Ooze getting bigger and Elspeth to jump my creatures.
So, I know this deck is afraid of Burn decks so if I lose game 1, my G2 and G3 get better when I board in 3 Leyline of Sanctity and Scavenging Ooze. For Robots, I bring in Wear//Tear, Ancient Grudge, and Stony Silence. Maybe Scavenging Ooze as well. For Jund, I bring in Ooze and Elspeth to prevent me from being walled. For Scapeshift, I bring in Mindcensors and maybe Leyline of Sanctity to not die from Valakuts. For Storm, I don't expect them to go with the Grapeshot plan so I'd board in Wear//Tear and Scavenging Ooze. For UWR, I'd board in Wear//Tear and Combust. For Twin, I'd board in Wear//Tear and Combust. For Tron, I'm boarding in Stony Silence, Ancient Grudge, Wear//Tear, and maybe Elspeth assuming they're able to wall me fast enough (which shouldn't happen often).
I'm sure there are more decks I haven't mentioned, but I think my sideboard plan seems decent enough for a general sideboard assuming I'm going into a random meta.
Also, I didn't mention this, but I'm boarding in Wear//Tear against all decks in G2/G3 that run red to get rid of Blood Moon since I'm expecting that as well.