I'm finding more and more that I can cast Craterhoof Behemoth for the win pretty darn quickly; so I'm going to test a list with 2x Craterhoof (and maybe only 3x Curio to start but in the end I may take out a different card). I'll let you know how it goes.
Also, I'm actually quite happy that we have a decent Eldrazi match up. Could help the deck grow in the current meta.
Been lurking around the primer for a while, but have never posted.
Thanks to everyone for all the amazing information on this deck and its many different builds.
I was hoping to get a bit of feedback on my personal build from some better deckbuilders then myself, I feel like I am on the right track for my own playstyle, I feel like some of my card quantities or minor choices might be wrong.
So any feedback would be hugely appreciated.
New to using this deck poster so hopefully it comes out right. Here it goes!
Some of the stuff I have been noticing personally, I am just not sure what to put in for the change is:
I am probably running to heavy on Primal Command. Can probably cut 1-2 of them.
Same can be said for Eternal Witness. Can probably cut 1.
And also with Birds of Paradise I am noticing most people do not seem to run 4, but instead 2-3.
I am wondering if I need to find a spot for a two of Fertile Ground, just for some more Enchantment Ramp, by possibly taking out 2 of the Birds? And if I do that, would it be a better idea to be running Eidolon of Blossoms? I see a lot of deck using that card. Just not sure what to cut for it.
Same goes for Courser of Kruphix, but it seems to be a choice of running Courser of Kruphix or Nissa, Voice of Zendikar, since they both occupy the same slot and do a lot of similar things for the deck. So if that is the choice I would stay with Nissa, for the Planeswalker theme of the deck.
I really enjoy playing with Planeswalkers, so I want it to stay with that kind of theme to it. I feel like 10 is probably the right number in that regard, although I have wanted to test out Domri Rade, but with so many other Planeswalkers/ Enchantments his +1 might miss a lot, making him less useful, and if the fight mechanic is what we are after Gruul Ragebeast seems to be real good for that. Has anyone tested with Domri Rade that can give some feedback on this?
As far as lands go, would I benefit from adding in more Fetch Lands? Some Windswept Heaths probably?
And I probably need a 1 of utility style land like Kessig Wolf Run?
Sorry for the post being kind of all over the place, these are just some of the things I have been noticing about my build and want to try to make it competitive as possible.
Thanks in advance, I really appreciate any feedback I can get!
So, first off, you made some REALLY strong points and asked really important questions. Thanks for posting! I'd say Welcome to the thread, but you've already been here
In terms of your list...it's pretty darn good. If I did't play Cloudstone Curio; the natural next choice for me (and the first choice for many others) would be Primal Command. It's the best interactive card we have at our disposal. I don't think you are wrong at all for playing it. It could even be better than a Curio package (i.e. Curio and Visionary/Abundant Growth) in the end. I'm sure each has their own pros and cons (rather than one being "strictly better" than the other). I think the list looks pretty strong as it is...and you'll be able to tune it perfectly rather quickly.
I do agree, however, that you could probably get away with 2-3x Primal Command and 3x Eternal Witness. This could open up some slots for a little more "support". To be honest, I could literally see just taking out one copy of Witness (and/or Command) and putting in one main-board Domri Rade At that point, you'd probably want to play another creature (or just don't remove the Witness) so you can get the most out of Domri's draw ability.
And I personally think 4x Birds of Paradise is fine. It is SOOOO important that we have a quick start; so I like to run 12 turn-1 ramp cards. I think you're fine there. If you went down to 3x Birds you'd probably be fine (if there was some 2-drop or something you really wanted to play); but four birds is great.
I think you are right on it. You have a good grasp on what you're doing and what you want the deck to do. I too have truly wanted to get a 1-of Domri Rade in the list. It's just nice to have an option for removal when we want it. Even our 3/3 and 2/2 tokens (especially post +1/+1 counters) can kill most creatures in the meta. I wouldn't be surprised if a one-of Domri is actually a good choice.
Since Craterhoof Behemoth and Hornet Queen are making a comeback and Nissa, Voice of Zendikar seems to be alright in our Deck... did anyone consider running Avenger of Zendikar alsongside/instead of Queen? Both cost the same mana and you are trading Flying+Deathtouch for the ability to go wider and bigger plus he synergizes well with Nissa's +1.
I hadn't considered it yet; but that sounds like a blast! :). I will say, however, that the flying and deathtouch are pretty big deals in Hornet's favor; but I could totally see Avenger being a way to quickly get the board state out of control in a deck that ran 4 copies of nissa. With fetch lands you're adding 2 counters each time...you could even play things like Knight of the Reliquary. Could be a deck there for sure.
The return to Lotus Cobra over Birds, along with Courser #3, is why I'm at 21 land. I was quite happy with the sideboard all night. Fertile Ground being in the deck also gives me a little more security for ramping to 4. The 8th Edition art in Foil is very nice, too. I guess I'm shallow. Did not miss the Scavenging Oozees; there simply aren't enough graveyard interactions running around right now worth including him for. I may go back to this card eventually. Did not miss Primeval Titan either. Pedros has been on the non-titan wagon for a long time. I'd done titan-less lists in the past too, and I'm back on it. Most of the time he's just a big dummy who gets you a couple utility lands which is fine. I wanted a higher impact card in this slot. Hornet Queen shores up any midrangey creature matchups maindeck. Sideboard, I have the sweeper suite to turn to which makes those matchups better. Ruric Thar, the Unbowed is the most feared card in the deck other than 'Hoof. Getting him down turn 3 is real, and closes the game much faster than Primeval Titan.
Interesting points about Primeval Titan. I feel like the Green Devotion decks that play Primeval Titan should really play a full set of them, and the goal should be to pump out Primeval Titans as quickly as possible. The goal should be like a turn 3 titan as often as possible (with things like Summoner's Pact, Burning-Tree Emissary, etc. and then utilize that mana to do busted things with Kessig Wolf Run and more titans (maybe even inferno Titan, or Blinkmoth, or Valakut, etc.). You know what I mean. I feel like Prime Time is more of a "build around me" than initially thought of...you are absolutely right that in many decks he's just kind of a 6-drop ramp spell where you'd almost rather have a "bigger impact" 7-8 drop...great point. I think Prime Time is still completely busted and that the right deck built around it is just as good as any devotion deck; but you are right that it's not necessarily the "should go in every devotion deck" it was in years past.
Do most lists run 4x burning-tree emissarys? I know the pros, but wondering what cons, if any, to running her.
A majority of lists due to run 4x BTE. She is the card that can drastically speed up the deck and lead to the crazy early turns (like turn one dork, turn two Nykthos, BTE, BTE, Garruk, Hornet Queen, etc.)....also at 2/2 for 2-CMC she is a great body for the cost. She is pretty much a must in any Genesis Wave version of the deck (as she will re-trigger any Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx that comes into play off of a wave). She can also do some crazy things with Cloudstone Curio (as with 2 of them you have infinite ETB/LTB triggers and infinite storm count...)
She is truly a great card in the fastest of metas. She is just about the absolute fastest things we can do. I currently opted for Elvish Visionary in the 2-drop slot; but it really is in the air as to whether I should go back to BTE. The biggest downside to BTE (and the reason I'm currently on Visionary in my build) is that she generally is a poor top deck. She is fantastic early and horrible any other time. Also, some decks (like Tooth and Nail) will opt for another ramp card (such as Voyaging Satyr or Sylvan Caryatid) instead of pure devotion). She does not offer any form of card advantage and in the late game essentially is just a grizzly bear. If you don't find yourself needing the extra speed/early mana; then she may not be necessary in your deck.
She really is a Green Devotion Staple; and in a majority of metas she is nearly necessary to maintain an average speed fast enough to win. We have been fortunate to be given some great pieces to work with to keep our speed up while also developing card advantage (in Courser, Nissa, etc.) but there is nothing that leads to more crazy and/or broken turns better than Burning-Tree Emissary. With that speed (as generally is the case), however, you lose a little resiliency/consistency that you get with other card choices.
I am excited that you got to play your first tournament. That is pretty awesome and it is pretty cool to see you do so well with the deck. I know the record doesn't show it, but based on your break down of the matches, you really demonstrated that you understood the deck and the complexity that the mechanics can generate. The list looks super solid too. I really think the ragebeast/fight thing may take off against Eldrazi swarm. Hornet Queen and ragebeast off a T and N could be game over for Drazi.
i was very interested in this deck quite some time ago, started building it but ended up building elves. now my interest in it has returned. i was wondering if anyone has tried a green/blue version with the new kiora. her untapping nikthos and voyaging satyr/kiora's follower seems pretty good! red green to load up a massive banefire!
I really loved Kiora, I think in combo decks she is everything you could want. I only swapped her for xenagos because I'm a little more aggro and he fits that better imo
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Standard:GR Eldrazi Ramp
Modern: Mono Green Devotion
I can't say for most people whether or not they run BTE, but I do. It has lots of pros in the list, especially when you consider it is gets better with Curio - making another easy way to go infinite. But late game without Curio or Nykthos it has very little value. This could be said for half the deck tho, and isn't a disadvantage true only of BTE. I run 4 BTE in my list as it really does advance the objectives of the pure devotion deck better than any other creature and it makes Curio loops easier, which is the main point of the version I run. I am debating a 1-of Craterhoof, but it is hard to say what I would trade for it right now. Modern being as fast as it is now, you basically Mulligan anything that can't win by turn 4-5 anyway, and if games go long we have an infinite loop engine to win on the spot.
Has anyone looked into undergrowth champion? So here is what I am thinking...Big devotion. Easily able to put counters on it with courser interactions and G Waves. Can be a constant chump for Eldrazi. I might pick up a couple to try out. The only issue is I would drop my 2 drops to put in two off these guys. That would leave me with needing a T1 ramp to hit a T2 play of any validity. Idk if I like that. Input from anyone who has tested this card would be great! Or maybe predator ooze? I know some of you run it. How has it fared against the matchups you have faced? Also be on the lookout for warping wail to be a new Eldrazi/Tron staple since it knocks out the combo decks' mana dorks and it can attack fish early. I got caught off guard by it at Regionals.
I've changed a good deal since then. Hornet Queen and Kitchen Finks go in the main, Courser, Thrun, and Ruric Thar weasel come out (potentially Sideboard). I think its very interesting how we came to such different conclusions on these creatures, Scavenging Ooze, PrimeTime.
In response to the Prime Time discussion above, I like him as a "safe" Summoner's Pact target. Going all in on a Ruric or hornet queen on turn three can lead to games losses in the face of a lot of land destruction/ elf killers going around. The titan assures that I can pay for my pact next turn.
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If you always do what you always did, then you'll always get what you always got.
I've changed a good deal since then. Hornet Queen and Kitchen Finks go in the main, Courser, Thrun, and Ruric Thar weasel come out (potentially Sideboard). I think its very interesting how we came to such different conclusions on these creatures, Scavenging Ooze, PrimeTime.
In response to the Prime Time discussion above, I like him as a "safe" Summoner's Pact target. Going all in on a Ruric or hornet queen on turn three can lead to games losses in the face of a lot of land destruction/ elf killers going around. The titan assures that I can pay for my pact next turn.
I have been working on the devotion landfall deck. I have come up with a better list than I originally posted. I know what I need to take out but have no idea on what to add, so I am asking help from my fellow green mages for advice on where to go from here. I will post the deck, then I will post what I think needs to be taken out.
After another long night of play testing, I know that I want to take out the 1 Banefire and all 4 Animist's Awakening. So I have 5 open slots. I would like to add some form or 1-2 cmc devotion so I can go back up to 4 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx. If at all possible I would like to add some number of Genesis Hydra but that will come later in the brew i think.
Wow, I've missed a lot. Great to see everyone's tournament reports and read about all the brewing that's going on. Thanks for posting them all.
Epiknoob, have you taken a look at the knightfall lists? They are using Knight of the reliquary with retreat to drive semi-infinite landfall, and the lists share a lot of cards with your landfall deck.
For a two drop, I would look at Strangleroot Geist, Elvish Visionary, and Sakura Tribe Elder. Geist gives you great early pressure, gums up the ground, and is 2 hard to remove devotion. Visionary gives a body and draws a card. Elder can block once, and furthers the landfall plan late-game.
I got a convoluted infinite combo on the land Destruction deck today. 2 Garruks, eternal witness, Temur Sabertooth, and 10 devotion on the board. Not very likely as this was turn 7, but I did have LD every turn after 3. Just wanted to share as I didn't even realize this deck was capable of it.
Have you guys thought about sarkhan vol? i run it in my list and there is rarely a time where i dont want to see it also it helps finish out games with its +1 and stealing an emrakul with sarkan just feels good.
I can't say for most people whether or not they run BTE, but I do. It has lots of pros in the list, especially when you consider it is gets better with Curio - making another easy way to go infinite. But late game without Curio or Nykthos it has very little value. This could be said for half the deck tho, and isn't a disadvantage true only of BTE. I run 4 BTE in my list as it really does advance the objectives of the pure devotion deck better than any other creature and it makes Curio loops easier, which is the main point of the version I run. I am debating a 1-of Craterhoof, but it is hard to say what I would trade for it right now. Modern being as fast as it is now, you basically Mulligan anything that can't win by turn 4-5 anyway, and if games go long we have an infinite loop engine to win on the spot.
Looks great! Tons of card drW to get the the combo, synergy, and Garruk and Kessig available if the combo isn't an option. I woukd maybe try to get 1 copy of Hydra in the 75; but that's just nitpicking. Streamlined! I like it.
Have you guys thought about sarkhan vol? i run it in my list and there is rarely a time where i dont want to see it also it helps finish out games with its +1 and stealing an emrakul with sarkan just feels good.
What kind of list are you running? I was trying to make an aggro devotion deck with him in it a while ago. He was usually pretty good for me. I switched him out in favor of Xenagos planeswalker because Xenagos can protect himself and adds ramp in a hard to remove permanent. Xenagos could buy me time if my opponent was able to clear out my field and hand. Sarkhan without any creatures out to protect him just dies really quickly. Sarkhan could be cool in a planeswalker based deck. What I did really love about him was that he made Garruk's 3/3's into 4/4 haste creatures.
When I had Sarkhan in the deck, I was running some Burning Tree Emissary. You can potentially play Sarkhan on turn 2 and swing in with 3/3 haste emissaries. Pretty cool! His ultimate went off a surprising number of times when I was playing him.
I've had an idea in the back of my mind about finding a way to make a devotion deck that went super wide on the board with creatures then gave buffs to all of those creatures. Perhaps this could be accomplished through a superfriends deck now that Nissa, Voice of Zendikar and Chandra, Flamecaller have been released. It would be cool to see if Garruk, Nissa, Sarkhan and Chandra could form a team. Throw in some Boartusk Liege and you can really start buffing your creatures!
Oh, and it seems Hornet Queen is becoming popular again. She could become a lethal finisher with Sarkhan out the same turn played. Sarkhan allows her to become 11 haste flying deathtouch damage spread out over 5 bodies! If you have a Liege or Nissa out, the damage reaches Emrakul, the Aeons Torn proportions.
Sorry for the ramble. The point is yes, Sarkhan is cool. You just have to make sure he fits your build.
i mean i do hes been in my list since the beginning heres my current list and truth be told its weirder than i thought it was but it works ive gone 3-0-1 this past week drawing only to tron 4-0 the week before and 3-1 against merfolk (my new worse match up)
The deck looks good. Different than many since no Oath of Nissa and only 2 Garruk. I can see how running 2 Harmonize and Tutors makes up for that. That is an amazing record! Good job with all of the games.
I've been looking at other creature based card draw recently. If I wasn't using Eidolon of Blossoms, what could I use?
Here are some interesting card draw creatures that I found online.
I'm most interested in Avaricious Dragon. He can't be bolted and has a nice evasive body for cheap. His downside is of course something to consider, but we all know how fast Devotion plays out cards! I might try testing him out in a different build than the one I'm currently playing. I can see playing him in a deck with a lower curve and Gen. Hydra or wave. By the time I'm casting a Gen. Hydra I'm usually out of cards or just have a mana in hand.
I'm finding more and more that I can cast Craterhoof Behemoth for the win pretty darn quickly; so I'm going to test a list with 2x Craterhoof (and maybe only 3x Curio to start but in the end I may take out a different card). I'll let you know how it goes.
Also, I'm actually quite happy that we have a decent Eldrazi match up. Could help the deck grow in the current meta.
Have you checked out painters servant? Great card that shuts down the eye and temple since all cards have a color.
@stealthsneak
Nice Results! Merfolk can be tough, spreading seas is bonkers. Removing enchantment(s) from the forest and making his dudes unblockable is tough. I would try out Courser of Kruphix, he has become a staple in all my versions of the deck containing primetime: a 2/4 body that can generate a lot of life with primetime as well as card manipulation if you play fetches. When I have all my utility lands the Primeval Titan usually fetches Wooded Foothills. This allows to shuffle away cards I dont want to see away on my upkeep. Twice. Kitchen Finks might be helpful as well in aggro/burn heavy meta. Garruk Wildspeaker is arguably the best card in the deck, allowing for explosive turns - as he can come down on turn 2. And he will deflect some attackers protecting your life total. Maybe try 3 and cut a Voyaging Satyr Obstinate Baloth while being better against Liliana of the Veil can proof useful hardcasted against aggro aswell.
How does your SB look like?
@JaishivaJai
Generally I feel ETB card draw/cantrip is the way to go. Avaricious Dragon is great when it gets grindy, but could be awkward when you cant empty your hand in the next turn due to heavy disruption. But he good be great. Definately worth playtesting. Him being a flyer is great as well. Heartwood Storyteller could be great but gives our opponent cards with our sorceries, enchantments and planeswalkers. Humble Defector could be great with Sarkhan Vol but only if you can combo off with the drawn two cards. Masked Admirers is just a worse Eidolon of Blossoms unless you play no other enchantments at all.
Since you're digging for action Fierce Empath could work out well.
Been thinking of Protean Hulk a lot lately. With Evolutionary Leap or Doomgape. Propably not feasible but I thought it could be funny to toy around with.
Also, I'm actually quite happy that we have a decent Eldrazi match up. Could help the deck grow in the current meta.
So, first off, you made some REALLY strong points and asked really important questions. Thanks for posting! I'd say Welcome to the thread, but you've already been here
In terms of your list...it's pretty darn good. If I did't play Cloudstone Curio; the natural next choice for me (and the first choice for many others) would be Primal Command. It's the best interactive card we have at our disposal. I don't think you are wrong at all for playing it. It could even be better than a Curio package (i.e. Curio and Visionary/Abundant Growth) in the end. I'm sure each has their own pros and cons (rather than one being "strictly better" than the other). I think the list looks pretty strong as it is...and you'll be able to tune it perfectly rather quickly.
I do agree, however, that you could probably get away with 2-3x Primal Command and 3x Eternal Witness. This could open up some slots for a little more "support". To be honest, I could literally see just taking out one copy of Witness (and/or Command) and putting in one main-board Domri Rade At that point, you'd probably want to play another creature (or just don't remove the Witness) so you can get the most out of Domri's draw ability.
And I personally think 4x Birds of Paradise is fine. It is SOOOO important that we have a quick start; so I like to run 12 turn-1 ramp cards. I think you're fine there. If you went down to 3x Birds you'd probably be fine (if there was some 2-drop or something you really wanted to play); but four birds is great.
I think you are right on it. You have a good grasp on what you're doing and what you want the deck to do. I too have truly wanted to get a 1-of Domri Rade in the list. It's just nice to have an option for removal when we want it. Even our 3/3 and 2/2 tokens (especially post +1/+1 counters) can kill most creatures in the meta. I wouldn't be surprised if a one-of Domri is actually a good choice.
I hadn't considered it yet; but that sounds like a blast! :). I will say, however, that the flying and deathtouch are pretty big deals in Hornet's favor; but I could totally see Avenger being a way to quickly get the board state out of control in a deck that ran 4 copies of nissa. With fetch lands you're adding 2 counters each time...you could even play things like Knight of the Reliquary. Could be a deck there for sure.
Interesting points about Primeval Titan. I feel like the Green Devotion decks that play Primeval Titan should really play a full set of them, and the goal should be to pump out Primeval Titans as quickly as possible. The goal should be like a turn 3 titan as often as possible (with things like Summoner's Pact, Burning-Tree Emissary, etc. and then utilize that mana to do busted things with Kessig Wolf Run and more titans (maybe even inferno Titan, or Blinkmoth, or Valakut, etc.). You know what I mean. I feel like Prime Time is more of a "build around me" than initially thought of...you are absolutely right that in many decks he's just kind of a 6-drop ramp spell where you'd almost rather have a "bigger impact" 7-8 drop...great point. I think Prime Time is still completely busted and that the right deck built around it is just as good as any devotion deck; but you are right that it's not necessarily the "should go in every devotion deck" it was in years past.
A majority of lists due to run 4x BTE. She is the card that can drastically speed up the deck and lead to the crazy early turns (like turn one dork, turn two Nykthos, BTE, BTE, Garruk, Hornet Queen, etc.)....also at 2/2 for 2-CMC she is a great body for the cost. She is pretty much a must in any Genesis Wave version of the deck (as she will re-trigger any Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx that comes into play off of a wave). She can also do some crazy things with Cloudstone Curio (as with 2 of them you have infinite ETB/LTB triggers and infinite storm count...)
She is truly a great card in the fastest of metas. She is just about the absolute fastest things we can do. I currently opted for Elvish Visionary in the 2-drop slot; but it really is in the air as to whether I should go back to BTE. The biggest downside to BTE (and the reason I'm currently on Visionary in my build) is that she generally is a poor top deck. She is fantastic early and horrible any other time. Also, some decks (like Tooth and Nail) will opt for another ramp card (such as Voyaging Satyr or Sylvan Caryatid) instead of pure devotion). She does not offer any form of card advantage and in the late game essentially is just a grizzly bear. If you don't find yourself needing the extra speed/early mana; then she may not be necessary in your deck.
She really is a Green Devotion Staple; and in a majority of metas she is nearly necessary to maintain an average speed fast enough to win. We have been fortunate to be given some great pieces to work with to keep our speed up while also developing card advantage (in Courser, Nissa, etc.) but there is nothing that leads to more crazy and/or broken turns better than Burning-Tree Emissary. With that speed (as generally is the case), however, you lose a little resiliency/consistency that you get with other card choices.
I really loved Kiora, I think in combo decks she is everything you could want. I only swapped her for xenagos because I'm a little more aggro and he fits that better imo
Modern: Mono Green Devotion
Here is my current list.
2x Forest
2x Kessig Wolf Run
4x Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
1x Stomping Ground
1x Temple Garden
4x Windswept Heath
4x Wooded Foothills
Sorcery (1)
1x Banefire
Artifact (3)
3x Cloudstone Curio
4x Arbor Elf
4x Birds of Paradise
4x Burning-Tree Emissary
2x Carven Caryatid
4x Elvish Visionary
Enchantment (12)
4x Abundant Growth
4x Oath of Nissa
4x Utopia Sprawl
Planeswalker (8)
4x Garruk Wildspeaker
4x Xenagos, the Reveler
2x Crumble to Dust
3x Kitchen Finks
2x Predator Ooze
3x Rest in Peace
2x Spreading Algae
3x Stony Silence
Some of my decks:
Oath Walker Devo - Modern
Stompy - Modern
Battle of Wits - Modern
Teysa's Sac Circus - EDH
Rob's 450 Unpowered - Cube
For reference, here is the list I beat Gerry T with. It's almost identical to the older Travisaurus List
4 Arbor Elf
3 Birds of Paradise
4 Strangleroot Geist
2 Scavenging Ooze
1 Spellskite
3 Eternal Witness
2 Courser of Kruphix
1 Polukranos, World Eater
1 Thrun, the Last Troll
1 Acidic Slime
1 Ruric Thar, the Unbowed
1 Primeval Titan
1 Craterhoof Behemoth
4 Utopia Sprawl
3 Oath of Nissa
3 Garruk Wildspeaker
2 Primal Command
3 Summoner's Pact
Land (20)
4 Windswept Heath
4 Wooded Foothills
3 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
1 Ghost Quarter
1 Kessig Wolf Run
5 Forest
2 Stomping Ground
1 Rending Volley
3 Kitchen Finks
2 Blood Moon
2 Ancient Grudge
1 Electrickery
1 Cloudthresher
1 Reclamation Sage
1 Firespout
2 Stone Rain
1 Melira, Sylvok Outcast
I've changed a good deal since then. Hornet Queen and Kitchen Finks go in the main, Courser, Thrun, and Ruric Thar weasel come out (potentially Sideboard). I think its very interesting how we came to such different conclusions on these creatures, Scavenging Ooze, PrimeTime.
In response to the Prime Time discussion above, I like him as a "safe" Summoner's Pact target. Going all in on a Ruric or hornet queen on turn three can lead to games losses in the face of a lot of land destruction/ elf killers going around. The titan assures that I can pay for my pact next turn.
Why no genesis hydra?
I have been working on the devotion landfall deck. I have come up with a better list than I originally posted. I know what I need to take out but have no idea on what to add, so I am asking help from my fellow green mages for advice on where to go from here. I will post the deck, then I will post what I think needs to be taken out.
4 Khalni Heart Expedition
4 Retreat to Coralhelm
1 Retreat to Hagra
4 Sakura-Tribe Scout
4 Lotus Cobra
4 Primeval Titan
1 Hedron Crab
1 Rampaging Baloths
4 Animist's Awakening
2 Sylvan Scrying
2 Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle
4 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
4 Wooded Foothills
1 Overgrown Tomb
1 Breeding Pool
10 Forest
1 Swamp
1 Island
1 Golgari Rot Farm
1 Simic Growth Chamber
After another long night of play testing, I know that I want to take out the 1 Banefire and all 4 Animist's Awakening. So I have 5 open slots. I would like to add some form or 1-2 cmc devotion so I can go back up to 4 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx. If at all possible I would like to add some number of Genesis Hydra but that will come later in the brew i think.
Also what are your thoughts on dropping black?
Thoughts?
Epiknoob, have you taken a look at the knightfall lists? They are using Knight of the reliquary with retreat to drive semi-infinite landfall, and the lists share a lot of cards with your landfall deck.
For a two drop, I would look at Strangleroot Geist, Elvish Visionary, and Sakura Tribe Elder. Geist gives you great early pressure, gums up the ground, and is 2 hard to remove devotion. Visionary gives a body and draws a card. Elder can block once, and furthers the landfall plan late-game.
Sig and avy made the good folks at heros of the plane studios
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Looks great! Tons of card drW to get the the combo, synergy, and Garruk and Kessig available if the combo isn't an option. I woukd maybe try to get 1 copy of Hydra in the 75; but that's just nitpicking. Streamlined! I like it.
What kind of list are you running? I was trying to make an aggro devotion deck with him in it a while ago. He was usually pretty good for me. I switched him out in favor of Xenagos planeswalker because Xenagos can protect himself and adds ramp in a hard to remove permanent. Xenagos could buy me time if my opponent was able to clear out my field and hand. Sarkhan without any creatures out to protect him just dies really quickly. Sarkhan could be cool in a planeswalker based deck. What I did really love about him was that he made Garruk's 3/3's into 4/4 haste creatures.
When I had Sarkhan in the deck, I was running some Burning Tree Emissary. You can potentially play Sarkhan on turn 2 and swing in with 3/3 haste emissaries. Pretty cool! His ultimate went off a surprising number of times when I was playing him.
I've had an idea in the back of my mind about finding a way to make a devotion deck that went super wide on the board with creatures then gave buffs to all of those creatures. Perhaps this could be accomplished through a superfriends deck now that Nissa, Voice of Zendikar and Chandra, Flamecaller have been released. It would be cool to see if Garruk, Nissa, Sarkhan and Chandra could form a team. Throw in some Boartusk Liege and you can really start buffing your creatures!
Oh, and it seems Hornet Queen is becoming popular again. She could become a lethal finisher with Sarkhan out the same turn played. Sarkhan allows her to become 11 haste flying deathtouch damage spread out over 5 bodies! If you have a Liege or Nissa out, the damage reaches Emrakul, the Aeons Torn proportions.
Sorry for the ramble. The point is yes, Sarkhan is cool. You just have to make sure he fits your build.
4x Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
1x Kessig Wolf Run
2x stomping ground
10x Forest
non-creature
2x harmonize
1x primal command
4x genesis wave
2x chord of calling
4x utopia sprawl
2x garruk wildspeaker
1x sarkhan vol
4x burning-tree emissary
4x voyaging satyr
4x arbor elf
4x eternal witness
1x regal force
1x craterhoof behemoth
3x primeval titan
3x carven caryatid
3x elvish visionary
Sig and avy made the good folks at heros of the plane studios
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I've been looking at other creature based card draw recently. If I wasn't using Eidolon of Blossoms, what could I use?
Here are some interesting card draw creatures that I found online.
I'm most interested in Avaricious Dragon. He can't be bolted and has a nice evasive body for cheap. His downside is of course something to consider, but we all know how fast Devotion plays out cards! I might try testing him out in a different build than the one I'm currently playing. I can see playing him in a deck with a lower curve and Gen. Hydra or wave. By the time I'm casting a Gen. Hydra I'm usually out of cards or just have a mana in hand.
Have you checked out painters servant? Great card that shuts down the eye and temple since all cards have a color.
Nice Results! Merfolk can be tough, spreading seas is bonkers. Removing enchantment(s) from the forest and making his dudes unblockable is tough. I would try out Courser of Kruphix, he has become a staple in all my versions of the deck containing primetime: a 2/4 body that can generate a lot of life with primetime as well as card manipulation if you play fetches. When I have all my utility lands the Primeval Titan usually fetches Wooded Foothills. This allows to shuffle away cards I dont want to see away on my upkeep. Twice.
Kitchen Finks might be helpful as well in aggro/burn heavy meta. Garruk Wildspeaker is arguably the best card in the deck, allowing for explosive turns - as he can come down on turn 2. And he will deflect some attackers protecting your life total. Maybe try 3 and cut a Voyaging Satyr
Obstinate Baloth while being better against Liliana of the Veil can proof useful hardcasted against aggro aswell.
How does your SB look like?
@JaishivaJai
Generally I feel ETB card draw/cantrip is the way to go.
Avaricious Dragon is great when it gets grindy, but could be awkward when you cant empty your hand in the next turn due to heavy disruption. But he good be great. Definately worth playtesting. Him being a flyer is great as well.
Heartwood Storyteller could be great but gives our opponent cards with our sorceries, enchantments and planeswalkers.
Humble Defector could be great with Sarkhan Vol but only if you can combo off with the drawn two cards.
Masked Admirers is just a worse Eidolon of Blossoms unless you play no other enchantments at all.
Since you're digging for action Fierce Empath could work out well.
Been thinking of Protean Hulk a lot lately. With Evolutionary Leap or Doomgape. Propably not feasible but I thought it could be funny to toy around with.
A question about Tooth and Nail:
Is there a better target than Emrakul, the Aeons Torn + Xenagos, God of Revels?