I've been testing this deck for a few days, and I've found that it mostly works Ok (obviously not tournament worthy), but needs a little more work.
Here's my current decklist:
In my opinion it's main weakness is the lack of removal, once something is in play I can't really do much about it. I was about to leave the deck in the bin but vapor snag changed that. Still, I know it needs more answers, but I don't really know what to take out and what to put in that won't get in the way most of the time.
Serum Visions is the other card that made the deck viable to me, without it it just wasn't reliable most of the time. I've like to add the fourth, but I'm unsure what to take out.
Grafted Wargear is just awesome in this deck, attaching it to a Simulacrum is great since most of the time I don't care if it dies, and sometimes I need it to. Same with geist most of the time. Still, I don't think the Aura/Equipment section is as good as it can be yet.
Kodama seems to be a weird dude, I like it because it's basically a Thrun with a Rancor on it, minus a few good things, but sometimes he's just an awkward in between creature. Having a Grafted Wargear in play or a Spectral flight in hand is pretty frustrating with this dude. Maybe I should go with 2 Thrun, but I'd like to have a bigger creature in the deck, or at least one that has more impact. Any ideas there?
I'm testing Deprive as a one-of right now, in a way to try to cover the lack of definitive removal with at least an unconditional counter. I might go with another one, but using this when a leak would be enough is not good at all.
Regarding the Yavimaya coast, I was using Hinterland Harbor and decided to try these since they are very cheap. I was quite surprised, turns out I rarely use the colored mana so they barely hurt me, plus I can play a T1 BoP or Serum with them, so I decided to keep them, for now at least.
Besides what's stated above, I've considered putting in Boggart Ram-Gang and Timbermare, but I'm unsure of how to make them fit, and I'm not sure it'd be worth it.
Anyway, I'd appreciate any thoughts, critiques and opinions.
Thanks for the tips, I'm testing Snakeform right now and I think it'll work nicely. I took out 2 Vapor snags for that though, and I'm not too sure about that.
I've replaced Kodama with a Timbermare with great results, since it usually hits for 7 or more. I'm still looking for a heavy hitting dude, but this is kinda working out for now.
Snakeform? It's a fun card, but I really think psionic blast is probably better. It doesn't replace itself, but it is reach or a removal spell just the same. You could likewise consider ulvenvald tracker. Several of your biggest guys have regenerate, and it's repeatable and cheap, making it potentially very rough. It does require survival, however!
Mortarpod is probably superior to grafted wargear.
It seems like a cross between troll hammer and troll worship. The deck probably would getter with the addition of white, but as it is, there are several playable creatures you could use. You're correct that kodama north probably isn't the guy you want. If it was the cannot be countered part you were after, then great sable stag is pretty rough. Otherwise, protection from blue/black probably isn't as useful. Mwonvuli beast tracker could find your relevant trolls easily enough Neurok commando will keep you in cards longer if you can get him through, which may not be as easy in this deck.
It's probably just not good enough and I certainly wouldn't want more than one or two, but aven fleetwing is a flying hexproof budget style beater. He's pretty rough to deal with if you resolve him.
More realistically, if it's the hexproof abilities you want, you'd be better served by increasing your troll counts or splashing white for geist of saint traft. He's not by any means a budget option,t hough!
I had forgotten about Psionic blast, I will definitely test it, especially since it can actually win some games, which snakeform cant. I don't really like ulvenvald tracker there, since it's a creature, won't really help me win too much, and as you said, only works if my creature survives.
Mortarpod is probably superior to grafted wargear.
I don't think it is really, at all. Mortarpod requires more mana, and doesn't really help me win that much, while wargear is quite aggresive. As I said, a T3 geist/troll with wargear is pretty strong, and the drawback is not that much of a deal most of the time, it just means I use it more as an Aura that doesnt leave play than a regular equipment.
The deck probably would better with the addition of white
Yeah, adding white or black would make the deck much stronger but that complicates the mana base quite a bit. I don't think there's a way to get a consistent 3 colored mana base without fecths and duals, is there? and those are too expensive for me right now.
Regarding Kodama, I'm mostly after the "decent dude that you better deal with" aspect of it, but Kodama is hard to play with since I'm using wargear or auras on most creatures and his toughness is not that great in a lot of cases. I've mostly shifted towards Timbermare in that slot right now, and I like, but of course needs more testing.
I don't dislike aven fleetwing, but I wouldn't know what to take out since I prefer having trolls, and I think I usually would like to be playing something else on T3/4. I'll keep him in mind though, I like the fact that he has flash, and flying is usually pretty good in modern.
I'm a fan of Mystic snake, and maybe it could take the place of Deprive, but as with aven, I think 4cmc might be too much, still, this is a great idea, and I'll definitely test it out. Whelk is just too much mana really, I don't think I would have that mana to counter most of the stuff I really want to counter. I also like Trygon predator, and play him in a few casual decks, but I think he's too slow here, but I'll have to test it since I don't have any answer to flying dudes besides birds and Spectral Flights.
More realistically, if it's the hexproof abilities you want, you'd be better served by increasing your troll counts or splashing white for geist of saint traft. He's not by any means a budget option,t hough!
It's the staying power of the trolls I'm after really, once they get in, they are pretty hard to deal with so put a couple of auras and a wargear there and you're set. Add some speed with Strangleroot geist, some control to stall a bit and hopefully I get to win a bit.
I could get a GoST or two, but I can't really justify shocks + fetchs and enough stuff to make it worth it. Also, at that point I might as well be playing a more traditional Bant, right?
I think I'll experiment adding Psionic blast, Mystic snake and maybe a Spectral Flight, but I'm unsure what to take out, maybe a Simulacrum or a Witness. I'll test it out a bit on Friday when I have time and post the list here after.
Thanks for your help guys, and if anyone has more suggestions, please share them.
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Here's my current decklist:
3 Eternal Witness
1 Kodama of the north tree
3 Solemn Simulacrum
3 Strangleroot geist
1 Thrun, the last troll
3 Troll Ascetic
3 Rancor
2 Spectral flight
1 Deprive
3 Mana leak
3 Spell Pierce
4 Vapor snag
8 Forest
7 Island
2 Treetop village
4 Yavimaya coast
In my opinion it's main weakness is the lack of removal, once something is in play I can't really do much about it. I was about to leave the deck in the bin but vapor snag changed that. Still, I know it needs more answers, but I don't really know what to take out and what to put in that won't get in the way most of the time.
Serum Visions is the other card that made the deck viable to me, without it it just wasn't reliable most of the time. I've like to add the fourth, but I'm unsure what to take out.
Grafted Wargear is just awesome in this deck, attaching it to a Simulacrum is great since most of the time I don't care if it dies, and sometimes I need it to. Same with geist most of the time. Still, I don't think the Aura/Equipment section is as good as it can be yet.
Kodama seems to be a weird dude, I like it because it's basically a Thrun with a Rancor on it, minus a few good things, but sometimes he's just an awkward in between creature. Having a Grafted Wargear in play or a Spectral flight in hand is pretty frustrating with this dude. Maybe I should go with 2 Thrun, but I'd like to have a bigger creature in the deck, or at least one that has more impact. Any ideas there?
I'm testing Deprive as a one-of right now, in a way to try to cover the lack of definitive removal with at least an unconditional counter. I might go with another one, but using this when a leak would be enough is not good at all.
Regarding the Yavimaya coast, I was using Hinterland Harbor and decided to try these since they are very cheap. I was quite surprised, turns out I rarely use the colored mana so they barely hurt me, plus I can play a T1 BoP or Serum with them, so I decided to keep them, for now at least.
Besides what's stated above, I've considered putting in Boggart Ram-Gang and Timbermare, but I'm unsure of how to make them fit, and I'm not sure it'd be worth it.
Anyway, I'd appreciate any thoughts, critiques and opinions.
Thanks for reading.
If you don't mind dealing with 3/3s: Pongify, Beast Within
There's also Polymorph but that can be dangerous if they have something bigger in their deck. Snag it after I figure.
I'll try helping more later. On a phone in transit now.
Quick adds: Snakeform is a great combat trick. Cantrips too.
I've replaced Kodama with a Timbermare with great results, since it usually hits for 7 or more. I'm still looking for a heavy hitting dude, but this is kinda working out for now.
Mortarpod is probably superior to grafted wargear.
It seems like a cross between troll hammer and troll worship. The deck probably would getter with the addition of white, but as it is, there are several playable creatures you could use. You're correct that kodama north probably isn't the guy you want. If it was the cannot be countered part you were after, then great sable stag is pretty rough. Otherwise, protection from blue/black probably isn't as useful. Mwonvuli beast tracker could find your relevant trolls easily enough Neurok commando will keep you in cards longer if you can get him through, which may not be as easy in this deck.
It's probably just not good enough and I certainly wouldn't want more than one or two, but aven fleetwing is a flying hexproof budget style beater. He's pretty rough to deal with if you resolve him.
Mystic snake or draining whelk give you a bit more counter ability. Trygon predator gives you more utility.
More realistically, if it's the hexproof abilities you want, you'd be better served by increasing your troll counts or splashing white for geist of saint traft. He's not by any means a budget option,t hough!
Credit to DolZero for this awesome sig!
I had forgotten about Psionic blast, I will definitely test it, especially since it can actually win some games, which snakeform cant. I don't really like ulvenvald tracker there, since it's a creature, won't really help me win too much, and as you said, only works if my creature survives.
I don't think it is really, at all. Mortarpod requires more mana, and doesn't really help me win that much, while wargear is quite aggresive. As I said, a T3 geist/troll with wargear is pretty strong, and the drawback is not that much of a deal most of the time, it just means I use it more as an Aura that doesnt leave play than a regular equipment.
Yeah, adding white or black would make the deck much stronger but that complicates the mana base quite a bit. I don't think there's a way to get a consistent 3 colored mana base without fecths and duals, is there? and those are too expensive for me right now.
Regarding Kodama, I'm mostly after the "decent dude that you better deal with" aspect of it, but Kodama is hard to play with since I'm using wargear or auras on most creatures and his toughness is not that great in a lot of cases. I've mostly shifted towards Timbermare in that slot right now, and I like, but of course needs more testing.
I don't dislike aven fleetwing, but I wouldn't know what to take out since I prefer having trolls, and I think I usually would like to be playing something else on T3/4. I'll keep him in mind though, I like the fact that he has flash, and flying is usually pretty good in modern.
I'm a fan of Mystic snake, and maybe it could take the place of Deprive, but as with aven, I think 4cmc might be too much, still, this is a great idea, and I'll definitely test it out. Whelk is just too much mana really, I don't think I would have that mana to counter most of the stuff I really want to counter. I also like Trygon predator, and play him in a few casual decks, but I think he's too slow here, but I'll have to test it since I don't have any answer to flying dudes besides birds and Spectral Flights.
It's the staying power of the trolls I'm after really, once they get in, they are pretty hard to deal with so put a couple of auras and a wargear there and you're set. Add some speed with Strangleroot geist, some control to stall a bit and hopefully I get to win a bit.
I could get a GoST or two, but I can't really justify shocks + fetchs and enough stuff to make it worth it. Also, at that point I might as well be playing a more traditional Bant, right?
I think I'll experiment adding Psionic blast, Mystic snake and maybe a Spectral Flight, but I'm unsure what to take out, maybe a Simulacrum or a Witness. I'll test it out a bit on Friday when I have time and post the list here after.
Thanks for your help guys, and if anyone has more suggestions, please share them.