This is the deck I played at the PT, should have gotten 21 points (7-3), but I scooped to a guy so he could get an extra pro point.
This deck is pretty much regular Naya Zoo with 4 Molten Rains. I lost to 2 splinter twin decks and a Doran deck that i drew no good removal against, though the Doran deck was good, and my twin games were lost due to minor misplays, or being very unlucky.
Here's the Blue Zoo list I'm running right now on MTGO.
I decided to skip on 3-drop creatures entirely, taking Pat Cox's advice that KotR isn't really that hot in this format because he's just a trump card in creature mirrors when you need to go bigger. I'd rather have Elspeth for the mirrors, since she at least attacks from a different angle. Since I don't care about 3 drops, I'm not wasting space on the GSZ/Arbor/Hierarch/etc package and just going for pure speed off one drops, plus Goyfs. Haven't seen a Chalice since Hypergenesis was banned, and if some blue based control takes off with EE I'd have to adjust this plan a little, at least adding Pridemages back in. In the meantime, thinning out the high drops and manadorks and bears made room for a little extra burn and library manipulation.
Psionic Blast is a cutesy experiment. I wanted another high dmg card, and could probably just use Char, but I couldn't resist the nostalgia of PsiBlast, and maybe it'll dodge a flashfreeze once and awhile. I know I want instant speed burn in that slot right now, and may play around with it.
My board is very particular to MTGO, where affinity and G/x 12 post are the very common decks you'll see in the practice room.
This is the deck I played at the PT, should have gotten 21 points (7-3), but I scooped to a guy so he could get an extra pro point.
This deck is pretty much regular Naya Zoo with 4 Molten Rains. I lost to 2 splinter twin decks and a Doran deck that i drew no good removal against, though the Doran deck was good, and my twin games were lost due to minor misplays, or being very unlucky.
Would it be that absurd to take away the Noble Hierarchs and Zeniths and bring the deck back to it's roots? I mean, Kiblers list of Naya Zoo has seemed to have changed the perception of the deck forever, making it a lot less aggressive.
My take on the deck, I've been out of magic for a little bit if it's awful my apologies.
4 Kird Ape
4 Wild Nacatl
3 Goblin Guide
3 Loam Lion
4 Tarmogoyf
3 Qasali Pridemage
2 Gaddock Teeg
4 Knight of The Reliquary
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Lightning Helix
4 Path to Exile
Would it be that absurd to take away the Noble Hierarchs and Zeniths and bring the deck back to it's roots? I mean, Kiblers list of Naya Zoo has seemed to have changed the perception of the deck forever, making it a lot less aggressive.
My take on the deck, I've been out of magic for a little bit if it's awful my apologies.
4 Kird Ape
4 Wild Nacatl
3 Goblin Guide
3 Loam Lion
4 Tarmogoyf
3 Qasali Pridemage
2 Gaddock Teeg
4 Knight of The Reliquary
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Lightning Helix
4 Path to Exile
Yeah the ramp provided by Hierarch and GSZ -> Arbor is too good to pass up, Arbor even gets to attack. The whole point of Modern Zoo is to kinda aggro control your way to victory.
Also Kird Ape and Loam Lion suck because this deck is a midrange deck at best, and 2 power do nothing is pretty bad. You have to be doing more than just playing guys and attacking this format, you need to be reacting to your opponent's deck too. Green Sun's Zenith is the best way to have a good answer to your opponent's deck, whether it's Gaddock Teeg, Qasali Pridemage, Tarmogoyf or Knight of the Reliquary. You can also ramp on turn 1 searching out Dryad Arbor.
Team Fireball's "Blue Zoo/Countercat/Catfish" deck is probably the best Zoo deck right now. The only really powerful thing it is missing is Grove of the Burnwillows + Punishing Fire, but it can't support that combo because it really need the blue lands.
Yeah the ramp provided by Hierarch and GSZ -> Arbor is too good to pass up, Arbor even gets to attack. The whole point of Modern Zoo is to kinda aggro control your way to victory.
Also Kird Ape and Loam Lion suck because this deck is a midrange deck at best, and 2 power do nothing is pretty bad. You have to be doing more than just playing guys and attacking this format, you need to be reacting to your opponent's deck too. Green Sun's Zenith is the best way to have a good answer to your opponent's deck, whether it's Gaddock Teeg, Qasali Pridemage, Tarmogoyf or Knight of the Reliquary. You can also ramp on turn 1 searching out Dryad Arbor.
Team Fireball's "Blue Zoo/Countercat/Catfish" deck is probably the best Zoo deck right now. The only really powerful thing it is missing is Grove of the Burnwillows + Punishing Fire, but it can't support that combo because it really need the blue lands.
Luis Scott Vargas, Samuel Black and a lot of other known pros used to ask me for my lists in extended on MTGO after I'd constantly beat them and win half the tournaments I entered. I was one of the pioneers of Naya Zoo and Domain Zoo was my first deck I fell in love with as kid PTQing, I've been out of magic for almost 2 years now.
It kind of breaks my heart to be told, Aggro-Zoo isn't efficient enough anymore despite you most likely being right, this just isn't the same deck. Don't know if I'll end up getting into magic again, Standard has looked vile for oh too long now, Modern has a great appeal to especially as a player who likes to be very unconventional and breakthrough, seems like a format I could thrive in. Still if I can't play standard I usually just haven't bothered.
I run punishing zoo without goyf because he is too expensive. I understand why he is ran, and if my budget permitted it I would have them. Anyways, I was hoping to get some criticism on my list since now that I don't have zenith I'm not sure if I should even keep the teegs and pridemages, I just put a couple more in because teeg also stops wrath and planeswalkers, and kept the pridemages because there are a few artifact decks around. Sometimes I use kird ape instead of goblin guide if someone wants to use my goblin deck. Also I have no idea how yall got the deck lists to look like that.
Surprisingly all three cards work exceptionally well in combination. Knight is the fastest growing of all the creatures, at a steady +2/+2 per turn until you start swinging, possibly more than that. Goyf caps out generally around the 3/4~4/5 mark unless you get lucky spills. And splinterfright grows slower but is the biggest of all your beat sticks.
To aid in the growth of everything, the deck runs 28 creatures. The only non creature spells are 3 Mulches (since you may as well run a sorcery to fuel goyf), punishing fire of course, and sword of feast and famine. Though I think a different sword would be better suited, not sure which.
It's pretty scary turn 4 having splinterfright out, milling out a land and a creature making him a 3/3~5/5 (depends if you got hit by a board wipe yet), dropping knight of the reliquary as a 4/4 or so.
And then suddenly everything explodes. Goyf gets bigger. Fright gets MUCH bigger, and knight gets really REALLY big, like stupid big. Fright just synergizes with the rest of the deck so well it's impressive.
He mills lands for knight, mills creatures and tramples everything (11/11 trample after a board wipe? Hello follow up late game!) He mills your deck to accelerate goyf, and finally he mills out a punishing fire to go active, increasing you're chances of the burnwillows combo very fast.
I am a strong believer that at LEAST 3 splinterfrights should be run in zoo after testing.
I'm just wondering if Harmonize has no place in Zoo lists same with bloodbraid elf
Thank you, fixed.
As for bloodbraid, she definitely seems like a good card to drop but slows the deck itself down a bit by increasing its curve. It would depend on what version of Zoo you're running. If your more creature heavy she won't wiff so hard, but if you accidently draw into a burn spell with no creatures on the opponents side that hurts.
You definitely want to make sure if you're running bloodbraid, every spell she can hit is one that would be relevant to the board state, so no burn spells that only target creatures.
Pretty much a counter cat deck but with a bit more blue. Running Delver of Secrets with Wild Nacatl gives the deck a whopping 8 three powered 1 drops. It also allows you to build your deck with a few more counter spells and push into Vendilion Clique. Regarding the 2cmc counter spell:What would you pick; a hard situational counter like Negate or a Mana Leak/Rune Snag kinda card? Magma Jet adds some draw consistency and doubles as a Delver enabler if needed. Any and all suggestions on how to improve this would be great.
This is a list that looks like it wants a playset of snapcasters in there. I would probably trade out the preordains if I was going to try Tiago here. I'd also maybe swap out the psi blasts for a cheaper burn spell, but I totally get why you like them. Very crafty indeed. 20 dudes is a bit better for a sligh deck than 16, and Tiago makes unified will much more effective, especially as a surprise trick.
Just a suggestion. I will give this list a shot if I can get my hands on the right shock lands.
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What's the most optimum zoo list to test against? I've been testing against the tribal zoo because I've heard the traditional lists had the best results at worlds and it was the closest thing I could find to a traditional list.
Traditional zoo I would think would be primarily Naya colors but possibly splashing for Tribal Flames (basically just watery grave). The CFB snapcaster list is a bit less ordinary but should represent "fast zoo" as well. But you should really test against both big zoo and fast zoo to really get a good feel, especially if you are on a midrange or control plan.
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This is what I'm planning to run now that the bannings have been announced. It was almost card for card LSV's Tribal Zoo list (except the board), but now I'm going to tweak away. So far it's just swapping out the Nacatls, but I'm considering a few other changes, mainly the creature setup some more. I like Pridemages in the main, but there's more to it than that, I think. Maybe one main Teeg.
Also, would Figure of Destiny even be considered a decent Cat sub?
Crackity, I'm basically on the same plan as you (working with a CFB-inspired list, replace cat with goblin, tweak from there).
I also would check out Todd Anderson's list he just posted on SCG a couple days ago, he focuses a bit more heavily on Snapcaster Mage and uses Geist as his finisher. I also think we'll see some Domain lists smashing Bob into the mix again, which of course never hurts (except every upkeep...).
I also might consider a Big Zoo list at some point, while still holding the Snapcaster/Tribal Flames pairing, and when the time is right, I will definitely be trying out Boom/Bust Zoo.
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Build 1
I would take the traditional zoo shell. Remove the nactls for steppe lynx.
Remove the punishing fires for tribal flames.
remove the groves for 2/3 other fetch lands and a utility land and/or another basic mana depending.
Build 2
Go the blue zoo route cutting nactls for snapcasters. This is more of the big zoo route.
Build 3
If people stop playing zoo because they believe it is weaker(it is still the best deck in the format by leaps and bounds) then this version might be good.
Replace the nactls with steppe lynx. Replace several slower cards with more 1 drops and beat control and combo all day long.
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Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined and imprisoned; yet we have not advanced one inch towards uniformity.
Really, Slipknot, many of your posts are just useless. Don't bother unless you actually have something relevant to say.
To the actual Zoo players on this thread, here is Todd Anderson's list from a few days ago, which is basically an evolution of the Channel Fireball theme we saw at worlds:
I think Goblin Guide is the most logical replacement for Wild Nacatl, though Steppe Lynx is reasonable as well in the right meta. Running both is also an option of course, and this list could also cut the countermagic for Tribal Flames to get really aggressive (closer to LSV's decklist).
Geist is an interesting choice, and how good it is will really depend on the opposing Aggro matchups. If there is still a decent amount of Zoo and other aggro, I don't think Geist is the best choice without some additional support cards (Grim Lavamancers, equipment, etc.). His whole thought is that you should be able to keep the board clear with all the removal and Snapcasters hitting removal, and he's got a good point, but we all know it won't work out that way every time you want to swing with Geist. Either way, this slot is easily filled by either Knight of the Reliquary or similar options. Tribal Flames lists might opt out of 3 drops altogether and just call Snapcaster the top of the curve, more like this:
I personally think it's better to diversify threats and have a few chewy 3-drops to hit in the lategame, and I like having at least a couple Spell Pierce in the main, but the above shell would be still be a viable version of "Fast Zoo" if you wanted to get really aggressive. Once I get in some more testing, I'll post up the list I actually end up on.
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The Sideboard obviously needs a lot of work still, and I am not entirely sure about the mana base...
Looks like a good starting point to me. You might be a little creature light though, but this is a pretty good point to start testing from. A lot of this will likely change with the meta as most decks do.
Getting other opinions is also a good idea.
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What about running 4 snaps + 4 knights + 4 Noble Hierarch. I don't like the idea of running 20 land with snaps. We could gain exalted, blue source for mana and a second turn 4/4 knight with the inclusion of the Noble.
Other creatures Goyf, loam, steppe lynx. Every creature could use the mana from Noble
What about running 4 snaps + 4 knights + 4 Noble Hierarch. I don't like the idea of running 20 land with snaps. We could gain exalted, blue source for mana and a second turn 4/4 knight with the inclusion of the Noble.
Other creatures Goyf, loam, steppe lynx. Every creature could use the mana from Noble
You'd definitely want the mana accel with more snapcasters. Swinging for 6 on turn 3 with kotr sounds pretty crazy too. I guess it completely depends on personal preference though, first turn kird ape and second turn goyf can get as much damage through if not more than a second turn Knight with exalted. What I really like about the banning of nacatl is the fact that it's going to give people a few extra choices when they're putting their deck together.
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4 Goblin Guide
3 Loam Lion
4 Tarmogoyf
3 Qasali Pridemage
1 Gaddock Teeg
4 Knight of the Reliquary
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Lightning Helix
4 Path to Exile
3 Green Sun's Zenith
1 Tectonic Edge
1 Horizon Canopy
4 Arid Mesa
4 Misty Rainforest
1 Marsh Flats
1 Scalding Tarn
2 Sacred Foundry
2 Temple Garden
2 Stomping Ground
1 Forest
1 Plains
1 Mountain
I don't have a sideboard yet.
BRRakdos, Lord of RiotsBR
This deck is pretty much regular Naya Zoo with 4 Molten Rains. I lost to 2 splinter twin decks and a Doran deck that i drew no good removal against, though the Doran deck was good, and my twin games were lost due to minor misplays, or being very unlucky.
4 Arid Mesa
1 Dryad Arbor
1 Forest
1 Ghost Quarter
4 Grove of the Burnwillows
1 Horizon Canopy
1 Misty Rainforest
1 Mountain
1 Plains
1 Sacred Foundry
1 Sejiri Steppe
2 Stomping Ground
1 Temple Garden
1 Treetop Village
4 Knight of the Reliquary
4 Noble Hierarch
2 Qasali Pridemage
4 Tarmogoyf
4 Wild Nacatl
1 Elspeth, Knight-Errant
3 Green Sun's Zenith
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Molten Rain
4 Path to Exile
4 Punishing Fire
2 Bojuka Bog
2 Chalice of the Void
3 Ethersworn Canonist
1 Gaddock Teeg
4 Grim Lavamancer
3 Pithing Needle
I decided to skip on 3-drop creatures entirely, taking Pat Cox's advice that KotR isn't really that hot in this format because he's just a trump card in creature mirrors when you need to go bigger. I'd rather have Elspeth for the mirrors, since she at least attacks from a different angle. Since I don't care about 3 drops, I'm not wasting space on the GSZ/Arbor/Hierarch/etc package and just going for pure speed off one drops, plus Goyfs. Haven't seen a Chalice since Hypergenesis was banned, and if some blue based control takes off with EE I'd have to adjust this plan a little, at least adding Pridemages back in. In the meantime, thinning out the high drops and manadorks and bears made room for a little extra burn and library manipulation.
Psionic Blast is a cutesy experiment. I wanted another high dmg card, and could probably just use Char, but I couldn't resist the nostalgia of PsiBlast, and maybe it'll dodge a flashfreeze once and awhile. I know I want instant speed burn in that slot right now, and may play around with it.
My board is very particular to MTGO, where affinity and G/x 12 post are the very common decks you'll see in the practice room.
4 Wild Nacatl
4 Kird Ape
4 Loam Lion
4 Tarmogoyf
Other Spells (22)
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Path to Exile
3 Lightning Helix
4 Tribal Flames
3 Psionic Blast
4 Preordain
Lands (22)
4 Arid Mesa
1 Blood Crypt
1 Breeding Pool
1 Forest
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Horizon Canopy
1 Plains
2 Sacred Foundry
2 Scalding Tarn
2 Stomping Ground
2 Temple Garden
4 Verdant Catacombs
4 Ancient Grudge
2 Elspeth, Knight-Errant
3 Flashfreeze
3 Twisted Image
3 Unified Will
Would it be that absurd to take away the Noble Hierarchs and Zeniths and bring the deck back to it's roots? I mean, Kiblers list of Naya Zoo has seemed to have changed the perception of the deck forever, making it a lot less aggressive.
My take on the deck, I've been out of magic for a little bit if it's awful my apologies.
4 Kird Ape
4 Wild Nacatl
3 Goblin Guide
3 Loam Lion
4 Tarmogoyf
3 Qasali Pridemage
2 Gaddock Teeg
4 Knight of The Reliquary
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Lightning Helix
4 Path to Exile
Yeah the ramp provided by Hierarch and GSZ -> Arbor is too good to pass up, Arbor even gets to attack. The whole point of Modern Zoo is to kinda aggro control your way to victory.
Also Kird Ape and Loam Lion suck because this deck is a midrange deck at best, and 2 power do nothing is pretty bad. You have to be doing more than just playing guys and attacking this format, you need to be reacting to your opponent's deck too. Green Sun's Zenith is the best way to have a good answer to your opponent's deck, whether it's Gaddock Teeg, Qasali Pridemage, Tarmogoyf or Knight of the Reliquary. You can also ramp on turn 1 searching out Dryad Arbor.
Team Fireball's "Blue Zoo/Countercat/Catfish" deck is probably the best Zoo deck right now. The only really powerful thing it is missing is Grove of the Burnwillows + Punishing Fire, but it can't support that combo because it really need the blue lands.
Here is the list LSV played at the Pro Tour.
1 Dryad Arbor
1 Forest
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Horizon Canopy
2 Marsh Flats
4 Misty Rainforest
1 Plains
1 Sacred Foundry
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Steam Vents
2 Stomping Ground
1 Tectonic Edge
1 Temple Garden
1 Gaddock Teeg
4 Knight of the Reliquary
4 Noble Hierarch
1 Qasali Pridemage
4 Tarmogoyf
4 Wild Nacatl
3 Bant Charm
2 Elspeth, Knight-Errant
4 Green Sun's Zenith
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Lightning Helix
4 Path to Exile
3 Aven Mindcensor
1 Bribery
3 Flashfreeze
2 Gideon Jura
1 Grim Lavamancer
1 Qasali Pridemage
1 Rule of Law
1 Tectonic Edge
2 Unified Will
Luis Scott Vargas, Samuel Black and a lot of other known pros used to ask me for my lists in extended on MTGO after I'd constantly beat them and win half the tournaments I entered. I was one of the pioneers of Naya Zoo and Domain Zoo was my first deck I fell in love with as kid PTQing, I've been out of magic for almost 2 years now.
It kind of breaks my heart to be told, Aggro-Zoo isn't efficient enough anymore despite you most likely being right, this just isn't the same deck. Don't know if I'll end up getting into magic again, Standard has looked vile for oh too long now, Modern has a great appeal to especially as a player who likes to be very unconventional and breakthrough, seems like a format I could thrive in. Still if I can't play standard I usually just haven't bothered.
Creatures: 22
4 wild nacatl
4 goblin guide
4 Kavu Predator
4 Knight of the Reliquary
3 Gaddock Teeg
2 Qasali Pridemage
1 Ranger of Eos
Instants/sorceries: 16
4 Path to Exile
4 Punishing Fire
3 Lightning Bolt
3 Lightning Helix
1 Condemn
1 Fiery Justice
Lands: 22
4 Grove of the Burnwillows
4 Arid Mesa
3 Misty Rainforest
1 Marsh Flats
2 Temple Garden
2 Sacred Foundry
1 Stomping Ground
2 Plains
2 Forest
1 Mountain
Surprisingly all three cards work exceptionally well in combination. Knight is the fastest growing of all the creatures, at a steady +2/+2 per turn until you start swinging, possibly more than that. Goyf caps out generally around the 3/4~4/5 mark unless you get lucky spills. And splinterfright grows slower but is the biggest of all your beat sticks.
To aid in the growth of everything, the deck runs 28 creatures. The only non creature spells are 3 Mulches (since you may as well run a sorcery to fuel goyf), punishing fire of course, and sword of feast and famine. Though I think a different sword would be better suited, not sure which.
3 Temple Garden
4 Misty Rainforest
4 Verdant Catacombs
1 Plains
3 Forest
1 Mountain
3 Stomping Grounds
3 Grove of the Burnwillows
3 Kird Ape
3 Loam Lion
4 Wild Nacatl
2 Qasali Pridemage
2 Kavu Predator
4 Tarmagoyf
4 Splinterfright
2 Dungrove Elder
3 Knight of the Reliquary
1 Ranger of Eos
4 Punishing Fire
3 Sword of Feast and Famine
3 Mulch
It's pretty scary turn 4 having splinterfright out, milling out a land and a creature making him a 3/3~5/5 (depends if you got hit by a board wipe yet), dropping knight of the reliquary as a 4/4 or so.
And then suddenly everything explodes. Goyf gets bigger. Fright gets MUCH bigger, and knight gets really REALLY big, like stupid big. Fright just synergizes with the rest of the deck so well it's impressive.
He mills lands for knight, mills creatures and tramples everything (11/11 trample after a board wipe? Hello follow up late game!) He mills your deck to accelerate goyf, and finally he mills out a punishing fire to go active, increasing you're chances of the burnwillows combo very fast.
I am a strong believer that at LEAST 3 splinterfrights should be run in zoo after testing.
I'm just wondering if Harmonize has no place in Zoo lists same with bloodbraid elf
Insert witty phrase here
Thank you, fixed.
As for bloodbraid, she definitely seems like a good card to drop but slows the deck itself down a bit by increasing its curve. It would depend on what version of Zoo you're running. If your more creature heavy she won't wiff so hard, but if you accidently draw into a burn spell with no creatures on the opponents side that hurts.
You definitely want to make sure if you're running bloodbraid, every spell she can hit is one that would be relevant to the board state, so no burn spells that only target creatures.
4 Noble Hierarch
4 Delver of Secrets
4 Wild Nacatl
4 Tarmogoyf
3 Vendilion Clique
INSTANTS-19
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Magma Jet
2 Lightning Helix
3 Spell Snare
4 Mana Leak
2 Bant Charm
4 Misty Rainforest
2 Marsh Flats
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Temple Garden
2 Stomping Ground
1 Steam Vents
2 Sacred Foundry
2 Hallowed Fountain
1 Forest
1 Plains
1 Tectonic Edge
Needs moar Delver.
I had one match loss on the day and that was to the mirror in the top 8.
2 Stomping Ground
1 Temple Garden
4 Arid Mesa
4 Misty Rainforest
2 Horizon Canopy
1 Treetop Village
1 Kessig Wolf Run
2 Plains
2 Forest
2 Loam Lion
4 Wild Nacatl
4 Kird Ape
4 Path to Exile
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Lightning Helix
4 Qasali Pridemage
4 Tarmogoyf
3 Knight of the Reliquary
2 Ranger of Eos
3 Tormod's Crypt
3 Ancient Grudge
3 Gaddock Teeg
3 Searing Blaze
3 Elspeth, Knight Errant
This is a list that looks like it wants a playset of snapcasters in there. I would probably trade out the preordains if I was going to try Tiago here. I'd also maybe swap out the psi blasts for a cheaper burn spell, but I totally get why you like them. Very crafty indeed. 20 dudes is a bit better for a sligh deck than 16, and Tiago makes unified will much more effective, especially as a surprise trick.
Just a suggestion. I will give this list a shot if I can get my hands on the right shock lands.
RGB Jund BGR
WGB Junk/Abzan Company WGB
LEGACY
RUGB Delver GURB
EDH
UW Geist of Saint Traft Aggro-Control WU
RUG Riku of Two Reflections Combo GUR
BBB Skithiryx Control BB
Worlds - Conley Woods
1 Breeding Pool
1 Forest
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Horizon Canopy
1 Kessig Wolf Run
4 Misty Rainforest
1 Plains
1 Sacred Foundry
3 Scalding Tarn
1 Steam Vents
2 Stomping Ground
1 Temple Garden
22 lands
2 Kitchen Finks
4 Knight of the Reliquary
4 Noble Hierarch
2 Qasali Pridemage
1 Snapcaster Mage
4 Tarmogoyf
4 Wild Nacatl
22 creatures
2 Bant Charm
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Lightning Helix
2 Negate
4 Path to Exile
16 other spells
2 Ancient Grudge
2 Combust
2 Gideon Jura
2 Kitchen Finks
1 Mindbreak Trap
1 Ranger of Eos
1 Rule of Law
1 Seal of Primordium
2 Spell Pierce
1 Torpor Orb
15 sideboard cards
Worlds - Channel Fireball team
1 Blood Crypt
1 Breeding Pool
1 Forest
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Marsh Flats
4 Misty Rainforest
1 Plains
1 Sacred Foundry
4 Scalding Tarn
1 Steam Vents
1 Stomping Ground
1 Temple Garden
22 lands
3 Knight of the Reliquary
3 Snapcaster Mage
4 Steppe Lynx
4 Tarmogoyf
4 Wild Nacatl
20 creatures
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Lightning Helix
4 Path to Exile
2 Spell Pierce
4 Tribal Flames
18 other spells
2 Ancient Grudge
2 Combust
2 Deathmark
1 Kitchen Finks
2 Mindbreak Trap
1 Negate
2 Ranger of Eos
2 Seal of Primordium
1 Torpor Orb
15 sideboard cards
Worlds - Pilot unknown
1 Blood Crypt
1 Forest
1 Hallowed Fountain
4 Marsh Flats
1 Misty Rainforest
1 Sacred Foundry
4 Scalding Tarn
1 Steam Vents
1 Stomping Ground
1 Temple Garden
1 Verdant Catacombs
21 lands
4 Kird Ape
4 Qasali Pridemage
4 Steppe Lynx
4 Tarmogoyf
4 Wild Nacatl
24 creatures
4 Lightning Bolt
1 Lightning Helix
2 Might of Alara
4 Path to Exile
4 Tribal Flames
15 other spells
4 Ancient Grudge
2 Doom Blade
2 Kitchen Finks
2 Mana Leak
1 Naturalize
2 Negate
2 Oblivion Ring
15 sideboard cards
RGB Jund BGR
WGB Junk/Abzan Company WGB
LEGACY
RUGB Delver GURB
EDH
UW Geist of Saint Traft Aggro-Control WU
RUG Riku of Two Reflections Combo GUR
BBB Skithiryx Control BB
Also, would Figure of Destiny even be considered a decent Cat sub?
2 Kird Ape
3 Knight of the Reliquary
3 Snapcaster Mage
4 Steppe Lynx
4 Tarmogoyf
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Lightning Helix
4 Path to Exile
2 Spell Pierce
4 Tribal Flames
4 Arid Mesa
1 Blood Crypt
1 Breeding Pool
1 Forest
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Marsh Flats
4 Misty Rainforest
1 Plains
1 Sacred Foundry
4 Scalding Tarn
1 Steam Vents
1 Stomping Ground
1 Temple Garden
2 Kitchen Finks
2 Gaddock Teeg
2 Sacred Ground
1 Negate
2 Ancient Gridge
2 Mindbreak Trap
1 Torpor Orb
1 Ranger of Eos
2 Qasali Pridemage
BRWC Mardu Shops - Tymna and Akiri Artifacts BRWC
I also would check out Todd Anderson's list he just posted on SCG a couple days ago, he focuses a bit more heavily on Snapcaster Mage and uses Geist as his finisher. I also think we'll see some Domain lists smashing Bob into the mix again, which of course never hurts (except every upkeep...).
I also might consider a Big Zoo list at some point, while still holding the Snapcaster/Tribal Flames pairing, and when the time is right, I will definitely be trying out Boom/Bust Zoo.
RGB Jund BGR
WGB Junk/Abzan Company WGB
LEGACY
RUGB Delver GURB
EDH
UW Geist of Saint Traft Aggro-Control WU
RUG Riku of Two Reflections Combo GUR
BBB Skithiryx Control BB
Build 1
I would take the traditional zoo shell. Remove the nactls for steppe lynx.
Remove the punishing fires for tribal flames.
remove the groves for 2/3 other fetch lands and a utility land and/or another basic mana depending.
Build 2
Go the blue zoo route cutting nactls for snapcasters. This is more of the big zoo route.
Build 3
If people stop playing zoo because they believe it is weaker(it is still the best deck in the format by leaps and bounds) then this version might be good.
Replace the nactls with steppe lynx. Replace several slower cards with more 1 drops and beat control and combo all day long.
Albert Einstein
Thomas Jefferson
To the actual Zoo players on this thread, here is Todd Anderson's list from a few days ago, which is basically an evolution of the Channel Fireball theme we saw at worlds:
4 Kird Ape
4 Loam Lion
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Tarmogoyf
4 Wild Nacatl (Goblin Guide)
Legendary Creatures
3 Geist of Saint Traft
Instants
1 Bant Charm
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Lightning Helix
4 Path to Exile
3 Spell Pierce
1 Forest
1 Plains
Lands
4 Arid Mesa
1 Breeding Pool
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Marsh Flats
4 Misty Rainforest
1 Sacred Foundry
4 Scalding Tarn
1 Steam Vents
1 Stomping Ground
1 Temple Garden
3 Ethersworn Canonist
2 Ranger of Eos
2 Seal of Primordium
2 Ancient Grudge
2 Combust
2 Mindbreak Trap
2 Negate
I think Goblin Guide is the most logical replacement for Wild Nacatl, though Steppe Lynx is reasonable as well in the right meta. Running both is also an option of course, and this list could also cut the countermagic for Tribal Flames to get really aggressive (closer to LSV's decklist).
Geist is an interesting choice, and how good it is will really depend on the opposing Aggro matchups. If there is still a decent amount of Zoo and other aggro, I don't think Geist is the best choice without some additional support cards (Grim Lavamancers, equipment, etc.). His whole thought is that you should be able to keep the board clear with all the removal and Snapcasters hitting removal, and he's got a good point, but we all know it won't work out that way every time you want to swing with Geist. Either way, this slot is easily filled by either Knight of the Reliquary or similar options. Tribal Flames lists might opt out of 3 drops altogether and just call Snapcaster the top of the curve, more like this:
4 Steppe Lynx
3 Kird Ape
3 Loam Lion
2 Grim Lavamancer
4 Tarmogoyf
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Lightning Helix
3 Path to Exile
4 Tribal Flames
I personally think it's better to diversify threats and have a few chewy 3-drops to hit in the lategame, and I like having at least a couple Spell Pierce in the main, but the above shell would be still be a viable version of "Fast Zoo" if you wanted to get really aggressive. Once I get in some more testing, I'll post up the list I actually end up on.
RGB Jund BGR
WGB Junk/Abzan Company WGB
LEGACY
RUGB Delver GURB
EDH
UW Geist of Saint Traft Aggro-Control WU
RUG Riku of Two Reflections Combo GUR
BBB Skithiryx Control BB
Did not know there was a subforum for a discussion
1 Blood Crypt
1 Breeding Pool
1 Forest
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Marsh Flats
4 Misty Rainforest
1 Plains
1 Sacred Foundry
4 Scalding Tarn
1 Steam Vents
1 Stomping Ground
1 Temple Garden
1 Kessig Wolfrun
4 Knight of the Reliquary
2 Snapcaster Mage
4 Steppe Lynx
4 Tarmogoyf
4 Loam Lion
1 Elspeth Knight-Errant
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Lightning Helix
4 Path to Exile
4 Tribal Flames
2 Spellpierce
1 Moorland Haunt
2 Negate
2 Ranger of Eos
2 Seal of Primordium
2 Combust
2 Ancient Grudge
2 Ethersworn Canonist
The Sideboard obviously needs a lot of work still, and I am not entirely sure about the mana base...
Looks like a good starting point to me. You might be a little creature light though, but this is a pretty good point to start testing from. A lot of this will likely change with the meta as most decks do.
Getting other opinions is also a good idea.
Albert Einstein
Thomas Jefferson
Other creatures Goyf, loam, steppe lynx. Every creature could use the mana from Noble
You'd definitely want the mana accel with more snapcasters. Swinging for 6 on turn 3 with kotr sounds pretty crazy too. I guess it completely depends on personal preference though, first turn kird ape and second turn goyf can get as much damage through if not more than a second turn Knight with exalted. What I really like about the banning of nacatl is the fact that it's going to give people a few extra choices when they're putting their deck together.