So I been playing G/r Devotion since it was MonoGreen devotion with hunters/tuskers/and goliaths. I also used to be in love with ghor-clan rampager but the two decks were not one in the same.
So tonight me and a friend were playtesting it against MonoBlue since the deck is pretty popular. First I was testing the new CVM monsters decklist that he posted today. IMO, it felt super clunky and really turn 3-4 dependant. which isnt where I wanna be against monoblack or the aggro decks.
Before CVM even posted his deck I was talking about putting GCR in gr devo and playing a gruul charm/bow split in the board. This is what we have at the moment. And it feels very fluid
I think you missed count the creatures and planeswalkers.
While I like it being stable in early turns, I feel like it lacks of threat, or win condition. The only attacker is going to be Polukranos, World Eater and Stormbreath Dragon. You will keep Ghor-Clan Rampager for bloodrush more often than hard cast it, to kill off their blocker and getting damage through. Burning-Tree Emissary may contribute few damage early game and Scavenging Ooze hardly able to grow, depending on match up. I speak through my experience of building a more or less similar list when first open series held in my town after rotation.
I think what CVM runs is the way of what RG Monsters could do. I would cut a Scavenging Ooze for second copy of Garruk, Caller of Beasts, Xenagos, the Reveler for another land, or just Scavenging Ooze for another land. I'm not quite comfortable with 23 lands midrange deck. I would however, add in 2 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx to ease up dragon's monstrosity. It should be hard with the help from Xenagos as well. Flesh // Blood MB is necessary. I once hit my opponent with 18 damage, with him at 18 life. His mistake not to block my Polukranos with Ash Zealot thinking he could swing me for a win next turn attack with Stormbreath Dragon and Boros Reckoner and drop Fanatic of Mogis. Simply bloodrush GCR and split Blood for the win.
This is very close to Keisuke Sato's list from GP Shizuoka. The problem I had with this deck is that I won zero games against mono-black. What is your plan against them other than hoping to nut draw?
This is very close to Keisuke Sato's list from GP Shizuoka. The problem I had with this deck is that I won zero games against mono-black. What is your plan against them other than hoping to nut draw?
You are pretty threat dense. You got plummets out of the board to help deal with DDemon. Its prolly our hardest matchup.
Main thing I liked about this over straight Gr devo or Gr monsters is that your game 1 against monoblue isnt terrible. And it gets a lot better post board.
Ruric thar though in the board is pretty good against Monoblack especially with ghor-clan. The deck doesnt straight fold to monoblack but I can def see it being on the harder matchups.
I think Plummet, Ruric Thar, and Bow of Nylea should be alright vs. MBD. Witchstalker is great but it's tough to find a slot. His slot fights with Boon Satyr, which serves more and better purpose.
So I ended up cutting one BTE and one Ghor-Clan for 2 Flesh/Blood.
Flesh//Blood was extremely lacking and was never really more than a lightning bolt when I did play it. Not sure if I like it that much. I see its strength for sure but dont know if the deck actually needs it.
In the tournament I played I wen 3-1 in standard(modern failed me hard)
I played the folllowing
Round 1: RW Devotion
Game 1 he plays 4 Boros Reckoners within the first 5 turns(nykthos). Dont think this deck can really deal with 4 reckoners. I got past one but thats about it.
Game 2 he plays a turn 2 frost-burn weird. And then turn 2 was Bte > BTE > nykthos activation > Stormbreath Dragon. I scooped as my hand was far too slow for that.
That was really nutty for him. But it happens.
Round 2: Jund Midrange
He gets land screwed game 1 and I take full advantage of it. Game 2 he mulls and keeps a very threat light hand it appears. I manage to grind him out and get the win.
Round 3: Mono Blue
Game 1 he puts the squeeze on me and a tindbinder taps my ghor-clan and he swings for exact dmg. I had him dead on the crack back. I prolly couldve not play the ghor-clan, leaving behind a crayatid to block a frost-born weird and won. Not 100% sure though.
Game 2 I get ahead and I stay ahead. Have gruul charm in my hand the whole game but never actually needed to cast it.
Game 3 he plays turn 3 thassa i play turn 3 polukranos. he follows it up witha nightveil specter. I play domri and fight. he plays another nightveil and I gruul charm that one. The game ends with him having a master of waves that he couldnt cast without it instantly dying to polukranos
Round 4: Big Boros
Every game he played turn 3 anger the gods and I had xenagos right after for more dudes. Both games were pretty one sided.
So in closing, I really enjoy this deck. It does really awesomething things and ghor-clan is AMAZING.
So tonight me and a friend were playtesting it against MonoBlue since the deck is pretty popular. First I was testing the new CVM monsters decklist that he posted today. IMO, it felt super clunky and really turn 3-4 dependant. which isnt where I wanna be against monoblack or the aggro decks.
Before CVM even posted his deck I was talking about putting GCR in gr devo and playing a gruul charm/bow split in the board. This is what we have at the moment. And it feels very fluid
4 Ghor-Clan Rampager
2 Scavenging Ooze
4 Burning Tree Emissary
2 Voyaging Satyr
4 Stormbreath Dragon
4 Sylvan Caryatid
4 Polukranos, World Eater
4 Domri Rade
1 Garruk, Caller of Beasts
2 Xenagos, the Reveler
4 Mountain
1 Mutavault
2 Nykthos
4 Stomping Ground
4 Temple of Abandon
2 Mizzium Mortars
4 Mistcutter Hydra
1 Destructive Revelry
1 Gruul Charm
2 Plummet
2 Shock
1 Bow of Nylea
2 Mizzium Mortars
1 Ruric Thar
1 Garruk
It plays pretty smoothe. Not as Clunky, and can play ether way without skewing your game plan in ether which way.
Thoughts?
Standard:RWUJeskai WinsRWU
Modern:GWBMelira PodGWB
Legacy:WDeath & TaxesW
While I like it being stable in early turns, I feel like it lacks of threat, or win condition. The only attacker is going to be Polukranos, World Eater and Stormbreath Dragon. You will keep Ghor-Clan Rampager for bloodrush more often than hard cast it, to kill off their blocker and getting damage through. Burning-Tree Emissary may contribute few damage early game and Scavenging Ooze hardly able to grow, depending on match up. I speak through my experience of building a more or less similar list when first open series held in my town after rotation.
4 Elvish Mystic
4 Sylvan Caryatid
4 Voyaging Satyr
4 Burning-tree Emmissary
4 Polukranos, World Eater
4 Stormbreath Dragon
1 Worldspine Wurm
4 Xenagos, the Reveller
2 Garruk, Caller of Beasts
2 Primeval Bounty
3 Mizzium Mortars
Lands
4 Temple of Abandon
2 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
9 Forest
9 Mountain
3 Peak Eruption
3 Mistcutter Hydra
3 Ghor-Clan Rampager
2 Ruric Thar, the Unbowed
2 Destructive Revelry
2 Hammer of Purphoros
Modern : RG Titan Shift RG | RG Revolt Zoo RG | RG Ponza RG | RGW Naya Burn RGW
Legacy : RG Belcher RG
Modern: Jund Legacy: RUG Delver EDH: Captain Sisay
You are pretty threat dense. You got plummets out of the board to help deal with DDemon. Its prolly our hardest matchup.
Main thing I liked about this over straight Gr devo or Gr monsters is that your game 1 against monoblue isnt terrible. And it gets a lot better post board.
Ruric thar though in the board is pretty good against Monoblack especially with ghor-clan. The deck doesnt straight fold to monoblack but I can def see it being on the harder matchups.
Maybe witchstalkers in the 75 somewhere.
Standard:RWUJeskai WinsRWU
Modern:GWBMelira PodGWB
Legacy:WDeath & TaxesW
Modern : RG Titan Shift RG | RG Revolt Zoo RG | RG Ponza RG | RGW Naya Burn RGW
Legacy : RG Belcher RG
Flesh//Blood was extremely lacking and was never really more than a lightning bolt when I did play it. Not sure if I like it that much. I see its strength for sure but dont know if the deck actually needs it.
In the tournament I played I wen 3-1 in standard(modern failed me hard)
I played the folllowing
Round 1: RW Devotion
Game 1 he plays 4 Boros Reckoners within the first 5 turns(nykthos). Dont think this deck can really deal with 4 reckoners. I got past one but thats about it.
Game 2 he plays a turn 2 frost-burn weird. And then turn 2 was Bte > BTE > nykthos activation > Stormbreath Dragon. I scooped as my hand was far too slow for that.
That was really nutty for him. But it happens.
Round 2: Jund Midrange
He gets land screwed game 1 and I take full advantage of it. Game 2 he mulls and keeps a very threat light hand it appears. I manage to grind him out and get the win.
Round 3: Mono Blue
Game 1 he puts the squeeze on me and a tindbinder taps my ghor-clan and he swings for exact dmg. I had him dead on the crack back. I prolly couldve not play the ghor-clan, leaving behind a crayatid to block a frost-born weird and won. Not 100% sure though.
Game 2 I get ahead and I stay ahead. Have gruul charm in my hand the whole game but never actually needed to cast it.
Game 3 he plays turn 3 thassa i play turn 3 polukranos. he follows it up witha nightveil specter. I play domri and fight. he plays another nightveil and I gruul charm that one. The game ends with him having a master of waves that he couldnt cast without it instantly dying to polukranos
Round 4: Big Boros
Every game he played turn 3 anger the gods and I had xenagos right after for more dudes. Both games were pretty one sided.
So in closing, I really enjoy this deck. It does really awesomething things and ghor-clan is AMAZING.
Standard:RWUJeskai WinsRWU
Modern:GWBMelira PodGWB
Legacy:WDeath & TaxesW