Here is the list I've finally settled upon for the moment. Still testing and making changes, but of all the builds I've constructed, this one has been giving me the most success. It's very versatile and able to handle multiple different types of opponents. The only poor match-up is with Blue Control, and that's what I'll be building the side-board around.
Also, I know in previous posts I said I didn't feel Ghalta was worth using, and instead would be using Carnage Tyrant, but I have since changed my mind on that stance. Ghalta is a great win condition for the deck, and should only be removed when facing heavy control. That match-up is where I'd replace him with Carnage Tyrant.
It's the same list. I've made some changes to it through further testing based on things I was having problems with. The only changes I've made thus far have been taking out Vine Mare and Carnage Tyrant to add in Ghalta and Vivien Reid. I realized Ghalta is too good of a win condition not to run, and am keeping Carnage Tyrant in the side-board for when I face control decks. Vivien is really good to provide draw power, another way to kill flyers, and a potential win condition if the game lasts long enough.
So, other than those two cards being changed, it's the same list. Playtesting often leads to change.
It's the same list. I've made some changes to it through further testing based on things I was having problems with. The only changes I've made thus far have been taking out Vine Mare and Carnage Tyrant to add in Ghalta and Vivien Reid. I realized Ghalta is too good of a win condition not to run, and am keeping Carnage Tyrant in the side-board for when I face control decks. Vivien is really good to provide draw power, another way to kill flyers, and a potential win condition if the game lasts long enough.
So, other than those two cards being changed, it's the same list. Playtesting often leads to change.
The list you originally posted was a brew and what you are playing with now is the known stompy deck. So did you just decide the stompy is better than your brew?
As I said before, my changes came through playtesting. The list I originally posted wasn't even the original variation. I started by playing the explore package (Jadelight and Branchwalker) in place of the Harpooner and Thorn Lieutenant. Testing showed that the explore wasn't as valuable to the deck as I'd theorized. Then because of all the control I was facing, I swapped in Carnage Tyrant and Vine Mare into the main board.
And, as stated previously, after further testing, I found that Ghalta was too good of a win condition to not play, but I didn't want to main board both Carnage Tyrant and Ghalta, so I moved Ghalta back to the main board and decided to side in Carnage Tyrant in relevant matches.
Vivien, also, is not "the known stompy deck," as you say. Most lists I've seen online only play her in the side board. I choose to main deck her because I find her versatility very useful. I'll only side her out against strong aggro in which I can't properly protect her.
My decisions have come through playtesting and what I've found to be useful in the deck.
As I said before, my changes came through playtesting. The list I originally posted wasn't even the original variation. I started by playing the explore package (Jadelight and Branchwalker) in place of the Harpooner and Thorn Lieutenant. Testing showed that the explore wasn't as valuable to the deck as I'd theorized. Then because of all the control I was facing, I swapped in Carnage Tyrant and Vine Mare into the main board.
And, as stated previously, after further testing, I found that Ghalta was too good of a win condition to not play, but I didn't want to main board both Carnage Tyrant and Ghalta, so I moved Ghalta back to the main board and decided to side in Carnage Tyrant in relevant matches.
Vivien, also, is not "the known stompy deck," as you say. Most lists I've seen online only play her in the side board. I choose to main deck her because I find her versatility very useful. I'll only side her out against strong aggro in which I can't properly protect her.
My decisions have come through playtesting and what I've found to be useful in the deck.
what platform do you test out of? Areana, MTGO, XMAGE?
"To keep things 100, anything I state is an opinion and not intended to be a fact. Any and all suggestions I give are a 100% opinion. If you need further clarification take the conversation to a PM. I am not in the business of assuming things. I'm only interested in 1 business and that business serves 2 things, Cold L's and Hot Dub's."
Here's another update on my list now that I've reached 50 competitive league matches.
Match breakdown and winrate:
Win Percentage on play vs draw:
Individual match breakdown from 25-50 (can't screenshot the whole thing):
So, first thing is that the total win rate so far of 74% is insanely high, higher than I thought it would be, and after 50 matches it's getting out of the realm of just possible variance. Given the current meta, there's some things that really stand out as positive.
1. Control is absolutely everywhere, in multiple variants, and so far the deck has performed excellent vs the control matchup as a whole. My total control record so far is 15-6, and I was only running 1 Carnage Tyrant main deck, I've since upped that to 2 to give me an even better game 1 matchup.
2. Both GB midrange and MonoRed remain great matchups, with me being 5-0 vs Monored and 7-2 vs GB midrange. I thought both decks would be more popular, but it definitely seems that GB has fallen on the popularity scale given that I only saw it twice in 25 matches. Monored I also only saw twice in 25 matches, it's mainly been just tons of control variants.
3. The only bad matchup I've found so far is the monoU aggro deck and I haven't sen it one time since I made the sideboard adjustments for it, I really expected to see it more, but glad I didn't.
75% winrate in standard is really really high, and the deck feels great in most matchups. Not really sure what I might change at this point, I've considered cutting the prey upons for more blanchwood armors and cutting a ghalta for another 3 or 4 drop like maindeck ripjaw raptor, but honestly I don't know if it would improve anything. Will keep playing, testing, and updating.
Here's another update on my list now that I've reached 50 competitive league matches.
Match breakdown and winrate:
Win Percentage on play vs draw:
Individual match breakdown from 25-50 (can't screenshot the whole thing):
So, first thing is that the total win rate so far of 74% is insanely high, higher than I thought it would be, and after 50 matches it's getting out of the realm of just possible variance. Given the current meta, there's some things that really stand out as positive.
1. Control is absolutely everywhere, in multiple variants, and so far the deck has performed excellent vs the control matchup as a whole. My total control record so far is 15-6, and I was only running 1 Carnage Tyrant main deck, I've since upped that to 2 to give me an even better game 1 matchup.
2. Both GB midrange and MonoRed remain great matchups, with me being 5-0 vs Monored and 7-2 vs GB midrange. I thought both decks would be more popular, but it definitely seems that GB has fallen on the popularity scale given that I only saw it twice in 25 matches. Monored I also only saw twice in 25 matches, it's mainly been just tons of control variants.
3. The only bad matchup I've found so far is the monoU aggro deck and I haven't sen it one time since I made the sideboard adjustments for it, I really expected to see it more, but glad I didn't.
75% winrate in standard is really really high, and the deck feels great in most matchups. Not really sure what I might change at this point, I've considered cutting the prey upons for more blanchwood armors and cutting a ghalta for another 3 or 4 drop like maindeck ripjaw raptor, but honestly I don't know if it would improve anything. Will keep playing, testing, and updating.
What platform you playing on and what was the sb you were playing with?
So, interestingly, I've reverted some of my previous deck choices after a lot more testing on MTG Arena. I've now taken out the Thorn Lieutenant (I'm just not impressed with this card) and Kraul Harpooner for Merfolk Branchwalker and Jadelight Ranger. I find that they do, indeed, make the deck much more consistent. At worst, they're draw power. At best, they gain power and let you pick if you want to see a certain creature or not. Plus, with them, I find I far less often draw into a land when I need something else to win.
I've also finally built my side-board. I've found that control is, by far, the worst match-up for this deck, so I've built my side-deck around that. The only change I may make would be to add in Kraul Harpooner into the side-board. The only non-control side-board card that I'm using is Ripjaw Raptor, as it gives me great draw power when I'm facing aggro decks.
So, interestingly, I've reverted some of my previous deck choices after a lot more testing on MTG Arena. I've now taken out the Thorn Lieutenant (I'm just not impressed with this card) and Kraul Harpooner for Merfolk Branchwalker and Jadelight Ranger. I find that they do, indeed, make the deck much more consistent. At worst, they're draw power. At best, they gain power and let you pick if you want to see a certain creature or not. Plus, with them, I find I far less often draw into a land when I need something else to win.
I've also finally built my side-board. I've found that control is, by far, the worst match-up for this deck, so I've built my side-deck around that. The only change I may make would be to add in Kraul Harpooner into the side-board. The only non-control side-board card that I'm using is Ripjaw Raptor, as it gives me great draw power when I'm facing aggro decks.
turn 4 Ghalta % dropped a lot by only having 4 2 drops. explore creatures dont pump collector after 1 counter. What do you bring Ripjaw in against and what do you take out?
Hey gang, going to try Selesnya Stompy online in the future. I have been working on a list, this is what I have come up with; basically my current G/b list with specific cards being replaced.
If you read everything I said, I already said I use ripjaw for aggro. Tokens, burn, mono red. What I take out depends entirely on what my opponent is playing. There are no set cards I side in or out.
As for not giving counters to collector, it's not much of a loss. Thorn Lieutenant would give the same counters as Jadelight or Branchwalker, and the extra consistency these cards add are well worth the loss of a couple counters kraul would give me.
Early tests tell me Growth-Chamber Guardian is great for the archetype ! Remains to see what the deck wants to splash for.
What are you taking out of the current list to fit those in? And how is that card better than floor and lieutenant or crawl harpooner? In the deck already splashes black
Early tests tell me Growth-Chamber Guardian is great for the archetype ! Remains to see what the deck wants to splash for.
What are you taking out of the current list to fit those in? And how is that card better than floor and lieutenant or crawl harpooner? In the deck already splashes black
The deck splashes and doesn't, it depends on the lists. Now we get access to more colors with RNA, so black may be far from the only splashable option.
This Guardian is potential CA, so it fits in place of Lieutenants in the first place. The latter is only relevant in the mid to late game, when you can pump it, while Guardian can grow in the early game and snowball. It's an incentive to splash blue for Hadana's Climb too.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Pioneer - A bunch of stuff Modern - Humans Legacy - Grixis Phoenix / Death & Taxes
What happened to the big stompy list you worked wiht so much?
Props to DarkNightCavalier 4 da banner and SGT_Chubbz 4 avvie, here
Standard
GRAggro
GRWNaya Purphoros
GWAggro Retired 9/19/2014
RGPrimeval Titan RIP
1/5/2010 - 9/30/2011
Top 4 Channelfireball Winter series 5k Feb. 2011
3rd at California National Qualifiers 2011
40th at GP SLC 2012
Find me on MTGO @ Ruslvmusl91
So, other than those two cards being changed, it's the same list. Playtesting often leads to change.
The list you originally posted was a brew and what you are playing with now is the known stompy deck. So did you just decide the stompy is better than your brew?
Props to DarkNightCavalier 4 da banner and SGT_Chubbz 4 avvie, here
Standard
GRAggro
GRWNaya Purphoros
GWAggro Retired 9/19/2014
RGPrimeval Titan RIP
1/5/2010 - 9/30/2011
Top 4 Channelfireball Winter series 5k Feb. 2011
3rd at California National Qualifiers 2011
40th at GP SLC 2012
Find me on MTGO @ Ruslvmusl91
And, as stated previously, after further testing, I found that Ghalta was too good of a win condition to not play, but I didn't want to main board both Carnage Tyrant and Ghalta, so I moved Ghalta back to the main board and decided to side in Carnage Tyrant in relevant matches.
Vivien, also, is not "the known stompy deck," as you say. Most lists I've seen online only play her in the side board. I choose to main deck her because I find her versatility very useful. I'll only side her out against strong aggro in which I can't properly protect her.
My decisions have come through playtesting and what I've found to be useful in the deck.
what platform do you test out of? Areana, MTGO, XMAGE?
Props to DarkNightCavalier 4 da banner and SGT_Chubbz 4 avvie, here
Standard
GRAggro
GRWNaya Purphoros
GWAggro Retired 9/19/2014
RGPrimeval Titan RIP
1/5/2010 - 9/30/2011
Top 4 Channelfireball Winter series 5k Feb. 2011
3rd at California National Qualifiers 2011
40th at GP SLC 2012
Find me on MTGO @ Ruslvmusl91
20 Forest
Creatures (32)
4 Beast Whisperer
4 Druid of the Cowl
4 Elvish Clancaller
4 Llanowar Elves
4 Marwyn, the Nurturer
4 Pelt Collector
4 Steel Leaf Champion
4 Thorn Lieutenant
4 Vanquisher's Banner
4 Adventurous Impulse
4 Vine Mare
3 Diamond Mare
3 Shapers'Sanctuary
2 Vivien Reid
3 Reclamation Sage
-Stay Frosty
Match breakdown and winrate:
Win Percentage on play vs draw:
Individual match breakdown from 25-50 (can't screenshot the whole thing):
So, first thing is that the total win rate so far of 74% is insanely high, higher than I thought it would be, and after 50 matches it's getting out of the realm of just possible variance. Given the current meta, there's some things that really stand out as positive.
1. Control is absolutely everywhere, in multiple variants, and so far the deck has performed excellent vs the control matchup as a whole. My total control record so far is 15-6, and I was only running 1 Carnage Tyrant main deck, I've since upped that to 2 to give me an even better game 1 matchup.
2. Both GB midrange and MonoRed remain great matchups, with me being 5-0 vs Monored and 7-2 vs GB midrange. I thought both decks would be more popular, but it definitely seems that GB has fallen on the popularity scale given that I only saw it twice in 25 matches. Monored I also only saw twice in 25 matches, it's mainly been just tons of control variants.
3. The only bad matchup I've found so far is the monoU aggro deck and I haven't sen it one time since I made the sideboard adjustments for it, I really expected to see it more, but glad I didn't.
Here is the current list:
4x Llanowar elves
4x Druid of the Cowl
4x Steel Leaf Champion
4x Beast Whisperer
4x Nullhide Ferox
3x Goreclaw, Teror of Qal Sisma
2x Gigantosaurus
1x Aggressive Mammoth
2x Carnage Tyrant
4x Ghalta, Primal Hunger
2x Prey Upon
2x Blanchwood Armor
Lands
24x Forest
1x Prey Upon
1x Plummet
2x Find//Finality
2x Thrashing Brontodon
3x Vine Mare
1x Carnage Tyrant
3x Kraul Harpooner
1 Vivien Reid
1 Ripjaw Raptor
75% winrate in standard is really really high, and the deck feels great in most matchups. Not really sure what I might change at this point, I've considered cutting the prey upons for more blanchwood armors and cutting a ghalta for another 3 or 4 drop like maindeck ripjaw raptor, but honestly I don't know if it would improve anything. Will keep playing, testing, and updating.
What platform you playing on and what was the sb you were playing with?
Props to DarkNightCavalier 4 da banner and SGT_Chubbz 4 avvie, here
Standard
GRAggro
GRWNaya Purphoros
GWAggro Retired 9/19/2014
RGPrimeval Titan RIP
1/5/2010 - 9/30/2011
Top 4 Channelfireball Winter series 5k Feb. 2011
3rd at California National Qualifiers 2011
40th at GP SLC 2012
Find me on MTGO @ Ruslvmusl91
1x Prey Upon
1x Plummet
2x Find//Finality
2x Thrashing Brontodon
3x Vine Mare
1x Carnage Tyrant
3x Kraul Harpooner
1 Vivien Reid
1 Ripjaw Raptor
2 Vivien Reid
Creature (31)
4 Llanowar Elves
4 Pelt Collector
4 Kraul Harpooner
4 Thorn Lieutenant
4 Steel Leaf Champion
4 Jadelight Ranger
4 Nullhide Ferox
3 Ghalta, Primal Hunger
3 Assassin's Trophy
Land (24)
15 Forest
4 Overgrown Tomb
1 Swamp
4 Woodland Cemetery
1 Assassin's Trophy
2 Vraska, Relic Seeker
1 Vraska, Golgari Queen
1 Sorcerous Spyglass
2 Ripjaw Raptor
2 Find // Finality
3 Duress
2 Deathgorge Scavenger
1 Carnage Tyrant
https://magic.wizards.com/en/events/coverage/gplil18/9th-37th-decklists-grand-prix-lille-2018-2018-10-28
2 Vivien main with 4 Ferox is interesting, I dont agree with that but if Ferox isnt on board. Then 4 Jadelight Ranger over brontodon, maybe hitting those last 2 lands drops is more important thought I thought?
Props to DarkNightCavalier 4 da banner and SGT_Chubbz 4 avvie, here
Standard
GRAggro
GRWNaya Purphoros
GWAggro Retired 9/19/2014
RGPrimeval Titan RIP
1/5/2010 - 9/30/2011
Top 4 Channelfireball Winter series 5k Feb. 2011
3rd at California National Qualifiers 2011
40th at GP SLC 2012
Find me on MTGO @ Ruslvmusl91
I've also finally built my side-board. I've found that control is, by far, the worst match-up for this deck, so I've built my side-deck around that. The only change I may make would be to add in Kraul Harpooner into the side-board. The only non-control side-board card that I'm using is Ripjaw Raptor, as it gives me great draw power when I'm facing aggro decks.
Here's my updated list:
4x Llanowar Elves
4x Pelt Collector
4x Merfolk Branchwalker
4x Jadelight Ranger
4x Thrashing Brontodon
4x Steel Leaf Champion
4x Nullhide Ferox
3x Ghalta, Primal Hunger
2x Vivien Reid
Spells: 3
3x Assassin's Trophy
Land: 24
15x Forest
1x Swamp
4x Woodland Cemetery
4x Overgrown Tomb
4x Duress
2x Find // Finality
2x Sorcerous Spyglass
3x Ripjaw Raptor
1x Vivien Reid
3x Carnage Tyrant
turn 4 Ghalta % dropped a lot by only having 4 2 drops. explore creatures dont pump collector after 1 counter. What do you bring Ripjaw in against and what do you take out?
Props to DarkNightCavalier 4 da banner and SGT_Chubbz 4 avvie, here
Standard
GRAggro
GRWNaya Purphoros
GWAggro Retired 9/19/2014
RGPrimeval Titan RIP
1/5/2010 - 9/30/2011
Top 4 Channelfireball Winter series 5k Feb. 2011
3rd at California National Qualifiers 2011
40th at GP SLC 2012
Find me on MTGO @ Ruslvmusl91
4 Llanowar Elves
4 Pelt Collector
4 Kraul Harpooner
4 Thorn Lieutenant
2 Untamed Kavu - trying, instead of Branchwalker, vigilance so attacking then tapping for Loxodon can happen
4 Steel Leaf Champion
3 Venerated Loxodon - replacing Thrashing Brontodon, playing as 3 drop because I am assuming I'll have 2 creature in play with this in hand.
4 Nullhide Ferox
2 Shalai, Voice of Plenty - replacing Doom Whisperer
3 Ghalta, Primal Hunger
3 Conclave Tribunal - replacing trophy
Lands - 23
14 forest
1 Plains - against other trophies, ruins, etc.
4 Temple Garden
4 Sunpetal Grove
3 Carnage Tyrant - control
2 Vivien Reid - control, fliers
3 Vine Mare - black decks
2 Settle the wreckage - tokens, midrange
3 Thrashing Brontodon - arts and enchants, big butt against aggro
2 x - Spirit guy for golgari/arclight? march of multitudes for aggro*lifegain* dunno
what has your experiences with G/w been?
Props to DarkNightCavalier 4 da banner and SGT_Chubbz 4 avvie, here
Standard
GRAggro
GRWNaya Purphoros
GWAggro Retired 9/19/2014
RGPrimeval Titan RIP
1/5/2010 - 9/30/2011
Top 4 Channelfireball Winter series 5k Feb. 2011
3rd at California National Qualifiers 2011
40th at GP SLC 2012
Find me on MTGO @ Ruslvmusl91
As for not giving counters to collector, it's not much of a loss. Thorn Lieutenant would give the same counters as Jadelight or Branchwalker, and the extra consistency these cards add are well worth the loss of a couple counters kraul would give me.
What are you taking out of the current list? The deck already splashes black
Props to DarkNightCavalier 4 da banner and SGT_Chubbz 4 avvie, here
Standard
GRAggro
GRWNaya Purphoros
GWAggro Retired 9/19/2014
RGPrimeval Titan RIP
1/5/2010 - 9/30/2011
Top 4 Channelfireball Winter series 5k Feb. 2011
3rd at California National Qualifiers 2011
40th at GP SLC 2012
Find me on MTGO @ Ruslvmusl91
Props to DarkNightCavalier 4 da banner and SGT_Chubbz 4 avvie, here
Standard
GRAggro
GRWNaya Purphoros
GWAggro Retired 9/19/2014
RGPrimeval Titan RIP
1/5/2010 - 9/30/2011
Top 4 Channelfireball Winter series 5k Feb. 2011
3rd at California National Qualifiers 2011
40th at GP SLC 2012
Find me on MTGO @ Ruslvmusl91
Props to DarkNightCavalier 4 da banner and SGT_Chubbz 4 avvie, here
Standard
GRAggro
GRWNaya Purphoros
GWAggro Retired 9/19/2014
RGPrimeval Titan RIP
1/5/2010 - 9/30/2011
Top 4 Channelfireball Winter series 5k Feb. 2011
3rd at California National Qualifiers 2011
40th at GP SLC 2012
Find me on MTGO @ Ruslvmusl91
This Guardian is potential CA, so it fits in place of Lieutenants in the first place. The latter is only relevant in the mid to late game, when you can pump it, while Guardian can grow in the early game and snowball. It's an incentive to splash blue for Hadana's Climb too.
RNA Standard: Grixis Midrange, Jund Deathwhirler, Sultai Vannifar
GRN Standard: Red Midrange, Mono-Blue Tempo, Wr Aggro, Gruul Experimental Dinosaurs, Sultai Midrange, Jeskai Midrange
Modern: Bant Spirits
Forcing a single archetype in all formats: too many colors, bad mana.
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1665244#paper
3 Ghalta, Primal Hunger
4 Growth-Chamber Guardian
4 Kraul Harpooner
4 Llanowar Elves
4 Nullhide Ferox
4 Pelt Collector
4 Steel Leaf Champion
4 Thrashing Brontodon
4 Adventurous Impulse
22 Forest
2 Carnage Tyrant
3 Crushing Canopy
4 Prey Upon
2 Sagittars' Volley
4 Shapers' Sanctuary
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1666952#paper
3 Ghalta, Primal Hunger
4 Kraul Harpooner
4 Llanowar Elves
4 Nullhide Ferox
4 Pelt Collector
4 Steel Leaf Champion
4 Thorn Lieutenant
4 Thrashing Brontodon
4 Adventurous Impulse
22 Forest
3 Crushing Canopy
3 Deathgorge Scavenger
2 End-Raze Forerunners
4 Prey Upon
3 Vivien Reid
Biogenic Ooze!!! that card can win games by itself! got to try it
Props to DarkNightCavalier 4 da banner and SGT_Chubbz 4 avvie, here
Standard
GRAggro
GRWNaya Purphoros
GWAggro Retired 9/19/2014
RGPrimeval Titan RIP
1/5/2010 - 9/30/2011
Top 4 Channelfireball Winter series 5k Feb. 2011
3rd at California National Qualifiers 2011
40th at GP SLC 2012
Find me on MTGO @ Ruslvmusl91