I've had moderately favorable experiences against Grixis. I actually like the Khenra's against them since they get in early damage.
The Grixis manabase isn't great. If you just aggressively try and curve out every game, they will occasionally stumble.
Basically, try and put them in this position: use your mana removing threats or nullifying them or lose. Jadelight Ranger, Rhonas, Phoenix, and co. all serve this end. They run 4x Vraska's Contempt, which is a lot, but you have sooo many threats that need to be contempted.
I've had moderately favorable experiences against Grixis. I actually like the Khenra's against them since they get in early damage.
The Grixis manabase isn't great. If you just aggressively try and curve out every game, they will occasionally stumble.
Basically, try and put them in this position: use your mana removing threats or nullifying them or lose. Jadelight Ranger, Rhonas, Phoenix, and co. all serve this end. They run 4x Vraska's Contempt, which is a lot, but you have sooo many threats that need to be contempted.
While I generally agree with this, those decks have moved to much more controlling versions, where your 2 and 3 drops are magma sprayed on curve, and every 4 and 5 drop meets a vraska's contempt if you manage to squeak them through the essence scatters they are holding up. I feel this matchup has gotten substantially worse., but could get better when grixis is forced to adapt to beat some other deck although there isn't much room for the meta to shift before we see the next block, I don't think this standard will really be solved.
I've had moderately favorable experiences against Grixis. I actually like the Khenra's against them since they get in early damage.
The Grixis manabase isn't great. If you just aggressively try and curve out every game, they will occasionally stumble.
Basically, try and put them in this position: use your mana removing threats or nullifying them or lose. Jadelight Ranger, Rhonas, Phoenix, and co. all serve this end. They run 4x Vraska's Contempt, which is a lot, but you have sooo many threats that need to be contempted.
where your 2 and 3 drops are magma sprayed on curve
While this may be true in your experience, I've found that most Grixis players find that they lose to a deck like ours by stumbling on mana. Ours, on the other hand, is butter smooth, our two drops cantrip or can be rebought for 6 mana, and our other idiots force them to have a robust curve.
Of course, we can flood, screw, or the like, but I've found this to happen a lot less in a RG aggro deck than a midrange deck that is restricted on it's colors.
We don't win by sheer power level, they certainly have us beat there, but by consistency, speed, and requiring specific answers at a specific time.
Anyway, I think the deck is still good and still pretty robust against a grixis deck with CIPT lands.
The only problem matchup I've been running into lately is the God Phaoroh's Gift lists when they are getting a bit more value out of their creatures than you do. I'm not sure what I can do with my current list, but I saw the list that one the most recent MOCS, which seemed to be tuned towards beating that matchup:
It seems a bit slower as it goes for a bigger direction, but with 4 main deck Deathgorge Scavenger and access to 3 Struggle // Survive, it seems to have a better game plan than the Khenra version of the archetype. Thoughts?
I have never dropped a round to GPG over 15+ games. I'm certain it's possible but, with Abrade and Struggle // Survive, I can't imagine it's a bad MU.
Notably, I also play Voltaic Brawler. He's interesting because he's a two drop that attacks past Champion of Wits -- their primary roadblock. Additionally, Glorybringer is just better than all their creatures when they're hardcast so, like, idk man.
Kari can't crew Heart of K or enable Rhonas. Branchwalker is underwhelming and better 2-drops are playable in this slot.
The body is certainly underwhelming -- however the interaction between externalize and explore and the obvious interaction between explore and hitting land drops should not be understated.
One can play other two drops but one should acknowledge the purpose that Branchwalker serves when other lists play it.
So looking at the Dominaria spoiler, I am excited about the Llanowar Elves reprint and new cards like Verix Bladewing, but I am running into a problem. At first, I want to build a RG Monsters list similar to that of RTR-THS standard, so I know I wanted to run these cards:
The issue that I am running into is my 2-3 drop slots. I'm not sure what ahould fill those roles. Jadelight Ranger is perfect as a 3-drop, but there is no decent 2-drop value creature aside from the Khenras but those lists don't really need the Elf in my opinion. Also Drover of the Mighty seems perfect but for a dinos-focused list. Without a decent 2-drop, the deck seems really clunky mana-wise as you have a double green spell and then you want ro move into a double red spell. Anyone have any auccess, or is this one of those times where RG doesn't really need to change a whole lot with Dominaria.
So looking at the Dominaria spoiler, I am excited about the Llanowar Elves reprint and new cards like Verix Bladewing, but I am running into a problem. At first, I want to build a RG Monsters list similar to that of RTR-THS standard, so I know I wanted to run these cards:
The issue that I am running into is my 2-3 drop slots. I'm not sure what ahould fill those roles. Jadelight Ranger is perfect as a 3-drop, but there is no decent 2-drop value creature aside from the Khenras but those lists don't really need the Elf in my opinion. Also Drover of the Mighty seems perfect but for a dinos-focused list. Without a decent 2-drop, the deck seems really clunky mana-wise as you have a double green spell and then you want ro move into a double red spell. Anyone have any auccess, or is this one of those times where RG doesn't really need to change a whole lot with Dominaria.
It's worth noting that RG is not very friendly to a Llanowar Elves manabase -- which require a certain number of untapped green sources.
24 lands at 8 duals that are never turn 1 double sources can be problematic. I, personally, like to see 13-14 untapped green sources for Elves. You can try less but you'll find that going below 12 can be problematic.
there are two new 2-drops in green with kicker, to tempt you with the possibility of upside.
you can try out Saproling Migration & Untamed Kavu who has a favorable comparison to R/G mainstay from the standard of old Kavu Titan
This is the RG Monsters list I ran to a 10th place (4-2) finish at a local PPTQ. I lost my win-and-in to RW Monsters. My losses in the 6 round swiss were to UR God Pharoah's Gift and RW Monsters, and the matches I took were Mono Green Monument, Esper Midrange (splashing blue for only Champion of Wits and The Scarab God), RB Aggro, and GW Tokens. Moving forward, I don't think this list really needs Llanowar Elves. It is a small sample size, but I boarded them out a lot throughout the swiss. I would most likely go back to the original configuration of 3 Resilient Khenras and the 25th land (See list below). Verix was fine as a 4-drop, but I never got to cast it for 7. I will still keep them in and see how this goes as I play the list more.
Maybe we want to look at something like this for Gr moving forward. If we want to play elf we need 12-13 untapped green sources for turn 1. I think "we can play it turn 2 it's fine" is a pretty crap argument but I guess you can make it if you really want.
Rhonas and the Warlord are sweet even if Radha doesn't turn Rhonas on. Getting in combat and holding up Kessig Wolf Run mana is really really cool.
This list looks like it's tuned for the UW Control matchup with the Sorcerous Spyglass to specifically hit Teferi. This seems like a tough matchup (as I experienced this past weekend at a PPTQ with 3 UW Control matchups three rounds in a row...).
The Grixis manabase isn't great. If you just aggressively try and curve out every game, they will occasionally stumble.
Basically, try and put them in this position: use your mana removing threats or nullifying them or lose. Jadelight Ranger, Rhonas, Phoenix, and co. all serve this end. They run 4x Vraska's Contempt, which is a lot, but you have sooo many threats that need to be contempted.
While I generally agree with this, those decks have moved to much more controlling versions, where your 2 and 3 drops are magma sprayed on curve, and every 4 and 5 drop meets a vraska's contempt if you manage to squeak them through the essence scatters they are holding up. I feel this matchup has gotten substantially worse., but could get better when grixis is forced to adapt to beat some other deck although there isn't much room for the meta to shift before we see the next block, I don't think this standard will really be solved.
While this may be true in your experience, I've found that most Grixis players find that they lose to a deck like ours by stumbling on mana. Ours, on the other hand, is butter smooth, our two drops cantrip or can be rebought for 6 mana, and our other idiots force them to have a robust curve.
Of course, we can flood, screw, or the like, but I've found this to happen a lot less in a RG aggro deck than a midrange deck that is restricted on it's colors.
We don't win by sheer power level, they certainly have us beat there, but by consistency, speed, and requiring specific answers at a specific time.
Anyway, I think the deck is still good and still pretty robust against a grixis deck with CIPT lands.
4 Merfolk Branchwalker
3 Resilient Khenra
4 Jadelight Ranger
1 Pia Nalaar
2 Rhonas the Indomitable
4 Rekindling Phoenix
4 Glorybringer
4 Abrade
2 Struggle // Survive
7 Forest
2 Hashep Oasis
8 Mountain
4 Rootbound Crag
4 Sheltered Thicket
2 Deathgorge Scavenger
2 Thrashing Brontodon
2 Carnage Tyrant
2 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
2 Chandra's Defeat
1 Magma Spray
1 Naturalize
1 Struggle // Survive
2 Sweltering Suns
The only problem matchup I've been running into lately is the God Phaoroh's Gift lists when they are getting a bit more value out of their creatures than you do. I'm not sure what I can do with my current list, but I saw the list that one the most recent MOCS, which seemed to be tuned towards beating that matchup:
2 Ghalta, Primal Hunger
4 Merfolk Branchwalker
4 Regisaur Alpha
4 Rekindling Phoenix
2 Rhonas the Indomitable
2 Thrashing Brontodon
4 Commune with Dinosaurs
2 Struggle // Survive
4 Abrade
2 Blossoming Defense
1 Magma Spray
7 Forest
2 Hashep Oasis
7 Mountain
4 Rootbound Crag
3 Sheltered Thicket
1 Thrashing Brontodon
2 Magma Spray
1 Struggle // Survive
2 Carnage Tyrant
2 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
3 Chandra's Defeat
2 Lifecrafter's Bestiary
2 Sweltering Suns
It seems a bit slower as it goes for a bigger direction, but with 4 main deck Deathgorge Scavenger and access to 3 Struggle // Survive, it seems to have a better game plan than the Khenra version of the archetype. Thoughts?
Notably, I also play Voltaic Brawler. He's interesting because he's a two drop that attacks past Champion of Wits -- their primary roadblock. Additionally, Glorybringer is just better than all their creatures when they're hardcast so, like, idk man.
I've never dropped a game where I've cast a Thrashing Brontodon vs. GPG.
The body is certainly underwhelming -- however the interaction between externalize and explore and the obvious interaction between explore and hitting land drops should not be understated.
One can play other two drops but one should acknowledge the purpose that Branchwalker serves when other lists play it.
4 Llanowar Elves
4 Rekindling Phoenix
1-2 Verix Bladewing
4 Glorybringer
The issue that I am running into is my 2-3 drop slots. I'm not sure what ahould fill those roles. Jadelight Ranger is perfect as a 3-drop, but there is no decent 2-drop value creature aside from the Khenras but those lists don't really need the Elf in my opinion. Also Drover of the Mighty seems perfect but for a dinos-focused list. Without a decent 2-drop, the deck seems really clunky mana-wise as you have a double green spell and then you want ro move into a double red spell. Anyone have any auccess, or is this one of those times where RG doesn't really need to change a whole lot with Dominaria.
I like Merfolk Branchwalker because I think Civic Wayfinder variants are good.
It's worth noting that RG is not very friendly to a Llanowar Elves manabase -- which require a certain number of untapped green sources.
24 lands at 8 duals that are never turn 1 double sources can be problematic. I, personally, like to see 13-14 untapped green sources for Elves. You can try less but you'll find that going below 12 can be problematic.
The way I figure it, we have 13+ 1 drops: 4 Llanowar Elves, 4 Sheltered Thicket, 4 Rootbound Crag, 1-4 Adventurous Impulse, 0-4 Timber Gorge. The chance of failing with 1 Adventurous Impulse in Collins' deck: 1/6 * 1/6 * 1/6 = 1/216 = 0.46%. I think I start testing with 2 Impulses.
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.
you can try out Saproling Migration & Untamed Kavu who has a favorable comparison to R/G mainstay from the standard of old Kavu Titan
Edit: here is the baseline decklist I'm looking at.
4x llanowar elves
4x untamed kavu
4x merfolk branchwalker
4x jadelight ranger
2x thrashing brontodon
4x rekindling Phoenix
1x verix bladewing
4x glorybringer
4x abrade
2x magma spray
3x struggle // survive
4x sheltered thicket
4x rootbound crag
2x field of ruin
8x forest
6x mountain
I'm not really sure that the fields of ruin are necessary, so they may go. I'll have to see how the meta shapes up.
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?p=11439737#post11439737
Reality is only what man allows it to be. Few shape it so that many may accept it.
4 Earthshaker Khenra
4 Merfolk Branchwalker
4 Jadelight Ranger
1 Rhonas the Indomitable
4 Rekindling Phoenix
2 Verix Bladewing
4 Glorybringer
4 Abrade
2 Struggle // Survive
6 Forest
2 Hashep Oasis
8 Mountain
4 Rootbound Crag
4 Sheltered Thicket
3 Deathgorge Scavenger
2 Thrashing Brontodon
2 Carnage Tyrant
2 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
2 Chandra's Defeat
1 Naturalize
1 Struggle // Survive
2 Sweltering Suns
This is the RG Monsters list I ran to a 10th place (4-2) finish at a local PPTQ. I lost my win-and-in to RW Monsters. My losses in the 6 round swiss were to UR God Pharoah's Gift and RW Monsters, and the matches I took were Mono Green Monument, Esper Midrange (splashing blue for only Champion of Wits and The Scarab God), RB Aggro, and GW Tokens. Moving forward, I don't think this list really needs Llanowar Elves. It is a small sample size, but I boarded them out a lot throughout the swiss. I would most likely go back to the original configuration of 3 Resilient Khenras and the 25th land (See list below). Verix was fine as a 4-drop, but I never got to cast it for 7. I will still keep them in and see how this goes as I play the list more.
4 Merfolk Branchwalker
3 Resilient Khenra
4 Jadelight Ranger
1 Rhonas the Indomitable
4 Rekindling Phoenix
2 Verix Bladewing
4 Glorybringer
4 Abrade
2 Struggle // Survive
7 Forest
2 Hashep Oasis
8 Mountain
4 Rootbound Crag
4 Sheltered Thicket
3 Deathgorge Scavenger
2 Thrashing Brontodon
2 Carnage Tyrant
2 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
2 Chandra's Defeat
1 Naturalize
1 Struggle // Survive
2 Sweltering Suns
Edit: Fixed the list to what I played at the PPTQ
2x Servant of the Conduit
4x Untamed Kavu
4x Jadelight Ranger
4x Steel Leaf Champion
2x Thrashing Brontodon
2x Rhonas the Indomitable
2x Grand Warlord Radha
3x Regisaur Alpha
3x Ghalta, Primal Hunger
4x Shivan Fire
1x Blossoming Defense
4x Sheltered Thicket
4x Rootbound Crag
4x Aether Hub
2x Mountain
9x Forest
Maybe we want to look at something like this for Gr moving forward. If we want to play elf we need 12-13 untapped green sources for turn 1. I think "we can play it turn 2 it's fine" is a pretty crap argument but I guess you can make it if you really want.
Rhonas and the Warlord are sweet even if Radha doesn't turn Rhonas on. Getting in combat and holding up Kessig Wolf Run mana is really really cool.
3 Walking Ballista
2 Earthshaker Khenra
4 Glorybringer
4 Jadelight Ranger
4 Llanowar Elves
3 Resilient Khenra
4 Thrashing Brontodon
Planeswalkers (3)
2 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
1 Nissa, Vital Force
8 Forest
4 Mountain
4 Hashep Oasis
1 Memorial to Unity
4 Rootbound Crag
4 Sheltered Thicket
Spells (8)
2 Abrade
1 Struggle
3 Adventurous Impulse
2 Fight with Fire
3 Aethersphere Harvester
1 Sorcerous Spyglass
1 Walking Ballista
1 Arborback Stomper
2 Siege-Gang Commander
1 Abrade
2 Magma Spray
2 Struggle
1 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
1 Nissa, Vital Force
How's your testing ? I would suggest to cut 1 land and Pia Nalaar for a playset Steel Leaf Champion. The rest seems fine, almost like my list. I ran Servant of the Conduit instead Druid of the Cowl, and Scrapheap Scrounger over Rekindling Phoenix.
Modern : RG Titan Shift RG | RG Revolt Zoo RG | RG Ponza RG | RGW Naya Burn RGW
Legacy : RG Belcher RG