Just curious what others are thinking as far as the new direction for this deck? I feel like JUND might be a good option now as Abrade is likely to make a maindeck appearance which would greatly hinder the "pummeler, got you" plan. Thoughts?
I was thinking of moving away from Pumeller and (splashing black) throwing in Ammit Eternal (3 mana, 5/5, Afflict 3) as it's replacement. I think I would probably move away from Larger than Life as a result, though I would probably increase the number of Rush of Adrenaline due to those pesky Monument and token decks floating around.
I've tested a few games where you have moments like:
Ammit Eternal attacks, Opponent blocks with something, Afflict Triggers... take 3... pump Ammit Eternal with Rush (or any other trample spell) so Opponent takes another x from Trample then Fling... Total dmg = 10+, which easily achieves a T4 Kill. (Bit of magic christmasland)
Ammit also avoids alot of the common removal (Abrade, Magma Spray). Short of Grasp of Darkness and Harnssed lightning for 4, i'd say it's pretty resiliant...
Also, as removal is abundent, I've also thought of using an unorthodox card "Rush of Vitality" as Blossoming Defense 5-8 which also shores up mirrors/racing (lifelink).
My current thoughts on the list:
4 Voltaic Brawler
4 Servant of the Conduit
4 Longtusk Cub
4 Bristling Hydra
4 Ammit Eternal
4 Blossoming Defense
4 Attune to Aether
4 Adrenaline Rush
2 Fling
1 Arlin Kord
2 Rush of Vitality
2 Invigorated Rampage
1 Abrade
Have been playing this deck last few weeks and been doing really well. With the new meta including the mono red aggro, probably rotate few cards into sideboard and include some more kills or smaller creatures in the main. This is pretty close to a 5 color-walker deck that was played at Atlanta. Needs improvement, I will probably be taking a form of this to GP Mini
This is the deck that I'm playing right now. After extensive playtesting with my friends, it can hold well against Ramunap Red/Rakdos Aggro, U/W Monument/God Pharaoh's Gift and U/R Control.
So how are you able to beat UR Control without lathnu hellion and Prowling Serpopard? Could you go over about your sideboard plans and how the match usually goes?
I believe you need Sweltering suns for better matchup vs mono-red and zombies.
Played a small 4 round league yesterday, went 2-2...
Game 1: 2-1 vs grixis control, no much to say, -3 Pummler, -2 Largen Than Life, -1 Fling, -3 Harness Ligthning, added Lathnu, Prowling Serpopard and Heroic intervention
Game 2: 0-2 vs UR Control. Missed the 3rd land drop on both games, took like 2 turns to find a land.
Game 3: 2-1 vs BG Eldrazi: Not much to say here, won with Longtusk both game, with fling.
Game 4: 0-2 vs Jund Energy: The guy curved very well, made Hearth of Kiran, Rhonas and Hazoret on both games, I had no chance, bad draws..
Looking to move to a more midrange version maybe, add more sweltering suns in the sideboard to help against all this agression for mono-red..acceptiing suggestions.
So how are you able to beat UR Control without lathnu hellion and Prowling Serpopard? Could you go over about your sideboard plans and how the match usually goes?
I believe you need Sweltering suns for better matchup vs mono-red and zombies.
When I was making the deck, I was choosing between Tireless Tracker and Prowling Serpopard. Prowling Serpopard is good at negating counter spells and baiting removals aside from activating Rhonas but Tireless Tracker is good against a wider range of decks providing us with card draws and makes the deck last against grindy match ups. Against control, opponents usually grind the game with more removals, sweeps, Thing in the Ice and the optional Dragonmaster Outcast postboard. I want to put threats after removals and sweeps to pressure control opponents, and I can't do that if I don't have cards in my hand or if I draw lands in turns 5 onwards. I didn't put Lathnu Hellion in my sideboard since in postboard, my energy producers are reduced with -3 Voltaic Brawler, -1 Fling and -4 Electrostaic Pummeler for +3 Glorybringer, +3 Tireless Tracker and +2 Chandra. I want to reserve my energy for Bristling Hydra since it's the bane of control decks. Lathnu Hellion and Hydra would've fought each other for energy.
In my opinion, Prowling Serpopard and Lathnu Hellion would have worked before Hour of Devastation since we only have Essence Scatter, Censor, Sweltering Suns and Disallow to worry. Now, control decks have more toys with Hour of Devastation, Supreme Will and Nicol Bolas. This why postboard I opt to go aggro-midrange without losing card advantage and board pressure rather than retain the combo plan with Pummeler.
Against mono-red, I don't know if it is just me or something else but I don't know why they are scared when a Pummeler is out when the pressure is on us rather than them. As a combo deck, we are more weak against hyper-aggro decks like Zombies or Ramunap Red. Watching the Pro Tour, I noticed that their weakness is early to mid game board pressure and life gain. That is why I opted to go Life Goes On rather than Sweltering Suns or Radiant Flames because gaining 8 life hurts them so much after turns 3 or 4 and that there are fatties blocking them. After playtesting with a teammate using Ramunap Red with the Tom Ross list, I found that -3 Voltaic Brawler, -3 Harnessed Lightning and -1 Servant of the Conduit for +3 Magma Spray +2 Life Goes On and +2 Glorybringers with Rhonas and Hazoret checking the opposing Hazoret is the key.
Thanks Kehbehboi for providing the details about the deck & strategy, everything you said makes sense. I wish I had the Trackers, when I built the deck I was trying to keep it budget and ended up not getting them, since they are also rotation soon (same for Chandra - not going to rotate, but pretty expensive for me). The card draw is something the deck really lacks and I think we will have a good option for that when Ixalan is out with that new enchantment that gives draw when our creatures are targeted by opponents spells.
Besides not having these cards, the deck usually puts results and I've made top 4 in the PPTQ and 3rd place in a standard showdow one time. Yesterday was a below average for me going 2-2 (ended up 7th out of 14).
I have not yet played against the MonoRed, but since you talked about Life Goes On, I will give it a chance and try it out instead of adding more sweepers, probably also helps vs zombies? I didn't understand why you removed Harness Lightning vs MonoRed, would help to control early and reach mid-game, right?
Hazoret is not an option for me anymore since the price has skyrocket, so my plan now is to go for the second (maybe third) Glorybringer. I'm still missing the second Rhonas (was very lucky to open one), but I find myself being in lots of situations where Rhonas is alone in the battlefield, and that's when Lathno comes in and surprises the opponent. It doesn't work well with Hydra that's true, but fact is, usually Lathnu gets removed the next turn, so it basically hits 4 and feeds itself this one turn, together with Longtusk, they've been the MVP's vs control matches.
Thanks Kehbehboi for providing the details about the deck & strategy, everything you said makes sense. I wish I had the Trackers, when I built the deck I was trying to keep it budget and ended up not getting them, since they are also rotation soon (same for Chandra - not going to rotate, but pretty expensive for me). The card draw is something the deck really lacks and I think we will have a good option for that when Ixalan is out with that new enchantment that gives draw when our creatures are targeted by opponents spells.
Besides not having these cards, the deck usually puts results and I've made top 4 in the PPTQ and 3rd place in a standard showdow one time. Yesterday was a below average for me going 2-2 (ended up 7th out of 14).
I have not yet played against the MonoRed, but since you talked about Life Goes On, I will give it a chance and try it out instead of adding more sweepers, probably also helps vs zombies? I didn't understand why you removed Harness Lightning vs MonoRed, would help to control early and reach mid-game, right?
Hazoret is not an option for me anymore since the price has skyrocket, so my plan now is to go for the second (maybe third) Glorybringer. I'm still missing the second Rhonas (was very lucky to open one), but I find myself being in lots of situations where Rhonas is alone in the battlefield, and that's when Lathno comes in and surprises the opponent. It doesn't work well with Hydra that's true, but fact is, usually Lathnu gets removed the next turn, so it basically hits 4 and feeds itself this one turn, together with Longtusk, they've been the MVP's vs control matches.
While I was researching on budget options for decks, Prowling Serpopard is the best replacement for Tireless Tracker for the same reason. If you don't have Chandra, then you can opt for Arlinn Kord since it is one of the cheapest planeswalkers in the market and can synergize well with Glorybringer and Bristling Hydra, also her ultimate looks so sweet.
As for Life Goes On, it works well against Mono Red but I don't know about Zombies. Zombies don't care about life gain since they can dish back what you've gained, so the more efficient strategy so far is to put in more efficient removals and fat blockers. As a side note, they are scared when there is Electrostatic Pummeler on the board. Most of my opponents suddenly switch from aggressive to defensive mode since Pummeler with 6 or more energy must be respected. So I usually bluff them with open mana for pump spells that do not exist in my hand.
As with the Harnessed Lightning, I don't know if it was just that situation or not but it only serves to remove creatures with toughness 4 or more. The only creature that fits that description is Hazoret and Aethersphere Harvester. Hazoret can't be killed with out current arsenal and Aethersphere Harvester can be removed by Abrade. So it would be just wise to spend one mana instead of two to remove their creatures with the burn spells I have and block with my creatures while saving my Abrade for Aethersphere Harvester.
You can drop Hazoret if you're on a tight budget. You can replace it with Lathnu Hellions if you like but play only two so that it won't fight with Bristling Hydra or Electrostatic Pummeler for energy but the second Rhonas is a must. Yeah he's expensive because it's seeing modern play but according to my friend's predictions, Rhonas might get a decrease in price because lately he's is seeing less modern play with all of the Path to Exiles in that format and he is only seeing limited play in standard. Let's just hope that the price does decrease.
About Planeswalkers, I'm not sure how much play I will be able to do in September as I have some stuff coming up in the next 2 weekends (I only play Paper), so Arlinn might not be a smart buy. Now Samut, Voice of Dissent is not expensive (even cheaper than Arlinn), but do you think she makes the cut? Saw some lists with 1x maindeck, that's something I woudn't mind buying and test since it has more time in Standard.
Got the point in both Life Goes On vs Zombies and Harnessed Lightning vs monored, both makes sense, thanks for explaining.
About the Hazoret replacement, comparing to your list, this spot is curenly taken by Larger than life, and that's something I'm willing to replace for something else to see what happens, with so much removal and control, going a bit away from combo might help. There was this time where I played with 2 Lathnu Hellions maindeck because I was playing with 2 Rhonas (borrowed a second from a friend), I didn't go that well (found myself multiple times with Rhonas by himself on the battlefield and second one in hand, multiple pumps, etc). I guess I was very unlucky that day, maybe I could try 2 Lathnus main deck again as a replacement for Larger Than Life or glorybringers so I don't mess with energy and get some good value in mid-game.
About Planeswalkers, I'm not sure how much play I will be able to do in September as I have some stuff coming up in the next 2 weekends (I only play Paper), so Arlinn might not be a smart buy. Now Samut, Voice of Dissent is not expensive (even cheaper than Arlinn), but do you think she makes the cut? Saw some lists with 1x maindeck, that's something I woudn't mind buying and test since it has more time in Standard.
Got the point in both Life Goes On vs Zombies and Harnessed Lightning vs monored, both makes sense, thanks for explaining.
About the Hazoret replacement, comparing to your list, this spot is curenly taken by Larger than life, and that's something I'm willing to replace for something else to see what happens, with so much removal and control, going a bit away from combo might help. There was this time where I played with 2 Lathnu Hellions maindeck because I was playing with 2 Rhonas (borrowed a second from a friend), I didn't go that well (found myself multiple times with Rhonas by himself on the battlefield and second one in hand, multiple pumps, etc). I guess I was very unlucky that day, maybe I could try 2 Lathnus main deck again as a replacement for Larger Than Life or glorybringers so I don't mess with energy and get some good value in mid-game.
I haven't really tried Samut since between her and Arlinn, Arlinn is the better choice. The only time I will be testing Samut out is when Arlinn rotates out unless there is a better walker when Ixalan is released.
As for Rhonas, the ideal partner for him is Bristling Hydra because of staying power. Outside Hydra, it's Glorybringer or a pumped Longtusk Cub.
Anybody notice the BG pummeler deck in the protour? I ran something like it for gameday, and it worked well.
It runs the normal green cards from RG pummeler, and instead of the red cards has Glint-sleeve siphoner and Dreamstealer. The idea is besides making giant pummelers, you can also Larger Than Life on a Dreamstealer and destroy their hand. Then once people see you can threaten discard at any time with a dreamstealer they're going to play out their hand rather than hold back fake tricks. And *that* means you now have free reign to play out your Pummeler and go for the kill.
It's not a snake deck so it doesn't really fit the BG thread. No ballistas, no Rishkar, no Gearhulks.
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Anybody notice the BG pummeler deck in the protour? I ran something like it for gameday, and it worked well.
It runs the normal green cards from RG pummeler, and instead of the red cards has Glint-sleeve siphoner and Dreamstealer. The idea is besides making giant pummelers, you can also Larger Than Life on a Dreamstealer and destroy their hand. Then once people see you can threaten discard at any time with a dreamstealer they're going to play out their hand rather than hold back fake tricks. And *that* means you now have free reign to play out your Pummeler and go for the kill.
It's not a snake deck so it doesn't really fit the BG thread. No ballistas, no Rishkar, no Gearhulks.
The Larger than Life+Dreamstealer combo is so disgusting it makes me so happy. Plus you have access to Rush of Vitality for lifelink and indestructible. What more if you'll make the deck Jund for Invigorated Rampage and Uncaged Fury
Standard // nRG Aggro
Modern // Burn (main) and Living End (secondary) now Jund.
For fun check out my janky combo primer: Turn 3 Grixis Combo
"Can't beat em' Jund em'!"
Anyone running Samut the tested at all? Her + into a pumped hydra or pummeler is devastating.
I tested her with the Pummeler deck. Her double strike ability is devastating but with the kind of deck Pummeler is, it's only good when creatures have trample on them. She is bonkers though in an RG Energy Monsters deck. I ran it during gameday and won me first place, Glorybringer+Samut walker+Samut creature. Everything at that gameday was different,there were 20 players but everyone came with different decks. Even decks I haven't heard before like Hapatra Scarabs and Hazoret Key.
I think everyone just relegated her to not good status, at least in my circles, but seeing her played it can get real crazy. Congrats on the win!
Well I think that Samut doesn't have the proper support cards yet. The only disgusting synergy I got from her was Glorybringer+Samut+Arlinn Kord+Blossoming Defense on hand. A +2/+2 Glorybringer with flying, haste, vigilance and double strike and having a green source up for Blossoming Defense is not something to mess around with :laugh2::laugh2:
I like play with this deck but i don't now how to sideboard, when you side out the pummeler and pump spell ? against zombie and mono red do you keep pummeler ? when side in glorybringer what side out ?
Frequently post side i have pump spell in my hand but no creature in battelfield and i lose. i suppose my opponent bring more removal spell so i need to side out pump and bring value card like chandra, tireless trackerglorybringer ?
I like play with this deck but i don't now how to sideboard, when you side out the pummeler and pump spell ? against zombie and mono red do you keep pummeler ? when side in glorybringer what side out ?
Frequently post side i have pump spell in my hand but no creature in battelfield and i lose. i suppose my opponent bring more removal spell so i need to side out pump and bring value card like chandra, tireless trackerglorybringer ?
That "stock list" seems like it'll just lose game 1 to any deck except maybe gifts reanimator and control if they draw poorly. I played almost this exact 60 at the Gencon Championship qualifiers (only difference was aethersphere harvester over rhonas) and it just got rolled by almost everything that didn't get stuck on 1 land. Some things I noticed:
-- Radiant Flames needs to be mainboard, and you probably should be playing 2 more sweepers in the board. (1-2 Hour of Devastation and possibly a third flames if you think 1 HoD is sufficient) We cannot go wider than the aggro decks, only taller.
-- Both chandras are potentially just bad in a meta. If everyone is on aggro decks then Flamecaller is way too slow. If WU and 4C Approach are prevalent then Torch of Defiance is just queller bait. The only meta I can avocate playing the full 4 in the board is metas full of midrange and control and nearly nothing else.
-- Graveyard hate is a must-play, at least crook of condemnation if not something better. With so many decks recurring so much from the graveyard, they will drown us in card advantage if we don't cut them off. WU Monument, Gift Reanimator, and Mono-Black Zombies are SEVERELY unfavorable if you cannot stop their reanimation, and 4 magma spray is not enough.
-- Confiscation Coup is often too slow unless you're stealing a gearhulk that your opponent tapped out for, and it probably just gets abraded when they untap.
--Boarding in cards to help your matchup is easy. Knowing what cards to cut to make room is a lot harder, at least for me. If someone can help then that'd be appreciated.
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That "stock list" seems like it'll just lose game 1 to any deck except maybe gifts reanimator and control if they draw poorly. I played almost this exact 60 at the Gencon Championship qualifiers (only difference was aethersphere harvester over rhonas) and it just got rolled by almost everything that didn't get stuck on 1 land. Some things I noticed:
Stock list put 3 copies in the Top8 of GP Denver and subsequently won the GP but OK.
I run almost an exact 60 to Brad's list but I play a split of Hydra and Woodland Wanderer. Wanderer is insane against other creature deck and even against ramp since they can't remove it except when they cast ulamog.
I was thinking of moving away from Pumeller and (splashing black) throwing in Ammit Eternal (3 mana, 5/5, Afflict 3) as it's replacement. I think I would probably move away from Larger than Life as a result, though I would probably increase the number of Rush of Adrenaline due to those pesky Monument and token decks floating around.
I've tested a few games where you have moments like:
Ammit Eternal attacks, Opponent blocks with something, Afflict Triggers... take 3... pump Ammit Eternal with Rush (or any other trample spell) so Opponent takes another x from Trample then Fling... Total dmg = 10+, which easily achieves a T4 Kill. (Bit of magic christmasland)
Ammit also avoids alot of the common removal (Abrade, Magma Spray). Short of Grasp of Darkness and Harnssed lightning for 4, i'd say it's pretty resiliant...
Also, as removal is abundent, I've also thought of using an unorthodox card "Rush of Vitality" as Blossoming Defense 5-8 which also shores up mirrors/racing (lifelink).
My current thoughts on the list:
4 Voltaic Brawler
4 Servant of the Conduit
4 Longtusk Cub
4 Bristling Hydra
4 Ammit Eternal
4 Blossoming Defense
4 Attune to Aether
4 Adrenaline Rush
2 Fling
1 Arlin Kord
2 Rush of Vitality
2 Invigorated Rampage
1 Abrade
4 Aether Hub
4 Game Trail
4 Blooming Marsh
1 Swmap
5 Forest
2 Mountain
SB
2 Lay Bare the Heart
4 Harnessed Lightning
2 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
1 Abrade
4 Prowling Seopard
2 Appetite for the Unnatural
Creatures(18)
2 Glorybringer
4 Rogue Refiner
2 Bristling Hydra
2 Tireless Tracker
4 Longtusk Cub
4 Servant of the Conduit
Sorcery(4)
4 Attune with Aether
Instant(7)
1 Magma Spray
4 Harnessed Lightning
2 Abrade
Enchantment(4)
4 Oath of Nissa
Planeswalker(7)
2 Nicol Bolas, God-Pharaoh
1 Chandra, Flamecaller
1 Nahiri, the Harbinger
3 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
1 Island
2 Mountain
3 Forest
4 Aether Hub
1 Game Trail
2 Sheltered Thicket
2 Spirebluff Canal
1 Lumbering Falls
4 Botanical Sanctum
1 Nahiri, the Harbinger
1 Appetite for the Unnatural
1 Nissa, Vital Force
1 Tireless Tracker
1 Lifecrafter's Bestiary
3 Negate
2 Radiant Flames
2 Magma Spray
1 Abrade
1 Hour of Devastation
1 Confiscation Coup
Have been playing this deck last few weeks and been doing really well. With the new meta including the mono red aggro, probably rotate few cards into sideboard and include some more kills or smaller creatures in the main. This is pretty close to a 5 color-walker deck that was played at Atlanta. Needs improvement, I will probably be taking a form of this to GP Mini
Thoughts?
4 Servant of the Conduit
3 Longtusk Cub
3 Voltaic Brawler
4 Electrostatic Pummeler
2 Rhonas the Indomitable
4 Bristling Hydra
2 Hazoret the Fervent
Noncreature Spells
4 Attune with Aether
4 Blossoming Defense
4 Invigorating Rampage
3 Harnessed Lightning
2 Abrade
1 Fling
4 Aether Hub
4 Game Trail
2 Cinder Glade
1 Hashep Oasis
6 Forest
3 Mountain
2 Life Goes On
2 Heroic Intervention
2 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
3 Magma Spray
3 Tireless Tracker
3 Glorybringer
I'm still finding a way to beat Zombies and Ramp without grinding too much. Any suggestions?
I believe you need Sweltering suns for better matchup vs mono-red and zombies.
My list is simlar:
4 Servant of the Conduit
4 Longtusk Cub
4 Voltaic Brawler
4 Electrostatic Pummeler
1 Rhonas the Indomitable
4 Bristling Hydra
4 Attune with Aether
4 Blossoming Defense
4 Invigorating Rampage
3 Harnessed Lightning
2 larger than life
2 Fling
4 Game Trail
2 Hashep Oasis
5 Forest
2 Mountain
3 Sheltered Thicket
3 Prowling Serpopard
2 Heroic Intervention
1 sweltering suns
2 Magma Spray
4 lathnu hellion
1 Glorybringer
2 Abrade
Played a small 4 round league yesterday, went 2-2...
Game 1: 2-1 vs grixis control, no much to say, -3 Pummler, -2 Largen Than Life, -1 Fling, -3 Harness Ligthning, added Lathnu, Prowling Serpopard and Heroic intervention
Game 2: 0-2 vs UR Control. Missed the 3rd land drop on both games, took like 2 turns to find a land.
Game 3: 2-1 vs BG Eldrazi: Not much to say here, won with Longtusk both game, with fling.
Game 4: 0-2 vs Jund Energy: The guy curved very well, made Hearth of Kiran, Rhonas and Hazoret on both games, I had no chance, bad draws..
Looking to move to a more midrange version maybe, add more sweltering suns in the sideboard to help against all this agression for mono-red..acceptiing suggestions.
When I was making the deck, I was choosing between Tireless Tracker and Prowling Serpopard. Prowling Serpopard is good at negating counter spells and baiting removals aside from activating Rhonas but Tireless Tracker is good against a wider range of decks providing us with card draws and makes the deck last against grindy match ups. Against control, opponents usually grind the game with more removals, sweeps, Thing in the Ice and the optional Dragonmaster Outcast postboard. I want to put threats after removals and sweeps to pressure control opponents, and I can't do that if I don't have cards in my hand or if I draw lands in turns 5 onwards. I didn't put Lathnu Hellion in my sideboard since in postboard, my energy producers are reduced with -3 Voltaic Brawler, -1 Fling and -4 Electrostaic Pummeler for +3 Glorybringer, +3 Tireless Tracker and +2 Chandra. I want to reserve my energy for Bristling Hydra since it's the bane of control decks. Lathnu Hellion and Hydra would've fought each other for energy.
In my opinion, Prowling Serpopard and Lathnu Hellion would have worked before Hour of Devastation since we only have Essence Scatter, Censor, Sweltering Suns and Disallow to worry. Now, control decks have more toys with Hour of Devastation, Supreme Will and Nicol Bolas. This why postboard I opt to go aggro-midrange without losing card advantage and board pressure rather than retain the combo plan with Pummeler.
Against mono-red, I don't know if it is just me or something else but I don't know why they are scared when a Pummeler is out when the pressure is on us rather than them. As a combo deck, we are more weak against hyper-aggro decks like Zombies or Ramunap Red. Watching the Pro Tour, I noticed that their weakness is early to mid game board pressure and life gain. That is why I opted to go Life Goes On rather than Sweltering Suns or Radiant Flames because gaining 8 life hurts them so much after turns 3 or 4 and that there are fatties blocking them. After playtesting with a teammate using Ramunap Red with the Tom Ross list, I found that -3 Voltaic Brawler, -3 Harnessed Lightning and -1 Servant of the Conduit for +3 Magma Spray +2 Life Goes On and +2 Glorybringers with Rhonas and Hazoret checking the opposing Hazoret is the key.
Besides not having these cards, the deck usually puts results and I've made top 4 in the PPTQ and 3rd place in a standard showdow one time. Yesterday was a below average for me going 2-2 (ended up 7th out of 14).
I have not yet played against the MonoRed, but since you talked about Life Goes On, I will give it a chance and try it out instead of adding more sweepers, probably also helps vs zombies? I didn't understand why you removed Harness Lightning vs MonoRed, would help to control early and reach mid-game, right?
Hazoret is not an option for me anymore since the price has skyrocket, so my plan now is to go for the second (maybe third) Glorybringer. I'm still missing the second Rhonas (was very lucky to open one), but I find myself being in lots of situations where Rhonas is alone in the battlefield, and that's when Lathno comes in and surprises the opponent. It doesn't work well with Hydra that's true, but fact is, usually Lathnu gets removed the next turn, so it basically hits 4 and feeds itself this one turn, together with Longtusk, they've been the MVP's vs control matches.
While I was researching on budget options for decks, Prowling Serpopard is the best replacement for Tireless Tracker for the same reason. If you don't have Chandra, then you can opt for Arlinn Kord since it is one of the cheapest planeswalkers in the market and can synergize well with Glorybringer and Bristling Hydra, also her ultimate looks so sweet.
As for Life Goes On, it works well against Mono Red but I don't know about Zombies. Zombies don't care about life gain since they can dish back what you've gained, so the more efficient strategy so far is to put in more efficient removals and fat blockers. As a side note, they are scared when there is Electrostatic Pummeler on the board. Most of my opponents suddenly switch from aggressive to defensive mode since Pummeler with 6 or more energy must be respected. So I usually bluff them with open mana for pump spells that do not exist in my hand.
As with the Harnessed Lightning, I don't know if it was just that situation or not but it only serves to remove creatures with toughness 4 or more. The only creature that fits that description is Hazoret and Aethersphere Harvester. Hazoret can't be killed with out current arsenal and Aethersphere Harvester can be removed by Abrade. So it would be just wise to spend one mana instead of two to remove their creatures with the burn spells I have and block with my creatures while saving my Abrade for Aethersphere Harvester.
You can drop Hazoret if you're on a tight budget. You can replace it with Lathnu Hellions if you like but play only two so that it won't fight with Bristling Hydra or Electrostatic Pummeler for energy but the second Rhonas is a must. Yeah he's expensive because it's seeing modern play but according to my friend's predictions, Rhonas might get a decrease in price because lately he's is seeing less modern play with all of the Path to Exiles in that format and he is only seeing limited play in standard. Let's just hope that the price does decrease.
Got the point in both Life Goes On vs Zombies and Harnessed Lightning vs monored, both makes sense, thanks for explaining.
About the Hazoret replacement, comparing to your list, this spot is curenly taken by Larger than life, and that's something I'm willing to replace for something else to see what happens, with so much removal and control, going a bit away from combo might help. There was this time where I played with 2 Lathnu Hellions maindeck because I was playing with 2 Rhonas (borrowed a second from a friend), I didn't go that well (found myself multiple times with Rhonas by himself on the battlefield and second one in hand, multiple pumps, etc). I guess I was very unlucky that day, maybe I could try 2 Lathnus main deck again as a replacement for Larger Than Life or glorybringers so I don't mess with energy and get some good value in mid-game.
I haven't really tried Samut since between her and Arlinn, Arlinn is the better choice. The only time I will be testing Samut out is when Arlinn rotates out unless there is a better walker when Ixalan is released.
As for Rhonas, the ideal partner for him is Bristling Hydra because of staying power. Outside Hydra, it's Glorybringer or a pumped Longtusk Cub.
4 Bristling Hydra
4 Electrostatic Pummeler
4 Longtusk Cub
2 Glorybringer
4 Servant of the Conduit
4 Voltaic Brawler
Sorcery (4)
4 Attune with Aether
Instant (13)
1 Abrade
4 Blossoming Defense
2 Fling
2 Harnessed Lightning
4 Invigorated Rampage
4 Aether Hub
5 Forest
4 Game Trail
2 Hashep Oasis
2 Mountain
4 Sheltered Thicket
2 Abrade
2 Harnessed Lightning
3 Appetite for the Unnatural
3 Magma Spray
2 Manglehorn
3 Tireless Tracker
How are y'all faring against this deck, and what are the sideboard changes you make to improve the matchup?
It runs the normal green cards from RG pummeler, and instead of the red cards has Glint-sleeve siphoner and Dreamstealer. The idea is besides making giant pummelers, you can also Larger Than Life on a Dreamstealer and destroy their hand. Then once people see you can threaten discard at any time with a dreamstealer they're going to play out their hand rather than hold back fake tricks. And *that* means you now have free reign to play out your Pummeler and go for the kill.
It's not a snake deck so it doesn't really fit the BG thread. No ballistas, no Rishkar, no Gearhulks.
GB Electric Dreams BG Deal 20 in one shot, or discard their hand?
GWU Free Stuff Midrange UWG Slowly bury the opponent with more threats and answers than they can handle.
My greatest hits:
GURFate Reforged Temur Ascendancy COMBORUG
GUDragons of Tarkir Whisperwood Forever UG
The Larger than Life+Dreamstealer combo is so disgusting it makes me so happy. Plus you have access to Rush of Vitality for lifelink and indestructible. What more if you'll make the deck Jund for Invigorated Rampage and Uncaged Fury
Ixalan cards must be talked about in Standard New Card Discussion until the entire set is spoiled. Thanks! -- Lugger
Modern // Burn (main) and Living End (secondary) now Jund.
For fun check out my janky combo primer: Turn 3 Grixis Combo
"Can't beat em' Jund em'!"
I tested her with the Pummeler deck. Her double strike ability is devastating but with the kind of deck Pummeler is, it's only good when creatures have trample on them. She is bonkers though in an RG Energy Monsters deck. I ran it during gameday and won me first place, Glorybringer+Samut walker+Samut creature. Everything at that gameday was different,there were 20 players but everyone came with different decks. Even decks I haven't heard before like Hapatra Scarabs and Hazoret Key.
3 Greenbelt Rampager
4 Longtusk Cub
4 Voltaic Brawler
2 Rhonas the Indomitable
3 Tireless Tracker
4 Bristling Hydra
2 Hazoret the Fervent
3 Glorybringer
1 Samut, Voice of Dissent
Noncreature Spells
4 Attune With Aether
2 Abrade
4 Harnessed Lightning
1 Arlinn Kord
1 Samut, the Tested
4 Game Trail
2 Cinder Glade
2 Sheltered Thicket
4 Aether Hub
5 Forest
4 Mountain
1 Scavenger Grounds
1 Appetite for the Unnatural
1 Arlinn Kord
2 Blossoming Defense
2 Life Goes On
2 Aethershpere Harvester
2 Radiant Flames
2 Khenra Charioteer
3 Magma Spray
Well I think that Samut doesn't have the proper support cards yet. The only disgusting synergy I got from her was Glorybringer+Samut+Arlinn Kord+Blossoming Defense on hand. A +2/+2 Glorybringer with flying, haste, vigilance and double strike and having a green source up for Blossoming Defense is not something to mess around with :laugh2::laugh2:
4 Game Trail
4 Aether Hub
3 Sheltered Thicket
6 Forest
3 Mountain
creature
4 Servant of the Conduit
4 Voltaic Brawler
4 Longtusk Cub
4 Electrostatic Pummeler
2 Rhonas the Indomitable
4 Bristling Hydra
4 Attune with Aether
4 Harnessed Lightning
2 Larger Than Life
4 Invigorated Rampage
4 Blossoming Defense
side
1 Skysovereign, Consul Flagship
3 Greenbelt Rampager
2 Heroic Intervention
2 Abrade
3 Sweltering Suns
2 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
2 Glorybringer
i play on mtgo i play against lot of temur energy so i thinking to play tireless tracker in side, i don't like heroic intervention.
i see in your list fling is better than Larger Than Life?
I like play with this deck but i don't now how to sideboard, when you side out the pummeler and pump spell ? against zombie and mono red do you keep pummeler ? when side in glorybringer what side out ?
Frequently post side i have pump spell in my hand but no creature in battelfield and i lose. i suppose my opponent bring more removal spell so i need to side out pump and bring value card like chandra, tireless tracker glorybringer ?
i am lost ><
thank you
remove Greenbelt Rampager and replace it with 2 Tireless Tracker and 1 Abrade. against red and zombies, if on the play +2 Chandra, Torch of Defiance +2 Glorybringer +1 Skysovereign +2 Abrade, -2 Larger Than Life -2 Servant of the Conduit -1 Longtusk Cub -1 Voltaic Brawler -1 Electrostatic Pummeler
4 Bristling Hydra
3 Glorybringer
4 Longtusk Cub
1 Rhonas the Indomitable
4 Rogue Refiner
4 Servant of the Conduit
4 Whirler Virtuoso
Sorcery (4)
4 Attune with Aether
Instant (8)
2 Abrade
4 Harnessed Lightning
2 Magma Spray
2 Skysovereign, Consul Flagship
Land (22)
4 Aether Hub
4 Botanical Sanctum
4 Forest
1 Game Trail
1 Island
1 Lumbering Falls
2 Mountain
3 Sheltered Thicket
2 Spirebluff Canal
1 Abrade
2 Chandra, Flamecaller
2 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
2 Confiscation Coup
4 Negate
2 Radiant Flames
2 Tireless Tracker
This is the stock list. This should inform your lists as you look to beat Temur, Zombies, RDW, Gift Reanimator decks, control decks etc.
-- Radiant Flames needs to be mainboard, and you probably should be playing 2 more sweepers in the board. (1-2 Hour of Devastation and possibly a third flames if you think 1 HoD is sufficient) We cannot go wider than the aggro decks, only taller.
-- Both chandras are potentially just bad in a meta. If everyone is on aggro decks then Flamecaller is way too slow. If WU and 4C Approach are prevalent then Torch of Defiance is just queller bait. The only meta I can avocate playing the full 4 in the board is metas full of midrange and control and nearly nothing else.
-- Graveyard hate is a must-play, at least crook of condemnation if not something better. With so many decks recurring so much from the graveyard, they will drown us in card advantage if we don't cut them off. WU Monument, Gift Reanimator, and Mono-Black Zombies are SEVERELY unfavorable if you cannot stop their reanimation, and 4 magma spray is not enough.
-- Confiscation Coup is often too slow unless you're stealing a gearhulk that your opponent tapped out for, and it probably just gets abraded when they untap.
--Boarding in cards to help your matchup is easy. Knowing what cards to cut to make room is a lot harder, at least for me. If someone can help then that'd be appreciated.
Currently Playing:
GBStandard - Golgari Safari MidrangeBG
RBWModern - Mardu PyromancerWBR
RLegacy - Good Old Fashioned BurnR
Clan Contest 3 Mafia - Mafia Co-MVP
Stock list put 3 copies in the Top8 of GP Denver and subsequently won the GP but OK.
Play wanderer it's wonderful.