Anybody seen some of the new green/black cards from Rivals of Ixalan? Some of them seem to have a lot of potential. I have a feeling the Sultai deck or the straight up green/black deck will get a power boost with the release of Rivals. I'm pretty hype
I’m not sure what cards you are excited about. I play G/b competitively and haven’t seen a card I’d add yet. My build consistently beats temur aggro tho. Usually only lose to temur control
I’m not sure what cards you are excited about. I play G/b competitively and haven’t seen a card I’d add yet. My build consistently beats temur aggro tho. Usually only lose to temur control
I’m not sure what cards you are excited about. I play G/b competitively and haven’t seen a card I’d add yet. My build consistently beats temur aggro tho. Usually only lose to temur control
I’ve run this since rotation and generally win every week, twice a week. My meta is mostly temur energy and rumunap red. I handle red easily. Temur is a tough match but
I do lose to temur dynamo pretty heavily but I rarely see it cause it’s weak to other stuff. This deck also has a hard game against mono black by definitely can win vs it
I’m not sure what cards you are excited about. I play G/b competitively and haven’t seen a card I’d add yet. My build consistently beats temur aggro tho. Usually only lose to temur control
Mastermind's Acquisition seems too expensive for our current meta, but maybe too powerful to ignore in more controlling builds. Ravenous Chupacabra, Tetzimoc, Dire Fleet Poisoner and Vona's Hunger may fit in a similar category.
Ghalta is big. Dinosaurs can give it haste better, but we might be able to cast it cheaply. Win more?
I, at least am intrigued by Constrictor-Explore Merfolk. There is an established UG Merfolk thread, but they seem to have explicitly disavowed Constrictor and the B splash. For now, I am saying that we can discuss Constrictor merfolk builds here or in the Explore deck thread, although that may change. I am open to discussion, if someone feels strongly about it.
Sadly, I think most of the cards in RIX are butt. They are great limited cards but bad for standard. Nothing was printed to change the format at all imo.
Only cards that MIGHT be slotted in are: jadelight ranger in the b/g version. But prolly not even here cause it’s slow. It’s not as good as the rogue refiner if you are running blue.
This set has a high floor and low ceiling.
Meaning, the lower end cards are stronger than before but the high end ones are way less powerful. I’d be surprised if any cards get slotted in in the main board of the top decks
People will push Dinos but they are bad. Same with pirates. Vamps will work still, and Merfolk will be fringy.
No answers for ballista, push or harnessed lightning so the creatures that dominant will still dominant.
@AEIownU, I have a couple questions:
1. Is Greenbelt Rampager not good in your build?
2. Why not main deck all 4 Bristling Hydra if you're also running with Rhonas?
@AEIownU, I have a couple questions:
1. Is Greenbelt Rampager not good in your build?
2. Why not main deck all 4 Bristling Hydra if you're also running with Rhonas?
The rampager isn’t good at all imo. Would rather have played attune or save for push on turn one rather than get one energy. He is a vanilla creature that usually doesn’t come down til turn 4. I run off of two drops mostly. Not to say I didn’t try him but ultimately I was unimpressed and now he’s in my junk rare binder.
As to the hydra, my curve atm is aggro based. I’d prolly have to change my base around to handle the extra two 4 drops. I also tend to spend my energy at a rapid pace compared to sultai, so I usually don’t have the extra to toss toward a grindy midgame
I'm surprised this is considered a Constrictor-Merfolk deck. There's hardly any synergy with Constrictor, and I saw several other +1/+1 Merfolk in the set that fit way better than what he's got.
Journey to Eternity | Atzal, Cave of Eternity- Also easy for our deck to flip (heck, just put it on a Ballista, even though it doesn't return), and provides so much late game reach. Might be more of a SB card against control. One could even argue that it gives Scarab God-esque effects to the straight BG decks.
Ghalta, Primal Hunger - Maybe as a fun-of. He's good at breaking a stalled board. GG for a 12/12 trampler? Yes please! Seriously though, Attune into Cub into Constrictor into T4 Ghalta is possible. Then they have an 8/8 Cub and a 12/12 Ghalta to deal with!
Twilight Prophet - Has to survive a turn to start getting value, but this is another finisher / major source of card advantage. A card a turn + upside is nothing to sneeze at.
Vona's Hunger - Early game removal for pesky creatures like opposing Bristling Hydra and late game board breaker.
Ravenous Chupacabra - You might snicker at this one, but it reads "on color Glorybringer removal on a stick." And potentially abuseable in these colors, if you decide to go for blink tricks.
I’ve run this since rotation and generally win every week, twice a week. My meta is mostly temur energy and rumunap red. I handle red easily. Temur is a tough match but
I do lose to temur dynamo pretty heavily but I rarely see it cause it’s weak to other stuff. This deck also has a hard game against mono black by definitely can win vs it
That deck looks pretty dope. I would like to ditch the blue too since that was my favourite deck pre rotation. I think I'd like to try this deck out at my next fnm, but I'm pretty keen on using a 4 colour energy deck with a Bolas in it just because it's stupid and I think it's fun to play.
I need to get 2 gearhulks too...
I'm pretty excited for the Hadana's climb though, and journey to eternity could have some potential. It may rely to heavily on the deck being sort of built around it to properly function, but I think it's got potential.
I'm hype for Hadan's climb though. Some of the blue pirate's are pretty sick too. I feel like Rivals has much better cards than the regular Ixalan block. At least from first glance. Lots of fun cards
I know this probably doesn't matter for most since Store Championships were the last Ixalan Standard any of you were going to do, but I have a PPTQ tomorrow. I can't believe my test group was right. Adding a 22nd land (Swamp) has finally brought me the consistency I've been longing for. I've had two successful X-0 runs at the last two FNMs with the following list:
I’ve run this since rotation and generally win every week, twice a week. My meta is mostly temur energy and rumunap red. I handle red easily. Temur is a tough match but
I do lose to temur dynamo pretty heavily but I rarely see it cause it’s weak to other stuff. This deck also has a hard game against mono black by definitely can win vs it
You have inspired me to go back to a straight b/g build. The top players in my meta appear to all be on Ramunap Red right now and for the past couple of weeks. When you mentioned how you beat Ramunap, I realized how 3 colors was slowing me down against them. I don't have to fight Temur, or serious control very often, which is what blue is good for. Having to mull against RR because you're not color fixed is too big a drawback for me at this time.
Last night I went 2:1 in matches and 4:3 in games securing 3rd place again. I maindecked 1 die young in favor of Vraska's contempt which was nice. Having a 2 cost instead of 4 cost removal really helped against RR. Here's the list I played last night. I'll say, playing 1 or 2 servant of the conduit is a REALLY good idea with only 21 land in the 3 colored build. They save non-fixed 2 land hands so hard. The extra energy is nothing to sneeze at, especially alongside longtusk cub, Hydra, but most importantly Aether Hub. Servant allows hub to keep fixing for us, which is something we desperately need.
The added lifegain to the mainboard, plus adding walking ballista back in, should help me beat RR. I also have 2 Die Young MB now as it helps beat RR and the energy counter synergy with Snake doesn't hurt either. Since I'm not facing down many glorybringers or the scarab god, so Die young does the trick. I'm also excited to be able to play 2 rhonas the indomitable since the deck now has verdurous gearhulk and 2 rishkar peema renegade alongside the 4 bristling hydra.
I'm still set on 4 B. Hydras mb regardless of dual or tri-colored build. This card wins me so many games, and seeing even 3 copies in a game is desirable. One of the best answers to a bristling hydra is your own bristling hydra alongside all of our extra energy and snake synergy. I experienced this first hand last night when I played 3 B. hydras on consecutive turns starting turn 4 to fight through my opponents 2 B. hydras and 1 Ripjaw raptor profitably. The fact that playing 4 of these bad boys only makes Rhonas the indomitable playable only helps the case. Rhonas is also one of the best cards we can play as it can't be destroyed by Glorybringer, can block hazoret or anything else on the ground profitably, and the "oops I win" when you have 6 mana up and top deck this guy has won me games.
Edit: I'm curious about Driven // Despair in a straight G/B build. Can it help to replace Rogue Refiner somewhat? Lifecrafter's bestiary probably beats it for card draw, but trample, menace, card draw for us and discard for the opponent for 4 mana? That's pretty cool.
My thoughts for now. Slither on my herpetologist brethren!
Just had one game against merfolk. Don't think it was Constrictor, but Merfolk is pretty legit. Felt very much like playing against Zombies last standard to be honest, which was not a good feeling.
I’ve run this since rotation and generally win every week, twice a week. My meta is mostly temur energy and rumunap red. I handle red easily. Temur is a tough match but
I do lose to temur dynamo pretty heavily but I rarely see it cause it’s weak to other stuff. This deck also has a hard game against mono black by definitely can win vs it
You have inspired me to go back to a straight b/g build. The top players in my meta appear to all be on Ramunap Red right now and for the past couple of weeks. When you mentioned how you beat Ramunap, I realized how 3 colors was slowing me down against them. I don't have to fight Temur, or serious control very often, which is what blue is good for. Having to mull against RR because you're not color fixed is too big a drawback for me at this time.
Last night I went 2:1 in matches and 4:3 in games securing 3rd place again. I maindecked 1 die young in favor of Vraska's contempt which was nice. Having a 2 cost instead of 4 cost removal really helped against RR. Here's the list I played last night. I'll say, playing 1 or 2 servant of the conduit is a REALLY good idea with only 21 land in the 3 colored build. They save non-fixed 2 land hands so hard. The extra energy is nothing to sneeze at, especially alongside longtusk cub, Hydra, but most importantly Aether Hub. Servant allows hub to keep fixing for us, which is something we desperately need.
The added lifegain to the mainboard, plus adding walking ballista back in, should help me beat RR. I also have 2 Die Young MB now as it helps beat RR and the energy counter synergy with Snake doesn't hurt either. Since I'm not facing down many glorybringers or the scarab god, so Die young does the trick. I'm also excited to be able to play 2 rhonas the indomitable since the deck now has verdurous gearhulk and 2 rishkar peema renegade alongside the 4 bristling hydra.
I'm still set on 4 B. Hydras mb regardless of dual or tri-colored build. This card wins me so many games, and seeing even 3 copies in a game is desirable. One of the best answers to a bristling hydra is your own bristling hydra alongside all of our extra energy and snake synergy. I experienced this first hand last night when I played 3 B. hydras on consecutive turns starting turn 4 to fight through my opponents 2 B. hydras and 1 Ripjaw raptor profitably. The fact that playing 4 of these bad boys only makes Rhonas the indomitable playable only helps the case. Rhonas is also one of the best cards we can play as it can't be destroyed by Glorybringer, can block hazoret or anything else on the ground profitably, and the "oops I win" when you have 6 mana up and top deck this guy has won me games.
Edit: I'm curious about Driven // Despair in a straight G/B build. Can it help to replace Rogue Refiner somewhat? Lifecrafter's bestiary probably beats it for card draw, but trample, menace, card draw for us and discard for the opponent for 4 mana? That's pretty cool.
My thoughts for now. Slither on my herpetologist brethren!
I can tell you that the rishkar isn’t good like people thing. Super easy to respond to and not impactful.
Glint sleeve is the main draw engine and it’s plenty. You won’t need bestiary and def don’t wanna play slow sorcerers like driven
@JaishivaJai - In any not heavy Ramunap Red meta, I find Push to be the most conditional maindeck card. I am on 2 main and 1 side. That's where I would look for the second Hydra.
Rishkar flat out won me a game at the Store Championship finals. We were both stuck on mana and I just threw down Rishkar and overwhelmed them. I am down to one, but I love him. Cutting Rishkar does strengthen the case for more land
I also cut Rishkar down to one, but that card is still really good. Yes, opponents can respond to it. That sums up a most of our deck. The advantage when they don't can be, as hoser2 put it, overwhelming when they don't though. To say it has "no impact" is misleading I think.
I really want to test Abzan Constrictor with this set. I don't know whether a Vampire-centric build is the way to go or if a good-stuff is better though, but here's a draft of the idea :
Some basics (not especially obvious at first sight) :
In my early testing, Paladin of Atonement + Desert is, as expected by most, quite strong. It's comparable to what Longtusk Cub offers in terms of explosiveness. It synergizes with Zealot and Ballista (targeting myself) but the real deal is when I have 2x Deserts, so I can ping myself once each turn. It gets very stupid when Mimic or Constrictor is on the bf.
Winding Constrictor forces me to play only 3 Shefet Dunes max for consistency (maybe a 2-4 split with Deadlands is better), and sometimes I have to name Snake with Unclaimed Territory, it's sometimes necessary to slowroll the land when I have 0 green source but a potential topdeck snake.
Elenda, the Dusk Rose has been impressive so far, while I expected it to be garbage. With 12 lords (Mimic, Constrictor & Lieutenant), she'll grow. At some point you just attack no matter what in order to gain 4 life and build a board of four 2/2 tokens. In the grindy MUs, it's rather going to be gain 6 life and get six 3/3 tokens. It's one way to go over the top.
Yahenni, Undying Partisan is the trigger button VS Aggro decks. I can sac Paladin and Elenda for life at the most critical moment. Without him, the opponent can play around Paladin, chumpblock and eventually kill me. It's also crucial to activate him against the million exile effects in the format (Hostage Taker, Cast Out, etc...)
Key to the City is a way to break stall boards. Paladin can be frustrating when chumpblocked over and over. I must say I like having so much card filtering in the deck (Zealot & Groves, Cast Out). It may belong to the SB though.
Duress and Cast Out are random slots so far, but I feel like I don't need Fatal Push or fight effects for now, and I'd rather try to deal with very strong cards like Gods, PWs, Approach, artifacts and exile / steal effects.
Between 4 Yahenni and 4 elendra, you have too many copies of the same legendary creatures. I'm skeptical as to how good elendra is, especially compared to Bristling Hydra. You should still be maindecking at least a couple of fatal push so your smaller creatures can get in damage early.
Seems like you could have something with Metallic mimic, snake vampire tribal tribal though.
How does everyone feel about Tetzimoc, Primal Death as sideboard material. I feel like it could work as a great board stall breaker against the decks that may be emerging. Playing against merfolk, it's clearly they can actually outgrow many of our creatures and then chip in with unblockable shenanigans. Alternatively, there's Bontu's Last Reckoning, but I feel like you have to ensure that you've built around that in some way (recursion or indestructible).
I'll definately be trying one or two copies of Jadelight Ranger in the deck alongside Rishkar, Peema Renegade
The cards are comparable, but have slight differences.
A few comparisons, Rishkar vs Ranger:
Two snake triggers = Two snake triggers
Mana Ramp < Ramp Early + Filtering late game
Share > Ego
4/4 + 4/5 < 6/5 (max potential, on turn 3!!!)
3/3 > 2/1 (the floor)
3/3 > 3/2 (drawing an extra land)
3/3 < 4/3 (Best when the first hit stays)
Legendary < Non-Legendary
Splitting Rishkars power is great v.s. Ramunap Red when you have a snake out, make for two great blockers and steer clear of Lightning Strike. I'd consider this a more defensive but very valuable play. Jadelight Ranger is a more aggressive threat on it's own but can be bonkers with a snake out.
Both have the ability to do something with our mana. I must admit, I rarely use Rishkar's ability to let creatures woth counters tap for mana though. But when I do, it usually is impactful. T4 Verdurous Gearhulk with the snake out and start bashing face from there on always feels mighty powerfull.
How does everyone feel about Tetzimoc, Primal Death as sideboard material. I feel like it could work as a great board stall breaker against the decks that may be emerging. Playing against merfolk, it's clearly they can actually outgrow many of our creatures and then chip in with unblockable shenanigans. Alternatively, there's Bontu's Last Reckoning, but I feel like you have to ensure that you've built around that in some way (recursion or indestructible).
Tetzimoc seems cool to me as a sideboard card. It reminds me of that old unhinged card or whatever where you could reveal it and say "it's coming" or something.
@SmauG
Jadelight Ranger definitely has potential. Maybe go down to one Rishkar? It's definitely an interesting card.
Would it make sense to put in one or two Herald of Secret Streams if the deck moves over to be more counter heavy? It seems like a bit of a gamble, but could be one of those high risk / high reward things.
I'd rather play Cartouche of Knowledge than herald. Just wait until your opponents tapped out, then put it on Hydra and swing in for probably lethal. Even if you only get to fly in once, the fact that it replaces itself is pretty nice. I played with one in the mainboard last fnm and it was pretty nice. It's also a way to get snake out of Abrade and Lightning Strike range against RR. If we have no better way to deal with Glorybringer in hand, we can possibly put it on a creature to make it big enough to survive the 4 damage, or at least put it on a less than desirable creature so we have a flying chump blocker.
What he said. But come on down to new card discussion! The water's warm.
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.
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.
Nope, I discarded the blue pretty much instantly. Didn’t like the consistency. I’m straight back/green. Give me a bit and I’ll post a list.
So far only three cards from rivals looks intriguing. Won’t dare speak of them yet 🙊
4x Aether Hub
4x Blooming Marsh
1x ifnir dreadlands
1x hashep oasis
1x scavenger grounds
5x forest
4x swamp
Creature 24
4x winding constrictor
4x longtusk cub
4x glint-sleeve siphoner
4x walking ballista
2x verdurous gearhulk
2x Rhonas the indomitable
2x bristling hydra
2x deathgorge scavenger
2x Aethersphere harvester
Planeswalker 1
1x vraska, relic seeker
Spells 13
4x fatal push
4x attune with aether
2x vraska’s contempt
3x blossoming defense
4x duress
2x lost legacy
2x yahenni’s expertise
2x die young
2x appetite for the unnatural
1x aethersphere harvester
2x bristling hydra
I’ve run this since rotation and generally win every week, twice a week. My meta is mostly temur energy and rumunap red. I handle red easily. Temur is a tough match but
I do lose to temur dynamo pretty heavily but I rarely see it cause it’s weak to other stuff. This deck also has a hard game against mono black by definitely can win vs it
For those of us who love inconsistency, a single Hadana's Climb looks interesting.
Jadelight Ranger seems awesome to me.
Mastermind's Acquisition seems too expensive for our current meta, but maybe too powerful to ignore in more controlling builds. Ravenous Chupacabra, Tetzimoc, Dire Fleet Poisoner and Vona's Hunger may fit in a similar category.
Ghalta is big. Dinosaurs can give it haste better, but we might be able to cast it cheaply. Win more?
Path of Discovery is intriguing to me. Too slow?
I, at least am intrigued by Constrictor-Explore Merfolk. There is an established UG Merfolk thread, but they seem to have explicitly disavowed Constrictor and the B splash. For now, I am saying that we can discuss Constrictor merfolk builds here or in the Explore deck thread, although that may change. I am open to discussion, if someone feels strongly about it.
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.
Only cards that MIGHT be slotted in are:
jadelight ranger in the b/g version. But prolly not even here cause it’s slow. It’s not as good as the rogue refiner if you are running blue.
And maybe some sideboard options in
moment of craving
Or the hadana’s climb
Maybe plummet for glorybringer
Someone said it in another thread but,.....
This set has a high floor and low ceiling.
Meaning, the lower end cards are stronger than before but the high end ones are way less powerful. I’d be surprised if any cards get slotted in in the main board of the top decks
People will push Dinos but they are bad. Same with pirates. Vamps will work still, and Merfolk will be fringy.
No answers for ballista, push or harnessed lightning so the creatures that dominant will still dominant.
1. Is Greenbelt Rampager not good in your build?
2. Why not main deck all 4 Bristling Hydra if you're also running with Rhonas?
The rampager isn’t good at all imo. Would rather have played attune or save for push on turn one rather than get one energy. He is a vanilla creature that usually doesn’t come down til turn 4. I run off of two drops mostly. Not to say I didn’t try him but ultimately I was unimpressed and now he’s in my junk rare binder.
As to the hydra, my curve atm is aggro based. I’d prolly have to change my base around to handle the extra two 4 drops. I also tend to spend my energy at a rapid pace compared to sultai, so I usually don’t have the extra to toss toward a grindy midgame
1 The Scarab God
2 Vineshaper Mystic
3 Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca
4 Jadelight Ranger
4 Kumena's Speaker
4 Merfolk Mistbinder
4 Metallic Mimic
4 Silvergill Adept
4 Winding Constrictor
1 Vraska's Contempt
4 Fatal Push
Sorceries (4)
4 Attune with Aether
Lands (21)
1 Island
2 Swamp
4 Forest
2 Fetid Pools
4 Aether Hub
4 Blooming Marsh
4 Botanical Sanctum
2 Deathgorge Scavenger
2 Die Young
3 Duress
1 Essence Scatter
2 Negate
2 Nissa, Steward of Elements
2 Vraska's Contempt
1 Vraska, Relic Seeker
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.
I'm surprised this is considered a Constrictor-Merfolk deck. There's hardly any synergy with Constrictor, and I saw several other +1/+1 Merfolk in the set that fit way better than what he's got.
Anyway, cards I'm interested in trying:
That deck looks pretty dope. I would like to ditch the blue too since that was my favourite deck pre rotation. I think I'd like to try this deck out at my next fnm, but I'm pretty keen on using a 4 colour energy deck with a Bolas in it just because it's stupid and I think it's fun to play.
I need to get 2 gearhulks too...
I'm pretty excited for the Hadana's climb though, and journey to eternity could have some potential. It may rely to heavily on the deck being sort of built around it to properly function, but I think it's got potential.
I'm hype for Hadan's climb though. Some of the blue pirate's are pretty sick too. I feel like Rivals has much better cards than the regular Ixalan block. At least from first glance. Lots of fun cards
3 Walking Ballista
4 Winding Constrictor
4 Glint-Sleeve Siphoner
4 Longtusk Cub
4 Rogue Refiner
1 Rishkar, Peema Renegade
1 Bristling Hydra
3 Hostage Taker
1 The Scarab God
Sorcery (4)
4 Attune with Aether
4 Blossoming Defense
4 Fatal Push
1 Vraska's Contempt
Land (22)
4 Aether Hub
4 Botanical Sanctum
4 Blooming Marsh
2 Fetid Pools
5 Forest
3 Swamp
1 Island
1 The Scarab God
1 Bristling Hydra
3 Deathgorge Scavenger
1 Vraska's Contempt
1 Slice in Twain
2 Negate
1 Essence Scatter
2 Die Young
3 Duress
I honestly want the second Hydra in the main but I'm not sure what else to cut. Recommendations (with rationale) would be welcome.
Last night I went 2:1 in matches and 4:3 in games securing 3rd place again. I maindecked 1 die young in favor of Vraska's contempt which was nice. Having a 2 cost instead of 4 cost removal really helped against RR. Here's the list I played last night. I'll say, playing 1 or 2 servant of the conduit is a REALLY good idea with only 21 land in the 3 colored build. They save non-fixed 2 land hands so hard. The extra energy is nothing to sneeze at, especially alongside longtusk cub, Hydra, but most importantly Aether Hub. Servant allows hub to keep fixing for us, which is something we desperately need.
4x Winding Constrictor
4x Glint-sleeve Siphoner
4x Longtusk Cub
2x servant of the conduit
4x Rogue Refiner
1x Rhonas the indomitable
1x Rishkar, Peema renegade
4x Bristling Hydra
2x The Scarab God
non-creature 13
4x Attune with Aether
1x Cartouche of knowledge
2x Blossoming defense
4x Fatal Push
1x Die young
1x Vraska's Contempt
4x Aether Hub
4x Blooming Marsh
4x Botanical Sanctum
1x Fetid Pools
1x Drowned Catacomb
4x forest
2x swamp
1x Island
2x Blossoming Defense
1x Vraska's contempt
1x Lifecrafter's bestiary
2x Deathgorge Scavenger
2x Negate
1x Kitesail freebooter
2x Duress
2x Harsh Scrutiny
2x Walking Ballista
Here's my new G/B list inspired by A_E_I_Own_U and the desire to have a strong game against RR:
4x Winding Constrictor
4x Glint-sleeve Siphoner
4x Longtusk Cub
1x Gifted Aetherborn
2x walking ballista
2x Rhonas the indomitable
1x Deathgorge scavenger
2x Rishkar, Peema renegade
4x Bristling Hydra
2x Verdurous Gearhulk
non-creature 14
1x Aethersphere Harvester
4x Attune with Aether
2x Blossoming defense
4x Fatal Push
2x Die young
1x Vraska's Contempt
4x Aether Hub
4x Blooming Marsh
6x forest
4x swamp
2x ifnir deadlands
1x hashep oasis
2x Blossoming Defense
1x Vraska's contempt
2x Lifecrafter's bestiary
1x Liliana, death's Majesty
1x Deathgorge Scavenger
1x Kitesail freebooter
4x Duress
2x Harsh Scrutiny
1x Walking Ballista
The added lifegain to the mainboard, plus adding walking ballista back in, should help me beat RR. I also have 2 Die Young MB now as it helps beat RR and the energy counter synergy with Snake doesn't hurt either. Since I'm not facing down many glorybringers or the scarab god, so Die young does the trick. I'm also excited to be able to play 2 rhonas the indomitable since the deck now has verdurous gearhulk and 2 rishkar peema renegade alongside the 4 bristling hydra.
I'm still set on 4 B. Hydras mb regardless of dual or tri-colored build. This card wins me so many games, and seeing even 3 copies in a game is desirable. One of the best answers to a bristling hydra is your own bristling hydra alongside all of our extra energy and snake synergy. I experienced this first hand last night when I played 3 B. hydras on consecutive turns starting turn 4 to fight through my opponents 2 B. hydras and 1 Ripjaw raptor profitably. The fact that playing 4 of these bad boys only makes Rhonas the indomitable playable only helps the case. Rhonas is also one of the best cards we can play as it can't be destroyed by Glorybringer, can block hazoret or anything else on the ground profitably, and the "oops I win" when you have 6 mana up and top deck this guy has won me games.
Edit: I'm curious about Driven // Despair in a straight G/B build. Can it help to replace Rogue Refiner somewhat? Lifecrafter's bestiary probably beats it for card draw, but trample, menace, card draw for us and discard for the opponent for 4 mana? That's pretty cool.
My thoughts for now. Slither on my herpetologist brethren!
I can tell you that the rishkar isn’t good like people thing. Super easy to respond to and not impactful.
Glint sleeve is the main draw engine and it’s plenty. You won’t need bestiary and def don’t wanna play slow sorcerers like driven
Rishkar flat out won me a game at the Store Championship finals. We were both stuck on mana and I just threw down Rishkar and overwhelmed them. I am down to one, but I love him. Cutting Rishkar does strengthen the case for more land
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.
4 Yahenni, Undying Partisan
4 Metallic Mimic
4 Paladin of Atonement
4 Legion Lieutenant
4 Dusk Legion Zealot
4 Walking Ballista
2 Key to the City
2 Duress
2 Cast Out
4 Concealed Courtyard
4 Scattered Groves
4 Unclaimed Territory
3 Shefet Dunes
3 Ifnir Deadlands
Some basics (not especially obvious at first sight) :
In my early testing, Paladin of Atonement + Desert is, as expected by most, quite strong. It's comparable to what Longtusk Cub offers in terms of explosiveness. It synergizes with Zealot and Ballista (targeting myself) but the real deal is when I have 2x Deserts, so I can ping myself once each turn. It gets very stupid when Mimic or Constrictor is on the bf.
Winding Constrictor forces me to play only 3 Shefet Dunes max for consistency (maybe a 2-4 split with Deadlands is better), and sometimes I have to name Snake with Unclaimed Territory, it's sometimes necessary to slowroll the land when I have 0 green source but a potential topdeck snake.
Elenda, the Dusk Rose has been impressive so far, while I expected it to be garbage. With 12 lords (Mimic, Constrictor & Lieutenant), she'll grow. At some point you just attack no matter what in order to gain 4 life and build a board of four 2/2 tokens. In the grindy MUs, it's rather going to be gain 6 life and get six 3/3 tokens. It's one way to go over the top.
Yahenni, Undying Partisan is the trigger button VS Aggro decks. I can sac Paladin and Elenda for life at the most critical moment. Without him, the opponent can play around Paladin, chumpblock and eventually kill me. It's also crucial to activate him against the million exile effects in the format (Hostage Taker, Cast Out, etc...)
Key to the City is a way to break stall boards. Paladin can be frustrating when chumpblocked over and over. I must say I like having so much card filtering in the deck (Zealot & Groves, Cast Out). It may belong to the SB though.
Duress and Cast Out are random slots so far, but I feel like I don't need Fatal Push or fight effects for now, and I'd rather try to deal with very strong cards like Gods, PWs, Approach, artifacts and exile / steal effects.
Seems like you could have something with Metallic mimic, snake vampire tribal tribal though.
The cards are comparable, but have slight differences.
A few comparisons, Rishkar vs Ranger:
Two snake triggers = Two snake triggers
Mana Ramp < Ramp Early + Filtering late game
Share > Ego
4/4 + 4/5 < 6/5 (max potential, on turn 3!!!)
3/3 > 2/1 (the floor)
3/3 > 3/2 (drawing an extra land)
3/3 < 4/3 (Best when the first hit stays)
Legendary < Non-Legendary
Splitting Rishkars power is great v.s. Ramunap Red when you have a snake out, make for two great blockers and steer clear of Lightning Strike. I'd consider this a more defensive but very valuable play.
Jadelight Ranger is a more aggressive threat on it's own but can be bonkers with a snake out.
Both have the ability to do something with our mana. I must admit, I rarely use Rishkar's ability to let creatures woth counters tap for mana though. But when I do, it usually is impactful. T4 Verdurous Gearhulk with the snake out and start bashing face from there on always feels mighty powerfull.
Modern: WUBRG Humans - GBW Traverse - GWU Knightfall - GRW Bushwhacker Zoo -
Tetzimoc seems cool to me as a sideboard card. It reminds me of that old unhinged card or whatever where you could reveal it and say "it's coming" or something.
@SmauG
Jadelight Ranger definitely has potential. Maybe go down to one Rishkar? It's definitely an interesting card.
Would it make sense to put in one or two Herald of Secret Streams if the deck moves over to be more counter heavy? It seems like a bit of a gamble, but could be one of those high risk / high reward things.