The first weekend in Green Bay I ended up losing my win and in ended up 6-2. The second weekend I started 4-1 and then the wheels fell off. I ended my run in Cedar Rapids with a 6-0-2 record in the Swiss and 1st place in the Top 8. I had a pretty bad draw and lost in the quarterfinals in the third game to a dumb mistake.
I am going to be PTQing again in March and need to update the deck with BNG cards. Just looking for anyone who is willing to help test out the main, especially looking at Courser of Kruphix. Thanks.
I'll certainly be playing it. and if you doubt the usefulness of this spell.... well, good luck! lol. You'll be on the receiving end of it soon enough, when your Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker gets turned into an elephant.
Garruk has performed very strong for me over the course of the tournaments and is one of the big reasons to play the deck. There are three situations where you cast able to cast Garruk. One is through quick Nykthos acceleration, the second is simply making the necessary land drops because the game is going long because of attrition, and the third is through Gyre Sage. I wouldn't run three, or a forth in the board without Gyre Sage, but running her enables me to do so. Against almost any deck in Standard an active Garruk means you are almost guaranteed to win the game.
I have absolutely loved Renegade Krasis in the deck. Everyone, including most of the judges, had to read the card whenever I played it, and then they subsequently killed it after looking at my board state or died to it. The double devotion, the synergy with Experiment One, Gyre Sage, Mistcutter Hydra and even Polukranos is very strong. Having him evolve even once is usually worth it to to get value, but multiple times is just sick.
Boon Satyr plays a number of important roles in the deck.
1.) It helps evolve your guys, especially Ex. One and Gyre Sage to a third time and being able to do so at instant speed throws combat math out the window
2.) It fills a very important part of the curve in the early game as establishing devotion is important
3.) It helps you be aggressive against the control decks without over extending
4.) Having the long game ability to bestow on either Mistcutter or especially Skylasher is very important
5.) In the upcoming standard season it will trade with Brimaz
Basically it has important applications in the early, mid and late game and all of those applications are important.
Burning-Tree Emissary....I tested with BTE for quite a while and I hate the card because although it seems super powerful, it never actually did what I wanted it to do. There were three situations when I wanted to see BTE:
1.) The nuts early Nykthos draw with a follow up mana sink or Garruk
2.) On turn three with a Gyre Sage in play and a four drop in hand
3.) After plussing Garruk
Those situations happened relatively infrequently and every other time I would rather have it be something else. So I cut it and have never regretted it.
Scavenging Ooze is a fine card and I ran four in the side, especially for against Mono-Black, but I couldn't justify running them main. There isn't a lot of wiggle room in the deck and the flex spots that I ended up with, I decided to run Skylasher instead. If you take out the Skylashers and the Mistcutters, the mono blue matchup isn't super great game one, but having them turns so many games around. After board I really like the matchup as you get access to Nylea's Disciple, more Mistcutters and Skylashers and it becomes really hard for them.
I'll certainly be playing it. and if you doubt the usefulness of this spell.... well, good luck! lol. You'll be on the receiving end of it soon enough, when your Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker gets turned into an elephant.
Against Mono-Black
-2 Skylasher
-1 Mistcutter
-1 Boon Satyr or Renegade Krasis
+4 Scavenging Ooze
This a great matchup preboard and gets even better post board
Mono-Blue
-4 Experiment One
-4 Renegade Krasis
+4 Nylea's Disciple
+1 Mistcutter Hydra
+2 Skylasher
+1 Nylea, God of the Hunt
Preboard is all about who is on the play and whether a number of factors happen like getting Skylasher early, whether you get Nykthos, how many early Tidebinders, so it's up in the air. Post board adding the additional hate cards and Nylea's Disciple is just backbreaking for them. Experiment One never does anything against them and Krasis is worse than Boon Satyr since Satyr turns your Skylashers into Mistcutters.
Control variants
-4 Elvish Mystic
-4 Gyre Sage
+2 Skylasher
+1 Mistcutter Hydra
+1 Garruk, Caller of Beasts
+2 Naturalize
+2 Scavenging Ooze
I used to run Bramblecrush, but the cost difference plus the instant speed is much more important. The Mystics and Sage simply aren't powerful enough on their own and overextend you into Wrath effects so they need to go.
Aggro
-3 Mistcutter Hydra
-4 Boon Satyr
+4 Nylea's Disciple
+2 Scavenging Ooze
+1 Nylea, God of the Hunt
I'll certainly be playing it. and if you doubt the usefulness of this spell.... well, good luck! lol. You'll be on the receiving end of it soon enough, when your Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker gets turned into an elephant.
Yeah, that's what I need to test out the next month or so. Right now I'm inclined to cut one Krasis, one Boon Satyr, one Mistcutter, and two Skylashers and add one Nylea, two Courser of Kruphix and two Swordwise Centaur. I wouldn't run Hunter's Prowess, though casting it on Nylea would be sick. I would be more inclined to find room for a fourth Garruk if anything.
I'll certainly be playing it. and if you doubt the usefulness of this spell.... well, good luck! lol. You'll be on the receiving end of it soon enough, when your Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker gets turned into an elephant.
Why don't you run Kalonian Hydra seems like the nuts with all these counters.
Kalonian Hydra is nuts in this deck. If you ever cast it and survive long enough to attack once or twice, you certainly will win, but it isn't really consistent. It isn't a good blocker when it comes out and it basically has to attack for it to do anything. It also is rather slow considering you have to have five mana which is sometimes easy, but other times not so much.
The question is whether it is better than any of the other options available and honestly, I don't think it is. Against my harder matchups(especially U/W control) I'd rather be casing Mistcutter for 4 and attacking than casting Kalonian Hydra and saying go. I'd also rather cast Arbor Colossus as it is well positioned in the current meta.
So, it's a sweet card and does really sick things with the deck, I'd just rather have consistency rather than raw power available.
I'll certainly be playing it. and if you doubt the usefulness of this spell.... well, good luck! lol. You'll be on the receiving end of it soon enough, when your Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker gets turned into an elephant.
I Went 4-1-1 With a draw into Top 8 with Mono blue, then beat my Top 8 opponent playing Naya Midrange
The deck was very consistent the only deck I lost too was Satyr Firedancer burn
Round 1: Mono Red - I win the roll and play Experiment One into a Kalonian Tusker My dudes are just bigger and I run him over. Game 2 He doesn't hit a third land and gets demonlished with 3 Fanatic of Mogis in his hand.
Round 2: Mono Red - The deck was a little slower, but it played Stormbreath Dragon which I didn't see previously. Game 1 I play an Elvish mystic into a Kalonian Tusker. He tries to jet my Elvish Mystic and I played Aspect of Hydra to save it. I play another 2 drop into a 3 drop and he just dies. Game 2 I played an Experiment One turn one and a Swordwise Centaur His board was pretty much Burning Tree Emissary and an Ash Zealot I play a Turn 3 Witchstalker into double Kalonian Tusker and he just loses
Round 3: R/G Monsters - I don't remember this one that well But it gave me my first game loss. Game one I start early with Experiment one and some 2 drops only to get them Mizzium Mortars I hold back a Witchstalker and 2 Polukranos, World Eater After a discrepancy about Polukranos ability forcing you to fight a creature it ends up with both of Our guys dead and I have a Witchstalker on the board and he has a Domri Rade After killing Domri. I draw into multiple creatures and reveal a Boon Satyr. Game 2 I start a little slow with no 1 drop and they get burned out and I don't draw any more gas and I get stomped. Game 3 He stuttered on tap lands and 3 drops and I beat him before turn 5.
Round 4: Satyr Firedancer Burn - This was frustrating, Game 1 Have an Experiment one and a few two drops and I proceed to blow him out. Game 2 I play Experiment one again only to get it burned, then the next guy got burned then the next guy. Game 3 same thing even after boarding in my Ranger's Guile it wasn't enough the deck had to much burn.
Round 5: Esper midrange - I'm Unsure if this deck even played spells his mana was so bad and he didn't play anything other than Lyev Skyknight which traded with a Swordwise Centaur I play more guys and he just dies. I board in Skylasher and my Mistcutter Hydra For game 2. I Draw a hand of 5 land Skylasher, Witchstalker and snap keep it. The Skylasher gets Doom blade. I play my Witchstalker into a 2nd Witchstalker, Holding 2 Boon Satyr in hand. He gets blown out and is visually and verbally displeased
Round 6: Mono blue - Draw in
Can be a good idea 1x Bramblecrush SB?
That because can remove some non creature threat like Planeswalker without splashing other color ( for hero's downfall ).
Can also hit lands (punishing greedy manabase)
As downside can become a overcosted slower Naturalize
I have had Bramblecrush in the sideboard in the past, but I think that the matchup you most want it in (vs U/W/x control) it is way to slow and the sorcery speed nature of it is a real downside. I think that I would rather have access to Unravel the Aether even though it doesn't hit planeswalkers (the biggest upside to Bramblecrush.)
I'll certainly be playing it. and if you doubt the usefulness of this spell.... well, good luck! lol. You'll be on the receiving end of it soon enough, when your Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker gets turned into an elephant.
I haven't liked any of the BNG cards in the list and have really liked adding the scry lands even without a splash. I don't know what to do with the last slot and keep jumping back and forth on quite a few cards. We shall see.
I'll certainly be playing it. and if you doubt the usefulness of this spell.... well, good luck! lol. You'll be on the receiving end of it soon enough, when your Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker gets turned into an elephant.
I've been playing Magic for the better part of forever.. Well atleast since Invasion block and recently I was forced to sell my collection due to personal and financial reasons due to college and unemployment. But All that is behind me and I'm a paycheck receiving contributor to society and have every Friday night and weekend off so I can kick ass once more.
My return trip to MtG lead me through this post. I was looking for the best deck IMO that is single color for the least $$$ It was a toss up with Mono Black and Mono Red. Mono Black has some cards that are ridiculous in value that arent that good after the summer and once Ravnica Block rotates. Mono red can be crushed by mono green so here we go.
I've gotten 1st and 2nd in my last 2 FNMs of about 40 players total and got 2nd in both GameDay tourneys.
I will be bringing this deck to an Open Trial next weekend and haven't had any real tweaks... Except that I cut Garruk entirely and haven't missed him, not even room in my board for him. I used to play a lot of Vintage and Legacy and the key to beating a control deck is just to not over extend. I know Garruk draws you guys against control to keep the stream coming but you often wont need that. I've lost only one round to Esper control in my 4 tournaments back and it was a close one and only lost because it was my friend's deck and was able to Ashiok a polukranos to buy himself enough time to get there with Planeswalkers and I didn't draw too well.
Unravel I like better than Naturalize since there are 10 (soon to be 15) Gods that people play now. Also I worry if that slot should just become 4 Ranger's Guile to just give me a better matchup for Mono Red and Mono Black.
This Past FNM was a 6 Round event no cut to top 8.
Round 1: RW aggro. Won in 2
Round 2: BW Aggro. Won in 2 On turn 5 of game 2 after he plays his Blood Baron I was able to Bestow Boon Satyr and Aspect of Hydra the guy with Nylea in play. It was ugly.
Round 3: Mostly a Mono G with Red Splash Mirror. My guys were bigger. Won in 2
Round 4: Mono U Devotion. I haven't played a lot of Magic lately but is this deck just a joke right now? I feel that Mono Black is just way better now to shift that duo of Decks heavily one way and I haven't lost to it. Won in 2
Round 5: Mono Black devotion. Game 1 was closer than i'd like it. Always had the right removal spell for what ever guy I played. Won. Game 2 I had him to 3. I was at 4 and he had one card in hand with 2 Pain Seer's untapping. Surely I'd win right? Reveals a land and a Thoughtseize. Draws Herald of torment to bestow and attacks me for win. (My First loss of the night) Game 3 I draw ridiculous. Turn 1 Experiment one. Turn 2 Tusker. Turn 3 Swordwise Centaur. Turn 4 Polukranos. Turn 5 Bestow a Satyr. Turn 6 play Nylea with a Nykthos out and win.
Round 6: Mono Black Devotion again... I drew pretty well because my deck is all 4 ofs pretty much and just out aggro his removal spells and Aspect through a couple of demons. Won in 2.
Well, Here is just a little blurb about what I've done and my card choices. Thanks for the Thread and I look forward to comments, questions, concerns, cupcakes, cookies...whatever works.
the deck is a lot of fun and has some great tools at its disposal. 12 Ramp Guys mean you will usually hit enough mana to hard cast big threats on turn 4
Sylvan Primordial is a great card as it blows up a non creature permanent when it arrives, Fetches a forest when it arrives and can block both stormbreath dragon and Desecration Demon all day. It also plays well with Courser.
Worldspine Worm is Bonkers you can sneak it out as early as turn 3 and is a threat that must be answered.
Garruk acts as card advantage drawing you creatures to keep your hand full. bow provides supplemental life gain and can recycle cards back intro your desk. Bramblecrush blows up more non creature permanents meaning the desk has 7 maindeck solutions to plainswalkers, enchantments or just your opponents lands (grate vs greedy mana bases)
The deck can struggle against MBD and Esper Control and does fairly well against agro and most midrange strategies.
There's a mono green aggro deck that is in the top 8 (possibly #1 seed) at SCG Milwaukee, looks to be very similar to the MTGO mono green aggro builds. Deck might get a lot more popular at FNM's after this weekend.
I would really like give the Slaughterhorns a spin since they synergize with the Oozes. I'm still gonna stick with Aspects for the time being and see how I fare. Playing creatures like Brushtrider, Dryad Militant and Slaughterhorn in the place of Aspect of Hydra does make sense though since he was playing in a GP where there are bound to be more Bx devotion and UW(x) control when you work your way through the tournament. Playing slightly less small drops can be forgiven if you plan to play at your LSG, because I suspect there is less controlling decks around and more aggro (at least where I come from). Here's my current list, I'm gonna play this next friday and saturday at a GPT:
Maybe its my meta but I'm facing more midrange than RDW so i'm finding the synergy with ooze to be more valuable than boosting a creature. Also, I find the primary use of the horns and the growths is dealing the last 3-6 points of damage out of nowhere rather than protecting a < 3 toughness creature.
The Hinds are there to replace the brushstriders that always seem bad after about one attack. They serve the same purpose- playing a threat off of an BTE- but also allow us to either dump more threats later, pump an ooze, or bestow a satyr which can be difficult with the low land count.
The deck is fast and has threats coming in every turn as early as turn 3. With 36 creatures, 2 Garruks can quickly fill your hand after a board wipe and provide your opponent with many problems that must be dealt with ASAP.
Post SB I'm still trying to decide if 3 Unravels are enough to deal with enchantments. Tactics is powerful for dealing with any creature in standard. A third Garruk is to deal with control decks. Bow can either recycle cards or gain a bit of life. IMHO this is one of the toughest decks I built. I'm still tweaking the sideboard a bit but this is what I came up with for dealing with aggro and control. Any midrange deck will have headaches dealing with the threats, and I keep looking at Nylea's Disciple to deal with things like Gray Merchant but I believe the Bow is far more powerful than it for the ability to recycle creatures and gain life as the most relevant abilities it has.
Last week I went 4-0 with this fast mono-green deck at CardKingdom, cribbed in large part from a mono-green list that made MTG-Daily's weekly decks in standard with a 4-0 online. I modified it for the local meta by adding Scavenging Ooze for lifegain and resiliency against the mirror, Hero of Leina Tower as an experimental wincon (which worked once!), and upping the count on Unravel the Aether to counter a meta heavy in gods, Whip of Erebos, and bestow critters.
It's understandably good against the other fast variants like Orzhov Humans, against midrange junk or jund strategies, and OK against the grave decks. It has to be played cautiously against control.
I played in a second FNM at the same venue, and I noticed weaknesses against Boros archetypes. It was down to the wire with Boros Burn, which was able to keep me off a critical mass of creatures (disabling my devo-based pump), and successfully race me. I need to update the sideboard to better handle this. I'm thinking, against burn, to side Aspect in favor of a few more creatures, and perhaps to add Mending Touch to my side.
I also had trouble against a deck that ran a clutch of Boros Reckoner. I have no hard removal, and the Reckoner trades far too profitably. It stalled the board and let my opponent profitably use Mizzium Mortars in two games (of 3). I'm thinking of updating my list to one that runs more hexproof creatures.
Beating GW aggro, RG monsters, RW control, MonoB aggro. Bow of Nylea was real good against monsters. Reckoner is a problem, but not as much as Elspeth. Nylea is there to help with those. Aspect of Hydra was an all star, would not go below 4 in an aggro list.
4 Experiment One
4 Gyre Sage
4 Kalonian Tusker
2 Skylasher
4 Renegade Krasis
4 Boon Satyr
4 Polukranos, World Eater
1 Nylea, God of the Hunt
3 Mistcutter Hydra
3 Garruk, Caller of Beasts
4 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
19 Forest
The first weekend in Green Bay I ended up losing my win and in ended up 6-2. The second weekend I started 4-1 and then the wheels fell off. I ended my run in Cedar Rapids with a 6-0-2 record in the Swiss and 1st place in the Top 8. I had a pretty bad draw and lost in the quarterfinals in the third game to a dumb mistake.
I am going to be PTQing again in March and need to update the deck with BNG cards. Just looking for anyone who is willing to help test out the main, especially looking at Courser of Kruphix. Thanks.
I have absolutely loved Renegade Krasis in the deck. Everyone, including most of the judges, had to read the card whenever I played it, and then they subsequently killed it after looking at my board state or died to it. The double devotion, the synergy with Experiment One, Gyre Sage, Mistcutter Hydra and even Polukranos is very strong. Having him evolve even once is usually worth it to to get value, but multiple times is just sick.
Boon Satyr plays a number of important roles in the deck.
1.) It helps evolve your guys, especially Ex. One and Gyre Sage to a third time and being able to do so at instant speed throws combat math out the window
2.) It fills a very important part of the curve in the early game as establishing devotion is important
3.) It helps you be aggressive against the control decks without over extending
4.) Having the long game ability to bestow on either Mistcutter or especially Skylasher is very important
5.) In the upcoming standard season it will trade with Brimaz
Basically it has important applications in the early, mid and late game and all of those applications are important.
Burning-Tree Emissary....I tested with BTE for quite a while and I hate the card because although it seems super powerful, it never actually did what I wanted it to do. There were three situations when I wanted to see BTE:
1.) The nuts early Nykthos draw with a follow up mana sink or Garruk
2.) On turn three with a Gyre Sage in play and a four drop in hand
3.) After plussing Garruk
Those situations happened relatively infrequently and every other time I would rather have it be something else. So I cut it and have never regretted it.
Scavenging Ooze is a fine card and I ran four in the side, especially for against Mono-Black, but I couldn't justify running them main. There isn't a lot of wiggle room in the deck and the flex spots that I ended up with, I decided to run Skylasher instead. If you take out the Skylashers and the Mistcutters, the mono blue matchup isn't super great game one, but having them turns so many games around. After board I really like the matchup as you get access to Nylea's Disciple, more Mistcutters and Skylashers and it becomes really hard for them.
My board for the last tournament was as follows:
-2 Skylasher
-1 Mistcutter
-1 Boon Satyr or Renegade Krasis
+4 Scavenging Ooze
This a great matchup preboard and gets even better post board
Mono-Blue
-4 Experiment One
-4 Renegade Krasis
+4 Nylea's Disciple
+1 Mistcutter Hydra
+2 Skylasher
+1 Nylea, God of the Hunt
Preboard is all about who is on the play and whether a number of factors happen like getting Skylasher early, whether you get Nykthos, how many early Tidebinders, so it's up in the air. Post board adding the additional hate cards and Nylea's Disciple is just backbreaking for them. Experiment One never does anything against them and Krasis is worse than Boon Satyr since Satyr turns your Skylashers into Mistcutters.
Control variants
-4 Elvish Mystic
-4 Gyre Sage
+2 Skylasher
+1 Mistcutter Hydra
+1 Garruk, Caller of Beasts
+2 Naturalize
+2 Scavenging Ooze
I used to run Bramblecrush, but the cost difference plus the instant speed is much more important. The Mystics and Sage simply aren't powerful enough on their own and overextend you into Wrath effects so they need to go.
Aggro
-3 Mistcutter Hydra
-4 Boon Satyr
+4 Nylea's Disciple
+2 Scavenging Ooze
+1 Nylea, God of the Hunt
Kalonian Hydra is nuts in this deck. If you ever cast it and survive long enough to attack once or twice, you certainly will win, but it isn't really consistent. It isn't a good blocker when it comes out and it basically has to attack for it to do anything. It also is rather slow considering you have to have five mana which is sometimes easy, but other times not so much.
The question is whether it is better than any of the other options available and honestly, I don't think it is. Against my harder matchups(especially U/W control) I'd rather be casing Mistcutter for 4 and attacking than casting Kalonian Hydra and saying go. I'd also rather cast Arbor Colossus as it is well positioned in the current meta.
So, it's a sweet card and does really sick things with the deck, I'd just rather have consistency rather than raw power available.
4 Elvish Mystic
4 Experiment One
4 Kalonian Tusker
4 Swordwise Centaur
3 Scavenging Ooze
4 Witchstalker
4 Reverent Hunter
4 Boon Satyr
2 Polukranos, World Eater
2 Mistcutter Hydra
3 Aspect of Hydra
1 Polukranos, World Eater
2 Mistcutter Hydra
3 Ranger's Guile
1 Arbor Colossus
2 Unravel the Aether
2 Plummet
2 Skylasher
2 Hunt the Hunter
I Went 4-1-1 With a draw into Top 8 with Mono blue, then beat my Top 8 opponent playing Naya Midrange
The deck was very consistent the only deck I lost too was Satyr Firedancer burn
Round 1: Mono Red - I win the roll and play Experiment One into a Kalonian Tusker My dudes are just bigger and I run him over. Game 2 He doesn't hit a third land and gets demonlished with 3 Fanatic of Mogis in his hand.
Round 2: Mono Red - The deck was a little slower, but it played Stormbreath Dragon which I didn't see previously. Game 1 I play an Elvish mystic into a Kalonian Tusker. He tries to jet my Elvish Mystic and I played Aspect of Hydra to save it. I play another 2 drop into a 3 drop and he just dies. Game 2 I played an Experiment One turn one and a Swordwise Centaur His board was pretty much Burning Tree Emissary and an Ash Zealot I play a Turn 3 Witchstalker into double Kalonian Tusker and he just loses
Round 3: R/G Monsters - I don't remember this one that well But it gave me my first game loss. Game one I start early with Experiment one and some 2 drops only to get them Mizzium Mortars I hold back a Witchstalker and 2 Polukranos, World Eater After a discrepancy about Polukranos ability forcing you to fight a creature it ends up with both of Our guys dead and I have a Witchstalker on the board and he has a Domri Rade After killing Domri. I draw into multiple creatures and reveal a Boon Satyr. Game 2 I start a little slow with no 1 drop and they get burned out and I don't draw any more gas and I get stomped. Game 3 He stuttered on tap lands and 3 drops and I beat him before turn 5.
Round 4: Satyr Firedancer Burn - This was frustrating, Game 1 Have an Experiment one and a few two drops and I proceed to blow him out. Game 2 I play Experiment one again only to get it burned, then the next guy got burned then the next guy. Game 3 same thing even after boarding in my Ranger's Guile it wasn't enough the deck had to much burn.
Round 5: Esper midrange - I'm Unsure if this deck even played spells his mana was so bad and he didn't play anything other than Lyev Skyknight which traded with a Swordwise Centaur I play more guys and he just dies. I board in Skylasher and my Mistcutter Hydra For game 2. I Draw a hand of 5 land Skylasher, Witchstalker and snap keep it. The Skylasher gets Doom blade. I play my Witchstalker into a 2nd Witchstalker, Holding 2 Boon Satyr in hand. He gets blown out and is visually and verbally displeased
Round 6: Mono blue - Draw in
Top 8 Round 1 - Naya midrange: I play Experiment one into a Swordwise Centaur Which quickly gets traded with a Boros Reckoner, I play another which gets killed by the second Boros Reckoner and a Reverent Hunter on 4 Counters. He plays a 3rd Boros Reckoner and Ghor-clan Rampager with I Domri Rade on the board. I kill his Domri with after playing a Mistcutter hydra on 4 he doesnt block I play a 2 drop and a Reverent hunter on 6 and kill him. Game 2 He draws too many lands and plays a Boros Reckoner and a Domri Rade I again have an Experiment one and a 2 drop on turn 2 and 3. He gets blown out.
After that was a top 4 split
I have had Bramblecrush in the sideboard in the past, but I think that the matchup you most want it in (vs U/W/x control) it is way to slow and the sorcery speed nature of it is a real downside. I think that I would rather have access to Unravel the Aether even though it doesn't hit planeswalkers (the biggest upside to Bramblecrush.)
4 Elvish Mystic
4 Kalonian Tusker
4 Gyre Sage
3 Renegade Krasis
3 Boon Satyr
2 Nylea, God of the Hunt
4 Polukranos, World Eater
4 Mistcutter Hydra
4 Garruk, Caller of Beasts
1 Undecided
4 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
15 Forest
4 Temple of Abandon
I haven't liked any of the BNG cards in the list and have really liked adding the scry lands even without a splash. I don't know what to do with the last slot and keep jumping back and forth on quite a few cards. We shall see.
My return trip to MtG lead me through this post. I was looking for the best deck IMO that is single color for the least $$$ It was a toss up with Mono Black and Mono Red. Mono Black has some cards that are ridiculous in value that arent that good after the summer and once Ravnica Block rotates. Mono red can be crushed by mono green so here we go.
My List
4Elvish Mystic
4Experiment One
4Aspect of Hydra
4Mistcutter Hydra
4Kalonian Tusker
3Swordwise Centaur
2Skylasher
4Boon Satyr
3Courser of Kruphix
4Polukranos, World Eater
2Nylea, God of the Hunt
4Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
18Forest
I've gotten 1st and 2nd in my last 2 FNMs of about 40 players total and got 2nd in both GameDay tourneys.
I will be bringing this deck to an Open Trial next weekend and haven't had any real tweaks... Except that I cut Garruk entirely and haven't missed him, not even room in my board for him. I used to play a lot of Vintage and Legacy and the key to beating a control deck is just to not over extend. I know Garruk draws you guys against control to keep the stream coming but you often wont need that. I've lost only one round to Esper control in my 4 tournaments back and it was a close one and only lost because it was my friend's deck and was able to Ashiok a polukranos to buy himself enough time to get there with Planeswalkers and I didn't draw too well.
Here is my SB
4Scavenging Ooze
2Skylasher
1Nylea, God of the Hunt
4Nylea's Disciple
4Unravel the Aether
Unravel I like better than Naturalize since there are 10 (soon to be 15) Gods that people play now. Also I worry if that slot should just become 4 Ranger's Guile to just give me a better matchup for Mono Red and Mono Black.
This Past FNM was a 6 Round event no cut to top 8.
Round 1: RW aggro. Won in 2
Round 2: BW Aggro. Won in 2 On turn 5 of game 2 after he plays his Blood Baron I was able to Bestow Boon Satyr and Aspect of Hydra the guy with Nylea in play. It was ugly.
Round 3: Mostly a Mono G with Red Splash Mirror. My guys were bigger. Won in 2
Round 4: Mono U Devotion. I haven't played a lot of Magic lately but is this deck just a joke right now? I feel that Mono Black is just way better now to shift that duo of Decks heavily one way and I haven't lost to it. Won in 2
Round 5: Mono Black devotion. Game 1 was closer than i'd like it. Always had the right removal spell for what ever guy I played. Won. Game 2 I had him to 3. I was at 4 and he had one card in hand with 2 Pain Seer's untapping. Surely I'd win right? Reveals a land and a Thoughtseize. Draws Herald of torment to bestow and attacks me for win. (My First loss of the night) Game 3 I draw ridiculous. Turn 1 Experiment one. Turn 2 Tusker. Turn 3 Swordwise Centaur. Turn 4 Polukranos. Turn 5 Bestow a Satyr. Turn 6 play Nylea with a Nykthos out and win.
Round 6: Mono Black Devotion again... I drew pretty well because my deck is all 4 ofs pretty much and just out aggro his removal spells and Aspect through a couple of demons. Won in 2.
Well, Here is just a little blurb about what I've done and my card choices. Thanks for the Thread and I look forward to comments, questions, concerns, cupcakes, cookies...whatever works.
my current build looks like this:
4 Experiment One
2 Scavenging Ooze
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
4 Kalonian Tusker
4 Reverent Hunter
4 Boon Satyr
4 Witchstalker
2 Nylea, God of the Hunt
4 Aspect of Hydra
2 Hunt the Weak
Lands
20 Forest
2 Mutavault
4 Mistcutter Hydra
4 Hunt the Hunter
1 Scavenging Ooze
4 Time to Feed
2 Unravel the Æther
Youtube Channel
Here is the deck I've been playing. It went 3-1-0 last week and 3-0-1 this week (W-L-D):
19 Forest
4 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
Creatures 29
4 Elvish Mystic
4 Sylvan Caryatid
4 Voyaging Satyr
4 Courser of Kruphix
4 Polukranos, World Eater
1 Nylea, God of the Hunt
2 Arbor Colossus
4 Sylvan Primordial
2 Worldspine Wurm
2 Bow of Nylea
3 Bramblecrush
3 Garruk, Caller of Beasts
3 Nylea's Disciple
2 Scavenging Ooze
4 Mistcutter Hydra
2 Unravel the Æther
2 Pithing Needle
2 Plummet
the deck is a lot of fun and has some great tools at its disposal. 12 Ramp Guys mean you will usually hit enough mana to hard cast big threats on turn 4
Sylvan Primordial is a great card as it blows up a non creature permanent when it arrives, Fetches a forest when it arrives and can block both stormbreath dragon and Desecration Demon all day. It also plays well with Courser.
Worldspine Worm is Bonkers you can sneak it out as early as turn 3 and is a threat that must be answered.
Garruk acts as card advantage drawing you creatures to keep your hand full. bow provides supplemental life gain and can recycle cards back intro your desk. Bramblecrush blows up more non creature permanents meaning the desk has 7 maindeck solutions to plainswalkers, enchantments or just your opponents lands (grate vs greedy mana bases)
The deck can struggle against MBD and Esper Control and does fairly well against agro and most midrange strategies.
4 Brushstrider
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
4 Elvish Mystic
4 Experiment One
4 Kalonian Tusker
4 Reverent Hunter
2 Scavenging Ooze
3 Slaughterhorn
4 Boon Satyr
1 Nylea, God of the Hunt
19 Forest
4 Mutavault
Spells (3)
2 Mending Touch
1 Ranger's Guile
3 Dryad Militant
4 Mistcutter Hydra
4 Nylea's Disciple
1 Scavenging Ooze
2 Mending Touch
1 Bramblecrush
19 Forest
3 Mutavault
Creatures (32)
4 Elvish Mystic
4 Experiment One
4 Kalonian Tusker
4 Scavenging Ooze
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
2 Witchstalker
4 Reverent Hunter
4 Boon Satyr
2 Nylea, God of the Hunt
1 Mending Touch
2 Time to Feed
3 Aspect of Hydra
4 Mistcutter Hydra
3 Hunt the Hunter
2 Time to Feed
2 Unravel the Æther
2 Courser of Kruphix
2 Mending Touch
Youtube Channel
Here's my current list:
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
4 Elvish Mystic
4 Experiment One
4 Kalonian Tusker
3 Reverent Hunter
3 Scavenging Ooze
3 Boon Satyr
3 Spire Tracer
3 Swordwise Centaur
4 Slaughterhorn
3 Golden Hind
4 Aspect of Hydra
Lands (18)
16 Forest
2 Mutavault
2 Plummet
3 Ranger's Guile
1 Reverent Hunter
2 Unravel the Æther
2 Skylasher
2 Pit Fight
2 Bow of Nylea
1 Boon Satyr
Super aggro, lean.
The Hinds are there to replace the brushstriders that always seem bad after about one attack. They serve the same purpose- playing a threat off of an BTE- but also allow us to either dump more threats later, pump an ooze, or bestow a satyr which can be difficult with the low land count.
On another note, has anyone experimented with Setessan Tactics over Pit Fight and the other fight cards?
18 Forest
4 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
Creatures:
4 Elvish Mystic
4 Sylvan Caryatid
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
3 Scavenging Ooze
3 Witchstalker
3 Boon Satyr
3 Reverent Hunter
3 Polukranos, World Eater
3 Nylea, God of the Hunt
4 Kalonian Hydra
2 Mistcutter Hydra
2 Garruk, Caller of Beasts
4 Setessan Tactics
2 Mistcutter Hydra
3 Unravel the Aether
3 Bramblecrush
1 Garruk, Caller of Beasts
2 Bow of Nylea
The deck is fast and has threats coming in every turn as early as turn 3. With 36 creatures, 2 Garruks can quickly fill your hand after a board wipe and provide your opponent with many problems that must be dealt with ASAP.
Post SB I'm still trying to decide if 3 Unravels are enough to deal with enchantments. Tactics is powerful for dealing with any creature in standard. A third Garruk is to deal with control decks. Bow can either recycle cards or gain a bit of life. IMHO this is one of the toughest decks I built. I'm still tweaking the sideboard a bit but this is what I came up with for dealing with aggro and control. Any midrange deck will have headaches dealing with the threats, and I keep looking at Nylea's Disciple to deal with things like Gray Merchant but I believe the Bow is far more powerful than it for the ability to recycle creatures and gain life as the most relevant abilities it has.
Thoughts?
It's understandably good against the other fast variants like Orzhov Humans, against midrange junk or jund strategies, and OK against the grave decks. It has to be played cautiously against control.
2 Brushstrider
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
2 Dryad Militant
4 Elvish Mystic
4 Experiment One
1 Hero of Leina Tower
4 Kalonian Tusker
3 Reverent Hunter
4 Slaughterhorn
2 Scavenging Ooze
3 Wild Beastmaster
4 Aspect of Hydra
2 Giant Growth
2 Ranger’s Guile
Land
19 Forest
2 Hunt the Hunter
4 Mistcutter Hydra
1 Nylea’s Disciple
2 Plummet
1 Scavenging Ooze
2 Skylasher
3 Unravel the Aether
- UPDATE -
I played in a second FNM at the same venue, and I noticed weaknesses against Boros archetypes. It was down to the wire with Boros Burn, which was able to keep me off a critical mass of creatures (disabling my devo-based pump), and successfully race me. I need to update the sideboard to better handle this. I'm thinking, against burn, to side Aspect in favor of a few more creatures, and perhaps to add Mending Touch to my side.
I also had trouble against a deck that ran a clutch of Boros Reckoner. I have no hard removal, and the Reckoner trades far too profitably. It stalled the board and let my opponent profitably use Mizzium Mortars in two games (of 3). I'm thinking of updating my list to one that runs more hexproof creatures.
Deedle de dee.
Decks:
Standard Dredge
BG
Modern Tempo/Twin
UR
URW
I went 3-1, losing only to Mono Blue Devotion. I think I could have won it if I had different cards to be able to sideboard in.
It took out Jund Monsters without problems. Handled GW Selesnya Aggro fine. And it even dealt nicely against control. Just Mono Blue gave me problems.
Anyways, here's the list I used:
18 Forest
4 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
Creatures:
4 Elvish Mystic
4 Sylvan Caryatid
4 Voyaging Satyr
2 Scavenging Ooze
2 Witchstalker
3 Reverent Hunter
3 Polukranos, World Eater
3 Nylea, God of the Hunt
2 Arbor Colossus
4 Kalonian Hydra
4 Mistcutter Hydra
3 Garruk, Caller of Beasts
4 Setessan Tactics
4 Unravel the Aether
3 Bramblecrush
2 Bow of Nylea
2 Witchstalker
Was lots of fun, has tons of potential, and I can't wait for FNM. People were shocked to see me play a deck that wasn't Selesnya Aggro...
3 Boon Satyr
2 Brushstrider
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
4 Elvish Mystic
4 Experiment One
3 Gyre Sage
4 Kalonian Tusker
3 Reverent Hunter
3 Scavenging Ooze
2 Spire Tracer
3 Swordwise Centaur
4 Aspect of Hydra
3 Ranger's Guile
Lands [18]
16 Forest
2 Mutavault
1 Boon Satyr
2 Bow of Nylea
2 Nylea, God of the Hunt
2 Plummet
1 Reverent Hunter
1 Scavenging Ooze
2 Setessan Tactics
2 Skylasher
2 Unravel the AEther
18 Forest
4 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
Creatures:
4 Elvish Mystic
4 Sylvan Caryatid
4 Voyaging Satyr
4 Bassara Tower Archer
3 Courser of Kruphix
2 Reverent Hunter
3 Polukranos, World Eater
3 Nylea, God of the Hunt
4 Kalonian Hydra
4 Mistcutter Hydra
3 Garruk, Caller of Beasts
3 Setessan Tactics
3 Unravel the Aether
3 Bramblecrush
2 Bow of Nylea
2 Nylea's Discple
2 Pithing Needle