That sums it up quite nicely actually, the aim of the deck is to assemble a lot of power on board in as short a time as possible.
There are some really powerful draws you can get in this deck, your "God draw" in my opinion would be thus:
- - -
What this results in is the following:
Turn 2 - 4/5 Sentinels (assume you had a Regent)
Turn 3 - 6/6 Hunter
Turn 4 - Lot's more bad things mkay!?
Honestly speaking, I don't think there are many decks that can outrace that draw, if any at all.
It's not going to happen very often, that's why it's called a "God draw" so keep that in mind.
That being said, the little interactions between each of the cards almost alway result in an aggressive draw. Hardened scales makes everything worse, but it isn't need to win - it merely contributes to
growing faster. With it out even your Servant of the scales become a major threat, entering as 2/2's for 1 and giving something 3 counters on their death. I have on a few occasions overwhelmed my opponent with a single Hardened scales and a hand full of servants.
Card explanations:
-Servant of the scale is an excellent turn one drop for the deck if you don't have a Hardened scales, and a decent turn 2 drop if you do (especially in multiples).
-Your Scaleguard Sentinels are not always going to get a counter, that's life, but they are still a 2/3 for 2 that gives GG devotion - so are well worth including in the deck.
-The Avatar of the Resolute's are your best all-round card. They can apply early pressure, and get very big late game with both trample and +1 counters. The reach and GG are the icing on the cake.
-Reverent hunter will in most cases hit the field as a 5/5 on turn 3, well above the curve of pretty much any creature. He can enter bigger with a hardened scales out, but he's basically just a big and cheap threat. His usefulness carries on to the late game as well (barring a board-wipe).
-Collected Company and Genesis hydra are your value cards - they get a lot of devotion and power on the field in very short order. They are both getting 2 cards on the field for the cost of one, which builds devotion very quickly and (considering the synergies in this deck) can single-handedly turn the tables on your opponent - even on an empty board.
-Polukranos, World Eater and Foe-Razer Regent, aside from being fatties also serve as psuedo-removal. Polukranos can be a blowout with the Bow of Nylea but is most effective against many smaller creatures. The Foe-razer regent I have been presently surprised with. It can remove larger creatures, while gaining a very large creature of your own - it can't kill Siege rhino, though it does outclass it in battle considering the counters it gains end of turn. A follow-up kill in the air is usually a common occurrence if your opponent doesn't kill it asap.
-Bow of Nylea gives devotion, counters, gains life against burn and is a board-wipe when comboed with Polukranos. Nylea's Swiss-army knife is more appropriate.
-Inspiring call: Deathtouchers and board-wipes are a thing in this standard environment, these protect all your creatures and gain card advantage. A well timed Inspiring call is usually a blowout (or blowout reversal).
-Hornet Queen: Why not, she's hornet queen!?
-Your friendly neighbourhood Rogue Deck Builder (no relation to the Youtuber).
Great place to get Anime, Figurines, Comics and Magic The Gathering cards in South Africa: www.heroesofgc.com
Seems really solid. However, I have a few questions:
With only 4 dragons in the deck, it seems like getting the counter on Scaleguard Sentinels would be a rare occurrence. Also, I think you might have a few too many bombs, considering the lack of ramp or dorks. I would drop Hornet Queen, since she dosen't really do much here, especially as a 1 of, and a few of the Foe-Razor Regents, and maybe replace them with another Bow of Nylea or something. Also, it's probably garbage, but what about Sunbringer's Touch to beat an opponent in a stall? Other possible inclusions could be Salt Road Quartermasters and Tuskguard Captain.
The deck already has a Bow of Nylea in it, going to 2 feels like it would be inconsistent as they're legendary.
Mana isn't a problem with the Nykthos out, at least I haven't had a problem so far. I orginally had 4x Nykthos's, but recently dropped one to test as they can sometimes prevent me from getting double green on T2.
I originally had 4x Genesis Hydra's in the deck, but dropped one in favor of a hornet queen as a one of - so she's just a test so far as well, I may replace her with a single Tuskguard captain to lower my curve though.
I've never really struggled for mana, since the majority of our biggest threats have a cmc of 4 or less. By the time I've played out the cheap guys, I usually have a Nykthos out to push through to the bombs (When I was running 4 Nykthos).
On the scaleguard sentinels:
From playing the deck I can tell you his ability will only activate around 50% of the time, but I have never been dissapointed seeing him - as a 2/3 for 2 that gives GG devotion is still worth playing (in this deck). The Foe-Razer regent needs to stay as a 4-of to help him, but it's also in here just because it works so well as removal with a huge body attached.
The times he does activate makes it incredibly difficult to deal with as it will be a 4/5 for GG -on turn 2- .
I'm not really interested in playing the Quatermasters - they seem too slow, I want things to give value as soon as they enter.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
-Your friendly neighbourhood Rogue Deck Builder (no relation to the Youtuber).
Great place to get Anime, Figurines, Comics and Magic The Gathering cards in South Africa: www.heroesofgc.com
Very interesting deck! I do have some concerns that I hope will not seem too critical a of a very interesting deck concept.
I am having trouble getting to a 6/6 Reverent Hunter in your dream scenario. I only get to 5/5.
I have trouble with the impact of the Servant of the Scale. Would Elvish Mystic be better, or just having less one drops?
Courser seems really good in this deck. Is Deathmist Raptor good here?
According to the tables Frank Karsten calculated, Collected Company will net you 1.2 creatures worth 3 mana. I doubt that it is worthwhile. He recommends at least 22 eligible creatures, where you have 16, only 12 that I would want.
Company is a nonbo with itself. If you replaced Servant with Courser and three Companys with Raptor, you would get to 19 eligible creatures, 1.55 creatures worth about 5 mana. So 1-2 Company could be okay, i think, but not great unless you change your creature composition.
I hope this helps. Enjoy!
The deck already has a Bow of Nylea in it, going to 2 feels like it would be inconsistent as they're legendary.
That's only if you expect to draw your full deck every game. 2 is reasonable for any legendaries really.
Also I would cut any creature above 3 CMC unless it's really, really good. Foe Razer Regent doesn't really fit that (imo). Hornet Queen also feels more like something you should put into the sideboard at best if you play against a slow deck that tries to win late.
Boon Satyr on the other hand are really really good and should be in your deck, not your sideboard. They give 2 devotion have a nice body and can be bestowed. Den Protectors are really amazing. They generate CA, are aggressive and can be megamorphed so they offer counters. Deathmist Raptors are good, Inspiring Call is potentially as well.
@Elrias
Ah man, if I could afford Deathmist Raptor's I would most definitely have them in here! They would replace my Polukranos's in a heartbeat.
As for inspiring call, it's already in there.
@hoser2
The Reverent Hunter gets an extra counter from the Hardened scales - so instead of 4 +1/+1 counters, he get's 5.
I've found I like the Servant of the Scale in testing, so at least for me I consider him a good target It also provides more gas for the Avatar of the Resolute and Inspiring call.
I have been thinking on finding out a way to better collected company, I've been considering dropping the Polukranos's and getting something else below 3 CMC such as Boon Satyr's or Tuskguard Captains. You sure on the Den protectors? I've always thought they'd be good in a sealed environment, but be too slow for Standard.
-Your friendly neighbourhood Rogue Deck Builder (no relation to the Youtuber).
Great place to get Anime, Figurines, Comics and Magic The Gathering cards in South Africa: www.heroesofgc.com
The Reverent Hunter gets an extra counter from the Hardened scales - so instead of 4 +1/+1 counters, he get's 5.
Duh! I are an idiot. I've even played a Hardened Scales deck.
Another card I thought of, but am not recommending, just suggesting for consideration, is Aspect of Hydra.
The deck is actually surprisingly aggressive once you get used to it's synergies. It gets a lot of high power 2-3 mana creatures out very quickly. I can't really take the collected company out - I'd have to change the deck's name then!
Not looking to splash at the moment, it would make the devotion a little bit awkward.
-Your friendly neighbourhood Rogue Deck Builder (no relation to the Youtuber).
Great place to get Anime, Figurines, Comics and Magic The Gathering cards in South Africa: www.heroesofgc.com
UPDATE
-Minor Tweaks to the deck.
-added a non-scaleguard sentinels version for anyone that doesn't like the Scaleguard sentinels + Foe-Razer Regent combo.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
-Your friendly neighbourhood Rogue Deck Builder (no relation to the Youtuber).
Great place to get Anime, Figurines, Comics and Magic The Gathering cards in South Africa: www.heroesofgc.com
... One last point for 4 Den Protector:
Remember, that it is really hard to get blocked, because the blocker must have the same power as the Protector! So it's never chump blocked and often even unblockable.
Huh? I think Siege Rhino or Polukranos (or anything big!) just straight up eats it.
I really like the structure of this deck. I know a splash for white was discussed, but what about a splash for red? I know devotion loathes using permanents of another color, but if you're running Nylea and Bow of Nylea with Hardened scales, I can't help but see Shaman of the Great Hunt as a great win condition to bring in when playing against a stalled board (it would most likely replace one or two Inspiring calls when playing decks that don't board wipe). Also Shaman of Forgotten Ways is worth considering in the sideboard as well to bring in against GW decks that gain a ton of life through Mastery of the Unseen.
4 Servant of the Scale
4 Avatar of the Resolute
4 Scaleguard Sentinels
4 Reverent Hunter
2 Boon Satyr
1 Tuskguard captain
2 Polukranos, World Eater
4 Foe-Razer Regent
3 Genesis Hydra
2 Inspiring Call
1 Bow of Nylea
3 Hardened Scales
2 Collected Company
Lands (24)
3 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
21 Forest
2 Inspiring Call
2 Boon Satyr
2 Hornet Nest
2 Den Protector
2 Reclamation Sage
2 Display of Dominance
2 Arbor Colossus
1 Feed the Clan
4 Servant of the Scale
4 Avatar of the Resolute
4 Den protector
4 Reverent Hunter
4 Boon Satyr
2 Tuskguard captain
2 Polukranos, World Eater
4 Genesis Hydra
2 Inspiring Call
1 Bow of Nylea
3 Hardened Scales
2 Collected Company
3 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
21 Forest
Get big.. FAST!
That sums it up quite nicely actually, the aim of the deck is to assemble a lot of power on board in as short a time as possible.
There are some really powerful draws you can get in this deck, your "God draw" in my opinion would be thus:
- - -
What this results in is the following:
Turn 2 - 4/5 Sentinels (assume you had a Regent)
Turn 3 - 6/6 Hunter
Turn 4 - Lot's more bad things mkay!?
Honestly speaking, I don't think there are many decks that can outrace that draw, if any at all.
It's not going to happen very often, that's why it's called a "God draw" so keep that in mind.
That being said, the little interactions between each of the cards almost alway result in an aggressive draw. Hardened scales makes everything worse, but it isn't need to win - it merely contributes to
growing faster. With it out even your Servant of the scales become a major threat, entering as 2/2's for 1 and giving something 3 counters on their death. I have on a few occasions overwhelmed my opponent with a single Hardened scales and a hand full of servants.
Card explanations:
-Servant of the scale is an excellent turn one drop for the deck if you don't have a Hardened scales, and a decent turn 2 drop if you do (especially in multiples).
-Your Scaleguard Sentinels are not always going to get a counter, that's life, but they are still a 2/3 for 2 that gives GG devotion - so are well worth including in the deck.
-The Avatar of the Resolute's are your best all-round card. They can apply early pressure, and get very big late game with both trample and +1 counters. The reach and GG are the icing on the cake.
-Reverent hunter will in most cases hit the field as a 5/5 on turn 3, well above the curve of pretty much any creature. He can enter bigger with a hardened scales out, but he's basically just a big and cheap threat. His usefulness carries on to the late game as well (barring a board-wipe).
-Collected Company and Genesis hydra are your value cards - they get a lot of devotion and power on the field in very short order. They are both getting 2 cards on the field for the cost of one, which builds devotion very quickly and (considering the synergies in this deck) can single-handedly turn the tables on your opponent - even on an empty board.
-Polukranos, World Eater and Foe-Razer Regent, aside from being fatties also serve as psuedo-removal. Polukranos can be a blowout with the Bow of Nylea but is most effective against many smaller creatures. The Foe-razer regent I have been presently surprised with. It can remove larger creatures, while gaining a very large creature of your own - it can't kill Siege rhino, though it does outclass it in battle considering the counters it gains end of turn. A follow-up kill in the air is usually a common occurrence if your opponent doesn't kill it asap.
-Bow of Nylea gives devotion, counters, gains life against burn and is a board-wipe when comboed with Polukranos. Nylea's Swiss-army knife is more appropriate.
-Inspiring call: Deathtouchers and board-wipes are a thing in this standard environment, these protect all your creatures and gain card advantage. A well timed Inspiring call is usually a blowout (or blowout reversal).
-Hornet Queen: Why not, she's hornet queen!?
Got that?
So, Any questions?
Great place to get Anime, Figurines, Comics and Magic The Gathering cards in South Africa: www.heroesofgc.com
With only 4 dragons in the deck, it seems like getting the counter on Scaleguard Sentinels would be a rare occurrence. Also, I think you might have a few too many bombs, considering the lack of ramp or dorks. I would drop Hornet Queen, since she dosen't really do much here, especially as a 1 of, and a few of the Foe-Razor Regents, and maybe replace them with another Bow of Nylea or something. Also, it's probably garbage, but what about Sunbringer's Touch to beat an opponent in a stall? Other possible inclusions could be Salt Road Quartermasters and Tuskguard Captain.
Mana isn't a problem with the Nykthos out, at least I haven't had a problem so far. I orginally had 4x Nykthos's, but recently dropped one to test as they can sometimes prevent me from getting double green on T2.
I originally had 4x Genesis Hydra's in the deck, but dropped one in favor of a hornet queen as a one of - so she's just a test so far as well, I may replace her with a single Tuskguard captain to lower my curve though.
I've never really struggled for mana, since the majority of our biggest threats have a cmc of 4 or less. By the time I've played out the cheap guys, I usually have a Nykthos out to push through to the bombs (When I was running 4 Nykthos).
On the scaleguard sentinels:
From playing the deck I can tell you his ability will only activate around 50% of the time, but I have never been dissapointed seeing him - as a 2/3 for 2 that gives GG devotion is still worth playing (in this deck). The Foe-Razer regent needs to stay as a 4-of to help him, but it's also in here just because it works so well as removal with a huge body attached.
The times he does activate makes it incredibly difficult to deal with as it will be a 4/5 for GG -on turn 2- .
I'm not really interested in playing the Quatermasters - they seem too slow, I want things to give value as soon as they enter.
Great place to get Anime, Figurines, Comics and Magic The Gathering cards in South Africa: www.heroesofgc.com
I am having trouble getting to a 6/6 Reverent Hunter in your dream scenario. I only get to 5/5.
I have trouble with the impact of the Servant of the Scale. Would Elvish Mystic be better, or just having less one drops?
Courser seems really good in this deck. Is Deathmist Raptor good here?
According to the tables Frank Karsten calculated, Collected Company will net you 1.2 creatures worth 3 mana. I doubt that it is worthwhile. He recommends at least 22 eligible creatures, where you have 16, only 12 that I would want.
Company is a nonbo with itself. If you replaced Servant with Courser and three Companys with Raptor, you would get to 19 eligible creatures, 1.55 creatures worth about 5 mana. So 1-2 Company could be okay, i think, but not great unless you change your creature composition.
I hope this helps. Enjoy!
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.
That's only if you expect to draw your full deck every game. 2 is reasonable for any legendaries really.
Also I would cut any creature above 3 CMC unless it's really, really good. Foe Razer Regent doesn't really fit that (imo). Hornet Queen also feels more like something you should put into the sideboard at best if you play against a slow deck that tries to win late.
Boon Satyr on the other hand are really really good and should be in your deck, not your sideboard. They give 2 devotion have a nice body and can be bestowed.
Den Protectors are really amazing. They generate CA, are aggressive and can be megamorphed so they offer counters.
Deathmist Raptors are good, Inspiring Call is potentially as well.
Ah man, if I could afford Deathmist Raptor's I would most definitely have them in here! They would replace my Polukranos's in a heartbeat.
As for inspiring call, it's already in there.
@hoser2
The Reverent Hunter gets an extra counter from the Hardened scales - so instead of 4 +1/+1 counters, he get's 5.
I've found I like the Servant of the Scale in testing, so at least for me I consider him a good target It also provides more gas for the Avatar of the Resolute and Inspiring call.
I have been thinking on finding out a way to better collected company, I've been considering dropping the Polukranos's and getting something else below 3 CMC such as Boon Satyr's or Tuskguard Captains. You sure on the Den protectors? I've always thought they'd be good in a sealed environment, but be too slow for Standard.
Based on everyone's input and the changes I'm willing/able to make I'll go with the following changes:
-1 Hornet Queen
-2 Collected Company
+2 Boon Satyr
+1 Tuskguard Captain
Sideboard:
-2 Boon Satyr
+2 Den Protector (for testing).
Great place to get Anime, Figurines, Comics and Magic The Gathering cards in South Africa: www.heroesofgc.com
Another card I thought of, but am not recommending, just suggesting for consideration, is Aspect of Hydra.
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.
The deck is actually surprisingly aggressive once you get used to it's synergies. It gets a lot of high power 2-3 mana creatures out very quickly. I can't really take the collected company out - I'd have to change the deck's name then!
Not looking to splash at the moment, it would make the devotion a little bit awkward.
Great place to get Anime, Figurines, Comics and Magic The Gathering cards in South Africa: www.heroesofgc.com
-Minor Tweaks to the deck.
-added a non-scaleguard sentinels version for anyone that doesn't like the Scaleguard sentinels + Foe-Razer Regent combo.
Great place to get Anime, Figurines, Comics and Magic The Gathering cards in South Africa: www.heroesofgc.com
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.