What does your build look like, Bliedel? I have had a very hit or miss time with this deck...deck is so powerful when it works, but my draws are very inconsistent and I haven't beaten esper control yet.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"I hope to have such a death—lying in triumph upon the broken bodies of those who slew me."
—Radha, Keldon warlord
Yeah, duh on my part(verdict). It's never really the verdict's that get me, I can recover.It's the revelation's that put them out of reach just as your about to finish them.
tbone - I'll post my core soon. My match win:match loss ratio is currently sitting around 41:11, though don't quote me on that since my spreadsheet is at home.
Unfortunately, I won't be able to make the SCG Open I was hoping to take this to before Journey is released. Working, finishing a degree I started long ago, running a web design business on the side, and having a baby in February has severely limited my IRL M:TG play.
Kiora's dismissal is pretty brutal against all hexproof aura decks. Best I can say about it is if hexproof stays pretty rogue, a lot of people won't play it, even in the sideboard.
Target ENCHANTMENTS tbone, not target creatures. You attack, they send all your enchantments back to your hand and then block your suddenly naked gladecover scout.
1. It's still just a sideboard card.
2. It's not as bad as you think. You're generally going to try to have a second creature available anyways, so although you might lose the Scout to a combat trick you'll often be able to suit back up right away with hexproof creature #2.
Not saying that it won't be effective against us, but I don't think that we are good enough to warrant a sideboard full of that card anyways, and it's not powerful enough at hosing us to be a game-changer in any event. It wouldn't surprise me if you never see it. Did glaring spotlight destroy hexproof? No.
Nice deck! Very similar to what I started out with in selesnya (although I had no VORs, too expensive!) Other cards to consider:
2 Alpha Authority - great on Hero and Selesnya knight tokens.
Swapping 2 Heros for 2 Fiendslayers maindeck.
2 Chained to the Rocks, maybe more in the sideboard
Overall I think it's a little too heavy on creatures. You have 4 more creatures than auras, when what you want to be doing is loading up auras on your creatures. In my experience, 16 is about the right number instead of 18.
Oh what is this? A new hexproof creature? It's pretty good? Don't mind if I do!
Bassara Tower Archer - GG, 2/1 w/ hexproof and reach. Definitely play this before Witchstalker. You'll probably want to have around 10 hexproofs. 12 sometimes seems like too many but 8 is clearly too few. Play around with the numbers and see what works.
Well I didn't get the Daybreak Coronet but I did get Godsend. Also got Mana Confluence and a bunch of 1 cmc auras to experiment with. Oh and don't forget the new O-Ring.
But seriously - playtest the Archer and you'll see how much it improves the flow. Much improved flow. MUCH MUCH.
Also - Naya version is undeniably pimp with the new additions. Faster and more reliable.
Also be sure to try out this crazy piece of tech in place of Chained to the Rocks: Oppressive Rays
It is a more reliable tempo play since you don't need a mountain. Obviously has some disadvantages too - but it works very well together with madcap skills.
I'm wondering if there's enough new good white and green to ditch the third color and go back to selesnya after JOU. Especially with another GG hexproof creature and the O-ring that doesn't require a mountain. That'll be the first thing I try out. And there's nothing really good in red - just mana confluence making the mana smoother. Which is a big deal, don't get me wrong, I'm just not sure I want to play the exact same deck with just a few different lands. (And I'm sure the price for mana confluence will be through the roof.)
Mana confluence and the new hexproof creature are both big for naya. Oppressive rays is also good. Remember that naya is trying to kill quickly - so the drawback of oppressive rays is rarely going to be relevant.
Don't be turned away from playing the same deck. It was a good build. Now it's that much better. Might be worth playing nylea or nylea's bow if you're interested in doing something a little different.
No one has mentioned Ajani's Presence. It looks great here -- much better than Mending Touch. You get an additional +1/+1 to help avoid Drown In Sorrow, you avoid "Can't be regenerated" spells like Rapid Hybridization and Putrefy, you don't need to tap your creatures, and it can even protect multiple creatures.
I'm looking at Aegis of the Gods for one of the non-hexproof slots. Leyline of Sanctity is a major sideboard card in the modern Aura Bogles. No sacrifice effects, no discard effects, no burn, no thoughtseize. Vulnerable to removal? Sure, but especially post sideboard, they may not have targeted removal, and even if they do, it's still two cards for them to do whatever it is to you they want to do.
I went to a Star City Invitational, with the Naya Hexproof build (ghor clan rampagers, Voice of Resurgence, Chained to the rocks) and went 4-3...deck was surprisingly good...it did, however, crap out on me at the most inopportune times...my three losses were to: 1) Boros Burn, where game 1 I couldn't get to three mana to get to unflinching courage, and game 2 had to mill to five and kept a non-hexproof creature hand, 2) White Weenies, which again was due to bad draws, and the fact he flooded me with one drop creatures that he also buffed with Spear of Heliod, and 3) The Ol' Control Deck matchup, which I surprisingly went 1-2...game one he was stuck on 3 land which is a HUGE advantage for me...but alas I was so completely mana flooded I couldn't get any gas on the fire...
Overall this deck is great because it is a FRINGE deck...as soon as I put down a scout, people were like "hexproof? Greattttt." Most people don't have an answer for us, except for monoblack with devour flesh, and control, which has an answer for everthing. (But Aegis of the gods might put an end to that.) It still is a powerful deck, but it does need a) more consistent draws and b) a better plan for control...if you go to a major tournament, which I assure this one isn't, you're going to run into control...3 of the top eight were playing control at this tournament, more than any other deck...(I got lucky to dodge it as much as I did).
I've been brewing with JOU and I am trying to stay within G/W. I would like to get the collective opinion on some cards. Foremost I would like the core to be:
List of cards to fill out 16 open slots if I run 22 land:
Selesnya Charm - Versatile and effective in all modes and acts as a sac outlet Oppressive Rays - Love this card. Great cost on pseudo removal. Synergy with Ethereal Armor and EoCB. Ajani's Presence - Clearly a SB card unless we're going to run some fragile bodies like EoCB. Useful against wipes. Eidolon of Countless Battles - I feel this is a 2 of auto include. Maybe a bit costly but a 5th and 6th Ethereal armor probably should be. Plus it has a body. If i'm running Oppressive Rays or Banishing Light EoCB could be real good. Eidolon of Blossoms - Well here is our CA. 4cmc is a bit much for some cantrip and a 2/2 body that WILL die to removal. However I won't dismiss it we could protect it but I feel it is a trap. Hero of Iroas - Well balanced card that fits the idea of the deck perfect but always seems to fall short. In the end I think his ability just isn't needed unless we use some higher costed spells. It becomes a slippery slope from there. Ajani, Caller of the Pride - Double strike sorcery for 3cmc. Does he do other stuff to? Who cares. Can't Boros Charm so Ajani instead. A poor but functioning substitute. Banishing Light - It's not Oblivion Ring!? Commune with the Gods - Can't find a Hexproof or the game ending Enchantment? No fear...... on your next turn most likely. You usually get that spell u were trying for but usually 1 mana short to cast it. In my experience this card forces some bad plays. Take caution. Kruphix's Insight - Pretty awesome. Doesn't get our hexproof guys but it could get a whole lot of other useful stuff. I actually think this could have some serious potential aside the pacify/ oring enchants.
Im going to look into a build using EoCB, Ajani, Oppressive Rays, Banishing Light, and Kruphix's Insight.
I would love to know if people agree or not with these assessments for G/W Hexproof.
Thanks for your your time!
What build did you decide on?
I'm having a hard time deciding what i like myself. I think that the new city of brass plush shocks and temples is sufficient to enable any 3 color combination and pushes the possibility of 4 or 5 color if you also play caryatids or mana bloom.
Oh and bassara is awesome, right? I knew as soon as it was spoiled that people would underestimate it. It looks like just another mediocre hexproof body but it's a heck of a lot more useful than witchstalker.
—Radha, Keldon warlord
Unfortunately, I won't be able to make the SCG Open I was hoping to take this to before Journey is released. Working, finishing a degree I started long ago, running a web design business on the side, and having a baby in February has severely limited my IRL M:TG play.
2 Temple of Abandon
2 Forest
4 Sacred Foundry
4 Stomping Ground
4 Temple Garden
4 Temple of Plenty
1 Plains
1 Temple of Triumph
// Creatures
4 Ghor-Clan Rampager
4 Gladecover Scout
4 Witchstalker
2 Sylvan Caryatid
2 Voice of Resurgence
2 Chained to the Rocks
4 Ethereal Armor
4 Madcap Skills
4 Unflinching Courage
4 Boros Charm
4 Selesnya Charm
3 Fiendslayer Paladin
2 Skylasher
2 Mending Touch
2 Flesh/Blood
2 Pithing Needle
2 Unravel the AEther
2 Voice of Resurgence
I'm currently 47-16 with it.
—Radha, Keldon warlord
—Radha, Keldon warlord
2. It's not as bad as you think. You're generally going to try to have a second creature available anyways, so although you might lose the Scout to a combat trick you'll often be able to suit back up right away with hexproof creature #2.
Not saying that it won't be effective against us, but I don't think that we are good enough to warrant a sideboard full of that card anyways, and it's not powerful enough at hosing us to be a game-changer in any event. It wouldn't surprise me if you never see it. Did glaring spotlight destroy hexproof? No.
2 Alpha Authority - great on Hero and Selesnya knight tokens.
Swapping 2 Heros for 2 Fiendslayers maindeck.
2 Chained to the Rocks, maybe more in the sideboard
Overall I think it's a little too heavy on creatures. You have 4 more creatures than auras, when what you want to be doing is loading up auras on your creatures. In my experience, 16 is about the right number instead of 18.
Bassara Tower Archer - GG, 2/1 w/ hexproof and reach. Definitely play this before Witchstalker. You'll probably want to have around 10 hexproofs. 12 sometimes seems like too many but 8 is clearly too few. Play around with the numbers and see what works.
Well I didn't get the Daybreak Coronet but I did get Godsend. Also got Mana Confluence and a bunch of 1 cmc auras to experiment with. Oh and don't forget the new O-Ring.
But seriously - playtest the Archer and you'll see how much it improves the flow. Much improved flow. MUCH MUCH.
Also - Naya version is undeniably pimp with the new additions. Faster and more reliable.
Also be sure to try out this crazy piece of tech in place of Chained to the Rocks: Oppressive Rays
It is a more reliable tempo play since you don't need a mountain. Obviously has some disadvantages too - but it works very well together with madcap skills.
Don't be turned away from playing the same deck. It was a good build. Now it's that much better. Might be worth playing nylea or nylea's bow if you're interested in doing something a little different.
I'm not crazy about Godsend. Isn't it way too slow especially if we're playing cards like Oppressive Rays?
I am considering turning my old Selesnya stomp deck into a G/w hexproof deck. It would be a lot of fun to mainboard hexproof, and transition back to Loxodon Smiter, Experiment One Advent of the Wurm and the like once the spot removal disappears, and is replaced with Anger of the Gods and/or Drown in Sorrow.
4x Gladecover Scout
4x Voice of Resurgence
4x Bassara Tower Archer
2x Fleecemane Lion
2x Boon Satyr
1x Witchstalker
2x Eidolon of Countless Battles
3x Courser of Kruphix
4x Ethereal Armor
4x Unflinching Courage
2x Oppressive Rays
2x Selesnya Charm
1x Ajani, caller of the pride
LANDS
10x Forest
6x Plains
4x Temple Garden
4x Temple of Plenty
1x Mutavault
2x Mistcutter Hydra
3x Loxodon Smiter
2x Banishing Light
2x Experiment One
1x Soldier of the Pantheon
2x Ajani's Presence
1x Pithing Needle
2x Revoke Existence
Overall this deck is great because it is a FRINGE deck...as soon as I put down a scout, people were like "hexproof? Greattttt." Most people don't have an answer for us, except for monoblack with devour flesh, and control, which has an answer for everthing. (But Aegis of the gods might put an end to that.) It still is a powerful deck, but it does need a) more consistent draws and b) a better plan for control...if you go to a major tournament, which I assure this one isn't, you're going to run into control...3 of the top eight were playing control at this tournament, more than any other deck...(I got lucky to dodge it as much as I did).
Anyways, thought I'd let you guys know.
—Radha, Keldon warlord
4 Bassara Tower Archer
2 Witchstalker
4 Unflinching Courage
4 Gift of Orzhova
List of cards to fill out 16 open slots if I run 22 land:
Selesnya Charm - Versatile and effective in all modes and acts as a sac outlet
Oppressive Rays - Love this card. Great cost on pseudo removal. Synergy with Ethereal Armor and EoCB.
Ajani's Presence - Clearly a SB card unless we're going to run some fragile bodies like EoCB. Useful against wipes.
Eidolon of Countless Battles - I feel this is a 2 of auto include. Maybe a bit costly but a 5th and 6th Ethereal armor probably should be. Plus it has a body. If i'm running Oppressive Rays or Banishing Light EoCB could be real good.
Eidolon of Blossoms - Well here is our CA. 4cmc is a bit much for some cantrip and a 2/2 body that WILL die to removal. However I won't dismiss it we could protect it but I feel it is a trap.
Hero of Iroas - Well balanced card that fits the idea of the deck perfect but always seems to fall short. In the end I think his ability just isn't needed unless we use some higher costed spells. It becomes a slippery slope from there.
Ajani, Caller of the Pride - Double strike sorcery for 3cmc. Does he do other stuff to? Who cares. Can't Boros Charm so Ajani instead. A poor but functioning substitute.
Banishing Light - It's not Oblivion Ring!?
Commune with the Gods - Can't find a Hexproof or the game ending Enchantment? No fear...... on your next turn most likely. You usually get that spell u were trying for but usually 1 mana short to cast it. In my experience this card forces some bad plays. Take caution.
Kruphix's Insight - Pretty awesome. Doesn't get our hexproof guys but it could get a whole lot of other useful stuff. I actually think this could have some serious potential aside the pacify/ oring enchants.
Im going to look into a build using EoCB, Ajani, Oppressive Rays, Banishing Light, and Kruphix's Insight.
I would love to know if people agree or not with these assessments for G/W Hexproof.
Thanks for your your time!
I'm having a hard time deciding what i like myself. I think that the new city of brass plush shocks and temples is sufficient to enable any 3 color combination and pushes the possibility of 4 or 5 color if you also play caryatids or mana bloom.
Oh and bassara is awesome, right? I knew as soon as it was spoiled that people would underestimate it. It looks like just another mediocre hexproof body but it's a heck of a lot more useful than witchstalker.