I've been running it in my 540 configuration and it's been okay. I think it needed to be a 5/5 or have a 3G casting cost. But it's decent enough for now. Polukranos went back in at the same time, and it's been WAY better than Surrak. I may end up benching him for Vengevine in the near future, or hopefully replacing it with a better 4-drop when Origins comes out.
You mean Deadbridge Goliath? I ran it for quite a while as a budget placeholder and was really happy with it. It's a brick wall against aggro when it comes down, it hits like a truck, and that Scavenge can make any random body a beating if the game goes long. It's also one of the better green 4-drops available for Birthing Pod chains. If Surrak doesn't work out for any reason I could see bringing back Deadbridge Goliath.
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Yesterday during our draft, my opponent played turn 1 Noble Hierarch, turn 2 Ophiomancer, turn 3 Fauna Shaman into a turn 4 Surrak and smashed me for 10; I was very impressed.
It may not be for everyone but this is really so solid for me group who love green midrange and enjoy toolbox creatures to go with GSZ, Tooth and Nail, worldly tutor etc.
I like the fires archetypes but no matter how hard I tried I haven't gotten other enablers to work well because they weren't threats on their own and/or were too color demanding.
This doesn't mirror my experience with it at all, but different cubes play differently. Surrak has been key for me and has helped take Green from a supporting role to a primary player.
Green was never a supporting role for my cube, but I agree in that Surrak has been great in my experience too. I expect to be cubing with him for a bit.
I've never had a problem getting my players to play successful green midrange decks. And Surrak was just worse than my other 4-mana green cards in the majority of our green decks. The recursion and always having haste give Vengevine the edge if I was to add in another hastey green 4-drop, but I don't see the need for either card, even at 540. It was a pretty easy cut for my playgroup.
We've done that too, but it was kinda unnecessary. I mean, any other target will pretty much win the game too, and we already have Conscripts for that function if we need it. And outside of being 1 of the 2 targets when the spell actually resolves, it's not a very good card in that deck the rest of the time. After doing the cute hasted fatty trick once or twice, we've actually been leaving it out of our Tooth and Nail decks because it's such a lackluster draw.
I guess our green ramp decks come out differently. Many times the mana dorks are enough to give this guy haste, and put the opponent on the back feet, instead of just durdling for the combo. I really like him in the green sun / worldly tutor toolbox deck. That deck rarely likes the super fatties. It also seems like those running pod could consider it. My group are suckers for that kind of thing so I might try Pod and Chord again. I imagine dumping finks for this guy is nice, and only requires 1 more power to get the hastiness on.
That said we are spoiled for riches in green 4-5, so I know he wont cut it for many cubes, or wioll be in rotation with the other top midrange cards.
In all those decks, I think there are just better 4cc options. But I'm only sharing my experiences with him, and my playgroup's opinion on him. Obviously you guys like him, and should continue to use him if he's working for you.
Most of the 4-drops in green are more value/utility -- which is great -- but I'm really enjoying having an aggressive beatdown guy too. I'd find a cut somewhere else in my green section before cutting Surrak when the next best green card comes out (Nissa DFC?).
Nissa, World Waker is staple at 360, or at least 450, for me. I'd personnally look elsewhere to find a cut. She's simply a pure power house. Great midrange, control and combo card!
Nissa, World Waker is staple at 360, or at least 450, for me. I'd personnally look elsewhere to find a cut. She's simply a pure power house. Great midrange, control and combo card!
What I was saying is I'm hoping the new Nissa in Origins (double-faced card) will be the next best green card to be released, considering how Liliana is playing out.
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UR Melek, Izzet ParagonUR, B Shirei, Shizo's CaretakerB, R Jaya Ballard, Task MageR,RW Tajic, Blade of the LegionRW, UB Lazav, Dimir MastermindUB, UB Circu, Dimir LobotomistUB, RWU Zedruu the GreatheartedRWU, GUBThe MimeoplasmGUB, UGExperiment Kraj UG, WDarien, King of KjeldorW, BMarrow-GnawerB, WBGKarador, Ghost ChieftainWBG, UTeferi, Temporal ArchmageU, GWUDerevi, Empyrial TacticianGWU, RDaretti, Scrap SavantR, UTalrand, Sky SummonerU, GEzuri, Renegade LeaderG, WUBRGReaper KingWUBRG, RGXenagos, God of RevelsRG, CKozilek, Butcher of TruthC, WUBRGGeneral TazriWUBRG, GTitania, Protector of ArgothG
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UR Melek, Izzet ParagonUR, B Shirei, Shizo's CaretakerB, R Jaya Ballard, Task MageR,RW Tajic, Blade of the LegionRW, UB Lazav, Dimir MastermindUB, UB Circu, Dimir LobotomistUB, RWU Zedruu the GreatheartedRWU, GUBThe MimeoplasmGUB, UGExperiment Kraj UG, WDarien, King of KjeldorW, BMarrow-GnawerB, WBGKarador, Ghost ChieftainWBG, UTeferi, Temporal ArchmageU, GWUDerevi, Empyrial TacticianGWU, RDaretti, Scrap SavantR, UTalrand, Sky SummonerU, GEzuri, Renegade LeaderG, WUBRGReaper KingWUBRG, RGXenagos, God of RevelsRG, CKozilek, Butcher of TruthC, WUBRGGeneral TazriWUBRG, GTitania, Protector of ArgothG
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I like the fires archetypes but no matter how hard I tried I haven't gotten other enablers to work well because they weren't threats on their own and/or were too color demanding.
Mana Elf, Viridian Shaman and then Surrak is a really nice curve in powered.
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Green was never a supporting role for my cube, but I agree in that Surrak has been great in my experience too. I expect to be cubing with him for a bit.
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That said we are spoiled for riches in green 4-5, so I know he wont cut it for many cubes, or wioll be in rotation with the other top midrange cards.
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