Can you play this deck without Noble Hierarch and play f.e. 4 Sylvan Caryatid, 4 Birds, 4 Arbor Elf? I guess you could exchange Mana Confluence/Island for more Fetch lands and/or Green Duals. Thoughts? Noble Hierarchs are pretty expensive and I'm not sure it's worth it to buy them...
Something tells me that you can't swap out Hierarchs. Manaweft Sliver might work but you are slowing yourself down more for the combo and giving opponent time. I have not playtested this deck so I might be wrong.
Kinda glad I don't have 4 Snapcaster Mage yet. Now I can run this cheap uncommon Monastery Swiftspear and Treasure cruise. I'm still skeptical about swiftspear. She doesn't do much unless you are slinging spells to pump. How does this deck not straight up die to Burn from all the lifeloss from fetches/shocks/probes/gut shots?
As much as we want to see this archetype become Proven. It just won't happen until we get enough people to actually play the deck at major events. Some are stuck on play only what they see win mindset. Winning is the ultimate goal and this just hasn't done it for them.
Reason I made this deck was because at first it didn't require fetche$, was fairly cheap and had a sweet combo that is unique. I like how the deck plays and very much enjoy how much is surprises people when they see you drop 4/5's on turn two or ramp into a Craterhoof. They don't even know what to sideboard for.
All we can do is keep adjusting and adding new tech to stay in the game.
Latest addition is Wilt-Leaf Liege. In an attempt to maximize Nylea and Ulvenwald Tracker's synergy
I do like the inclusion of Wilt-leaf Liege. They act like a Gaea's Anthem which this deck could utilize with the smaller 1/1, 2/1, 2/2's. Plus its golden vs any 8-rack strat right off the bat. Unfortunately, I don't have any so I can't playtest them either. I'll stick to what I'm working with now since it's been doing good. I can't think of any cards to suggest at the moment but I will note some sideboard changes to my current deck (listed just up the page).
Didn't like the reclamation sage. Swapping that out for another Ancient Grudge. Didn't find nay reason to sideboard Plow Under so that is two cards to switch out.
Small tournament because lots of people went to prerelease so the turn out was affected. Three rounds only(7 people).
First game vs BR Burn/Bloodchief Ascension/Mindcrank
Games went like this. He has turn 1 Grim lavamancer and did Faithless looting twice or so. I drop a Baloth which he double Burns. I later drop a courser and start gaining life and attacking. I Primal Command him and search up Polukranos. He double burns my Polukranos, drops Eidolon of Great Revel (did more burn vs himself than me) I eventually kill him with Courser and Strangleroot Geist. Game was pretty grindy. I had a Garruk Wildspeaker but he burned him down. He never got Ascension or Mindcrank going. I Primal locked his draws and should of searched for a Primetime to end it sooner.
Second game he had a much slower hand than before and didn't draw into much. I had turn two Baloth again and a Strangleroot geist after that. I played Garruk and I started dropping Beast tokens. Eventually killed him with Beasts and undying Geist (he did not like undying geists)
1 W (2-0)
Second match vs some wierd three color aggro deck using Lightning Mauler, BTE, Hasty Jund goblin? and he had maybe 2 Dark confidants.
Games were over pretty fast. He only had 1 decent turn where he BTE into mauler and swing. I simply dropped Baloths turns 2 & 3. He blocks my baloth and bolts him(more 2v1). I draw Primetime, cast him, search for Kessig plus Stomping Ground. Next Turn attack for 14, he has to triple block(3v1). Turn after I lethal with 2 geists one with kessig pump.
Game two I got to cast a Huntmaster gaining some life and getting a wolf in play. He had the same BTE into mauler turn. I pass turn leaving ooze in my hand so I can transform Huntmaster on his upkeep, taking out his Boros Elite and dealing two to him. He didn't get to do much after that. It was just attack with everything, He double blocks ravager (2v1). A turn after that I get a Garruk and make a beast(nothing to use mana with). Beat him with beasts, baloths and geists.
2 W (4-0)
Last game was vs Affinity minus Mox Opals
Game one he Ravager sacs all his artifacts onto Inkmoth for 10 poison. Game went for maybe 7 turns? It was slow but it was inevitable that I lose even after Primal commanding his nexus to library.
Game two I draw some artifact hate and play a Courser on turn 2. I get a Baloth after that and pithing needle his Arcound Ravager. He has the same slow start but has like 8 artifacts in play. I Ancient grudge his Vault skirge so he stops gaining life. A turn or two later, I keep up arbor elf and pass turn. He whipflares only killing my bird and elf, I respond and untap my stomping ground with utopia sprawl on it. My courser was showing I had a reclamation sage next turn so I end up flashbacking Grudge to take out a signal pest (bad bad bad mistake!). My turn I attack with 6 putting him down to 6. Thinking I'm ok for at least another turn. On his turn he steelshaper gifts for plating and proceeds to poison kill me... Lesson learned, save grudge for plating!
2 W 1 L (4-2)
Was pretty happy except for my mistakes. Ah man, I just realized I could have Primal Command bounce inkmoth, shuffle his library to temporarily deal with inkmoth. But I think he had another one in hand or drew another. But if I make him shuffle he might of not got a second. Ah well, this is why you must simply keep playing magic.
-Tibor and Lumia
-Izzet Safe? (No.)
-Spellslinging beatdown. Shamelessly ripped off bobthefun's list, with a few tweaks to suit my budget and local metagame.
-Voltron, kind of. There are a couple of alternate wincon combos, for backup.
-Izzet Safe? is the kind of deck that not many people see coming. I get to throw out tons of cheap spells and turn my commander sideways.
-I'll never forget the game that started with one of my opponents laughing at me for playing "such a trash general" and ended with the same opponent staring at me slackjawed in disbelief after I wiped him out on turn 5 with Diviner's Wand, Leering Emblem, Brainstorm, and Assault Strobe.
OOooh! Could you share that list possibly? I really want to play this general and take people by suprise.
I always wanted to get some huntmasters once they rotated and was thinking he would be a perfect addition. He synergies well with Chord and Craterhoof plus the fact that this deck doesn't always cast things on each turn, transforming him into a 4/4 trampler is just great. I got excited and have 4 coming in the mail (damn forums making me buy cards!)
I've gotten a Beta Volcanic Eruption for under 5$ recently and am running it as a multi-use removal when someone's Blood Moon pops up.
How do you not just die to creature based beatdown? Or do they simply ignore you most the game. Could you explain the Firemind's Foresight combo a little more? Something along the lines of copying reset , buying back reiterate and sapphire charm ?
I run a highly sucessful (in my meta) Melek deck. It's definitely more sucessful than Karn and it's still not often percieved as a huge threat by most (likely part of why it's sucessful) because I simply doesn't have very many permanents.
Win conditions - I run the Firemind's Foresight 3-way combo but always find other ways to win - despite having hardly and creatures in the deck. I run every reasonable wheel effect (no diminishing returns or wheel of fate) along with prosperity and Minds aglow and Mana Flare. Rarely does running those come back to bite me in the butt. It's got a super-low mana curve and it's an absolute blast to play. I get a lot of requests from others to play it frequently also - he's definitely a great general - thanks for posting & updating your list.
Edit: Urrgh. Fail for not reading to the most recent post before replying. That's good to know about Recall, though.
Mind sharing a list or pointing me to your deck somewhere? My group only plays creature based decks and I think a spell driven "fun" deck needs to be played.
He is neat to say the least and his interaction with non-creature spells is truly nice. He could add to some neat combat tricks equipped with a Runechanter's Pike. Question though, is he going to be good late game? Only testing will tell.
Burn player shouldn't even be targeting your folk. He should be straight up burning your life total first. Unless he had a good reason to go after your lords.
Against burn, I absolutely hate Vexing Devil turn 1! Have to almost always let it do 4 damage and go to the bin since I can't handle a 3 toughness guy on turn 2.
Do you draw Genesis Wave often enough with only 2 copies in the deck?
Not often enough, I don't think I should have them in there. Would be safe to replace with Genesis Hydra. I think Primal Command could go up to 4 as well.
Geist is such as awesome creature though. He can chump twice if needed and comes right back vs spot removal. Most time people just ignore him and let him punch 2 damage in. I may also look into getting Bonfire of the Damned with so little card draw to maximize miracle effect.
I will just have to play vs a lot of decks to see if this the style I like. I may go back to cantrip genesis wave version if this doesn't pan out.
Looks pretty standard for a genesis wave deck. I used to have mine look exactly like that but I didn't like having all the 1/1, 2/2 bodies just die to removal and not be very effective at combat. I'm testing more a resilient build with geists and baloths like this:
Something tells me that you can't swap out Hierarchs. Manaweft Sliver might work but you are slowing yourself down more for the combo and giving opponent time. I have not playtested this deck so I might be wrong.
Kinda glad I don't have 4 Snapcaster Mage yet. Now I can run this cheap uncommon Monastery Swiftspear and Treasure cruise. I'm still skeptical about swiftspear. She doesn't do much unless you are slinging spells to pump. How does this deck not straight up die to Burn from all the lifeloss from fetches/shocks/probes/gut shots?
Grim Lavamancer is definitely nonbo with Cruise now though.
Reason I made this deck was because at first it didn't require fetche$, was fairly cheap and had a sweet combo that is unique. I like how the deck plays and very much enjoy how much is surprises people when they see you drop 4/5's on turn two or ramp into a Craterhoof. They don't even know what to sideboard for.
All we can do is keep adjusting and adding new tech to stay in the game.
I do like the inclusion of Wilt-leaf Liege. They act like a Gaea's Anthem which this deck could utilize with the smaller 1/1, 2/1, 2/2's. Plus its golden vs any 8-rack strat right off the bat. Unfortunately, I don't have any so I can't playtest them either. I'll stick to what I'm working with now since it's been doing good. I can't think of any cards to suggest at the moment but I will note some sideboard changes to my current deck (listed just up the page).
Didn't like the reclamation sage. Swapping that out for another Ancient Grudge. Didn't find nay reason to sideboard Plow Under so that is two cards to switch out.
That is all I have for now.
I'm running Gr Devotion Stompy:
3x Birds of Paradise
2x Courser of Kruphix
1x Craterhoof Behemoth
3x Eternal Witness
2x Huntmaster of the Fells
4x Leatherback Baloth
1x Polukranos, World Eater
2x Primeval Titan
1x Scavenging Ooze
4x Strangleroot Geist
Land (20)
11x Forest
1x Kessig Wolf Run
4x Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
4x Stomping Ground
2x Abundant Growth
4x Utopia Sprawl
3x Primal Command
Planeswalker (4)
4x Garruk Wildspeaker
2x Beast Within
2x Choke
1x Creeping Corrosion
1x Ghost Quarter
1x Pithing Needle
2x Plow Under
1x Reclamation Sage
1x Scavenging Ooze
1x Silklash Spider
1x Spellskite
1x Tectonic Edge
Playtest on tappedout.net here - Mono Green Stompy
Small tournament because lots of people went to prerelease so the turn out was affected. Three rounds only(7 people).
First game vs BR Burn/Bloodchief Ascension/Mindcrank
Games went like this. He has turn 1 Grim lavamancer and did Faithless looting twice or so. I drop a Baloth which he double Burns. I later drop a courser and start gaining life and attacking. I Primal Command him and search up Polukranos. He double burns my Polukranos, drops Eidolon of Great Revel (did more burn vs himself than me) I eventually kill him with Courser and Strangleroot Geist. Game was pretty grindy. I had a Garruk Wildspeaker but he burned him down. He never got Ascension or Mindcrank going. I Primal locked his draws and should of searched for a Primetime to end it sooner.
Second game he had a much slower hand than before and didn't draw into much. I had turn two Baloth again and a Strangleroot geist after that. I played Garruk and I started dropping Beast tokens. Eventually killed him with Beasts and undying Geist (he did not like undying geists)
1 W (2-0)
Second match vs some wierd three color aggro deck using Lightning Mauler, BTE, Hasty Jund goblin? and he had maybe 2 Dark confidants.
Games were over pretty fast. He only had 1 decent turn where he BTE into mauler and swing. I simply dropped Baloths turns 2 & 3. He blocks my baloth and bolts him(more 2v1). I draw Primetime, cast him, search for Kessig plus Stomping Ground. Next Turn attack for 14, he has to triple block(3v1). Turn after I lethal with 2 geists one with kessig pump.
Game two I got to cast a Huntmaster gaining some life and getting a wolf in play. He had the same BTE into mauler turn. I pass turn leaving ooze in my hand so I can transform Huntmaster on his upkeep, taking out his Boros Elite and dealing two to him. He didn't get to do much after that. It was just attack with everything, He double blocks ravager (2v1). A turn after that I get a Garruk and make a beast(nothing to use mana with). Beat him with beasts, baloths and geists.
2 W (4-0)
Last game was vs Affinity minus Mox Opals
Game one he Ravager sacs all his artifacts onto Inkmoth for 10 poison. Game went for maybe 7 turns? It was slow but it was inevitable that I lose even after Primal commanding his nexus to library.
Game two I draw some artifact hate and play a Courser on turn 2. I get a Baloth after that and pithing needle his Arcound Ravager. He has the same slow start but has like 8 artifacts in play. I Ancient grudge his Vault skirge so he stops gaining life. A turn or two later, I keep up arbor elf and pass turn. He whipflares only killing my bird and elf, I respond and untap my stomping ground with utopia sprawl on it. My courser was showing I had a reclamation sage next turn so I end up flashbacking Grudge to take out a signal pest (bad bad bad mistake!). My turn I attack with 6 putting him down to 6. Thinking I'm ok for at least another turn. On his turn he steelshaper gifts for plating and proceeds to poison kill me... Lesson learned, save grudge for plating!
2 W 1 L (4-2)
Was pretty happy except for my mistakes. Ah man, I just realized I could have Primal Command bounce inkmoth, shuffle his library to temporarily deal with inkmoth. But I think he had another one in hand or drew another. But if I make him shuffle he might of not got a second. Ah well, this is why you must simply keep playing magic.
OOooh! Could you share that list possibly? I really want to play this general and take people by suprise.
I always wanted to get some huntmasters once they rotated and was thinking he would be a perfect addition. He synergies well with Chord and Craterhoof plus the fact that this deck doesn't always cast things on each turn, transforming him into a 4/4 trampler is just great. I got excited and have 4 coming in the mail (damn forums making me buy cards!)
Oh nice, I think I will try him as well. He should pair well with Abundant Growth and if Temur Ascendancy becomes warranted.
How do you not just die to creature based beatdown? Or do they simply ignore you most the game. Could you explain the Firemind's Foresight combo a little more? Something along the lines of copying reset , buying back reiterate and sapphire charm ?
Mind sharing a list or pointing me to your deck somewhere? My group only plays creature based decks and I think a spell driven "fun" deck needs to be played.
Against burn, I absolutely hate Vexing Devil turn 1! Have to almost always let it do 4 damage and go to the bin since I can't handle a 3 toughness guy on turn 2.
Not often enough, I don't think I should have them in there. Would be safe to replace with Genesis Hydra. I think Primal Command could go up to 4 as well.
Geist is such as awesome creature though. He can chump twice if needed and comes right back vs spot removal. Most time people just ignore him and let him punch 2 damage in. I may also look into getting Bonfire of the Damned with so little card draw to maximize miracle effect.
I will just have to play vs a lot of decks to see if this the style I like. I may go back to cantrip genesis wave version if this doesn't pan out.
4x Arbor Elf
3x Birds of Paradise
2x Courser of kruphix
1x Craterhoof behemoth
3x Eternal Witness
1x Polukranos, World Eater
4x Leatherback Baloth
2x Primeval Titan
1x Scavenging Ooze
4x Strangleroot Geist
2x Genesis wave
3x Primal Command
Ramp
2x Abundant growth
4x Utopia Sprawl
Land
12x Forest
1x Kessig Wolf Run
4x Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
3x Stomping Ground
Planeswalker
4x Garruk Wildspeaker
1x Ancient Grudge
2x Beast within
2x Choke
1x Creeping corrosion
1x Ghost Quarter
1x Pithing needle
2x Plow under
1x Reclamation Sage
1x Scavenging ooze
1x Silklash spider
1x Spellskite
1x Tectonic edge
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/devotion-stompy/
I only have 1. I'll have to stock up on other SB cards then.