I think I found the problem. I was trying to make my hydra deck with elementals and all sorts of other stuff. Howabout I use Hydras. I cut a lot of fancy stuff and am instead focusing on 1. Smashing face. 2. Medium Ramp to enable more face smash. 3. Lifegain. 4. Disrupt people screwing with 1.
I hate to say this, but what do you think about removing cauldron of souls altogether? I'd hate to do it but then I could supplement with other hydras and things I have been avoiding (that dont enter with counters) like primordial hydra for example.
I love STEve in my other deck. I just haven't had him pay off here yet. Maybe I just haven't played it enough though. I haven't drawn Triumph of Ferocity, cyclops, or others yet either. It seems all I see is forgotten ancient and Tmauler lol. I'll think about what you said.
Hey guys, played this deck about 5 times so far and I can see the potential but it has fell a bit short each time. I dont seem to cast enough creatures. I think I might have too many enchantments and artifacts. But I dont really see why, as I have good working decks with more? What seems to happen is my guys grow and grow but I am in a defensive posture because I have way less creatures. Maybe I just need to say screw it and play this very aggressively. We play lots of 5 player free for all games so they are long and back heavy. I honestly cant tell if I have something wrong, or if I played it wrong, or have just had a bad couple of match ups. Maybe you guys could take a look and help me tune this in. Here is what I had been running:
I am thinking of removing the 3 Heroes' Bane for 2 Xenagos, god of revels. It just seems better. And seems great with cauldron and cyclops. I also am thinking about losing the 4 Sakura-Tribe Elder. So far it seems like I have plenty of mana without them and when I do get that extra land, it doesn't make much difference. What I mean is in such big games the guy who gets too good of a start screws himself by making himself an obvious threat and gets taken out by the others. Also I try to field a few lighter things that will draw removal before my real deal. So I put out a TMauler or FAncient (which will draw removal if they have it) before a Kalonian Hydra for instance. All that to say I dont think 1 extra mana is helping out as much as justifies the slots. Instead I am thinking about maybe 4 Scourge of Skola Vale because they can reoccur with the cauldron and recycle counter while adding trample. And with the one slot left from the Heroes' Bane add Domri Rade.
So that would make my curve start at 3 which isn't ideal, but isn't that bad in my meta either. Do you think I have too many Artifacts and Enchantments? If so I am considering dropping the 2 Triumph of Ferocity for maybe Stigma Lasher, Stingmoggie, or Kavu Predator. Stigma Lasher is probably my favorite.
So far Dense Foliage has turned the games upside down. Stigma Lasher would do the same because most of my playgroup runs healthy lifegain.
If a creature of mine is getting destroyed, could I tap bloodshot cyclops and sacrifice it to fling the damage at my opponent, then since I just sacrificed a creature, put it's toughness in 1/1 counters on scourge of the skola vale?
I have never been sure about doubling up on things like that.
I just realized, Hydra Omnivore would not pair particularly well with mage slayer anyway because the direct damage dealt would not be combat damage correct? And therefore, would not pass around to all the other players right?
I agree! I had one of those guys in at the top end of my curve but ended up pulling him because he couldn't go infinite with the cauldron. However, I didn't think about it with the direct damage potential of mage slayer. This will be the first card on my redo list.
Here's a question- I would love to free up the 4 slots that sakura-tribe elder takes up. Do you really think I need that mana fixing from him? I would love to fill them with something like another loxodon warhammer, a hydra omnivore and two brawns.
Hi guys, I still get tripped up when thinking of +1/+1 and +1/+1 counters.
Let's say I have 50 relentless rats and a cauldron of souls out. If someone boardwipes and I tap the cauldron giving all my rats persist, they will come back each with a -1/-1 counter on them. They would immediately get +49/+49 as there are 50 of them in this case. When they get +1/+1 for each other relentless rat in play, does that cancel out the -1/-1 from persist? Or is it different because one is called a counter and the other is not? Not sure why, but I can never get this straight.
I hear ya. I almost always have the largest creatures especially early game. I have a deck right now that had TMauler and FAncient and they are almost always the largest on the table early to mid game. I think I'll give it a try. Thanks for all the help!
Hmmm. Thanks for the heads up about greater good being expensive. I am still on the fence with that one vs triumph of ferocity. I like them both and can see them both working well. Though greater good might work well with a black dredge element, dont you think it couples well with cauldron of souls? With that being said, and why I am on the fence, that would draw me too many cards probably which would just discard a bunch but wow what a draw engine!? It is on the high side of expensive, but could be doable. On the other hand triumph of ferocity is 1 mana cheaper, around a dollar, and seems to me it could work most of the time especially early in the game, and would not over produce. Do you see any downfalls to Triumph of Ferocity?
Awesome suggestions. I play LP in another deck already that is similar to this one so I'll leave it out. But I am definitely liking greater good for sure. I had no idea imperial recruiter was an expensive card lol. I usually come up with my 'wish list' before I even look at prices. Time to order some cards! Thanks again!
Maybe this look a little better?
27 creatures
3 Bloodshot Cyclops
2 Hydra Omnivore
4 Kalonian Hydra
2 Phyrexian Hydra
2 Taurean Mauler (Taurean Hydra)
2 Savageborn Hydra (3 CMC min)
4 Primordial Hydra (3 CMC min)
4 Farhaven Elf
4 Sakura-Tribe Elder
4 Steely Resolve (Less hate than Dense Foliage?)
5 Artifacts
3 Loxodon Warhammer
2 Mage Slayer (Whispersilk Cloak is better but this pairs well with LWH)
24 Lands
6 Mountain
9 Forest
4 Gruul Turf
4 Kessig Wolf Run
1 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
I like having an alter win source with the Phyrexian Hydra's infect + Kessig Wolf Run or Mage Slayer
What do you guys think?
24 Creatures
2 Bloodshot Cyclops
3 Heroes' Bane
4 Kalonian Hydra
3 Spike Weaver
4 Forgotten Ancient
4 Taurean Mauler
4 Sakura-Tribe Elder
3 Dense Foliage
2 Spidersilk Armor
2 Triumph of Ferocity
6 Artifacts
2 Cauldron of Souls
2 Mage Slayer
2 Loxodon Warhammer
6 Mountain
9 Forest
4 Gruul Turf
4 Kessig Wolf Run
I am thinking of removing the 3 Heroes' Bane for 2 Xenagos, god of revels. It just seems better. And seems great with cauldron and cyclops. I also am thinking about losing the 4 Sakura-Tribe Elder. So far it seems like I have plenty of mana without them and when I do get that extra land, it doesn't make much difference. What I mean is in such big games the guy who gets too good of a start screws himself by making himself an obvious threat and gets taken out by the others. Also I try to field a few lighter things that will draw removal before my real deal. So I put out a TMauler or FAncient (which will draw removal if they have it) before a Kalonian Hydra for instance. All that to say I dont think 1 extra mana is helping out as much as justifies the slots. Instead I am thinking about maybe 4 Scourge of Skola Vale because they can reoccur with the cauldron and recycle counter while adding trample. And with the one slot left from the Heroes' Bane add Domri Rade.
So that would make my curve start at 3 which isn't ideal, but isn't that bad in my meta either. Do you think I have too many Artifacts and Enchantments? If so I am considering dropping the 2 Triumph of Ferocity for maybe Stigma Lasher, Stingmoggie, or Kavu Predator. Stigma Lasher is probably my favorite.
So far Dense Foliage has turned the games upside down. Stigma Lasher would do the same because most of my playgroup runs healthy lifegain.
Any thoughts?
I have never been sure about doubling up on things like that.
I just realized, Hydra Omnivore would not pair particularly well with mage slayer anyway because the direct damage dealt would not be combat damage correct? And therefore, would not pass around to all the other players right?
Here's a question- I would love to free up the 4 slots that sakura-tribe elder takes up. Do you really think I need that mana fixing from him? I would love to fill them with something like another loxodon warhammer, a hydra omnivore and two brawns.
Let's say I have 50 relentless rats and a cauldron of souls out. If someone boardwipes and I tap the cauldron giving all my rats persist, they will come back each with a -1/-1 counter on them. They would immediately get +49/+49 as there are 50 of them in this case. When they get +1/+1 for each other relentless rat in play, does that cancel out the -1/-1 from persist? Or is it different because one is called a counter and the other is not? Not sure why, but I can never get this straight.