I have not purchased a pre constructed deck since Invasion, but I remember them being...geared towards new players lets say. The MUC and aggro green are archetypes that theses two particular players have had experience with in the past.
Also, I wanted something that could stand up to some of my own casual decks without getting face stomped.
My initial concern was that the green deck might be a little too beefy so it is interesting that the consensus seems to be that the blue deck would dominate it. Those +1/+1 counters would add up pretty quick.
Hi all, I am whipping up two budget decks for my sister and her husband for xmas. They use to play, but now only get to when they visit me. I thought they would enjoy having a few decks to kick around of their own.
I wanted to go with a control v aggro theme (keeping mono colored for budget reasons). Here is what I came up with;
My main fear is that I don't really have time to playtest to see if these are fairly balanced. I tried to keep the power levels similar, but I am hoping you guys(and/or gals) can weigh in?
Also, if there are any budget friendly changes(trying to spend less then $50 for both) that anyone would like to suggest to improve I am all ears!
cyclops lives through most burn where the Kiln Fiend does not, but I do own a playset of both so they might both make it. I am not running enough direct damage spells to support spitfire.
The thing I like about Gelectrode is that I can potentially remove blockers or creatures with annoying abilites with it as spells are being cast, but two to the face from guttersnipe might still be better...?
Just a quick budget deck I am thinking of putting together for fun. Any suggestions for improvement (keeping in mind that I don't want to break the bank of this one)?
I was rummaging through my cards the other day and came across Stoic Champion and decided to throw a deck together. Basically trying to get a Fluctuator out and create a huge stoic champion, using Astral Slide to remove blockers or protect my champs. This is just a first pass, but I'm digging the idea. I considered splashing blue for lorescale coatl ,miscalculation, sanctum plowbeast, and remote isle but idk if it's worth it. I feel like I might need to do some tweaking to include more cycle2 cards. Any ideas or suggestions?
The only reason I would run the Uktabi Drake would be the potential to deal near to or fatal damage on the 1st turn. I'm sure the percentage on getting the 6-7 cards needed in the opening hand are low though, and it would assume the opponent doesn't have any answers in hand.
I agree that I would likely never pay the echo on the Drake, but he can still be a vehicle for my pump spells the turn he is played, and he becomes a good Berserk target as he will be sacrificed anyway.
So are the Rancor and Garruk's Companion (or pit skulk) that much better than Uktabi and Mutagenic Growth? Is the card advantage I may be giving my opponent too great? or is it worth the change for potential craziness?
Thanks for the replies; I will check out the infect idea
In the meantime, does anyone have any thoughts on Uktabi Drake? I realize that it's fairly situational, but it does pose a potential first turn kill, unless i'm missing something.
Dug my cards out of the closet and found my old Berserk Stompy deck. I just want to tweak it a little and add a sideboard to goof around at the local store.
I put this in budget as I don't want to drop a fortune on new cards.
Sideboard is were I really need help. I really don't have any idea what is being played in the meta, as this is my first time at the place. Maybe Winter orb or Tormod's crypt?
I struggle with this as I feel like if a card isn't capable of also being a creature or pump spell in addition to utility it is slowing me down.
All thoughts and ideas welcome; my only stipulations are that I would like to keep it mono green and I don't want to drop a bunch of cash.
I have not purchased a pre constructed deck since Invasion, but I remember them being...geared towards new players lets say. The MUC and aggro green are archetypes that theses two particular players have had experience with in the past.
Also, I wanted something that could stand up to some of my own casual decks without getting face stomped.
My initial concern was that the green deck might be a little too beefy so it is interesting that the consensus seems to be that the blue deck would dominate it. Those +1/+1 counters would add up pretty quick.
How about this:
Blue
-4x Phantom Warrior
-3x Mental Misstep
+4x Faerie Miscreant
+2x Venarian Glimmer
+1x Forbid
Remember that Wash Out will be a board wipe for green.
Green
-4x Gather Courage
-3x Reverent Hunter or Spike Feeder
+2x Eyes of the Wisent
+4x Mold Adder
+1x Feed the Clan
This will spread the answers around a little.
I wanted to go with a control v aggro theme (keeping mono colored for budget reasons). Here is what I came up with;
3x Illusory Angel
4x Judge's Familiar
4x Ninja of the Deep Hours
4x Phantom Warrior
4x Spiketail Hatchling
3x Mental Misstep
4x Boomerang
4x Mana Leak
4x Vapor Snag
2x Wash Out
4x Curiosity
Lands
4x Faerie Conclave
16x Island
4x Aquastrand Spider
4x Avatar of the Resolute
4x Mistcutter Hydra
3x Reverent Hunter
4x Servant of the Scale
3x Spike Feeder
2x Tuskguard Captain
4x Gather Courage
4x Solidarity of Heroes
3x Inspiring Call
1x Feed the Clan
4x Hardened Scales
Lands
20x Forest
My main fear is that I don't really have time to playtest to see if these are fairly balanced. I tried to keep the power levels similar, but I am hoping you guys(and/or gals) can weigh in?
Also, if there are any budget friendly changes(trying to spend less then $50 for both) that anyone would like to suggest to improve I am all ears!
Thanks!
cyclops lives through most burn where the Kiln Fiend does not, but I do own a playset of both so they might both make it. I am not running enough direct damage spells to support spitfire.
The thing I like about Gelectrode is that I can potentially remove blockers or creatures with annoying abilites with it as spells are being cast, but two to the face from guttersnipe might still be better...?
Here is the deck list so far for some context
4 Nivix Cyclops
3 guttersnipe -or Gel
Spells (29)
4 artful dodge
4 armed//dangerous
4 distortion strike
4 reckless charge
3 epic experiment
4 ponder
3 izzet charm
2 turn//burn
4 steam vents
4 scalding tarn
4 temple of epiphany
4 wooded foothills
3 mountain
3 island
I feel like I only have one slot available for a support creature and am torn between Guttersnipe and Gelectrode
Guttersnipe deals more damage and has a bigger body, but Gelectrode can target players or creatures
I am leaning toward the Snipe
Thoughts?
4x gravecrawler
4x liliana's reaver
4x undead warchief
2x gristle grinner
1x stronghold assassin
4x Cabal Therapy
4x Dark Ritual
2x Essence Harvest
3x Dark Prophecy
4x Sarcomancy
15x swamp
4x unholy Grotto
Here is the list I am currently running if you want to go with some removal support
4x gravecrawler
4x liliana's reaver
4x undead warchief
2x gristle grinner
1x stronghold assassin
4x Cabal Therapy
4x Dark Ritual
2x Essence Harvest
3x Dark Prophecy
4x Sarcomancy
15x swamp
4x unholy Grotto
Thanks for the suggestions!
So far I have:
replaced grip of amnesia with remand
replaced brainstorm with ponder
Maybe I'm just a jerk, but I love the idea of invisible stalkering someone to death. I guess I could replace him with serendib efreet? If I did that should I reduce to a one of? I'm hesitant to cut the mishra's factory and invisible stalker slot.
I love the energy field idea, but not sure what to cut.
Cut orb of dreams ? maybe for 1x grindclock as suggested?
Also, I really stink at building mana bases, is 24 good? Should I include some cheap dual lands?
thanks for all the feedback, I'm getting excited about playing this one.
Ok I have edited the deck based on suggestions
4x rest in peace
4x oblivion ring
4x invisible stalker
4x memory lapse
4x gilded light
4x ponder
3x icy manipulator
4x mishra's factory
10x island
10x plains
Yes, I know that GW astal slide w/ eternal witness was a popular deck back in the day. Mainly I just wanted to do something with Stoic Champion.
Selvaxri, thank you for the card suggestions, I will def go with Elixir of immortality and check out the creatures.
I am having some friends over tomorrow to test out the deck so wish me luck.
I was rummaging through my cards the other day and came across Stoic Champion and decided to throw a deck together. Basically trying to get a Fluctuator out and create a huge stoic champion, using Astral Slide to remove blockers or protect my champs. This is just a first pass, but I'm digging the idea. I considered splashing blue for lorescale coatl ,miscalculation, sanctum plowbeast, and remote isle but idk if it's worth it. I feel like I might need to do some tweaking to include more cycle2 cards. Any ideas or suggestions?
4x Pale Recluse
2x Eternal Dragon
2x Akroma's Blessing
1x Akroma's Vengeance
2x Angelsong
1x lull
2x gilded light
2x break asunder
1x renewed faith
3x repopulate
1x savage hunger
3x wheel of sun and moon
1x feldon's cane
4x fluctuator
4x drifting meadow
4x secluded steppe
4x slippery karst
4x sunpetal grove
4x plains
4x forest
Forest, Elvish Spirit Guide, Elvish Spirit Guide, Uktabi Drake, Invigorate, Berserk, Berserk
I agree that I would likely never pay the echo on the Drake, but he can still be a vehicle for my pump spells the turn he is played, and he becomes a good Berserk target as he will be sacrificed anyway.
I would be replacing Rancor with Mutagenic Growth for the potential +2 for no mana and replacing my Garruk's Companion slot with the Uktabi Drake.
So are the Rancor and Garruk's Companion (or pit skulk) that much better than Uktabi and Mutagenic Growth? Is the card advantage I may be giving my opponent too great? or is it worth the change for potential craziness?
In the meantime, does anyone have any thoughts on Uktabi Drake? I realize that it's fairly situational, but it does pose a potential first turn kill, unless i'm missing something.
16x forest
Creatures
4x Gladecover Scout
4x Slippery Bogle
4x Uktabi drake
4x Kavu predator
4x Silhana ledgewalker
4x Elvish spirit guide
4x Berserk
4x Invigorate
4x Vines of Vastwood
4x Groundswell
4x Mutagenic growth
Dug my cards out of the closet and found my old Berserk Stompy deck. I just want to tweak it a little and add a sideboard to goof around at the local store.
I put this in budget as I don't want to drop a fortune on new cards.
16 Forest
Creatures
4 Kavu Predator
4 Skarrgan Pit-Skulk
4 Silhana Ledgewalker
4 Slippery Bogle
4 Garruk's Companion
4 Elvish Spirit Guide
4 Berserk
4 Invigorate
4 Might of Old Krosa
4 Vines of Vastwood
4 Rancor
Here are some of the cards I am thinking of adding, or at least look interesting to me for potential main deck adds
Revenge of the Hunted maybe as a 2 of
Mutagenic Growth meh, it's free....
Witchstalker mostly because I really like the art
Charging Badger will def add once released, not sure what to cut, I really love my Garruk's Companion
Sideboard is were I really need help. I really don't have any idea what is being played in the meta, as this is my first time at the place. Maybe Winter orb or Tormod's crypt?
I struggle with this as I feel like if a card isn't capable of also being a creature or pump spell in addition to utility it is slowing me down.
All thoughts and ideas welcome; my only stipulations are that I would like to keep it mono green and I don't want to drop a bunch of cash.
Thanks for taking a look guys(and gals)!