And if I want to make infinite mana with Wakeroot Elemental and Nykthos, that's a tall order too. Not only do I need to have both those cards in tandem, but I also need eight devotion, which is no easy feet, and my vanilla 5/5 needs to make it all the way till my next turn since casting Wakeroot Elemental, activating its ability, and using Nykthos requires 13 mana total, and there's no way I'm ever going to have that much all in one turn.
It seems like you would only need 9 mana and 8 devotion to go infinite. Pay 4GG to cast Wakeroot and then an additional 2 to activate Nykthos. If you have 8 devotion at that point (and since Wakeroot counts as 2, only six other sources), use 5 to activate Wakeroot, 2 to activate the untapped Nykthos, and 1 floats. Rinse repeat. It does seem like a tough ask, but maybe easier than you initially laid out? Or I could be getting it wrong as well.
Long time lurker on this forum, and appreciate how much activity there always is! With printing of Llanowar Tribe, I wanted to dust off and upgrade my Green Devotion List. I unfortunately have a razor thin budget, so don't have the ability in the near term to go the toolbox route (don't own any Summoner's Pacts) or the new Karn combo route (no Karn, the Great Creator or Mycosynth Lattice). What I do have is an old school NyxWave shell, and am just hoping to get as much mileage out of it as possible at the next FNM.
I would love some feedback from all of you expert green mages on how this looks. Specifically curious to know:
Is the additional ramp from Llanowar Tribe worth the loss of card advantage from Wistful Selkie (since Tribe is moving into that slot)?
Should run more Genesis Wave if that's the major payoff card?
Is it even worth running Ruric Thar in the sideboard if I don't have fetch/shock lands, so just relying on Birds and Utopia Sprawl for red mana?
I have noticed that a few high performing Soul Sisters lists have been running Crested Sunmare lately, seemingly in the Archangel of Thune slot. But haven't seen much discussion of that card on here. Anyone on here having success with it? Better alternative than Archangel?
Just saw that Green Devotion put up another strong result, this time taking 1st at the Wyoming TCGPlayer States: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/598606#online. It appears to be more a traditional list rather than toolbox, but includes some new cards like Rishkar's Expertise. Go Green!
Seems to have some interesting elements, including a bit of an equipment subtheme. I am still in the process of building my first list, so I'm not really in a position to know if this is an interesting new angle or suboptimal. Thoughts from some of the more veteran Martyr Proc players on the list?
Hey all. I am in the process of building a Green Devotion deck, so this thread has been nothing short of incredible. Thanks to all who contribute. My quick question is around Genesis Wave. It seems to be a mainstay in some of the core lists, but I haven't actually seen it in any recent deck lists that have been discussed on this thread. Are folks still playing Genesis Wave, or has it fallen out of favor in the current meta?
Here's a list I'm thinking of running. I like the kuldotha angle people have listed throughout the thread, but I am too much of a fan of shrine of burning rage to slow it down with non-red spells.
I think the volley's and the clutches will help the deck go the distance during the later turns when healthier creatures hit the opposite side of the table.
Finally, this may be a noob question, but why not maindeck a pair of manabarbs? I keep hearing about the likelihood that the metagame will slow down and favor control decks. If I'm going to dump my hand in 3-4 turns (and lose horribly in the card advantage category), I figure I might as well punish control decks for their card advantage. Also, not sure 2 is the right number... don't want to get flooded with them. Thoughts?
@ Acrimone - I think the side-note is very useful. You are right that there may be sufficient bounce for most aggro strategies, in which case a few Calcite Snappers or Nuerok Commando's might better serve the deck.
I considered maindecking Man-o-War, but I worry that there is a fine line between casual control bounce and downright annoying superbounce (although the deck I proposed up top may already be in the latter category). The casual metagame I play in is pretty much aggro and aggro-control, so I want to avoid building something too anti-aggro that no one enjoys playing with or against.
Thanks again for the suggestions all! I think the deck is coming along thanks to your help.
Thanks for the detailed feedback. I think the equipment angle is a great idea and will give me more to do on turn 1 if I don't have a Ponder in hand. Also the addition of more 2 CMC unblockables is a must - I have way too many at 3 in the initial decklist.
Control Magic is a clear improvement on Domestication/Mind Control, although I doubt I will pursue the much more expensive Treachery/Bribery. Do you think a few Control Magics makes sense as an alternative win condition in this deck, or are they just taking up space that would be better filled by cards that more clearly fit the unblockable/bounce theme?
Oh, and Sigil of Sleep is for sure a perfect fit... funny that it was mentioned since the Urza Block was one of the last blocks I played before quitting Magic... I think I had a bounce deck back then too. Funny how you can gravitate to the same decks years down the road.
Mana from Geosurge can only be used to cast creature spells or artifact spells. Geosurge therefore can't be used to cast another Geosurge or a Fling. A turn 5 swing and fling for 24 isn't a bad strategy either though...
I'm attempting to craft a casual mono-blue deck for use in duels and multiplayer, centered primarily on unblockable creatures and bounce spells. Also, I'm working under a few constraints that should be mentioned up front:
1. Building on a Budget. I'm not interested in shelling out a ton of money on Magic these days, so any card that costs more than a buck or two is not something I am going to hunt down.
2. Keeping it Simple. I am returning to Magic after about 8 years off, and the people I am playing with are completely new to the game. Needless to say there are many gaps in understanding, so it is best if the cards are easier to understand and come from one of the more recent blocks.
For the unblockable army, I figured Aether Figment, Phantom Warrior and Neurok Invisimancer are clear choices. Clones are there for utility since they can copy an unblockable if I am on the attack or can copy an opponent's creature to hopefully stall for a bit.
My unblockables can't race most aggro decks, so I figured having bounce effects would supplement the approach. Aether Adepts help on this front, as do the disperses and dissipation field. Finally, Arm with Aether seems to be the centerpiece that brings unblockable and bounce strategies together.
The remaining slots are rounded out by some utility cards like Mana Leak and Ponder, with the last 3 slots for creature steal (Domestication and Mind Control). I'm not sure if these make sense in here, but I was thinking that it can't hurt to have an alternative win condition.
Overall, I think this is a good start. The cards are fairly simple, and the net cost of completing this will run me about $4.00. Budget win. The real question now is whether or not this is a viable casual deck.
I'm curious to hear what y'all think. What is missing? What cards seem out of place? Any feedback, constructive criticism, and/or suggestions welcome! Thanks in advance!
It seems like you would only need 9 mana and 8 devotion to go infinite. Pay 4GG to cast Wakeroot and then an additional 2 to activate Nykthos. If you have 8 devotion at that point (and since Wakeroot counts as 2, only six other sources), use 5 to activate Wakeroot, 2 to activate the untapped Nykthos, and 1 floats. Rinse repeat. It does seem like a tough ask, but maybe easier than you initially laid out? Or I could be getting it wrong as well.
I would love some feedback from all of you expert green mages on how this looks. Specifically curious to know:
- Is the additional ramp from Llanowar Tribe worth the loss of card advantage from Wistful Selkie (since Tribe is moving into that slot)?
- Should run more Genesis Wave if that's the major payoff card?
- Is it even worth running Ruric Thar in the sideboard if I don't have fetch/shock lands, so just relying on Birds and Utopia Sprawl for red mana?
I appreciate the insights!Ramp
4 Arbor Elf
3 Birds of Paradise
4 Utopia Sprawl
4 Burning Tree Emissary
4 Llanowar Tribe
Utility / Win-Cons
3 Oath of Nissa
3 Eternal Witness
4 Garruk Wildspeaker
3 Primal Command
4 Primeval Titan
2 Genesis Wave
1 Craterhoof Behemoth
Lands
17 Forest
4 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
Sideboard
2 Creeping Corrosion
1 Scavenging Ooze
1 Polukranos, World Eater
1 Nylea's Disciple
1 Thragtusk
1 Hornet Queen
2 Pithing Needle
1 Acidic Slime
3 Mwonvuli Acid-Moss
1 Chameleon Colossus
1 Ruric Thar, The Unbowed
Here are the lists I'm referring to:
They mention Green Devotion in the paragraph after they discuss R/G Ponza.
Seems to have some interesting elements, including a bit of an equipment subtheme. I am still in the process of building my first list, so I'm not really in a position to know if this is an interesting new angle or suboptimal. Thoughts from some of the more veteran Martyr Proc players on the list?
4x Goblin Fireslinger
4x Spikeshot Elder
4x Goblin Wardriver
4x Stormblood Berserker
4x Goblin Chieftain
3x Shrine of Burning Rage
3x Brimstone Volley
2x Nightbird's Clutches
2x Manabarbs
Here's a list I'm thinking of running. I like the kuldotha angle people have listed throughout the thread, but I am too much of a fan of shrine of burning rage to slow it down with non-red spells.
I think the volley's and the clutches will help the deck go the distance during the later turns when healthier creatures hit the opposite side of the table.
Finally, this may be a noob question, but why not maindeck a pair of manabarbs? I keep hearing about the likelihood that the metagame will slow down and favor control decks. If I'm going to dump my hand in 3-4 turns (and lose horribly in the card advantage category), I figure I might as well punish control decks for their card advantage. Also, not sure 2 is the right number... don't want to get flooded with them. Thoughts?
http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/boab/160
I considered maindecking Man-o-War, but I worry that there is a fine line between casual control bounce and downright annoying superbounce (although the deck I proposed up top may already be in the latter category). The casual metagame I play in is pretty much aggro and aggro-control, so I want to avoid building something too anti-aggro that no one enjoys playing with or against.
Thanks again for the suggestions all! I think the deck is coming along thanks to your help.
Control Magic is a clear improvement on Domestication/Mind Control, although I doubt I will pursue the much more expensive Treachery/Bribery. Do you think a few Control Magics makes sense as an alternative win condition in this deck, or are they just taking up space that would be better filled by cards that more clearly fit the unblockable/bounce theme?
Oh, and Sigil of Sleep is for sure a perfect fit... funny that it was mentioned since the Urza Block was one of the last blocks I played before quitting Magic... I think I had a bounce deck back then too. Funny how you can gravitate to the same decks years down the road.
I should also add that Invisible Stalker from Innistrad is probably a great option too - considering I have way too many 3 drop creatures.
1. Building on a Budget. I'm not interested in shelling out a ton of money on Magic these days, so any card that costs more than a buck or two is not something I am going to hunt down.
2. Keeping it Simple. I am returning to Magic after about 8 years off, and the people I am playing with are completely new to the game. Needless to say there are many gaps in understanding, so it is best if the cards are easier to understand and come from one of the more recent blocks.
Ok, onto the deck:
3x AEther Adept
4x Phantom Warrior
4x Neurok Invisimancer
2x Clone
3x Disperse
4x Mana Leak
4x Arm with AEther
2x Dissipation Field
2x Domestication
1x Mind Control
For the unblockable army, I figured Aether Figment, Phantom Warrior and Neurok Invisimancer are clear choices. Clones are there for utility since they can copy an unblockable if I am on the attack or can copy an opponent's creature to hopefully stall for a bit.
My unblockables can't race most aggro decks, so I figured having bounce effects would supplement the approach. Aether Adepts help on this front, as do the disperses and dissipation field. Finally, Arm with Aether seems to be the centerpiece that brings unblockable and bounce strategies together.
The remaining slots are rounded out by some utility cards like Mana Leak and Ponder, with the last 3 slots for creature steal (Domestication and Mind Control). I'm not sure if these make sense in here, but I was thinking that it can't hurt to have an alternative win condition.
Overall, I think this is a good start. The cards are fairly simple, and the net cost of completing this will run me about $4.00. Budget win. The real question now is whether or not this is a viable casual deck.
I'm curious to hear what y'all think. What is missing? What cards seem out of place? Any feedback, constructive criticism, and/or suggestions welcome! Thanks in advance!