I decided to build a Gruul Deck about a month ago and have been stockpiling Red/Green cards to build with.
I know its not great and my budget is basically any cheap card I can find at my local game store and cards my friends give me.
I have about 10 Dollars for ordering cards, if you have card suggestions, I might have some of them already.
Here is a list of the cards, if you have any suggestions, please tell me.
One friend plays a heavy mill deck, and one friend plays a Green/Black zombie deck (He's not a threat)Knight of the Hokey pokey
Thanks for any help, hope you have a great Day
What I'm currently playing
Main (36):
1 Prowling Serpopard
1 Weirding Wood
1 Beastbreaker of Bala Ged
2 Act of Treason
2 Khenra Charioteer
1 Caravan Vigil
2 Lightning Runner
1 Druid's Familiar
2 Verdant Haven
2 Naga Vitalist
1 Samut, Voice of Dissent
1 Consulate Dreadnought
1 Rabid Bite
1 Bloodlust Inciter
1 Cryptolith Rite
1 Trusted Forcemage
1 Krakilin
1 Indomitable Creativity
1 Acidic Slime
1 Cartouche of Strength
1 Embodiment of Fury
1 Samut, the Tested
1 Inexorable Blob
1 Berserkers' Onslaught
1 Into the Maw of Hell
1 Rhonas's Monument
1 Traverse the Ulvenwald
1 Crocodile of the Crossing
1 Incremental Growth
1 Prey's Vengeance
Sitting at the Side (7):
1 Fated Intervention
1 Harbringer of the Hunt
1 Revel of the Fallen God
1 Rampant Growth
2 Bristling Hydra
1 Verdant Crescendo
Going to order (28):
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
4 Gruul Turf
2 Mina and Denn, Wildborn
4 Satyr Hedonist
4 Skarrg Guildmage
4 Zhur-Taa Druid
4 Savageborn Hydra
2 Samut, Voice of Dissent
To go over some details, first off sideboard can only have a max of 15 cards.
Secondly, you have too many 1 ofs, making the deck incredibly inconsistent. GR is about speed and power, so that's what you have to focus on. You will be playing three to four copies of the best cards in those colors you can find. There are a ton of cards that does just that in those colors, and these are some I can think of that can fit the budget if you order 3-4 copies of these online:
There are much, much more I'm probably forgetting.
The point is I would look into playing things that cost only 1-3 mana cost and make sure they either have haste or at least 3 power. If you're going to play something that cost 4, make sure it has an effect that potentially ends the game the turn it is played like Hellrider. Your friends sound like they play slow clunky decks so punish them for it by beating them by turn 4, which is possible even on a $10 budget if you build it correctly. If a card doesn't look like it can end the game by turn 4 or 5, it's not worth it.
I'm thinking about what you said, should I get rid of most of my deck and replace it with these cards
I'm currently looking now at purchasing 2-4 or every card you have suggested.
Literally every card you have in the mainboard and sideboard. Sideboard should only consist of narrow answers to decks that don't fit in the main. Samut, Voice of Dissent and Crocodile of the Crossing can be okay since they fit into the criteria I mentioned. Act of Treason is a sideboard card because it's not good against every deck, especially something like a mill deck that probably runs very to no creatures. Other good examples of sideboard cards are Naturalize because you may not always be dealing with artifacts or enchantments.
Some more cards to consider:
Dryad Militant and Kessig Prowler can be good cards to play turn 1. Another good burn spell is Flame Javelin. Boartusk Liege may be out of the price range but can pump up your team, not to mention to cards that are both red and green they get +2/2.
Fixed the lands for some decent ones that cost nothing. Burn spells technically could be better, like Lightning Strike should be Lightning Bolt for example. Sideboard still has 3 extra spots for whatever, but considering you're playing against zombies and mill, you're basically good to go already. If they aren't playing removal spells, they're screwed.
Might as well add two copies of Gruul Charm in the sideboard too, mostly for the first node. If zombies get in your way your creatures just become unblockable.
A good start to the deck would be Turn 1 Experiment One > Turn 2 Mountain, Burning Tree-Emissary into Flinthoof Boar. Ex. One gets two counters and you have 8 power and toughness on the board, 3 of it on your turn 1 creature looking to attack.
Thank you so much for the help, I really appriciate it. I have ordered the deck (With all the changes that cost a little more except lightning bolt)
I will message you to tell you how I do in the games with my friends. Thanks again.
Completely irrelevant, but this thread restored my hope in magic. Y'all are the reason I love this game, from an idea for a deck to the legitimate constructive support to get that player to where they want to be!:') y'all are the best!
Thanks Tbuzzsaw, I got my deck today and played against all my friends and had a great time playing.
Its fast and fun and gets the job done. You're an awesome guy and I'm glad I had this chance to talk with build my deck.
I know its not great and my budget is basically any cheap card I can find at my local game store and cards my friends give me.
I have about 10 Dollars for ordering cards, if you have card suggestions, I might have some of them already.
Here is a list of the cards, if you have any suggestions, please tell me.
One friend plays a heavy mill deck, and one friend plays a Green/Black zombie deck (He's not a threat)Knight of the Hokey pokey
Thanks for any help, hope you have a great Day
What I'm currently playing
Main (36):
1 Prowling Serpopard
1 Weirding Wood
1 Beastbreaker of Bala Ged
2 Act of Treason
2 Khenra Charioteer
1 Caravan Vigil
2 Lightning Runner
1 Druid's Familiar
2 Verdant Haven
2 Naga Vitalist
1 Samut, Voice of Dissent
1 Consulate Dreadnought
1 Rabid Bite
1 Bloodlust Inciter
1 Cryptolith Rite
1 Trusted Forcemage
1 Krakilin
1 Indomitable Creativity
1 Acidic Slime
1 Cartouche of Strength
1 Embodiment of Fury
1 Samut, the Tested
1 Inexorable Blob
1 Berserkers' Onslaught
1 Into the Maw of Hell
1 Rhonas's Monument
1 Traverse the Ulvenwald
1 Crocodile of the Crossing
1 Incremental Growth
1 Prey's Vengeance
Lands (24):
11 Mountain
7 Forest
2 Fertile Thicket
2 Timber Gorge
1 Sheltered Thicket
1 Evolving Wilds
Sideboard (18):
1 Gutter Grime
1 Heaven/Earth
1 Electrostatic Pummeler
1 Struggle/Survive
1 Thundering Tanadon
1 Durable Handicraft
1 Gruul Ragebeast
1 Firewing Pheonix
1 Greater Sandwurm
1 By Force
1 Sheltering Word
1 Signal the Clans
1 Brute Strength
1 Shivan Dragon
1 Violent Impact
1 Boon Satyr
1 Anthousa, Setessan Hero
1 Primal Visitation
Sitting at the Side (7):
1 Fated Intervention
1 Harbringer of the Hunt
1 Revel of the Fallen God
1 Rampant Growth
2 Bristling Hydra
1 Verdant Crescendo
Going to order (28):
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
4 Gruul Turf
2 Mina and Denn, Wildborn
4 Satyr Hedonist
4 Skarrg Guildmage
4 Zhur-Taa Druid
4 Savageborn Hydra
2 Samut, Voice of Dissent
1 Prowling Serpopard
1 Weirding Wood
1 Beastbreaker of Bala Ged
2 Act of Treason
2 Khenra Charioteer
1 Caravan Vigil
2 Lightning Runner
1 Druid's Familiar
2 Verdant Haven
2 Naga Vitalist
1 Samut, Voice of Dissent
1 Consulate Dreadnought
1 Rabid Bite
1 Bloodlust Inciter
1 Cryptolith Rite
1 Trusted Forcemage
1 Krakilin
1 Indomitable Creativity
1 Acidic Slime
1 Cartouche of Strength
1 Embodiment of Fury
1 Samut, the Tested
1 Inexorable Blob
1 Berserkers' Onslaught
1 Into the Maw of Hell
1 Rhonas's Monument
1 Traverse the Ulvenwald
1 Crocodile of the Crossing
1 Incremental Growth
1 Prey's Vengeance
11 Mountain
7 Forest
2 Fertile Thicket
2 Timber Gorge
1 Sheltered Thicket
1 Evolving Wilds
1 Gutter Grime
1 Heaven/Earth
1 Electrostatic Pummeler
1 Struggle/Survive
1 Thundering Tanadon
1 Durable Handicraft
1 Gruul Ragebeast
1 Firewing Pheonix
1 Greater Sandwurm
1 By Force
1 Sheltering Word
1 Signal the Clans
1 Brute Strength
1 Shivan Dragon
1 Violent Impact
1 Boon Satyr
1 Anthousa, Setessan Hero
1 Primal Visitation
Sitting at the Side (7):
1 Fated Intervention
1 Harbringer of the Hunt
1 Revel of the Fallen God
1 Rampant Growth
2 Bristling Hydra
1 Verdant Crescendo
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
4 Gruul Turf
2 Mina and Denn, Wildborn
4 Satyr Hedonist
4 Skarrg Guildmage
4 Zhur-Taa Druid
4 Savageborn Hydra
2 Samut, Voice of Dissent
Standard: BG Golgari Midrange
Modern: U Merfolk GWUBR 5 Color Humans UBW Esper Gifts GW Bogles
Secondly, you have too many 1 ofs, making the deck incredibly inconsistent. GR is about speed and power, so that's what you have to focus on. You will be playing three to four copies of the best cards in those colors you can find. There are a ton of cards that does just that in those colors, and these are some I can think of that can fit the budget if you order 3-4 copies of these online:
Ghor-Clan Rampager: You can discard this bad boy at instant speed in combat for a nasty +4/4 trample surprise.
Fanatic of Xenagos
Burning-Tree Emissary
Flinthoof Boar
Strangleroot Geist
Ahn-Crop Crasher
Ash Zealot
and support them with burn spells like Lightning Strike or Shock.
There are much, much more I'm probably forgetting.
The point is I would look into playing things that cost only 1-3 mana cost and make sure they either have haste or at least 3 power. If you're going to play something that cost 4, make sure it has an effect that potentially ends the game the turn it is played like Hellrider. Your friends sound like they play slow clunky decks so punish them for it by beating them by turn 4, which is possible even on a $10 budget if you build it correctly. If a card doesn't look like it can end the game by turn 4 or 5, it's not worth it.
Standard: BG Golgari Midrange
Modern: U Merfolk GWUBR 5 Color Humans UBW Esper Gifts GW Bogles
I'm currently looking now at purchasing 2-4 or every card you have suggested.
Literally every card you have in the mainboard and sideboard. Sideboard should only consist of narrow answers to decks that don't fit in the main. Samut, Voice of Dissent and Crocodile of the Crossing can be okay since they fit into the criteria I mentioned. Act of Treason is a sideboard card because it's not good against every deck, especially something like a mill deck that probably runs very to no creatures. Other good examples of sideboard cards are Naturalize because you may not always be dealing with artifacts or enchantments.
Some more cards to consider:
Dryad Militant and Kessig Prowler can be good cards to play turn 1. Another good burn spell is Flame Javelin. Boartusk Liege may be out of the price range but can pump up your team, not to mention to cards that are both red and green they get +2/2.
Standard: BG Golgari Midrange
Modern: U Merfolk GWUBR 5 Color Humans UBW Esper Gifts GW Bogles
4 Fanatic of Xenagos
3 Burning-Tree Emissary
3 Zhur-Taa Druid
2 Hellrider
3 Samut, Voice of Dissent
4 Strangleroot Geist
2 Flinthoof Boar
4 Shock
1 Crocodile of the Crossing
3 Kessig Prowler
3 Bloodbraid Elf
4 Gruul Turf
9 Mountain
9 Forest
2 Fertile Thicket
Possible
Zhur-taa Swine for extra power
Only a maybe on those Bloodbraids
2 Hellrider
2 Bloodbraid Elf
4 Ghor-clan rampager
4 Fanatic of Xenagos
3 Burning-Tree Emissary
4 Strangleroot Geist
3 Flinthoof Boar
4 Kessig Prowler
3 Dryad Militant
4 Shock
4 Lightning Strike
Lands
1 Kessig Wolf Run
4 Gruul Guildgate
4 Rugged Highlands
6 Mountain
6 Forest
2 Timber Gorge
3 Tormod's Crypt
3 Naturalize
4 Feed the Clan
2 Act of Treason
Fixed the lands for some decent ones that cost nothing. Burn spells technically could be better, like Lightning Strike should be Lightning Bolt for example. Sideboard still has 3 extra spots for whatever, but considering you're playing against zombies and mill, you're basically good to go already. If they aren't playing removal spells, they're screwed.
Standard: BG Golgari Midrange
Modern: U Merfolk GWUBR 5 Color Humans UBW Esper Gifts GW Bogles
Replace both 1 CMC creatures with Experiment One and Kird Ape.
Replace any number of Shock with Rancor.
Some suggestions after thinking some more about better cards:
Naturalize should be Destructive Revelry.
Act of Treason should be Kari Zev's Expertise.
Might as well add two copies of Gruul Charm in the sideboard too, mostly for the first node. If zombies get in your way your creatures just become unblockable.
A good start to the deck would be Turn 1 Experiment One > Turn 2 Mountain, Burning Tree-Emissary into Flinthoof Boar. Ex. One gets two counters and you have 8 power and toughness on the board, 3 of it on your turn 1 creature looking to attack.
Standard: BG Golgari Midrange
Modern: U Merfolk GWUBR 5 Color Humans UBW Esper Gifts GW Bogles
I will message you to tell you how I do in the games with my friends. Thanks again.
Standard: BG Golgari Midrange
Modern: U Merfolk GWUBR 5 Color Humans UBW Esper Gifts GW Bogles
Its fast and fun and gets the job done. You're an awesome guy and I'm glad I had this chance to talk with build my deck.
Standard: BG Golgari Midrange
Modern: U Merfolk GWUBR 5 Color Humans UBW Esper Gifts GW Bogles
Standard: BG Golgari Midrange
Modern: U Merfolk GWUBR 5 Color Humans UBW Esper Gifts GW Bogles
3 Gray Merchant of Asphodel
1 Gisa and Geralf
4 Lord of the Accursed
2 Diregraf Colossus
4 Diregraf Captain
2 Shepard of Rot
4 Shambling Ghoul
4 Wight of Precinct Six
4 Diregraf Ghoul
4 Dread Wanderer
1 Zombie Apocalypse
1 Endless Ranks of the Dead
2 Tragic Slip
2 Compelling Deterrence
Lands
4 Dismal Backwater
12 Swamp
6 Island
3 Negate
3 Essence Scatter
3 Zombie Outlander
4 Victim of Night
2 Whip of Erebos
Zombies tend to be expensive for the really good ones, but this should be able to swarm the field and drain the opponent's life.
In the meantime it's really tough to build a mill deck around $20 that doesn't lose to the aggro decks.
Standard: BG Golgari Midrange
Modern: U Merfolk GWUBR 5 Color Humans UBW Esper Gifts GW Bogles