So this is my current list for azusa. I've been swapping things around to try and eke out more card draw because every couple games I'll hit a bunch of dead draws and my engine fizzles.
The lack of artifact/enchantment tutors or reliable sac engines can really put a crimp in my gameplay, but that's why there is so much draw power in the deck. Once Garruk's Horde comes out in M12 I'll probably drop that in here and add a few more utility creatures.
I'm thinking about putting Cloudstone Curio back in the deck. It's such an amazing card but I have no way to reliably find it and it often ends up a dead draw if I get it at the wrong time. Skullclamp is another card I've considered but without sac engines and few more token generators it's just another card I can't search for.
At this point the deck is really pretty solid, but I'm always looking for ways to tweak it and make it more reliable.
If anyone knows of any card draw or tutors I'm missing, as well as any amazing combo cards (especially ones I can tutor for) please let me know. Other than that if you have any ideas or just want to let me know what a douchebag I am, feel free to stop in
That aside, I would wholeheartedly suggest adding in Ashnod's Altar to the deck. It combos out amazingly with Avenger. Or, if you'd aim for smaller doses, you can try out Phyrexian Altar or High Market. All work as good sac outlets and give you that extra boost. These would also allow you to throw Skullclamp back into the mix.
I see little in the ways of mana sinks. Do you get wins off fast enough to not worry about doing anything with extra mana? Otherwise you might want more ways to use the copious amounts of mana you'll be aiming for. I would like to see Kamahl, Fist of Krosa as a mana sink.
It might even be good to be a little more defensive as I don't see much so far. Maybe a Moment's Peace for double usage or a Haze Frog for repeatability with Cloudstone.
Storm Cauldron it will disrupt your opponents landbases and since you can play 2 more lands a turn than they can it will be much easier for you to deal with than for them.
Sylvan Library an excelent draw outlet when needed. Also if you plan on shuffling your library several times in a game it becomes even better. Run some fetchlands for clearing out your topdeck to improve this.
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Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I have officially moved to MTGNexus. I just wanted to let people know as my response time to salvation decks being bumped is very hit or miss.
Storm Cauldron is not recommended for Azusa, Lost but Seeking it will pull too much agro, the best way to play this deck is to pick your battles, and never look like you are a threat. A friend of mine runs Azusa and he rarely loses.
I would focus more on ways of getting lands, and less on creature ramp like Omnath, Locus of Mana or Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary. This deck is about the lands, and both of these guys can make your opponents jumpy.
Explaination: I know you are going Omnath and Rofellos out? I must be insane? Nope. In most games your wincon will either be Avenger of Zendikar via Tooth and Nail or via Genesis Wave, but by focusing more on the lands you have a bigger Avenger payload, and higher probability of dropping 3 lands after Avenger lands to pump +3/+3 on your tokens. (I have been beaten by this so many times now, I cant mow my lawn for fear of Saprolings)
I would swap Oran-Rief, the Vastwood out for the Maze before I would ever touch Gaea's Cradle. I ran the Vastwood in my Azusa deck for a while and discovered that it really wasn't helping me enough to warrant a spot in the deck.
But I would say to leave Rofellos in. I understand the politics behind not having him in the deck, but I think he's just too nuts not to include.
This deck definitely screams for Kamahl, Fist of Krosa. I run him in most of my green decks as an outlet for all the mana I am producing. HE. IS. NUTS.
I would more on ways of getting lands, and less on creature ramp like Omnath, Locus of Mana or Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary. This deck is about the lands, and both of these guys can make your opponents jumpy.
Agreed, There is a difference between ramping at all costs and ramping smart. These guys will place targets on themselves once people get the hang of things. While they can get you to where you want fast, they won't do it as safely.
Take a page from the old "Blue" handbook. Laying down few cards on the table subconsciously makes you appear less of a threat initially. While you are aiming to win big, don't try to appear abusive early on, a Horn of Greed with your general is good, but without Rolf and Omnath around to gain mana for you, your opponent's might not worry as much. Keyword: might.
Horn of Greed is awesome because its a tiny group hug, it helps everyone, but it helps Azusa the most.
I just don't think Gaea's Cradle is very awesome in Azusa, like I said its not about the mana, its about the lands. Focus on lands and this deck will be so much more powerful.
I would assume it is just to clear out the topdeck and get another crack at getting something good to use with the Top / Sylvan Library. There is also the extra functionality that Crucible of Worlds and Life from the Loam work with them to give you extra lands.
Honestly though it is much better to use the rare fetchlands where you pay a life and go get a land into play untapped. The whole untapped makes all the difference.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I have officially moved to MTGNexus. I just wanted to let people know as my response time to salvation decks being bumped is very hit or miss.
01 Gaea's Cradle
02 Oran-Rief, the Vastwood
03 Tranquil Thicket
04 Slippery Karst
05 Verdant Catacombs
06 Misty Rainforest
07 Terramorphic Expanse
08 Evolving Wilds
09 Strip Mine
10 Reliquary Tower
11 Eye of Ugin
12 Ancient Tomb
13 Mikokoro, Center of the Sea
39 Forests
53 Mana Crypt
54 Burgeoning
55 Exploration
56 Gaea's Touch
57 Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary
58 Omnath, Locus of Mana
59 Oracle of Mul Daya
60 Seedborn Muse
61 Primeval Titan
62 Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger
64 Crop Rotation
65 Worldly Tutor
66 Green Sun's Zenith
67 Chord of Calling
68 Genesis Wave
69 Fierce Empath
70 Horn of Greed
71 Natural Order
72 Harmonize
73 Momentous Fall
74 Greater Good
75 Soul's Majesty
76 Mind's Eye
77 Recycle
78 Regal Force
79 Tooth and Nail
80 Kozilek, Butcher of Truth
81 Krosan Grip
82 Beast Within
83 Acidic Slime
84 Duplicant
85 Woodfall Primus
86 Terastodon
87 Sundering Titan
88 Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre
90 Crucible of Worlds
91 Eternal Witness
92 Genesis
93 Praetor's Council
94 Avenger of Zendikar
95 Nim Deathmantle
96 Vedalken Orrery
97 Mindslaver
98 Akroma's Memorial
99 Cloudstone Curio
So this is my current list for azusa. I've been swapping things around to try and eke out more card draw because every couple games I'll hit a bunch of dead draws and my engine fizzles.
Usually once I get azusa my goal is to drop Horn of Greed or Oracle of Mul Daya and ramp into Avenger of Zendikar + Akroma's Memorial or wipe away everyone's lands with a combination of Sundering Titan and Terastodon.
The lack of artifact/enchantment tutors or reliable sac engines can really put a crimp in my gameplay, but that's why there is so much draw power in the deck. Once Garruk's Horde comes out in M12 I'll probably drop that in here and add a few more utility creatures.
I'm thinking about putting Cloudstone Curio back in the deck. It's such an amazing card but I have no way to reliably find it and it often ends up a dead draw if I get it at the wrong time. Skullclamp is another card I've considered but without sac engines and few more token generators it's just another card I can't search for.
At this point the deck is really pretty solid, but I'm always looking for ways to tweak it and make it more reliable.
If anyone knows of any card draw or tutors I'm missing, as well as any amazing combo cards (especially ones I can tutor for) please let me know. Other than that if you have any ideas or just want to let me know what a douchebag I am, feel free to stop in
That aside, I would wholeheartedly suggest adding in Ashnod's Altar to the deck. It combos out amazingly with Avenger. Or, if you'd aim for smaller doses, you can try out Phyrexian Altar or High Market. All work as good sac outlets and give you that extra boost. These would also allow you to throw Skullclamp back into the mix.
I see little in the ways of mana sinks. Do you get wins off fast enough to not worry about doing anything with extra mana? Otherwise you might want more ways to use the copious amounts of mana you'll be aiming for. I would like to see Kamahl, Fist of Krosa as a mana sink.
It might even be good to be a little more defensive as I don't see much so far. Maybe a Moment's Peace for double usage or a Haze Frog for repeatability with Cloudstone.
Just a few initial thoughts.
Horobi, Death's Wail
Sylvan Library an excelent draw outlet when needed. Also if you plan on shuffling your library several times in a game it becomes even better. Run some fetchlands for clearing out your topdeck to improve this.
Signature by Inkfox Aesthetics by Xen
[Modern] Allies
I would swap Gaea's Cradle out for a Maze of Ith.
I would focus more on ways of getting lands, and less on creature ramp like Omnath, Locus of Mana or Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary. This deck is about the lands, and both of these guys can make your opponents jumpy.
All is Dust is strongly recommended, Not of This World may also be useful to a lesser degree.
Brutalizer Exarch is good for tucking planeswalkers.
Explaination: I know you are going Omnath and Rofellos out? I must be insane? Nope. In most games your wincon will either be Avenger of Zendikar via Tooth and Nail or via Genesis Wave, but by focusing more on the lands you have a bigger Avenger payload, and higher probability of dropping 3 lands after Avenger lands to pump +3/+3 on your tokens. (I have been beaten by this so many times now, I cant mow my lawn for fear of Saprolings)
Azusa - Derevi - Glissa - Mizzix - Sharuum - Wanderer - Wort
I agree on All is Dust. Amazing card.
But I would say to leave Rofellos in. I understand the politics behind not having him in the deck, but I think he's just too nuts not to include.
This deck definitely screams for Kamahl, Fist of Krosa. I run him in most of my green decks as an outlet for all the mana I am producing. HE. IS. NUTS.
You might also consider Garruk Wildspeaker and Caged Sun.
Other than that, the deck looks pretty good.
Agreed, There is a difference between ramping at all costs and ramping smart. These guys will place targets on themselves once people get the hang of things. While they can get you to where you want fast, they won't do it as safely.
Take a page from the old "Blue" handbook. Laying down few cards on the table subconsciously makes you appear less of a threat initially. While you are aiming to win big, don't try to appear abusive early on, a Horn of Greed with your general is good, but without Rolf and Omnath around to gain mana for you, your opponent's might not worry as much. Keyword: might.
Horobi, Death's Wail
I just don't think Gaea's Cradle is very awesome in Azusa, like I said its not about the mana, its about the lands. Focus on lands and this deck will be so much more powerful.
Azusa - Derevi - Glissa - Mizzix - Sharuum - Wanderer - Wort
Honestly though it is much better to use the rare fetchlands where you pay a life and go get a land into play untapped. The whole untapped makes all the difference.
Signature by Inkfox Aesthetics by Xen
[Modern] Allies