I think the deck needs a finisher with CMC<4 that ends the game in 2/3 turns. The problem is that I don't want a card that dies to Rest in Peace, because I want a hope in a post-sideboard game. So no Tarmogoyf (and no Ore-Scale Guardian). I don't like Living Twister because without Seismic Assault it sucks and Assault is the most hated card after sideboard. The card doesn't have to be a creature, I just need it to finish the game quickly. Do you have any ideas? I can't figure out anything. Thanks
Nobody freak out, but the number crunch has all but confirmed we are getting the Onslaught Cycle lands...
If we do get them, I'm somewhere between Bear Assault Pox and IceFang Coatl/FoF Bear Assault. I haven't been this excited for Magic in years!
Scrying seems like a huge waste of 4 spots in a deck that naturally gathers tons of lands. Consider running Commune with the Gods in this spot.
Also... 8 Assaults? This is far, far too many. As mentioned above, you just have to learn to manage your draws and your dredges better. This takes MANY matches. A 4/1 (4/2 at the most) of Assaults/Vorteces should be plenty.
4 Liliana again feels excessive, but I like this more than the above.
I think 8 cycle lands is too many, 3-4 should do the trick and open up your mana. Same with Dakmor. The beauty of these lists is you don't have to be so high on the 4-of mantra. Your milling helps smooth out the deck. Use toolbox cards as tools.
With all those slots you freed up, improve your manabase and include more removal or early creatures. And don't get tilted by not drawing the "right half" of your deck, this will happen from time to time. Play this deck for the games that go insanely right and are awesome. If you don't like that style of play, more traditional Jund-style decks are probably better for you.
Pretty high level analysis, but it has a decklist to consider.
I was hoping someone had already posted this here. I don't like the list, but Paulo is a great Magic mind and him mentioning the deck will certainly spike many people's interest. Loam already spiked after the bycicle lands got spoiled, so I don't expect much in that way anymore, btw. The main problem I still see with the deck in general is the grave hate prevalent in most metas. Assault Loam's not fast enough to be able to just ignore it and always playing around it is worse than simply playing 'normal' Jund. Still, the archetype is super sweet and I'm excited to see whether it'll receive a little more attention., It certainly deserves it.
Contrary to your opinion, I actually feel Loam strategies are the downright best GY decks to play against hate (outside of Surgical Extraction). They are less all-in and are okay with playing fair through hate. You just have to play tight and force your opponent to either pop their Relic-style hate too early or prepare adequately for Leylines/RIPs. You don't just fold to these cards like Dredge and Goryo decks often do. I've played Zombie Loam and Loam Pox for a couple years now and rarely get "hosed" by hate. You really only auto-lose to Surgicals on your Loams.
Agree on Paulo's list, as I feel you want more universal answers (Decays) and less direct creature kill since our Assaults can do most of the heavy lifting there. Pretty sure he just grabbed the old GP list from early Modern and shoved new stuff in. In spite of all the tech from the last 4 years, I'm going to start with this list as "level 0" for testing purposes and adapt from there. It's a solid starting point for the archetype.
I actually just started looking at this deck again due to the new lands. Finally, some engine power! As a long time Loam Pox and Dredge player, these have me tripping out. Below is a list I gave up on pre-Kaladesh but have decided to start tinkering again.
I'm also interested in looking at the more traditional Jund route with Tireless Trackers, Bobs, Goyfs, and solid disruption elements. Advice or suggestions from more experienced Aggro Loam players is great!
First attempt at this deck. Started off as a Loam Pox player, decided to move this direction given lack of Twin and increased presence of big mana and Burn decks. Looking to include mainboard Blood Moons, but not sure where to go. Anyone have any thoughts?
EDIT: Notable cards that I see missing are Blood Moon, Bolts, Dark Confidant, a white source of mana, Copperline Gorge, Scavenging Ooze.
Tireless Tracker is a good place to start!
If we do get them, I'm somewhere between Bear Assault Pox and IceFang Coatl/FoF Bear Assault. I haven't been this excited for Magic in years!
Also... 8 Assaults? This is far, far too many. As mentioned above, you just have to learn to manage your draws and your dredges better. This takes MANY matches. A 4/1 (4/2 at the most) of Assaults/Vorteces should be plenty.
4 Liliana again feels excessive, but I like this more than the above.
I think 8 cycle lands is too many, 3-4 should do the trick and open up your mana. Same with Dakmor. The beauty of these lists is you don't have to be so high on the 4-of mantra. Your milling helps smooth out the deck. Use toolbox cards as tools.
With all those slots you freed up, improve your manabase and include more removal or early creatures. And don't get tilted by not drawing the "right half" of your deck, this will happen from time to time. Play this deck for the games that go insanely right and are awesome. If you don't like that style of play, more traditional Jund-style decks are probably better for you.
Contrary to your opinion, I actually feel Loam strategies are the downright best GY decks to play against hate (outside of Surgical Extraction). They are less all-in and are okay with playing fair through hate. You just have to play tight and force your opponent to either pop their Relic-style hate too early or prepare adequately for Leylines/RIPs. You don't just fold to these cards like Dredge and Goryo decks often do. I've played Zombie Loam and Loam Pox for a couple years now and rarely get "hosed" by hate. You really only auto-lose to Surgicals on your Loams.
Agree on Paulo's list, as I feel you want more universal answers (Decays) and less direct creature kill since our Assaults can do most of the heavy lifting there. Pretty sure he just grabbed the old GP list from early Modern and shoved new stuff in. In spite of all the tech from the last 4 years, I'm going to start with this list as "level 0" for testing purposes and adapt from there. It's a solid starting point for the archetype.
4 Commune with the Gods
4 Satyr Wayfinder
4 Life from the Loam
Loots
3 Faithless Looting
4 Cathartic Reunion
Combo
3 Splendid Reclamation
2 Mystic Retrieval
Removal
4 Lightning Bolt
2 Lightning Axe
4 Seismic Assault
3 Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle
4 Wooded Foothills
4 Stomping Ground
1 Cinder Glade
4 Sheltered Thicket
1 Forest
7 Mountain
3 Fulminator Mage
2 Pulse of Murasa
3 Anger of the Gods
2 Grafdigger's Cage
3 Nature's Claim
2 Engineered Explosives
And if you'd prefer to go the more disrespectful route...
4 Commune with the Gods
4 Sakura-Tribe Elder
4 Life from the Loam
3 Stinkweed Imp
Loots
4 Faithless Looting
4 Cathartic Reunion
Combo
3 Splendid Reclamation
2 Mystic Retrieval
2 Greater Gargadon
3 Lightning Axe
1 Flame Jab
Lands
4 Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle
4 Wooded Foothills
4 Stomping Ground
2 Cinder Glade
4 Sheltered Thicket
1 Steam Vents
1 Forest
6 Mountain
3 Blood Moon
3 Pulse of Murasa
4 Anger of the Gods
2 Grafdigger's Cage
3 Nature's Claim
I'm also interested in looking at the more traditional Jund route with Tireless Trackers, Bobs, Goyfs, and solid disruption elements. Advice or suggestions from more experienced Aggro Loam players is great!
EDIT: Notable cards that I see missing are Blood Moon, Bolts, Dark Confidant, a white source of mana, Copperline Gorge, Scavenging Ooze.
4 Squee, Goblin Nabob
1 Golgari Brownscale
1 Vengeful Pharaoh
1 Golgari Grave-Troll
3 Abrupt Decay
4 Faithless Looting
1 Flame Jab
3 Conflagrate
4 Life from the Loam
2 Molten Vortex
1 Raven's Crime
3 Seismic Assault
4 Zombie Infestation
2 Blood Crypt
4 Bloodstained Mire
2 Forest
3 Ghost Quarter
3 Fire-Lit Thicket
2 Mountain
2 Stomping Ground
2 Swamp
1 Verdant Catacombs
4 Wooded Foothills
2 Pithing Needle
2 Ray of Revelation
1 Bojuka Bog
3 Gnaw to the Bone
2 Golgari Brownscale
3 Surgical Extraction