This is a budget form of the Gray Merchant deck(s) everyone is running around with since Theros came out. It tries to do the same thing all other "Gary" decks do; get as much black devotion on the board as possbile and leech hitpoints with Gray Merchant of Asphodel!
Key plays:
1) Four Doom Blade and four Devour Flesh means plenty of removal! Your creatures with this deck will generally not be able to stand up to the big ones in aggro decks, so having 8 removal cards at hand is important.
2) Rescue from the Underworld and Whip of Erebos allow you to recycle your Gray Merchants, so you can use its ability more than 4 times.
3) Diabolic Tutor, Read the Bones, and Underworld Connections all give you some card draw, search, and scry so you can keep the cards you need coming. Underworld Connections will also stay on the battlefield and give you more black devotion!
Interesting list. The main change I'd make would be to add in some Dimir Guildgates so you can activate Returned Phalanx's ability to add a bit of aggression to the deck when you need it. It will help speed up some match ups.
Surprise is Flash --- ( you can cast this creature any time )
All the spell except equipment you will cast at the end of opponent turn or during opponent attack phase before block to kill opponent creature. With 4x cancel – counterspell target spell control it make this deck safe.
Opponent will have no time to prepare your “surprise “
How to play
Draw go style. Do everything at the end of opponent turn then attack opponent on your turn.
I don't like some of your choices for Flash creatures, mainly for the fact that your curve is so high. Shambleshark is a good choice since he's cheap and gets better over time. It will also give you a reason to run Bioshift too. Also, Bioshift is a weird inclusion in a deck that has nothing to do with +1/+1 counters. Boon Satyr is a great option too and you definitely have enough of a budget left to include a couple copies of it. Boon Satyr can easily replace the Merfolk of the Depths since he has the same stats at a cheaper cost and he has the extra utility of being an Aura too!
@DarkNinja: Have you considered Voyaging Satyr in place of/addition to Manaweft Sliver as budget fixing? And don't forget about Sylvan Primordial as a possible fatty as well
I thought of Voyaging Satyr, but it only fixes if I already have the land I need in play, so I don't feel it helps a lot early in the game. It is a good choice if you plan to use Guildgates and the 2 toughness is pretty good, but I don't want it in the list right now. If I feel I need a bit more mana dorkage I'll use them.
Thanks for reminding be about Sylvan Primordial! I think I'll use one in place of a Gruul Ragebeast to take care of any noncreature threats.
Hello all! I've been stalking this thread for a while and I love the decks so far! I decided to throw my own deck in the hat.
*** BACKGROUND ***
"Gruul Acres is the place to be! Head smashing is the life for me!"
I was looking through card prices and I was surprised how cheap Grull fatties like Borborygmos Enraged and Ruric Thar, the Unbowed are now. I've also had my eye on Frenzied Tilling for a while, so I decided to make a G/r Ramp deck! Ramp has taken a hit recently with the loss of cheap ramp spells like Farseek and most of it's one drop mana dorks like Arbor Elf and Avacyn's Pilgrim, so I have to use some mana expensive choices.
Borborygmos Enraged: He's a fatty with Trample and he throws extra lands at threats and opponents to push through more damage. Combine with Seek the Horizon for burst fire action! Ruric Thar, the Unbowed: This guy is a house! He's hard for aggro to work around and outside of countering, all of controls answers will cost them some damage. Why is he so cheap? Zhur-Taa Ancient: This guy is a potential 3rd turn fatty that floods you mana pool! He also helps your opponent so play him wisely or board him out if he'll be problem. Gruul Ragebeast: He costs a lot and doesn't have trample, but he can remove threats. He also helps with a complicated board state since all your other fatties can take out threats when they land. Frenzied Tilling: This helps you ramp while putting your opponent a turn behind. Potential 3rd turn play that can do a lot of damage to your opponent.
Interesting list. The main change I'd make would be to add in some Dimir Guildgates so you can activate Returned Phalanx's ability to add a bit of aggression to the deck when you need it. It will help speed up some match ups.
I don't like some of your choices for Flash creatures, mainly for the fact that your curve is so high. Shambleshark is a good choice since he's cheap and gets better over time. It will also give you a reason to run Bioshift too. Also, Bioshift is a weird inclusion in a deck that has nothing to do with +1/+1 counters. Boon Satyr is a great option too and you definitely have enough of a budget left to include a couple copies of it. Boon Satyr can easily replace the Merfolk of the Depths since he has the same stats at a cheaper cost and he has the extra utility of being an Aura too!
I also agree with this too! The Chimera gives you some life gain and Skylasher can give a lot of control decks trouble.
I'd also find space for either Inspiration or Opportunity since the instant speed draw is great for filling up you hand.
I thought of Voyaging Satyr, but it only fixes if I already have the land I need in play, so I don't feel it helps a lot early in the game. It is a good choice if you plan to use Guildgates and the 2 toughness is pretty good, but I don't want it in the list right now. If I feel I need a bit more mana dorkage I'll use them.
Thanks for reminding be about Sylvan Primordial! I think I'll use one in place of a Gruul Ragebeast to take care of any noncreature threats.
*** BACKGROUND ***
"Gruul Acres is the place to be! Head smashing is the life for me!"
I was looking through card prices and I was surprised how cheap Grull fatties like Borborygmos Enraged and Ruric Thar, the Unbowed are now. I've also had my eye on Frenzied Tilling for a while, so I decided to make a G/r Ramp deck! Ramp has taken a hit recently with the loss of cheap ramp spells like Farseek and most of it's one drop mana dorks like Arbor Elf and Avacyn's Pilgrim, so I have to use some mana expensive choices.
*** THE DECKLIST ***
TIMESTAMP: 10/1/2013 4:35 pm
2 Borborygmos Enraged
4 Elvish Mystic
1 Gruul Ragebeast
1 Sylvan Primordial
4 Manaweft Sliver
2 Mistcutter Hydra
2 Ruric Thar, the Unbowed
2 Zhur-Taa Ancient
4 Zhur-Taa Druid
2 Clan Defiance
3 Frenzied Tilling
3 Ground Assault
2 Seek the Horizon
3 Lightning Strike
3 Signal the Clans
Land (22)
12 Forest
10 Mountain
2 Destructive Revelry
3 Fog
3 Homing Lightning
2 Pithing Needle
2 Plummet
3 Ranger's Guile
CURVE (0-1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6+): 6 / 19 / 0 / 2 / 5 / 6
AVERAGE CMC: 3.13
TYPE: BDC10 ($10.00 LIMIT)
CURRENT COST: $9.12
REMAINING BUDGET: $0.88
Key Cards & Interactions:
Borborygmos Enraged: He's a fatty with Trample and he throws extra lands at threats and opponents to push through more damage. Combine with Seek the Horizon for burst fire action!
Ruric Thar, the Unbowed: This guy is a house! He's hard for aggro to work around and outside of countering, all of controls answers will cost them some damage. Why is he so cheap?
Zhur-Taa Ancient: This guy is a potential 3rd turn fatty that floods you mana pool! He also helps your opponent so play him wisely or board him out if he'll be problem.
Gruul Ragebeast: He costs a lot and doesn't have trample, but he can remove threats. He also helps with a complicated board state since all your other fatties can take out threats when they land.
Frenzied Tilling: This helps you ramp while putting your opponent a turn behind. Potential 3rd turn play that can do a lot of damage to your opponent.
Got a bigger wallet?
Sylvan Caryatid is pricey, but much better than the Sliver.
Xenagos, the Reveler would add a lot to this deck!
Polukranos, World Eater or any other pricey Monstrous dude with a good ability would work too.