I think it's a shame that Zoo decks seem to have lost what made them Zoo in the first place: the creature types! So I set out to make a legitimate Zoo deck, and here's what I have at the moment.
Reckless mages burned down the zoo with fire and lightning. Now the animals are out for revenge with a little help from their fallen comrades!
Every creature's type, with the exception of the pair of too-good-to-pass-up Thoctars, is a real-world animal: Cat, Ape, and Wolf.
The fire and lightning are present in Inicerate and Lightning Helix, and every aura represents one of the poor dead animals: Armadillo, Elephant, and Griffin.
20/20/20 split. No rares.
The manabase is where I would most appreciate suggestions. It's difficult to get all three basic land types for the Apes and Nacatls without using duals. Jungle Shrine seemed like the best fixing I could find in un/commons. I'm also trying to keep things as flavorful as possible with the above description.
What we're doing here is akin to taking the text of Moby Dick, locating specific words therein, rearranging them to create a passage from Fight Club, and concluding from this evidence that Tyler Durden is based on Ahab.
"Restriction breeds creativity." - Sheldon Menery on EDH / Commander in Magic: The Gathering
"Cancel Culture is the real reason why everyone's not allowed to have nice things anymore." - Anonymous
"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?" - Mark 8:36
"Most men and women will grow up to love their servitude and will never dream of revolution." - Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
"Every life decision is always a risk / reward proposition." - Sanjay Gupta
What we're doing here is akin to taking the text of Moby Dick, locating specific words therein, rearranging them to create a passage from Fight Club, and concluding from this evidence that Tyler Durden is based on Ahab.
Dauntless Escort. A 3/3 for 3 mana, which isn't bad, per se. But this guy will also stop The Zookeepers in their tracks. Not a 4-of, but a 2-3 might be possible.
Oh, and it's a Rhino. They got those at the zoo (even if they may not be Soldiers).
What we're doing here is akin to taking the text of Moby Dick, locating specific words therein, rearranging them to create a passage from Fight Club, and concluding from this evidence that Tyler Durden is based on Ahab.
I'm thinking of replacing the Jungle Shrines with Grasslands and Mountain Valleys. They CiPT as well, but help get the different basics into play. Any thoughts on that?
What we're doing here is akin to taking the text of Moby Dick, locating specific words therein, rearranging them to create a passage from Fight Club, and concluding from this evidence that Tyler Durden is based on Ahab.
Oh, I thought you meant it had no rares thus far, not that they weren't allowed.
Well, here are some more ideas then: Jackal Pup - Hound. 2/1 for 1 with a drawback that isn't a big deal. Wild Mongrel - Hound. It's a 2/2 for 2, but he's hard to kill, since he can pump past burn and turn black to shut of most of that color's removal. Mtenda Lion - Cat. A 2/1 for 1 with no drawback if the opponent isn't playing blue. Pouncing Jaguar - Cat. A 2/2 for 2, but the cost is split over two turns. Joven's Ferrets - Ferret. Because it's a ferret.
I tried searching what was left of Bird and Rhino, but didn't see much of anything in those.
EDIT:
Quote from NecroBlade »
I'm thinking of replacing the Jungle Shrines with Grasslands and Mountain Valleys. They CiPT as well, but help get the different basics into play. Any thoughts on that?
Thanks. Jackal Pup might go in for Jungle Lion. (Hmm, he does seem to be less expensive, too, not being Portal.) Then Wild Mongrel might be better than Watchwolf since it'd be easier to cast on turn 2. However, he is already wild...
Mtenda Lion I've always liked, but I'd rather not give blue a way to shut him off.
Pouncing Jaguar, another card I like, but I'm not sure how much echo will hurt.
Ferrets...funny! But not good enough methinks.
You're right, Terramorphic Expanse is better, but I'm sick of looking at it playing pauper, plus the others are more flavorful.
What we're doing here is akin to taking the text of Moby Dick, locating specific words therein, rearranging them to create a passage from Fight Club, and concluding from this evidence that Tyler Durden is based on Ahab.
What we're doing here is akin to taking the text of Moby Dick, locating specific words therein, rearranging them to create a passage from Fight Club, and concluding from this evidence that Tyler Durden is based on Ahab.
4 Kird Ape
4 Wild Nacatl
4 Qasali Pridemage
2 Watchwolf
2 Woolly Thoctar
2 Giant Growth
4 Incinerate
4 Lightning Helix
4 Armadillo Cloak
2 Elephant Guide
2 Griffin Guide
4 Jungle Shrine
4 Mountain
5 Plains
Reckless mages burned down the zoo with fire and lightning. Now the animals are out for revenge with a little help from their fallen comrades!
Every creature's type, with the exception of the pair of too-good-to-pass-up Thoctars, is a real-world animal: Cat, Ape, and Wolf.
The fire and lightning are present in Inicerate and Lightning Helix, and every aura represents one of the poor dead animals: Armadillo, Elephant, and Griffin.
20/20/20 split. No rares.
The manabase is where I would most appreciate suggestions. It's difficult to get all three basic land types for the Apes and Nacatls without using duals. Jungle Shrine seemed like the best fixing I could find in un/commons. I'm also trying to keep things as flavorful as possible with the above description.
Guildmaster Jarad
"Restriction breeds creativity." - Sheldon Menery on EDH / Commander in Magic: The Gathering
"Cancel Culture is the real reason why everyone's not allowed to have nice things anymore." - Anonymous
"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?" - Mark 8:36
"Most men and women will grow up to love their servitude and will never dream of revolution." - Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
"Every life decision is always a risk / reward proposition." - Sanjay Gupta
Guildmaster Jarad
So you're running the deck for flavor? It weakens those wizards and their zappy magic by draining them for a turn.
Dauntless Escort. A 3/3 for 3 mana, which isn't bad, per se. But this guy will also stop The Zookeepers in their tracks. Not a 4-of, but a 2-3 might be possible.
Oh, and it's a Rhino. They got those at the zoo (even if they may not be Soldiers).
Nice idea, but
Guildmaster Jarad
Guildmaster Jarad
Oh, I thought you meant it had no rares thus far, not that they weren't allowed.
Well, here are some more ideas then:
Jackal Pup - Hound. 2/1 for 1 with a drawback that isn't a big deal.
Wild Mongrel - Hound. It's a 2/2 for 2, but he's hard to kill, since he can pump past burn and turn black to shut of most of that color's removal.
Mtenda Lion - Cat. A 2/1 for 1 with no drawback if the opponent isn't playing blue.
Pouncing Jaguar - Cat. A 2/2 for 2, but the cost is split over two turns.
Joven's Ferrets - Ferret. Because it's a ferret.
I tried searching what was left of Bird and Rhino, but didn't see much of anything in those.
EDIT:
Terramorphic Expanse?
Mtenda Lion I've always liked, but I'd rather not give blue a way to shut him off.
Pouncing Jaguar, another card I like, but I'm not sure how much echo will hurt.
Ferrets...funny! But not good enough methinks.
You're right, Terramorphic Expanse is better, but I'm sick of looking at it playing pauper, plus the others are more flavorful.
Guildmaster Jarad
(That just made me realize: Grizzled Leotau is meant to be played with Doran!)
Guildmaster Jarad