Honorable Mention: Mercadia's Downfall is a card i found due to research for this deck, and despite being cut - due to being non-synergetic - it was a blast to play. In an average 3-4 player pod the buff can be immense. You should give it a try.
Let me know what you think of the deck! I'm always happy to get input.
Thanks to a friend, who was attending this Prerelease, i was able to get my hands on the new Goodies for Zada, Hedron Grinder. Pyroblast and Red Elemental Blast have been on my mind for quite a while now. Due to the deck's nature of being an absolute Glass Cannon i felt like it could need some protection against ill-timed disruption - looking at you Cyclonic Rift - or problematic permanents such as Propaganda or Rhystic Study.
With all the cantrips fateful showdown and Nahiri's Wrath are pretty good. Just have to be careful not to deck yourself!
Zada is such an awesome jank rare!
Hmm, appears we have different approaches.
I'd really love to run Spawning Breath, Make Mischief, Rile and Zap in my deck, but the way it's built i only have 6 Instants/Sorceries and 3 Creatures that push Toughness. I'd be completely reliant on those or trade in the Goblins - with which i have synergies - with Eldrazi Tokens.
Same goes for Descent of the Dragons. It requires 4RR, other creatures to trade in, something that grants non-Goblins haste and how much of an upgrade would flying be? E.g. Invigorated Rampage is an instant, costs a third, allows me a couple other spells that turn and pushes a lot of damage through.
Inner Fire is a tricky card. 5+ Cards in hand it's a sorcery speed ritual, below that it's a dead card. Mana Geyser would be the closest thing to another ritual i'd play, because it is consistent and possibly game ending. Seething Song would be the least conditional one that grants a decent amount of mana at instant speed. But to be honest, there are just so mana 1-2 mana things that work amazingly with Zada, Hedron Grinder, that enough card draw and a tight curve make the deck work without much mana. I had rounds where i started my turn with 3 creatures including my commander, 5 mana to boot and at the end of the turn everyone else was dead. Bottom line Battle Hymn and Brightstone Ritual are a lot better and flexible.
Nahiri's Wrath doesn't hit players, so i don't think it would have much influence on the outcome of the game. Fateful Showdown is a tad better, but why should i ping a single player and wheel myself instead of spending the 4 mana on 1-2 draw and buff spells instead?
I can't tell just how different our decks are, but maybe you can give me a heads up about another card i feel like trying: Insult // Injury. Have you tried it? Even if not, what's your take on it?
Anyways, thanks for checking out my list, i'd be interested in yours.
Glad to see Zada, Hedron Grinder in your signature as well. I have an ungodly love for this hilarious glass cannon. Just last Sat i amassed 6 digit numbers of damage... Would love to take a look at your take and/or see you evaluate mine.
Some of the cards in my list are testing slots because they're newer cards. I just recently reassembled this and haven't the opportunity for real games with it yet.
Insult looks nice, though, especially if you can get it to happen more than once from copying or recasting to add further damage doubling (whereas my doubler is Overblaze).
Thx for both links!
I've read the thread, what feels like ages ago, in 2016, when i've built the initial version of my deck. While the approach is vastly different, i completely overlooked the interaction with Possibility Storm and now have an extreme urge to get one myself! The math of horror looks nuts as well and makes my 6-digit swing look like rookie numbers.
Aside from Overblaze i always felt like Arcbond post Blockers could be absolutely brutal. Though, games could end up in ties a lot of times. I once saw another Zada, Hedron Grinder deck that forked Radiate over and over again, with an outcome that was mind-boggling.
How good is Spikeshot Elder in paper? I have one sitting in a binder and whenever i tried to do the math, it felt like a win more.
How good is Spikeshot Elder in paper? I have one sitting in a binder and whenever i tried to do the math, it felt like a win more.
I don't think of it so much as a win condition as a piece for protecting the turn I go off. If somebody casts something during my turn that's bad for me, I may still be able to do something at instant speed to knock that player out with noncombat damage so I can continue with combat.
Of the direct non-combat options:
Mogg Fanatic requires cloning to be repeatable, and several layers of Overblaze to be lethal.
Spikeshot Elder on the other hand adds another possibility for lethal damage since it's based on its power — fits in the curve nicely as a one-drop, can lethal with enough mana, enough damage doubling, and/or enough power. For example, Path of Anger's Flame spliced by Overblaze with 10 creatures total, the Elder's power shoots up to 21 and does 42 damage per 1RR. Into the Fray being another instant-speed option for providing targeting to Path.
But also, pretty much anything you do in a Zada deck to see how many creatures or how much damage you can get up to is win-more to me. Crazy levels of win-more is just what the deck is about.
War of the Spark and Modern Horizon blessed us with some awesome sauce for Zada, Hedron Grinder. Fists of Flame is absolutely bonkers! Dreadhorde Arcanist can do absurd things too. Goblin War Party is just another solid token creator that can grant game winning haste if need be. Being as hyped for the changes i couldn't keep myself from buying Chandra, Torch of Defiance because, let's face it, she's f**king awesome and i wanted to include her in a deck for the longest time anyways.
The reason why i cut Beetleback Chief despite its obvious synergy with Twinflame and Heat Shimmer was that it always felt win more. Goblin War Party has the same ratio of tokens/CMC but comes with extra entwine utility or can enable comeback wins off an empty board with Mizzix's Mastery.
Unfortunately Strionic Resonator consumes too much mana initially to be as useful as i hoped.
I'm still uncertain if Tectonic Reformation would be win more, but in certain situations the deck draws a ton of cards, then generates a gazzilion mana via Brightstone Ritual or Battle Hymn just to fall short of winning due to too many lands in hand. With said mana i could turn them into useful stuff.
You can find the most recent decklist following either of these links:
http://www.mtgnexus.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=459
https://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/zada-goblin-grinder-1/Last Deck Update: 09.07.19, Avg. CMC: 2,11
4 Zada, Hedron Grinder
Instants (28)
2 Abrade
2 Accelerate
2 Battle Hymn
3 Boiling Blood
1 Brightstone Ritual
1 Brute Force
2 Brute Strength
3 Chaos Warp
2 Chaotic Strike
1 Crimson Wisps
3 Downhill Charge
1 Expedite
2 Falter
2 Fists of Flame
2 Fury Charm
2 Invigorated Rampage
1 Otherworldly Outburst
1 Pyroblast
1 Red Elemental Blast
2 Rise to the Challenge
1 Rouse the Mob
1 Rush of Adrenaline
1 Samut's Sprint
1 Storm Strike
2 Stun
2 Sure Strike
2 Temur Battle Rage
2 Thunder Strike
2 Dragon Fodder
3 Goblin Gathering
4 Goblin War Party
3 Heat Shimmer
3 Hordeling Outburst
3 Kari Zev's Expertise
2 Krenko's Command
2 Mizzium Mortars
4 Mizzix's Mastery
3 Mogg Alarm
1 Reckless Charge
1 Renegade Tactics
1 Spark of Creativity
1x Tempt with Vengeance
2 Twinflame
1 Vandalblast
Creatures (10)
2 Dreadhorde Arcanist
3 Goblin Chieftain
2 Goblin Cratermaker
2 Goblin Instigator
3 Goblin King
4 Krenko, Mob Boss
1 Legion Loyalist
4 Purphoros, God of the Forge
2 Runaway Steam-Kin
5 Siege-Gang Commander
0x Everflowing Chalice
2 Fellwar Stone
2 Fractured Powerstone
2 Mind Stone
2 Prismatic Lens
2 Ruby Medallion
2 Swiftfoot Boots
2 Thought Vessel
Planeswalker (1)
4 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
Enchantments (2)
3 Shared Animosity
2 Tectonic Reformation
Lands (34)
1 Ghost Quarter
1 Homeward Path
25 Mountain
1 Myriad Landscape
1 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
1 Reliquary Tower
1 Shinka, the Bloodsoaked Keep
1 Strip Mine
1 Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle
1 Zhalfirin Void
Pyroblast and Red Elemental Blast have been on my mind for quite a while now. Due to the deck's nature of being an absolute Glass Cannon i felt like it could need some protection against ill-timed disruption - looking at you Cyclonic Rift - or problematic permanents such as Propaganda or Rhystic Study.
In:
+ Goblin Gathering
+ Pyroblast
+ Red Elemental Blast
+ Storm Strike
Out:
- Adaptive Automaton
- Archetype of Aggression
- Burn from Within
- Goblin Piledriver
One of my wincons is to play any cantrip like stun on Zada, follow that up with inner fire or brightstone ritual, cast spawning breath on Zada, then otherworldly outburst.
After that I like descent of the dragons to double the field.
With all the cantrips fateful showdown and Nahiri's Wrath are pretty good. Just have to be careful not to deck yourself!
Zada is such an awesome jank rare!
EDH:
[Primer]C Kozilek, Butcher of Truth C
RGNikya of the Old WaysGR
I'd really love to run Spawning Breath, Make Mischief, Rile and Zap in my deck, but the way it's built i only have 6 Instants/Sorceries and 3 Creatures that push Toughness. I'd be completely reliant on those or trade in the Goblins - with which i have synergies - with Eldrazi Tokens.
Same goes for Descent of the Dragons. It requires 4RR, other creatures to trade in, something that grants non-Goblins haste and how much of an upgrade would flying be? E.g. Invigorated Rampage is an instant, costs a third, allows me a couple other spells that turn and pushes a lot of damage through.
Inner Fire is a tricky card. 5+ Cards in hand it's a sorcery speed ritual, below that it's a dead card. Mana Geyser would be the closest thing to another ritual i'd play, because it is consistent and possibly game ending. Seething Song would be the least conditional one that grants a decent amount of mana at instant speed. But to be honest, there are just so mana 1-2 mana things that work amazingly with Zada, Hedron Grinder, that enough card draw and a tight curve make the deck work without much mana. I had rounds where i started my turn with 3 creatures including my commander, 5 mana to boot and at the end of the turn everyone else was dead. Bottom line Battle Hymn and Brightstone Ritual are a lot better and flexible.
Nahiri's Wrath doesn't hit players, so i don't think it would have much influence on the outcome of the game. Fateful Showdown is a tad better, but why should i ping a single player and wheel myself instead of spending the 4 mana on 1-2 draw and buff spells instead?
I can't tell just how different our decks are, but maybe you can give me a heads up about another card i feel like trying: Insult // Injury. Have you tried it? Even if not, what's your take on it?
Anyways, thanks for checking out my list, i'd be interested in yours.
Some of the cards in my list are testing slots because they're newer cards. I just recently reassembled this and haven't the opportunity for real games with it yet.
4 Zada, Hedron Grinder
Land (35)
1 Ancient Tomb
1 Cavern of Souls
1 Command Beacon
1 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
31 Mountain
Artifact (5)
0 Mox Amber
0 Spellbook
2 Helm of Awakening
2 Ruby Medallion
2 Scroll Rack
Creature (21)
1 Skirk Prospector
1 Spikeshot Elder
2 Dark-Dweller Oracle
2 Goblin Instigator
2 Goblin Recruiter
2 Iron Myr
2 Mogg War Marshal
2 Runaway Steam-Kin
2 Tilonalli's Summoner
2 Young Pyromancer
3 Goblin Matron
3 Imperial Recruiter
3 Priest of Urabrask
3 Thopter Engineer
4 Beetleback Chief
4 Krenko, Mob Boss
4 Pia and Kiran Nalaar
5 Goblin Dark-Dwellers
5 Siege-Gang Commander
7 Chancellor of the Forge
7 Myr Battlesphere
1 Renegade Tactics
1 Rile
1 Spark of Creativity
1 Tempt with Vengeance
2 Dragon Fodder
2 Krenko's Command
2 Twinflame
3 Fiery Gambit
3 Heat Shimmer
3 Hordeling Outburst
3 Kari Zev's Expertise
3 Make Mischief
3 Shreds of Sanity
4 Mizzix's Mastery
4 Past in Flames
4 Reality Scramble
Instant (22)
1 Brightstone Ritual
1 Crimson Wisps
1 Expedite
1 Into the Fray
1 Otherworldly Outburst
1 Titan's Strength
1 Unnatural Speed
2 Accelerate
2 Battle Hymn
2 Blazing Shoal
2 Chaotic Strike
2 Desperate Ritual
2 Electrodominance
2 Flaring Pain
2 Spawning Breath
2 Stun
2 Temur Battle Rage
3 Boiling Blood
3 Path of Anger's Flame
3 Strange Inversion
3 Zap
4 Overblaze
Insult looks nice, though, especially if you can get it to happen more than once from copying or recasting to add further damage doubling (whereas my doubler is Overblaze).
old thread
old thread
old thread
R Zada Arcane Storm
RBU Marchesa
GWU Estrid
GWR Samut?
URB Kess
(R/W)(U/B) Akiri & Silas
BWR Alesha
R Neheb Dragons
G Nylea Wurms
W Darien
U Tetsuko
I've read the thread, what feels like ages ago, in 2016, when i've built the initial version of my deck. While the approach is vastly different, i completely overlooked the interaction with Possibility Storm and now have an extreme urge to get one myself! The math of horror looks nuts as well and makes my 6-digit swing look like rookie numbers.
Aside from Overblaze i always felt like Arcbond post Blockers could be absolutely brutal. Though, games could end up in ties a lot of times. I once saw another Zada, Hedron Grinder deck that forked Radiate over and over again, with an outcome that was mind-boggling.
How good is Spikeshot Elder in paper? I have one sitting in a binder and whenever i tried to do the math, it felt like a win more.
I don't think of it so much as a win condition as a piece for protecting the turn I go off. If somebody casts something during my turn that's bad for me, I may still be able to do something at instant speed to knock that player out with noncombat damage so I can continue with combat.
Of the direct non-combat options:
- Mogg Fanatic requires cloning to be repeatable, and several layers of Overblaze to be lethal.
- Pia and Kiran Nalaar/Siege-Gang Commander are more easily repeatable with enough mana and sacrifice fodder but otherwise still need damage doubling.
- Spikeshot Elder on the other hand adds another possibility for lethal damage since it's based on its power — fits in the curve nicely as a one-drop, can lethal with enough mana, enough damage doubling, and/or enough power. For example, Path of Anger's Flame spliced by Overblaze with 10 creatures total, the Elder's power shoots up to 21 and does 42 damage per 1RR. Into the Fray being another instant-speed option for providing targeting to Path.
But also, pretty much anything you do in a Zada deck to see how many creatures or how much damage you can get up to is win-more to me. Crazy levels of win-more is just what the deck is about.old thread
old thread
old thread
R Zada Arcane Storm
RBU Marchesa
GWU Estrid
GWR Samut?
URB Kess
(R/W)(U/B) Akiri & Silas
BWR Alesha
R Neheb Dragons
G Nylea Wurms
W Darien
U Tetsuko
Fists of Flame is absolutely bonkers! Dreadhorde Arcanist can do absurd things too. Goblin War Party is just another solid token creator that can grant game winning haste if need be. Being as hyped for the changes i couldn't keep myself from buying Chandra, Torch of Defiance because, let's face it, she's f**king awesome and i wanted to include her in a deck for the longest time anyways.
In:
+ Fists of Flame
+ Goblin War Party
+ Dreadhorde Arcanist
+ Chandra, Torch of Defiance
Out:
- Beetleback Chief
- Goblin Trashmaster
- Goblin Warchief
- Strionic Resonator
The reason why i cut Beetleback Chief despite its obvious synergy with Twinflame and Heat Shimmer was that it always felt win more. Goblin War Party has the same ratio of tokens/CMC but comes with extra entwine utility or can enable comeback wins off an empty board with Mizzix's Mastery.
Unfortunately Strionic Resonator consumes too much mana initially to be as useful as i hoped.
I'm still uncertain if Tectonic Reformation would be win more, but in certain situations the deck draws a ton of cards, then generates a gazzilion mana via Brightstone Ritual or Battle Hymn just to fall short of winning due to too many lands in hand. With said mana i could turn them into useful stuff.