The trick with Pelt Collector is to get multiple creatures with power 2 to enter the battlefield at the same time, so he gets multiple triggers at once
So I've been lurking on here for years (never had an account though) but I decided to take Shamans to a GP (now called "MagicFest") in January.
With that being said, I'm trying to build the best build out of what I have and what I can easily get. I have a couple questions though:
1. Why has Green always been considered the dominant color when the best one drop and win condition are red? (Flamekin & Rage Forger)
2. Why wasn't Adaptive Automaton ever played more?
3. What was the consensus on Collected Company and Atarka's Command in the builds of the Gruul deck?
And yes, I realize that everyone wants another really good one drop. I get it. (I personally like Spikeshot Elder as a way to deal with Human's Meddling Mage but this is the deck I know best and the deck I have. I appreciate any help you guys give me.
Also, I apologize for not knowing how to link cards.
So I've been lurking on here for years (never had an account though) but I decided to take Shamans to a GP (now called "MagicFest") in January.
With that being said, I'm trying to build the best build out of what I have and what I can easily get.
I suggest you my list as a solid tested starting point to explore and refine this archetype
1. Why has Green always been considered the dominant color when the best one drop and win condition are red? (Flamekin & Rage Forger)
I only know one solid shamans list, its RG with mostly green.
2. Why wasn't Adaptive Automaton ever played more?
He is slow as is (3 cmc regular lord, no additional abilities), also he doesnt work well with the deck - no mana reduction from Bosk Baneret. But you can try him, maybe he is good enough. Also as a guy who plays him in other decks Id say being an artifact is another disadvantage.
3. What was the consensus on Collected Company and Atarka's Command in the builds of the Gruul deck?
Im pretty sure to play Collected Company your deck should be able to cast it t3 consistently or have some disruption or incorporate some combo to win t4 with it. And better two of three or more. Otherwise you set yourself for a loss like in Slivers or Shamans: no reliable way to play it t3 to win t4 mean you just too slow for format. Though it can be used as anti-wrath tech.
I use two-of Atarka's Command, they are solid given we have a lot of creatures and almost no disruption and we need to win fast. It helps boost our squishy creatures and highers our count of t4 goldfish wins.
I used to not be in love with the CoCo, but the only list that did well in a bigger tournament was a list was with CoCo, and it definitely give the deck some good CA and resiliency. After testing it a while back, I think I came to the conclusion that my CoCo list was better than the the list without it.
LEGACY: Soldier Stompy WW // Blue Stompy UU // Fit Variants BGRW // Sol Land Brews BGRUWC MODERN: Pure Pili-ness GU // Red Devotion RR // Green Devotion Variants GRWUG // U/G Emerge CGU // Lots and Lots of Brews BGRUWC
LEGACY: Soldier Stompy WW // Blue Stompy UU // Fit Variants BGRW // Sol Land Brews BGRUWC MODERN: Pure Pili-ness GU // Red Devotion RR // Green Devotion Variants GRWUG // U/G Emerge CGU // Lots and Lots of Brews BGRUWC
The problem I have with Tilonalli's Skinshifter is the fact that it is good in only 1 situation: if you copy Rage Forger. Other than that, it doesn't feel good to play. Most of the creatures in the deck have ETB effects which it misses, and there aren't any good enough effects to copy. So it just has haste and gets to copy your largest creature, which is probably a 2/2 or a 3/3.
There is no point making Tilonalli's Skinshifter copy Rage Forger (except for making it 2/2)
when you declare attackers Tilonalli's Skinshifter is not a Rage Forger, so he wont trigger damage from counters
enters the battlefield ability wont trigger either because Tilonalli's Skinshifter enters as Tilonalli's Skinshifter, not Rage Forger
Hey gang! That new spoiler has me pretty excited, not gonna lie. 1R for a 2/2 that also gives a bit of filter seems pretty damn nice for us and having the option to draw gas in the midgame is an excellent bonus if you're willing to splash black.
I have quite a bit of hope for Allegiance if this is how we're starting. We haven't even seen a single Gruul card yet either!
I want to pick up this deck, I would like to know if Blood Braid Elf is worth playing, as the primer said ti was played, and that is this deck fast enough to race turn three and turn four kills?
I want to pick up this deck, I would like to know if Blood Braid Elf is worth playing, as the primer said ti was played, and that is this deck fast enough to race turn three and turn four kills?
Blood Braid most likely isnt worth it because it has little synergy with the deck.
This deck cant race t3 kills (aside from miracle Burning-Tree Emissary multichains), it wont able to race t4 kills consistently if you pick a list other than mine8)
A list similar to this is the only list I've seen that did well at a decently large tournament. I think it had around 100 players and top 8'd iirc.
This result was a while ago though. If you want to play tribal, Humans or Spirits are your best bet. This deck is perhaps faster, but less disruptive than the aforementioned. Hopefully a 1 drop Shaman mana dork is printed, because that's what Shamans wants the most. Perhaps a another sweet 3 mana elemental to fetch with Flamekin Harbinger as well.
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And the list below is the other list I also used to play. Both are the two best lists I have seen.
LEGACY: Soldier Stompy WW // Blue Stompy UU // Fit Variants BGRW // Sol Land Brews BGRUWC MODERN: Pure Pili-ness GU // Red Devotion RR // Green Devotion Variants GRWUG // U/G Emerge CGU // Lots and Lots of Brews BGRUWC
Im not a fan of playing Simian Spirit Guide, Manamorphose, Chord of Calling, Collected Company and Selfless Spirit is a joke.
Simian Spirit Guide increases inconsistency and is a card disadvantage while giving little extra win percentage. Lets be honest, modern is good at disrupting creature decks and going all in aggro with a deck thats bad at it (not like Burn or Affinity) is not a good plan.
No way to consistently cast Collected Company t3 mean little t4 wins, so lists with Collected Company are slow. Provided Shamans have very little disruption (Lightning Bolts) its just a path to loss.
Chord of Calling doesnt provide toolbox value here, we just want to put Rage Forger into play. Sadly there are no consistent ways to cast it t3 to attack for lethal t4. Also there are no consistent ways to cast it t4 and attack for lethal the same turn.
Draft My Cube!
I think it work really well, especially provided some needed ramp. This might be a bit weird. We might need more mana.
1 Mountain
4 Wooded Foothills
4 Windswept Heath
1 Cavern of Souls
7 Forest
4 Arbor Elf
4 Utopia Sprawl
3 Experimental Frenzy
4x Lightning Bolt
4x Bosk Banneret
4x Burning-Tree Emissary
4x Rageforger
2x Eternal Witness
3x Burning-Tree Shaman
4x Rattleclaw Mystic
3x Dampening Sphere
2x Goblin Ruinblaster
2x Loaming Shaman
3x Essence Warden
3x Reclamation Sage
2x Nissa, Voice of Zendikar
With that being said, I'm trying to build the best build out of what I have and what I can easily get. I have a couple questions though:
1. Why has Green always been considered the dominant color when the best one drop and win condition are red? (Flamekin & Rage Forger)
2. Why wasn't Adaptive Automaton ever played more?
3. What was the consensus on Collected Company and Atarka's Command in the builds of the Gruul deck?
And yes, I realize that everyone wants another really good one drop. I get it. (I personally like Spikeshot Elder as a way to deal with Human's Meddling Mage but this is the deck I know best and the deck I have. I appreciate any help you guys give me.
Also, I apologize for not knowing how to link cards.
Instead of Collected Company, what are your thoughts on Experimental Frenzy? I think I might play either vial and/or birds with it?
I only know one solid shamans list, its RG with mostly green.
He is slow as is (3 cmc regular lord, no additional abilities), also he doesnt work well with the deck - no mana reduction from Bosk Baneret. But you can try him, maybe he is good enough. Also as a guy who plays him in other decks Id say being an artifact is another disadvantage.
Im pretty sure to play Collected Company your deck should be able to cast it t3 consistently or have some disruption or incorporate some combo to win t4 with it. And better two of three or more. Otherwise you set yourself for a loss like in Slivers or Shamans: no reliable way to play it t3 to win t4 mean you just too slow for format. Though it can be used as anti-wrath tech.
I use two-of Atarka's Command, they are solid given we have a lot of creatures and almost no disruption and we need to win fast. It helps boost our squishy creatures and highers our count of t4 goldfish wins.
G Green Stompy
RG Shamans
UB Mill
UG Infect
WUBRG Slivers!
Here is the list I played before.
// CoCo Shamans
// 30 Creature
4 Rage Forger
4 Flamekin Harbinger
4 Elvish Visionary
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
3 Bosk Banneret
2 Simian Spirit Guide
4 Spikeshot Elder
3 Metallic Mimic
2 Eternal Witness
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Collected Company
// 22 Land
2 Forest
4 Cavern of Souls
2 Stomping Ground
4 Wooded Foothills
1 Mountain
2 Pendelhaven
3 Windswept Heath
4 Copperline Gorge
1 Tormod's Crypt
3 Sentinel Totem
2 Reclamation Sage
4 Fulminator Mage
2 Alpine Moon
2 Dismember
1 Guttural Response
As I've said before, this deck really just wants a Shaman mana dork to bring it the next level.
MODERN: Pure Pili-ness GU // Red Devotion RR // Green Devotion Variants GRWUG // U/G Emerge CGU // Lots and Lots of Brews BGRUWC
4 Wooded Foothills
2 Cavern of Souls
3 Forest
1 Mountain
3 Stomping Grounds
1 Pendelhaven
1 Kessig Wolf-Run
1 Windswept heath
4 Collected Company
4 Lightning Bolt
2 Nissa, Voice of Zendikar
2 Eternal Witness
3 Flamekin Harbinger
1 Fauna Shaman
4 Elvish Visionary
4 Bosk Banneret
2 Burning-Tree Shaman
1 Reclamation Sage
1 Loaming Shaman
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
2 Metallic Mimic
1 Firemantle Shaman
1 Fulminator Mage
2x Loaming Shaman
3x Fulminator Mage
2x Reclamation Sage
3x Dismember
2x Experimental Frenzy
3x Essence Warden
I like Nissa, Voice of Zendikar to provide extra counters essentially as well as make Birds more viable a component.
MODERN: Pure Pili-ness GU // Red Devotion RR // Green Devotion Variants GRWUG // U/G Emerge CGU // Lots and Lots of Brews BGRUWC
The problem I have with Tilonalli's Skinshifter is the fact that it is good in only 1 situation: if you copy Rage Forger. Other than that, it doesn't feel good to play. Most of the creatures in the deck have ETB effects which it misses, and there aren't any good enough effects to copy. So it just has haste and gets to copy your largest creature, which is probably a 2/2 or a 3/3.
when you declare attackers Tilonalli's Skinshifter is not a Rage Forger, so he wont trigger damage from counters
enters the battlefield ability wont trigger either because Tilonalli's Skinshifter enters as Tilonalli's Skinshifter, not Rage Forger
G Green Stompy
RG Shamans
UB Mill
UG Infect
WUBRG Slivers!
I have quite a bit of hope for Allegiance if this is how we're starting. We haven't even seen a single Gruul card yet either!
This deck cant race t3 kills (aside from miracle Burning-Tree Emissary multichains), it wont able to race t4 kills consistently if you pick a list other than mine8)
G Green Stompy
RG Shamans
UB Mill
UG Infect
WUBRG Slivers!
CoCo Shamans
// 30 Creature
4 Rage Forger
4 Flamekin Harbinger
4 Elvish Visionary
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
3 Bosk Banneret
2 Simian Spirit Guide
4 Spikeshot Elder
3 Metallic Mimic
2 Eternal Witness
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Collected Company
// 22 Land
2 Forest
4 Cavern of Souls
2 Stomping Ground
4 Wooded Foothills
1 Mountain
2 Pendelhaven
3 Windswept Heath
4 Copperline Gorge
1 Tormod's Crypt
3 Sentinel Totem
2 Reclamation Sage
4 Fulminator Mage
2 Alpine Moon
2 Dismember
1 Guttural Response
A list similar to this is the only list I've seen that did well at a decently large tournament. I think it had around 100 players and top 8'd iirc.
This result was a while ago though. If you want to play tribal, Humans or Spirits are your best bet. This deck is perhaps faster, but less disruptive than the aforementioned. Hopefully a 1 drop Shaman mana dork is printed, because that's what Shamans wants the most. Perhaps a another sweet 3 mana elemental to fetch with Flamekin Harbinger as well.
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And the list below is the other list I also used to play. Both are the two best lists I have seen.
Shaman Storm
// 34 Creature
4 Rage Forger
4 Flamekin Harbinger
4 Elvish Visionary
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
4 Bosk Banneret
4 Simian Spirit Guide
4 Beastcaller Savant
1 Scavenging Ooze
1 Selfless Spirit
4 Experiment One
4 Chord of Calling
4 Manamorphose
// 18 Land
1 Forest
3 Cavern of Souls
4 Stomping Ground
4 Wooded Foothills
4 Misty Rainforest
1 Temple Garden
1 Mountain
1 Reclamation Sage
1 Stigma Lasher
1 Ingot Chewer
1 Loaming Shaman
1 Disciple of Griselbrand
1 Kataki, War's Wage
1 Phyrexian Revoker
3 Essence Warden
1 Magus of the Moon
1 Burning-Tree Shaman
2 Fulminator Mage
1 Burrenton Forge-Tender
This is is maybe more fun to play. Can have some extremely explosive hands.
MODERN: Pure Pili-ness GU // Red Devotion RR // Green Devotion Variants GRWUG // U/G Emerge CGU // Lots and Lots of Brews BGRUWC
It doesnt sacrifice consistency for speed, yet its fast
G Green Stompy
RG Shamans
UB Mill
UG Infect
WUBRG Slivers!
Simian Spirit Guide increases inconsistency and is a card disadvantage while giving little extra win percentage. Lets be honest, modern is good at disrupting creature decks and going all in aggro with a deck thats bad at it (not like Burn or Affinity) is not a good plan.
No way to consistently cast Collected Company t3 mean little t4 wins, so lists with Collected Company are slow. Provided Shamans have very little disruption (Lightning Bolts) its just a path to loss.
Chord of Calling doesnt provide toolbox value here, we just want to put Rage Forger into play. Sadly there are no consistent ways to cast it t3 to attack for lethal t4. Also there are no consistent ways to cast it t4 and attack for lethal the same turn.
There is Burning-Tree Shaman in my list that was remotely ok when it could deal damage to planeswalkers after they activate loyalty or fetch but its weak now. I didnt actively search for replacement but maybe another Experiment One and Atarka's Command. Another possibilities Metallic Mimic, Adaptive Automaton or some meta call like Scavenging Ooze, Dismember or Mutagenic Growth
G Green Stompy
RG Shamans
UB Mill
UG Infect
WUBRG Slivers!