Hi, I just found out about this deck and i got interested in building it.
How important are the noble hierarchs in the deck? Does it make much difference to use Avacyn's Pilgrim instead?
Thanks.
Noble Hierarch isn't too terribly important. Losing Exalted and the ability to generate Blue for Incongruity will come up occasionally but most games you shouldn't notice. I'm not sure if Llanowar Elves or Pilgrim is better? You do sometimes need double White for Shalai kills and Gideon, but the deck is definitely base Green. I'd probably just go with Elves personally.
Many feel the KCI banning will reduce the amount of artifact hate in the meta. As a result, previously suppressed artifact decks may rise again. Hardened Scales will be miserable and traditional Affinity is not much better. Wedging Linvala into the sideboard (also stops the new Vannifar decks) is the obvious solution, but what do we cut for her?
Also, I'm expecting a decrease in graveyard hate, so Postmortem Lunge may be better than ever.
I found that we're favourable against both hardened scales and affinity, the only issue is walking ballista with scales/ravager and the other games should be pretty easy if you can at least present the combo on turn 4/5 since we can even chump with our birds if they have an inkmoth kill. Post side the biggest issue is grafdiggers so it depends on how many deputy of detention/koa you play.
I found that we're favourable against both hardened scales and affinity, the only issue is walking ballista with scales/ravager and the other games should be pretty easy if you can at least present the combo on turn 4/5 since we can even chump with our birds if they have an inkmoth kill. Post side the biggest issue is grafdiggers so it depends on how many deputy of detention/koa you play.
That's good to hear! I suppose my SB Phyrexian Revoker will be sufficient then.
I'm honestly not sure how I feel about Deputy of Detention. In the matchups where I would really want it, it just gets killed constantly. Maybe I'm thinking about it wrong. In which matchups do you all intend to bring in Deputy?
Just switched to this deck in preparation for GP Toronto. Loving how fast it is as people switch back to their Trons etc after the KCI ban. Incubation is really exciting. Definitely cutting the stonys from the board rn with the banning, as Hardened seems too slow to contest unless they are lucky and Tron is in the same boat. Looking at maybe running a list like this
The singleton Sin Collector has been sticking out to me, doesn't seem worth it. What has the opinion been on Worship? Been having trouble with Burn, not sure if thats the solution or if Spellskite will be enough. Stuck in a league rn with an old list can't wait to finish it and try out stuff (like Incubation).
What has the opinion been on Worship? Been having trouble with Burn, not sure if thats the solution or if Spellskite will be enough. Stuck in a league rn with an old list can't wait to finish it and try out stuff (like Incubation).
Worship is a 4 mana spell that doesn't win the game. Given that our deck plays mostly flimsy creatures that are constantly killed by Burn, I personally think Worship is a no-go. However, there are lists that play it (http://tcdecks.net/deck.php?id=29425&iddeck=245573) and I don't know if we reject it outright should Phoenix continue to be a contender (though Thing in the Ice definitely crushes Worship).
If you read through the thread so far, you'll see Burn discussed quite a bit. Success against Burn requires a strategy that is unusual for us. Normally we sideboard lightly and lean on the raw speed and consistency of the deck. Against Burn, we oversideboard. Instead of being a combo deck with some hate cards, we're a deck that tries to not lose to Burn with a combo in it. Sideboarding-out card choice priorities are shifted and the post-board games should be played in accordance.
What has the opinion been on Worship? Been having trouble with Burn, not sure if thats the solution or if Spellskite will be enough. Stuck in a league rn with an old list can't wait to finish it and try out stuff (like Incubation).
Worship is a 4 mana spell that doesn't win the game. Given that our deck plays mostly flimsy creatures that are constantly killed by Burn, I personally think Worship is a no-go. However, there are lists that play it (http://tcdecks.net/deck.php?id=29425&iddeck=245573) and I don't know if we reject it outright should Phoenix continue to be a contender (though Thing in the Ice definitely crushes Worship).
If you read through the thread so far, you'll see Burn discussed quite a bit. Success against Burn requires a strategy that is unusual for us. Normally we sideboard lightly and lean on the raw speed and consistency of the deck. Against Burn, we oversideboard. Instead of being a combo deck with some hate cards, we're a deck that tries to not lose to Burn with a combo in it. Sideboarding-out card choice priorities are shifted and the post-board games should be played in accordance.
Yeah, my bad on the burn stuff, posted without fully reading the thread. All caught up now haha.
Worship does seem like a reach, was def wondering about it since the other lists have been running it.
Worship does seem like a reach, was def wondering about it since the other lists have been running it.
I'm experimenting with going hard on Shalai. Currently 3 in the 75, although positions are shifting. Works wonderfully against all the control and midrange in my local meta (even frustrates tempo decks). Shalai happens to be a 4 mana card that is fully viable against Burn (like Worship) BUT has the added benefit of being fetched via Eldritch Evolution on a 2cmc creature!
So last night's testing with Shalai was pretty conclusive. She is everything we want, but wicked expensive. I'm going back to 1 Shalai MD, 1 Spellskite MD, 1 Shalai SB, and have an open slot for midrange hate. It may end up being another Spellskite.
It "protects" from boardwipes but has the issue that the druid comes back summoning sick, meaning that a savvy player can kill your druid on upkeep if you have a saffi out. This is also an issue which comes up when we face Eldrazi Displacer for example. Saffi also dies to bolt which Skite dodges so I think it's just inferior in this iteration, if we were to include a mix of Rallier/Finks/Seer Saffis value would go up alot but we don't have that many flex slots.
I have been playing alot of Arena lately and less modern, how has the blue splash and incubation/incongruity been performing?
Between their removal and discard, I have not been able to reliably cast 4 drops against Death's Shadow. But I'm definitely low on reps for that matchup.
If Protection from black is what you're after, I'd prefer a Chameleon Colossus which can also serve as a kill with our combo.
But still, 4cmc is a lot.
If Protection from black is what you're after, I'd prefer a Chameleon Colossus which can also serve as a kill with our combo.
But still, 4cmc is a lot.
Hm I'd never considered that Colossus is a mana sink. The main reason I play Mystic Enforcer is just that Threshold is usually a given in matchups you want the slot and I've valued evasion and a body that can block Goyf more. I'll have to consider how often I'm in a spot where I have the slot on the field with Druid and Vizier but no mana sink. Seems a little rare given combo'ing in those matchups is pretty tough, but something to think about for sure.
I'm going with Chameleon Colossus, but the mana sink is a fringe benefit at best. The most important points for me are a lack of graveyard dependence (you may be able to rely on Threshold vs GDS, but Jund and Rock have a plethora of GY hate) and being unboltable (Mystic Enforcer can be bolted before Threshold comes on).
I'm going to a 1k tomorrow. Here's what I'm bringing. Feedback appreciated:
My maindeck is pretty firm. In the sideboard, I'm considering cutting Phyrexian Revoker. Its bonkers good against Hardened Scales, regular Affinity, and Gx Tron. It's above average against Jace decks and Engineered Explosives decks.
But its weak in the other matchups where it would technically be relevant (Jund/Rock and Humans/Spirits). Also, its best application (KCI) is now banned. Knight of Autumn would most likely go in that slot. A second Disenchant effect would be nice and the lifegain is certainly welcome against Burn. On the other hand, shutting off UW Control's Jace-sets-up-Terminus shenanigans and Hardened Scales' Walking Ballistas is a huge deal. And more pointedly, I have much fewer highly effective sideboard cards for those than I do for Burn.
I think the second Eidolon is overkill and the Riftsweeper is too cute, you could free up two precious sideboard slots for either value which you are lacking or another unique and more impactful bullet like Magus. Without KCI in the format Eidolon rarely gets boarded in and often a Shalai/Spellskite represents an additional Eidolon once you have the first one out. V Storm for example a Shalai is even better than Eidolon #2 due to Echoing Truth.
This entirely depends on your expected meta though.
List looks fine to me @mirrislegend. Good luck in your event!
I ended up playing the list from last page last night in a big FNM. I saw a field of Phoenix and URx after round one and was thinking I should have maybe played Eldrazi Stompy instead. I end up playing against a bunch of weird decks instead.
R1 Eldrazi Tron
An ideal matchup, minimal disruption and a slower clock.
Game one I open on Druid, Vizier, Duskwatch. My opponent plays Chalice, I cast Druid, he T3 TKS me to see double Vizier, Duskwatch, Chord. Oh buddy, he scoops.
I board in Deputy and Knight of Autumn, taking out Shalai and Witness. I keep a hand with T1 dork, T2 Evolution. My opponent casts T1 Grafdigger's Cage and I draw into more tutors.
Game 3 I board in the Pridemage. My opponent is stuck on T2 lands and attempts to Eldrazi Charm exile my Druid. We both don't do much, him discarding eventually and me popping Canopies. I eventually find Lunge for the win.
R2 UW Thopter Gifts
Not a huge fan of this matchup. Combo control can be tough, but maybe a little better for us than standard control. Less slots on disruption, but they do close the game faster. This deck packs Paths, Remands, Wraths, and Unburial Rites Elesh Norn to disrupt us.
Game one I remember cast Druid on my T3 after finding it with Incubation. My two dorks, Druid, and Dryad Arbor get swept by a wrath and I get swarmed by Thopters.
I bring in a Spellskite and take out an Evolution. Game two goes on for a bit with me Chording on EoT for Druid and not doing much into open mana. My opponent on 5 lands casts Search for Azcanta, pass, I cast Vizier, he counters, I Rallier her back for the win. Opponent tells me they had Muddle and maybe shouldn't have tapped down. Whoops.
Game 3 I play T2 Druid, he Paths, I kill it. I get a Druid in play turn twos later and a second Path is met with a Lunge to combo.
R3 UW Emeria
I'm assuming this is a Saffron Olive deck or something, I seem to face it every once in a while. This bizarre deck looks to beat seemingly nothing good.
Game my Druid is Path'd, I kill it. I evolve a dork into Druid, a Vizier is countered by Ojutai's Command, I Lunge it back for the win.
I bring in a couple answers to enchants, taking out Ballista and Witness. Game two my opponent is stuck on 2 Ghost Quarters and I present a Druid on T3. He rips colored mana and he Paths it. I Lunge for the win next turn. We play a third game for fun and I similarly combo early easily through disruption.
R4 Sultai Wilderness Reclamation
The new jank hotness that lets you play EDH in Modern. Another combo control deck with Pushs, countermagic, and a glacially slow finish where you're probably dead to rights but have to play it out usually over a couple turns. I've tested against it earlier in the week and it's better than it looks, but pretty dependent about drawing Reclamation in certain matchups where playing a control style deck is a mistake.
I lose game one as my opponent answers Druid twice and I die a slow painful death as I try to beat down with Rallier and Ballista and only manage to hit them to around 4 before they chain turns and BSZ me for my deck.
I board in a Pridemage, taking out Evolution. Game two I cast Druid on two and it's Logic Knotted. I Rallier it back on my turn, they spend their turn killing Druid and I Lunge it back to kill them T4.
Game three I cast Druid on two, untap and cast Vizier into open mana, opponent kills Druid, I use the remaining three mana to Witness back Druid. I cast Druid next turn into Remand, then recast it. Opponent Cryptic bounces Druid on their turn, I untap and cast two Druids. They Teachings for Push and kill Vizer. I untap and Lunge back Vizier for the win.
I found myself leaning hard on the main and sideboarding lightly. Druid Evolution sort of plays like Infect in my experience and I prefer to stay as streamlined as possible. I really only move in the beatdown plan as a transformative gameplan vs URx and BGx. Interesting event overall. Certainly shows the variety you'll face in this format.
Well, I did terribly. Looking back, it was clear that I had forgotten one of the biggest lessons of this deck: we're playing a very focused combo deck and it needs to be piloted with that constantly in mind. I didn't mulligan aggressively nor did I sequence with a possible quick combo in mind. I played fair far too much. Also, I flooded out MANY games. Incredibly frustrating. I'm considering adding an 8th fetchland or buying into Horizon Canopies 3 and 4 to hopefully mitigate that in the future.
Right before the event I switched the MD Spellskite and the SB Shalai. After some pondering I had realized that the only time I really need the proactive protection of Spellskite are instances where I can expect any removal on Druid to be followed up by graveyard hate before (or in response to) Postmortem Lunge. The primary culprit for that is GBx Midrange, which is drastically over-represented in my FNM meta, thus leading to my MD Spellskite. In a more diverse field, 2 Shalai MD is definitely right.
I think the second Eidolon is overkill and the Riftsweeper is too cute, you could free up two precious sideboard slots for either value which you are lacking or another unique and more impactful bullet like Magus. Without KCI in the format Eidolon rarely gets boarded in and often a Shalai/Spellskite represents an additional Eidolon once you have the first one out. V Storm for example a Shalai is even better than Eidolon #2 due to Echoing Truth.
I generally agree with you on Eidolon. I decided to stick with 2 due to Phoenix. Mono-Red Phoenix is forced to Lightning Axe or bust. U/R Phoenix is stuck with TitI, which was already the primary threat to us in that matchup (ie: we save Path for TitI). With Eidolon to slow them down and Path for TitI, you should have enough time to combo off before Pyromancer's Ascendancy or Crackling Drake ruin your day.
Going back to the top of my post: we're a combo deck. Turning creatures sideways does not win the game. Surgical Extraction is GG. I don't want to lose to that. I'll admit that Riftsweeper is cute but I'm pretty firm on it, at least until a really good argument sways me.
What do you suggest for value cards in the SB?
I like your suggestion of Magus (of the Moon, I'm assuming). UWx Control, Jund, and Eldrazi Tron are rough matchups where Magus of the Moon would definitely be worthwhile. Is it worthwhile to cut the Breeding Pool (for casting Incongruity) for a Stomping Grounds to play Magus? Can anyone weigh in on Incongruity? How often have you cast it? How relevant has it been? It has done nothing for me so far.
I definitely like 3 Canopies. It can be painful, especially with a Rallier manabase, but it's very powerful to have redraws in a combo deck. I'd sooner play 4 than 2.
I did find Eidolon to be very annoying to deal with when playing UR Phoenix against Druid Evolution. I lost a game where an Eidolon came down early and later a Shalai to pump the team and just punish my army of Pyromancer tokens hard. It could be right for me to play one, but I tend to dislike how these effects slow me down or nonbo with my cards.
Is Eldrazi Tron giving you trouble? Decks that primarily interact with a few pieces of removal with a slower clock tend to feel favored for me.
Is Eldrazi Tron giving you trouble? Decks that primarily interact with a few pieces of removal with a slower clock tend to feel favored for me.
I treat any deck with 4x Walking Ballista as highly dangerous!
What's a Rallier version look like for this deck? It's pretty easy to design and build in the CoCo shell, but I don't see available slots in Druid Evolution.
Is Eldrazi Tron giving you trouble? Decks that primarily interact with a few pieces of removal with a slower clock tend to feel favored for me.
I treat any deck with 4x Walking Ballista as highly dangerous!
What's a Rallier version look like for this deck? It's pretty easy to design and build in the CoCo shell, but I don't see available slots in Druid Evolution.
I am forgetting that a Ballista on 3 can just lock us out game one, and demand an answer in postboard. That card can be tricky, but with 2 or 3 slots in the board to answer it, Ballista can be more a roadblock. Bare in mind that E Tron isn't consistent at hitting Tron early, so the T3 Tron, Ballista on 3 games are not too common. Ideally our goldfish speed can force that to be the type of draw they need.
Rallier is more just a one-of I play in the flex slot you have Skite. I mentioned "Rallier manabase" because it makes it so Razorverge slots turn into fetches — I have 10 total — so the damage can add up quickly, making you feel the Canopies more. If you do not play a bunch of fetches, it definitely seems like a mistake to go below 3 Canopy. I'd personally go for the full 4 myself with Razorverges in the deck. A 12 dork combo deck is the ideal place to get greedy with Canopy. That said, with Burn rising a lot in popularity, sticking to 3 in Lava Spike heavy metagames is a good idea.
I will freely admit I tend to slant aggressively towards more copies of Canopy than typical though. I was playing a full set in Mono White D&T a while before that became the norm, I certainly wasn't the guy shaking in my boots about Blood Moon when the Humans community was stuck on fetches or Canopy in flex slots, and I'd probably be the Junk player with a one-of in their list.
I just view the card as the most powerful land in the format. Unconditional ETB untapped duals are already high on power level, Canopy decks tend to struggle in matchups that come down to a battle of card advantage, and it allows for playing a safer number of lands without getting punished. I like to think back to salt mine opponents who flip their top card after they lose and say "WOW YOU WERE DEAD IF I DREW THIS" and think that Canopy allows for drawing that card.
Rallier is more just a one-of I play in the flex slot you have Skite. I mentioned "Rallier manabase" because it makes it so Razorverge slots turn into fetches — I have 10 total — so the damage can add up quickly, making you feel the Canopies more. If you do not play a bunch of fetches, it definitely seems like a mistake to go below 3 Canopy. I'd personally go for the full 4 myself with Razorverges in the deck. A 12 dork combo deck is the ideal place to get greedy with Canopy. That said, with Burn rising a lot in popularity, sticking to 3 in Lava Spike heavy metagames is a good idea.
Rallier seems like a reason to play even more Canopies!
How important are the noble hierarchs in the deck? Does it make much difference to use Avacyn's Pilgrim instead?
Thanks.
I found that we're favourable against both hardened scales and affinity, the only issue is walking ballista with scales/ravager and the other games should be pretty easy if you can at least present the combo on turn 4/5 since we can even chump with our birds if they have an inkmoth kill. Post side the biggest issue is grafdiggers so it depends on how many deputy of detention/koa you play.
I'm honestly not sure how I feel about Deputy of Detention. In the matchups where I would really want it, it just gets killed constantly. Maybe I'm thinking about it wrong. In which matchups do you all intend to bring in Deputy?
Legacy: Strawberry Shortcake, Aggro Loam, DnT+b
Modern: Devoted Karn
Vintage: Survival
4 Chord of Calling
4 Incubation // Incongruity
4 Devoted Druid
1 Dryad Arbor
3 Duskwatch Recruiter
4 Eldritch Evolution
1 Eternal Witness
2 Forest
3 Horizon Canopy
4 Noble Hierarch
1 Overgrown Tomb
1 Plains
4 Postmortem Lunge
3 Razorverge Thicket
2 Shalai, Voice of Plenty
2 Temple Garden
3 Verdant Catacombs
4 Vizier of Remedies
1 Walking Ballista
4 Windswept Heath
1 Breeding Pool
1 Eidolon of Rhetoric
1 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
1 Knight of Autumn
3 Path to Exile
1 Scavenging Ooze
1 Spellskite
1 Sin Collector
1 Meddling Mage
3 Tireless Tracker
The singleton Sin Collector has been sticking out to me, doesn't seem worth it. What has the opinion been on Worship? Been having trouble with Burn, not sure if thats the solution or if Spellskite will be enough. Stuck in a league rn with an old list can't wait to finish it and try out stuff (like Incubation).
If you read through the thread so far, you'll see Burn discussed quite a bit. Success against Burn requires a strategy that is unusual for us. Normally we sideboard lightly and lean on the raw speed and consistency of the deck. Against Burn, we oversideboard. Instead of being a combo deck with some hate cards, we're a deck that tries to not lose to Burn with a combo in it. Sideboarding-out card choice priorities are shifted and the post-board games should be played in accordance.
Legacy: Strawberry Shortcake, Aggro Loam, DnT+b
Modern: Devoted Karn
Vintage: Survival
Yeah, my bad on the burn stuff, posted without fully reading the thread. All caught up now haha.
Worship does seem like a reach, was def wondering about it since the other lists have been running it.
Legacy: Strawberry Shortcake, Aggro Loam, DnT+b
Modern: Devoted Karn
Vintage: Survival
So last night's testing with Shalai was pretty conclusive. She is everything we want, but wicked expensive. I'm going back to 1 Shalai MD, 1 Spellskite MD, 1 Shalai SB, and have an open slot for midrange hate. It may end up being another Spellskite.
Legacy: Strawberry Shortcake, Aggro Loam, DnT+b
Modern: Devoted Karn
Vintage: Survival
Legacy: Strawberry Shortcake, Aggro Loam, DnT+b
Modern: Devoted Karn
Vintage: Survival
I have been playing alot of Arena lately and less modern, how has the blue splash and incubation/incongruity been performing?
My Incubation//Incongruitys are in the mail. Fingers crossed they get here in time for FNM.
Legacy: Strawberry Shortcake, Aggro Loam, DnT+b
Modern: Devoted Karn
Vintage: Survival
Legacy: Strawberry Shortcake, Aggro Loam, DnT+b
Modern: Devoted Karn
Vintage: Survival
But still, 4cmc is a lot.
I'm going to a 1k tomorrow. Here's what I'm bringing. Feedback appreciated:
4 Birds of Paradise
4 Devoted Druid
4 Vizier of Remedies
3 Duskwatch Recruiter
1 Spellskite
1 Eternal Witness
1 Shalai
1 Walking Ballista
4 Incubation//Incongruity
4 Chord of Calling
4 Eldritch Evolution
4 Postmortem Lunge
3 Verdant Catacombs
2 Temple Garden
1 Breeding Pool
4 Forest
1 Plains
1 Dryad Arbor
2 Horizon Canopy
3 Razorverge Thicket
3 Path to Exile
2 Burrenton Forgetender
2 Scavenging Ooze
2 Eidolon of Rhetoric
1 Shalai
1 Chameleon Colossus
1 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
1 Qasali Pridemage
1 Phyrexian Revoker
1 Riftsweeper
My maindeck is pretty firm. In the sideboard, I'm considering cutting Phyrexian Revoker. Its bonkers good against Hardened Scales, regular Affinity, and Gx Tron. It's above average against Jace decks and Engineered Explosives decks.
But its weak in the other matchups where it would technically be relevant (Jund/Rock and Humans/Spirits). Also, its best application (KCI) is now banned. Knight of Autumn would most likely go in that slot. A second Disenchant effect would be nice and the lifegain is certainly welcome against Burn. On the other hand, shutting off UW Control's Jace-sets-up-Terminus shenanigans and Hardened Scales' Walking Ballistas is a huge deal. And more pointedly, I have much fewer highly effective sideboard cards for those than I do for Burn.
Thoughts? Input?
Legacy: Strawberry Shortcake, Aggro Loam, DnT+b
Modern: Devoted Karn
Vintage: Survival
This entirely depends on your expected meta though.
I ended up playing the list from last page last night in a big FNM. I saw a field of Phoenix and URx after round one and was thinking I should have maybe played Eldrazi Stompy instead. I end up playing against a bunch of weird decks instead. I found myself leaning hard on the main and sideboarding lightly. Druid Evolution sort of plays like Infect in my experience and I prefer to stay as streamlined as possible. I really only move in the beatdown plan as a transformative gameplan vs URx and BGx. Interesting event overall. Certainly shows the variety you'll face in this format.
Right before the event I switched the MD Spellskite and the SB Shalai. After some pondering I had realized that the only time I really need the proactive protection of Spellskite are instances where I can expect any removal on Druid to be followed up by graveyard hate before (or in response to) Postmortem Lunge. The primary culprit for that is GBx Midrange, which is drastically over-represented in my FNM meta, thus leading to my MD Spellskite. In a more diverse field, 2 Shalai MD is definitely right.
I generally agree with you on Eidolon. I decided to stick with 2 due to Phoenix. Mono-Red Phoenix is forced to Lightning Axe or bust. U/R Phoenix is stuck with TitI, which was already the primary threat to us in that matchup (ie: we save Path for TitI). With Eidolon to slow them down and Path for TitI, you should have enough time to combo off before Pyromancer's Ascendancy or Crackling Drake ruin your day.
Going back to the top of my post: we're a combo deck. Turning creatures sideways does not win the game. Surgical Extraction is GG. I don't want to lose to that. I'll admit that Riftsweeper is cute but I'm pretty firm on it, at least until a really good argument sways me.
What do you suggest for value cards in the SB?
I like your suggestion of Magus (of the Moon, I'm assuming). UWx Control, Jund, and Eldrazi Tron are rough matchups where Magus of the Moon would definitely be worthwhile. Is it worthwhile to cut the Breeding Pool (for casting Incongruity) for a Stomping Grounds to play Magus? Can anyone weigh in on Incongruity? How often have you cast it? How relevant has it been? It has done nothing for me so far.
Legacy: Strawberry Shortcake, Aggro Loam, DnT+b
Modern: Devoted Karn
Vintage: Survival
I definitely like 3 Canopies. It can be painful, especially with a Rallier manabase, but it's very powerful to have redraws in a combo deck. I'd sooner play 4 than 2.
I did find Eidolon to be very annoying to deal with when playing UR Phoenix against Druid Evolution. I lost a game where an Eidolon came down early and later a Shalai to pump the team and just punish my army of Pyromancer tokens hard. It could be right for me to play one, but I tend to dislike how these effects slow me down or nonbo with my cards.
Is Eldrazi Tron giving you trouble? Decks that primarily interact with a few pieces of removal with a slower clock tend to feel favored for me.
I treat any deck with 4x Walking Ballista as highly dangerous!
What's a Rallier version look like for this deck? It's pretty easy to design and build in the CoCo shell, but I don't see available slots in Druid Evolution.
Legacy: Strawberry Shortcake, Aggro Loam, DnT+b
Modern: Devoted Karn
Vintage: Survival
Rallier is more just a one-of I play in the flex slot you have Skite. I mentioned "Rallier manabase" because it makes it so Razorverge slots turn into fetches — I have 10 total — so the damage can add up quickly, making you feel the Canopies more. If you do not play a bunch of fetches, it definitely seems like a mistake to go below 3 Canopy. I'd personally go for the full 4 myself with Razorverges in the deck. A 12 dork combo deck is the ideal place to get greedy with Canopy. That said, with Burn rising a lot in popularity, sticking to 3 in Lava Spike heavy metagames is a good idea.
I will freely admit I tend to slant aggressively towards more copies of Canopy than typical though. I was playing a full set in Mono White D&T a while before that became the norm, I certainly wasn't the guy shaking in my boots about Blood Moon when the Humans community was stuck on fetches or Canopy in flex slots, and I'd probably be the Junk player with a one-of in their list.
I just view the card as the most powerful land in the format. Unconditional ETB untapped duals are already high on power level, Canopy decks tend to struggle in matchups that come down to a battle of card advantage, and it allows for playing a safer number of lands without getting punished. I like to think back to salt mine opponents who flip their top card after they lose and say "WOW YOU WERE DEAD IF I DREW THIS" and think that Canopy allows for drawing that card.
Legacy: Strawberry Shortcake, Aggro Loam, DnT+b
Modern: Devoted Karn
Vintage: Survival