Also, with Rhonas being an alternative to Kessig, Blood Moon is slightly more appealing.
Dunno why I didn't think of this. It isn't THAT much more mana... and it is often going to be good enough too. Especially with BM making their day sad.
Upon further reflection, I think Rhonas will eventually find a home in devotion, however I don't think he will play a large role. Rather, I see him as a support character that you can fetch with Chord for overrun purposes. Like other cards with activated abilities, I feel like taking time off to use them goes against the general flow of a devotion deck. Our primary game plan is to develop a boardstate in the first few turns, so using abilities really feels slow to me.
I'm guessing this is where people will land after playing multiples of him. I'd be happy to be proven wrong though!
As for Nissa, she looks super dope. Maybe a chance to bring back value U/G devotion?
The newly spoiled Harvest Season could potentially find a home here methinks. It lowers the vulnerability of our creature-based ramp by finding some forests. What do you guys think?
Rough translation:
Corcery 2G. search for up to X basic land cards from your library and put them onto the battlefield tapped, shuffle your library. X equal to number of tapped creature you control
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
I think it's easier to get Rhonas' body online, which makes him better. Also, the activated ability costs 1 less and his Cc is 1 less too, plus he has death touch. So yes, I think the card is strictly better.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Always wear protection kids, sleeve up your deck.
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
Nylean also gets animated with some Utopia Sprawl/Oath of Nissa and mana dorks on board and grants trample to the team (I'm not sure how relevant it is though) and can pump himself.
I think Harvest Season is a fun, combo-centric card that can be wildly powerfull... i'm not sure it fits with us though, as we are extremely permanent-based and it is a lot of hoops ( you have to have the creatures, they have to be tapped, etc.). I just feel like if I have three or more creatures already in play that I most likely don't need the three Forests.... that, and I only play six basic Forests to begin with :). Very powerful card...just feels like it would not fit in current Devotion decks.
I look at Rhonas as a one of potential finisher card. I agree that it is more of a toolbox card that we should likely only play 1-of (for its powerful mana sink ability).
The more I play with Nissa...the more I love it....so versatile. So powerful. I'm using her ultimate WAY more than I thought; but a 10-damage out of nowhere with evasion for this deck ends a vast majority of games.
Another card that interests me that has yet to be spoiled is heart-piercer masticore....having and ETB "Fling" effect with something like a huge Genesis Hydra can be extremely powerful...I'm interested to see how it's costed (as right now we just have it's token).
I think Harvest Season is a fun, combo-centric card that can be wildly powerfull... i'm not sure it fits with us though, as we are extremely permanent-based and it is a lot of hoops ( you have to have the creatures, they have to be tapped, etc.). I just feel like if I have three or more creatures already in play that I most likely don't need the three Forests.... that, and I only play six basic Forests to begin with :). Very powerful card...just feels like it would not fit in current Devotion decks.
I look at Rhonas as a one of potential finisher card. I agree that it is more of a toolbox card that we should likely only play 1-of (for its powerful mana sink ability).
The more I play with Nissa...the more I love it....so versatile. So powerful. I'm using her ultimate WAY more than I thought; but a 10-damage out of nowhere with evasion for this deck ends a vast majority of games.
Another card that interests me that has yet to be spoiled is heart-piercer masticore....having and ETB "Fling" effect with something like a huge Genesis Hydra can be extremely powerful...I'm interested to see how it's costed (as right now we just have it's token).
Here is Heart-Piercer Masticore (will post picture when I get back home)...seems like a cool option for removal/direct damage with big creatures on board....unfortunately it won't work with Hydra ( as the masticore would enter before the Hydra)
I think Nissa is going to be REALLY good for us. I am hoping everyone else keeps thinking she is dumb. I wanna pick up promos
Me too! Granted, she seems like she fits best in a ramp deck full of creatures...so she may be more narrow than initially thought...but the X cost and ability to just scry until her ult makes her pretty darn versatile too. We just happen to be in the best spot to take advantage of all of her abilities...but the fact that she can be cast at 3-CMC, has a "globally good" +2 and ults easily for 10 damage....I think at minimum she'll see healthy standard play.
There's just nothing like her...Company decks may play her (as they generally use Courser, are heavy on creatures, and play efficient creatures that can be hit with her "0" even if she is only cast at 1-loyalty by her second turn in play)...Temur and/or Zoo decks play efficient creatures and lots of them...and even if you hit a land it's still ramp...it's one of those I think a lot of people will test (just because we don't really know exactly how it plays)...but in the end likely only a few decks will be able to really take advantage of her. Of them all, however; I think we have the potential to make/build the best deck for her in Modern
I certainly hope she keeps being as good as she has been thus far in testing against the "full gambit" save we call it (several matches against the top 12 decks in the meta). Only time will tell; but she looks great so far!
The new nissa doesn't seem great early because she can't protect herself and doesn't have much devotion.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Always wear protection kids, sleeve up your deck.
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
Working to see if Fauna Shaman can fill the "Chord" tutor-when needed portion of the deck (while allowing for the deck to be even more overwhelming). I'm playing a 1-of Vizier of the Menagerie but I'm not entirely certain it is needed...it is good with both Courser of Kruphix and Nissa, Steward of Elements though.
I'll let you know how it goes...I just really want to play this Nissa and make it work
Thus far, the combination of Courser, Nissa ES, and Vizier leads to some silly turns (where you play like 2-4 creatures/lands off the top of your deck). Between Visionary, Nissa ES, Courser, Fetch Lands, Fauna Shaman, Bellower, Duskwatch (if I can fit it in) and Selkie...there are a TON of ways to change the top of the deck to get to what I'm looking for...and often you can go "land off the top, creature off the top, land off the top" and essentially ramp and draw at the same time.
P.S. Just bought a Rhonas the Indomitable Invocation...it better be prettier in person than on the screen
Hello everyone, I've been a long time reader of this sub, having read since around pg 100 or so. I've only played one FNM with my build - I usually play draft and Commander - but I've watched plenty of Modern videos so I have a good idea of the meta, and have theorycrafted pretty much every single card everyone has thought of in this forum since pg 100.
Introduction aside, here's my current, theorycrafted build:
4 Courser - resistant to Bolt/Anger, helps filter the top of the deck, which is the plan I'm going for with this build
3 Genesis Hydra - LGS plays quite a bit of control, this slot is sort of a pet slot; I love the fact that you almost can't counter the cast trigger, so when X is large you can get pretty much anything you want. Notably, there are a lot of CMC =< 4 to take advantage of, but it doesn't hit "Nissa, SE" (and likewise)
2 Woodland Bellower - absolutely a pet card, and the reason I wanted to play this deck. My favourite decks to play are utility/toolbox decks. Won't be going lower than 1 in the decklist. Still waiting for that amazing green nonlegendary CMC =< 3 !
1 Dungrove Elder - Wanted a resistant beater that could be fetched with Bellower. I've seen Troll Ascetic rarely played, and although it acts like a mini Thrun and adds 2 to devotion, it's just a 3/2. I wouldn't mind cutting this slot
1 Tireless Tracker - The fact that this card makes a Clue instead of saying "Landfall - You may pay 2. If you do, draw a card and put a +1/+1 counter on Tireless Tracker" is, I believe, what makes this card soooo good. Played in Standard and Legacy (!), this has got to have a place in Bellower and CoCo lists (even if it is a "do-nothing" card when palyed on curve)
1 Joraga Treespeaker - Testing in place of a third Birds. Being able to have 5 mana turn 3 without a second mana dork/Sprawl seems good. Notably you can't play a turn 2 Nissa, SE with this card turn 1, so I might change it back to Birds if it is a big problem.
1 Vizier of the Menagerie - I theorycrafted 2, but for this build it doesn't seem like where I want to be. 2 seems to be a very good number for builds with lots of BTEs/Visionaries/2-drops. I don't think any build wants more than 2, unless Vizier is a "build-around".
2 Nissa, Steward of Elements - I don't know what the correct number of slots for this card is, but it can't be less than 2 otherwise it wouldn't be worth playing. I would also be extremely surprised if this card didn't fit into Devotion decks, as it does so much and can be played at any turn past the first. One of the reasons for 4 Coursers.
When did people stop playing Yavimaya Dryad? I saw it on pg 205 or so, and then it disappeared from people's decklists. It is fair to assume it wasn't pulling its weight?
I'd also like to know people's thoughts on Sarkhan Vol. I've been looking for a mana sink that pumps the team (as opposed to the single targeting Kessig/Nylea/Rhonas) and is also fetchable by Bellower, but the only card I've found is Selesnya Guildmage, a card that doesn't seem that good at all. Sarkhan Vol off a Genesis Hydra for the +1 ability seems insane, and the -2 in a pinch could definitely win some games.
Working to see if Fauna Shaman can fill the "Chord" tutor-when needed portion of the deck (while allowing for the deck to be even more overwhelming). I'm playing a 1-of Vizier of the Menagerie but I'm not entirely certain it is needed...it is good with both Courser of Kruphix and Nissa, Steward of Elements though.
I'll let you know how it goes...I just really want to play this Nissa and make it work
Thus far, the combination of Courser, Nissa ES, and Vizier leads to some silly turns (where you play like 2-4 creatures/lands off the top of your deck). Between Visionary, Nissa ES, Courser, Fetch Lands, Fauna Shaman, Bellower, Duskwatch (if I can fit it in) and Selkie...there are a TON of ways to change the top of the deck to get to what I'm looking for...and often you can go "land off the top, creature off the top, land off the top" and essentially ramp and draw at the same time.
P.S. Just bought a Rhonas the Indomitable Invocation...it better be prettier in person than on the screen
Could you spend a little more time discussing Nissa's strengths/weaknesses? How does she feel coming down early and late? Do you ever feel like you should cut down on Garruk's to make room for more creatures for her? Or do you think she's more of a supporting character and should be a 2-of, for example? How often do you want to see her? Do you think she kind of fills the Oath of Nissa slot?
Hello everyone, I've been a long time reader of this sub, having read since around pg 100 or so. I've only played one FNM with my build - I usually play draft and Commander - but I've watched plenty of Modern videos so I have a good idea of the meta, and have theorycrafted pretty much every single card everyone has thought of in this forum since pg 100.
Introduction aside, here's my current, theorycrafted build:
4 Courser - resistant to Bolt/Anger, helps filter the top of the deck, which is the plan I'm going for with this build
3 Genesis Hydra - LGS plays quite a bit of control, this slot is sort of a pet slot; I love the fact that you almost can't counter the cast trigger, so when X is large you can get pretty much anything you want. Notably, there are a lot of CMC =< 4 to take advantage of, but it doesn't hit "Nissa, SE" (and likewise)
2 Woodland Bellower - absolutely a pet card, and the reason I wanted to play this deck. My favourite decks to play are utility/toolbox decks. Won't be going lower than 1 in the decklist. Still waiting for that amazing green nonlegendary CMC =< 3 !
1 Dungrove Elder - Wanted a resistant beater that could be fetched with Bellower. I've seen Troll Ascetic rarely played, and although it acts like a mini Thrun and adds 2 to devotion, it's just a 3/2. I wouldn't mind cutting this slot
1 Tireless Tracker - The fact that this card makes a Clue instead of saying "Landfall - You may pay 2. If you do, draw a card and put a +1/+1 counter on Tireless Tracker" is, I believe, what makes this card soooo good. Played in Standard and Legacy (!), this has got to have a place in Bellower and CoCo lists (even if it is a "do-nothing" card when palyed on curve)
1 Joraga Treespeaker - Testing in place of a third Birds. Being able to have 5 mana turn 3 without a second mana dork/Sprawl seems good. Notably you can't play a turn 2 Nissa, SE with this card turn 1, so I might change it back to Birds if it is a big problem.
1 Vizier of the Menagerie - I theorycrafted 2, but for this build it doesn't seem like where I want to be. 2 seems to be a very good number for builds with lots of BTEs/Visionaries/2-drops. I don't think any build wants more than 2, unless Vizier is a "build-around".
2 Nissa, Steward of Elements - I don't know what the correct number of slots for this card is, but it can't be less than 2 otherwise it wouldn't be worth playing. I would also be extremely surprised if this card didn't fit into Devotion decks, as it does so much and can be played at any turn past the first. One of the reasons for 4 Coursers.
When did people stop playing Yavimaya Dryad? I saw it on pg 205 or so, and then it disappeared from people's decklists. It is fair to assume it wasn't pulling its weight?
I'd also like to know people's thoughts on Sarkhan Vol. I've been looking for a mana sink that pumps the team (as opposed to the single targeting Kessig/Nylea/Rhonas) and is also fetchable by Bellower, but the only card I've found is Selesnya Guildmage, a card that doesn't seem that good at all. Sarkhan Vol off a Genesis Hydra for the +1 ability seems insane, and the -2 in a pinch could definitely win some games.
This list looks great as a place to start! Welcome to the fold!
As for answering some of your questions, I don't think people have necessarily gone away from Yavimaya Dryad, it's been a fairly short amount of time since it was discussed. I do think she has a place in Devotion, however the 3 drop slot is very competitive, so it might be hard for her to shine. I can see her playing a role in grindy meta's that disrupt your manabase and dorks, certainly. Don't count her out!
I think you may find that Birds is better than Joraga Treespeaker in your build. He prevents you from getting 3 mana on turn 2, which is a big milestone for this deck. It would make sense if there were more 2-drops in your list to take advantage of his activated ability, but it doesn't look that way. I think to take full advantage, you'd want a few more 2-drops to complement him.
4 Coursers is a tough sell for me, as they are not very good in multiples. However you will more consistently find them, so I don't know.
Sarkhan Vol has been an interest of mine for a while, but I could never convince myself to buy them!! In theory I think he works excellently with a more aggressive version of devotion, particularly with Wolfbriar Elementals. One of these days I may have to proxy some up to try, but I am up to my eyeballs already with different flavors of devotion that I like to play... life is hard as a devotion player
I have a fun pet deck that is "Grull Devotion" that plays Burning-Tree Emissary, Boggart Ram-Gang, Boartusk Liege, Xenagos, the Reveler, and Garruk Wildspeaker that this fits right into...it's a fun deck but surprisingly powerful too (obviously not Tier 1 or even Tier 2...but I'm sure if someone spent the time and dedication on it that I haven't they could come up with something . I may buy a few copies just to add to this.
Hello everyone, I've been a long time reader of this sub, having read since around pg 100 or so. I've only played one FNM with my build - I usually play draft and Commander - but I've watched plenty of Modern videos so I have a good idea of the meta, and have theorycrafted pretty much every single card everyone has thought of in this forum since pg 100.
Introduction aside, here's my current, theorycrafted build:
4 Courser - resistant to Bolt/Anger, helps filter the top of the deck, which is the plan I'm going for with this build
3 Genesis Hydra - LGS plays quite a bit of control, this slot is sort of a pet slot; I love the fact that you almost can't counter the cast trigger, so when X is large you can get pretty much anything you want. Notably, there are a lot of CMC =< 4 to take advantage of, but it doesn't hit "Nissa, SE" (and likewise)
2 Woodland Bellower - absolutely a pet card, and the reason I wanted to play this deck. My favourite decks to play are utility/toolbox decks. Won't be going lower than 1 in the decklist. Still waiting for that amazing green nonlegendary CMC =< 3 !
1 Dungrove Elder - Wanted a resistant beater that could be fetched with Bellower. I've seen Troll Ascetic rarely played, and although it acts like a mini Thrun and adds 2 to devotion, it's just a 3/2. I wouldn't mind cutting this slot
1 Tireless Tracker - The fact that this card makes a Clue instead of saying "Landfall - You may pay 2. If you do, draw a card and put a +1/+1 counter on Tireless Tracker" is, I believe, what makes this card soooo good. Played in Standard and Legacy (!), this has got to have a place in Bellower and CoCo lists (even if it is a "do-nothing" card when palyed on curve)
1 Joraga Treespeaker - Testing in place of a third Birds. Being able to have 5 mana turn 3 without a second mana dork/Sprawl seems good. Notably you can't play a turn 2 Nissa, SE with this card turn 1, so I might change it back to Birds if it is a big problem.
1 Vizier of the Menagerie - I theorycrafted 2, but for this build it doesn't seem like where I want to be. 2 seems to be a very good number for builds with lots of BTEs/Visionaries/2-drops. I don't think any build wants more than 2, unless Vizier is a "build-around".
2 Nissa, Steward of Elements - I don't know what the correct number of slots for this card is, but it can't be less than 2 otherwise it wouldn't be worth playing. I would also be extremely surprised if this card didn't fit into Devotion decks, as it does so much and can be played at any turn past the first. One of the reasons for 4 Coursers.
When did people stop playing Yavimaya Dryad? I saw it on pg 205 or so, and then it disappeared from people's decklists. It is fair to assume it wasn't pulling its weight?
I'd also like to know people's thoughts on Sarkhan Vol. I've been looking for a mana sink that pumps the team (as opposed to the single targeting Kessig/Nylea/Rhonas) and is also fetchable by Bellower, but the only card I've found is Selesnya Guildmage, a card that doesn't seem that good at all. Sarkhan Vol off a Genesis Hydra for the +1 ability seems insane, and the -2 in a pinch could definitely win some games.
I really like this list. It incorporates a lot of the recent successes/ideas we've had and presents new ones/meta specific important choices. I can't say I see too much wrong with; especially given your discussion of your local meta).
Yavimaya Dryad was actually a really great card. I played with it for some time. When I moved to a more "Chord-Centric" list, Nest Invader seemed a better fit for the similar slot/ability (although it's mana only lasts a turn if you sac it, it is 1-cheaper, and you get two bodies to convoke, overrun, hoof, etc. and more power/toughness). I don't think there is anything wrong with Yavimaya Dryad and I honestly think it could see more play. It does have some very stiff competition...Courser, a 3-drop Nissa ES, Selkie, etc. with similar "card advantage" abilities...having said this, however, there are many builds (those playing a slightly higher curve, those that have a land-focus, etc.) that can and should play her.
And you are absolutely right about Courser of Kruphix + Nissa, Steward of Elements...they pretty much come hand in hand in my book...they are just SO crazy good together. I also think it is another reason to play a 1-of Vizier of the Menagerie. Being able to see the top card of your library makes Nissa go from great to really great
P.S. One card I go back and fourth with as a fatty that can be tutored with Bellower is Reverent Hunter...I know it looks somewhat poor...but it comes down often as an 8/8 or higher! That, and your rarely are upset drawing it without Bellower as it is well above "curve" (i.e. 4/4 or greater) 90% of the time you cast it.
Dunno why I didn't think of this. It isn't THAT much more mana... and it is often going to be good enough too. Especially with BM making their day sad.
I'm guessing this is where people will land after playing multiples of him. I'd be happy to be proven wrong though!
As for Nissa, she looks super dope. Maybe a chance to bring back value U/G devotion?
Rough translation:
Corcery 2G. search for up to X basic land cards from your library and put them onto the battlefield tapped, shuffle your library. X equal to number of tapped creature you control
MODERN: Pure Pili-ness GU // Red Devotion RR // Green Devotion Variants GRWUG // U/G Emerge CGU // Lots and Lots of Brews BGRUWC
MODERN: Pure Pili-ness GU // Red Devotion RR // Green Devotion Variants GRWUG // U/G Emerge CGU // Lots and Lots of Brews BGRUWC
I'm not sure I'd want any of them.
I look at Rhonas as a one of potential finisher card. I agree that it is more of a toolbox card that we should likely only play 1-of (for its powerful mana sink ability).
The more I play with Nissa...the more I love it....so versatile. So powerful. I'm using her ultimate WAY more than I thought; but a 10-damage out of nowhere with evasion for this deck ends a vast majority of games.
Another card that interests me that has yet to be spoiled is heart-piercer masticore....having and ETB "Fling" effect with something like a huge Genesis Hydra can be extremely powerful...I'm interested to see how it's costed (as right now we just have it's token).
https://imgur.com/a/hVrdo
I am going to try it for sure.
I think Nissa is going to be REALLY good for us. I am hoping everyone else keeps thinking she is dumb. I wanna pick up promos
Heart-piercer masticore sounds pretty interesting; especially when you consider how big your Craterhoof is going to likely be.
Here is Heart-Piercer Masticore (will post picture when I get back home)...seems like a cool option for removal/direct damage with big creatures on board....unfortunately it won't work with Hydra ( as the masticore would enter before the Hydra)
Still cool though!
Me too! Granted, she seems like she fits best in a ramp deck full of creatures...so she may be more narrow than initially thought...but the X cost and ability to just scry until her ult makes her pretty darn versatile too. We just happen to be in the best spot to take advantage of all of her abilities...but the fact that she can be cast at 3-CMC, has a "globally good" +2 and ults easily for 10 damage....I think at minimum she'll see healthy standard play.
There's just nothing like her...Company decks may play her (as they generally use Courser, are heavy on creatures, and play efficient creatures that can be hit with her "0" even if she is only cast at 1-loyalty by her second turn in play)...Temur and/or Zoo decks play efficient creatures and lots of them...and even if you hit a land it's still ramp...it's one of those I think a lot of people will test (just because we don't really know exactly how it plays)...but in the end likely only a few decks will be able to really take advantage of her. Of them all, however; I think we have the potential to make/build the best deck for her in Modern
I certainly hope she keeps being as good as she has been thus far in testing against the "full gambit" save we call it (several matches against the top 12 decks in the meta). Only time will tell; but she looks great so far!
Maybe Oath of Ajani would go well in a deck with her, considering this.
MODERN: Pure Pili-ness GU // Red Devotion RR // Green Devotion Variants GRWUG // U/G Emerge CGU // Lots and Lots of Brews BGRUWC
4x Arbor Elf
4x Birds of Paradise
4x Elvish Visionary
2x Fauna Shaman
3x Courser of Kruphix
2x Eternal Witness
2x Woodland Bellower
1x Scavenging Ooze
1x Wistful Selkie
1x Rhonas the Indomitable
1x Vizier of the Menagerie
1x Walking Ballista
1x Hornet Queen
1x Craterhoof Behemoth
4x Utopia Sprawl
Planeswalker
4x Garruk Wildspeaker
4x Nissa, Steward of Elements
Lands
7x Green Fetch
6x Forest
2x Breeding Pool
1x Temple Garden
1x Horizon Canopy
4x Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
3x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
3x Spreading Seas
2x Gaddock Teeg
2x Kitchen Finks
2x Reclamation Sage
1x Loaming Shaman
2x Genesis Hydra
Working to see if Fauna Shaman can fill the "Chord" tutor-when needed portion of the deck (while allowing for the deck to be even more overwhelming). I'm playing a 1-of Vizier of the Menagerie but I'm not entirely certain it is needed...it is good with both Courser of Kruphix and Nissa, Steward of Elements though.
I'll let you know how it goes...I just really want to play this Nissa and make it work
Thus far, the combination of Courser, Nissa ES, and Vizier leads to some silly turns (where you play like 2-4 creatures/lands off the top of your deck). Between Visionary, Nissa ES, Courser, Fetch Lands, Fauna Shaman, Bellower, Duskwatch (if I can fit it in) and Selkie...there are a TON of ways to change the top of the deck to get to what I'm looking for...and often you can go "land off the top, creature off the top, land off the top" and essentially ramp and draw at the same time.
P.S. Just bought a Rhonas the Indomitable Invocation...it better be prettier in person than on the screen
Introduction aside, here's my current, theorycrafted build:
4x Arbor Elf
2x Birds of Paradise
1x Joraga Treespeaker
1x Duskwatch Recruiter
3x Genesis Hydra
4x Courser of Kruphix
3x Eternal Witness
1x Dungrove Elder
1x Tireless Tracker
1x Vizier of the Menagerie
1x Acidic Slime
2x Woodland Bellower
1x Craterhoof Behemoth
3x Oath of Nissa
4x Utopia Sprawl
Sorceries
2x Primal Command
Planeswalkers
4x Garruk Wildspeaker
2x Nissa, Steward of Elements
Lands
4x Wooded Foothills
2x Windswept Heath
1x Stomping Ground
4x Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
8x Forest
1x Breeding Pool
1 Thragtusk
2 Sudden Shock
1 Simic Sky Swallower
1 Scavenging Ooze
1 Ruric Thar, the Unbowed
2 Reclamation Sage
1 Magus of the Moon
1 Lifecrafter's Bestiary
1 Kitchen Finks
1 Hornet Queen
1 Fracturing Gust
1 Cloudthresher
1 Abundance
Notes/Things to Consider
When did people stop playing Yavimaya Dryad? I saw it on pg 205 or so, and then it disappeared from people's decklists. It is fair to assume it wasn't pulling its weight?
I'd also like to know people's thoughts on Sarkhan Vol. I've been looking for a mana sink that pumps the team (as opposed to the single targeting Kessig/Nylea/Rhonas) and is also fetchable by Bellower, but the only card I've found is Selesnya Guildmage, a card that doesn't seem that good at all. Sarkhan Vol off a Genesis Hydra for the +1 ability seems insane, and the -2 in a pinch could definitely win some games.
Could you spend a little more time discussing Nissa's strengths/weaknesses? How does she feel coming down early and late? Do you ever feel like you should cut down on Garruk's to make room for more creatures for her? Or do you think she's more of a supporting character and should be a 2-of, for example? How often do you want to see her? Do you think she kind of fills the Oath of Nissa slot?
This list looks great as a place to start! Welcome to the fold!
As for answering some of your questions, I don't think people have necessarily gone away from Yavimaya Dryad, it's been a fairly short amount of time since it was discussed. I do think she has a place in Devotion, however the 3 drop slot is very competitive, so it might be hard for her to shine. I can see her playing a role in grindy meta's that disrupt your manabase and dorks, certainly. Don't count her out!
I think you may find that Birds is better than Joraga Treespeaker in your build. He prevents you from getting 3 mana on turn 2, which is a big milestone for this deck. It would make sense if there were more 2-drops in your list to take advantage of his activated ability, but it doesn't look that way. I think to take full advantage, you'd want a few more 2-drops to complement him.
4 Coursers is a tough sell for me, as they are not very good in multiples. However you will more consistently find them, so I don't know.
Sarkhan Vol has been an interest of mine for a while, but I could never convince myself to buy them!! In theory I think he works excellently with a more aggressive version of devotion, particularly with Wolfbriar Elementals. One of these days I may have to proxy some up to try, but I am up to my eyeballs already with different flavors of devotion that I like to play... life is hard as a devotion player
Interesting
I have a fun pet deck that is "Grull Devotion" that plays Burning-Tree Emissary, Boggart Ram-Gang,
Boartusk Liege, Xenagos, the Reveler, and Garruk Wildspeaker that this fits right into...it's a fun deck but surprisingly powerful too (obviously not Tier 1 or even Tier 2...but I'm sure if someone spent the time and dedication on it that I haven't they could come up with something
I really like this list. It incorporates a lot of the recent successes/ideas we've had and presents new ones/meta specific important choices. I can't say I see too much wrong with; especially given your discussion of your local meta).
Yavimaya Dryad was actually a really great card. I played with it for some time. When I moved to a more "Chord-Centric" list, Nest Invader seemed a better fit for the similar slot/ability (although it's mana only lasts a turn if you sac it, it is 1-cheaper, and you get two bodies to convoke, overrun, hoof, etc. and more power/toughness). I don't think there is anything wrong with Yavimaya Dryad and I honestly think it could see more play. It does have some very stiff competition...Courser, a 3-drop Nissa ES, Selkie, etc. with similar "card advantage" abilities...having said this, however, there are many builds (those playing a slightly higher curve, those that have a land-focus, etc.) that can and should play her.
And you are absolutely right about Courser of Kruphix + Nissa, Steward of Elements...they pretty much come hand in hand in my book...they are just SO crazy good together. I also think it is another reason to play a 1-of Vizier of the Menagerie. Being able to see the top card of your library makes Nissa go from great to really great
P.S. One card I go back and fourth with as a fatty that can be tutored with Bellower is Reverent Hunter...I know it looks somewhat poor...but it comes down often as an 8/8 or higher! That, and your rarely are upset drawing it without Bellower as it is well above "curve" (i.e. 4/4 or greater) 90% of the time you cast it.