So I've been toying with RUG since GTC came out. There are a lot of good cards that float around in these colors and I don't think the color combo has been given quite as much attention with other decks stealing the show. Since 2/3 of the required shocks came in during GTC, I don't think RUG really had any focus in RTR. The other day I saw this article on SCG and it got me thinking about the Flicker aspect of RUG and how much of an edge that could give it. I wasn't 100% sold the deck was going to be any better than any other midrange deck so I moved on.
However, the other day I happened to read a comment mention Acidic Slime, a card which has been popping up in lists randomly to deal with some troublesome lands and it got me thinking about the silly land destruction deck I was working on back when GTC came out as well. I looked at what I had between my RUG, RUG Flicker and Land destruction to see if I could get something together and here's where I'm at:
I haven't done a crazy amount of testing so far but as of now I feel the deck has a very good match up against Esper control, with ways to kill its wincons and keeping them off blue completely ruins their day. Turn 3 Land destruction followed by turn 4 Slime, followed by a threat is usually game. Jund feels pretty even. My first iteration of the list was definitely under 50% but a few changes I feel puts it on par with Jund. The main issue with Jund is that Farseek kills the Land Destruction plan and it's at times hard to identify what the best color to try to keep them off of. Green is probably my preference but black works too.
Aggro is where the deck can struggle, hence the current board set up (which still needs to be tweaked). Unless the Aggro deck takes a very, very limited land hand (2 or less) and doesn't draw more than one, land destruction really does nothing against Aggro, which makes 6 cards practically dead and 3 cards less than stellar. Thus, my plan against aggro is the side out the land destruction package (at least against 2 color aggro) and bring in more solid flicker targets and better removal/control elements against aggro.
Anyway, I really think there is something here with RUG and flick and potentially land destruction, so I'd love to hear what you all think.
I agree with them the dead can be good for board pressence. But I ran something similar for a while with conjurers closest. And pilgrims instead of Elfs so I could use cloud shift.
Edit: Also if we're throwing in white why not add restro angle?
Deadeye is more double blue and pretty expensive, but it might be worth a shot. I haven't had too many problems casting Zegana or my counters so the double blue may not be relevant.
Caster/Peddler out of the board would be cool, I was working with that originally when on RUG.
The SCG article did a four color version with Restos but I'm not a four color fan. I did contemplate a Naya version though, so that's something to look into.
Edit: Hmm, Deadeye being a 5/5 makes me more inclined to include him.
Yes I do agree the with you on the adding a fourth color. The closest is an artifact but it also has a CMC of 5 but the added flicker/blink is nice. If you play it first then a slime you get a two for one on the lands. Plus since you're already playing the thragtusk you could bounce him.
If he goes 4 colors then no it wouldn't. But if he stays 2-3 colors then yeah its the better choice as it can take down enchantments, artifacts and PW.
Thanks for the reminder. Originally, I had Bramblecrush in but for some reason I missed it in my Gatherer search and forgot about it this time. Planeswalkers can be a pain so that's a solid addition.
Why not run Naya Splash Blue for Deadeye Navigator? Aurelia combo out could be good, run Verdant Havens on Forest shocks that you untap with Arbor Elf. Run Breeding Pools for your blue splash, then Havens for some semi anti aggro and color fixing plus near tricks with Arbor Elf (Galvanic Alchemist+Arbor Elf+Illusionists Bracers)
Realistically he should only be unblockable without equipment
Guard 1: There goes a sword floating down the street!
Guard 2: Well, he's unblockable, so ignore it.
Eat your greens kids, omnath does, and it makes him strong....
RUG Zoo, what i play, is also a nice deck to play if you like the colors. But since you started this thread as a control deck, you're probably better off in theRUG Deadeye deck.
I feel as though land destruction is not the way to go while playing RUG. It seems like they will be beating your face in and you will just be eating their lands.
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However, the other day I happened to read a comment mention Acidic Slime, a card which has been popping up in lists randomly to deal with some troublesome lands and it got me thinking about the silly land destruction deck I was working on back when GTC came out as well. I looked at what I had between my RUG, RUG Flicker and Land destruction to see if I could get something together and here's where I'm at:
2 Arbor Elf
3 Snapcaster Mage
2 Master Biomancer
1 Archaeomancer
1 Thundermaw Hellkite
3 Acidic Slime
2 Thragtusk
2 Prime Speaker Zegana
Spells (19)
3 Craterize
3 Demolish
4 Farseek
3 Ghostly Flicker
1 Dissipate
2 Searing Spear
2 Signal the Clans
1 Counterflux
1 Bonfire of the Damned
3 Steam Vents
4 Stomping Ground
4 Breeding Pool
2 Sulfur Falls
4 Rootbound Crag
4 Hinterland Harbor
1 Kessig Wolf Run
1 Forest
1 Island
2 Essence Scatter
2 Unsummon
2 Searing Spear
1 Bonfire of the Damned
2 Cyclonic Rift
2 Thragtusk
1 Thundermaw Hellkite
1 Zealous Conscripts
1 Counterflux
1 Huntmaster of the Fells
I haven't done a crazy amount of testing so far but as of now I feel the deck has a very good match up against Esper control, with ways to kill its wincons and keeping them off blue completely ruins their day. Turn 3 Land destruction followed by turn 4 Slime, followed by a threat is usually game. Jund feels pretty even. My first iteration of the list was definitely under 50% but a few changes I feel puts it on par with Jund. The main issue with Jund is that Farseek kills the Land Destruction plan and it's at times hard to identify what the best color to try to keep them off of. Green is probably my preference but black works too.
Aggro is where the deck can struggle, hence the current board set up (which still needs to be tweaked). Unless the Aggro deck takes a very, very limited land hand (2 or less) and doesn't draw more than one, land destruction really does nothing against Aggro, which makes 6 cards practically dead and 3 cards less than stellar. Thus, my plan against aggro is the side out the land destruction package (at least against 2 color aggro) and bring in more solid flicker targets and better removal/control elements against aggro.
Anyway, I really think there is something here with RUG and flick and potentially land destruction, so I'd love to hear what you all think.
:symg::symr::symb: Domri Jund
izzet staticaster + nightshade peddlar.... can be main or side but it is great defense.
Pioneer:UR Pheonix
Modern:U Mono U Tron
EDH
GB Glissa, the traitor: Army of Cans
UW Dragonlord Ojutai: Dragonlord NOjutai
UWGDerevi, Empyrial Tactician "you cannot fight the storm"
R Zirilan of the claw. The solution to every problem is dragons
UB Etrata, the Silencer Cloning assassination
Peasant cube: Cards I own
Edit: Also if we're throwing in white why not add restro angle?
Caster/Peddler out of the board would be cool, I was working with that originally when on RUG.
The SCG article did a four color version with Restos but I'm not a four color fan. I did contemplate a Naya version though, so that's something to look into.
Edit: Hmm, Deadeye being a 5/5 makes me more inclined to include him.
Having trouble finding room, however..card draw can be a bit of a problem so Visionary is probably necessary.
I always found your go to blink targets are Thragtusk, acidic slime and Elvish visionary. and then you build from there.
If he goes 4 colors then no it wouldn't. But if he stays 2-3 colors then yeah its the better choice as it can take down enchantments, artifacts and PW.
Thanks for the reminder. Originally, I had Bramblecrush in but for some reason I missed it in my Gatherer search and forgot about it this time. Planeswalkers can be a pain so that's a solid addition.
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