Here's a good little article on building a mana base. This'll go a long way in helping you figure out how much mana to try when building your decks. Seems like you're enjoying your deck (I love the extort mechanic!), this will make it more consistent. Have fun!
I think I'm going to replace the 2 Plow Unders with a couple Primal Commands. The versatility is just too sweet, and I think will increase consistency.
Looking at various cards today, I noticed a lot of potential for flicker effects involving Eternal Witness, and using a mana ramp that was more enchant-based. The snake cards were natural extensions to that within G/U. I traded the spirit guides out for a couple faeries. I replaced one of the sky swallowers with an Aetherling just so I don't have to worry as much about name-a-card spells. It also has just plain more damage potential.
However, I won't be able to test it for another day or so, I'm worried it'll be too slow again. Should I revert back to the elves? The ramp seems less susceptible to removal this way (I got the idea from that Dubstep deck discussion, seems like it'd work well in this context too).
So, twice now the site has logged me out while writing the modified list and all the reasons I enjoy the inclusions, so here's just the jist of it hehe. Thanks you guys for the helpful advice. I sought to refine the deck strategy, so I got rid of the pumps. I also decided on a better finisher, and brought in some cards to quicken and shorten the deck.
Is it going in the right direction? And, probably most importantly, would it be fun to play against? I know people don't like the Fallow Earth mechanic that much. Personally, I always thought it was cool that green had an oblique access to control. But at least this deck is creature-centric, eh? lol idk. Thanks again for the feedback guys.
I wanted to make a blue/green deck that utilized Plow Under, but didn't make other people angry. Is this possible? Cards like Serendib Efreet (the sweet misprint art) and Uktabi Orangutan (in lieu of Viridian Shaman) should encourage an atmosphere of good sportsmanship and fun right? Right??
Could this work at all though? Is it too slow? I'm pretty clueless when it comes to the legacy environment, but thought that this could be a decent archetype to jump in with.
No sideboard yet, but at the moment I'm worried about how to optimize the list more. Or, with enough discouragement, abandon it so I won't continue to think about it
I know there's nothing to reference size here, but I've always loved the Ice Age bug giant growth. I think the image and coloring is gorgeous. I've always gotten this "sample observation" vibe from it, as if we should be remarking at this abnormally large specimen (and if that was the idea, it could've surely been pulled off more evocatively). But I dunno, it's just really pretty, and sometimes that trumps concept for me.
I'm interested in the deterrent aspect of the stalker as well. Does he suck out a removal from your opponent who's worried about 1. getting a bomb through your counters and then 2. not getting said bomb shuffled away for potentially the rest of the game. In this situation I'd either trade the little jelly for a removal, or, if the mana's open and it's deemed appropriate, spend the 2U and shuffle him and an opposing creature away-- trading him for a removal spell and another creature. Opponent makes a tough choice between a 2-for-1, or potentially getting the bomb countered anyways.
Otherwise, the ability will be moot when I'm looking at board states that make me want to attack with him. You're probably right though-- Fog Bank is a champ.
No getting around how right you are about snapcasters though. This deck'll be at best second-rate until I can afford them.
Win con is Talrand and Aetherling, and making sure the opponent does nothing to get in the way. I wanted Void Stalker in for the combination of a good little beater, true blue removal, and my favorite art in all of current type 2.
Could this compete at your FNM?
Effective for burn to the face, that is.
Mana abilities are those that produce mana. They can't be responded to. Aetherling would be pretty dang borken.
EDIT: I mean... totally borken
http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/799199/building-a-proper-mana-base
Here's a good little article on building a mana base. This'll go a long way in helping you figure out how much mana to try when building your decks. Seems like you're enjoying your deck (I love the extort mechanic!), this will make it more consistent. Have fun!
EDIT: Also replaced the Ambush Vipers with Coiling Oracles
REDDIT: various other inclusions to milk value-- though i'm starting to worry about the mana base
3 Arbor Elf
2 Cloud of Faeries
3 Coiling Oracle
1 Man-o'-War
1 Winged Coatl
2 Eternal Witness
2 Mystic Snake
1 Mulldrifter
1 Thragtusk
1 Aetherling
4 Utopia Sprawl
2 Wild Growth
Sorceries
3 Temporal Spring
2 Primal Command
Instants
3 Brainstorm
3 Memory Lapse
4 Ghostly Flicker
4 Breeding Pool
10 Forest
8 Island
Looking at various cards today, I noticed a lot of potential for flicker effects involving Eternal Witness, and using a mana ramp that was more enchant-based. The snake cards were natural extensions to that within G/U. I traded the spirit guides out for a couple faeries. I replaced one of the sky swallowers with an Aetherling just so I don't have to worry as much about name-a-card spells. It also has just plain more damage potential.
However, I won't be able to test it for another day or so, I'm worried it'll be too slow again. Should I revert back to the elves? The ramp seems less susceptible to removal this way (I got the idea from that Dubstep deck discussion, seems like it'd work well in this context too).
4 Llanowar Elves
3 Fyndhorn Elves
3 Priest of Titania
1 Uktabi Orangutan
3 Elvish Spirit Guide
3 Eternal Witness
2 Simic Sky Swallower
1 Lotus Petal
Instants
3 Brainstorm
3 Memory Lapse
2 Remand
3 Daze
4 Temporal Spring
3 Plow Under
Lands
4 Hinterland Harbor
10 Forest
8 Island
Is it going in the right direction? And, probably most importantly, would it be fun to play against? I know people don't like the Fallow Earth mechanic that much. Personally, I always thought it was cool that green had an oblique access to control. But at least this deck is creature-centric, eh? lol idk. Thanks again for the feedback guys.
I wanted to make a blue/green deck that utilized Plow Under, but didn't make other people angry. Is this possible? Cards like Serendib Efreet (the sweet misprint art) and Uktabi Orangutan (in lieu of Viridian Shaman) should encourage an atmosphere of good sportsmanship and fun right? Right??
Could this work at all though? Is it too slow? I'm pretty clueless when it comes to the legacy environment, but thought that this could be a decent archetype to jump in with.
4 Llanowar Elves
3 Fyndhorn Elves
3 Priest of Titania
1 Uktabi Orangutan
3 Eternal Witness
3 Serendib Efreet
2 Giant Growth
2 Overrun
Counters
4 Remand
3 Mana Leak
2 Daze
4 Temporal Spring
3 Plow Under
Land
4 Hinterland Harbor
11 Forest
8 Island
No sideboard yet, but at the moment I'm worried about how to optimize the list more. Or, with enough discouragement, abandon it so I won't continue to think about it
3 Guttersnipe
2 Talrand, Sky Summoner
1 Aetherling
1 Snapcaster Mage
Spells
4 Unsummon
4 Think Twice
4 Dissipate
4 Izzet Charm
3 Dispel
3 Cyclonic Rift
2 Essence Scatter
2 Pillar of Flame
2 Turn // Burn
1 Aetherize
1 Encrust
7 Island
4 Mountain
4 Sulfur Falls
4 Steam Vents
2 Desolate Lighthouse
2 Ghost Quarter
3 Negate
2 Counterflux
2 Tormod's Crypt
2 Aetherize
2 Faithless Looting
1 Pithing Needle
1 Witchbane Orb
1 Glaring Spotlight
1 Encrust
Against aggro I sideboard in the other Aetherize's. Against control, the hard counters.
Otherwise, the ability will be moot when I'm looking at board states that make me want to attack with him. You're probably right though-- Fog Bank is a champ.
No getting around how right you are about snapcasters though. This deck'll be at best second-rate until I can afford them.
1 Aetherling
2 Void Stalker
2 Talrand, Sky Summoner
2 Fog Bank
Spells
3 Negate
2 Essence Scatter
3 Dispel
4 Dissipate
4 Think Twice
3 Aetherize
3 Unsummon
3 Cyclonic Rift
4 Encrust
1 Glaring Spotlight
Lands
20 Island
3 Ghost Quarter
Win con is Talrand and Aetherling, and making sure the opponent does nothing to get in the way. I wanted Void Stalker in for the combination of a good little beater, true blue removal, and my favorite art in all of current type 2.
Could this compete at your FNM?