This deck approaches midrange with a heavy control perspective and aims to maximize the value of Anger of the Gods. So far, I find the deck to be very synergistic and smooth to pilot. However, the one gripe I have is the (non-)interaction between spot removal and Chandra in certain situations.
I feel like some number of Stormbreath Dragons may be correct here, but I don't think they're better than Demon or Reaper. Stormbreath does best in a deck whose goal is to close out the game. This deck's goal is to drown the opponent in value while maintaining a solid defense. Tapping out on 5 for a Stormbreath that doesn't block cards such as Loxodon Smiter very well is a relative liability.
I'm also not sure whether I want Putrefy or Hero's Downfall. Putrefy is marginally easier to cast and we already have Dreadbore, which is why I've put it in the list to start. However, if Planeswalkers become problems then Hero's Downfall may need to take its place. Either way, the removal package can be tweaked depending on the expected metagame.
Looking at the sideboard, we have a total of 12 cards that interact poorly with hard control (non-dreadbore spot removal). We can board in nearly the entire sideboard against the 2 Aetherling control builds. Abrupt decay is great here as it hits Ashiok and Detention Sphere. An argument can be made for slaughter games in the board, as I don't believe this deck can beat Aetherling very easily.
Against aggro, we are already relatively favored due to 4 mainboard Anger of the Gods. However, the board of -2 Rakdos -1 Vraska -3 Putrefy +4 Deathrite +2 Abrupt Decay can be good here. Golgari Charm can also be brought in in place of Abrupt Decay if Burning Earth is expected.
Using Chandra takes a bit of judiciousness. For example, I'd be more hesitant to use her 0 ability if my deck is full of creature removal and the opponent has no board presence. She's great though, and I like your the idea of playing her as a 3-of.
I also agree with your choice of using Putrefy over Hero's Downfall. If we have to destroy Planeswalkers, we have Abrupt Decay for Ashiok/Domri/Ajani, and Dreadbore/Rakdos's Return/Vraska can deal with any Planeswalker threats. I don't think Hero's Downfall is needed.
I'd say Pithing Needle is the best answer to Aetherling, but with all of the high quality creatures and instant speed removal in Jund, I think that outracing Aetherling will be relatively easy. Still, I think Slaughter Games is too good to pass up.
Sorry, but I don't think I communicated my issues with Stormbreath clearly.
The card is a 4/4 flying for 5 when you're behind on board.
It trades with Smiter.
It chump blocks monstrous Fleecemane Lion.
It trades with Boros Reckoner.
It trumps Voice and tokens.
As Zephyr Scarlet said, Stormbreath beats Smiter and Reckoner, stalemates monstrous Fleecemane Lion, and dominates Blood Baron, taking no damage from him, meaning the Blood Baron's controller gains no life. In addition, it dodges stuff like Azorius/Selesnya Charm and Chained to the Rocks/Detention Sphere. Stormbreath is easily a 3 or 4-of. It's better than Desecration Demon IMO, despite the latter dodging Doom Blade and Mizzium Mortars.
Also, I don't think Blood Baron will be as much of a silver bullet as you think (though your list would certainly have trouble with it.) Though it can't be targeted by most of Jund's removal, I think that discard spells and Stormbreath Dragon mitigate the threat it presents.
I'm don't consider myself to be very hard to please, but I can definitely understand the disappointment some people feel with this set.
Most of the rares in this set make RTR block's rares/mythics that never saw play in the previous format seem playable (stuff like Rakdos, Lazav... most things other than Emmara, really.) I guess it will be nice to see stuff that never got a chance in INN-RTR standard get time to shine.
This guy will see play in red decks because he is a 2/1 red one drop that does not have an ability that hinders him to the point of unplayability. Whether those decks will do well in the upcoming meta is another matter entirely (I suspect they won't, as midrange is looking very strong.)
This guy is a burn magnet like none other, he looks to do poorly in the aggro mirror and flat out sucks against GW. Spells like Anger of the Gods and Mizzium Mortars punish him severely. The damage he will hit you for when he dies to a burn spell or a block will be significant (otherwise, I suspect Wizards wouldn't have bothered giving him the ability). Life matters when it is the difference between winning and losing, and putting yourself in burn range is never good.
But he's a playable red one drop, so playing him in a red deck makes sense.
If someone is playing R/G against me and they cast Anger of the Gods post-sideboard, I'll just thank them for the free win and count myself lucky they didn't board in more Mizzium Mortars.
An aggro deck casting Anger of the Gods is pretty suicidal, and not in a good way.
You aren't going to always have Brave the Elements(especially that early) This kills all of G/W's 1 and 2 drops.
Of course. I'm just pointing out that Selesnya has answers to it. Rootborn Defenses and Selesnya Charm can also do the job. Anger of the Gods is not nearly as scary to Selesnya as it is to Gruul. Mizzium Mortars is much more threatening because as it takes out Smiters.
Not saying (W/G) is unfit, just saying it won't be as effortless as you imply.
Once again, Brave the Elements laughs last. Besides, Anger of the Gods really only hits Voice and maybe a CotC token or a militant. Loxodon Smiter and AotW tokens laugh at it.
In fact, I've spent the last couple weeks testing a solid, post-rotation G/W build, specifically in anticipation of the influx of R/G.
So far, I've seen nothing in Theros that leads me to think that was the wrong decision.
Trostani is an underrated card that most aggro has no answer to. Burning her is pretty much always a 2 for one, and her ability means she doesn't really need to block for you. Banisher Priest is one of the few good options.
If I'm playing R/G against Selesnya... well, I scoop as soon as they play a Temple Garden.
It's that way right now, even—heck, why do you think I play Selesnya aggro even now?
That about sums it.
Even with the Rampager's help, this thing would really have trouble with big blockers. It seems awesome against control, though. It's good enough to see play.
Oh, wow. You know what else is great about the Satyr?
People are going to try and block him erryday, whereas they might not block Cackler or other one-drops.
Of course, once they block, you get to remind them that you run Ghor-Clan Rampager, and laugh and laugh and laugh....
Then the Selesnya player Braves the Elements, and you lose the damage race? I don't think this card will be as great against Loxodon Smiter and the rest of the G/W crew as people think it is.
The jolly green giant seems playable, definitely better than the red giant. Nice that he doesn't occupy the same spot as Garruk, Caller of Beasts on the curve. I think monogreen midrange can accommodate this guy.
I really hope fateseal shows up somewhere in this block. It would be a flavorful keyword for a Greek mythology themed block and has literally been on two cards. Spin into Myth would be great, flavor-wise if not competitively
Except if you're in topdeck mode when you draw him.... then he's pretty bad....
He's a very situational walker...
Cannot protect itself, asks for a hand with a bomb when you drop him and the game will almost never be long enough for him to use his ultimate.
Still, he's VERY good if the board is in a stalemate state where no one finds advantageous to attack when you drop him...
the card advantage he will generate is going to give you the match in that situation....
In my opinion he's BY FAR the worst Garruk printed to date.
Still... every Garruk is very powerful... this guy also has a lot of potential.
If he just was able to drop ANY creature in the battlefield as opposed to just Green ones, maybe he'd be good enough not to be the worst of the Garruks.
I think we agree. If you're in topdeck mode and have board presence, he's still pretty good. If you're in topdeck mode and getting your ass kicked, he likely won't be able to save you.
I also agree that the other Garruks are better overall, and that this guy has a ton of potential. The new Standard format will decide how much play he sees as he could dominate in a slower Standard.
Dropping Emrakul turn 3-4 would be kinda op though. I think the green limitation is fine.
Hype is such a funny thing. Worldspine Wurm spiked by 125% on MODO.
As much as I like Garruk, I can't see him making Worldspine Wurm competitively viable in standard. You need to be able to actually cast the creatures without using Garruk. Garruk might be Standard viable, but the Wurm is strictly EDH imo.
Using Chandra takes a bit of judiciousness. For example, I'd be more hesitant to use her 0 ability if my deck is full of creature removal and the opponent has no board presence. She's great though, and I like your the idea of playing her as a 3-of.
I also agree with your choice of using Putrefy over Hero's Downfall. If we have to destroy Planeswalkers, we have Abrupt Decay for Ashiok/Domri/Ajani, and Dreadbore/Rakdos's Return/Vraska can deal with any Planeswalker threats. I don't think Hero's Downfall is needed.
I'd say Pithing Needle is the best answer to Aetherling, but with all of the high quality creatures and instant speed removal in Jund, I think that outracing Aetherling will be relatively easy. Still, I think Slaughter Games is too good to pass up.
As Zephyr Scarlet said, Stormbreath beats Smiter and Reckoner, stalemates monstrous Fleecemane Lion, and dominates Blood Baron, taking no damage from him, meaning the Blood Baron's controller gains no life. In addition, it dodges stuff like Azorius/Selesnya Charm and Chained to the Rocks/Detention Sphere. Stormbreath is easily a 3 or 4-of. It's better than Desecration Demon IMO, despite the latter dodging Doom Blade and Mizzium Mortars.
Also, I don't think Blood Baron will be as much of a silver bullet as you think (though your list would certainly have trouble with it.) Though it can't be targeted by most of Jund's removal, I think that discard spells and Stormbreath Dragon mitigate the threat it presents.
Most of the rares in this set make RTR block's rares/mythics that never saw play in the previous format seem playable (stuff like Rakdos, Lazav... most things other than Emmara, really.) I guess it will be nice to see stuff that never got a chance in INN-RTR standard get time to shine.
This guy is a burn magnet like none other, he looks to do poorly in the aggro mirror and flat out sucks against GW. Spells like Anger of the Gods and Mizzium Mortars punish him severely. The damage he will hit you for when he dies to a burn spell or a block will be significant (otherwise, I suspect Wizards wouldn't have bothered giving him the ability). Life matters when it is the difference between winning and losing, and putting yourself in burn range is never good.
But he's a playable red one drop, so playing him in a red deck makes sense.
An aggro deck casting Anger of the Gods is pretty suicidal, and not in a good way.
Of course. I'm just pointing out that Selesnya has answers to it. Rootborn Defenses and Selesnya Charm can also do the job. Anger of the Gods is not nearly as scary to Selesnya as it is to Gruul. Mizzium Mortars is much more threatening because as it takes out Smiters.
Once again, Brave the Elements laughs last. Besides, Anger of the Gods really only hits Voice and maybe a CotC token or a militant. Loxodon Smiter and AotW tokens laugh at it.
Trostani is an underrated card that most aggro has no answer to. Burning her is pretty much always a 2 for one, and her ability means she doesn't really need to block for you. Banisher Priest is one of the few good options.
That about sums it.
Even with the Rampager's help, this thing would really have trouble with big blockers. It seems awesome against control, though. It's good enough to see play.
Then the Selesnya player Braves the Elements, and you lose the damage race? I don't think this card will be as great against Loxodon Smiter and the rest of the G/W crew as people think it is.
Murder is a common, but I agree that the rarity of this spell is spot on.
I think we agree. If you're in topdeck mode and have board presence, he's still pretty good. If you're in topdeck mode and getting your ass kicked, he likely won't be able to save you.
I also agree that the other Garruks are better overall, and that this guy has a ton of potential. The new Standard format will decide how much play he sees as he could dominate in a slower Standard.
Dropping Emrakul turn 3-4 would be kinda op though. I think the green limitation is fine.
As much as I like Garruk, I can't see him making Worldspine Wurm competitively viable in standard. You need to be able to actually cast the creatures without using Garruk. Garruk might be Standard viable, but the Wurm is strictly EDH imo.
lol remember the Exquisite Blood hype spike?