I really want to make a standard lifegain/beatdown deck focused around Sunbond and Ordeal of Heliod that could be "tier 2" competitive and fun to play. This is what I've been testing on Cockatrice so far:
It seems maybe a little too heavy on enchantments (but there's a lot of synergy with them) and I feel like I need Gods Willing somewhere (I'm using 4x in the tentative SB). What about removal? Sideboard options? I just have things like pithing needle and celestial flare in the tentative SB.
I'm super excited about the additions Gruul got in BNG! I play a Gruul Bloodrush Aggro deck currently, which I know isn't tier 1 or super competitive but I have a lot of fun with it. Adding in 4x Fanatic of Xenagos and 4x Charging Badger was a great boost to the deck. Also adding in Fated Conflagration and Unravel the Aether to the sideboard.
I actually have an Arbor Elf also! Just need those last two.
You can also add Zealous Conscripts (currently $3 at max) + Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker (currently $30 at max) if you want to add them. Due note that they're effective wincon for Marath in a competitive setting.
Just want to make sure I'm understanding the way they work together...save the Zealous Conscripts until I can steal something really awesome, then use Kiki-Jiki to copy it?
With tons of weenies to compensate for the curve, Skullclamp ($6 max) is essential.
Definitely thought about grabbing one of those even though it's over $5. I could just use it on tokens created by Marath also, right?
Birthing Pod ($15) can really really help your deck.
Hi all,
I recently purchased the Nature of the Beast precon deck since it was on sale for $9 and I've been wanting to try out EDH (I'm still new-ish to MTG, playing for less than a year and have only been playing standard). I really like the commander of the deck Marath, Will of the Wild and I think I want to make the deck into more of a +1/+1 counter themed deck.
My goal is to make the deck fun to play in a casual environment without spending an arm and a leg. I'd also like the deck to be at least decent, as I don't want to make an ass of myself at my LGS (heh).
So far, this is what I've come up with using cards I already own and cards I can purchase for less than $5.
My list is 113 cards as is, so I need to cut out 14. Could anyone offer any suggestions on how I should go about that? Are there any cards I'm missing that I absolutely must have (that I could afford)?
My question is why you'd need Zhur-taa druid and gyre sage.
Gyre Sage was mentioned previously as a better mana accelerator, and the druids where $0.10 cards that looked like they might have some use so I picked them up just for the heck of it. That's exactly why I asked about them, though. Thanks!
Oh, and do not play savage summoning. Its a horrible idea in a deck like this.
....
Trying to cross into midrange territory with cards like mistcutter hydra and polis crusher, blah, blah, blah, is only going to make your bloodrushers (minus ghor-clan rampager) less and less effective.
Savage Summoning was mentioned on another site as possibly a good anti-blue sideboard card. I really hate when my creature spells get countered I understand what you're saying, though. Mistcutter was originally a sideboard card for the same reason (blue hate), but now I've included it in the main list because I wasn't sure if there was any better option. Maybe replace them with maaka's to make them a 4x card?
I suggest picking whether you want to midrange or if you want to bloodrush (aside ghor-clan rampager which would likely find its way in regardless) and devote your deck to the one you want.
I think at this point there's no turning back from the bloodrush strategy. Your comments were very helpful!
I have some creature cards left over that I'm not sure what to do with: 2x Zhur-Taa Druid, 2x Gyre Sage, 2x Rubblebelt Maaka. I'm not sure if these guys have a place in the deck or not (besides the Maaka).
I didn't find any of the "bombs" I wanted, so I settled on 2x Deadbridge Goliath and 2x Polis Crusher until I can find something better. I have a feeling Crusher may be better in the sideboard (maybe not? Insight on that would be good). Hopefully Mistcutter Hydra could come in useful as a small bomb if needed.
I'm still not sure if the sideboard is great, but it's a start I suppose. Any further suggestions there would be good. I only found one Savage Summoning unfortunately. Would have liked at least 2.
Lastly, is Boon Satyr a good fit in this deck? I know he's a good card but just not sure if something else I have may be more useful.
Wow, thanks a ton for the help! All those suggestions are really helpful.
@piman: I actually have 2x Polis Crusher but I wasn't sure of it's usefulness. After reconsidering, I think it'd be a great mainboard card. I also hope to find 2x Savagborn Hydra when I visit my LGS today.
@Clownstabber: I'm replacing 1 drop manadorks with just Wasteland Viper and adding in the 2x Burning Tree Emissary that I currently have. Thanks for the suggestion.
Here is an updated list with sideboard. Any more thoughts?
After playing MTG for several months now, I've decided I want to go to my first FNM event. When I first start playing I purchased the 'Gruul Goliaths' intro deck, and I've had a lot of fun playing with and improving it while learning the game. I've built a couple other standard decks, but I feel like this deck is probably going to be my best bet going into my first FNM.
Before Friday arrives, I just want to get some critiques on this decklist. This is most definitely a budget version of Gruul Aggro. I really don't want to purchase 3-4x Domri Rade's at the moment, and I don't own any Polukranos cards, unfortunately. Ideally, I want to make the best deck with what I have. Also, I don't have much info on the metagame at my LGS. I do know there are usually about 30-40 players at each FNM, and the guy who runs it basically said there are "a few people with expensive decks, but not many over $50."
A couple specific things I would really appreciate help with:
SIDEBOARD: What the heck do I put in the sideboard? So far, the only decent ideas I have would be Naturalize (and Destructive Revelry) if I play against any debilitating enchantments, Pit Fight if I'm up against something like White Weenies, and Plummet if flyers give me trouble. Besides those, I have no idea.
INSTANTS: Is there enough (or too much) burn here? Pump spells? I considered mainboarding 3-4x Pit Fight but those are not often as useful as I would like.
CREATURES: How does my creature selection look? I really spent a lot of time deciding what the best creatures to use in the mainboard would be, but I'm still not sure I made the best choices. Is Rubblebelt Maaka good enough to be mainboard? It seems like a great bloodrush card, and a decent body if I need it. I've only included 2x Skarrg Guildmages in the mainboard, but I have one more. Is he worthy of taking another mainboard spot? Is Leafcrown Dryad more of a sideboard card, giving me options vs pesky flyers?
As a final note, while I've listed a lot of cards in the maybeboard, I have a lot more cards at my disposal (especially commons). I'll gladly take any suggestions into consideration.
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/selesnya-lifegain-26-02-14-1/
4x Courser of Kruphix
4x Fleecemane Lion
4x Hero of Iroas
3x Hopeful Eidolon
1x Kalonian Hydra
2x Mistcutter Hydra
3x Soldier of the Pantheon
3x Ordeal of Heliod
3x Sunbond
2x Unflinching Courage
2x Selesnya Charm
10x Plains
1x Selesnya Guildgate
4x Temple of Plenty
It seems maybe a little too heavy on enchantments (but there's a lot of synergy with them) and I feel like I need Gods Willing somewhere (I'm using 4x in the tentative SB). What about removal? Sideboard options? I just have things like pithing needle and celestial flare in the tentative SB.
Any suggestions are appreciated!
4x Boon Satyr
4x Burning-Tree Emissary
4x Charging Badger
2x Dryad Militant
4x Fanatic of Xenagos
Bloodrushers
4x Ghor-Clan Rampager
4x Slaughterhorn
2x Rubblebelt Maaka
7x Forest
4x Gruul Guildgate
7x Mountain
4x Temple of Abandon
Burn
4x Lightning Strike
2x Magma Jet
Enchantment
4x Madcap Skills
2x Fated Conflagration
2x Mistcutter Hydra
3x Plummet
3x Skylasher
3x Unravel the Æther
Need two more cards for the sideboard...any suggestions?
Not useful for card draw?
Those seemed like decent ways to get more land on the board
Seemed like a decent way to spend counters.
I'm guessing no decent opponent will let this get that far?
I actually have an Arbor Elf also! Just need those last two.
Just want to make sure I'm understanding the way they work together...save the Zealous Conscripts until I can steal something really awesome, then use Kiki-Jiki to copy it?
Definitely thought about grabbing one of those even though it's over $5. I could just use it on tokens created by Marath also, right?
I'll consider it, maybe after I get my tax return
Thanks a ton!
So some things like Avacyn's Pilgrim, Llanowar Elves, Elvish Mystic? I have all three of those. Would Voyaging Satyr be worth it at all?
I already have Curse of Predation in there.
Any ideas on what I could take out?
I recently purchased the Nature of the Beast precon deck since it was on sale for $9 and I've been wanting to try out EDH (I'm still new-ish to MTG, playing for less than a year and have only been playing standard). I really like the commander of the deck Marath, Will of the Wild and I think I want to make the deck into more of a +1/+1 counter themed deck.
My goal is to make the deck fun to play in a casual environment without spending an arm and a leg. I'd also like the deck to be at least decent, as I don't want to make an ass of myself at my LGS (heh).
So far, this is what I've come up with using cards I already own and cards I can purchase for less than $5.
1x Acidic Slime
1x Advocate of the Beast
1x Avenger of Zendikar
1x Baloth Woodcrasher
1x Borborygmos
1x Chronicler of Heroes
1x Crowned Ceratok
1x Deadwood Treefolk
1x Drumhunter
1x Etched Oracle
1x Experiment One
1x Falkenrath Exterminator
1x Fertilid
1x Forgotten Ancient
1x Fungal Behemoth
1x Gahiji, Honored One
1x Gyre Sage
1x Ivy Lane Denizen
1x Krosan Tusker
1x Krosan Warchief
1x Meglonoth
1x Mikaeus, the Lunarch
1x Mold Shambler
1x Rakeclaw Gargantuan
1x Rampaging Baloths
1x Renegade Krasis
1x Retaliator Griffin
1x Shinewend
1x Spellbreaker Behemoth
1x Spike Weaver
1x Valley Rannet
1x Zhur-Taa Druid
Sorcery (11)
1x Blessings of Nature
1x Cultivate
1x Fireball
1x Harmonize
1x Hull Breach
1x Rain of Thorns
1x Restore
1x Slice and Dice
1x Tempt with Discovery
1x Vandalblast
1x Wrath of God
1x Boros Charm
1x Comet Storm
1x Naya Charm
1x Slice in Twain
1x Sprouting Vines
1x Wild Ricochet
Land (39)
1x Boros Garrison
1x Boros Guildgate
1x Command Tower
1x Drifting Meadow
1x Encroaching Wastes
1x Evolving Wilds
7x Forest
1x Forgotten Cave
1x Gruul Guildgate
1x Homeward Path
1x Jungle Shrine
1x Khalni Garden
1x Mosswort Bridge
4x Mountain
1x Naya Panorama
1x New Benalia
1x Opal Palace
1x Oran-Rief, the Vastwood
4x Plains
1x Secluded Steppe
1x Selesnya Guildgate
1x Selesnya Sanctuary
1x Slippery Karst
1x Smoldering Crater
1x Temple of the False God
1x Tranquil Thicket
1x Vivid Crag
Enchantment (15)
1x Aura Shards
1x Cathars' Crusade
1x Curse of Predation
1x Darksteel Mutation
1x Fires of Yavimaya
1x Forced Adaptation
1x Gift of Immortality
1x Indestructibility
1x Ion Storm
1x Mayael's Aria
1x Oblivion Ring
1x Ooze Flux
1x Rancor
1x Spawning Grounds
1x Warstorm Surge
1x Behemoth Sledge
1x Darksteel Ingot
1x Druidic Satchel
1x Elixir of Immortality
1x Gorgon Flail
1x Gruul Keyrune
1x Prophetic Prism
1x Quietus Spike
1x Seer's Sundial
1x Sol Ring
1x Swiftfoot Boots
Here is a link to tappedout if you'd like to see it broken down by CMC, color, etc: http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/marath-edh-29-01-14-1/
My list is 113 cards as is, so I need to cut out 14. Could anyone offer any suggestions on how I should go about that? Are there any cards I'm missing that I absolutely must have (that I could afford)?
Thanks a ton in advance.
Gyre Sage was mentioned previously as a better mana accelerator, and the druids where $0.10 cards that looked like they might have some use so I picked them up just for the heck of it. That's exactly why I asked about them, though. Thanks!
Savage Summoning was mentioned on another site as possibly a good anti-blue sideboard card. I really hate when my creature spells get countered I understand what you're saying, though. Mistcutter was originally a sideboard card for the same reason (blue hate), but now I've included it in the main list because I wasn't sure if there was any better option. Maybe replace them with maaka's to make them a 4x card?
I think at this point there's no turning back from the bloodrush strategy. Your comments were very helpful!
Thanks a lot for the input, I see what you mean about ramp vs. rush.
After rummaging through cards at my LGS for a good while today, I found some useful things (although there were some things I couldn't find).
Here's what I came up with after my search:
4 Boon Satyr
3 Burning-Tree Emissary
2 Deadbridge Goliath
4 Dryad Militant
4 Ghor-Clan Rampager
2 Mistcutter Hydra
2 Polis Crusher
2 Rubblebelt Maaka
4 Slaughterhorn
4 Lightning Strike
2 Magma Jet
Enchants
4 Madcap Skills
Lands
9 Forest
8 Mountain
4 Gruul Guildgate
2 Temple of Abandon
3 Destructive Revelry
2 Gruul Charm
3 Pit Fight
3 Plummet
1 Savage Summoning
3 Skarrg Guildmage
A few comments:
@piman: I actually have 2x Polis Crusher but I wasn't sure of it's usefulness. After reconsidering, I think it'd be a great mainboard card. I also hope to find 2x Savagborn Hydra when I visit my LGS today.
@Clownstabber: I'm replacing 1 drop manadorks with just Wasteland Viper and adding in the 2x Burning Tree Emissary that I currently have. Thanks for the suggestion.
Here is an updated list with sideboard. Any more thoughts?
4x Boon Satyr
2x Burning-Tree Emissary
4x Ghor-Clan Rampager
2x Polis Crusher
2x Rubblebelt Maaka
3x Savageborn Hydra
4x Slaughterhorn
3x Wasteland Viper
4x Gruul Guildgate
9x Mountain
2x Temple of Abandon
4x Lightning Strike
2x Magma Jet
3x Flesh / Blood
2x Mistcutter Hydra
2x Naturalize
3x Plummet
2x Savage Summoning
3x Skarrg Guildmage
3x Witchstalker
Here's the deck in it's current form:
4x Boon Satyr
3x Elvish Mystic
4x Ghor-Clan Rampager
2x Mistcutter Hydra
2x Rubblebelt Maaka
2x Skarrg Guildmage
3x Slaughterhorn
3x Voyaging Satyr
2x Wasteland Viper
2x Lightning Strike
2x Magma Jet
2x Titan's Strength
4x Madcap Skills
10x Forest
4x Gruul Guildgate
7x Mountain
2x Temple of Abandon
(Here is a link to the tappedout decklist with maybeboard)
Everything listed there is sleeved up and ready to go. Everything in the Maybeboard are additional cards I have on hand that I've considered putting into the deck.
Before Friday arrives, I just want to get some critiques on this decklist. This is most definitely a budget version of Gruul Aggro. I really don't want to purchase 3-4x Domri Rade's at the moment, and I don't own any Polukranos cards, unfortunately. Ideally, I want to make the best deck with what I have. Also, I don't have much info on the metagame at my LGS. I do know there are usually about 30-40 players at each FNM, and the guy who runs it basically said there are "a few people with expensive decks, but not many over $50."
A couple specific things I would really appreciate help with:
SIDEBOARD: What the heck do I put in the sideboard? So far, the only decent ideas I have would be Naturalize (and Destructive Revelry) if I play against any debilitating enchantments, Pit Fight if I'm up against something like White Weenies, and Plummet if flyers give me trouble. Besides those, I have no idea.
INSTANTS: Is there enough (or too much) burn here? Pump spells? I considered mainboarding 3-4x Pit Fight but those are not often as useful as I would like.
CREATURES: How does my creature selection look? I really spent a lot of time deciding what the best creatures to use in the mainboard would be, but I'm still not sure I made the best choices. Is Rubblebelt Maaka good enough to be mainboard? It seems like a great bloodrush card, and a decent body if I need it. I've only included 2x Skarrg Guildmages in the mainboard, but I have one more. Is he worthy of taking another mainboard spot? Is Leafcrown Dryad more of a sideboard card, giving me options vs pesky flyers?
As a final note, while I've listed a lot of cards in the maybeboard, I have a lot more cards at my disposal (especially commons). I'll gladly take any suggestions into consideration.
Thanks a lot for any help!