Not exactly sure what to cut YET, but 1 or 2 Zulaport Cutthroat is definitely an upgrade for the deck. Having extra copies of our "win" condition is essential even if it doesn't trigger on our opponents' end. When we go to Combo through rally or something of the sort, that can be quite irrelevant anyways. Another card to look at is Smothering Abomination. Both of these cards could be really strong players for this strategy not only in a likely standard Aristocrats deck but they're probably good enough for modern as well!
I know Hangarback walker is great. GREAT even. However, with the losses fast aggressive decks are sustaining, the "Big Eldrazi/Midrange" decks are likely to be prominent. Being able to go under those decks early and often is essential. Hangarback slows your deck down by a turn maybe, and that will easily be the difference versus these new age ramp decks that are going to flood standard.
So, here's my first stab at an aggressive deck that is abusing the devoid mechanic. While seemingly weaker than other aggro strategies, you have two cards that swing the tides in your favor: Tomb of the Spirit Dragon and Ghostfire Blade. The blade allows any of your 11 (Endless One) included, into swinging for 3 on turn two, and going in for even more lategame with your other threats. With Tomb of the Spirit Dragon, you're able to simply mitigate your opponents' damage, gaining anywhere from 3 to 5 life a turn in a clogged boardstate. Having said that, I'm sure this list isn't very fine-tuned and could use work. Sideboard is also in question since I'm not 100% sure on what bad matchups would exist for this.
Well, I took 2nd in my 40 player gameday with my above list adding 1 Llanowar Wastes, 3 frontier bivouac, 1 opaline palace, 1 sandstep citadel, and 2 more haven with 2 of every basic. In retrospect, I may cut a plains for a second wastes since I have no double white cards.
Most games I was just able to play a bomb turn 4 and went to town on whatever I played, losing in the finals to a topdecked become immense against RG aggro when he was dead on board next turn :/ I also may think about cutting 1 vegetation or the siege for a main board copy of feed the clans.
with people most assuredly playing RG aggro after that pro tour win, Atarka is even more powerful, and I feel like the deck that can throw her onto the battlefield fastest has the best chance in standard
I think Savage Ventmaw needs consideration as a 1-of. With an Ascendancy out, you can drop him, draw a card, swing, and drop some more threats post combat, to gum up the board when you aren't ready to combo out
Well, I haven't played standard in forever because I felt the format hasn't been in a good place since Scars-Inni. While I'm not saying it's in a good place right now, exactly, I think this just looks too fun to not play. With the printing of Explosive Vegetation, you get a lot of freedom in what you can cast consistently.
Now, the manabase may be picked apart, but I just think that I don't want to thin my deck out with the fetches because of my curves, and I also don't want to have too many tapped lands because of the threat of Red-based aggressive decks
...if you really think you get to weaken goyfs with delve you are playing some kind of other cardgame than me.
I play Chapins Esper Delve Shell and the number of times I´ve double snuffed Goyfs with a Cut and an attacking Tas are to many to count.
That's my sentiment exactly. People act like it's a foregone conclusion that Goyf is just 4 of in everything. That may be correct 9 times out of 10, bit there's always an exception. When you play mandrills and enough ways to fill your yard by turn 1 or 2, I think he's a pretty simple inclusion over goyf
No, the only reason u like mandrills over goyf is really only budget reasons ^^
@funeral:
If you are going to play visions play 4. Also with so many delve creatures you should consider 2-3 thoughtscour which also lets you play murderous cut.
??? I have 3 thought scour in that list first off. Secondly, why do you think it's a budget call? If I wanted the damn goyfs I'd sell some of my 20 snapcasters or 6 lilianas, or some of my extra revised duals. Budget isn't the concern. Being able to weaken other tarmogoyf, trample, and helping get rid of cards I don't want back with a Tasigur activation are my reasons
That's the reason I like Mandrills over Goyf. It is harder to remove, since it can't be blasted by an abrupt decay. It also does two things that Tarmogoyf doesn't do: Trample damage through, and make other Goyfs weaker by eating your graveyard.
3 Endless One
4 Salvage Drone
4 Sludge Crawler
2 Mist Intruder
4 Fathom Feeder
4 Forerunner of Slaughter
4 Dominator Drone
4 Wasteland Strangler
2 Vile Aggregate
4 Dust Stalker
4 Ghostfire Blade
Lands
2 Tomb of the Spirit Dragon
4 Polluted Delta
4 Bloodstained Mire
3 Swamp
5 Island
3 mountain
Most games I was just able to play a bomb turn 4 and went to town on whatever I played, losing in the finals to a topdecked become immense against RG aggro when he was dead on board next turn :/ I also may think about cutting 1 vegetation or the siege for a main board copy of feed the clans.
My SB 15 was:
1 rending volley
2 roast
2 draconic roar
2 seismic rupture
1 crux of fate
1 deathbringer regent
2 feed the clan
2 dragonlord's prerogative
1 icefall regent
1 dragonlord silumgar
2 Haven of the Spirit Dragon
2 Island
4 Mana Confluence
4 Mountain
2 Plains
2 Swamp
2 Dragonlord Dromoka
1 Dragonlord Kolaghan
4 Elvish Mystic
1 Rattleclaw Mystic
3 Stormbreath Dragon
4 Sylvan Caryatid
4 Thunderbreak Regent
1 Sarkhan's Triumph
3 Crux of Fate
4 Explosive Vegetation
1 See the Unwritten
1 Frontier Siege
1 Sarkhan Unbroken
2 Ugin, the Spirit Dragon
Now, the manabase may be picked apart, but I just think that I don't want to thin my deck out with the fetches because of my curves, and I also don't want to have too many tapped lands because of the threat of Red-based aggressive decks
The board would most likely have Dragonlord's Prerogative, Dragonlord Ojutai, Dragonlord Silumgar, and some other cards I have yet to work out. Probably going to play this at the Illinois States next weekend or something soon.
That's my sentiment exactly. People act like it's a foregone conclusion that Goyf is just 4 of in everything. That may be correct 9 times out of 10, bit there's always an exception. When you play mandrills and enough ways to fill your yard by turn 1 or 2, I think he's a pretty simple inclusion over goyf
??? I have 3 thought scour in that list first off. Secondly, why do you think it's a budget call? If I wanted the damn goyfs I'd sell some of my 20 snapcasters or 6 lilianas, or some of my extra revised duals. Budget isn't the concern. Being able to weaken other tarmogoyf, trample, and helping get rid of cards I don't want back with a Tasigur activation are my reasons
2 Creeping Tar Pit
3 Darkslick Shores
1 Forest
1 Island
4 Misty Rainforest
2 Overgrown Tomb
2 Polluted Delta
1 Sunken Ruins
1 Swamp
1 Tectonic Edge
3 Verdant Catacombs
1 Watery Grave
3 Snapcaster Mage
2 Tasigur, the Golden Fang
1 Thragtusk
3 Abrupt Decay
2 Cryptic Command
1 Golgari Charm
3 Mana Leak
1 Sultai Charm
3 Thought Scour
1 Compulsive Research
2 Damnation
3 Inquisition of Kozilek
1 Maelstrom Pulse
2 Serum Visions
2 Thoughtseize
1 Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver
1 Jace, Architect of Thought
Basically used Gerards list as the baseline, highlighted with those changes
4 marsh flats
1 arid mesa
1 bloodstained mire
1 fetid heath
1 rugged prairie
3 godless shrine
3 sacred foundry
2 blood crypt
3 plains
2 swamp
1 mountain
Creatures
4 doomed traveler
4 Dark Confidant
4 blood artist
4 cartel aristocrat
3 mogg war marshal
2 Bloodsoaked Champion
2 butcher of the horde
2 Goblin Rabblemaster
4 lingering souls
3 Lightning Bolt
2 path to exile
2 rally the ancestors
1 Dreadbore
1 Outpost Siege
2 Slaughter Games
2 Rakdos Charm
4 Tunnel Ignus
2 Wear // Tear
2 Path to Exile
2 Crackling Doom
1 Dreadbore