I just updated my decklist online and was hoping I could get some feedback. I mentioned earlier this week that I had not played modern in a few months, and have about 100 dollars to spend on cards (in paper) to update my deck.
Some cards that I had in mind:
1 (or 2?) more green fetches (wooded foothills)
1 (or 2?) more Ballista
2 more chords
1 Ruric Thrar
another 1 or 2 Birds of Paradise
Another planeswalker (Nissa?)
But I am really not sure. I'm hoping to bring the deck to local FNM and not lose horribly bad. I don't expect to win the tourney or anything, just want to be able to compete and have fun. When I last played at my local game store, I did worse against, and was consistently losing to the linear combo decks (Titanshift, Counters Company) as I couldn't race them - sometimes I'd be 1 turn too late, others they would completely demolish me before I could get any kind of board presence at all. It seems in general the deck, even a few months ago, was just a bit slow in general. Prior to that, my hand was getting ripped apart by discard effects when jund and other thoughtseize decks were running rampant.
I was going for the toolbox style deck, but I'm not completely set on that (obviously, if you look at my decklist I'm lacking direction :P)
I am looking for any recommendations for cards to remove, cards to add, ect. I have a pretty large collection of green staples already, but as I mentioned I am willing to purchase a few cards as well. I also feel as if my sideboard is lacking, and have no real direction regarding where to go with it. I was thinking of splashing for white so I can access some better SB options (and Elesh Norn seems fun) but.. I'm not really a modern expert and am relying on your guy's advice
Thanks in advance! Any advice would be super helpful, I know my deck is more "old school" as it hasn't been updated in a long time other than adding Ballista and a few other things and realize it may need several updates. Promise I won't take any offense to your recommendations
***update: put cards into categories. not sure why tappedout brings them over alphabetically..
It's a solid build, and there isn't a lot I can say to critique it that isn't in the realm of personal preference (eg: I think Selkie is awful, but some still like it).
Regarding Fetchlands: I run a total of 6 (with the same 2 Shocks, 4 Sprawl, and 2 Birds as you). However, if you're only concern is Kessig in the MD and Banefire in the SB, you probably can get away with just that. That said, it cam cause you hiccups if you want to play a turn 2-3 red spell like Ruric Thar or Firespout. I'd consider a couple more.
Also on the topic of lands, since you have 22, you may want to consider swapping one more Forest for a Treetop Village. While I only fit one now (due to my deck being a lot leaner), Titan for 2x Treetop is one of the most generally powerful plays you can muster, and tends to laugh off Wrath of God.
Ballista has been great. While I'm playing a more aggressive build without them now, having them was amazing against so many decks. Sadly, they don't add to Devotion, and do require at least 4 mana to really shine. I'd consider getting at least one more, though I'm not sure 4x is really warranted, unless...
You might also want to look at the Druid-Vizier combo. I'm pretty convinced right now it's the strongest version of the Command deck,
Predator Ooze is generally regarded as a bit sluggish, as is Temur Sabertooth. They're not really pushed for inclusion much anymore, because of that.
I like 3-4 BoP in most versions of the deck that don't run BTE or Devoted Druid. Others like sticking to 2, but I like the consistency.
A few copies of Oath of Nissa can improve consistency while adding Devotion, though you might have too many non-targets to benefit. For your deck, I'd play 2x.
Hornet Queen is a surprisingly powerful and versatile card. It sets up a lethal overrun on its own, all while being a great deterrent against attack.
Rhonas I think may be better than Nylea these days, but both can be played.
Blood Moon has seen a lot of adoption as a powerful SB card, but that'll eat your budget right quick.
So i just wanted to update everyone i cut down from 4 birds to 2, and from two Acidic Slimes to 1 in order to fit 3 Strangleroot Geist, and i gotta say they do some serious work.
Anyone run them before? and what are your thoughts?
I used to play the Geist, and only removed them after I moved on to BTE and Ballista. They were always pretty good, but sometimes didn't quite do enough. They certainly buy time versus aggro, punch for an Overrun, add a bunch of Devotion, and are great with Genesis Wave. I think Acidic Slime is overrated personally.
I'd need to see a deck list to make more insightful comments, though.
So i just wanted to update everyone i cut down from 4 birds to 2, and from two Acidic Slimes to 1 in order to fit 3 Strangleroot Geist, and i gotta say they do some serious work.
Anyone run them before? and what are your thoughts?
So tonight was interesting, I managed to get to my LGS early due to finishing work earlier, and play a bunch of games against another person playing Green Devotion. Here’s the interesting thing he ran almost a RUG type variant that included Surrak dragon claw, I was pretty surprised to see that. ( also Kiora and Selkies )
What’s everyone’s thoughts on a dragonclaw being run in the deck? The guy swore by it, and it played well for him as an interesting combat trick + trample enabler
Played a few more matches. Won them handily. Ruric Thar is incredible, and I should have put this in the MD a year ago. Also, Polukranos earned concessions from Eldrazi and DnT players. I feel vindicated.
That’s great news, and especially on the big bad hydra. How many are you running?
[/spoiler]
Two, per my list on the prior page. I also periodically update the linked list in my signature.
[spoiler=CurdBros, regarding Ruric Thar vs Polukranos]
Played a few more matches. Won them handily. Ruric Thar is incredible, and I should have put this in the MD a year ago. Also, Polukranos earned concessions from Eldrazi and DnT players. I feel vindicated.
That’s awesome! Maybe that will be my “variable” slot (instead of Woodland Bellower). It’s not quite as “go wide”; but it is nice to have Chordable removal.
And you are right on Ruruc Thar...id always knew how incredible it was in the board; but I think we are all starting to see that it is potentially a main deck card...it just ends SOOO many decks. More importantly, however, is that it “Hosea” a lot of our worst match ups while also just being a well coated creature.
Shoot...I currently have a “Variable” Slot in my main deck...which do I choose?
[/spoiler]
If it's between those two, the first Ruric Thar is hands-down the right choice. He wins games that you simply have no other way to win, is a more efficient, powerful, and versatile threat, and more. Polukranos, as good as it is, fundamentally is an efficient creature plus low-end removal; while this may be the right call in some places, he doesn't give the deck an entirely different approach to search up the way Ruric Thar does.
Ok I know I’m getting annoying and I do apologize if I am, but any thoughts on Vorinclex voice of hunger ?
Not annoying at all. Everyone here has asked a million questions and presented dozens of ideas...you can’t ask too much. We all just want to get better and get Devotion to “Tier” status.
Vorniclux is nuts...I thought of playing a copy in Garruk Green...my only issue was in 90% of the scenarios I played him I would have rather had a Craterhoof :). Having said that; it is quite different from Craterhoof (and there are match ups where it is more effective than Hoof...especially if they keep your board low.
In honesty, I haven’t played Vorniclux enough to have a strong opinion of it.
[/spoiler]
I agree with this assessment. He's powerful to be sure, but at that much mana, we generally have better options. Only the White, Black, and Blue Praetors have enough fast impact to really be an object of consideration.
Regarding being tiered, I wouldn't stress over it too much. Breaking into tiered status requires mass-adoption more than actual performance (or even being good), and we can beat much of the tiered field. If anything, it's good to fly under the radar.
And also, definitely don't worry about being "annoying." As long as you are engaging in a dialogue, responding, and being thoughtful (all of which you are), we're generally grateful to talk about any idea. You're not one of those people who pulls stuff from a random site, and basically engages in a self-centered monologue where you put everyone else down to fixate on your own ideas of what the deck should be.
Played a few more matches. Won them handily. Ruric Thar is incredible, and I should have put this in the MD a year ago. Also, Polukranos earned concessions from Eldrazi and DnT players. I feel vindicated.
That’s great news, and especially on the big bad hydra. How many are you running?
[/spoiler]
Two, per my list on the prior page. I also periodically update the linked list in my signature.
[spoiler=CurdBros, regarding Ruric Thar vs Polukranos]
Played a few more matches. Won them handily. Ruric Thar is incredible, and I should have put this in the MD a year ago. Also, Polukranos earned concessions from Eldrazi and DnT players. I feel vindicated.
That’s awesome! Maybe that will be my “variable” slot (instead of Woodland Bellower). It’s not quite as “go wide”; but it is nice to have Chordable removal.
And you are right on Ruruc Thar...id always knew how incredible it was in the board; but I think we are all starting to see that it is potentially a main deck card...it just ends SOOO many decks. More importantly, however, is that it “Hosea” a lot of our worst match ups while also just being a well coated creature.
Shoot...I currently have a “Variable” Slot in my main deck...which do I choose?
[/spoiler]
If it's between those two, the first Ruric Thar is hands-down the right choice. He wins games that you simply have no other way to win, is a more efficient, powerful, and versatile threat, and more. Polukranos, as good as it is, fundamentally is an efficient creature plus low-end removal; while this may be the right call in some places, he doesn't give the deck an entirely different approach to search up the way Ruric Thar does.
Ok I know I’m getting annoying and I do apologize if I am, but any thoughts on Vorinclex voice of hunger ?
Not annoying at all. Everyone here has asked a million questions and presented dozens of ideas...you can’t ask too much. We all just want to get better and get Devotion to “Tier” status.
Vorniclux is nuts...I thought of playing a copy in Garruk Green...my only issue was in 90% of the scenarios I played him I would have rather had a Craterhoof :). Having said that; it is quite different from Craterhoof (and there are match ups where it is more effective than Hoof...especially if they keep your board low.
In honesty, I haven’t played Vorniclux enough to have a strong opinion of it.
[/spoiler]
I agree with this assessment. He's powerful to be sure, but at that much mana, we generally have better options. Only the White, Black, and Blue Praetors have enough fast impact to really be an object of consideration.
Regarding being tiered, I wouldn't stress over it too much. Breaking into tiered status requires mass-adoption more than actual performance (or even being good), and we can beat much of the tiered field. If anything, it's good to fly under the radar.
And also, definitely don't worry about being "annoying." As long as you are engaging in a dialogue, responding, and being thoughtful (all of which you are), we're generally grateful to talk about any idea. You're not one of those people who pulls stuff from a random site, and basically engages in a self-centered monologue where you put everyone else down to fixate on your own ideas of what the deck should be.
Played a few more matches. Won them handily. Ruric Thar is incredible, and I should have put this in the MD a year ago. Also, Polukranos earned concessions from Eldrazi and DnT players. I feel vindicated.
That’s great news, and especially on the big bad hydra. How many are you running?
[/spoiler]
Two, per my list on the prior page. I also periodically update the linked list in my signature.
[spoiler=CurdBros, regarding Ruric Thar vs Polukranos]
Played a few more matches. Won them handily. Ruric Thar is incredible, and I should have put this in the MD a year ago. Also, Polukranos earned concessions from Eldrazi and DnT players. I feel vindicated.
That’s awesome! Maybe that will be my “variable” slot (instead of Woodland Bellower). It’s not quite as “go wide”; but it is nice to have Chordable removal.
And you are right on Ruruc Thar...id always knew how incredible it was in the board; but I think we are all starting to see that it is potentially a main deck card...it just ends SOOO many decks. More importantly, however, is that it “Hosea” a lot of our worst match ups while also just being a well coated creature.
Shoot...I currently have a “Variable” Slot in my main deck...which do I choose?
[/spoiler]
If it's between those two, the first Ruric Thar is hands-down the right choice. He wins games that you simply have no other way to win, is a more efficient, powerful, and versatile threat, and more. Polukranos, as good as it is, fundamentally is an efficient creature plus low-end removal; while this may be the right call in some places, he doesn't give the deck an entirely different approach to search up the way Ruric Thar does.
Ok I know I’m getting annoying and I do apologize if I am, but any thoughts on Vorinclex voice of hunger ?
Not annoying at all. Everyone here has asked a million questions and presented dozens of ideas...you can’t ask too much. We all just want to get better and get Devotion to “Tier” status.
Vorniclux is nuts...I thought of playing a copy in Garruk Green...my only issue was in 90% of the scenarios I played him I would have rather had a Craterhoof :). Having said that; it is quite different from Craterhoof (and there are match ups where it is more effective than Hoof...especially if they keep your board low.
In honesty, I haven’t played Vorniclux enough to have a strong opinion of it.
[/spoiler]
I agree with this assessment. He's powerful to be sure, but at that much mana, we generally have better options. Only the White, Black, and Blue Praetors have enough fast impact to really be an object of consideration.
Regarding being tiered, I wouldn't stress over it too much. Breaking into tiered status requires mass-adoption more than actual performance (or even being good), and we can beat much of the tiered field. If anything, it's good to fly under the radar.
And also, definitely don't worry about being "annoying." As long as you are engaging in a dialogue, responding, and being thoughtful (all of which you are), we're generally grateful to talk about any idea. You're not one of those people who pulls stuff from a random site, and basically engages in a self-centered monologue where you put everyone else down to fixate on your own ideas of what the deck should be.
Was that too on the nose?
No I very much appreciate your words, becuase I was feeling like I may have been.
Maybe I’ll do some play testing with him to see how he works, but as Curd stated probably would want Hoof in most of those situations. We sure have some great creatures to chose from that’s what makes tinkering so much fun.
Played a few more matches. Won them handily. Ruric Thar is incredible, and I should have put this in the MD a year ago. Also, Polukranos earned concessions from Eldrazi and DnT players. I feel vindicated.
That’s great news, and especially on the big bad hydra. How many are you running?
I was wondering why everyone seems so down on including Garruk Primal hunter, the massive devotion boost, and token production seems really good. Even though you can -3 him right away which I’d rather wait a turn to do so it all seems powerful enough to warrant an inclusion, also I know most people will say it’s a super timmy ult, but a ton of 6/6 wurms aren’t anything to scoff at.granted no evasion or haste, anything really other then a board wipe will let you out muscle your opponent.
Thoughts?
I brewed with Primal Hunter for some time. I really liked the synergy between him and Genesis Hydra/Reverent Hunter. The problem here is that you are playing cards just to make Garruk PH more powerful. There is nothing wrong with this in theory; but the sum of the synergy between the cards will have to make up for the individual downsides.
I actually made a pretty fun deck that was somewhat of a "combo" deck (because of the card draw) that played both Garruk Wildspeaker and Garruk Primal Hunter along with Genesis Hydra, Reverent Hunter, Walking Ballista, and Bioshift. Essentially you would draw a million cards and make a million mana and then could move all of the +1/+1 counters from Hunter or Hydra over to a Ballista for the same-turn kill...
You don't have to do anything this crazy; but you really do want to take advantage of Primal Hunter's draw ability. I really do wish they would have started Primal Hunter at 4 Loyalty. He should not "kill himself" with a single negative trigger. That is a design flaw in my opinion. It's not his ultimate; so why does it remove him right away? It's not straight card draw (it requires a creature) so it is not too OP. That, however, is neither here nor there (my opinion on it isn't worth a hill of beans...).
You are absolutely right that Primal Hunter is a high enough power level to see play (and adds HEAPS of devotion). I think the only reason more decks don't play it is simply because it is very much a "build around me" card (rather than one that can just be placed in any Devotion deck. You really do want a good amount of large creatures and/or a way to keep him alive even if you trigger his negative ability when he first hits the board. I think a deck is out there that can take advantage of him. We just haven't made it yet.
Some great valid points. I really love this deck, and especially more so because it runs Garruk my fav walker. I agree that wildspeaker really is everything we are looking for, after play testing a lot I feel the biggest issues are when we inveitbly get into top deck mode, and when we desperately need to remove something problematic ( that’s why I’ve been testing Apex predator, and staying on theme ). I guess maybe I’m trying to hard to reinvent the wheel, when if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
I keep trying to think if
Surrak hunt caller
Apex predator
Primal hunter
If there’s a way to make it all viable but I may end up going back to the stock list, tho I must say Apex really feels worth his salt.
I was wondering why everyone seems so down on including Garruk Primal hunter, the massive devotion boost, and token production seems really good. Even though you can -3 him right away which I’d rather wait a turn to do so it all seems powerful enough to warrant an inclusion, also I know most people will say it’s a super timmy ult, but a ton of 6/6 wurms aren’t anything to scoff at.granted no evasion or haste, anything really other then a board wipe will let you out muscle your opponent.
Wanted to know what are peoples thoughts on running 2-3 copies of Baru Fist Of Krosa.
Thanks for the feedback I’m actually at a store today, and will be playing a bunch of games were I think I’ll try a number of different cards
Like Garruk COB, eternal, Rhonas, Primal hunter and Surrak hunt caller
Lands 21 Lands
x4 Shrine to Nyxthos
x4 Wooded Foothills
x1 Kessig Wolf-Run
x2 Stomping Ground
x8 Forests
x2 Treetop village
Creatures 26 Creatures
x4 Arbor Elf
x2 Birds Of Paradise
x4 Burning Tree Emissary
x1 Acidic Slime
x2 Courser Of Kruphix
x3 Primeval Titan
x1 Hornet Queen
x1 Craterhoof
x2 Walking Ballista
x3 Strangleroot Geist
x1 Poulkronos
x2 Wolfbriar Elemental
PlanesWalkers 4 Planeswalkers
x4 Garruk Wildspeaker
Spells 9
x2 Oath of Nissa
x3 Primal Command
x4 Utopia Sprawl
AS always looks for responding man, would love to get your thoughts.
Anyone run them before? and what are your thoughts?
Where did you get to order those lands? They look amazing.
it was interesting to see, and the flash in / combat removal seemed fun. the mana cost seemed a bit restrictive though
What’s everyone’s thoughts on a dragonclaw being run in the deck? The guy swore by it, and it played well for him as an interesting combat trick + trample enabler
No I very much appreciate your words, becuase I was feeling like I may have been.
Maybe I’ll do some play testing with him to see how he works, but as Curd stated probably would want Hoof in most of those situations. We sure have some great creatures to chose from that’s what makes tinkering so much fun.
That’s great news, and especially on the big bad hydra. How many are you running?
Some great valid points. I really love this deck, and especially more so because it runs Garruk my fav walker. I agree that wildspeaker really is everything we are looking for, after play testing a lot I feel the biggest issues are when we inveitbly get into top deck mode, and when we desperately need to remove something problematic ( that’s why I’ve been testing Apex predator, and staying on theme ). I guess maybe I’m trying to hard to reinvent the wheel, when if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
I keep trying to think if
Surrak hunt caller
Apex predator
Primal hunter
If there’s a way to make it all viable but I may end up going back to the stock list, tho I must say Apex really feels worth his salt.
Thoughts?
yeah i'd like to squeeze him in also, but im still trying to make room for Visionaries.