I think that Rhythm of the Wild is way stronger than Fires of Yavimaya unless you are playing token generator, but in this kind of deck you usually don't, so it shouldn't matter. Rhythm of the Wild allows you to avoid counters and Chalice of the Void and gives you the possibility to choose between a small permanent boost or Haste if you want to attack immediately. A token +1/+1 breaks immediately the simmetry with opposite Tarmogoyf[/card] (for example) so it isn't exactly forgettable.
Also, you can play CoTV yourself because you effectively run Rhythm of the Wild: this can be a way to update further the deck.
My tips for the "classic" storm version with Rites:
* Guttersnipe is quite powerful because it turns a rite of mana/a token geenrator in extra damage to the opponent, thus reducing the opponent's pv considerably. Bad topdeck, but once you have in play
* I think that Goblin Electromancer should be reconsidered. It doesn't only reduce the casting cost of the rites of mana, Empty the Warrens and many token generators making them way more efficient (as if it wasn't enough...) but makes Distant Melody a lot more useful than Fecundity because it refills your hand immediately, as you cast it. I think that splashing for U can be more convenient than using G.
The U splash allows you to play spell such as Shimmer of Possibility, Truth or Tale or Treasure Hunt as additional tutors and drawers, which are more efficient than the G ones because you can find "virtually" any kind of card you need in the deck, without being limited to creatures or lands.
Instead of creating a new post, I think that posting some news here is just fine because the core of the deck is still the same as usual and it is still a less reliant version of Dredge.
I think that 4x Street Wraith is a must-include here because it is basically the best card with "Cycling" because it doesn't need mana to work so it is good even without Fluctuator.
4x Archfiend of Ifnir is another creature with "Cycling", but with the added bonus of sweeping the opposing side of the field from some tokens, which is useful towards some combo deck. If necessary, you can even cast it with Songs of the Damned with relative ease.
4x Hollow One I think that this is a nice card, when the opponent take away the single-creature removals because you can even cast it from your hand if you need a fest beater/blocker on your side of the field "for free" or at 1 at most.
2-3x Shadow of the Grave is the card we needed to avoid being without cards in hand with cycle and the fact it "counters" some discards is always useful.
* Drannith Stinger is another way to approach this deck because it is a cheap creature to consider and it allows us to deal some chip damage to the opponent when we are able to cycle a lot of cards together. Maybe is possible to buil a Red-Green version of this deck with Edge of Autumn?
* Faith of the Devoted/Drake Haven they are mana intensive, but they can be used as a win condition under some circumstances. Most of the time it needs Fluctuator on your field to be effective unless you are able to chain 3-4 cycling cards in a row in the same turn.
This deck is old and has the same issues than before, but some new entries can give it some lifeblood for the casual play.
Any thughts? I think that there are some nice improvements for this deck!
The problem of Contamination is that, unlikely Blood Moon, you can't play it quickly because you need at least one creature on the board to feed this enchantement...still, I think that it can still worth using in order to stop the opponent on his tracks from turn 4 onwards.
I think that Treacherous Blessing is really an underlooked card: it is a "draw 3" with minimal drawback in this deck because you run Smokestax.
Problem is that this card con't be played with Chains of Mephistopheles already in play, so we have to choose one of the two enchantements.
I think that Lavabrink Venturer is strong...but not in the classic decklist.
It is a strong card because it can protect from many spells and can block even bigger creatures, but you can't simply replace Preeminent Captain because the latter creature has a lot more sinergy with the decklist.
It is also not good with Militia Bugler around because you can't add it to your hand through its ability.
Also, you can play CoTV yourself because you effectively run Rhythm of the Wild: this can be a way to update further the deck.
* Guttersnipe is quite powerful because it turns a rite of mana/a token geenrator in extra damage to the opponent, thus reducing the opponent's pv considerably. Bad topdeck, but once you have in play
* I think that Goblin Electromancer should be reconsidered. It doesn't only reduce the casting cost of the rites of mana, Empty the Warrens and many token generators making them way more efficient (as if it wasn't enough...) but makes Distant Melody a lot more useful than Fecundity because it refills your hand immediately, as you cast it. I think that splashing for U can be more convenient than using G.
The U splash allows you to play spell such as Shimmer of Possibility, Truth or Tale or Treasure Hunt as additional tutors and drawers, which are more efficient than the G ones because you can find "virtually" any kind of card you need in the deck, without being limited to creatures or lands.
I think that 4x Street Wraith is a must-include here because it is basically the best card with "Cycling" because it doesn't need mana to work so it is good even without Fluctuator.
4x Archfiend of Ifnir is another creature with "Cycling", but with the added bonus of sweeping the opposing side of the field from some tokens, which is useful towards some combo deck. If necessary, you can even cast it with Songs of the Damned with relative ease.
4x Hollow One I think that this is a nice card, when the opponent take away the single-creature removals because you can even cast it from your hand if you need a fest beater/blocker on your side of the field "for free" or at 1 at most.
2-3x Shadow of the Grave is the card we needed to avoid being without cards in hand with cycle and the fact it "counters" some discards is always useful.
* Drannith Stinger is another way to approach this deck because it is a cheap creature to consider and it allows us to deal some chip damage to the opponent when we are able to cycle a lot of cards together. Maybe is possible to buil a Red-Green version of this deck with Edge of Autumn?
* Faith of the Devoted/Drake Haven they are mana intensive, but they can be used as a win condition under some circumstances. Most of the time it needs Fluctuator on your field to be effective unless you are able to chain 3-4 cycling cards in a row in the same turn.
Ancient Tomb+City of Traitors seems to be too useful to avoid using them because they make us able to cast immediately Fluctuator.
This deck is old and has the same issues than before, but some new entries can give it some lifeblood for the casual play.
Any thughts? I think that there are some nice improvements for this deck!
The problem of Contamination is that, unlikely Blood Moon, you can't play it quickly because you need at least one creature on the board to feed this enchantement...still, I think that it can still worth using in order to stop the opponent on his tracks from turn 4 onwards.
I think that Treacherous Blessing is really an underlooked card: it is a "draw 3" with minimal drawback in this deck because you run Smokestax.
Problem is that this card con't be played with Chains of Mephistopheles already in play, so we have to choose one of the two enchantements.
Any additional thoughts?
It is a strong card because it can protect from many spells and can block even bigger creatures, but you can't simply replace Preeminent Captain because the latter creature has a lot more sinergy with the decklist.
It is also not good with Militia Bugler around because you can't add it to your hand through its ability.