2HG is typically much slower than normal sealed unless your opponents get some seriously busted draws.
Generally the amount of playables increase because some mediocre/terrible cards in normal sealed become insane while bears become much less.
My general tips:
1. Mill is very powerful. Milling someone out is much easier than killing from 30 life.
2. Landwalkers are insane. Harbor serpent, Volcanic strength are mediocre at best in normal sealed, but 5+ power unblockable dudes end games really quickly even from 30 life.
3. Because 2HG is best of 1, try to maindeck some enchantment/artifact removal.
4. Have a plan for both decks, and try to have some sort of sweet repeatable combo in one of the decks to break stalls.
Your list is similar to the baseruption lists from two years ago (think Ugwb good stuff with trygons, confidants, etc. from GP chicago that nassif won).
While it is a powerful list, the reason why it dropped in popularity (especially after zendikar) was the insane clock Zoo lists could bring. I do REALLY like your list though in the current meta. GO FOR THE THROAT instead of smother is a possible upgrade. Also, why 3 Tops instead of 4, and how are the pulses working for you?
It's Big Zoo. StP makes sense in that deck, as you are shifting your role to control instead of an aggro-control tempo strategy. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the list and I watched it in action a few games. I made "miscuts" for my list (Fast Zoo) and it didn't work out great for me. The Planeswalkers and 4 GSZ definitely gave him a late-game against a lot of decks, and allowed him to grind out the wins to get there.
This. The goal of the deck isn't the win on turn 4, although it has more than enough tools to do so. The deck wants to grind out a victory, often simply playing dudes that are bigger than whatever you opponent plays.
I've seen nath but i've also seen him wipe everyones hands, everyone realizes how much pain he can inflict, they'll wrath, and make sure nath doesn't last on the board for more than a second.
This kind of revelation makes these kinds of polls pointless. I can bring any of the aforementioned best generals to any group game, get immediately hated on and never do well. So what ends up happening is that everyone just votes on which general has the coolest abilities. For instance, when I vote I generally only vote for 1v1 EDH because there are actual tiers.
Anyways, my vote goes to Glissa. Gets down early, is impossible to block and provides recursion on powerful artifacts.
Your deck's reliance on forbidden orchard reminds me of oath of druids in vintage. You might consider running crop rotation to get that land out.
Also, engineered explosives seems pretty good as well. Its an early artifact sweeper that deal with troublesome early accelerators from your opponents.
I think bitterblossom is a must. With the sheer amount of counterspells you have, a turn 2 bitterblossom is like resolving a turn 2 bitterblossom in the faeries mirror. You just feel dirty doing it.
I'm just sick of this great divide. You're either playing HARRRRDDDD COORRRRRRRE Magic, or you're just casting Grizzly Bears and having a mental breakdown if he gets countered or destroyed. It's just stupid, because i know no one plays at those extremes- it's always in the middle, but everyone exaggerates.
I like this comparison. You can't just assume that if someone shows up to the table with Arcanis it means they are playing omgwtfbbq combolol.
However, it does ultimately come down to how your playgroup views the games. If your playgroup hates on you for playing monoblue (a good friend of mine convinces everyone to gang up on me whenever I play Azami), so be it. You just have to soldier through said hate. If they outright reject you, well then go find yourself a playgroup who accepts your combolol ways or change. EDH is a social format, and as such what you play should be determined by not only what you think is fun, but also what your friends think are within the bounds of acceptable magic. Although it shouldn't be too hard to convince people your deck is fine so long as its not a 20 minute masturbation session.
Survival is nearly a bye with this deck. You have a ton of permission to make sure survival doesn't stick, board sweepers to get rid of survival once it does, and if you are running wishboard extirpate to get rid of vengevines.
You just need to make sure you play around stifle+wasteland.
I agree with the general consensus for fat-pack type boxes. They are fairly easy to transport, can hold a large number of decks, and you might be buying fat packs anyways.
Tons of card advantage and sweet combos.
Generally the amount of playables increase because some mediocre/terrible cards in normal sealed become insane while bears become much less.
My general tips:
1. Mill is very powerful. Milling someone out is much easier than killing from 30 life.
2. Landwalkers are insane. Harbor serpent, Volcanic strength are mediocre at best in normal sealed, but 5+ power unblockable dudes end games really quickly even from 30 life.
3. Because 2HG is best of 1, try to maindeck some enchantment/artifact removal.
4. Have a plan for both decks, and try to have some sort of sweet repeatable combo in one of the decks to break stalls.
While it is a powerful list, the reason why it dropped in popularity (especially after zendikar) was the insane clock Zoo lists could bring. I do REALLY like your list though in the current meta.
GO FOR THE THROAT instead of smother is a possible upgrade. Also, why 3 Tops instead of 4, and how are the pulses working for you?
This. The goal of the deck isn't the win on turn 4, although it has more than enough tools to do so. The deck wants to grind out a victory, often simply playing dudes that are bigger than whatever you opponent plays.
This kind of revelation makes these kinds of polls pointless. I can bring any of the aforementioned best generals to any group game, get immediately hated on and never do well. So what ends up happening is that everyone just votes on which general has the coolest abilities. For instance, when I vote I generally only vote for 1v1 EDH because there are actual tiers.
Anyways, my vote goes to Glissa. Gets down early, is impossible to block and provides recursion on powerful artifacts.
However my vote goes to vig because people like building around him more than kraj.
Also, engineered explosives seems pretty good as well. Its an early artifact sweeper that deal with troublesome early accelerators from your opponents.
I like this comparison. You can't just assume that if someone shows up to the table with Arcanis it means they are playing omgwtfbbq combolol.
However, it does ultimately come down to how your playgroup views the games. If your playgroup hates on you for playing monoblue (a good friend of mine convinces everyone to gang up on me whenever I play Azami), so be it. You just have to soldier through said hate. If they outright reject you, well then go find yourself a playgroup who accepts your combolol ways or change. EDH is a social format, and as such what you play should be determined by not only what you think is fun, but also what your friends think are within the bounds of acceptable magic. Although it shouldn't be too hard to convince people your deck is fine so long as its not a 20 minute masturbation session.
Haters gonna hate, ballers gonna ball
You just need to make sure you play around stifle+wasteland.