This Zoo deck looks like everything that I want to be doing in this meta. Please let me know any updates!! It looks like a ton of run to play, pending on your next updates I'll get myself some History of Benalia.
While I fully understand this isn't a Zoo aggro deck, as I'm accustomed to playing, but I'm trying out something even bigger than "Big Zoo" to try and fight against Control.
What did everybody think of Gerry Thompson's "Death Shadow Zoo" video set on SCG last week?
I think his deck list is interesting and it does something I've been wanting to incorporate for a while, it brings in one of the best 1 drops that we don't currently play. I'd like to explore what we could do to make this concept better, but as a starter I love the inclusion of Renegade Rallier. Perhaps looking at this direction may breath some more life into our Zoo community!
Round 1 UB Mill 2-0 won with 1 card left in my library lol
Round 2 Boggles 2-1
Round 3 Burn 2-1
Round 4 Boggles 1-2
Quarterfinals Ad Nauseam 2-1 very close games, I was very surprised by that
What a mean metagame to have two Boggles players! Good job getting around one of them, I can assume that once they give their "build a monster" lifelink, things can get hairy. I'm assuming you'd just be looking for Atarka's Command?
I also have a couple non-report specific questions for you:
- How have you found playing Tarmogoyf instead of Flinthoof Boar
- What are your thoughts on two Gaddok Teeg in the sideboard? It can help against a lot of different things like the card Ad Nauseum from that deck or differnt cards in UWR and Tron, as well as the "get ahead" cards from Elves (CoCo and Chord).
- What would you be cutting in your Grixis Control and UWR Control matchups?
Overall what is the general consensus for the Zoo to play? Right now on MTGO Bushwhacker Zoo and Suicide Zoo seem to be the most popular, which makes it look like fast is the way to go.
It seems like it will be mostly meta dependent but with meta games which feature things like:
UWR Nahiri
Tron
Melira Company
Burn
Jund
It doesn't seem like one speed works the best. Playing the larger Planeswalker Zoo leaves you dead to the faster lists (Burn) and dead to the "end game" lists like Tron. Playing Bushwhacker helps you against the previously mentioned decks but leaves you dead in the water against Melira Company and Jund.
Is it time to move back to Collected Company Zoo (as it's in between both speeds) in order to survive?
The "low to the ground" Bushwhacker Zoo list try to be as close to R/G in the mainboard as possible. This reduces issues with mana and most importantly gives you the greatest chance to play cards off of the additional mana Burning-Tree Emissary gives. You'll often see this being apparent by there (in some lists) not even being any Path to Exile in the main deck.
While Loam Lion is a more "durable" creature compared to Goblin Guide(due to it having one more toughness) the trade-off of not having Haste is too great. This deck aims to be as explosive an fast as possible and having 4 more "off color Kird Apes" doesn't help that game plan as much. The need for having haste is echoed by the fact that this style of deck often plays Flinthoof Boar,which is pretty terrible when compared to something like Tarmogoyf, until you factor in Haste.
No one cares at home but my German foil wildER nacatls are on their way to me right now, so excited. Going full out with 4 woodeds aswell. Trying to foil except goyfs.
It's the style of list that Lantern has been recommending, with the exception that they are running a ton of Arlinn Kord(when she isn't even our best walker).
I went 10-5 this weekend at Milwaukee with my abbot zoo list I've been touting for a while - good for 55th place and making some money.
Only 2 of my losses felt out of my reach and the others were mostly due to poor draws on my part and just falling a bit short. I will put up a breakdown and list later today.
Would this be that version Patrick Chapin played a while ago? With the Mishra's Bauble and such?
Nope, it's strictly naya with abbot as a value engine.
I went 10-5 this weekend at Milwaukee with my abbot zoo list I've been touting for a while - good for 55th place and making some money.
Only 2 of my losses felt out of my reach and the others were mostly due to poor draws on my part and just falling a bit short. I will put up a breakdown and list later today.
Would this be that version Patrick Chapin played a while ago? With the Mishra's Bauble and such?
Good read, I found it useful as I'm going to be playing a list of that flavor tomorrow in Provincials. I currently have some number of Tarmogoyf in over Flinthoof Boar. I'm just worried about putting them away as they just seem too good if we go play against someone who's stabilized compared to the rest of the awful top decks in that scenario.
I've seen it being played in some of the lists. I would assume that it's specifically for those grindy control matchups where you'd need to be needing more cards than just the "one per turn" to keep up.
I would agree that I'm curious about the boarding for:
- Domri Rade
- Eidolon of the Great Revel
I believe that it makes sense to board out some spells when bringing in Domri as you want to ensure your "hits" have a high percentage and that you aren't lowering that possibility. I could also see this Walker being useful against GBx as it lets you grind with them somewhat with what was previous discussed and from the "fight" ability.
Eidolon is the real uncertain card in my books. I've seen it in "rush" Zoo sideboards and the main boards of some more burn heavy builds. What Matchups does this card shine in? Do we play this while ahead in hopes to stay ahead? Just trying to get a feel for this card when played in Zoo.
I know that a lot of players from my area who are heading up are using different flavors of control decks (Grixis, Gifts, Thopter Control). Any suggestions on changes to the main or side for the event? It is my plan to write a tournament report once back.
This Zoo deck looks like everything that I want to be doing in this meta. Please let me know any updates!! It looks like a ton of run to play, pending on your next updates I'll get myself some History of Benalia.
Let me know what ya'll think
4 Voice of Resurgence
3 Tireless Tracker
3 Bloodbraid Elf
2 Scavenging Ooze
1 Gideon Jura
1 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
2 Gideon of the Trials
1 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
1 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
1 Settle the Wreckage
4 Path to Exile
2 Firespout
3 Lightning Helix
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Farseek
2 Field of Ruin
3 Temple Garden
2 Stomping Ground
2 Sacred Foundary
3 Wooded Foothills
4 Windswept Heath
2 Plains
2 Forest
1 Mountain
4 Dampening Sphere
3 Rest in Peace
3 Stony Silence
2 Wrath of God
2 Ancient Grudge
1 Engineered Explosives
I think his deck list is interesting and it does something I've been wanting to incorporate for a while, it brings in one of the best 1 drops that we don't currently play. I'd like to explore what we could do to make this concept better, but as a starter I love the inclusion of Renegade Rallier. Perhaps looking at this direction may breath some more life into our Zoo community!
Here's the list for those interested...
4 Monastery Swiftspear
2 Renegade Rallier
4 Street Wraith
4 Tarmogoyf
4 Wild Nacatl
4 Mishra's Bauble
2 Fatal Push
4 Lightning Bolt
2 Mutagenic Growth
4 Thoughtseize
4 Tribal Flames
3 Arid Mesa
1 Blood Crypt
4 Bloodstained Mire
1 Overgrown Tomb
1 Sacred Foundry
1 Steam Vents
1 Temple Garden
2 Windswept Heath
4 Wooded Foothills
1 Renegade Rallier
1 Rest in Peace
1 Stony Silence
2 Ancient Grudge
2 Disdainful Stroke
1 Kozilek's Return
2 Path to Exile
2 Lingering Souls
1 Forest
What a mean metagame to have two Boggles players! Good job getting around one of them, I can assume that once they give their "build a monster" lifelink, things can get hairy. I'm assuming you'd just be looking for Atarka's Command?
I also have a couple non-report specific questions for you:
- How have you found playing Tarmogoyf instead of Flinthoof Boar
- What are your thoughts on two Gaddok Teeg in the sideboard? It can help against a lot of different things like the card Ad Nauseum from that deck or differnt cards in UWR and Tron, as well as the "get ahead" cards from Elves (CoCo and Chord).
- What would you be cutting in your Grixis Control and UWR Control matchups?
It seems like it will be mostly meta dependent but with meta games which feature things like:
It doesn't seem like one speed works the best. Playing the larger Planeswalker Zoo leaves you dead to the faster lists (Burn) and dead to the "end game" lists like Tron. Playing Bushwhacker helps you against the previously mentioned decks but leaves you dead in the water against Melira Company and Jund.
Is it time to move back to Collected Company Zoo (as it's in between both speeds) in order to survive?
The "low to the ground" Bushwhacker Zoo list try to be as close to R/G in the mainboard as possible. This reduces issues with mana and most importantly gives you the greatest chance to play cards off of the additional mana Burning-Tree Emissary gives. You'll often see this being apparent by there (in some lists) not even being any Path to Exile in the main deck.
While Loam Lion is a more "durable" creature compared to Goblin Guide (due to it having one more toughness) the trade-off of not having Haste is too great. This deck aims to be as explosive an fast as possible and having 4 more "off color Kird Apes" doesn't help that game plan as much. The need for having haste is echoed by the fact that this style of deck often plays Flinthoof Boar,which is pretty terrible when compared to something like Tarmogoyf, until you factor in Haste.
A possible upside would be that Loam Lion grants you another creature who doesn't die from opposing Lightning Bolts if you have Atarka's Command.
The rest of the list seems standard enough for that archetype, other than the hotly debated Tarmogoyf or Flinthoof Boar slot.
Hey Lantern,
Have you made any changes to accommodate the upswing in UWR Control or that new Dredge lists having popped-up?
So so so jealous!
It's the style of list that Lantern has been recommending, with the exception that they are running a ton of Arlinn Kord (when she isn't even our best walker).
Still using this list?
Would this be that version Patrick Chapin played a while ago? With the Mishra's Bauble and such?
Good read, I found it useful as I'm going to be playing a list of that flavor tomorrow in Provincials. I currently have some number of Tarmogoyf in over Flinthoof Boar. I'm just worried about putting them away as they just seem too good if we go play against someone who's stabilized compared to the rest of the awful top decks in that scenario.
Seeing that Thopter Foundry and Sword of the Meek are obviously going to be problematic against out plan (always being to chump) it makes me think that Rancor may be needed on top of Ghor-Clan Rampager.
Any changes that you would suggest to my list?
I would agree that I'm curious about the boarding for:
- Domri Rade
- Eidolon of the Great Revel
I believe that it makes sense to board out some spells when bringing in Domri as you want to ensure your "hits" have a high percentage and that you aren't lowering that possibility. I could also see this Walker being useful against GBx as it lets you grind with them somewhat with what was previous discussed and from the "fight" ability.
Eidolon is the real uncertain card in my books. I've seen it in "rush" Zoo sideboards and the main boards of some more burn heavy builds. What Matchups does this card shine in? Do we play this while ahead in hopes to stay ahead? Just trying to get a feel for this card when played in Zoo.
Any specific sideboard plans that you have for playing against it?
Edit: Adding more.
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Planning on bringing Reckless Bushwhacker Zoo to Provincials this weekend.
4 Experiment One
4 Goblin Guide
4 Kird Ape
4 Reckless Bushwhacker
4 Wild Nacatl
4 Ghor-Clan Rampager
3 Tarmogoyf
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Atarka's Command
2 Path to Exile
2 Sacred Foundry
2 Stomping Ground
4 Windswept Heath
4 Wooded Foothills
4 Arid Mesa
1 Forest
1 Mountain
1 Dryad Arbor
2 Ancient Grudge
2 Deflecting Palm
3 Eidolon of the Great Revel
2 Path to Exile
1 Gaddock Teeg
1 Electrickery
2 Forked Bolt
2 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
I know that a lot of players from my area who are heading up are using different flavors of control decks (Grixis, Gifts, Thopter Control). Any suggestions on changes to the main or side for the event? It is my plan to write a tournament report once back.