This is far from the best take on G Devotion, but it's so janky I want to try it out. The idea being to make a bunch of wolves, abuse ETB triggers with Temur Sabertooth, and win with Craterhoof or a Garruk Ult. That or Broko.
With bant wouldn't eldrazi displacer be better than Sabertooth? You can play with some of the pain lands for the colorless. Just a thought.
Displacer is the stronger card, but that takes the deck into four "colors" as WUGC, which might be too much. Also I like the idea of bouncing a wolfbriar or something in response to a sweeper, because otherwise this deck gets bodied by them.
(Not that it's actually any good, or that I have the cards to play it...)
LEGACY: Soldier Stompy WW // Blue Stompy UU // Fit Variants BGRW // Sol Land Brews BGRUWC MODERN: Pure Pili-ness GU // Red Devotion RR // Green Devotion Variants GRWUG // U/G Emerge CGU // Lots and Lots of Brews BGRUWC
And this is a big one :). They did spoil one Green Devotion card thus far; but I’m not sure a 6-drop sorcery that doesn’t give trample works...excited to see Devotion back though!
Setessan Champion is a great enchantress too. 3-CMC is huge...And getting a +1/+1 counter on top of the card is also a big deal (as it makes her a natural threat in the deck and makes Nylea, God of the Hunt a true option. I would LOVE to build a deck with her, Nylea, Sprawl, Oath, Abundant Growth, etc....you could even do some wackiness with Hardened Scales (with Ballista and Vivien being natural fits). I really enjoy the card (even if it is a build-around).
- good with fetches for ramp
- 4/5 for 3 in most Devotion decks
- graveyard hate that’s free/repeatable
- no immediate impact
- only a 4/5 with 5-more Pips than it has.
- no evasion
- Legendary
It is “decent” against a lot of things (graveyard decks, control, burn, etc.). I could actually see it either as a good sideboard card or just good enough in certain meta’s to be worth it.
Too slow for maindeck, but I think Klothys is an OK sideboard card for the graveyard removal and for the damage in grindy matchups. I think the mana ability is a nice option early game, but will be irrelevant once the game goes long. Like you said, "decent".
I think it could be good for the non-traditional devotion decks. Like some sort of R/G aggro devotion deck, that can relibably turn it into a creature. You get a big indestructible beater that comes with reliable damage and lifegain and graveyard hate or mana ramp, for just three mana. That's a pretty nice package.
I'm pretty sure I've fooled around with R/G Aggro devotion in the past.
Private Mod Note
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Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Always wear protection kids, sleeve up your deck.
LEGACY: Soldier Stompy WW // Blue Stompy UU // Fit Variants BGRW // Sol Land Brews BGRUWC MODERN: Pure Pili-ness GU // Red Devotion RR // Green Devotion Variants GRWUG // U/G Emerge CGU // Lots and Lots of Brews BGRUWC
Hello all. First, let me say that I am newer to this community, and come here specifically due to seeing Mono-Green Devotion in Pioneer and Sam Black's article.
I wanted to add to the conversation about the builds that are utilizing the newer, powerful cards that were seen in the Pioneer version (Leyline, Nissa, Vivien). First, I have had the chance to play Sam's build in two FNM's, and have gotten 3-1 both times. The deck is strong against Tron (it's as big mana as they can be), various Urza'a (or any real non-interactive deck), among others. It is susceptible to early creature removal, but it would seem that is an issue with the Arbor Elf build as well.
I think that the toolbox approach (as offered by having Karn's and Vivien's) means that by t3/t4 you are fetching for the bane of your opponent's build. Nissa, yes 5cmc, but once she is down, she can be a win-con all her own. While it makes land susceptible to removal, you can often protect against that by just re-targeting the same land (increasing counters). Vivien and Nissa also decrease the value of Oko, as their counter's persist, and help in an elk-war.
Has anyone here had any more extensive testing with the Leyline build?
The problem with Leyline is that you have to build around it a bit, which requires making sacrifices. It’s also makes the deck lack consistency, since the deck is much worse without it in the opening. I built was is probably the best Modern version of the Leyline Devotion though.
Now that I look at it, the deck could be fine tuned a a bit more, since I have 4x Finale the sideboard could be adjusted to take better advantage of that. Adding a Shalai, Voice of Plenty main deck is probably correct.
You can replace Finale with Chord fo Calling, not sure which is better for this deck.
LEGACY: Soldier Stompy WW // Blue Stompy UU // Fit Variants BGRW // Sol Land Brews BGRUWC MODERN: Pure Pili-ness GU // Red Devotion RR // Green Devotion Variants GRWUG // U/G Emerge CGU // Lots and Lots of Brews BGRUWC
You can also activate this combo with Nightshade Peddler or Basilisk Collar. Deathtouch is already very strong with Ballista, but I think this has too many requirements to make it work in Modern and two of the pieces are very mediocre on their own, Vraska and the deathtouch enabler.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Always wear protection kids, sleeve up your deck.
LEGACY: Soldier Stompy WW // Blue Stompy UU // Fit Variants BGRW // Sol Land Brews BGRUWC MODERN: Pure Pili-ness GU // Red Devotion RR // Green Devotion Variants GRWUG // U/G Emerge CGU // Lots and Lots of Brews BGRUWC
The problem with Leyline is that you have to build around it a bit, which requires making sacrifices. It’s also makes the deck lack consistency, since the deck is much worse without it in the opening. I built was is probably the best Modern version of the Leyline Devotion though.
Now that I look at it, the deck could be fine tuned a a bit more, since I have 4x Finale the sideboard could be adjusted to take better advantage of that. Adding a Shalai, Voice of Plenty main deck is probably correct.
You can replace Finale with Chord fo Calling, not sure which is better for this deck.
This kind of response is what I am talking about. It seems that the original and persistent version of mono-green devotion (as indicated by nearly 400 pages here) is married to the sprawl / dryad combo. It doesn't want to take the small next step and just become a devoted devastation deck, and is more like a ramp deck in green.
I think that leyline strategies have a lot of nuance that is still to be explored, including the advantage present with the London mulligan, as well as considering this deck to be more combo than ramp/grind. I have been playing a stock version of Sam Black's deck which consistently (whether it's leyline + dork or Emissary + Nykthos) powers a PW on T2/3 which if survives pulls a bullet from the sideboard to dramatically impact the game. That style of play makes the extra mana that Devotion can generate a "bonus", making nearly every top deck after that potentially game winning (whether another Karn to play/fetch/play, or one of the 6 X creatures, or even a Leyline, which makes all your baddies bigger without having to splash white for Shalai.
In fact, one of the only reasons why I don't think that this deck is played more now is that it is susceptible to cheap removal (so early starts struggle when the dorks get bolted/pushed). Of course, I would imagine that's a problem in the original builds as well.
Regardless, I am glad to have discovered this archtype and am excited to play in it (coming from a previously energetic G/B Elves player).
I just realized the version I posted above doesn't have OUaT. Not sure how to fit it in, but I do think it should be included. This deck really wants to hit those turn 1 mana dorks. I think I'll have to cut some number of Ballistas which feels real bad.
EDIT:
Ok, so here's my updated version of Leyline Devotion. I've played 3 matches and I'm undefeated... :/ Maybe this deck is good. While it loses the Arbor Elf+Utopia combo and Garrulk+Utopia combo, it gains some other nice synergies and allows the deck to splash other colors much easier. Also, running only Forest lands is no longer a requirement.
LEGACY: Soldier Stompy WW // Blue Stompy UU // Fit Variants BGRW // Sol Land Brews BGRUWC MODERN: Pure Pili-ness GU // Red Devotion RR // Green Devotion Variants GRWUG // U/G Emerge CGU // Lots and Lots of Brews BGRUWC
I’m trying to make a Karn list. A few questions for those who have played it:
- The idea is to get a 4-drop walker down on T2 as often as possible. Right now I’m on elf-sprawl because the Leyline builds seem like there’s too much a difference between hands with and without the line. This accurate? Is the power of the good hands worth it?
- is taking a cue from other turbo-Karn decks and playing spirit guides a good idea?
- I’m thinking about Chandra, Torch of Defiance as a backup threat to Karn. She ramps and draws cards, but doesn’t end the game super fast. Is there a better way to end games in this deck? Does it even need anything other than Karn?
Hello TheThominator, welcome to the discussion. Do you mind linking your Leyline build you've been using. I know several folks tested the Leyline version early on, but ultimately found that relying on Leyline has not led to consistency. OuaT probably helps that out a lot. I haven't looked at leyline builds recently, so I'm interested in seeing what new evolutions they've engineered. Also, your comment about Nissa re-targeting the same land to increase counters won't work because you have to target a non-creature land.
I am using the same list that Sam Black posted in SCG Premium - the list is actually linked about a page or so ago (I think). You are correct on the Nissa interaction - that was my mistake.
I played the deck again at FNM, and it has both explosive starts, or painful ones. You really have to mulligan like it's a combo deck. I went 3-1.
Dryad Arbor is been fantastic, since any fetchland can get me it, and so I always have a mana dorks for my Leyline.
I have 16 sources of turn 1 mana dork! Plus Dryad Arbor is basically a mana dork with flash.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Always wear protection kids, sleeve up your deck.
LEGACY: Soldier Stompy WW // Blue Stompy UU // Fit Variants BGRW // Sol Land Brews BGRUWC MODERN: Pure Pili-ness GU // Red Devotion RR // Green Devotion Variants GRWUG // U/G Emerge CGU // Lots and Lots of Brews BGRUWC
- New Nylea is cool. Can we do something fun with it?
I like the cost reduction, but the real draw of the card is the card draw potential. Likely too slow for any real play (as Devotion is just in a different place now...but I do like the card design.
I’m trying to make a Karn list. A few questions for those who have played it:
- The idea is to get a 4-drop walker down on T2 as often as possible. Right now I’m on elf-sprawl because the Leyline builds seem like there’s too much a difference between hands with and without the line. This accurate? Is the power of the good hands worth it?
- is taking a cue from other turbo-Karn decks and playing spirit guides a good idea?
- I’m thinking about Chandra, Torch of Defiance as a backup threat to Karn. She ramps and draws cards, but doesn’t end the game super fast. Is there a better way to end games in this deck? Does it even need anything other than Karn?
Thanks
Hey There! Wanted to post as I've been playing Karn since it was spoiled and think it is the best win-con available to us.
To answer your questions:
1. I have not found there to be a need for Spirit Guides. I think you could build with them (for more potential turn-2 Karns); but you may run into an issue of running out of cards in multiple matches. As long as you get enough card draw in there; you would be ok. I don't think they are necessary; but I see where you are going.
2. If you are playing a Turbo-Karn list with Spirit Guides, I think Chandra is a good inclusion as it can help give you things to do once you've burned through your hand.
3. I've won multiple games just attacking the opponent. Karn will win most games (just locking out the opponent happens rather fast). The other ways I tend to win include:
- Attacking with large hydras
- Overruning the team with Garruk
- Building an Elk Army the opponent can deal with (via Oko)
- Killing the opponent with Direct Damage via Walking Ballista (especially with a Bridge on the board).
You don't have to add too much in as the cards themselves have enough synergy to win several ways. You list may look different than mine (I've posted it below) but I do think you will naturally have enough win-cons you can get around not having Karns (or them being needled, etc.)
______
I have been playing a Karn deck for months now and:
1. It often seems a little overpowered. I’ve had many opponents scoop on turn 2 when I play Karn. Karn is busted in Devotion. I know I've made multiple long-winded posts months ago about why I thought Karn was the future of devotion decks (so I won't rehash it here); but it really does change the way we can play.
2. You act as a “Combo Control” deck as odd as it sounds in many games.
I hate that my deck plays Karn, Oko, and Once Upon a Time (i feel like I am just playing obvious cards)...but it is the winning-est deck I’ve played/brewed; so I’ve stuck with it :). I do get to play may favorite cards though (Walking Ballista and Genesis Hydra); so I cant complain too much.
I have thought about Ice-Fang Coatl; but I do sometimes cast Wall of Blossoms off BTE so I hesitate to change it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the Green Demigod is a GG "draw a card ETB" (like Elvish Visionary) with the "toughness is equal to devotion to green" clause seen on the white demigod...I would be SOOOO happy if that was the card.
______
I am working on a Leyline Karn build now. I’m not certain it is as good/better than the Arbor Elf versions...but it is less weak to Engineered Explosives.
Leyline decks are actually out-performing Arbor Elf/Sprawl decks right now; so I may switch up my ramp package and try it out. I’m just so used to Sprawl/Garruk that I have played it.
It would literally just be swapping out Elf, Sprawl, Garruk, and Abundant Growth for Elvish Mystic, Llanowar Elves, Leyline, and Devoted Druid with the payoffs remaining the same for the most part.
I honestly think you can play either ramp package (whichever works best in your meta).
______
* edit * forgot i had added Vivien to my list. I am currently testing two copies; but don’t have enough results to say it’s worth it. May be a little greedy.
With bant wouldn't eldrazi displacer be better than Sabertooth? You can play with some of the pain lands for the colorless. Just a thought.
Had not thought of that.
Displacer is the stronger card, but that takes the deck into four "colors" as WUGC, which might be too much. Also I like the idea of bouncing a wolfbriar or something in response to a sweeper, because otherwise this deck gets bodied by them.
(Not that it's actually any good, or that I have the cards to play it...)
MODERN: Pure Pili-ness GU // Red Devotion RR // Green Devotion Variants GRWUG // U/G Emerge CGU // Lots and Lots of Brews BGRUWC
I had forgot about Silverfur Partiasan.
______
SPOILER SEASON HAS BEGUN!!
And this is a big one :). They did spoil one Green Devotion card thus far; but I’m not sure a 6-drop sorcery that doesn’t give trample works...excited to see Devotion back though!
Setessan Champion is a great enchantress too. 3-CMC is huge...And getting a +1/+1 counter on top of the card is also a big deal (as it makes her a natural threat in the deck and makes Nylea, God of the Hunt a true option. I would LOVE to build a deck with her, Nylea, Sprawl, Oath, Abundant Growth, etc....you could even do some wackiness with Hardened Scales (with Ballista and Vivien being natural fits). I really enjoy the card (even if it is a build-around).
- good with fetches for ramp
- 4/5 for 3 in most Devotion decks
- graveyard hate that’s free/repeatable
- no immediate impact
- only a 4/5 with 5-more Pips than it has.
- no evasion
- Legendary
It is “decent” against a lot of things (graveyard decks, control, burn, etc.). I could actually see it either as a good sideboard card or just good enough in certain meta’s to be worth it.
Doesn’t feel broken, but decent.
I think it could be good for the non-traditional devotion decks. Like some sort of R/G aggro devotion deck, that can relibably turn it into a creature. You get a big indestructible beater that comes with reliable damage and lifegain and graveyard hate or mana ramp, for just three mana. That's a pretty nice package.
I'm pretty sure I've fooled around with R/G Aggro devotion in the past.
MODERN: Pure Pili-ness GU // Red Devotion RR // Green Devotion Variants GRWUG // U/G Emerge CGU // Lots and Lots of Brews BGRUWC
I wanted to add to the conversation about the builds that are utilizing the newer, powerful cards that were seen in the Pioneer version (Leyline, Nissa, Vivien). First, I have had the chance to play Sam's build in two FNM's, and have gotten 3-1 both times. The deck is strong against Tron (it's as big mana as they can be), various Urza'a (or any real non-interactive deck), among others. It is susceptible to early creature removal, but it would seem that is an issue with the Arbor Elf build as well.
I think that the toolbox approach (as offered by having Karn's and Vivien's) means that by t3/t4 you are fetching for the bane of your opponent's build. Nissa, yes 5cmc, but once she is down, she can be a win-con all her own. While it makes land susceptible to removal, you can often protect against that by just re-targeting the same land (increasing counters). Vivien and Nissa also decrease the value of Oko, as their counter's persist, and help in an elk-war.
Has anyone here had any more extensive testing with the Leyline build?
4 Noble Hierarch
4 Birds of Paradise
4 Devoted Druid
4 Walking Ballista
2 Vizier of Remedies
1 Dryad Arbor
1 Scavenging Ooze
1 Hornet Queen
1 Duskwatch Recruiter
1 Acidic Slime
1 Craterhoof Behemoth
Other Stuff: 15
4 Garruk Wildspeaker
4 Leyline of Abundance
3 Oath of Nissa
4 Finale of Devastation
2 Windswept Heath
2 Misty Rainforest
2 Wooded Foothills
1 Verdant Catacombs
2 Temple Garden
2 Stomping Ground
2 Horizon Canopy
1 Kessig Wolf Run
3 Forest
4 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
2 Force of Vigor
2 Eidolon of Rhetoric
1 Gaddock Teeg
3 Abrade
2 Knight of Autumn
3 Relic of Progenitus
Now that I look at it, the deck could be fine tuned a a bit more, since I have 4x Finale the sideboard could be adjusted to take better advantage of that. Adding a Shalai, Voice of Plenty main deck is probably correct.
You can replace Finale with Chord fo Calling, not sure which is better for this deck.
MODERN: Pure Pili-ness GU // Red Devotion RR // Green Devotion Variants GRWUG // U/G Emerge CGU // Lots and Lots of Brews BGRUWC
Walking ballista
Vraska, Swarm's Eminence
Bow of Nylea
Infinite ballista shots
What are your thoughts?
MODERN: Pure Pili-ness GU // Red Devotion RR // Green Devotion Variants GRWUG // U/G Emerge CGU // Lots and Lots of Brews BGRUWC
This kind of response is what I am talking about. It seems that the original and persistent version of mono-green devotion (as indicated by nearly 400 pages here) is married to the sprawl / dryad combo. It doesn't want to take the small next step and just become a devoted devastation deck, and is more like a ramp deck in green.
I think that leyline strategies have a lot of nuance that is still to be explored, including the advantage present with the London mulligan, as well as considering this deck to be more combo than ramp/grind. I have been playing a stock version of Sam Black's deck which consistently (whether it's leyline + dork or Emissary + Nykthos) powers a PW on T2/3 which if survives pulls a bullet from the sideboard to dramatically impact the game. That style of play makes the extra mana that Devotion can generate a "bonus", making nearly every top deck after that potentially game winning (whether another Karn to play/fetch/play, or one of the 6 X creatures, or even a Leyline, which makes all your baddies bigger without having to splash white for Shalai.
In fact, one of the only reasons why I don't think that this deck is played more now is that it is susceptible to cheap removal (so early starts struggle when the dorks get bolted/pushed). Of course, I would imagine that's a problem in the original builds as well.
Regardless, I am glad to have discovered this archtype and am excited to play in it (coming from a previously energetic G/B Elves player).
EDIT:
Ok, so here's my updated version of Leyline Devotion. I've played 3 matches and I'm undefeated... :/ Maybe this deck is good. While it loses the Arbor Elf+Utopia combo and Garrulk+Utopia combo, it gains some other nice synergies and allows the deck to splash other colors much easier. Also, running only Forest lands is no longer a requirement.
// 21 Creature
4 Birds of Paradise
4 Noble Hierarch
4 Devoted Druid
1 Acidic Slime
1 Craterhoof Behemoth
1 Dryad Arbor
1 Duskwatch Recruiter
1 Hornet Queen
1 Scavenging Ooze
1 Shalai, Voice of Plenty
1 Vizier of Remedies
1 Walking Ballista
// 7 Enchantment
4 Leyline of Abundance
3 Oath of Nissa
4 Once Upon a Time
// 21 Land
3 Forest
2 Horizon Canopy
1 Kessig Wolf Run
2 Misty Rainforest
4 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
2 Stomping Ground
2 Temple Garden
1 Verdant Catacombs
2 Windswept Heath
2 Wooded Foothills
// 4 Planeswalker
4 Garruk Wildspeaker
// 3 Sorcery
3 Finale of Devastation
3 Relic of Progenitus
1 Collector Ouphe
2 Eidolon of Rhetoric
1 Gaddock Teeg
2 Knight of Autumn
1 Magus of the Moon
2 Scavenging Ooze
2 Abrade
1 Force of Vigor
MODERN: Pure Pili-ness GU // Red Devotion RR // Green Devotion Variants GRWUG // U/G Emerge CGU // Lots and Lots of Brews BGRUWC
- The idea is to get a 4-drop walker down on T2 as often as possible. Right now I’m on elf-sprawl because the Leyline builds seem like there’s too much a difference between hands with and without the line. This accurate? Is the power of the good hands worth it?
- is taking a cue from other turbo-Karn decks and playing spirit guides a good idea?
- I’m thinking about Chandra, Torch of Defiance as a backup threat to Karn. She ramps and draws cards, but doesn’t end the game super fast. Is there a better way to end games in this deck? Does it even need anything other than Karn?
Thanks
Gh0st shared his list in Discord https://www.mtgtop8.com/event?e=23820&d=365609&f=MO using Karn and Vivien to wish for answers/win-cons early.
I had a Leyline/Planeswalker build I was working on about a couple months ago. Time to dust it off and tune it up.
I am using the same list that Sam Black posted in SCG Premium - the list is actually linked about a page or so ago (I think). You are correct on the Nissa interaction - that was my mistake.
I played the deck again at FNM, and it has both explosive starts, or painful ones. You really have to mulligan like it's a combo deck. I went 3-1.
// 21 Creature
1 Acidic Slime
4 Birds of Paradise
1 Craterhoof Behemoth
4 Devoted Druid
1 Dryad Arbor
1 Duskwatch Recruiter
1 Hornet Queen
4 Noble Hierarch
1 Scavenging Ooze
1 Shalai, Voice of Plenty
1 Vizier of Remedies
1 Walking Ballista
// 7 Enchantment
4 Leyline of Abundance
3 Oath of Nissa
4 Once Upon a Time
// 21 Land
3 Forest
2 Horizon Canopy
1 Kessig Wolf Run
2 Misty Rainforest
4 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
2 Stomping Ground
2 Temple Garden
1 Verdant Catacombs
2 Windswept Heath
2 Wooded Foothills
// 4 Planeswalker
4 Garruk Wildspeaker
// 3 Sorcery
3 Finale of Devastation
3 Relic of Progenitus
1 Collector Ouphe
2 Eidolon of Rhetoric
1 Gaddock Teeg
2 Knight of Autumn
1 Magus of the Moon
2 Scavenging Ooze
2 Abrade
1 Force of Vigor
Dryad Arbor is been fantastic, since any fetchland can get me it, and so I always have a mana dorks for my Leyline.
I have 16 sources of turn 1 mana dork! Plus Dryad Arbor is basically a mana dork with flash.
MODERN: Pure Pili-ness GU // Red Devotion RR // Green Devotion Variants GRWUG // U/G Emerge CGU // Lots and Lots of Brews BGRUWC
- New Nylea is cool. Can we do something fun with it?
I like the cost reduction, but the real draw of the card is the card draw potential. Likely too slow for any real play (as Devotion is just in a different place now...but I do like the card design.
- Can we break Nyx lotus?
Seems like a card some decks could play 1-2 of (especially in decks with Kiora’s Follower).
Seems great in a Kiora, Behemoth Beckoner deck
I will be testing it tonight and brewing some fun combos
Hey There! Wanted to post as I've been playing Karn since it was spoiled and think it is the best win-con available to us.
To answer your questions:
1. I have not found there to be a need for Spirit Guides. I think you could build with them (for more potential turn-2 Karns); but you may run into an issue of running out of cards in multiple matches. As long as you get enough card draw in there; you would be ok. I don't think they are necessary; but I see where you are going.
2. If you are playing a Turbo-Karn list with Spirit Guides, I think Chandra is a good inclusion as it can help give you things to do once you've burned through your hand.
3. I've won multiple games just attacking the opponent. Karn will win most games (just locking out the opponent happens rather fast). The other ways I tend to win include:
- Attacking with large hydras
- Overruning the team with Garruk
- Building an Elk Army the opponent can deal with (via Oko)
- Killing the opponent with Direct Damage via Walking Ballista (especially with a Bridge on the board).
You don't have to add too much in as the cards themselves have enough synergy to win several ways. You list may look different than mine (I've posted it below) but I do think you will naturally have enough win-cons you can get around not having Karns (or them being needled, etc.)
______
I have been playing a Karn deck for months now and:
1. It often seems a little overpowered. I’ve had many opponents scoop on turn 2 when I play Karn. Karn is busted in Devotion. I know I've made multiple long-winded posts months ago about why I thought Karn was the future of devotion decks (so I won't rehash it here); but it really does change the way we can play.
2. You act as a “Combo Control” deck as odd as it sounds in many games.
I hate that my deck plays Karn, Oko, and Once Upon a Time (i feel like I am just playing obvious cards)...but it is the winning-est deck I’ve played/brewed; so I’ve stuck with it :). I do get to play may favorite cards though (Walking Ballista and Genesis Hydra); so I cant complain too much.
4x Arbor Elf
3x Birds of Paradise
3x Wall of Blossoms
4x Burning-Tree Emissary
2x Walking Ballista
4x Genesis Hydra
2x Oko, Thief of Crowns
4x Garruk Wildspeaker
4x Karn, the Great Creator
2x Vivien, Arkbow Ranger
Other (7)
4x Oath of Nissa
3x Once Upon a Time
4x Nykthos Shrine to Nyx
7x Snow Covered Forest
2x Breeding Pool
6x Green Fetch Land
2x Waterlogged Grove
Kinda boring, I know...but it does well.
I have thought about Ice-Fang Coatl; but I do sometimes cast Wall of Blossoms off BTE so I hesitate to change it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the Green Demigod is a GG "draw a card ETB" (like Elvish Visionary) with the "toughness is equal to devotion to green" clause seen on the white demigod...I would be SOOOO happy if that was the card.
______
I am working on a Leyline Karn build now. I’m not certain it is as good/better than the Arbor Elf versions...but it is less weak to Engineered Explosives.
Leyline decks are actually out-performing Arbor Elf/Sprawl decks right now; so I may switch up my ramp package and try it out. I’m just so used to Sprawl/Garruk that I have played it.
It would literally just be swapping out Elf, Sprawl, Garruk, and Abundant Growth for Elvish Mystic, Llanowar Elves, Leyline, and Devoted Druid with the payoffs remaining the same for the most part.
I honestly think you can play either ramp package (whichever works best in your meta).
______
* edit * forgot i had added Vivien to my list. I am currently testing two copies; but don’t have enough results to say it’s worth it. May be a little greedy.