Hello everyone, I've brewed this decklist for the WMCQ at New Zealand and I'd really appreciate some feedback/constructive critics and opinions:
As a midrange deck the strategy runs around disrupting the early game and exploding by turn 4 or so. That being said, we focus on making our way with disruption and removal so that we can set up the battlefield to dominate.
This is what we need out to secure the win without hesitating: Disruption
The synergy between these 3 guys is outstanding on the battlefield. Once we get them out there, they will eat alive our rivals. But the best part is that they are not alone:
These are the spells that will help us accomplish victory:
Obzedat, Ghost Council - He's the key to win through removal. We don't depend on him to win, but once he's out, he'll tip the scales in our favor.
Fleecemane Lion - Another fatty that we're not dependent on, but if we get to grow it, it's resilience will be fundamental. The lion and the smiter will be our happy-to-trade for opposing threats, an they will feed the Scooze.
Loxodon Smiter - Great happy-to-trade 3CMC drop that can be an early beater and provides resilience from discard.
Selesnya Charm - All the versatility needed to face the unknown things to come: It's a threat removal, a finish booster and a blocker provided. Neat!
This is the selection of cards I'm using to turn tables at games 2 and 3:
Golgari Charm - Deals with what [Selesnya Charm] can't.
Hushwing Gryff - We sometimes need to stop some wierd ETB mechanics, or we just need a flying blocker when we're facing heavy flying damage to the face and desperately need to buy a turn.
I hope that you like this and be able to help me improve this brew, so far it's working fine on testing. I'll be competing with this decklist this weekend on the WMCQ at New Zealand and see how it goes, I'll be posting results afterwards.
Cheers!
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In Lorwyn's brief evenings, the sun pauses at the horizon long enough for a certain species of violet to bloom with the fragrance of mischief.
I built and played the following to a 4-0 finish at FNM last night. I've been practicing with it for about 3 weeks. Thought I'd throw it up to add to the discussion. Sadly I probably won't get another chance to play it competitively until post rotation which means...I might be moving on to something else. Hopefully it helps you with any tweaks you might be thinking of.
Fated Retribution is basically just a last ditch effort to save the game when Nissa, Worldwaker decks when they get out of hand. As a side note Ajani Steadfast does some serious work in this deck. Obviously there are a lot of pain lands in use and so the +1 for Firststrike, Vigilance, Lifelink can be incredible and it works very well with Fleecemane Lion, Lifebane Zombie, Courser of Kruphix, Brimaz and Polukranos as they all can first strike most creatures down if the opponent decides to attack and then are still relevant blockers after the fact. Also Setessan Tactics is awesome for pretty much the same reason (referring to creatures toughness not lifelink, vigilance), and gives you a way to trade up a Brimaz Token, or an Elvish Mystic for something troublesome like say... Chandra's Phoenix or to do a board wipe against soldier decks.
Went 2-1 in all four matches.
R/G Monsters
Red Deck Wins
R/W Soldiers - using Preeminent Captain
U/W Heroic
I think Sylvan Caryatid strategies are quite weak unless your deck contains Xenagos, The Reveler. Nissa, Worldwaker and Elspeth, Sun's Champion are excellent finishers, and you have the removal to answer almost anything. Connections and Courser will keep you ahead on cards, and help you answer everything until you land a card your opponent can't handle. I am playing a BG version of this with Scavenging Ooze, and will be playing it in the upcoming invitational.
Disruption
Creatures:
The synergy between these 3 guys is outstanding on the battlefield. Once we get them out there, they will eat alive our rivals. But the best part is that they are not alone:
3x Forest
4x Godless Shrine
4x Overgrown Tomb
1x Plains
1x Swamp
4x Temple of Malady
4x Temple of Plenty
2x Temple of Silence
Creature
3x Desecration Demon
4x Fleecemane Lion
4x Loxodon Smiter
2x Obzedat, Ghost Council
3x Reaper of the Wilds
4x Sylvan Caryatid
4x Abrupt Decay
2x Advent of the Wurm
3x Hero's Downfall
3x Selesnya Charm
1x Ultimate Price
4x Thoughtseize
3x Dark Betrayal
3x Golgari Charm
2x Hushwing Gryff
3x Mistcutter Hydra
2x Pithing Needle
2x Unravel the Aether
I hope that you like this and be able to help me improve this brew, so far it's working fine on testing. I'll be competing with this decklist this weekend on the WMCQ at New Zealand and see how it goes, I'll be posting results afterwards.
Cheers!
4 Elvish Mystic
3 Sylvan Caryatid
3 Fleecemane Lion
2 Lifebane Zombie
3 Courser of Kruphix
3 Brimaz, King of Oreskos
3 Polukranos, World Eater
2 Blood Baron of Vizkopa
Spells (7)
2 Golgari Charm
2 Setessan Tactics
2 Hero's Downfall
1 Bow of Nylea
2 Ajani Steadfast
2 Ajani, Mentor of Heroes
2 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
1 Garruk, Apex Predator
Land (24)
4 Forest
4 Plains
3 Temple of Plenty
3 Temple of Malady
3 Llanowar Wastes
3 Caves of Koilos
4 Mana Confluence
3 Nyx-Fleece Ram
3 Mistcutter Hydra
2 Lifebane Zombie
2 Doom Blade
2 Golgari Charm
1 Hero's Downfall
1 Setessan Tactics
1 Fated Retribution
Fated Retribution is basically just a last ditch effort to save the game when Nissa, Worldwaker decks when they get out of hand. As a side note Ajani Steadfast does some serious work in this deck. Obviously there are a lot of pain lands in use and so the +1 for Firststrike, Vigilance, Lifelink can be incredible and it works very well with Fleecemane Lion, Lifebane Zombie, Courser of Kruphix, Brimaz and Polukranos as they all can first strike most creatures down if the opponent decides to attack and then are still relevant blockers after the fact. Also Setessan Tactics is awesome for pretty much the same reason (referring to creatures toughness not lifelink, vigilance), and gives you a way to trade up a Brimaz Token, or an Elvish Mystic for something troublesome like say... Chandra's Phoenix or to do a board wipe against soldier decks.
Went 2-1 in all four matches.
R/G Monsters
Red Deck Wins
R/W Soldiers - using Preeminent Captain
U/W Heroic
4 Courser of Kruphix
2 Brimaz, King of Oreskos
4 Desecration Demon
1 Blood Baron of Vizkopa
Spells 18:
2 Advent of the Wurm
2 Banishing Light
2 Ultimate Price
4 Hero's Downfall
3 Abrupt Decay
2 Bile Blight
3 Underworld Connections
1 Vraska, the Unseen
2 Nissa, Worldwaker
2 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
25 Land
I think Sylvan Caryatid strategies are quite weak unless your deck contains Xenagos, The Reveler. Nissa, Worldwaker and Elspeth, Sun's Champion are excellent finishers, and you have the removal to answer almost anything. Connections and Courser will keep you ahead on cards, and help you answer everything until you land a card your opponent can't handle. I am playing a BG version of this with Scavenging Ooze, and will be playing it in the upcoming invitational.