Alright I went 2-1 last night at the local tourney, we had a small turn out but got to play. I faced a mono blue mill deck (wasn't the strongest), a Green Devotion (standard legal), and Four Color Gifts. Playing the blue mill I had a pretty nice Knight of the Reliquary, at one time I had 8 lands into the grave yard.I ended up going 2-0 in that match, having both to much pressure from creatures and burn spells. Also I believe with Small Zoo it can beat/out run any mill deck, the only mill build that I think that would make the match interesting is turbo fog. While playing the Green Devotion I had a Steppe Lynx that was 7/8 flying double strike through via Boros Charm and Elspeth, Knight-Errant. I went 2-1 in the match, creature pressure work amazing and Steppe Lynx just shined in that match up. The game that I lost was because I kept an opening hand that I shouldn't and the deck had stalled out from the beginning. During the last match that I had was against four colored gifts. I ended up going 1-2 for the match, but it was grindy match and he couldn't make a mistake. In that match Slayers' Stronghold shined like a champ, it aid me to win the one game that I did and made the match harder on my opponent. In both game that I lost all I needed was top deck burn spell, but sadly I didn't get the top deck needing to win. Down below is my deck, and under the deck will be the changes that I will be planning on trying out.
First change I am playing on doing is removing Combust from my sideboard, and tossing in Choke instead. I am also going to try switching out Elspeth, Knight-Errant for Ajani Vengeant. The change is because of the threat of getting blood mooned, and seems interesting to at the very least try. I am also wanting to add Kessig Wolf Run or put Ghor-Clan Rampager back into the main board. I have decided to try one less Goblin Guide to allow myself to add the fourth Ghor-Clan Rampager and added another Path to Exile in the sideboard. I don't think I can get Kessig Wolf Run, due to wanting to keep Slayers' Stronghold in the deck and not wanting to run two colorless lands. What do you all think?
I would go boros charm... it can help protect ur creatures from most of the board wipes.. give that last bit of damage thru double strike and push come to shove it can be 4 damage to the face
Thanks for the insight Birch. and one drop was fun just seems to get hated out more or at least stalled to the point of ineffectiveness; which is why i am trying to tweak it until I get a good mix of speed and late game finishers.
I understand the feeling, I have been thinking about the same problem. What I ended up doing was adding Qasali Pridemages and Knight of the Reliquarys to the main board. Pridemages for the exalted triggers and the flexibility of destroying enchantment/artifact. Knight of the Reliquary to access more fetching/mana fixing and having a bomb since I have so many fetches.
Knight of the Reliquary will be better than Hooting Mandrills with all the fetch lands that you play. She becomes a bigger bomb for you and allows you to tutor for any land that you need at the time. You can sac a plains, grab a fetch land, then fetch another plains with her. Next time around it will have a bigger and your deck will be thinner, giving you a better chance to draw the "good" stuff. I really like Knight of the Reliquary and thinking about adding a fourth one to my personal Zoo deck.. but I don't want to mess with my curve.
Thanks for the info lantern. As for which one I would run between volcanic fallout or pyroclasm I would go with volcanic cause the sheer fact it's uncountable and keeps the burn train going.
My local meta is pretty weak at most of the times. I think the only tier deck that I have ran into is Delver (blue/red). Other decks are home brews or a couple tough decks such as tezzy control. But from what I am seeing from youtube, its pretty diverse in different decks. And they are solid decks, however I am a Zoo player and it saddens me that Zoo isn't on that list, as I am sure that it also saddens Lantern as well.
Here is what I thinking about running the next tourney I get a chance to play. I added an extra land (via Lantern suggestion), which was an Sacred Foundry. I do have some questions of what I should do with the deck however. First do I run Slayers' Stronghold or Kessig Wolf Run, both cards I can see cases for it. But I am newer at playing Knight of the Reliquary and would welcome any advice about it. I also cut Boros Charm to add that land, was that the right move? Should I cut a Lightning Helix instead? If that was right should I have moved it into the sideboard? If I should move Boros Charm into the sideboard what should I take out for it. Final question, should I include Scavenging Ooze in the deck? These are all question that have been bugging me for a week now and finally decided to ask the group. Thanks for the help and the advice that I get from you all, its always going to be appreciated.
I have been very good this year. All I would like for Christmas this year is a playset of Tarmogoyf and Noble Hierarch.
Sincerly, Pappy
I thought this would be a good place to put my Christmas list lol. Plus if I received those cards I could try a couple other Zoo builds that I like the looks of. I am trying to decide which card to take out for an extra land, currently tossed between Lightning Helix or Boros Charm currently I have a playset of both mainboard.
So you think I should go to 21 lands instead of the 20... if so I am thinking about cutting a steppe lynx cause I think all that burn would be needed. What you all think.
2x Arid Mesa
1x Forest
1x Mountain
1x Plains
2x Sacred Foundry
1x Sejiri Steppe
1x Slayers' Stronghold
2x Stomping Ground
2x Temple Garden
4x Windswept Heath
4x Wooded Foothills
3x Ghor-Clan Rampager
4x Goblin Guide
4x Kird Ape
3x Knight of the Reliquary
2x Qasali Pridemage
4x Steppe Lynx
4x Wild Nacatl
Instant
3x Boros Charm
4x Lightning Bolt
4x Lightning Helix
3x Path to Exile
1x Elspeth, Knight-Errant
2x Combust
1x Destructive Revelry
1x Ghor-Clan Rampager
2x Grafdigger's Cage
2x Loxodon Smiter
2x Molten Rain
2x Stony Silence
1x Thrun, the Last Troll
2x Volcanic Fallout
First change I am playing on doing is removing Combust from my sideboard, and tossing in Choke instead. I am also going to try switching out Elspeth, Knight-Errant for Ajani Vengeant. The change is because of the threat of getting blood mooned, and seems interesting to at the very least try. I am also wanting to add Kessig Wolf Run or put Ghor-Clan Rampager back into the main board. I have decided to try one less Goblin Guide to allow myself to add the fourth Ghor-Clan Rampager and added another Path to Exile in the sideboard. I don't think I can get Kessig Wolf Run, due to wanting to keep Slayers' Stronghold in the deck and not wanting to run two colorless lands. What do you all think?
I understand the feeling, I have been thinking about the same problem. What I ended up doing was adding Qasali Pridemages and Knight of the Reliquarys to the main board. Pridemages for the exalted triggers and the flexibility of destroying enchantment/artifact. Knight of the Reliquary to access more fetching/mana fixing and having a bomb since I have so many fetches.
2x Arid Mesa
1x Forest
1x Mountain
1x Plains
2x Sacred Foundry
1x Sejiri Steppe
1x Slayers' Stronghold
2x Stomping Ground
2x Temple Garden
4x Windswept Heath
4x Wooded Foothills
3x Ghor-Clan Rampager
4x Goblin Guide
4x Kird Ape
3x Knight of the Reliquary
2x Qasali Pridemage
4x Steppe Lynx
4x Wild Nacatl
Instant
3x Boros Charm
4x Lightning Bolt
4x Lightning Helix
3x Path to Exile
2x Combust
1x Destructive Revelry
1x Ghor-Clan Rampager
2x Grafdigger's Cage
2x Loxodon Smiter
2x Molten Rain
2x Stony Silence
1x Thrun, the Last Troll
2x Volcanic Fallout
1x Elspeth, Knight-Errant
I have been very good this year. All I would like for Christmas this year is a playset of Tarmogoyf and Noble Hierarch.
Sincerly, Pappy
I thought this would be a good place to put my Christmas list lol. Plus if I received those cards I could try a couple other Zoo builds that I like the looks of. I am trying to decide which card to take out for an extra land, currently tossed between Lightning Helix or Boros Charm currently I have a playset of both mainboard.
I have the FNM promos of Qasali Pridemage, Wild Nacatl, and Kird Ape. Foil Steppe Lynx and premium Lightning Bolt from the fire and lightning. I also have promo Oozes and Ghor-clan clan (which is in transit currently).
wait... new video? must watch when I get a chance.
I I bought mine recently at 49 dollars and that's working my butt off on ebay to get them at that price
I have some fnms promos, promoa, and foils that I can show off lol. Just gotta take a pic. Most likely post them this weekend