I think this is what I'll be trying out post-BFZ. I might prefer 21 lands in a build like this and throw in another Jwari Shapeshifter or a BoP, but I haven't fully decided on that, yet.
I don't like running the traditional mana dorks in here because they literally do NOTHING if you do not get them turn 1 (since they are not allies). Additionally, we rarely if ever swing with 1 dude since all our other dudes get huge by huge pretty quickly.
I do agree that it gets worse after Turn 1, but it is a good Turn 1 play, a good Turn 2 play after playing Hada Freeblade, and helps ramp into CoCo or multiple Allies when played within the first two turns. If I were to cut anything, this would be the first to go, but my thoughts are that this deck wants another Turn 1 play and I don't think Cliffside Lookout or Expedition Envoy are better than Hierarch. I thought about Aether Vial, but I don't like playing it and CoCo together.
I think this is what I'll be trying out post-BFZ. I might prefer 21 lands in a build like this and throw in another Jwari Shapeshifter or a BoP, but I haven't fully decided on that, yet.
How do people feel about Creeping Tar Pit from Chapin's list? I've been hesitant to play it due to different types of removal, like fulminators and bolts. Wanted to hear other opinions on this.
Question on Molten Rain: I've never used it feeling it was too slow. For the people who board it in, do you always bring it in, even if on the play or draw? Are there other matchups besides junk and tron where this shines?
When I saw Atarka's Command, I was very excited to find a deck to try it out with. I think once it becomes available online, this will be the version I try out first:
I feel like this deck will probably have some big "run out of gas" issues and I'll eventually switch over to a more Big Zoo type strategy, but I think I want to try out All-In at first. Any suggestions for the All-In version?
With Secure the Wastes, I wanted to try to see if Bob could be played in this deck. Playing Bob basically means cutting Spectral Procession, which is a big cut. However, I want to try this list out and see what I can make of it. I fear the life loss may still be too great, as I'm getting greedy with Bitterblossom, but I feel like having 4 Auriok Champion will really help that out.
Essentially, I wanted to try to play midrange without needing to fall into Junk or Jund camps (also known as 'not owning goyf or liliana'). The hopes of this deck is to be faster than Junk and still be able to deal with different threats in the meta (perhaps be more of a tempo deck?). I havent gotten a chance to playtest, yet, but i'm looking forward to giving this a go.
I've been playing this a little bit on MTGO lately. It's been fun overwhelming the opponent by filling the board up with Planeswalkers. Had Venser's and Detention Sphere's in here originally, but took them out for the red splash.
I do agree that it gets worse after Turn 1, but it is a good Turn 1 play, a good Turn 2 play after playing Hada Freeblade, and helps ramp into CoCo or multiple Allies when played within the first two turns. If I were to cut anything, this would be the first to go, but my thoughts are that this deck wants another Turn 1 play and I don't think Cliffside Lookout or Expedition Envoy are better than Hierarch. I thought about Aether Vial, but I don't like playing it and CoCo together.
4x Hada Freeblade
4x Noble Hierarch
4x Kazandu Blademaster
4x Oran-Rief Survivalist
4x Akoum Battlesinger
2x Jwari Shapeshifter
4x Kabira Evangel
2x Lantern Scout
4x Collected Company
4x Lightning Bolt
2x Path to Exile
Lands: 22
3x Ally Encampment
4x Cavern of Souls
3x Windswept Heath
2x Arid Mesa
2x Wooded Foothills
2x Temple Gardens
1x Stomping Grounds
1x Hollowed Fountain
1x Sacred Foundry
1x Plains
1x Forest
1x Mountain
3x Gurmag Angler
2x Tasigur, the Golden Fang
4x Serum Vision
4x Thought Scour
4x Lightning Bolt
2x Spell Snare
1x Dispel
4x Terminate
2x Mana Leak
1x Shadow of Doubt
1x Remand
3x Kolaghan's Command
3x Cryptic Command
4x Polluted Delta
2x Steam Vents
2x Watery Grave
2x Sulfur Falls
2x Drowned Catacomb
1x Blood Crypt
3x Island
1x Mountain
1x Swamp
4x Fulminator Mage
3x Dispel
2x Anger of the Gods
1x Damnation
1x Flashfreeze
1x Countersquall
1x Slay
1x Magma Spray
1x Thoughtseize
4x Wooded Foothills
4x Windswept Heath
4x Arid Mesa
3x Temple Garden
1x Sacred Foundry
1x Stomping Ground
1x Kessig Wolf Run
2x Plains
2x Forest
Spells: 11
4x Path to Exile
4x Lightning Bolt
3x Collected Company
4x Noble Hierarch
4x Wild Nacatl
4x Tarmogoyf
3x Qasali Pridemage
3x Scavenging Ooze
4x Knight of the Reliquary
3x Loxodon Smiter
2x Kitchen Finks
3x Kor Firewalker
3x Magus of the Moon
3x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
2x Stony Silence
2x Choke
1x Bonfire of the Damned
1x Dismember
4x Wild Nacatl
4x Tarmogoyf
4x Goblin Guide
4x Monastery Swiftspear
2x Ghor-Clan Rampager
SPELLS: 21
3x Rancor
3x Path to Exile
4x Lightning Bolt
3x Lightning Helix
4x Boros Charm
4x Atarka's Command
4x Arid Mesa
4x Windswept Heath
4x Wooded Foothills
2x Sacred Foundry
3x Stomping Ground
1x Temple Garden
1x Mountain
1x Plains
1x Forest
3x Kor Firewalker
3x Render Volley
3x Destructive Revelry
2x Choke
2x Roast
2x Feed the Clan
I feel like this deck will probably have some big "run out of gas" issues and I'll eventually switch over to a more Big Zoo type strategy, but I think I want to try out All-In at first. Any suggestions for the All-In version?
4x Path to Exile
4x Inquisition of Kozilek
2x Secure the Wastes
2CMC - 21
4x Auriok Champion
4x Raise the Alarm
4x Bitterblossom
4x Intangible Virtue
3x Dark Confidant
2x Zealous Persecution
4x Lingering Souls
4CMC - 2
2x Sorin, Solemn Visitor
LANDS - 23
4x Marsh Flats
4x Windbrisk Heights
4x Isolated Chapel
4x Godless Shrine
2x Fetid Heath
1x Vault of the Archangel
3x Plains
1x Swamp
4x Arid Mesa
4x Blackcleave Cliffs
2x Blood Crypt
4x Bloodstained Mire
2x Godless Shrine
2x Marsh Flats
2x Sacred Foundry
1x Plains
1x Swamp
1x Mountain
4x Monastery Swiftspear
4x Young Pyromancer
3x Dark Confidant
Spells: 26
4x Lightning Bolt
4x Lightning Helix
4x Lingering Souls
3x Inquisition of Kozilek
2x Boros Charm
1x Chandra, Pyromaster
3x Path to Exile
3x Thoughtseize
2x Zealous Persecution
Essentially, I wanted to try to play midrange without needing to fall into Junk or Jund camps (also known as 'not owning goyf or liliana'). The hopes of this deck is to be faster than Junk and still be able to deal with different threats in the meta (perhaps be more of a tempo deck?). I havent gotten a chance to playtest, yet, but i'm looking forward to giving this a go.
Edit: going to try -1 Wall of Omens, -1 Snapcaster, +2 Spell Snare
4x Flooded Strand
4x Scalding Tarn
2x Arid Mesa
3x Celestial Colonnade
3x Hallowed Fountain
2x Sacred Foundry
2x Steam Vents
2x Tectonic Edge
2x Island
1x Mountain
1x Plains
3x Snapcaster Mage
3x Wall of Omens
2x Restoration Angel
Planeswalkers: 9
3x Jace, Architect of Thought
2x Elspeth, Knight-Errant
2x Ajani Vengeant
1x Gideon Jura
1x Tamiyo, the Moon Sage
The Rest: 17
3x Lightning Bolt
2x Lightning Helix
3x Remand
2x Mana Leak
3x Supreme Verdict
2x Dig Through Time
1x Batterskull
1x Sphinx's Revelation
Treasure Cruise seems like an interesting choice worth exploring. Any thoughts?