I suggest trying to get some Baneslayer Angels, since they are so cheap these days and a great card for White if you are looking for a card that can really deal out damage.
Wurmcoil Engine is another favorite of mine that could go in a deck like this.
Day of Judgement and other board sweepers would be a great include as Mabberman suggested.
I can't seem to find a place to discuss the newest MTG format "Modern".
Seems to me like WOTC is really trying to get people to start talking about it, but there isn't a section open on these forums to do it yet.
Is this in the works?
I do think that Viral Drake earns a couple spots for a mid game win condition along with Tezzeret's Gambit to recharge and add another fatal poison counter.
I love this deck!
After playing around with WG, i'm starting to lean towards a BG style of deck instead. Glissa, the traitor seems so perfect in this construction that it really does beg for that style.
I am going to try every combination to play around with what works best.
An issue that i've had during testing is when you run 1 of say a 5 or 6 mana creature, when you draw it; suddenly it cuts your synergy short since you aren't able to use Birthing Pod anymore.
Trying to fill a deck with multiple creature choices on turns 5, 6, 7, and 8 is going to be the biggest challenge of building the deck list.
How has Brutalizer Exarch performed?
For 6 mana, it allows you to remove a non-creature, or put a creature from your library on top of your deck. Since Birthing Pod doesn't require you to ever need to draw a creature, I assume this is for the removal ability?
What about Noxious Revival? It allows us to revive Birthing Pod which is nice; and gives us access to previous creatures. Have you been using this card much or does it usually sit dead in your hand?
*work in progress, long post and I don't want it to disappear randomly*
Since there are many threads starting up with all sorts of variants of Birthing Pod decks, I wanted to create a thread to discuss strategy with the pod that could lend itself to different decks.
The Engine Birthing Pod is a slick card, but with some mild draw backs.
It is similar to Survival of the Fittest and Fauna Shaman, but is played much differently.
There is a requirement is that you actually have a creature in play, that you are willing to sacrifice it.
The requirement to pay mana, tap, and only cast as a sorcery makes this card hard to abuse.
Hard, but not impossible.
The mana cost is broken down to :3mana::sympg: so unless you are investing in some mana, you will be loosing 2 life to play the spell.
Once the card is in play, the activation requires :1mana::sympg::symtap:, meaning another 2 life.
Having some green mana is highly recommended since you will be investing your turns into activating this engine rather than making blockers or controlling your opponents spells.
Silver Bullets
You will hear this term a lot in this discussion. A Silver Bullet is a solution card. They tend to be just what you need in the situation at hand. A few examples would be Moat, Meddling Mage, Leonin Arbiter, Pithing Needle, ect.
The goal is to find cards we can tutor for that will help us in certain situations.
A good one that i've found is Sunblast Angel.
The Backup Plan
Well your opponent just played Phyrexian Revoker naming Birthing Pod and your sitting with a handful of cards you just can't play.
Making sure you can keep playing is going to be a huge concern when constructing the deck. Green Sun's Zenith is a nice backup plan for getting some of your bullets into play.
Card Choices
Here is a list for each color, strong choices for Birthing Pod, broken down by mana cost.
If you have a suggestion for the list, try to give a short description why you think it's a good choice.
Green Cards
Since your deck is likely to have green mana, you will want to focus on early acceleration, and "ETB" (Enters the Battlefield) type creatures.
Birds of Paradise allows you to hit any color you want, play Birthing Pod turn 2 and have a flying blocker just in case.
Fauna Shaman gives you another engine early game, but won't play very well with the main focus. Lotus Cobra could play nice with acceleration, but is useless mid and late game. Nest Invader gives you a token to chump block with, or accelerate if needed. Not a bad choice. Sylvan Ranger puts a basic land into your hand, thinning your deck and making sure you have a turn 3 land drop. Viridian Emissary is a nice sacrifice target, but only when you have already played Birthing Pod. By then it's already too late.
Viridian Corrupter is a very nice "Silver Bullet" card that lets you destroy an artifact.
Obstinate Baloth is a solid 4/4 body that grants you 4 life on the ETB trigger. Nice choice VS aggro. Thrun, the Last Troll another solid body, that's very tough to kill. Vengevine has been suggested but doesn't flow with the deck idea.
Acidic Slime is a great choice at this point. In an artifact block, getting a quick artifact destruction effect out can be powerful. Mitotic Slime leaves behind a small army of tokens, but i'm sure there are better choices.
Primeval Titan is an awesome 6/6 with Trample, and the extra 2 land won't ever hurt. Will the price tag scare you off?
Testradon is 9/9 giant that will wipe out 3 troublesome cards, or give you enough bodies to win.
White Cards
Squadron Hawk is a great choice, since it fills up your hand, creates blockers, and is easy to splash. Stoneforge Mystic is only good if you want to put in some equipment choices. Remember living equipment makes tokens which count as 0 mana cost creatures. Warpriest of Thune is a good option against enchantments. Wall of Omens gives you a solid blocker and refills the that card in your hand.
Mirran Crusader is strong card. Great blocker and not bad to keep around. Blade Splicer is very playable. A 1/1 is small, but her 3/3 first striking friend is nice. Sacrificing the Splicer means you still get a 3/3 for 3 and move on to your 4 spell.
Baneslayer Angel is a powerhouse, but in a titan and removal heavy format it can struggle sometimes.
Sun Titan works wonders since it's a big body and returns one of our early sacrificed creatures. Sunblast Angel at the right time can be devastating to your opponents.
Blue Cards
Guard Gomezoa can block forever. Trinket Mage can tutor some cogs (1 mana artifacts) if you build that way. Deceiver Exarch allows you to untap birthind pod and fetch your next creature.
Phyrexian Metamorph has a lot of diversity. You can backup your Pod, reproduce one of your own creatures, or match something you opponent has. Very solid choice.
Black Cards
Bloodghast can be sacrificed multiple times and triggers more often than Vengevine. Kalastria Highborn can be fun if build around vampires. Reassembling Skeleton Keep bringing him back to sacrifice. Vampire Hexmage is a planeswalker killer in a bind, and a solid 2/1 first striker when you could use it. Good pick.
Skinrender is likely to take out a creature, or make a bigger one manageable. A 3/3 body isn't comfortable, but it's a decent option. Abyssal Persecutor will certainly make a scene when he comes down. Being able to sacrifice him with the pod deals with his drawback. Phyrexian Obliterator costs :symb::symb::symb::symb: but you can cheat it into play with Birthing Pod. Then a 5/5 Trampler that is also an amazing blocker is serious business. Unfortunately, the mana cost also means that if you draw it, it's likely a dead card in hand.
Malakir Bloodwitch is a 4/4 pro-white, with some flying evasion. In this deck, the battlefield effect isn't relevant.
Grave Titan comes out with 2 friends, and is really solid. Massacre Wurm is a 6/5 with some great abilities. The -2/-2 ability is going to impact the battlefield, with a secondary way to swing some damage. Great choice.
Sheoldred, Whispering One is a strong finisher. Bring back some of your recently sacrifices buddies and put a lot of pressure on your opponent.
Red Cards
Tuktuk the Explorer is a 1/1 but turns into a nice 5/5 when you rebirth him or block with him. Getting a bonus from your decks drawback is awesome.
Urabrask the Hidden is very aggressive and can help push your opponent back a bit.
Moltensteel Dragon is actually really fun since you can play it for 4 mana and 4 life, then cheat out a 7 mana cost creature. Just hope they don't kill it before you can, otherwise it's mana and almost 1/4 your life total gone.
Artifacts
Perilous Myr Hits a creature, killing a number of relevant creatures. Squadron hawk, Lotus Cobra, ect.
Precursor Golem spawns a bunch of nice Golems, and works very well with any Splicer cards you may play.
Gold
Glissa, the Traitor can bring back a destroyed Pod. A strong body at 3/3 with First Strike and Deathtouch.
Non-creature spells
Making sure your Birthing Pod strategy isn't disrupted, and you can survive long enough to continue rolling out stronger creatures is what these cards are all about.
Green Beast Within is the first one I think of. Destroying any target is such a powerful ability, especially at Instant speed. Your opponent getting a 3/3 doesn't mean anything to us when we are powering out our bombs.
you mean a 4/5 for 4 Mana which isnt that impressive anymore
A 4/5 infect creature for 4 mana is still a strong card.
And when you throw down a turn 4 Mother, and a turn 5 Hydra; your opponent is going to be in a tough spot.
"Species Transplantation" (4U)
Rare
Enchantment
When ~ enters the battlefield, choose a creature type.
Creatures you control are the chosen type in addition to their other creature types.
I could see a very powerful ally deck in the making.
I've won games by using Thrummingbird to proliferate and then wipe the board the same turn. If you can get her a 5th counter the turn you play her, she can be amazing.
There is a WU control budget discussion here http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=277440
I suggest trying to get some Baneslayer Angels, since they are so cheap these days and a great card for White if you are looking for a card that can really deal out damage.
Wurmcoil Engine is another favorite of mine that could go in a deck like this.
Day of Judgement and other board sweepers would be a great include as Mabberman suggested.
If you like using counterspells, Spell Pierce, Mana Leak and to a lesser extend Cancel are good options.
I would also recommend Tumble Magnet since it can lock down your opponents toughest creatures, or lock down their only creature after a board sweep.
Seems to me like WOTC is really trying to get people to start talking about it, but there isn't a section open on these forums to do it yet.
Is this in the works?
(Even today's Daily MTG article is about the new format http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/ld/144)
I'd much rather just Into the Roil their exarch in response to them casting splintertwin...
3x Inkmoth Nexus
8x Island
8x Forest
4x Glistener Elf
4x Blighted Agent
3x Viral Drake
3x Vines of Vastwood
4x Groundswell
4x Distortion Strike
4x Into the Roil
3x Tezzeret's Gambit
4x Livewire Lash
4 Mutagenic Growth
I do think that Viral Drake earns a couple spots for a mid game win condition along with Tezzeret's Gambit to recharge and add another fatal poison counter.
I love this deck!
Glissa, the traitor seems so perfect in this construction that it really does beg for that style.
I am going to try every combination to play around with what works best.
When I have some more time, i'll work on more of the support section.
An issue that i've had during testing is when you run 1 of say a 5 or 6 mana creature, when you draw it; suddenly it cuts your synergy short since you aren't able to use Birthing Pod anymore.
Trying to fill a deck with multiple creature choices on turns 5, 6, 7, and 8 is going to be the biggest challenge of building the deck list.
How has Brutalizer Exarch performed?
For 6 mana, it allows you to remove a non-creature, or put a creature from your library on top of your deck. Since Birthing Pod doesn't require you to ever need to draw a creature, I assume this is for the removal ability?
What about Noxious Revival? It allows us to revive Birthing Pod which is nice; and gives us access to previous creatures. Have you been using this card much or does it usually sit dead in your hand?
I haven't tested it yet, but it could be a decent addition, especially when you use Trinket Mage. I'll play around and share the results when I can.
I also don't have my list at the moment, but i'm currently testing G/W with a small focus on Splicers. I've found Blade Splicer to be very effective.
I can't wait to have a really strong list going!
Thanks so far for everyones input.
Since there are many threads starting up with all sorts of variants of Birthing Pod decks, I wanted to create a thread to discuss strategy with the pod that could lend itself to different decks.
The Engine
Birthing Pod is a slick card, but with some mild draw backs.
It is similar to Survival of the Fittest and Fauna Shaman, but is played much differently.
There is a requirement is that you actually have a creature in play, that you are willing to sacrifice it.
The requirement to pay mana, tap, and only cast as a sorcery makes this card hard to abuse.
Hard, but not impossible.
The mana cost is broken down to :3mana::sympg: so unless you are investing in some mana, you will be loosing 2 life to play the spell.
Once the card is in play, the activation requires :1mana::sympg::symtap:, meaning another 2 life.
Having some green mana is highly recommended since you will be investing your turns into activating this engine rather than making blockers or controlling your opponents spells.
Silver Bullets
You will hear this term a lot in this discussion. A Silver Bullet is a solution card. They tend to be just what you need in the situation at hand. A few examples would be Moat, Meddling Mage, Leonin Arbiter, Pithing Needle, ect.
The goal is to find cards we can tutor for that will help us in certain situations.
A good one that i've found is Sunblast Angel.
The Backup Plan
Well your opponent just played Phyrexian Revoker naming Birthing Pod and your sitting with a handful of cards you just can't play.
Making sure you can keep playing is going to be a huge concern when constructing the deck.
Green Sun's Zenith is a nice backup plan for getting some of your bullets into play.
Card Choices
Here is a list for each color, strong choices for Birthing Pod, broken down by mana cost.
If you have a suggestion for the list, try to give a short description why you think it's a good choice.
Green Cards
Since your deck is likely to have green mana, you will want to focus on early acceleration, and "ETB" (Enters the Battlefield) type creatures.
Birds of Paradise allows you to hit any color you want, play Birthing Pod turn 2 and have a flying blocker just in case.
Fauna Shaman gives you another engine early game, but won't play very well with the main focus.
Lotus Cobra could play nice with acceleration, but is useless mid and late game.
Nest Invader gives you a token to chump block with, or accelerate if needed. Not a bad choice.
Sylvan Ranger puts a basic land into your hand, thinning your deck and making sure you have a turn 3 land drop.
Viridian Emissary is a nice sacrifice target, but only when you have already played Birthing Pod. By then it's already too late.
Viridian Corrupter is a very nice "Silver Bullet" card that lets you destroy an artifact.
Obstinate Baloth is a solid 4/4 body that grants you 4 life on the ETB trigger. Nice choice VS aggro.
Thrun, the Last Troll another solid body, that's very tough to kill.
Vengevine has been suggested but doesn't flow with the deck idea.
Acidic Slime is a great choice at this point. In an artifact block, getting a quick artifact destruction effect out can be powerful.
Mitotic Slime leaves behind a small army of tokens, but i'm sure there are better choices.
Primeval Titan is an awesome 6/6 with Trample, and the extra 2 land won't ever hurt. Will the price tag scare you off?
Avenger of Zendikar puts out a lot of tokens, on a good 5/5 body.
Testradon is 9/9 giant that will wipe out 3 troublesome cards, or give you enough bodies to win.
White Cards
Squadron Hawk is a great choice, since it fills up your hand, creates blockers, and is easy to splash.
Stoneforge Mystic is only good if you want to put in some equipment choices. Remember living equipment makes tokens which count as 0 mana cost creatures.
Warpriest of Thune is a good option against enchantments.
Wall of Omens gives you a solid blocker and refills the that card in your hand.
Mirran Crusader is strong card. Great blocker and not bad to keep around.
Blade Splicer is very playable. A 1/1 is small, but her 3/3 first striking friend is nice. Sacrificing the Splicer means you still get a 3/3 for 3 and move on to your 4 spell.
Linvala, Keeper of Silence is a decent silver bullet when you need it.
Baneslayer Angel is a powerhouse, but in a titan and removal heavy format it can struggle sometimes.
Sun Titan works wonders since it's a big body and returns one of our early sacrificed creatures.
Sunblast Angel at the right time can be devastating to your opponents.
Blue Cards
Guard Gomezoa can block forever.
Trinket Mage can tutor some cogs (1 mana artifacts) if you build that way.
Deceiver Exarch allows you to untap birthind pod and fetch your next creature.
Phyrexian Metamorph has a lot of diversity. You can backup your Pod, reproduce one of your own creatures, or match something you opponent has. Very solid choice.
Black Cards
Bloodghast can be sacrificed multiple times and triggers more often than Vengevine.
Kalastria Highborn can be fun if build around vampires.
Reassembling Skeleton Keep bringing him back to sacrifice.
Vampire Hexmage is a planeswalker killer in a bind, and a solid 2/1 first striker when you could use it. Good pick.
Skinrender is likely to take out a creature, or make a bigger one manageable. A 3/3 body isn't comfortable, but it's a decent option.
Abyssal Persecutor will certainly make a scene when he comes down. Being able to sacrifice him with the pod deals with his drawback.
Phyrexian Obliterator costs :symb::symb::symb::symb: but you can cheat it into play with Birthing Pod. Then a 5/5 Trampler that is also an amazing blocker is serious business. Unfortunately, the mana cost also means that if you draw it, it's likely a dead card in hand.
Malakir Bloodwitch is a 4/4 pro-white, with some flying evasion. In this deck, the battlefield effect isn't relevant.
Grave Titan comes out with 2 friends, and is really solid.
Massacre Wurm is a 6/5 with some great abilities. The -2/-2 ability is going to impact the battlefield, with a secondary way to swing some damage. Great choice.
Sheoldred, Whispering One is a strong finisher. Bring back some of your recently sacrifices buddies and put a lot of pressure on your opponent.
Red Cards
Tuktuk the Explorer is a 1/1 but turns into a nice 5/5 when you rebirth him or block with him. Getting a bonus from your decks drawback is awesome.
Urabrask the Hidden is very aggressive and can help push your opponent back a bit.
Moltensteel Dragon is actually really fun since you can play it for 4 mana and 4 life, then cheat out a 7 mana cost creature. Just hope they don't kill it before you can, otherwise it's mana and almost 1/4 your life total gone.
Artifacts
Perilous Myr Hits a creature, killing a number of relevant creatures. Squadron hawk, Lotus Cobra, ect.
Precursor Golem spawns a bunch of nice Golems, and works very well with any Splicer cards you may play.
Gold
Glissa, the Traitor can bring back a destroyed Pod. A strong body at 3/3 with First Strike and Deathtouch.
Non-creature spells
Making sure your Birthing Pod strategy isn't disrupted, and you can survive long enough to continue rolling out stronger creatures is what these cards are all about.
Green
Beast Within is the first one I think of. Destroying any target is such a powerful ability, especially at Instant speed. Your opponent getting a 3/3 doesn't mean anything to us when we are powering out our bombs.
Contributors:
TabooTapeworm
space_loner
Code3Junk
Weebo
Ryder052
patat
A 4/5 infect creature for 4 mana is still a strong card.
And when you throw down a turn 4 Mother, and a turn 5 Hydra; your opponent is going to be in a tough spot.
I think we all know BG infect is going to be strong.
This combo's well with Phyrexian Vatmother as well since it's a 4/5 infect for 4 with no down side.
That's actually pretty neat. Turntimber Ranger.
"Species Transplantation" (4U)
Rare
Enchantment
When ~ enters the battlefield, choose a creature type.
Creatures you control are the chosen type in addition to their other creature types.
I could see a very powerful ally deck in the making.