The wooded foothills were meant to be fire-lit thickets, it was a typo what's wrong with you fools?
Oh and Blaze as been superb, in a stompy deck running 22lands to support bloodbraid, it's certainly warranted, and Riftbolt is a count to 20 cards, this deck is more of a beats deck, Bolts and Spikes are bad in it.
Alright guys I've been testing a lot of Modern and I really liked the thought of Strangleroot Geist in a stompy deck, I also really liked the thought of searing blaze in a stompy deck. Here's my list, it's been doing very well against Tron, Jund and Mono Red, the Delver Matchup thus far is literally 50/50. I haven't gotten enough testing in yet but here's the list, please critique and give suggestions.
First things first I know Mutagenic Growth has to standout most of all, and yes I run 4, I'm on the fence as to if it should be 3 or 4 though. Every deck is running Lightning Bolt currently and a lot are running Helix also, also lets face it it's unsuspected and unpredictable.
Boggart Ramgang, well this guy dies to 3 damage and it's had me wondering if Leatherback Behemoth, Ashenmoor Gouger, Troll Ascetic or even Kitchen Finks maindeck would be better, Ramgang is certainly the fast and fits the deck best, but I wonder of the resiliency.
I'm heavily considering 2x Lavamancer maindeck, I'm not sure of this or not, there's nothing really I want to talk out. I've considered cropping the Bloodbraids down to 3of because they're rather expensive for this deck, I've considered cropping down the Growth's to a 3of also because sometimes they can make your hand feel a little light, especially when you draw 2. I am not sure I want to run Lavamancer though, this deck curves to 4 perfectly and doesn't usually leave tons of spare Red up to Lavamancer win. What are some other stellar options?
Please any advice, suggestions or criticism is very much thanked.
The first thing you'll have to ask yourself when putting together an aggro list for this format is, "Is it faster, more efficient and/or can it outclass Argentum Weenie?" If the answers to more than one of those is "No," then you should probably start over. I may be incorrect in that assessment, but Argentum Weenie is shaping up to be pretty devastating.
This deck outclasses White Weenie in my opinion and is consistently faster with better disruption against ramp.
All 3 equips for metalcraft, and wouldn't Koth of the Hammer do better then the phoenix as it hits a turn sooner and is more likely to have a second relevant ability (ultimate).
Honestly, I do agree the deck can be really good. But in the RDW match-up we no longer have the CA from Ranger of Eos to recover if they spot our creatures t1 & t2, at least not well enough that I'm confident we have a real shot against RDW.
I suggest posting in the Boros thread if your interested in more feedback on the deck there, seems there are still routine posts there about current decks.
I never had trouble against RDW honestly , you get collar and they are in deep ☺☺☺☺ , Journey isn't such a dead slot now that most lists are running Goblin Guide , Kargan , Geopede/Kilnfiend they have gotten a little creature dependent themselves. If you hit Kor firewalker in this matchup its basically over , play your lands right you can make those landfall guys go a long way , sword also gets stuff out of burn range now. I've raced this deck plenty also.
This man runs white man ,Koth would be bad in it as simple as that , you don't run many creatures this deck cannot defend a planeswalker so the odds of it hitting its final ability are poor and you might have a whole 3 or 4 mountains on the field if you do. I tested him and I was much more impressed by the birdy , people are just overhyping Koth.
If Mono red gives me trouble I'd just fit some Baneslayers into my board and if they bring in the Leyline the card disadvantage alone kind of sets me up to win.
Is your intention to use the Kuldotha Phoenix Metalcraft ability at all or just ignore it?
I mean once in the rarest occasion you may Kor Skyfisher back your Stoneforge Mystic enough times to get all 4 equiptments on the field and actually trigger the metalcraft but basically its just a demigod effect , besides Baneslayer and activated Colonnades it roams the skys free killing planeswalkers and clocking your opponent. The deck needed reach and this is reach with a flame and a glimmer of utility.
I just wanted to post the two decks I've been testing with my group for the up coming 5ks , GPs , PTs that some of will be attending and see what you guys think of it and your suggestions towards them.
Red White Aggro:
I believe what this deck lost with Ranger isn't as catastrophic as most might think.
Yes the loss of Ranger , Elspeth and Ajani Vengeant ( some lists maindecked him some boarded him and some did not run him at all ) took away some of the decks reach but with Sword of body and mind I think Stoneforger has got quite insane.
Heres my list anyways insight will be appreciated.
3.Luminarch Ascension
4.Mark Of Mutiny
4.Kor Firewalker
3.Cunning Sparkmage
1.Sword Of Vengeance
This deck has played very consistent and done well against all matchups , I believe it to be much more viable than mono red or the mono white get there deck with much more consistency.
Next deck is Blue Green Red destructive force.
Now I know this deck has been talked about lately but I just haven't liked any of the approaches and heres my go at the deck, though this is a bit raw and I'd appreciate any suggestions.
4.Primeval Titan
2.Frost Titan
2.Preordain
4.Explore
4.Cultivate
3.Destructive Force
MagicRare I've played this deck a lot on MTGO and had great results with it in the premier and daily events. Heres some suggestions of mine.
I do not like Oracle I tested him and it seemed inconsistent and a bit clunky he doesn't offer the right type of reach for the deck.
If you are going to run maindeck Summoning Traps I'd suggest running 4x Avenger he alone wins a lot of games without path being in the format theres not much of an answer when he hits on your opponents end step. I agree with the summoning traps maindeck because I've seen a lot of control variants floating around and it edges the matchup for you.
Koth is not right in this ramp deck , this deck is more of a combo and Koth has no real place in the list hes just a cute new card everyone has overhyped so he's being crammed into lists.
I'm on the fence of which is better Worm Coil or Inferno Titan , I believe the Inferno Titan has a bit more potential though it just depends if you see a lot decks running Cobras and Birds.
I always liked 6 expanses and if you are running the Cranial Extraction I think you should include 1/2 verdant catacombs helps with Avenger , Klahni and Cranial.
My suggest would be to.
-2 forest
-2 Worm Coil
-3 Oracle
-2 Koth
+2 lightning bolt ( Theres white decks maindecking arbiter and most decks boarding it in its crucial to run 4x bolt. )
+1 explore
+1 avenger
+1 Inferno Titan
+2 Growth Spasm
+1 Evolving Wilds
+1 Verdant Catacombs
Sideboard:
If you like the Cranials stick with them , I preferred in my testing no black splash and to run 3/4 Acidic Slimes in the board, its great vs Both ramp decks and helps combat the Leylines.
I'd try 3 Gea's Revenge if you set him up properly he works as your sleeper against control and drawing multiples is never bad.
All is dust seems decent I wouldn't be against a 2 dust 3 clasm split up. Possibly a 3rd dust if clasm seems a little underwhelming.
Obstinate Baloths or Wormcoil possibly both are a nice board cards.
One last thing would be if you honestly don't ramp consistently and fast enough consider packing the overgrown battlements its quite important to hit your turn 2 ramp and 3 ramp and to have a turn 4 titan. He also is great to fend off against aggro , I understand Battlements are not ideal and do not help with the synergy of the deck and the valakut engine but I believe him to be the only other option to hit consistent turn 2 mana ramp as of now.
All and all this deck is a more difficult to pilot than it appears and you need to get a strong grasp of it knowing your meta and matchups it is probably the best deck post rotation , Eldrazi is a bit rough if they trap into Annihilator but besides that you do kill much faster than they do. Hopefully this helped and feel free to ask questions.
I find it weird people say decks like thopter foundry and kibler zoo , and fae are bad matchups for an aggro variant of naya zoo and in testing ive been better then 50% , is there something im doing wrong?
Do you think this machtup can still be favorable vs aggro zoo , when they can bring hate like volcanic fallout , stags, not to mention the deck has lost nothing and gained alot like goblin guides, lightning bolts , pride mages . but i love to be playing control would someone mind putting up an convincing list?
well he usually stayed around i played vs , 2 kibler zoo decks , 1 dark depths, 1 mono red, 1 doran deck and a domain zoo pile , and vs the rock and kibler decks they usually used all their removal early because this deck pushes the pace, then i land a thoctar and he usually sticks around. and from prior experience , thoctar fits aggro zoo better then knight because you wont ever use his ability and hes usually a 3/3 or 4/4 and sometimes u get those draws and hes a 2/2 or 3/3 and he trades with a nacatl or something. but im curious as to what you think of me not running the stepp lynx ? and whats your thoughts on goblin guides? and any clues on what might be better then seal? im seriously considering 2 puncture blast
Well , i wanted more fat and i wanted to keep explosives from being so dominating so i mixed up the curved a tad, thoctar does well in so many matchups from testing , and he did excellent for me last season got me a couple of PTQ top 8s with him in the naya variant .
I was at GP mini, and i played 2 gp trials lost in the finals with Kiblers exact list * i felt the deck wasnt to great to be honest* so i put together an GRW aggro list and won the GPT , the list was.
Creatures
4.Wild Nacatls
4.Kird Ape
4.Goblin Guide(wasnt sure if i should have ran goblin guide or stepp lynx, im sure i made the right decision after i won the tournament this deck was better then i would have believed)
4.Tarmogoyf
3.quasili pridemage (he was surprising solid , i didnt want to run him at first but i couldnt find a better 2drop and i didnt want to just run goyfers)
3.woolly thoctar (yet again i wasnt sure i was debating between spectral processions , knight of reliquary and thoctar , thoctar was solid but im going to start testing spectrals for GP okland and see if i can make the land base work and if they are ever worth it or if maybe a combination of thoctars and spectrals im not sure maybe just run thoctar he is a beast :P)
Instants
4.Lightning helix
4.Lightning bolt
4.Path to exile
Artifacts
3.jitte ( i ran 3 jitte over the normal 2 i like because i saw alot of kiblers deck and i knew that they could really help that matchup just clear the pridemage and ur pritty set)
Enchantments
2.Seal of fire ( i was tempted to maybe try 2 rift lightnings over the seals , and i really wanted to find other outs to if someone sticked a baneslayer angel i almost put in 2 puncture blasts , im not about this slot i dont think 2 seals could to too wrong but id appreciate some suggestions.)
Lands
4.Arid mesa
2.Misty rainforest
3.Scalding Tarn
2.Marsh flats
3.Stomping ground
3.Sacred mesa
2.Temple garden
1.forest
1.plains
1.mountain
(the land base might not be perfect i had to make this list in 10 minutes and borrow the cards from a dealer/friend )
Sideboard
4.burrenton forgetenders
3.Ghost Quarters
3.Ravenous traps
1.jitte
3.Sundering vitae ( i wanted outs to any moon that came my way and with pridemages and vitaes affinity would be easy with grudges i felt)
1.Teeg
i know the sideboard isnt perfect either i had to make this deck on short notice but i think its on the money for one of the best decks currently in ext, id appreciate if you would suggest ideas not tell how im wrong and your right (thanks)
Oh and Blaze as been superb, in a stompy deck running 22lands to support bloodbraid, it's certainly warranted, and Riftbolt is a count to 20 cards, this deck is more of a beats deck, Bolts and Spikes are bad in it.
4 Kird Ape
4 Goblin Guide
4 Strangleroot Geist
4 Tarmogoyf
4 Boggart Ram-Gang
4 Bloodbraid Elf
Instants
4 Mutagenic Growth
4 Lightning bolt
2 Tarfire
4 Searing Blaze
3 Stomping Ground
4 Copperline Gorge
3 Wooded Foothills
4 Arid Mesa
2 Verdant Catacombs
2 Scalding Tarn
2 Snow-Covered Mountain
2 Snow-Covered Forest
3 Bloodmoon
3 Nature's Claim
3 Relic of Progenitus
3 Kitchen Finks
3 Combust
First things first I know Mutagenic Growth has to standout most of all, and yes I run 4, I'm on the fence as to if it should be 3 or 4 though. Every deck is running Lightning Bolt currently and a lot are running Helix also, also lets face it it's unsuspected and unpredictable.
Boggart Ramgang, well this guy dies to 3 damage and it's had me wondering if Leatherback Behemoth, Ashenmoor Gouger, Troll Ascetic or even Kitchen Finks maindeck would be better, Ramgang is certainly the fast and fits the deck best, but I wonder of the resiliency.
I'm heavily considering 2x Lavamancer maindeck, I'm not sure of this or not, there's nothing really I want to talk out. I've considered cropping the Bloodbraids down to 3of because they're rather expensive for this deck, I've considered cropping down the Growth's to a 3of also because sometimes they can make your hand feel a little light, especially when you draw 2. I am not sure I want to run Lavamancer though, this deck curves to 4 perfectly and doesn't usually leave tons of spare Red up to Lavamancer win. What are some other stellar options?
Please any advice, suggestions or criticism is very much thanked.
This deck outclasses White Weenie in my opinion and is consistently faster with better disruption against ramp.
I never had trouble against RDW honestly , you get collar and they are in deep ☺☺☺☺ , Journey isn't such a dead slot now that most lists are running Goblin Guide , Kargan , Geopede/Kilnfiend they have gotten a little creature dependent themselves. If you hit Kor firewalker in this matchup its basically over , play your lands right you can make those landfall guys go a long way , sword also gets stuff out of burn range now. I've raced this deck plenty also.
This man runs white man ,Koth would be bad in it as simple as that , you don't run many creatures this deck cannot defend a planeswalker so the odds of it hitting its final ability are poor and you might have a whole 3 or 4 mountains on the field if you do. I tested him and I was much more impressed by the birdy , people are just overhyping Koth.
If Mono red gives me trouble I'd just fit some Baneslayers into my board and if they bring in the Leyline the card disadvantage alone kind of sets me up to win.
I mean once in the rarest occasion you may Kor Skyfisher back your Stoneforge Mystic enough times to get all 4 equiptments on the field and actually trigger the metalcraft but basically its just a demigod effect , besides Baneslayer and activated Colonnades it roams the skys free killing planeswalkers and clocking your opponent. The deck needed reach and this is reach with a flame and a glimmer of utility.
I just believe if a deck can engine destructive force it could really damper the ramp lists and I just don't see it happening though.
This is a different meta though , that was then this is now.
Red White Aggro:
I believe what this deck lost with Ranger isn't as catastrophic as most might think.
Yes the loss of Ranger , Elspeth and Ajani Vengeant ( some lists maindecked him some boarded him and some did not run him at all ) took away some of the decks reach but with Sword of body and mind I think Stoneforger has got quite insane.
Heres my list anyways insight will be appreciated.
4.Steppe Lynx
4.Goblin Guide
2.Elite Vanguard
3.Kor Skyfisher
3.Stoneforge Mystic
4.Plated Geopede
3.Kuldotha Phoenix
4.Lightning Bolt
1.Burst Lightning
4.Journey To Nowhere
2.Sword Of Body And Mind
1.Basilisk Collar
1.Adventuring Gear
4.Arid Mesa
4.Scalding Tarn
4.Marsh Flats
1.Evolving Wilds
1.Teetering Peeks
6.Plains
4.Mountain
SideBoard:
3.Luminarch Ascension
4.Mark Of Mutiny
4.Kor Firewalker
3.Cunning Sparkmage
1.Sword Of Vengeance
This deck has played very consistent and done well against all matchups , I believe it to be much more viable than mono red or the mono white get there deck with much more consistency.
Next deck is Blue Green Red destructive force.
Now I know this deck has been talked about lately but I just haven't liked any of the approaches and heres my go at the deck, though this is a bit raw and I'd appreciate any suggestions.
4.Primeval Titan
2.Frost Titan
2.Preordain
4.Explore
4.Cultivate
3.Destructive Force
4.Mana Leak
2.Negate
4.Lightning Bolt
3.Jace, The Mind Sculptor
2.Garruk Wildspeaker
4.Scalding Tarn
4.Misty Rain Forest
3.Raging Ravine
1.Rootbound Craig
4.forest
5.Island
4.Mountain
1.Terramorphic Expanse
1.Evolving Wilds
Sideboard.
2.Mind Control
4.Flash Freeze
2.Negate
1.Destructive Force
3.Obstinate Baloth
2.Pyroclasm
1.Gea's Revenge
I do not like Oracle I tested him and it seemed inconsistent and a bit clunky he doesn't offer the right type of reach for the deck.
If you are going to run maindeck Summoning Traps I'd suggest running 4x Avenger he alone wins a lot of games without path being in the format theres not much of an answer when he hits on your opponents end step. I agree with the summoning traps maindeck because I've seen a lot of control variants floating around and it edges the matchup for you.
Koth is not right in this ramp deck , this deck is more of a combo and Koth has no real place in the list hes just a cute new card everyone has overhyped so he's being crammed into lists.
I'm on the fence of which is better Worm Coil or Inferno Titan , I believe the Inferno Titan has a bit more potential though it just depends if you see a lot decks running Cobras and Birds.
I always liked 6 expanses and if you are running the Cranial Extraction I think you should include 1/2 verdant catacombs helps with Avenger , Klahni and Cranial.
My suggest would be to.
-2 forest
-2 Worm Coil
-3 Oracle
-2 Koth
+2 lightning bolt ( Theres white decks maindecking arbiter and most decks boarding it in its crucial to run 4x bolt. )
+1 explore
+1 avenger
+1 Inferno Titan
+2 Growth Spasm
+1 Evolving Wilds
+1 Verdant Catacombs
Sideboard:
If you like the Cranials stick with them , I preferred in my testing no black splash and to run 3/4 Acidic Slimes in the board, its great vs Both ramp decks and helps combat the Leylines.
I'd try 3 Gea's Revenge if you set him up properly he works as your sleeper against control and drawing multiples is never bad.
All is dust seems decent I wouldn't be against a 2 dust 3 clasm split up. Possibly a 3rd dust if clasm seems a little underwhelming.
Obstinate Baloths or Wormcoil possibly both are a nice board cards.
One last thing would be if you honestly don't ramp consistently and fast enough consider packing the overgrown battlements its quite important to hit your turn 2 ramp and 3 ramp and to have a turn 4 titan. He also is great to fend off against aggro , I understand Battlements are not ideal and do not help with the synergy of the deck and the valakut engine but I believe him to be the only other option to hit consistent turn 2 mana ramp as of now.
All and all this deck is a more difficult to pilot than it appears and you need to get a strong grasp of it knowing your meta and matchups it is probably the best deck post rotation , Eldrazi is a bit rough if they trap into Annihilator but besides that you do kill much faster than they do. Hopefully this helped and feel free to ask questions.
4.Kird Ape
3.Loam Lion
4.Tarmogoyf
3.Gaddock Teeg
2.Knight Of The Reliquary
2.Doran, The Siege Tower
4.Path to Exile
4.Lighting Bolt
4.Lightning Helix
4.Tribal Flames
1.Bant Charm
Lands
21.*Insert Proper Landbase*
SB.
3.Death Mark
4.Extirpate
3.Delay
3.Meddling Mage
2.Krosan Grip
Creatures
4.Wild Nacatls
4.Kird Ape
4.Goblin Guide(wasnt sure if i should have ran goblin guide or stepp lynx, im sure i made the right decision after i won the tournament this deck was better then i would have believed)
4.Tarmogoyf
3.quasili pridemage (he was surprising solid , i didnt want to run him at first but i couldnt find a better 2drop and i didnt want to just run goyfers)
3.woolly thoctar (yet again i wasnt sure i was debating between spectral processions , knight of reliquary and thoctar , thoctar was solid but im going to start testing spectrals for GP okland and see if i can make the land base work and if they are ever worth it or if maybe a combination of thoctars and spectrals im not sure maybe just run thoctar he is a beast :P)
Instants
4.Lightning helix
4.Lightning bolt
4.Path to exile
Artifacts
3.jitte ( i ran 3 jitte over the normal 2 i like because i saw alot of kiblers deck and i knew that they could really help that matchup just clear the pridemage and ur pritty set)
Enchantments
2.Seal of fire ( i was tempted to maybe try 2 rift lightnings over the seals , and i really wanted to find other outs to if someone sticked a baneslayer angel i almost put in 2 puncture blasts , im not about this slot i dont think 2 seals could to too wrong but id appreciate some suggestions.)
Lands
4.Arid mesa
2.Misty rainforest
3.Scalding Tarn
2.Marsh flats
3.Stomping ground
3.Sacred mesa
2.Temple garden
1.forest
1.plains
1.mountain
(the land base might not be perfect i had to make this list in 10 minutes and borrow the cards from a dealer/friend )
Sideboard
4.burrenton forgetenders
3.Ghost Quarters
3.Ravenous traps
1.jitte
3.Sundering vitae ( i wanted outs to any moon that came my way and with pridemages and vitaes affinity would be easy with grudges i felt)
1.Teeg
i know the sideboard isnt perfect either i had to make this deck on short notice but i think its on the money for one of the best decks currently in ext, id appreciate if you would suggest ideas not tell how im wrong and your right (thanks)