Ahh, Morph. A favoured ability from a year after I started. Khans of Tarkir didn't give me much to work with but with Fate Reforged here, I was able to start with what I think could be a trigger-filled creature nightmare! Because who doesn't love stacking triggers and fighting creatures?
The deck starts with an innocent-looking mana dork, then starts exploding into blue and orange magic spheres that will fight any blockers, trigger abilities, and return to my hand to start all over again. The focus of this deck s on both Manifest and Morph, with a couple of things that bring them closer together and keep the good times...MORPHING!
Mana Ramp:
Elvish Mystic is the de-facto dork. Drawing him in the opening hand gets me the crucial 3 mana for turn 2. With him in play, the options open wide.
Voyaging Satyr is the guy to go to when Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx hits play. He also acts as a ramp, getting me to 4 mana on turn 4 (or 5 mana if the E Mystic hit play turn 1). Because he is only explosive with a Nykthos and doesn't morph, I only run the 2.
Rattleclaw Mystic serves 2 purposes here: He gets me some explosive ramp, and is a morph, with can be used later with the other creatures I have. Putting him face-down on turn 2 (with an E Mystic) also gives me 6 mana on turn 3, meaning I can play anything in the deck.
Morph/Manifest:
Rattleclaw Mystic fits here.
Temur Charger
is a cheap guy to turn face up, with a great surprise ability. Giving a fatty trample on the attack gets that extra damage through, without wasting any mana.
Hooded Hydra is a fantastic card here, as a morph and a late-game fatty. He also serves a second purpose in keeping a board full of creatures when he hits the graveyard. Being able to turn him face-up on turn 3 (E Mystic and R Mystic) or 5 is a great surprise.
Whisperwood Elemental is the board-wipe savior. Sure he may have to be sacc'd, but being able to replace my face-ups with face-downs is a good way to keep options open. Being able to add a 2/2 to the board every turn, whether it can be flipped or not, is also great. And those non-creature manifests won't be wasted (see below). Even if he only stays for the one turn, I get 6 power for 5 mana.
Temur War Shaman
is a beast in his own right! Six power for 6 mana isn't too bad, but his flip=fight ability is downright nasty. It may not sound too great, but when you can take out all the blockers or dorks with your own, he becomes a menace. And being able to flip a Manifest-Sabertooth and turn it indestructibe is fun. The mre of these guys in play, the better!
Utility:
Polukranos, World Eater is the best 3-drop green has, IMO. Being able to mini board-wipe is also nothing to sneeze at. He hits fast, and hits hard, and with all the mana this deck can throw out, he is a must.
Temur Sabertooth is my new favourite uncommon in green. In this deck, he can return a non-creature manifest to my hand. Need that 2/2 Nylthos to cast stuff? Return it. Need that 2/2 Revelation? Back to the hand it goes! Targetted removal in your way? Put it back in your hand! The ability is also worded perfectly, so you don't have to return anything, and you don't have to announce what is going back! Like Whisperwood Elemental, he is great board wipe protection, but in a different, but no-less-exciting, way.
Shamanic Revelation should be in every green creature deck. Drawing a cards and gaining life is great, if a pain-in-the-ass if you remember Sphinx's Reveltion. Depending on having creatures in play is a bit of a downside, but with as many as there are in this deck, being able to draw just 2 cards is great.
Trail of Mystery
enjoys deck-thinning, not missing land drops, and boosting your own creatures. Turning something face-up with a War Shaman in play? Yeah, I'll kill that blocker you have. Don't want to draw any more lands the rest of the game? We can make that happen! A perfect 2-drop that looks innocent enough. Multiple of these in play is even more fun!
But with all that said, there is where you all come in. I want to try to make this solid. Getting 1st place at FNM is a dream, but I would love to see this place in the top 4. Morph is something I have always enjoyed. Placing well with this deck is icing on the 2/2 cake.
