Now that you're looking more into the protection and indestrucitble package, I wonder if we'll see a return of Archangel of Thune ?

You play on cockatrice, spooty? :O

We should play some time, I finally figured out how to make it work xD

Rootborn Defenses is such an underrated card, especially in decks where you actually have tokens.

Depending on your timezone I'd also be available to do playtests and stuff :)

Name on cockatrice same as here, although I'm usually more online on the weekends.

Oh. I'm also on Cockatrice as Matsi883. I'm also in EST, if you are too, we could playtest.

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Rootborn Defenses is such an undervalued card in that deck. It takes the spot of Scion of Vitu-Ghazi perfectly.

What do you think about Plummet in the side? That's another undervalued card.

I'm surprised you're only running 2x Rootborn Defenses mainboard based on the rave review you just gave. You've convinced me that it is a very useful tool, though.

I can see the synergy with Rootborn Defenses and all your token generators. If you don't get an elemental, you would at least frequently get a 3/3 or 5/5 trampler. I assume from the wording that your new token would also be indestructible along with everythign else.

With all that synergy, I can imagine that Polukranos, World Eater might seem to shine less in comparison.

I hope we get to see you playtest it soon!

I prefer Ready / Willing in my selesyna deck over Rootborn Defenses because I don't run much in the way of tokens, and the surprise untap can be very helpful if your opponent thinks you're open for an attack. If you're token-centric (which you appear to be) rootborn makes more sense though. Just making the other readers aware of a potentially better option depending on their build :-)

I have been going back and forth between using either Gods Willing and Rootborn Defenses in my deck. Personally I like Rootborn better but Gods Willing has scry and covers exiles though only a single creature. I see that you are running both. Which would you recommend for an deck like mine?

Nice article

I like it! But doesn't it look more like selesnya aggro instead of selesnya midrange?

I just thought I'd point out that in your final deck list, in the land, you have Selesnya Charm . I'm assuming it's a guildgate since there are no temples but just thought I'd give ya a heads up about it. Also, a friend of mine runs a selesnya deck and he has Ajani in there, and I can tell you from experience that Ajani can be absolutely devastating. If you do his -3 on a wurm the turn you play him then it's almost always an easy 10 damage in one swing. Unless they're holding onto a removal spell there is nothing they can do to stop it. Maybe chump block with a flier but the trample still gets through so it's almost always going to hit.

I'd still be willing to say Experiment One wouldn't be terrible in here. It's a nice 1 drop that can evolve fairly quickly in this deck, easily getting to 3/3 by turn 3. And although Scavenging Ooze is an amazing card, you've got plenty of 2 drops so thats ok. The ooze belongs in more of a build with a lot of kill spells like in jund/junk/golgari

In the lands, Selesnya Charm is supposed to be Selesnya Guildgate , right??

Selesnya Charm has been edited to Selesnya Guildgate . Thanks for the heads up!

thePESSIMIST: Unfortunately, I still think Archangel of Thune comes out too late for it to be in the deck. If I were running orzhov or Junk or something with more access to removal, I could probably afford to run her as one of my bombs, but sadly that is not the case :(

To all those who mentioned testing with me on Cockatrice, I'm totally down. My username is Spootyone just as it is on here. It'd be cool if we could somehow get a small group together that can test with each other on there. Especially since I have a tendency to dislike playing against a ton of randoms.

Matsi883: I agree. Now, when I've faced both of my versions of the deck against each other I find Scion of Vitu-Ghazi to be a complete game changer (If there's an elemental token on the field), but unless I remove a lot more stuff I definitely think He'll stay out.And I saw you mention on my deck about the whole Plummet thing, but I'll still give my two cents in saying that the card is awesome. It hits Desecration Demon , Nightveil Specter , Chandra's Phoenix , Stormbreath Dragon , Cloudfin Raptor , and the rest of MUD's one drop fliers. I love getting to board it in.

sewellius: Funny you mention that because I actually did already remove Polukranos, World Eater haha. I found them to ultimately be unneeded. And for right now Ajani, Caller of the Pride seems to be a much more suitable choice as a two-of. I may also add in a third copy of Rootborn Defenses main board, but I'll need to do some testing first to see how much I'd need that.

actiontech: I actually really like Ready / Willing but I agree that the populate of Rootborn Defenses is part of what makes it shine in my deck.

Tainted_Light: Why choose? Find room to run both! And then if you find that you just need one of them you can make changes afterwards! :D

Apoptosis: Thanks man!

pingpongball120: I'll be honest with you -- there isn't too much of a difference in standard right now. Without a ton of control aspects in G/W and/or without big, valuable creatures that can restabilize like Thragtusk , one is forced to play towards more aggro. That said, I think the fact I don't run one-drops or Boon Satyr , etc shows that this is meant for mid game play and not blitz-type play.

abenz419: Agreed. After adding in Ajani, I can say he's phenominal. You have to play him correctly, but when you do he gives victories out of nowhere. And I think Pithing Needle need not be as feared as I felt it was. Especially since I don't NEED Ajani to win.

notamardybum: When facing the opposing deck I tried using Experiment One to race him..and it just didn't work. I think in aggro, where you can evolve with Dryad Militant and such, the quicker pace means a lot, but in here its just going for something that I'm not trying to go for. If I win by turn 5, Awesome! But winning by turn 6-7 is the real goal. And as long as I can still beat esper I'll definitely stay as such.

@Spootyone: The idea of a group of us on Cockatrice playtesting seems pretty cool, my username on there is thePESSIMIST just like here.

Well, I'm on from time to time. I think for now I'll be on there whenever I can be though since I really want to test out this newer build. If anyone is ever on and sees me and wants to do some testing don't hesitate to send me a message letting me know!

You guys all Cockatrice on Wooger?

I'm surprised not to see Brave the Elements . Looks like every single creature you have is white (now that Polukranos is substituted out)

deathtouch_roadrunner: Yessir!

Agog: Actually, that's a very valid point. Brave slipped my mind, to be honest. I really like scry....but I think I'll try out Brave the Elements in its place. Or maybe go with 2 brave and 1 Gods Willing ....meh, 3 Brave sounds better.

Actually, wait I change my mind. The wurm and centaur tokens are strictly green, and they are some of my most superfluous creatures during matches. I'll stay with the Gods Willing .

Oops, you're right, they are green. My bad.

someone remind me, can Golgari Charm regenerate tokens? I can't remember.

I believe so... tokens are considered creature permanents

Apoptosis yes. The tokens never go anywhere. They never hit the graveyard

Thank you my friends, with that in mind, I suggest every G/W build include 4x Overgrown Tomb , 4x Godless Shrine and 4x Golgari Charm .... And with that all problems are cured. Put your spot removal in the sideboard, think about Deathrite Shaman , Abrupt Decay , or any card that you're on the fence about and know that your problems are solved. So endeth the lesson.

Armada Wurm?

Armada Wurm is one of my all-time favorite cards. And I've been trying to play with him for a while now (I played bant last standard and he saw play in that). However, this meta is unfortunately just too fast and powerful for a 6-drop that doesn't at least have reach or flying. And without ramp as is my current case, it just can't happen.

I can't believe no one's mentioned MUD yet. That deck is the single reason GW isn't one of the more powerful decks in standard right now. I'd run 4 Mistcutter Hydra s and 4 Skylasher s between your sideboard and mainboard just for that matchup.

Apoptosis, if you're going GWB you have to include Blood Baron of Vizkopa . That guy is a monster against mono-black and Boros aggro

I don't think 4x both of those is absolutely necessary. I do have 3 Skylasher in the sideboard right now but I also MB 3 Last Breath . Also, Unflinching Courage can be very helpful in the matchup, especially if placed on a Witchstalker since it pretty much requires that they overload a Cyclonic Rift to do anything -- something near impossible for them without Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx . And Selesnya Charm does a really good job of dealing with Thassa, God of the Sea .

I think the biggest problem in the matchup is actually Bident of Thassa since it makes their pinging one-drop fliers become card draw engines. And this usually gives enough for them to win in a longer game if they're able to resolve and keep alive a Master of Waves .

Again, this is just how I feel about it, but I'm pretty sure 4-ofs of both those guys just isn't necessary.

Interesting discussions and well timed. Does anyone run Boros Elite and Frontline Medic mainboard in G/W (also with 4x Favored Hoplite )? I just started some deck building last night and threw together a MUD, a mono green ramp stompy deck, and a G/W aggro/midrange with Boros Elite and Frontline Medic . The stompy deck couldn't beat MUD because of Tidebinder Mage but the G/W aggro just took apart MUD 3-0. Frontline Medic single handedly won one of those games by just allowing Boros Elite . the medic, and Fleecemane Lion to continually stomp face.