Blackblade says... #2
I noticed that you made those revisions, so things are shaping up nicely. I also noticed that about 25% of your creatures have X within the casting costs, which means that you'll want some decent ramp to make it worth casting to make a nice thud when it hits the table. I would suggest cutting 3 of those 6 creatures since you don't have the type of mana ramping in the deck to make it worth running this many. I know, I know, they have the potential to be big fat juicy creatures, but a cut needs to be made here. So choose....bug choose wisely!
Suggested Cut list
- Vastwood Hydra - why? because of the additional forest in the casting cost, which means that it'll only be a 3/3 when you have to dump 5 mana to cast it.
- Phytoburst - why? because it is a sorcery, and cheap spells like this you want to use with an element of surprise. Yes +5 is nice, but so is +3 if you wanted to swap it out for a Giant Growth which is still standard legal.
Possible Additions
PROTECTION
- Mending Touch - used when it looks like you are making an attack or a block that will ending up killing both creatures, or when someone tries to destroy your creature
- Giant Growth - clear cut replacement for Phytoburst
- Savage Surge - can be used offensive or defensively. +2+2 isn't much, but sometimes it is just enough to make a difference. what is nice is that it also untaps your creature, which means that you can appear to be open for a hit when you are really just baiting them in. Sneaky.
- Fog - classic card, and sometimes your best friend in dire situations
REMOVAL
- Plummet - more of a sideboard type of card if you are playing a deck stacked with flying creatures, which is an obvious weakness to this deck.
- Mutant's Prey - since most of the big creatures in your deck will have counters on them you will probably be able to kill off some stuff using a card like this.
- Windstorm - Mass air removal, again more of a sideboard kind of thing, which you have to build anyways.
January 24, 2014 1:08 p.m.
Blackblade says... #3
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Here are some of the cards I was able to dig up for your consideration, to include a sideboard card Plummet , which was that card I couldn't remember for the life of me the other day. Here is a little list of cards to think about.
Cheap Instants
<- Plummet obvious flying removal, sideboard for sure
- Predator's Strike
- Sheltering Word
- Tanglesap
- Avoid Fate most removal is instant, but going hexproof is better
- Ranger's Guile
- Groundswell plays well with your Ordeal of Nylea
- Mutagenic Growth - nice because you can cast when you are tapped out
- Withstand Death
Creatures
Let's keep in mind that you will probably have your elf into play, so it is assumed that you'll be able to drop any of these guys by round 3.
- Deadbridge Goliath nice creature which you'll be able to put out on turn 3 most games, and if it gets removed you can use its ability to pump a creature
- Fangren Firstborn nice devotion and pump as you attack, and also plays well with Ordeal of Nylea , which is good because it also thins the deck out increasing your chances of drawing something you'll need each round
- Obstinate Baloth sideboard creature for discard decks
could also consider Deity of Scars for a devotion boost. comes into play as a 5/5 but can regenerate twice and grows in size.
April 14, 2014 1:17 p.m.
Blackblade says... #4
Should probably clear out the old comments since this is a really different deck from when it first started. Ask requested here is my opinion:
Drop
- 2xTriumph of Ferocity there are better ways to draw.
- 2xPrimal Rage you don't need it when you have nylea, who is much harder to remove since she is indestructible
- 2xReverent Hunter nice 3 drop, but lets replace it to set up a better devotion to nylea and more drawing potential
- 2xArbor Colossus stay aggressive and forget reach. reach and flight removal is for sideboard
- 3xKarametra's Acolyte no real need for all this mana since most of the deck runs cheap, lets focus on devotion and draw
This will free up 11 cards
Possible Replacements
At a glance it's looking like you want to set up the draw to help move the trample action along. These suggestions are based upon that
- 3xKeen Sense since you will doing trample damage 90% of the time this is a cheap replacement for Triumph of Ferocity
- 3xCourser of Kruphix you friend is back, and serves his purpose with devotion and draw potential to trigger the eidolon of blossoms
- 3xEidolon of Blossoms a little better, but a little more expensive. if it were me I would go with this guy over the enchantress because 4 mana for this deck is not a problem, and you get to draw right away, which is way better
- 3xBoon Satyr powerful for a number of reasons. great offense for only 3 mana, good for devotion, has flash, and will trigger the eidolon for draw. You can get very sneaky with this because of the flash.
Ok so that makes 12 cards going in, but having the 1 extra is no biggie. you'll now have plenty of cards to trigger the Eidolon; 15 I believe. Time to play test.
July 2, 2014 6:07 p.m.
Arbor Colossus wasn't put in for his reach, was just a bonus. He was there for the 3 forest bump for devotion and something to waste mana on if needed. Reverent Hunter was never intended as a 3 drop either. He was a wild card mid to late game drop to be something silly big, which he always was. I added Primal Rage x2 to give me 6x the chance to give my creatures trample. There really isn't many trample creatures anymore in the deck, Primalcrux and the Khalni Hydra is pretty much it. Also it would mean Nylea had trample too if I need or wanted to attack with her. I pondered Eidolon of Blossoms but it just didn't seem to fit, small creature it has at least 2 forests to bump devotion though. Granted adding so many more enchantment creatures it would probably work much better.
July 2, 2014 8:44 p.m.
Blackblade says... #6
I'd play 1x more Nylea over adding 2x Primal Rage for the simple reason that you get a creature in addition to having that ability to all. Nylea not having trample isn't that big of a deal in the scheme of things, but getting her onto the battle field is.
The Primalcrux and the Khalni Hydra are obviously your kill cards, but don't really benefit from that mana that can be produced by the Karametra's Acolyte , but creatures like:
- Polukranos, World Eater removal
- Hydra Broodmaster build an army
- Chameleon Colossus pump it up
- Arashi, the Sky Asunder removal
on a side note. I case across Vorapede . Not too shabby for just 5 mana and a +3 devotion. Vigilance, trample, and undying? wow.
July 3, 2014 1:09 p.m.
Blackblade says... #7
May also want to consider a little searching, Mwonvuli Beast Tracker isn't a bad option. cheap and works towards devotion. Also consider Gleancrawler as a way to keep the pressure on because you'll be gaining back anything that is being killed off. Terra Stomper is simple yet effective. Soul of the Harvest decent for keeping the draw going and plays well with Gleancrawler , as does Elderscale Wurm , Pelakka Wurm and Worldspine Wurm . Yes this is some big casting cost stuff, but if you want to run Karametra's Acolyte this is the kind of stuff you can put out.
A planeswalker may also be nice, like Garruk, Caller of Beasts or Garruk, Primal Hunter . Could even use Garruk Wildspeaker if you would rather focus on the ramp
Blackblade says... #1
If you are going to get the most out of the devotion from Reverent Hunter , then you want to include permanents that use more Mana symbols.
Where would I make room for some of this stuff? Personally I would dump Death's Presence and Primeval Bounty . By the time you have the 6 mana to cast it you should be dropping better things or using the monstrosity ability.
Hope this spawns some ideas.
January 21, 2014 2:43 p.m.