This deck attempts to accomplish three goals: a) function as a Rock deck that can successfully combat Eldrazi, b) incorporate Glissa, the Traitor into the Rock shell successfully, and c) identify a key BG/x archetype that Rock can fill. In particular, goal c examines what has made Jund and Abzan successful archetypes beyond simple card selection. Jund, put simply, "goes tall," using Raging Ravine,
Pia and Kiran Nalaar
, and Lightning Bolt; typical Abzan lists "go wide" using Lingering Souls and Gavony Township. With that basic structure in mind (which by no means completely addresses either the complexities and powerful interactions available in Jund and Abzan, or how to best make use of those interactions), this BG Rock shell looks to develop an independently powerful archetype in superior resilience and recursion.
This deck takes the traditional BG Rock core of Scavenging Ooze, Tarmogoyf, Dark Confidant, and Liliana of the Veil and adds a complementary artifact based core using Glissa, the Traitor,
Executioner's Capsule
, and Wurmcoil Engine at the top end as a counterpart to Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet.
Glissa enables effective use of Liliana's +1 by pitching artifacts which can then be recovered using either Liliana's -2 the following turn, combat, or another removal spell. The interaction between Glissa and Executioner's Capusle alone significantly increases the ability of this Rock shell to outlast other midrange and aggro decks. The higher artifact count works to support early Tarmogoyfs more reliably than the 2-3 copies of Courser of Kruphix typically played in Rock shells. Glissa and Sword of Light and Shadow can recur one another independently.
Finally, the artifact based shell also allows for more effective sideboarding against control and combo decks given the high recursion potential of the selected artifact answers.
Local meta is Eldrazi light, so the Dismembers are replaced with Go for the Throats in the main deck.
Primary Question: This shell works well right now because Lightning Bolt effectiveness is currently at an all-time low. Is it good enough in a world with fewer Eldrazi? However, I think the shell has enough built-in resilience to justify play as an archetype regardless of Bolt, since the original BG Rock shell loses none of its core parts and thus provides multiple independently effective angles of attack via the main and side boards.
Secondary Question: What key artifacts have I neglected that could belong in the main deck? Other artifacts of note include:
Relic of Progenitus
, Nihil Spellbomb,
Thorn of Amethyst
, Defense Grid, Chalice of the Void, other Swords of X and Y, and Ensnaring Bridge--though I don't think this one works for this deck style.
