WORK IN PROGRESS
I have always loved playing Selesnya decks and now with the release of Brimaz, King of Oreskos it feels much stronger. It is an aggressive deck with a pretty low CMC that wants to win early to mid game but can still play late depending on the match up.
I will be playing this at my local games store's FNM so I'll post updates on how it matches up against other decks. There are some very good players at my local store with several of them making top 100 and a couple making top 25 at the recent GP.
I am putting a lot of work into this deck so if you like it a +1 would be very much appreciated! I will post changes and tweaks every time I make them and will keep you up to date on my games I play. I will also post strengths and weaknesses I find during play tests so we can find answers to these problems.
Any and all suggestions welcome!
Thank you for your time :)
::::::::::::::::::::MAIN BOARD::::::::::::::::::::
---------------CREATURES---------------
Experiment One
- Great one drop that evolves when you play any other creature in the deck. The regenerate ability is very relevant with so much removal in the current meta.
Dryad Militant - Can always cast this on turn one due to it being either one white or one green mana.
Voice of Resurgence - An all around good card. Stops your opponents casting spells on your turn unless they want to give you some tokens which is never a bad thing. It can trade well and also stop opponents from attacking if you have a well developed board because the token you get could be a lot bigger than Voice was. I never really mind when it is a target of a kill spell either because they have used it on a 2/2 and not my Brimaz.
Fleecemane Lion
- A 3/3 for 2 mana that can become a 4/4 with hexproof and indestructibility? Yes please! Can create lots of pressure early on and draws removal away from your bigger creatures if you are close to getting the 5 mana for it's monstrosity cost. If I draw it later in the game sometimes I will play it with 7 mana to instantly make it monstrous.
Brimaz, King of Oreskos - Best card from Born of the Gods and is a fantastic addition to deck. 3 mana for a 3/4 with vigilance that makes cat tokens. The value is so great I am running it as a 4 of even though you can only have one on the feild at a time.
Loxodon Smiter - An easy to cast 3 mana 4/4 that is Thoughtseize proof. Solid card.
---------------PLANESWALKERS---------------
Ajani, Caller of the Pride - I play him mainly because of his -3 flying double strike ability which can just end games. You can still put pressure on the opponent with it's +1 making things bigger or using it as a combat trick which can eventually lead to you getting (hopefully) lots of 2/2 cats!
---------------INSTANTS---------------
Selesnya Charm
- Bread and butter of Selesnya decks. This card has amazing utility! The value this card brings is just outstanding i can't stress how good it is. The +2/+2 trample is a great combat trick or can help push through for leathal. The exile creature ability gets rid of common threats such as Polukranos, World Eater and
Desecration Demon
. The 2/2 knight token creature can be flashed in after a board wipe or is extremely handy when an opponent uses
Devour Flesh
.
A quick note: Good players will expect a Selesnya Charm and will generally play around it if they think you have one in hand which can be pretty obvious sometimes. This is a double edged sword however as you can use this to your advantage by making bluffs if the situation is right. You would be surprised how much some people let damage go through. Just be aware after you use it once people usually expect it. Also be creative in the way you use it!
Brave the Elements
- Almost all the creatures in this deck are white besides
Experiment One
and the green wurm token from Advent of the Wurm so it makes sense to use it. It can either protect creatures from spot removal or makes blocking a dream against a deck like Boros aggro. It can also help swing though for leathal during stalled board states.
Advent of the Wurm - This card is positioned so well in the current meta with so many board wipes. It is a great feeling to drop one of these at the end of an opponents turn after they just dropped a Supreme Verdict. Also putting this in to block is a nice little trick that cam really ruin someones day. Besides a 5/5 token with trample for 4 mana is not a bad at all and at instant speed is just a bonus.
---------------ENCHANTMENTS/ARTIFACTS---------------
Spear of Heliod
- Before Born of the Gods came out this used to be Bow of Nylea but now with Brimaz, King of Oreskos and his little cat companions this adjustment had to be made. It makes your cat tokens 2/2 as well as buffing the rest of your team. It also works as removal if you have the spare mana available which can often cause you oppenent not to swing in at you in some cases.
---------------LAND---------------
Mutavault - I am only running one of these due to this deck wanting to curve out properly and play something every turn. Many of our cards have specific mana costs requiring coloured mana and not that much colourless mana. If you drew 2 mutavaults in an opening hand it was too hard to cast your other spells so I would mostly have to mull down. It was rare that it would happen but I just found it hurt the deck more than it helped it. It is more down to personal preference if you want to run more or even none.
::::::::::::::::::::SIDEBOARD::::::::::::::::::::
NOTE: I'm still working on the side board and have not really tuned it to where I like it yet.
Boon Satyr - I replaced this card in the main board for Brimaz but have kept it in the side for board wipes and decks it can be used effectively to flash in to block or bestow. It is nice even if they kill your creature it's bestowed onto because you still have a threat on the board.
Mistcutter Hydra
- There is still some mono-blue floating around but the main reason is for control match ups. Excellent play after a board wipe due to the haste. It can be a great draw late game too as it can safely become a 7/7 without the fear of being countered. Pro blue helps it swing through for damage in some match ups but rarely occurs. I generally don't like playing this for anything less than 4 or 5 mana.
Rootborn Defenses - Awesome against aggro match ups. The populate works on our wurms. Have I mentioned board wipes yet?
Unflinching Courage
- I put this in against aggro match ups as the life gain can be a huge swing and they are forced to make unfavourable blocks due to the trample.
Unravel the Aether
- Great for gods, god weapons and pesky enchantments such as Blind Obedience or Underworld Connections. I am undecided which card I like better between this and
Revoke Existence
. It's basically instant speed compared to sorcery but exiles instead of shuffling it back into their library. This will require a lot of testing against the right decks to figure this one out.
Brave the Elements
- I have one more of these in the side board against mono colour and aggro match ups where it can be a blowout.
::::::::::::::::::::MAYBE BOARD:::::::::::::::::::::
Plummet
- So many Stormbreath Dragons lately that I want these in my side board. Also takes care of some other annoying creatures such as
Desecration Demon
and Nightvale Spectre.
Celestial Flare
- Fantastic card in the right match ups. I would really like some of these in my side board too for obvious reasons. Making the opponent sacrifice gets around so many things such as hexproof and indestructibility.
