"Splash a color"
If I were to do such a thing, I'd go Golgari colors for competitive removal like Abrupt Decay.
Golgari also features some black/green dredge mechanics that would work well for the synergies this deck already uses.
"Typal"
Considering things like Goreclaw, Terror of Qal Sisma for the potential of a Mirror Box build.
Even an Aether Vial and some Secluded Courtyard could make it into this build and give it a typal treatment.
Dredge
Some other funky cards like Willow Geist and Golgari Grave-Troll are also featured.
Lands Matter
It's important to address the utility of casting lands from grave if you are pitching them there for value already.
Crucible of Worlds is one option. Has been a staple in this use for a long time.
Ramunap Excavator is another creature that gets some attention, and Elvish Reclaimer provides a decent bit of utility as well.
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the deck has been overhauled several times since it's initial construction so I figured it a decent time to update all of the descriptive tabs, and reaffirm the identity of the deck. All of the previous construction notes and etc. have remained in place where applicable because I thought detailing the growth was important to understanding all the different ways one can manage this kind of deck. I mean, Dredge is such a versatile mechanic!
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Thematically, my intention is to remain running this deck as a Dredge mechanic lead build, with thematic nods to Ayula, Queen Among Bears being what her moniker implies; the absolute best bear to have ever bear'd witness. Right.. anyways.
(the following is a demonstration of how the deck has changed throughout it's functional history, rather than it's thematic history. And let's be honest, it hasn't always been good. Be kind about the evolution of the deck, please.)
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Revisiting this list for the first time since early 2021, going to see what has been printed and may potentially make the build stronger. I miss playing with a bunch a bears!
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The list ended up losing a lot of pieces in the switch over to Modern format:
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Wilson, Refined Grizzly and Ruxa, Patient Professor were both EDH specific Bears, and although super cool and flavorful, obviously not legal within the format.
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Slippery Karst is ultimately less effective than other pieces I could use here but it was not legal in the Modern Format either.
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Since I shifted this deck to Legacy Format (and here's where it'll stay..) I don't really have anything holding me back now.
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The Legacy Format is the most malleable and applicable in any capacity, and while damning from things like Stax, or Combo, or most notably the Blue decks, I think this is where the Bear Dredge/Delve deck belongs most comfortably.
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In theory, I might be able to abuse faster mana mechanics like Chancellor of the Tangle and Elvish Spirit Guide, but in reality how much of the concept vs. How much of the competitive edge is what I want.
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Having access to things like Berserk also seems pretty cool in terms of it's focused uses, removal, buffing, etc.
"Bear Bodies"
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So things like Grizzly Bears was the initial concept here, but maybe swapping those bodies out might be better, it's very dependent on if I can make Goreclaw, Terror of Qal Sisma viable. I'm not very certain of that, either.
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Ayula, Queen Among Bears does so much heavy lifting here, whether as an on the board presence or as fodder, due to the sheer fact of her might in pumping the rest of the board.
"Bear Circle-of-Life"
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The core of the deck began as a means to exploit the use of Dredge mechanics in a casual setting to do fun things. Golgari Grave-Troll is still illegal in Modern as of writing this. So using this mechanic may turn out to be harder than I initially expected.
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Yeah and the funny thing is when I update this deck in (2024), and we're back into the Legacy format. The next big update may require some new bears, since the most recent one, Kudo, King Among Bears was a Selesnya identity bear. Not terrible for use or identity purposes but I hoped to keep this deck as a purely Mono-Green deck for the time being.