Yea, as it stands, what I have here is a netdeck off mtgTop8. I do really like playing with the Kird Ape and Loam Lion, but I also know Voice of Resurgence can be better than Tarmogoyf in some of the small zoo decks, i just need him to drop so I can trade for a few... But nobody on this site has any in their binder. I've also tried a bigger zoo with Collected Company, Loxodon Smiter, Knight of the Reliquary, woollythoctar, etc. that list was fun too... I'm honestly thinking just getting the parts to all iterations ofThe zoo decks and just building and playing the one I'm in the mood to run. It'd just be a big investment in both time and money. Trading isn't easy when no one has the cards you want :P

"but I also know Voice of Resurgence can be better than Tarmogoyf in some of the small zoo decks"

wut?

So when you say "small zoo decks," you're defining "small" as "decks that can't afford tarmogoyf," right?

slovakattack fluffybunnypants He's very correct. Goyf is not too good in this deck, and I'd certainly play Voice over it.

GlistenerAgent

Voice is a great card. I remain unsold on your statement.

Voice is a creature that demands an answer but is very hard to answer. If they cast a spell on your turn, you get a goyf sized token. They kill it, you get a voice sized token. The only "good" ways to answer a voice are Anger of the Gods and Path to Exile cast on your own turn. Because any other way, you get a 2 for 1 value off the voice. And the tokens can very easily be goyf sized tokens. It forces your opponent into making tough choices and casting everything slowly. It's super good against almost any deck.

Woah... everyone all of a sudden!

Just to clarify semantics, Small Zoo and Little Zoo are synonymous with each other, meaning lower cmc overall. Monetary value has nothing to initially do with it.

I mean, try playing with the deck. :)

I think I would complete the playset of Ghor-Clan Rampager here. The pump is very relevant. I'm not a fan of Kolaghan Forerunners (even with the Dash effect), so that's what I'd cut for it. I'd also consider Ancient Grudge or Smash to Smithereens in the sideboard, since a Chalice of the Void or an Engineered Explosives at x = 1 blows up pretty much your whole deck.

Yea, the Kolaghan Forerunners is stupid. After playtesting once, he'd be way better off as Ball Lightning, or preferably just not in the deck. The idea was to have an evasive threat, but after a boardwipe, a 1/3 isn't exactly a threat. I think I'll put in Boros Charm instead of the rest of the ghor-clans. The 4 damage and indestructible modes are very relevant in most matchups. The double strike can also be used as pseudo removal. As for the sideboard, I don't know how I forgot to put in Destructive Revelry... And Kor Firewalker. I have no sideboard against red. I just tried to go as narrow with it as possible.

Ah, that's right, Destructive Revelry is better than either of the cards I suggested. Good call. How's the Zurgo Bellstriker working out for you? I'm a tad skeptical of it given that even the likes of Wild Nacatl tend to be pretty fair in Modern, but I'd like to hear your experience with it before I suggest you replace it with more burn or something.

Oh no, the zurgo has to go, the deck can't work as a 1 drop zoo nearly as well without Loam Lion. Zurgo's slot has been changing around quite a bit between him, extra copies of other stuff, Legion Loyalist, Monastery Swiftspear and Vexing Devil. I do oddly like the Vexing Devil quite a bit seeing as regardless of what mode your opponent chooses, he can evolve an Experiment One up to a 4/4, which is pretty great. I wanted to avoid as much white as possible, but since I'm not playing Burning-Tree Emissary, there's no "real reason" to not run white except for consistency reasons. Pre board, my Sacred Foundrys are functional mountains. As for the chalice of the void issue, that does concern me quite a bit, I don't like the idea of being shut down by a single card. Too bad there's no leyline that makes things uncounterable...

What would you put in the zurgo slot? Do you think 4 copies of Destructive Revelry is enough to feel comfortable around chalice?

I'd throw in 2 Ancient Grudge for peace of mind (and for combating Affinity, which is one of the few decks that's faster than you), just in case. As far as the Zurgo Bellstriker slot... I'd say some sort of non-creature spell, so that you can get a bit more juice out of Monastery Swiftspear (otherwise, it's just a 1/2 with haste, which is OK, but not great). Lava Spike, Vines of Vastwood, something like that.

I want another 2 drop in the swiftspear slot to make the curve a bit better. Besides Burning-Tree Emissary, what do you thing could fill that spot?

Oh wait, Voice of Resurgence and Scavenging Ooze is a possibility

Scavenging Ooze feels a bit awkward because it needs mana to do well, and you have almost none. Voice of Resurgence is good, but it pushes you back into Naya. I'm thinking Voice is probably better overall, but I think Ooze is the better fit.

I don't really mind running white because in the end it doesn't really change the deck much. The fixing is made so that I can run plenty of white post SB, so going Naya doesn't bother me. The issue I had before with white was Loam Lion. Because all of the other good turn 1 cards in the deck were R/G, having the white 1 drop was awkward. But usually I fetch a Stomping Ground t1 and Sacred Foundry t2 unless I need another land, which means that the voice is fine to play on t2. Or I can drop it t3 where it sets the opponent back even more because the tokens become so much higher impact. The scooze is a great later game midrange card, but I feel he's just clunky and slow in here... I do like how Ghor-Clan Rampager feeds the scooze, but voice is a lot better in the more aggressive shell. And like you said, I don't have the amount of land to actually support the ooze, so I dont know if he's really worth it. Maybe the 3/1 split that I have now, but I'd be inclined to swap it out for something else and keep just the 3 voice.

Okay, I definitely want at least 1 copy of the scooze in the 75. Just tested a bit only

Looks good man. +1

Nice Deck! I'd add a plains in addition. Upvoted

I actually used to run one, but I just found that it was way too clunky in the opening hand since there's really only one white spell :P the 4 white sources I have are easily accessible enough to be able to cast path whenever I need it.

I playtested and then I realized that it is not necessary to take it in, besides, as you said it- plains could slow down your first hand - now I agree 100% :).

Thanks for the suggestion! What are your thoughts on Rancor? I've tested it here and there but always been on the fence about it.

I think your basic zoo gets strong enough as it is displayed the way above, Rancor is a great card- no question. I simply do not see a free slot above to take it in. Just think about the additional advantage you get through your creatures: Ghor-Clan Rampager, Reckless Bushwhacker. They provide quite moderate to good pump as well. If you've got two copies of Rancor take them in. If you're a bit unlucky then it will be exiled. On the other hand this card never dies I don't know which advice to give you there, but the fact that you have a moderate card draw would even tell its own tale. I would do it. Just check which cards you take out instead.

My initial thought is that Ghor-Clan Rampager is the obvious choice. Deals a lot of damage as a sweet battle trick and can't be countered. It's also been relevant for me getting around Eidolon of Rhetoric type effects, along with many other things that punish you for casting spells. But its role is the same as Rancor, but I feel rancor has longer term value. So is it worth sacrificing the inevitability and resilience that ghor-clan has as a spell/ability to gain a bit more longer term value off the Rancor?