Basic information, mostly ignorable
My first attempt at a modern deck, all assistance is appreciated. Note, my budget does not include room for cards like Tarmogoyf
This was built from this primer
The deck as it stands, this is what has been getting results so far. Last update 7-25-15
Overview of cards
Thrun, the Last Troll is a house and wins games. No one messes with Thrun. My MVP vs control, but unfortunately, not very useful vs aggro. He gets sided out if I'm concered I won't have time to reliably hit 4 mana.
Dungrove Elder Is my MVP regardless of who I'm playing against as a 3/3 for 3 is solid, and hexproof makes him a scary threat if he sticks. He also isn't super well known so people often miss play around him as they forget about his hexproof. Pro tip - people are more likely to misplay if he is the promo foil full art version as the word "Hexproof" is less pronounced if they don't ask to inspect the card more closely.
Leatherback Baloth
he is big, and he has lots of devotion. Unfortunately, I have not seen him as often as many of my other beaters so I cannot say whether or not he is as good as people believe. As far as I am concerned, Dungrove Elder is better.
Strangleroot Geist
is a threat that terrifies people. He is my number 1 card to be hit by Path to Exile and he is also capable of blocking threats and living to tell the tale. It is also funny to see people bolt him after combat, giving me an untapped blocker for their turn.
Scavenging Ooze is pretty cool now that I've had a chance to play with him. I need to work on my strategies with him though as I have missed several opportunities to prevent my opponent from being able to cast taisgur, the golden fang.
Dryad Militant
is really much more versatile than it seems. while she seems small, the exile really has helped me out where it locks down options for Snapcaster Mage, prevented retrace on Raven's Crime, or just kept the graveyard thinner for preventing Tarmogoyf or taisgur, the golden fang she has been extremely useful.
Experiment One is fun, but often doesn't get past 1 +1/+1 counter for me before he is hit by a Lightning Bolt or thrown in as a blocker. Often gets sided out for more control.
Rancor is the punch. Unfortunately, there is no bonus to toughness, so my attackers still tend to die easily, but with rancor coming back to hand, I can just play it again and again. It is also good for boosting devotion for
Aspect of Hydra
and giving the 4 power necessary for the side boarded Feed the Clan to be at full effect.
Vines of Vastwood is the MVP non creature. I have used this as my anti
Splinter Twin
, anti Path to Exile, anti Terminate, and as a straight up buff to win in fights/combat and punch through the last damage needed for the game win.
Aspect of Hydra
is a big play as it if often a Giant Growth or better. Play 3 in one turn for a total blowout!
Pit Fight
I like over Prey Upon for it's instant speed as I often use it on my opponent's turn to kill away a
Splinter Twin
target or in combat and kill a creature while being blocked by another.
Dismember is nice as I don't have to have a creature to make it work, but the 4 life loss to phyrexian mana does hurt sometimes.
Bow of Nylea
is mostly there for deathtouch, but lifegain and +1/+1 counters are nice too.
treetop villiage gives that extra final creature when you need it to finish a game. No other purpose.
Beast Within gets sided in when I feel like I could use that bit more removal and I am afraid of a non-creature threat. Aka tron to get rid of one of their pieces, or one of their walkers. I do not like how it cost 3 mana instead of 2 like my other removal, nor that it gives a 3/3 beast to rival my own creatures
Feed the Clan is sided in vs burn or mirrored field states to give me a bit more survivability
Guttural Response is pretty straight forward as my anti counter counter spell.
Creeping Corrosion for mass artifact hate if I think I'll need to deal with more than just 1. I am not in favor of the 4 cmc to cast though.
Oxidize
vs affinity and AetherVial
Skylasher
is cheap anti blue, currently swapped for
Tangle Golem
Tangle Golem
gives some potentially cheap-to-drop beats that stare down Tarmogoyf, Tasigur, the Golden Fang, and even Mirran Crusader (especially Mirran Crusader, I have no other responses to it...)
Spellskite to lightning rod removal and
Splinter Twin
Torpor Orb vs
Splinter Twin
and blink strategies
Under Consideration
Testing using more creatures with Avatar of the Resolute (again), but this time for actual play rather than practice.
Testing
Primal Bellow
over
Aspect of Hydra
because it will allow a more consistent growth instead of being reliant on a board state
Comments and +1s appreciated!
