That's right, we're getting cheaty with Heartless Summoning and Birthing Pod! The goal is to cheat out big or useful creatures nice and early using the aforementioned shenanigans. However, this is not your average pod deck, and it's not kiki-pod either. Taking advantage of the interaction between 2 Myr Retrievers and Heartless Summoning, Deathbringer Thoctar serves as a back-up finisher. The real difference here though is the lack of white, with red taking its place. Another way this deck differs is the added challenge Heartless Summoning presents; no creatures with 1 toughness. Since Myr Retriever is an important combo piece to be able to search up with Birthing Pod, this left very few options for a 1-drop that would survive Heartless Summoning. Fortunately we have Goblin Guide to deliver a swift kick in the teeth before being sacrificed for the greater good! Also, the lack of white has inspired the introduction of some delicious creatures previously not seen in competitive pod decks. Like other pod decks though, the main focus is outpacing your opponent with fast, hard-hitting creatures that control the board in some way. The possibility to combo-off and win by turn 4 just increases the odds of winning. Here's the method to my madness:
[Win-Engines]
No deck is complete without its face-stomper(s)!
Birthing Pod: The main focus of the deck, this invaluable tool lets me pull creatures appropriate for any board situation out of my deck with very little investment.
Heartless Summoning: This goes hand-in-hand with Birthing Pod, allowing me to drop heavy creatures early and pod them into even bigger creatures. Also makes it possible to drop those fatties if they end up in my hand.
Myr Retriever + Deathbringer Thoctar: This is the alternative win to bashing the opponents face in. If all goes well, Heartless Summoning will have the Thoctar down by turn 4 for an easy win. Not likely though considering you need 2 retrievers. This is more of a later game surprise if things go on too long. However, each card is still useful on its own; Myr Retriever brings back my pods if they get destroyed and Deathbringer Thoctar will also benefit from the pod.
[The Cast]
Meet the crew, a well-equipped toolbox of responses to control any board situation.
Goblin Guide: Fills the 1-drop position with the added bonus of not dying to Heartless Summoning and has the potential to deal a bit of damage.
Treefolk Harbinger: Also survives Heartless Summoning and helps to fix mana.
Burning-Tree Emissary: More cheatyness actually; produces one extra mana if podded into.
Wall of Roots: Unlike the emissary, this doesn't produce extra mana until the turn after you pod into it, but it does return its investment.
Kitchen Finks: An important player in the deck, this helps to counteract the life loss from Birthing Pod (because only suckers pay full price).
Geralf's Messenger: For those occasions when your life total is pretty stable and you just want to get some extra damage in. Can also be podded twice!
Desecration Demon: Delivers massive early damage if your opponent has no creatures and acts as pseudo-removal if they have few creatures.
Flame-Wreathed Phoenix: If it looks likely that your opponent will keep Desecration Demon tapped down, this can kill them from over-head. If they don't pay its tribute, it can be podded and then played again.
Obstinate Baloth: Between Birthing Pod, fetches, and shock lands, there is a lot of potential life loss going on. Sometimes Kitchen Finks just doesn't cut it and this guy has to step in.
Shadowborn Demon: If your opponent is flinging removal at you as they should and you've been podding your way up, chances are you have 6 creatures in your graveyard by the time you're ready to play this. Serves as removal and a nice fatty to end the game.
Xenagos, God of Revels: It's hard to go wrong with a free Berserk every turn! Getting to 7 devotion is not unrealistic, and indestructibility can be difficult to deal with.
Massacre Wurm: Pseudo-board wipe plus damage? Sign me up!
[Support]
Any good team needs a little back-up. These help by clearing the board to make way for massive attacks.
Lightning Bolt: Stops too many relevant threats in the meta to not be included.
Abrupt Decay: If your opponent isn't running permanents that cost 3 or less, they probably have bigger problems to worry about.
Let me hear your suggestions and comments, looking for feedback! This deck has actually been in my mind (and on many pieces of paper) for quite some time and many changes have already been made. However, I never consider a deck to be 100% the best it can be, there are always improvements to be made! Thanks for taking a look, and make sure you check out my popular Modern deck; Obvious Combo is Obvious...!
