Ponza.dec (Deckbuilding Primer)
Modern
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Multiple updates —April 4, 2018
Changes to the "average" deck:
- The average is just slightly back to 22 Lands, though pilots have been successful with both 21 and 22.
- Other changes reflect the prevalence of Wolbers' list.
Changes to the deck description:
- Completely reworked the sub-archetypes (in Step 1 Option 2).
- Updated the top finishers at large tournaments (in Step 1 Option 4).
New proven competitive cards (first played in "normal" Ponza decks):
- Hornet Queen (first seen in this deck)
- Rhonas the Indomitable (first seen in this deck)
- Ruric Thar, the Unbowed (first seen in this deck)
- Shattering Spree (first seen in this deck)
- Sweltering Suns and Thrashing Brontodon (first seen in this deck)
- Thundermaw Hellkite (first seen in this deck)
New proven competitive cards (first played in Jund, Naya, or Mono-R Ponza decks)
- Blood Crypt
, Grove of the Burnwillows, Overgrown Tomb, Swamp, Fulminator Mage, Kolaghan's Command, and Engineered Explosives (first seen in this deck) - Gaddock Teeg (first seen in this deck)
- Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle, Avalanche Riders, Simian Spirit Guide, Koth of the Hammer, Dragon's Claw, and Ravenous Trap (first seen in this deck)
As always, thanks to everyone who's made comments and suggestions so far! They're all archived here or behind the View Archive button below.
TheDuggernaught,
That's great that Simian Spirit Guide has been working for you, but it has yet to be played in a deck listed on on of the sites in Step 2 Option 3, so we haven't included it here. We're still reworking the resources listed in Step 4 though, which will a perfect place for new tech like that.
And yeah, a White splash is definitely doable ... the Noble Moon example in Step 2 Option 2 is the first competitive deck to make it work, but it probably won't be the last.
Thanks much for your comments and draw well!
TheDuggernaught says... #1
It is highly possible I am just merely not as experienced as other Ponza players, but no Simian Spirit Guide? I get that Birds of Paradise is often functionally better as it sticks around to tap for mana mutiple times, but I have found Spirit Guide to be a worthy include as a 1-of when I have played Ponza. Still able to use it to cast turn 2 Blood Moon or Stone Rain while dodging the removal spells that Birds are sometimes susceptible to. I have also found it useful to sometimes fetch with Primal Command to ensure the 6th mana for an Inferno Titan if I have one in my hand.
I also realize it is super meta dependent, but what would your thoughts be on a very light white splash for side board tech? Last time I played Ponza, I played 1 main board Plains, Temple Garden, and Sacred Foundry in addition to 4x Windswept Heath, so that I could play Rest in Peace, Eidolon of Rhetoric, and Blessed Alliance in the side. But I was mostly concerned with dredge and storm that night. What would be your thoughts?
March 10, 2018 7:44 p.m.