I am a huge fan of the new dinosaurs, and I am working on a competitive shell for them. I started out with R/G dinosaurs, and while it was explosive at times, it was a bit clunky and seemed to run out of gas if it did not win quickly. I like the addition of black because it has access to better removal, planeswalkers, and hand disruption (particularly for the Approach of the Second Sun matchup) out of the sideboard.
The manabase feels very strong to me. The reprinted check lands in conjunction with the cycle lands from Amonkhet make it fairly easy to curve out with untapped lands. Evolving Wilds also helps with this as a mountain enables all of the check lands to enter untapped. Drover of the Mighty and Ranging Raptors also help with color fixing as well as ramp. This deck is full of haymakers, and playing them ahead of curve is that much better.
Let's talk about card choices.
Creatures
Drover of the Mighty - Ramp, fixing, becoming a 3/3 with a dinosaur in play makes it a decent beater.
Ranging Raptors - Ramp, fixing. It's a decent blocker against mono red. If we trade it and get a land, I'd consider it a win, especially if it draws a removal spell.
Deathgorge Scavenger - There are some powerful graveyard synergy decks in standard (such as God-Pharaoh's Gift, Torrential Gearhulk control, reanimator with Liliana, Death's Majesty) and this gives us a main board way to interact with them. It can also gain some life against mono red.
Ripjaw Raptor - 4 mana 4/5 is a pretty good rate. Blocks well, attacks well, draws cards. Pretty sweet overall.
Regisaur Alpha - 5 mana for 7 power across two bodies is solid. It is weak to Glorybringer, but I think it still leaves behind a 3/3. Giving the other dinosaurs haste is also nice.
Glorybringer - Honorary dinosaur. Kills creatures, kills opponents.
Removal
Fatal Push - Super efficient removal. Evolving Wilds is there if we need to trigger revolt.
Abrade - Has some versatility. Kills early creatures and pesky artifacts.
Vraska's Contempt - Exile removal is important in the current standard format. In addition to hitting walkers, this is a permanent answer to
The Scarab God
and Hazoret the Fervent. Also gains a couple life, which can be very important in the mono red matchup.
Planeswalkers
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - A swiss army knife of a walker. Card advantage, burn, removal.
Liliana, Death's Majesty - This deck has a lot of efficient, value creatures. Getting to run them back a second time with Liliana is super sweet. Making a 2/2 zombie each turn isn't bad either.
I haven't gotten to test this yet, so I'm not sure if it's actually competitive, but it looks like a lot of fun to me. I haven't got the SB figured out yet, but I'll post that once the meta settles out a bit. As always, any input/upvotes are greatly appreciated.
