Sac 'Em 'n Snack 'Em (Junk Scavenging)
Standard
SCORE: 18 | 10 COMMENTS | 4010 VIEWS | IN 2 FOLDERS
June 5, 2014
Comments moved to the update.
I've realized that the deck's lack of a creature that can finish by itself has been hindering it pretty significantly. Cartel Aristocrat, Fiendslayer Paladin, Varolz, and Athreos are all powerful, but they all need help from other creatures to really make an impact (Varolz and Cartel need fodder for protection/regeneration, Fiendslayer needs Varolz to buff it up, and Athreos needs a few other creatures to on board in order to attack.
So, I'm adding 2 Reaper of the Wilds. Hexproof, deathtouch and synergy is pretty nice if you ask me. It also helps top off the curve nicely. For the time being, I'm taking out one Gnarled Scarhide and one Xathrid Necromancer to bring it in. I'm also planning to try taking out an Athreos and putting the Necromancer back in. (I'm also considering taking out all 3 Necromancer and trying 3 Reaper, but his synergies with the one-drops are pretty tasty).
Additionally, I'm considering Blood Baron of Vizkopa as an alternative to the Reaper. While the two both have certain matchups in which they are superior, I have a feeling the the Reaper will ultimately be better in the main. In that case, I'll likely but the same number of Blood Barons in the side for the games in which they're relevant.
Lastly, and on a different note, I'm considering throwing in Dictate of Heliod as a one-of. It was in early versions of the deck, without Xathrid Necromancer and Fiendslayer Paladin, and it played quite nicely as a neat combat trick when you have it on turn five. Additionally, it turns all 11 (I guess 10 now) of those one-drops into 4/3's for one mana, which is nothing to sneeze at. Additionally, one five-drop right at the top does round out the curve quite nicely. Ultimately, I decided to cut it in favor of a more creature-oriented build and so I could afford some more redundancy. That said, I keep coming back to it as a fun, powerful and unexpected option. I'll probably try it out and see what happens.
Kagalka I considered Lotleth Troll and Fleecemane Lion when building, but ultimately decided that there just isn't room for them. While those would make great targets for scavenging, the deck's main targets (Cartel Aristocrat , Fiendslayer Paladin and Varolz, the Scar-Striped ) end up being better because they're more synergistic. The Aristocrat and Varolz both achieve their protection/regeneration from sacrifices which both trigger Atheros and can generate more scavenge fodder. While the troll does get creatures into grave in its own way, his protection isn't as powerful in this deck since it requires that mana be left open. Fiendslayer Paladin also trumps the troll in this context since the first strike can help keep him alive in battle (especially if he's already got +1/+1 counters) and he avoids the most powerful targeted removal without the use of mana. Since we want to be scavenging as much as possible, leaving even one mana open is desirable. Paladin wins over the Lion because it's protection is live as soon as it hits the field, and it is a human so it has synergy with Xathrid Necromancer , and keeping the Necromancer in the deck is great because he provides extra tokens that can be used to either swarm the opponent or to make the Aristocrat unblockable.
I do like Treasured Find , but as of right now I feel that it is too slow to be optimal in such an aggressively-focused deck. That said, if I find that the deck can be successful at a slightly slower pace, I may consider it as a one-or-two-of.
Kagalka says... #1
Have you thought of adding Lotleth Troll ? That way even if they didn't take the 3 damage you could just discard it from your hand and add the counters. Or Treasured Find if they want something to die and you do not. Maybe Fleecemane Lion Cheap and heavy damage. Just some idea's.
May 30, 2014 1:40 a.m.