A little background as to why I am making this, the owner of my local game store challenged me to make a deck without using any rares that could compete with some of the decks at our local. While looking through my commons box(es) I came across Experiment One and decided I wanted to make a counters deck. There will be a version of this with Rares, but that is still a budget deck (<50$) that is at least somewhat mostly competitive.
The cards, and why:
Experiment One: This 1 drop is definitely a cornerstone of the deck. It just keeps getting bigger, and can regenerate if you come under attack from big monsters.
Strangleroot Geist: I originally tried to omit this guy, not because he is not powerful, but because he feels too powerful, but after careful consideration I realized this deck would not really work without him.
Simic Guildmage
: This guy is really useful for both early game Evolve triggers, and his 1G moving +1/+1 counters. He works great with Strangleroot Geist.
Servant of the Scale: A good 1 drop that although will not trigger my evolve creatures, is a great target for
Simic Guildmage
to dump counters onto from Strangleroot Geist, and even my evolve creatures if need be.
Crowned Ceratok This (far less popular) rhino offers my creatures that do have counters on them the trample abbility. While Bramblewood Paragon would work, the rhino itself both has Trample and causes more evolve triggers later in the game. (I am still considering trying to fit Bramblewood Paragon in somewhere)
[[Bioshift: This is a card I am considering making a 4 of. It is being used as both removal (block with a chump and move 3-5 counters over onto him), and keeping my counters on the table even if my creature gets destroyed.
COMBOS:
Although fairly self explanatory, here are some of the combos I had in mind while making this deck.
Simic Guildmage
+
Strangleroot Geist
As mentioned above, these guys work great together. With the Guildmage on table to feed other creatures the counters made when Strangleroot undies, I can swing in with a Strangleroot almost every turn.
Elusive Krasis
+
Servant of the Scale
: I expect to chump block with my Servants, and when they die I am throwing the counters on the unblockable Krasis.
Crowned Ceratok
+
Thrive
: Everything get Trample!!! :D
Final Thoughts:I am fairly excited to run this against a few of my friends. I might make a "Maybes" section is the days to come as there are about 20 or so cards I considered and then did not add, and about 10 I am still arguing with myself if they are worth it or not. Please keep in mind this is made for casual play. Thanks and if you like it +1 it. Comment feedback below :D
