The Energetic Zoo

Modern Aggro Counters Energy FNM RGW (Naya) Stompy Trample Weenie Zoo

Icbrgr

Land (18)

• 4x Copperline Gorge
• 2x Forest
• 1x Karplusan Forest
• 1x Mountain
• 1x Plains
• 1x Sacred Foundry
• 1x Stomping Ground
• 1x Temple Garden
• 3x Windswept Heath
• 3x Wooded Foothills

Creature (28)

• 4x Aloe Alchemist
• 4x Amped Raptor
• 4x Burning-Tree Emissary
• 4x Guide of Souls
• 4x Tarmogoyf
• 4x Voltaic Brawler
• 4x Wild Nacatl

Instant (6)

• 2x Boros Charm
• 4x Lightning Bolt

Enchantment (4)

• 4x Audacity

Sorcery (4)

• 4x Break Out

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Sideboard

Creature (10)

• 2x Cankerbloom
• 2x Collector Ouphe
• 2x Hushbringer
• 2x Magebane Lizard
• 2x Scavenging Ooze

Instant (2)

• 1x Lightning Helix
• 1x Path to Exile

Sorcery (1)

• 1x Prismatic Ending

Enchantment (2)

• 2x Alpine Moon

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Maybeboard

Artifact (2)

• 2x Cursed Totem

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{R}{G}{W} Small Zoo {R}{G}{W}

Break Out is similar to Collected Company for this deck. Otherwise this deck is just Gruul Aggro splashing {W} for burn and removal options.

Deck Details Show

What is Small Zoo?

The Deck gets its namesake for its focus on 1-2 MV/CMC creatures and spells with efficient stats and effects to beatdown and overwhelm the opponent before they can stabilize. Unlike other Zoo builds this is a hyper aggressive playstyle that is streamlined for speed over sustainability or long term play.

Aggro:

The archetype of Zoo is always at its core an Aggro/Agressive strategy; aiming to inflict lethal damage to the opponent with low cost creatures and spells in the early turns of the game before the opponent can respond/play Magic in a meaningful way. All creatures and almost all spells in this deck are proactive cards and work towards putting the opponents life total to zero.

• "In what way can I use my cards to inflict the most damage on my opponent."

Colors:

• {R}: Gives access to Haste for our creatures to give more speed to the deck and Burn spells to act as removal or inflict direct damage to the opponent.

• {G}: Gives access to Trample for our creatures and pump spells to climb and beat over the opponents creatures.

• {W}: Gives access to Double Strike for our creatures for inflicting big damage as well as access to protection/lifegain and removal.

Card Choices:

This decklist is meant to be a GUIDLINE for constructing a Small Zoo list. The overall theme goal is efficient threats with a means to swarm the battlefield combined with a few flex spots for various Hate-Bears, Silver Bullets and removal.

• Aloe Alchemist: This is the Ghor-Clan Rampager for the 2MV focused Zoo build.

• Amped Raptor: New Modern Horizons 3 toy. for 2MV you populate the board or get to bolt the opponent.

• Burning-Tree Emissary: this is the creature that can enable big turn by dumping your hand onto the board.

• Conduit Goblin: Another Modern Horizons 3 toy. HASTE enabler for itseld and another creature and a little bit of a damage buff for the turn.

• Tarmogoyf: Efficient beatstick... between BOTH graveyards this guys is typically a 4/5 for 2MV its just amazing.

• Voltaic Brawler: Basically reads as a 4/3 with trample for 2MV; very nice.

• Werewolf Pack Leader: 3/3 for 2MV is already good however; the mana dump ability to get big and get trample and can likey draw cards makes it great.

• Wild Nacatl: It's the face of Zoo for a reason. 1MV 3/3 is just so good.

• Audacity: This is the new Rancor because not only does it draw a card but also helps Goyf get bigger.

• Lightning Bolt: both removal or help close out games... best Magic Card ever.

• Boros Charm: Typically 4 damage to the opponent but in a pinch can stave off a board wipe or win a combat trick.

Strengths & Weaknesses:

• Aggro at it's finest; the deck overall is fast and consistent enough to close out games before opponents can turn a corner. The high volume of efficient creatures can overwhelm opponents relying on a few single target removal spells and things like Boros Charm act as protection from removal or just outright win the game with Pump/Double Strike or direct damage. Pump spells/abilities and trample often times are enough to beat over the opponents early blockers; unlike Burn/RDW decks our creatures provide impactful board presence and enable sustained damage.

• High toughness blockers like Sheoldred, the Apocalypse can be annoying to run over. Board wipes like Supreme Verdict and Sweepers like Anger of the Gods and be devastating.

Matchups:

• Vs. Control

Are they playing sweepers/board wipes? If the answer is yes then its best to stay conservative and not play out your hand more than you need to keep the pressure on. If the Control player is relying more on single target countermagic bounce/kill spells then keep casting creatures and attacking and hold onto the burn spells for targeting the opponent... they cant Saw it Coming/Fatal Push everything.... right?

• Vs. Combo

All out assault. The faster you can deal lethal damage the better; because its just a race in this matchup.

• Vs. Aggro

This is also a race however this race is won with card advantage. Try to win as many 2 for 1 trades as possible and you should come out on top. This is where things like Audacity and Questing Druid will shine brightest!

Top Ranked	Achieved #13 position overall 6 months ago Achieved #3 position in Modern 6 months ago Achieved #1 position in Modern Aggro 6 months ago Achieved #1 position in Modern Counters 2 months ago
Date added	7 months
Last updated	4 months
Legality	This deck is not Modern legal.
Rarity (main - side)	4 - 0 Mythic Rares 18 - 8 Rares 26 - 7 Uncommons 8 - 0 Commons
Cards	60
Avg. CMC	1.62
Tokens	Energy Reserve, Plot
Folders	Modern Decks I Did Not Make, Ideas