Should I Keep Steelbane Hydra in My Marath Deck?
Commander Deck Help forum
Posted on Oct. 26, 2024, 12:45 p.m. by DemonDragonJ
I have a copy of Steelbane Hydra in my Marath, Will of the Wild *f-etch* EDH deck, but I am contemplating replacing it with either Crystalline Crawler or Mindless Automaton, since I feel that I already have sufficient artifact and enchantment destruction in that deck, whereas the other two creatures are far more universal in their utility.
What does everyone else say, about this subject? Should I replace Steelbane Hydra in my Marath deck, or keep it, there?
DemonDragonJ says... #3
RiotRunner789, that makes sense, as I am fairly confident that this deck already has sufficient artifact and enchantment removal, but would the crawler be redundant with Fertilid, or is it better to have that redundancy, in this deck?
October 26, 2024 7:12 p.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #4
What about Forgotten Ancient? Is there any room for that creature, in this deck?
October 26, 2024 7:15 p.m.
RiotRunner789 says... #5
I'd say redundancy is good but the crawler and fertalid are also sufficiently different. Crawler stores mana and fertalid ramps out basics. There accomplishing the same goal but differently. Though, generally ramping lands is better both for thinning and resiliency. Keep both.
You should find room for the ancient, it's just too good (unless you want less efficient). Start looking at 5cmc creatures then if unwilling to cut, take a look at your sorceries and artifacts starting at high cmc and going down.
October 27, 2024 7:02 p.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #6
RiotRunner789, you said that you prefer Crystalline Crawler over Mindless Automaton, but, between Crystalline Crawler and Forgotten Ancient, which do you prefer?
November 2, 2024 5:24 p.m.
RiotRunner789 says... #7
Without question, Forgotten Ancient. Generically, it's above and beyond better.
Is your ramp good? Do you need color fixing? No? Then Ancient.
November 2, 2024 5:46 p.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #8
RiotRunner789, I am confident with my mana rocks and Fertilid, and I believe that I have sufficient artifact and enchantment destruction, so I believe that Forgotten Ancient is the best replacement for Steelbane Hydra, in this deck.
RiotRunner789 says... #2
Crystalline Crawler works as a good battery for both counters and mana. I'd go that route over the Automaton if your removal is already good.
October 26, 2024 6:50 p.m.