Deck Choices (Mono Green Devotion)
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Posted on April 7, 2014, 5:08 p.m. by CurdBrosBrewingCo
Deck Choices for Mono Green Devotion Deck
The following is a detailed outline of why each card was chosen in the Devotion to Green (Modern) W/ Eidolon of Blossoms! deck. I've made it a thread to reduce the overall size of the Description section. This way, anyone with a question can simply click the link.
(1) Primalcrux over Khalni Hydra
Khalni Hydra is great in this deck. Primalcrux is just better. Often times due to the way the mana works; when you have 5 mana, you have 6 (as the mana seems to grow in even "iterations" on average). And while Khalni Hydra could be cast for only 4-5 mana in many instances; it is only an 8/8. Primalcrux often is well over 10/10 when it is cast (usually 12/12 - 14/14). This extra 6+ damage can be the difference in the game.
(2) Nylea, God of the Hunt over any other win-condition
Nylea, God of the Hunt functions as consistency within the deck. She helps use up extra mana, apply quick and resilient pressure, and smooth out the curve. Also:
a.. She becomes a 6/6 indestructible creature in 9 out of 10 games the moment she's cast.
b. Her secondary ability is a great "mana sink". Often times the deck has more mana than it needs, and even if you are in a late game situation with 12 mana, Nylea, God of the Hunt , and a Arbor Elf ; you can attack with a 7/7 Trampling Elf :)
c. She gives your Mistcutter Hydra trample.
We went back and forth with whether to have three or four copies of Nylea given her strength in the deck, but given the fact she is legendary; we ended up on three.
(3) Mistcutter Hydra over Eldrazi's and Craterhoof
We chose Miscutter Hydra do to its flexibility and its protection from all things blue. Haste is amazingly important (as you win a turn earlier), but Craterhoof Behemoth has it too. [[Miscutter Hydra can be cast at any time whether you have 6 mana or 20 and he hits instantly either way. This deck struggles with counter magic; and this is the one win-con that can get around it. It is killer against decks like Merfolk, Splinter Twin, Delver, etc.
Mistcutter Hydra is a new addition to Magic (coming in Theros), but it has a perfect place in this deck.
(4) Eidolon of Blossoms over Eternal Witness
This is the closest decision within the deck. You can really go either way. We decided on Eidolon of Blossoms based on the following:
a. She draws more cards...in this deck she will often net 2-3 cards before she is destroyed.b. The "draw a card" EOB ability works better most often when compared to "return a card from the graveyard". Often times, you will cast Eternal Witness on turn 2-3 and there will be nothing of value (and often nothing at all) in the graveyard. A 3-drop 2/1 bear is never a good thing :)
Eternal Witness is amazing in the devotion decks that utilize Primal Command given the interaction/lock they can create; but we don't have Primal Command and thus she is not as advantageous to us.
(5) Abundant Growth and Wistful Selkie
Abundant Growth is literally just a 1-devotion cantrip. It's cheap, draws a card, and adds to our devotion (which can be important for Nylea, God of the Hunt and others in this deck. It also can fix mana (turning an early-game Kessig Wolf Run into a "Forest" for purposes of casting a Primalcrux or Wistful Selkie . We had Coiling Oracle in this spot and loved it, but the damage we took from adding blue fetches and shock lands and the Merfolk match-up led us to this change.
Wistful Selkie functions both as a cantrip as well as 3-devotion. Often times, Wistful Selkie and Utopia Sprawl alone will trigger Nylea, God of the Hunt .
(6) Arbor Elf and Utopia Sprawl over other mana dorks
Arbor Elf can untap Forest 's that have been enchanted with Utopia Sprawl for double mana. Utopia Sprawl can be utilized on the turn it is cast on any turn after the first (no summoning sickness) as you can place it on an untapped land.
(7) Fertile Ground and Aspect of Hydra
Fertile Ground is a more expensive version of Utopia Sprawl , but it can also tap for red and can be placed on any land. With the power of the "untap effects" this deck has, two of these is necessary.
Aspect of Hydra
was just added to make even the smallest of our creatures a threat...we only have two as they are outside of our "sequencing" that the deck runs on...but it is just too good of a card to pass up for a devotion deck.
We had Sylvan Scrying in the deck, however with the card draw you often don't have a probelm getting to our utility lands..we'll keep testing to make sure the deck remains completely smooth with the addition of Aspect of Hydra .
(8) Kessig Wolf Run and Stomping Ground
These were chosen simply as an additional mana-sink and win-con. Because our enchantments can all produce another color; we felt there was no reason not to run a few Stomping Ground and Kessig Wolf Run 's. The wolf run can give Nylea, God of the Hunt trample, and any time we have excess mana and a creature, we can pour it into Kessig Wolf Run . Just adds another layer to the deck without much downside at all.
CurdBrosBrewingCo says... #3
Thanks Epochalyptik...this was the first time I've formatted things this way (i.e. used a Forum); so I will make sure it's done in DH in the future if this arises again. Thanks for your help!
Epochalyptik says... #2
The format forums do not handle decklists. Moved to DH.
April 7, 2014 7:07 p.m.