Good Beaters for Gruul?
Deck Help forum
Posted on Jan. 19, 2014, 10:09 a.m. by deanislig
So I need to pick two of the following cards for beaters in a G/R Devotion deck that I am working on building. Basically I will be using these as my main sources of damage. The cards I'm looking at are Arbor Colossus , Polukranos, World Eater , Kalonian Hydra , and Nessian Wilds Ravager . Here is a link to the deck I will be using and thank you for any advice!
G/R Devotion! Playtest
Standard
SCORE: 0 | 0 COMMENTS | 14 VIEWSHaha, how did you get "white" from "shit"?
I am looking into getting some Kalonian Hydra s when I get a chance. I think they are better beaters and I can probably just rely on Mizzium Mortars for removal. Thank you for the advice!
January 19, 2014 10:34 a.m.
Epochalyptik says... #6
No decklists in the format forums. Moved to Deck Help.
January 19, 2014 1:13 p.m.
Uh, Polukranos, World Eater is definitely not "shit". Not sure why you would think that. In fact, he's one of the few reasons why G/R Devotion even has a chance in this format in the first place.
In response to using Kalonian Hydra instead,
January 19, 2014 1:19 p.m.
Sorry Epochalyptik :(
So you're saying I should use Polukranos, World Eater and Kalonian Hydra ?
January 19, 2014 1:45 p.m.
I would use Polu first, then if you have room, add Kalonian Hydra. They kinda do the same thing. They can both be chump-blocked all day, but at least Polu can kill things. And if you have a lot of mana, he can kill a lot of things.
January 19, 2014 1:56 p.m.
Schuesseled says... #10
His ability to kill stuff is heavily dependent on lots of mana, and usually you can't kill much, certainly not your opponents threats. Good at hosing mana dorks and some aggro creatures.
You are better off splashing black for proper kill spells, if that's what your deck needs.
If you are looking for a creature to do creatury things there are better choices.
January 19, 2014 2:06 p.m.
Schuesseled says... #11
here's the deck i'm using, judge for yourself whether or not polukranos would be good for it. I don't think so. You say it necessary for GR, i say GR should be GRB.
January 19, 2014 2:11 p.m.
You can easily power out Polu on turn-3 and have a ton of mana turn-4 with Nykthos. How is having a 9/9 and 4 damage to whatever on turn 4 bad? Seems better than a 4/4 for 5 that doesn't kill things.
January 19, 2014 2:26 p.m.
Schuesseled says... #13
If you can put out a turn 3 polu you can get out a turn 3 kalonian hydra. (heck you can get it out turn 2 if you are lucky)
one's a 9/9 that does 4 damage (and takes at least 4 damage), and one's an 8/8 trample that doubles counters on other creatures.
One costs 5 mana thus allowing for strong creature to come out as it bussom buddy, and if that card uses counters will have them increased as well.
One costs 13 mana and if taken out by an instant putefry, Doom Blade etc as it monstrosity is on the stack, does nothing and was a huge mistake.
Poulkranos screams Christmas Wonderland Delusion Sufferer. I've never liked it, it was over hyped from the word go.
January 19, 2014 2:35 p.m.
There's one problem with your argument: numbers.
Since the middle of November, the number of decks using Kalonian Hydra in placing spots has been 5 (as seen here - 4 of which also use Polukranos...).
Since the middle of November, the number of decks using Polukranos, World Eater in placing spots has been 78 (as seen here).
Clearly, there's no competition between the two and it seems the only problem here is your biased opinion of the card.
I just leave these numbers here and let the OP choose for himself.
January 19, 2014 2:44 p.m.
But, hey! What do grinders know, right?
They only sit around and think of the best cards and decks in Standard all day long.
January 19, 2014 2:46 p.m.
Schuesseled says... #16
Exactly, what do they know. They all play the same netdecks over and over again. There opinions are about as biased as you can get. Not saying I'm not but basing your choices on what the top 8 run is about as useful for making a FNM (not an PTQ) deck as slamming your face into the ground.
You need to know your meta, at the end of the day that is all that matters.
January 19, 2014 2:54 p.m.
JimothyCrikkett says... #17
If you're not looking into trying to run Standard, you can give Shivan Wurm a shot.
January 19, 2014 2:56 p.m.
Schuesseled says... #18
P.S I only just noticed you said that both hydra's can be chump blocked. Thought i'd remind you that wouldn't work against trample zandl
Anyways at the end of the day, I've given my opinion, it's not gonna change, you choose what will suit your deck best deanislig.
Or as zandl suggested run both, they are on the curve.
January 19, 2014 2:57 p.m.
You think grinders just net-deck? They're the ones who MAKE the decks OTHER net-deck. They're always ahead of the curve, trying to beat what the others are already playing.
And it just so happens that Polu gives any given deck a lot more versatility.
I'm certainly not saying Kalonian Hydra is a bad card - in fact, I know it's quite powerful. However, Polu fits into more decks better. Especially in Green, you need all the removal you can get. Why not play a card that has removal and is fat?
January 19, 2014 3:19 p.m.
Schuesseled says... #20
No i'm saying they only test their decks against decks they expect to come across in pro tours, which are mostly all net-decks, whether they are first to make the deck is irrelevant, my point is that they are only testing their decks against the same 4/5 decklists so it's only natural they all come to the same conclusion on cards for their pro tour decks.
I hardly think they would turn up in middleofnowhereville to test their deck against what the locals have brought in after a long day farming.
Pulkranos is good against devotion, whilst inside a midrange, removal light deck, this is true. Doesn't make me think it's good enough for this dude's deck or more importantly my own aggro/midrange blitzamajig.
The reason why I don't want a card that has removal and is fat, is because he can only remove weak crap jank most of the time, and he already has the body to do that. When you need to hose several creatures to turn off a devotion affect, sure he'll do that.
Like I said all depends on your meta, I've been absent from mine for a bit, but there was a lot more control and aggro than devotion last time.
January 19, 2014 3:36 p.m.
My meta is composed of 70% of the decks being either RDW or White Weenies and the others being mostly Esper/Azorious Control with very few others decks (G/W, G/R, MUD, MBD) sprinkled in. I definitely believe that either of the two would do well against the aggro decks but I'm going to try both and see which fits my deck better. Thank you everyone for your opinion!
Yes this is standard but thank you for your input!
January 20, 2014 10:49 a.m.
Rasta_Viking29 says... #22
Polukranos, World Eater and Stormbreath Dragon .
Kalonian Hydra sees no competitive play and is easily outclassed by both.
Schuesseled says... #2
I'm probably one of the few that will tell you poulkranos is white
Kalonian hydra is the best beater
Hessian is actually playable, much better for removal than poulkranos.
But I would highly recommend Stormbreath Dragon as your second beater. It has evasion and is good against control.
January 19, 2014 10:19 a.m.