Melira pod: How to defend the combo?
Deck Help forum
Posted on Sept. 24, 2013, 4:20 p.m. by smackjack
My most recent project is a Melira birthing pod deck. Its pretty much the same as every other Melira pod decks out there. I haven't played the deck yet, the cards are on the way in the mail, and now im growing a concern for playing against control decks. I have playtested against one of my own control decks and with all the removal its pretty hard to do the combos and the deck is kinda mehh if you cant stick the combo.
Any suggestions to how i could protect my combo pieces? Im thinking of splashing blue for some counter spells.. I would prefer not to have to buy the lands tho. Since most Melira decks are like this, with no defence against control, is it a question of how you play the cards? Any suggestions there for a future Melira player?
Thanks
Not really, smackjack. It only hits creatures and the pod is the combo engine.
And Melira is weak versus control, it is one of its downsides. Thoughtseize , Sin Collector and Voice of Resurgence can help shore up the match up, but thing is control will happily tap your pod, bounce or kill your dudes etc. It is why after Melira pod was dominating, UWR rose up, because it has a good match versus pod.
September 24, 2013 4:29 p.m.
Ohthenoises says... #4
The thing about Melira pod is that you have to play it like an aggro deck. The combos are just gravy. That being said Archangel of Thune + Spike Feeder can help since both cards play nicely with the deck style and to combo they don't require the graveyard.
September 24, 2013 4:34 p.m.
When playtesting here on the site i find myself pulling off the combo without the pod most of the times. The pod rarely shows up. But i guess its easier to play with what you have on you opening hand and your first 3-4 draws when you have no opponent haha. Without removal i continually get infinite life turn 4-5 and get to pod or scry with vicera seer into murderous redcap to end the game the turn after. Im just concerned about continual removement of my key creatures. What about Spellskite ? Would the cost of that card ($12) be worth it? 48 bucks for a playset is on the edge of my budget.. It pods into Kitchen Finks and volunteers for removal :)
September 24, 2013 4:40 p.m.
Ohthenoises: Thanks for your comment! Archangel of Thune are waaay to hot and pricey right now. Probably gonna add when its cooled down a bit.
I have 4x Midnight Guard and 4xPresence of Gond , a 2 card combo for infinite 1/1 tokens turn 4.. Would you suggest this combo as a second combo-win-con? The problem is not being able to tutor for the enchantment..
September 24, 2013 4:45 p.m.
It isn't worth diluting the deck with weak cards.
Pod is primarily a midrange deck that can combo. You will get a fair few games just by beating down with quality creatures and cards like Gavony Township .
Like I said, pod suffers for control.
smackjack Some decks run 1-2 spellskites but generally control is very happy to 1 for 1 you a few times, they have snapcaster and 10-12 removal spells generally.
September 24, 2013 4:54 p.m.
You are right. Guess there is no way to truly protect the deck from control and therefore maybe aggro is the way to go.. Any suggestions for the deck on that note? The deck: Melira
September 24, 2013 5:03 p.m.
You are running a much weaker version, so you will struggle. You don't have the ability to recurr, the one off tutor targets who can set up a win, the cards to recurr your combo or the value for midrange beat down. That might be why you struggle with control.
Without Gavony, it is much harder for you to do the beat down plan for example, and you can't use all the good sideboard cards or cast your spells as regularly.
September 24, 2013 5:15 p.m.
I didnt follow you there. I dont know what recurr is.. (eng is not my first language)
Gavony Township might be a good add.. My friend actually has 2 for easy trade :) 2 are probably enough since it provides generic mana?
September 24, 2013 5:33 p.m.
infinitemana says... #11
Qasali Pridemage and Voice of Resurgence are both pretty good options. And recurr just means to bring it back.
September 24, 2013 8:19 p.m.
1-2 is fine but you also need white mana from a land source.
September 25, 2013 2:32 p.m.
Any suggestions for creatures that recurrs other creatures? Im thinking Reveillark , but a 5 drop that has to leave the battlefield seems kinda slow? I have 1 Eternal Witness in the deck, and since the most expensive combo piece for infinite life cost 3 (Kitchen Finks ) the return to hand doesnt bother me too much. With a 2 drop to feed the pod you can play kitchen finks from your grave for 4 mana and 2 life and get a 2/1 blocker. Maybe add another 4-drop if i want to pod it into something else? Any suggestions? Its appreciated
September 26, 2013 11:33 a.m.
No. Im new to the modern scene. Thats why i started this thread, so i can get suggestions for how to build and play a modern competative pod deck. If you have any suggestions to what could make the deck better (and a short comment on why since this is new to me) it would be greatly appreciated.
September 26, 2013 1:57 p.m.
http://www.mtgdecks.net/decks/view/57652 is a recent competative pod list.
It is a midrange beat down deck with the ability to combo really. Lots of singleton tutor targets for certain match ups. For example, Pontiff can pod into a 4 drop, as well as act as a buff or boardwipe for your dudes, while Pridemage is a singleton to destroy problem artifacts/enchantments.
Any questions?
smackjack says... #2
would 4x Commune with the Gods to find combo pieces be a good idea?
September 24, 2013 4:24 p.m.