Splinterfright with Skaab Ruinator as a Scavenge target?
Deck Help forum
Posted on May 24, 2013, 11:59 p.m. by jermtube
I've been working on a BUG Scavenge deck, Varolz's Scars and Skaabs, and I'd like it to outrace decks before they shut me down without a hope of recovering. I've avoided Splinterfright because while on the field, its P/T would be weakened if I Scavenged creatures from the graveyard... but some people commented on my deck to use Splinterfright as a Scavenge target. For example, I could have 5 in the graveyard along with Splinterfright , then pay the 3 mana to Scavenge Splinterfright and put six +1/+1 counters on a creature (with Varolz, the Scar-Striped in play, of course). That interaction looks good to me, but in the company of Skaab Ruinator , I'm wondering if I should be cutting something: I liked Skaab Ruinator because its also a great Scavenge target, and with all the self-milling I do, its not strange to be able to cast the Skaab over and over as long as its removed in a way other than exile. With Splinterfright on the field, milling me at my upkeep, it'll be easier to cast the Skaab Ruinator from the graveyard, but at the same time it would be weakening the P/T of the Splinterfright ... I guess my question is: How can I take this deck list and make it balanced? Most of the Sorcery and Instant card self-mill or tutor for things, so where can I have the happy middle ground?
Youve got to test and choose. They work against each other. But with self mill and no ruinator you could run splinterfright and boneyard worm as large, cheap scavenge targetss
May 25, 2013 2:12 a.m.
Splinterfright also confuses me a bit... let's say I have one out and its a 3/3, so that means there are 3 creatures in the graveyard at this time. If I have Varolz, the Scar-Striped out and I Scavenge a 2/2 from the graveyard onto the Splinterfright, that means it would become a 5/5 (with the two +1/+1 counters). However, since Splinterfright's Power and Toughness are equal to the number of creatures in my graveyard, wouldn't it become a 4/4 instead? Since there are now 2 creatures in my graveyard and two +1/+1 counters on it.
May 25, 2013 2:33 a.m.
Xindlepete says... #5
In answer to your second question, yes he would become a 4/4. But that's the wonderful thing about Splinterfright + Varolz, the Scar-Striped : You can just SCAVENGE ONTO Splinterfright ! The majority of the creatures in your deck will be above 1/1, which is all you are effectively getting from them while they sit in the graveyard. But since Splinterfright naturally has trample, and is a recurring self-mill to load up your graveyard, he becomes the PERFECT target to scavenge onto!
And Skaab Ruinator ? He's a BIG OL' BEASTIE for 3cmc with evasion. Sure he makes you get rid of scavenge targets, but what are those Slitherhead for anyway? :) Perfect trashcan choices to get your Skaab Ruinator out with. Or like you said, he can be scavenged away for 3cmc if Splinterfright tosses him there.
I never understood why people thought Splinterfright and Varolz, the Scar-Striped were at odds... they are practically best friends! One fills the graveyard, and the other utilizes the cards put there to great effect. :)
May 25, 2013 3:07 a.m.
Xindlepete, you put it into perspective pretty well. i think you need the right mind to make the deck function properly, so i wouldn't hand this deck to a stranger or new player. the way the deck list is now, i'd probably use discarded Lotleth Troll s and Deathrite Shaman s to cast Skaab Ruinator s, and Gravecrawler s and Dreg Mangler s to Scavenge onto the Splinterfright ... play testing now!
May 25, 2013 12:14 p.m.
Xindlepete says... #7
Sweet! Glad I could "lead the horse to water", so to speak. :P But seriously, when looking at cards you are unfamiliar with, it's best if you try to set it side-by-side with cards you play often, or cards that are popular and commonplace in your meta. Then think to yourself "How many different ways can these two cards play off of eachother...?" And make a Pros/Cons list.
Taking a little extra time to look at cards you haven't noticed before is a great way to grow as a player. :) It also helps you to develop your own playstyle. Do you enjoy "janky" or uncommon combos people are unfamiliar with? Do you prefer "piloting" powerful decks built by others? Etc. etc. ... You get the idea.
And post up a decklist jermtube! I wanna see what you've been working on. It seems like an interesting idea. :D
jermtube says... #2
IN OTHER WORDS the biggest problems im having are the times when i need to choose between a flying creatures that needs to exile creatures in the graveyard, or a trample creature that mills me but dissuades me from scavenging
May 25, 2013 12:09 a.m.