Pod Value Creatures
Modern forum
Posted on Jan. 7, 2015, 9:26 p.m. by GlistenerAgent
Which creatures do you think see less play in Abzan Birthing Pod decks than they deserve? Is there anything you think is very good in the current metagame, but people don't seem to be running?
I came here to call you all stupid for not playing Wingmate Roc, but decided to turn it into an open-ended question. By the way, what do you think of this guy?
TurboFagoot says... #3
The idea that Wingmate Roc is better than Archangel in the deck is laughable. Even without Spike Feeder, Archangel is just much better.
January 7, 2015 10:15 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #4
Yeah, I suppose. I figure that making two creatures is valuable. There are Path to Exiles, Flame Slashes, Dismembers, etc. around that will kill your Archangel of Thune very efficiently, and the same can't be said of Wingmate Roc, as the 3/4 body is very reasonable on its own. The Archangel is certainly powerful if you untap with it, but I feel that both cards win the game if your opponent can't deal with them.
I'll certainly try the Archangel in my combo-less version, though.
January 7, 2015 10:37 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #5
Yeah, I suppose. I figure that making two creatures is valuable. There are Path to Exiles, Flame Slashes, Dismembers, etc. around that will kill your Archangel of Thune very efficiently, and the same can't be said of Wingmate Roc, as the leftover 3/4 body is very reasonable on its own. The Archangel is certainly powerful if you untap with it, but I feel that both cards win the game if your opponent can't deal with them.
I'll certainly try the Archangel in my combo-less version, though.
January 7, 2015 10:37 p.m.
TurboFagoot says... #6
Making two creatures certainly is valuable, but nowhere near as explosive as angel's ability should it activate. How many spare Voice tokens are ever lying around? Or mana creatures? Or shrunken Finks? Angel turns all of them into threats if you ever get it going (Which the deck can do outside of combat damage), which is essentially the multiple threats Roc would bring.
Then you factor in the combo potential, and it's easy to see why this is a choice 5 drop.
By all means, test it, that's how you find the new best card. But don't come in with "you're all stupid for not running Roc" when the chosen 5 drop is already insane.
January 7, 2015 10:56 p.m.
Servo_Token says... #7
I don't see any benefit to running Roc. Sure, it gets an extra body sometimes, but that's about it. Thune is just too powerful to replace.
However, to the original question: I run both Acidic Slime and Massacre Wurm in my build. My playstyle usually leads me to needing a higher top end than just Thune and Thraggles, and I like the utility that the slime can provide, taking out key components of pretty much any deck. And Massacre Wurm is in there as my niche option for tokens that get out of hand and making all the little RDW players feel really bad about their life choices.
My build is very tuned to my meta though, and I definitely don't recommend these options to everyone. Well, I would actually recommend Acidic Slime to just about everyone as a consideration. Thing does work.
January 7, 2015 11:12 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #8
@TurboFagoot I didn't mean to come off as arrogant there, was just kidding. My apologies. :)
January 7, 2015 11:19 p.m.
slovakattack says... #9
Acidic Slime is as underatted as it is ballin.'
Man, I haven't typed a sentence that 90s in AGES.
January 7, 2015 11:24 p.m.
aeonstoremyliver says... #10
The slime is badass. I used to run it in a Standard Pod list alongside Mimic Vat for the LOLz.
I like to run a higher CMC than 5 for the grindier matches. Just a few like Sun Titan and Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite, as they are all stars in the long game. I also run Sigarda, Host of Herons main, cuz she's a house. I've considered Massacre Wurm and may sideboard it.
That's why I like Pod; customizable.
January 7, 2015 11:32 p.m.
julianjmoss says... #12
Massacre Wurm does serious work. I have him side boarded (as he should be most likely)) but he wins me so many games
January 7, 2015 11:38 p.m.
miracleHat says... #13
Back when Birthing Pod was standard, the optimal play for me was:
Viridian Emissary
Blade Splicer
Solemn Simulacrum
Acidic Slime
Sun Titan
Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
And being able to cast other cards made that sequence the optimal play for me.
January 7, 2015 11:44 p.m.
6 drops are too expensive, and Thragtusk is hands down better than Wingmate Roc, but Archangel beats them both. There's a good reason that Archangel gets played so thoroughly in the deck and it's not just because of Spike Feeder. Other 5 drops that are generally better than Roc in Pod include Shriekmaw and Reveillark. The three of those are the core of 5 drops in most pod decks.
January 8, 2015 1 a.m.
I'd rather play thragtusk, archeangel, revelark and probably a few other 5 drops over wingmate. I might even consider playing baneslayer angel over wingmate roc.
January 8, 2015 1:08 a.m.
JexInfinite says... #17
Basically, anything with a CMC equal to or greater than 4 has to be really damn good to make it into the deck. Roc does nothing to immediately affect the board, except make 2 3/4s which might gain you life. Archangel is far more powerful, making Kitchen Finks insane, and Spike Feeder combo.
Massacre Wurm can be justified, but not by me. The chances of actually being useful are quite low, and against fast decks, you have T3 Siege Rhino.
January 8, 2015 2:47 p.m.
Archangel of Thune gives life just like Wingmate Roc does, except it also pumps your other creatures when it does. Even if Archangel dies, it still pumps your other stuff whereas Roc just kind of...dies. Yea, it's two bodies, but it becomes outclassed after a turn or two when Archangel makes a lot of bodies.
slovakattack says... #2
It's not bad by any stretch, but is it better than Archangel of Thune, or other competing 5 drops?
There are a lot of creatures out there that have great Pod value, but aren't used because REASONS. Basically, anything with an ETB or LTB is fair game, so long as it's powerful enough.
January 7, 2015 9:59 p.m.