All things Wolven
Standard Deck Help forum
Posted on March 26, 2016, 12:26 p.m. by clayperce
If you want to talk about Wolves and Werewolves in Standard, you're in the right place!
If you're looking for other formats, please drop by Werewolf EDH for Commander or Modern Wolves for Modern.
- You're 100% welcome to post here asking for help on anything Wolven, though you may want to set up a separate thread as well, in the Standard Deck Help forum.
- Please don't hesitate to post your deck in large format (it makes it easier for others to find the decks that are asking for help).
- Here's the syntax for a large format deck ... just copy-and-paste, replacing the "gruul-wolves-soi" part with the "slug name" from your deck's URL:
[[deck-large:gruul-wolves-soi]]
FNM (6 Jan 2016)
- 1st Place (3-0): just-another-jundyard-dog-rec-12-5 by VexxValentine ($$$$)
FNM (23 Sep 2016)
- 1st Place (3-0): Sköll Pack by GrimShock ($$$)
Game Day (13-14 Aug 2013)
- 2nd Place: An earlier version of RG Wolves (Post Kaladesh) by alexwilson (Heirloom, $$)
FNM (29 Jul 2016)
- 1st Place: Werewolf's hurt (budget) by Nicholade (Mono-Red, $)
FNM (15 Jul 2016)
- 1st Place: Werewolf's hurt (budget) by Nicholade (Mono-Red, $)
FNM (8 July 2016)
- 1st Place (3-0): deck:naya-wolves-and-humans-bring-on-the-pain by snarlmkiv (Naya, $$)
Tues Standard (5 July 2016)
- 1st Place (3-0): Fur-Force One by Teurastettava_Sika (Zada, $$)
FNM (1 July 2016)
- 1st Place (3-0): deck:naya-wolves-and-humans-bring-on-the-pain by snarlmkiv (Naya, $$)
- 1st Place (3-0): Arlinn's Aggro Wolves by Jonnyradd ($$)
FNM (25 May 2016)
- 1st Place (3-0): Naya Tokens 1st place FNM by kamerask (Naya, $$$$$$$$)
FNM (6 May 2016)
- 2nd Place (3-1): Baby I'm Preying On You Tonight [EMN] by BlueEyes (CoCo, $$$$)
GAME DAY (30 Apr - 1 May 2016)
- 1st Place: Bark at The Moon (Orig Preying Baby deck) by BlueEyes (Heirloom, $$$)
- Top 8: deck:gruul-werewolves-with-removal by snarlmkiv (Heirloom, $$)
- Top 8: Westvale Wolven High GAME DAY TOP EIGHT by Rabid_Wombat (Zada, $)
- Top 8: Wolf Pack Attack by deltacobra (Zada, Temur, $$$)
FNM (29 Apr 2016)
- 2nd Place (3-1): Wolves are back, Baby! by LoudWings (Skin Invasion, $$)
FNM (22 Apr 2016)
- 1st Place (4-0): Bark at The Moon (Orig Preying Baby deck) by BlueEyes (Heirloom, $$$)
- 1st Place (4-0): Dirty Dogs! by Nykona (Zada, $$)
- 2nd Place (3-1): Gruul Wolf Tribal by BoB_6082 (CoCo, $$$$)
Some great posts that will otherwise be totally buried as the thread grows ...
- An article about CoCo from Post #106: "I'd want 22 hittable creatures at the very least before putting Collected Company in my main deck. This gives a 5% chance of missing completely, a 21% probability of hitting one creature, and a 74% probability of hitting two creatures." Thanks, DaftVader!
- The budget Werewolf Quickbuild from the Top Deck podcast, at Post #198. Thanks, Spootyone and EAK1791!
- An explanation of Moonlight Hunt vs. Archangel Avacyn Flip, at Post #270. Thanks, AndyReveler!
- An article about shoring up weaknesses vs. playing to strengths in sideboarding, from Post #309.
- Wedge's video, R/G Werewolves "$20 Budget" Tribal Standard Deck Tech, from Post #396. Thanks, Axinoim!
- Posts about the Werewolf decks that tore it up at the SOI Standard Poor-Man Challenge (no Rares or Mythics allowed): Post #528, Post #644, and Post #650. Congrats to Kizmetto and magnetcrocodile (Round 2), Volvary (Round 3), and DruneGrey (Round 4)!
- A manabase article which describes the "right" mix of Shadowlands (like Game Trail), Battlelands (like Cinder Glade), and other sources, from Post #610. Thanks, Ryjo!
- A look at the numbers of Wolfs, Pump spells, and Lands in the SOI ZadaFur decks in the Hall of Fame, from Post #728.
- A look at Lambholt Pacifist 's performance in the World Championship and various Grand Prix, from Post #864. [Spoiler alert: She won!]
Want to add a note about the thread to your deck description? Just copy-and-paste this:
... the [All things Wolven](http://tappedout.net/mtg-forum/standard-deck-help/all-things-wolven/) thread!
Want to add a subscription button to your deck description? Just copy-and-paste this:
<a class="btn btn-default" href="/subscriptions/subscribe/67/62030/?return_url=/mtg-forum/standard-deck-help/all-things-wolven/">Subscribe to the All things Wolven thread</a>
We look forward to reading your comments and looking at your decks! Good luck (and good skill) on your builds!
P.S. No worries if you just want to lurk. Please just click the Subscribe button here or underneath the Comment window. Thanks!
AndyReveler says... #3
I know we've already discussed this, and I know we have different strategies for our different decks, but I want us to be able to come to a consensus on this, there has to be at least a few things we can agree on...What should be in a werewolf decks sideboard?
April 21, 2016 12:57 p.m.
AndyReveler if you splash white the sideboard can handle anything. http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/naya-wolf-tribal-competitive/. Shoot me a +1 xD
April 21, 2016 2:09 p.m.
What should be in a werewolf sideboard? More werewolves! :D
April 21, 2016 2:37 p.m.
I think Tears of Valakut is a good sideboard card. Clip Wings works against Westvale Abbey Flip, but against spirit/flyer decks, Tears will be the better choice. If you are playing a longer game, Nissa, Voice of Zendikar can supply a healthy boost to your creatures. Some combination of Natural State/Naturalize/Reclaiming Vines/Crumble to Dust/Root Out for hate on various permanents. A card like Reclaim or Seasons Past to help recover from board wipes can be useful. And a card like Burn from Within for scaling removal (and that anti-indestructible bonus).
If you do go for Naya, you get access to the variety of 
exile spells, and Always Watching , so you can pretty much handle anything.
If you're interested in BoB_6082's deck here is the link:
Naya Wolf Tribal (competitive)
Standard
SCORE: 1 | 47 VIEWS
April 21, 2016 2:53 p.m.
AndyReveler says... #8
I'll check it out BoB_6082
I'd honestly run Plummet over Clip Wings because of spirit/thopter tokens, but Moonlight Hunt can take care of pretty much anything in its own.
April 21, 2016 3:46 p.m.
Display of Dominance: Nerfs Control big-time. Kills the world's most annoying Planeswalkers. Instant speed.
LOVE it!
April 21, 2016 6:01 p.m.
AverageBoss says... #10
I say Clip Wings for indestructible stuff that we will see often in standard such as Avacyn and Westvale.
But yes Moonlight Hunt should take care of everything else.
April 21, 2016 10:25 p.m.
First thing that comes into my mind for sideboard would be
Removals: Sometimes, we don't really have an answer for tough threats.
More werewolves/wolves Axinoim
Dual lands - to splash the current mana base
April 21, 2016 10:32 p.m.
Archangel Avacyn Flip has an enter the battlefield effect. So she'll enter the battlefield, the trigger to make creatures indestructible goes on the stack. In response to her entering the battlefield you can cast Moonlight Hunt targeting her and murder the crap out of her lmao.
April 22, 2016 8:11 a.m.
Rasanck how does that resolve? That would mean that her ETB would resolve first, right? otherwise, it'd be like a murder-counter spell...
April 22, 2016 8:22 a.m.
I just bought all of the pieces for PartiZada deck (Silverfur Partisan+Zada, Hedron Grinder+ random 1-3 mana werewolves).
I saw some builds utilize Cryptolith Rite. Is it good in the deck, as I do not have it yet?
April 22, 2016 8:27 a.m.
snarlmkiv, Archangel Avacyn Flip is cast and resolves, so she enters the battlefield. Her ETB will then go on the stack, you can then cast your Moonlight Hunt to kill her. Her ETB will then resolve after she has been killed, protecting the opponents other creatures.
April 22, 2016 8:29 a.m.
snarlmkiv THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF IT. She enters the battlefield. Triggered abilities constantly look for their abilities to trigger. As soon as she enters her trigger immediately sees that she's entered the field and puts her Indestructible trigger on the stack. As soon as you can target her is when her trigger is on the stack, so when you target her with Moonlight Hunt her trigger still is on the stack, so you murder the crap out of her, she dies, but her trigger still resolves and the remaining creatures get indestructible until end of turn assuming you've not put any more spells on the stack before it resolves.
on another note, If she transforms to a stacked creature in response it STILL targets Avacyn because transforming still leaves them on the field as the same physical piece of paper and doesn't throw off abilities. The only difference if they sack after you target with moonlight hunt all your creatures are taking three damage, so you need to either have a wolf that can survive and do damage or you need to pump in case of an avacyn transform.
April 22, 2016 8:30 a.m. Edited.
That makes sense. But has this resolution been officially declared as good by any officiating judge?
I'm going to relay this to the shop owner where I play because he's a judge...
April 22, 2016 8:59 a.m.
snarlmkiv, abilities on the stack exist independently of their source. No matter what happens with avacyn, you cannot do anything to her ability by simply killing her.
Think about abilities being grenades. Avacyn lobs an indestructible grenade towards you. If you kill avacyn after that grenade is in the air, it will do nothing to the grenade itself.
April 22, 2016 9:05 a.m.
snarlmkiv Triggered abilities have been around for a long time and it's clear in the rules.
Avacyn's ability looks for the game even to trigger her enter the battlefield ability, and it triggers when she enters. 603.2. Whenever a game event or game state matches a triggered abilitys trigger event, that ability automatically triggers. The ability doesnt do anything at this point.
This new triggered effect goes on the top of the stack until it resolves or is interactive with. 603.3. Once an ability has triggered, its controller puts it on the stack as an object thats not a card the next time a player would receive priority. See rule 116, Timing and Priority. The ability becomes the topmost object on the stack. It has the text of the ability that created it, and no other characteristics. It remains on the stack until its countered, it resolves, a rule causes it to be removed from the stack, or an effect moves it elsewhere.
The rest of the process is similar to normal spell casting. 603.3d The remainder of the process for putting a triggered ability on the stack is identical to the process for casting a spell listed in rules 601.2cd. If a choice is required when the triggered ability goes on the stack but no legal choices can be made for it, or if a rule or a continuous effect otherwise makes the ability illegal, the ability is simply removed from the stack.
You then cast Moonlight Hunt and it becomes the topmost spell on the stack while it's waiting to resolves (603.2 and 603.3) 601.2a The player announces that he or she is casting the spell. That card (or that copy of a card) moves from where it is to the stack. It becomes the topmost object on the stack. It has all the characteristics of the card (or the copy of a card) associated with it, and that player becomes its controller. The spell remains on the stack until its countered, it resolves, or an effect moves it elsewhere.
Then, assuming no one else has anything to add to the stack, the stack resolves with Moonlight Hunt being on the top (601.2a) 608.1. Each time all players pass in succession, the spell or ability on top of the stack resolves. (See rule 609, Effects.)
Assuming you have dealt damage to avacyn greater than her toughness, she dies. 704.5g If a creature has toughness greater than 0, and the total damage marked on it is greater than or equal to its toughness, that creature has been dealt lethal damage and is destroyed. Regeneration can replace this event.
April 22, 2016 11:21 a.m.
AndyReveler says... #20
I second Display of Dominance and Natural State, as I already run them sideboard. I'm going to go back and run Magmatic Chasm sideboard because my deck problems pushing that last bit of damage.
Also someone get a 5th opinion on that avacyn ability trigger cause that sounds too good to be true even for me.
April 22, 2016 12:03 p.m.
AndyReveler says... #21
Ok nvm, so this is what happens
- opponent plays avacyn, avacyn enters the battlefield, her trigger goes on the stack
- we respond by playing Moonlight Hunt/whatever to kill her
- priority is passed back to the opponent, nothing is done, spells begin to resolve
- moonlight kills avacyn before she makes opponents creatures indestructible
- rest of the creatures gain indestructible as her trigger resolves (it resolves independent of her)
pretty sure that's right, it's still better to kill her right away then let her flip and wipe out our werewolves tho.
April 22, 2016 12:22 p.m.
AndyReveler says... #22
Q:I played Shadowborn demon. It has the ability
When Shadowborn Demon enters the battlefield, destroy target non-Demon creature.
Can my friend play Fall of the Hammer on the target creature that would be destroyed to have it deal damage to my Shadowborn Demon, or would his creature be destroyed because of the ability?
A:Both things happen. First, your opponent's creature will deal damage to Shadowborn Demon (thanks to Fall of the Hammer); then the Demon's ability will kill the creature even if Fall of the Hammer already killed your demon.
112.7a Once activated or triggered, an ability exists on the stack independently of its source. [...]
April 22, 2016 12:30 p.m.
AndyReveler says... #23
Thats just for reference, it's not on the judges rules blog or whatever, but it seems legit and people unanimously agreed on it.
April 22, 2016 12:31 p.m.
Boza,
Cryptolith Rite or some other mana accelerant is great; I think it's the only way to get a Turn 4 kill with the combo. The color fixing is also pretty amazing.
We had a little chat going on it over at R/G Zada+Werewolves too ...
April 22, 2016 1:42 p.m. Edited.
AndyReveler You made the TL;DR version of what i said. I broke it down rule by rule of what happens. xD
April 22, 2016 1:54 p.m.
AndyReveler says... #26
Magic, Rasanck, is unfortunately one of those games were we usually need the tl;dr version, I can't tell you how many times that my opponent, judges, and even opponents who were judges and questioned me on such simple things like, Obzedat, Ghost Councils trigger and more recently, Flameheart Werewolf and trample...and werewolf transformation triggers -_-
April 22, 2016 3:09 p.m.
AndyReveler the funny thing is i explained it how it works earlier at #265 and then someone said yeah but does it REALLY xd
April 22, 2016 3:11 p.m.
AndyReveler says... #28
well the more creatures/people you have on your side (of the field), the better I suppose
April 22, 2016 3:28 p.m.
AndyReveler says... #29
So because my decks weakness is pushing that last bit of damage through, I'm going full...aggro and mainboarding Magmatic Chasm. My second issue is do I also want to mainboard Collected Company or Moonlight Hunt along side as support, because right now I don't have room for both. I'm currently benching moonlight because I'm thinking I'll just ignore obstacles and don't mind board stalling until I can finish my opponent in 1 turn, however moonlight is pretty invaluable as well for removing early blockers and allowing to get in that early damage...what to do what to do...well in either case, here's my semi-final v2 deck:
Werewolf Heirloom
Standard
SCORE: 18 | 5 COMMENTS | 3632 VIEWS | IN 20 FOLDERS
note: I realize I could also just remove 2 creatures and add in 2 magmatic chasms...I'm just not happy with 14 spells :(
April 22, 2016 6:23 p.m.
Been playing a lot with a werewolf deck since SOI dropped and i've changed this a lot since starting but here's what i'm using now:
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/12-04-16-nfi-werewolves/
Nothing groundbreaking. Just the usual aggro + pump.
April 22, 2016 6:24 p.m.
OK, I know this is whiny but I can't help it:
I HAVE ALL THE CARDS NOW FOR MY DECK AND I'M STUCK IN A FRAZZIN' AIRPORT INSTEAD OF AT FNM !!!
ARRRRRGH !!!
April 22, 2016 6:40 p.m. Edited.
AndyReveler says... #32
Nvm, went with the version with the most flexibility and moved the 2 extra creatures to the sideboard, and will probably have to adjust after every game.
Sorry about that clayperce, traveling for business or pleasure?
April 22, 2016 6:52 p.m.
AverageBoss says... #33
My deck has been through a few changes as well. This is what it looks like currently:
Circle of the Moon (Werewolves)
Standard*
SCORE: 3 | 1 COMMENT | 522 VIEWS | IN 2 FOLDERS
All my Werewolves do something on their human side (except Lambholt Pacifist Flip, who is just a value body). And I wound up dropping Village Messenger Flip because after turn 1 I would rather see any card that is not him.
Might replace Expedite. Don't know what I would replace it with though.
April 22, 2016 10:47 p.m.
AverageBoss, Village Messenger Flip is really strong with Neglected Heirloom Flip and Howlpack Resurgence. So it's not that weak of a draw later, if you have those cards in play.
You can replace Expedite with Vines of the Recluse as combat tricks are pretty good with werewolves.
Would also take a look at Pack Guardian. That flash is amazing, and the option to discard a land for another 2/2 at instant speed is amazing as well. And guess what, it has great synergy with werewolves.
April 23, 2016 6 a.m.
Took second at FNM wootwoot. Http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/gruul-wolf-tribal-2nd-place-at-fnm-3-1/
April 23, 2016 6:29 a.m.
AndyReveler says... #36
I just don't understand...I have the worst luck cause I didn't win a single game last night...I run more creatures than any other werewolf deck out there and I still get mana flooded or hit only one creature with CoCo...I'm either gonna go the Silverfur Partisan route, or just retire my deck and move onto something else...
April 23, 2016 12:12 p.m.
AndyReveler Silverfur Partisan definitely deserves to be in any werewolf deck I promise. It did so much work against control and midrange decks that I played against. Just compare my decklist to yours and ask me why the differences are present between our two decks.
April 23, 2016 1:34 p.m.
BTW I took out my silverfur partisan when I knew that my opponent had no removal.
April 23, 2016 1:39 p.m.
AverageBoss says... #39
It happens. Even my madness vampire deck that has 30 creatures and only 20 lands, mana floods me.
April 23, 2016 1:55 p.m.
DarkArmed1 says... #40
Try pile shuffling about every other game it seems to help me immensely.
April 23, 2016 2:05 p.m.
Huge CONGRATULATIONS to BlueEyes (4-0 1st place FNM) and BoB_6082 (3-1 2nd place FNM)!
Any other big wins worth celebrating?
Baby I'm Preying On You Tonight (4-0 finally!!!)
Standard
SCORE: 15 | 11 COMMENTS | 2219 VIEWS | IN 8 FOLDERS
Gruul Wolf Tribal (2nd place at FNM. 3-1)
Standard
SCORE: 3 | 1178 VIEWS | IN 2 FOLDERS
April 23, 2016 5:54 p.m.
Shoot, i've been having so much more success with my other combo deck that it looks like i wont be playing werewolves until EDM! Sorry fam :'( But i am so glad you're all doing well! And AndyReveler that's really unfortunate, especially hitting 1 on a coco! that's so damn rare... I hope it doesn't deter you and you keep playing though!
I've been helping players at my LGS with their werewolf brews, they do like the zadafur combo, so i've given my copies to them so hopefully they have more luck. Let the pack grow!
April 23, 2016 9:14 p.m.
Haha thanks clayperce!! Also no idea this was a thread lol
April 23, 2016 9:23 p.m.
Rabid_Wombat says... #44
Here is my Wolven Deck Westvale Wolven High
Using Sylvan Scrying to overcome early mana-screw and tute for Westvale Abbey Flip for the late game win is the tech.
April 24, 2016 7:10 p.m.
Just curious and havent looked yet, but has anyone made a green white werewolf variant inspired by the human lists running around? I mean Always Watching and Howlpack Resurgence seem very nice anthems for the deck and the werewolves ARE humans on that side... What do we lose in red? Geier Reach Bandit Flip and Arlinn Kord Flip but honestly...Hmm might brew this up.
Rabid_Wombat love the idea of using Sylvan Scrying to fetch Westvale Abbey Flip.
April 25, 2016 4:50 a.m.
April 25, 2016 5:09 a.m.
First, nice thinking out of the box. Yeah GW could work for wolves - we'd lose Arlinn and Geier, along with some other wolves.
The synergy with Thalia and the human side of the Wolves actually give them a strong board presence - flipped or unflipped. When you have Always Watching and Howlpack Resurgence, whew!
I'm also thinking of Nissa as an added planeswalker...
April 25, 2016 10:32 p.m.
pinkhamster says... #48
I use Zada, Hedron Grinder with Silverfur Partisan and a spell like Titan's Strength. It's good for making lots of 2/2 wolves.
April 26, 2016 1:59 a.m.
AndyReveler says... #49
So I'm up to the 4th evolution of my werewolf deck, hopefully this provides more consistency and throws off my bad luck. It's a really simply brew with lots of werewolves, Collected Company and Magmatic Chasm as a finisher. Neglected Heirloom is still in there because the theme of my deck hasn't changed, as opposed to decks themed around Zada or Silverfur. Anyway, if any folks wanna check it out and help me test it, I'd be grateful.
Werewolf Heirloom
Standard
SCORE: 20 | 5 COMMENTS | 4025 VIEWS | IN 20 FOLDERS
April 26, 2016 3:05 a.m.
So I came up with this hyper aggro deck that needs your verdict.
Yeah the name itself suggests that it's expensive, but it's theorycrafting and I talked the owner of the LGS to loan me some cards so I can test this out come Game Day and GPT.
Help a wolven brother out?
AndyReveler says... #1
So I switched up my deck a bit, made it more well rounded, I no longer have any 4 drops, but still have CoCo in the sideboard in case I feel a change in strategy necessary. I feel that unless you're going to town route Magmatic Chasm might be necessary against bant coco and white weenies.
April 21, 2016 12:34 p.m.