budget possibilities for Junk Rites

Standard forum

Posted on April 8, 2013, 4:34 p.m. by capriom85

Junk rites is running the usual green fatties like Craterhoof Behemoth and Thragtusk with Armada Wurm popping up. The wurm is fairly affordable, and so is the behemoth to a point, but what about someone with zero budget? Would these serve as suitable replacements for those that can not afford to buy and aren't lucky enough to pull the non-budget fatties?

I like Skarrg Goliath , but only for a Rites deck. Never going to see play outside of it. And what about the Moldgraf Monstrosity from Innistrad? Not just a fatty, but brings back 2 more from your graveyard just becasue he dies. Isn't this kind of the point of Junk Rites?

Demarge says... #2

The point of rites is actually to get huge Thragtusk value with a chance of going "Hoof there it is!", the deck itself really needs tusks to survive against aggro and if you go with any budget options the deck will likely be unable to survive the hate opposing decks are packing, when an opponent plays an early Rest in Peace a rites deck can usually become a good midrange deck if it can't find it's Abrupt Decay s.

April 8, 2013 4:46 p.m.

capriom85 says... #3

I understand that the deck thrives on Thragtusk . I mostly was wondering if anyone thinks the Skarrg Goliath is a good budget alternative to the Craterhoof Behemoth ? Sorry, should have been way more clear on that.

April 8, 2013 6:32 p.m.

cartwheelnurd says... #4

Craterhoof Behemoth is good because it wins on the spot. It normally gives you 4 or 5 overrun power to your army of Lingering Souls tokens and whatever else you have, like mana dorks. Skarrg Goliath is bigger, yes, but it doesn;t do anything for a full turn. Even then, you get a 9/9 trampler that dies to basically any of the removal in standard like Victim of Night or Ultimate Price and doesn;t even win you the gme except in two or three swings. THis card is not a suitable replacement.

April 8, 2013 6:48 p.m.

capriom85 says... #5

Good point. I stand incorrect. Is the Goliath good anywhere really? Even in ramp?

April 8, 2013 7:29 p.m.

cartwheelnurd says... #6

I can;t think of anywhere where having a goliath would be useful. Sure he's big but he's not worth ramping towards. Especially in standard where you'll be dead long before he hits the field. BLoodrushing him is pointless becaus he costs seven mana to bloodrush and it's too easy to play around. I see how he's big and all but honestly you'll rarely be rewarded for running him.

April 8, 2013 7:41 p.m.

sylvannos says... #7

A guy at my local shop actually had a really strong Unburial Rites deck that did nothing but play mana dorks and Lingering Souls until he could dig up Craterhoof Behemoth and swing for 40+ damage in a single turn. While not exactly inexpensive, his deck didn't run Thragtusk or Restoration Angel .

It was something like:

4x Arbor Elf
4x Avacyn's Pilgrim
4x Lingering Souls
4x Farseek
4x Mulch
4x Grisly Salvage
4x Unburial Rites
4x Craterhoof Behemoth
5x Removal Spells/Combat Tricks/Fog /Whatever
23x lands

Pretty much the only thing worth more than $1 is the Craterhoof Behemoth . If all else fails, you can just swarm them with 1/1s.

April 9, 2013 2:59 a.m.

This discussion has been closed