Theros so far: Mono
Standard forum
Posted on Sept. 2, 2013, 9:33 p.m. by ScionLocke
http://mythicspoiler.com/
Based on what we know so far, Which color seems the most plausable to be played alon besides green?
Black has traditionally been the best at mono, and we still have some basic swamp lookers (Nightmare , Corrupt ) in standard, so I wouldn't count it out.
It's also worth noting that Devotion is not exclusive, and that we just came off a block with high multicolor. Centaur Healer adds 1 to both white and green devotion, and so does Dryad Militant . I wouldn't be too surprised if we see multicolor decks with devotion in them.
September 2, 2013 9:51 p.m.
ScionLocke says... #4
Dritz: What makes you say that?
raithe000: i think one of the reasons black has been seen best at mono is because all the printings of Dark Ritual that accelerate it. I do think it's nice but i would need to see ERebos before deciding such
I also understand your strategy with devotion but hear me out. I started magic around the creation of M13 and the come of Ravnica so Mono colored decks haven't had the power they had before in standard. Ever since then, I've dreamed of making that Mono colored deck work.
September 2, 2013 9:56 p.m.
raithe000 is right. Take Rakdos, Lord of Riots . He gives you 2 devotion to Red and Black, or look at Boros Reckoner , he gives you 3 devotion to Red AND White. Any card with hybrid mana is a necessity in any multicolored Devotion deck.
September 2, 2013 9:57 p.m.
I'm not saying we won't see any mono colored decks, I just wouldn't count out devotion multicolor.
Black has also been the best because it has traditionally had the most cards that care about mono color, like the two I mentioned which get much weaker in multicolor.
I think this may be too early to tell, excepting green. While the gods are impressive, they are also mythics. Unless you have money or trade stuff to spare, you should count more on the lower rarity cards than the gods in your deck.
September 2, 2013 10:02 p.m.
I feel that, after green, white and red have the next easiest time reaching solid devotion levels. Those two colors, (white in primary) also have a lot going for them in utility and aggressiveness.
T1 Dryad Militant , T2 Phalanx Leader or Precinct Captain , T3 Fiendslayer Paladin , or, Frontline Medic , or , Anax and Cymede (or anything really) T4 Heliod, the Sun God or Firemane Avenger is a very nice curve that is friendly to rearranging to maintain dynamacism.
T3 Ethereal Armor (or two) leaving up anything like Brave the Elements , Boros Charm , Gods Willing, Magma Jet or Chained to the Rocks (I almost always play Boros) is still highly powerful and most turns can go that way.
All that the color needs are a couple of neat bestow creatures or a really solid one drop in white to make it work. Honestly, Akrosan Crusader is probably worth it even though I usually build for complete Brave the Elements coverage.
September 2, 2013 10:29 p.m.
ScionLocke says... #9
Dritz, you've just made up my mind on what im doing for theros.
September 2, 2013 10:32 p.m.
Dritz - you must have read my mind. I think that RW control is going to be a thing. But why Heliod over Purphoros? From what you've outlined, that deck looks like a pretty creature heavy deck, so wouldn't the extra damage be better than vigilance?
September 2, 2013 10:37 p.m.
If there was a better consistent potential to be devoted to red, then perhaps, but I honestly feel like people underestimate Vigilance, especially when you have toys like Boros Charm and Brave the Elements to punish them for greedy moves on your creatures. The ability to just get another creature out of Heliod is a nice upside to me as well. Honestly, if there was a way to curve nicely into both Heliod and Purphoros then it'd be great. As it stands though I honestly prefer Hammer of Purphoros over Purphoros himself. The potential for extra land to become 3/3 Golems that boost Ethereal armor is awesome. Thats just my perspective though.
(Apologies if I'm getting ramble-y. I'm still under the weather)
September 2, 2013 10:42 p.m.
Dritz - I like the hammer as well, I'm definitely putting it into the Boros deck I have planned. And I like Jp3ngu1nb0y's idea of both, but that's 4-6 spots filled up for Gods that could be filled with better cards.
Although I'm curious to see what enchantments to put into this deck that are cheap and can be used for heroic triggers, e.g. Akroan Crusader, Phalanx Leader, Anax & Cymede(?), etc. Ethereal Armor is a must, but what else?
September 2, 2013 11:22 p.m.
Madcap Skills is a very likely inclusion. Following that Gift of Orzhova , Murder Investigation or Lightning Talons seem like the best, choices remaining in those two colors.
If you went Naya or Selesnya there is also the meaty Unflinching Courage .
Besides that simple things like Path of Bravery (which by the way gets really dumb potent in multiples) and boosts the Armor. Things like that. Not to mention whatever potential Bestow creatures might be playable.
Outside of enchantments there is also things like Gods Willing will let you scry, protect a creature of any color and get that Heroic trigger. Return block also printed a bunch of cheap white pump spells which could see some minor play if there are enough good Heroic abilities.
September 2, 2013 11:32 p.m.
There is one problem Dritz. We only have 60 cards to play with, 36-38 if you take out lands. I almost want to make a instant/sorcery-less deck that is all creatures and enchantments to maximize the devotion mechanic.
September 2, 2013 11:40 p.m.
That isn't that challenging of a goal, overall, but I still recommend that you have at least some Boros Charm s or Brave the Elements handy as there aren't enough protective enchantments in those colors that synergize with things like Ethereal Armor . If you really wanted to use tons of enchants you could use Legion's Initiative but that will make creature auras fall off, which is a nuisance. Other than that, options are somewhat limited until we know a bit more about Theros.
September 2, 2013 11:54 p.m.
Dritz - yeah, I just threw together some cards that I would want to include in a RW deck, and I'm wondering if some of these are going to be sideboard cards, such as Wear / Tear .
September 3, 2013 midnight
ScionLocke says... #18
i think Wear / Tear is going to be more playable with all of the enchantments coming.
Dritz says... #2
I honestly think that Mono-white (or close to it) is a contender. Thats just me though.
September 2, 2013 9:43 p.m.