2 {Kessig Wolf Run}
3 {Rootbound Crag}
4 {Clifftop Retreat}
3 {Stomping Ground}
3 {Temple Garden}
3 {Mountain}
4 {Sacred Foundry}
1 {Plains}
23 lands
2 {Vexing Devil}
2 {Legion Loyalist}
4 {Fencing Ace}
4 {Ash Zealot}
4 {Frontline Medic}
4 {Hellrider}
2 {Firemane Avenger}
3 {Zealous Conscripts}
25 creatures
4 {Rancor}
4 {Boros Charm}
4 {Madcap Skills}
12 other spells
Sideboard
3 {Aurelia's Fury}
2 {Selesnya Charm}
4 {Skullcrack}
3 {Thalia, Guardian of Thraben}
3 {Ranger's Guile}
15 sideboard cards
Notes:
This is Draft B for my Naya Agro deck that I played in the Cincinatti star city open. I've made a few changes since the tournament. I like the horrible pun name, don't you?
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At the tournament, I had {Lightning Maulers} instead of {Ash Zealot} and zealots in the sideboard. I also had an even 3-3 split of {Hellrider} and {Firemane Avenger}. Since then, I've upped hellriders to the max, and main boarded the zealots. I also fixed my mana a bit, I had too much green and not enough white.
Possible changes to make:
1) I know you're all thinking it. {Boros Reckoner} in the 3-drop slot instead of {frontline medic}. Yeah, I'd like to, but I stretched my budget way thin and my trade stock is super low. If I can open any, or get a super good deal on any reckoners, they will slowly start to take over the 3-drop slot.
2) my 1-drop. {Stonewright} is incredible synergy with the surprise star if my deck, the {Fencing Ace}. However, it's very seldom and inconsistent that I am successfully ably to utilize these two together to their intended potential. That being the case, I am considering replacing some or all of my stonewrights with a more reliable 1-drop, either {Legion Loyalist} or {Vexing Devil}. Thoughts on this?
Quote from: Gorzo on February 17, 2013, 05:01:01 PM
At the tournament, I had {Lightning Maulers} instead of {Ash Zealot} and zealots in the sideboard. I also had an even 3-3 split of {Hellrider} and {Firemane Avenger}. Since then, I've upped hellriders to the max, and main boarded the zealots. I also fixed my mana a bit, I had too much green and not enough white.
Possible changes to make:
1) I know you're all thinking it. {Boros Reckoner} in the 3-drop slot instead of {frontline medic}. Yeah, I'd like to, but I stretched my budget way thin and my trade stock is super low. If I can open any, or get a super good deal on any reckoners, they will slowly start to take over the 3-drop slot.
2) my 1-drop. {Stonewright} is incredible synergy with the surprise star if my deck, the {Fencing Ace}. However, it's very seldom and inconsistent that I am successfully ably to utilize these two together to their intended potential. That being the case, I am considering replacing some or all of my stonewrights with a more reliable 1-drop, either {Legion Loyalist} or {Vexing Devil}. Thoughts on this?
Not too familiar with this play style but I must say a double strike with fire breathing is awesome. Props on that. It's sad it doesn't happen often for you though
I'm actually not a big fan of {Stonewright}. Always feels like he's taking up a spot for what feels like such a weak soulbond. Maybe I'm biased, but I think {Sexy Devil} in the 1 drop spot is killer. Early game, I've never had an opp let him stay, so 4 damage right there. And late game I've had opp's always leave him because by then they're already short on life. Mid game, they have to make a quick and hard decision, and most times have to rethink their next turn.
Sure he's easily dealt with, but for one red? Please! Maybe it's my poker side showing through, but I like to force my opponent, not me, to make the tough choice. Call or fold ya know.
Love the name too!
Burning tree emissary, mayor of avabruck, champion of the parish
I'm not convinced on Burning Tree yet, but I'd have to play with her to really find out. I think she's better in a pure gruul deck.
You can't realistically hope to have more than one to play at a time, so when casting one, if the rest of cards in hand are white like the champ of perishing, seems like a waste.
On the other hand a burning tree followed by a vexing and a rancor seems pretty nice.
... Oh jeez I'm conflicted. As of now I have no opinion on {Burning tree emisary}...
Definitely get rid of {stonewright} for {Legion Loyalist}, and being truly honest i hate {fencing ace}, but thats me
Quote from: Drewy on February 17, 2013, 06:46:10 PM
Definitely get rid of {stonewright} for {Legion Loyalist}, and being truly honest i hate {fencing ace}, but thats me
Lol NO NO vexing devil!
I agree though, stonewright can go pound sand.
-4 {Stonewright}
+2{Vexing Devil}
+2 {Legion Loyalist}
Quote from: Hays413 link=topic=18742.msg155361#msg155k361 date=1361143498
I'm not convinced on Burning Tree yet, but I'd have to play with her to really find out. I think she's better in a pure gruul deck.
You can't realistically hope to have more than one to play at a time, so when casting one, if the rest of cards in hand are white like the champ of perishing, seems like a waste.
On the other hand a burning tree followed by a vexing and a rancor seems pretty nice.
... Oh jeez I'm conflicted. As of now I have no opinion on {Burning tree emisary}...
If you replace ash zealot with lightning mauler, burning tree would fit in just fine.
I'd rather neither of those and keep {Ash Zealot}
Ash zealot is a sideboard card.
Quote from: Wsuryanjeska on February 17, 2013, 08:31:13 PM
Ash zealot is a sideboard card.
No, its very good in both mainboard and sideboard
{Alpha Authority}, and {Madcap Skills} makes a creature unblockable and hex proof. Plus {Ethereal Armor} makes for a very scary {Fencing Ace}. Just saying:)
Quote from: Drewy on February 17, 2013, 09:47:09 PM
Quote from: Wsuryanjeska on February 17, 2013, 08:31:13 PM
Ash zealot is a sideboard card.
No, its very good in both mainboard and sideboard
No, it's very good in the sideboard and okay in the mainboard. I didn't win the last 3 fnm's in a row mainboarding ash zealots
Quote from: Wsuryanjeska on February 18, 2013, 12:01:45 AM
Quote from: Drewy on February 17, 2013, 09:47:09 PM
Quote from: Wsuryanjeska on February 17, 2013, 08:31:13 PM
Ash zealot is a sideboard card.
No, its very good in both mainboard and sideboard
No, it's very good in the sideboard and okay in the mainboard. I didn't win the last 3 fnm's in a row mainboarding ash zealots
If you say so, and -2 Karma eh? Nice😂😂
I don't just say so, I know so. And you think I give a .love. about this karma .poo.? Hahaha please
I would care if i was you, as you are new here u should be making a good impression, not a bad one as you are making, and yes u did say so. No if thats ok with you i will no longer be participating in this stupid as .love. Argument, thankyou.
Quote from: KangaRod on February 18, 2013, 03:32:41 AM
Do you know who you're talking to here?
This guy wins FNMs..... Show some respect.
😂 Cant tell if sarcasm or not
Thank you guys for the insights and opinions! I think I will have to scrap poor stonewright. I will try splitting up the 1-drop slot between legion loyalist and vexing devil, we'll see how that goes if nothing else, I'll get a better idea as to which one of the I like more to use as a 4-of if I want it more consistently.
I'm glad my deck has sparked some opinions. But the last few... Well, lets be nice and not insult each other please?
To touch on some of the opinions earlier about my deck, here's why I main boarded ash zealot and fencing ace.
As I said before, {lightning mauler} was in {ash zealot}s main board slot. The main reason? Haste for {frontline medic} and {Firemane avenger}. However as I removed half of the original firemanes for {Hellrider}s, haste soulbind got less useful, and with only 1 toughness, the mauler died to pings and traded to wimpy double blocks even with {madcap skills} on him. Ashy-kins, however, sports an extra toughness, is auto-hasted herself, and her first strike negates the double-weenie block scenario; screw you, lingering souls!
As for {Fencing Ace}, he is a friggen' champ. I surprised many people with him. Drop him turn 2, and turn 3 slap down madcap and {rancor} and swing. Watch the jaw drop. Yup, that's 12 trample damage. Enjoy!
Stone right is so good....
Quote from: Hays413 on February 17, 2013, 06:49:59 PM
Quote from: Drewy on February 17, 2013, 06:46:10 PM
Definitely get rid of {stonewright} for {Legion Loyalist}, and being truly honest i hate {fencing ace}, but thats me
I agree though, stonewright can go pound sand.
I see what you did there😂
Bump as requested in general chat.
After playing with it a while, I can say for sure the new 1-drops are making a big impact. Vexing Devil is doing really well, and I'm considering dropping the two remaining {Firemane Avenger}s for 2 more of them.
Sadly I have yet to acquire a single {boros reckoner}, which I would really like to put in my 3-drop slot over the medics, but the medics are doing okay in the meantime.
Quote from: Gorzo on March 19, 2013, 05:05:20 PM
Bump as requested in general chat.
After playing with it a while, I can say for sure the new 1-drops are making a big impact. Vexing Devil is doing really well, and I'm considering dropping the two remaining {Firemane Avenger}s for 2 more of them.
Sadly I have yet to acquire a single {boros reckoner}, which I would really like to put in my 3-drop slot over the medics, but the medics are doing okay in the meantime.
I really like vexing in the one spot here, but to be sure he is working in your favor 4x is a must.
-2 ash
+2 vexing
As for your five drop {Zealous Conscripts}..... I'd much rather see {Thundermaw Hellkite}. Sure zealous is cool and all, but unless youre running cloudshift after the turn you're left with what.... A 3/3 chump.
Just my 2c. :)
I agree for sure that having 4 vexing devils would be a big plus. But I love my ash zealots, and they do a huge portion of the work in this deck, far more than the Firemane avengers. I'd much rather keep all 4 zealots and -2 {Firemane Avenger}.
As for thundermaw, I honestly never considered it! That's a tough call, now. {Zealous Conscripts} have been a fantastic finisher for me, both removing the big blocker, swinging for 3, and attacking with that stolen blocker for what is usually more than the 2 damage difference that the flying thundermaw offers, not even taking the removed blocker into consideration. But Thundermaw flies and taps all flying blockers, making him a very suitable finisher himself... Hmm... I would love to experiment with that, if getting the thundermaws wouldn't cost me $75 :P I'll probably stick with Conscripts because "don't fix what ain't broken" and they are working very well, but damn, now you have me thinking...
Thanks for the bump Gorzo, totally forgot what was in here. I ended building a very similar deck. More Gruul heavy with white splash and Domri
Given the current list that's posted, and with my experience with my own deck, I'd say this;
(Do with it what you will)
{Vexing devil} - 4X
- this guy is a total beast and does mad work. For some reason when I play my deck, he's there, all the time. Not uncommon to play two in one turn. At 1 more damage, he's better than lightning bolt. I feel the old way of thinking "don't let your opponent decide" can be thrown out. You're not letting them choose a damn thing! They have 3 options, take the 4, take the 4 later when he swings, or remove him. All of which are downsides for your opponent. Combo'd with {Lightning Mauler} (AFTER you play the devil, and I stress this!) he's king.
{Burning-Tree Emissary} - ?X
If you can find her a spot, she's worth it. I'm only running two, but I just ordered two more because I like her so much. Again with the mauler, pretty sweet, better with {Flinthoof Boar} too. I find, and that's if you have another two drop to cast, she's great for tempo. Two 2 drops on second turn? I don't see why not! Wouldn't say she's an auto include, but definitely worth some play testing.
{Legion Loyalist}
Don't like this guy. But it's probably because of a card I love that ill explain later
{Frontline Medic}
Meh... All I can say really.
{Firemane Avenger}
When it works it works. When it doesn't, you really wish it did. As you can see I'm no fan of the battalion mechanic. The pay offs and the conditional 3 dudes swinging just isn't worth it to me. I'd rather have better guys swinging by themselves than have to count on battalion to win. That being said, I think this is the best one. 3 damage is 3 damage is 3 damage right?
Which brings me to the badass driving force behind why I dropped battalion in my version.
{Ghor-Clan Rampager} 4X
Don't think I need to explain much here. This guy does serious work. He is the crux of my deck. To start he's a 4/4 with trample for 4. That's good enough anyway you cut it. But the bloodrush is what counts. For one more mana than {Giant growth} (which I also run 3 of, I mean c'mon, why not) you get another point of damage and trample. Because of this I actually count him as an instant for combat Sha-Nay-Nays rather than a creature. 4/4 body is a just in case for me. Only need one creature swinging for this guy to work. Battalion can suck it!
Aaaaand now I've lost steam. Lol. Anyway, just some thoughts.
Pretty much agree with every bit of that.
After some testing with friends since I'd updated the deck, I found that {Legion Loyalist} definitely came in handy for a 1 drop...sometimes. It was never a totally useless draw. And he actually turns into a huge problem if I t1 loyalist, t2 {ash zealot}, t3 another zealot + rancor the loyalist. First-strike haste-horde away!
That being said, vexing devil is without a doubt better. He's a beast, for sure, and I want 4 of him in there. The more I think about, there are 2 cards in the deck that do not always perform at their desired level. 1 is frontline medic, which I plan to replace with {Boros Reckoner} ASAP. The other is those 2 remaining Firemane avengers. 4 mana is too much for an "if" like Batallion. I agree, Batallion is not reliable enough.
Yeah, gorzo man, DEFINITELY make room for the {Ghor-Clan Rampager} it fits in very nicely, (not to mention small bloodrush cost), seing as you based your deck mostly around {Fencing Ace} (I think). I attack with my 1/1 {fencing ace}... Oh you dont block? Well in that case i will bloodrush this {ghor-clan rampager} onto it for 10 damage. Problem? Otherwise its a 4/4 trampler for 4, very decent.
P.S Just my opinion, dont shoot :0
Quote from: Gorzo on March 20, 2013, 02:25:35 AM
Pretty much agree with every bit of that.
After some testing with friends since I'd updated the deck, I found that {Legion Loyalist} definitely came in handy for a 1 drop...sometimes. It was never a totally useless draw. And he actually turns into a huge problem if I t1 loyalist, t2 {ash zealot}, t3 another zealot + rancor the loyalist. First-strike haste-horde away!
That being said, vexing devil is without a doubt better. He's a beast, for sure, and I want 4 of him in there. The more I think about, there are 2 cards in the deck that do not always perform at their desired level. 1 is frontline medic, which I plan to replace with {Boros Reckoner} ASAP. The other is those 2 remaining Firemane avengers. 4 mana is too much for an "if" like Batallion. I agree, Batallion is not reliable enough.
It's probably my biased dislike of battalion here but, so glad to hear you say that!
Under the assumption this deck is still together, id definitely say {unflinching courage}
I know most of you are saying no to
Battalion but I've found great use from {Firefist Striker} and {Gruul Charm} and now {Gruul War Chant}.
Stopping folks from blocking is great and I like war chant better than {Madcap Skills} just because it doesn't go away with a creature and gives every creature the "must be blocked by two" scenario.
Quote from: Crisys on May 27, 2013, 07:37:50 AM
I know most of you are saying no to
Battalion but I've found great use from {Firefist Striker} and {Gruul Charm} and now {Gruul War Chant}.
Stopping folks from blocking is great and I like war chant better than {Madcap Skills} just because it doesn't go away with a creature and gives every creature the "must be blocked by two" scenario.
^^this^^
I run the chant in my Gruul Aggro list as a 2 of. It is quite effective.
{Champion of the Parish} is would goof here you have a good number of humans