I've been getting into tweaking and playing Zombie Horde magic lately, and wanted to see how my way of running it compares to everyone else!
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For those who don't know the format, let me quickly explain Zombie Horde. Zombie Horde is a multiplayer game mode of magic (that I had nothing to do with making but enjoy playing) where players team up against a 100 card special deck on auto-pilot.
- Players share a turn like 2-headed giant.
- Players have life = 20x(#ofPlayers)
- The horde has no life total, but takes damage in the form of mill.
- Players win once the horde has no cards remaining on the battlefield and in the library.
- Players receive 3 turns to "prepare for battle" before the Horde takes it's first turn.
The Horde deck is composed of 70 2/2 zombie tokens, 10 5/5 zombie giant tokens (zendikar), and 20 power zombie creatures/spells. At the beginning of the horde's turn, instead of a draw step, it reveals the top card of its library. If it is a token, it puts it on the battlefield and repeats this process. If it's a non token, it plays it without paying its mana cost, and the draw phase ends.
(HARDMODE: 28 Days Later Zombies - all zombies have haste. Recommended for games with 4 or players)
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Horde is very customizable format that I've been having fun with. Here are my houserules that I currently play by:
- "My friend, don't be a jerk." - {Angel of Glory's Rise} is banned. Kind of ruins the spirit of the game to bring zombie hate.
- "Is that one of ours?" - if a zombie enters the battlefield under a player's control, flip a coin. If it comes up tails, the horde gains control of it.
- "Zombies don't know how to play Blue" - the blue Innistrad Zombies, such as {Skaab Goliath}, will exile the top cards of the zombie graveyard in order to meet their requirements, no matter what cards they may be. If an Innistrad blue zombie is drawn and there are not enough creatures in the graveyard to meet the requirement, shuffle it into the library. Place a 2/2 zombie wizard token onto the battlefield (Alara) and the draw step ends.
- "The wonderful Wizard" - if the players see and destroy the ultra rare Zombie Wizard, when the Zombie Wizard dies, each player may pay 2 life to draw a card. (Horde excluded)
- "Ruination" - The {Skaab Ruinator} will be cast once per turn from the graveyard every turn if able. Like all blue zombies, he gives 0 craps about what he exiles. The 3 from the top.
- "Because F$*& you, that's why" - Tokens that came from the horde's library do not disappear at state checks. Ever. Those 70 zombies and 10 5/5 giant zombies will remain in the zones they are sent to (Hand, GRAVEYARD, exile, etc). These tokens WILL be revived by {Zombie Apocalypse}, and CAN be used as cost fodder for blue zombies such as {Skaab Ruinator}. Deal with it! If a token ends up in the horde's "hand," it will play it for free at the beginning of its next main phase. Tokens created by other effects disappear as normal.
- "NO WHIFFS ALLOWED!" - if the horde casts {Zombie Apocalypse} and has no cards in its graveyard, each player loses 5 life.
- "Clearly his fault" - the player who successfully kills or exiles the {Havegul Runebinder} may draw a card. We all know this was his doing. Good job, you got the jerk!
And now mtg has given me the final thing I need with the release of Theros. Meet...
THE DEADLY PORK HORDE.
Horde mode with Theros Pig tokens instead of zombies!
65 2/2 Theros Boars
5 3/3 Frog-Lizard tokens
10 5/5 Trample Wurm tokens
2 {Curse of the Swine} (Houserule X = [#ofPlayers x 5])
18 Other crazed wild animal spells of your choice!
Will you feast on bacon tonight, or will bacon feast on you?
Thoughts/recommended cards or houserules? I will update as I add more mechanics.
The only thing I can think of here with so many tokens is, by turn one there could be enough out there to destroy you before you even have enough mana/creatures/spells to block it lol xD
Quote from: Moocow4u2 on September 24, 2013, 12:20:24 PM
The only thing I can think of here with so many tokens is, by turn one there could be enough out there to destroy you before you even have enough mana/creatures/spells to block it lol xD
I forgot to mention, the players get 3 turns to build up before the horde starts takings turns, to compensate for that :P
Ok great xD
How would {Azorius Charm} work vs this? Would the token go back on top or disappear?
House rules win here. I put it in the yard because I threw reanimation in to my horde and it made it far more challenging
I think because it's all tokens, I'd treat it as a real creature. For the purposes of Azorius charm fulfilling it's job, and not acting as a kill spell. Just my opinion.
I've always played horde on "hard mode", I thought that was how it was played.
Usually it yes, yeah. It depends on the number of players, and a few other factors, though. It might be too tough for 3 if they have haste, but a group of 4 should have a good challenge with the fast zeds. There are also modes where you can play competitively, and making the zombies super fast might limit the amount of shenanigans you do to screw with your friends :P
Semi-related, I'm decided to change up my original post a bit. Including the name (as you probably noticed). It now is about zombie horde, with subsections for my own houserules, instead of the thread itself being just about my house rules. I want to know what kind of horde houserules you guys play with too!
Can we get a wall game of this going?
I could probably do that some some time with my zombies (I don't have the pig horde built yet). It might be tough figuring out priority and stuff with the players all going at once, but I'm sure we could figure out how to run it.
Can I play re animator against the horde? Or cards like {Iona, shiel of em} ;)
Reanimation seems fine, but Iona probably falls under the "don't be a jerk" rule with angel of Glory's rise :P if you build/bring a deck specifically to beat the horde, it'll just ruin the fun for everyone.
I have a {Moat} in EDH deck, so if I ever draw it we decided that I'm allowed to cycle it for free. It would cheapen the experience.
How does the hoardes attack go?
Seems like it justs always attacks with everything.
Awesome game mode, thanks Gorzo :)
How do you choose who the horde attacks
Quote from: DimirOverlord1300 on November 02, 2013, 11:07:03 AM
How do you choose who the horde attacks
Depends on how you're playing - If you're all playing as a team, you share a combined life total and the horde attacks all of you. (2-headed giant style)
If you're playing separate, it would most likely be a choice made at random. The horde has no brain, and can't choose who to attack, after all.
Do they just attack every turn no matter what
Quote from: Gorzo on October 03, 2013, 08:54:23 PM
I could probably do that some some time with my zombies (I don't have the pig horde built yet). It might be tough figuring out priority and stuff with the players all going at once, but I'm sure we could figure out how to run it.
id like to get a game of this going
Quote from: Mozilla butcher on November 02, 2013, 04:47:56 PM
Do they just attack every turn no matter what
Yup. All creatures controlled by the horde attack if able.
Bird (and anyone else interested) - I'll post a sign up post in wall games later tonight or tomorrow morning with details :)
Quote from: Gorzo on November 02, 2013, 09:50:46 PM
Quote from: Mozilla butcher on November 02, 2013, 04:47:56 PM
Do they just attack every turn no matter what
Yup. All creatures controlled by the horde attack if able.
Bird (and anyone else interested) - I'll post a sign up post in wall games later tonight or tomorrow morning with details :)
Could I proxy some cards?
I'm down wrings hands looks at turbo fog deck
I bring your attention to the "My friend, don't be a jerk." rule. Bringing specific cards or decks just because they are strategically designed to hate/screw the horde is not allowed. All you're doing is ruining everyone's fun, including your own.
As for proxies, I don't see anything wrong with a proxy or two, as long as it isn't violated the above rule.
Edit: signups open, and wall games post up with more info!
How is the hoard defeated? Milling out or does it have a life total?
Quote from: Yugornot on November 03, 2013, 01:18:24 PM
How is the hoard defeated? Milling out or does it have a life total?
Milled.
Quote
- Players win once the horde has no cards remaining on the battlefield and in the library.
How does blocking for the hoard work?
Quote from: Yugornot on November 03, 2013, 06:08:36 PM
How does blocking for the hoard work?
It shouldn't come up, as all creatures attack if able, enter tapped, and no vigilance is present. If somehow a creature is untapped and a creature attacks the horde, it's a houserule situation. You can have it brainless (blocks at random) or for more difficult game, the hoard will make the most intelligent block possible.
Would {crawl space} be considered jerk? If the horde is randomly attacking? I like to think of it as a narrow funnel . I hear it worked great for the Spartans!
Quote from: Charbelchers rage on November 04, 2013, 10:26:04 PM
Would {crawl space} be considered jerk? If the horde is randomly attacking? I like to think of it as a narrow funnel . I hear it worked great for the Spartans!
It cheapen things. Same as {Silent Arbiter} and others. As I said before, my EDH deck has {Moat} in it. We decided house rules was I could cycle it for free.
Funnel works both ways? I can only attack with two?
Or dice I'm playing knights is {absolute grace} out of bounds I like to think that knights have perfected zombie killing
You are determined to cheapen this experience for yourself, huh? Lol
Chuckles I've already removed it I'm trying to be funny and it's also best if we get this out of the way now, and you have examples to show others when they question you. I'm simply trying to speed up the process, or troll... I'm honestly not sure which myself.
Is {guardian of the gateless} paired with {basilisk collar} cheap?
Quote from: Spencer_addington on November 05, 2013, 02:01:54 AM
Is {guardian of the gateless} paired with {basilisk collar} cheap?
Probably not over the line. Requires two cards, pretty good amount of mana to set up, and while super effective, the guardian will still die, making it a 1-time trick. Seems fine to me.
I'm going to give the zombie horde {noxious ghoul} because I hate myself
Can you imagine {zombie apocolypse} or {balthor the defiled} going off
Would the combo {Palace Guard} and {Sword of Feast and Famine} ruin all the fun?
Edit:it's not a combo
magic just posted on facebook about an upcoming product called battle the horde. is this the same thing?
Quote from: particle on November 25, 2013, 12:22:42 PM
magic just posted on facebook about an upcoming product called battle the horde. is this the same thing?
No clue, I haven't heard about it! But after the Hydra deck, it's very possible that they would make an official version. Anyone have a link to info about this product?
this is not the facebook post but a discussion about it.
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?p=11214118
Interesting. Appears to be a Minotaur and/or satyr horde. It's going to be similar to hydra deck, but for Born of the Gods game-day.
So no, I guess it will not be like the zombie horde. Probably somewhere between it and the Face the Hydra deck.
10 {Mountain}
70 {Swamp}
80 lands
1 {Ghoulraiser}
1 {Diregraf Captain}
1 {Gloomdrifter}
1 {Death Baron}
1 {Cemetery Reaper}
5 creatures
1 {Zombie Apocalypse}
1 {Feeding Frenzy}
1 {Grave Betrayal}
1 {Midnight Ritual}
1 {Endless Ranks of the Dead}
5 other spells
Sideboard
|
Swamp 2/2 Zombie Token
Mountain 5/5 Zombie Token
Should be playable in the iMTG play test as wall game opponent :)
Houserules:
{Cemetery Reaper} 2. ability does nothing
{Feeding Frenzy} aims at the biggest opponent creature
{Midnight Ritual} uses all creatures in GY
The ten missing "special zombies" are open for YOUR madness/self hatred :)
Quote from: AkiraDeLaine on November 26, 2013, 07:30:11 PM
10 {Mountain}
70 {Swamp}
80 lands
1 {Ghoulraiser}
1 {Diregraf Captain}
1 {Gloomdrifter}
1 {Death Baron}
1 {Cemetery Reaper}
5 creatures
1 {Zombie Apocalypse}
1 {Feeding Frenzy}
1 {Grave Betrayal}
1 {Midnight Ritual}
1 {Endless Ranks of the Dead}
5 other spells
Sideboard
|
Swamp 2/2 Zombie Token
Mountain 5/5 Zombie Token
Should be playable in the iMTG play test as wall game opponent :)
Housrules:
{Cemetery Reaper} 2. ability does nothing
{Feeding Frenzy} aims at the biggest opponent creature
{Midnight Ritual} uses all creatures in GY
I like it, consider it stolen.
Naaa, wingnut, don't steal it, buy it for a +1 :)
Fine, "whatever"' :p
Quote from: Black Death on November 06, 2013, 04:38:45 PM
Would the combo {Palace Guard} and {Sword of Feast and Famine} ruin all the fun?
Edit:it's not a combo
Let me answer your question with a question.
How much fun are you having against an auto-pilot swarm deck with no removal if you're giving yourself an infinite-blocker with protection-from-the-entire-enemy?
You might as well be playing sample draw at that point.
I like your stile Gorzo, specially your description of the hord in the wall game :)
We had fun today playing 2 artifact driven decks against my hord construction, it was a test and I think it worked well. We used a google sheet with a excel like style to keep track of the turns and I played the zombies on the phone and my deck in cards
For the horde put in {coat of arms} and p{lague wind}. If you hate yourself
Quote from: Mintkid219 on November 28, 2013, 05:34:30 PM
For the horde put in {coat of arms} and p{lague wind}. If you hate yourself
I guess the coat is fine, as it would help you too, the {plague wind} is a nasty s.o.a.b.
Quote from: AkiraDeLaine on November 28, 2013, 05:53:00 PM
Quote from: Mintkid219 on November 28, 2013, 05:34:30 PM
For the horde put in {coat of arms} and p{lague wind}. If you hate yourself
I guess the coat is fine, as it would help you too, the {plague wind} is a nasty s.o.a.b.
oh there is almost never anycoming back from that ;)
{knight exemplar} don't care about your destroying nonsense
Quote from: Charbelchers rage on November 29, 2013, 10:19:08 AM
{knight exemplar} don't care about your destroying nonsense
See Rule One
Its NOT the point to bring a deck, thats build to play agains the horde :)
Knights was my first deck so see 1 up! I'm coming to hate these forums and view them as that guy you hate playing... Doom blade, whiny voice I didn't pass priority
Quote from: Charbelchers rage on November 29, 2013, 07:44:33 PMcoming to hate these forums and view them as that guy you hate playing...
Awwww :(
Cept you gorzo your cool, "I'm going to go start my own forum! With blackjack, and hookers, in fact forget the forum part"
Quote from: Charbelchers rage on November 29, 2013, 07:46:31 PM
Cept you gorzo your cool, "I'm going to go start my own forum! With blackjack, and hookers, in fact forget the forum part"
Lol, sounds like a party!
Quote from: Charbelchers rage on November 29, 2013, 07:44:33 PM
Knights was my first deck so see 1 up! I'm coming to hate these forums and view them as that guy you hate playing... Doom blade, whiny voice I didn't pass priority
Hmm, guess u r right, if you had the templar in a deck before it should be fine
Someone please come up with a full deck list for the Pork Horde! I really want to build it! I'll give you a +1! Oh, and for the {Curse of Swine} in the Pork horde, do you still use the "Is that one of ours" rule?
Quote from: Agrus Kos, Enforcer of Truth on December 11, 2013, 09:24:43 PM
Someone please come up with a full deck list for the Pork Horde! I really want to build it! I'll give you a +1! Oh, and for the {Curse of Swine} in the Pork horde, do you still use the "Is that one of ours" rule?
Good question! I haven't actually gotten around to building the pork horde so I haven't gotten to play/test it yet :P
Squirrel horde!
Please please please dub it "bring on the bacon"
I'm trying to make a deck of this now
Is it bad I bought 370 zombie tokens for this?
Quote from: Millionlittlee on December 26, 2013, 01:14:53 AM
Is it bad I bought 370 zombie tokens for this?
My god, 370? What torturous abomination kind of deck are you building? Lol
I will make all the tokens
Something I've been wondering...
People obviously use decks of different format in this game, so my question is; what happens if someone plays Commander in this game? Does the Commander deal normal damage or specialised Commander damage?
Quote from: xStrayKnightx on December 28, 2013, 07:41:02 AM
Something I've been wondering...
People obviously use decks of different format in this game, so my question is; what happens if someone plays Commander in this game? Does the Commander deal normal damage or specialised Commander damage?
Normal damage.