First Attempt at a Standard Deck

[tsul25]

I just started playing and as the title says, this is my first attempt at making a standard deck. Any assistance you can give me will be much appreciated.

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Land (22)

2 {Evolving Wilds}  -- mana fixing, slight deck thinning
4 {Rootbound Crag}  -- necessary
9 {Forest}  -- obvious
7 {Mountain}  -- also obvious

Creatures (20)

4 {Arbor Elf}  -- card I definitely want to play early to help with acceleration
2 {Strangleroot Geist}  -- haste makes it good, undying makes it really good
4 {Elvish Visionary}  -- card advantage as well as a cheap blocker
2 {Wolfir Avenger}  -- included because I need something else at 3 mana, flash and regeneration are nice
2 {Primordial Hydra}  -- can play it early and make my opponent deal with the threat, can be a game winner later after accelerating
2 {Wolfir Silverheart}  -- I really like this card, 12 power for 5 mana seems like a great deal
2 {Vexing Devil}  -- great one drop, either efficient burn or a really efficient creature
2 {Zealous Conscript}  -- stealing target "permanent" makes this card great

Spells (16)

2 {Rancor}  -- good buff, hard to get rid of, can put trample on something like a silverheart
2 {Ranger's Path}  -- mana acceleration and deck thinning
2 {Increasing Savagery}  -- fits well with my aggressive mentality, can work wonders with my hydra
4 {Searing Spear}  -- mostly for control purposes
2 {Increasing Vengeance}  -- I would love to copy {Ranger's Path}, {Increasing Savagery}, a big {Fling}, or even {Searing Spear}. Flashback on this is awesome
2 {Wrack with Madness}  -- slight drawback if toughness is higher than power, but works on any size creature
2 {Fling}  -- great to play in response to something like {Murder}, in combination with {Zealous Conscript}, or even as a game winner with {Primordial Hydra}, {Wolfir Silverheart}, or something I used {Increasing Savagery} on

Planeswalkers (2)

1 {Chandra, the Firebrand}  -- I find it useful for doubling spells like searing spear, traitorous blood, or ranger's path, ultimate is my only form of mass removal
1 {Garruk, Primal Hunter}  -- main purpose is for the card advantage I am lacking with out it

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I do not have a sideboard at this point since I haven't finalized the main deck.

I debated using {Borderland Ranger}  but picked {Wolfir Avenger} over it.

I am not sure if {Goblin Arsonist} is useful enough to keep in the deck.

I think finding some sort of mass removal to take the place of {Thunderous Wrath} would be beneficial. (I am not willing to buy {Bonfire of the Damned}...)

I am unsure of which planeswalker is more beneficial to my deck, and whether or not I should include mutiple copies.

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Please keep card suggestions within the last block because I don't want to buy something just to have it rotate. As I said, I am a new player, so try to cut me some slack if I've made some terribly eggregious card decisions.

[Coffee Vampire]

Nice first deck...I like how you give a reason for everything. My first attempt at a standard deck was just cards I thought were good so I threw them together. If it wasn't for helpful people on this app I would have actually bought that awful deck! ;D

As for suggestions, it seems like deadly recluse and the card that steals instants and sorcerys should be sideboarded. Deadly recluse totally destroys the concept of {Thundermaw Hellkite}. People just assume nobody runs spiders.

As for that other card, I dunno...seems weak to me. Whatever instants or sorceries your opponent has are made for your opponent's deck, and not yours. Truth is that your deck probably would jot benefit from another deck's spells. Maybe try something else like {Zealous Conscripts}. stealing any permanent is way better. For instance, once they their planeswalker ready to ultimate, just cast conscripts on your turn, ultimate, PROFIT, then give them a pw card to put in their graveyard! ;)

Oh btw I like that you have primal hunter in there...t4 play him. Then t5 play wolfir silverheart and draw 8 cards. Haha so awesome.

[tsul25]

Thanks for the response. I totally forgot about zealos conscript. I actually have one from the intro deck I bought and he (I think it's a he) would be a great addition, as well as another one if I can find it.

I also see your point about mindclaw shaman being better in the sideboard. My friend has a black deck and tries to use {Army of the Damned} and I have stolen that for the win a few times. But there are probably too many decks where I would just end up with a weak 2/2 for 5 mana to justify it.

[Coffee Vampire]

Wow that would be hallarious!!! Getting 13 2/2s for 5 mana..wow.

And it is a she. A she with weird teeth and a manly facial structure lol

[tsul25]

Haha it was really funny the first time it happened. He put his hand down except for one card and then tried to slide it back into his deck without me noticing. I caught him though lol

[Imdowd80]

Your going to be ramping with your green, so you 5 mana steal oppents spell isn't that bad, he should come out a turn or two early.

[tsul25]

Hmm. I like silklash spider in the sideboard. As for the recluses, I liked them more for the deathtouch, with reach as an added bonus. I was worried I didn't have enough removal. Viridian emissary is nice, but it will rotate out fairly soon if I'm not mistaken. If you still think I could use something else at 2 mana would {Strangleroot Geist} be a good choice?

[Thorn]

{Strangleroot Geist} is very good.
Also put {Daybreak Ranger} in your sideboard. He kills delvers and spirits and he can fight most creatures to kill them.
Especially when paired with {Wolfir Silverheart}

[smokin terry]

Really good job on the list I liked your reasons why for each card. And if you want a one drop red you try the data base and filter option for red one cmc standard cards.

[Falcon182]

{stonewright}, {somberwald vigilante}, {vexing devil}

[tsul25]

I appreciate all the great suggestions I'm getting. I'm definitely adding a couple {Strangleroot Geist}'s in. I'll consider {Daybreak Ranger} when I get to the sideboard. As for the red one drop, I really like {Vexing Devil}. Early on he's just going to get sacrificed, but it's still really efficient burn. And later in the game he quite possibly could come down as a viable threat. The {Stonewright} is decent, but not as appealing to me, and {Somberwald Vigilante}'s art... I don't like it lol.

[Harmon74]

I think I would run {stromkirk noble}, or {vexing devil} in your 1 drop spot.

[tsul25]

I have made a few changes to my original list.

I added 2 {Vexing Devil} in place of 2 {Goblin Arsonist}.
I added 2 {Strangleroot Geist} in place of 2 {Deadly Recluse}.
I added 2 {Fling} in place of 2 {Thunderous Wrath}.
I added 2 {Increasing Vengeance} in place of 2 {Traitorous Blood}.
I added 2 {Zealous Conscript} in place of 2 {Mindclaw Shaman}.

I still haven't come up with a sideboard, but so far I am thinking of including {Mindclaw Shaman} and {Silklash Spider}.

[Thorn]

Keep the {Thunderous Wrath} over fling.

[tsul25]

Keep the {Thunderous Wrath} over fling.

Hmm. Why do you think that {Thunderous Wrath} is better? I do like it, but I felt like it had some limitations. Miracling it is nice, but it will mostly be burn to the face unless they have a creature that is worth taking out. I felt like {Fling} was better because it could be played in response to {Murder} or the like, I could block and then fling the blocker, or I could use {Chandra, the Firebrand} or {Increasing Vengence} with it to fling a fattie for the win. I am wary about sacrificing a creature, but I thought it was more versatile than {Thunderous Wrath}.