[DECK] NEW GWR Zoo

[Pulp_Fiction]

Alright, I have finally decided to post this deck up since I now have time and it may get the attention it deserves now that Boros has taken 2nd at Legacy Champs. I am at school and have like 3 hours to kill. So here it goes: I was looking around on www.deckcheck.net a month or 2 ago and stumbled across a very interesting GWR Zoo build. I didn't think much of it at first but after wanting to play something different I built it up and it was just amazing. I have taken this deck to my local tournament twice and made it to a top 4 split out of 20+ people and the other time I had a horendous night of bad luck keeping 1 SEVEN CARD HAND out of 6 rounds and still made it to the top 8 out of 20+ people!! That is how solid this deck is. Here is the list:

3x Isamaru, Hound of Konda
4x Tarmogoyf
4x Kird Ape
4x Skyshroud Elite
4x Watchwolf
3x Goblin Legionairre
2x Anurid Brushhopper/Jotun Grunt

4x Swords to PlowShares
4x Lightning Helix
4x Lighting Bolt
2x Cursed Scroll
2x Jitte

4x Wooded Foothills
4x Windswept Heath
3x Taiga
3x Plateau
3x Savannah
1x Mountain
1x Plains
1x Forest

Sideboard

4x Pithing Needle
4x Pyroclasm
4x Leyline of Lifeforce/Vexing Shusher
3x Ancient Grudge

The creature choices are self explanatory and all mandatory for a Zoo deck. Grim Lavamancer is not in this list because he is to slow and causes to many contradictions with the other cards in the deck. In the 2x Anurid Brushhopper slot I was running Jotun Grunt but he kept getting sided out against because I kept playing aggro matchups so I took it out. Now if you expect a lot of Painter, Dredge, or Thresh then by all means run the Grunt because the card is fantastic but after I kept playing against Goblins and Affinity and the like I just took it out. The 2x Anurid Brushhopper, 1x Goblin Legionnaire, and 2x Cursed Scroll are the only slots in the deck that are "open". Although I highly recommend running these cards you can play around with those slots but the rest of the creature base is just amazing and I would not change it at all.

Watchwolf is phenomenal and I remember playing one game against Aggro Loam where I kept a hand that would be resilient to land destruction but was slower, I killed him on turn 5 with a "slower hand" because I drew into a second Watchwolf. I remember talking to Braves about his life total after he glanced at me and said "what am I at" and I looked at the life counters and told him he was at like 5 life on turn 4 from 2x Watchwolf, 1x Skyshroud Elite and I believe his reply was something along the lines of "damn ...." and scooped up his cards. Their damage adds up fast and can block mostly anything in the early game and live. 3/3 for 2 mana, play 4!

3x Isamaru, Hound of Konda because he is Legendary but a 2/2 for W is amazing, play 3!

This deck plays red and green and Kird Ape is a 2/3 for R, play 4!

Now Skyshroud Elite is an interesting card. I originally had no faith in the card but is has time and time again proved its usefulness. It is rarely a 1/1 and against Mono-anything having 4x of them makes sideboarding a lot easier! But playing 8x 2/3 creatures for 1 mana is so good and part of the reason this deck is so fast and solid, your creatures are just better than your opponents, play 4!

This deck is green and plays creatures .... Tarmogoyf is here, play 4!

Goblin Legionairre is amazing in this deck. However there are certain times where you just won't have the extra mana to use his abilities so he is essentially just a bear. I run 3x because it is a great card but on occassion you just have better things to cast and in multiples it really sucks unless you are losing the ground war and need to burn the opponent out but the utility he provides is just fantastic.

Do not mess with the removal cards at all. I swear by all of them. The only one you could really cut is Cursed Scroll, some people don't like it and it is "slow" but it gives the deck power in the long game.

Swords to Plowshares is the best spot removal spell ever printed and the life you give your opponent will rarely ever be a factor, play 4!

Lightning Bolt is the most effecient burn spell ever printed, play 4!

Lightning Helix is my favorite burn spell of all time, I ran it in standard and loved it and the life it gains alone wins games. This card dominates the mirror matches, play 4!

Umezawa's Jitte is really solid as a 2x of. I am still kind of iffy about this card but it allows this deck to become a combo deck if you can't draw anything relevant. The combo of course is any creature + Jitte. It is so good but you don't want to see it early on and its Legendary. Simply put Jitte wins games, play 2!

The 2x Cursed Scroll could be considered an "open" slot but I think it is so good that it warrants inclusion yet it is redundant in multiples so I run 2x.

The mana base is not set in stone but I would not play any more than 8x fetches and just a personal preference I love having 1x basic of each color of the deck; it should be noted that I beat 43 Lands with this deck only because I ran basics! I fetched out basics, got in some early beats then burned them out! 20x lands if just right for reliably getting to 2-4 mana. Don't run any less than 20x as it will make this deck very suceptible to Wasteland.

The sideboard is very dependant on your meta and what you expect to see. I think 4x Needle and 3-4 Leyline/Shusher and 3-4 Pyroclasm should be run but it does depend on your meta.

Well that does it for GWR Zoo, it is a very solid deck and part of what makes the deck so good is that it is very good in the early and mid game and can win in the late game. It is overall just a very solid deck and it just smashes Goblins which I see a lot of in my meta. Test the deck out for yourself. It is fun as hell to play!

[MTG Guru]

Some cards to consider include Figure of Destiny, Mogg Fanatic, Mother of Runes and (don't laugh) Nimble Mongoose. I notice that the weakest card in your deck seems to be skyshroud elite. I would cut those for either one of the creatures I've mentioned. How do you like Anurid Brushhopper? It seems out of place without any card advantage whatsoever. I'd also consider cutting him as well, if you can't prove me otherwise. But if you do decide to keep Brushhopper, Nimble Mongoose would be an auto-include. It's just that good. Nice deck though, it looks decent.

[metalman2785]

I played a similiar deck, only I used

-4 Skyshroud Elite
-3 Goblin Legionairre
-2 Brushopper/Grunt
-2 Scroll

+4 Mogg Fanatic
+4 Quirion Dryad
+3 Chain Lightning

Fanatic is just so good for picking off BoP/BoB and messing with Ichorid Bridges.

Druid may seem like a poor choice, but every spell in the deck except goyf and jitte will pump him. Druid can grow really fast especially with lightning helix in hand, and usually becomes a target for your opponents removal.

Chain lightning just provides some additional burn and also pumps dryad.

Nice deck though, really fun to play and fast too.

[nitewolf9]

Druid can grow really fast especially with lightning helix in hand, and usually becomes a target for your opponents removal.


If you are trying to imply that dryad gets 2 +1/+1 counters from a single lightning helix, you are wrong. The ability would only trigger once. Just FYI.

[kirdape3]

Plow's actually not good enough in this deck. You're trying to win through damage, so letting them gain 5 off of a Tarmogoyf is not in your best interests. You can afford to sideboard those if not eliminate those entirely. I'd play Chain Lightning or Incinerate in those slots.

Also, there's no reason why you can't go to four colors and run Dark Confidant. The supposed anti-synergy with Cursed Scroll does not actually exist; as long as you can play your spells, you'll be in a good shape regardless. Magus of the Moon is less of a concern than Wasteland is; you have 8 red removal options and 2 Jitte/2 Scroll/4 Goblin Legionnaire to off him with assuming he is a problem for you at all.

[Kevdog]

I am very traditional when it comes to aggro in that I would cut some lands and run 4x Tithe. Drawing 2-3 lands in a row is an auto loss for beatsy-burn decks. Cutting Swords puts you into 1 for 2 territory which is the fundamental modern problem with burn. If you are to change the deck to eliminate Swords, I would use Thornscape Apprentice as it can attack for 1, tap down fatties (goyf, grunt, avenger, dreadnought...), or give your dude first strike and you burn it away before regular damage as to not 2 for one yourself. Granger Guildmage in infinitely better than mogg fanatic when it comes to cleaning up peasants as it can be used multiple times and can be a flagbearer if your opponent is dumb enough to waste a removal spell on it to save their Dark Confidant or other X/1.

[Pulp_Fiction]

Tithe is interesting but all you are doing is setting yourself up for a loss. Running like 16-18 lands is just asking to get owned by Wasteland and mulling into Tithe against one of these decks does not seem like a plan, I would much rather just mull into a hand with a Fetchland(s) and fetch basics. Part of the reason why I like this deck is the mana base. If and when Tithe is countered that is pretty much game over, I mean this deck can win being stuck on 1 land but it is difficult. The deck is very mana intensive but all you have to do is get to three in order for this deck to just go nuts otherwise it just goes off a little with 2x.

Just a personal opinion, I think Figure of Destiny is overrated and way to underpowered to run in a deck like this. He is very mana intensive and Mogg Fanatic is just strictly better. Mother of Runes in interesting but just sucks by itself. Same with Dark Confidant, everything kills him (and will) he can't attack or block and oftentimes kills you. I would like to run Dark Confidant but I hate the card in a deck that is not about card advantage. Zoo could care less about card advantage, its all about dropping big threats fast and this deck does not run out of gas nearly often enough to warrant the inclusion of Dark Confidant. Thats the secret to all the creatures in the deck, they don't do anything except punish the opponent. Saving your creatures is cool and all but MoR is kind of like Ohran Viper, it is an amazing card but it just can't find the right home in a deck because they don't take the offensive role.

@MTG Guru: Anurid Brushhopper has been really good in the little bit I have tested it. It doesn't matter that the deck has no card advantage, the Hopper helps when you can't drop your hand fast enough for Cursed Scroll and after you reach 3 mana just hold the excess lands to keep the Hopper alive. He is a big threat for little mana. I would love to run Serra Avenger in this deck but I just won't play a card that costs WW in a 3x color aggro deck with no Aether Vial.

@ Kirdape: StP is phenomenal and in Zoo you should not run less than 4x in the main. It kills anything and everything. It removes recurring man-lands, stops Ichorid cold, and after you StP you opponent's creature you swing in with 4 or yours. Most decks in the environment run 10-15 creatures, while this deck runs 24. And against decks that run lots of creatures you will be glad you have StP in your hand when Piledriver #2 hits the table. I almost put Chain Lightning in this deck but not over something as powerful as StP.

[Clark Kant]

You mentioned that in 6 rounds, you had to mulligan all but one hand.

Does the deck really get worse if you were to cut the white splash entirely to amp up the consistency and resilience to Wastelands/Blood Moons?

The three best creatures in the deck are red/green...

Tarmogoyf
Kird Ape
Skyshroud Elite

The most efficent burn spells in the game are monored...

Chain Lightning
Lightning Bolt

As others mentioned, StP is counterintuitive as it gains your opponent back life.

There are a lot of exceptional cards that you are neglecting to run and would be able to in a red/green build...

Rancor

Going to two colors may let you get away with running mostly basics and in turns might let you support such bombs as...

Price of Progress
Magus of the Moon
Ankh of Mishra (every single deck opposing deck runs atleast 6 fetchlands these days, and taking 5 damage from each one is a quick way to die)

Just throwing it out there.

[Pulp_Fiction]

The thread is about GWR Zoo. I would run Goyf Sligh if I wanted to play all of that burn. Lightning Helix is worth the White splash alone. And the added benefit of the underused Watchwolf and Goblin Legionairre is just hot sauce.

Build the deck up and play StP in it. I promise you will love it. It gives your opponent life but kills literally anything that stands in your way.

Ok, now, Rancor was tested. It sucked ass, this is what happens everytime you play Rancor, your creature gets StP (this card is damn good is it not) or burned out. I ran it as a 3x of and quickly cut it for Goblin Legionairre. In one game against Thor I have a triple-Rancored Kird Ape which was just bad ass but aside from that 1x time it was pointless and it also sucks drawing Rancor when you are in topdeck mode against an exhausted opponent with no creatures in play. You can run Rancor but it sucks in this deck.

I appreciate the suggestions from Clark Kant but all of these suggestions are dependant on other things. Magus of the Moon costs 3 mana and by the third turn I should be dropping another Goyf or clearing the way with burn and dropping another threat. None of the cards in this deck try and do cute things, they go for the throat and try to win as fast as possible. I do like Ankh of Mishra though, that is some old school tech but since I run 8x fetches this seems more like a card for Goyf Sligh (not sure how many fetches they run but they run a hella lot of burn) or Burn.

EDIT: About the mulligan thing, you can ask anyone who plays at Super Games (whienot, Braves, Thor, kabal) but I am a very unlucky person. It is strange, when I played low stakes poker and everyone I used to play with in high school knew me as the very skilled and incredibly unlucky guy. It is just weird but I have horrible luck in card games. I like to joke that I can only not be consistently land screwed in decks that run 26 or more or 2 or less but the sad thing is that it is mostly true. The way the manabase is it is not suceptible to Wasteland so long as you know how to play against it and when to hold back lands for relevant threats ... etc. But that night I just couldn't get any hands with more than 1x land in them and I never keep 1 landers because I am not lucky enough to draw the second .... it has happened many times before. I don't top deck.

[Clark Kant]

Land screw happens to the best of us.

Congratulations on doing so well in spite of all those mulligans though. That truly is quite an accomplishment.

[Isamaru]

I'll vouch for you...

the only way for me to beat a deck like this is to drop a very large creature that can't be burned and kills an attacker every turn... but STP puts an end to that while anything littler I play dies to burn.

STP is what almost singlehandedly makes this deck a horrible matchup for me, while RG or 8land crap aggro are no problem.

[edgewalker]

stp is counter productive, I'd rather play another burn spell in it's place.

[HammafistRoob]

Well, say you have a 2 Kird Apes in play and your opponent has a Goyf(5/6) in play. That is usually not to great of a situation because you can't attack into him and have an Apes skull get cracked in two.

But with Swords, they gain 5 life and lose 4 and a Goyf. That sounds like a pretty good deal to me if I was playing Zoo.(also note a burn spell in hand instead of Swords would make you a very sad panda).

[TheLion]

Some suggestions:

Replace Anurid Brushhopper with Burning-Tree Shaman.
Test Wild Mongrel (also synergy with Scroll).
Maybe test a black splash as well. STP could then replaced by Terminate (which would not be counter productive), Watchwolf by Scab-Clan Mauler, Goblin Legionaire by Dark Confidant, Helix by Incinerate/Magma Jet/Sudden Shock and Isamaru by Figure of Destiny or Mogg Fanatic.

[Nihil Credo]

Short summary on Swords to Plowshares:


Quality of StP in your deck ~ (Creatures / Burn)

[raharu]

Is there really any reason not to run Grim Lavamancer? I mean really, Captian Shock is always useful, if not phenominal (although he generally is phenominal).

[kirdape3]

When they drop that second Piledriver, you have creatures to block, or burn spells to kill it (as I'm assuming you're not playing Lava Dart or Flame Jab or any other less than 3 damage burn spell). Plowshares is not any more particularly good than any other instant-speed removal spell there.

Actually, Swords to Plowshares is significantly less good in many common situations than said burn spell. Here's why: If they're gaining life, that's extra turns or extra burn that you have to point at their head to kill them. Functionally, you're using the Swords to Plowshares to kill their creature, plus an additional X cards or turns to get back to the same position you were in. I'd rather just have the extra burn, which can perform the same removal function but in cases where I don't want the removal I can just point it at my opponent. Most decks in this format have less creatures, so why do you care so much about them? Trade off, burn the remainder off, and then keep attacking.

[i-never-smile]

Have you considered Temporal Isolation for your removal slot instead of Swords? It's also instant speed, and it doesn't put the creature in the graveyard...just like swords. For 1 more mana, you're losing the enemy lifegain aspect of STP and still removing a Goyf/Dreadnaught/whatever big dude you need Swords for.

[umbowta]

With so many Goyfs running around these days and the apparent dissynergy of using StP when you're trying to kill with burn and small(ish) creatures one is forced to consider the merits of a seemingly little known card called Reprisal. They're great a taking down most anything that burn cannot.

[kirdape3]

Or Threaten, even better and the same mana cost. "Saaaaaaaaaaaaankuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu..."

[umbowta]

"Saaaaaaaaaaaaankuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu..."
Awesome! Is that by chance spoken with a stereotypical asian accent?

[raharu]

Or run black. That works too.

[kirdape3]

OBVIOUSLY that's a stereotypical Asian accent. I don't mean a little, I mean the Yellow Peril here.

I honestly advocate black, not for removal options but for Dark Confidant. That creature is some good.

[Pulp_Fiction]

Burning Tree Shaman is fantastic. I totally forgot about that card. I will certainly test it out. Reprisal is some tech, I love that card, I remember way back when people ran that cause it was the only fucking thing in the format that killed Spiritmonger besides Wrath of God. But again it is to situational, if Goyf is a 3/4 then you are out of luck, StP will always answer any non-Shroud creature you encounter and Reprisal won't.

Temporal Isolation is hot, I used to run it in standard and it rocked but does it stay on Mishra's Factory when it turns back into a land? I have no idea so I am wondering about that and it doesn't answer Ichorid for more than 1 turn so while it is a very good card it just doesn't replace StP. Pretty good though.

On a separate note, should we update the old RGB Zoo thread or start a new one with a brand new build without Negators main? I don't think 4-5 color Zoo is optimal in a format with Blood Moons and Wastelands aplenty, but with all the fetches you can reliably play 3 color builds and have access to any color of mana that you need.

[raharu]

Dark Three Deuce ne1? (wasn't that 4c?)

Also, Black is for Confi, Thoughtseize, Extirpate, and Removal options, not just one of them.

[kirdape3]

Not playing Thoughtseize in a deck with 24 creatures. Cabal Therapy first. Honestly, you end up doing four to yourself with fetchlands every game - why make your potentially soft matchups harder?

[raharu]

Because thoughtseize is going to hit something relevane every. time. always. and. forever? Personally I don't run Cabal Therapy unless I'm already running 4x Thoughtseize, but I presume that's just my personal preference :3

[Pulp_Fiction]

I took Zoo to my local tournament last night and made it to a top 4 split out of 23 people! I got unbelievably unlucky and then made it into top 8 due to tie breakers with a 2-2 record and then got my worst matchup possible in top 8 and my opponent got crazy amounts of unlucky. So I guess in the end my luck evened out. Here is the list I ran:

4x Kird Ape
3x Isamaru
4x Tarmogoyf
4x Skyshroud Elite
2x Goblin Legionairre
2x Anurid Brushhopper
4x Watchwolf

4x Swords
4x Lightning Bolt
4x Lightning Helix
2x Jitte
2x Cursed Scroll

4x Windswept Heath
4x Wooded Foothills
3x Taiga
1x Stomping Ground (don't have Taiga #4)
3x Savannah
3x Plateau
1x Mountain
1x Forest
1x Plains

Sideboard

3x Ancient Grudge
4x Pyroclasm
4x Pithing Needle
4x Vexing Shusher

The list is very much the same except I cut 1x Goblin Legionairre for another land because I seem to have problems reaching 2 mana by turn 2 in a deck that runs 20. This turned out to be a very smart plan as I kept playing against shit with Wasteland and having more mana was key. I like Brushhopper a lot more than Burning Tree Shaman, his evasive ability actually does come into play and in one game against Eva Green I would have lost if I had BTS in play (instead of Brushhopper) because I was at 1 life and drew into Jitte for the win. Jitte was the MVP all night and Cursed Scroll took second place as it won me 3 different games. Here is a mini-tournament report of what I played against. The tournament had 23 people and it was 4 rounds cut to top 8:

Round 1: RBg Red Death with Goyf (Loxodon Baileyarch)
First game was pitiful we both mulled to 6 and then he proceded to destroy my hand and drop creatures. Cursed Scroll and Lightning Helix kill every threat he has and I win shortly after. Game 2 I mull to 6 and he keeps a 1 lander. I drop threats while he gets stuck on 1 land; it wasn't much of a game I destroy him while he plays Mogg Fanatics and shit. Overall this matchup is in my favor, I have just better creatures than he does and my removal spells are far superior.

Round 2: Eva Green (unreg)
First game I overwhelm him with little dudes and double Watchwolf. Second game I only draw my multi-colored creatures and he has a Black Knight, Goyf, and Hippie in play while I have Watchwolf, 2x Goblin Legionairre and Anurid Brushhopper in play. We are at a stalemate and in topdeck mode. I draw Jitte first and that ends that. This matchup is like 55/45 in favor of Zoo, it just really depends on how disruptive they are and how good the threats they stick are.

Round 3: Eva Green (unreg)
First game is fucking sick, I mull to 6 and by turn 5 I have been Hymned and am looking at an opposing board of 3x Goyf and Tombstalker, yeah, I scoop. Game 2 is solid luck. I mull my opening 7 and because I had no lands. I mull my next 6 because the only land I have is a Taiga. I then mull my next 5 because there is no lands and all 2-3 CC shit. Keep my 4 with Bolt, Goyf, Fetchland, Brushhopper. Not much of a game. I lose in short order. I made a remark about well that game played itself and my opponent said something like "well I still played it right, you have all kinds of removal." I told him "I mullled to 4 and drew 1 land, what fucking removal, how is it diffucult to win when your opponent has 2 lands in play and no hand?" It should be noted that he is playing the worst Eva Green variant I have seen ... shit happens.

Round 4: Dragon Stompy (Thor)
Game 1: Fuck luck. I mulll to 5 or 6 don't remember but I end up keeping a hand of Fetchland, Plains and good stuff. He plays turn 1 Trinisphere on the play and I get stuck on 2 lands. More than 1/3 of the fucking deck is lands, I can't hit 3? Had I hit my 3rd land drop he would have lost very quickly but I dont and lose. Game 2 was disgusting beyond words. He mulls to 5 and keeps a decent hand. I actually keep my opening 7 (only did that twice the whole fucking time) which is Isamaru, Ancient Grudge, Lightning Bolt, 1x basic land and 3x other lands. Over the next 6 turns I draw 5 lands and Vexing Shusher. I hate luck so much. With this SB I think Dragon Stompy is actually a positive matchup for Zoo. Should be something like 70/30 Preboard assuming that you are able to draw ... spells. They have so many pointless cards and the only creature that you really don't want to see is Arc Slogger as any burn spell in the deck kills their other threats.

The second Eva Green player I lost to ended up 3-0-1 and due to tiebreakers I end up squeaking in in 7th place WOOT :)

Top8 Belcher (Unreg)

WTF, only combo deck in the top 8 and I have to play him, my worst matchup by far but hey, what can you do? I don't think my opponent knew how to play the deck right and this comes into play later. R/G Belcher with Street Wraith and Serum Powder certainly not an optimal build but he still went 3-0-1 and its still combo and it should destroy me. Game 1 I decide to mull once into a hand with Jitte or a bunch of 1CC dudes to stop EtW tokens as I can't deal with Belcher. I keep my 6 with 2 lands, Jitte, Ape, Isamaru, Swords. He keeps his opening 7 and I am on the play and drop Taiga and Ape. He draws and discards Land Grant. I drop Jitte and swing in. He draws and plays Land Grant getting Taige revealing Belcher, Belcher, EtW, Burning Wish, Rite of Flame, Desperate Ritual LED; ONE MANA SHORT OF KILLING ME! I equip Ape and drop Isamaru. He draws and plays a second Taiga and seems bothered by drawing his other Taiga .... He has 4 mana to cast Belcher and LED to activate with no lands in the deck for the win! But I think my opponent thinks that you have to have a land in your deck for Belcher to work!!! So I helpfully say "looks like you have to Burning Wish" and he responds with " ...... yeah," I almost screamed!! He Empties for 10 and I easily win with Jitte. YES! Game 2 I booard in everything except Shusher and mull into a 6 card hand with Pithing Needle. He mulls for free with Serum Powder and Keeps his next 7 saying "its not very good". He passes the first turn playing nothing. I drop Needle on Belcher and get a look of disdain from my opponent. Next few turns I drop a few threats and he is on a quick clock. Turn 4 he drops Belcher and says go. He will be able to activate it next turn and I can't do anything (he land Granted and I saw the Burning Wish). I get him down to 10 with an active Jitte. His turn 5 he plays LED, Burning Wish for Shattering Spree, kill Needle, activate Belcher. I am dead to rights and the 7th card he revealed .... HIS SECOND TAIGA!!! He is at 10 and I have exactly 10 damage on the board. I got incredibly lucky to go 2-0 against Belcher. I guess this was that 5% chance I have of winning the matchup! It was unreal, that should not happen but it did and I got to split the prize in the top 4.

Overall GWR Zoo is a fantastic deck. I got really unlucky wth it and then later I got really lucky so it worked out. I really recommend playing 21 lands as it really helped out. Thoughts?

[Sims]

4x Kird Ape
3x Isamaru
4x Tarmogoyf
4x Skyshroud Elite
2x Goblin Legionairre
2x Anurid Brushhopper
4x Watchwolf

4x Swords
4x Lightning Bolt
4x Lightning Helix
2x Jitte
2x Cursed Scroll

4x Windswept Heath
4x Wooded Foothills
3x Taiga
1x Stomping Ground
3x Savannah
3x Plateau
1x Mountain
1x Forest
1x Plains

Sideboard

3x Ancient Grudge
4x Pyroclasm
4x Pithing Needle
4x Vexing ShusherYou say you have been having land problems, especially running into wastelands and such. I think you need more mana sources, in general, but also less wasteable mana sources. You run a lot of duals so Moon, Price of Progress, and Back to Basics can hurt quite a bit, ontop of the more oft played Wastelands and Rishadan Ports.. I run Dark 3-Duece a lot and can't imagine only playing 20-21 mana sources, heck, I run 20 lands (including 4 wastes) and 4 chrome moxen.

Adding more basics will help this, especially since you can easily discern where you need the most help. Your deck has a breakdown of 19 white mana symbols, and then 14 for red and green, with a heavy Twenty-one 1cc spells, sixteen 2-cc, and a whopping two 3-cc spells. Your counterbalance matchup might suck, my friend. You'll want more white mana earlier than your red or green, but without losing access to the other mana. With the fetchlands available, you could easily cut a few of the duals and add in more basic lands for resiliency to non-basic hate.

The creature base looks fine to me, if a bit heavy on one-drops. Instead of Brushhopper have you considered Fleetfoot Panther? In discussion with my team about making a WGB CMA build we discussed it as not only a beater but a good combat trick. Flash allows him to step in and save a creature from lethal combat damage or targeted removal, or early on chew up part of an alpha strike by gating a tapped creature to materialize a 3/4 blocker. Fantastic obviously could step in for help vs. Ichorid if that ever comes up, but even I've been finding him underwhelming lately. I'll get back to you with this category as I'd have to do a review of more creatures for this particular color combination.... so in that sense, more to come here.

Spells, on the other hand... I understand your reasons for running it and accept it, but has Swords to Plowshares really been that fantastic? In decks like this, sometimes trading 2-for-1 a Creature and a Bolt/Chain/Whatever for a goyf is a much better trade than 1-for-1 and them gaining any amount of life that might put them out of your range. I still find it difficult to believe that there is no pump in here what-so-ever. Even if Rancor proved underwhelming, you have access to cards like Wax/Wane or the plethora of other instant speed pump. W/W's +2/+2 and utility removal for Counterbalance in the main is nice.

I'll come back and contribute more when I can think of some other options for creatures and spells aside from loading up on burn. I'm glad to see zoo-ish decks are doing well, though I think you do need to improve your manabase and perhaps vary your curve some more so you don't get eaten by Counterbalance.


@Raharu: Dark 3/2 is only 4-colors if you want it to be. The version I run is 3, Watcher was playing a 4C version for a while. Truth be told, the type of deck it's evolved into has many viable color combinations and options that we've been attempting to explore.

[Pulp_Fiction]

Swords to Plowshares has been amazing. I would not cut the card for any reason, it is never dead and always has a serious impact on the game. As far as Brushhopper goes ... I love the card, really you just hold back excess lands and he lives on. I like Fleetfoot Panther but the fact that it has gating would concern me. When you are exploding on your opponent, you don't want to hinder the assault and I know there are times where it will cost you damage. That is why I like this deck so much, it is very similar to burn in that it doesn't do any cute things, its just deals lots of damage really fast. If I were to run a card like Fleetfoot Panther it would certainly be Stonecloaker. He allows the cute combat tricks, has evasion, and can act as recurring graveyard removal.

Now one card I really want to test out is Figure of Destiny. I would love to jam that card in the Skyshroud Elite spot but paying 17$ for a card that isn't as good as Mogg Fanatic is ridiculous. Now I know the response to this ... why don't you just play Mogg Fanatic .... because the card sucks late in the game. He is good turn 1 and later on just sucks in a deck like this. Mogg Fanatic is a phenomenal card but is not the right card for Zoo due to the fact it will only be a 1/1 at all times and Zoo has to have bigger and better creatures than that. Has anyone tested out Figure of Destiny? Is it really that good? I see it being rather lack-luster in a deck that wants to kill by turns 4-5 and taps out literally every turn until the opponent dies. Figure may be phenomenal but seems like he would slow the deck a little. Should Figure of Destiny replace Skyshroud Elite?