[Deck] Loam of Obedience (GB Combo Loam)

[Phantom]

So I was trying to update "We Do Not Sow" (my GB Loam deck) because I really felt it was strong for the current meta. It gave up the tools Aggro Loam uses to beat other aggro decks (i.e. red) in order to have a good to great combo matchup while keeping the great control and aggro control matchups.

I basically made a list of cards that were good in the control matchups (including Thresh and other Aggro Control decks) and a second list of cards that were good in the combo matchup (including Dredge), and a third list of cards that were good in both.

The third list was packed with unsurprising power cards. Chalice, Goyf, Confidant, Deed, Explosives, and Wasteland. There was one card on the list that stood out: Leyline of the Void. I've been itching to play Leyline mainboard for a while now, but it was just too narrow to justify.

Lord knows I'm not the type to jump on the new exciting combo bandwagon, but the Helm/Leyline popped into my head. The more I thought about it, the more I was convinced that Loam was a good shell for the combo.

Loam can handle the large amount of mana the combo will occasionally require.
The combo can help Loams combo match by adding to disruption while quickening its clock.
Loam has other strong roads to victory (see: recurring Tarmogoyf)
The combo is weak against control decks. Most of the shells I've seen the combo suggested for are also weak against control shells (IGGy/Demon Stompy). Loam is strong in that matchup.


So I sketched out this list (literally a first draft) and began beating the crap out of 5C Threshold:

// Lands (25)
3 [ON] Wooded Foothills
3 [ON] Windswept Heath
3 [EUL] Forest (2)
2 [ON] Barren Moor
3 [EVG] Tranquil Thicket
2 [SH] Volrath's Stronghold
2 [AQ] Mishra's Factory (4)
3 [REW] Wasteland
4 [B] Bayou

// Creatures
1 [LRW] Shriekmaw
4 [RAV] Dark Confidant
4 [FUT] Tarmogoyf
2 [FD] Eternal Witness

// Spells
3 [AL] Helm of Obedience
2 [AP] Pernicious Deed
3 [FD] Engineered Explosives
4 [RAV] Life from the Loam
4 [GP] Leyline of the Void
4 [MR] Chalice of the Void
4 [SH] Mox Diamond

// Sideboard
SB: 4 [UL] Engineered Plague
SB: 1 [AL] Helm of Obedience
SB: 2 [AP] Pernicious Deed
SB: 4 [DS] Trinisphere
SB: 2 [ON] Gigapede
SB: 2 [SHM] Wheel of Sun and Moon


I have no idea if the deck has promise, but it runs surprisingly smooth so far. I'll try to get a little formal testing done. In the meantime, advise would be greatly appreciated.

[TimeFlip]

Hmm. Genesis for sure. Use him to bring back Eternal Witness, and from there bring back anything dredged.

[Joon]

Uhm. You saw the TWO copies of Stronghold? That land seems to recurr Witnesses, too. It costs you a draw but this deck runs cyclelands so that isn't a big issue.

I kinda dislike the Deed in this deck somehow. You NEED a witness/critter/combo in hand or the affect is not assymetrical. Dno if this is good enough. Maybe some targeting Removal (Smother...yeah, and what else?) comes to mind.

Ah well, this question will come up no matter if I ask now or not: Does Confidant hurt you much? I see 36 cards with cc0 but also some higher ones cc5 with Maw, cc4 with Leyline, some cc3 stuff...just a question. I guess it has never been a problem for you but just asking.
Ever thought about additional beatsticks in the Side? Against decks...well dno but I like manplans :tongue:

[TimeFlip]

Uhm. You saw the TWO copies of Stronghold? That land seems to recurr Witnesses, too. It costs you a draw but this deck runs cyclelands so that isn't a big issue.


Eh, I guess Volrath's Stronghold vs. Genesis is more personal preference for me. I think Genesis is just more cost-efficient when you want a CITP effect.
Late-game, Stronghold is better. I don't think this deck should have a late game though since Leyline of the Void and Helm of Awakening should be gg.

[DireLemming]

Cool concept, I just love combo-control decks.

The only thing I am not thrilled about is the lack of library manipulation. To me this deck is begging for some Tops. Something like:

-1 LftL
-1 Helm
-1 Volrath's Stronghold

+3 Top

I believe we can get away with cutting a land because of the extra dig provided by Top, but just to be on the safe side, I think these further changes would be in order:

-2 Bayou
-1 Tranquil Thicket

+2 Polluted Delta
+1 Swamp

Fetchlands obviously have nice synergy with Top but more than that with Loam they help cheat with the land count. I added a Swamp as insurance against Bloodmoon effects and other non-basic hate.

I was going to suggest adding a Grim Tutor or two for some extra redundancy and flexibility but I am more and more drawn towards taking a page out of Sun Tower splashing blue for Intuition, Academy Ruins and (maybe) Cephalid Coliseum. Not sure what to cut though.

[MTG Guru]

@Phantom - Have you considered Exploration as maybe a 2-3'of to accelerate the combo? If you decided to ditch Chalice you could run that, and a massive amount of playable cards. You could run Cabal Therapy, Duress, Thoughtseize, and the less obvious Innocent Blood. Has Chalice been working well for you? If so, you can disregard this suggestion, if you prove me otherwise. Why do you even need Chalice? StP and Duress effects shouldn't hurt you much. I'd also consider splashing blue for Brainstorm and Academy Ruins against agressive decks that pack disruption as well as removal.