Hypergenesis combo

[NihilObstat]

Introduction
Hypergenesis combo consists in casting a CMC3 spell with Cascade which will allow us to instantly cast Hypergenesis. The sweetest thing about playing this deck is that it is the deck that can land the meanest, scariest, nastiest monster imaginable the earliest. Having Emrakul + Progenitus + Blightsteel colossus on board as soon as in the first upkeep in the game, before anyone even gets to down a Land is possible with this deck. Sweet, right? ^^

History
This is a deck in development because it hasn't been considered a serious choice for Legacy, but it is a really cheap and incredibly fun deck to play, and I really welcome you to give it a try. It has a very constant combo and little to envy from other similar combo decks (Show&Tell, Natural Order), this could be their economic twin.



Decklists


Straight combo by Kai Meißner

Creatures [23]
4 Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
3 Angel of Despair
2 Phyrexian Metamorph
4 Progenitus
2 Terastodon
1 Blightsteel Colossus
4 Elvish Spirit Guide
4 Simian Spirit Guide

Instants [4]
4 Violent Outburst

Sorceries [6]
3 Demonic Dread
3 Hypergenesis

Enchantments [7]
2 Oblivion Ring
4 Ardent Plea

Lands [20]
2 Gemstone Caverns
2 Mirrodin's Core
4 City of Brass
4 Forbidden Orchard
4 Gemstone Mine
4 Reflecting Pool


Sideboard
4 Leyline of Sanctity
2 Bogardan Hellkite
4 Ricochet Trap
2 Ingot Chewer
2 Firespout
1 Phyrexian Metamorph



Show & Hypergenesis by Steven Birklid

Creatures [23]
2 Angel of Despair
2 Vendilion Clique
3 Sphinx of the Steel Wind
4 Elvish Spirit Guide
4 Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
4 Progenitus
4 Simian Spirit Guide

Instants [10]
1 Misdirection
4 Force of Will
4 Violent Outburst

Sorceries [6]
2 Hypergenesis
4 Show and Tell

Enchantments [2]
3 Ardent Plea

Lands [19]
1 Forest
1 Island
2 City of Brass
2 Savannah
2 Volcanic Island
3 Flooded Strand
4 City of Traitors
4 Misty Rainforest


Sideboard
3 Form of the Dragon
3 Ingot Chewer
3 Inkwell Leviathan
3 Krosan Grip
2 Misdirection
1 Sphinx of the Steel Wind



Gameplan
We basically want to get 3 mana to cast a cascade spell, and hypergenetically land a huge bad-ass fatty. It's simple, right? That's why the deck is just extremely focused on doing that as soon and consistent as possible. Therefore we run Elvish spirit guide and Simian spirit guide, and lands that can produce any color in the Magic multiverse.

Card choices
We need to have a big number of straight win-win creatures. 4x Emrakul, 4x Progenitus, 1x Blightsteel colossus making 9 should be enough to constantly see them.

For protecting this combo and making sure that our fatties are useful when they land we also run things like: Angel of Despair and Terastodon, and also Phyrexian metamorph and Oblivion Ring, with the plus that these are castable from hand (CMC 3-4) for solving any problem that might come through. These cards and their amount should be a meta call, and a personal choice, as much as you can add any permanent with CMC 3+ that you might feel convenient.

Conclusion
This deck might not be a Tier, and maybe never will be, but it is certainly a hell of a fun, and it works better than it might seem before testing.

I hope you all enjoy it. Comment with any ideas or thoughts ;)

[Mr. Safety]

Awesome, turn 1 Hypergenesis into even 1-2 of the fatties is game-breaking.

How do you feel about Lotus Petal? It would get your lands down to 15, but you'd have the option to get a slightly faster fundamental turn.

[Admiral_Arzar]

Awesome, turn 1 Hypergenesis into even 1-2 of the fatties is game-breaking.

How do you feel about Lotus Petal? It would get your lands down to 15, but you'd have the option to get a slightly faster fundamental turn.

You can't play Lotus Petal for fear of Cascading into it and losing horribly. Simian and Elvish Spirit Guide are playable though.

[Darkenslight]

No love for Angel of Despair? Seems like it could get rid of those pesky permanents (like Solitary Confinement. Terastodon seems like a more on-color alternative.

EDIT: first list has them second does not. Rather intersting lists either way.

[Sims]

My personal favorite is the Force of Will list to have an out to opposing FoWs or Chalice for Zero that would otherwise hose this combo. Between Prog, Inkwell, Sphinx, FoW/MisD, you should typically be on the edge of having your 1 shot FoW to try and push the combo through.

My friend and I had built a pure-speed combo version of the deck that used Chancellors as additional effects, particularly White. Revealing white Chancellor while having a FoW and a turn 1/2 Cascade in your hand is a pretty solid amount of protection, and if it hits the table it prevents opposing spell-based removal from nixing your army. Just food for thought. Might not have room in the blue version though.

[NihilObstat]

You can't play Lotus Petal for fear of Cascading into it and losing horribly. Simian and Elvish Spirit Guide are playable though.

Exactly. Every card you play in the deck needs to be CMC3 or higher except for Hypergenesis :-)

That's the reason for the Ricochet Trap in the sideboard, which is awesome, by the way.



No love for Angel of Despair? Seems like it could get rid of those pesky permanents (like Solitary Confinement. Terastodon seems like a more on-color alternative.
EDIT: first list has them second does not. Rather intersting lists either way.

Exactly, there are many interesting lists, and since it is such a under developed deck, there are still so many techs and options to explore. That's why I invite anyone who think that might enjoy it, give the lists a try, add any ideas, and comment ;-)



My personal favorite is the Force of Will list to have an out to opposing FoWs or Chalice for Zero that would otherwise hose this combo. Between Prog, Inkwell, Sphinx, FoW/MisD, you should typically be on the edge of having your 1 shot FoW to try and push the combo through.

My friend and I had built a pure-speed combo version of the deck that used Chancellors as additional effects, particularly White. Revealing white Chancellor while having a FoW and a turn 1/2 Cascade in your hand is a pretty solid amount of protection, and if it hits the table it prevents opposing spell-based removal from nixing your army. Just food for thought. Might not have room in the blue version though.

White Chancellor might be a considerable addition for the first list, but in the second one we need as many blue beaters to pitch to Fow as possible, and we can¡t even consider taking Prog, Emmy and Despair out.

[Mr. Safety]

You can't play Lotus Petal for fear of Cascading into it and losing horribly. Simian and Elvish Spirit Guide are playable though.

Duh, I'm retarded...:frown:

[catmint]

I was already wondering why cascade combo is not more common / successful...

The cascade effect cant be countered except with stifle right? So except for discard how can the combo be disrupted? I think it is fairly correct to assume that once you cast a cascade spell the game is over given the amout of powerful creatures in the deck (likely in your hand).

I guess other combo (faster and/or including disruption might be a problem), but it is not like you can't build with and bring in some protection.

Can you add a matchup analysis/weknesses/strenght?

[TheMightyQuinn]

The cascade effect cant be countered except with stifle right? So except for discard how can the combo be disrupted? I think it is fairly correct to assume that once you cast a cascade spell the game is over given the amout of powerful creatures in the deck (likely in your hand).


Correct, but the spell you cascade into can be countered, so they can just save FoW or whatever for Hypergenesis.

[woremak]

I think Sakashima, the Impostor is probably better than at least one Phyrexian Metamorph. A very small change, but it seems relevant considering that 2 Progenitus > 1 Progenitus.

[NihilObstat]

I think Sakashima, the Impostor is probably better than at least one Phyrexian Metamorph. A very small change, but it seems relevant considering that 2 Progenitus > 1 Progenitus.

Reaching 1 more mana to cast the card from your hand, in situations where you can't combo, or don't find a combo piece, might be complicated for the deck. The mana base is designed to consistantly reach 3 mana easily, but 4 is sometimes a bit of a problem.

Anyway, I think Sakashima's trick is quite powerful enough to be considered. Certainly a card worth testing anyway. Nice!

[woremak]

I played hypergenesis a bit when it was in extended, and while it's clearly a different format I can't imagine a situation where you don't combo and you win. I also think, in your straight combo version, Tendo Ice Bridge is probably better than Mirrodin's Core. It still works with Reflecting Pool and all that jazz. Probably more of a personal preference issue than any real difference though.

[Bruticus]

scratch that.

[NihilObstat]

I played hypergenesis a bit when it was in extended, and while it's clearly a different format I can't imagine a situation where you don't combo and you win. I also think, in your straight combo version, Tendo Ice Bridge is probably better than Mirrodin's Core. It still works with Reflecting Pool and all that jazz. Probably more of a personal preference issue than any real difference though.

I'm saying it, since I actually tested the list a bit. There are situations in which maybe you get 1 or 2 cascades countered, and maybe you need to play a chumpblocker (copying a tarmo, for example) to resist a few turns until you find a third one. Thus, making Metamorph easier to cast, but as I said, I think you're right, Sakashima seems like an awesome option.

[phonics]

Would something like summoning trap be any good in sb against blue decks, or is the threat density too small? Just a thought.

[Mr. Safety]

As long as you have a full 15 targets for Trap, I think it's ok. Chances are good that you'll flip into a bomb.

It would be a little awkward though, as you would need to have both a cascade spell AND Summoning Trap...because how many creatures are you going to hardcast in order to trigger Traps alternative cost?

[Freggle]

First off this deck seems awesome. I have to ask how difficult would it be to switch the mana base into a fetch land / dual base revolving around forests? The If you could do that you could add (the forest fetch-able / non-spell) Dryad Arbor as a target for a proposed 4CMC Natural Order as a viable plan b. Although it's typically not a good idea to add a plan b that is susceptible to the same disruption as your plan a. Having 4 more viable "must counter" bombs could potentially push this deck into a new tier if tested consistent.

Having an instantly fetch-able chump blocker is never a bad idea too. You would be surprised what you could pick off with a Dryad Arbor brought to play post attack phase. People rarely see it coming.

[NihilObstat]

Would something like summoning trap be any good in sb against blue decks, or is the threat density too small? Just a thought.

Summoning trap would be awesome if it's "trap" could be activated after any counter, but being a counter on a creature, our chances doing the trick are quite slim.



First off this deck seems awesome. I have to ask how difficult would it be to switch the mana base into a fetch land / dual base revolving around forests? The If you could do that you could add (the forest fetch-able / non-spell) Dryad Arbor as a target for a proposed 4CMC Natural Order as a viable plan b. Although it's typically not a good idea to add a plan b that is susceptible to the same disruption as your plan a. Having 4 more viable "must counter" bombs could potentially push this deck into a new tier if tested consistent.

Having an instantly fetch-able chump blocker is never a bad idea too. You would be surprised what you could pick off with a Dryad Arbor brought to play post attack phase. People rarely see it coming.

Your idea seems interesting but, if you want to have a plan B route, I think it would be better to follow the 2nd list by Steven Birklid that I originally posted with Show and Tell and Force of Will. Don't you think?

[Freggle]

Your idea seems interesting but, if you want to have a plan B route, I think it would be better to follow the 2nd list by Steven Birklid that I originally posted with Show and Tell and Force of Will. Don't you think?

Not Necessarily. Both Hypergenisis and Show and Tell require you to have your creature in hand whereas Natural Order does not.

All you need is an uncracked fetch (or a Dryad Arbor in play) 4 Mana and The Natural Order itself.

Natural Order also does not give your opponent the opportunity to out bomb you.

Control will help the deck through a lot of MU's but this really isn't a control deck it's a balls out combo deck. It MIGHT be better to run Unmask (and Unmask count) to yank their counter / protect the combo more than Force of Will. ...but that may be a stretch.

[NihilObstat]

Not Necessarily. Both Hypergenisis and Show and Tell require you to have your creature in hand whereas Natural Order does not.

All you need is an uncracked fetch (or a Dryad Arbor in play) 4 Mana and The Natural Order itself.

Natural Order also does not give your opponent the opportunity to out bomb you.

Natural Order requires a total of 4 mana, and usually 5 lands on the field.
If we pretend to use the mana from the Dryad itself, it is quite likely that it will get killed before it loses summoning sickness, specially in game 2-3, therefore it would be better to fetch for it when we are going to cast NO, and thus wait until we have 4 mana and 1 untapped fetchland to go off.

That is 2 more lands than Show and Tell, and believe that is a huge difference in speed.

Also, running at least 15 bombs in the deck we will have 1 huge bomb in hand almost every single time. Plus, FOW is not there to become a control deck, but to be able to resolve Hypergenesis through opposing counterspells ;-)

I'm just saying that I would, pesonally, play Show & Tell over NO if we want to add another possible combo route.

[enemyofarsenic]

white chancellor complements the 2nd list or blue version...

[NihilObstat]

Indeed, Chancellor might be a card worth considering. I really see no reason not to play if you like it ;-)