troll o' lol combo

[gozmit97]

so the dragons maze spoilers are midways now nad i would like to talk about a deck based around on of the new cards.

varolz, the scar-striped (http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=141221&d=1365653080)

so the idea is to quickly cast varolz throw a death's shadow/phyrexian dreadnought or 2, scavenge
and voila beat face. cards like berserk, rancor and tainted strike. worldly tutor and sylvan tutor help get varolz, while entomb gets shadow and dreadnought. here's a sample list

4 verdant catacombs
3 misty rainforest
3 marsh flat
4 bayou
1 forest
1 swamp
4 varolz, the scar-striped (http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=141221&d=1365653080)
4 death's shadow
4 phyrexian dreadnought
2 entomb
4 worldly tutor
3 sylvan tutor
4 berserk
3 rancor
1 elvish herder
4 deathrite shaman/lotus petal/other ramp
4 birds of paradise/lotus petal/other ramp
3 tainted strike
4 thoughtseize/other disruption
what's your thoughts on this? to slow/easily disrupted? something else? feedback is appreciated

[syfilisx]

I would probably feel like playing more midrangy deck with Lolteth Troll, since it can discard Naughts & Shadow's from hand with benefit and it has trample and regeneration, so it's good target to scavenge on. Birds of paradise seems like a good target to scavenge too, since it has evasion.

Maybe would play 1 dryad arbor, since you can fetch it to regenerate troll / avoid sacrifice effects and seems to me that it's also a free point of power with scavenge.

[Viridia]

I'd probably try some sort of BUG shell, with the StifleNought package aswell as the set of Thoughtseizes and some Dismembers so that you have multiple ways to get in with a fat dude (Varolz Scavenge, StifleNought or just a fat Death's Shadow)

[Esper3k]

Misthollow Griffin also seems lolzy with Varolz, but probably too expensive.

[.dk]

Needs more Greater Good! Use your Dreadnoughts as a draw engine to find varolz, then scavenge away. You can ramp into Greater Good with anything from Deathrite Shaman to Lotus Cobra + Fetches.

I like the idea of BUG shell to include Stifle as well as other disruption. Might be something here - certainly seems fun if nothing else.

[neoryujin]

Absolutely in need of blue for protection (this will run a little bit like a green blue infect deck with Force of Will as backup protection) and Invisible Stalker kills in one or two turns, almost unpreventable.

Turn 1: Land, Lotus Petal/Deathrite Shaman/Birds of Paradise
Turn 2: Land, Invisible Stalker, Entomb/Thoughseize or hold back Divert / Flusterstorm / Daze whatever.
Turn 3: Land, Varolz, the Star Striped, Lion's Eye Diamond*, discarding Phyrexian Dreadnought / Death's Shadow. Scavenge anything in the graveyard to Invisible Stalker, attack. Kill in one or two turns.

(*Note: works also without Lion's Eye Diamond. Just cast Dreadnought / Death's Shadow Turn 2, and then scavenge them Turn 3. If Invisible Stalker is somehow dead by then, there's still birds or Varolz in play)

[ac3eb]

I'd probably try some sort of BUG shell, with the StifleNought package aswell as the set of Thoughtseizes and some Dismembers so that you have multiple ways to get in with a fat dude (Varolz Scavenge, StifleNought or just a fat Death's Shadow)

This.

[mdb1005]

So here's the list I've been working on along with the rest of the guys I play and test with. I'm in between trying to play the 4 dreadnoughts and thus 4 stifles but I need to know what to cut. Obviously I want Abrupt Decay in the main also but I'm not sure what slots to change. The shocklands are to fetch and bolt myself to hardcast a Death's Shadow.

2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
3 Liliana of the Veil

3 Varolz, the Scar-Striped
4 Tarmogoyf
4 Deathrite Shaman
4 Death's Shadow
2 Phyrexian Dreadnought

3 Stifle
2 Spell Pierce
3 Force of Will
4 Brainstorm
3 Hymn to Tourach
3 Inquisition of Kozilek
1 Thoughtseize

3 Polluted Delta
2 Misty Rainforest
2 Verdant Catacombs
4 Wasteland
1 Watery Grave
1 Overgrown Tomb
1 Breeding Pool
2 Underground Sea
2 Tropical Island
1 Bayou

Sideboard:
2 Duress
4 Abrupt Decay
1 Life from the Loam
1 Sylvan Library
1 Flusterstorm
3 Surgical Extraction
1 Pernicious Deed
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Maelstrom Pulse

[nudon]

This.

Agreed.

3 Varolz, the Scar-Striped
4 Deathrite Shaman
4 Death's Shadow
4 Phyrexian Dreadnought

4 Stifle
4 Daze
4 Force of Will
4 Brainstorm
4 Ponder
4 Thoughtseize
1 Snuff Out
2 Dismember

4 Polluted Delta
4 Misty Rainforest
4 Wasteland
2 Underground Sea
2 Tropical Island
1 Bayou
1 Island

[gozmit97]

i'm not a big fan of daze nor the full 4 force o' will, though i'm not sure why, it just fells wrong.

on another node, mdb really like your list. how does tarmogoyf and varolz scavenge work together?

[mdb1005]

i'm not a big fan of daze nor the full 4 force o' will, though i'm not sure why, it just fells wrong.

on another node, mdb really like your list. how does tarmogoyf and varolz scavenge work together?

Goyf still sees his P/T in the graveyard. I do like the idea of Snuff Out and Dismember in here to get a good life total for Shadow so I'll definitely give that a try.

[nudon]

Goyf still sees his P/T in the graveyard. I do like the idea of Snuff Out and Dismember in here to get a good life total for Shadow so I'll definitely give that a try.

Goyf is nice and I can certainly see adding him but I wanted to start with more blue cards to pitch to FoW. I don't think it's a good idea to have shocklands just for the purpose of bolting yourself without any other benefit. I would definitely swap out IoK for the playset of thoughtseize and maybe play gitaxian probe if you really want to push the death shadow gameplan. Yeah, I like the snuff out/dismember idea too. :)

[Ashen]

What about Careful Study ? It allows you to dump fatties in the yard as well as cycling through your deck faster.

[nudon]

What about Careful Study ? It allows you to dump fatties in the yard as well as cycling through your deck faster.

It's card disadvantage that does nothing without Varolz out.

[Freggle]

I have been monkey-ing with a Death's Shadow deck for a while, and the secret tech that my friend came up with is Apostle's Blessing. That card has been absolutely outstanding. Can "clear the path" to victory (I had good lols with the protection from artifacts against affinity) or stop well timed removal (even the uncounterable Abrupt Decay many people lean on.)

My creature suite is Delver of Secrets, Deathrite Shaman & Death's Shadow. Each one shines in different MU's, but I'm not completely satisfied. I do not likethe Dreadnaught. 2-1 ing yourself for a a vanilla fattie just doesn't seem right with me.

It looks like you guys properly figured out the Snuff Out / Dismember split. I love Snuff out but it feels stupid when Gaddock Teeg hits the board. ...plus sometimes you don't want to take the full 4.

Are you sure that varolz, the scar-striped is really that good when it needs a fair amount of set-up, and uses the graveyard (which is getting hated pretty well right now?) Seems like it might just be cute, but fun.

Anyhow I have been enjoying the BUG shell and Death's Shadow as it can come back out of (what appears to be) nowhere.

[majikal]

I really like the idea of a BUG shell for this.

I also really like the idea of using a bunch of tutors to set yourself up. Intuition to dump your 'Noughts in the yard, GSZ to grab your troll, maybe a 1-of Silhana Ledgewalker?


4 Phyrexian Dreadnought
4 Tarmogoyf
3 Varolz, the Scar-Striped
3 Invisible Stalker
1 Silhana Ledgewalker

3 Green Sun's Zenith
2 Intuition
4 Stifle
1 Vision Charm
4 Brainstorm
3 Force of Will
4 Thoughtseize
4 Abrupt Decay

1 Dryad Arbor
4 Verdant Catacombs
4 Polluted Delta
3 Bayou
3 Underground Sea
2 Tropical Island
1 Swamp
1 Island
1 Forest

[mdb1005]

I really like the idea of a BUG shell for this.

I also really like the idea of using a bunch of tutors to set yourself up. Intuition to dump your 'Noughts in the yard, GSZ to grab your troll, maybe a 1-of Silhana Ledgewalker?


4 Phyrexian Dreadnought
4 Tarmogoyf
3 Varolz, the Scar-Striped
3 Invisible Stalker
1 Silhana Ledgewalker

3 Green Sun's Zenith
2 Intuition
4 Stifle
1 Vision Charm
4 Brainstorm
3 Force of Will
4 Thoughtseize
4 Abrupt Decay

1 Dryad Arbor
4 Verdant Catacombs
4 Polluted Delta
3 Bayou
3 Underground Sea
2 Tropical Island
1 Swamp
1 Island
1 Forest

I really like this list my only problem is that Invisible Stalker is a huge dork without Varolz. If you cut one Intuition and the 3 Stalkers for a playset of Deathrite's to ramp into Varolz/GSZ I think this is a pretty great list. Personally my meta is very combo heavy so I might cut 2 abrupt decay for 2 Spell Pierce or Inquisition but obviously it depends on what is being played.

[trevaftw]

I think Grisly Salvage could be good in this. You can pitch creatures into your GY and dig for Varloz, or get access to the lands you need to play cards. And if you pitch all of your Valroz, just put a Volrath's Stronghold in.

[H]

This is an interesting deck idea.

What about including Lotleth Troll and Unearth? You can get the whole combo online with Lotleth, he can beat decently since he has trample (he also regenerates). Unearth gives you a way to get the troll combo online or get a 'naught back if you only have Stifle (if you want to run blue).

[ThoSha]

This is an interesting deck idea.

What about including Lotleth Troll and Unearth? You can get the whole combo online with Lotleth, he can beat decently since he has trample (he also regenerates). Unearth gives you a way to get the troll combo online or get a 'naught back if you only have Stifle (if you want to run blue).

I feel like Deed could also work great in here.

[Karhumies]

If BG is the basis of the deck, I would put together something more Eva Green-like, such as


Creature (16)

2x Dark Confidant
4x Deathrite Shaman
4x Death's Shadow
4x Tarmogoyf
2x Varolz, the Scar-Striped

Instant (5)

4x Abrupt Decay
1x Berserk

Land (20)

4x Bayou
1x Dryad Arbor
1x Forest
6x Swamp
4x Verdant Catacombs
4x Wasteland

Sorcery (11)

3x Green Sun's Zenith
4x Hymn to Tourach
1x Riding the Dilu Horse
3x Thoughtseize

Enchantment (8)

3x Bitterblossom
3x Pernicious Deed
2x Sylvan Library

This is just a very rough draft. All in all, I feel that Bitterblossom could work well with Varolz (flying, regen). If using Entomb, go for 1x Brawl for the trample rather than Elvish Herder / Rancor/other odd stuff in the OP. But using the graveyard too much can be risky.


Blue opens up some interesting options, such as
Force of Will
Brainstorm
Baleful Strix (flying, cantrip, pitches)
Lim-Dul's Vault (tutor, manages life total for Death's Shadow)
Stile + Phyrexian Dreadnought
Snapcaster Mage (1UGG: Berserk, Snapcaster, Berserk flahback can win games)

...but the manabase goes to hell vs non-basic land hate with a 3 color build, IMO.

[SirTylerGalt]

Caleb Durward wrote an article about Varolz in Legacy:

http://www.channelfireball.com/articles/spoiler-spotlight-varolz-the-scar-striped/