Mono Green Food Chain

[deakmana]

This has been a pet deck for a while. I've been tinkering off and on with this deck since it was originally Food Chain Myojins. I picked it back up for a while with an elf chain using Sylvan Messengers, Visionaries, Fierce Empaths -> Emrakul.

With the printing of Woodland Bellower I've been trying to make it work again since Food Chain + Fierce Empath can directly combo into Emrakul. Fierce #1 Empath +2 mana -> Bellower & Empath #2 -> Bellower & Empath #3 -> Emrakul.

There were a couple things I had in mind going into building it.
#1 It must have an advantage over other combo decks
#2 It must put up a good fight against miracles

#1 was fairly easy. The combo can run Trinispheres & Chalices without issue.
#2 is trickier. After running some Chalices and Trinispheres in the main, I removed the chalices for better threats so the deck could put on pressure with non-combo cards. My matches vs them originally were not great. The combo is something that will not happen with that, and I made a move to a more beatdown approach.


1x Elvish Mystic
2x Llanowar Elves
2x Fyndhorn Elves
2x Elvish Spirit Guide
1x Fyndhorn Elder
4x Somberwald Sage

4x Food Chain
1x Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
3x Fierce Empath
2x Woodland Bellower

4x Genesis Hydra
2x Obstinate Baloth
2x Thragtusk
3x Acidic Slime

3x Trinisphere

4x Ancient Tomb
19x Forest


Card choices:
1cc Mana Dorks: Originally didn't have any cards at this casting cost, but after goldfishing it runs much smoother with them. They help curve into the 3 mana stuff much better.

Genesis Hydra: A great guy to cast off of the large mana generated by Sages or Food Chain, but even nicer is that he puts a permanent directly into play without casting, unlike cascade. He can dig out Food Chains or a threat, and is big in his own right.

Thragtusk & Baloth: I'm not sure about the split, but the big bodies with life gain is helpful to offset some Ancient Tomb damage. Baloth is cheaper & has the added bonus of messing up Liliana & Hymn plays. Thragtusk gets an extra mana for Food Chain due ot the token and helps more vs Miracles.

Acidic Slime: On paper seems great. Blocks Eldrazis & Goyfs and gets rid of their resources. Has good synergy with Trinisphere.

Somberwald Sage & Fyndhorn Elder: These guys are somewhat threatening since they can help ramp out a big Genesis Hydra or big dude.

Sideboard:
Will most likely include some combination of Chokes, Chalices, Thorn of Amethyst, Faerie Macabre

Any help or suggestions appreciated!


Update - With the release of Eternal Scourge, the deck got a 3/3 beater for 3, who infinites with food chain, making the combo much easier to pull off. I'll keep the latest deck I'm testing here.
-------------Latest List----------------

3x Ancient Tomb
19x Forest

4x Food Chain
3x Chalice of the Void
3x Chrome Mox
3x Trinisphere
3x Sylvan Library

4x Eternal Scourge
4x Elvish Spirit Guide
1x Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
1x Eternal Witness
1x Fierce Empath
4x Genesis Hydra
4x Wall of Blossoms
1x Woodland Bellower

1x Nissa, Voice of Zendikar
1x Garruk Relentless

[.Ix]

Have you considered Cavern of Souls? It lets you run Chalice MD and helps play through Counterbalance.

[square_two]

I think a really good base for this is going to be Sylvan Plug. Mono-green deck that does #1 and #2 as you might intend. Instead of locking the opponent down and then trying to win with Green Sun Zenith'd big dudes (Baloth, Titania, Knight of the Reliquary, Vinecrasher, etc), you would lock and then have basically a 10 card combo package.

The downside you are looking at is that you are pretty reliant on finding Food Chain. And your party of creatures is just going to get wiped by Terminus before you can do so.

I've taken a Sylvan Plug list and modified it to include the package. Pretty much a different direction than what you have laid out, going further into lockpiece mode. So forgive me if it isn't exactly as you intended.

GSZ is still a nice tool for you to either find mana dorks, or the necessary first Empath after landing Food Chain. Or Gaddock Teeg from the side to fight combo. You are really going to want some removal to deal with Delver/DRS/Goyf/basically everything, and so I think a slight splash into black is necessary for Abrupt Decay. Allows for the majestic Toxic Deluge or Golgari Charm from the side as well which is super duper. Also, the full suite of Libraries plus shuffle effects is also almost necessary in order to find what you need on time. Green stompy just gets amazing once you get an active Library on the field.


5 dudes
2 Deathrite Shaman -helps against graveyard dependent decks, ramps, GSZ easily into play
1 Eternal Witness -get back Food Chain after they Abrupt Decay it, then use the 2/1 Witness as next turn food or as a blocker
2 Obstinate Baloth -plan B or just killing Liliana or gaining life back to use Library more aggresively

10 combo
3 Fierce Empath
2 Woodland Bellower
1 Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
4 Food Chain

8 lockpieces //Choke is an option here as well, dependent upon how blue your meta is
4 Chalice of the Void
4 Trinisphere

12 selection/removal
4 Green Sun's Zenith //get DRS or Empath or Witness
4 Abrupt Decay
4 Sylvan Library

25 mana sources //probably can be adjusted somewhat, Wasteland is additional hate
3 Ancient Tomb
3 Bayou
4 Forest
1 Swamp
4 Verdant Catacombs
4 Windswept Heath
4 Wasteland
2 Mox Diamond

Manabase probably needs to be tuned, it is currently set to be trying to get to 4-5 drops quickly. Your combo only needs 3-4 though. The balance is still having early Chalice and Trinisphere plays though, since you'll want those out ASAP.

Sort of a start. I haven't tried any stompy shells that have a combo included, although I've considered Natural Order as an option. Only takes up 4-6 slots though instead of 10. Could also splash white maybe, for a single Dragonlord Dromoka? Gitrog Monster? Optional target for Empath. Not sure what other 6 drops are nice as well as playable. Genesis Hydra finds Trinisphere/Food Chain/Library but not so hot with landing Chalice.

Garruk Relentless is also possible, kills something and then can make some tokens which can be eaten for a single mana. It's nice against Miracles too, as most combat walkers are. Tireless Tracker also a great 3-drop (more of a 4-drop if you want to drop a fetch immediately after playing) that is becoming a nic fit staple.

[lixilisk]

Theres the new Eldrazi that is perfect for food chain:

Eternal Scourge

You may cast Eternal Scourge from exile.

When Eternal Scourge becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, exile it.

[deakmana]

Theres the new Eldrazi that is perfect for food chain:

Eternal Scourge

You may cast Eternal Scourge from exile.

When Eternal Scourge becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, exile it.

Just saw that, it made me soooooo happy. I'll try messing around with a build including it, as I'm pretty sure its an auto-include.

[deakmana]

Here's the latest build I'll be testing out. With the printing of Eternal Scourge, the Bellower chain is clunky in comparison. Scourge -> Hydra -> Empath -> Emrakul is the play now.


Enchantments - 6
4x Food Chain
1x Sylvan Library
1x Choke

Creatures - 21
4x Eternal Scourge
4x Genesis Hydra
1x Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
1x Fierce Empath
4x Elvish Spirit Guide
1x Gaddock Teeg
1x Deathrite Shaman
2x Obstinate Baloth
1x Reclamation Sage
2x Thragtusk

Sorcery - 2
2x Green Sun's Zenith

Artifacts - 9
3x Trinisphere
4x Chalice of the Void
2x Chrome Mox

Lands - 22
1x Dryad Arbor
4x Windswept Heath
1x Bayou
2x Savannah
3x Verdant Catacombs
4x AncientTmb
7x Forest

[Michael Keller]

Has anyone considered Allosaurus Rider with Eldritch Evolution in here?

Seems like something could be broken with Food Chain exiling an Allosaurus Rider with Evolution, I would imagine...

[apple713]

Has anyone considered Allosaurus Rider with Eldritch Evolution in here?

Seems like something could be broken with Food Chain exiling an Allosaurus Rider with Evolution, I would imagine...

eldrich is like a one time food chain. What would your target be that would make it worth including?. Its like a worse version of show and tell because to get rider into play you have to exile 2 cards. So now when that creature is removed you 4 for 1'd yourself.

[deakmana]

I actually tried Allosaurus Rider in an old build as a quick way to hop to 8 mana with Food Chain. It didn't work that well because getting it countered is a blowout and it doesn't get you instantly to Emrakul. Eldritch could work as a tutor, but the gain isn't worth the risk of playing it. Natural Order can get a card that can win by itself, Eldritch can't.

So far my testing with the above list (or lists close to it) is that there's a lot of clunkiness still. Having 0 business cards and having too many Trinis/Chalices/Food Chains in oppening hands is real. I'm thinking the chalices need to be cut, or some split between them and Trinis. Also thinking of removing ESGs for more reusable mana ramp.

[Michael Keller]

eldrich is like a one time food chain. What would your target be that would make it worth including?. Its like a worse version of show and tell because to get rider into play you have to exile 2 cards. So now when that creature is removed you 4 for 1'd yourself.

Evolution is a little more than a one-time Food Chain: it's a sacrifice outlet (to enable broken triggers, like off Protean Hulk) - in addition to being a Natural Order for any color creature for three mana. I'm not saying Allosaurus Rider is the best bet with it, because sure - countering it hurts. Regardless, the resolution of the card provides a bit more than getting an extra mana off an exiled creature.

[square_two]

I actually tried Allosaurus Rider in an old build as a quick way to hop to 8 mana with Food Chain. It didn't work that well because getting it countered is a blowout and it doesn't get you instantly to Emrakul. Eldritch could work as a tutor, but the gain isn't worth the risk of playing it. Natural Order can get a card that can win by itself, Eldritch can't.

So far my testing with the above list (or lists close to it) is that there's a lot of clunkiness still. Having 0 business cards and having too many Trinis/Chalices/Food Chains in oppening hands is real. I'm thinking the chalices need to be cut, or some split between them and Trinis. Also thinking of removing ESGs for more reusable mana ramp.

I would suggest upping the Library count to at least 3, and see if that helps with smoothing out some draws. Your posted list has 1 Library and 2 GSZ...only 3 cards available to help with CA is too few imo.

[Redkid43]

A lot of people here are really focusing on the infinite mana combo with Scourge and Food Chain, but something that you should also focus on is the ability to make your Scourges completely broken. Attacking with them and exiling them to Food Chain if they are chumped is one thing, and being able to replay them; Food Chain gives them the ability to have pseudo-Vigilance; you can even blank hard removal and bad combat by just eating them with Food Chain. Being able to simply grind them out is certainly an option. It's not as attractive as say infinite mana with Emrakul and stuff, but it's certainly a way to win.

The BUG version stalled with counter magic and discruption, where as something like this can certainly play stompy stuff like Chalice and Sol Lands. Eventually we can stall out and Emrakul them. I don't think things like Eldritch Evolution is something we want, considering most of our mana will be exclusive to just creature spells, but interesting things are playable with that mind set. Consider big things like Genesis Hydra, The pro blue Hydra from Theros, Brutalizer Exarch, card advantage creatures...Certianly Emrakul will fit, buts it's a matter of making all the deck work together.

[kirkusjones]

I was thinking along similar lines...if I'm correct, you should be able to remove the scourge for colorless mana, which would allow things like reality smasher and thought-knot seer to be played as well. I'm tinkering with the mana base and card choices now, but worldbreaker seems like it's worth testing.

I keep wanting to play green-blue for some filtering (manipulate fate) and disruption, as abrupt decay on foodchain can really rain on our parade...spellskite, maybe?

Genesis hydra is an interesting choice. I originally thought about some of the other elder eldrazi fatties, but the hydra dodges karakas.

[deakmana]

Sorry to post lists so much, just fast evolving and I'm having really good results with this list. Definitely needed more dig, 3x Sylvan Libraries are real. GSZ were to much of a nonbo with Food Chain, removed. Wall of blossoms add decent dig and solid blocker, plus can ramp off Food Chain into bigger Hydras. I was looking at Thought Knot, but the colorless requirement is a little tricky.

*Moving list to first post*

[square_two]

I was thinking along similar lines...if I'm correct, you should be able to remove the scourge for colorless mana, which would allow things like reality smasher and thought-knot seer to be played as well. I'm tinkering with the mana base and card choices now, but worldbreaker seems like it's worth testing. .

Food Chain specifies that it creates mana of a single color. So you can't play Smasher or TKS off of Food Chain (alone, at least).

"Exile a creature you control: Add X mana of any one color to your mana pool, where X is the exiled creature's converted mana cost plus one. Spend this mana only to cast creature spells."

[kirkusjones]

Damn, I thought I was on to something there. Well, I would definitely be running Yavimaya Coast if I was playing blue/green now for sure.

[Redkid43]

Another thing that I realized is this: how are we going to ensure Scourge is readily available for abuse? With BUG, you have Force, draw, and most importantly Manipulate Fate. Green doesn't have quite as many ways to just get him into exile. He's colorless, so we can do cute things like run Bounty of the Hunt for straight abuse, and the only other way we could at this point is Manipulate Fate--but then you run the risk of just being a bad version of a fringe deck.

[kirkusjones]

My thinking on the deck is more of a stompy style build with a powerful combo finish, more so than the BUG food chain deck. Maybe it needs to be colorless with a green splash, as opposed to BUGchain. It'll warrant testing to see what build is more optimal.

Edit - sylvan plug is a hateful stompy deck, duh.

[ESG]

Another thing that I realized is this: how are we going to ensure Scourge is readily available for abuse? With BUG, you have Force, draw, and most importantly Manipulate Fate. Green doesn't have quite as many ways to just get him into exile. He's colorless, so we can do cute things like run Bounty of the Hunt for straight abuse, and the only other way we could at this point is Manipulate Fate--but then you run the risk of just being a bad version of a fringe deck.

Bounty of the Hunt? Bounty requires a green card to be exiled. Also, Scourge is exiled on an opponent's spell, not yours. Manipulate Fate is very powerful in any Food Chain deck. I think a straight green Food Chain deck could exist, but to be better than a BUG or UG build it would need some other compelling angle to attack from, such as a secondary combo or a hate-piece build like Sylvan Plug.

[midorimage]

I am a sucker for crazy green decks and built something close to square_two list...

I would play four Deathrite Shaman, it is a good card and it usually ends up eating an Abrupt Decay. Which helps Food Chain stay on the battlefield.

It seems any time I played first turn or second turn Food Chain, it was dealt with. Also, I would up the Eternal Witness #S. I won a few games by sacrificing random creatures to play the Woodland Bellower that I had in my hand. (didn't have a Fierce Empath in hand)