[Mini-discussion] Aggro Loam and the USA

Do you happen to have any idea why pretty much nobody other than Volt and Technogeek plays Aggro Loam in the USA*?

Possible answers:

1. Metagame considerations (such as?)
2. I/we don't think the deck is actually good (why?)
3. Simple lack of interest - i.e. no particular reason, and sooner or later the deck will take off over there as well

Have at it.


* It's of course possible that they play it a lot and it just doesn't make Top 8. This would be statistically odd, though, especially since American tournaments are smaller and therefore present a greater correlation between Top 8 presence and field presence.

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They still seem to play Goblins and Goyf Sligh, though, so while it can be true it cannot be the only reason.

I tested the deck and found it to be pretty inconsistent, but I ultimately ended up shelving it because Ichorid was causing people to sideboard more and more graveyard hate.

I'm not sure when I would rather play Aggro Loam than Goblins. The latter is more consistent, immune to graveyard hate, and boasts similar matchups across the field (the obvious exception being the matchup between Goblins and Loam).

I'd say a combination of loses to combo, gets bitch slapped by counterbalance@2, and suffers massive splash damage from everyone else's graveyard hate.

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I actually think the deck is completely absurd and one of the best in the format.

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Originally Posted by frogboy

I actually think the deck is completely absurd and one of the best in the format.

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Even better than Intuition -> Demigod.dec?

I found it was insanely strong when playtesting it.

Just speculation, but there seems to be a lot of residual combo/graveyard hate in the US. People are also probably afraid to play decks that can't say, "no" to other options.


I've noticed in general that European players like decks with more synergy and American players like decks that cover all the bases with individually powerful cards. I see decks like the Wave+Monolith+Power Artifact+Mizzium Vault combos flying around Europe, but nowhere in the US.

I agree with frog...

The deck is amazing and consistent...

The only reason I could possibly find to not play it, is sometimes it is a little too slow... but since when has that been THAT huge of a deal?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Obfuscate Freely

Even better than Intuition -> Demigod.dec?

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Less awesome but more EV, I think. It's also a lot less fucked by Tormod's Crypt.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by frogboy

I actually think the deck is completely absurd and one of the best in the format.

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I personally don't play it because I am missing some of the last few cards, and Volt already plays it here. Although I think it's one of the strongest decks, I am unexcited about building a deck already played by one of the best players in the area, and similar in "feeling" to Survival. I'd rather build something completely different (like Demigod RAWR) for about the same price in cards I am missing.

I don't understand the comparison to Survival.

But it plays really powerful cards and reminds me of Astral Slide. What's not to love?

After seeing Volt play it, as well as a guy from our local, who plays it weekly, I'm thoroughly convinced it's one of the best decks in the format.

So why don't I play it? Because it's not blue. Don't take that as an irrational bias towards blue though. It's only because all of the duals I own are blue, and I don't have any of the non-blue duals required to build Aggro-Loam. Also, I don't have any Thoughtseizes. Or money.

But yeah, the deck is nuts.

edit -

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Originally Posted by frogboy

I don't understand the comparison to Survival.

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I think by "similar feeling" he means "not blue".

A strong midgame deck that is a little slow to set up, then wins on massive card advantage. Although it has better matchups against almost everything, Survival has a better matchup against combo, and still winnable matchups against all the decks AggroLoam crushes.

Also, not blue. Midgame Green, a 2cc spell that generates massive card advantage and game wins.

I don't play it because it's a Loam deck which are pretty slow and boring as hell to play.

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Originally Posted by The Rack

I don't play it because it's a Loam deck which are pretty slow and boring as hell to play.

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Yeah right...:confused:
Don't forget we're not talking about stuff like eternal garden or xyz-Loam.dec. This is Aggro Loam, dude. And here is a compilation of some decent lists.


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by The Rack

I don't play it because it's a Loam deck which are pretty slow and boring as hell to play.

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I play Aggro Loam and I have to say, it is extremely fun to play. If you disagree I think you should go on MWS and try it out.
Also, in the CT/Mass meta aggro loam it is really not that rare. I have played the mirror at least twice recently. I am almost never the only aggro-loam player at a given tournament in this area. Part of the reason it is so prevalent is the lack of combo in the meta and the prevalence of thresh and landstill.

Personally - and this is a lame reason - I don't have Mox Diamonds and Dark Confidants. And nobody will trade them to me!

I've tested the deck a ton on MWS (for what that's worth) and it's fun as hell too! However, it's scoop-it-up buttercup-game against stomr combo is said. Although there was a game one that the opponent didn't realize what I was playing and made a bunch of ETW tokens only to have them swept with EE. Game 2 and 3 he dropped Tendrils on my grill.

Also, decks running heavy critter removal is a pain. StP, Smother, and Snuff Out? Ugh, all my critters are dead. Mess with my graveyard? All my critters are small. On a rare occasion, Seismic Assault is Seismic Ass.

In a general way, the deck reminds me a bit of DragonStompy - so explosive sometimes but a bit inconsistent.

Two reasons:

1- Either Volt is playing it, or has already had someone call dibs on it for the tournament before I get a hold of him about it.

2- I'm not shelling out $400+ on a Legacy deck again, nor do I think I'm going to be working on my Eternal collection anytime soon.

EDIT: To give more thought into it, in a "perfect" world I'd have this, Ichorid, MUC, and Goblins built. Between those four decks, I'm pretty sure I'd do fine in any metagame shifts we'd have around here.