[Deck] Zoo

I just started playing zoo and need some critics of my current decklist:

Zoo

Lands: 20

3 Taiga
3 Plateau
2 Savannah
4 Arid Mesa
4 Wooded Foothills
1 Horizon Canopy
1 Mountain
1 Forest
1 Plains

Creatures: 20

4 Tarmogoyf
4 Kird Ape
4 Qasali Pridemage
4 Wild Nacatl
4 Grim Lavamancer

Spells: 20

4 Lightning Bolt
4 Lightning Helix
4 Chain Lightning
4 Path to Exile
2 Sylvan Library
2 Umezawa's Jitte

Sideboard: 15

4 Tormod's Crypt
4 Red Elemental Blast
3 Krosan Grip
2 Gaddock Teeg
2 Ethersworn Canonist

thanks!

EDIT: Red elemental blast -not- Blue

I keep seeing lists with multiple Savannahs popping up. What is the benefit of Savannah over Horizon Canopy? Yeah, you can fetch it up obviously, but how many times do you fetch 2 Savannahs in the same game? I'd cut one and add Canopy, it is so underplayed and is a good addition to the mid and late games.

BEB? I hope that is a typo for pyroblast or REB. SB is based on meta, so if you are seeing combo constantly I guess that's ok. I'm nervous about the reanimator MU. We've been going over this and it might be ok to board in Faerie Macabre for some instant hate and an answer for the turn 1 nuts draw. I see lands as a bad match up most of the time and with the popularity that I saw SCG Richmond, I think PoP deserves a spot in the side.

I have been a fan of Fireblast, it might be worth cutting a helix and X for 2 of them. Try it out, it really helps sneak in that last bit of damage. 3 Sylvans is also the nuts if you can find the space.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kanabo

I just started playing zoo and need some critics of my current decklist:

Zoo

Lands: 20

3 Taiga
3 Plateau
2 Savannah
4 Arid Mesa
4 Wooded Foothills
1 Horizon Canopy
1 Mountain
1 Forest
1 Plains

Creatures: 20

4 Tarmogoyf
4 Kird Ape
4 Qasali Pridemage
4 Wild Nacatl
4 Grim Lavamancer

Spells: 20

4 Lightning Bolt
4 Lightning Helix
4 Chain Lightning
4 Path to Exile
2 Sylvan Library
2 Umezawa's Jitte

Sideboard: 15

4 Tormod's Crypt
4 Blue Elemental Blast
3 Krosan Grip
2 Gaddock Teeg
2 Ethersworn Canonist

thanks!

---

Cut a Chain Lightning and add another land, and that would be my exact maindeck list. I would split your gravehate though because Pithing Needle still gets ran. And you don't need Blue Blasts so i would run PoP. It's insane in today's meta.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kird Ape

I keep seeing lists with multiple Savannahs popping up. What is the benefit of Savannah over Horizon Canopy? Yeah, you can fetch it up obviously, but how many times do you fetch 2 Savannahs in the same game? I'd cut one and add Canopy, it is so underplayed and is a good addition to the mid and late games.

---

My reason:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Nelis

3. Every time I play this deck I dislike Horizon Canopy more and more. Today I lost the 2nd game vs Belcher because of it. It hurt me in multiple ways: I took 2 damage extra from it, I couldn't play out an extra creature (a fetch land or a forest dual would have been better) and I had Kird Apes die because they were only 1/1. Otherwise I would have been able to deal with his 14 tokens. I know this is just one specific situation but in other matches too my Kird Apes were of no use because Horizon Canopy is no Forest.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Nelis

My reason:

---

Amen to this. I've lost plenty of games to a Nacatl or Kird Ape not getting to optimal levels. Also I've been trying that KOTR that everyone has been jerking off to, and I'm not really fond of em. I run 10 fetches and i still don't get him bigger than Thoctar. And in my opinion, if you're tapping him for his ability, you're doing it wrong.

Edit: I still why he is good though, so noone get their panties in a wad.

So, anybody interested in the new level up creature from the new set?

http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/attac...1&d=1270181048

I'm not quite sure what I think of him, but I like him quite a bit. Compared to figure:
+ Needs less total investment to get to max form, which can do the same total damage
+ Can pay investments over more turns
+ Form 2 is better than figure stuck at 2/2
+ First/double strike with Jitte is very strong
- Form 2 is not as good as a 4/4 figure, although it's less mana
- Figure's final form flies
- Only uses :w:
- Can't level up at instant speed

However,I really almost just want to replace kird apes with this guy because I'm tired of him =| However, I'm not sure if it's too greedy to start wanting all the mana for this guy too. Anyway, I wish I had more time to elaborate on the discussion, but seeing as I'm at work I'll leave it here for now.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Loxodon Baileyarch

Amen to this. I've lost plenty of games to a Nacatl or Kird Ape not getting to optimal levels. Also I've been trying that KOTR that everyone has been jerking off to, and I'm not really fond of em. I run 10 fetches and i still don't get him bigger than Thoctar. And in my opinion, if you're tapping him for his ability, you're doing it wrong.

Edit: I still why he is good though, so noone get their panties in a wad.

---

Agreed on Horizon canopy, I just finally cut mine for the 3rd Plateau. (3 Plateau, 3 Taiga, 1 Savannah)
As far as KoR goes, I am yet to use him for his ability but I do feel that in certain mirror-ish/standoff situations, he can break the stalemate via his ability.
Most of the times when he does come down, he is goyf like size or better.
Another reason I can see him being good is feeding Lavamancer and dodging wastelands.

He does push you to run bad things (IMHO!) like Treetop, Wasteland, Horizon canopy.

I don't think he pushes you to run any bad things. Knight is there for only three things in my opinion:

+ always be able to break creature stalemates
+ perhaps get you an extra mana to work with the next turn (and maybe play and use a jitte with your 4 mana)
+ fetch a horizon canopy or 2 so that even if he's dealt with you've gained some CA

You don't need to run anything extra to run him. I think these reasons alone make him worthwhile. Anyway, we're not having that discussion again :P Canopy still seems useful as a 1-2 of extra land. I guess I think that if you're not getting the cards to make kird ape or nacatl their maximum power, then you've probably got greater concerns on your hands. Same goes if you need to spend a lot of life on it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Valtrix

So, anybody interested in the new level up creature from the new set?

http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/attac...1&d=1270181048

I'm not quite sure what I think of him, but I like him quite a bit. Compared to figure:
+ Needs less total investment to get to max form, which can do the same total damage
+ Can pay investments over more turns
+ Form 2 is better than figure stuck at 2/2
+ First/double strike with Jitte is very strong
- Form 2 is not as good as a 4/4 figure, although it's less mana
- Figure's final form flies
- Only uses :w:

However,I really almost just want to replace kird apes with this guy because I'm tired of him =| However, I'm not sure if it's too greedy to start wanting all the mana for this guy too. Anyway, I wish I had more time to elaborate on the discussion, but seeing as I'm at work I'll leave it here for now.

---

Interesting creature!
That guy is definitely test worthy. A 3/3 first striker for WW looks really good (take that Nimble Mongoose and Vampire Nighthawk!).
I don't think he'll be leveled up to a 4/4 too often though.

Comparing it to FoD is hard (which is the only worthy comparison IMO). I'm very fond of FoD and think is a great creature in Zoo. Making it a 4/4 is not hard and I've won a couple of games turning it into a 8/8.

Student is faster... but I'm not sure is better. But I'll definitely test it.

Level up doesn't work quite that way, since the creature starts at level 0 (with 0 counters on it), so it's actually W to play, then WW to get to the next form.

Problem is Figure can be "leveled" eot, instant speed, etc, so its less risk for a timewalk and can mess up combat.
This guy is WISYWIG. He won't make the cut over figure.

EDIT: not to mention Figure can be played/leveled with R or W mana

mmmm...
I asummed creatures started at level 1 (I'm used to PC RPG's).

Well, it's just a cute creature then. It won't even make it into my commons/uncommons cube, because it's a rare :(

Thanks for the clarification. Long live Figure!

KoTR has always worked well for me. The smallest that he has been for me was 5/5. 3cc @ 5/5 isnt that bad for me (considering he's gonna get bigger late game). Max of two IMHO.

What is the best board card against Storm?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Svenyboy

What is the best board card against Storm?

---

Ethersworn Canonist or Rule of Law are good sideboards against Storm. Mindbreak Trap is good also, but it seems like that card has made Storm play more cautiously and not go off until it has a Duress or Thoughtseize or Orim's Chant in hand.

I am considering -2 Teeg -1 Figure main for 1 Jitte, 1 Basilisk Collar, 1 Stoneforge Mystic.

Pros:
- I already run 4 Grim Lavamancer so Basilisk collar becomes a terminate + gain 2 life.
- All creatures wearing Collar become unblockable or block anything and trade.
- Jitte

Cons:
- Less combo, Staxx hate main deck

Lately our metagame has become infested with Black decks and Midrange rock decks which are bad matchups for Zoo.
Teeg has not been pulling his own in our metagame as it is poorly developed.

Has anyone tried running Stoneforge Mystic before?

EDIT:
I've searched the thread (durrr) and I see people talking about it, but nobody posting results, etc...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kanabo

I just started playing zoo and need some critics of my current decklist:

Zoo

Lands: 20

3 Taiga
3 Plateau
2 Savannah
4 Arid Mesa
4 Wooded Foothills
1 Horizon Canopy
1 Mountain
1 Forest
1 Plains

Creatures: 20

4 Tarmogoyf
4 Kird Ape
4 Qasali Pridemage
4 Wild Nacatl
4 Grim Lavamancer

Spells: 20

4 Lightning Bolt
4 Lightning Helix
4 Chain Lightning
4 Path to Exile
2 Sylvan Library
2 Umezawa's Jitte

Sideboard: 15

4 Tormod's Crypt
4 Red Elemental Blast
3 Krosan Grip
2 Gaddock Teeg
2 Ethersworn Canonist

thanks!

EDIT: Red elemental blast -not- Blue

---

Canopy, 1 Path and 1 Library could all go for 2 Teeg and something else, probably Knight. Jitte could even move into the SB too, there are just some matchups where it is awful (vs combo, nimble mongoose, etc). In the SB, drop 1 REB and add 3 Mindbreak Trap. ANT is highly played and there will be a few in every tourney and you are just dead to it otherwise.


So, back to the FoD (and the just as poor river boa of death) over the Knight....there this card called Engineered Explosives. That is why the Knight is better. It gets just as big as the figure, and it doesnt commit you board to dying to EE for 1. Same reason goes for the Student of Warfare. I always want to go 1 drop, 2 drop, 3 drop, anything else is just poor for the deck

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sauce

I am considering -2 Teeg -1 Figure main for 1 Jitte, 1 Basilisk Collar, 1 Stoneforge Mystic.

Pros:
- I already run 4 Grim Lavamancer so Basilisk collar becomes a terminate + gain 2 life.
- All creatures wearing Collar become unblockable or block anything and trade.
- Jitte

Cons:
- Less combo, Staxx hate main deck

Lately our metagame has become infested with Black decks and Midrange rock decks which are bad matchups for Zoo.
Teeg has not been pulling his own in our metagame as it is poorly developed.

Has anyone tried running Stoneforge Mystic before?

EDIT:
I've searched the thread (durrr) and I see people talking about it, but nobody posting results, etc...

---

Here I am.
I made 2 top8 on 2 tournaments running mystic. The 1st one had 96 players and the 2nd one had 47.
But my list is quite different than yours. I run 1 mystic + 1 jitte + 1 collar but I still run 3 gaddock teeg because here in Italy ANT and NO Bant are well played and I dont't want to always lose the 1st game.

In the first one I played with 2 mystic and 2 equipments, without KotR, with libraries. But it was too heavy and I didn't like it so much.
In the second tournament I runned only 1 mystic + 2 equip, with 2 KotR and 1 treetop village, without Libraries. And I love it more, 'cause you never want to see Library when you run those tools.

In both the tournaments I loss at the 1st top8 match, in the 1st VS Faeries Ugr, 'cause I haven't KotR and he made 2 stifle and 2 wastelands in both games. 2 Days ago I loss instead VS ANT with perfect hands, I played Gaddock on the 2nd turn but he made 2 mystic, one searching chain and one searching Dark Ritual. In the 2nd game he started on the first turn with a couple pact of negation, one imprinted and one played on my red el. blast and GG. So I think I have to put something more against ANT in sideboard

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JamesTheSmoker

Here I am.
I made 2 top8 on 2 tournaments running mystic. The 1st one had 96 players and the 2nd one had 47.
But my list is quite different than yours. I run 1 mystic + 1 jitte + 1 collar but I still run 3 gaddock teeg because here in Italy ANT and NO Bant are well played and I dont't want to always lose the 1st game.

In the first one I played with 2 mystic and 2 equipments, without KotR, with libraries. But it was too heavy and I didn't like it so much.
In the second tournament I runned only 1 mystic + 2 equip, with 2 KotR and 1 treetop village, without Libraries. And I love it more, 'cause you never want to see Library when you run those tools.

In both the tournaments I loss at the 1st top8 match, in the 1st VS Faeries Ugr, 'cause I haven't KotR and he made 2 stifle and 2 wastelands in both games. 2 Days ago I loss instead VS ANT with perfect hands, I played Gaddock on the 2nd turn but he made 2 mystic, one searching chain and one searching Dark Ritual. In the 2nd game he started on the first turn with a couple pact of negation, one imprinted and one played on my red el. blast and GG. So I think I have to put something more against ANT in sideboard

---

Thanks for validating my attempt at Stoneforge Mystic +2 equip.
I run 4 Mindbreak trap in the SB and am 3-0 vs ANT so far in tournaments w/ this Zoo build.
Granted the pilot is not very experienced.
We do not have Natural Order in our meta, maybe 1 guy plays it.
We do have Staxx & Enchantress, and Teeg is really good vs Staxx and OK vs Enchantress (Moat/Sigil/Replenish)

I am running 2 Teeg, 4 Mindbreak trap, 2 Red Blasts in the SB.
Combo is going to be a bad matchup for creature deck most of the time unless you load up on the Canonists/Teegs, and then your aggro becomes weak.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sauce

Thanks for validating my attempt at Stoneforge Mystic +2 equip.
I run 4 Mindbreak trap in the SB and am 3-0 vs ANT so far in tournaments w/ this Zoo build.
Granted the pilot is not very experienced.
We do not have Natural Order in our meta, maybe 1 guy plays it.
We do have Staxx & Enchantress, and Teeg is really good vs Staxx and OK vs Enchantress (Moat/Sigil/Replenish)

I am running 2 Teeg, 4 Mindbreak trap, 2 Red Blasts in the SB.
Combo is going to be a bad matchup for creature deck most of the time unless you load up on the Canonists/Teegs, and then your aggro becomes weak.

---

I run 4 blasts, 2 aven mindcensor, 3 faerie macabre (for reanimate/dredge/survival which are always present in tournaments) 2 krosan grip 1 duergar hedge mage and 3 anti-aggro slots. I think I would switch it into 4 blasts, 3 faerie macabre, 2 krosan grip, 1 duergar, 1 jitte, 1 ranger of eos, 2 Mindbreak trap and 1 Aven Mindcensor. I run 3 Gaddock MD so 2nd and 3rd game vs ANT would see 3 Gaddock + 4 blasts + 2 Traps + 1 Aven. I hope that 10 slots would be enough.